The next morning, the academy carried on as usual—but for Maria, something felt off.
She found Arnold in one of the training halls, relentlessly striking a practice dummy. Each hit was sharp, controlled… but filled with frustration. Sweat dripped down his face, yet he didn't slow down.
"Arnold…" she called, stepping closer. "Are you okay? Why are you pushing yourself this hard? And you don't even look happy doing it."
He stopped.
For a moment, he didn't turn.
Then, quietly—
"Do you think Crystal still considers us her friends?"
Maria blinked, surprised. "What do you mean? Look, I know she didn't tell us about her recent training, but I'm sure she had her reasons—"
"She chose to go with that prince without telling us."
Maria frowned. "What?"
Arnold turned, his eyes heavy with emotion. "You forget—my father leads the royal guards. I hear things. Crystal is training with Prince Azrion of Zerathion. And both kingdoms approved it."
Maria stepped closer. "Arnold… calm down. Maybe we should talk to Ronan. There's probably more to it—"
"What more is there?" His voice cracked. "What else could it be other than she chose him over us?"
Maria crossed her arms, her gaze steady. "You're taking this too personally. Is this about friendship… or your jealousy of Prince Azrion?"
He froze.
"Arnold?" she pressed.
"I don't know…" he admitted, his strength giving way as he dropped to his knees. "Maybe both…"
Tears filled his eyes.
"Why…?" His voice trembled. "I love her so much, Maria. Why didn't she choose me? What does he have that I don't?"
Maria's expression softened. She sat beside him and placed a gentle hand on his shoulder.
"There's nothing wrong with you," she said quietly. "But sometimes… the heart chooses on its own. You can't control that. And it doesn't mean she stopped caring about you."
He clenched his fists. "But her… alone with Azrion…"
"Trust her," Maria said softly. "Trust your friend."
He exhaled shakily. "I know… I'm sorry. It just hurts. You probably wouldn't understand… you've never been in love before."
Maria froze.
"…How would you know that?" she asked, her voice low.
Arnold gave a faint, tired smile. "Oh? Then who is it?"
She turned her face away, her voice barely above a whisper. "It's not mutual… so yes, I understand how you feel."
Arnold's expression softened instantly. "I'm sorry. It's his loss though."
Maria let out a faint, bittersweet chuckle. "Yeah… maybe."
Suddenly, Arnold pulled her into a warm embrace.
"Thank you, Maria," he murmured. "I've been difficult lately… but you stayed."
She smiled softly. "That's what friends are for. And don't worry… we'll see Crystal again soon."
Far away, atop the harsh and wind-swept heights of Herold's Training Mountain…
The clash of elements echoed through the air.
Crystal stood poised, water swirling around her hands in smooth, controlled currents. Opposite her, Azrion smirked, flames flickering at his fingertips.
"Try to keep up this time, Princess," he said lightly.
Crystal smirked back. "Focus on yourself."
Azrion moved first.
With a sharp motion, pillars of fire erupted from the ground, twisting upward like blazing serpents racing toward her.
Crystal reacted instantly, summoning a rotating shield of water. Steam exploded as fire met water, the impact hissing violently into the air.
But Azrion didn't stop.
He dashed through the mist, his arm engulfed in flames, and struck—
CRASH!
Crystal blocked—but the force sent her sliding backward across the rocky ground.
She steadied herself quickly, eyes locked on him.
"Not bad," Azrion said. "You're improving."
Crystal didn't reply.
Instead, she attacked.
A powerful wave surged forward, splitting into multiple streams that lashed toward him from every direction.
Azrion spun, releasing a burst of flames that evaporated the attack instantly.
Then—
He vanished.
Crystal's eyes widened.
Too late.
He appeared behind her.
A concentrated blast of fire shattered her defense and sent her crashing hard to the ground.
Dust rose.
Silence followed.
Azrion lowered his hand slightly. "You okay?"
Crystal groaned, pushing herself up. "…Yeah. I'm fine."
A slow clap echoed across the mountain.
"Pathetic."
Sir Herold approached, his massive hammer resting on his shoulder, his presence alone pressing heavily on the air.
"You call that warming up?" he scoffed. "You're about to die, and this is how you train?"
Both straightened instantly.
"Positions," he commanded.
They obeyed without hesitation.
Herold's gaze sharpened. "Now… come at me. Together."
They exchanged a quick glance—then nodded.
And charged.
Fire and water surged forward—not clashing, but flowing together in powerful harmony.
Azrion attacked head-on, unleashing waves of flame, while Crystal controlled the battlefield, her water guiding and amplifying their movements.
Herold stepped forward.
The ground cracked beneath his feet.
With a single swing of his hammer—
BOOM!
A devastating shockwave tore through their combined attack, sending both of them flying backward.
They recovered quickly.
Azrion launched into the air, raining down relentless fire.
Crystal followed, summoning a spiraling vortex of water that trapped Herold at its center.
For a moment—
It worked.
Then Herold smiled.
He raised his hand.
The vortex froze mid-motion—
Then shattered instantly under the pressure of his telekinesis.
Before they could react—
He moved.
Blindingly fast.
He struck Azrion first, sending him crashing into the mountainside.
Then Crystal—
Her defenses broke as she was slammed into the ground.
Dust filled the air.
Silence followed.
Herold stood over them.
"This… is your best?"
Crystal's fingers trembled against the earth. Her breathing was uneven, her body screaming in pain.
"…No…" she whispered.
She forced herself up slightly, her eyes burning with determination.
"I can't… end like this."
The wind howled across the mountain.
Then—
Darkness.
The sky twisted unnaturally as thick storm clouds swallowed the light. Thunder roared, shaking the mountain to its core. Lightning tore across the heavens in violent flashes.
Crystal's body lifted slightly.
Her eyes glowed pure white.
A radiant mark burned into her skin—alive with ancient power.
But her expression…
Empty.
Unaware.
This power wasn't controlled.
It had awakened on its own.
Herold's expression shifted, shock breaking through his hardened composure.
"…Impossible."
Thunder cracked again.
Crystal's arm rose slowly, as if guided by something beyond her will.
Lightning gathered—not around her—
But into her.
Azrion staggered to his feet, staring. "Crystal…?"
Then—
She brought her hand down.
A massive bolt of lightning crashed toward Herold.
He raised his hammer—
BOOM!
The impact forced him backward, the ground beneath him splitting apart.
"The mark of the Celestial Dragon, could it be?…" he muttered, his voice low, almost reverent.
The storm intensified.
Lightning spiraled wildly around Crystal, striking the ground and tearing through the battlefield. The air itself seemed to bend under the pressure of her power.
Azrion shielded himself, struggling to stay upright.
"This isn't controlled…" he realized. "She's not even aware…"
Crystal stepped forward—
Each step cracking the ground beneath her.
But suddenly—
Her body trembled.
The lightning flickered.
Her glowing eyes faltered.
The storm stuttered—
Then began to collapse.
The energy vanished as abruptly as it came.
Crystal's body went limp.
"Crystal—!"
She fell.
But before she could hit the ground—
Azrion caught her.
The storm faded into silence.
For a moment, he just held her, his usual confidence gone,but a mixture of concern and confusion filled his expression.