"How should I know that this part used that formula?"

"Umm... practice."

"Ahh. This is so frustrating."

"Shhh."

In the hallowed halls of the academy library, two enchanting figures, Eliza and Irene, were immersed in their assignments. Eliza, however, found herself drowning in confusion, her mind rejecting every theoretical lesson. Irene, the epitome of grace, silenced Eliza's persistent questions with a gentle shush and a firm hand over her mouth.

Unknown to the studious pair, the library's atmosphere buzzed with subtle intrigue. Fellow students, captivated by the spectacle of contrasting beauties—one with fiery red eyes and a fierce demeanour, the other with ethereal blue eyes and a serene aura—couldn't focus on their studies.

As the hours passed, Irene elegantly completed her work, while Eliza struggled through the first question. The library's silence was disrupted only by the occasional rustle of pages and the admiring glances of onlookers.

Suddenly, a palpable tension descended upon the scene. Both Eliza and Irene sensed an ominous presence behind them. Simultaneously, they turned to find none other than Blake, the enigmatic #Rank 2, casting an inscrutable gaze upon them.

'Blake?'

Irene and Eliza chorused in surprise, their eyes locked in a silent exchange.

"Isn't it rude to just stare at someone from behind?" Eliza broke the silence, her genuine curiosity cutting through the tension.

"Let's talk, Eliza,"

Blake declared abruptly, forgetting any semblance of an apology. The awkwardness of social interaction seemed to elude him, a testament to his introverted nature.

Confused, Eliza exchanged a glance with Irene, who mirrored her perplexity. Blake's sudden intrusion and request felt more like a command, leaving the two girls on edge. Despite his absence for two days, Blake seemed physically well, save for a mysterious cut on his cheek.

Breaking away from the library's hushed ambiance, Eliza stood up decisively. "Just wait for me," she instructed Irene, who nodded in acknowledgment.

As Blake and Eliza exited the library, leaving intrigued onlookers behind, Irene's mind raced with questions. "Him and Levi were fighting quite frequently... What is going on between these three?" she pondered, her archer's intuition prompting her to dig deeper.

*****

"So, why did you want to chat about?"

Eliza folded her arms, shooting piercing glares at curious passersby.

"Did you lie about what Levi said about my family art?"

Blake cut straight to the chase, his eyes searching for the truth. The weight of suspicion had shifted, and he was determined to unravel the mystery.

Caught off guard, Eliza attempted to maintain her composure. "

What lie did I say, and why would I talk about that frea—Levi?" Her attempt at innocence was feeble at best.

"Let's not play games, Eliza. Do you want to confess, or should I bring Flynn here as well?" Blake's words hung in the air, a veiled threat challenging Eliza to confront her deception.

Unable to withstand the pressure, Eliza confessed.

"Okay, I talked about what Levi said about your spear art."

"Was it true? Did he say that?"

"Yeah, I mean... why would I lie?"

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Eliza's façade crumbled, her gaze evading Blake's piercing eyes.

"Why would Levi say that as well?" Blake probed further, unraveling the web of deceit.

"I don't know why he said that. We aren't that close to ask each other, and I just heard it from somewhere."

"Where?" Blake's persistence exposed the fault lines in Eliza's story.

"Ummm... well, I heard it at the cafeteria. Two girls were speaking about it, and I didn't ask them further about it."

Eliza's composure melted, her straight face replaced by beads of sweat as she waded deeper into her web of lies.

Sighing, Blake handed her a paper. "I know you are lying, Eliza. I just wanted to see if you'd admit your mistakes, but you got trapped in your web of lies... sign it."

Eliza, astonished rather than scared, examined the paper.

"Why do you want a duel?"

"Do you think I'm just going to let you escape without any punishment?You lied about Levi saying bad stuff about my spear art, and you did indirectly say our spear art was bad. Now, write down your signature there if you really think the Lionheart's swordsmanship is good, or... are you just scared?" Blake's words carried a mocking undertone, challenging Eliza to confront her actions. Blake wasn't pissed about what Eliza said, he just wanted to let out his frustration for what she caused between him and Levi.

