April 20th, year 024 Angels Descent

The class were ready and waiting in the classroom by the time Alex walked in with Freki at his heel. Looking at the class with mild surprise, he couldn’t help but grin at them as he sat down.

“Got the jump on me today, eh?”

“Well, it matters little. For today’s lesson, we will have a guest lecturer joining us. They go by many titles,” Alex began as the light in the room started to dim.

“Overlord of the forge,” the whole building shook with a deep rumble like something massive just outside had taken a step.

“Destroyer of the Palace of Wrath!” another thud shook the entire building; despite this, the class had more than been inoculated to his showmanship than they cared to admit.

“SHAKER OF THE EARTH BENEATH OUR VERY FEET!!!” At Alex’s crescendo, the doors flew off their hinges, slamming into the other side of the room. A towering figure in full plate armour that barely fit through the doorway stepped in.

“Come on out, Big Chief, we know it’s you!” Gunter shouted to the armour.

“Gunter’s right. It is obviously Professor Yuu, sir,” Maxwell added.

“Sir, we know about Professor Yuu. We even know why she was taken in as an apprentice for Sloth. She told us when we had tea together; we know she blew up her father's palace!” Daisy shouted over the sound of the building, which continued to rumble.

“I AM NOT SHE!” A deep baritone replied from within the armour.

“Come on, Professor, you aren’t fooling anyone,” Kline said as he walked up and rapped the suit on the helmet with his spear. “Come on out, we know it’s you in there,” another clang against the helmet rang out.

“Kids… Please don’t provoke him,” Alex asked, looking concerned.

“Sir, we have taken your lesson about not falling for tricks to heart. So you two can stop playing around and-” Kline tried to take another swing at the armour only to have the spear yanked out of his hands and watch as the figure in the armour bent it and looped it into a knot before handing it back to Kline.

“What the…” Kline muttered as he looked at his now-knotted spear and then up at the suit.

“Sir… is this really not Yuu?” Kline asked, looking around the treetrunk-like leg of the figure.

“Yep, if anything, I’m impressed with how well he’s staying calm,” Alex replied, looking up at the figure.

The figure then shifted the visor of his helm slightly, and an overwhelming pressure, far worse than Crozonia had exerted, began to press down upon the class. The desks and chairs around the whole classroom collapsed into splinters. Without any hope of resisting themselves, the entire class were quickly forced flat on the ground.

“Wow, I think he’s going to kill you, kids, for not welcoming him,” Alex teased. Struggling to look up, the class could see a thin trail of blood leaking out the corner of his mouth.

“Kids, as I was trying to say, this gentleman goes by the name Gorm Bluebeard.”

With the name given, the pressure entirely vanished, and the class struggled to stand up with their legs shaking like a newborn foal. The only exception was Kline, who was still flat on the ground, groaning.

“I think he’s learnt his lesson Gorm,” Alex warned as Gorm recoiled under the pressure Alex was suddenly unleashing in his direction. Both men stared at one another as the temperature in the room rapidly dropped.

Even as novices of soul exercises, the class could tell these two were monsters to be feared in their own right, and they were moments away from scrapping.

“WHO HURT MY LOVE!!!” Elissa roared as she rushed into the classroom and looked around, only to see Kline on the floor and Gorm in a glaring match with Alex. Walking up to the glaring pair Elissa gently put her hand around Gorm's bracer and began visibly crushing it between her fingers.

“OI GORM STOP THAT; OTHERWISE, YOU ARE UNINVITED TO THE WEDDING!!” Elissa barked.

Gorm turned to look at the interloper only to retreat a step in fear and drop all pressure he had on Kline, leaving him worse for wear. The now free Kline gasped as if he had been drowning mere moments ago and was now savouring the air he could now breathe.

“I am sorry, Lissy. You know Gorm gets hot-headed when people are mean,” Gorm replied, lowering his head so low he may as well have been prostrating himself.

“Gorm, I know you get like that. It’s why I tried to hype up your introduction. Make it clear you’re a big player. It seems I made my class a tad too paranoid,” Alex explained as he patted the backplate of Gorm’s armour.

“Thanks, bestest bud,” Gorm said, turning around and embracing Alex in a bear hug. The class couldn’t help but wince when they heard distinct popping noises as he did this.

“Ughh… thanks bud… can you… let me… go now?” Alex barely managed to wheeze out between desperate breaths.

“Oh, sorry, Gorm forgets his own strength sometimes,” Gorm said as he rubbed the back of his helm with his gauntleted hand.

“Chief, can I get that name again?”

“Sure, it was Gorm Bluebeard,” Alex repeated as Gorm removed his helmet.

Beneath the helm was a rough face with a beard that looked more like the top of a tree stuck to his chin. The beard was deep black, while his head was shaved and coated in tattooed runes. He had the distinctive rounded features that were common amongst the Titan race.

“Chief…” Gunter began as he visibly began to sweat heavily and shake at the sight of Gorm. “Please tell me this isn’t the Prince of the Frozen north.”

“Gunter?” Bea asked, looking at her nervous perch worriedly.

“Bluebeard is the royal family's name. It is forbidden by an oath of death to take the name unless it is given by the Ice Emperor himself,” Gunter explained.

“Yeah, father gave Gorm the name,” Gorm replied. At this admission, Gunter, who was already shaky on his feet, collapsed unconscious.

“GUNTER?!!” Bea cried out, jumping off just before he impacted the floor. “Crap, we need to do mouth to mouth… I’LL DO IT!!!” Bea shouted in a panic.

“No need, Bea,” Alex said, stopping her before she could start.

“Titans often get like this when they see Gorm,” Gorm added.

“Their culture treats their royalty as one step from divinity, so to Gunter, it was like seeing a demi-god all of a sudden,” Alex explained as he took out a small bottle from a pouch on his belt.

“Is that some kind of waking potion?” Bea asked, reaching out to snatch it.

“It’s smelling salts… geeze Bea not everything has to be magical,” Alex replied as he removed the stopper and held it under Gunter’s nose. Gunter rapidly startled awake and looked around, only to freeze when he looked at Gorm.

“Am I dreaming, Chief?”

“No, bud, that really is the heir to the Great-Glacial throne,” Alex replied.

“I have embarrassed myself to such a degree; forgive me, you most exalted majesty!!! If needed, it will be an honour to offer my life in recompense!!!” Gunter cried out as he prostrated himself before Gorm.

