Chapter 9
A new day began in the palace with the slow rise of the sun, spreading its golden rays over the vast green garden. Birds chirped joyfully, as if welcoming the start of an eventful day. In a quiet corner of the garden, Suero sat alone on the grass, his head lowered, eyes fixed deeply on the ground. His face reflected a mix of calmness and distraction, as if his mind was drowning in heavy memories.
Inside his thoughts, Spailo's words echoed clearly:
"Suero, you need to put in more effort… If you want to save the world, you must become stronger."
Those words kept repeating in Suero's mind, making him wonder in confusion:
"What does he mean by this? Why has Spailo changed so much? He's become a completely different person since that fall from the hill that day..."
While lost in his thoughts, Baysal approached quietly. She noticed his absent expression, puzzled by the strange atmosphere surrounding him. She reached out and gently placed a hand on his shoulder. Suero turned slowly, looking at her with vacant eyes.
Baysal asked with concern:
"Are you okay? What's on your mind?"
Suero responded in a calm yet hollow tone:
"I'm fine..."
He stood up slowly, then turned toward her and asked in a low voice:
"Have they started?"
Baysal nodded:
"Yes, they're in the meeting room now."
Suero replied briefly:
"Alright."
Leaving her behind, he walked toward the palace with steady steps, but she felt as though he was carrying an unspoken burden. She followed him silently, trying to decipher what was going through his mind.
---
In the Meeting Room
The room was luxurious, adorned with embroidered sofas and tables made of fine wood. Inside, Moryo, Veb, Kamyo, Hambo, Alia, Jan, and Rita sat, waiting with varying degrees of patience.
Moryo asked coolly, his gaze directed at Veb:
"Aren't they here yet?"
Veb replied with curiosity:
"Who do you mean? Baysal and Suero, or Mr. Sbyam and Mr. Betma?"
Moryo sighed and said in annoyance:
"I mean Baysal and Suero! Those two are always late."
Veb offered:
"Should I go look for them?"
Before Moryo could respond, Suero and Baysal entered the room and took their seats with the others. Moryo leaned slightly toward Baysal, trying to mask his irritation, and asked:
"Where were you two?"
Baysal replied indifferently:
"In the garden."
Moryo stared at her for a moment before saying:
"Alright."
But Baysal added in a low voice:
"But… Suero was deep in thought."
Moryo raised an eyebrow at her comment and asked with curiosity:
"What was he thinking about?"
Baysal glanced at Suero, who was still sitting silently, staring at the ground, and said:
"I don't know, but it's clear something is weighing on his mind."
Before Moryo could delve deeper, Sbyam entered the room accompanied by Betma.
Sbyam shouted mockingly:
"MY STUDENTS!"
His tone immediately caught everyone's attention, making them turn toward him. Behind him, Betma entered calmly and confidently. As the students' gazes shifted between the two teachers, Rita felt an overwhelming joy. She looked at Sbyam in admiration, thinking excitedly:
"It's Sbyam Brius..!"
But Sbyam, aware of her thoughts, sighed in boredom and said:
"No, please don't do that."
Rita rushed toward him enthusiastically, attempting to embrace him. Before she could reach him, Sbyam raised his finger and released a swift black spark. The spark surrounded Rita's body, freezing her in place. Yet, despite being restrained, her excitement remained undiminished.
Sbyam smirked as he slid his hand into his pocket and walked forward slowly:
"Stay put."
Hambo observed the scene in astonishment, thinking to himself:
"Is this one of their clan's techniques? The Kurmo technique?"
Sbyam casually sat down beside his students, crossing one leg over the other with a smug grin.
---
The Event Rules
As side conversations continued, Alia curiously examined Sbyam's new white attire and asked:
"Why did you change the sorcerer's robe?"
Sbyam responded indifferently:
"I got bored of it."
Betma stepped forward calmly, positioning himself between his students and Sbyam's.
Hambo asked seriously:
"Alright, what are the rules?"
Before anyone could answer, Suero interrupted:
"Wait a moment!"
Everyone turned to him in surprise. Suero continued:
"I have no idea what this event is about."
Betma's students exchanged glances, while Jan asked in disbelief:
"Are you new here?"
Sbyam laughed loudly and said:
"He's in his first year."
