"Since that's out of the way," The headmistress suddenly spoke up, "let's talk about the tournament."

Nox slowly turned towards her but said nothing, as he intently listened to her.

"Usually, the tournament takes place at our academy," She continued, "but the situation is a bit different this year."

"How so?" Nox asked.

"This year, instead of being held at Solara Prime," the headmistress said with a small smile, "the inter-Academy tournament will be held at Zone 3, otherwise known as Thalassar."

"Thalassar?" Nox frowned at the familiar-sounding name.

"Yes," the headmistress nodded, "the same city one of your friends is from."

That's when he remembered where he had heard it before, it was the zone Devon was from.

"Why there?" Astra asked after a while.

"The decision was not made lightly," Aurielle said calmly. "But Zone 3 has been stabilized over the past decade, and its proximity to the sea makes it ideal for this year's format."

"Format?" Nox asked.

"The tournament will not be confined to an arena," the headmistress replied. "This year's trials will be environmental."

"The qualifier's stages will be set in different environments, one of which will be set," she took a small pause and smiled, "under the sea."

Nox was a bit surprised at her words; he had never seen the sea before, much less tried swimming, so did that mean he'd be eliminated in that round?

"Are you supposed to tell us this?" Astra asked, pulling Nox out of his thoughts.

"Don't worry about it, after all, it'll be public knowledge in about a week," Aurielle answered as she waved her hand, "so this is just an early heads up."

That didn't sound fair to the others, but those were the perks of knowing the headmistress.

Still, Nox couldn't help but think about Devon. Growing up by the sea probably gave him an edge most students wouldn't have.

Meanwhile, Nox had spent his childhood collecting scraps, fixing them, and selling them to gangs, not learning how to swim.

"Why don't we just simulate said environments?" Astra asked again.

"That could work," Aurielle answered, "but then, there'd be no actual sense of danger, will there?"

"It's also because," the headmistress added, "the kingdom wants to remind the outer zones that they have not been forgotten."

'So a political statement,' Nox thought to himself.

"Exactly," the headmistress affirmed his thoughts, making him look strangely at her.

He was finding it harder to believe that she couldn't simply read his thoughts outright.

"Now to the representatives of our academy," the headmistress said before pausing and looking between Nox and Ayla.

"Every year, each academy sends seven students to represent them," she continued, turning to Nox. "This child would also like to participate this year, so there are only six available spots."

Nox turned to Ayla, whom the headmistress referred to, and she just nodded.

"Will that be fine?" He asked, "After all, her abilities are quite different from what people are used to."

By that he meant the fact that she used Umbra energy instead of solar energy, even if she did hide it really well, suspicions will naturally arise.

"She'll be fine," the headmistress said with a smile, "besides, her abilities won't remain hidden forever so I'd rather it be revealed under controlled situations."

"I see," Nox nodded in understanding.

"Besides, most Transcendent ranks know about her, so it shouldn't be a problem," Aurielle added.

Well, they knew about her because they were all keeping an eye on her to make sure she wasn't a threat.

Ayla wasn't locked up in some lab somewhere as an experiment subject, as a few nobles who had knowledge of her existence suggested, because she was under the Oracle's care.

A small slip up from her was all the excuse they would need to take her away.

Hence the reason Aurielle needed her to interact with people, at least then she'd be assured Ayla wouldn't be seen as anything other.

"And the remaining six spots?" Nox asked.

"We'll have an internal competition," Aurielle said in response, "and I want you to partake."

"Me?" Nox asked in a bit of surprise.

"Yes," the headmistress nodded, "though I could just give you one of the slots but you know what the results of that would be."

Nox nodded, his first sar that went a bit too fr was because Flint thought he didn't deserve his place in the academy.

Now imagine a bunch of second and third years thinking the same. It'd be a hell of a headache.

"Alright," Nox nodded, normally, he wouldn't want to take part in the tournament, but one, it was a request from the headmistress herself.

Two, he was curious about the sea, from what he heard, the entire water was salty, how?

He had no idea, but maybe he'd be able to find out?

Maybe he could also finally learn to swim?

"Alright then," the headmistress said with a smile, "that's all."

Nox looked at her before turning to Astra who was already standing up, before he followed suit.

"Then I'll take my leave," Nox said with a small bow and the headmistress nodded.

But the moment he was at the door, he paused when she called out to him.

"Nox."

"Hmm?" The curiously turned towards her.

"About the rift raid," The headmistress's voice was now completely serious, "you'll have to be fully prepared for it, understood?"

Nox thought on her words for a while, maybe she meant he should get stronger? But since she looked like she wasn't going to further elaborate, he just nodded.

"I will," he nodded and stepped out the door with Astra leaving the headmistress with Ayla.

What Aurielle hadn't added was the fact that if he wasn't prepared for the rift, there was a high chance he might die, and it would be because of that despicable man.

But she didn't tell him that because it'd just work to make him worry, and it might just cause her vision to be fulfilled.

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