Groups of three? Amber thought. Uh oh.

"Amber, wanna group up?" Ariel asked.

"Of course!" Amber replied with a delighted smile. "But we need another person."

"Yeah, I wonder who would partner up with us?" Ariel remarked. Like lions surveying for prey, Amber and Ariel searched for suitable participants to fill their group. Much to their disappointment, they failed to find anyone who could join them as the students conversed with each other to form groups.

"Sigh, I knew this would happen..." Amber muttered as she held her head down dejectedly. "No one would want to group up with the girl that passed out on the first day."

"Hey, don't beat yourself up about that!" Ariel said with a serious expression. "Come on, I'm sure there's someone who'd team up with us...like her!" Ariel said as she pointed at Sariel, who stood by herself.

Oh yeah! I spoke to her...maybe we can get her to join!

"Let's ask her!" Amber suggested before running up to Sariel.

"Uh, hey! Remember me?" Amber asked.

"Hmm, it's you again," Sariel responded.

"Y-Yes, I noticed you haven't joined a group yet, so I was wondering if you'd like to join our group!" Amber requested. Ariel was right beside her with a hopeful smile on her face.

"Hmm..." Sariel thought as she placed her hand on her chin. Amber started to sweat in anxiousness for her response. In Sariel's unique eye, the Roman numeral 'X' switched to 'VII.' "Okay, why not." Sariel agreed.

"Yes! Perfect!" Amber happily rejoiced.

"My name is Ariel Raven. What's yours!" Ariel introduced herself.

"Sariel Dell,"

"Great, let's all get along!"

In the span of five minutes, everyone had put themselves in groups of three, which meant Ms. Leah could continue with the session.

"Alright, my budding soldiers. Let's begin," Trixie stated as she strangely performed a handstand, much to the students' confusion. "You guys will train in your groups. You're allowed to use your blessings and any tricks you might have. But don't try to kill each other...or I'll play a trick on you!"

To think this is the instructor we have. Aiden thought. He then shifted his gaze to Amber. I wonder how she'll do.

Suddenly, his teammate, who mocked Amber in the obstacle course, put his arm around Aiden's shoulder.

"What got your attention, so?" He asked Aiden. "Is it that weak girl?"

"Shut it, Baran. Let's just get on with the fight," Aiden said as he shunned Baran's hand. Beside them was a female, seemingly their third member. "Also, don't think I'm gonna go easy on you guys...you hear that, Ivory?"

"Heh, if you do, then you just might get hurt!" Ivory replied. In her hand were a couple of gems. From their color, they were Ruby and Sapphire gems, which she rolled around in her hand.

Understanding the instructions given by Ms. Leah, everyone prepared to spar with their fellow group members. Each group took different areas of the yard to not cause interruptions between groups.

"Alright, you guys ready?" Ariel questioned.

"I'm ready when you are," Sariel responded as she strangely opened the palm of her right hand. Immediately, a minute portion of the holographic energy that made up the barrier began attracting to her palm, much to everyone's surprise.

"Wow, how did you do that?" Amber asked.

"It's a part of my blessing," Sariel responded as the energy in her palm turned to a blue holographic blade.

"Oh, my...what a neat trick!" Trixie stated as she looked at the part of the barrier Sariel drew energy from. There was no hole or anything in the barrier - it was perfectly fine, just the way it was.

That's a cool skill, but it's making me anxious. Amber thought. I don't wanna get slashed.

Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

"Oh, Ariel, where are the animals you had in the obstacle course?" Amber asked.

"I called them...they'll be here in any minute," Ariel replied.

Any minute--

Through the barrier, Ariel's hawk and dog approached. Like the loyal pets they are, they immediately went by their master's side.

"Ah, perfect timing. Let's begin now."

Wait, isn't this kinda bad for me? Amber thought as she realized she was the only one out of the trio without proper control over her blessing.

The sounds of bangs and blasts were audible as the other students began to spar. Amber and the group, however, were at a standstill as they were preparing their first moves.

Breaking the standstill, Sariel suddenly rushed at Amber, much to her fright. In response, Ariel's dog and hawk moved in as well.

"Wait, wait, wait!" Amber frantically pleaded as Sariel raised her holographic blade in the air. Not listening to her pleas, Sariel slashed her across the back.

"Ouch!" Amber yelled in pain. Much to her surprise, however, Amber did not sustain much damage from that other than a painful sting.

Go Cairo! Ariel thought as she looked right at her hawk. Immediately after slashing Amber, Cairo (the hawk) flew up and thrust its talons at Sariel. With quick reflexes, Sariel blocked the sharp talons with her blade, causing sparks to emit in the process.

