No More Pain For This Villain.

261  Team

[Ren Hilton POV.]

"Do you think this is going to work just fine?" Blaze asked as he jumped on my shoulder. I was leaning on my chair while I looked down at my feet in the dark behind the curtain.

...I slept, I slept well. It was a good sleep. I tried my best to ignore a lot of things and just focus on my rest.

Why am I telling you this? Because I just wanted to.

"Yeah, this will work," I answered him.

"Ren Hilton!"

It's time. I got up from my chair as I passed by the already lifted curtain that led to the stage.

It had been two days since the last selection match. Vexa won, marking the final person on the imperial academy's team for the Mage's Gambit, and after that, everything went silent for the next two days. I didn't meet anyone because, for some reason, fatigue took over me.

It was a weird type of fatigue—one where you just don't want to move at all.

I followed what I felt and just slept—till Blaze himself woke me up.

*Step*

My boot tapped on the wooden stage as the sound reverberated through the silent hall. The eyes of the students tracked me with their judgmental gaze.

I looked at Aron and Isolde, who were already standing beside Stormborne, who was in the center of the stage.

His eyes met mine, but he just looked away as if he wasn't even interested.

I lined up beside Aron.

"Erik Weller!" He called out, and I saw Erik walk up the stage with wobbly legs, trying his best to maintain composure amidst all the applause he was receiving.

He came and stood right beside me.

"Nice to see you again, Mr. Famous," I muttered toward Erik. n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

"T-that's..." Erik was interrupted as—

"Vexa Velcrow!"

I leaned back a bit to see the silver-haired girl walk up to the stage, lifting her long skirt slightly. Her walk was gentle, which could deceive anyone who hadn't witnessed what she did in the Arena two days ago.

"This girl is really something else," Blaze remarked.

I know. For some reason, she emits a mysterious vibe that's borderline creepy too.

Her strength, skills, background, or personality— I know nothing.

This time, the applause was mixed with awe and whispers, with boys clearly fawning over her. Can't deny that she's beautiful.

Without uttering a word, she walked and lined up beside Erik, who seemed lost in his own realm.

"Wake up, dude, don't embarrass yourself," I nudged his hanging jaw back for him to flinch.

"I-I... what was I saying again?" He stuttered, "Yes... you are the one who's being most talked about, y'know that, right?" He leaned in to ask while telling me.

I just nodded. I'm not sure how to take this, but I've been a hot topic for the past two days, and it's not going back to normal anytime soon.

When I entered the selections, I knew this was going to happen, standing beside these guys, but the impact increased after.

Helga was thrown out—oh, by the way, she was discharged after a day and a half and is still in her dorm.

So after Helga was out of the picture, I became the center of attention for the first-years and the target of their hate for how I fought, something that no one is going to bring up, of course.

"And welcome this Gambit's Team Leader!!!! Adam Stales!" Headmaster Stormborne hyped the arrival of the blond kid.

Adam walked from the other side of the stage, receiving applause and standing ovations, while everyone practically hopped around to cheer him up.....his gaze was on me for a second but he looked away almost immediately.

"I don't think so," I might be the one being talked about the most? Nah... I don't think so.

As Headmaster Stormborne ascended the platform, a hush fell over the assembled crowd. His commanding presence filled the grand hall, silencing even the faintest whisper. With a regal air, he adjusted the lapels of his impeccable robe, the shimmering fabric catching the dim light, emphasizing the authority he held.

"Ladies and gentlemen, esteemed faculty, and honored students," his voice boomed, resonating through the hall. "It's time we unveil the location for this year's highly anticipated Mage's Gambit."

A collective murmur swept through the audience, anticipation crackling in the air like static before a storm.

"In the Kingdom of Reva, where the ancient tapestries of magic and mystery interweave, where every corner echoes tales of arcane wonders, we have chosen a place of exceptional significance for this year's Gambit," Stormborne declared, his words weaving a spell of intrigue.

".....Eshmera," he announced, and the name reverberated across the hall, drawing gasps of awe and reverence. "In the edge of Reva Kingdom, nestled amidst the enchanted forests and shimmering lakes, Eshmera awaits. A city steeped in it's own legacy, a haven where spells dance upon the wind and secrets whisper in the stones."

"The departure of our esteemed team is imminent," Stormborne continued, his voice commanding attention. "The selected members shall embark on this journey of discovery and trials as emissaries of our academy's legacy."

A tangible excitement filled the air, students exchanging eager glances and exchanging murmurs of preparations for the upcoming departure.

"The team shall depart at dawn's first light," Stormborne announced with gravitas. "Gather at the Academy's Grand Archway, where the first rays of dawn shall bid them farewell on their quest to Eshmera."

With a final sweep of his gaze across the audience, Stormborne's presence lingered in the air like an unspoken promise of wonders to come. "Prepare yourselves, for this year's Mage's Gambit shall set forth from our hallowed halls to the mystical embrace of Eshmera."

As he stepped back from the platform, an electric anticipation lingered, signaling not just the end of the announcement.

What he didn't mention was...the Ruins of Eshmera are going to be the place where the selections are to be held.

"This is going to be a fun ride."

[A/N: This marks the end of this volume....I have something to say but I'll hold it in for next chapter, If you don't wanna hear or read it....which I respect please skip the next chapter as it's just a epilogue and few things that I wanna share with you...you don't even have to buy the chapter,just join the discord server - I'd paste the message there for y'all to see.]

[Discord Link in my bio.]

[End Of The Volume ~]