The training ground was still noisy.
Students were talking about the test.
Some were excited.
Some were nervous.
Arin stood quietly, looking at his hand.
"That power… why does it come and go?" he thought.
He couldn't understand it.
Just then—
"Tch. I've had enough of this."
The arrogant boy stepped forward again.
He looked directly at Arin.
"Hey. Fight me."
The area became silent.
Some students looked surprised.
"A duel?"
"Already?"
Arin looked at him.
"I don't want to fight," he said.
The boy laughed.
"Of course you don't. You're scared."
Some students started watching closely.
The teacher frowned.
"This is not part of the lesson—"
"I'll be careful," the boy said quickly.
Then he looked back at Arin.
"Or are you just going to hide behind luck forever?"
Arin stayed silent.
His hand slowly tightened.
Leya looked worried.
"You don't have to do this," she said.
Rina, on the other side, was watching with interest.
"Let's see what you do…" she said softly.
Arin took a deep breath.
Then he stepped forward.
"I'll do it," he said.
The teacher looked at him for a moment.
Then he sighed.
"Fine. A short duel. Stop if it gets dangerous."
Both of them moved to the center.
The air felt tense.
"Begin."
The arrogant boy smiled.
"Don't regret this."
He raised his hand.
A strong fireball formed instantly.
Without waiting, he threw it forward.
Boom.
The fire rushed toward Arin.
Arin's eyes widened.
He quickly moved to the side.
The fire hit the ground and exploded.
Heat spread in the air.
Arin felt his heart racing.
"I can't fight like this…" he thought.
Another fireball came.
This time faster.
Arin barely dodged.
Some students gasped.
"He's going to lose."
"Of course."
The boy smirked.
"Is that all?"
Arin clenched his fist.
He tried to focus.
That cold feeling…
He searched for it again.
For a moment—
nothing.
Then suddenly—
It came back.
Cold. Sharp.
Arin raised his hand.
A small dark spark appeared.
The boy laughed.
"That weak thing again?"
He rushed forward with another fire attack.
But this time—
Arin didn't move back.
The dark spark grew slightly.
It felt different.
Stronger.
Arin pushed his hand forward.
The dark energy moved fast—
and collided with the fire.
Boom.
The fire broke apart.
The students went silent.
The boy's eyes widened.
"What—?"
Before he could react—
The dark spark reached him.
Crack.
He was pushed back and fell to the ground.
Dust rose in the air.
Silence.
Arin stood there, breathing heavily.
His hand was shaking.
The dark spark disappeared again.
The teacher looked serious now.
"That power…"
Rina smiled slightly.
"Interesting."
Leya looked relieved.
Arin looked at his hand again.
He didn't feel strong.
He felt confused.
"What is this…?" he thought.
Far away, someone was watching again.
And this time…
they were not smiling.