It had begun….

In the greater context of the world, they were all nobodies. Just a classroom of children having sanctioned schoolyard fights ran by a drill instructor cosplaying as a teacher.

But in the moment. In Claude's mind…. In the context of his own lived experience, Samuel Leon was a titan. A massive, skilled young man. The prodigal son of Ronin, Leader of The Nine. The planets premier Super-Guild. All of Ronin's greatest traits, Claude saw in Samuel.

After their first fight— his first beating, he burned the poster of Ronin in his room. He also cried but that's neither here nor there.

After the second…. third… fourth time, he burned the data book his dad bought him for his twelfth birthday.

If he lost this time, he'd probably scrap his dreams of awakening as a swordsman class hero.

He had to win. He needed a win.

But Samuel was….. a goliath, to put it simply.

And Claude was just as Mr. Raizen said. He was only himself. He earned no title thanks to some latent talent or overdeveloped skill. He was just the boy who woke up before the sun and ran with the wolves and birds.

It was all he knew— all he could do.

His spirits warmed under the sun.

If all he knew was the wolves, then he'd have to be one.

To be a wolf, to run down his prey. The goliath. It couldn't be a fight. He'd lose.

It had to be a hunt.

Claude rose up out of his fighting stance and pointed his sword at the floor.

Samuel rolled his eyes.

Claude raised his foot and stomped his blade at an angle causing it to snap.

The angle caused the cracked half to flip into the air, refracting sunlight like a disco ball as it fell into Claude's free-hand. In a rush, he slid off his helmet and used it like a handle around the now improvised dagger.

The short-sword was no more. He now held daggers— fangs, to assist in wearing down his massive armored, rich, mannishly handsome, annoyingly unfazed caribou.

"Claude….. I think you're going insane. You already had a gear disadvantage to begin with!" Xander yelled as the other students made jokes and reacted amongst themselves.

Mr. Raizen leaned in with interest as he stood outside the ring.

Samuel held his blade in Claude's direction.

Claude changed direction, running the perimeter of the ring. Mere inches from giving Samuel a point.

Samuel seemed as casual as always, not even turning to engage Claude as he closed i—

Out of nowhere, from his front-facing stance, Samuel swung his blue Samurai sword to the left, nearly taking Claude's scalp off as he dropped to a slide over the polished wood.

The blade whistled overhead. Claude's knee guards screeched and cut through the wood polish. Samuel's backside whizzed past him. He didn't bother attacking. Samuel didn't bother evading.

His armor was something else. Full coverage steel alloy— runewritten for greater defense and maneuverability.

Going for the lower body was pointless. Going for minor knicks and stabs would slow him….. but his speed wasn't even close to being a main issue.

His target was the same as any wolf.

The neck, where his armor stopped and his helmet failed to reach. He'd have to bite past the reinforced mesh and lock his jaws— his blades. At least until Samuel couldn't fight anymore or Ms. Callisto intervened.

But, priorities.

He hopped back to his feet, mid-slide and turned fast on his heels.

He went again from Samuel's right. Not attacking. Samuel not moving.

To everyone else the match had grown boring. But Claude's heart raced like a thiriohippus in a Tangent.

He went on the offensive from the rear twice more, barely missing Samuel's horrifying sword-swings before pressing him from the front now that the boy was closest to the edge of the ring.

Samuel's bored eyes regarded him casually from the shadows of his helm.

"That's it….. watch, Samuel." Claude baited an early attack from ten feet away.

Samuel took the bait and stepped forward with a heavy downward slice. It was perfect in execution. Cut straight from the pages of a martial arts training book.

Claude sidestepped the blade, light on his feet, fangs bared in a silver edged grimace. With closed eyes, he ran his daggers along the length of Samuel's right arm.

Sparks flew like fireworks as steel kissed steel. The light cut through the shadows cast by Samuel's helm and hit him like a flash-bang.

Claude knew it had its intended effect because Samuel wasn't one to react. He initiated— proudly. But already, he'd taken a bait swing and now swung around the ring haphazardly. He was blind— and somehow more terrifying. Somehow still skilled.

Claude ducked and dodged the armored juggernauts flurry. For a week he'd read up on Itto-ryu kenjutsu to understand Samuel's fighting habits but now it was all for nothing.

Samual tossed tradition aside and blended aspects of combat wherever he saw fit in a brutal collage of bladed arts.

One moment he was speeding through one directional slices, then the next he was spinning and elbow lunging with the fluidity of a river stream.

Slice after slice.

Claude backed away with a cut across his arm and cheek that burned like strings of fire.

He was losing time. Samuel was away from the rings perimeter.

Claude ran around to his backside as fast as he could.

"Behind!" Tai yelled to Samuel.

