SHATTERED REALM: FORGOTTEN ECHOES

After morning assembly ended, the four priests departed, and students began to scatter toward classes.

Mozrael lingered, scanning the students and waiting until she caught Aramith's gaze.

"Aramith," she called quietly. "Come with me. Alone."

Aramith's brow furrowed, but he followed her calmly. A dozen curious eyes trailed after them, whispers already flickering.

Mozrael stopped at a quiet corner near a patch of grass. Her expression was calm, but her thoughts were anything but.

"I know," she said softly. "And I'm sorry I ignored you yesterday."

Aramith blinked, surprised at her straightforwardness. He opened his mouth, but she shook her head.

Why did Sylvia have to show him something so personal? At such a place? And he just stared… Mozrael forced the thought aside. Focus.

"What I really wanted to say," she continued, "is that I want to fight Sylvia."

Aramith's eyes sharpened immediately. "No. Calm down, Mozrael. You don't need to do that."

"It's not about what happened yesterday," she said firmly. "I want to know if she truly has a dragon bloodline. I'll find my answer when I see her power myself."

Aramith frowned. "And ignoring me yesterday? Was that about her?"

"It's nothing," Mozrael said quickly, though inside her chest burned with the image of him staring at Sylvia's exposed skin.

Aramith exhaled, narrowing his eyes. "And what will fighting her prove? What do you want to do after that?"

"I'll know from her strength if she really carries dragon blood within her or not," Mozrael said simply. Then she looked at him seriously. "I don't want you to stop me. That's why I'm telling you this."

Silence stretched.

Aramith understood her interest in Sylvia having a connection to dragons.

Finally, he nodded. "...I won't stand in your way."

Neither of them had noticed the shadows behind trees, the heads poking out of corners. Students were everywhere, eyes wide, mouths barely containing their whispers.

"They're fighting."

"Did she just say she's going after Sylvia?"

"This is bad—Mozrael's jealous!"

"No, Sylvia's jealous!"

"Wait, who's fighting over who again?!"

By the time the crowd pieced together their "story," the tension had already spread like wildfire.

"Hey, look!"

The air thickened when Sylvia suddenly appeared, walking straight toward them with her usual composed air.

"Aramith," she called directly.

Aramith stiffened. "...What do you want?"

Sylvia met his eyes calmly. "Will you accept me, then?"

The spying students nearly fainted.

"ACCEPT HER?!"

"She just confessed in public?!"

"Oh, Mozrael's not gonna let that slide!"

Aramith scowled. "No. I can't accept you. Go find someone who can actually help you."

The courtyard went dead silent.

"You jerk, you get someone like that confessing to you, and you have the balls to say no? You think you're more good-looking and stronger than us?" One boy gripped the tree so hard, his fingers left dents in the stem.

Those closest to him looked at him and then at Aramith.

"Well, he's got you ebat with the looks. And when you compare the fight with Sylas, he's als—"

"I know! Just...it's all not fair. I have a crush on Sylvia."

They were moved by his honesty and felt bold to also reveal.

"Me too."

"And me as well."

"I prefer Mozrael."

"I was about to say the same."

Sylvia, unflinching, pressed on. "I've seen many people. I still chose you. Do you still refuse?"

Before Aramith could answer, Mozrael stepped forward and, in a cold voice, asked. "Sylvia. Do you really have a dragon bloodline?"

Sylvia's eyes narrowed. "If you want to know, then do your research. I don't have time to waste on you."

Mozrael's frown deepened. "You said you respect strength. Why are you speaking like that when you don't even know if you're stronger than me?"

Gasps erupted from the shadows.

"Did she just—challenge her?!"

"This is getting worse!"

"Better!"

Sylvia tilted her head slightly. "So this is a challenge?"

"If that's how you want to see it," Mozrael replied coolly. "But if you want to get to Aramith, you'll have to get through me first."

The crowd nearly exploded.

Aris, watching from behind a nearby tree, looked at the two letters he'd taken his time to prepare. He was going to give them to Mozrael and Sylvia, then when they read them, they'd see them as a declaration:

"Let us fight tomorrow, and whoever wins gets to have Aramith."

He was content that things were going to happen just as he thought, but then again, he couldn't help Aramith one bit.

Sylvia's lips curved in the faintest smile. "Fine, then. I'll beat you."

Not fight. Beat.

The audience erupted again.

