>>6323822“Don’t use flashy moves against dangerous opponents.” You raised your voice, projecting over the growing crowd as Pyrrha was practically pulled away by the professors, students, and fans swarming around her. “A single misstep can be fatal, and against someone experienced? They’ll take advantage of it.”
“T-thank you! I’ll remember that!” Her voice was faint, almost lost in the chaos. If your hearing weren’t so sharp, you might have missed it entirely beneath the noise of cheering and chatter.
And then… silence, at least for you. No reporters. No fans. No professors pushing through to shake your hand. You stood alone at the center of the arena, the victor. The lone victor.
What a sad thing that you were used to this feeling.
A few students caught your gaze and waved shyly. You waved back, forcing a smile. It wasn’t much, but it was something. The proper thing to do now was to take that small comfort and be content. Content that at least a few people still looked your way.
“That was an astounding performance, Miss Shelly!” A familiar voice came from behind. Rough but warm. Headmaster Leonardo Lionheart. You’d always liked him. A bit too passive at times, sure, but genuinely kind.
“Thank you, sir.” You wanted to say more, anything to fill the lingering awkwardness, but your eyes couldn’t leave the scene unfolding.
Cameras flashed. Reporters pressed in. The crowd buzzed around Pyrrha, microphones and questions flying. She looked… uneasy. Her smile was practiced, breaking every few seconds under the weight of so much attention.
She wasn’t used to being the center of the world.
“She’s quite the fighter, isn’t she?” Lionheart’s tone carried an odd solemnity beneath the praise. “A huntress like her only comes once every hundred years.” There was pride in his words. Pride, but also politics. Of course he was promoting her. Pyrrha Nikos would bring prestige to Mistral, to Haven. Maybe even enough for the entire kingdom to stand shoulder to shoulder with Vale someday.
School rivalries never really faded, no matter how noble the speeches.
“I once dreamed of being in her place.” The words slipped out before you realized you were speaking. “Fame, power, renown. Strength. I wanted to be the kind of heroine people looked up to.”
“M-Miss Shelly! Of course you’re still our top student!” His voice trembled with forced warmth. He always said that. Maybe he even believed it a little, but you knew better. In combat? Sure, only some professors had a chance to beat you. But tactics? Knowledge? You could name at least five students better than you in that regard.
“And besides,” he continued, trying to lighten the air, “those aren’t the ideals that should drive a Huntsman or a Huntress.”
“I know… I know.” Your tone softened. “Those were just the dreams I had when I was a child.”
