Chapter 21 “ Spar match” part 3
Sisbell didn’t say anything.
She simply grabbed Liora’s wrist and pulled her to sit beside Alber.
A clear message.
Distance.
Chris noticed it.
So did Nox.
For a few seconds, no one spoke.
The arena noise filled the gap.
Chris leaned slightly closer to Nox, voice low.
“You look tense are worried about something happening with her.”
Nox didn’t turn his head.
“We already decided something.”
Chris glanced at him.
“Oh?”
Nox spoke calmly, each word slow.
“You don’t touch the people close to me. Ever.”
Chris didn’t smile this time.
“I know.”
He paused, then continued lightly,
“But Viona heard something interesting.”
Nox’s eyes shifted slightly.
“…Speak.”
Chris tilted his head.
“She said you don’t think Lady Scarlet is your friend.”
Silence.
The air around Nox dropped a few degrees.
Chris added,
“And that you two are avoiding each other a lot ”
Nox exhaled softly.
‘So he’s using her name now
Sigrid really raised a snake… or maybe he learned from her.’ he thought
Nox finally looked at Chris.
“That doesn’t concern you sir Chris”
Chris studied his face.
“I wonder about that”
He glanced toward the arena, where Scarlet’s name was being announced for the next match.
“If she gets hurt,” Chris said casually,
“What kind of reaction would you give us?”
Nox turned fully this time.
His expression was calm.
Too calm.
“You already know the result of this match,” Nox said quietly.
“So stop trying to provoke me.”
Chris met his gaze.
For a brief moment—
No smiles.
No jokes.
No masks.
Just two predators measuring distance.
Then Chris leaned back, relaxed again.
“…Fair enough.”
Sisbell, sitting beside Alber, whispered without looking,
“Are they threatening each other?”
Alber whispered back,
“No.”
She glanced at Nox.
“They’re really never becoming good friends.”
Liora hugged her knees slightly, eyes in the arena.
“…Is Lady Scarlet going to be okay?”
Nox didn’t answer.
His eyes were already locked forward.
Waiting.
The last match began.
Scarlet stepped onto the arena.
Her battle clothes hugged her frame neatly, light and flexible—but what caught Nox’s eyes wasn’t her outfit.
It was her staff.
“…That staff,” Nox muttered.
Chris glanced down.
“Ice crystal core you recognise instantly .”
Nox narrowed his eyes.
“That’s expensive.”
Chris nodded.
“And hard to control. Only high-quality mana circuits can handle it.”
‘She chose something dangerous Typical sly fox is she completely an idiot or plan if not she just shows off her money right now’ nox thought
Sisbell and Liora were already cheering loudly.
“Scarlet—!”
“Lady Scarlet, you can do it—!”
Nox stood up suddenly.
Chris blinked.
“…Where are you going?”
Nox grabbed his sleeve.
“Shut up and follow me.”
Chris frowned but followed.
Alber leaned forward.
“Hey—where are you two going?”
Nox didn’t look back.
“I’ll be back.”
Sisbell and Liora exchanged worried looks.
Liora clenched her hands.
“…Please come back soon.”
A few minutes later.
High above the arena, near the stone wall overlooking the battlefield—
Nox and Chris stood side by side.
From here, the entire arena was visible.
No one below could see them.
Chris whistled softly.
“Oh. You just wanted a better view? Of her lost”
Nox ignored him.
“Let’s get to the point, Chris van Kraft.”
Chris turned slightly.
“…Go on.”
Nox’s voice was low.
“Did you decide this pairing?”
Chris didn’t answer immediately.
“And don’t dodge it,” Nox added.
“I’m asking if you pushed for it.”
Chris sighed.
“The professor wanted a royal faction versus a noble faction.”
He looked down at the arena.
“And Scarlet el Valorios is the noble faction’s symbol. Or the second leader, if you prefer.”
Nox’s eyes sharpened.
“So the one who gave him that idea… was you”
Chris smiled faintly.
“…What if I say yes?”
Nox didn’t smile back.
Before he could speak again—
Another figure stepped into the arena.
Viona.
Short hair.
Expressionless face.
No staff.
Only magic knuckles wrapped around her fists.
Nox’s gaze darkened.
“ugh…She’s not holding back don't tell me she uses martial arts in competition ”
Chris folded his arms.
“Viona never does she doesn't want to kill anyone ”
Below them, the referee raised his hand.
The crowd held its breath.
Nox whispered, almost to himself,
“…Don’t get hurt, sly fox.”
The match began.
The bell rang.
The arena fell silent.
Scarlet lifted her staff.
Cold air spreads instantly.
Frost crawled across the ground.
“Twin Ice Magic—Activation.”
Two magic circles bloomed behind her back.
One pale blue.
One deep silver.
Gasps spread through the stands.
“Twin casting…? Wasn't that rare”
“Is She’s really first year…!”
Nox’s eyes narrowed from above.
‘She’s using both formulas at once… reckless.twin ice magic was magic form on the base of assumption "fire cold as ice and ice hot as fire" but look like she only uses fire as cold as ice right now i don't know much about maybe my sister knows that but I'm still lacking lot ’he think
Viona didn’t move.
No staff.
No chant.
She bent her knees slightly.
Her fists tightened.
Buzz—
A dull sound echoed.
Physical Enhancement Magic activated.
Veins of faint golden light ran along her arms.
Chris spoke calmly.
“Viona’s specialty. Reinforcement stacked on bones and muscles.”
Nox replied flatly.
“So she plans to break through everything basically she is dimond Golem level ”
Scarlet struck first.
“Ice Spear.”
Dozens of sharp ice lances formed mid-air and shot forward.
Viona kicked the ground.
