The orange light of sunset spread across the sky, painting the Ironwood Kingdom in shades of crimson and gold. The cheers of the tournament had finally faded, replaced by the quiet murmurs of the city.
Instead of immediately returning to the dormitories, Kuro followed a familiar path—one Rei had shown him before. She led him away from the noise to a high perch above the academy, a rocky outcrop overlooking the valley. It was the same place she had once shown him, in another time, in another life. (The place described in Volume 1, Chapter 30).
Here, the air was still. The view was endless.
Kuro sat on a rock, his sharp eyes gazing at the horizon but his mind elsewhere. For the first time in a long while, his thoughts weren't of schemes or strategies, but of something softer.
"What I want to do… is make the world a more peaceful place."
He let out a slow breath. "But it's not as simple as that… Every path I've walked, I've seen nothing but bloodshed and conflict. Peace isn't something you can just grasp."
His hand lightly clenched on his knee.
"And why did I save Rei from the abyss…? Why did I reach out to keep her from falling into the darkness? I don't even remember my own reason anymore. Was it… humanity? Compassion? Kindness?"
The words felt strange to him, like tools he'd never properly wielded.
From within the shadows behind him, Rei stood silently, her violet eyes gleaming faintly. She looked at him with something akin to affection—yet within her, that affection always seemed mixed with calculation.
Her lips curved into a faint smile. For once, she didn't need to say anything. Seeing him struggle with these thoughts was enough.
Kuro's gaze lowered. He spoke softly, with a laugh.
"...I understand, Rei. You've been peeking into my memories, haven't you?"
Rei froze. Her smile faded momentarily, her sharp composure cracking. "Impossible... How did you know I was here…"
But Kuro didn't turn to her. He didn't confirm or deny anything further. He stood up, brushed off his robe, and began walking slowly back toward the academy dormitories.
Rei's lips curved again, this time more gently. "...He's changing. Just as expected."
Her voice vanished into the air. *Yes, master. "Soon… my plan will succeed."*
---
**The Next Morning – Group C Match**
The next day, the sun rose brightly over the coliseum. The crowd gathered with renewed anticipation, excitement building for more matches.
The announcer's voice boomed:
"Today, we continue with the Group C matches! Second Match—Celestine Arkwright of Class A versus Lily Noctis of Class B!"
Two girls entered the arena.
Celestine was tall and graceful, with silver hair and sapphire-bright eyes. Her white and gold uniform gleamed in the sunlight, the symbol of a holy order sewn on her chest. Her unique magic was holy magic—a form of light, a direct counter to darkness.
Her opponent, Lily, was her complete opposite. She was petite, with dark violet hair cut at her shoulders and eyes like obsidian glass. She wore dark mage robes, but her aura lacked the malevolence often associated with demons. Her magic was born from the void, yet there was something delicate about it. (It is human dark magic.)
---
**The Battle Begins**
"Begin!"
Celestine immediately raised her staff, light shimmering around her. "By the blessed light—Radiance Shield!" A golden ray of light formed a dome around her.
Lily extended her hand, and shadowy veils spread like liquid smoke. "Abyssal Bind!" Dark energy pressed forward, lightly brushing against the light barrier. The crowd gasped at the intense opposition—the light seemed to burn the dark magic, and the dark magic seemed to devour the light.
"Holy magic is overwhelming!" a spectator shouted.
"She's from the Arkwright family—there's no way a dark mage can defeat her!"
But Lily didn't flinch. Her lips curved into a faint smile. "Do you think justice can be defined by light alone?" She whispered as shadows pooled beneath her feet, twisting into spears of night. "Nightfall Spear!"
Multiple shadowy lances shot toward Celestine. But with a single swing of her staff, Celestine released a burst of pure energy. *Boom!* Each shadow dissipated into dust.
"Light purifies the darkness!" Celestine's voice rang clearly across the arena. "Stop this, Lily-san! Holy magic is darkness's natural enemy!"
Lily's expression soured, but she didn't back down. "That… is a misunderstanding. My magic… isn't born from demons."
The two clashed again. Celestine advanced, her weapon blazing. As she thrust, a wave of burning light scorched across the arena floor. Lily countered, forming a shield woven from night magic, but the holy rays fractured it. The magical force pushed her back, breathless.
"Enough," Celestine declared, leveling her staff at Lily's chest. "Dark magic cannot prevail."
The referee stepped forward. "Winner—Celestine Arkwright of Class A!"
Whispers spread through the audience, though the coliseum as a whole erupted in cheers.
"...Her magic doesn't feel like a demon's magic…"
"It's strange. It feels more like the night sky."
"But holy trumps dark. It's always been that way."
---
**Among the Observers**
In the stands, Selvaria leaned forward, eyes bright. "Interesting. That girl's darkness is not like ours. It holds no malice… only depth."
Beside her, Lucien's jaw tightened. His expression remained calm, but his inner thoughts were uneasy. *"The more these humans see the nuances of magic, the more likely they are to notice mine…"*
And in the far corner of the stands, Kuro stood with his arms crossed, silent. He had seen the battle not for what it displayed, but for what it represented.
Light and Dark. The world believed one must always destroy the other. But that was too simple. Too shallow. That wasn't the truth…
His gaze narrowed slightly. *"Soon, I'll show them a different kind of darkness."*
✦ **To Be Continued...**