Part 42 – Academy TournamentNarrator's PerspectiveThe weather was extremely hot.
Almost half the city was empty.
Despite the heat, the market stalls kept trying to sell their food.
And despite the scorching weather, the people of the Second Wall had gone to the designated place for the Academy Tournament—
a competition held once every two years.
In this large, magical arena,
today neither the Church nor the Royal Palace held the highest importance—
this arena did.
It was overflowing with people.
Children in their parents' arms.
A circular structure with tiers that could hold over a hundred thousand people.
But this was not a simple exam.
Maybe for the common people it was,
but not for the highest authorities of the Empire.
In this cold war between the Court and the Church,
this exam was where the future champions of both sides were revealed—
just like twenty years ago,
when an unknown teenager named Ziar became the Empire's champion
and the strongest person in the Empire.
King Harold knew this well.
A king nearing forty,
with long shining hair that glowed under the sun,
and a long beard.
He entered his royal throne wearing his regal clothes.
Around him stood the elite guards of the royal special unit.
And behind his throne,
the Shadow Guards—
the strongest and most elite soldiers of the Empire,
assigned to protect the king and his family.
No one except the king knew of their existence.
He looked at the arena—
a look filled with fear.
He was afraid and not eager for this exam.
For the first time.
Because civil war was near.
A war he knew the Court would lose—
with the Church's elite army, undefeated for twenty years,
and with Ziar present,
the Court's defeat was certain.
The royal army was at its weakest—
exhausted and worn out after suppressing the people of the First Wall
and fighting the barbarians outside the Walls.
It was on the verge of collapse.
And now, he was not eager for this exam.
For the first time, he prayed for Tom to appear.
Once he prayed for Tom to be destroyed—
now he prayed for him to be safe and found.
Fate is strange.
Beside him were the Church and the heads of the three great families—
Melodia, Hyper, and Flor—
all waiting to watch the results.
Bard Melodia was the first to arrive.
A man the same age as King Harold,
with wine‑red hair like a century‑old vintage,
and a face that grew more attractive with age, like wine.
He bowed to the king and sat on his throne after receiving permission.
Next was Adrian Flor—
a man with night‑black hair,
a proud face like a statue of the gods,
and a coldness like ice.
With his single eye, as always.
He had lost one eye in battle,
but even with one eye,
he still embodied the pride and power of the Flor family.
His eye was not normal—
but today, it lacked pride and power.
It showed worry.
Adrian was anxious.
King Harold noticed.
Adrian sat after receiving permission.
Then came the High Bishop Leonard,
James Hyper,
William Jordan,
and his advisor.
The High Bishop sat without acknowledging King Harold.
The king clenched his fists at the disrespect.
If it were any other time,
he would have responded harshly—
but not today.
The horns sounded, announcing the arrival of the magic students.
The crowd cheered.
The students entered behind the judge of the first exam.
People were ecstatic.
They kept looking at the notable individuals:
Den Hyper—
with fear, pride, and endless competitive drive,
here to bring honor to the Church
and defeat Henry Flor and the Court.
Henry Flor—
a person separate from politics,
but being a Flor meant loyalty to the king and the Court,
so he represented the Court.
But many others were overlooked:
Adriana Flor—
the underestimated ice princess,
wanting to prove her strength to her father.
Hardy Melodia—
wanting to show she was strong on her own,
not because of her father or her mother's beauty.
Prince Steve—
wanting to prove he would be a worthy king in the future—
strong, capable, wise.
Rose Tarin—
wanting to prove that knowledge was a powerful magic,
stronger than brute force.
William Jordan—
who had a special plan for the final rounds.
A plan that…
And Lucas—
the cruel boy with no talent,
supported by his father,
only wanting Tom to appear
so he could prove Tom was weak
and that he belonged in the elite class—
even though Lucas was in Class C,
the weakest class in the Academy.
But not only Lucas—
Den wanted Tom to appear,
Henry wanted Tom to appear,
the people wanted Tom to appear,
even King Harold wanted Tom to return.
Everyone except William Jordan.
Tom's PerspectiveI was doomed.
Today was exam day, and I was still here.
What was the main problem?
I had no proper clothes for the exam.
My clothes weren't suitable.
Then the door opened, and the old man—
or rather, Manuel—entered.
I said "Manuel" like I'd known him for years,
but I guess because he had practically become my teacher,
his presence felt normal.
