Later that day, it felt as though nothing unusual had happened.
Classes ended as usual. Students laughed, gossiped, and complained about assignments.
On the training field, Derek and his team gathered once again.
Eva and Emma sparred on one side. Explosive magic colliding with refined control. Ice bullets whistled through the air, sharp gusts of wind cut across the field, and the ground cracked under the force of their spells.
On the other side, Henry and Art exchanged blows, both of them pushing themselves harder than before.
And Derek?
He sat on a nearby rock, carefully observing every movement.
After several rounds, he stood up and stepped onto the field.
"Let's do another four-versus-one spar," he said calmly.
Henry, Art, Emma, and Eva exchanged glances, then nodded in unison. They spread out and formed a circle around Derek.
"You can attack whenever you're ready," Derek said confidently.
The fight began at once.