Samuel spun angrily, swinging as the students roared.

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Claude ducked and kicked Samuel's legs to send him to the ground.

Samuel went rigid the moment Claude's leg hit his ankle. Immediately after, he swung his leg out and threw Claude across the ring.

"One point to Samuel." Mr. Raizen shouted.

Claude jumped to his feet in disbelief. The outside of the ring was over ten feet away. He got thrown like a pinecone. Samuels strength was more inhuman than usual….

He rushed back into the ring.

"Alright boys, don't waste time. Get it done!" Mr. Raizen urged.

Samuel stood— different. Uncomfortable, almost.

They mirrored each-other in that sense.

Claude could feel the hunt coming to a close.

"This caribou is strong as hell…." Claude thought to himself….. an odd thought to anyone who didn't have the context of the situation.

"Come on, Claude! He's stiff as hell and you're a better runner. Peel him out of that ugly ass armor and make him bleed!"

Everyone turned to look at whoever chose to cheer him on.

Claude didn't. It didn't matter.

He was on Samual again, but he couldn't repeat the same plan. It worked— which is why it wouldn't work again.

So, he improvised.

His dagger sailed across the ring as he threw it at Samuel's head.

Living in a forest left you with few classic options to avoid boredom as a kid. And Claude once wanted to be an archer. His aim was good.

It wasn't true— but it wasn't a full on lie either.

Samuel stepped forward— his previous confusion gone as he swatted the dagger away and executed a heavy front-kick.

Claude side stepped to the right of the blow and tripped.

"OH— shit!" Claude sold the fall as he fell out of the ring.

Instead of sprawling on the floor like an idiot, he landed in a silent roll and peeled around to Samuel's right.

At the same time— thankfully, Mr. Raizen yelled "Two points to Samuel!"

Tai moved to speak only to be punched in the face.

All heard as Samuel spun around to quickly end Claude from outside the ring, only to find he wasn't there.

The crowd roared. In Claude's mind, they howled like the wolves after a successful hunt. After his successful hunt.

The caribou could fall.

Claude was sure of it as he sat atop Samuel's shoulders with his final fang raised.

The hunt was over.

Claude brought his blade down from above like lightning.

The thunder of rattling steel never came even as he stared down at his blade pushing against Samuel's throat.

Before he knew it, a hand with the strength of ten men fastened around his wrist and threw him to the floor.

He hit the ground so hard a wad of spittle flew from his mouth and the back of his head split open.

He saw white.

He bit the tip of his tongue off. One of his ribs was broken— awakening in searing cringeworthy pain as he was lifted by the throat.

"No way!"

"OHHHHHHH!!!!!"

The students roared.

They weren't howling anymore.

Not for him at least.

Claude opened his eyes to find Samuel…..

Reborn.

A fiery purple aura spun around his armor like gunsmoke. Flowing off his skin and seeping through the metal cracks to fully encase him.

In all of Claude's readings and findings, he'd never seen an aura so cruel.

Still, the match wasn't done.

He took damage. Too much damage. But his arm remained, holding a thumbs up to Mr. Raizen.

"I'm good... I can still….. I can win." Claude gritted his teeth and tried to ignore how Samuel's gloved hand was burning the skin of his neck raw.

"Easy Samuel. End it and be done." Mr. Raizen stood at the edge of the ring.

Samuel, holding Claude by the throat, pulled him in close and removed his helmet.

"Claude, I heard you crushed my brother's manhood." Samuel's voice was always chilling in all its uncaring cruelty— but now, it was worse. No, it was fitting, as he stared with eyes so purple they reminded him of poison.

Claude couldn't reply. He could barely breathe. He was burning— Samuel's aura was like a dark sun.

It silenced the students as the schoolyard fight grew into something more….

"Next time he mouthes off, crush him on these wood floors…" Samuel stomped and cracked the ground, "—Like a warrior searching for glory. Like a man. Like this—" Samuel yanked Claude into a brutal headbut backed by his iron aura.

The white came to him again, followed by the black as he lost consciousness.

When he came to, his face was hot as all hell. The students were still silent— watching Samuel.

Claude could feel his nose and eyes swelling. Coppery metal tasting saliva dripped from his mouth as he sat up and felt his world spin.

"Easy, kid. You got worked pretty good….. I actually don't know how you're up." Mr. Raizen put a hand to the small of his back. "Ms. Callisto should be h—"

"WHO THE FUCK STARTED THE FIGHT!?"

Mr. Raizen smiled, "There she is..."

Ms. Callisto rushed over in a rustle of clothes and clinking items at her belt.

Claude could smell her before he saw her.

Sage and rosemary and about thirty other herbs held together by a strong perfume. Something sweet and fruity.

