The Sorceress Rises

At the realm's most celebrated spell ranking trials, gifted Isolde receives endless praise while Gloria secretly supplies the magic that wins her every victory. No one suspects that quiet Gloria carries the bloodline of an ancient archmage. She buries that truth to protect their friendship and even uses her own money to support Caleb, her disappointing boyfriend. Then, just before the trials begin, Gloria catches Caleb and Isolde together and realizes that both have exploited her devotion. Refusing to remain their hidden weapon, she breaks the soul link that binds her to Isolde in the opening match and exposes her former friend before the crowd. Desperate to reclaim her status, Isolde embraces forbidden arts and plants lethal dangers throughout the contest. Each attack instead forces Gloria to reveal greater powers, leaving the entire realm in awe. Roscoe, the childhood companion Gloria lost after she began dating Caleb, repeatedly steps in to shield her. As they face one threat after another, their old affection begins to return. On the final night, Isolde joins forces with the Dark Magic Guild to destroy the tournament. Gloria and Roscoe defeat the assault together, and Isolde is consumed by the very magic she unleashed. Gloria earns the highest rank, but both families pressure her and Roscoe into separate arranged matches. At the sacred temple, they reject those unions, and Roscoe declares his heart belongs only to Gloria. Their glowing marriage marks then reveal an impossible truth: they were bound to one another long before fate brought them back together.