Entering the gargantuan cavern where the black marble colosseum stood, the class made their way down a cobblestone path. Both the path and the colosseum were brightly illuminated, though there was no visible source of light, as if invisible spotlights shone upon them. Everything else was shrouded in an impenetrable darkness, making it impossible to tell where the cavern walls were.
The class walked in silence, the echoes of footsteps reverberating throughout the vast space. Ms. Windra led the way, her steps measured and confident, with an air of indifference. Her tight blue shirt revealed the impressive muscles of her back.
Butterflies swarmed in my stomach, and my palms were slick with sweat. I glanced to my right, hoping to find some solace in Rae’s expression.
‘Of Course…’
Rae’s lips curled into an eager smile, her tantalizing eyes studying the colosseum. It seemed no matter how many times one saw it, it remained just as breathtaking.
As we reached the colosseum, I craned my neck upward. Without the spotlight, the black marble would have blended into the surrounding shadows. Ms. Windra led us through a large arch, bringing us inside the colosseum.
The crimson floor was made of a strange material, polished to the point where I could see my reflection. However, it felt soft, almost like the mat in Bel’s dojo.
Ms. Windra stopped in the center, and the rest of the class followed, maintaining a respectful distance from her.
"Alright, break into teams of three. I suggest forming teams with two melee users and one caster. But, it's just a suggestion—do as you please."
The class dispersed, voices echoing through the cavern as students quickly began forming their groups. Before I could approach anyone, Rae draped her arm over my shoulder, leaning on me.
“So, I’m a caster, and something tells me you’re a melee user. That means we either need another caster or a melee user. Which one do you think we should get?”
A part of me had hoped Rae would partner with me—it saved me the trouble, even though she was a bit eccentric.
“Well, you're right about me being a melee user. As for who we should get next, hmm…”
I thought for a moment. Having another melee user would allow us to form a vanguard and protect the caster while they attacked from a distance. On the other hand, having two casters could make for an interesting dynamic, letting them put pressure on the other team while I closed the gap.
Glancing over at Rae, I gave my opinion.
“I think we should get another caster.”
She scanned the students and nodded.
“I agree.”
Her gaze settled on a short, pale young man with cropped black hair and dark bags under his deep-set eyes. He looked like he was suffering from the flu.
‘No way right? She’s not gonna pick him.”
Rae smiled and approached the young man.
“Hey! You’re a caster, right? Want to join our group?”
The boy looked up at her and shrugged.
“Sure, why not.”
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His voice was hoarse and emotionless—a real freak show. Rae turned to me.
“This is Ezra Cyprus, our vanguard. I’m Raeven Lyndra, also a caster, so we’re going to be caster buddies!”
The boy rolled his eyes slightly.
“Please don’t call us ‘caster buddies.’ It’s weird. Anyway, I’m Lyle Drayven.”
Rae crossed her arms and pouted.
“You guys are no fun.”
Once all the groups were formed, Ms. Windra clapped her hands. Next to her were two crates—one filled with weapons and the other with light leather armor. She opened the crates with a mischievous smile.
“Pick your poison.”
The groups formed a line to receive their weapons and armor. I was comfortable using a straight sword, but I preferred an odachi like Divinus or a katana. Fortunately, by the time we reached the front of the line, there was one katana left.
I unsheathed it, surprised to see it was sharp, not dull.
‘Aren't these only supposed to be mock battles, why do we need lethal weapons..’
Seeing my slight unease Ms Windra spoke.
“The colosseum and a unique spell woven into it protecting those from any real harm. However it does not dull pain…”
Her ominous words put me on edge.
***
Now that everyone has their groups and weapons, let the battles commence! Do we have any volunteers to kick things off?”
I was curious to see who would step up first, and how the other students would perform. Zeris had told me I would have an edge because of my experience in the Abominable Forest—but how much of an edge?
Before anyone could voice their interest, a confident voice echoed through the colosseum.
“We volunteer!”
My heart skipped a beat. I turned and saw Rae with her hand raised high, a bright smile on her face. All the other students turned to look at her.
“Ah, good. Take your place on the eastern side of the arena.”
Lyle let out a dejected sigh and trudged forward, dragging his feet. Rae, on the other hand, walked with a pep in her step. My heart raced. I was not mentally prepared to fight first.
[I wonder what gives this girl so much confidence..You should take some notes.]
Rolling my eyes, I tried my best to ease my nerves as we walked down the colosseum.
Rolling my eyes, I did my best to calm my nerves as we walked to the eastern side of the colosseum. When we were in position, we turned to face the western side, where another group stood. They consisted of two women and one man.
The woman at the front was tall and lean, with brown hair tied in a bun and brown eyes. She wielded a standard straight sword. The second woman had shoulder-length black hair, black eyes, and slightly darker skin. She held a large wooden staff, its top adorned with a spinning blue crystal.
Both women had a determined look, their magical power palpable—but not as strong as Rae’s or even Lyle’s. The man, however, was a different story.
He stood casually with both hands behind his head.
‘Bit too relaxed for someone about to fight, don't you think.’
Divinus let out a melodic hum.
[Perhaps, he could just be confident that he will win.]
I studied him further. My ability to gauge a person’s magical prowess was still shallow. With people like Zeris and Sylvie, I couldn’t sense anything. This guy was the same—completely unreadable.
“His name is Rowan Ravelle…”
Rae’s voice broke my focus.
“He’s quite elusive. No one really knows much about him, except that he’s strong. Probably one of the strongest in the academy. The Ravelle family is known for bearing powerful children.”
I let her words sink in.
“Great…”
Gripping the hilt of my katana tighter, I took a deep breath. Ms. Windra stepped forward and raised her hand.
“Begin!”
As soon as her hand fell, the air in the colosseum shifted. Both groups stood still, staring each other down. The tension was thick enough to cut with a knife.
My heart pounded in my chest, the sound filling my ears. I glanced at Rae and Lyle. Rae held what looked like a rifle from my world, made from white alloy with silver accents. It had no scope or magazine—just a bare rifle.
Lyle had refused to take any weapons from Ms. Windra, opting to use his own—black metal gauntlets that covered his arms up to the elbow, each with a red ruby embedded in the palm.
‘How are those gonna help him cast ranged spells?’
“Focus..”
I muttered to myself. This wasn’t my first taste of combat, so I wasn’t exactly nervous. My heart raced, yes, but it wasn’t out of fear—I couldn’t quite place the feeling.
Taking a breath, I let my grip relax, holding the katana comfortably in my hand. I stepped forward, positioning myself in front of Rae and Lyle. The swordswoman mirrored my movements, gripping her sword with both hands and stepping forward with one foot, her blade hanging to the side.
‘I see..’
I glanced back at Rae, and she gave me a curt nod. With that, I lowered myself into the first stance of the sword style Zeris had taught me. The katana’s hilt rested near my temple, the blade’s razor-sharp edge extending toward my opponent.
A single moment passed.
Zeris’s words rang in my mind: “dictate what happens next”, “control the fight”, “predict my opponents moves.”
I let mana flow through me, filling my muscles with strength. A sharp, controlled breath left my lips.
Rae’s voice whispered behind me.
“Now…”