The Academy's backyard was not its usual self that evening. Spacious and open to the night sky, it had taken on a solemn air thanks to light yet tasteful decorations. Along the perimeter, soft magical lanterns flickered, casting a warm glow across the faces of those present. A small buffet table, filled with various snacks and drinks, stood to the side, allowing anyone to approach at any time. The evening was warm, windless, and everything around set the mood for calm conversation.
Everyone was already present: seven students and seven Directors. The male students — Alex, Rogan, Lianel, and Kaelis — wore black trousers, though their shirts varied: Alex and Rogan were in black, while Lianel and Kaelis wore white. Lilith looked strict yet elegant in a light black dress. Eliria wore a dark green one that complemented her eye color, while Celia stood out in a bright yellow gown — like a ray of sunlight in the dusk. The Directors hadn't stayed aside either — each of them appeared festive, emphasizing that tonight held significance.
Only two minutes had passed since everyone had gathered when a delicate chime broke the quiet — the soft sound of a spoon tapping a glass. All heads turned toward the sound and saw Fenrix standing calmly, holding his glass.
"May I have your attention for a moment," he said with a light smile. "I promise not to steal too much of your time with a boring speech."
His voice was easy, yet carried the quiet confidence that always drew attention.
"I'm glad that all of us managed to gather here tonight. This evening was arranged specifically for you — to give you a chance to get to know one another better. Though, it seems many of you already have a sense of the others."
A sly smile tugged at his lips as his gaze swept over his fellow Directors, who were scattered behind him.
"The Academy's backyard was chosen for this event for a reason. As far as I know, each candidate who volunteered for the position of raid team commander expressed a desire to test themselves against the others. And here, under the open sky, you'll have the chance to do just that."
Alex, Lilith, Lianel, and Kaelis exchanged glances. The tension quickly turned into excitement.
Lianel was the first to speak, his voice carrying a faint note of amusement.
"So, Alex, how badly do you want to test me?"
Alex simply shrugged.
"Honestly — I want to fight everyone. But you're right."
He looked directly at Lianel and added with a grin,
"Most of all — you."
"The feeling is mutual," the angel replied, his voice holding a subtle challenge.
Kaelis spoke next, calmly.
"I'm also fine with facing everyone. I'd like to test not only my own skills but observe others as well."
Then Lilith stepped forward. Her voice was measured.
"I'm most interested in Lianel. I've seen what Alex can do a few times already. And Kaelis and I have already crossed blades."
Alex gave a brief nod and spoke.
"I suggest this: a mini-tournament. Three duels. I'll take on Kaelis, Lilithh will fight Lianel. The winners face each other in the final. Right here and now."
Everyone agreed immediately. The idea clearly appealed to those eager to prove themselves.
"Looks like," Elizabeth chimed in, "the students have decided to start the evening with duels. Very well. The sooner you finish that, the sooner we can move on to the festive part. Those who are fighting — step forward. The rest — please step aside."
Lianel and Lilith shared a glance. The young man gave a playful bow.
"Would you do me the honor, Lilith, of starting this evening's duels together?"
She offered a small smile.
"Gladly."
The other participants stepped back, clearing space for the first match.
"Aren't you going to use your spear?" Lilith asked calmly as she and Lianel faced off on the cleared section of the backyard.
"Not this time," Lianel replied with a grin. "I think magic will be enough."
"Begin," Irida signaled.
Lilith didn't wait. She immediately raised her hand — a ribbon of dense darkness burst from her palm, forming into a curved blade that shot toward Lianel. But he, without even moving, waved his hand — and a semi-transparent shield of light appeared before him, absorbing the blow.
Lilith struck again — this time, darkness thickened in the air and formed into dozens of sharp needles that flew forward in a fan-like formation. Lianel countered with an impulse: a burst of light exploded from his palm, shattering the needles midair.
She leapt to the side, and at the same time, three spinning rings of darkness appeared around her, acting as shields. From within them, she launched a long spear of dark energy aimed at his shoulder.
Lianel shifted sideways, his hand tracing a half-circle. A short flash of light struck the ground — and from it rose narrow beams, trying to intersect Lilith's path. She leapt upward, soaring above one of them, and hung for a moment in the air, hands joined in a gesture. Darkness thickened between her palms — and suddenly two long blades burst forth, which she directed downward at her opponent.
The light reacted again in time. Lianel shifted his stance — a spiral of glittering particles swirled around him, slicing through Lilith's blades and tearing the darkness apart before it could reach him.
