“Come now, Princess—show me more.” Ravion’s voice echoed through the arena, smooth and taunting, as he dragged his foot across the luminous floor. His blade glinted—a curved Noctis weapon forged from shadowsteel, shimmering like a trapped storm.
 Alessia didn’t flinch. Her Dual Essence flickered around her—soft silver waves, breath-like, alive. She inhaled, slow and steady. She didn’t want to be negligible this time. 
 “Alright,” she whispered back. “I will.”
 The crowd roared. Solaris cheered. Lunaris murmured in awe. Noctis hissed, sensing danger. They knew even if Alessia is young, they saw how determined she is. 
 Kael stood on the sidelines, unmoving, but his fingers dug into the barrier so tightly small cracks formed along his glove.
 Ianthe folded her arms. “Now this will be interesting.”
 Eryx leaned forward against the rail. “Come on, Alessia!” He cheered. 
 Seraphine held a handkerchief to her mouth. Exaggerated as usual. “Don’t die! Don’t die, pretty please!” 
 Then—everything exploded into motion. Ravion sprinted, not giving Alessia enough time to think.
 He moved like a streak of violet lightning—so fast the air cracked behind him.
 Alessia stepped backward once, twice, to hold herself back, and then she lunged forward. 
 Their blades and luminous collided—a shockwave rippled across the arena.
 Alessia, who just trained for a short amount of time, miraculously keeps up her pace with the fast Ravion.
 Ravion’s strike came from above. Alessia’s block from below. Sparks burst where their energies met.
 His eyes widened for the first time. “Your reflexes are unbelievable!”
 Alessia twisted her wrist and shoved his blade aside. “Improving?”
 Ravion laughed softly. “Surprising.”
 He spun and slashed low. She leaped. He slashed high. She ducked. He vanished.
 She expanded her Dual Essence, feeling the shift. There, behind her, she turned; steel met luminous. 
 Ravion gritted his teeth, pushing harder. “You’re reading me?”
 Alessia breathed evenly. “I’m learning you.” 
 Indeed, she is. Luna was the fastest learner in her whole school before. Alessia can do it now. She will prove it. 
 Something changed in Ravion’s expression—surprise, amusement, and irritation all at once.
 He pushed off and backflipped away, landing lightly.
 “You’re not what the rumors said,” he murmured.
 Alessia steadied her stance. “Neither are you.”
 He smirked. “Oh? What did they say about me?”
 “That you’re arrogant,” she replied.
 A laugh burst out of him, sharp and delighted.
 “No wonder you and Kael get along.”
 In the stands, Kael’s eye visibly twitched behind the mask.
 Seraphine whispered loudly, “Kael and Ravion are going to fight after this, aren’t they?”
 Eryx groaned. “Definitely.”
 A trumpet sounded overhead. One minute passed. There are eight more minutes left in the trial.
 Alessia tightened her fists. She could not afford to falter. She needed to survive the last minutes of this trial. 
 Ravion walked toward her again; he was slower this time and studying her.
 “You’re stronger than you look,” he said. “More controlled than I expected.”
 Alessia lifted her chin and raised her brows. “Is that praise?”
 “It’s warning,” he replied softly. He vanished, moving again.
 The air cracked like glass. Ravion blurred behind her, his blades swinging. 
 Alessia spun, using her Dual Essence like a compass. Shadow swept low. Her Lux burned upward. Ravion’s blade whistled past her cheek—close. Too close.
 She countered a burst of light. Ravion slid through it like smoke. He struck. She blocked it with her strength. 
 He twisted. She kicked. He caught her leg. She shoved him with a burst of shadow. He smirked midair. Ravion liked this, not the cruelty, not the advantage but he liked the challenge.
 A Noctis prince actually enjoying a fight he didn’t instantly dominate?
 Alessia’s fear shifted into something else. She felt confidence and fire inside her.
 She landed lightly and lifted her hands. “I’m not done.”
 Ravion rolled his shoulders. “Neither am I.”
 He rushed and this time, she rushed too. They collided in the center of the arena. Light bursting, shadows slicing, and energy spiraling skyward. The stands roared.
 Ravion feinted left but Alessia had learned that trick already.
 She shifted her weight and slammed her elbow into his ribs. She won’t back down. 
 Ravion grunted; he actually grunted and slid back.
 Noctis spectators gasped. Solaris erupted in cheers.
 Alessia blinked. She’d… hit him. For real.
 Ravion touched his side, face unreadable and smiled slowly. “Good.”
 Her heart pounded. An amateur fighter like her landed a hit on one of the strongest Noctis fighters. It was an achievement. 
 Ravion lowered his stance into something deeper, real, and dangerous. “Now I won’t hold back.”
 Alessia inhaled sharply. “Oh… good?”
 He sprinted. She raised her Dual Essence. Ravion leapt high, twisting his blade and cutting down. Alessia crossed her arms; her silver aura flared. The impact shook the entire arena. Dust spiraled upward.
 The spectators gasped.
 Ianthe smirked. “Now she’s fighting.”
 Kael whispered, but deep inside her is worrying, “Hold your ground…”
 When the dust cleared. Alessia still stood barely but she stood.
 Ravion stepped back, panting slightly, eyes wild with excitement. “You’re something else, Princess Alessia.”
 Alessia wiped sweat from her brow. “Thank you.”
 “But,” he murmured, “I wonder.” He lifted two fingers. Dark violet shadows circled them. The air shivered. “What happens when you’re overwhelmed?”
 He thrust his hand forward. A torrent of shadow erupted whirling, violent, and merciless.
 The stands screamed.
 Alessia’s eyes widened. 
 “Alessia!” Kael shouted. But she didn’t panic. She needed control in this fight. 
 She raised her hands, pulled on both cords at once and slammed them together. Her dual essence—the light and shadow spiraled outward, silver and gold and black weaving into a perfect shield. Ravion’s attack crashed into it—
 For the first time, he stumbled back. 
 An absolute silence prevailed in the arena, then a roar that shook the Citadel.
 Alessia lowered her hands, breathing hard.
 Ravion stared at her, stunned. “You… blocked it,” he whispered. “No one blocks that.”
 She breathed heavily. “I’m not no one.”
 Ravion slowly straightened. He looked at her, truly looked at her without arrogance, without mockery, without control and for the first time, he bowed. Not the mocking bow from earlier. A real one.
 “Alessia Keren Endymion,” he murmured. “I stand corrected.”
 Alessia’s eyes widened. “W-What does that mean?!”
 “It means,” he said, rising with a smirk, “I might actually lose.”
 The stands exploded. Kael froze, eyes wide. Ariadne’s lips parted with a smirk. Ianthe laughed—a short, sharp sound. Seraphine fainted into Eryx’s arms.
 Alessia stared as Ravion stepped back into stance.
 “Are you ready, Princess?” he stated.
 Her aura flared. Her aura flared and grinned. The doubt in herself vanished. “More than ready.”
 The Arena Master raised the glowing staff. “One minute remaining!”
 Ravion grinned. “Then let’s make it count.”
 They charged together. The light, shadow, and destiny. When they collided, the world turned silver.