"I want fruit…" He didn't mean to say that outloud. Perhaps Mr. Raizen was right.

"We'll get you some nice apples once you're healed up." Ms. Callisto replied as she began feeding Claude potions and wiping salves on his face while firing off medical questions.

She was beautiful. Even as Claude's vision twisted like melted paint on a canvas.

Her skin was a similar tone to his. Past sunkissed, nestled deep into the rich hues of bronze. Her hair was pulled up in a tight bun but the rich curls still found a way to break free of the pins and ties. Gold highlights brightened the bun. Apparently she doused her hair in dried healing salves as a last resort to offer aid.

She wore a black turtleneck sweater and brown pants covered in paints and chemical stains…. Like most healers.

"By the gods….. Who did this?" Ms. Callisto questioned.

"Ronin's boy." Mr. Raizen replied as he pointed his chin to the students beginning to crowd and yell.

Ms. Callisto didn't follow as she got back to work on Claude. "Which one?"

"The one that's an ass." Mr. Raizen replied.

Ms. Callisto looked up, "Yea…. So which one?"

"Samuel."

"He's a Dark-Knight." Ms Callisto said grimly before pointing at Claude.

He was still too dazed to comprehend the social cue as they both looked at him. Mr. Raizen's salt and pepper colored five o'clock shadow seemed to darken a few hours as he cringed.

"Damn…"

"Rare Class Rebirths are…. Well, rare. Fitting for a son of Ronin." Ms. Callisto grumbled.

"You fought well, Claude. You're a crafty little one—"

"Yea well he shouldn't have to be yet!" Ms. Callisto spat. Whenever she was angry her accent thickened like syrup. Or lava… "Dios mio! This is a Junior academy— why the hell are you running it like a Military-Guild School? He could've died! Do you know how many kids fly off the handle during their Rebirths? Adrenaline and mana mix horribly!"

"Cally—"

"Don't….. I know." She calmed.

"The Onslaught Guild Captains are breathing down everyone's necks. They want results in New Gloria. Our Rebirth rates are terrible. The more I work them here, the better off they'll be at the University."

Ms. Callisto sighed as she held an ice bag to Claude's swelling face. His head was still spinning. The students were still raving about the match. His stomach seemed to be growing irritated.

"Did you know I hate this place?"

"Did you know that I think your hair looks lovely today? Id gladly eat it to fight off a food borne illness in a Tangent."

Ms Callisto laughed, "Was that supposed to win me over?"

Mr. Raizen shrugged, "Usually works."

"Well— gods smite me if I'm wrong. I feel nothing."

Claude's stomach had enough and he threw up in Ms. Callisto's lap.

A roar of laughter rose from the students. But none as loud as Tai.

"HAHA! I told you what would happen, Cllllaude! Wolves can't compete with lions…. And you're not even a wolf. More like a coyote the way you fight!"

Someone had a better reply for him than Claude could manage as he fought off the dry heaves while Ms. Callisto rubbed his back. He wished she'd stop. He felt weak enough.

"Well. It looks like he has two concussions." Ms Callisto's accent was as strong as Samuel's rebirth.

"What— it wasn't me! He only got the one fighting Samuel."

"Where the hell else would he be getting a concussion? The boy comes from a family of hound-breeders and teretologists!"

Claude dry heaved again, "Fish….. strong—" Was all he could manage.

"Maybe three concussions." Ms. Callisto commented, "Let's get him to the hea—"

Before she could finish speaking Tai started cursing someone followed by a flash of purple light and a handful of student screams as everyone scattered.

Mr. Raizen was gone in a flash.

Ms. Callisto told him to wait where he sat as she rushed to the new scene of violence.

Claude got to his feet. She said not to but he couldn't stay where Samuel put him. It's probably what made him puke in the first place.

He wobbled on his feet like a drunk. His breath reeked of vomit. His vision steadied when he tried. As he looked.

Mr. Raizen stood between two students, facing Samuel with a hand on his sheathed blade.

Samuel's hand still steamed from where a ball of purple fire once churned like a venomous cocktail ablaze.

The student behind Mr. Raizen stood tall. Armored arm steaming from where they blocked the blow.

It was the knight from before. Now that they were closer together, he looked to be the same size as Samuel.

Still, blocking a flaming projectile from a Reborn nepotism baby was….. impressive.

It only made Claude's own failures sting more.

"That's not nearly as hot as you think it is, blondie! If I wanted a seat in a sauna, I would've went to one instead."

The knights voice was familiar.

The same one cheering him on from before….

Class ended with Samuel being escorted out of the building and Claude fading in and out of consciousness.

Still, aside from his failures, he was left with a single question.

Who was his knight in crappy armor?