[Two days before the contest]

The chosen ones were gathered in the headmaster's office—naturally, because they'd been summoned there.

Emma and William arrived a little late, though it hardly mattered since the man himself hadn't shown up yet.

Natalie glanced up as they entered, exchanging a faint smile with Emma. She noticed right away how much brighter Emma looked—her eyes, her posture, even the way she smiled.

*She's changed so much.*

It had been about a month since Emma and William had grown closer, and in that time, not just Natalie but everyone could see the difference in her.

She no longer seemed detached or lost in thought. She didn't avoid people anymore. She even dressed with care—not out of obligation, but because she wanted to.

It was as if she'd found a new purpose. Someone she wanted to look beautiful for. Someone who made her smile without reason, who added color to her once dull world.

'Love really does change people,' Natalie thought, her gaze drifting toward Kevin.

Unlike Emma, who seemed to fall into her feelings effortlessly, things between Natalie and Kevin were moving much slower. They'd gone on a date a few days ago—held hands, talked for hours—but that was all.

Natalie was almost sure Kevin saw it as something friendly, nothing more. It wasn't that he was heartless; it was just that romance wasn't something he seemed to understand. Until not long ago, he'd been pursuing Emma…but was that really out of love?

Or… maybe she wasn't the one he was looking for.

The thought made her chest tighten.

"Are you okay?" Gizel asked softly, pulling her out of her thoughts.

Natalie nodded quickly—just as the office door creaked open.

Everyone stood at once when the man entered.

"Please, take a seat," Edward said calmly as he moved past them and settled into the chair behind his desk.

With a quiet click, the door closed, locking them in—the five chosen ones and their headmaster.

William, ever composed, guided Emma to a seat beside Gizel, while Kevin and Natalie sat across from them.

Edward glanced at a parchment on his desk before speaking. "So, you all managed to retain your badges, I assume?"

Kevin looked around and answered for the group, "Yes, Headmaster."

Edward gave a small hum of approval. "Good. Then I'm sure you're all excited about the contest. The world will have its eyes on you—a chance to impress the members of the Great Hall, and perhaps, to become one of them."

Not everyone showed enthusiasm. In truth, only Kevin seemed genuinely fired up about it.

After his defeat in last year's tournament, he'd made a silent vow—to redeem himself, to make his academy shine.

And this time, he didn't plan to fail.

The headmaster continued, "Well, guess what? You all won't have to wait much longer." As he spoke, he slid a file across the table.

The students exchanged puzzled looks. Natalie was the first to step forward and open it, with the others quickly crowding around her.

On the parchment inside were only a few lines—simple, yet heavy.

*A condition:*

*The participants must have an Evil Core in their possession upon arrival at the contest venue.*

A dark red seal was stamped at the bottom—one they all recognized.

The seal of the Great Hall.

Gizel frowned. "What's an Evil Core?"

Edward leaned back slightly, his tone calm but deliberate. "An Evil Core is the heart of a true evil being—the source that generates energy and circulates it through their meridians. It's not something easily obtained. When such a creature dies, the core dissolves into its blood, and even skilled specialists struggle to extract it."

A tense silence filled the room as the students processed his words.

"Don't misunderstand," Edward added, "you won't be fighting real devils. The Great Hall has prepared golems—simulations infused with corrupted energy. They'll arrive here shortly."

That explanation didn't do much to ease anyone's nerves.

Emma, especially, was taken aback. The sudden twist made her uneasy—this wasn't supposed to happen. Nothing like this had ever been mentioned in the story she knew.

Natalie hesitantly asked, "Sir, it's already evening… where are we supposed to fight them?"

"Right here," Edward replied. "On the school grounds. The other students have been instructed to stay in their dorms, and the teachers are confined to their offices. No guards, no soldiers—only you five. Your mission is to defend the academy and retrieve the Evil Cores."

The room grew tense.

Kevin clenched his fists. "With all due respect, sir, what kind of assessment is this? Aren't we putting others at risk?"

Edward's gaze hardened. "That's your task as protectors. This isn't about fighting—it's about proving whether you can safeguard the region entrusted to you."

With that, he opened a drawer and unfolded a large map across the table.

The map displayed the entire academy: five main zones.

Two dormitories.

One academic block.

Three domes connected together—counted as a single complex.

And lastly, the library and faculty building.

Edward pointed at the map. "Each of you will choose one area to protect. The teachers will make sure the students stay safe, but your job is to prevent the danger from ever reaching them."

William finally spoke up, his voice low but commanding. "And if it does?"

Edward paused. The air seemed to thicken.

"There will be evaluators observing your performance," he said quietly. "Not from this academy. What happens after that… will be up to them."

The room fell silent.

And that—hit the nail squarely on the head.

After a brief pause, the Headmaster finally spoke, "You all have proved your abilities during these few past days. However, the decision would be made by them. If you fail to collect a core tonight or fail to protect what you are supposed to…then there is a high chance that our academy might not be sending all five members this year."

Natalie sucked on a cold breath, suddenly, the gravity of the matter dawning upon her.

The older one intertwined his fingers as he added, "But I trust you all can handle things…just need to control your emotions. Don't become over-aggressive in order to show your strength." When he said that he glanced at William

The blond one snickered before he said, "Well, that's it, I guess. I am leaving then."

Emma also gave a short bow before walking away.

The other three glanced at each other before deciding that it was better if they reached their spot soon.

However, "Kevin," Edward called out, "Wait here for a minute. The rest can go."

°°°°°°°°°°

A/N:- Thanks for reading. Please make sure to leave a comment.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.