“Looks like there was nothing much to it. Did you really fight against an instructor?”
Soaked by blood, blades dug its way in each of his limbs. Rain came down along with the dark crawling into his shadow as the dreadful clouds gathered.
There, he laid.
…
“Good morning everyone! To our dear participants, instructors, judges, and our dearest viewers! Today marks the first time in history where the might of awakeners will be on full display! Get your snacks ready and find yourself a comfortable seat and watch as distinguished schools compete with each of their abilities whether in team and solo battles! A combination of brains and brawn, let the blessing of mana be with you.”
Morning the next day.
“Now that we’re really here, I can’t help but be nervous.” (James)
“Out of all people you’d be the one to get nervous? That’s new.” (Jessie)
Jessie took a look around in confusion.
“Alice, don’t tell me… are you nervous?”
“A little, I’m not exactly feeling good but I’ll manage.” (Alice)
“Oho? I didn’t think the almighty archmage Alice would be nervous for something this trivial.” (Seiya poked Alice’s back after letting down her guard)
Alice sighed.
“Just try to behave at the stage later. You might just regret it if you don’t.”
“Dear.”
The noises surrounding the whole class disappeared instantly, like a bubble.
“Deer?” (Jin)
Seiya laughed aloud desperately trying to fill in the room that was  void of any sound.
“Huh, what did you say? I did not quite heard you right there Alice.”
The silence remained with gazes all directed at Seiya.
“Well anyways, let’s get this all over with!” (Seiya)
The crowd cheered upon the arrival of each school’s representatives. There were the other students who’ve gone to the event with banners hanging, chanting out well-practiced verses lifting the spirits of their aces.
Yet only judging eyes met the class 6B. There were no one from their school on sight, even the teachers from other departments were nowhere to be found.
Among the thousands of people within the arena, there was only one man who expected something from them. Make it two. Make it dozens. It was those who were present last night.
The mere doubt and worry of the other students was enough for the Rankers, the name bestowed upon the representatives of 6B in the future, to have their fighting spirits lifted.
First came the one-on-one event.
…
Alice was selected for the first contenders along with a female mage from the Provincial Awakener Specialized Learning Institution (PASLI), Lora.
The two mages took a step within the arena, activating its field effect. The space within the stage and the outside became separated, something even her future self, Lei, struggled at for a few decades.
“Amazing, that Association President sure has a talent for magic. But still, not even a fraction of mine though. If only there were politicians like him on the non-awakeners…” (Lei)
…
“Hey, aren’t you with that guy yesterday?” (Lora)
“Yeah, what about it?” (Alice asked suspicious of Lora’s intent)
“It’s nothing, he’s quite strong for a common folk from a public school. Although setting up a barrier for them was a noteworthy feat, I could easily do that as well.” (Lora)
“I don’t think that’s all there is to it, though?” (Alice)
“Alright you got me.”
“I like strong guys, and your boyfriend looks like one of them. Would you-” (Lora)
[Fireball]
[Barrier]
A physical barrier surrounded Lora, completely blocking Alice’s attack.
“That’s quite rude of you. I wasn’t even done talking. And see? A barrier's simple to do.” (Lora)
“Bitch, talking about being rude while plotting to steal my prey-”
“I mean…”
Alice could hardly bring herself to say it in front of so many people. The attention all directed towards the two of them, was as heavy as a mountain as it was the very first match that would be recorded in history.
“M-man.” (Alice)
[Earth Spikes]
[Float]
“Missed me again.” (Lora looked down at the sight of a weak mage while floating in the air)
“You seem to be not adept enough on these kinds of things. So just this once, let me give you an advice. A good partner is strong and could take the lead anytime. I’m betting I could take care of your man right there and I happen to have this charm magi-”
The dome of the independent space of the arena turned pitch black instantly. Lora, who was floating in the air got crushed into the concrete without any resistance.
Extreme bloodlust.
It was what she felt as she desperately struggled to push her body up. Of course, to no effect.
Visions of her every limb torn off, her head sent flying, broken bones, her eyes being gouged out, and many more dreadful events flowed into Lora’s mind in rapid succession. Every drop of false blood spilled was as real as it could’ve gotten.
Although, in the eyes of everyone outside of the independent space, a normal fight of two mages was happening. Truly contrary to the horror that was witnessing the true power of the future Grand Archmage who was the vanguard of the Awakened in the thousands of years of seemingly unending war, followed by a trail of blood flowing like a river. Who knew that a mere spike of emotional instability was enough for her to break through a spell of Lei, which could even be regarded as the manipulation of the concept of power itself?
"I know he isn't something to be vulnerable to mere charming spells. I know because I tried hundreds of times already."
Alice approached Lora's shaking body, stomping at her head with all her might.
"Though it's pissing me off just thinking at the slightest chance that he might waver to whatever you're planning to do to him. So no hard feelings okay?" 
Multiple squashing sounds was heard throughout the inside of the black space. Blood splattered all over Alice's foot and legs.
Wailings echoed, yet could not be heard. Lora wanted to beg but her crushed jaw did not allow her to do so as she desperately crawled away with her flattened legs from the mage as powerful as her longing.
"Let me know if I'm strong enough now."
[Fireball]
The first spell Lora blocked, was at the mercy of Alice's hand. The measly spell became as hot and big as the sun, at least in her swelling eyes.
"Try blocking this with a barrier. If you could really contain Seiya and the President inside a barrier, I'll regard it as a noteworthy feat. "
"But doing so when that guy gets his power unsealed is something I can do as naturally as breathing and something the likes of you could never even think of doing." 
"..." (Lora)
"And that's why I believe we're perfect for each other. I like strong men he likes strong women."
"Altough we're something called the strongest so our standards are very high, for the record." (Alice)
The independent space opened.
“Alice!” (Lei shouted at Alice’s mind)
Alice answered as if she was oblivious of what just happened out of embarrassment.
“What is it, Ms. Lei?”
“Just now… We lost connection to your soul and consciousness. What happened in there?” (Lei)
Alice realized that no one witnessed her doings, sighing out of relief.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, at least I’ve managed to win even though I was weaker than her. Though it really came down to experience in the end.” (Alice)
“I see, I will try to figure out what happened back there. You’ve become strong on your own, without completely relying on your power.” (Lei)
…
Lora, who experienced countless horrors beyond comprehension, walked towards her teammates silently. To even hope to fix her broken mind, Alice reconstructed her body and brain many times over in hopes of returning her to normal.
She prolonged to illusion enough to be able to remove Lora’s memories and replace it what what's happening in the facade and fool the spectators. Alice succeeded to fix her sanity, currently hanging on by a thread.
Lora chuckled, with her eyes fixated on Alice and Alice alone.
“If I just stopped running my mouth off earlier I could’ve won.” (Lora)
“It’s okay, Lora. The both of them don’t even know what’s coming.”
“I know.” (Lora)
“The gap between ‘him’ and us are like the heaven and earth. A mere talented common folk wouldn’t even be able to dream touching him.” (???)
A seed of terror just now was planted into Lora. Emotions of fear and genuine awe from Alice filled her entire being, and unknowingly so.
The possessiveness of a (crazy) woman is not something to be fucked around.