Eliza, realizing the gravity of her deceit, signed the paper with a defiant smile.

"I may have lied, but you shouldn't have gone that route. You will regret your words."

Blake didn't say anything further and walked away. Before he reached far, his turned his head and stared at Eliza

"And, by the way, you messed with the wrong person."

"Huh, what do you mean? Just because you're one rank higher than me doesn't mean I'm not capable of beating you to a pulp!"

Eliza retorted in a mix of rage and defiance.

"I'm not talking about myself,"

Blake paused, memories of that fateful and cursed encounter resurfacing.

"You shouldn't have messed with Levi."

Leaving Eliza in a state of confusion, Blake walked away, his parting words hanging in the air like an ominous prelude to impending consequences.

*****

"What are those two thinking? It would be good if they were just sparring, but a duel..."

Irene's voice echoed concern as she sat beside Rose in the academy's stadium. The events of the previous day, with Blake approaching Eliza for a "talk," had escalated into an unexpected duel.

Irene, had she known Blake's intentions, would have intervened to prevent this clash of titans. Duels, particularly between individuals of high-ranking families, carried implications beyond the confines of the academy.

"These two hate each other,"

Irene muttered to herself, her keen perception detecting an undercurrent of animosity between Eliza and Blake. The potential fallout from their confrontation weighed heavily on her mind.

In the midst of the stadium's anticipation, Duke Amon, still in the city, couldn't resist the allure of witnessing the duel. Though he had a stoic expression some part of him wanted Blake to dominate the battle.

The atmosphere crackled with tension as Eliza and Blake, both scions of the Duke family, stood ready for battle. Fiona, the referee, positioned herself between the two prodigies, preparing to officiate a duel that would resonate far beyond the confines of the academy.

The stadium, filled to the brim with eager spectators, held its collective breath. The news of the #Rank 2 and #Rank 3 engaging in a duel had turned the academy upside down. Even the princess of the kingdom, donning black-tinted glasses and relishing popcorn, found the unfolding spectacle too tempting to miss.

"Aren't you enjoying this too much?" Irene quipped, reaching for a bite of Rose's popcorn.

"When will we ever see this spectacle again? Let's enjoy this while we can,"

Rose replied, her grin reflecting a mix of entertainment and anticipation.

Flynn joined the duo, attempting to grab a handful of popcorn but getting denied by Rose. Harper, arriving with a sigh, added a touch of solemnity to the group.

"Why the long face?"

Flynn inquired, still eyeing the coveted popcorn.

"Ah... I'm just disappointed in how my team performed today," Harper confessed, his thoughts lingering on Levi's absence and Jack's lackluster performance.

"You did manage to not get last place, though," Flynn remarked, finally securing a piece of popcorn and savoring it in front of Rose's annoyed expression.

"Yeah, because of Levi. One of my team members was absent, and Jack... he was more useless than a leaf. I too didn't perform well."

Harper lamented, surprising Irene and Flynn with the revelation of Jack's underwhelming performance.

"Was it really that bad?"

Irene asked, intrigued by the unexpected turn of events.

"Really, really bad. Levi had to cover for him in everything, even though he wasn't feeling well. The internship with Professor Ryan must be taking a toll on him... *sigh* I shouldn't complain too much. Let's focus on the present now. I bet Eliza will win,"

Harper predicted, his confidence in Eliza's abilities unwavering.

"Of course she will,"

Flynn affirmed, reinforcing Harper's prediction. Irene, however, remained silent, her thoughts preoccupied with Levi's well-being and the hidden struggles he seemed to carry.

As the stadium buzzed with anticipation, the impending duel promised not only a clash of swords but also a revelation of hidden tensions, family secrets, and the unspoken conflicts that simmered beneath the surface of the prestigious academy. The stakes were high, and the repercussions would echo through the hallowed halls, shaping the destinies of those entangled in the web of rivalry and deception.

The crowd hushed as Fiona, the appointed referee, raised her hand, signaling the commencement of the duel. Eliza and Blake faced each other, their eyes locked in a silent exchange of determination.