And I didn't question it anymore—
how a sixty‑year‑old Manuel was here and no one knew.
Why the Church and Court hid his existence.
Whether they had lied about other things.
Why they never sought revenge for Manuel.
I had many questions,
but right now the exam and my fate were more important.
I would learn the answers later.
Manuel: "Why are you anxious?"
"I have a big problem."
Manuel: "What problem?"
"I don't have proper clothes for the exam."
Manuel looked at me,
walked to the bed,
pulled out clothes from underneath,
and handed them to me.
It was a white shirt with a silver tint,
with several buttons,
and near the chest and neck,
brown threads tied like triangular patterns.
A brown vest,
and tight black pants.
I had to go with this?
"With this? I can't."
Manuel: "Why?"
"Because it's useless.
They come with the best clothes and armor.
And I come with a shirt and vest?
I'll definitely lose."
Manuel: "First, victory doesn't come from armor or equipment—
it comes from skill and spirit.
Second, in this heat,
their armor is heavy,
their bodies overheat,
mana doesn't flow properly,
their magic weakens,
and they become slower.
But this outfit is light.
Magic flows easily.
You'll be faster than them—especially with wind magic.
And this isn't normal clothing.
The fabric doesn't tear easily—
its thread comes from a special tree.
The vest also gives extra protection."
He explained so logically that I wore it.
Besides, I had no other clothes.
It was time to leave.
"My bow… where's my bow?"
He handed it to me.
Of course—he had summoned Master Hiroshi in the Second War.
"And how do I carry my bow?"
He lifted my sleeve and wrapped a vine around my arm.
"This…"
He placed an arrow inside the vine.
It fit perfectly.
Manuel: "This isn't a normal vine.
Anything you place inside it changes shape."
He was right—
the arrow fit perfectly and didn't hinder my movement.
He wrapped another vine around my other arm.
"Direction…"
He placed his hand on my forehead
and removed it.
Manuel: "I gave you the map mentally.
You can go now."
He didn't let me speak—
he just did everything quickly.
I went down the cabin stairs.
I looked at him.
My heart tightened.
He wasn't the bloodthirsty monster the Church described.
He wasn't the innocent‑killer the Court described.
He was a caring teacher.
I shouted:
"Goodbye, Master! I'll come back after the exam!"
And quickly turned so he wouldn't see my tears.
Narrator's PerspectiveAfter Tom left,
Manuel looked at the path he took.
His student had finally gone,
and once again, he was alone.
Once when he killed Angel—
his true love, his wife.
And now after Tom left.
Had he been redeemed?
According to Zahara—Angel's brother and Manuel's close friend—
after redemption, his soul would leave this world.
Had he been redeemed?
Suddenly he felt something—
something flowing through his body.
He opened his eyes.
He was in a lush, green place with pure air.
Above him stood his wife—Angel.
Tears filled his eyes.
Was this real?
Was this not a dream?
Had Angel forgiven him?
He stuttered:
"A‑Angel… y‑you…"
Angel smiled—
the same smile that healed him even when he was broken.
Angel: "Yes, my love."
"Y‑you forgave me—"
Angel silenced him with a kiss.
A kiss they had waited years for.
Angel: "Yes, I forgave you, my love.
Because you are my love,
and my heart always beats for you."
She placed his hand on her chest.
Her heart was racing—
just like his.
Suddenly a voice:
"So the groom finally arrived."
They turned—
it was Zahara, smiling.
Zahara: "How are you, crazy lover?"
Manuel laughed,
held Angel's hand,
and stood up.
"H‑how am I here?"
Zahara: "I told you—
you'd be exiled.
But once redeemed,
you'd reach the happiness you never had in the world.
You chose the right path.
You guided the chosen one—Tom—
the one we all waited for.
And now that you chose correctly,
you deserve happiness.
Angel chose you—
that's why you're here.
In the other world, your soul waited for Angel.
Here, Angel waited for you."
Manuel looked at Angel—
tears in her beautiful eyes.
"I… I love you so much."
Angel laughed softly.
Angel: "I love you too.
Come on, we have so much to talk about.
I waited so long for you."
She grabbed his hand and ran.
Together they ran toward eternal happiness—
to make up for all the moments they lost.
Manuel finally reached his love
and found eternal redemption.
Would Tom be redeemed too?
End of Part 42