"The next class will be held in the academy training field. A second-year student showed me the way. Everyone follow me."
Lune notified them once she found out everything related to their next class. The students made their way towards the training field. It consisted of a rather big circular arena and many smaller fighting platforms. There was also a track course for running.
A tall, stern man approached the class as soon as he spotted them from the center of the training field. With sharp brown eyes and neatly cropped hair, he carried himself with such confident authority that his presence alone was intimidating.
"Twenty minutes late. Welcome to the training field. My name is Dino, and I'm the one responsible for teaching students the class we refer to as Magical Combat Practice. There are a few things I would like to clarify before we begin."
"Those I teach cannot be allowed to slack off during training. I will fail everyone who doesn't take this class seriously without a second chance."
"Training begins exactly as the academy scheduled it, and it ends when it is supposed to end. I will overlook today only because it's your first day as students. Those who arrive late or leave earlier will receive punishment."
"Everything is clear?"
The students nodded, not wanting to start the year on a bad foot.
"We'll see if everyone understood it in the future. For now, let us begin the class. Magical combat practice, as everyone probably guessed by now, is a class where you learn how you're supposed to fight using magic."
"It is something that can't be fully learned. One can master it to a high degree, but the ways of magical combat are endless. I want everyone to keep it in mind. A single man can defeat a nation, and a single beast can outsmart a human, given the right circumstances."
"There are no absolutes when it comes to magical combat. Today, you'll dip your toes into how mages are supposed to fight. First, I want the class to form two groups. More precisely, you and you, the two trait holders, separate from the rest of the class."
"The two of you will receive different training due to your circumstances as trait holders. Sit down for now and observe the class."
Vidra and Lune did as they were told by Dino and sat down on two of the seats located in the spectators area. Lune made sure to sit as far away from Vidra as possible.
"Okay, the rest of the class will fight against me. The rules are simple: those who get touched by me are disqualified. On the other hand, I will lose if anyone manages to touch me. The fight begins once I curl my fist."
The students surrounded Dino, who stood in the center of the field with his hand raised and palm open. Everyone readied their weapons and stood in their best stance. Dino slowly curled his palm into a fist.
*Iiiiiii*
A sharp sound emanated from his fist as it released a blinding white flash, completely engulfing the field and throwing the attacking students into disarray. About twenty students got disqualified by the time everyone regained their vision.
Most of the remaining students rushed at their teacher while their body was enchanted by mana. Others with more mana readied basic mana missiles from a distance. Dino casually dodged the attacks.
"Au Zaid"
A line of magical runes twisted around Dino's hand. In the next second, some of the mana missiles exploded, leaving some of the students incapacitated, thus making them disqualified.
The others joined the close-range fight, now afraid of casting a mana missile. The students chased Dino, knowing that grouping up on him would be a good idea. Dino tapped the students one by one. Slowly cutting their number as they continued to chase him.
"Au Dinaz"
Dino chanted as another student tried his luck. This time, a mana missile was about to shoot out of his hand, but it was canceled at the last second. The student who jumped away, thinking that a mana missile would hit him, got caught by Dino.
"A rookie mistake."
Dino noted as the fight continued. It didn't take long for most of the students to get tired. Soon, almost everyone got disqualified, excluding Uros and Arcine. Arcine was cautious and paid special attention to his mana consumption.
Uros was just a mystery. He didn't seem to get tired at all. He showered Dino with punches and kicks, while throwing in a mana missile every once in a while. Dino looked at the talented duo with eyes that betrayed the stern facade.
Runes twisted around his hand. Dino readied another spell as Arcine was about to cast a mana missile.
"Au Inia"
Arcine suddenly slipped, and the mana missile exploded in front of him. Making him the second-to-last one to get disqualified. Uros kicked it up a notch, knowing that the fight would end soon if he continued with the same intensity.
He launched a headkick that Dino was about to dodge backward. Uros' kick suddenly gained momentum, seemingly out of nowhere. Dino almost lost his balance due to the sudden change of pace.
"What the.."
Uros continued, his attacks becoming so fast that the students, including Vidra and Lune, barely saw any of them. Dino was having trouble dodging everything. In reality, it was a piece of cake for him, but he decided to give himself a big handicap by restraining himself.
In the end, the fight ended in the following minute when Uros stumbled and couldn't get up in time, suddenly running out of energy. Once again, he ran out of fuel in a matter of moments.
'What's wrong with the blackie?'
Vidra wondered as he observed the fight.
Dino tapped his back, and the fight ended with his victory. He asked the students to get up and gather in front of him once everyone took a short rest.
"First of all, I will tell you the reason for my victory. It was because I was prepared, and I understood everything I did. I will repeat myself! There are no absolutes when it comes to magic! Therefore! The ones who prepared themselves better will win."
"The ones who have more control over their opponents and the surroundings will win. Every time I used a spell, most of you seemed taken aback, surprised. Why is that? These were all basic spells that everyone can master."
"Did you think I wouldn't use them? Also, I want to know what the reason was behind all that close-quarter combat using body enhancement? Anyone?"
One of the students raised their hand. Seemingly confident in the answer.
"It was because we became faster and stronger this way. We simply had a better chance this way, teacher Dino."
"Wrong, I have decades of fighting experience. Body enhancement makes you stronger, but you will tire faster as a result. Did you think such a small boost would be enough to bridge the gap between us? The reason I was able to fight with all of you in the first place was because I fought using nothing but my body."
"This is where the second lesson comes in. You all did the opposite of what you were supposed to do. Drag out the fight as long as possible by any means. Throwing the same mana missile and rushing at me was not a good tactic."
"I have to admit it, though, some of you did better than I expected. We will learn new spells in the next class and focus on mastering them for the foreseeable future."
"Now, on to the trait holders."
Dino looked at Vidra and Lune, his stare making them unconsciously straighten their backs.
"Follow me."