My Family in the Novel?

Throughout the many years of the academy's history, Cleave Hall had always been the venue for the joint combat exams, making it one of the three most prominent buildings in the school's student district.

At its core lay a beautifully designed Coliseum arena specifically dedicated for the upcoming exams.

The spectator seats were meticulously crafted, both comfortable and intricately designed, providing an atmosphere so welcoming that one might inadvertently doze off in the cozy chairs.

The floors and walls were polished to perfection, gleaming brightly in the well-lit environment.

It was only natural for a tournament ground meant for nobility to exude dignity and pride in every corner. As I settled into one of the spectator seats, I couldn't help but notice the delicate defensive magic placed around all the seats.

This enchantment served as a protective barrier in case the arena's protective shield were to break, safeguarding the audience from potential collateral damage.

Even though the school claimed that everyone was equal within its halls, they couldn't afford the consequences of students from prestigious noble families getting hurt in an accident.

Not to mention, the academy hosted royalty from various countries across the continent.

As I took my seat and settled in, I focused my attention on the ongoing combat practices in the center of the colosseum.

The highlight of the moment was the practice fight between Alex and Tristan. Sparks flew as their blades clashed with one another.

Despite the fact that they were merely warming up for their upcoming matches, the intensity and determination with which the two dueled made it appear as though the actual duel had already begun.

The audience was captivated, and most eyes were fixated on them as they engaged in this fiery spar prior to the senior students' arrival.

I couldn't help but wonder about the opponent Tristan would face now that William was no longer in the competition.

While I had already ensured that there were no direct ties between William's sudden disappearance and myself, having manipulated the principal with the assistance of my sister, a nagging part of me couldn't help but feel that I should have been more thorough in handling the situation. Even though there was no concrete evidence connecting me to the incident, the thought still lingered.

Another pressing concern was the unintended consequence of William's demise. This unexpected turn of events had disrupted the established narrative of the story.

Now, I found myself venturing into an uncharted future where my knowledge of the original novel's events would become increasingly irrelevant.

The certainty I once had was slipping away, and I was stepping into a future fraught with uncertainty.

The atmosphere in the colosseum grew as the second-year students made their entrance, and their anticipation was palpable.

They gathered around the center arena, eyes fixed on the upcoming talent that would soon join their ranks. It was evident that these first-year students possessed a special quality, which had already set them apart from their predecessors.

Among them, the sword master's disciple Tristan, Illusionist Bella, and Spirit Princess Louise, shone like constellations in the night sky. Their skills were so extraordinary that it was rumored that they had surpassed even some of the academy's own professors.

This exceptional batch of first-year students meant that the usually overwhelming victories of the second-year students in their combat exams were now questionable. The competitive spirit was alive, and everyone's focus was on the impending battles.

As the crowd's attention remained fixed on the intense fight between Tristan and Alex, their match reached its climax.

The clash of blades, the speed of their movements, and the sheer intensity of their duel was nothing short of awe-inspiring.

Finally, Tristan executed a powerful slash that sent Alex hurtling through the arena walls. With his dark blue hair tousled from the impact, Tristan approached his defeated opponent.

As everyone's focus remained on the intense fight below, Tristan and Alex's clash reached its peak.

A resounding "Bang!" echoed through the arena as Tristan delivered the final blow, sending Alex hurtling through the walls. His dark blue hair ruffled in the aftermath of the powerful strike.

"Thanks for the experience, but couldn't you have gone a bit easier on me? I have an upcoming fight, you know," Alex quipped with a grin as he accepted Tristan's hand to help him up from the wall.

Tristan chuckled. "Would you have preferred that?"

"Haha, definitely not!" Alex responded enthusiastically.

Alex's approach to battle was nothing short of fearless. Despite knowing that his upcoming opponent posed a formidable challenge and was not to be underestimated, he had boldly proposed a near all-out duel against Tristan

The cheers that erupted from the crowd were nothing short of thunderous as they witnessed the intense duel between Tristan and Alex.

