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Jan had dragged me to Dawn\'s Blade Arena, of all places.

The sting of losing that spar remained – he\'d broken the unspoken rules about using aura!

Now I was stuck here with him for who knows how long.

— If you lose, you\'ll have to come DBA with us tomorrow!

— Okay?

But it wasn\'t the thing I hated but when he didn\'t tell me who was coming.

Especially the person walking right in front of me.

Sure, it was good to keep my skills sharp, but I couldn\'t shake the feeling that Jan was up to something.

My annoyance was obvious – there was no way I could hide it now.

As we walked, something felt...off.

I knew he was always the kind of guy who looked gloomy during school... but he seemed different here.

The crisp winter air had brought a touch of colour to his cheeks, and his usual frown had eased into a look of distant curiosity.

He wasn\'t the scrawny, hunched-over figure I was used to seeing back at the academy.

The realization caught me off guard.

Lyra and Camila would have found it hilarious, of course – they probably would have teased me endlessly if they weren\'t back at the hotel.

"Has he... always looked like that?"

I almost didn\'t recognize my own voice.

A wave of heat rushed to my face.

What was I thinking?

He was still the same – weak-willed, irritating, and utterly dull person here... wasn\'t he?

A strange, fluttery sensation washed over me, and I clenched my fists, trying to dismiss it.

I should know better.

The imposing facade of Dawn\'s Blade Arena loomed ever closer, and I trailed a few steps behind Jan, Bazz and him.

I already knew of Jan\'s impulsive plans, but the simmering annoyance at his secrecy was overshadowed by a different sensation altogether.

Jan, his usual cheer amped up even further, leaned in and whispered something to Rel.

A burst of laughter escaped him, and Rel\'s face – normally blank or contorted in a scowl – twisted into a look of pure disgust.

The sight was shocking, not like the one I knew from class.

His face had always been so... unreadable. Expressionless.

So why now? Why was he capable of making such faces?

It felt... wrong, somehow. Unsettling.

I watched them, my brow furrowing in confusion.

He might be insufferable, but this touch of... humanity... was unexpected.

"Even though..." The thought trailed off, a familiar wave of irritation washing over me.

"Ah, never mind." It didn\'t matter. His newly discovered expressiveness didn\'t change anything.

With a shake of my head, I forced my attention back to the path ahead.

...

...

...

[Paris, Champs-Élysées - Dawn\'s Blade Arena, Ticket Lounge]

Stepping into the grand foyer of Dawn\'s Blade Arena, they were hit with a wave of energy.

The shouts of the crowd and the pulsating electronic music seemed to echo off the high ceilings, creating a thrilling sense of anticipation.

They approached the ticket booth, and the attendant, a young woman with brightly dyed hair and a multitude of piercings, looked them over.

"Group of students, huh? Got your IDs on you?" she asked, a sly grin spreading across her face. "Might get yourselves a little discount."

As they fumbled for their identification, a loudspeaker crackled overhead.

"Attention all visitors! Please be aware that there will be a short delay before entry is permitted. Our staff is finalizing preparations for today\'s tournaments and exhibitions. Thank you for your patience!"

The attendant looked apologetic.

"Sorry about that, folks. Shouldn\'t be too long. In the meantime,"

She added, gesturing towards the vast space behind them.

"There\'s a whole food court in the main lobby and lounge areas scattered throughout. Feel free to grab a bite or relax while you wait!"

With shrugs and a few murmurs of disappointment, the group turned away from the ticket booth. Jan, ever the optimist, beamed.

"Food first, fights later! Sounds like a plan to me." Even Valencia seemed less annoyed, and Rel, who\'s usually a skeptic, found himself subtly intrigued by the unexpected change in plans.

Whatever the day held, it certainly wouldn\'t be boring.

...

...

...

[Paris, Champs-Élysées - Dawn\'s Blade Arena, Main Lobby;]

The food court buzzed with the same energy as always, a blend of familiar scents and excited voices.

We grabbed a quick breakfast and everyone got the usual, nothing out of the ordinary.

While we waited, we sat back at the lounge and I sank into a nice comfy armchair.

This place always felt different... a world apart from the academy\'s stifling atmosphere.

The last time I was here, I struggled to find my way into the fighter\'s lounge.

It made me wonder if all the spaces within Dawn\'s Blade Arena shared a similar design.

They were all part of the massive coliseum, so maybe... but it was hard to be sure.

I settled back, letting snippets of conversation from Jan, Bazz, and Valencia wash over me.