"Nice attack," he called from below, then snapped his fingers.
Beneath Lilith's feet, the ground lit up — faintly at first, then brighter — light surged upward, trying to surround her and restrict her movement. She landed at the edge of the trap but reacted instantly: a black circle spread beneath her feet, and the darkness rippled outward, extinguishing the trap.
"Not bad," she replied. "But not quite enough to catch me."
She leaned forward and formed a massive crescent of dark magic between her hands, hurling it forward at great speed. The strike was powerful — it forced Lianel to take his first step back. He raised both hands, summoning a wall of light that barely held against the blow.
Lilith used that moment to close the distance. She lunged forward, summoning a short blade of darkness in her right hand like a dagger. But at the last second, she stopped — something flared.
Behind her.
"Damn it…" she whispered, turning around.
Lianel stood right behind her. How — she had no idea. A moment ago, he was in front of her. His hand was already raised, a long, thin blade of light emerging from it, gently touching her neck.
"I yield," she sighed.
The blade dissipated.
"You fought well," Lianel said, stepping back. "That was an interesting experience. And probably, you're one of the strongest I've ever faced."
Lilith smiled slightly, masking her frustration.
"Thank you. Likewise. Honestly, after your duel with Elizabeth, I thought you relied more on the spear. But tonight — you showed yourself well as a spellcaster."
"I just wanted to spice things up a bit," he replied, and they both stepped off the arena.
All eyes turned to the center, where Alex and Kaelis were already in position.
"I'll be using both magic and sword," Kaelis said evenly. "I think that would be fair."
His right hand slowly rose, and the air around him twisted into a spiral. In a moment, a double-edged sword formed from the wind, its blade sharp and its guard elegant. Metallic and silver-hued, it vibrated with soft waves — as if alive.
"I'm not against it," Alex replied, lowering his chin slightly.
Blood surged through his veins, and he extended his hand forward. Veins of blood shot from his palm, weaving themselves into a hilt, and then into a long, dark crimson sword. Its surface pulsed like a heartbeat.
"Begin," came Irida's command.
Both fighters moved forward.
Kaelis was the first to strike. He slid forward almost silently, his sword slashing upward in an arc aimed at Alex's shoulder. But Alex blocked the blade with his blood sword, sparks dancing from the clash. Without hesitation, he stepped back and struck from the left—sharp, precise—but Kaelis dodged and countered with a swift horizontal cut.
The swords clashed again.
Then—magic.
Kaelis leapt back and swept his hand. A blade-thin gust of wind rose from beneath him, flying straight toward Alex's chest. Alex ducked, dodging sideways, and at the same time, unleashed a wave of blood that splintered into dozens of sharp blades like shards of glass. The elf's wind twisted into a spiral, shielding his body and dissipating the attack.
Kaelis jumped, spinning midair, and came down with a vertical strike. Alex managed to raise his sword in time—an earsplitting clang rang out as the blow hit. The force pushed both of them back.
Not allowing a pause, Alex drove his blade forward—it extended like a whip and lashed toward Kaelis. The elf reacted almost instantly: his wind blade vanished, replaced by a swirling gust that deflected the blood weapon aside.
"Nice move," Alex called out, changing tactics.
He charged in—several quick strikes, circling to the right, then slashing upward. Kaelis responded with precise blocks and dodges, leaving minimal room for error.
But Alex pressed harder. Mixing swordplay and magic, he launched a barrage of attacks: slashes turned into blood waves, which he immediately pulled back into his blade; his movements were aggressive but controlled.
Kaelis countered with squalls—toward the end of the duel, he began using short bursts of compressed air to disrupt Alex's rhythm, forcing him to shift positions. Once, a gust knocked Alex off his feet, and he nearly fell, but caught himself with magic and rolled away, narrowly avoiding a finishing blow.
Finally, in a sudden burst forward, Alex hid his sword behind his back, distracted Kaelis with a small blood blast to the face—and in the same instant, shifted his position. Now behind the elf, he drew the blade parallel to Kaelis's neck—not touching, but close enough to make the point clear.
"Your victory," the elf conceded.
Alex lowered his weapon, and it dissolved into the air.
"You have an excellent blend of close and ranged combat. You keep your opponent constantly on edge."
Kaelis nodded slightly. His voice had lost its usual coldness.
"Thank you for the duel. I'll be waiting for a rematch in the future."
"I'm always ready," Alex replied with a smile.
Kaelis turned and walked back to the other contestants, while Lianel stepped casually into the arena. A light, almost admiring smile danced on his lips.
