Hearing the sudden knock, Derek was slightly taken aback. ’Who could it be at this hour?’ he wondered as he stood up and walked toward the door. He turned the knob, and the door slowly creaked open. A boy, around thirteen or fourteen years old, was standing outside, wearing a wide grin on his face. "Hey! So it’s really true that you joined the Raging Bulls!" the boy exclaimed excitedly. "Yeah," Derek replied with a faint smile. "But... I don’t think I know you, do I?" "Nah, you don’t," the boy said with a grin. "But everyone in the first-year student group knows you." "Oh, so you’re a first-year too?" Derek asked. "Yeah. My name’s Henry. I’m a mage, also admitted this year." As he spoke, the boy extended his hand for a handshake. "Derek Hale," Derek replied, shaking his hand firmly. "I saw your performance during the second phase," Henry said, his eyes lighting up. "I was standing right at the front when you shattered that boulder with a single punch right before my eyes. It was incredible." "Thanks," Derek said with a modest smile. Henry nodded earnestly. "Actually, I also heard that you fought Cecilia Glaciblade during the third phase and that you went toe to toe with her. From that moment, I’ve been wanting to make a request. I really hope you’ll agree to it." "Request?" Derek raised an eyebrow. "What kind of request?" "I want to have a spar with you," Henry said, his tone filled with determination. "You see, I come from a legacy family just like Cecilia. Ever since we were little, people have compared us, even though our families are different. So, I’ve always seen her as my rival. But the truth is, I’ve never actually had the chance to duel her." Official source ıs 𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹·𝗳𝗶𝗿𝗲·𝗻𝗲𝘁 His expression turned a little awkward as he continued, "Cecilia never fights anyone unless she wants to or unless it’s during an official match arranged by her family. So when I heard that you managed to fight her on equal footing, I couldn’t hold back my urge. Please... can I have a duel with you?" The boy’s voice trembled slightly, filled with genuine eagerness and anticipation. Derek was momentarily taken aback by such an unexpected request. ’Is this kid for real? Who just walks up to someone and asks for a duel just because that person fought someone he wants to fight?’ Derek thought, a faint sigh escaping him. After a moment of hesitation, he finally spoke. "Do you really think that’s necessary? After all, I’m just a cultivator. That match was nothing special... I just got lucky during that phase," he said, trying to avoid unnecessary trouble. Henry, however, wasn’t backing down. "What does your being a cultivator have to do with anything? If you were just a normal cultivator, you wouldn’t be standing here among us. That alone says a lot about your skill and strength. Please, don’t say no." Derek went silent for a few seconds, his mind weighing the situation. ’Should I really waste time with something ? I’m here to grow stronger and find a way to break the seal on my power without attracting attention...’ he thought. But as he looked at Henry’s sincere expression, he sighed inwardly. ’Well, this kid seems passionate, and at least he doesn’t look down on cultivators. He’s not one of those arrogant types.’ Finally, Derek nodded. "Alright, fine. I’ll have a duel with you. But how about tomorrow? We just arrived today, and I don’t want to cause a commotion on the first day." "Sure! Whenever you’re comfortable," Henry said eagerly, a smile spreading across his face. After that, Henry left for his own room. Derek closed the door behind him and sat down on the bed. ’What a pain...’ he muttered inwardly. ’If only I could tell them what’s coming... maybe then everyone would stop wasting their time on meaningless things, on belittling each other, on petty rivalries and instead start preparing for the calamity that’s about to strike.’ After a while, Derek lay down and drifted back to sleep. This time, no one disturbed him until evening. "Derek, it’s me. Art," came a familiar voice from the other side of the door. Derek got up and opened it. "Had enough rest? Then come on, let’s go for dinner," Art said with a smile. "Give me a moment to freshen up," Derek replied before stepping into the small washroom attached to his room. A few minutes later, he came out, clean and ready. Together, the two headed for the dining hall. Dinner passed without any significant incident, except for a few curious first-years stealing glances at Derek, still surprised by the rumors about him. But just as Derek and Art were about to leave the dining hall, someone suddenly blocked their path. It was a woman.... tall, composed, and familiar. The same female judge who had been present during the entrance test. "It’s good to see you again, Derek," she said with a warm yet serious tone. "You may not remember me, but I was one of the judges during your test. I watched your performance personally. Do you have a moment to talk in private?" Derek glanced at Art. "I’ll wait outside," Art said, understanding the situation immediately. He then walked away. The woman, Meridith, led Derek to a quiet corner of the hall where no one was around. "Derek, I heard that you’ve already reached E-Class in cultivation. Is that true?" Meridith asked, studying his expression. Derek hesitated for a second before replying. "Yes." Even though Meridith had already seen the records, hearing it directly from him still sent a ripple of surprise through her. There was a rare spark of admiration in her eyes. "That’s really something, Derek," she said with a faint smile. "I don’t think there’s ever been anyone in the academy’s history—mage, auran, or cultivator, who’s managed to achieve that at your age. But you must be careful. Many here can’t stand cultivators, and your very existence will shake their pride. Focus on your training and your growth. And if you ever face any trouble, come to me directly." With that, she took something out of her pocket, a simple leather wristband, and handed it to him. "This may look ordinary," she said softly, "but with this, you can contact me anytime. Best of luck, Derek." Before Derek could respond, Meridith turned and left swiftly, not wanting to draw attention from anyone who might have seen them together. As she walked away, she couldn’t help but chuckle to herself. "Those two must be furious now... they were so sure Derek would end up in their house, but he’s under mine instead." Meanwhile, Derek stood there quietly, the wristband still in his hand. ’What a strange place,’ he thought. ’It’s supposed to be a school for training... but it already feels like I’ve stepped into a battlefield.’