Kalen Snowwhite's Resolve
Kalen Snowwhite was lost in torment.
Was her choice truly the right one? Or had it merely been a reckless gamble?
"……."
She blankly lifted her sword, peering at her reflection in the blade. Sky-blue hair. It used to reach down to my waist back then. Toying with a lock of her hair around her finger, Kalen let such idle thoughts drift through her mind.
After the curse, she'd cut off her long locks with her sword and burned them. She wore men's clothes instead of women's, wielded a crude longsword rather than an elegant rapier. She rarely smiled, spoke only in stiff tones, and after enrolling at the academy, she avoided mingling with others—lingering in the training grounds for endless practice. When interaction was unavoidable, she kept it as curt as possible.
Yes. If not for that curse binding her, she wouldn't have needed to lock herself away in a prison forged from resolve and lies.
Without the curse, she might have worn a beautiful dress, a ribbon and skirt instead of a necktie and trousers. And... she could have experienced ordinary love.
Lowering her sword, she glanced at her hand. Scars everywhere, thick with calluses and cracks. Her skin was rough as bark. With hands like these... well, forget noble ladies' soirees—even attending a tea party would be an insult. Hands too shameful to show anyone.
But.
'Even these hands were praised by someone.'
There was a person who affirmed that the path she'd chosen wasn't wrong. A knight's hands shouldn't be soft or pristine. Your hands aren't something to be ashamed of. Those words alone gave Kalen strength.
"Did you come to watch...?"
She clamped her mouth shut in a panic. That wasn't a tone she should let slip.
"Ahem. Hm. Cough."
Lately, her guard had been slipping more and more. No doubt because of that person.
"Student Kalen Snowwhite, it's about to begin. Please prepare."
"Understood."
With that, she sheathed her sword at her waist and picked up the shield from the corner. She faced the mirror, hand over her heart, and took two light deep breaths.
"Hoo."
Preparation complete.
Her record so far: four straight wins. One more victory today, and she'd finish with a perfect five-for-five.
And her opponent... was the Knight Faculty's second-ranked student.
'Don't get nervous, Hyrin.'
"No nerves. That's an order, Kalen."
Staring into her reflection, repeating it over and over, she finally nodded and turned on her heel.
Alright. Time to go.
Even if it was just bravado, she wouldn't know unless she tried. Assuming defeat without clashing swords was for cowards.
"I have to repay the favor, too."
The steps of a knight marching forth with resolve were utterly steadfast.
The Knight Faculty's second-year arena thrummed with sweltering heat.
On the final day of midterms, the duels drew massive crowds—even students from other faculties gathered in clusters to watch.
A key feature of Knight Faculty exams: anyone could challenge a duel, regardless of grades. Which led to the occasional upset.
Like ranking 96th, Kalen Snowwhite, challenging the second-ranked.
Kalen stepped onto the arena and scanned the stands. Packed to the brim. A quick sweep, but... no sign.
'Haha, can't be helped. He has his own exams.'
No, what am I even thinking right before my crucial test?
Shaking her head to clear the thoughts, Kalen stepped forward to her mark.
Approaching from the opposite side: a boy with fiery red hair. Dressed in uniform like her, a single sword strapped to his back. Waving enthusiastically to the crowd, he was the Knight Faculty's current second-in-command, the Hot-Blooded Swordsman Levin.
Unlike Kalen from some frontier noble house, he hailed from a central count's family. Masterful swordsmanship, silver tongue, and boundless enthusiasm—he drew people wherever he went.
Striding boldly to center stage, he grinned at Kalen and extended a hand.
"Remember the stakes?"
"......Becoming friends. That's what I recall."
"Haha, spot on! If I win here, you'll be my 556th friend. My goal's a thousand before graduation from Salenium. At 555 right now."
"......I see."
What am I supposed to do with that?
Kalen ignored the offered hand. Levin awkwardly withdrew it, scratching his head.
"Anyway, that's me. Let's have a great match, Kalen Snowwhite."
"......"
Kalen nodded silently. Levin flashed a grin at the referee.
"Ready."
"Assume en garde positions."
Clang— Kalen drew her sword and positioned it before her; Levin followed suit. They lightly clashed tips forward, then turned to walk to opposite ends.
"Victory is decided when one surrenders, becomes unable to continue, or their protective barrier shatters."
Gripping her hilt tight as the referee spoke, Kalen steeled herself. Swordsmanship, skills, matchup—total disadvantage across the board.
But she wouldn't know without trying.
"Begin!"
Levin charged first at the call. Crimson flames erupted along his blade.
"【Attribute Sword: Flame】."
His sword slashed horizontally. Whoosh! Flames surged along the arc, scattering heat everywhere.
Kalen leaped back swiftly, escaping the range, but...
"Tch, a feint!"
"Whoa, you caught that?"
Levin burst from the blaze, swinging. Kalen twisted her wrist, barely parrying.
Kagang!
She flipped her blade to deflect and dive low, but Levin simply smashed down, blocking her path.
Swoosh!
He pierced her opening, slashing upward and cornering her.
"......You're moving slow? You were sharper in prior spars."
"......Hah, huff."
A few exchanges, and it was clear: defense was her limit. Countering? Impossible.
'This is second place...'
If second is this strong, how monstrous is first?
Breath catching, Kalen swung desperately for an opening.
"Way too sluggish."
Then—
Fwoosh!
