Liesel’s words struck like thunder.

  “Y-You? What?!” Rory stuttered in disbelief. His heart skipped a beat, unable to process the outrageous statement that he just heard. “…Is this a joke?”

  He immediately regretted his question. Liesel’s frigid expression almost made him feel stupid for asking.

  “No. I am completely serious, Rory.”

  “…Why?” he asked, dismayed—before frantically shaking his head, “Actually, no! This was an arrangement decided between our families! You can’t just decide to annul it on a whim!”

  “Actually, I can. Father has given me permission,” she revealed, “The head of the Belle family said I can do whatever I please. Whether it means following through with our engagement or breaking it off to pursue someone of my own volition, I have been given the rights to control my fate.”

  The implications of her words stunned Rory into a daze. Reneging on this arrangement meant that the Belle family was no longer interested in the royal family’s allegiance. Even worse, it implied that they weren’t scared either of the royal family’s possible retaliations or demands. This move would likely spark a potential shift in the status quo of Ardair. But in this moment, however, Rory couldn’t care less about the political considerations of Liesel’s decision.

  “Then, am I not good enough? Am I not worthy of you?!”

  Liesel explained with an expressionless face, “I gave a lot of thought into this. This has been brewing for a while now. But after experiencing the preliminaries, I realized I wanted someone who can stand beside me as I ascend to the top of the Exalted world. Are you that person, Rory? Currently, I’m not sure.”

  Rory clenched his teeth. His throat suddenly felt hot as his heat fumed to his chest. Shame and humiliation gnawed at his rationality as he searched for something to latch his anger onto.

  “…Is this because of Emil Milligan?” he randomly blurted out. Unexpectedly, his question earned a grin from Liesel. The sight of her ex-fiancée’s smile drove him mad. “Answer me!”

  Liesel scoffed at his outburst, “Did I fall in love with him? No. Did my confrontation with him help me arrive at this conclusion?” Her eyes suddenly gleamed with excitement. “Yes.”

  Rory shot up his seat. His hands balled into fists as he smashed the seat of the chair. The wooden structure shattered instantly, crumbling with a nasty crack as his arms tore through the surface. He ripped his hands free, ignoring the lacerations caused by the wooden splinters as he looked for something else to break.

  “Before you destroy more stuff, let me finish. Like you said, our engagement was decided by our parents. But now they’ve given me the freedom to choose. I have no desire to be caged by a loveless marriage dictated by political interests. However—” Liesel narrowed her eyes. “If you feel any sorts of genuine affection for me, then prove it. Show me your strength. Court me by demonstrating that you are someone who can stand by my side. Meet me at the finals of the Clash of Dawn and face me with the full extent of your feelings.”

  Her gaze suddenly softened. Rory stared at her, embroiled with bitterness. This was an expression that he’s never seen before—not once since they were engaged.

  “If you can do that, then I’ll happily accept you as my husband.”

  ***

  Bright lights streaked through the thin, translucent binds. Emil slowly opened his eyes, indulging in the gentle warmth of the morning rays on his cheeks. He was wrapped up in a bundle of cozy blankets—their softness molded along his body in a tender caress. For someone who was in perpetual pain due to his endless queue of injuries, this experience was heavenly.

  I don’t want to leave.

  He eventually pried himself off the bed. Expelling himself from paradise took more willpower than he expected. Sitting upright, Emil closed his eyes and recalibrated himself.

  I’m here to reach the finals of the Clash of Dawn. The finals will get me access to the Consortium. The archives of the Consortium might have information that could advance my mission for Steiger. Performing well and reaffirming Steiger of my value lets me keep Mia and Raz off the streets.

  He let out a sullen breath, flushing out the frivolous thoughts clouding his head.

  I must win for Mia and Raz.

  With his goal clear, Emil opened his eyes and began his pre-match preparations.

  ***

  The mansion was quiet when he exited the room. Most of the contestants appeared to have already left.

  After a modest breakfast, he was escorted to the Nautilus by a group of Academy staff. Even from a distance away, Emil could feel the colosseum bustling with energy. The cacophony of excited conversation echoed in the air as he entered the contestant section of the stadium.

