The arena was still charged with the energy of the duel, but it had already been decided—Samuel Wildheart stood victorious.
For Alric and Drevan, the humiliation was crushing. Their once-imposing aura of elite nobility lay shattered like glass underfoot.
"No!... It can't be..." Alric muttered, stunned, his knees buckling.
But Drevan's reaction was far more dangerous.
Rage.
His pride, forged over years of inherited glory and strict training, couldn't handle this defeat. A twisted fury overtook him. His killing intent surged as he lunged at Sam's exposed back, a hidden blade forming in his hand.
But Sam didn't need to look. His instincts had already reacted.
Swift Step.
In a blink, Sam vanished, his figure dissolving like mist.
Drevan's blade sliced through nothing.
"What the…?" Drevan's face twisted in confusion as he stumbled forward. Behind him, Sam reappeared on the opposite end of the stage, eyes cold and focused.
He didn't attack. He simply observed.
Then he spoke.
"Nobles act like this?" Sam's voice echoed, calm yet powerful.
The entire stadium fell silent.
"Are nobles not supposed to carry themselves with dignity and etiquette? Or is that just something we commoners are taught to respect?"
His words pierced through the air sharper than any spell.
"I expected resistance... but a murder attempt on the first day?" Sam scoffed. "Your noble ego is paper-thin."
Those words hit harder than his water bullets.
Gasps filled the stadium.
The pride of noble families cracked. Some students clenched their fists in anger. Others—perhaps those fed up with noble arrogance—smiled. Some remained neutral. But the ripple effect had begun.
A few defiant voices rose from the crowd:
"You don't know your place, commoner."
"You don't even deserve to stand here!"
The venom in their tone was unmistakable.
Sam expected it—and yet, a different wave followed.
Cheers.
"That was incredible!"
"He's actually amazing!"
"Did you see how fast he was?"
"He's... kinda hot, too."
"Those arms, though…"
Compliments and admiration poured in unexpectedly from all corners of the arena. Sam blinked in disbelief, thrown off by the sudden praise.
"...I don't understand them," he muttered under his breath, exasperated.
Just then, a voice came from behind.
"How are you feeling? You're not hurt, right?"
Sam turned. Argentia stood there, her fiery hair glowing under the stadium lights, her voice filled with genuine concern.
"I'm fine," he replied.
Her eyes softened in relief. "Good."
But the moment of calm was broken as a familiar pressure swept over the arena like a cold wind.
Riena Ravenblake had arrived.
She stood tall on the stage, her gaze sharp and emotionless as always. Her presence silenced everything.
She looked at Drevan and Alric—who now stood frozen, trembling.
"How does it feel," she said icily, "to disgrace the entire Empire on your first day?"
Her words struck harder than Sam's.
Drevan's knees gave out. Alric turned pale. Both were terrified. Riena, at that moment, looked every bit like the goddess she was rumored to rival.
She raised her hand slightly.
Burot, her ever-loyal assistant, appeared instantly beside her.
"Notify the instructors and both their families," Riena instructed."Drevan is to be expelled from the academy.""Alric will serve a two-month suspension."
"Yes, Headmaster," Burot replied calmly and vanished just as swiftly.
Thirty Minutes Later — Outside Classroom 1-A
Sam stood alone in the hallway, gazing at the plaque beside the tall double doors.
Class 1-A.
He let out a quiet breath.
'This is it. The real start... studies, classes, the daily grind.'
He opened the door.
Inside, the classroom was spacious and beautiful—tiered desks made of polished wood, sunlight streaming through enchanted glass windows, and magical etchings glowing softly on the walls.
As he stepped in, the students looked toward the door. Silence filled the room for a moment… then recognition dawned.
Whispers. Gasps.
Then—movement.
A crowd of curious students rushed toward him, bombarding him with questions, admiration, and praise.
Sam sighed internally.
'Great… I'm surrounded again.'
He wasn't sure what kind of future this place held for him, but one thing was certain—
He wasn't invisible anymore.