Geometric Mage: First Spell, Circle

"I surrender!"

A deathly silence descended over the arena when Zery uttered words no one expected to hear, especially since the battle had just begun.

Lian narrowed his eyes as his body continued to bleed from multiple points. They were superficial wounds, but the pain was real, a reminder of the battle's intensity.

He had not expected such an easy victory. Sure, it was easy because his body was strong; otherwise, he would not have been able to defeat the eagle, nor withstand the unpredictable wind blades of the storm.

Zery was breathing heavily, but she had not lost her smile. "You were incredible," she admitted, her hands raised in surrender, her tone one of genuine respect.

There was no point in continuing the fight. Lian had withstood her spells by relying on his body, and she did not believe continuing would help her win.

The barrier dissolved, and the crowd's noise hit Lian like a wave. This time, however, there were more cheers than boos. Sure, their bets had been lost, but in return, they witnessed the birth—or rather, the discovery—of a young genius.

Rebecca, in the stands, clapped her hands slowly, her smile turning into a satisfied grin. "I knew it! He was hiding something!" she murmured, her expression saying I am always right; my intuition never fails, her confidence vindicated.

"This boy is a gold mine," she added mentally, calculating her earnings, her mind already planning her next move.

Trevor and Christopher, on the other hand, had furious looks. If they had known the boy was so talented and strong, they would not have hesitated to offer something in exchange for joining their faction.

They could have even received a reward!

Although they were the leaders of their respective factions, this was true at the Bronze level. Their factions were considered the strongest at the academy level. The same factions, however, existed at the Silver and Gold levels. That was where their true strength lay.

After all, there were countless factions within the academy, but few had foundations in the higher ranks of the system, a structure that defined their influence.

<Incredible!! Lian Veyr is once again the winner of this match! The astonishing thing is the boy's talent. Not only is he a Bronze 4 with such powerful magical ability, but he is also an Iron 5! This places him above anyone else in terms of talent. I would not be surprised if some elder wanted to take him as a disciple right now!> the announcer's voice roared, amplifying the moment.

At that very moment, someone's voice echoed throughout the arena, silencing the frenzied crowd, a presence that commanded instant respect.

Could I perhaps be a fortune-teller? the announcer thought as he stepped aside, showing respect to these new figures.

Even though it was not visible, the aura of the figure that appeared in the arena was heavy, as the air filled with palpable tension.

The crowd's cheers faded into a reverent silence, and even the usually talkative announcer fell quiet, slightly bowing his head.

""Boy,"" the calm but powerful voice resounded like a thunderclap. ""I am Elder Watt, one of the Guardian Elders of Astralis Academy."" The air, already charged with tension, grew even more serious.

Lian did not know where to look as the mighty voice echoed everywhere.

""There is no need to beat around the bush. I would like to take you as my personal disciple—""

Murmurs and whispers arose among the crowd, a mix of surprise and envy. Being chosen as a disciple by a Guardian Elder was a rare honor. Needless to say, this opportunity could change the fate of an ordinary person.

There were different types of Elders, and among them, the Guardians held a special status, both because they actively handled the academy's defense and because… they were the strongest!

Rebecca, in the stands, widened her eyes, while Trevor and Cristopher exchanged incredulous glances. "A Guardian Elder?!" Cristopher muttered, clenching his fists. "This guy just arrived, and he's already catching the attention of someone like that?"

But before Lian could respond, a loud cough echoed through the arena.

The weaker ones covered their ears at the loud sound, some let out slight screams, while others had surprised looks. Was the Elder attacking everyone?

""I apologize to all. Please continue… I will not interrupt anymore. Adios!""

The words came out quickly as the voice grew fainter until it disappeared. Whatever had happened, the current situation was… strange?

Lian blinked, confused. What in the world just happened?

The heavy aura that had enveloped the arena's air vanished, as did the tension weighing on everyone's hearts. However, in its place, an awkward atmosphere formed as no one understood what was going on.

<What the…> Even the announcer, renowned for his top-tier analysis skills, was left petrified with disbelief.

Did the Elder just… run away?!

Those were everyone's thoughts.

After several seconds of disbelief and a few quick coughs, the announcer regained control of the crowd.

<Everyone, what a rollercoaster of emotions! Who would have expected one of the Guardian Elders to take an interest in our Lian!>

Silence.

After another couple of coughs…

<It seems something… urgent came up for our Elder. But no problem! Once again, let us give a warm round of applause for Lian Veyr's victory!!>

This time, the subdued crowd reignited. Despite losing their bets, they had witnessed something unique, something they could never have hoped to encounter in their lives.

After all, not everyone was a prodigy. Most of them were ordinary Mages who could only reach Bronze 5 in their lifetime.

Silver was a significant milestone, as was Gold.

After receiving the crowd's applause, Lian decided to step down from the arena. He had defeated a Bronze 5; he would no longer be ridiculed if he left the ring now. Not to mention, he had also caught the attention of an Elder.

Lian descended from the stage, smiling and waving to the audience. Who did not love fame? Sure, this was the same crowd that had booed him, insulted him, and cursed him…

Two-faced! he thought as his smile became forced. However, there was nothing he could do about it. It was the nature of things.