Seeing the blade arcing for her throat, instinct screamed: Can't dodge.
Barrier would shatter first.
Judging so, Kalen hurled her sword aside for a split-second gap, rolling away.
"......A knight discards his sword?"
Not mockery—genuine surprise from Levin.
Her blade embedded in the ground. Retrieving it meant eating an attack.
But even one hit meant loss.
Like this... defeat?
'I don't want to lose.'
In that instant, her gaze hit the stands.
And she saw him.
"......!"
Center seats. Familiar golden hair. Piercing blue eyes fixed on her.
"......You came to watch."
You didn't forget.
Realizing that, strength surged from nowhere. The moment she realized he was watching.
Like right after he'd handed her the sword before the dungeon. Power welled up.
And Kalen realized: the hefty shield on her left arm.
Why had she forgotten it until now?
It felt weightless now.
With this shield... I still have a chance.
Not perfected, but no choice.
"Hm, sorry to drag it out—I'll end it quick. 【Attribute Sword: Flame】!"
"【Attribute Sword: Flame】!"
Flames lashed out. Kalen advanced step by step into them.
Just before his fiery blade struck—
Taat!
Kalen kicked off, hurling herself forward, channeling every ounce of power into her left arm.
Her shield.
"Haaaaaaaah......!"
She thrust it forward with all her might!
"......Aaaaaaah! 【Imitation: Shield Art】!"
"Wha—wh-whoa!"
Kwaaaaaang!
Thunderous roar. The earth-infused shield didn't just repel the flame sword—it blasted Levin clean back.
'Now!'
Opening made. Only chance.
Kalen dashed, yanked her sword free, spun, and unleashed her own Attribute Sword.
Icy chill cloaked the blade in a blue arc.
"【Attribute Sword: Ice】"
"Wha—hey, w-wait...!"
"Iyaaaaaaaah!"
"Hey! This is gonna ki—"
"Yaaaaaaaah!"
"Li—listen to meee...!"
Levin stumbled, scrambling to recover—too late. Kalen's sword plunged vertically.
Shaaaa!
Roar and ice shards erupted skyward.
"Gyaaaaaaaah!"
Screeching wail.
—Wooooaaah!
The arena shook with deafening cheers.
And so.
The Knight Faculty midterm finale in the feverish arena ended with Kalen Snowwhite's victory.
After the duel, as the stands thinned out.
I watched Kalen approach, face flushed beet red. Good thing I hadn't missed it. Rushing straight here after my exam paid off.
"Well fought, Kalen."
"A-ha... this reception is embarrassing."
"You earned it. What an achievement."
Reina, glued to my right, beamed her congratulations.
"No, compared to Lady Wolfgang, I'm just..."
"It's an accomplishment worth pride, Kalen Snowwhite."
"S-Senior... that was incredible..."
Millije, plastered to my left, gazed at Kalen with sparkling admiration.
Back off a bit. My arms are gonna fall off.
Bombarded by praise, Kalen floundered until her eyes met mine—then she bowed deeply.
"......I owe you, Adrian. Without this shield, I never could've won."
"That's not true."
"Pardon...?"
"I merely gave you the shield. You wielded it masterfully. This is purely your victory. No credit to me."
At that, Kalen bowed even deeper.
The two beside us muttered.
"......Well, whatever. Kalen Snowwhite's a guy, after all."
"I-I want Senior Adrian's praise too..."
Anyway. What a monumental feat. 96th beating 2nd.
Even if that hot-blooded swordsman weakens the more you hype him, his base stats (willpower aside) edged higher.
"Ah."
Come to think of it.
Fated Companion is nearby.
Lord and Knight Synergy reactivated.
It was active, huh.
But party system aid or not, it wouldn't flip the tide that fast. Ultimately, Kalen's skill and will won the day.
"Any reason you challenged second place?"
"Ah... well."
Kalen smiled awkwardly.
"Truth be told, I hated how he strutted around boasting about his thousand-friend goal—even bugging me. Crushed him today, so he won't bother me anymore. Means I can train alone now."
Hm. Fair enough.
"There was another reason, but that's a secret."
She pressed a finger to her lips with a grin.
"I see."
No need to pry if it's secret.
Well, with Kalen's exam done...
"Just one last one to go."
"You got this, Adrian!"
Yeah. Time to get serious.
Next day, Magic Faculty classroom.
Top-two showdown announcement—but most students, not presenting, buzzed and goofed off.
"Alright, attention everyone!"
The professor boomed to refocus them.
"Let's kick off the Creative Magical Artifact Development presentations! Only Shukros and Adrian—both with perfect theory scores—will present!"
Brief silence.
Then murmurs erupted.
"Adrian? Did he say Adrian?"
"That scoundrel got a perfect on theory?"
"No way. Cheating, right?"
I can hear you all, idiots.
Of course, I'm innocent. But given my academy rep, few would buy it straight.
"Unbelievable. He pulled some trick."
"Yeah, a moron like him getting perfect..."
Tense atmosphere swept the chatter.
"First up: Shukros!"
Daisy rose, shooting me a glare, then ascended the podium haughtily.
"Greetings. Daisy von Shukros. Before my presentation, allow me to introduce my creation."
Snap—magic hologram unfurled on cue.
Familiar object floated there.
'Yep, straight from canon.'
Tough opponent in artifact crafting.
But no worries.
What I'd prepared would ignite a revolution here—a sensation, a storm.
In the end, they'd all be on my side.