Chapter 20 “ Spar match” part 2
The first match ended.
Then the second.
Then the third.
The crowd cheered, shouted, and argued—but the three boys sitting together looked completely bored.
Chris leaned back and sighed.
“I’m really glad I’m not in the arena.”
Nox nodded. “Same for me ”
Alber added, “I agree.”
The matches so far were… dull.
Flashy spells.
Careless swings.
Too much shouting, not enough skill.
Nox rested his chin on his hand.
“Honestly, they’re overacting more than fighting.”
Chris laughed. “They are First-years.after all what you expect from them”
Alber crossed his arms. “I expected at least one decent exchange of magic”
Another match ended quickly.
The announcer’s voice echoed again.
Nox suddenly straightened.
“Oh i think it's interesting ”
Alber glanced at him. “What?”
Nox pointed toward the arena gate.
“…Looks like it’s Sisbell’s turn now ”
Alber froze.
“…What?”
His head snapped toward the entrance.
Sisbell’s name was announced.
Alber stood up without thinking.
“…She better not lose.”
Chris looked amused. “You sound nervous and worried.”
Alber shot him a glare. “Shut up.please I'm not worried”
Nox watched quietly.
‘This one won’t be boring She has fusion magic i want to see ’he thought
Sisbell and her opponent stood in the arena.
The referee—an older caretaker of the arena—raised his hand.
“Begin.”
The moment his hand dropped, the opponent moved first.
A water mage.
Mana surged.
“Water Blast!”
A sharp stream of water shot forward like a spear.
Sisbell didn’t panic.
She slammed her staff into the ground.
“Earth Wall.”
A thick wall rose instantly.
The water blast crashed into it and exploded into mist.
Alber leaned forward in his seat.
“…She’s calm in a situation like this i feel relief now”
Nox’s eyes stayed in the arena.
“She’s not panicking, it looks like she was trained he said quietly.
Alber nodded. “By the way… did you notice her magic?”
Nox replied without looking away.
“It’s fusion magic i don't think she uses that on the earth wall”
Alber blinked.
“…Yeah. You’re right. But she’s not fusing many elements yet i think only two right now”
Nox narrowed his eyes slightly.
‘I only see fusion magic, ’he thought.
‘My sister could fuse six elements at once… but Sisbell’s fusion is different. But she was expectations because she was strong ’
The earth wall crumbled.
Sisbell moved.
She placed her palm on the ground.
“Grow.”
The ground trembled.
Vines burst upward, thick and fast, rushing toward the water mage like living snakes.
The crowd gasped.
“Whoa—!”
The opponent reacted quickly.
“Water Cutter!”
Sharp blades of compressed water sliced through the air.
The vines were cut apart mid-charge, falling lifelessly to the ground.
Alber clenched his fist.
“Damn… her basic water cutter is strong”
The sisbell stepped back, eyes sharp, breathing steady.
‘So cutting-type water magic… is strong for vines ’she thought.
She didn’t rush.
She didn’t panic.
She adjusted.
Nox’s gaze deepened.
‘She’s learning mid-fight, normally she isn't good at studying but it feels like i look like a different person.I think she clears exams easily in the forest ’ he thought.
“That’s good.”
The water mage raised both hands again.
Mana surged stronger than before.
The arena floor grew wet.
Sisbell tightened her grip on her staff.
The match had just started—but now…
It was getting interesting.
Nox watched the arena together with Alber and Chris.
Sisbell was retreating step by step.
The water mage raised his hands again.
A wide water wave formed, spinning like a blade.
Chris frowned.
“She’s using the plant element… isn’t that a disadvantage against the water cutter?”
Nox didn’t answer immediately.
“I don’t know her full style,I'm not that close ” he said calmly.
“But I think… someone already has an idea.”
Both Nox and Chris turned their heads at the same time.
Alber.
Alber noticed their gazes and scowled.
“What are you staring at? Just because I have known her since childhood doesn’t mean I know everything. ”
“I hear she trains herself with her mother but i also don't have any idea ”
They both nodded and turned back to the arena.
Sisbell was clearly struggling now.
The water mage slammed his foot down.
“Water Wave!”
A huge surge rushed forward.
Sisbell planted her staff into the ground.
“Grow.”
Thick vines erupted, twisting together like a shield.
The wave crashed into them, water spraying everywhere.
The vines trembled… but didn’t break.
Sisbell’s breathing grew heavier.
She closed her eyes.
Focus.
Mana circles appeared.
One.
Then another.
The two circles overlapped—slowly rotating.
Nox’s eyes narrowed.
“…Fusion. She is doing now”
The vines moved again, charging toward the opponent.
The water mage laughed and raised his hand.
“Water Cutter!”
Blades of water slashed down—
—but this time, something changed.
At the top of the vines, flowers bloomed.
Bright, unnatural.
The petals opened wide.
And—
Crackle.
Blue lightning burst out.
Electricity rushed through the vines like veins of light, riding the water coating them.
The water cutter hit—
—and exploded.
The lightning followed the water straight toward the opponent.
“Wha—?!”
The water mage screamed as electricity slammed into his body, throwing him backward across the arena.
Silence.
Then—
Chris stood up halfway from his seat.
“…Did she just fuse the electric element with the plant element? That looks hard”
Alber’s mouth hung open.
“She did.”
Nox didn’t blink.
“Yes,” he said quietly.
“She used water as a conductor. At this time”
His lips curved slightly.
“she is Smart.”
