“Winner, Garnth Thormrock.”

The large man in a deep navy uniform, raised his hands and yelled triumphantly as he circled around the stadium. Vanir scoffed at the imperial student as winning over a student from the Union wasn’t something to be proud of. His triumph was short-lived as new combatants, both oriental students with darkgreen vested uniform, were called down. On the left, a small, orange-haired girl with tan skin picked up two sticks and struck them together, the sound reverberating loudly across the entire arena. On the other side stood a tall, voluptuous woman with braided purple hair that reached her hips. In her hand was a polearm with a curved blade at its tip, taller than its wielder.

‘Hey, it’s Tala and Yuhwa,’ the demon commented with a hint of elation. ‘Hnnnn~ I want to cheer so badly.’

'No, don’t you dare.' Vanir immediately cautioned the demon as he clamped his lips for good measure. The two combatants rushed forward when the bell rang. The smaller girl weaved through the jabs as she got closer and closer. Though, with the extra reach keeping the midget at a distance, it didn’t help that the taller girl knew how to perform water crafts, releasing gushes of water to push the smaller girl whenever she got too close. Little by little, the red bruises accumulated over the tan skin, as the legs of the small girl started to shake. The outcome was pretty much settled.

'Who were you planning to cheer on?'

‘Hm? Both. I love them bothThey each had their own personality that made them unique.’

The little girl leaped over the sweep but the polearm twirled and the butt end jabbed the stomach. The smaller fell on the ground, coughing.

‘But if I had to choose who to cheer for…’

As the small girl wheezes, holding her stomach, the tall girl raised her wooden polearm. With a loud cry, she swung it down. In a surprising move, the short girl leaped and head-butted the shaft, shattering it. With no weapon available, the match settled as the tall girl couldn’t sustain the mana needed for her craft.

‘It would be Yuhwa.’

The two bowed to one another before returning to their seats. The short girl hops giddily despite the many bruises, covering her body. The other one, on the other hand, climbed the stairs slowly while her hands clenched hard.

‘Hmph, she had it coming. Her fault for letting her guard down.’

‘True, she was an arrogant person for the first couple of acts. It took her a long time to come around.’

‘And yet you’d cheer for her, why?’

The demon hummed briefly before answering, "I just feel bad for her. She deserves her shortcomings, but really, deep down, she's a nice person. And I would give her all the hugs she needed if I could."

Vanir simply blew an air of indignation. He knew the demon was parroting itself as kind or benevolent to try and garner his sympathy. He knew so it already failed.

The announcer picked two more combatants. The fights themselves weren't that long, as most took only two to three minutes. Five minutes was the longest, and that was between two bulky fighters. After a few more matches, his name was finally called.

“—Lord Vanir Cambern, Heir to the Duchy of Estine. Please enter the training ground.

‘That’s us.’ The demon said. Vanir stood up and head down.

“Ren Kazemori. Please enter the training ground.” A student stood up and headed down the stairs, walking opposite Vanir. Black unkempt hair with dark green vest as uniform, hiding his build underneath. The way he held himself and his steps gave away his skills.

‘Be careful, Vanir,’ the demon cautioned. ‘Ren is fast, like helluva fast.’

“Shut up,” Vanir muttered absently to the demon, his mind preoccupied.

Vanir picked the wooden sword from the racks before he entering the grounds. His opponent, standing at the otherside, bowed unusually as he bended his hips rather than simply nodding his head down. He said, “Let’s have a fair match.” Vanir scoffed but nodded in response.

He leveled his wooden sword and pointed it at his opponent, his stance lowered at the same time. Curiously, his opponent positioned his sword in his back, while his other hand hovered inches away, ready to grab the handle. Almost like he was simulating a quick draw from a non-existent scabbard.

They both waited in their stances, eyeing one another. And when the bell rang, Ren appeared right in front of him and hit him in the forehead, staggering him back. He couldn't react at all.

‘Ow!’

"Ugh," he grunted, raising his sword to block the second strike. He attempted a quick sweep but missed as his opponent jumped backward. This, however, created the space he needed.