“This is why Gorm doesn’t like removing helmet around Titans. They are always like this,” Gorm replied as he knelt down and tried to get Gunter to stand up.

“Gorm would be happiest if you live a long life and become an old man,” Gorm said as he lifted Gunter up onto his feet, brushing off a few bits of desk that had gotten stuck to his clothing.

“So why is he here, sir?” Maxwell asked, keeping his eye on Gorm.

“Well, he is an old school friend from back when we attended here. He is here mainly to help Elissa teach you melee combat. Magic is good and all, but if you don’t learn to handle yourselves in close combat, you may as well cut your own throat now.”

“Why can’t we learn from one or the other?” Tasha asked, glancing at Elissa.

“Simple, you won’t always be facing a conveniently sized enemy. Elissa is strong but slender. Gorm is big and strong. Together you will learn ways to deal with people with their traits. I will also teach you how to deal with a speedy type of combatant like Mimi,” Alex explained as he turned to face Gorm and gestured to the doors.

“Was destroying my classroom really necessary, Gorm?” Alex asked.

“Gorm is sorry; it’s just you told Gorm to make a big entrance.”

“Not so big you smash my classroom. Let alone all the defensive wards I had set up?!” Alex replied before exhaling a deep and exhausted sigh.

“It matters little anyways. We can just locate to a new lecture room next week. Ok, class, go grab your gear from your dorm rooms. Grab only your best stuff, no exceptions. Bring your familiars if they are combat types. You are going to learn that Elissa went really easy on you the first time around,” Alex commanded as he was followed out of the classroom closely by Elissa and the thudding Gorm.

The class followed his instructions and made quick work of gearing up and arriving in the ruined arena that had become more their training ground than the sparse use the rest of the faculty used it for. Stepping into the arena, the class found Alex and Elissa standing in the middle.

“Are we interrupting?” Maxwell asked.

“No,” Alex replied with a grunt as Elissa grabbed him around his waist and threw him across the arena. Before he could impact against the wall, Alex conjured a flash shield to deflect himself from the wall and reorientated himself back to his feet using the shining runic tattoos on his wrists. Spinning with the momentum he had, the class saw a light circle in his palm; as he thrust it out, an intense beam of light shot out.

Rubbing their eyes, the class cleared the spots the flash had caused, only for them to gawk at the damage done to the wall across from him. There was a precise slice through the stands from which they could see the outside of the arena. Had it not already been named the ruined arena, they had no doubt it would probably become named that after that kind of damage.

Elissa wasted no time and cleared the distance, her necromantic blade already out, ready to impale Alex in his undefended chest. In response, Alex collapsed backwards, let the blade fly above his head, and landed a hit on Elissa's shoulder, sending her into an uncontrollable spin.

Flying through the air, Elissa shouted in frustration as she took out a knife and flicked her wrist. The knife's blade shot out of the hilt and into the ground, connected by a wire. The second it went taught, she yanked it and pulled herself back at speed towards Alex’s unprotected back.

In response, Alex dove forwards, recreating his response to the first time, simply letting her attack fly just over him, clipping only a few stray hairs. With his hands against the ground, the class could see the earth behind him where Elissa was flying towards begin to ripple like the surface of water.

The moment Elissa landed, she sank into the ground, shortly followed by the ripples ceasing. With only her feet sticking out of the ground, the class began to worry for Elissa, only for her to burst from the ground like an earthen serpent, sending debris all around the arena. Punching and kicking a few of the stray rocks, she launched them at such a speed that there was a loud crack similar to a bullwhip.

It took all of his effort to conjure a flash shield and defend himself against the attack. Sweeping his hand against the ground, he threw up a cloud of dust blocking Elissa’s view of him. Undeterred, Elissa charged into the cloud, sword at the ready.

The class, who had been watching this entire session dumbstruck, now only understood a fraction of what Alex meant when he said she had gone easy on them. Had any of their attacks been targeted at them even working together, they would’ve undoubtedly died.

Looking around the arena for Gorm, they found him sitting in a comically small chair with Yuu sitting next to him. Both seemed locked in an animated conversation as if an epic clash for the ages was not happening right in front of them.

It was then that it dawned on the class. It wasn’t, these were people for who this kind of clash was every day, and anything less was not even worth remembering. Looking back to the fight itself, the class could see the dust finally settled, and the class found Alex on his knees, with Elissa holding her sword to his throat.

In response, Alex held up two fingers to indicate he had surrendered the bout. Turning his gaze to the class, he swiftly spun around the blade still held to his throat and stood up, waving over to the class.

“Hey guys, we were just getting a bit of a warm-up in while we waited for you,” Alex said as he walked over to them.

“T-that was a warm-up?” Kline stammered out.

“Sure was. Feels good to get all loosey-goosey every so often,” Alex replied as he wriggled his arms.

“Ok, so for the bouts, we will do a mix of teams and singular combat. Much like with the forest incident, you need to work on your teamwork while also honing your solo combat skills. But don’t worry, Gorm will keep you on the defensive,” Alex explained, gesturing to Gorm, who had responded to his name being spoken.

“Why is the Big Chief here?”

“She is part of our medical team. Also, with Gorm here, no force in this world would’ve kept her away. Those two are as inseparable as Elissa and me,” Alex explained.

“Oh, so they fancy one another?” Bea asked.

“No, they’re engaged. They have been since they were like six, all part of a diplomatic marriage. They’re just lucky they genuinely love each other.” As the class paused to comprehend this new information and tried to work out the mechanics of the pair's love, they felt a thudding they recognised as Gorm approaching.

“Alright, class, Gorm is here to teach you. Gorm needs to see you each fight by yourselves first. You can use familiars should you wish. Also, attack me with your strongest strikes and don’t hold back. Don’t worry; Gorm is INVINCIBLE!!!!” Gorm declared, holding up his arms in triumph at announcing his invincibility.

----------------------------------------

“Ok, kids, before I grab a premium seat to watch you fight, Gorm is privy to the imperial seal, so those of you who can use the light circle system go hog wild. Also, don’t worry when he said he was invincible; he meant it more regarding you kids. There is unlikely anything you could cast that who even scratch him.”

“If that is the case, what is the point of fighting him?” Maxwell asked.

“Simple, you may one day find yourselves trapped against an opponent whom you can’t harm. How you react can determine if you survive.”

“Like what? We’re not like you, sir; we can’t dive headfirst into a fight all willy-nilly like you can,” Daisy replied.

