BLOOD & SIGILS

Chapter 46: The Commoner Who Defied the Nobles

Match #50 – Mira Valcroft vs. Damien Nocturne

The final match of the Entrance Duel Ranking Round 1.

The audience buzzed with disbelief.

A noble from one of the strongest families in Eldoria… against a commoner?

"This has to be a joke."

"What idiot paired them up?"

"Nocturne magic specializes in illusions. This won't even be a fight."

Kael sat in the stands, arms crossed, watching closely.

Most of the duels today had been predictable—nobles dominating lesser opponents. Even the close matches usually ended with a noble's victory.

But this fight felt different.

Mira Valcroft—the girl standing alone in the arena—did not look afraid.

And that alone made Kael curious.

Mira Valcroft – The Underdog

Mira stood tall, her dark brown hair tied back in a simple braid.

She wore the standard first-year uniform—dark blue, silver-trimmed, with the academy insignia on her sleeve. Unlike the nobles, who carried themselves with pride and wealth, her uniform had no special embroidery, no modifications.

Her hazel eyes were steady, her breathing controlled.

She had no enchanted weapons. No noble bloodline. No legendary techniques.

Only herself.

Damien Nocturne – The Arrogant Shadow

Damien Nocturne stood across from her, bored.

His dark blue and silver-trimmed uniform was pristine, embroidered with the Nocturne family crest—twisting shadows woven into the fabric.

His dark purple hair was perfectly styled, and his violet eyes carried a look of sheer disinterest.

He adjusted his coat as if this fight was already over.

"This is a waste of time," Kael thought, reading Damien's body language.

The Nocturnes were known for their Veilcraft—masters of illusions, deception, and psychological warfare.

Damien was already acting like he'd won.

And the truth was—so was everyone else.

The Fight Begins

Professor Draeven stepped forward, his mechanical arm gleaming.

"No killing. No running. No excuses," he said, voice firm. "Fight."

His arm dropped.

BOOM.

Veilcraft vs. Sheer Determination

The moment the match began, Damien didn't move.

Instead—the world shifted.

A pulse of dark purple energy rippled outward, twisting the air itself.

The battlefield faded, melting into shadows.

Mira's feet wobbled.

She was no longer standing in the arena.

She was in a dark forest.

The sky above her was a void of swirling mist. The ground twisted beneath her feet.

Whispers curled around her ears.

"Run."

"You're nothing."

"You don't belong here."

Veilcraft.

Damien had warped her senses, trapping her in an illusion so real it could break weaker minds.

The crowd saw none of this.

To them, Mira was just standing still, unmoving.

"That's it? She's already lost?"

"Pathetic."

Mira closed her eyes.

She knew what this was.

Illusions fed on doubt. On fear.

She had no noble name. No enchanted weapons. No family magic.

But she had one thing Damien didn't.

She had fought for everything she had.

Gritting her teeth, she dug her nails into her palm—HARD.

Pain shot through her hand.

The illusion wavered.

Her eyes snapped open, fierce and defiant.

And Damien, still smirking, realized something was wrong.

As the illusion shattered, Mira moved forward.

Damien's calm expression twitched.

Then—his voice reached her ears.

"You stupid, filthy little rat."

His lips barely moved, his voice a whisper only she could hear.

"You don't deserve to stand in the same arena as me."

Mira's step didn't falter.

Damien's eyes darkened with irritation. He lashed out with more illusions—thicker, faster, sharper.

"Did you think you could win?" His voice curled around her mind. "You're nothing. You have nothing."

Still—Mira didn't stop.

She dodged, weaved, and tore through the illusions like they were nothing.

Damien's frustration spiked.

"You worthless gutter-born insect—KNEEL!"

A new wave of Veilcraft rushed at her, trying to crush her mind.

Mira closed the distance.

Her fist crashed into his jaw.

CRACK.

Damien stumbled, his head snapping to the side.

The crowd gasped.

A commoner had struck a noble.

Damien recovered, his violet eyes blazing.

He threw everything he had left at her—more illusions, more attacks, more desperation.

"I won't lose to a piece of trash like you!"

But Mira wasn't listening anymore.

She had already won the moment she broke his illusions.

With one final step forward, she twisted, bringing her leg up—

And delivered a devastating roundhouse kick to Damien's ribs.

BOOM.

Damien collapsed.

His illusions flickered and died.

Silence.

The audience stared, frozen in complete disbelief.

A noble.

From one of the strongest families in Eldoria.

Had been defeated by a commoner.

Winner: Mira Valcroft.

Damien gasped for breath, his arms trembling.

Mira stood over him, fists clenched, shoulders rising and falling.

The arena was dead silent.

Then, slowly—

A single cheer rang out from the stands.

Then another.

Then another.

And then—the entire arena erupted.

Nobles stared in horror.

Commoners roared in triumph.

Damien had lost.

And Mira Valcroft had just made history.

Round 1 of The Tournament Ends …

Kael watched Mira walk off the battlefield, victorious.

His lips curled slightly.

"That," he thought, "was interesting."

For the first time in the tournament—the impossible had happened.

And now, the real academy battles were about to begin.