Mozrael nodded in a steady voice. "This afternoon, then."

Sylvia turned to leave. But before walking away, she glanced over her shoulder at Aramith. "When this is over, I'll be waiting for your guidance. By then, I won't have that leech get in my way."

Mozrael didn't flinch. "If I lose, I won't stop you. But I won't"

Elira burst onto the scene, grabbing Mozrael's arm. "Mozrael! Let's go. Don't stay near him anymore!"

But Mozrael only shook her head. "It's fine."

To everyone's shock, she turned and walked off—with Aramith. Straight toward the library.

Elira froze in disbelief. She's still fighting for him…

Her heart squeezed, tangled in confusion. She wasn't sure what she felt anymore.

And across the academy, the whispers spread like wildfire:

"The showdown's at noon!"

"Mozrael vs Sylvia—over Aramith!"

Everyone was waiting for the clash at noon.

Mozrael and Aramith settled at a table in the library, the silence between them heavy. Elira hurried in after them, sitting beside Mozrael.

"...Mozrael," Elira whispered urgently. "Are you really sure about this?"

Mozrael, without hesitation: "Yes."

Elira's jaw dropped. "B-But… you're going to fight Sylvia!"

Mozrael's eyes flicked away. "She thinks she can just walk in and force herself onto Aramith? No. I'm not letting that happen."

Elira's maiden heart practically stopped. Force herself on Aramith?! Mozrael is fighting for his honor! But what about what happened between him and Sylvia?

Aramith looked unbothered, eyes on the book before him. "I don't understand how Sylvia expects people to just do what she wants. She says something, and suddenly everyone's supposed to listen?"

Elira gasped softly. Even Aramith sees it! He hates being pushed around by her. Her eyes sparkled. This love triangle is serious…

Aris finally spoke. "Trust me. This should end well. It will end well."

Though in his heart, he was afraid. He wanted mozrael to win.

Mozrael was the one who saved me with boss. She has to win.

He looked at Aramith with conflicted thoughts.

Having two women fight over you like that...I can't believe boss gets something like that if I could also get some women to also fight over me too. He sighed.

Three students sat under a tree just outside.

"Okay, but listen. Mozrael said Sylvia has to get through her before she can touch Aramith. That's a declaration of love if I've ever heard one."

"Love? No, no, no. That was a challenge. She basically told Sylvia, 'Back off, he's mine.'"

"Wait… so does that mean Aramith secretly loves Mozrael back?"

The first girl gasped. "That's why he rejected Sylvia!"

They all clutched each other, squealing.

At a corner table in a class, a group of boys leaned over like generals.

"Alright. Sylvia vs. Mozrael. Noon. Who wins?"

"Depends. Mozrael can easily burn Sylvia like she did before. And you know she's hiding more power."

"But Sylvia has confidence. You don't say you're gonna beat someone unless you're sure. And her bloodline, too. The people from her clan are very powerful."

"But we've never seen Mozrael's true identity either. What if she also has a strong bloodline? I mean, look at her flames. They're blue."

Another leaned forward, whispering. "What if… hear me out… they're not even fighting for themselves? What if they're fighting for us? Like, a duel to decide which type of girl reigns supreme?"

The table went dead quiet. Then someone whispered reverently:

"…This is bigger than we thought."

Elira leaned closer to Mozrael. "But… what if you lose?"

Mozrael's tone was steady. "Then she can do whatever she wants with Aramith. I gave my word."

Elira's mouth fell open, her heart pounding. She's ready to sacrifice herself for him…?

She looked at Aramith, thoughts running wild. "Do...whatever..."

When Aramith looked at her, she averted her gaze, blushing.

By noon, students had already gathered at the training grounds, waiting for the great showdown.

"Did you hear? Sylvia basically proposed to Aramith."

"And he rejected her! In front of everyone!"

"And then Mozrael stepped in to defend him."

The other nodded gravely. "This isn't just a fight. This is destiny."

"Right. Whoever wins gets Aramith."

"…Wait. Did Aramith agree to that?"

Both paused. Then they shrugged in unison.

"Doesn't matter. The story's already better this way."

The academy buzzed like a beehive. The duel wasn't just a fight anymore. It was a love war, a legend in the making, and a spectacle no one wanted to miss.

And meanwhile, the actual participants—Mozrael, Aramith, Sylvia—were utterly unaware of just how wildly the story had spiraled.