Charisma 100: My Academy Life As A Heartbreaking Commoner-Chapter 193: The Exhibition

The tournament grounds were packed.

Aegis had expected a modest affair. Noble retainers beating each other up for bragging rights, maybe a few hundred spectators. Instead, she walked into a full-scale arena with tiered seating, banners for every participating house, and a VIP box that overlooked the fighting pit like some kind of royal balcony.

[Okay. Way bigger than I thought.]

She spotted Scarlett and Kanna near the combatant entrance, already geared up. Scarlett was bouncing on her heels like a kid about to open birthday presents. Kanna stood beside her like a statue someone had forgotten to put away, eyes locked on the arena floor.

Aegis made her way over. 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

"How are we feeling, girlies?" She spread her arms wide.

Kanna scoffed.

"Ready to crack some skulls!" Scarlett slammed her fists together hard enough to make Aegis wince. "You’re gonna watch, right? Front row?"

"Actually..." Aegis glanced toward the VIP box. "I’ll be up there. Working."

Scarlett’s face fell.

"Working? But—"

"I have complete faith in both of you." Aegis put a hand on Scarlett’s shoulder, then Kanna’s. "You’re going to win. I know it. So while you’re down here making House Starcaller look unstoppable, I’m going to be up there making sure everyone knows it."

Kanna nodded.

Scarlett took a second longer, but then she grinned again.

"Alright. We’ll give ’em a show they won’t forget."

"That’s what I like to hear." Aegis gave Scarlett’s ass a quick slap. Scarlett yelped. "Now go warm up. I want to see bodies hitting the floor."

Scarlett’s cheeks went red, but she was still grinning as Aegis walked away.

The VIP box was already filling with nobles. Minor houses, mostly, with a few representatives from the Great Houses scattered among them. Servants moved through the crowd with wine and small plates of food. The atmosphere was relaxed. Conversational.

Perfect.

[Time to work.]

Aegis grabbed a glass of wine from a passing tray and waded in.

First target: Lord Kalirin Firemane. Tall, broad-shouldered, with a beard so thick and red it looked like his face was on fire. He was standing near the railing, watching the opening ceremonies below.

"Lord Firemane." Aegis slid up beside him. "I heard about your trade deal with the Merchant’s Guild. Impressive work. Getting them to agree to exclusive shipping rights for your ore must have taken months."

He turned, surprised.

"Lady Starcaller. I didn’t realize you followed trade news so closely."

"I make it my business to know what the capable houses are doing." She sipped her wine. "Your timing was perfect, by the way. With the winter shipping routes opening up, you’ll have a three-month advantage over your competitors."

Lord Firemane’s eyebrows rose.

"You know about the winter routes?"

"I know about a lot of things."

A pause. Then he smiled, stroking his beard.

"Perhaps we should talk more, Lady Starcaller. I’ve been looking to diversify my distribution network."

"I’d like that."

She clinked her glass against his and moved on.

[One down.]

---

Lady Constance Whitewall sat near the refreshment table, surrounded by admirers. Older woman, sharp eyes, the kind of face that had survived too many political games to be fooled by amateurs.

Aegis approached during a lull in the conversation.

"Lady Whitewall. I wanted to offer my congratulations."

The older woman turned, one eyebrow raised.

"Congratulations? For what?"

"Your daughter’s engagement, of course. Lord Vance’s son, isn’t it? I heard it was finalized last week."

Silence.

The admirers exchanged glances. Lady Whitewall’s eyes narrowed.

"That hasn’t been announced yet. How did you—"

"I have good sources." Aegis smiled. "It’s an excellent match. The Vance lands border yours to the south, don’t they? Very strategic."

Lady Whitewall studied her for a long moment.

Then, slowly, she smiled back.

"You’re sharper than you look, Lady Starcaller."

"I’ll take that as a compliment."

"It was meant as one." Lady Whitewall gestured to an empty chair beside her. "Sit. I want to hear more about these ’sources’ of yours."

[Two down.]

---

The tournament was underway now. Aegis could hear the clash of weapons below, the roar of the crowd. She caught glimpses of red hair—Scarlett—moving through the arena like a wrecking ball with tits.

Opponents went down. The crowd cheered.

But Aegis didn’t watch. Not yet. She had work to do.

Lord Bertram Coldwell was next. Young, nervous, recently inherited his title after his father’s death. He was standing alone near the back wall, looking like he wanted to melt into it.

"First tournament?" Aegis asked, appearing at his elbow.

He jumped.

"Is it that obvious?"

"Only a little." She gave him her most disarming smile. "I’m Aegis Starcaller."

"I know who you are." He flushed red up to his ears. "I mean—I’ve heard of you. The Winter Trials champion. Lady Roseheart’s protégé."

"Guilty on both counts." She leaned against the railing beside him, close enough that their arms almost touched. "How are you finding the noble life so far? Overwhelming?"

