Alex hesitated for a moment before finally speaking. "Aren't you angry?"
"Why?" Evelyne looked at him without the slightest change in expression.
"Because you lost."
She remained silent for a brief moment before answering in her usual calm voice.
"You were stronger. My defeat was only natural."
There wasn't the slightest trace of frustration or resentment in her eyes.
"For the first time..." she continued quietly, "I fought without holding back."
She paused briefly.
"And I still lost."
Rather than disappointment, her tone carried an almost imperceptible sense of satisfaction.
"I finally met someone stronger than me."
Her gaze never left Alex.
"I'm looking forward to the next time."
Alex found himself at a loss for words. He had expected annoyance, perhaps disappointment. Instead, Evelyne seemed genuinely pleased.
Not because she had lost, but because after years of standing alone at the summit among her peers, she had finally found someone capable of surpassing her.
Before Alex could think of a response, the orchestra shifted into a slower melody.
The lively conversations throughout the ballroom gradually softened as couples drifted toward the center of the hall.
"It seems the dance is about to begin."
Almost immediately, several girls who had been waiting nearby gathered their courage and approached Alex.
"Alex, would you honor me with a dance?"
"I... I'd be delighted if you would dance with me."
"If you've already promised someone else, perhaps the next one..."
Alex's smile immediately became awkward.
"I appreciate the offers, but I don't actually know how to dance."
His confession caught everyone off guard.
Aurora burst into laughter inside his mind.
As always, Alex chose to ignore her.
Searching for an escape, his eyes eventually fell upon Sherry, who had quietly retreated behind the others, seemingly hoping no one would notice her.
She was nervously fidgeting with the hem of her dress, doing her best to blend into the background. An idea came to him.
He walked over and held out his hand.
"Sherry."
She looked up in surprise.
"D-Do you need something?"
Alex smiled.
"I don't know how to dance."
She blinked.
"N-Neither do I..."
"Perfect."
A grin spread across his face.
"Let's embarrass ourselves together."
For a moment, Sherry simply stared at him. Then a tiny smile blossomed across her face.
"O-Okay."
Timidly, she placed her hand in his as the two of them stepped onto the dance floor.
As expected, neither had the slightest idea what they were doing.
Alex nearly stepped on her foot twice, while Sherry apologized every few seconds despite doing absolutely nothing wrong.
They moved stiffly, awkwardly, and completely out of rhythm.
Yet somehow, neither of them minded.
Watching from the sidelines, Aurora laughed so hard she could barely speak. Alex pretended not to hear her.
After only a single song, both he and Sherry retreated from the dance floor with visible relief.
"I think..." Alex muttered, "that's enough dancing for one lifetime."
Sherry nodded repeatedly in wholehearted agreement.
Aurora, however, had already found a new target.
"Enough dancing. Now it's time to raid the dessert table. I want to taste everything."
Alex couldn't help letting out a helpless chuckle.
Unable to argue with her enthusiasm, he led Sherry toward the dessert table, where the two of them sampled one delicacy after another while the music continued to drift through the grand hall.
Beneath the glow of the crystal chandeliers, laughter and conversation filled the ballroom as students from all nine academies enjoyed the final moments of the tournament together.
And just like that, the week-long Nine Academy Tournament came to its long-awaited conclusion.
◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆
The following day, Alex found himself sitting in the principal's office alongside Elena.
Warm sunlight streamed through the large windows, illuminating the neatly organized room. Alicia had already departed that morning. Apparently, something urgent had come up, forcing her to return early.
Elena, on the other hand, appeared to be in an exceptionally good mood. After all, Star Shine Academy had finally reclaimed the championship after so many years.
As the academy's principal, there was little else she could have asked for. And the person responsible for making it all possible was sitting directly across from her.
"You've certainly given me quite the surprise."
Alex smiled sheepishly.
"I suppose I did."
"You suppose?"
Elena laughed softly before shaking her head.
"Do you have any idea how many congratulatory letters arrived this morning? Even before breakfast, my desk was already overflowing."
"I can imagine."
For a few moments, silence settled between them. Then the smile gradually faded from Elena's face, her expression growing noticeably more serious.
"There is something I've wanted to ask you since yesterday."
Alex had been expecting this.
"During the final clash," Elena continued, studying him carefully, "how did you cast a Tier-7 spell?"
She didn't sound accusatory.
If anything, there was only concern hidden beneath her calm voice.
"As far as I remember, your mana capacity shouldn't have been anywhere near large enough."
Alex remained composed. He had anticipated this question long before entering the office.
"The spell you used," Elena continued, "required roughly seventy thousand mana to cast."
Her eyes never left him as she folded her hands together.
"Alex, I know everyone has their own secrets, and I have no intention of prying into yours."
She paused before speaking more softly.
"But if you forced your growth through dangerous methods... I need to know."
There wasn't a trace of suspicion in her voice, only genuine concern.
Alex smiled reassuringly.
"Rest assured, I didn't do or use anything dangerous."
When Elena remained silent, he continued.
"Over the past month, I've been continuously exhausting nearly all of my mana, allowing it to recover completely, then repeating the process over and over."
Elena nodded slowly.
That method was well known. Repeatedly emptying one's mana reserves could gradually stimulate the growth of a mage's mana capacity. The progress was slow, but it was a proven technique.
"I also refined a considerable number of A-Rank monster cores."
That explanation was equally reasonable.
Refining monster cores was another recognized way to strengthen one's mana pool, although high-quality cores were both expensive and difficult to obtain.
Elena quietly observed him for several moments.
Neither explanation was false. In fact, both were established methods used by experienced mages.
'The problem is... when it comes to him, they're surprisingly effective.'
After a long silence, she finally let out a quiet sigh.
"You're truly full of surprises."
Alex merely smiled.
Some secrets, after all, were destined to remain secrets.
Elena leaned back in her chair, the seriousness from moments ago giving way to a warm smile.
"Now then," she said, folding her hands atop the desk, "there's something else we need to discuss."
Alex blinked. "What is it?"
Elena looked at him with unmistakable satisfaction. "Thank you. For bringing the championship back to Star Shine Academy." Her voice remained calm, but there was genuine gratitude behind it.
"It's been many years since we've stood at the top of the Nine Academy Tournament, and this year's victory was largely because of you."
Alex scratched the back of his head awkwardly.
"I wasn't the only one who contributed."
"I know," Elena replied with a smile. "But without you, we wouldn't have won."
She opened one of the drawers in her desk and retrieved a document.
"The academy has decided to reward your contribution. After all, bringing the championship back after so many years deserves proper recognition."
"A reward?" Alex asked in surprise.
Elena nodded.
"Is there anything you want? A magic artifact, perhaps? Or some kind of resources? If it's within the academy's capabilities, I'll do my best to arrange it."
The unexpected offer caught Alex slightly off guard. He hadn't entered the tournament expecting any additional reward, but if the academy was willingly offering something, there was little reason to refuse.
"I'll have to think about it." he admitted honestly. "I'm not really sure what I need right now."
"That's perfectly fine." Elena smiled. "There's no need to decide immediately."
She slid the document across the desk.
"There is one thing I've already decided, though."
Alex glanced down. It was an official transfer notice.
"Starting next week, you'll be joining the Elite Magic Class."
Alex wasn't particularly surprised. After everything that had happened, remaining in the Advanced Knight Class no longer made much sense.
The Elite Class offered far greater freedom. Its students rarely attended normal classes, instead focusing on individualized instruction, independent research, and personal training. For someone whose growth had already surpassed the standard curriculum, it was the ideal environment.
"Thank you." Alex said sincerely.
Elena smiled before her expression gradually turned serious once again.
"There's one more thing you should know."
Alex immediately sensed the shift in her tone.
"You're currently the hottest topic in the entire city. I've already received reports that numerous noble families have begun making inquiries about you. They're scouting you."
Alex wasn't particularly surprised. Several people had hinted as much during the closing banquet.
It was common for influential noble families to approach outstanding students before graduation, hoping to recruit them as retainers, forge political ties, or even arrange marriages into their bloodlines. In a sense, it was simply an early investment in future power.
However, Elena's next words caught him completely off guard.
"For the time being, I'd prefer you not leave the academy grounds unless absolutely necessary."
Alex frowned.
"Is it really that serious?"
"It is," Elena answered without hesitation. "Ever since the first day of the tournament, when it was publicly revealed that your talent for magic mysteriously awakened after years of being unable to use magic, you became extraordinarily valuable."
Her expression grew solemn.
"To most people, you're a once-in-a-generation genius. But to certain individuals, you're something else entirely."
Alex remained silent, waiting for her to continue.
"They would see you as a research subject."
A brief silence filled the room before she continued.
"There are people who would do almost anything to uncover how someone like you awakened magic. They would want to examine your body, study your mana circuits, or even perform experiments in hopes of discovering your secret."
Her voice remained calm, yet every word carried unmistakable weight.
Elena let out a quiet sigh.
"Alicia and I discussed this before she left this morning. Her first instinct was to take you away with her."
Alex could almost picture Alicia saying exactly that.
"Then why didn't she?"
"Because, for now, Star Shine Academy is actually the safer place."
Elena gestured toward the window overlooking the campus.
"The academy is protected by numerous high-tier formations, and several powerful instructors are stationed here at all times. During the tournament, there were too many people watching, so acting against you would have been virtually impossible."
She paused briefly before continuing.
"But now the tournament is over. News of your existence has spread across the kingdom—and perhaps even beyond. We don't yet know who might come looking for you."
Her gaze met his, steady and unwavering.
"For the time being, staying within the academy is simply the safest option."