The third stage was supposed to be decisive. Magical stabilization of nodes, teamwork, stress resistance testing. The organizers promised surprises.

  I stood at the edge of the preparation area, observing.

  Elliot checked the straps on his bracers. Movements precise—after months of training he'd grown stronger, more confident. Metal obeyed him better and better, forms became more complex. Progress visible even to a non-professional. Good. Very good.

  But she hovered around him. Eva Mirell. An upperclassman from the medical department, one of those recruited for field support. Light hair, big eyes, constant smile. A healer's hands—gentle and confident.

  I remember the times when I was in medical myself, before transferring to be with Elliot. People often whispered about her—how beautiful she was, how sociable and talented. Too normal. That's odd.

  She was explaining something to him, pointing at her medical bag. Apparently telling him about new healing techniques. Elliot listened attentively, asked questions. Was interested.

  This worried me. Not that I was jealous. Just... I saw how he was changing. Becoming softer, distracted by the inessential. And we had such important times ahead.

  The world stood on the threshold of change. I knew this better than others. The old order rotted from within, otherworlders wove their webs, and the people needed those who would lead them to justice.

  Elliot could become one of those people. He had ability, character, potential. But only if nothing knocked him off course.

  And this girl... she was good. Kind. But kindness can be dangerous. It teaches forgiving enemies, seeking compromises where decisiveness is needed. Makes them weak.

  I approached closer, pretending to check my own equipment.

  Eva was speaking to Elliot.

  "...after the tournament, a group of medics is planning a trip to the northern villages. Volunteer aid. Want to join?"

  "Sounds interesting. Will they allow underclassmen?"

  "Of course! Extra hands are always needed."

  She touched his wrist, explaining something about bandaging technique. An innocent touch, but Elliot looked at her face, not her hands. Bad.

  Eva noticed me.

  "Oh, Aura, right? How are you?"

  I smiled softly.

  "Hi, Eva! Everything's wonderful. I'm going to do everything so you have less to deal with from our class."

  I waited until Eva moved away to the other medics, then approached.

  "Ready for the stage?"

  Elliot nodded.

  "Yeah, I think so. Eva was telling me about new field medicine techniques. Turns out a lot has changed over the last year."

  He spoke with enthusiasm. It was sweet. And alarming.

  "She seems like a knowledgeable specialist."

  "Definitely. And very passionate about her work."

  "Just remember, today's not the time for learning. Focus on the team."

  Elliot nodded, but I noticed his gaze slide toward the medic group.

  "Aura, is everything okay? You look... tense."

  He knew me too well.

  "Just feel this stage will be difficult. Intuition."

  "Maybe. But we'll manage. Like always."

  The horn sounded the start of the trial.

  As we took our positions, Cassandra appeared to my right.

  "Aura, remember our morning conversation?"

  "You mean last night?"

  "So someone else had problems too?"

  I nodded.

  "Hmm, I asked Elliot and Reynor. Reynor didn't feel anything. He wasn't using magic then. But Elliot confirmed it."

  Today something strange was happening with magic—some fluctuations wouldn't let me concentrate easily. The same problems appeared for Cassandra and the princess. This bodes ill...

  I squeezed his hand and took position at our node.

  This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

  The arena formed a pentagon with magical crystals in each corner. Between them stretched energy threads, forming a complex network. Our task—maintain the balance of flows, not letting the system overload or collapse.

  Beautiful. Elegant. Just like real protective barriers of large cities.

  Cassandra stood at the neighboring node, her mirrors already beginning to reflect energy surges. Selena coordinated general flows with air swirls. Darius formed stabilizing blood threads. Reynor tried to slow the most unstable sections.

  And Elliot... Elliot created metal conductors between crystals. Thin, flexible, reacting to the slightest changes in flow. Worked with focus. Good.

  The first half hour passed smoothly. The teams quickly found rhythm, energy circulated evenly. Even those small fluctuations we felt in the morning seemed insignificant against the background of general stability.

  But then something began to change. At first barely noticeable. My node trembled, the crystal flashed brighter than usual. I strengthened mental influence, leveling the flow.

  A minute later Cassandra's node trembled. Then Selena's.

  Selena frowned, adjusting air flows.

  "Something's wrong with the base frequency."

  "I'm having problems too. The energy won't hold form."

  Darius wiped blood from his palm, his threads beginning to shake.

  "Maybe this is part of the test?"

  Reynor slowed time around his node, but the effect lasted only a few seconds.

  "I doubt it. This looks like a system failure."

  Elliot restructured the metal conductors, making them thicker. But the crystal in his corner still sparked unstably.

