The moment the signal was given—
The forest erupted into motion.
Wind scattered leaves across the ground as two figures rushed through the trees.
"t-two people on my right…" Eren stammered, his hands trembling slightly as faint currents of air pulsed outward from him. "b-based on their weight… they're both female… a-another two to the left… one male… one female…"
Kane shot him a glance, surprised.
He can sense all that just from air?
"…We go right," Kane said decisively. "Lily and Olivia. I know how they fight. The other team's too much of a gamble."
Eren nodded rapidly.
"N-no problem!"
"Good. Don't fall behind."
Kane kicked off the ground and surged forward. Eren hurried after him, slightly clumsy but managing to keep pace.
Meanwhile—
Lily and Olivia walked calmly through the forest, their footsteps soft against the grass.
Olivia clutched her staff, glancing around nervously.
"Lily… shouldn't we be doing something? If we just walk around like this—"
"tsk tsk," Lily cut her off lightly. "You're still inexperienced."
Olivia frowned.
"I already set the bait," Lily said, eyes scanning the trees. "Now we wait."
"…Bait?"
Before Olivia could ask more—
A faint sound.
Branches shifting.
Air moving.
Lily's gaze sharpened.
"They're here."
Olivia stiffened.
"What do we do?!"
Lily smiled.
"Exactly what I planned."
A figure burst from the bushes—
Eren.
Two compressed blasts of wind shot forward.
Lily raised her hand instantly.
An earth wall surged up, blocking the attack.
Without hesitation, she flicked her wand—
Stones shot in the opposite direction.
Eren blinked.
"…Huh?"
From above, hidden among the trees, Kane narrowed his eyes.
She's not aiming at him…
Then—
A shift in the air.
Someone was there.
A calm, almost amused voice drifted out.
"…How did you notice me?"
A girl stepped forward.
Elegant robes. Perfect posture. Not a speck of dirt on her.
Seraphina.
She looked at Lily like one might observe something mildly interesting—nothing more.
"I was certain I concealed myself perfectly," she said, tilting her head slightly. "Yet here you are… exposing me so casually."
Lily gave a small smile.
"I noticed you before the match even started."
Seraphina's gaze sharpened.
"…I see."
There was no praise in her expression. Only evaluation.
"And yet," Lily added, glancing around briefly, "I still haven't found your partner."
Seraphina let out a soft, dismissive breath.
"You don't need to concern yourself with him."
She raised her wand.
"You should focus on surviving me."
Flames ignited.
Several fire orbs formed instantly and shot forward.
Lily had already moved.
She leapt back as a wind barrier formed in front of her.
The flames struck—
—and curved.
Redirected.
Straight toward Eren.
"—!"
Eren flinched, barely managing to raise his arms before the blasts hit him, sending him stumbling backward.
Lily didn't pause.
Her wand flicked again.
"Water Ball."
A sphere of water shot toward Seraphina.
Seraphina didn't even move.
A flick of her wrist—
Flames rose to meet it.
"Pathetic."
The water evaporated instantly.
Lily's smile widened.
"As expected."
Her wand glowed again.
"Incinerate."
"Breeze."
The air trembled.
The flames intensified.
A magic circle spread beneath Seraphina's feet.
"Burning Seal."
Flames erupted upward, forming a blazing prison around her.
For the first time—
Seraphina's expression changed.
She inhaled—
—and froze.
No air.
Her eyes widened slightly.
The oxygen…
She tried to speak.
Nothing came out.
Her magic faltered.
Behind the chaos, Eren struggled to regain his footing, coughing slightly.
He looked toward the trees.
Kane.
Their eyes met.
Eren gave a small, urgent signal.
Now.
Kane moved instantly.
A powerful gust tore through the trees and slammed into Lily.
She turned—
Too late.
The impact struck her directly.
But—
She smiled.
"Now."
Olivia moved.
No hesitation.
She dashed toward the source of the attack.
Kane's eyes widened.
Fast—
Her legs glowed faintly as she enhanced them.
She vanished.
A faint afterimage lingered behind her.
Kane fired his mana blast—
But it was too late.
Her kick connected.
Hard.
The impact sent him flying, crashing through trees before disappearing into the distance.
Silence fell for a brief moment.
Leaves drifted down slowly.
Olivia exhaled.
"Whew… that's over, right?"
She quickly cast a healing spell on herself.
Lily shook her head.
"No."
Olivia blinked.
"…What?"
"That was just observation," Lily said calmly. "We were measuring them."
Behind them—
The flames of the Burning Seal died down.
The circle remained.
Empty.
Olivia's eyes widened.
"…Lily."
Lily already knew.
"…He got her out."
Olivia turned quickly.
"But how—?"
Lily exhaled softly.
"Darius."
"The only one I couldn't track."
Her gaze hardened slightly.
"…That makes him the most dangerous one here."
High above the battlefield—
The Headmaster watched, eyes gleaming with interest.
"…Magnificent."
The adviser nodded, still stunned.
"That level of coordination… and they're still students…"
The Headmaster smiled faintly.
"…That girl."
"Her control, her foresight…"
His gaze remained fixed on Lily.
" …such an interesting girl."