As the sixth semester approached, Sophia's understanding of medicinal magic had grown significantly, making her casting more efficient. However, the idea of making a pact with demonic powers still lingered in their minds as the magical games drew near.

They decided to confide in Altheack about the pact offer. "Val, this is a terrible idea. History shows that those who fall for the allure of easy power often face dire consequences when the debts come due," Altheack warned.

Mike, speaking through Valicar, brushed off the warning. "Well, maybe we can charm them into giving us a discount, especially if those forbidden books are involved. Besides, how dangerous can it be if they have those books here at the academy?"

Altheack responded, "The forbidden books are hidden away by specific factions who are very selective about who can access them."

Sophia then suggested a different approach, speaking aloud to both Altheack and Mike. "What if we catch the man who made the offer in Helm Town and use a truth spell to make him reveal everything? They won't notice such a small spell amidst all the magic during the games."

Mike was surprised by his sister's proposal, knowing she was hesitant to use such spells. He realized they had always supported each other, no matter the situation, and appreciated her all the more for it.

As the games began, Sophia and Mike followed the man who had made the pact offer. They had already accepted the offer to trick and then followed him through town. They confronted him in his hideout, surrounded by other members of the old blood faction.

Knowing they would never gain their support due to their differing views, Mike decided to beat up the men and question the man himself, much to Sophia's dismay. She was afraid that making enemies was unnecessary, but gave up considering they would never have their support anyway and it was kind of her plan to begin with.

"So it's all behind a bookshelf? Really, that's all, no security?" Mike asked the man while Sophia's magic searched his mind for the information.

"Yes, there are forgotten tomes hidden even from the academy. A senior member of the order saved them before the purges. They are the legacy of our order, available to all but too dangerous to keep within reach," the man explained as his companions moaned on the floor nursing broken bones, incapacitated by Mike's actions.

After dealing with the Old Blood who made the offer, Sophia and Mike hurried to the magical games. They arrived just in time for the free-for-all event, where they encountered Orion once again. The fight was intense and chaotic, with numerous competitors clashing in the arena. However, the battle took a dangerous turn when Orion unleashed a tornado, endangering the lives of many participants.

Sophia, following Mike's lead, used her fire magic to counter the tornado, creating a massive firestorm that wiped out over 50 competitors and inflicted horrible burns on all it touched. Armor melted into men's flesh, and the air filled with smoke and the smell of charred pork. The judges had to intervene and call off the free-for-all event due to the excessive damage caused.

Valicar continued to advance through the next few rounds of the tournament, and Mike put on a captivating show during the fights, reveling in the battles with his increased speed and strength. Over time, Sophia's magic had grown even more powerful, and their shared body had undergone the change of age, allowing them to develop more muscle mass, enhancing their mana control, and giving them a longer reach and stride while running. Most importantly, their mana supply had multiplied, granting them greater magical endurance.

The long hours of training had paid off, and Mike had become proficient in understanding Sophia's hand signs for spells. They fought with perfect synchronicity, almost as if their minds were one, anticipating each other's moves and casting spells without the need for verbal communication. Their teamwork was nothing short of extraordinary, and their bond as siblings and magical partners grew stronger with every passing year.

As they continued their victorious streak, Sophia struggled with her emotions. She felt uneasy about how Mike often seemed to take the lead in combat, being brutal but effective in his methods. It made her question her role in the battles and the consequences of their actions. However, despite her reservations, she couldn't deny their incredible efficiency as a team. They moved and fought as one, anticipating each other's moves with uncanny precision. It was a deadly dance, and they emerged victorious time and again.

In one of the fights, they unleashed an overly powerful attack after following Mike's hand signs, leading to a massive rock landing on the halfling competitor. The force of their magic was overwhelming, leaving the halfling turned to paste.

Sophia couldn't help but feel the weight of responsibility for the death caused in the games, even if it wasn't entirely intentional, while Mike as usual was unbothered. The toll of their actions weighed heavily on her conscience as they progressed through the tournament.

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In the final battle between Valicar and Orion, the atmosphere crackled with magic and tension. Orion, a master of air manipulation, focused his attention solely on Valicar, dancing gracefully in the air, conjuring sharp air blades that cut through the arena like deadly whips. His hands moved with eerie precision as he chanted spell after spell, causing the air to swirl and gust around him.

"Lovois, Decoiyd, Swqal," he intoned, his voice resonating with power. With a malevolent glint in his eyes, Orion directed his lethal magic solely toward Valicar, showcasing his mastery over the wind. The arena trembled with the force of his spells as he skillfully maneuvered through the air.

