Selene was in her private quarters, seated in her usual comfortable chair. The golden runes in the room shimmered at their highest level of saturation, while the windows and stained glass trembled slightly, as if the internal pressure was about to burst the frames and hinges.
Her eyes glowed with a rare intensity, her skin was flushed, her breathing calm and steady, and subtle traces of emotion colored her face.
She wore a sleek and elegant pair of pants, made of an opaque fabric in deep shades of beige and black. The pants were adorned with delicate embroidery in gold and silver threads, forming intricate patterns reminiscent of constellations and mystical runes.
On her upper body, a structured corset combined aged leather with metal details studded with gemstones. The corset accentuated her powerful silhouette and well-defined physique. It had a front opening in a "V" shape, revealing a black inner shirt with long sleeves, made of fine silk and decorated with golden lace. She wore tall, elegant boots made of dark leather, with a low heel and metal accents.
Long gloves, reaching up to her elbows, matched a necklace featuring a large red crystal at its center, harmonizing with the color of her eyes.
In front of her, leaning against her desk, two large weapons rested on a stand. They were black and pulsed with a mysterious blue and yellow energy that flowed from the center to the edges. On the desk, inside a small, exquisite chest, were two gloves resembling small gauntlets from a war suit. Two stones were embedded in the palms, and a third was hidden in the wrist area.
Selene held a small piece of paper in her hand. It was a report Elian had sent her frequently about Glenn's training. This time, there were only four sentences written:
"Elian, twenty to zero.
Lesley, twenty to zero.
Dália, twelve to eight.
Hera, eleven to nine."
A small smile formed on her lips.
'Well done, my consort. Let's see if you are truly destined for greatness!'
"Knock-knock," two taps sounded at the door.
The runes in the room began to lose intensity until they all turned completely gray.
"Come in!" Selene said after a few seconds.
Lesley entered the room, accompanied by Rose.
"They've arrived. It's time!"
"Very well. Let's start moving the pieces on the board!"
**
The duel was scheduled for nine in the morning. I had more than enough time for a bit of morning training. Nothing too heavy, just a light run, a bit of magic here and there, and a lot of meditation to calm my nerves.
At the moment, I was sitting in one of the chairs in my room. My fingers drummed on the table as I waited for someone to come and fetch me for the duel. I was wearing an elegant robe, made in dark blue and adorned with yellow lightning bolts. It had been specially tailored for this occasion. Master Elian had told me that, more than winning, it was important to make a good impression—not that I was particularly concerned about that at the moment.
The door to my room opened, and two demons entered. Dália in the lead and Hera behind, carrying a small tray with a cup. She approached me and offered its contents.
"What's this? Some kind of potion?"
"No, young master. Just tea made from a fairly common herb."
"Tea? No resistance potion? Agility? A super buff?"
"No, young master. In a match like this, with so many experts watching, any trick of that sort would be easily detected," Hera explained.
"Phew... Alright."
I brought the cup to my lips. The taste was bitter, very bitter. I made a face, glaring at Hera and questioning why she would give me something like this. But before I could voice my thoughts, as soon as the tea reached my stomach, a natural sweetness manifested in my mouth, spreading down to my stomach.
"It's... strange and interesting. What is this?"
"It's stevia leaf tea," Hera replied. "It's just to remind you that no matter how bitter something may seem at first, things tend to align and find the sweetness of success!"
I was genuinely impressed by Hera's words. If there was one thing that had improved over the past few days, it was our closeness. Actually, the closeness between the three of us—me, Dália, and Hera.
My early morning training sessions now had two 'teachers' who alternated days, and I don't even know how they came up with that arrangement.
Dália took the initiative and hugged me from behind.
"Dália?" I asked, surprised.
"Finish him, young master!"
Hera, not wanting to be left out, also hugged me from the front, pulling my head into her ample bosom.
"Hmm... Rub his face in the dirt!" she said, more violently.
The nervousness that had been dominating me began to transform into fuel for something I was still learning to build: determination.
The pounding in my chest calmed, my mind reached its best state in days, and a thirst for victory sprouted in my chest.
"What a beautiful moment," a deep voice interrupted our embrace. "But it's time, champion. Let's go," said Elian, who had come to escort me to the arena.
With long strides, I followed him in silence. We were heading to the main training center of the queen's castle.
"So, how are you feeling?" Elian asked.
"Great!" I replied confidently.
"Excellent!"
"Master!?"
"Yes!"
"Do you think it's possible? What if he really has broken through to the champion level?"
"Hahaha," Elian's laughter was all the response he gave.
Not wanting to press further, I continued to nurture my good spirits. After a few minutes of walking, we arrived at the grand training center, which was enormous—perhaps thirty times larger than what I was used to in the consort's tower.
To the side, only one set of stands was occupied with spectators. All of them were well-dressed, of all ages, from young to old.
"Hoo... All the walking fossils from the council came to watch your fight," Elian said, pointing to a special area with six reserved seats. In them sat four men and two women. One of them I recognized as Senior Silas.
The six exchanged glances with Elian, and both parties greeted each other from a distance.
As we walked toward the arena, two people approached us. Thaddeus, with his intense green eyes, red hair, pale skin, and black horns, and beside him a man I assumed was his father, given their similar physical traits.
"Grandmaster Elian," the man greeted respectfully.
"It's always a pleasure, Talon," Elian replied.
"So, how are we doing this?"
"The usual. A good fight until one side is incapacitated, unconscious, or out of prana."
"No deaths?" Talon asked.
"Are you sure you want to add that rule?" Elian asked, pointing to the opposite side of the arena, where three imposing women were arriving to take their seats of honor.
"You're right," Talon said, clearly intimidated by the queen's presence. "And the referee?"
"Who would be more qualified than me?" Elian questioned.
Talon looked at him with a bit of suspicion, but no words or questions left his mouth.
While the quick exchange took place, Thaddeus and I stared at each other. His eyes burned with fury, and his body restrained itself from immediately lunging at me.
'His presence feels more defined. It's similar to Dália and Hera's,' I assessed.
'Phew... So it's true. He's broken through. Well, we were already expecting the worst.'
"Very well, boys. Take your positions. Let's begin!" Elian's voice pulled me out of my thoughts.
I walked toward the center of the arena. This time, Thaddeus was farther away than in our previous fight—more than fifty meters.
'He came prepared.'
"Ladies and gentlemen, it is a pleasure to once again set foot in this incredible and imposing city. It is an even greater joy to finally reveal to the world that the great Elian has, at last, chosen a worthy disciple, and it is he who will fight in a few moments!"
A small commotion arose in the stands. Words of disbelief and surprise, and sharp glances turned toward me.
My face also showed surprise at the announcement.
'That son of a bitch is pouring fuel on the fire. It's almost a demand forcing me to win!'
"Without further ado! Let the battle begin!!!" Elian's voice sent a shockwave through the arena, marking the start of the fight.