Nreu lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling, lost in thought. He recalled everything, starting from the talent assessment in the throne hall. When he had demonstrated his affinity for magic, he had felt the admiration of everyone watching.
But then it had been his sister Hea's turn. She was only thirteen, yet possessed dual talent in both magic and swordsmanship. She had surpassed him.
Nreu instinctively clenched his fists, but in the very next moment, a smirk spread across his face as he remembered his brother Aluric's humiliating failure. Useless. No talent for magic. The only thing left to him was some talent with the sword. At best, he was only fit to serve as a castle guard.
I wonder what that worthless fool is doing now?
He and Hea were forbidden from approaching him. Aluric had been exiled until a special summons from the emperor or empress. But who was stopping them from asking professors and stufons about him? That didn't violate the emperor's decree. Nreu had no intention of speaking with him personally, but making his life at the academy more difficult was entirely possible.
Unlike Nreu and the rest of their siblings, Aluric had always seemed like an outsider. He spent far too much time with teachers and in the library. While the others learned how to fight and command troops, he studied the history of the Kray Empire.
Nreu even wanted to ask him whether all that knowledge of the Kray Empire's history had ever helped him in any way.
So absorbed was he in thoughts of exactly how he would torment his brother that he noticed too late that his ritual stone had begun to glow—someone was trying to contact him.
Lowering his gaze to the name displayed on it, Nreu saw that the call was from Hea, his younger sister.
"Hello, Hea. Did something happen?" Nreu asked as he greeted her. He knew she would never contact him without a reason.
"Brother, have you heard the news spreading across the entire academy right now?"
Nreu paused. What news could Hea be talking about? The trial? No, that was unlikely to stir the whole academy to such a degree. Shaking his head, his curiosity only deepened. Just what could have happened to get everyone talking?
"No. What news are you talking about?" Nreu asked curiously.
As if she had been expecting that question, Hea immediately continued.
"Do you remember stufon Trey? Well, it turns out that Princess Keyrin of the light elves is his servant. Because of that, he was challenged by not one, but two princesses—the princesses of the light and dark elves—and he accepted."
Listening to his sister's excited voice, Nreu couldn't hold back his laughter. That half-elf had finally gone too far. Because of him, Nreu had only managed to place fifteenth, and now, at last, there was a chance to watch him get what he deserved.
"Brother, can you hear me?" Hea asked worriedly.
Hearing her voice, Nreu quickly regained his composure, though inwardly he continued to gloat.
"Yes, sister, I hear you. Has he already lost?" Nreu asked, unable to hide his interest.
"No, they haven't fought yet. But the battle is supposed to start in fifteen minutes. Do you want to watch?" Hea asked, obvious curiosity filling her voice.
A cold smile appeared on Nreu's face.
"As allies of the light and dark elves, we can't abandon them in a situation like this. I want to personally witness that half-elf getting what he deserves," he said venomously.
Because of that half-elf, he had already lost too much after entering the academy. But what irritated Nreu the most was something else entirely—Trey had somehow managed to make an elven princess his servant. His own father couldn't even afford casual interaction with a prince who wasn't competing for the throne, yet this half-elf had already surpassed even the emperor himself. It was unheard of.
"Alright, brother. I'll wait for you near the arena. See you there," Hea's voice came through. Judging by the sound of it, she was already on her way to the duel grounds.
Nreu silently ended the call and smiled in satisfaction. If everything went as he hoped, perhaps one day he might even be able to take one of the elf girls as his wife. If ordinary noblewomen were attractive, then what could be said of those with royal blood flowing through their veins?
After quickly getting ready, Nreu left his room and headed for the arena.
In one of the nearby rooms sat two elf girls. One had golden hair, while the other's was snow-white. Their eye colors were different as well—the first had violet eyes, while the second's were dark red. They were the princesses of the light and dark elves—Samantha and Cassandra.
A tense silence hung in the room until Samantha was the first to break it.
"What do you think? Do we stand a chance?" she asked suddenly.
Unlike her, Cassandra had already seen what Trey was capable of.
"I don't know, Samantha. During the trial, he didn't use magic at all. He only fought using the summoning technique of those four creatures I told you about," Cassandra replied, shaking her head.
Samantha fell silent for a moment, then a faint smile appeared on her face.
"So just as we know nothing about his magic, he doesn't know everything about us either. That's already a decent start. Besides, he's younger than us, which means we should have better odds. Since childhood, we've been given everything necessary to develop both our magic and swordsmanship."
"You're celebrating too early, Samantha," Cassandra replied calmly. "We know almost nothing about him. Only his name and origin. Where did he get that technique? How did Keyrin become his servant? There are too many questions we have no answers to."
Seeing the displeased expression on Samantha's face, Cassandra merely smirked slightly. Light elves truly were too emotional.
"Samantha, between the two of us, only you possess offensive magic. You'll keep him occupied. I'll stay behind and support you. Don't let either him or his creatures break past you," Cassandra said seriously.
Unlike Samantha, she specialized in support magic and strengthening allies.
"Understood. I'll give it everything I have," Samantha nodded before asking, "Have you already contacted the matriarch?"
From the shift in Cassandra's expression, Samantha immediately understood that the conversation had gone no better than her own talk with the king and queen of the light elves.
"Yes. She'll be watching the battle. And if we lose, there will be nothing she can do to help," Cassandra replied with a sour expression.
Samantha let out a heavy sigh. Her parents had told her something similar.
If they lost, it would become the first case in history where princesses married not nobles, but an ordinary half-elf. A disgrace not only to the light elves, but to the dark elves as well.
"Let's go. The time is almost here. It's time to head to the arena," Cassandra said as she rose from the sofa.
Samantha silently nodded, stood up as well, and together they made their way toward the arena.