While the students of the combat department were already familiar with the unique and rigorous training regimen that the two followed, it never failed to leave them awestruck whenever they witnessed their duels.

Even the students from other departments, many of whom were seeing this for the first time, couldn't help but be captivated by the sheer intensity and skill displayed in the fight.

It was a testament to the academy's reputation for producing and nurturing exceptional talents, and the entire arena buzzed with excitement and anticipation.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

As the magical explosions resonated through the skies, they served as a resounding announcement that the long-awaited exams were about to commence. The entire arena quivered with a mixture of excitement and tension, and the spectators watched with bated breath.

One by one, the judges arrived, each of them prominent professors from different departments, adding an air of gravitas to the event. Their presence signified the significance of the joint combat exams, as these educators were responsible for evaluating the abilities of the academy's most promising students.

At last, the speaker's voice echoed through the arena, and the crowd's anticipation reached its peak. The speaker's words signaled the official start of the battles, and the combatants prepared themselves to prove their mettle and determination in the upcoming challenges.

As the fights unfolded, the second-year students couldn't help but engage in hushed conversations amongst themselves.

"Hey, isn't this year's batch of freshmen a bunch of monsters?"

"They won again? Who are they, the seniors?"

"Are we sure they're actually first-years?"

"At this rate, our representatives don't stand a chance, do they?"

"Seriously, how did all these prodigies end up in the same year?"

The results were nothing short of disastrous for the second-year students. They were being overshadowed, if not humiliated, by the extraordinary talents of the freshmen. The matches had progressed to the halfway point, and it was evident that the second years were serving as little more than practice dummies to showcase the incredible skills of the first-year students.

Perhaps the only second-year student who posed a bit of a challenge so far was Alex's opponent, who managed to prolong the fight almost long enough to try and secure a tie against Alex. However, even this hope was dashed when Alex, true to his reputation, managed to dominate his senior before a tie could be achieved.

Upon the impact of Alex's flaming sword, the senior was sent hurtling into the air, his body scorched by the intense heat. Tragically, as the flames consumed his clothing, a new predicament emerged.

When he eventually crash-landed on the ground, it was not only the impact of the fall that greeted him but also the stark, humiliating exposure of his private anatomy, much to the astonishment and amusement of the spectators.

As if the situation couldn't get any more humiliating, the whispering voices of the crowd escalated into a snide comment that hung heavily in the air.

A single remark, "How small" was muttered by one member of the audience, but it was loud enough for those nearby to hear.

The cruel comment exacerbated the senior's embarrassment and made the situation even more distressing. Giggles and hushed laughter rippled through the crowd as the unfortunate senior lay there, his dignity shattered and his situation more dire than ever.

It was a moment that would undoubtedly become an infamous legend at the academy, a story to be recounted with both awe and amusement for years to come.

The entire spectacle was nothing short of a tragic and pitiful scene, even though the man tried his best for his fellow second years, the world really is cruel.

Finally, the next match was set to begin, and I couldn't help but be taken aback when I saw Aria stepping into the arena. To my knowledge, there had been no mention of Aria's participation in the events of the novels. I figured she was one of those characters who never made it to the spotlight, given her absence from the plot.

However, what intrigued me even more was her opponent. His name was Quinton Granviel. A name I recognized all too well, for he was a member of the family involved in sending bandits to attack us during our journey to the academy.

The memory of that ambush flooded back, and my thoughts were filled with an uneasy mixture of surprise and apprehension, thinking back I still didn't know the reason why they made such a rouse.

"Aria Tellus, Quinton Granviel, are you both ready?" the announcer asked, to which they both nodded, seemingly eager to engage in the upcoming battle.

"Start," the announcer declared, and the match was underway.

The battle unfolded in a flash, with Quinton making the first move. He cast a low-tier spell "Rock Shot" sending small to medium-sized rocks hurtling toward Aria.