  “You’re late.”

  It was Anna who was leaning against the walls of the hallway, apparently waiting for his arrival. There was a familiar face beside her.

  “I believe the proper way to greet someone is good morning, how are you doing, Emil?” he said, earning himself a nasty eye roll from Anna.

  Emil turned towards the other person beside her.

  “Hey, Charlotte.”

  “Good morning, how are you doing, Emil?” Charlotte responded with a mischievous glint in her eyes.

  “Thank you, I feel quite good after hearing that.” He smiled at her before shooting Anna a glance. “See?”

  “Yeah, yeah, whatever,” Anna brushed him off as she began walking towards the end of the hallway, “Before you ask, she’s here as my guest. Treat her like a gentleman when I’m not here, alright?”

  “Of course.” Emil and Charlotte followed closely behind. “I’m the final match of the day, by the way.”

  “Ah, then you’re the main attraction,” Charlotte said, “I suppose it makes sense given how much I heard your name during the preliminaries yesterday. Even my friends amongst the nobility were asking me about you after the event.”

  Emil scratched his head awkwardly, unsure how to respond. The thought that he was suddenly under a lot of scrutiny made him uneasy. He was supposed to be undercover. Undoubtedly, with his newfound infamy, there was going to be meddling individuals who would try pry into his background.

  I should be fine. Hopefully. There’s no way the witch planned for me to participate in the Clash of Dawn and didn’t set up the groundwork to misdirect nosy people.

  “Don’t inflate his ego too much, Charlotte,” Anna said, “If his massive head balloons any bigger, he might lose his all edge and focus.”

  Emil couldn’t help but smile at her banter.

  The end of the hallway took them into the audience section. There was an area guarded by Academy staff specifically reserved for the contestants to provide them unfettered access to watch the matches.

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  Emil stepped out into the open. The scintillating morning sun blazed down on the Nautilus. The atmosphere of the colosseum was abuzz with a frenetic itch. The tension of anticipation was palpable. He hovered his hand over his chest, feeling the rise of his heartbeat, stirred by the feverish energy in the air.

  “Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the quarter finals of the Clash of Dawn knockout stage! Once again, it’s your previous Clash of Dawn champion and favorite commentator, Melody Lain!”

  The crowd ruptured into a frenzy at the sound of Melody’s voice. Emil felt their screams and cheers pound into his skull. He grimaced at the sensation of his bones rattling from the ravenous excitement. This is absolutely insane. It finally settled in just how many people were in attendance to watch them compete.

  “Feeling nervous?” Anna asked with a teasing grin.

  “No. Not really. Not at all.”

  “Liar. You’re literally shaking right now.” Anna smirked, giving him a few solid taps on the chest. “Relax. Listen to yourself. Recall what you’re aiming for. Then, silence the crowd or use it to amp yourself up.”

  Emil gently brushed her hands away. “I told you, I’m fine,” he exclaimed as Melody continued her opening interlude.

  “The knockout stage is a single elimination tournament! One-on-one! Contestants are permitted to use their Gifts, any mana techniques, and a weapon that’s been pre-approved by the judging committee! The goal is to make your opponent yield, render them unable to fight, or knock them out of the outer ring of the stage! There are no other rules! Just a simple, good-ole fashion beatdown!” Melody yelled, “Now, for the first match of the day, in the western wing, please welcome Kai Kiyeng!”

  Beneath the contestant section, Kai walked out of the tunnels and onto the field of Nautilus. The half-Gharian had a tense look on his face, devoid of his usual confidence.

  “Oh, it’s him,” Charlotte suddenly said with a hand over her mouth. Emil raised an eye at the suspicious reaction.

  “You sound like you’re acquainted,” he pried, slightly curious. Despite his run-ins with Kai, he knew surprisingly little about the guy.

  Charlotte shook her head. “He has…a bit of reputation amongst the girls. Well, girls from noble families in particular.”

  “What do you mean by that?”

  “Well, a few girls have already gotten their hearts broken by him…” Charlotte muttered sheepishly.

