Zephyr stood in the center of the academy's training grounds, the air swirling around him in fierce gusts. The past week had been a blur of relentless training, fueled by anticipation for the Grand Melee. Yet, despite the intensity of his efforts, a lingering irritation gnawed at him.

Where is Aeloria?

It had been over a week since Zephyr's crushing victory over Lorian, an encounter that had barely been a contest. He had overwhelmed Lorian effortlessly using his aura, making it a one-sided fight that had set the academy abuzz with rumors. Lorian had returned to training only a few times afterward, looking ragged and distracted before vanishing altogether.

With a flick of his wrist, Zephyr summoned a gust of wind, channeling the magic into a fierce, cutting blast that struck a training dummy. The wooden figure splintered and snapped under the force, pieces scattering across the courtyard. Yet, the act brought him no satisfaction. If anything, it only deepened his frustration.

Did one defeat break him?

Zephyr hadn't considered Lorian a true rival—at least, not initially. But Lorian's sudden disappearance from training grated on his nerves. For someone who carried the name Aeloria, retreating after a single loss was disgraceful. It was as if Lorian had already surrendered, and that just didn't sit right with him.

He let the wind die down and the magic dissipate as he turned away from the wreckage. His training felt hollow, like swinging at empty air. The Grand Melee was fast approaching, and without a worthy challenge to push him, it was hard to muster the same excitement.

"Still no sign of him?" a voice called from behind.

Zephyr glanced over his shoulder to see Rhyssa approaching, a smirk playing at her lips. Her eyes flicked to the shattered training dummy, then back to him. "You know, if you keep taking your frustration out on the dummies, we'll run out before the Melee even begins."

He snorted and shook his head. "It's not about the dummies."

"Right. It's about Lorian, isn't it?" Rhyssa's tone carried a hint of amusement. "Everyone's saying he's been in hiding ever since you embarrassed him in front of half the academy."

Zephyr's eyes narrowed. "I didn't expect him to just give up. I thought he'd be back by now—training harder, trying to prove he could take me down."

Rhyssa shrugged. "Maybe he knows when he's beaten. Not everyone's as stubborn as you are, Zephyr."

He didn't respond immediately, his gaze drifting toward the far end of the training grounds. It wasn't just stubbornness driving him—it was the thrill of the fight, the excitement that came from meeting someone who could challenge him. Lorian had shown a flicker of defiance during their match, a glimpse of something that could have made for a real rivalry. And now, it seemed that flicker had been extinguished.

Rhyssa, catching the look in his eyes, smirked. "Face it, Zephyr, you broke him. Aric's little protégé wasn't as strong as everyone thought."

Zephyr's expression hardened at the mention of Aric. "It wasn't just about beating him," he said flatly. "I wanted him to come back stronger. I wanted a real fight."

"Well, looks like you'll have to find your challenge somewhere else," Rhyssa remarked, leaning against the courtyard wall. "Unless you plan to go drag him out of whatever hole he's hiding in."

She tilted her head, a playful glint in her eyes. "Or," she added, "maybe it's time you set your sights on some real talent—like Elara."

Zephyr's eyes flicked to Rhyssa, his interest piqued.

Elara, huh? The name carried weight. Even among the first-year students, Elara Aeloria had quickly become a standout. Her reputation wasn't just idle chatter; it was backed by her achievements. The academy magistar had seen fit to award her the gold pin right from the start—an acknowledgment of exceptional talent rarely given to newcomers.

Rhyssa leaned in, her smirk growing as she continued. "Unlike Lorian, she's got the skills and the drive to prove herself. She's already turning heads around here. If you're looking for a real challenge, Elara's your best bet."

Zephyr considered the idea, a faint smile curling his lips. There was no doubt Elara was different from her brother. While Lorian had struggled to meet expectations, Elara had exceeded them, even catching the attention of the academy's most respected figures. Though he had never sparred with her—being two years ahead of her in the academy—he had heard enough to be intrigued.

"She's promising," Zephyr admitted, a spark of interest in his eyes. "Maybe more than that. It could be worth testing her mettle."

Rhyssa's eyes gleamed with satisfaction at his response. "Elara versus Zephyr in the Grand Melee… Now that would be a match everyone would be talking about," she said, her tone laced with excitement. "And who knows, it might even draw Lorian out of hiding. Nothing like seeing his sister take the spotlight to light a fire under him."

The thought stirred something darkly amusing in Zephyr. If facing Elara in the Grand Melee could provoke a reaction from Lorian, then he'd be killing two birds with one stone. He could see if the prodigy lived up to her reputation while also gauging if there was still any fight left in her overshadowed brother.

"Let's find out if the younger Aeloria can live up to the hype," he said, his tone edged with a challenge. "And if her brother shows up, well... I'll crush him too."

Zephyr turned back to his training, the air around him swirling as he summoned his wind magic once more. This time, his focus sharpened, no longer distracted by Lorian's earlier defeat. Now, his thoughts were on Elara—a potentially worthy adversary.

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***

Elara's light construct shimmered in the air, casting a warm glow over the training yard. She had formed the shape of a spear, its surface made entirely of luminous energy, every detail precise and defined. With a focused expression, she willed it to float above her outstretched hand, the radiant weapon hovering steadily as she maintained her concentration. The spear dissolved back into raw light, scattering like golden dust before vanishing completely.

"That's impressive, Elara," Vivienne said, her eyes widening with admiration. She summoned a small vine from the ground with a flick of her wrist, watching as it twisted and grew rapidly, forming a circle around her feet. "You're able to create them almost instantly now."