“Hmm,” Alex mumbled to himself as he stroked his beard. “Well, practice makes perfect. I wasn’t always such a badass. You will need to get used to fighting against an immovable object regardless. Fight as if reinforcements that can defeat your enemy are a few minutes away.”

“What if we are in a situation where no reinforcements are on the way?” Maxwell asked.

“Well, in that case, prioritise who you can sacrifice and those who you can’t. Sadly, not everyone can survive in some fights, and it becomes a prioritising game.”

“What if we were in a battle and you had to choose between our class or Elissa? Who would you prioritise then?” Tasha asked.

“Simple, you kids. Elissa is a big girl. She would be the same way as well. It’s not like we haven’t been locked in prison a few times already. Upside to being very powerful, you become a good bargaining chip for the enemy.”

“Surely that would mean you would be prioritised?” Maxwell asked.

“By high command, obviously, I would be. But in my personal opinion, kids like you lot, all have infinite potential to grow. While the older I get, the less potential I have. Between finite and infinity, I know what I’d always choose.”

Having finished his little opening talk, Alex spun on his heel and went to the stands sitting between Elissa and Yuu in the seat Gorm had vacated. Left alone with the towering wall of muscle and steel, the class was left unsure of how to start, only for Gorm to speak before they could.

“Ok, you who struck me repeatedly, Gorm will test your metal first,” Gorm declared, pointing at Kline.

“Me, sir?” Kline asked, his entire being shaking.

“Yes, something about your face makes Gorm wish for you to go first despite the strikes,” Gorm replied as he confidently strode towards the centre of the arena. Leaving Kline to follow him while the rest of the class settled into their seats to watch.

“Worry not. Gorm will not retaliate; he wishes only for you to strike with your mightiest attacks,” Gorm declared as he stood stock still in the middle of the arena.

“You sure, sir?” Kline asked to which Gorm gave a nod. Without hesitating, Kline stuck his arm out to his side.

“Come forth, for I seek the greater beyond! Come aid me, Manny. I require your help!!” Kline shouted as a flash shot out, and his Manticore familiar appeared by his side.

“I HATH COME TO AID YOU, MY MASTER. SHALL WE STRIKE DOWN THE STRANGE, THREATENING ONE?” Manny asked, looking Alex’s way.

“No, we need to attack Sir Gorm over there,” Kline replied, gesturing to where Gorm stood. Manny looked in Gorm’s direction, and all at once, his fur stood on end as his tail went rigid.

“MASTER, I SHALL OFFER MY LIFE FOR THEE!!” Manny declared as he lowered his body, ready to pounce.

“Gorm awaits your attack with anticipation!”

“MASTER, I SUGGEST YOU OPEN WITH AN ATTACK TO PUT HIM OFF BALANCE,” Manny declared as he began to pace around the unmoving Gorm.

“LUMUS REX!!!” Chanting the light spell, Kline created the shape earth spell and slammed the circle into the ground at his feet, sending a wave towards the ground beneath one of Gorm's legs, causing it to collapse into a small hole. At the very same time, Manny charged in to strike at Gorm’s exposed head with his tail.

“TAKE THIS POISON, OH GREAT ENEMY!!” Manny declared. As his tailed struck home and landed against Gorm’s cheek, all onlookers were frozen with shock. Manny’s tail had failed to pierce Gorm’s skin.

“PAH, HE HATH ARMOURED SKIN MASTER. TIS SUCH STRENGTH IT BOGGLES MY MIND!!”

“Gorm does not have armoured skin,” Gorm replied. “Gorm was carved from adamantine stone and granted life such as the old ways of the Dwarves and Titans.”

“What is he on about?!” Kline cried out as he gestured for Manny to retreat.

“Birds and Bees for Titans and Dwarven nobility!” Alex shouted in response from his seat in the stands.

“Gorm said, strike with your greatest attack. The whole point of this part of the lesson is for Gorm to assess your strength; if you don’t wish to, then Gorm will oblige!”

With his warning, Gorm lifted the foot that had sunk into a hole in the ground caused by Kline's spell and stomped on the floor above it. An explosion of dust shot out, and Kline could see a metallic breastplate in his face before he could even blink.

Recoiling backwards as fast as he could, he struck out with his replacement spear, aiming for the point it connected at the waist. Leaping off the ground, he allowed his strike to push him back as he put up a standard shield to block any counterattacks. While this happened, Manny dove from where he was standing onto Gorm’s back to try and rend him away from his threatened master.

“Magnificient. Gorm commends your struggle!” With little choice, Kline continued his retreat as he looked up at Gorm, who had Manny’s maw clamped down around his head. It was as he retreated Kline recalled a way Alex had used the sand wall defensive spell.

“LUMUS REX!!” Kline shouted as he cast the light spell to summon the magic circle for the defensive spell. All at once, a razor-thin line of sand shot out of the ground right at Gorm’s feet. The sand wall was intense and severed Kline’s spear in two. But to his shock, it was parted in two spots where Gorm’s feet covered the spell.

“Truly, you are one of Gorm’s bestest friends, students using spells such as these!”

In response to the spell, Gorm shoved Kline backwards with a gentle nudge. As Kline was left wondering what was happening, it was then he noticed that the stream of sand shooting upwards had been redirected to where his head would have been had Gorm not shoved him.

“Gorm would recommend only using such attacks in close quarters if you can defend against them yourself. Otherwise, only use it on enemies at a distance. Otherwise, they can redirect it back at you,” Gorm explained as he returned to his resting stance.

“My weapon is broken; my bout is lost,” Kline declared.

“YOU HAVE BREATH IN YOUR LUNGS AND A VOICE IN YOUR THROAT. YOU CAN CONTINUE TO FIGHT!!”

Gorm clearly was not willing to let Kline throw in the towel just yet. But he was running at the limits of what he could plan and imagine. Gorm was clearly too durable to best with the strikes he was going for.

“Why do you hesitate? Why have you not gone for Gorm’s eyes?! If this were a real fight, Gorm definitely would’ve won and laughed at you following rules!!”

“But going for the eyes is wrong!” Kline protested.

“Real flights have no rules. There is no fairness in a battle of life and death. You limit yourself as such; you will find death your companion and not your enemy’s,” Gorm replied, seemingly less than impressed with the show of force Kline had put on so far.

“There is an old poet that Gorm remembers now,” Gorm said as he crossed his arms and rested his chin in his hand as if in deep thought.

