A Day of Numbers, Waves, and Wins

Earlier That Day: The Maths Class

Arvanya's POV:

The sound of chalk scratching against the blackboard filled the room, a rhythm as steady as the ticking clock on the wall. Our maths professor, Alaric Duren, a tall man with a perpetual frown, scribbled equations that seemed to multiply with each second.

"Alright, who can solve this integral?" he asked, tapping the chalk against the board where a convoluted string of numbers glared back at us.

Nico, sitting a few seats away, leaned over with a dramatic sigh. "Why is it always integrals? It's like the universe just wants us to suffer."

"Speak for yourself," Dante whispered, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. "I actually think I've cracked the secret to understanding this."

I arched an eyebrow, more than a little suspicious. "Really? And what's your secret?"

He leaned closer, dropping his voice conspiratorially. "Just write random numbers with enough confidence, and the professor might not notice."

I snickered, shaking my head. Across the aisle, Kai rolled his eyes. "You do realize that's exactly how you got a zero on the last test, right?"

Sofia, ever the serious student, shot us a disapproving look. "Will you guys be quiet? Some of us are actually trying to learn something."

"Let me know how that works out for you when he asks you to solve that monstrosity," Nico teased, gesturing toward the board.

Just then, the professor turned, his gaze zeroing in on our group like a hawk spotting prey. "Arvanya, why don't you solve this for us?"

Stifling a groan, I got up from my seat and walked to the board. As I started writing, my friends' whispered commentary made it harder to focus.

"Ten gold coins says she messes up the second line," Nico muttered.

"Oh, ye of little faith," I shot back under my breath as I worked through the problem. Despite the pressure, the equations began to flow, and soon, I was done. I turned back to the professor, who studied my work with a begrudging nod.

"Acceptable," he admitted, as if it physically pained him.

Returning to my seat, Dante offered a mock bow. "Well done, your highness. A true mathematician."

"Yeah, yeah, just try not to bomb the next test," I shot back, but I couldn't help but smile. We may have been in over our heads, but at least we were in it together.

As the bell rang, we gathered our things, the chatter in the classroom transitioning into laughter as we filed out into the bustling hallway. The scent of fresh ink and polished wood lingered in the air, mingling with the excitement of our first day.

"Next up, physics!" Kai exclaimed, leading the way down the corridor, the floorboards creaking beneath our feet.

"Great, more ways to fail spectacularly," Nico quipped, earning a nudge from Dante.

"Just keep your sketchbook ready for doodles," I added, rolling my eyes as we navigated the crowd of students, the buzz of conversations and footsteps creating a vibrant atmosphere.

The Physics Class

Physics class was no less intense, with our professor, Orion Blackwell, droning on about momentum and energy transfer. He had a tendency to get lost in his own explanations, providing an opportunity for mischief.

As he described kinetic energy, Nico slid a folded piece of paper across the table. I unfolded it to find a sketch of the professor as a stick figure, encircled by question marks, with the words "What is energy, really?" scrawled beneath. I bit back a laugh, covering my mouth.

Dante glanced at the drawing and snorted. "I think you've finally captured his essence, Nico."

"Thank you! I'll be taking commissions after class," Nico said with a wink.

Meanwhile, Sofia took notes diligently, shaking her head at us but with a hint of a smile. "You guys are impossible."

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"True," I admitted, sketching a quick response on the paper before sliding it back to him. "But you have to admit, it's more fun this way."

Sofia sighed dramatically but didn't argue, which felt like a small victory. Even Kai cracked a smile when he saw the sketch. Moments like this made even the toughest subjects a little more bearable.

The bell rang again, and we piled out of the classroom, chatting about the nuances of energy transfer. The corridor bustled with students, some heading to the cafeteria, while others, like us, made their way to economics.

"Have you ever seen so many people in one place?" Lila remarked, her eyes wide as we maneuvered through the throng.

"More like a stampede," Dante replied, dodging a group of first-year students who were laughing too loudly for their own good.

Economics Class

By the time we reached economics, exhaustion from math and physics was creeping in. Our professor, Samuel Hart, explained supply and demand curves, his voice soothing yet drowsy.

"So, what happens when supply increases but demand remains constant?" he asked, pacing the room.

Kai raised his hand, but before he could speak, Dante muttered under his breath, "It means there's a sale, and Nico buys ten of whatever's cheapest."

Nico feigned offense, clutching his chest dramatically. "I'll have you know I buy in bulk to save money."

"Right, because buying twenty novelty mugs was a necessity," I quipped, unable to resist.

