Leo had always believed that the key to surviving combat training was to avoid combat entirely.
This philosophy had served him well during his previous life, where the most dangerous physical confrontation he had ever experienced was a heated argument with a customer service representative about a defective laptop charger.
Unfortunately, the Royal Academy of Aethelgard had very different ideas about what constituted essential education.
"Combat Magic and Defensive Techniques," announced Professor Gareth Ironforge, a man who looked like he had been carved from granite and then given a military uniform and a very serious attitude about the importance of not dying in magical duels.
"Is not about aggression. It's about survival. In the magical world, there will be times when diplomacy fails, when retreat is impossible, and when the only thing standing between you and a very unpleasant death is your ability to defend yourself."
Leo raised his hand tentatively. "Professor, what if we just... avoid situations where diplomacy fails and retreat is impossible?"
Professor Ironforge fixed him with the kind of stare usually reserved for students who had just suggested that gravity was optional. "Mr. Vance, I presume?"
"Yes, sir," Leo said weakly, already regretting his decision to speak up.
"The famous bucket-thrower," Professor Ironforge continued, his voice carrying across the training hall with the kind of authority that made everyone stop what they were doing and pay attention. "I've heard about your... unconventional approach to magical problem-solving."
Leo felt the familiar weight of unwanted attention settling on his shoulders. "It was really just an accident, sir. A very lucky accident involving cleaning supplies and poor decision-making."
"Modesty," Professor Ironforge said with what might have been approval. "Good. Overconfidence gets you killed. But so does underconfidence. Today, we're going to see what you can do when you're not armed with janitorial equipment."
The training hall was a large, open space with protective wards lining the walls and a floor that had been designed to absorb magical energy and cushion falls.
Leo had described it in his original story as a place where students could practice combat magic without accidentally killing each other, though he had always glossed over the actual mechanics of magical combat in favor of dramatic descriptions of heroic victories.
Now, faced with the prospect of actually participating in magical combat, he was beginning to realize that his understanding of fighting was entirely theoretical and probably completely wrong.
"We'll start with basic defensive techniques," Professor Ironforge announced. "Partner exercises. One person attacks, the other defends. Simple spells only nothing that could cause permanent damage."
Leo looked around the training hall, hoping to be paired with someone who shared his enthusiasm for avoiding actual combat. Unfortunately, most of his classmates seemed genuinely excited about the prospect of throwing magical energy at each other in controlled circumstances.
"Mr. Vance," Professor Ironforge called out, "you'll be working with Mr. Blackstone."
Leo's heart sank as he recognized his assigned partner.
Marcus Blackstone was everything that Leo was not: tall, confident, athletically built, and possessed of the kind of natural magical talent that made spellcasting look effortless.
He was also, according to Leo's original story outline, supposed to be Kaelen's primary rival and the kind of student who took combat training very seriously.
"Excellent," Marcus said with a smile that suggested he was looking forward to the opportunity to demonstrate his superior magical abilities. "I've been curious about your... techniques."
"I don't have techniques," Leo said desperately. "I have panic responses and lucky accidents. That's not the same thing as techniques."
"We'll see," Marcus said, taking his position at one end of the practice area while Leo reluctantly moved to the other end.
From his pocket, Sir Reginald provided unhelpful commentary in a voice so quiet that only Leo could hear it. "Remember, giant, the key to successful combat is maintaining proper form while delivering decisive strikes to your opponent's weak points."
"This isn't actual combat," Leo hissed under his breath. "This is practice. Educational practice. The kind of practice where no one is supposed to get hurt."
"All combat is practice until someone tries to kill you," Sir Reginald said philosophically. "And then it becomes very serious very quickly."
Professor Ironforge raised his hand for attention. "Begin with basic shield spells. Defender creates a magical barrier, attacker tries to penetrate it with low-level offensive magic. Remember this is about technique, not power. Control is more important than strength."
Marcus nodded and raised his hand, magical energy gathering around his fingers with the kind of precision that suggested years of careful training. "Ready when you are, Leo."
Leo stared at his own hand, trying to remember the basic shield spell that he had written into his story without ever really thinking about how it would work in practice. The incantation was simple enough: "Scutum Protectus..." but he had no idea how much magical energy to use or what the shield was supposed to look like when it formed.
"Scutum Protectus," he said tentatively, directing what he hoped was an appropriate amount of magical energy toward the space in front of him.
The spell activated.
Instead of the simple, transparent barrier that the shield spell was supposed to create, Leo's magical energy erupted in a complex lattice of interwoven defensive patterns that filled the entire practice area with shimmering, crystalline structures.
The shields didn't just block attacks; they seemed to analyze incoming magical energy and adapt their defensive properties accordingly.
The entire class stopped what they were doing and stared.
"Fascinating," Professor Ironforge murmured, approaching Leo's position with the kind of careful attention usually reserved for potentially dangerous magical phenomena. "Mr. Vance, what exactly did you just create?"
Leo stared at the elaborate defensive network that surrounded him like a magical fortress. "I... I'm not sure. I was trying to make a basic shield."
"That's not a basic shield," Marcus said, his voice filled with what sounded like professional admiration. "That's a multi-layered adaptive defense matrix. I've read about theoretical frameworks for that kind of spell work, but I've never seen anyone actually implement it."
"Implement what?" Leo asked, though he was beginning to suspect that he had once again accidentally achieved something far more advanced than he had intended.
"Adaptive magical defense," Professor Ironforge explained, making notes on a clipboard while studying Leo's shields with obvious fascination. "The ability to create defensive spells that automatically adjust their properties based on the nature of incoming attacks. It's graduate-level magic, Mr. Vance. The kind of technique that most combat mages spend years learning to master."
Leo felt his familiar sense of dread returning. "I was just trying to not get hit by whatever Marcus was going to throw at me."
"And your magical instincts responded by creating one of the most sophisticated defensive systems I've seen in twenty years of teaching," Professor Ironforge said. "Remarkable."
Marcus raised his hand, magical energy still gathered around his fingers. "Should I... try to attack it?"
"By all means," Professor Ironforge said. "Let's see how Mr. Vance's defenses respond to offensive magic."
Marcus launched a basic force bolt the kind of simple offensive spell that was designed to test defensive techniques without causing serious harm. The magical energy streaked across the practice area and struck Leo's adaptive shields.
The shields analyzed the incoming attack, identified it as a basic force projection, and responded by creating a specialized absorption matrix that not only blocked the spell but converted its energy into additional defensive power. The crystalline structures grew brighter and more complex, and Leo could swear he heard them humming with satisfaction.
"Incredible," Professor Ironforge breathed. "The defense matrix is learning from the attack and using that information to strengthen itself. Mr. Vance, how are you controlling such a complex spell?"
"I'm not controlling it," Leo said honestly. "I think it's controlling itself."
"Autonomous magical defense," Marcus said with the kind of academic excitement that made Leo want to hide under the nearest desk. "The shields are developing their own tactical responses based on incoming threats. That's... that's revolutionary."
Professor Ironforge nodded approvingly. "Try a different type of attack, Mr. Blackstone. Let's see how the system adapts."
Marcus launched a series of different spells fire bolts, ice shards, and lightning strikes each one designed to test a different aspect of Leo's defensive capabilities.
The adaptive shields responded to each attack with increasing sophistication, creating specialized countermeasures that seemed to anticipate the nature of incoming magic before it even arrived.