Dawn was breaking over Selenopolis, bathing the city in a golden light that reflected off the silver domes and crystal fountains. Caelum, already awake for hours, watched this spectacle from the window of his quarters. His mind was bubbling with anticipation and anxiety for the day ahead.

A knock on his door pulled him from his reverie. "Caelum, are you ready?" Rowan's voice echoed from the other side.

"Coming," he replied, adjusting his training tunic.

As he stepped out, he found Rowan leaning against the corridor wall, his expression oscillating between worry and pride. "Today will be an important day," he said simply.

Caelum nodded, feeling the weight of those words. Together, they headed towards the training arena, the silence between them charged with anticipation.

The arena was already bustling when they arrived. Groups of knights were warming up, their voices and the clashing of weapons filling the air. Caelum quickly spotted Kaela, her flaming hair impossible to miss, in an animated discussion with Dorian. A little further away, Raven stood alone, his dark gaze sweeping over the crowd.

Suddenly, a murmur ran through the assembly. All eyes turned to the main entrance of the arena. Two imposing figures had just appeared, their presence immediately captivating attention.

"There they are," Rowan whispered. "Sir Alden Moonshade of Lunaris and Lyanna Sylvaris of Terra Nova."

Caelum observed them carefully. Alden, tall and imposing in his shining armor, his blond hair gleaming like moonbeams. Beside him, Lyanna seemed almost unreal, her moss-green hair gently undulating, as if animated by a life of its own.

Lady Aria stepped forward to greet them, her voice carrying clearly across the arena. "Welcome, Sir Alden, Lady Lyanna. We are honored by your presence. Your arrival marks the official beginning of the intensive training phase of the tournament."

She paused, sweeping her gaze across the assembly before continuing. "As many of you may know, Sir Alden and Lady Lyanna have been detained by crucial diplomatic missions for their respective nations. Sir Alden represented Lunaris in delicate negotiations with the border kingdoms, while Lady Lyanna worked to resolve a major environmental conflict on the borders of Terra Nova. Their dedication to their duties, even with the tournament approaching, testifies to the importance of this event and the stakes involved."

Alden's eyes swept across the assembly, briefly stopping on Caelum. His gaze was piercing, evaluating, as if trying to make up for lost time by quickly sizing up his competitors. Lyanna, on the other hand, offered an enigmatic smile to the crowd, her emerald eyes seeming to see beyond appearances, perhaps already analyzing the dynamics in place.

Lady Aria continued: "To inaugurate this new phase, we will begin with a demonstration by our new arrivals, followed by paired exercises."

Alden stepped forward first, drawing his sword with a fluid gesture. The blade seemed to illuminate from within, casting silver reflections. With a swift movement, he traced an arc in the air, creating a shield of light that enveloped his body. Admiring exclamations rose from the crowd.

Lyanna, more discreet but equally impressive, closed her eyes for a moment. When she reopened them, the ground around her came to life. Green shoots sprang from the stone slabs, coiling around her legs before blooming in an explosion of colors.

Caelum felt a pang of apprehension. These newcomers clearly mastered their powers in a way he could only envy.

"Good," Lady Aria announced, "let's move on to the exercises. Form pairs."

As the participants began to form groups, Caelum overheard a conversation between two knights nearby.

"Did you see how Sir Alden was looking at the representative from Myralis?" one of them whispered.

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"No wonder," replied the other. "I heard Alden is the favorite suitor to marry Princess Velyria. And with the rumors circulating about the princess's interest in this Caelum..."

Caelum felt his heart race. Suddenly, Alden's attitude took on a whole new meaning. It wasn't just tournament rivalry, but a much more personal competition.

Before he could think further, Alden approached him. "You," he said, his tone neither friendly nor hostile, but charged with underlying tension, "you're Caelum of Myralis, aren't you? Let's show everyone what you can do."

Caelum glanced at Rowan, who nodded imperceptibly. "Alright," he replied, trying to master the trembling in his voice.

They took position at the center of the arena, all eyes on them. Alden raised his sword, the light shield instantly forming around him. "Ready?" he asked.