"Huh, I'm still alive?" Amber thought as she tried to look at her back.

"Our suits are made with very strong material," Sariel explained amid her parrying of Cairo's talons. "You don't have to worry about dying to things like this."

"O-Oh, I see--" Amber said but was interrupted by Shadow pushing her to the ground with its paws after getting a fast-running start. She was pushed with enough force for her to roll across the ground. "...Owww..."

"Sorry, Amber, but we won't get any stronger if we don't push ourselves," Ariel explained.

"Ugh, it's fine..."

I know you can get stronger, Amber...because you were just like me. Ariel pondered.

* * *

Aiden and his group simultaneously sparred with each other. Their intense battle continued, with Aiden seemingly skating in the yard at high speed towards Baran. As he approached him, Aiden winded up a punch. Before he could land the strike, however, Baran suddenly swiped upwards with his right arm, stopping Aiden in his tracks and even blowing him backward with a large gust of wind. Baran did this with a smile on his face.

What? Was that air control? Aiden thought. Suddenly, Aiden's expression morphed into a confident smile.

"Haha! Even if this is just sparring, you think you can beat me with that generic ass blessing, mate!?" Aiden teased as he regained himself and charged at Baran once again.

"Oh, yeah? Wanna bet?" Baran inquired as he began to strike the air with his fists, sending a multitude of wind gusts at him. While skating on the ground again, Aiden dodged with his high mobility.

While Aiden avoided them, sharp ruby-sharded projectiles flew towards Aiden, much to his surprise. Skillfully, Aiden flipped in the air as if performing an ice skating trick and narrowly avoided the projectiles.

The cause was made known to Aiden as he noticed more ruby and other colored gems floating around Ivory.

Hmm...a gem or mineral blessing? Aiden thought. Simultaneously, Baran began firing air blasts from his fists toward Ivory, which she defended by mounding the shards together, turning them into a shield.

Baran decided to close the distance between him and Ivory, but Aiden strangely placed his right hand on the ground.

"Ha! Got you guys!" Aiden remarked as he garnered their attention. As if losing their foothold, they suddenly slipped and fell.

"Hu--" Baran uttered as he realized he fell. He didn't have time to get back on his feet as Aiden immediately rushed him and delivered a powerful roundhouse kick to the side of his face.

"Ugh!" Baran uttered as he bounced on the ground.

"Heh," Aiden uttered before noticing shards flying at him again. From his skating on the rough surface, it was obvious that friction was meaningless to this individual. Aiden's feet slid opposite ways, causing him to avoid the shards by doing a split.

"What the...did you just do a split!?" Ivory asked with an annoyed and confused expression. "What the hell is your power?"

"Haha, it'll be no fun if I tell you so early," Aiden replied. "Let's continue!"

* * *

Returning to Ariel's group, they continued their sparring with each other. Using the holographic blade, the loyal pets, and occasionally hand-to-hand combat, Ariel and Sariel were keeping up well with each other. They both kept well...except for Amber, whose lack of combat experience and skill was made painfully obvious.

Amber constantly got slashed with Sariel's blade, sustained scratches by Cairo's talons, and pounced on by Shadow. If it was not for the reinforced combat suit she received, Amber would have suffered extensive injuries.

Sigh, come on, Amber. Ariel thought. Despite Ariel's pleas, it was clear that Amber was on her last leg. Much to the duo's surprise, Amber lost the energy in her legs, causing her to fall on all fours. They were so surprised that they paused their fighting.

"Amber..." Ariel uttered.

"Hmm, are you finished?" Sariel wondered.

"Not...yet," Amber uttered. Not...yet...

God...are you hearing me? Amber asked internally. Please...give me the knowledge to use the blessing you gave me...

I have given you the knowledge already, my daughter. The voice responded. Just recall the purpose I have given you.

Purpose? Yes, my purpose...that's right. Amber thought.

"It's a little disappointing, but if you can no longer fight, I'll continue to spar with Ariel," Sariel stated. Meanwhile, Ariel gazed at Amber with a saddened expression.

The reason why I decided to join this program...why I'm pushing myself this much... Amber continued as she began to push herself back up, much to the duo's surprise. To vanquish the demon that killed my parents...and to never let that happen to anyone else!

Suddenly, Amber's eyes radiated that glowing yellow energy again. She was now back on her feet. Both Sariel and Ariel were fixated on Amber's eyes.

Good, my daughter... The voice commended.

Ah, so this is how it feels to activate my blessing. Amber thought.

"I suppose you aren't finished, then?" Sariel said as she had a very slight smirk.

With a bright smile, Ariel stated. "Let's continue to spar then, shall we?"