The next day arrived quickly, and the tension in the Academy was palpable. News of the duel had spread overnight, and by morning, nearly every Sleeper in the Academy was aware of the impending fight between Konrad of House Night and Quinn of Aegis Rose.
Konrad woke up early, refreshed from his meditation and the absorption of his soul shards. He had grown stronger, though he doubted he would need that power for this particular fight. With a calm expression, he washed up, got dressed, and made his way to the cafeteria.
As he ate his breakfast in silence, he noticed that the atmosphere around him had changed. Whispers followed him wherever he went. Some admired his talent, others were wary of his power, and a few saw him as an obstacle they needed to surpass. Konrad ignored them all. His focus was on the duel ahead.
After breakfast, he walked toward the designated training arena, where the duel was set to take place. The Academy had strict rules regarding duels—no killing, and an instructor would oversee the match to prevent unnecessary injuries. The arena was already packed with Sleepers, some sitting on the elevated stands, others standing close to the edges of the combat zone, eager to witness the spectacle.
Instructor Varian stood in the middle, his arms crossed as he observed the two fighters approaching from opposite sides. Quinn was already there, standing tall with his arms folded. He was confident, perhaps even arrogant. His aura flared slightly, revealing the strength of his Ascendant aspect.
Konrad remained expressionless as he stepped into the arena, his black eyes calm and unfathomable. Ada and Jacob stood nearby, watching closely. Ada was tense, while Jacob smirked, as if enjoying the challenge on Konrad's behalf.
Konrad summoned his [Bleakmail]'s gauntlets—a pair of sleek, grey steel mittens that shimmered under the arena lights. The weight felt natural in his hands, a seamless extension of his will. Across from him, Quinn summoned a knight's shield, a heavy, solid memory that radiated durability. He grabbed a dull training blade from the weapon rack beside him.
Varian raised his hand for silence.
"This is an official duel between two Sleepers. The rules are simple: no lethal attacks, and the fight ends when one of you concedes or is rendered unable to continue. Understood?"
Both nodded.
"Step forward," the instructor commanded.
Both combatants walked to the center of the arena.
Varian stepped back. "Begin."
For a moment, neither moved.
Quinn studied Konrad, his eyes sharp, waiting for an opening. But Konrad wasn't focused on the present—his Clairvoyance activated, flickering through dozens of possible futures. He saw the arcs of Quinn's attacks before they even began, the patterns of movement like echoes through time. He waited.
Quinn made the first move.
With a burst of speed, he lunged forward, his blade cutting diagonally toward Konrad's left. Konrad stood still, watching. At the last second, he sidestepped effortlessly, avoiding Quinn's sword swing by an inch. Konrad dodged right, the blade slicing through empty air. Quinn, unfazed, smoothly redirected his swing, pivoting mid-strike.
A flicker.
Konrad's right palm met the flat of the blade, diverting it. In the same motion, he threw a left-handed punch at Quinn's chin. But before it could connect, a golden force field shimmered around Quinn's face, absorbing the impact.
'So, that's his ability,' Konrad thought. 'Localized force fields.'
Quinn pressed forward, his shield slamming down where Konrad had just been. But the moment the force field had flickered, Konrad had already jumped back, narrowly escaping the impact.
Quinn pivoted and swung again, faster this time. Konrad tilted his head, the sword grazing past his cheek. His expression didn't change.
They exchanged blows. Quinn's technique was refined, disciplined, each movement calculated. He used his shield defensively, blocking Konrad's strikes while retaliating with precise counterattacks. He had the upper hand—at least on the surface.
But Konrad was studying him.
'He can only protect one part of his body at a time. His shield and his ability can't cover everything simultaneously.'
A strategy formed in Konrad's mind.
Quinn gritted his teeth. "Stop dodging and fight!"
The crowd murmured.
Konrad sighed. "Fine."