Boom—
The stone floor cracked.
She dashed straight through the spears.
Ice shattered on her reinforced arms.
Cuts appeared—then froze over before blood could fall.
The crowd exploded.
“She went through it?!”
“Is she insane?!”
Scarlet’s eyes widened.
She spun her staff.
“Ice Wall!”
A thick wall rose instantly.
Viona didn’t stop.
She punched.
Crack—!
The wall bent inward.
Second punch.
Shatter!
Ice exploded outward like glass rain.
Scarlet stepped back fast.
Twin circles rotated faster.
“Freeze Field!”
Cold pressure slammed down.
Frost locked Viona’s legs to the ground.
Her movement stopped for half a second.
Nox clenched his fist.
‘Good. Control on her pace she use ice crystal but if she do long she exhaust first’he thought
Viona frowned slightly.
Then—
Crack.
Her muscles swelled unnaturally.
The ice around her legs shattered from sheer force.
She smiled.
A small one.
Scarlet felt it.
“…She’s enjoying this.”
Viona vanished.
Too fast.
Scarlet barely raised her staff—Impact.
Her body flew backward.
She slid across the arena floor, boots carving lines into stone.
Sisbell screamed.
“Scarlet—!”
Liora covered her mouth.
Nox took a step forward.
Chris blocked him with one arm.
“…you can't go and interfere in the middle of match. ”
Scarlet coughed.
She pushed herself up.
Blood ran from the corner of her mouth.
She wiped it with her sleeve.
Then she smiled.
“…So close combat, huh.”
Twin magic circles changed shape.
Complex.
Sharper.
“Twin Ice—Mirror Bloom.”
The ground reflected light.
Suddenly—
Five Scarlets appeared.
Illusions made of ice.
Viona stopped.
Her eyes moved slowly.
“One… two… three…”
She inhaled.
Then punched the ground.
Shockwave.
All illusions shattered—
Except one.
Scarlet appeared above.
Her staff glowed.
“Ice Coffin.”
A massive block of ice fell from the sky.
Viona crossed her arms.
Boom—!!!
The arena shook.
Dust rose everywhere.
Silence.
For a moment—
No one knew who won.
Nox whispered, barely audible.
“…it's the end soon Both of them injured badly”
Inside the ice—
Crack.
A fist pressed outward.
Viona’s voice came out calm.
“…You’re strong.”
The ice shattered.
Viona stood there—bruised, bleeding, smiling.
Scarlet stood across from her, breathing hard, mana trembling.
Two girls.
Still standing.
The referee swallowed.
“…The match continues.”
From above, Nox closed his eyes for a second.
“sly fox… she really won’t step back easily her pride is stronger than i thought”
From the top of the arena, Nox and Chris watched silently.
The cold wind carried the scent of ice and sweat.
Scarlet’s hair clung to her face. Frost crystals sparkled along her staff.
Viona’s knuckles glowed faintly gold. Her stance was calm, but every muscle screamed tension.
Chris tilted his head slightly.
“Not bad… the two cold personalities fighting. No emotion, just precision.”
Nox didn’t answer
‘He knew. No matter what Scarlet did, she’d lose if she went all out. Even thinking positively, even pushing herself—she’d still misjudge Viona’s speed and power ’he thought
He exhaled slowly.
“ she didn't use her White Tiger form?”
Chris shook his head.
“No that Her choice. She didn’t want to hurt anyone”
“My Viona… she’s kindhearted, despite that expressionless face.”
Nox’s lips twitched‘Kindhearted? She just crushed half the arena with her bare fists.well not bare but still ’he thought
A shiver ran down him when Chris added quietly,
“…My Viona win”
Nox froze for a moment.
‘…Creepy. Very creepy’he thought
The match continued.
Scarlet’s ice blades whirled, mirrored by Vivona’s reinforced strikes.
The crowd held their breath.
Every clash of ice and physical enhancement reverberated like a storm.
Nox’s eyes narrowed.
Chris didn’t move. He just observed, silent, almost smug.
Nox muttered under his breath.
“Idiot… if she fights like this normally, she’ll kill someone and are they both forget it's friendly spar”
The two girls, locked in their frozen battlefield, moved like blades cutting the wind.
Neither willing to yield.
And above it all, Nox and Chris remained calm—two silent spectators to a war of ice and strength.
The clash continued. Scarlet swung her ice blades with precision, but Vivona’s enhanced punches were fast, unstoppable.
Nox watched quietly, knowing the outcome.
With a final strike, Viona dodged Scarlet’s ice attack and tapped her shoulder.
The match ended. Scarlet fell to one knee, breathing hard.
Nox sighed quietly. ‘As expected… she gave her all but the problem is her experience and it's hard to defeat someone who serves the Kraft family’he thought
From the sidelines, Liora and Sisbell jumped up, cheering loudly.
“Scarlet! You did great!” Liora shouted, clapping her hands.
“Yeah! Don’t worry about winning, you’re amazing!” Sisbell added, grinning.
Scarlet wiped sweat from her face, her expression tired but proud.
Even though she lost, her friends’ cheers made her smile slightly.
Nox and Chris exchanged glances. Chris smirked faintly, Nox just shook his head.
“Always the stubborn ones,i really hate stubborn girls” Nox muttered, thinking of Scarlet.
The crowd buzzed, but Liora and Sisbell stayed focused on cheering for their friend.
Scarlet stood slowly, brushing off ice crystals from her clothes.
“I’ll get stronger next time,” she said quietly to herself, almost to the cheering friends beside her.
Nox’s eyes softened for a moment as he watched her determination.
The first-year spar match was over, but for Scarlet, it was only the beginning.
Scarlet el valorios