Betma studied Suero for a moment before saying calmly:
"Alright, let's explain everything from the beginning."
Everyone waited attentively as Betma began speaking in a serious tone:
"The Mana Event is a competition between students from different magic academies. The goal is for each team to showcase its strength through one-on-one duels."
Suero asked curiously:
"And what's the prize?"
Betma replied bluntly:
"There are no prizes."
Disappointment was evident on Suero's face, and it was clear that Baysal felt the same.
Baysal sighed in frustration:
"Even though I already knew that, it's still disappointing."
Kamyo looked at her in confusion and asked:
"What's wrong?"
Baysal replied:
"I was hoping there'd be something worth getting excited about."
Betma continued his explanation:
"Students will be paired up against their counterparts from the opposing team. The goal is to knock the opponent down. Serious physical harm is prohibited during the fight."
He then added:
"While you're busy with the event, Sbyam and I will be meeting with the organization's leaders."
Suero raised an eyebrow and asked:
"The organization's leaders? Who are they?"
Hambo answered:
"They are the sages of the three clans, responsible for making decisions and establishing laws within the Sorcerers' Organization."
…
Sbyam smirked and stood up, saying mockingly:
"Of course, my students will win effortlessly."
Then, he turned and walked away confidently, leaving behind a heavy silence. Everyone watched him until Betma broke the stillness, speaking calmly:
"Any questions?"
The students exchanged glances, but no one dared to speak. Betma concluded:
"Good. The event begins today."
---
As Betma finished speaking, Moryo stood up coldly and said:
"Let's go, everyone."
Sbyam's students responded eagerly, rising one by one and following Moryo out of the room, leaving Betma and his students behind.
Alia turned to Betma with a serious expression and said:
"So, Master, you need to assign each of us an opponent from Sbyam's students."
Betma sat quietly, scanning his students before speaking:
"Alright. Hambo, since you're the strongest among us, you'll face Sbyam's strongest student, which is…"
Hambo answered confidently and coldly:
"Moryo, right?"
Betma nodded:
"Yes."
Then he turned to Alia and said:
"Alia, you'll face Sbyam's second strongest student, Veb."
Alia responded with determination:
"I'm ready for him."
Next, Betma looked at Jan and said:
"Jan, you'll fight Baysal."
Jan smiled and said:
"Alright, I'll do my best."
Finally, Betma turned to Rita and said:
"As for you, being the weakest, you'll face Kamyo."
Rita immediately replied:
"Understood, Master"
Jan asked curiously:
"What about Suero? He's new—shouldn't we consider him too?"
Betma answered indifferently:
"Don't bother with him. He doesn't know much about the world of sorcery and won't be a match for any of you."
Hambo nodded confidently and said:
"As you wish, Master."
Then, turning toward his team, he stood tall and declared with enthusiasm:
"Let's claim victory, everyone!"
Betma's students shouted in unison:
"Yes!"
---
Elsewhere Inside the Palace
Sbyam sat on the floor, leaning against the wall with one leg crossed over the other. He appeared calm as always, yet there was a subtle hint of sarcasm in his demeanor.
Suero spoke with a tense tone:
"Master, how will our opponents be determined?"
Baysal interrupted him with a frustrated tone
"There won't be any determination."
Suero turned to her in confusion:
"What? What do you mean?"
Veb responded coldly:
"It's simple. We won't be assigned opponents like Team Betma."
Suero exclaimed in frustration:
"Wait! What's going on? Why are we different?"
Moryo calmly replied:
"Master Sbyam doesn't care about assignments. We are one team, and we work as one."
Sbyam stood up, looking at them with a sarcastic gaze, and said:
"What you see before you is all you need, my friends. There's no need to complicate things."
Suero felt a mix of frustration and confusion, while the rest of the team remained as composed as ever.
---
Outside the Palace
Baysal said enthusiastically:
"No matter what happens, we will win!"
Veb responded coldly:
"Don't get too excited. Victory is not guaranteed."
Suero clenched his fists with determination and declared:
"Of course! Let's win, together!"
Moryo led the team outside in preparation for the upcoming event. Though Suero's spirit burned with determination, his eyes reflected a mixture of curiosity and unease about what awaited him.
---
End of Chapter.