“He said, ‘Rage, rage against the dying of the light’ the rest Gorm cannot recall fully, but it was mostly about fighting till the very end. If your will is not enough to resist, then Gorm may as well end your pitiful life here and now.”

“FINE, YOU WANT ME TO BREAK ALL RULES OF FIGHTING?!!! YOU WANT TO SEE MY RAGE?!!!!” Kline roared as he unleashed a wave of pressure that surprised everyone in the arena, both teachers and students. Watching from a distance, the class could even see a fist-sized dent in Gorm’s breastplate.

“What’s happening, sir?” Maxwell asked, turning to Alex.

“Looks like Kline has somehow honed his soul pressure to a singular point. That’s like two levels above what I’m getting you kids to practise. First is growing the strength, second is releasing it, and third is focusing it. It’s how Gorm could focus it all on Kline after lifting it from the rest of you,” Alex explained as he gestured back to the match.

“Gorm wants you to realise in a real fight; there are no rules!”

“LUMUS REX!!” Kline shouted as he funnelled all his rage into the next spell, recreating the fire flash spell with the hope of recreating the way Hadean had shown them.

“Gorm commends your use of a spell to blind-” Gorm didn’t get to finish his statement as an intense, fiery flash burst in Gorm’s face causing him to recoil. The air around him began to visibly get drawn to the point where the blast had occurred.

Leaning backwards from the recoil of the blast, Kline looked on, hoping he had succeeded, only to see Gorm return to his standing position with his lips firmly held together and his nostrils somehow closed. Gorm’s only response to Kline's attack was a thumbs up.

Kline couldn’t help but stare, gawking at the mountainous figure of muscle and armour standing before him who had not even singed by the attack. Then to his shock, with the grace of a ballerina, Gorm spun on his toes and retreated back to his starting position.

“Gorm commends you for a magnificent strike. Had Gorm been any normal being, you would’ve killed him with that attack,” Gorm declared, clapping his hands in approval.

“Gorm has seen enough; for now, you may return to the stands to rest,” Gorm declared, gesturing to the seats.

“You have done well to even mark me. Gorm also commends your use of simultaneous attacks with your familiar while unfooting Gorm. Gorm’s only criticism is you did not press your advantage, but you are young, so with time and experience, you will learn.”

Feeling out of sorts, Kline staggered back to the stands where the class were all giving enthusiastic applause. Even Eliss, Alex and Yuu were alspo applauding.

“You hurt anywhere, Kline?” Yuu asked.

“Huh? Oh no, I’m fine; Gorm actually protected me from one of my own attacks,” Kline replied, rubbing his arm sheepishly.

“That is because Gorm would not wish sorrow on his love!!” Gorm shouted from his spot in the middle of the arena.

“What does he mean?” Kline asked.

“If he indirectly caused your death, he knows I would’ve killed him, and Yuu would be heartbroken by losing her love and her best friend in one fell swoop,” Alex answered.

“However, we saw you nearly decapitate yourself. Had he not reacted in time, we may have lost you; I would’ve struggled to engage a flash shield myself in time to save you,” Alex replied.

“So, sir, you mentioned something about the birds and bees during their bout?” Bea asked curiously.

“Yes, Gorm is the same as Yuu in many ways. The core one being is how they were born,” Alex replied.

“Was it any different from the way we were born, sir?” Maxwell asked.

“Well, Yuu can explain it better than me.”

“Indeed I can. Titans and Dwarves make babies one of two ways. The fun way that you kids probably know. Then the crafted way which is exclusive to nobility amongst our races.”

“Crafted?” Daisy repeated with a confused tilt of her head.

“Yes, it is a very literal description. The parents select a material and craft a child’s form out of it. Then they collectively spend a week channelling their lifeforce into it. At the end of the week, the form comes to life.”

“So, like a golem?” Maxwell asked.

“Far more complex than a golem. A golem is a puppet made of inanimate objects. A crafted child is brought to life with this method. Also, each parent's amount of life force can affect the child. My father, for instance, channelled for six days while my mother only managed a single day. So I inherited more of my father's personality.”

“It is also worth noting that if he channelled all seven days, he would’ve died from draining his lifeforce before it could refill,” Elissa added.

“Gods make you wonder if Wrath is entirely crazy if not for the overbearing level of self-control he has,” Alex muttered.

“Quiet!” Yuu barked as she threw a bottle at Alex’s head.

“Anyways, nobility of our races can literally form our own children. Me and Gorm were both crafted from pure adamantine, which is why we’re both so durable.”

“So you could theoretically channel the life force of both races into making a hybrid?” Bea asked, glancing at Gunter.

“Yes, in theory,” Yuu replied with a knowing wink.

“But to be granted the right to do so, you’d need to become nobility for your race,” Alex added as he rubbed his temple.

“Gorm awaits the one known as Flower. May her skill in flames melt my exterior!!!”

Hearing what she assumed was her name being called, Daisy rose from her seat and stepped forwards, prepared to do battle following Kline's example. She knew now that Gorm expected a no holds barred fight. All rules were out the window, and there would be no trick too dastardly.

Walking towards Gorm, Daisy stopped a few paces away from him and drew her rapier that she now knew was crafted by Yuu and Alex.

“My name is Daisy, and I greet you!” Daisy declared as she bowed respectfully.

“Gorm welcomes the Flower girl!”

“One moment, sir, may I check if this will work on you?” Daisy asked as she held the rapier up.

“That is the goal of this training; worry not!!” Gorm declared as he guffawed at her request.

“Let us begin; Gorm holds great anticipation towards one such as yourself!”

The pair stood opposite one another. Gorm was still as a statue while Daisy crouched down, readying herself to charge. Her eyes darted around the arena, looking for a route to strike from. Switching her sword to her left hand to free her right hand, she began sprinting forwards.

“Gorm commends a frontal assault!”

Daisy ignored his compliment and dove forwards, her rapier out, aiming for his right eye. Gorm, however, didn’t react at all. This caused Daisy to expect the sword to phase through Gorm as it had in her previous sparring match. But to her shock, the blade's tip stopped the moment it touched his eyeball.

“Gorm can recognise a blade forged by his love!” Gorm roared as he clenched his fists in pride at Yuu’s work. Closing his eyelid so it looked like he was winking, Daisy was shocked to feel she couldn’t pull her sword away.

“Nghhhh,” her grunt of effort seemed to amuse Gorm as he began to boisterously laugh.

“Bwuh ha ha, you cannot best Gorm’s wink of love!!”

