Alice Nightwind

"Come on, Alice. Hurry up! We're late. The duel is about to start!" Rena complained loudly at her best friend while standing in the hallway of Zenovia Academy. With her arms crossed, she tapped her foot impatiently as she waited for Alice, who was deliberately lagging behind.

Seeing Alice still leisurely strolling down the hallway, Rena grew infuriated. Once again, her words fell on deaf ears with her best friend. "Alice Nightwind! If we can't secure a clear view of the duel, I'm ignoring you for a week in the academy!"

"Oh, calm down, my esteemed lady. I know you're lovestruck over that Donovan, but you don't have to choose love over your friend, do you?" Seeing Rena's impatient look, Alice replied with a playful smirk on her face. She couldn't resist teasing Rena when she looked so flustered over missing Donovan in a duel.

"Y-You! What are you saying?! Stop teasing me!" Rena exclaimed in frustration as her face flushed red in response to Alice's teasing. 

With passersby in the hallway, Alice just had to keep talking. Thus, to keep her secret crush hidden, she decided to silence Alice before anyone else could catch on.

"Mmmmhhh! Stop covering my mouth with your hands! Did you even wash them? I could smell something strange!" 

"Ahhhhh! Alice Nightwind, I'm going to kill you for trying to start a rumor about me!"

With their laughter echoing, the two girls darted around the academy hallway, paying no mind to the curious glances from passersby. Rena was huffing and puffing chasing the elusive Alice, but Alice skillfully evaded her every move. 

The chase continued from the hallway to the academy training ground, until Alice, who was worn out, finally conceded defeat in her attempt to escape from Rena's clutches.

"I give up! I'm sorry. I've realized my mistake, please stop tickling me!" Panting heavily, Alice apologized. Then, upon noticing the large crowd of students surrounding them, she turned to Rena and asked, "Who is Donovan fighting against? Why are there so many students here to watch the duel?"

Observing her usually disinterested friend suddenly take an interest in the duel, Rena crossed her arms and replied, a haughty expression on her face.

"Alice, don't you know the news that was buzzing in the academy? Donovan will be facing off against the weakest student in our cohort, the infamous 'weed boy' who became the academy's laughing stock. Not only did he offend and insult the noble class, he even boasted that he would cripple Donovan in a fight. So, Donovan intends to teach him a lesson in the duel for his audacity!"

"Weed boy?" Alice murmured to herself, racking her brain to recall where she had heard the name before. It was certainly audacious to hear a noble be threatened. Upon realizing that Donovan was facing off against a weak opponent, her interest waned, and her pair of sleepy eyes returned.

"So, it's going to be an unfair duel then." Alice remarked. However, Rena paid her no mind. Dragging Alice along with her, she made her way into the crowd. She was eager to catch a glimpse of Donovan in action, content to admire his handsome figure.

Eventually, the two girls made their way to the front of the crowd and secured a clear view of the arena. 

Being nobles themselves and hailing from the top-performing class of the graduating cohort, most of the students respected their status and willingly gave up their spots.

As the arena came into their view, a solitary figure also came into sight. Despite appearing slender and somewhat frail from the outside, beneath the figure's clothing lay a muscular frame, brimming with hidden power.

On the stone-covered arena used for dueling, Ren stood with his eyes closed, meditating. Despite the noise from the crowd, he remained composed.

After several days of surviving and training in the deepest part of Zenovia forest, he had finally returned for his duel with Donovan Acker. However, when he returned to the academy ground this morning, he was shocked to discover a nasty rumor circulating about him.

He was framed as a fool who became enraged with Donovan for intervening and stopping him from harassing Abigail Nightwind in class. 

"Boo! Drop dead!"

"How dare you threaten a noble just because he stopped you from harassing Miss Nightwind!"

"What a delusional clown, believing that he could defeat Donovan Acker with a useless mana core."

Insults could be heard from the crowd, but Ren did not get upset. While it was evident who had instigated the rumor, that wasn't his primary concern at the moment. 

It was the fact that the classmates who were bullied and tormented by Donovan Acker did not stand with him and support him that disappointed him the most. 

Part of the reason he had challenged Donovan in a duel was to enact revenge and stand up for his classmates. However, that was their reply. In the end, it was futile. None of them had the courage to fight back.

While Ren was in meditation, the chants of the crowd suddenly intensified. He opened his eyes to find Donovan arriving at the arena at the last minute, a smug flashing across his face.

"Well, I must say, I'm quite surprised. I didn't expect you to stick around and face me in a duel without running away or making excuses." Donovan chuckled.

When he saw that Ren was ignoring him, he continued his taunt. "Don't worry, for bravely challenging me, I'll only break your arms instead of your legs. That way, you can still kneel whenever you see me coming."