  And in that moment the eastern arena wall exploded. A black spike flew past us with something impaled on it—or rather, someone. I managed to make out a teacher who'd been guarding the stands.

  With a crash he slammed into the wall, and when the dust settled, everything around was splattered with blood. A medical department student caught in the strike. No, not Eva. Half the body only now finished falling. The skirt turned red.

  Someone screamed.

  "Gods!"

  Panic began. From the hole in the wall emerged a huge silhouette.

  Four arms, each different. One metallic with sharp protrusions. One bleeding with pulsing veins. The two upper arms semi-transparent—one smoking, one crackling with energy.

  Four meters tall. Body covered in seams from absorbed creatures. Behind its back rotated a ring of energy.

  The face almost human, but the jaw protruded forward. Three rows of crooked teeth. Saliva burned through stone. The demon stepped onto the arena.

  Professor Keiran created a fire barrier. The demon shot a spike—the point pierced through flame, slashed across the professor's shoulder. Six teachers surrounded the monster.

  Thorgrim launched stone spears from below. The demon jumped, but two spikes embedded in its calves. Black blood splashed on the floor. It landed and struck with its bleeding arm. The limb stretched, wrapped around Thorgrim's chest. Squeezed. Ribs crunched like dry branches. The professor coughed blood.

  The demon lifted him overhead and hurled him at the stone wall. Thorgrim hit with a wet sound. His skull cracked. Brain matter splattered the stone.

  The others attacked simultaneously. The demon absorbed magic with its gaseous arm, the ring changing colors. But some spells got through.

  Acid hissed on metal protrusions. Lightning burned skin. Professor Mirei created illusory doubles of herself.

  The demon fired a volley of spikes in all directions. One pierced the real Mirei through the stomach. She fell, intestines spilling out. Tried to push them back in with trembling hands. The demon stepped on her head. The skull burst like overripe fruit.

  Gray fog covered the arena. Smoke bombs thrown from somewhere outside.

  Visibility dropped to a meter. In the fog, chaos began.

  A voice shouted.

  "Fire arrow!"

  Another voice.

  "Not working!"

  "What's happening with magic?!"

  "I can't create a barrier!"

  Teachers' screams were lost in the roar of battle.

  "Magic won't obey!"

  "Mine's not working either!"

  The demon laughed with a grinding sound. Without magic, the teachers became just people with swords against a four-meter monster.

  A strike from the metal arm. Professor Allarid tried to dodge but was too slow. Sharp protrusions pierced his chest clean through. The demon lifted the dying man on its spikes and shook him. Blood splattered the ground.

  Another teacher rushed with a sword. The demon's energy arm grabbed him by the face. Discharge. The man's head exploded from within. The burnt body fell to its knees.

  I watched the slaughter, standing at the edge of the medical zone. Magic was gone for everyone. Teachers died one after another.

  Chaos, panic, blood. No one paid attention to anything except the demon.

  And beside me Eva bent over an injured student. Back to me. Completely absorbed in her work.

  I slowly approached her. The moment had come. Sometimes revolution requires personal sacrifices. Not from spite, not from jealousy. From necessity.

  Elliot was too important for the future to let some girl knock him off course. The people needed strong leaders, not dreamers who waste time on charity instead of real struggle.

  Eva was a good person. But good people often become obstacles to change. A pity, but someone has to make hard decisions.

  I touched her shoulder.

  "Eva?"

  She turned, fatigue and patient's blood on her face.

  "Aura! Please help! She has arterial bleeding, I can't stop it alone!"

  So selfless. To the very end. I looked into her eyes, concentrating. Suggestion magic—delicate work. Especially when the magical background is unstable. But I had an advantage. Eva trusted me.

  "Of course I'll help."

  I placed my hands on her temples, as if checking temperature. Gently penetrated her consciousness.

  Thoughts flowed into her head like my own.

  Eva blinked, her gaze becoming distant.

  "There... there are people dying."

  "Need to... need to do something."

  She stood, leaving the injured student.

  Looked at the slaughter where the demon was finishing the last teachers.

  "I have to help!"

  Eva rushed across the arena, straight toward the demon. I remained near the injured, feigning shock.

  "Eva! Stop! It's dangerous!"

  But it was too late.

  The demon noticed the girl running toward it. The metal arm swung almost lazily. A spike pierced Eva through the head. She hung on the spike, twitching. After a few seconds she stopped moving.

  Elliot saw it from behind crystal debris. Screamed.

  I covered my face with my hands, as if unable to watch the tragedy.

  And that's it. Problem solved.

  I allowed myself the smallest smile behind my hands. A private moment. Mine alone.

  Or so I told myself.