Daisy decided to change tact, realising her expensive rapier was held firmly between his eyelids. Jumping off the ground, she pulled herself towards Gorm’s face and pressed her feet against Gorm’s breastplate, so she was standing parallel to the ground beneath her.

“Gorm finds you amusing. Compared to the little rabbit, you have a calm fire. Very much like bestest buddy!!”

Daisy ignored his words as she began jumping against his breastplate to get a swinging motion going. This, however, only amused Gorm even more.

“Gorm has become like he was with Alex’s smaller students!! Are you one of them, flower girl?!”

As he guffawed again, Daisy saw her opening and swung herself entirely up, so she was finally above his head height. As his mouth was open with laughter, she summoned up a light circle and thrust a fire lance right down his throat.

Gorm reacted instantly, clamping his mouth and nostrils shut as he had against Kline’s fire attack. But that was only part of Daisy’s plan as he instinctively opened his eye, freeing her rapier. Now stuck close to Gorm, who was looking at her with a beaming grin that unnerved her.

“I shot fire down your oesophagus, and you smile like that?!! How durable are you?!!” She shouted as she retreated back a few steps.

“Gorm has swum through a volcano with his love on a romantic evening,” Gorm replied.

“We have?” Yuu replied, seemingly surprised by the fact.

“Yes, Gorm knows you wouldn’t remember. It was when you were drunk on knowledge!!” Gorm replied, ignoring Daisy’s rapid thrusts that were puncturing holes in his armour.

“Oh, during those few years?” Yuu asked to which Gorm eagerly nodded.

“You said Gorm would be your only love through all time. Gorm knew after you said that Gorm’s heart belonged to no other!”

“Do you mind if we are in a sparring match!!” Daisy complained as she summoned up a light circle in her hand.

“Shape earth, flower girl?” Gorm asked, looking at the circle. “Gorm is too sure-footed to fall for the same trick twi-” Gorm bent over as a sudden mound several feet tall shot up between his legs. Bending over and clutching between his legs, he staggered back a few steps.

“You have struck Gorm’s most precious jewels!!” Gorm roared, anger rolling off him in a palpable aura.

“You said there were no rules in a fight!” Daisy replied as she retreated out of his immediate range.

“YOU STRUCK GORM IN HIS MOST PRECIOUS JEWELS!!!” Gorm roared as he struck the ground creating a crater.

“Crap… I’m sor-”

“GORM COMMENDS YOU FOR TAKING THE FIGHT SERIOUSLY!!!” Gorm roared, interrupting Daisy’s attempted apology.

“There is no place sacred in a fight. Use all weaknesses!” Gorm declared as he returned to a standing position.

“Gorm commends you going for possible vulnerable spots. So far, your attacks would’ve killed several people that were not Gorm!”

“LUMUS REX!!” Daisy chanted, bringing up the flash fire spell as Kline had, but this time she set the detonation point somewhere different just as Gorm was about to clamp his mouth shut, the fire detonated inside his mouth.

Recoiling from the blast, Gorm let out an agonised cry as he stumbled backwards, falling on his back. The entire arena went dead silent at this. Everyone watching was in a stunned silence. However, Daisy remembered one thing Gorm had said about Kline not pressing his advantage.

Charging towards the downed Gorm, Daisy held out her rapier in her left hand and slashed downwards, cutting the breastplate in half. Before she could continue her strikes, however, an explosion beneath Gorm shot out. Slowly Gorm began to rise back to his feet. Rising as if his heels were connected to hinges on the floor.

Smoke coated his face obscuring his reaction to the strike. As he rose, the breastplate fell off, revealing a bare chest covered in lit-up runic tattoos and deep scars.

Not letting the opening be lost, Daisy charged and pressed her attack once against thrusting upwards with her rapier. Focusing all her strength behind the strike, she held her free hand out behind her and summoned a light circle for one of the movement spells Alex used.

Moving far faster than normal, her blade struck home against his stomach, the blade bending under the sheer force of the strike. It was then that Daisy looked up to see Gorm’s face now free of the smoke. He was smiling like a madman down at her.

As she gazed up at the mad smile, she heard a metallic snapping noise that broke her out of her daze. Looking down at her rapier, she was horrified to find the blade had broken against his skin. As she stood there staring at the hilt, which used to have a blade of the highest quality sticking out of it, she didn’t know how to react.

“Gorm commends you, but your weapon is now lost; it is no shame to surrender,” Gorm suggested as he reached out to comfort Daisy. As his large hand approached an unmoving Daisy, all watching assumed the fight was over, only for Daisy to mutter something.

“What was that flower girl?”

“I said… I HAVE BREATH IN MY LUNGS AND A VOICE IN MY THROAT!!” Screaming her response in his face as she jumped past his outstretched hand and brought up her right hand.

“GLADIUS!!” Transforming her metallic slime familiar into a sword, she slashed downwards with all her frustration and might. That was when she felt the spray of something hot. Looking up, she saw Gorm now had a fresh slash against his chest.

As she revelled in her triumph of actually hurting the invulnerable giant, she felt a titanic kick towards her chest that sent her flying backwards. As she flew backwards, she felt a soft air cushion catch her as Alex and Yuu rushed into the field before everything darkened.

“What happened?” Maxwell asked, having broken the silence of what they had just witnessed. Looking to the centre of the arena, they could see Gorm standing there, looking at his freshly cut chest with a mix of shock and pride. His gaze only broke to look towards the unmoving form of Daisy, who was unconscious on the floor, being treated by Yuu and Alex.

“She used a metallic slime blade,” Elissa answered.

“But even the blade Yuu made couldn’t cut his skin; how could a slime blade do it?”

“I’m not as clever as those two are,” Elissa replied, gesturing to the pair who were still fussing over Daisy. “But magic is about bringing form to your imagination. She changed the form of her slime into a sword and imprinted the desire to cut Gorm into the transformation. The Slime did its best to comply.”

“Indeed, Lissy is right!” Gorm added as he approached the seated class.

“It only broke the skin, but Gorm shall wear this wound with pride. It will also serve as a reminder for Gorm.”

“A reminder?” Tasha repeated.

“Yes, Gorm discounted you, kids, as too weak to mark him. But bestest friend has always said that even an insect can slay a dragon under the right circumstances, and only the foolish dragon discounts such a possibility.”

“On that topic,” Elissa began before rising from her seat and glaring directly at Gorm.

