Chương 40: The Convergence

Morning came to the Royal Capital without the quietness that usually accompanied the beginning of a new day. From the window of the guest residence, the city appeared almost endless. White towers rose beyond the rooftops, their upper sections disappearing into the pale morning mist. Bridges connected buildings that had been constructed on opposite sides of enormous streets, while carriages moved continuously beneath them.

Merchants were already opening their shops, knights patrolled the major intersections, and students wearing the uniforms of different academies filled the streets. For the first time since arriving in the capital, Leo understood why people called this place the heart of the kingdom. The capital was not merely large. It was alive. He adjusted the collar of his uniform before leaving the room. Today was the first official day of the Arcane Convergence. And judging from the noise outside, the entire city knew it.

The academy's temporary assembly hall was considerably more crowded than it had been the previous evening. Students from different institutions occupied almost every seat, and the differences between them were immediately apparent. Some wore elaborate uniforms decorated with family crests. Others carried specialized weapons. Several students were surrounded by small magical devices that floated beside them, recording everything they saw. Leo walked through the hall without paying much attention to them.

He had learned long ago that strength was not always accompanied by confidence, and confidence was not always accompanied by strength. The difference would reveal itself eventually.

"Leo!" A familiar voice came from behind him. He turned. Amon approached with Alice and Masha. Amon looked considerably more awake than he had the previous morning, although the excitement in his expression made it obvious that he had been waiting for this day.

"You finally arrived," he said. Leo raised an eyebrow.

"I thought we were supposed to meet here."

"We were. You were simply the last one." Masha glanced at him.

"By three minutes."

"Then I am hardly late." Alice smiled faintly.

"That depends on whether you ask Amon." Amon placed a hand over his chest with exaggerated seriousness.

"Three minutes is enough time for someone to miss something important." Leo looked at him for a moment.

"You have become strangely dramatic."

"Only because you refuse to appreciate the importance of punctuality." Masha laughed. Alice, however, had already turned her attention toward the enormous doors at the far end of the hall.

"They're opening." The conversations gradually weakened. The doors parted. Professor Gareth entered first. Behind him came several instructors from the academy, followed by representatives from the other institutions participating in the Convergence. At the center of the group walked an elderly man wearing a dark ceremonial robe embroidered with silver runes. Leo's eyes narrowed slightly. The man's presence was unusual. Not threatening. Not particularly intimidating. But controlled.

Every movement was measured, and the magical power surrounding him was so perfectly restrained that most students probably would not even notice it. Leo did. The man stopped before the assembled students.

"Welcome to the Royal Capital." His voice carried through the entire hall without requiring any amplification.

"You have all traveled here because you were selected to represent your respective academies. Over the next several days, you will compete, train, cooperate, and observe one another." He paused. The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

"The Arcane Convergence is not simply a competition." The students became quieter.

"It is an opportunity to determine what the next generation of this kingdom is capable of becoming." The speech continued for several minutes. There were rules. Schedules. Training grounds. Restrictions concerning combat. Warnings about unauthorized duels. Leo listened without appearing particularly interested. His attention wandered toward the enormous windows behind the stage. Beyond them, something caught his eye. For a fraction of a second, one of the distant towers seemed to shimmer. Not physically. Magically.

A faint distortion passed through the air around it before disappearing. Leo's expression remained unchanged. Interesting. He returned his attention to the speaker. By noon, the formal ceremony had ended. The students were divided into several groups and taken through different sections of the Royal Academy. The academy itself was unlike anything Leo had seen before. Its training grounds were enormous.

There were artificial forests, underground chambers, floating platforms, magical arenas, and even a section designed specifically for large-scale battles. Amon stared at the training grounds with open admiration.

"This place is ridiculous." Masha looked toward the distant arena.

"They could probably fit our entire academy inside that one building."

"That would be useful," Amon replied.

"For what?"

"More training." Masha sighed.

"Of course." Alice remained silent as they walked. Leo noticed that she was observing the students around them rather than the buildings. A group of noble students passed nearby. Their uniforms were more elaborate than those of the other participants, and the crest embroidered on their coats immediately attracted attention. One of them glanced toward Alice. He stopped. His companions continued walking for several steps before realizing that he was no longer with them. The young man smiled and approached.

"Excuse me." Alice turned.

"Yes?"

"My apologies for interrupting you, but I could not help noticing that you are from the same academy as the students who arrived from the northern district." Alice nodded politely.

"We are."

"I am Adrian Valmont." He gave a refined bow.

"My family has represented the kingdom in several diplomatic matters. Perhaps you have heard the name." Amon looked at Leo. Leo gave him a look that clearly said he had not. Amon immediately turned away. Adrian continued speaking.

"I was wondering whether you would allow me to show you around the academy personally. There are several places that ordinary visitors are not permitted to enter." Alice smiled politely.

