The midday sun beat down on the courtyard as Elara, the Arrogant Queen, approached Team 7. Her every step radiated a cold, oppressive authority. She stopped in front of Shren, her eyes narrowing at Theresia, who hovered protectively by his side.
"A Spirit-class," Elara sneered, her voice like cracking ice. "Explain yourself, Blackwood. My Resonance score is nearly double yours, yet I manifested a beast while you summoned a sentient soul. How does a scholarship student bypass the laws of mana?"
Shren met her gaze, his voice steady and deeper than it had been a month ago. "Power isn't just about output, Elara. It isn't about points. It depends on the soul connection."
A flicker of annoyance—or perhaps intrigue—crossed her face. She let out a sharp, haughty cough and turned on her heel. "A pretty sentiment. We'll see how your 'soul' holds up when the real trials begin. Good luck."
As she walked away, the courtyard erupted in whispers. Being addressed by Elara was a death sentence or a badge of honour, but Shren barely noticed. He was looking at Kaelen, whose jaw had practically hit the floor. The usually brave Fire-Phoenix user was staring at Elara's retreating figure with a dazed, lovestruck expression.
"Kae?" Shren poked his friend's shoulder. "Earth to Kaelen.""She... she's terrifying," Kaelen whispered. "I think I'm in love."Liana burst into laughter, joining Shren in teasing the crimson-faced Kaelen until the group finally dispersed for the night.
Back in the privacy of his luxury suite, Shren summoned Xiwu from the Shackle. The air grew sharp with the scent of cold steel as the Sword Princess materialized. When she saw Theresia—small, ethereal, and undeniably cute—a flicker of rare jealousy crossed Xiwu's eyes.
"So," Xiwu murmured, her hand resting on the hilt of her jian. "The Master has found a new 'devoted' companion."Theresia tilted her head, her silver hair shimmering. "I am the Master's spirit. You are the Master's blade. There is no conflict."
The tension melted into a night of profound intimacy. In the dim, violet glow of the Shackle, the three became one. It was a symphony of silk and shadow; Xiwu's fierce, protective passion clashing and blending with Theresia's soft, otherworldly grace. Shren felt the weight of their devotion—one a warrior of bone and steel, the other a spirit of pure mana—as they fell into a deep, shared exhaustion.
The next morning, Shren woke with a soft weight on his chest: Xiwu on his left, her dark hair splayed across his skin, and Theresia on his right, her form light as a feather.
The school day brought the Rite of Armament. In the Grand Hall, a shimmering portal allowed students to reach in and pull out a weapon that resonated with their soul.
Elara pulled a Giant Greatsword that pulsed with sapphire light.Most students received standard steel: spears, axes, and hammers.The anomalies appeared: A student named Ryuken pulled a Silver Pen, and a girl named Shina pulled an ornate Jade Hairpin.
When Shren reached in, expecting a sword to match Xiwu, his hand closed around something cold and leathery. He pulled out an Ancient, Old Grimoire. The book was bound in what looked like dragon skin, its pages blank yet humming with a forbidden frequency. The crowd stared—a Grimoire was a weapon of a commander, not a soldier.
The month that followed was a blur of intense learning. Between training Kaelen, mastering the Grimoire, and navigating the social vipers of Aurelius, time slipped away. Finally, the bells of the academy rang out a final chime: Summer Vacation had arrived. The gates were open, and for Shren, the real world was about to see just how much he had changed.