The training ground sizzled under the harsh sun. Students were drenched in sweat, all of them hunched over with the crushing weight of metal plates. Their bodies shook. Sore muscles could be heard groaning off the stone walls today.
"Come on, kids! Feel the fire in your bones! If it don't burn, it ain't worth it!" thundered a voice like white hot rolling thunder.
A giant meandered between the struggling students — pure muscle and menace. Edric Vaughn — the fourth and last instructor of this damn academy. But nobody referred to him by name. Across campus, he was known simply as: Monster. Crimson veins pulsed faintly as they crawled across the surface of his skin, pulsing with the fight beginning energy of fire-blood.
He could punch a hole through a boulder, or silence an entire battlefield while ripping a roar from the depths of his chest. He walked like a restrained beast pacing it's cage, legs like springs, eyes locked on those who faltered, and silent approval on the faces of those who endured.
Both Isla and Fanny grunted through the burning sensation to keep going, rapidly exhausting every ounce of energy - their breaths putting sweat streaks down their dust covered skin. But Leon and Finn remained horizontal on the ground, too exhausted to move, arms and legs out like broken puppets.
"I want to thank you all for your hard work and dedication over the last 2 weeks and class is over!" Edric clapped his massive hands which shattered the heat.
There was a wave of sighs from the training area, but no one budged. Everyone was laying around in pieces, crawling toward the exit like they were Cadaver Synod survivors.
Edric was wandering around and made his way to Isla and Fanny and simply nodded once at them with the words, "Good job. You two have stronger bodies and a sharper mind than most. Keep it up."
He shifted his focus again.
Leon had just put his body in an upright position and Finn was still gasping for air on the ground.
"Finn!" The voice struck like cannon fire.
Finn bucked up to an upright position. "Y-Yes, sir?!"
Edric squinted. "You Finn?"
"Yes, sir."
Leon positioned himself with a straighter posture, sensing something about to happen.
"Selena told me about your fight with Fanny." Edric said. "She said it was a tough fight. I thought it was even more impressive. You got potential, boy."
Finn blinked in a daze, "Selena ... told you I did well?"
Edric grinned, "Yeah!" and continued. "But skill ain't enough. Fanny beat you because her stamina crushed yours. You need to work harder. Keep building your body, like a warrior."
Finn nodded vigorously, his smile radiant. "I will do my best, sir!"
Touched by Finn's happiness, Edric slapped him on the back, and all of a sudden his face went last into the ground.
CRACK!
Finn pitched face-first into the ground, sending blood from his nose trailing, while he sucked in air.
Edric was frozen, horrified. "Oh crap. I'm sorry kid. I got a little excited"
Finn twitched, with his mouth squished to the ground. "I'm okay, sir..." he croonched, eyes glimmering with tears.
Fanny howled out with laughter. "You idiot! you touched him and the kid died!"
Leon and Isla rushed up to them and Leon knelt beside Finn. "Sir, we will take him to the Infirmary."
"Okay. Tell him I am sorry when he wakes up," Edric said, firmly rubbing the back of his neck.
When they arrived at the infirmary Finn was unconscious and Darius Sir was examining him.
"He's nothing too serious," he replied. "He just needs a good sleep. What happened?"
Leon and Isla glanced at each other, not wanting to laugh and Fanny was sitting nearby and snorted her way into a grin.
"Edric just slapped him on the back, and it was like he blew up!"
Darius glared out to the hall. "Selena and now Edric. Wonderful."
Leon switched his head. "Wait, again? You mean it's not the first time this has happened!"
"Isn't it, of course! That jerk literally can't handle his own strength. Once, I saw him break a bench by seriously just sitting on it."
Muttering under his breath, Darius stormed off to look for both teachers.
Meanwhile, Finn stirred.
"Leon...?" he muttered.
Leon smiled. "You still with us bro?"
Finn pulled him in for a half hug. "I need saving, bro. I feel like I am going to die in this fucking school. Twice injured, in one day! And that witch is laughing at me!"
Leon laughed. "You'll be okay. Now stop squeezing me and crying."
Finn sat up, caught sight of Fanny close by, and grimaced. "What are you doing here witch?"
Fanny flipped her hair. "I am here for Isla. Not you, cry baby."
The two of them glared at each other.
Elsewhere...
Darius walked through the academy stomping his feet, yelling "Selena! Edric! Are you both trying to kill students?!"
Edric pressed himself against the wall behind a door holding his breath.
He heard a soft exhale.
Turning his head, he saw Selena already crouched in the same room with wide eyes.
"You?" Selena whispered.
"You also?" Edric said.
Awkward silence. Both of them were turning red.
Afterward, everyone made their way to an amusement park to relax. Isla and Leon gravitated toward a cotton candy stall.
Finn was excited when he spotted a shooting game booth that had a giant bear as the prize. He raced toward it and lunging forward to grab the toy gun but someone else grabbed the gun as well.
Fanny.
They both stopped dead.
"You again?!"
"Quit following me!"
"You followed me!"
They had a standoff followed by rock-paper-scissors. Fanny won.
"Watch and learn..." She said.
She pulled the trigger.
A small blue bear keychain fell out.
Finn erupted with laughter. "You are hopeless!"
He took the gun with confidence.
Fired.
Miss. A pink bear keychain bounced away.
Fanny cackled. "'Watch me,' huh? What a loser!"
They exchanged insults - bickered endlessly before they both stomped off in the opposite direction.
Then they both stopped. Turned around.
Fanny extended the blue bear. "You can have this one... if you want."
Finn looked down, scratched his head. "Yours looks a lot cooler. I'll trade."
They switched the keychains without looking each other in the eyes and their faces became hot with embarrassment.
Meanwhile, on a ride, Leon asked Isla, "Where's your brother? I haven't seen him since you two scrapped in the dorm."
Isla tightened her expression. "We don't talk much. He has a private tutor... he can teleport there. He doesn't need to go to school."
Leon nodded slowly. "You guys fight?"
Isla turned her gaze away slightly. "Family issues, but he never talks about them."
Leon didn't push further.
Eventually, they hooked back up with the group, and when Leon and Isla returned, they spotted the new keychains.
Leon smirked. "Pink and blue bears? How cute."
Finn and Fanny quickly shot back, "Don't take it the wrong way! It's not what it looks like!"
Leon raised an eyebrow. "We never even said anything."
Finn exclaimed, "We saw your dumb faces! I would never fall for her!"
Fanny huffed, "And I would rather eat dirt than like him!"
Before you could even blink the argument flared again.
Leon and Isla simply smiled a quiet knowing smile.
"Why are you smiling?!?" Finn and Fanny exclaimed in unison.
As the sun set below the horizon, spilling golden light across their chaos; and laughter and teasing trailed them into the night.