Caelum closed his eyes, searching deep within himself for that spark, that silver light he had felt before. He found it, weak but present, and tried to make it grow, to shape it as Alden did so naturally.

A tingling sensation ran through his fingers, and for a brief moment, a silver glow enveloped them. Caelum's heart leaped with excitement. But as quickly as it had appeared, the glow vanished.

Alden didn't wait. He charged, his sword tracing a deadly arc. Caelum, distracted by the failure of his attempt, reacted too late. He parried clumsily, but the force of the blow made him stumble. In an instant, he found himself on the ground, the tip of Alden's sword mere inches from his throat.

A heavy silence fell over the arena.

"Is that all?" Alden's voice was tinged with disdain, but also with barely concealed relief. "I expected better from the representative of Myralis. Perhaps some should reconsider their... affinities."

Caelum immediately understood the double meaning of these words. It wasn't just a criticism of his abilities, but also a warning regarding Velyria.

He got up slowly, avoiding the gazes of the other participants. Some whispered, others laughed softly. He caught sight of Kaela looking at him with a mixture of pity and disdain.

"Don't worry," said Lyanna, approaching him. "Everyone progresses at their own pace." Her words were meant to be comforting, but Caelum found only condescension in them.

The day continued, but for Caelum, it seemed to stretch endlessly. Each exercise, each attempt to use his powers ended in failure. The silver light remained out of his reach, taunting him with its proximity and inaccessibility.

As the sun began to set, Lady Aria announced the end of the session. Caelum, physically and morally exhausted, was about to leave the arena when he noticed movement on the royal balcony. King Edric and Queen Selina Lumenis were observing the scene, their faces impassive. Beside them, Princess Velyria was looking at him with an indecipherable expression.

Suddenly, Sir Alden appeared at the princess's side, whispering something in her ear. Velyria smiled politely, but her eyes remained fixed on Caelum. He quickly looked away, the shame of his performance weighing heavily on his shoulders.

He left the arena with quick steps, seeking solitude. He eventually found refuge in a small garden, away from prying eyes and whispers. Sitting on a stone bench, he contemplated his hands, searching for a trace of that power that seemed to elude him.

"Hiding won't help you progress," came a voice from behind him. Caelum turned to see Rowan approaching.

"What's the point? I'm clearly not up to it," Caelum replied, his voice broken with frustration.

Rowan sat down next to him, his gaze fixed on the horizon. "You think the great heroes of Myralis were born with their powers fully mastered? Each of them had to face failure, doubt."

"But I'm supposed to be Elyndra's last disciple," Caelum protested. "I should be... more."

"More what? Stronger? More talented?" Rowan shook his head. "What makes a true hero, Caelum, isn't innate talent. It's the ability to get up after each fall, to learn from mistakes, to persevere when all seems lost."

Caelum remained silent, letting Rowan's words sink in.

"Tomorrow is a new day," Rowan continued. "A new chance to progress, to learn, to become who you're meant to be. The question is: will you seize that chance, or let yourself be beaten down by a single difficult day?"

Slowly, Caelum raised his head. In his eyes, a spark of determination began to shine. "You're right," he said softly. "I can't give up. Not now. Not like this."

Rowan smiled, placing a hand on Caelum's shoulder. "That's the spirit. Now, rest. Tomorrow will be a new challenge."

As they left the garden, Caelum didn't notice the figure watching them from the shadows. Lyanna Sylvaris, her emerald eyes shining in the darkness, whispered to herself: "Interesting. Very interesting indeed."

That night, lying in his bed, Caelum stared at the ceiling, replaying the day's events in his mind. The stinging failure against Alden, the looks of pity and mockery, the visible disappointment in Lady Aria's eyes. But instead of discouraging him, these memories fueled his determination.

As sleep finally overtook him, a thought crossed his mind: tomorrow would be different. Tomorrow, he would truly begin his journey to become the knight Myralis deserved.

In the darkness of his room, for a brief moment, his fingers glowed with a faint silver light. Caelum didn't see it, already asleep. But somewhere, deep within his being, a spark had ignited. A spark that, one day, might well become a flame capable of illuminating the entire world.