Sisbell stood in the arena, staff trembling in her hands, sweat dripping down her face.
She looked exhausted.
But her eyes were bright.
The crowd erupted into noise.
And for the first time—
Scarlet, watching from the side, tightened her grip on the railing.
‘She really did it…I'm glad she didn't hurt let's celebrate after i win ’she thought
Chris crossed his arms, eyes still in the arena.
“She’s good,” he said honestly.
“Compared to the others.”
He turned his head toward Nox and Alber.
Both of them looked… bored.
Alber rested his chin on his palm.
“What are you saying? Her opponent was just an amateur.”
Nox nodded slightly.
“If that water mage stopped using only basic spells, it might’ve been more interesting.”
He glanced back at the arena.
“But this?”
“It’s still boring.”
Chris stared at them for a moment, then laughed softly.
“You two are really something.”
He leaned closer to Nox, lowering his voice.
“But I think,” Chris said with a faint smile,
“you liked the last part of the match a lot.”
Nox didn’t look at him.
“…You’re mistaken.”
Nox shot him a cold glance.
“Do you want to fight?”
Chris raised both hands immediately.
“Nope. I’m still alive thanks.”
Chris chuckled quietly.
From the arena, cheers continued to echo.
Sisbell stood there, breathing hard, staff shaking.
Nox looked away again, eyes half-lidded.
Fusion magic…
“…At least,” he muttered, almost to himself,
“she didn’t embarrass Alber.”
Alber heard that.
“…Hey what you mean ”
The match had completely turned.
The next match was announced.
“Liora Altia!”
Liora stepped onto the arena floor, holding her staff like it might run away if she let go. Her steps were stiff. Her face pale.
She swallowed.
“Why is it so big…?”
Her eyes moved around the arena in panic.
Then—
She spotted Nox.
Her eyes lit up like fireworks.
“Nox—!!”
She waved both arms wildly.
“Nox! Nox! I’m here!!”
The entire arena went silent.
Heads turned.
One by one.All directions.
Toward Nox.
Nox froze.
“…Ah.”
Chris slowly looked at him.
Alber slowly looked at him.
Several male students followed their gaze.Nox felt his soul leave his body.
“I want to erase myself from existence,” he said calmly.
Alber grabbed his shoulder, shaking him.
“Oi! Wave back! She’ll cry!”
Chris nodded seriously.
“This is already irreversible damage.”
Nox slapped both of their hands away.
“Are you two trying to get me assassinated? Stop it!”
He looked back at the arena.
Liora was still waving.
Her opponent looked confused.
The referee looked tired.
Nox sighed deeply.
“…You’re dead later.”
He raised his hand.
Just a little.
Liora’s face instantly relaxed.
“Oh!”
She nodded hard, gripping her staff properly.
Her back straightened.
Her breathing calmed.
‘He’s watching. I can do this.' she thought
Nox stared.
“…She really runs on emotional buffs.”
Alber laughed.
“Support-type friends”
Chris added,
“High morale, low stability this is something new”
The referee cleared his throat loudly.
“Ahem! Match—begin!”
Liora stepped forward.
Confident.
Smiling.
Meanwhile, Nox slowly sank into his seat, pulling his hood lower.
“…If anyone asks,” he muttered,
“I was never here.”
Surprisingly, Liora won.
And not with anything flashy.
Just basic magic.
Clean. Simple. Effective.
The referee announced her victory, and the arena buzzed with confused whispers.
Nox narrowed his eyes.
“…She won with only fundamentals.”
Alber crossed his arms.
“Either her opponent was weak…”
He glanced at Nox.
“…or Liora is scarier than she looks.”
Nox watched Liora bow politely in the arena.
“She didn’t use her real magic.”
Alber blinked.
“I thought you knew her magic. Aren’t you close?”
Nox replied calmly,
“I became her friend recently also. That doesn’t mean I know everything.”
Chris chuckled softly.
“She’s a special admission. Curious about her element?”
Nox immediately replied,
“No thanks. I’ll ask her myself.”
Chris raised an eyebrow.
“…You’re surprisingly direct ”
A few minutes later, Sisbell and Liora walked toward the seating area.
Sisbell was talking excitedly.
“That last spell timing was perfect! If you were half a second late—”
She stopped.
Liora stopped.
Both of them started.
Chris Van Kraft.
Sitting.Next to Nox.
With Alber.
Sisbell’s brain visibly froze.
“…Why,” she said slowly,
“…is he here?”
Liora tilted her head.
“Ah—good afternoon, sir Chris.”
Chris smiled politely.
“Congratulations on your win lady's. That was impressive control.”
Liora bowed slightly.
“Thank you…”
Sisbell leaned closer to Alber and whispered aggressively,
“Why is the royal snake sitting with us?”
Nox whispered back,
“He invited himself.dont ”
Alber added quietly,
“Like a stray cat ”
Chris pretended not to hear anything.
Liora sat down, hands on her knees, clearly nervous.
She peeked at Nox.
“…Did I do okay?”
Nox nodded once.
“You did well.”
Her shoulders relaxed instantly.
Sisbell noticed.
“…Wow.”
She looked between them.
“…You really are a buff item. For her”
Nox sighed.
“I’m retiring from emotional support roles.”
Chris laughed under his breath.
“This group,” he said calmly,
“is far more interesting than the arena.”
Nox glanced at him.
“Don’t get used to it please I can't seem to see you more ”
Chris smiled wider.
