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Chapter 18
After her assignment was complete, Jaylin followed Stephan straight to the department office. The moment the door opened, Stephan called out loudly:
“Hello! We’re here to register for the community!”
A tired-looking staff member peeked out from behind a desk partition.
“Only now? It’s been several days since the semester started.”
“She’s a transfer student! I forgot to tell her!”
“So she’s new?”
“Yep!”
The staff member stood up and handed over a sheet of paper — a community registration form.
Stephan, standing beside Jaylin, handed her a pen.
“Just fill in the blanks. Ask me if you don’t know anything.”
The form was simple. Jaylin quickly filled in her name, department, and year, but soon hit a snag.
“W-what’s this part?”
She held the form toward Stephan and pointed to a section labeled “Nickname.”
“Just write anything. Something you like. Or…”
Stephan tapped his chin with his thumb and forefinger, humming in thought, then gestured to Jaylin.
“Give me the pen. I’ll fill that part out for you.”
Taking the form and pen from Jaylin, Stephan wrote something in the nickname section and handed it over to the staff without even showing her what he wrote.
“What type do you want? What’s easiest for you? Bracelet? Ring? Necklace?”
“Anything’s fine.”
“Really? Then let’s go with a bracelet — that’s the most convenient.”
Stephan turned to the staff and shouted:
“A bracelet, please!”
“Wait a moment.”
After a while, the staff member returned with a bracelet embedded with a small mana stone.
Stephan took it and waved it in front of Jaylin.
“This is a magical tool that lets you access the community. This is one of the reasons Pellodian is the most prestigious academy in the Empire. Go on, put it on.”
Jaylin slipped the bracelet onto her wrist. Now that she looked closely, one of the bracelets Stephan wore matched hers exactly.
The mana stone on her wrist emitted a gentle light and flickered.
“If the mana stone touches any part of your body, it’ll activate right away.”
Just as Stephan said, the moment Jaylin rubbed the stone with her finger, a translucent window appeared at the edge of her vision.
“How is it?”
“I see something translucent floating in front of me.”
“The community is basically a messenger. You can exchange messages with anyone registered in the community. Here’s how to use it…”
Stephan continued to excitedly explain the community’s features, going on and on until the staff finally kicked them out for being too loud.
✦✦✦
“Jaylin! Let’s eat lunch together, yeah?”
As soon as their major class ended, Stephan shoved his books into his bag and turned to her. His bright silver hair sparkled under the midday sun.
“…Should we?”
Jaylin quickly calculated how much allowance she had left. It was still early in the semester, so she had a bit of room to spare.
Luckily, the school cafeteria wasn’t too expensive, so she could eat there without worrying too much. Still, she’d prefer to save where she could.
“Let’s eat! Come on, come on!”
While Jaylin was still thinking, Stephan began shaking his body like a child begging for candy.
“Alright, sure. L-let’s eat together.”
“Yesss! Let’s go! Adrian’s eating with us too. We’ll pick him up at the swordsmanship department building.”
“O-okay.”
Jaylin remembered seeing Adrian during the mock class. To be honest, he scared her a little — no, a lot. His personality was as sharp as a needle and as abrasive as sandpaper.
Whenever she hesitated or looked unsure, he’d immediately pressure her without mercy.
Still, since he was Stephan’s friend, she should try her best to get along with him.
While walking to the swordsmanship building, Stephan kept chattering non-stop.
“What should we eat? Jaylin, what do you like?”
“Uh, I-I eat a-anything…”
“Oh yeah? Then what should we pick? I kinda feel like seafood today.”
Just then, the atmosphere around them suddenly grew restless.
Students walking around the campus began murmuring and rushing in one direction. Some even shoved past Jaylin and Stephan.
“What the—? What’s going on?”
Stephan looked around and grabbed one of the students who was running past.
The student, annoyed, snapped at him, but Stephan ignored it completely, focused only on his curiosity.
“Why? What’s happening?”
“Lionel and Adrian are having a match!”
The student threw that line over his shoulder and took off running again.
“No way! Jaylin, we have to go watch. Watching those two duel is epic! You don’t wanna miss it!”
Without even waiting for her reply, Stephan grabbed Jaylin and bolted toward the dueling grounds.
With Stephan pulling her along, Jaylin had no choice but to be dragged after him.
