I want to win against this person! I want to be friends with this person!

For the first time in her life, she was feeling joy and enthusiasm. How long had it been since she had last felt like magic was fun?

The moment her emotions exploded within her, Sylvia’s stagnant circles started to rotate. The final bricks of the 5th Circle’s wall fell away, and she took a bold step forward.

Wuooooong!

The entire stadium trembled as Sylvia released a torrent of magic power. Wind whipped her hair as her magic power erupted in a joyful explosion. It was still too early to call it the 5th Circle, but Sylvia had definitely gone beyond the boundaries of the 4th Circle.

“I want to win!” Her thoughts came out unconsciously. Whether it was due to the boiling magic power or her red cheeks, Sylvia seemed quite different from usual.

Theodore paused at her bold declaration before laughing. “Yes, I also want to win.”

He had always been trying to catch up to someone. When he had been a child, it had been the magicians in his stories. When he entered the academy, it had been his seniors. When he repeated a year, it had been his...