"Quite the spectacle," he said, his gaze locked on Alex. "But perhaps you'd like a few minutes to catch your breath?"
Alex gave a slight bow in return.
"Thank you for your concern, but I don't need rest. I'm ready to continue."
Lianel's smile widened. A silver spear began to form in his hands, forged from pure light. The blade gleamed under the magical lanterns still flickering above the courtyard.
"Hope you won't complain if you lose," the angel said with a playful challenge.
"It was my choice," Alex replied with a grin, summoning his blood sword once more. "So don't worry."
Lianel raised his spear, eyes burning with excitement.
"Then truly entertain me."
"I'll give you a fight you won't forget," said Alex, pointing his sword forward.
"Begin!" Irida commanded.
The two launched at each other almost simultaneously. Light clashed with blood. Lianel spun his spear, delivering rapid strikes that radiated blinding brilliance, forcing Alex to dodge and block with lightning speed. Alex answered with swift lunges—his sword slicing through the air, each strike erupting with crimson blasts of magic.
Both poured their magic into the fight. Lianel summoned waves of light that dazzled and disoriented, created copies of his spear to attack from multiple angles, and at one point, unleashed a rain of radiant blades from above. Alex countered with blood magic, forming shields, harpoons, and fine-edged blades that sliced through space and blunted enemy attacks. Occasionally, he shifted positions with bursts of motion, as though teleporting with mana.
Toward the end of the first phase of combat, the fighters clashed again at the center, spear and sword locking with a resounding clang. A moment of silence, tension mounting—then both leapt back.
"This is exactly the kind of battle I imagined," Lianel said first, breathing heavily. "You push me even harder than in my duel with Miss Elizabeth."
Alex observed in silence, brow slightly furrowed.
"And I have a proposal," the angel continued, spinning the spear in his fingers. "The tournament is all well and good—but shouldn't the winner receive a proper reward? Here's what I'm thinking: the winner of this duel remains a candidate for the head of the raid team. The loser… withdraws their candidacy."
Alex tightened his grip on the sword, a slow smile forming on his lips.
"And you're sure you won't regret that?"
"As you said yourself: it's my choice. So there'll be no regrets. Or… are you afraid?"
Alex laughed and shook his head slowly.
"I have nothing to fear. But you…"
"Oh, will you two shut up already?" Lilith's voice rang out unexpectedly. "Are you going to keep showing off, or finally get on with it?"
Both young men turned their heads to her in unison, then looked back at each other.
"She's right," Alex said. "Time to finish this."
"I agree," Lianel replied, raising his spear once more.
They charged again. The battle became even fiercer. Alex used blood to create vortexes and shockwaves, while Lianel responded with light storms and explosive beams. Sparks and flashes filled the air, and the ground cracked beneath their feet under the weight of their blows. Several times they engaged in close combat, exchanging lightning-fast strikes, and each time emerged with barely a scratch between them.
But the finale came when Alex, feinting a forward rush, suddenly vanished and reappeared at Lianel's side, pressing the edge of his sword to the angel's neck.
"That's it," Alex said simply.
Lianel looked surprised for a moment, then laughed. He slowly raised his hands in surrender.
"Brilliant," he said, offering his hand. "Thank you for the duel. I'll be glad to clear out dungeons under your leadership."
Alex shook his hand, smiling as well.
"Thank you. That was a fight I won't forget. But…" — he nodded to the side — "there are still two other candidates."
"Even better," Lianel nodded. "Let's see who ends up claiming the role in the end."
Almost immediately, other students approached Lianel and Alex.
Lilith, arms crossed over her chest and with a faint smile, remarked:
"It was quite a spectacle, despite your long pause in the middle of the fight. Even I didn't expect such a strong clash."
She shifted her gaze to Alex.
"From what I saw, you're the strongest among us. So I'm also withdrawing my candidacy for the role of commander."
Alex blinked in surprise, eyeing her with suspicion.
"Are you sure?"
"If I'm going to trust someone with my life," Lilith replied with a slight smile, "it certainly won't be someone weaker. And there's no better candidate here than you."
While Alex was still processing her words, Kaelis joined the conversation. He stood tall, exuding calm confidence.
"My duel with you showed me a lot, Alex. I'm also stepping down from the candidacy." He gave a small nod. "I hope you won't make me regret this decision."
Alex turned to look at Rogan, Celia, and Eliria.
"What about you?"
Rogan shrugged.
"I completely agree with Lilith. The strongest should lead. And I've got no problem with that strongest person being you. You're someone I wouldn't mind putting my trust in."
