Chapter 3 – The First Duel

The academy arena was packed.
Students filled every seat, their voices echoing in excitement.
It wasn’t every day someone challenged a new student to a duel—especially not Celestine Vairne, one of the Four Witches.

Even the witches themselves were watching, each from their respective towers.
From the eastern balcony, Shiranui Itsuha leaned forward with a smirk.

“Let’s see what this so-called dragon boy can do.”

From the north, Kisaragi Aine twirled her charm tags lazily.

“If he survives ten seconds, I’ll be impressed.”

And from the west, Tendou Nagisha folded her arms, her expression unreadable.

“…Kanata.” You really don’t change, do you?

Down in the arena, Kanata stretched his neck with a sigh.

“Armor? No thanks.”

The referee blinked.

“Are you sure? It’s mandatory for safety—”
“That’s the point. If I get hurt, maybe they’ll finally let me go.”

The crowd went silent for a moment.
Rio, watching from the stands, dropped his snack.

“He’s trying to get expelled again… unbelievable.”

The referee hesitated, then raised his hand.

“Match… begin!”

Celestine moved first.

“<Snow Breaker>!”

A wave of shimmering frost shot forward, freezing the ground beneath Kanata’s feet.
He dodged effortlessly, his movements sharp but unhurried.

“Whoa—! Cold! Isn’t it supposed to be spring?!”

“Stop joking around!” Celestine snapped. “Fight seriously, Kanata!”

“Sorry, can’t. Seriousness isn’t really my thing.”

Celestine’s golden eyes narrowed.

“Then try dodging this—<Glacier Lance>!”

Sharp spears of ice formed in the air and shot toward him one after another.
Kanata twisted, ducked, slid—but one of them grazed his arm.

“AARGH!”

The pain wasn’t normal.
Blue-black blood spilled from the wound, glowing faintly.

The crowd gasped.
Even the Four Witches watching above went still.

“That color…” whispered Itsuha.
“Impossible…” murmured Nagisha.

Kanata stared at his own blood, feeling his pulse quicken.

And then he heard it—
A deep, rumbling voice in the back of his mind.

“PATHETIC.”

Kanata froze.

“…Who’s there?”

“YOU BEAR THE BLOOD OF A LEGENDARY DRAGON, AND THIS IS ALL YOU CAN DO?”

“Shut up.”

“YOU’RE WEAK. YOU SHOULD’VE DIED LONG AGO.”

Kanata clenched his fists, veins trembling.

“I said shut up, damn it!”

The voice laughed—a low, echoing growl that made his vision tremble.

Suddenly, the world around him faded.
The cheering crowd, the cold air, everything disappeared.

Before him stood a massive dragon, black as the void, eyes burning crimson.
Its breath melted the snow around them.

Kanata couldn’t move. Couldn’t breathe.
Yet… he didn’t feel fear.

The dragon only stared at him, silent and judging.

Then, as suddenly as it came, the vision shattered.

He was back in the arena.
Celestine was already closing in, her leg sweeping forward in a powerful kick.

“—!”

Kanata reacted on instinct.
He shifted, his body moving faster than his mind.
A gust of wind exploded beneath his feet as he dodged, appearing meters away in the blink of an eye.

“What—what was that speed?!”
“I couldn’t even see him move!”

The audience erupted in shock.
Kanata looked down at his trembling hands.

What the hell was that…? My body’s moving on its own.

The voice returned again, softer this time.

“Still weak. But better.”

Kanata gritted his teeth.

“Shut up already!”

Celestine leaped forward again, summoning another spell.

“<Frost Edge>!”

Dozens of icy blades shot toward him from all sides.
Kanata raised his left hand, almost reflexively.

“<Barrier Punch>!”

A shockwave burst from his fist, shattering the incoming blades.
The arena floor cracked under the impact.

Everyone froze.

“…He used magic.”
“But that’s impossible! His record says he can’t cast spells!”

Even Celestine looked stunned.
Kanata stared at his own hand, panting.

No… that wasn’t me. That was… it.

Celestine’s shock quickly turned to anger.

“Don’t you dare hold back, Kanata! Fight me seriously!”

He looked up, his eyes dull but firm.

“I’m not here to win, Celestine. I just want out.”

“Then you’ll have to go through me!”

Their mana flared simultaneously, blue and white light clashing in the air.
But Kanata’s energy—wild and unstable—suddenly exploded outward.

“Tch… not again—”

BOOOM!

The blast sent Celestine flying across the arena.
The barrier shimmered as debris scattered everywhere.

When the dust settled, Kanata stood still, smoke rising from his uniform.
Celestine was on the ground, dazed but conscious.

“Uh… did I win?”

The referee hesitated, then raised his flag.

“Tendou Kanata… victory!”

The arena erupted in cheers.

“That was amazing!”
“He’s incredible!”

Kanata, meanwhile, groaned.

“…This is the worst outcome possible.”

Rio slapped his forehead from the audience.

“He said he wanted to lose! How does he keep doing the opposite?!”

From the upper balconies, the Four Witches exchanged glances.

“So… that’s the boy who broke the orb.” Itsuha’s grin widened.
“He’s dangerous,” said Aine softly.
“He’s interesting,” countered Nagisha. Her tone was calm, but her eyes were sharp.

Below, Kanata walked over to Celestine, who was struggling to stand.
He extended his uninjured hand.

“You okay?”
“You…” Celestine blinked, confused. “You held back.”
“I wasn’t trying to win.”

She stared at him for a moment—then took his hand, gripping it tightly.

The audience roared again, thinking it was a sign of respect.

The referee smiled nervously.

“Match concluded! Winner: Tendou Kanata!”

Far away, in a quiet countryside home, Tendou Kaname nearly dropped her teacup as laughter erupted from her mouth.

“Ahahahaha! That boy… I knew it! He’s just like me!”

Across the phone, Keegan sighed heavily.

“You sound way too proud, Kaname.”
“Of course I am. He’s my grandson, after all.”

That day marked more than just a duel.
It was the day the Four Witches began to watch Kanata seriously—
not as a student…
but as a potential threat.