In the walls of the throne room, four figures were tied up as they drowsily opened their eyes. A moment later, their eyes widened as soon as they woke up, remembering something.

"Elise...!" Thoma shouted, worry filling his voice. He moved his body, vehemently struggling against the tight rope tying them up. "Sophia...!"

"I'm fine, dumbo." Elise commented, sighing. "Rather than that..."

She looked at the ropes tying their bodies, her face scrunching up to a grim expression.

"Falheinm's Ropes..." Sophia muttered filled with shock as she stared at the lustrous, shining ropes that binded their bodies.

The Falheinm Ropes were... in basic description; magical ropes. But that was simply an understatement of its prowess. It was a rope that can grasp onto anything; whether incorporeal and corporeal. And perhaps, it's most formidable use...

It was made by a strong material capable of tying down almost anything. Unless one was a Rank B Miracle Invoker, breaking out of the ropes itself was but a far-away dream. It was named Falheinm because of that was the name of it's material.

"How is it possible...?" Sophia asked, confused and bewildered. Falheinm ropes were a rarity, only coming by the market once in a year or so — and those stocks immediately get acquired by big guilds and great figures. "Nonetheless... If they used something like this, what's their end goal? Kill us?"

"I doubt that." Elise frowned, her head shaking. "If it was so, there was no need to tie us up. They could've just killed just as sleep. There's also the identity of the attacker..."

"Oh right!" Sophia nodded, remembering the face of the attacker. "It was a student... a fellow Volund Academy student... and the instructors are also watching outside, most likely we're safe."

"I hope so..." Elise muttered, disquiet. As if noticing something, she shifted her gaze and looked at Thomas. "Hey, you been awfully quiet... is there a problem?"

Thomas was still, unable to respond. Not because he didn't want to, but rather he couldn't. He was too shock—too awe-struck and shaken in disbelief on what he was seeing than to pay attention.

The two, Sophia and Elise, notice his odd behavior and looked at the direction he was looking... It was... a terrifying sight. It was the sight of their leader, Arcuied Valens, fighting an unknown student, both filled with bloodlust and immeasurable power.

Arcuied... Sophia stared in disbelief. Their leader seemed to be different. As if glowing. On his body, a distinct icy aura surrounded him and behind... a shadow of a terrifying figure ocassionally shone, and the shadow oddly looked like him, albeit more older.

It was inexplicable. And yet it was there.

—

Arcuied swung his sword with all his strength, destroying the ground as ice spread throughout the room.

Ashen slammed his hand together, mumbling a few words as the flaming lotus behind his back shone and forged fiery swords that aimed towards Arcuied.

Arcuied noticed it instantly, as if instinctually. He moved his body, dodging every fiery sword with precision as he parried the last one back towards Ashen.

Ashen held his hand high, catching the flaming sword on his hand. He shook his head, in slight awe as he commented. "Unbelievable. So this is your potential, huh? It's beyond me. Beyond the others I met. And it triggered just from my name? Just how desperate are you, Arcuied?"

"Tell me." Arcuied said with indifference, his golden eyes shining coldly. "What do you know of Valens?"

"You have to take it out my mouth, Valens." Ashen laughed, his hand clenching tightly — in that instant, a flaming broadsword was formed behind him. "In another note, It is a joy to finally be able to release my flame arts in a fight like this."

"You see," Ashen nodded slightly, his body assuming a stance. His hair was scarlet red, filled with flames. His body was the incarnation of embers, blazing in passion. "I can't use these arts casually. Not only do they give me a massive draw-back, but simply there's no one worthy enough to make me use it."

Arcuied was silent, his hand raising as he brandished his sword. The sword on his hand was covered by green, poisonous raging wind that shook with all fury — and surrounding the wind was cold, glacier ice that froze everything.

It was simply a masterful display of talent over control. All elements, wind, poison and ice were balanced and controlled o supplement each other without conflicting one another. It was a feat only attainable by those who are extremely talented.