"If even a narcissist like Lianel admitted your strength," Celia chimed in with a smirk, "then I'm perfectly fine with entrusting you with command."
Eliria added calmly:
"And I vote for Alex to be our commander. He's earned it."
Alex glanced at each of them, as if trying to make sure he was hearing correctly. Then he looked slightly bashful but gave a modest smile.
"Thank you all. I… promise not to let you down."
At that moment, Lianel walked up to him with a wide grin and threw an arm over his shoulder.
"If you ever get tired of the role, just say the word. I'm always ready to take over."
Alex gave him a sideways look and replied with a sly smile:
"If I ever decide to step down, I'd sooner hand command over to Lilith than to you."
"What?!" Lianel reacted almost indignantly, pulling a face. "I hope that was a joke."
"Oh, absolutely," Celia jumped in, playfully jabbing Lianel in the ribs with her elbow. "But honestly, it's probably the best choice we could've made."
All seven of them laughed. The tension finally melted away. The Directors approached.
Krul looked at them with satisfaction.
"Looks like the leadership issue sorted itself out."
She stepped closer and, with a short nod, addressed Alex:
"Congratulations on your new role, Alex."
The Directors and students began clapping, warm smiles spreading across their faces.
Alex, smiling lightly, replied:
"Thank you all for your support."
After a brief pause, Dionysus raised his voice:
"If the duels are over — it's time to move on to the celebration. I think we've all earned a little relaxation."
The celebratory part began right after Dionysus's words. The Directors spread out across the perimeter of the back courtyard, occasionally glancing over at their students.
Magical lanterns, suspended in the air, began to shine a little brighter, gradually shifting into soft, warm hues. The air filled with the scent of fruit, pastries, and light notes of wine — all laid out on buffet tables on either side of the courtyard.
By one of the buffet tables, where the glowing lanterns cast a gentle light on silver goblets, stood Lianel and Celia. Each held a goblet of deep red wine, which gently swirled in the glass.
Celia took a small sip and glanced at Lianel.
"So how did you manage to swallow your pride and give up command to Alex? Honestly, I thought you'd cling to that role with your teeth."
Lianel only smiled — not arrogantly, but calmly, even a little wearily.
"To be honest, that role never really meant much to me from the start." He swirled the goblet in his hand, watching the wine slide down the sides. "I was only interested in the opportunity to work with students as talented as myself. Whether I led them or not… that's secondary."
He looked at Celia and added a bit more quietly:
"Besides, being a commander means responsibility. I'm not ready to take that on yet. But giving my one hundred and ten percent on raids — that I'm happy to do. I'm perfectly content with being Alex's right hand."
Celia shrugged lightly.
"If that's what suits you — I've got no further questions."
Lianel shifted his gaze from the goblet to the girl. That familiar mischievous smile crept onto his face.
"Did you secretly want me to become commander?"
Celia paused for a moment, then answered without looking away:
"Maybe. It would've been a bit more reassuring. I've known you for a few years, and I can at least guess what to expect from you. But… after what Alex showed in all three duels — I'm ready to follow him. He convinced me."
Lianel raised his goblet and whispered:
"To our commander."
Celia smiled and whispered playfully:
"What's with the hush?"
"I just don't want to stroke his ego," Lianel replied cheekily, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "After all, someone has to stop him from flying too high."
Celia shook her head.
"Strange to hear that from the guy with the biggest ego in the Academy."
The goblets clinked softly. They each took a sip. And though twilight had already settled outside, things between them felt just a little bit brighter.
Rogan and Kaelis stood a bit apart — near one of the fountains in the far corner of the courtyard, where the sound of water pleasantly muffled the general noise. Each held a goblet of wine. The light from the magical lanterns reflected gently in the glasses, giving the liquid a golden hue.
Rogan, calmly observing the courtyard and its guests, turned his gaze to his companion.
"You know, you seem different today, Kaelis. More… friendly. Not like how you are in the training hall."
The elf didn't look surprised. He took a sip of wine and replied with no emotion:
"If you haven't noticed — I'm cold with almost everyone at first. Not out of dislike. It's just… easier that way. Habit."
He paused, as if pondering his next words, then continued:
"The first meeting with all of them was no exception. Just an automatic reaction. But now…" Kaelis slightly shrugged. "We're a team now. We'll go on raids together. If I want to earn their trust, I have to make an effort. Build a connection. Just like with you."
A faint, almost invisible smile touched the beastkin's lips.