"Extremely." He sighed. "My father made it look easy. I feel like I’m drowning half the time."

"Want some advice?"

He looked at her, hopeful.

"Find allies. People you can trust, who’ll watch your back when things get complicated." She tilted her head. "House Starcaller is always looking for friends, Lord Coldwell. If you ever need someone to talk to, my door is open."

He swallowed hard.

"I... thank you, Lady Starcaller. That’s very kind."

"It’s practical." She patted his shoulder. "Kindness just happens to be good politics."

---

[Three down.]

Another roar from the crowd. Aegis glanced down and saw Kanna in the arena. The grey-haired girl was moving with that precise, deadly grace that made Aegis’s heart skip a beat every time she saw it. Her opponent—some large idiot with a hammer—swung wide. Kanna stepped inside his guard and put him on his back in two moves.

The guy didn’t get up.

[That’s my girl.]

Aegis turned back to the VIP box and kept working.

By the time the finals were announced, she’d made the rounds twice. She’d complimented Lady Miren’s new estate renovations, discussed import tariffs with some merchant lord’s representative, and somehow ended up trapped in a conversation about horse breeding with a minor baron who wouldn’t shut up about bloodlines.

But it was worth it. She could feel the shift in how people looked at her. When she’d arrived, she was "that commoner who got lucky." Now she was "Lady Starcaller, who knows things."

[Reputation is just another resource. And I’m very good at resource management.]

The finals match was Scarlett and Kanna versus House Stone’s retainers.

Aegis finally let herself watch.

The Stone retainers were good. Professional soldiers, clearly well-trained. They moved as a unit, covering each other’s weaknesses, pressing advantages when they found them.

But Scarlett and Kanna were better.

They’d been training together for a while now. The cursed chamber, the monster hunts, the endless sparring sessions. It showed. They moved like they could read each other’s minds.

Scarlett drew both opponents’ attention. Her fighting style was loud, aggressive, impossible to ignore. She took hits that would have floored lesser fighters and kept swinging, grinning like an absolute maniac the whole time.

And while everyone focused on her, Kanna flanked.

One moment she was behind Scarlett. The next she was at the enemy’s side. Her sword found gaps in armor, weak points in stances. She didn’t fight. She dismantled.

The first Stone retainer went down in under a minute. Kanna’s blade caught him behind the knee, then across the back. He hit the ground face-first.

The second lasted maybe thirty seconds longer. Scarlett kept him busy with a flurry of strikes while Kanna circled around. When he finally noticed her, it was too late. She was already inside his guard, sword at his throat.

He yielded.

The crowd exploded.

"WINNER: HOUSE STARCALLER!"

Aegis let herself smile.

She made her way down to the arena floor for the trophy presentation. The crowd was still cheering. Scarlett was pumping her fist in the air, basking in the attention like a cat in a sunbeam. Kanna stood beside her, breathing hard, a rare smile tugging at her lips.

The tournament master handed Aegis the trophy. It was gaudy as hell—gold-plated, covered in engravings of warriors and weapons—but it meant something. Proof that House Starcaller’s military arm was legitimate.

"A few words, Lady Starcaller?"

Aegis turned to face the crowd.

[Keep it short. Keep it gracious. Make them remember.]

"I want to thank everyone for coming today," she said, projecting her voice across the arena. "But I’m not the one who earned this. My retainers did." She gestured to Scarlett and Kanna. "These two women are the finest fighters I’ve ever had the honor of working with. House Starcaller’s strength is built on their skill, their dedication, and their loyalty. Any victories we achieve are theirs."

Scarlett looked like she was about to cry. The good kind of crying.

Kanna’s smile grew wider. Just a little.

The crowd murmured appreciatively. Humility from a noble. Rare enough to be noteworthy.

Aegis raised the trophy high.

[About a week and a half until the betrothal ceremony. Still a lot to do. But we’re on track.]

Scarlett appeared at her side, grinning ear to ear, sweat still dripping down her face and into her cleavage.

"Did you see that? Did you SEE? I took like six hits and didn’t even go down once!"

"I saw." Aegis handed her the trophy. "You earned this. Both of you."

Kanna joined them, still breathing hard. Her grey hair was plastered to her forehead, her armor dented in a few places.

"The Stone retainers were skilled. Good challenge."

"You made them look like amateurs," Aegis said.

"They weren’t amateurs." Kanna’s eyes met hers. "We’re just better."

Scarlett laughed and slung an arm around Kanna’s shoulders, pulling her close.

Kanna didn’t pull away.

[Progress.]

Aegis smiled.

"Come on. Let’s get out of here before someone tries to challenge us to a rematch." She paused, then added: "I’ll buy you both dinner. And maybe a bath. You two smell like a gym locker."

"Worth it!" Scarlett declared.

Kanna just snorted.

They left the arena together, trophy in hand, the crowd’s cheers still ringing in their ears.

House Starcaller was rising.

And Aegis? She was just getting started.