Elara gave a small smile, lowering her hand. "It's still not as strong as I want it to be, but I'm getting there." She glanced around at the others—Selene, Vivienne, Julian, and Celeste—who were gathered in the courtyard with her. The final week before the Grand Melee had turned the academy grounds into a chaotic yet invigorating place, with students taking advantage of the free period to refine their skills. It was a time meant for preparation, allowing everyone to hone their abilities while the academy and the capital made arrangements for the competition, including the arrival of nobles and other spectators.

Julian leaned casually against a stone pillar, his expression relaxed but his eyes sharp as they followed Elara's magic. He extended his hand toward the earth, and with a subtle movement, a thick stone spike erupted from the ground, solidifying into a jagged formation. "At this rate, you'll be more than ready for the Grand Melee," he said, though a hint of something—perhaps envy or admiration—colored his tone. "It's like you're already one step ahead of everyone else."

"Let's hope it's enough," Elara replied, her smile fading slightly. The thought of the upcoming competition stirred a mixture of excitement and anxiety within her. "Especially since Lorian hasn't been around to practice with us."

Selene's expression darkened at the mention of Lorian, her violet eyes narrowing. She reached out with her hand, and the air around her seemed to shimmer and twist as she summoned magic unique to her royal bloodline. The ground beneath her feet pulsed, and from the stone emerged jagged crystals, glowing with a faint inner light. With a flick of her fingers, the crystals rose higher, forming a defensive barrier around her before retracting back into the ground. "It's been over a week since we stopped by his room. He hasn't shown up to any classes, and every time we check on him, his door stays shut." She uncrossed her arms and sighed, frustration evident. "If it weren't for the fact that his pin still shows he's healthy, I'd have broken down that door by now."

"He's completely shut us out," Celeste added quietly. She raised a hand, and the air around her shifted as water condensed from the moisture in the air, forming a rotating sphere that hovered just above her palm. With a smooth gesture, she directed the sphere to twist into a spiraling stream that shot toward the sky before dissolving into droplets. "Not even a single response. And that meditation sign he put up on his door… it's like he's telling everyone to just leave him alone."

Elara nodded. The "closed meditation" sign was a ward used to signify intense private training, essentially a "do not disturb" notice enforced by the academy itself. As long as vital signs remained stable on a student's pin, it was respected, and professors wouldn't interfere. Even so, it didn't ease the worry gnawing at her. She summoned another construct, this time forming a radiant shield that floated in front of her, shimmering in the sunlight as if reflecting her own doubts.

"I've seen students lock themselves away before a big event," Julian said, trying to sound reassuring despite the hint of doubt in his voice. He stomped a foot on the ground, causing a thin wall of stone to rise before him, its surface rough and jagged like freshly hewn rock. "But Lorian… it's different this time. It's like he's shutting us out on purpose."

"He better have a good reason," Selene interjected, a hint of worry creeping into her voice. She crossed her arms tightly, her gaze drifting toward the distant dorms. "If he's doing all this for the Grand Melee, fine. But if he doesn't show up…" Her voice faltered for a moment before she continued, her tone sharpening. "I won't forgive him for ignoring me." She quickly corrected herself, her cheeks flushing slightly. "I mean, us." She shot a glare at Julian, who looked like he was about to comment, silencing him before he could say a word.

Elara's eyes softened at Selene's slip, and even Julian gave a faint smirk, though none of them commented on it. It was clear that Lorian's absence was affecting them all in different ways, but Selene's worry seemed especially pronounced. She glanced at the light shield hovering before her and let it fade into motes of golden light.

"Whatever's going on, we'll just have to hope he's ready for it," Elara said, determination filling her voice as she turned back toward the training dummies arranged on the far end of the yard. This time, she extended both arms outward, her eyes glowing faintly as two constructs appeared—a luminous sword in one hand and a shimmering shield in the other. The constructs flickered slightly as she concentrated, then solidified into radiant weapons as she pushed more mana into them. "Until then, we'll keep training—and if Lorian does show up, we'll make sure he remembers that he's not the only one preparing for this."

Vivienne stepped up beside her, summoning a series of glowing vines that wove together into a whip-like construct, the plant fibers shimmering with faint green light. "Then let's make sure we're ready for him, too." She flicked the vine whip, sending it cracking through the air as it lashed out at a nearby training dummy, leaving deep gashes in its wooden surface. The motion was fluid and precise, showcasing her mastery over her family's unique plant magic.

Julian grunted in agreement, turning his attention back to the stone pillar he had summoned. He raised both hands, causing the ground to rumble as a larger mass of rock emerged, forming into the shape of a golem. It towered above him, its features rough and angular. "We all know he's going to come back stronger than ever, so we can't afford to slack off either," he said as he directed the stone golem forward with a wave of his hand. "This is our chance to show everyone what we can really do."

Celeste took a deep breath and stepped closer to the edge of the training yard, where a small pond lay. She extended her hands outward, the water rippling in response to her magic. She drew the liquid upward, shaping it into a series of water blades that hovered around her in a protective circle. "We have to be ready for any opponent, not just Lorian," she said, her voice steady but filled with conviction. "The Grand Melee isn't going to hold back, and neither will the capital's representatives." With a flick of her wrist, the water blades shot forward, slicing through the air before dissolving back into the pond.

Selene watched the others, her gaze lingering on each of them as they displayed their skills. She closed her eyes briefly, summoning a set of sharp, crystalline constructs made from her family's unique magic, the shimmering shards forming a protective ring around her. "Then let's make sure we're all at our best," she said, stepping forward with determination. "Because when the Grand Melee begins, we're not just fighting for ourselves. We're fighting for the pride of this academy."

The air seemed to hum with magic as the group continued their training, the courtyard alive with the clash of elements and the glow of spells. Even as they pushed themselves harder, there was an unspoken understanding that hung over them—a shared determination to be ready for whatever challenges lay ahead, and a quiet hope that Lorian would be there with them, fighting by their side when the time came.