He took a deep breath. When he spoke, his voice wasn't loud at first. It was calm. Steady. Heavy with emotion.
"You know, I've never been the loudest among us. I've never needed to be. Because I believed in what we trained for. I believed in every one of you. And I believed that when the time came, we'd rise above anyone who dared to challenge us."
He stepped forward, his shadow cutting through the pale sunlight leaking through the room.
"But today… we stumbled. Not because we weren't strong enough. Not because we weren't smart enough. We stumbled because we forgot something."
He placed a hand on his chest.
"We forgot who we are."
The team slowly turned toward him, sensing something had shifted. Daud's voice rose—not in rage, but in conviction.
"We're not just students. We're not just a group thrown together for this tournament. We are Constantine."
He looked to Anna.
"You, who fight with grace and fire."
Then to Ayn.
"You, who see the angles no one else sees."
Then to Drake.
"You, whose courage borders on madness."
To Sylphira.
"You, who carry frost and calm, but with a storm beneath."
And finally to Elijah.
"And you... You remind us that no matter the odds, a single spark can reignite a dying fire."
His voice thundered now, strong enough to silence doubt and shake the tent around them.
"Do you think victory is born out of perfection? No. It's born in the ashes of defeat. It's forged in moments like this—when our backs are to the wall and all eyes are waiting to see if we'll break."
He looked each of them in the eyes.
"We won't break. We are Constantine. We trained in the snow while others rested. We worked hard in silence while others cheered. We fought each other so hard in sparring that we left the ground trembling—and we laughed about it the next day."
His hand curled into a fist and he slammed it against his chest.
"They think we're finished because we got 10 points? Let them think that. Let them lower their guards. Because in the next round—we rise."
The others were standing now, eyes glowing, chests lifted.
His voice dropped to a whisper—but it cut like steel.
The team was no longer silent. They stood taller. Anna clenched her fists, her eyes shining. Drake let out a short breath and laughed. "Damn, Daud. Where was that fire hiding?"
Sylphira smiled faintly. "He sounds like a general."
Ayn gave a rare nod. "I'll follow you."
And Elijah?
He smiled.
Because for the first time, he didn't just see a teammate in Daud—he saw a leader. One worthy of the title.
Elijah stepped forward, clearing his throat. "The next round is called the Deep Water Trial."
Drake cracked his knuckles, grinning. "Yeah, we heard. But there's one small problem... How the hell are we supposed to breathe underwater for two hours?"
Ayn, stepped forward and unfolded a small cloth pouch. Inside were a set of odd-looking, glossy green leaves, shimmering faintly under the sun light.
"I have a plan," Ayn said simply, offering the leaves to everyone.
Anna raised an eyebrow. "Leaves? Really? This is your big idea?"
"These are Lunari Gillsap leaves," Ayn replied. "Rare plants that temporarily adapt your lungs for underwater breathing."
Anna frowned. "That sounds dangerously close to cheating."
Drake rolled his eyes. "Come on, Anna. This isn't cheating. It's survival. Unless you want to drown trying to prove a point?"
Anna looked at the leaf, then back at Ayn. "...Fine."
A loud BUZZZZT echoed across the camp, followed by a flashing red light above the tent.
The second round had begun.
Elijah gave them all a final nod before exiting the room. He climbed the stairs back to the VIP section. King Rudolf wasn't there. Neither was Alaric.
A giant monitor flickered to life behind the VIP area. The surface of the great lake shimmered under the sun, surrounded by cheering spectators. All four academy teams were lined up at the dock—prepared for the plunge.
Each boy wore a streamlined aquatic suit that clung to their form, built for movement and durability. The girls, however, wore sleek competition swimwear designed for elegance and speed. The materials shimmered faintly, hugging their shapes like flowing silk, designed with magical threads that adapted to water pressure.
Even though the outfits were standard for such trials, Elijah's face turned bright red.
"W-What the hell is this?! Who approved those outfits?!"
In the viewing arena, many spectators were blushing, whispering, and pointing.
The boys tried to look away politely—but couldn't help it.
Especially among the girls—Anna and Sylphira looked striking. Anna's fiery red locks framed her graceful figure, and Sylphira's cool composure only enhanced the mystique she radiated. Every motion looked like it belonged to a sea spirit.
Anna caught the camera's gaze and smirked mischievously. Her eyes locked onto the monitor—and onto Elijah.
Then, with a smirk, she spoke through their telepathic link:
"Aren't we… beautiful, Elijah? You're blushing."
Elijah jerked in his seat, mentally shouting back:
"Shut up! I am NOT blushing! Just—focus on the trial, will you?!"
Anna laughed softly.
"If you say so~"
Sylphira, on the other hand, didn't speak—but tilted her head with a rare smile toward the camera. Her calm gaze sent more ripples through the VIP section than the lake itself.
Back on the lakeside, the announcer's voice boomed across the arena.
"Contestants! The second round begins now. You will dive into the Great Mirror Lake and remain submerged for two hours. Your objective: locate the three hidden Aether Crystals within the lakebed caves."
"You may work together or separately. No surfacing unless absolutely necessary. The first team to return with all three crystals will receive the highest score."
The crowd roared.
The judge raised a flare into the air—and it burst with green light.
FWOOSH—
All twenty participants leapt gracefully into the lake, their bodies slicing through the water like arrows. Constantine's team entered with coordinated precision—Daud leading the descent, Drake diving with reckless joy, Ayn slipping beneath the surface like a ghost, and the girls following with practiced form.
Underwater, faint pulses of blue light lit the depths. Magical barriers kept the area illuminated but eerie. Strange aquatic life flickered in the distance. The race had begun.
Meanwhile, Elijah sat back and narrowed his eyes. Something was off.
His gaze shifted back to the lake—and then stopped.
Cilie was standing at the lake's edge, barefoot, her long silver dress rippling in the breeze. Her eyes were locked on the water, unmoving.
Beside her, her butler leaned down and whispered something. She nodded slowly.
Elijah's instincts flared.
"Why is she there… and not in the VIP room?"
He clenched his fist, watching the lake surface. Something below… felt wrong.
"Daud. You'd better find those crystals fast. Something tells me this trial… is more than it seems."