The early sun filtered through the massive windows of Class B-1, casting golden streaks across rows of desks and sleepy faces. Dust motes danced lazily in the light. Students slouched in chairs, some flipping through grimoires, others pretending to be awake.
Ezren shuffled into the classroom with his usual chaotic energy, his hair sticking up in every direction like he'd lost a fight with a pillow.
"Ugh. It's way too early to learn anything ," he muttered, dragging his feet toward the back of the class.
Kagetsu followed behind, silent, calm, hands tucked into his pockets as always. His eyes were a little darker than usual. Maybe he didn't sleep again.
Seated at their usual corner in the last row, Mira was already there, quietly flipping through a leather-bound notebook filled with odd sketches, diagrams, and half-finished spell equations. She didn't look up, but nodded faintly as the boys slid into their seats.
Ezren leaned back in his chair, glancing around before whispering to Kagetsu.
"Hey. What do you think Kaguro and Enjin have been doing lately? They've been kinda... MIA."
Kagetsu blinked, then tilted his head slightly.
"Probably punching boulders or screaming at waterfalls. The usual muscle-head rituals."
Ezren chuckled. "Think they've been training?"
"Wouldn't surprise me." Kagetsu smirked. "We should duel them."
Ezren perked up. "Wait, seriously?"
Kagetsu turned to Mira. "You in?"
She closed her notebook softly.
"If it helps us get stronger."
Her tone was flat, but her eyes held something new, focus.
Ezren grinned.
"Then it's settled. Operation: Beat Those Powerhouses."
The door creaked open as Mr. Bront stomped in, cloak billowing slightly from his heavy gait. The room went still.
"Eyes forward. Books open. Mouths shut."
Classic Mr. Bront.
The lesson was brutal.
He paced in front of the chalkboard like a caged beast, lecturing about magical resilience and spellcasting risks.
"To cast high-level spells, your mana core is not enough. Your body must be forged like steel. Without that discipline, Essentia will break you before you break the world."
Ezren blinked slowly.
"...Did he just say the spell could break me?"
Kagetsu whispered,
"That's why you need to train the most out of all of us, you have a saint level ability, I'm surprised you're not dead after using it that many times."
"Why are mages always one sneeze away from exploding?"
The moment class ended, the trio made a beeline out the door, straight toward the courtyard.
There, across the lawn, stood two very familiar figures leaning by a tree, Kaguro with his arms crossed, and Enjin lounging lazily on the bench, tossing a fireball up and down like it was a rubber toy.
Kagetsu raised a hand.
"Oi. You two been training?"
Kaguro narrowed his eyes.
"Just waiting for someone worth our time."
Ezren grinned.
"Well, your prayers have been answered."
"Team duel," Kagetsu said simply. "Right now. Us three versus you three."
Enjin chuckled and stood up.
"Sounds fun."
Aeloria stepped out from behind the tree, stretching her arms. Her silver hair caught the sunlight as she smiled faintly.
"I accept. Just don't cry when I win."
Training Field C was a vast open circle, surrounded by stone arches and lit by floating orbs of soft blue light. The ground was flat and dry, with patches of worn grass around the edges and faint burn marks from past duels. A few students nearby paused to watch, sensing a good fight was brewing.
The six of them stood facing one another, forming a wide triangle of anticipation.
The matchups formed naturally:
Ezren vs. Enjin
Mira vs. Aeloria
Kagetsu vs. Kaguro
Ezren stretched out his arms.
"Alright, flame boy. Time to see if my portals can out-weird your fire."
Enjin cracked his knuckles, smiling calmly.
"Try not to get singed."
Aeloria faced Mira, eyes sharp and focused. Mira said nothing, but her stance shifted, steady as stone.
Kaguro rolled his neck.
"You ready, clown?"
Kagetsu bent down and casually picked up a small rock.
"When this hits the ground… we go."
Everyone's eyes followed the stone as he tossed it into the air.
Time slowed.
The stone arced gently upward, spinning once… twice…
Then it fell.
Crack.
The stone hit the dirt.
In a split second, all six launched into motion.