What followed the intense duel was utter silence.
Not a whisper, not even a breath. The students stood frozen, still processing what they had just witnessed.
Compared to the others, Athar had put on a true performance.
Though Angelica had ultimately defeated him, and rather decisively and overwhelmingly, his duel had been in a different league altogether.
He had held his ground, exchanged a dozen blows, and most importantly, he had created moments of brilliance, fleeting but undeniable where it seemed like he had the upper hand. Moments where it appeared that Angelica, even if briefly, had been forced on the defensive. That she had to pause herself and think about her next move.
It was not just effort. It was ingenuity. Tactics. Calmness under pressure. And that had stunned everyone.
For the past couple of weeks, Athar had been a background figure. The kind of student who melted into the background, sat in the back row during the classes, quiet and distant.
He barely spoke, rarely interacted with anyone, and was like an isolationist. No one had seen this coming.
He did not look like someone destined for the spotlight. He was not the loudest, the boldest, or the most obviously talented. He did not seem to carry the so called main character energy.
Even his beast was an iron grade beast. They had seen Sarpinash, on previous occasions when Angelica had asked them call their beast out. It had been… or rather it was nothing special. A small snake. It had been nothing more than that.
Yet, Athar had performed contrary to every expectation. In a matter of minutes, he had shaken everyone's perception. He had forced them to look.
"Too good," Angelica's voice rang out through the hall as the mist slowly cleared, revealing her and Athar standing across from each other.
A broad smile lit up her face, one not just of satisfaction, but of genuine pride.
Athar, still catching his breath, tried to maintain a neutral expression, but the edges of a smile tugged at his lips. He could not help it. He had done well, far better than even he had expected, and he knew that he could allow himself a small measure of pride.
"VonCruz," Angelica called out, her voice echoing with warmth, "you were incredible for your rank and experience."
She walked a few steps forward, her sword now gone, as she addressed him with complete sincerity.
"There was no glaring weakness in your stance, movements or decisions. Your swordplay was sharp. Your use of skill, the moment you chose to deploy that mist was wonderful."
"And the way you deployed your companion at just the right moment… most students would have been so consumed by the intensity of the duel; they would not even think of such a move."
"It was not some pre-determined plan," she continued. "You adapted. You read the rhythm of the fight and shifted with it."
"Wonderful," she echoed. "That is rare in someone who has formed his bond only for a couple of weeks."
She gave him a nod of finality. "I am truly impressed. Next time we meet, you will get your deserved reward."
Athar's small smile grew just a little wider.
"Thank you, teacher," he said, voice calm but tinged with satisfaction.
Angelica returned his nod as he walked back to the crowd. The other students stared, some with disbelief, others with newfound respect.
In the span of minutes, the quiet boy from the back row had turned into someone they could not stop watching.
While there were few eyes filled with envy, jealousy and hatred. They could not bear to see an impoverished boy who had no resources of his own, who could not have even afforded a bronze grade egg doing so much better. They felt a feeling of disgust rising within them.
Few satisfied themselves with the thought that Athar only had an iron grade beast and it would not be long before they would be able to completely overpower him.
The sparring session resumed, with a few more students stepping forward. But it was no longer the same. Each match was over in a single exchange or two, much like before. None of them came close to the level of tension, intelligence, or poise that Athar had displayed.
Even Angelica, it seemed, was a bit quicker now— impatient in movements. As if the duel with Athar had been the moment of the day, and everything after it… just an afterthought. It did not look like that she had a lot of interest left in continuing the duel.
The class finally ended, and the students filtered out of the hall, their voices rising in hushed excitement. Whispers, chatter, and incredulous murmurs filled the air with every conversation almost circling back to a single name. But the subject of their talk had quietly slipped away.
Athar kept his head down, moving swiftly through the corridors, distancing himself from the group of the students and their questions. He had no interest in the stares, the speculation, or the sudden curiosity that clung to him like static.
He reached his dormitory in record time, the door clicking shut behind him as he exhaled deeply.
Peace. Silence. No eyes watching.
He had no intention of basking in attention. His mind was focused on something else. Something which he was going to accomplish tomorrow.
Tomorrow, he would be making his second move. He would be taking his second action. And this time, it would be even more decisive.
Tomorrow, he was going to deal with one of the greatest nuisances of his life. He was going to rip apart that problem.
Tomorrow was going to be a big day.
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