"Thank you, but I am already with my friends."

"Of course." Adrian's smile did not disappear.

"Perhaps another time." He reached into his coat and produced a small silver card.

"My family residence is not far from here. If you ever require assistance during your stay in the capital, simply send word." Alice accepted the card out of courtesy.

"Thank you." Adrian bowed once more before leaving. Amon waited until he was several meters away.

"That was subtle." Masha looked at him.

"What was?"

"He practically introduced himself as a future husband." Masha covered her mouth to hide a laugh. Alice's expression became slightly uncomfortable.

"I don't think it was that serious."

"It was." Leo glanced at the silver card in Alice's hand.

"Give it back." She looked at him.

"Why?"

"Because you don't need it." There was no anger in his voice. No hostility. He simply held out his hand. Alice stared at him for a moment before handing him the card. Leo looked at the family crest. Then he turned around and caught Adrian several meters away. Their eyes met. Adrian's smile faded slightly. Leo handed the card back to him.

"You dropped this." Adrian looked at the card.

"I gave it to her."

"She doesn't need it." For several seconds, neither moved. Then Adrian smiled again.

"I see." He accepted the card.

"I suppose you are her guardian?"

"No." Leo glanced at Alice.

"I'm her cousin." Adrian's expression changed.

"Ah." The single word carried considerably more understanding than the previous conversation had.

"I apologize if I overstepped."

"You did." Amon nearly laughed. Alice gave Leo an exasperated look.

"Leo."

"What?"

"You could have been more polite."

"I was polite." Masha quietly whispered,"You really weren't." Leo ignored her. Adrian eventually walked away. Amon watched him disappear into the crowd.

"That was interesting." Leo looked at him.

"What?"

"You."

"What about me?"

"You looked more threatening than you did during our last training session." Leo continued walking.

"I was standing still."

"Exactly." The afternoon passed more peacefully. Students from different academies began interacting naturally once the formal atmosphere disappeared. Some challenged one another to friendly contests. Others compared magical techniques. A few groups gathered around the training grounds to watch demonstrations. Leo eventually found himself standing before a circular arena where two students were demonstrating their abilities. The first was a young woman named Selene Arkwright, a fire mage from the Royal Academy.

Her opponent was a swordsman named Marcus Hale from the Knight Academy. Selene raised one hand. Three crimson circles appeared behind her.

"Crimson Spiral." The circles rotated simultaneously. Three spears of flame shot forward, twisting around one another as they crossed the arena. Marcus drew his sword.

"Ironwind Step." His body shifted sideways in a burst of controlled movement. The three flames passed within inches of him before striking the barrier. The audience reacted immediately. Leo watched without speaking. The technique was simple, but well executed. Marcus had not attempted to overpower the attack. He had waited. Measured the distance. Then moved at the precise moment required. Amon leaned toward Leo.

"Who do you think will win?"

"Marcus."

"Why?"

"Her casting interval is too long." Amon looked back toward the arena. A second exchange began. Selene attempted to shorten the interval. This time, Marcus closed the distance before she could complete her next spell. The match ended seconds later. Amon stared.

"You knew." Leo shrugged.

"It was obvious." Alice looked at him.

"Only after you explained it." Masha nodded.

"I didn't notice either." Leo said nothing. He continued watching the arena. There was something strangely familiar about the atmosphere. Thousands of people had gathered in one place. Students were measuring one another. Teachers were observing. Nobles were watching. And beneath all of it, the enormous magical structure of the capital continued to function. Yet something still bothered him. That distortion from the morning. He had not imagined it. He was certain of that. Leo looked toward the distant towers again.

This time, nothing happened. Still, his instincts refused to relax. Somewhere beneath the celebration, something was wrong. He simply did not know what. Not yet. That evening, the students returned to the residence. Amon spent most of dinner talking about the different academies. Masha had already memorized the schedule for the following day. Alice was reading a small booklet about the capital. Leo remained unusually quiet. Eventually, Alice looked up.

"You have been distracted all day." Leo raised his eyes.

"Have I?"

"Yes." Amon nodded.

"Definitely." Masha looked at him.

"Something bothering you?" Leo considered his answer. Then he shook his head.

"Nothing important." Alice studied him for another moment. She did not look convinced. But she did not press the matter. Outside the window, the Royal Capital continued to shine. Thousands of magical lamps illuminated the streets. Carriages passed beneath them. People laughed. Music drifted through the night. Everything looked peaceful. Almost too peaceful. Far beneath the city, however, somewhere beyond the reach of ordinary senses, a faint pulse traveled through the enormous mana network. Once. Then again.

Leo's eyes slowly moved toward the floor. For a moment, his expression became serious. Then the sensation disappeared. He leaned back in his chair. Whatever was happening beneath the capital had not begun today. It had merely been waiting. And sooner or later, it would reveal itself. End of Chapter 40.