The Transmigrated Author

[Pinnacle Academy, Stadium 1 - Arena A: Hallway Entrance To The Main Stage]

[12:20 PM]

Jan stood at the entrance to the arena tunnel, Camila and Lyra following from behind with anxious expressions.

"Jan, you talked to him, right?" Camila pressed. "What was all that about? Why did he attack him like that?"

"..."

Jan's face clouded with sympathy and regret. "I..." he trailed off, uncertainty was all over his face. Should he reveal what Rel had said, or was there a deeper truth in it he shouldn't betray?

"Why are you hesitating?" Camila pressed, her voice filled with concern.

"Is it something... personal?" Lyra asked, her tone softer, probing.

"Yeah," Jan admitted with a sigh. "It's... something really personal for him."

Camila scoffed. "Well, we're not exactly strangers, are we? Can't you at least give us a hint?"

Jan held up a hand, his patience thin. They'd interacted a bit, sure, but "friends" was pushing it. Lyra and Camila barely knew Rel. Honestly, even Jan, for all his casual chatter with the guy, wasn't exactly close either.

"It's about his family," he said, meeting their eyes with a sincerity that left no room for argument. Then, with a last apologetic glance, he turned and disappeared into the tunnel, leaving the girls to puzzle over what he said.

As they walked towards the student section, Camila and Lyra couldn't shake off the conversation.

"What could he mean by 'family'?" Camila wondered aloud. "Did Carlos maybe say something about a sister? I don't think Rel's ever mentioned one..."

"Rel has a sister?" Lyra's surprise was clear in her voice. "Whatever it was, it had to be bad to push a quiet guy like him over the edge."

Camila shrugged. "Beats me. But you're right, it definitely hit a nerve."

Lyra nodded. "Everyone has family... right?"

"Of course," Camila murmured, but a look of hesitation clouded her eyes. Then, a chilling possibility struck her. "What if... he doesn't?"

The question hung in the air between them, unspoken but chillingly clear.

The secret surrounding Rel, and whether he had a family remained nothing but a mystery to the two.

...

...

[10 Minutes later]

...

...

The white walls of the tunnel pressed in as Jan headed towards the arena. Guards flanked the entrance, their expressions patient as they conducted the pre-match inspection. He'd been through this routine enough times now that it felt almost habitual.

"Name and weapon, please," a voice instructed.

"Jan Ates." He handed over his broadsword, the hilt worn smooth – proof of his dedication.

The guard examined the blade with practised eyes, checking for any modifications or hidden compartments.

"Clear," the guard said, returning his sword and motioning him towards a metal archway.

"Step through the scanner, please."

Jan walked through the arch, feeling a slight tingle as it scanned him for any trace of performance-enhancing substances. Doping, while strictly prohibited, He already knew that he'd never take drugs in his life. He was confident the scanner would show nothing but his natural strength and reflexes.

Ding! Ding!

"All clear," another voice announced, giving him the go-ahead.

Jan stepped out onto the massive platform, the roar of the crowd washing over him in a wave of sound and energy.

The sun blazed over his head, its warmth compared to the cooled air of the inspection tunnel. Across from him, he saw Alice walk outside of her entrance, her grip on her sabre a bit too tight, a hint of nerves showing her usual composure.

The crowd's noise was cut up into cheers, whistles, and particularly loud sounds of high-pitched screams from the upper sections of the stadium. Jan shrinked slightly, recognizing the sounds of the second and third years screaming his name.

"I love you, Jan!"

"You're the hottest thing in the academy!"

"Marry me!"

The grin that spread across his face felt stiff. Flattering, sure, but... distracting. Alice was his opponent, not the screaming fans.

He forced his focus as he recalled the highlights of her battles from the previous matches...

Her swordsmanship was unmatched, her footwork perfect. If she found her rhythm, landing a clean hit would be a nightmare. He'd need to stay patient, let her come to him, wait for the opening.

Walking onto his designated spot on the platform, The memory of Rel's fight, Carlos' blood, stained the pristine white floor in his mind's eye.

As he and Alice positioned themselves, their eyes met for a moment. On impulse, Jan offered her a small wave, a gesture of sportsmanship.

"...?"

Alice blinked in response, her usual calm and composed face replaced by an expression of confusion...almost as if a stray cat had been offered a handshake.

A wave of embarrassment washed over Jan as she made no attempt to return the wave. He quickly snapped into his combat stance, feeling a flush creep up his neck. At least the upcoming fight would distract him from his social misstep.

The announcer's voice boomed through the stadium, cutting through the awkward silence.

"Ladies and gentlemen, prepare yourselves! The next quarterfinal match is about to begin! To our left, the student with the current tournament record for the fastest knockouts wielded by a blade! He has maintained a perfect record of reaching this far into the finals! Give it up for Jan Ates!"

The crowd erupted in cheers, the roar washing over Jan in a wave of energy. Despite the awkward start, he was excited about the match between him and Alice.

The announcer continued, his voice rising with excitement.

"And now, his opponent! An absolutely stunning beauty who has also blazed a flawless path to the quarterfinals! Her swift strikes and persistent focus have earned her the title 'Angel of Death'! Everyone, give it up for Alice Elizabeth!"

Alice seemed to be quite anxious about the loud noise in the stadium, hearing the multiple guys barking over her name, making her extremely uncomfortable as she clutched her sheathed weapon tight to her chest.

"Are our two students ready? If so, please unsheathe your weapons!" The announcer's voice cut through the arena.

"...eh!.."

Alice startled at the noise responded with a clumsy release, fumbling her sabre. Mana glowed around the blade as she channelled it.

Jan drew his weapon, its weight grounding. Should he match her mana, or hold back? The opening bell was seconds away…

But after a quick thought, he was against the idea for now. He needed to see her abilities, see what other tricks she might have before revealing his full hand.

"Three!" the announcer began the countdown. "Two! One...FIGHT!"

DASH!

Alice exploded forward with tremendous speed, covering the distance between them in a blink.

SHING!

Within his reach, she unleashed a strike infused with sword aura, a blade of concentrated energy extending her reach.

Jan reacted instinctively, his broadsword flashing to parry the blow. The impact sent a jolt of pain through his wrist, feeling the previous strain from his earlier matches.

Yet, a smile spread across his face. He knew Alice was strong and this feeling of waiting for an opponent just like her was what he craved, He knew that she wasn't one to take his pulled punches for a greeting. so Jan decided that he would take this match seriously.

___________

Authors Notes: