I am Just an Average Tamer

As the battle raged on, with ice clashing against wind and crystal under the roar of the crowd, Kai's gaze wasn't on the fight.

It was on her.

Lira.

He'd thought he'd feel something else when he saw her again—relief, maybe.

The warmth of familiarity after years apart. They were childhood friends, after all.

First friends.

He thought they'd talk again.

Sit somewhere quiet, maybe. Laugh at dumb things. Make up for the lost time.

But now?

Now that she stood there, back straight and expression cold as ice... something twisted deep in his chest.

An ache—or maybe something worse.

He wasn't sure. Or maybe... he just didn't want to acknowledge it.

"Did you hear? Lady Lira got engaged to the Crown Prince of Vielmora Kingdom..."

Those words still echoed in his mind.

He told himself they didn't matter. That they were just... friends.

And for a while, he believed it.

The ache in his chest had dulled, faded, locked behind walls he'd carefully built over the years.

But now?

Now that she was right there—alive, radiant, stronger than ever—those walls cracked.

He clenched his fists.

The stillness he'd buried inside him, the calm he'd mistaken for indifference... all of it began to crumble like a dam under pressure.

He turned his eyes away.

It was stupid.

He wasn't supposed to feel this.

And yet... he did.

Just as he was deep in thoughts, a blue colored panal popped up in front of him, hovering over his eyes.

[<What? Not gonna cheer your girlfriend?>]

Kai gave him a flat look.

[<Oh, sorry ex-girlfriend.>]

'Just shut up, you stupid beast.'

[<Hahaha! I won't brat.>]

Kai clicked his tongue and focused back to the battle, ignoring the chattering panel.

The snowstorm had thinned, but the cold lingered, biting, sharp.

Lira stood with calm focus, frost clinging to her boots.

The serpent slithered beside her, coils slow and steady, its glowing blue patterns pulsing like a heartbeat. Its eyes never left Lei Mei's Crystal Wolf.

Lei Mei held her stance, a breath escaping her lips as mist.

Her crystal wolf growled low, and the spectral bird above circled with silent wings.

But Lira didn't wait. She stepped forward, raising a hand—

"Go, Snow."

And the serpent moved.

Fast.

Too fast for its size.

With a powerful lunge, it darted toward the crystal wolf, jaws open wide.

The crystal wolf leapt back, barely avoiding the strike, but Snow didn't chase.

Instead, Lira flicked her fingers once and the shattered ice shards from earlier lifted.

In a sudden burst, the floating shards shot forward like knives, catching the wolf mid-dodge.

It yelped as ice tore across its legs and side, forcing it to retreat.

Up above, the bird dived in retaliation, wind blades spinning around its wings.

Lira's eyes didn't even twitch. She raised her left hand and whispered something under her breath.

A thin ring of ice formed midair and when the bird entered, its momentum slowed.

Not stopped. Just slowed.

But it was enough.

Lira pointed at it and a spear of ice shot from her palm, grazing the bird's wing.

Skree!

It shrieked and twisted away, yanking hard to the side.

Serena blinked. "...She's playing with them."

Kai didn't speak, eyes fixed on the fight.

He'd noticed it too Lira wasn't just reacting.

She was controlling the entire pace, keeping Lei Mei on the defensive without ever overextending.

Back in the arena, Lei Mei's calm expression started to shift only slightly. Her lips pressed tighter.

"Still holding back?" she asked.

Lira tilted her head, clearly amused. "You haven't shown me anything worth using my full strength."

That got a reaction.

A few gasps in the crowd. Some laughter.

Lei Mei's crystal wolf growled and stepped forward again, but Lira raised a hand, palm down.

"Freeze."

A layer of ice spread along the ground from Lira's feet, and in seconds, it snaked toward the crystal wolf.

The beast tried to jump—but mid-leap, the serpent struck from the side.

Boom!

Its tail slammed the wolf out of the air and into the arena wall with a solid crack.

The wolf dropped, shimmering faintly as its form began to destabilize.

Lei Mei clenched her fists, summoning a new glyph beneath her brighter this time.

But Lira didn't wait.