Mana poured out of his heart and traveled through his veins until it reached his hand. The wooden sword crackled with electricity. He drew his sword back and with a vertical sweep, lightning surged out, seeking his opponent. Yet his oppoenent blurred and then vanished. His lightning hit the floor, charring it black.

He expended mana again, bursting out from his heart, quickly coating his entire body in electricity. A long, thin, blunt object slammed into his back. He gritted as his mana immediately passed through the wooden sword, creating a path for his volatile energy to pass through.

“GAH!” Ren, half shouted as his body recoiled, was blown away. His sword clattered on the floor beside him. Vanir grinned as he wheezed, gulping large amounts of air as his mana slowly trickled back. Half a minute to refill his fully expended mana.

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Ren slowly stood up and held his wooden sword. His weary eyes made Vanir grin even wider.

‘Nice!’ the demon shouted, excitedly. ‘You’re not as stupid as the game makes you out to be.’ Immediately, his mood soured.

‘Shut up.’

After half of his mana was replenished, he lowered his stance and went on the offensive as he rushed in. His opponent drew his sword back and positioned it at his back and lowered his stance, legs apart—the same stance as before. It didn't matter. He coated his wooden sword. Vanir saw his opportunity as his opponent closed his eyes, so he went for a wide swing. Before it connected, Ren opened his eyes.

“Dance, wind,” he muttered.

Vanir didn't understand what transpired. One moment his opponent ducked his strike, and then he was staring at the ceiling. It grew smaller and smaller until his back hit a hard surface—no, the ground. The impact knocked the breath out of him. Disoriented, he turned and scrambled to his feet and leveled his sword to his opponent. Except, his opponent did nothing and stood still.

‘Are you okay Vanir?’

‘SHUT. UP.’

Ren lowered his stance once more. Mana immediately exploded out of his heart, his body crackled with electricity. His opponent blurred and reappeared in front of him, but rather than striking him, he leaped backward. Gaining distance.

“Coward!” Vanir shouted, wheezing for air.

‘Calm down—’

“Shut up!” Vanir rushed in once more after recovering some mana. He noticed that his opponent doesn’t attack each time he was out of mana. He surmised that it was the same for his opponent, each time he used those fast flickers.

His opponent withdraw his sword and lowered his stance, eyes closing. Vanir coated his blades once more and as he was about two blades away from his reach, mana burst out and coated entire body. His feet surged and in disorientating speed, he stood face to face, his wooden sword already mid swing. Vanir grinned, he won.

“Rustle, wind of the forest.”

It was the last words he heard before his vision darkened.

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Vanir woke to a cold breeze as the curtain gently caressed his face. His eyes slowly opened as his blurry vision adjusted to the room. An open window sat on his right, a clock with hands pointing to two-o-five, a table with a bowl of fruits. As he contemplated his situation, memories of his match flooded back.

‘Are you awake?’ the voice in his head asked. ‘How are you feeling?’

“Fine,” he answered, distracted.

‘Great,’ the demon sighed. ‘I’m glad—’

“Cut the act, demon,” Vanir said, still distracted. “You waited for this moment, for me to lose.”

‘Vanir, what’s wrong?’ ‘If it’s about the fight then you don’t have to worry—

“I know.” He raised his trembling hand and clenched it. “When I was unconscious, you took over my body, and won.”

The demon audibly gasped. “—How’d you know.”

“Memory.”

“I don’t want your body. I’m not planning to—”

“Shut up,” Vanir snapped. “I don’t care of your charades, or plans. Whatever.”

Vanir remembered it all too well, the way his body moved so efficiently, weaving around those impossibly fast attacks. And those precise controls, the timing of mana usage to hit the fast-moving wind. He wanted it.

“Let’s make a deal, I want that overwhelming strength and skills you’ve demonstrated.”

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Across the hall from the academy clinic, the bell rang and students began filing out of their rooms, rowdy as the end of the exams meant they could finally relax for the weekends. Three girls, walking side-by-side, were among the noisy group that littered the hallway.

