It was the tournament day already.
The venue was Wyrmwood Academy. The grounds here was bigger and wider compare to the Noble-High Academy ground, making it the perfect stage for the tournament.
Spectators—cadets from both academies who were not competing filled the open field.
Some were chatting in groups, while others already occupied the first rows of the spectator stands.
Right at the center was a massive magical display board.
It was set up so everyone in the crowd could see what was happening live inside the sealed Wildland, right alongside the running score.
The atmosphere here was electric.
Wyrmwood cadets were wearing their light blue and white sportswear, while the Noble-High students were wearing dark red.
A few feet away from the main crowd, Matthew sat behind a sturdy wooden desk.
A long single file of cadets was standing in front of his table, waiting to place their bets.
The next cadet in line stepped up, tossed three coins onto the wood, and said. "Put this on Noble-High Academy for the win."
His friend, waiting a few steps back, raised his voice in disbelief. "What the fu*k? You don’t even trust our own academy to win?"
The boy shrugged, shifting his gaze to his friend. "Sorry, mate. But this is money we are talking about. I can not afford to lose it just because of school emotions."
A Noble-High cadet wearing red sportswear chimed in from nearby with a smirk. "Only a fool would bet against us. Everyone knows Noble-High is taking the trophy home."
The Wyrmwood friend snapped his head around. "What did you just say?"
"I said only a fool would bet against us," the cadet repeated, leaning back with a grin. "Everyone knows.."
Before he could finish, the Wyrmwood cadet charged toward him.
He lunged forward, grabbed the Noble-High student by the collar, and drove his fist hard straight into his face.
The Noble-High student staggered back, spat, lunged right back, and returned the punch. "If you want a fight, asshole, I will give you one!"
Matthew seeing the two of them crash into a stack of empty chairs, let out a long breath. He shifted his gaze and waved a hand lazily toward the patrolling guards.
"Hey. Security. Come get these two clowns away from my table. They’re ruining my business."
Two guards rushed over quickly. They grabbed both the cadets by the arms. The boys kept screaming and swinging as they were dragged away.
Matthew tapped his finger on the wooden desk and called out, "Next."
Back in the main spectator stands, a cadet stared up at the display board that just light up and frowned. "Why the fuck are they starting with the year four first?"
On the screen, Phineas was already visible inside the Wildland. He was standing as he gave last-minute instructions to his cadets.
Nearby, two Noble-High dragon riders was stroking the thick scales of their dragon.
A moment later, Nymeria and Bram stepped into view on the display board. She was leading the Wyrmwood Academy year-four representatives out into the open training grounds.
The scoreboard at the top of the magical display lit up in bold letters:
Round 1: Year 4
W.A [ 0 ] vs N.H.A [ 0 ]
Someone in the crowd groaned loudly. "No way. They really are starting with the year fours?"
Inside the sealed Wildland, a senior professor stepped forward, holding a silver whistle between her fingers.
"I need the two captains."
Nymeria and Phineas stepped away from their respective squads and stepped into the center.
The professor pulled a silver coin from her pouch. "Call it. Heads or tails?"
"Heads," Nymeria said instantly.
"Tails," Phineas replied.
The professor flipped the coin high into the air, caught it, and slammed it down onto the back of her hand. "Heads it is."
She look up straight at Nymeria.
"Wyrmwood wins the toss. Which direction?"
Nymeria bit her lower lip, glancing toward the treelines. "We’ll take the left."
The professor turned her gaze to Phineas. "Then you and your cadets take the right."
Both captains turned and walked back to their teams. They issue a quick order to them.
The professor checked the small magical timer strapped to her wrist. She raised the whistle to her lips and blew it twice.
Across the field, the opponents took their stances. The dragon riders swung themselves up and steady themselves on their dragon back.
The professor then blow a single blast of the whistle this time.
Phineas and his team moved first. They charged down the right path. Their two rider cadets took to the air immediately. Their dragon wings beating heavy against the wind.
Then, Phineas and a girl with pink hair left on foot.
On the other side, Nymeria gave a quick nod. Senior cadet Elian and Bram kicked their dragons off the ground, and taking the left. Nymeria and Cian followed right behind them on foot.
Up above, Senior Cadet Elian ride his dragon forward, pushing through the thick canopy air.
A few seconds later, his eyes landed on the two Noble-High riders hurtling toward them.
"Shit." Elian muttered under his breath.
He dug his right heel hard into his dragon’s shoulder-ridge. The beast tilted hard to the right immediately.
Elian steadied himself and slammed his palms flat against the dragon’s nape, and shouted, "Vaesuth ra!"
The dragon leveled out instantly.
Elian glanced sideways. The two opposing riders were already getting close to him.
"Fu*king bastards," he muttered.
Instead of attacking Elian together, the two Noble-High riders split up—one diving in from the right, the other closing in from the front left.
Elian gripped the reins. "Krezh vak!" he yelled, leaning forward while kicking his left heel into the dragon’s side.
The dragon dove sharply to the left, using its heavy tail-end and long head to slam into the Noble-High rider approaching from the left.
The Noble-High rider reacted fast, kicking his brown dragon into a tight barrel roll to evade the blow. The brown dragon rolled clear just in time.
But the second rider on purple dragon aimed at Elian from the right. "Krezh vak!" he roared, leaning forward and driving his heel into his mount.
Before Elian could pull his dragon back up, the purple dragon crashed down and slammed hard into their side.
Elian’s dragon lost balance and tumbled sideways in a violent spin.
The impact nearly threw Elian away. His body slid and his legs were dangling freely in the air.
The only thing keeping him from falling completely was his two hands gripping the dragon’s back.
He groaned and tried to pull himself up.
But the purple dragon was already aiming at him for another strike.
Seeing this, Elian’s dragon stretched its long neck forward and snapped viciously toward the purple dragon.
The sudden twist threw Elian off completely.
Elian’s grip slipped on the dragon back.
"No oooo...!"
He he hit the ground with his face.
Then silence followed for a brief second. Then, a cool voice sounded in front of him.
"Hello there."
Elian groaned, his vision was a bit blurry as he forced his face up from the dirt.
Standing right in front of him was the pink hair magic user from Noble-High. She was swirling a ball made of ice lazily in her palm.
She muttered softly. "Don’t worry. I’ll make this quick."
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