However, Aria proved to be swift and nimble, immediately reacting by deploying her defensive magic to form an impervious barrier, effectively blocking all of Quinton's incoming attacks.

But Aria's strategy wasn't solely focused on defense. With remarkable agility, she invoked "Gale Winds" a low-tier spell that wrapped winds around her body, propelling her with incredible speed in a singular direction. In the blink of an eye, she closed the distance between herself and Quinton.

As she reached him, Aria astounded the crowd by adopting a more physical combat style, akin to that of a swordsman, even though she was primarily known as a mage. With swift and precise movements, she conjured a mid-tier spell "Water Blade."

The audience was taken aback, as they hadn't anticipated Aria adopting such a combat approach. However, while Quinton appeared slightly surprised by her unconventional fighting style, he was far from daunted.

As Aria surged forward with astonishing speed, ready to strike at Quinton with her water sword, the ground quaked beneath them.

In an instant, a wall of earth materialized right in front of her, a formidable mid-level spell, cast by Quinton without any need for chants or incantations.

Aria collided with the earth wall at high speed, but she managed to employ her defensive magic just in time to prevent herself from being injured.

Regaining her footing and attempting to reposition herself, Aria found Quinton already preparing for his next move. The ground rumbled once more, causing Aria to lose her balance. Suddenly, an enormous boulder hurtled toward her with astonishing speed. Without a clear plan, she channeled all her magical power to cast a high-tier defensive spell.

Boom!!

A thunderous explosion rocked the arena as the boulder collided with Aria's protective barrier. Electricity crackled and surged as the two powerful magics clashed against each other.

Despite her determination, the pressure from the colossal boulder weighed down upon Aria's barrier. Cracks began to form, and her defenses slowly crumbled under the overwhelming force.

Faced with the impending loss and not wishing to risk her safety any further, Aria made a swift decision. She declared her surrender.

"I surrender"

However, her declaration was met with an unexpected twist. Just as she acknowledged her defeat, three stone spears were launched toward her.

Aria watched in shock as Quinton, without hesitation, fired three mid-tier spells in her direction. In her vulnerable state, with her barrier compromised by the giant boulder above her, those stone spears threatening to pierce through her defenses would allow the boulder to crush her.

As Aria closed her eyes in anticipation of the impending disaster, the enormous boulder and the three stone spears hurtling toward her were obliterated to pieces, turning into molten rocks.

Before her stood Alex Darja, his entire body enveloped in a fiery aura that emitted an intense and heavy pressure, leaving the arena quaking under the sheer power he exuded.

Without holding back, he released his destructive aura, a display that sent shockwaves throughout the arena.

"What do you think you're doing senior?!" In a tone filled with anger and a touch of madness, Alex directed his question at Quinton, his fiery red eyes piercing through him.

The intensity of his animosity had reached its zenith, and Quinton was forced to take a few steps back, fully grasping the direness of the situation. The crowd, too, erupted into a whirlwind of conversations in response to the unexpected events, while the professors and medical staff hastened to intervene.

Seeking forgiveness, Quinton offered his apologies, "Please forgive me"

"It seems I got caught up in the heat of the moment and didn't even realize what I was doing" acknowledging that he had acted recklessly in the heat of the moment, causing an out-of-control situation.

He then turned his attention to Aria.

"I'm truly sorry" he said expressing his deep regret and bowing his head, his voice reflecting his remorse.

Just when it seemed the situation might defuse, an unexpected twist transpired.

"Ahhh!!"

Quinton let out a piercing scream of agony as he looked to his right, discovering that his arm had vanished, turned to ashes by Alex's scorching flames. In disbelief and terror, he watched as Alex slowly approached, his vengeful intent palpable. Quinton crumpled to the ground in pain.

"Did you just smile, BASTARD!?" Alex's words echoed through the arena, his fury evident to everyone present.

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