“Why did you kick Daisy, huh?!”

“Gorm is ashamed, but it was simply an automatic response. Gorm did not expect to even bleed during this lesson. When she struck in such a way to draw blood, instincts kicked in and struck out at the foe Gorm perceived.”

“So your instincts saw Daisy as a real threat?”

“Yes, Lissy, that flower girl will be a mighty warrior one day,” Gorm replied with a nod.

“Sir, may I ask something off-topic?” Bea asked to which Gorm nodded.

“You said you knew you would love no other after swimming with Yuu. How did you overcome your racial differences?”

“BEA, YOU CANNOT ASK HIS MOST AUGUST MAJESTY THAT!!” Gunter protested.

“Gorm does not mind. Very small one, Gorm has real words of wisdom. Love is a messy, complex thing. But when you know you have met the one, you will know to your very marrow. It may take time to see through the fog, but when you do, you know there will be no other.”

“But how can I tell if it is love? What if I waste a lot of effort down the wrong way?!”

“That is a tragedy of life; some may never find their one. Gorm has extra words of wisdom.”

“What are they?” Bea eagerly asked.

“If they get a haircut and those bubbly feelings vanish, it was lust and not love.”

“Huh?”

“You are young; your brains are still forming. Gorm knows this, as do all adults. But your brains will mistake lust for love. If they change their appearance and you no longer feel good towards them, it was lust.”

“But sir, what if, say, for instance. I have a gnome friend who is in love with a titan. Will that love ever work?” Bea asked almost pleadingly as she glanced between Gorm and Yuu.

“Hmmm,” Gorm pondered the question stroking his tree-like beard.

“Gorm would suggest that such a love will be down to those individuals. If it is love, then it will succeed despite the differences.”

“Thank you, sir,” Bea replied, lowering her head.

Looking to where Daisy was, the class could see Alex shouldering Daisy, who had regained consciousness. She was looking worse for wear and was particularly pale.

“Gorm apologises for striking back despite promising not to,” Gorm said, lowering his head in apology.

“No, it’s ok,” Daisy wheezed in reply as she held up a hand to stop him. “You said it yourself. There are no real rules in a fight,” she added, giving a weak smile.

“Is she ok?” Kline asked rushing up to Disy to help stake her by the other arm.

“Yeah, just a bit shaken. She instinctively got up a flash shield before his foot hit her body. The force still hit her, so she was flung back and got a few scrapes and bruises, not to mention what will undoubtedly be one hell of a headache,” Alex replied as he gently lowered Daisy into a chair.

Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

“So nothing permanent?” Kline asked.

“No, nothing. Though she has surprised a lot of us by actually cutting Gorm. The only time he has been cut was when he faced off against an ancient dragon in a wrestling match,” Yuu added as she approached Gorm with her glowing hands held out.

“Gorm won’t require healing; this mark will remind Gorm to be careful against all opponents,” Gorm said, stepping away from Yuu.

“Can you explain about the drunk on knowledge bit Gorm mentioned?” Daisy asked with a groan turning to Yuu. “It sounds interesting…”

“Oh, that err… we drank some premium homemade booze,” Yuu explained.

“And that got a dwarf drunk?” Maxwell asked, seemingly shocked by the prospect of alcohol that could achieve a dwarf's dream state.

“Well, it was more the ingredients I made it out of,” Alex replied, avoiding the class's gaze as he suddenly found his boots very interesting.

“Sir?” Maxwell pressed.

“We stole fruit from the tree of knowledge and fermented it into booze,” Alex explained after caving under their collective gaze.

“You can do that? But it’s under such strict security?” Tasha asked, shocked at the very idea itself.

“Yeah, you gain access to all knowledge you will ever have from the start of your life till your very end. Me and Yuu spent three years drunk off our tits on this stuff.”

“That would explain a lot of your escapades in school, sir,” Daisy said with a groan.

“Oh no, it was during our graduation celebration,” Alex corrected.

“Wait… one two… Sir, you were drunk when you served as Gluttony?!!”

“I was also drunk when me and Yuu stole the Theocracy’s invasion transport fleet.”

“I… I’m just going to rest for a bit, sir,” Daisy finally said, sinking into the chair she was resting in.

“That sounds like a plan… Gorm, are you ok to continue or do you want to let Elissa have a go?” Alex asked, turning to Gorm.

“Gorm will let Lissy handle the next two,” Gorm replied, sitting down on a seat next to Yuu.

“Woo, ok, Tasha, you are up!!” Elissa shouted as she rushed to the middle of the arena.

Looking around at her classmates, Tasha blinked a few times at Elissa’s words, trying her best to comprehend what had been said. Finally, deciding to shake her head and answer.

“My Lady, I must-”

“Get in that arena, please,” Elissa said, cutting off Tasha’s attempt to back out by using a tone that would’ve made Niflheim seem like Musphelheim.

“Please, I really don’t think it is a good-”

“I’m not asking Tasha. Don’t let my tone of voice confuse you; I am telling you.” Resigning herself to this fight, which she was hoping to avoid at all costs, Tasha stepped out into the arena.

“Hope you don’t expect me not to respond like Gorm did.”

“I wouldn’t expect anything of the such from our princess,” Tasha replied, avoiding Elissa’s gaze as if her life depended on it.

“I heard you got some new toys recently made… Is that right?”

“That is true, My Lady. I realised that I would not always be able to utilise my bow, so I commissioned some strike gauntlets,” Tasha explained, holding up her armoured fists that each had an inch-long hooked spike on each of the knuckles.

“Those look nasty,” Elissa observed.

“It is one reason why I was reluctant,” Tasha replied as she reached her starting position.

“Ok, you two, I want to see your best fight. Elissa limit yourself to multiple cohorts level this time,” Elissa nodded to Alex’s suggestion. “Tasha, I know it will be hard but treat her like those bandits that attacked Gunter.”

With his opening words given, Alex returned to his seat and took out a container of some kind of food that he began to munch on. Seeing this, Elissa couldn’t help but shake her head at her fiance’s manner. Turning her warm gaze back to Tasha, it quickly became frigid once more.

“I will await your first strike,” Elissa said, standing as still as Gorm had.

Tasha started by pacing around Elissa, looking for any opening, no matter how tiny. But her every instinct was screaming this was a predator she should not approach. Her very being was refusing her commands to move closer. Biting down on her lip in frustration, Tasha let out a battle cry as she ran towards Elissa, her fists at the ready.