She stepped forward again, her eyes sharp. With another flick of her wrist, several jagged spikes formed behind her and launched toward Lei Mei's position.

Lei Mei's spectral bird rushed in to block but the moment it got close, the ice serpent snapped upward, catching it in its coils and slamming it into the ground.

Smack!

The audience went still.

Puff!

The bird vanished in a swirl of dissipating light.

Lei Mei exhaled, clearly shaken now.

Lira walked forward slowly, eyes calm. "Both of them are down," she said, voice soft but clear. "Still want to keep going?"

Lei Mei didn't respond.

Then the referee raised a hand and Lei Mei finally dropped her stance, letting the last of her aura fade.

The crowd burst into noise some shocked, some excited, some still trying to process what they'd just seen.

Kai leaned back slightly. "That was fast."

Serena was smirking. "And clean. Damn. I started to like her now."

Kai raised a brow at her words but didn't said anything.

In the arena, Lira turned and walked off without so much as a glance back at her opponent.

Her serpent slithered silently behind her, then dissolved into mist as it returned to its realm.

She didn't look proud.

She didn't need to.

The crowd did that for her.

"Woohoo! That was awesome."

"Damn she's strong."

"Way to go Lady Lira."

Then —

"The winner is... LIRA ELSWORTH!" the referee shouted, raising an arm.

Just after that, a professor stepped forward from the platform, holding a small square-shaped crystal artifact that shimmered faintly under the light.

He approached Lira calmly, extending a hand.

"Your ID, please."

Lira handed over the sleek black card without a word.

The professor pressed it against the artifact's surface.

A soft ding echoed, followed by a quick ripple of light.

A golden mark appeared on the crystal, confirming the transfer.

"Congratulations," the professor said, handing the card back. "You're officially the new Ace of the first batch of Azurean Academy."

The crowd erupted again, louder this time, genuine, undeniable.

"That's what an Ace should be like."

"She's as strong as she's beautiful."

"I think I'm in love."

"Stop saying that to every girl, damn it."

"Why? I'm genuine about everyone of them."

Different kinds of cheering kept coming.

But Lira didn't even blink.

She pocketed the card, turned her back on the crowd, and walked off the stage like it was just another day.

No smiles, no waves. Just that same quiet grace. The serpent was gone.

Her aura had faded. Yet somehow, the space she left behind still felt cold.

Kai watched her go, expression unreadable.

Serena let out a low whistle. "She gone without any celebration or any flex. Damn she's cool."

Kai simply nodded, but his gaze lingered on Lira's back as she disappeared into the corridor.

While Lira was already walking away without even glancing back at the crowd, Lei Mei still stood in the center of the stage, frozen.

Her head hung low, fists clenched at her sides.

Then the professor's voice echoed through the arena, clear and calm.

"Lira Elsworth is now the new Ace. However, Lei Mei will still retain her position in the top ten rankings, unless someone else challenge her for rank."

There was a pause.

Then Lei Mei slowly lifted her head.

Her lips curved into a soft smile, not forced, but not proud either. She raised one hand and gave the crowd a small wave.

The response was instant.

"She still smiling even after losing... damn, she's how a true leader be like."

"She have my respect. I thought she'd cry or storm off."

"She's still one of the strongest here. I'd cheer for her any day."

"I still love you Lei Mei."

"Lei Mei look at me."

"Don't worry Lei Mei, you'll remain Ace in heart."

Cheers erupted again, not for victory, but for grace.

Even those who had doubted her strength now clapped, some standing in applause. Not out of pity, but admiration.

Then, quietly, Lei Mei turned and left the stage.

Kai watched her go for a moment, then stood from his seat.

Beside him, Serena stretched, letting out a breath.

"Well, that was fun."

Kai didn't respond. He just turned and walked towards the exit.

Serena followed a moment later, her hands behind her head, smirking faintly as the arena slowly quieted behind them.

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{A/N}

Yo guys welcome back again.

Sorry for writing this often...

And thank you for your support till now, and I hope you will do in future too.

And if you face any issues regarding the writing style or plot, that what should have done better or what I shouldn't have done.

Please do comment so I can improve in future...

That's it for now.

Thanks

And bye...