The roar of the arena hadn't faded.
Aeris lay unconscious near the shattered wall, dust curling around her body like mist. Her weapon was buried beneath rubble, her coat torn and bloodied, eyes shut in deep exhaustion. She had given everything—and still, she had lost.
But the match wasn't over.
Not entirely.
Because Rin was still standing.
A Different Battle
On the opposite end of the arena, the announcer's voice echoed with renewed energy.
"Due to STAR Club entering with two registered members, the second match commences immediately! Rin Alster of STAR versus Sayn Rikkal of Orbital Crown!"
The crowd turned, murmuring. Rin was already stepping into the ring.
She didn't hesitate.
Her usual cheerful expression was gone—replaced by grim focus.
Her bow—sleek, silver, and etched with blue circuit-like veins—was already drawn. It was no longer a pure long-range weapon. Its new design allowed her to split it into dual short blades when needed.
And she would need them.
Because Sayn, the boy she was up against, was an agility-based fighter with twin energy discs that danced like buzzsaws. Fast. Precise. Deadly.
Rin's Resolve
The match began.
Sayn rushed forward, his discs slicing through the air with terrifying speed. Rin deflected the first, ducked the second, and rolled sideways.
"You're slower than I thought," Sayn taunted. "Orbital Crown doesn't have time for cute mascots."
"Then stop talking and try to beat me," Rin shot back, loosing an arrow mid-dash.
It struck Sayn's shoulder—not deep, but enough to stall him.
The fight turned into a blur of ranged and close-quarters. Rin switched fluidly between her bow and the twin blades, dodging with light-footed grace. The crowd was stunned—no one had expected the club's "mascot" to fight this hard.
But Rin had trained.
After Aeris saved her during their previous mission, Rin had decided she wouldn't be left behind again.
The Shift
Midway through the match, Sayn landed a hit—one disc slashing across Rin's thigh. She winced but didn't fall.
Instead, she threw both blades like boomerangs, forcing Sayn to leap back—then fired a shock arrow at his landing spot.
BOOM—!
Smoke clouded the center of the arena.
Rin used that moment to close the distance, blades in hand.
Sayn emerged coughing—and Rin struck, slicing both energy discs from his hands and sending him tumbling back into the dust.
"Winner of the second match: Rin Alster of STAR Club!"
The arena paused. Applause came slowly, then faster. Rin breathed hard, blood running down her leg, her hands shaking.
She didn't celebrate.
Instead, she ran to Aeris.
Protecting What Matters
Viora was still near the other side of the arena, watching. Her arms were folded. Her expression unreadable.
Rin reached Aeris and knelt beside her, lifting her carefully.
"Aeris… hey. Hey, can you hear me?"
A weak breath. Nothing more.
Then the sound of boots.
Three members of Orbital Crown were approaching—Sayn, recovered, and two others, weapons drawn. Not to fight, but to intimidate.
"Back off," one said. "This was a show of power, not pity."
Rin rose, blades still in hand.
"She's not your enemy anymore," Rin said, voice quiet but firm. "So if you want to take another step—go ahead."
Silence.
Then—
"Enough," Viora's voice cut through.
The others froze.
She walked up slowly and looked down at Aeris, then at Rin.
"She was strong," Viora said. "But not ready."
Then she turned.
"We'll see what she becomes."
Aftermath
Later, back in the STAR club's dorm, Rin laid Aeris on the couch and wrapped her wounds.
She stayed up the entire night, watching over her.
Because whatever came next—
They weren't backing down.
Not from Orbital Crown.
Not from this academy.
And not from their pasts.