Theo's POV
The arena was louder than before.
Not from fighting.
From anticipation.
Students filled the stands again.
More than yesterday.
Word had spread.
Class D.
The class everyone ignored.
Now everyone was watching.
Waiting.
I stood with the others near the center platform.
Kairo cracked his neck beside me.
"…This feels like a tournament now," he said.
"…It kind of is," Dax muttered.
Lyra crossed her arms.
"…Just stand still."
"…You're talking like I'm nervous."
"…You are."
"…A little."
Selene remained quiet.
Her gaze was already scanning the arena.
Not the crowd.
The important people.
Teachers.
Observers.
Other classes.
And—
Them.
Students who had been confident yesterday.
But weren't anymore.
Ronan exhaled slowly.
"…Whatever happens now," he said.
"…We proved something."
"…We're not done yet," Mira replied.
I didn't speak.
Because this part—
Wasn't about proving.
It was about consequences.
A voice echoed across the arena.
The announcer.
Clear.
Amplified.
"Students of the academy…"
The arena quieted.
Almost instantly.
"The results of the re-evaluation will now be announced."
A shift in the crowd.
Excitement.
Tension.
Some fear.
Names started being called.
Other classes first.
Promotions.
Demotions.
Students moving between ranks.
But the crowd wasn't reacting much.
They were waiting.
For one class.
"…Next."
The announcer paused.
Then continued.
"Class D."
The arena erupted.
Whispers everywhere.
"…Here we go."
"…This is the one."
"…They dominated yesterday."
"…Let's see if it was real."
The announcer continued.
Voice steady.
Formal.
"Ronan Hale."
Ronan looked up.
"…Promoted to Class C."
Applause.
Not overwhelming.
But respectful.
Ronan nodded slightly.
Calm.
Expected.
"Mira Solen."
A short pause.
"…Promoted to Class C."
Mira smiled faintly.
But her eyes were serious.
Focused.
"Lyra Vance."
"…Promoted to Class C."
Lyra didn't react much.
Just exhaled.
Like she already knew.
"Dax Rowan."
A pause.
"…Promoted to Class C."
"…YES," Dax whispered.
Then immediately tried to act normal.
Selene glanced at him.
Unimpressed.
Next name.
"Student: Selene Ardent."
Silence.
Not from confusion.
From curiosity.
"…Promoted to Class B."
The crowd reacted.
That one mattered.
Selene didn't move.
Didn't smile.
Just nodded once.
Then looked forward again.
Kairo grinned beside me.
"…Nice."
The announcer continued.
"Student: Kairo Volten."
A louder reaction this time.
People remembered that fight.
"…Promoted to Class B."
Kairo laughed quietly.
"…Told you."
Then—
Silence again.
The announcer paused longer this time.
Building tension.
The crowd already knew.
They were waiting for it.
"Student…"
Another pause.
"Theo Vale."
The arena went quiet.
Completely.
Different from before.
This wasn't curiosity.
It was expectation.
"…Promoted to Class B."
Then—
The reaction exploded.
Students talking.
Arguing.
Analyzing.
"…That makes sense."
"…Of course he moved up."
"…Did you see that last attack?"
"…He controlled the entire fight."
"…Class B just got stronger."
I didn't react.
Because this wasn't surprising.
But something else happened.
The announcer kept speaking.
"And finally…"
A pause.
"…One more announcement."
The crowd quieted again.
Confused.
Curious.
"This student has maintained top performance in Class B."
Murmurs started spreading.
Then the name.
"Student: Arielle Virel."
There it was.
She stood across the arena platform.
Calm.
Arms crossed.
Watching.
Unbothered by the noise.
The announcer continued.
"Rank confirmed."
"No change."
But the meaning was clear.
She was already strong.
Already established.
And now—
We were entering her territory.
Kairo leaned slightly toward me.
"…So that's the one you were talking about."
I didn't answer.
Because Arielle was already looking at me.
Directly.
Not smiling.
Not hostile.
Just—
Interested.
Selene noticed.
Of course she did.
Her gaze moved between us.
Analyzing.
Understanding something others didn't.
The announcer finished.
"These are the official results of the re-evaluation."
"Students will report to their new classes tomorrow."
The crowd slowly began to disperse.
But the energy didn't fade.
Because something had changed.
Class D wasn't invisible anymore.
Not after this.
Kairo stretched.
"…Well."
"…That was fun."
"…This is just the beginning," Selene said.
Ronan nodded.
"…Next stage."
Dax looked around the arena again.
"…People are definitely staring."
"…Let them," Mira replied.
Lyra turned toward me.
"…Class B now."
"…Yeah."
Kairo smiled.
"…Let's see how strong they really are."
Across the arena—
Arielle Virel was still watching.
And something told me—
Class B wasn't going to be quiet.
Not anymore.qq