3ch 16: Prince of Flame (1)
Chapter 16: Prince of Flame (1)
In the early hours before dawn, when silence wrapped the world and most eyes were shut in sleep, one of the private training rooms in the Elite Dormitory was buzzing with movement and light.
SHING!
A sharp sword swing cut the air, piercing the chest of a magically reinforced training dummy with extreme precision.
But the test wasn't over.
Enchanted gears moved, and six other dummies surrounded the figure standing in the center, raising their wooden swords and spears in a synchronized and tight attack, intending to crush him mercilessly.
In that moment of danger, the young man with fiery red hair didn't panic.
He returned his sword to its sheath coolly, closed his eyes for a moment, then exhaled a hot breath that turned into white steam in the cold air.
His eyes opened suddenly, revealing pupils glowing like burning embers.
"Explode."
With a single word, his body ignited with a massive red aura, and a circular wave of pure flame launched out, expanding like a miniature volcanic explosion to melt the six dummies in a fraction of a second and turn them into ash scattering in the air.
Cedric von Ignis stood in the center of the scorched circle, his chest heaving, beads of sweat glistening on his forehead.
He wiped his face with his forearm, then headed straight toward another training device without rest. It was a huge circular rug inscribed with complex magic circles glowing with warm red light, designed to help fire mages stabilize turbulent mana flow.
Cedric sat in the middle in a meditative pose, closing his eyes, trying to calm the flame boiling in his veins.
But calm was elusive.
Whenever he tried to clear his mind, the image of that pale face and dead eyes jumped into his imagination.
Elias Reinhardt.
The variable factor that shattered all his expectations.
Cedric entered the Academy knowing his place well. He aimed for second place. The first was reserved for Princess Celine, his future liege. It wasn't just submission, but respect for her terrifying power.
But for a nobody, a person with no background to mention, to come and surpass them both? And by an overwhelming margin?
Cedric remembered that moment. The bear that stumbled suddenly.
Luck, his thoughts screamed. Just damn luck. If that monster hadn't stumbled, Elias would be crow food by now.
And he remembered the worst moment... the moment he challenged Elias.
His magic, his pride, his flame that never failed him... vanished suddenly before hitting the target.
Why? Was his focus weak? Was the mana unstable? Was his anger the cause?
The "von Ignis" family, Princes of Flame, carry a blessing and a curse in their blood. Their flame feeds on everything, even emotions. Anger is the strongest fuel, but the most dangerous. If you lose control, your flame will burn you before it burns your enemy.
"I won't let that happen again."
Cedric whispered to himself. Over the past week, he had consumed all kinds of strengthening potions and punished his body with harsh training to increase his magic stability and control his emotions. And he didn't neglect his sword either; a true mage must be ready for close combat.
All this effort for one goal: to prove that luck doesn't make heroes.
He continued meditating and controlling the mana flow until the first threads of sunlight sneaked through the high windows.
Cedric finished his training, opening his eyes which were now clear and sharp. His condition was at its peak.
After a quick shower, Cedric left his room wearing the Academy's official uniform, to find a group of his classmates waiting for him in the hallway.
They were his friends, sons of nobles he grew up with. With them, he could take off the "arrogant noble" mask a little and enjoy being a normal young man.
"Oh, Cedric!" one of them called. "Did you eat?"
Cedric smiled with slight fatigue: "No, I was heading to the dining hall now."
"That's great! We were waiting for 'Jack', then we'll all go."
While speaking, a blonde young man appeared running toward them, panting.
The first student laughed: "Wow, speak of the cat and he appears! I wish I had proposed marriage in that moment instead of his arrival!"
Everyone, including Cedric, burst into laughter, and they walked together toward the dining hall, exchanging jokes and friendly insults.
While they were eating, "Jack" asked with his mouth full: "Cedric, you said you'd participate in the tournament, did you register your name?"
Cedric replied confidently while cutting a slice of meat: "Of course. I will win this time and prove to that student that luck doesn't work every time."
Jack said in a sly tone: "And what if he knocks you down again?"
Cedric felt a quick prick of anger, but suppressed it immediately, realizing Jack was joking as usual.
