Two days passed in the blink of an eye.
Kael had spent most of them in quiet training early mornings, late evenings, and a few spars with students here and there. He had kept a low profile, despite the buzz surrounding him since the monster simulation. But today was different.
It was Thursday the first class of the day was Swordsmanship.
A small smirk tugged at Kael's lips as he tied his hair up loosely and grabbed his training blade.
"Swordsmanship,… finally."
It wasn't just the subject that made his blood stir. It was the people.
He would get to see the swordplay of Elira Morvayne the one dubbed "The Blade of Blood and Grace." Her swordsmanship had been described multiple times in the novel as the finest in the academy even beyond some of the seniors he had yet to meet.
And this class gathered most of the main cast.
It was the perfect opportunity to analyze and evaluate them all.
Kael left his dorm early, made his way across the marble bridges and spires of the academy campus, and eventually arrived at Training Hall 3 a large dome-shaped building whose interior resembled a grand arena.
Rows of reinforced seats for spectators lined the walls, and the center was divided into multiple sparring circles.
He took a seat in the corner of the large room, watching as students filed in one by one some stretching, others already sparring with practice swords.
Eventually, the air in the room shifted.
The light buzz of conversation dimmed as a man entered through the massive doors on the far side.
Tall, composed, and dressed in a sleek black combat uniform, he carried no visible weapon.
His jet-black hair was tied loosely behind his back, and his obsidian eyes held the sharp, cutting weight of a thousand battles.
He walked with purpose and grace, the room quieting under the sheer pressure of his presence.
"Attention."
Everyone stood up instinctively.
"I am Instructor Caelis Drayven. Your swordsmanship and spearsmanship teacher," he said in a cool, crisp tone that somehow echoed across the hall without effort.
Kael's eyes widened slightly at the name.
"Caelis Drayven... the royal instructor. The personal mentor of the Solaris twins and the man who trained half the empire's elite."
A legendary swordsman one who had refused a title from the Empire to be sword master just to continue teaching in obscurity.
Caelis glanced across the gathered students, his gaze pausing briefly on each face until it lingered just a bit longer on Kael, as if measuring him.
"I will not tolerate laziness. If you are here, you are expected to hold a blade like your life depends on it because one day, it will."
He lifted a hand and gestured to the students.
"Warm up. You will be paired off in ten minutes."
Kael stood and walked toward the equipment area, choosing a standard longblade. His fingers curled around the grip comfortably, his stance loose but ready.
Kael was focused on just one person.
Elira Morvayne.
She stood in the middle, her silver hair tied back, and her deep violet eyes calm and unfocused as if meditating. Her practice blade was already in her hand, held lightly, almost carelessly but Kael knew better.
"Her swordplay is subtle… deceptive. Like a glacier hiding under calm waters."
As the ten minutes ended, Caelis clapped once.
"Pair up. One-minute matches. Show me your forms."
Kael's eyes gleamed.
"Let's see what these legends are made of."