Ashen sighed, dissapointed in the lack of response. He shook his head, focusing on the battle once again — he raised his hand, holding an obsidian sword covered with unyielding, blazing flames.

A battle of flames and ice. Ashen and Arcuied stared at one another, preparing themselves. The tension between them rose each second their body didn't move.

Crack—!

At that moment — as if a fragile glass broke, the tension between the two exploded as both figures dashed in to each other. Their appearances blurred, appearing phantasmal just for how fast they were moving.

Ashen was a talented Rank D Miracle Invoker, his speed was beyond his peers with just half of his powers, but now coupled with his lotus flame arts and full power, he was simply... a instantaneous flash incomparable to any other normal Rank D Miracle Invoker.

However...

The most shocking thing among all else was Arcuied. Despite being a Rank E Miracle Invoker, he was able to catch up and even equal Ashen's speed. That was the height of impossibility. Not only was there a rank difference, but Ashen was one of the most talented Rank D Miracle Invokers in the academy!

Anyone that saw such a sight would only see it with disbelief and terror.historical

Both continously exchanged attacks one after another, showcasing equal and progressively stronger advances with the intent to kill. However, as the other strikes, the other dodges.

Their bloodlust towards each other suffocated the room. After a while of exchanges, wounds and blood started to drip from their bodies. However, the most unbelievable part was...

Ashen was filled with wounds and blood, covered by his flaming body while Arcuied had less wounds as if only slightly bloodied. It was an impossibility after an impossibility, not only was Arcuied able to equal Ashen — even get an advantage over him.

However, no matter how strong and transcendental Arcuied's prowess was — his body was different. His body was slowly breaking down, exhausting and burning on his explosive use of magic. It was simply too fragile for the amount of power he was using. It was akin to a glass cannon shattering after an explosive attack.

Arcuied, of course, knew of his risky action s. After this fight, not only would his body be burned up considerably — but he would suffer horribly for a month of a terrible body ache and unable to use magic.

However, all of it was worth it—worth dying for, as long as he gets a step closer to the 'truth'...

Boom—!

At that moment — a thunderclap echoed in the throne room, shaking the whole castle in the sheer force. In the middle of the room, two blades were blocking one another — one was fire, the other was a mix of three different elements.

Ashen, compared to Arcuied has more wounds and damages. His body was battered and skewed upon, bloodied and gutted in many areas. It was a surprise he was still standing even from the trail of blood leaving behind his wake.

"...I can confirm with this exchange..." Ashen raised his head, staring at Arcuied directly. "Your magical energy, it's different from any other. Correct? It's much purer... more transcendental..."

"Irrelevant." Arcuied shook his head calmly, his hand tightening as he pushed his sword fiercely. He stared at Ashen, his gooden eyes shining with inhumane indifference. "This is your last chance, surrender what you know — and I will spare your life."

"Urghk...!" Ashen growled, his body shuddering as he saw Arcuied's eyes. It was pure gold, a like the shining virtue... It was pure, clean and without any room for imperfections. It was like the eyes of a god that was filled with righteousness.

"You... you..." Ashen muttered with difficulty, his body strained from using magic in large exponential prowess. He vehemently struggled against the Arcuied's sword. "You seem—no, you are losing your humanity every second we fight. I'm not mistaken, you really are..."

Boom—!

At that moment, an explosion sounded as Arcuied swung his sword with all his strength. The wind converged and created a hurricane of poison, slowly decaying Ashen's physical strength. The ice solidified and showed absolutely sharpness, blowing and piercing Ashen's body to a distance.

Thud—!

A loud thud erupted as Ashen's body fell to the ground.

From the other side of the room, Arcuied stood still. He stared at the man's body with indifference. After a moment of silence, he dragged his sword to the ground as he slowly walked over to Ashen's fallen figure.

"Tell me everything you know, Ashen Atara—no, Ashen 'Valens.'..."