His control over the wind allowed him to effortlessly blow Valicar around, leaving her struggling for balance and breath. He seemed to take delight in watching her attempt to counter his attacks. Orion's cruelty extended even further as he drained the air from Valicar's lungs, leaving her gasping for oxygen, her movements becoming sluggish and feeble.

In that desperate moment, Sophia took control "Goroma Va Kora," her voice commanding as a whisper as she chanted the powerful spell, shooting lightning at Orion with a wave of her hand. The bolt disrupted his spells, allowing Valicar to gasp for breath once more. But in that moment a blade caught her outstretched hand.

"Gah, fuck! That hurt!" Valicar exclaimed, clutching her bleeding stump after an air blade struck her, her face contorting with agony as she grit her teeth.

"That attack won't work again, Imp!" Orion taunted. "Now who needs a hand?" He laughed at Valicar's maiming.

"Not me, I only need one hand to deal with you, pointy," Mike said. Undeterred, Mike took over the fight with one hand and deadly grace, wielding Valicar's ice sword with incredible skill. He engaged Orion in a fierce one-on-one duel, his movements fluid and calculated, countering Orion's air blades with well-timed slashes. But no matter how hard they tried, Orion's aerial advantage allowed him to evade their attacks with ease, always staying one step ahead.

Sophia knew they needed to bring Orion down to solid ground to level the playing field. "Gromfa," she chanted, summoning an ice golem of massive proportions. The golem lumbered forward, its powerful limbs propelling it toward Orion. However, in his element of the sky, Orion swiftly dodged the icy spikes launched by the golem, his smirk never faltering.

As the intensity of the battle increased, Orion struck with swift precision. He sent a powerful gust of wind towards Valicar, catching her off-guard. The air blade struck a bloody blow, severing her arm this time at the elbow, undoing the healing she had done so far to the limb. Sophia cried out in pain, clutching her bleeding stump.

"Fuck, at least it was the same arm," Mike grunted as he refocused. Refusing to be defeated, Mike continued his relentless assault.

With determination shining in Sophia's eyes, she summoned a second ice golem, amplifying their offensive power. The golems unleashed a relentless barrage of icy needles at Orion, forcing him to retreat momentarily.

As the battle raged on, Orion attempted to suffocate Valicar by manipulating the air around her again. "This fucking trick again," she thought annoyed, but Sophia's quick thinking and growing mastery over her nature magic came into play. She began to perform a rain dance she had learned with Altheack, summoning a cloud and rain that gradually saturated the battlefield.

With the moisture in the air now at her disposal, Sophia unleashed a powerful freezing spell, calling out, "Faersoris!" Ice spread rapidly, encasing Orion in a frozen prison. His soaked clothes and the water in the air contributed to his quick imprisonment. With a sickening splat, he plummeted to the ground, defeated and incapacitated by the freezing grip of her magic.

Before they could fully process their victory, Orion was quickly teleported away, likely rescued by the academy staff to prevent any severe injuries.

After Valicar's victory against Orion, they were taken to the healing tent where their arm was tended to. Healing would take a few days, but Sophia knew that with constant mana infusion, she could accelerate the process to a few hours. They hoped that someday they would be able to regenerate instantly, like the superheroes of their old life. They longed for the day when they could achieve such incredible feats with their magic.

Later, as they were brought up again by the announcer, Valicar was given a chance to speak to the audience. The crowd was still roaring with excitement after witnessing a lower-year girl defeat a final-year student from the prestigious Wildwood family. Orion had been considered a prodigy in his field, and Valicar's victory was an unexpected and impressive feat in a one-on-one.

Valicar took this opportunity to make a bold request. They spoke about House Norail's wish to bring magic back to the central continent and to restore the kingdom of Kelvidion, with House Norail as the rightful royal family. The audience's reaction was mixed, with some jeering at the audacity of such a proposition while others genuinely supported their cause. Orion's home county might not be very sympathetic, but Valicar wanted to make their intentions known to the wider world.

After the formalities, the after-party brought forth more people with offers of support. Sophia gave a heartfelt speech about the right of all mages to exist, emphasizing the importance of unity and the need to reclaim their magical heritage. Some people openly mocked her, calling her plea a trap to gather the alliance into one big army, only for the Northern Pillar to wipe them all out in one fell swoop. Although the grim possibility couldn't be denied, the mere mention of the Northern Pillar silenced the room.

The Northern Pillar was a figure that struck fear into the hearts of many. Few had lived to see him fight, but every nation had encountered his power in one way or another. Some believed him to be a demi-god, while others thought of him as a devil in human form. Either way, one thing was certain—he was the greatest obstacle standing in the way of magic being restored to the central continent.

As the revelries of the party subsided, Sophia and Mike found themselves drawn to the hidden section of the library.