Nyubi And Dodi were seated in a class of about 30 people, all warfare mages in training. Everyone was clustered into friend groups and cliques, discussing mundane events while they waited for their teacher to arrive.

Nyubi and Dodi, best friends and greatest rivals, were seated together, talking.

“How are you so loud and rowdy?” Nyubi asked Dodi who was currently spinning a small whirlwind on his index finger. “Your dad is literally so chill.”

“Really? Nyubi? Crushing on my dad?” Dodi shot back.

“Eww no!” she gasped in shock.

“I’m just saying your dad is so gentle and well mannered, but you always behave like a goat.”

“I’m not my dad, Nyubi.” Dodi said, grinning.

He snuffed out the whirlwind on his finger and looked outside the window, Remembering the discussion at dinner the previous day.

“If I was my dad I wouldn’t be here, Doing this,” he said.

“What, being a warfare mage?” Nyubi asked.

“Yeah, He wants me to be a scholar.” Dodi said.

“We are scholars!” Nyubi protested. Dodi laughed.

“Yeah that’s what centuries of peace does to you.” He said. “Have you read the stories of the war of peace?”

Nyubi wrinkled her nose. “I don’t read old books.” she said

“Figures,” Dodi said, grinning. “Those stories are brutal.”

“I keep hearing that it’s brutal but literally no one ever gives an example.” Nyubi said.

“Well here’s one for you…” Dodi began. “sometime during the war, Archmage Telkman-”

“Who was he fighting for?” Nyubi asked

“What? Are you serious right now?” Dodi exclaimed, an eyebrow shot up.

“I told you I don’t read old books.” Nyubi said, shrugging and leaning back on her chair.

Dodi sighed. “Archmage Telkman was fighting for the Northern Gans, the ones that split into Navon and Sungan today. Now can I continue?”

“Yes.” Nyubi replied.

“Okay, so archmage Telkman clashed with Archmage Frontain-”

“Who was he-”

“The Western Gans, Now part of Seyrule and Pirun.” Dodi said. Glaring at Nyubi.

There was a short silence as Dodi inhaled and continued. “They clashed in a small village on the Western border of Navon, in a bid to force a surrender from Frontain, Archmage Telkman heated the air in the village and trapped the heated air, preventing it from escaping.

Archmage Frontain responded by sucking all the water from pots and pans in the village into a water column for his own personal cooling,Then he began to bombard Telkman to get him to kill the heating spell”

“What about the villagers?” Nyubi asked.

“Hahaha” Dodi laughed. “Telkman continued to heat the air up in the village in an effort to bake the hostage villagers alive while they fought,”

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Nyubi was aghast.

“20 minutes into the fight, Villagers started dying of heat waves.” Dodi said. “Frontain continued to pommel Telkman, threatening him to release the villagers. Telkman refused saying he wouldn’t unless Frontain surrendered.”

Nyubi’s eyes were wide open in shock.

“Energy attack after energy attack, Telkman simply put up a defense spell and waited.”

“When Frontain managed to break Telkman’s spell, most of the villagers were dead. Frontain trapped Telkman’s body in the earth and proceeded to decapitate him with an energy blade.”

“But Telkman had a bomb spell triggered already. The moment that energy blade touched his neck, a massive energy explosion occured that tore off Frontain’s right arm, destroyed houses and killed an extra 50 people in the village.”

Nyubi was aghast.

“Both Frontain and Telkman survived, of course.” Dodi said. “They both had run out of damage spells and were severely injured. So they transported themselves away from the village. 80% of the villagers were killed, and the survivors were heavily injured so most of them died from their wounds.

“What the hell?” Nyubi said.

“Frontain later found Telkman in a tower in Pirun City and they fought again, destroying several buildings and leveling several city blocks. Telkman eventually got the upper hand when Frontain ran out of physical defense spells, Telkman stabbed Frontain with a large street pole and killed him.”

“What?? Telkman won??” Nyubi asked, shocked.

“Yep.” Dodi said. “Stories like that are common, with ruthless guys winning.”

“Wow, I didn’t know warfare mages used to be that hardcore.” Nyubi said, exhaling.

“Yeah all we do these days is spar and fight criminals,”Dodi said. “I mean it’s fun, but being a warfare mage could go south pretty quickly, especially with what ganz is doing in Pirun.”

“They really should tell us actual stories in school.” Nyubi said.

“Why?” Dodi asked.

“Well every kid in Aku’anda knows the war of peace was brutal and bad and we shouldn’t fight.” Nyubi said. “But they never actually told us what happened.”

“Yeah, because we were kids.” Dodi said. “Who’s gonna tell a couple of 10 year olds how an entire village got baked because they were unfortunate enough to be the place where two powerful mages decided to battle?”

Nyubi frowned, suppressing the fear that was building up. She imagined herself in a war, fighting wizards that matched her power level and shuddered. Being a warfare mage was fun precisely because she was supposed to be far more powerful than her opponents.

“If Ganz attacks I’m dropping out.” She said to Dodi. “I Joined Warfare Magick to be a Law Enforcer, not a soldier.”

Dodi took a deep breath, saying nothing. She searched his eyes but couldn’t figure out what he was thinking. At that moment the teacher came in. Lord Saulmon.

Lord Saulmon was a short and thin middle aged man with a full head of white hair and a clean shaven chin. He was dressed in a simple Aku’andan shirt, Aku’andan spring vest and trousers. He walked briskly towards the stand and dropped his documents and papers on the podium.

“Hello students.” He said in a calm voice that boomed across the hall. He was using a sound amp spell.

“There have been a few quick adjustments to your curriculum this session.” He began. “As some of you may be aware, There have been rising political tensions in Gan, Pirun was recently overtaken by unknown forces, there is a possibility that they may launch an invasion.”

The class was deathly silent. Everyone had a good idea of what was coming.

“We will have to start learning more dangerous spells earlier, we are also increasing school hours from 6 to 9 hours a day. Lunch will be provided by the school.”

Nyubi closed her eyes as a wave of cold washed over her. Everything was changing. She gripped her chair armrest, considering what she should do next.

“We understand that most of the people in this room joined Warfare magic in order to become police and law enforcers. So the schools have been split.” Lord Saulmon continued.

“There is now the school of Law-enforcement, and the School of Warfare. We will hold exams and interviews to help you get sorted to whichever school fits your talents, temperaments and interests better. Immediately after this class, you are to register…”

Nyubi’s relief was immense. Yes, she would join the law-enforcement. Thank the gods. She smiled in relief and looked at Dodi, who was still frowning.

“You’re joining law-enforcement, yeah?” she asked half-heartedly.

He looked at her and after a moment that seemed to last forever, shook his head slowly.