Lila, struggling to stay awake beside me, suddenly perked up, adding, "It's true. His room looks like a gift shop exploded."

The professor paused mid-lecture to give us a stern look, but the corners of his mouth twitched, fighting back a smile. "Would you all care to share your insights with the class?"

Nico didn't miss a beat. "I think we've learned that oversupply leads to poor life choices, sir."

The class broke into chuckles, and even the professor shook his head with a bemused smile. "Alright, back to the curves, Mr. Nico."

The bell rang, and we were all too eager to leave behind the equations and charts for something more hands-on. Combat training awaited, and adrenaline coursed through my veins as we assembled on the training grounds.

"Alright, let's change into our combat dresses!" I declared, already feeling the anticipation rising.

We made our way to our lockers, weaving through the crowded hallways. The boys headed to their locker room, while we entered ours, the space buzzing with the chatter of girls excited for their first day of combat training.

As I opened my locker, I pulled out my combat attire—a sleek, dark blue outfit that clung comfortably yet allowed for freedom of movement. I couldn't help but feel a surge of confidence as I slipped it on.

"What do you think? Is this too flashy?" I asked, turning to show Lila.

"Not at all! You look fierce!" she replied with a grin, adjusting her own outfit, which shimmered with subtle hints of green that matched her water element.

"I hope this helps with the whole 'fighting' part of training," Kai chimed in, his outfit reflecting earthy tones.

Nico, in his bright red combat gear, flexed exaggeratedly. "With this on, I'm practically invincible!"

"More like a walking target," Dante teased, playfully shoving him.

As we finished changing, laughter filled the locker room, a welcome distraction from the looming challenge of combat training. Together, we stepped out into the open air, the sun warming our faces as we made our way to the training field.

The Combat Field

The air was crisp, charged with excitement as we entered the arena. I exchanged a competitive grin with Sofia.

"Arvi!" Sofia called, her blue eyes bright. "Are you ready to see if I can finally beat you this time?"

I smirked, cracking my knuckles. "Bring it on, Sofia! But don't say I didn't warn you when you end up eating dirt again."

She laughed, but there was a fire in her eyes that told me she was ready to give it her all. We squared off, and Master Tarin stepped forward, his imposing presence commanding respect.

"Remember, fight to learn, not to harm!" he barked, then lowered his hand. "Begin!"

Sofia wasted no time, darting forward with a surge of water that swept across the ground. I sidestepped, channeling my energy to form a shield that deflected her attack, droplets splashing into the air.

"Not bad, Arvi! But let's see how you handle this!" she spun, summoning a whirlpool that spiraled toward me, its vortex pulling at my feet.

"Seriously, Sofia, I thought we agreed no water tornadoes before noon!" I called, leaping back just in time. I focused, redirecting the flow of water with a sweep of my arm, sending the whirlpool back toward her.

Sofia yelped as her own attack splashed over her, leaving her soaked but laughing. "Okay, that was a cheap shot!"

"Hey, all's fair in love and water battles!" I shot back, my grin widening. I admired her resilience—she never gave up, even when I turned the tables.

From the sidelines, Dante and Nico had apparently made bets on the match's outcome.

"I'm putting my money on Arvi—she's got this!" Dante declared.

Nico crossed his arms, pretending to look serious. "You know, maybe I should have put my money on Sofia. Arvi's being way too nice today."

"Nice?" I repeated incredulously, dodging another water strike. "I'll show you nice!"

I concentrated, summoning a burst of water that splashed toward Sofia. She countered with a powerful wave, and for a moment, our powers clashed in midair, creating a spray of mist that caught the sunlight.

Master Tarin clapped his hands sharply, signaling the end of the round. "Good work, both of you! That's enough for now."

Sofia and I lowered our hands, both of us breathing hard but smiling.

"Looks like it's a tie, huh?" she panted, wiping a strand of wet hair from her face.

"For now," I replied, my voice teasing. "But I'll win next time, just you wait."

As we walked off the training grounds, Nico and Dante joined us, already bickering about their bets.

"You totally owe me, Dante," Nico said smugly. "I called it—Arvi held back!"

"Yeah, yeah," Dante grumbled, digging a few coins out of his pocket. "Next time, I'm betting on Sofia."

We all burst out laughing, the sound echoing through the arena. It was in moments like these—surrounded by friends, battling and bantering—that I felt most alive.

And as we walked away from the training grounds, I couldn't help but think that, no matter what challenges lay ahead, we'd be ready to face them