"With me, it's easy. We're alike—calm, quiet. But to break through to the others, you'll have to try harder. Still…" he raised his glass to chest level, "you've already made the first step. And that deserves respect."
Kaelis smiled in return—naturally, without any pretense. He patted Rogan on the shoulder.
"Thanks, my friend."
The two glasses clinked gently together, and the young warriors took a sip—without grand speeches, without unnecessary words. Just a sign of mutual respect.
At another buffet table, directly across from Lianel and Selia, stood Alex and Lilith with glasses of wine in hand. Calm conversations echoed around them, and the warm glow of lanterns softly filled the evening courtyard.
Lilith took a sip of her wine and, without looking away from her glass, said calmly:
"I heard from Kailan that you once again witnessed a clash between students. And once again resolved it before anyone from the student council had the chance to intervene."
She turned her gaze to Alex, whose face carried a faint smile.
"How do you do that?" she asked, now with a note of genuine curiosity.
"What exactly?" Alex raised an eyebrow slightly.
"React faster than us," Lilith replied. "Do you have some kind of special sense for trouble?"
Alex shrugged.
"Not really. Just lucky enough to be nearby a few minutes earlier. And when I see that words won't help, I switch to using the minimum amount of force right away."
Lilith twirled her glass, watching the wine swirl against the sides. She softly repeated:
"Minimum force…"
A thoughtful look appeared in her eyes.
"Usually, we in the student council spend hours having long and tiring conversations with people like Lara. Maybe… it's time we reconsidered our approach?"
She took another small sip. Alex smiled slyly.
"If those kinds of incidents stopped happening, the student council would be out of a job."
Lilith shot him a mockingly offended glance.
"You seriously think all we do is mediate student fights?"
Alex quickly straightened and scratched the back of his head, apologetic.
"Sorry. That was a joke, no offense meant. Honestly—I completely understand what you do. You resolve conflicts wisely. If the student council starts speaking the language of force, it'll lose not only the Directors' support but also the students' trust. And then… what's the point of it at all?"
He paused briefly before adding:
"Everyone just needs time. For elves, humans, demons, and others to stop seeing each other through the lens of the past. Memory is important, but it shouldn't be chains. And it's your job to show others that it's possible. No—actually, that should come from their parents. But you can be the example that proves it, and step in when someone strays off the right path."
Lilith looked at him with mild surprise, then slowly nodded, relaxing again.
"That's very well said. The best example of that… is Reiner."
She looked off into the distance, as if remembering something.
"A few days ago, he came to the student council. Apologized to everyone. Then—personally to me."
Alex smiled gently.
"I knew he would. He's a good guy, just… lost his way for a while. But he realized it and made things right. It's exactly for people like him that the student council exists. And I'm always ready to help out with minimal intervention. My hands are a little less tied than yours."
Lilith laughed.
"I'll remember that, 'free agent.'"
She raised her glass and said ceremoniously:
"To the unofficial member of the student council."
Alex lifted his glass and echoed her tone:
"And to its leader."
A soft clink of glasses was heard, and both took a sip—this time with smiles on their faces.
"By the way, Kailan also mentioned that the scuffle in the hallway happened because Eliria accidentally bumped into Lara. And when he took control of the situation, you disappeared with her."
She took another sip and added:
"During the duels, I didn't get the chance to ask how she's doing, so I'll ask you."
Alex smiled at the corner of his mouth and calmly replied:
"Better ask her yourself. She needs to talk to others more. And you, if you ask me, have all the chances of gaining a powerful spirit-healer as a friend."
Lilith laughed.
"That already sounds like strategic planning… But you're right."
She glanced around, scanning the crowd.
"I don't see her anywhere. Where is she?"
Alex started scanning the crowd too, and after a moment, spotted a figure standing in the farthest corner of the backyard, where the magical lanterns barely reached. Eliria was standing alone, trying to stay unnoticed.
"There she is," Alex pointed. "Looks like the perfect moment to lay the foundation for a future friendship."
Lilith gave him a sly smile.
"My mother told me she's incredibly shy. I've seen it myself more than once. Listen, go get her, will you? You've already talked to her—she'll respond to you more easily than to me."
Alex nodded without objection.
"All right."
He picked up two full glasses of wine from the table and slowly made his way toward the dark corner where Eliria stood. At the same time, Selia and Lianel approached Lilithh, who remained by the table, both with smiles and glasses in hand.