“Congrats, Charlotte! I feel proud being friends with the one who aced the exams.” Grinning, the tall, short-haired tomboy with a large chest, Brenda, complimented the lady of the Cambern.

Charlotte curtly nodded. In her hand, an open envelope revealed a single sheet with a bold congratulatory message displayed, informing her that she was one of the privileged students who would attend Class A next semester. In the center of the page, just below the congratulation was a large, gold number one prominently displayed as her ranking.

“Strong and smart, I am so jealous of you girl.” Brenda loudly said beside her.

“If we are talking about strength alone then surely you’d have broken my neck with your biceps.” Charlotte tucked the paper back in the envelope before pocketing it. Brenda laughed at the compliment.

“Congratulations, Charlotte,” Mary, the quiet girl with emerald hair and big, round glasses, chimed in softly. “Being in the top 5% is a huge accomplishment. Your parents would be so proud of you.”

“Thank you, Mary.” Charlotte schooled her expression as she offered them both a practiced smile. “I’m sure your parents will be proud of you as well. Keep up with your grades and one of the companies from the Union might hire you.”

The girl shriveled at her compliment. “Thank you.” Her head tilted down, as she opened her envelope and sighed. “A bit sad that we will be separated.”

Brenda shrugged. “No biggie, we can still hang out after classes.”

Mary smiled, “Yes, we can,” she looked uncertainly at Charlotte.

“If I’m not too busy,” she stated simply.

“That’s great,” Brenda said. “So, Fry 'n' Fly? I’m craving for another chicken and fries.”

Mary stifled her laugh. “Sure, you coming Charlotte?”

“Sure, after I delivered the envelope.”

“Oh right, your brother. We’ll save a chair for you.”

“I appreciate it.”

After a few waves, Charlotte separated from her two friends and headed for the clinic. Despite walking in the same halls, it took her almost ten minutes to reach the room. With a slow twist of the knob, Charlotte pushed the door open. Her brother, covered in bandages and propped up in his bed, turned to face her with a deep scowl.

“How are your injuries?” she asked as she pulled a chair beside him further deepening his wrinkles.

“Fine,” Vanir muttered, lifting his hand to rotate his wrist. “I'll be up in an hour.”

“That's good,” Charlotte replied with her usual tone. She took the envelope from her pocket and held it to Vanir. “Here, your placing”

Vanir snatched it and tore the paper out. He read the content and smiled in content. “As to be expected.” He crumpled the paper and tossed it to the trash bin.

“How did your match go?”

“Remarkably well, not a single injury.”

He scoffed. “Don't grow too confident. So what if you won against—”

“You misunderstand,” Charlotte cut in, her voice firm. “I fought against Prince William,” she said, as she eyed her brother’s expression carefully.

Vanir went silent, lips pursed. She sat still and waited, waiting for the fuse to explode. Yet, to her surprise, his expression softened and showed a face she had once forgotten.

“Congratulations,” he smiled at her. “You make our family proud.”

Charlotte narrowed her eyes in disbelief. An act? No, Vanir never lied to himself, as he always openly displayed his dislike. As she was analyzing her brother’s face, she saw it morph into horror as the blood was drained. “Go, I need to rest,” he said, turning away and burying himself beneath the covers.

She sat there, momentarily, before composing herself. “Rest well,” she said, as she made her way to the door. Casting one last glance at her brother's back, she left the room.

‘You broke the deal,’ the demon pouted. ‘I didn’t finish my talk with Charlotte.’

‘Must have been funny to you, embarrassing me right in front of my sister,’ Vanir responded angrily.

The demon sighed. ‘So you’re backing out? I won’t give the contract unless you follow my instructions.’

‘Fine,’ Vanir gritted his teeth. ‘You won’t break my spirit. I will have that power.’

‘Just follow my instructions, and I will make you the strongest person.’ The demon chuckled. ‘That said, my 1st order doesn’t count since you broke away immediately. I still have my three absolute orders for each day.’

Vanir groaned. ‘Fine, what do I do?’

The demon smiled, ‘I'll let you off the hook for the day. I order you to eat ice creams, three different flavors.’

Vanir groaned even louder and the demon just laughed.