Even before reaching the arena, they could hear the roar of students chanting Lionel’s name.
Still holding Jaylin’s hand, Stephan squeezed through the crowd gathered around.
“Hey! Don’t push!”
“Who the hell—?! Are you crazy?!”
Angry voices erupted from the students, but Stephan ignored them completely and forced his way forward.
“Oops, excuse me, I’m just trying to get to my best friend!”
“S-sorry! I’m so sorry…”
Jaylin, being pulled along, broke into a sweat as she repeatedly apologized on their behalf.
Eventually, the two of them managed to reach the front row, where they had a clear view of the dueling grounds.
As soon as they arrived, a gust of wind carrying dust and sand blew in their direction.
Jaylin quickly raised her hand to shield her eyes. A few grains of sand must have gotten in, because her eyes began to sting.
Blinking rapidly, she looked up and saw two figures standing in the center of the arena.
Lionel and Adrian.
The fierce wind whipped at their shirts from all directions, and under the dazzling sunlight, their well-toned upper bodies were faintly visible.
Lionel stood with his black sword pointed downward, eyes locked intently on Adrian.
Thick veins bulged beneath his rolled-up sleeves, and though he seemed relaxed, he was clearly tense, on high alert for any movement from Adrian.
Adrian took a step forward — then suddenly charged toward Lionel with explosive speed.
His white blade gleamed under the noon sun as it reflected the light.
An excited Stephan turned to Jaylin.
“Jaylin, Jaylin! You’ve never seen a magic swordsman before, right?”
“N-no, I haven’t.”
She shook her head. She’d seen knights sparring at the Edouard estate as a child, but never a magic swordsman.
“They’re super rare, and this academy actually has two current students who are magic swordsmen. Know who they are? Drumroll please…”
Before Stephan could finish, a burly and intimidating student beside them cut in.
“Lionel and Adrian.”
“Hey! I was gonna say that!”
Stephan pouted and glared at the student who interrupted him.
“Cut the chatter and let us watch the match, will you? You’re distracting everyone.”
The gruff student twitched his brow and glared at both of them.
“Geez. Anyway, Jaylin, pay close attention. You won’t get to see a duel between magic swordsmen often!”
“Okay.”
Jaylin nodded and turned her eyes back toward the arena.
While they were talking, Lionel and Adrian had already exchanged numerous blows.
The students surrounding the arena held their breath, all eyes on the tips of their swords.
Amid the silence, the sharp clashing of blades rang through the dueling grounds.
Adrian spotted an opening and quickly lunged at Lionel’s shoulder.
Lionel barely deflected the thrust with his longer, thicker sword, angling it just right.
Adrian didn’t let up — his attacks came swiftly and relentlessly. Lionel had no choice but to retreat, barely managing to parry each strike.
All he could do was defend, defend, and defend some more. Adrian’s fierce onslaught left no room for Lionel to counterattack.
Lionel looked completely overwhelmed by Adrian’s momentum — at least, that’s how it seemed to Jaylin.
Nervously, sweat began to pool in her palms. She tugged at Stephan’s sleeve.
“Stephan, what should we do? W-what if Senior Lionel gets hurt…?”
“Pfft. Lionel? Get hurt? No way.”
The same gruff student from earlier scoffed at her concern.
“But still…”
Jaylin tried to object, but he cut her off with a snort.
“Lionel’s never lost to Adrian. So don’t worry.”
Their movements became too fast for Jaylin’s eyes to follow.
Then, a split second faster than before, Adrian’s sword thrust toward Lionel’s chest.
In that instant, a golden light flared around Lionel before vanishing.
“Huh? Stephan, what was that? That golden light in front of Senior Lionel.”
“Oh, that? That’s magic. Lionel’s not exactly slow, but Adrian’s attacks are super fast. So sometimes he can’t block in time. That’s when he uses magic shields in just the spots he expects Adrian will hit.”
“Wait — he can do that?”
“Most people can’t. But that’s Lionel’s specialty. His magic control is absolutely insane. He’s a total monster. So let’s root for Adrian, who’s up against that freak.”
“O-okay.”
“Adrian!! Let’s go! You got this! Show him what you’re made of!!”
As soon as Jaylin responded, Stephan’s loud cheer echoed through the entire dueling ground.