Swinging her fists in a flurry of blows, Tasha watched in horror as Elissa simply kept stepping out of her reach. She could tell had Elissa misjudged the distance by less than an inch, her strikes would’ve hit home.

“What are you five?!” Elissa asked, looking bemused by Tasha’s attempt. “You know flailing your arms like that isn’t how you throw a punch, right?”

“SHUT UP!!” Tasha shouted as she started adding kicks to her strikes. But these had no difference; Elissa was still keeping just out of reach.

“I am surprised you took up physical combat despite our race’s speciality in ranged combat.”

“I am doing so to honour a woman whom I wish to honour!” Tasha shouted as she punched the ground and activated the enchantment in her gauntlet.

A burst of smoke and dust shot out of where she struck as a large dust cloud began to obscure her opponent's vision. Tasha retreated into the cloud, ready and waiting for her moment to strike.

“So I’m curious, who is this woman you admire so much?” Elissa asked as she stopped moving and closed her eyes to focus her senses.

“She is the mightiest warrior I have ever seen. Someone who I would never match!” Tasha shouted, manoeuvring through the cloud.

“Oh? Anyone, I know?” Elissa asked teasingly. She knew in her gut who Tasha was referring to.

“Someone you know very well,” Tasha replied as she moved to a new spot as. Elissa had turned to face exactly where she was standing.

“Someone I know very well, eh?”

“YES, NOW TAKE THIS!!!” Tasha screamed as she jumped into the air to deliver a powerful downward strike into Elissa’s back. Only Elissa rapidly turned around to face where Tasha was and delivered a single punch to Tasha’s stomach that sent her flying backwards.

“A little tip. If you obscure your opponent's vision to make a surprise attack, don’t announce your attack with a scream,” Elissa said to the downed Tasha, who was on the floor coughing violently. Tasha looked up at Elissa with blood around her lips as she muttered something.

“What was that little one?” Elissa asked as she slowly walked towards Tasha, leaving the roiling cloud behind her.

“I said I already know that,” a whispered voice behind Elissa said as she felt a strike hit her in the kidney twice before she could jump away from the threat. Turning to look at Tasha on the ground, Elissa was surprised to see the form shake and dissipate.

“A shimmer?” Elissa muttered with a look of respect on her face as she looked to the now-clearing cloud where Tasha stood proud.

“Yes, My Lady. I may be a fool, but I am a fool who learns the lessons she is taught,” The class watching this was shocked at Tasha successfully landing a hit and using a perfect deception that even left them convinced.

“So that’s why she wanted a short-term illusion enchantment,” Alex muttered as he looked on.

“Sir?” Maxwell asked.

“Well, she brought me these beat-up bargain barrel strike gauntlets and gave me a massive pile of cash to upgrade them.”

“WHEN?!” Bea cried out in shock.

“Last weekend, after I finished the staff. I only gave them minor enchantments, though,” Alex explained.

“Sir projecting a copy and summoning a vision-obscuring cloud is anything but minor!” Maxwell protested.

“Please, you saw what I could do with the staff. Now imagine what they’d be like If I actually let Yuu reforge them like she wanted?”

“Punch the school in half, I’d imagine, also yank her arm out the socket to do it,” Yuu replied. The class were collectively exasperated with their teachers' blase responses.

“Wait, if we bring you enough cash, you will enchant stuff for us?” Bea asked.

“It’d be an astronomical amount by your standards, but yes. Yuu will even forge stuff, but you’ll provide payment and materials. We’d also need the free time to do it. Tasha there caught me when I had everything I needed.”

“I shall make a note of this,” Maxwell muttered, taking out a small pocketbook to note a reminder.

Looking back to the fight, they could see Tasha was back on the defensive against Elissa. Who was pressing down on her with short precise jabs that kept her on the back foot.

“You are too inexperienced with unarmed combat to be using it,” Elissa chided as she went low and swept Tasha’s feet from under her.

“You want to keep a solid base. If you are solid, you’ll be as immovable as Gorm,” Elissa explained as she scrunched up her body to demonstrate how. Tasha staggered to her feet and looked at Elissa intently before taking a deep breath and mimicking the stance Elissa was in.

“Like this?”

“Let’s see, shall we?” Elissa asked as she darted behind Tasha and swept her legs from under her once more.

“Urghh!!!” Tasha grunted in pain as her head struck the floor of the arena.

“Not bad, but it is a stance only good for attacks from the front. This is what I meant, that you are using a fighting style you do not know,” Elissa explained as she retreated a few steps to let Tasha get back to her feet.

“I thought this was meant to be treated like a real fight?” Tasha asked with a grunt as she pulled herself back up.

“I’m not like Gorm. I have to have limitations put on me, so I don’t carelessly kill people,” Elissa replied.

“But there are people you can’t hurt,” Tasha shot back.

“Those people are very few. Tasha let me put it this way,” Elissa vanished from Tasha’s view. “I can leave a permanent mark on Gorm and Yuu,” Elissa whispered into Tasha’s ear as she struck Tasha’s kidney, returning her strike from earlier.

Flying forwards and smashing against the ground a few times, Tasha lay on the ground unmoving. Elissa, who had a smug look, now looked worriedly towards Tasha.

“You ok?!”

Tasha, however, remained unmoving on the floor. Elissa looked to the stands, where Alex and Yuu were both starting to look worried themselves.

“Crap-crap-crap… TASHA, GET UP!!!” Elissa shouted, panic starting to take hold as she began rushing over towards Tasha.

“I let my anger get the better of me, so I may have hit you a tad too hard…. Please be ok, Tasha!” Elissa begged as she got closer, only to feel a metallic fist collide with her face as Tasha rolled over and put all her strength into her punch. Elissa recoiled from the force only to spit blood on the ground next to Tasha.

“You cheeky little…” Elissa muttered as she drew back her fist that began to glow as pure mana began to envelop it. Tasha remained unmoving on the floor, unable to resist any further. Looking up at Elissa, Tasha had no doubt she was about to deliver what would be a fatal blow.

“One day, I will surpass the one I worship… guess it will be in my next-”

“Boop!” Elissa flicked her finger against a surprised Tasha’s nose.

“My Lady?” Tasha asked with a groan as she dragged herself up to a sitting position.

“Listen to me… I will never forgive you for what you planned to do against him. But he is a million times more forgiving than you could ever know, and I know that if I really did what I sorely want to do, he wouldn’t forgive me,” Elissa explained in a hushed whisper.

