Kyren charged toward his weapon, determination burning in his eyes. His hand reached out, but before he could grab it, Alaine had already anticipated his move. With fluid precision, she scooped up both swords, leaving Kyren momentarily weaponless.

“Think fast!” she shouted, launching Kyren’s sword back at him.

Kyren barely dodged, his instincts kicking in at the last second. The sword whizzed past his face, and he felt a rush of adrenaline as it embedded itself in the sandy ground behind him. But in his distraction, he lost track of Alaine. The next thing he noticed was her shadow looming above him—a split second warning before her sword came down in an arc.

Kyren managed to grab his sword and parried just in time, but he was taken aback by the fact that Alaine had thrown her sword at him, instead of delivering the expected melee strike. He had miscalculated.

Before he could recover from the realization, a sudden impact hit him square in the chest. Alaine’s gauntleted fist knocked the wind out of him, sending him crashing onto the ground with a heavy thud.

Lying in the sand, Kyren stared up at the sky, gasping for air. He blinked through the pain and exhaustion, watching as Alaine stood over him, offering a hand.

“I hope that clears some things up,” Alaine said, a knowing smile tugging at her lips.

Kyren, still dazed, nodded and accepted her hand. “Yeah, I get it now.”

“Are you satisfied, Kyren?” Hiro asked, approaching with a grin. “Alaine’s really something, huh?”

Kyren rubbed the back of his neck, feeling both embarrassed and enlightened. “It’s not just that she’s strong,” he said, pausing to catch his breath. “It’s the way she fights. The combination of power, speed, and sheer tactical brilliance. I used to wonder how we, without magic or roots, could stand a chance in a world like this. But now, I understand. It’s not just about raw strength—it’s about strategy.”

Alaine blushed slightly at Kyren’s praise. “You’re exaggerating,” she said, though her tone betrayed a hint of pride.

Hiro grabbed her hands, eyes wide with admiration. “You’re strong and smart. Being the leader really suits you.”

Alaine’s face turned serious again as she playfully knocked Hiro’s head. “Idiot,” she muttered. “Listen, Kyren. Even when you’re in a one-on-one fight, charging in recklessly is a death sentence. We humans excel when we use tactics and teamwork. It’s about synergy—understanding what your allies are trying to do and supporting each other.”

Kyren nodded, the weight of Alaine’s words sinking in. He had learned a valuable lesson today—not just about fighting, but about the importance of relying on his team.

“And one more thing,” Alaine continued, adjusting her gauntlet. “Sky Academy will teach you how to infuse magic or roots into your equipment to give you resistance. If you don’t want to wear heavy armor, that’s fine, but you’ll need high-level spells or protective scrolls, which you can buy from mercenaries in Arramaya City.”

Kyren’s eyes widened. “I had no idea that was possible.”

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“It’s a recent discovery,” Alaine added. “Experts only figured it out last year.”

“Man, we’ve learned so much already, and we haven’t even started at the Academy yet!” Hiro exclaimed, excitement bubbling up in his voice.

“Yeah,” Kyren agreed, feeling both humbled and energized by the new knowledge.

“Alright,” Alaine said, sheathing her sword and fastening it to her belt. “Let’s head back to the office. You both need to rest up before your late-afternoon training.”

Back at the office, Patricia handed Alaine a letter. “This just came in from the AL Guild.”

Alaine quickly opened it, slipping on her reading glasses. Her eyes scanned the page, and when she finished, she gathered everyone around.

“Listen up, everyone,” Alaine announced. “I’ll be heading to Knight Bay City for five days for a conference of new Guild Leaders, and Roland will come with me as my assistant. While I’m away, Patricia will oversee things here. Lili will be in charge of any E-rank missions. As for you two,” she pointed to Kyren and Hiro, “keep up with your morning exercises. Patricia will teach you, during the evening sessions.”

Everyone nodded in agreement, acknowledging the shift in responsibilities.

Later that afternoon, after a short rest, Patricia clapped her hands to get their attention. “Alright, boys. Time to get back to training.”

Kyren and Hiro groaned, but they stood up, eager to prove themselves.

“This time, we’re heading to the Hundred Sand Hills,” Alaine announced.

Hiro’s eyes lit up. “The Hundred Sand Hills? No way! I’m ready for this!”

Kyren smirked at Hiro’s enthusiasm but remained focused.

Alaine handed them each a wooden training sword. “This is all you’re taking.”

When they arrived at the base of the towering dunes, both boys were awestruck by the sheer size of the hills.

“Your task,” Alaine explained, “is to race to the top. The loser will have to climb back down and do it again. And then… we’ll join you for another round.”

“Alright,” Kyren said, stretching. “This time, I’m winning.”

“We’ll see about that,” Hiro smiled, his competitive spirit rising.

“Ready?” Patricia called. “One… two… three… GO!”

Hiro launched forward, sand kicking up behind him as he sprinted ahead. Kyren was close on his heels, his muscles burning as he fought to keep up. The sun beat down on them, making the climb even more grueling.

Behind them, Alaine and Patricia started their own warm-up.

“It’s been a while since we did this, huh?” Alaine remarked with a nostalgic smile.

“Yeah,” Patricia agreed. “Want to race, for old times’ sake?”

Alaine’s eyes gleamed with challenge. “You’re on.”

Before long, Alaine and Patricia sprinted past Hiro and Kyren, overtaking them with ease.

“Whoa! Are they competing too?” Hiro shouted, astonished by their speed.

Kyren chuckled. “Don’t get distracted. We’re almost there.”

But Hiro, pushing himself to his limit, stumbled. He fell, cursing under his breath as Kyren reached the top first.

“Hiro, you lose,” Alaine said, grinning as she reached the summit.

Hiro panted, trying to catch his breath. “I got distracted, but I’ll win next time, for sure!”

Alaine laughed. “Whatever you say, Hiro. But for now, get back down and start your climb again.”

Grumbling, Hiro headed back down, determined to redeem himself in the next round.

As Hiro climbed back up, Kyren took a moment to admire the view from the top of the hill. “Alaine, I’ve been meaning to ask… how many students at Sky Academy lose their lives during training?”

Patricia glanced at Alaine, surprised by the question.

Alaine hesitated before answering. “Around ten… that we know of. But in the qualification exams, we don’t get full reports. It’s brutal.”

Kyren processed the information in silence. The Academy, the challenges ahead—it all seemed so much more dangerous now.

“Just be cautious,” Alaine said, her voice softening. “And look out for Hiro. His confidence is a strength, but it can also be his downfall.”

Kyren nodded. He understood. Whatever the future held, he had to be ready—not just for himself, but for his friends too.

Suddenly, Hiro’s exhausted shout echoed up the hill. “I’M DONE!”

Alaine grinned, standing up. “Alright, round two. Let’s see if you can keep up this time.”

Groaning, Hiro flopped down on the sand. “Give me a second…”

“Nope,” Patricia said with a playful smirk. “We’re going. Better catch up!”

The three of them began their descent, leaving Hiro scrambling to his feet with a resigned sigh. “You guys are the worst…”