Professor Geist had always enjoyed attention.
That much became obvious the moment he stepped onto the training field, hands clasped behind his back, sharp grin cutting across his face as the gathered students fell into silence.
"The Disciplinary Committee," Geist announced, voice carrying easily, "exists to maintain order."
His eyes swept over the group standing near the edge of the arena.
"But order," he continued, "is meaningless without strength to enforce it."
Cael straightened slightly.
Ah. So that's how you want to play this.
"I think," Geist went on, "that today is a good opportunity to see whether the committee lives up to its reputation."
Murmurs spread through the crowd.
Kathlyn stepped forward before anyone else could react, expression calm but resolute. "Professor, if you wish to test us, I'll volunteer."
Geist's grin widened. "Excellent. Let's start with you, Princess."
A barrier flared to life around the arena.
Cael frowned—not deeply, but enough.
Careful, he thought. You're walking close to a line.
The duel began.
Kathlyn stepped forward, expression composed, pale blue mana already beginning to gather around her.
"Professor," she said evenly, "if you wish to test the Disciplinary Committee, I'll volunteer."
Geist's grin widened. "Excellent. Let's begin."
The barrier rose.
Cold swept across the field as Kathlyn moved first. Ice formed beneath her feet, smooth and precise, carrying her backward as she raised her hands. Shards of frost condensed midair, launching forward in controlled arcs meant to restrict movement rather than injure.
Geist countered with fire.
Flames surged outward, evaporating ice mid-flight and filling the arena with steam. Kathlyn adjusted instantly, reinforcing her defenses—layers of translucent ice forming shields that absorbed heat while redirecting pressure.
Her control was impressive.
But Geist pressed harder.
Fire spiraled tighter, hotter, forcing cracks into her barriers. A sudden burst slipped through, grazing her shoulder and sending frost shattering across the ground as she stumbled.
She recovered quickly—
Too quickly.
Another spell formed in Geist's hands, denser than before.
Cael moved.
He didn't shout. Didn't announce himself.
One moment Kathlyn was bracing for impact—
The next, space warped.
Cael stepped between them, hand raised casually as gravity twisted around the incoming spell, crushing it inward until the fire collapsed on itself and vanished.
The field went silent.
Kathlyn stared up at him, stunned.
"You alright?" Cael asked lightly, glancing over his shoulder. "You zigged when you should've zagged."
Her breath hitched. "…I—yes. Thank you."
Geist's grin vanished.
"That's enough," Cael said calmly, eyes bright but voice easy. "You've made your point."
For a heartbeat, it felt like Geist might argue.
Then he laughed—sharp, short. "Interesting. Very interesting."
He waved a hand, dispelling the barrier. "Perhaps I should've started with you."
Cael smiled. "Probably."
Geist turned his attention elsewhere. "But not yet. Next."
His gaze locked onto Arthur.
"You," Geist said. "Step forward."
Arthur hesitated only a second before nodding and entering the field.
Cael stepped back beside Kathlyn, hands slipping into his pockets.
"You didn't have to do that," she said quietly.
Cael shrugged. "Didn't feel right letting you get hurt over a demonstration."
Her eyes lingered on him. "That wasn't normal conjurer magic."
"No," Cael admitted. "It wasn't."
They turned back to the field as the second barrier rose.
Arthur stood opposite Geist, posture calm, eyes steady.
"Same rules," Geist said. "Show me what you've got."
Arthur bowed his head politely.
And then the fight began.
Fire erupted first—Geist's specialty. Arthur answered with water, the two elements colliding in bursts of steam that rolled across the arena. Arthur moved fluidly, cycling spells with incredible efficiency, never wasting mana, never overextending.
No wind.
No earth.
Only fire and water.
Geist attacked aggressively, but Arthur didn't retreat. He redirected. Neutralized. Pressured.
Each exchange pushed Geist further back.
"He's holding back," Kathlyn whispered.
Cael nodded. "A lot."
Arthur's fire sharpened, compressed into focused bursts that broke through Geist's spell formations. Water followed, striking from unexpected angles, knocking the professor off balance again and again.
Then—one final exchange.
Arthur stepped in, water crashing into Geist's guard, immediately followed by a concentrated fire spell that detonated at his feet.
Geist flew backward, slamming into the barrier.
The spell collapsed.
Silence.
Arthur lowered his hands, breathing even.
Geist stared at him for a long moment… then burst out laughing.
"Alright," he said, pushing himself up. "Lesson learned."
The students erupted into noise, excitement spilling over as the reality set in.
Arthur stepped back, expression unchanged.
Cael watched him with a grin.
Still pretending, he thought. But not badly.
Later, as the crowd dispersed and the committee regrouped, Kathlyn found herself walking beside Cael.
"You didn't hesitate," she said. "Most people would've."
"Most people overthink," Cael replied. "I don't."
She studied him more openly now. "You're stronger than you let on."
"Everyone is," Cael said. "Some of us just hide it better."
She smiled faintly. "You're strange."
"Frequently," he agreed.
They stopped near the academy walkway, the noise fading into background hum.
"…Thank you," Kathlyn said again, quieter this time.
Cael met her gaze, sky-blue eyes warm. "Anytime."
Above them, the academy stood peaceful.
For now.
And Cael knew—peace never lasted.
But moments like this?
They were worth protecting.