Date: Two Months Before the Exam
Location: Academy Dorm Lounge, Festival Briefing Hall
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The last year's festival is approaching.
They call it the Crestfall Festival — a celebration of survival, talent, and pride.
But to us, it's a battlefield dressed in lanterns and music.
This year's twist?
We're facing the second years — and it's no coincidence.
David told me quietly this morning.
Not as a teacher… but as someone who knows how games are played behind closed doors.
> "You made fools of them, and fools remember."
The second-year professor — Elena Virell, Windmancer and noble-born — took it personally.
She pulled strings in the planning committee. Arranged the schedule herself.
Pitted her own best team — hand-picked mission veterans — against us.
It's not a class match anymore.
It's a show of strength.
A declaration.
And the whole world is invited to watch.
---
We're allowed eight people.
Our team is set:
Leander – magic swordsman, our wild sun.
Alice – blood mage, elegant and deadly.
Riya – elementalist, sunflower with lightning in her bones.
Gideon – tank, our immovable wall.
Anna – illusionist, sharper now than ever.
Elric – support and cleric, our anchor.
Lily – the Moonflower. My light in the dark.
And me… the one who can't use mana.
I'm the tactician.
But no matter how much I write, how much I prepare,
I cannot fight.
---
I haven't told my parents.
They still think I'm healthy — brilliant even.
The truth would only worry them.
And besides… I'm healing.
The spirit crystal helps.
Yukari's gift hums against my chest like a second heartbeat.
Slowly, I can feel my mana threads stretching again — fragile, but responsive.
---
There's tension in the dorms.
Not fear — no, we've fought worse.
It's pride.
They think we're first years who overstepped.
That we need to be reminded of our place.
Fine.
Let them think that.
Because we aren't playing a game.
We're playing war.
And I've already set the board.
---
> "Let them come, David.
We won't back down.
If it's a stage they want…
We'll show them the price of spotlight."