They were focused on the matchups, potential rising stars, and who might cause an upset in the lower and higher leagues.

But a familiar curiosity lingered in the back of my mind. Did they ever show the actual rewards for winning?

I couldn\'t remember. Maybe they kept it deliberately vague, a secret only revealed on a specific display board.

That would add to the suspense... of course, they likely did show it, and I just missed it.

The conversations continued around me, a familiar blend of voices and predictions. Then, an unexpected sound cut through the air.

FWANG!

My gaze snapped to the familiar UI of my system.

Another intervention? This was getting ridiculous.

[A Setting Intervention Has Occurred...]

[The following character has entered the area.]

[Alessandro Reynard Valois.]

Of course. If my trip to the academy caused a butterfly effect, this made sense – though a frustrating sense.

I knew the Dawn\'s Blade visit wasn\'t part of the original story, but Alessandro\'s early appearance was still worrisome.

What if he and Jan met?

[The following information regarding his appearance cannot be revealed via PPP.]

haah...

Typical. My system seemed only to grant me information when it directly pertained to the original plot.

Anyone outside of that... well, I was on my own. Still, I had to figure this out.

With Alessandro\'s presence heavy on my mind, I knew the best course of action would be caution. I\'d have to let things play out, stepping in only if they went horribly wrong.

For now, my primary concern was making sure Alessandro and Jan didn\'t meet – under any circumstance.

Carefully, I scanned the room, searching for any sign of the arrogant prince.

It didn\'t take long but Just then, I spotted him.

Alessandro was surrounded by a gaggle of those academy snobs I\'d met just a day ago.

"— utterly predictable, don\'t you think?" Alessandro drawled, his posture radiating a sense of superiority.

"— the same old fighters, recycling tired strategies…"

A fawning laugh from one of his companions, a young man with perfectly coiffed hair and an eager smile.

"— of course, Your Highness! Perhaps you could show them a thing or two? I hear there are some exhibition matches later… "

"— might be amusing," Alessandro mused, an arrogant smirk curling his lips.

"— a quick demonstration of what true skill looks like, wouldn\'t you agree, Dominic?"

Dominic, the young man who\'d spoken before, practically preened.

"— Absolutely, Your Highness! A masterclass for the unenlightened masses, wouldn\'t you say, the rest of you?"

***

[Paris, Champs-Élysées - Dawn\'s Blade Arena, A-League: 2nd Stadium]

After the initial shock of Alessandro\'s appearance, Rel\'s group had settled into one of the arena\'s viewing areas.

Rel found himself reluctantly shoved into a seat between Valencia and Jan, the latter radiating an almost smug satisfaction that made Rel want to gag.

Bazz was a seat away, completely absorbed in the A-League match playing out on the arena floor below.

The fight was… underwhelming.

One fighter, a muscled brute, dominated the other, a leaner man who moved with the speed of a startled hare.

The outcome seemed inevitable.

With a yawn, Rel tuned out the blaring commentary, his mind still churning over Alessandro\'s arrival.

Suddenly, a brutal thud echoed through the arena, followed by a shocked gasp from the crowd.

The smaller fighter lay sprawled on the bloodstained sand, unmoving.

The announcer\'s voice boomed through the speakers.

"And that\'s a wrap, folks! A decisive knockout in round one –"

The announcer cut off abruptly, and the view shifted.

A spotlight swept across the arena floor, settling on a figure Rel knew all too well.

The crowd erupted.

"– we have a special guest in attendance! Ladies and gentlemen, put your hands together for the one, the only, Prince Of France Alessandro Valois!"

The roar that swept through the stadium was deafening.

— Oh my god! Is that the Prince?

— Wow... he looks even hotter in person

— He seems so mature as well!

The overwhelming praise for Alessandro piqued Rel\'s curiosity.

He glanced at the person next to him, expecting Valencia to show a measure of respect due to his status, given her usual \'nonchalance\'.

They were, after all, supposed to be family friends… surely, there would be some familiarity or even warmth in her expression.

"...!"

But when he turned, he was shaken.

Valencia\'s face was pale. Her shoulders were hunched, and her hands, tightly clenched in fists, were trembling.

Her usual composure had vanished, replaced by something that looked suspiciously like fear.

Her hesitation spoke volumes.

Whatever their families\' history was, it clearly wasn\'t as simple as he\'d assumed.

__________

Authors Notes:

- If there\'s a celebrity or someone important in the building of Dawn\'s Blade Arena their name would be mentioned to show respect.