He replied seriously: "I wasn't knocked down. My magic failed for a technical reason, and that kid exploited the situation, nothing more."
Jack and the rest of the friends tried to suppress their laughter at his reaction, but their red faces betrayed them.
"Yes... yes of... of course... Pfft!"
"Hahahahaha!"
They burst out laughing without regard for his feelings.
Cedric sighed, then smiled slyly: "Fine, fine, laugh. Laughter must be comforting for you, Jack, after 'Zekinaria' rejected you yesterday, right?"
Jack's laughter stopped suddenly, and his face paled as if struck by lightning.
He stammered: "She... she didn't reject me... just... just said she sees me as a brother..."
Another student commented sarcastically while patting Jack on the shoulder: "My friend, that is the definition of polite rejection in the dictionary!"
The tables turned, and everyone started laughing at Jack this time, and Cedric joined them enjoying this moment of peace.
After breakfast, they headed to the lecture hall.
Cedric sat in his place, watching students enter.
Then Elias entered. Calm, cold, like a ghost walking among humans.
Cedric noticed Princess Celine's strange look toward Elias; a mix of caution and curiosity. He didn't say anything, but stored the observation in his mind.
Professor Valeria entered and announced the start of the qualifiers.
In the Third Training Arena, after procedures ended, Cedric stood holding his sword, surrounded by hundreds of students.
His mind was clear, his focus set on one goal.
This time, I will prove to you, Elias Reinhardt, that there is no room for luck. If you want to compete, compete fairly.
The bout began.
The arena exploded into chaos. Spells flying in every direction, clashing swords, and battle cries.
Cedric didn't care about any of this. His eyes were fixed on Elias who stood in the middle like a statue.
"It's the Top Student! We'll get rid of a huge obstacle if we defeat him!" a student shouted.
Cedric nodded internally. Good idea. Get rid of his guard so I can face him.
He moved with the crowd, enhancing his body with magic, refusing to use his flames now so as not to reveal his cards.
He approached Elias, raising his sword, ready to deliver a powerful blow to force him to defend.
Show me what you have!
But before his blade arrived, Elias vanished.
Cedric blinked in astonishment. Where...?
Then Elias appeared in the middle of the larger group, and his robe began to glow with that ominous purple light.
Cedric realized the truth immediately, biting his lip in anger.
A high-level magic tool?!
Impossible! A first-year student owns something like this? And uses it here? In qualifiers to measure personal skill?
Isn't this blatant cheating?!
He had no time to think. Lightning descended like rain.
Cedric was forced to dance like a madman to dodge the random bolts. He saw his classmates falling like burnt insects.
He ran, rolled, and jumped, anger boiling in his chest with every step.
This isn't a fight! This is a massacre with family money!
After one minute, the nightmare ended.
The professor announced the results: "The winner... Elias Reinhardt."
Cedric couldn't take it.
His hoarse voice exploded through the smoke: "This is obvious cheating!"
He screamed with all the air in his lungs, pointing at Elias who stood without a scratch.
"He used a high-level tool! How is this a fair match?!"
The burnt students around him supported him. But the professor's reply was cold and harsh as frost, threatening them with his terrifying aura.
"This is a military academy... not your mother's house to cry in."
Cedric felt the humiliation burn his insides more than his flames.
Then just give him the win from the start! Why make us fight if he has a one-push win button?!
If the competition were fair, he wouldn't have lasted a minute against me!
Then he heard the applause.
He turned to see the audience clapping and cheering.
No? Why are you clapping? Are you blind? Does this look like an honorable victory to you?
He felt nauseous from the world's hypocrisy. Power justifies everything, even legalized cheating.
Elias passed by him, his dead eyes looking forward, indifferent to the destruction, the anger, or Cedric himself.
It was total disregard. A disregard that burned Cedric's pride more than any defeat.
He ground his teeth until he heard them grinding, and muttered in a voice dripping with venom and malice:
"I'll show you... I'll show you, cheater..."
He looked at Elias's retreating back, and swore in his heart:
"I will crush you in the individual matches... and then your toys and games won't help you. Just wait."