He adjusted his pace. His movements became sharper, his speed increasing. He feinted left, then struck right, landing a solid blow on Quinn's ribs. The impact was dulled by another flickering force field, but Konrad saw the strain in Quinn's stance.
He pressed the attack.
A kick to the knee—blocked. A rapid jab at the shoulder—absorbed. A spinning strike aimed at Quinn's exposed side—connected. The force field flickered, but it was weakening. Quinn's ability wasn't passive; it drained energy.
Quinn attempted a counterattack, swinging his sword in a wide arc. But Konrad had already seen it. He ducked low, closing the distance. A sharp elbow to Quinn's stomach sent him stumbling back. Another force field absorbed the hit, but it took longer to materialize.
Konrad smirked internally. 'He's reaching his limit.'
Quinn gritted his teeth, frustration flickering in his eyes. He knew he was being read. He knew every attack was predicted, countered, nullified. His grip on his sword tightened.
With a roar, he lunged forward, swinging with all his strength. Konrad sidestepped, grabbed Quinn's extended wrist, and twisted. The sword flew from Quinn's hand, clattering onto the floor.
Konrad stepped forward, his movements a blur. In an instant, he was behind Quinn. With a precise strike to the back of his knee, Quinn buckled. Before he could recover, Konrad grabbed him by the collar and slammed him into the ground.
Silence.
Quinn groaned, trying to rise, but Konrad's foot was already pressing lightly against his chest.
"Yield," Konrad said, his voice calm but absolute.
Quinn clenched his fists, his pride warring with reality. But he knew the truth. He had lost.
After a long moment, he exhaled sharply. "I yield."
Instructor Varian stepped forward and raised his hand. "The winner—Konrad of House Night."
A murmur rippled through the gathered spectators. Some were shocked, others excited. Some in awe, others in disbelief.
Konrad stepped off Quinn and walked away without another word. The duel was over. He had proved his point. There was no need to drag it out. Konrad simply turned and walked away, his expression still blank.
Inside, he felt… nothing.
Just another inconvenience, dealt with.
As he exited the arena, Ada and Jacob followed.
Jacob chuckled. "That was brutal."
Ada sighed. "You could've been a little more… gentle."
Konrad shrugged. "I could have. But I wasn't."
With that, he continued walking, already putting the duel behind him. There were more important things to focus on. Like attending some classes...
---
In the weeks following his duel with Quinn, Konrad settled into the Academy's rigorous routine. Mornings were spent in combat training, afternoons in theoretical studies, and nights in solitary refinement of his abilities. While most Sleepers struggled to adjust to the demands of the Academy, Konrad adapted quickly. His prior training with the House of Night had already instilled discipline, and his Clairvoyance allowed him to grasp lessons with unsettling efficiency.
His combat training progressed rapidly. At first, the instructors paired him with other top-ranked Sleepers—legacy scions, promising Sleepers, and even a few instructors testing his limits. He sparred frequently with Quinn, Ada, and Jacob, each bout refining his techniques. Quinn, despite his loss, became a regular sparring partner, determined to close the gap. Ada, though strong in her own right, focused more on teamwork, testing how Konrad handled group tactics.
Konrad pushed himself further, testing his limits as his body adapted to his growing strength.
With each fight, his movements became sharper, his reflexes honed by relentless combat. The increased soul shard absorption strengthened him, making his strikes heavier and his endurance greater. He became accustomed to his growing power, learning to control his strikes with precision.
Outside of combat, he immersed himself in studies of Dream Realm exploration, Nightmare Creatures, and the complex history of Awakened society. The more he learned, the more he understood this brutal world around him. Strength dictated survival, and weakness meant death. He saw it in the struggles of his fellow Sleepers—those who failed to adapt fell behind, their potential wasted.
By the time the Winter Solstice approached, Konrad had carved out a place for himself. Among the Sleepers, he was both feared and respected. Among the scions of Night, he was an anomaly—too young, too strong, and too unreadable. His progress was undeniable, but even as his power grew, one truth was clear: it is the calm before the storm period for him.