  Somehow, I’m not surprised. Minus his conniving attitude, Kai had a fairly attractive face and physique. It also helped that he was quite tall.

  “Just make sure you don’t end up on that list, Charlotte,” Anna added.

  The crowd suddenly roared into life. Startled, Emil glanced down. It didn’t take long for him to discover the reason behind the excitement.

  “And his opponent, coming from the eastern wing! She’s the first member of the new generation to obtain a moniker. A prodigy amongst prodigies. Please welcome everyone, the Ice Maiden, Liesel von Belle!”

  Upon the mention of her name, Liesel strolled out of the tunnels of the Nautilus. A calm, dignified aura permeated her vicinity. Seemingly undisturbed by the rampaging crowd, she carried herself with a poise befitting of a veteran warrior.

  Seriously, what a disgusting matchup, Emil shook his head in disbelief.

  Anna groaned, having arrived at the same conclusion, “He got so screwed by the seeding. What an unlucky guy,” she muttered, frowning with pity.

  ***

  Kai narrowed his eyes. From the stage, the difference in the crowd’s reaction began even more obvious. He was not ignorant of the reasons why.

  The beautiful and ethereal Ice Maiden of Belle versus a no-name first-year student.

  The daughter of one of the most influential noble houses in Ardair versus a half-blooded Gharian.

  Ice versus water.

  Kai was the underdog in every aspect of this fight. Reputation, status, Gift compatibility. To the audience, this match was a foregone conclusion. Watching it play out was just a formality, a spectacle, an entertaining excuse to witness the Ice Maiden in action. Kai was just an accessory—a medium for Liesel to flaunt her powers.

  He sneered, bitter about his misfortune. If he was matched up against anyone else in the tournament, he’d—

  No, I was already lucky enough to be here.

  He should have been watching this match unfold from the stands, mired in resentment. Instead, Emil unexpectedly tossed him a lifeline in the preliminaries. Second chances were rare in this kingdom. He would not squander it.

  Besides, how great would it feel if I turn the odds against the audience’s expectations?! The cards were stacked heavily against his favor. He couldn’t have asked for a better stage to let loose. Kai trembled with anticipation, imagining his unlikely victory.

  The Ice Maiden stood across from him on the other side of the field. He could see her doll-like expressions. Unlike him, she was calm and composed, without a single smear of turbulent emotions across her face. It was as if this event, surrounded by the rabid attention of thousands of nobles and influential elites, was just another regular day in her life.

  The sight of her composure suddenly pissed him off.

  “Contestants, get ready!” Melody announced. Silence hushed through the crowd. The audience waited anxiously with abated breaths.

  I’m going to rip that poised look off your pretty face!

  “Fight!”

  Kai wasted no time and charged forward. His Azurite earrings glowed a brilliant blue. In a flash, dozens of mana pockets emerged in the airspace around him.

  The knockout stage of the Nautilus used a flat concrete field about one hundred meters in length and width. For any regular fight, this amount of space was excessive. But in a match between Exalted, the field felt claustrophobic.

  Let’s see how strong you really are!

  The mana pockets spontaneously morphed into water needles. Kai spread their initial positions over wide surface area. They flew at the snap of his fingers. The airspace between him and Liesel was instantly crowded by the fine projectiles—each one almost too thin to distinguish with the naked eye. But together, they looked horrific as hundreds of the sharp needles rained down at their target.

  Liesel was unfazed.

  She hadn’t moved a single step. With her arms folded, she stared calmly into the maelstrom of needles.

  Without warning, she stomped the ground.

  An icy mist emerged and quickly spread along the field. The barrage of water needles stopped abruptly as the wave of cold air passed by.

  Instantly, the projectiles froze and fell, robbed of the kinetic energy that propelled them forward. Like glass, the frozen needles shattered upon collapsing onto the ground, ringing in high-pitch clings and clanks, producing a chimelike medley.

  Kai’s attack had been nullified. But Liesel’s counter was within his expectations.

