"You sure about this?" Hanz whispered from my side as we all walked outside.

Kent portrayed this entire thing as a friendly spar, and everyone went along with it perfectly. I had to give props to his act. He had everyone wrapped around his finger.

"I got this," I said.

We made it to a small field in front of the student council dormitories. Myla, Sara, Irene, Hanz, Lina, and a few others looked on from the sidelines as Kent and I got into battle positions.

"On 'go,' start," Myla said, referring to the fight. "No weapons. Magic and martial arts only. The fight ends with the first knee."

We both nodded our heads, and Myla began the countdown.

"Three, two, one, go!"

Kent instantly clapped his hands, and a mist thicker than any fog I had ever seen surrounded the battle area.

As I enhanced my body, I sent a pulse of wind through the air to find out where he was.

Behind me.

I turned around instantly and caught his punch, parrying and going for a kick at his side.

He jumped back and shot balls of fire toward me. I countered them by sending water balls. Each time our spells collided, the rays of light from his fire disappeared, followed by a sizzling sound.

I shadow stepped and closed in, my arms clad in ice as I went for a barrage of punches. "What is the reason for this? I know this isn't some friendly spar."

He erupted into flames, and we continued to engage in close combat. "People like you make me sick," he spat, eventually flailing back from our close combat and disappearing into his mist once more.

I sent multiple wind torrents to try to clear the mist, but it was futile. Its source was constantly supplying.

I sent another wind pulse to find his location, but to my surprise, there were four identical mana signatures. I soon had a flashback to class.

Illusions. Not only to the eyes but to mana senses as well. Interesting.

Four Kents ran toward me from different directions. I couldn't tell which one was authentic, so I waited for them to close in.

Once they did, I used wind magic to jump, sending me flying above them all. In mid-air, I unleashed a barrage of ice shards at each one. Each of the duplicates disappeared in a second, leaving the real Kent black with a flame-clad arm.

He shot an arc of fire toward me mid-air, but I channeled dark magic and shadowstepped to the ground, my fist meeting his gut.

He buckled over from my mana-enhanced blow but didn't fall. Instead, he conjured a blade of condensed water and attempted to cut my shoulder.

As I dodged his attack, his figure stepped back into the thick fog.

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***

Kent Ashfall’s P.O.V.

I retreated into my mist, seething with anger that the brat managed to land a blow on me. I couldn't understand why the headmaster had chosen her, someone who wasn't of noble blood, to lead the school. It was outrageous, and I couldn't help but wonder why as the days passed. The nobles funded the school, the tournaments, the field trips, and almost everything else. So why?

I had tried to get him to see my view, but he never listened. It was exhausting, putting on a facade every day as if I liked these people. I wasn't here to make friends; I was here to become the strongest mage possible. I needed power.

The words the headmaster had said to me the day I suggested I become student council president echoed in my mind. "No, Myla Elway will be the one. It's much better this way, Kent. I need you for other matters."

The memory sparked annoyance within me. He didn't even give me other matters to attend to, other than being the treasurer. An annoying job that should have been reserved for someone much weaker than I.

I conjured more illusions to distract the worthless brat and planned my next attack. "Keep an eye on the younger Elway, would you, Kent? He may be a great opponent for you in the future," the headmaster's voice echoed once more.

Comparing me to a first-year was a disrespect beyond my comprehension. This brat competing with me? No fucking chance.

I sent sharp shards of water towards the boy, using my illusions to distract him one by one. I waited until his back was turned and struck with a water-made blade.

However, when my blade made contact with the boy, it instantly froze over and shattered. He turned with lightning speed and went for a low sweep kick.

How is he so fast?

I had never met a first-year who could move like him. There was no denying that the kid was strong.

Thinking back to when I first met the brat, I realized that's when it all started. I should have been worried about anyone who could interest the headmaster to such a degree.

No, I shouldn't worry. The brat is weak. I corrected myself.

The more importance the headmaster placed on these Elways, the more annoyed I became. It was like a drug of rage that fueled my desire to become stronger. Because when I become stronger, I can defeat her. That goddamn bitch.

I barely avoided his kick and retaliated with a kick of my own, but the boy moved with the shadows.

What is that spell? Wind?

I then felt a powerful force of wind push against my back, propelling me forward. I managed to stay on my feet and turned around to attack the brat once more, but a strong gust of wind, one that not even my mist could come back from, swept over the battlefield.

The crowd of people that I had hidden the battlefield from revealed themselves.

***

Falyn Elway’s P.O.V.

A surge of wind, not of my own making, engulfed the battlefield. As my vision cleared, I turned to face the crowd and saw Myla standing there with her wand out.

"Time's up, boys," she said. "We couldn't see the fight and wanted to make sure everything was okay."

"Everything's fine. Kent here is quite strong," I replied. "An amazing sparring partner indeed."

All eyes turned to Kent, but he remained silent.

"He was able to keep up with you, Kent?" Sara asked, her voice filled with obvious shock.

"He's a strong kid, what can I say?" Kent finally spoke.

"Way to go, Fal!" Hanz cheered.

Lina hurried over to me. "Are you hurt? Do you need any healing?"

"No, I'm fine," I assured her as I walked over to join everyone. "It was quite a fair fight."

"Well, if that's the case, can we go back inside now? I'm hungry," Irene chimed in.

"Agreed," Sara added, and they both turned around.

Everyone gestured for Kent and me to follow, and we did.

I couldn't comprehend the satisfaction Kent derived from sparring with me, but in that moment, within the mist, it was evident that he carried pent-up anger. I could only guess at its cause. However, his combat skills were superb, and now that everyone could see him, he appeared completely normal.

I'll have to stay vigilant and keep my guard up around him. This was truly an odd situation to be in.

The night came to an end without any further major events. Kent kept his distance and acted as if nothing had happened.

Hanz and I left the party, finally making our way back to our dorm around midnight.

"It's only the first day, and I'm already not ready to wake up so early," Hanz groaned as he collapsed onto his bed.

"I couldn't agree more," I replied, doing the same.