Coleman City stood at the continent's frontline—a strictly neutral zone, untouched by war, and the ultimate haven for scholars.
Its residents were a diverse mix of nearly every race. Blessed with a central location and the prestige of Coleman Academy, the city thrived on trade. Centuries of peace allowed its people to flourish.
Wealth gleamed across the city: tiled rooftops clustered together, streets buzzed with endless carriages and crowds. Life here far surpassed the quality of war-torn borderlands.
This neutral city—sandwiched between battlegrounds and Demonfolk territories—remained unscathed largely thanks to the Elf-built Coleman Academy.
Thus, Coleman’s lords wisely deferred to the Academy. As long as principles weren’t violated, they granted every request. Land? Funds secured it. No questions asked.
Coleman Academy’s reputation and wealth dwarfed others. While rival institutions made Divine Maidens and Divine Children queue for training grounds, Coleman alone boasted over a hundred specialized arenas for Divine Maidens—always available, never booked, each a pinnacle of design and comfort.
***
Afternoon. Arena 23.
Dilin had arrived—but not as himself.
A petite blonde girl with strange feathered ear-covers crept into the spectator stands. To avoid the horror of being too short to see, she’d claimed her seat an hour early.
Planting her hands on the chair, she kicked her legs and scrambled up.
The sparse crowd thickened. Twenty minutes before the match, Arena 23 was packed to the brim—no standing room left.
"*Ugh*." Tilisha sat rigidly, arms crossed, squeezed like a sardine in the jammed stands.
Her cheeks puffed slightly from the press of bodies. A bright red # symbol hovered over her head.
*Thank goodness I came early. Or I’d be flattened into Elf jerky.*
Even the plush seat couldn’t ease her discomfort.
People shuffled in and out, tracking filth everywhere… *Did they even bathe today?*
*If they did, did they change clothes? Or wear the same sweaty rags all day?*
*Dust, sweat, dead skin flakes clinging to their fabric—how is that not shameful?!*
*Even if they washed this morning, sweating in this crush makes it pointless!*
The thought of unwashed strangers brushing against her made Tilisha’s scalp crawl.
She knew it wasn’t their fault. Her sensitivity was the problem. But she couldn’t help it.
Physical contact with strangers revolted her.
One hand clamped over her mouth and nose; the other hugged her hair like a blanket. Her wary eyes darted like a kitten guarding its food.
*My clothes are doomed… If my hair catches their dead skin or sweat, I’ll lose it!*
She pressed against the armrest, defending her tiny territory against the human tide.
*This packed before the match even starts? Astrid’s popularity is terrifying.*
Faces she’d seen at the morning matches—and many she hadn’t—all here. *No one’s here for the fights. They’re here for Astrid.*
*Why aren’t they in class?*
Coleman Academy’s rules explained it: during the Freshman Divine Maiden Tournament, all Divine Children, mages, and alchemists got vacation days.
Arena 23 now held students of every rank and discipline—Divine Children, mages, alchemists, and Divine Maidens awaiting their matches.
The Academy had a purpose: new students needed teammates. This exposure let Divine Children spot compatible Divine Maidens.
These "holidays" weren’t for leisure. They were for scouting. Charismatic Divine Children could easily attract Maidens.
The Academy deliberately trained Divine Children’s social skills. As future team leaders, they *had* to communicate. While other roles could be quiet, a leader couldn’t.
*No courage to approach a Maiden?*
*Too shy to speak?*
*Watch them get snapped up. Become a commander of zero.*
Sharp Divine Children realized: the first elimination round had already begun. Only fools thought this was a real break.
The Freshman Divine Maiden Tournament wasn’t just a contest—it was where Divine Children’s fierce competition ignited.
Tilisha understood this perfectly. It wasn’t that she refused to compete. She simply couldn’t.
Her weak stats limited her. Even with enhanced Divine Analysis, she only had one Divine Child skill. Her appeal was minimal—and a few persistent jerks sabotaged her further. Her chances of being chosen were near zero.
Besides, she didn’t *need* teammates. A trio would raise suspicion when only two moved together.
And why drag someone into her mess? Her Divine Maiden Transformation itself was a gamble. Luring others into her failing team would be cruel.
***
The first match ended quickly. Despite the packed stands, applause and sighs were scarce.
Clearly, no one cared about the opener.
*Where’s that idiot John? Did he even get a seat?*
Tilisha scanned the crowd—and caught a flash of silver cutting through the noise.