Alex approached the edge of the backyard, where Eliria's lonely figure barely stood out. The girl was facing away from him, her gaze raised to the starry sky. She didn't hear him coming—only when a hand appeared beside her, holding a glass of wine, and a calm voice sounded:
"For you," Alex said gently.
Eliria nearly jumped in surprise.
"Hey, don't be so scared," he added with a soft smile. "It's just me, not some terrifying goblin from the dungeons."
The girl awkwardly accepted the glass, staring carefully into the wine. A faint blush already colored her cheeks.
"Thank you…"
Alex silently shifted his gaze to the night sky. Stars, scattered across the deep dark canvas, shimmered with a soft silver glow.
"This view always makes me forget everything," he said. "Even the sense of time just fades away."
Eliria looked away from her wine and gazed upward too.
"I feel the same way. Ever since I was a child, I used to sneak out late at night, despite my parents' warnings. Just to look at the sky… and think about nothing at all. In those moments—no anxiety, no fear. Every breath felt like a new life."
Alex nodded, his gaze still fixed on the sky.
"Especially when there's a gentle breeze… It brushes against your skin, tickles your cheeks.
And if there's a full moon too—that beauty becomes indescribable."
Silence fell between them. A few seconds passed, but Eliria didn't respond. Alex turned—and noticed that she hadn't been looking at the sky at all. She'd been watching him.
Their eyes met. In that moment, Eliria's face flushed even more deeply. She quickly looked away, her gaze dropping to the ground.
"Everything okay?" Alex asked softly.
"Y-yes," she mumbled, stammering slightly. "It's just… your words. They were very close to my own thoughts."
Alex gave her a gentle smile.
"I see."
He placed a hand on her shoulder—warm and reassuring.
"We'll have time to stargaze again. But for now—let's go. They're probably waiting for us."
Eliria nodded, clutching her glass to her chest with both hands.
Together, they walked back toward the rest of the group. Meanwhile, Kaelis and Rogan were just joining Lilith, Celia, and Lianel.
As Alex and Eliria approached, Lianel immediately turned to him with his usual playful grin.
"Captain, while you two were off somewhere, we started a rather interesting discussion. And now we desperately need your opinion—because you, after all, are the leader. Which means… your word is law."
At that last line, he bowed theatrically, his wide smile never leaving his face.
Alex raised an eyebrow.
"In the dungeon, maybe. But out here, I'm the same as all of you. So my word carries no more weight than anyone else's."
"Beautifully said," Lianel chuckled. "But it's exactly that kind of answer that marks a true leader.
Anyway," he continued more seriously, "we were talking about forming our raid group. Who's going where, who covers who, what to do in different situations. We've thrown around some ideas, but your thoughts, Captain, will be decisive."
Alex nodded.
"I've actually been thinking about it for the past two days. I do have a plan—and if you're up for it, I'll share."
"We're all ears," Lianel winked.
Alex looked over everyone.
"First, one question: other than Eliria, does anyone here know healing magic?"
Everyone but the girl shook their heads.
"I can use it only at a basic level," Alex continued. "So with that in mind, Eliria is our primary healer, and everything will be built around her."
He took a sip of wine and went on.
"She'll be in the center of the formation. Behind her—Rogan. If there's a rear attack, he'll be the first to respond. In front—me, Lianel, and Kaelis. We'll be the main strike force. Our job is to carve a path forward."
"And us?" Lilith asked.
"You and Celia will be right behind us. Dark and fire magic are perfect for long-range support, eliminating weaker enemies, or holding back hordes. You two are our balance and backup."
When Alex finished, the group fell silent for a moment, digesting his strategy.
"I suggested something similar," Lianel said. "It's good to know we're on the same wavelength. Just confirms I made the right choice backing you as commander."
"Works for me," Rogan added calmly. "Clear and practical."
"Same here," Lilith said. "It all makes sense."
"It'll work—as long as everyone plays their part," Kaelis noted. His voice was much warmer than during his first meeting with Alex.
"Then I'm in too," Celia smiled. "And if we need to tweak anything—we'll do it during the fight."
She lifted her glass high.
"I have a toast."
Everyone turned toward her.
"To us. To a raid group that'll be more than a team—we'll be the best team in the world. May every dungeon be full of adventure, triumph, and incredible rewards."
"To adventure!" Lilith cheered.
"To victory!" Lianel added.
"To us!" the others echoed in unison.
The rear courtyard of the Academy rang with the chime of clinking glasses. The gentle music of the wind, the glow of magical lanterns, and the scent of the night air completed the scene—
and tomorrow, their first group raid would begin.