Six months later.
The training yard vibrated with raw energy.
Leon stood at its center, his purple blood humming like a thunderstorm beneath his skin. The dozens of swords spun in the air around him, fine, deadly and beckoning. In an instant, he flicked his wrist, send the swords ripping forward together, cutting through the air with an awful howl, a deadly mass of blades for a singular purpose.
From across the yard, Isla sprinted to meet them. A bright gold aura flickered around him, coiling his body in light. The twin curved blades he summoning to his hands spun in a whirl like violent winds. In the corner of his eye, he locked onto the mass of swords, his body now full of control, calm, perfect—like a blade edge made whole and ready for battle. With promise, he began raining his strikes to knock the swords down, the element of metal screaming out as both weapons collided, sparks flying from every touch against blow for blow.
Leon's focus hardened. The swords multiplied around him; first double, then triple, turning into a divine halo around him that could only promise destruction. He grunted and flung them all forward with exception of his swords, and the air vibrated under their intensity.
Isla burrowed one of his boots into the ground as he slid to the side, feeling heavy, yet. With a grin still fresh on his lips.
"Not even close, Leon," he said, eyes glowing. "But you'll have to do better."
He rolled away from a downward blade, hurtled backward in a flash of movement, and dropped extremely low beneath another edge. A single blade touched his arm, leaving a clean red slice across his bicep—but he didn't stop.
Leon didn't pause.
An instant later, in a blur, he darted between spinning blades, weaving syncopated gaps through the steel with impossible precision. He was distanced in the first instant, and a heartbeat later, Leona stood inches from Isla.
Leon's fist flared, burning purple energy.
"Quick," he said with an impish grin, "but not quick enough."
He snatched Isla at the torso, hoisted him easily off the ground, and left him suspended in the air with sheer power of will. The swords danced around him like a mid-layered tornado of death. Then, with an enraged howl, Leon slammed Isla down. Like a fist into the ground. The ground cracked. A thunderclap rang out across the arena. Dust blasted in all directions.
Gasping sounds ripped from the crowd.
Selena Ma'am jumped from her seat, hand to her mouth in shock. Other students were already shouting in panicked response around her.
"Did he just end it?!"
"That was savage!"
And then the dust settled.
Isla stepped out from the haze, bloody but unbroken, a blade resting against Leon's throat.
"Got you," he said, his voice colder than steel.
—Flashback—
Isla had twisted in midair as he fell and stabbed his blade into the wall to slow his descent. Hidden in the haze, he circled silently behind Leon and struck.
—Present—
The training master stepped forward with a thunderous voice,
"Winner: Isla!".
Leon stood with his chest heaving. He stood and stood for a long time before a small, tired smile formed on his lips.
"Well played..." he remarked quietly.
Isla stepped back to withdraw his blade, and he bowed his respect to Leon. The fierce energy that had enveloped the field of battle dissipated as it was replaced with clapping and cheers.
Selena Ma'am stepped forward sounding clear and proud of her determination to be the loudest voice in the form of attention with, "In these six months you have all grown and developed in strength and mind, and you have made us proud."
The class erupted. A loud noise sounded through the air, with respect and recognition for scale, keeping their arms raised and hands open to the sky as if surrendering to good fortune bestowed upon them, or some belief in a higher power, their faces plastered in excitement.
Meanwhile, off to the side, Finn flexed for himself while admiring his biceps, looking as if they had just raised him from a Jan Van Eyck painting.
"Think Selena Ma'am saw?" he said dreamily.
Fanny rolled her eyes and smacked his shoulder. "Get a grip, idiot."
A staff member leaned up and whispered something in Selena Ma'am's ear. Her demeanor changed, her calm-down turned tense.
"In five minutes," she bellowed, "all of you - assembly hall. Important announcement."
Leon, Isla, Fanny, and Finn lingered outside the hall.
"What do you think it is?" Finn asked, bouncing on his heels.
Isla's brow crinkled. "I hope not what I expect,"
Leon raised his brow. "Expect? What is that supposed to mean?"
But Isla looked away. "Nothing."
Leon saw the shadow in his friend's eyes - but he did not say anything.
Inside the assembly hall, there was a murmur of nervous students packed all over the space. All nerves simmering just beneath their skin. Then, the doors opened and Magnus Sir strode on-stage. The power he carried forced everyone to go silent.
"You have all progressed remarkably well," he began. "These students may be one of the finest selections in the history of Astralis Academy."
He paused.
"But they now need to shark their strength."
A ripple passed through the audience.
"Our king, and the king of Velmoria, have agreed to reinstate the yearly battle: Astralis Academy vs. Obsidian Sanctum.
"Two of the greatest academies on the entire continent... fighting for glory."
Murmurs turned into excited chatter. Some students leaned in. Some stiffened.
"This battle will occur in your final evaluation," Magnus added. "Perform well, and you will gain bonus points."
The chatter increased into a buzz.
"But," Magnus raised a hand, "there are, two things you need to know... a good, and a bad."
He let the silence hang.
"The good: it is six months away. You will have time."
The room erupted in cheers.
"The bad: only four of you will represent Astralis Academy."
Silence.
"In the end, selection will be based on theory and combat. Train hard. Study harder."
Collectively, a groan could be heard.
"Seriously? Theory, too?" Finn muttered.
Magnus allowed for a small smile. "Any questions, come see me in my cabin. Dismissed."
As the crowd began to filter to the exits, Leon pulled Isla aside.
"What were you so worried about?" he asked.
Isla hesitated. "Obsidian Sanctum is nothing like us."
Leon frowned.
"Last year, Aetherion Academy of Zeypharia battled against them. Dozens of students were seriously injured - two of them... don't walk anymore."
Fanny's eyes widened. "That's insane. Who trains warriors like that?"
"They're ruthless," Isla said quietly. "Not killers—the rules forbid that—but their fighters don't pull punches. Especially their best two—Kaelira Vorn and Aren Vex."
He paused. "Kaelira is beautiful but cruel. Aren... he seems calm, composed... but he's a beast beneath that."
"Are they really that good?" Leon asked.
Isla nodded. "Better than we are now. But time is on our side. If we work final harder than ever before—we can be as good as they are."
Finn clenched his fists together. "Then let's decimate them."
Fanny grinned. "Hell yes. No way in hell we back down."
Leon stared out the window, seeing clouds drifting across the field of the Academy. His voice was low, but firm.
"First," he said. "We survive the selection."