  Her interference range is about 50 meters. The remaining distance between us is about 60 meters. She froze the ambient air. Her processing speed is near instantaneous. No mana perturbations. No disorder. Her control is almost perfect.

  He was sour with envy. His mouth curved into a wry smirk as he realized the overwhelming differences between their abilities. Liesel was undoubtedly a genius.

  However, my needles didn’t fall immediately when her mist of frost passed by. There’s a slight time delay before my attack is rendered useless.

  He decided to bet on this slight gap to create an opportunity.

  Mana poured out of his Azurite earrings in high quantities, spiraling violently in his proximity. Kai imagined the violent white waters of the stormy seas—the colossal waves rising, towering to the dark skies, threatening to swallow up everything in its wake before it finally crashed into the rocky outcrops of the shoreline.

  There’s no need to hold back.

  “Tidal wave!” he yelled as the image manifested into reality.

  A massive deluge of high-pressured water emerged before him, swelling to enormous heights.

  “Is that…a tsunami?! Kai Kiyeng is doing something unimaginable! How will Liesel respond to this?” Shocked gasps rippled through the Nautilus as the audience gawked at the emerging phenomenon.

  As the waves reached it apex, Kai sent it crashing forward. He watched the tidal wave barreled towards Liesel unimpeded, reveling in the stunned silence of the crowd.

  “Crystallize.”

  A calm utterance resounded across the Nautilus over the surging waves. An array of colossal ice pillars rose before Liesel, forming a gigantic wall against the oncoming deluge. A second later, Kai’s tidal wave crashed into the dense pillars. The bastion of ice buckled, teetering against the force of heavy swell. Cracks began to splinter across the surface of the ice structures, spreading rapidly as it neared the verge of collapse.

  “Freeze.”

  The poised chant sent shivers down Kai’s spine. He watched in horror as parts of the tidal wave suddenly began to solidify. The ice expanded rapidly, halting the raging waters and sapping off its energy. Soon enough, the entirety of his attack had been frozen. The swell was transformed into ice, robbed of its destructive potential and transformed into a picturesque painting of a violent tsunami on land.

  “Break.”

  The haunting picture shattered on command. The frozen swell collapsed into innumerable fragments as the integrity of the ice structure was dismissed at the Ice Maiden’s whims.

  “Liesel stops the attack! What an insane display of skill by the Ice Maiden!” Melody screamed. The crowd broke into a frenzy—marvelled and charmed by Liesel’s scintillating performance.

  Amidst the hollering and the humiliating nullification of his attack, Kai charged ahead.

  The battle wasn’t over yet. He hadn’t stepped out of bound. He hadn’t surrendered. He hadn’t been forced to submit.

  He rushed in, using the falling ice and screaming crowd to mask his advance. Soon, Liesel was within reach. Shivs of water formed in his hands as he lunged past the ice with reckless abandon.

  The Ice Maiden was staring at him the entire time. A faint smile crossed her lips as she suddenly snapped her fingers.

  Kai immediately felt the ambient temperature around him drop. Frost clung onto his skin, stabbing into his flesh while the frigid air crawled down the length of his body. Ice soon gathered around his limbs, pinning him in place and shackling him to an icy cage.

  He was never going to reach her.

  “Damn you, Liesel!” he screamed with a rabid intensity. Refusing to give up, he tossed the frozen shiv before his limbs were fully encased in ice. The sharp watery blade cut through the air. Not expecting the desperate attack, Liesel was slow to react.

  She leaned to the side, just as the shiv grazed the side of her cheeks. A small cut. Blood leaked from the tiny wound, trickling down her face and onto the edge of her chin.

  Gotcha.

  All of his effort just for a single scratch. But for Kai, his final act of defiance was victory in itself. For he was the first to leave a small blemish on the Ice Maiden’s perfect visage.

  “Kai Kiyeng, was it?” Liesel suddenly said, lightly tapping the side of her cheeks. A vicious sneer crossed her face as her eyes widened at the blood stains on her fingers. “Your name. I’ll remember it.”

  Kai smirked, brimmed with delight.

  In the corner of his eyes, a hammer of ice descended upon his head.