Chapter 16
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Chapter 16: Trial Outcome
“Dong… Dong…”
The magic bell’s lingering chimes echoed as the grand clock at the camp outside the Forest of Gran marked the final hour. The annual trial at the academy had officially ended.
“I hereby declare the trial concluded,” Dean Lind announced in a booming voice after one last glance at the forest. The gate facing the woods slowly shut, stripping any latecomers of their ranking qualifications.
“It’s over? Where’s the Queen of Storms?” Students murmured. Few truly cared about Fina, but her absence was glaring. The red-haired girl who always dominated effortlessly had vanished in the forest this time—something felt wrong.
Most assumed her team ventured too deep to return. Others, suspecting foul play, cast sidelong glances at Fenrir, speculating about the Sais family’s schemes.
Under their gazes, golden-haired Fenrir stood composed, though his heart raced. The closed gate sealed his victory.
After years beneath Fina’s shadow, he’d finally triumphed in the crucial trial, securing the Nibelungen Dragon Sealing Array transmutation reward. Even the prideful Fenrir struggled to contain his exhilaration.
As the Sais family’s first heir, he rarely dirtied his hands. His role was simply to seize opportunities crafted by his kin.
But this involved Fina Hamilton. Fenrir knew her absence wasn’t mere delay—it meant life or death. Clearly, his family had succeeded.
The arrogant red-haired girl and that defiant Midi lay dead by assassins’ blades. A cruel smile twisted Fenrir’s lips.
With three battle-hardened servants in his team, outperforming ordinary students was effortless. True to expectations, his monster drop tally crushed all rivals, securing undisputed first place.
“Confirmed—Fenrir’s team wins the trial,” Dean Lind declared, descending the stairs with a sycophantic smile to escort the Sais heir onto the podium.
“The stage is yours,” the dean murmured meaningfully beside him.
Fenrir offered a polished nod, striding to the podium’s center while Dean Lind hovered like a meek steward. For the cunning dean, such groveling ensured survival.
Fenrir basked in the crowd’s anticipated awe. With the Queen of Storms gone, nothing obstructed his rise.
He even fantasized—what if Fina survived, gravely wounded? Stripped of her terrifying talent and stubbornness, the duchy’s greatest beauty would make a thrilling conquest.
Hoofbeats thundered in his soul. Gasps erupted.
“Miss Fina Hamilton!”
“The Queen of Storms!”
“They’re here!”
Fenrir staggered as if struck, face bleaching white. That flaming red hair whipping in the wind—it was her!
Leading four knights rode Fina Hamilton herself, sharp-eyed Midi Asreks at her side.
How?!
The assassination failed? Why had his family sent no warning?
"Dean Lind, isn’t it too hasty to declare trial results so quickly?" Midi’s mocking voice carried across the crowd. "Not all participants have arrived."
The dean who’d just publicly declared his stance froze in shock as the group dismounted. Students parted like seawater before four figures approaching the podium, their advance pressing down on Lind with crushing force.
"This…" Dean Lind gulped, mind empty. He’d acted on rumors of Fina’s absence to support the Sais family, but the tables turned too fast.
"The trial ended with the bell! You’re too late, Fina Hamilton!" Fenrir recovered first, being their longtime opponent. His declaration rang across the silent grounds.
The red-haired girl laughed – that dangerous smile Midi remembered from their past life, the satisfied grin of a cat toying with mice. Fenrir faltered momentarily before rallying: "Think noble privilege can force score revisions? The Sais family and all justice-seeking citizens oppose this!"
Flawless rhetoric, yet powerless against prepared opponents.
Midi exchanged glances with Fina before confronting Fenrir at the podium. The black-haired youth stared calmly at the man who’d destroyed his family in another life. "We completed our trial long ago."
"Completed? Ridiculous!" Fenrir’s scoff died as realization struck – they’d arrived from the capital road on horseback, not through the closed forest gate. They’d returned to Hertonmar first. Why? For what purpose?
Before he could voice questions, thunderous hoofbeats answered. Two columns of steel-clad knights encircled the academy staff, dragging bound figures into view before the students.
Fenrir’s knuckles whitened, nails drawing blood. Midi watched approvingly – these captured teachers were Senator faction plants in the "neutral" Belmar Royal Magic Academy. Control of the Nibelungen Dragon Sealing Array’s transmutation quotas made the academy crucial for recruiting new forces.
After eliminating their assassins, Midi’s group could’ve simply claimed trial victory. But personal power meant little against coming disasters – the Gran forest fire, Delos Empire’s invasion. They needed greater leverage.
"Sigmund, the monster drops," Fina commanded. The gunslinger heaved an iron chest onto the podium. At Midi’s nod, the Queen of Storms declared: "Behold your trial champions’ spoils."
Silence fell. The opened chest revealed four heads.
"Blood Blade Thieves Guild assassins." Midi’s icy smile turned to the trembling dean. "Two level 30, one 31, and a level 35 sword soul. First question – do these drops suffice for victory? Second – who answers for this attack during official trials?"