“My Lady…” Tasha managed to groan before trailing off.

“Be grateful that my soulmate is better than I am,” Elissa said as she offered her hand to Tasha.

Tasha gratefully took the hand and let her arm be draped over Elissa’s shoulder as she was dragged back to the stands, her legs limp. She couldn’t feel her body, but she was sure something was broken.

“It’s amazing…” Tasha muttered as she looked up at Elissa with wonder.

“What is?” Elissa replied, looking annoyed.

“I just thought it’s amazing that the woman I wish to honour somehow bested you. Seeing you play with me like a cat with a mouse really makes me realise how far I have to go.” Elissa, with these words, stopped mid-step and looked down at the battered and bruised Tasha.

“Sorry, please say that again.”

“What part? That Lady Amelia is beyond exceptional, besting you. Or that to honour her, I have a very long road ahead of me.”

“I’m… So the one you want to honour?!

“Professor Alex’s sister General Amelia,” Tasha confirmed.

“Your feelings about me then?”

“I still admire you deeply for rescuing me as a child. But that night in this very arena. It was like the fog clouding my mind had cleared, and I could see what a fool I was being,” Tasha replied, lowering her head in shame.

“So, the glove?”

“Didn’t take it.”

“And the elven love funk?”

“I get hazy when thinking about Lady Amelia, but as she is far away, I can control it.”

“What’s this about elven love funk?” Bea asked with a smirk, having approached without the pair realising.

“Guh!!” Tasha groaned as Elissa hastily shifted her on her shoulder.

“Nothing to worry about, Bea,” Elissa said, trying to deflect the question.

“Sir, what is elven love funk?” Bea asked, turning to Alex. Elissa began desperately mouthing ‘say nothing’ to Alex, who nodded in understanding.

“Don’t worry, hon, I will say something,” Alex replied with a wink missing her message.

“Elven love funk is an illness some elves can suffer from during puberty. Basically, whoever they fancy becomes an overriding focus of their brain and can even impair cognitive functions,” Alex explained, shooting a thumbs up to Elissa, who could only facepalm while dropping Tasha to the floor in a heap.

“Do all elves get it?” Maxwell asked, glancing a the groaning mound of bruises named Tasha.

“No, it is only when there are deep-seated feelings. Should’ve seen Elissa when we were in school together. At one point, she forgot how to spell her own na-”

“HA HA HA HA HA. THAT IS SO INTERESTING!!! HONEY, LET’S HAVE A PRIVATE DISCUSSION AWAY FROM THE KIDS!!”

Without giving him a moment to respond, Elissa locked Alex in a headlock and dragged him away from where the class were seated, where she began having a very animated conversation while swinging him around like a ragdoll.

“Jury is still out whether Elissa is free of it,” Yuu joked.

“By the way, Maxwell, you are up next,” Yuu added as she began casting a healing spell on Tasha.

“So the reason Tasha was so… well, you know…” Daisy said, rolling her hand to indicate what they all knew.

“Super elf puberty. They mature rapidly between sixteen and twenty-five, so all elves basically get a supercharged puberty. All those hormones ramped up to the maximum,” Yuu explained as she finished up her healing. The chairs in the row behind them shattered as Alex’s limp body collided with them, and a frazzled Elissa returned to them.

“Sorry, a little private conversation between soulmates is all. So, Maxwell, you’re next hop to it!” Elissa said with a motivating clap of her hands.

Maxwell stepped into the centre of the arena trailing behind Elissa, who was doing her best to ignore that she had casually thrown Alex into a bunch of seats. Maxwell could feel a presence not too far behind him as he followed. Glancing over his shoulder, he could see Yuu was following.

“Am I fighting you as well?” Maxwell asked.

“Oh no, I’m going to fix the arena,” Yuu replied, gesturing to the pockmarked arena that already had the scars of a few battles.

“You sure? Aren’t you drained healing the others so far?”

“That I am, but somebody decided to throw the one who was meant to fix the arena when it got too damaged into the stands,” Yuu pointedly said, focusing an exasperated look at Elissa.

Ignoring Elissa’s apologetic look, Yuu held her hands together in a prayer-like fashion as she closed her eyes. Maxwell and Elissa watched on as she slowly swept her foot along the ground. The earth beneath her foot responded and began to soften.

The ground around her began to ripple outwards as it had with an earlier spell. But this was a far more elegant and controlled use of shape earth. What amazed Maxwell the most was that Yuu did all of this without using a chant or magic circle. Which meant she had such a mastery of the spell she could conjure it through thought alone.

Soon the ripples on the ground reached the walls near the stands while Maxwell and Elissa stood still, letting the sensation beneath them flow through them. Soon the deep crater Gorm had created in a strike from his earlier bout began to fill itself. Every little pockmark and divot began to fill itself in.

It took all of five minutes before the entire arena was perfectly flat. Not even a pebble was left on the ground. It was the flattest ground Maxwell had ever seen, and he couldn’t contain his curiosity.

“Professor Yuu, how did you do this?” Maxwell asked, gesturing to the entire arena.

“It’s a spell Alex developed, actually,” Yuu replied, gesturing to the still-unconscious teacher.

“He created a new spell?”

“Yeah, our experiments damaged the ground so often when we did perform tests outside, we were getting in trouble for leaving the school grounds unusable,” Yuu continued. “So Alex being the whiz with earth magic created a new spell that is a subset of shape earth.”

“What’s it called?”

“Perfect Earthquilibrium,” Yuu answered before exhaling a deep sigh. “His naming sense has always been bad.”

“Basically, it gets the earth to act like a liquid for a short while, and like water in a container, it reaches an equilibrium and flattens itself out,” Yuu explained.

“Why didn’t we sink in then?”

“Dunno; Alex kinda was shaky on how it did that when he taught it to me. Between us, I think he just bullshitted the magic and whatever is responsible for the effect just kinda went along with it.”

“As fascinating as this is, Yuu, can you leave the arena? Me and Maxwell here have bout to get going,” Elissa said, interjecting their discussion.

“Ah yes, sorry. Have fun,” Yuu said as she gave a friendly little wave before returning to the stands.

“Whenever you are ready,” Elissa said as she took her position in the centre of the arena.

“May I ask you something before we start?”

“Sure shoot,” Elissa answered with a nod.

“For the duration of this bout, will you make an oath not to harm Alex?”

“Hurt my honey bun?”

“No, not a honey bun,” Maxwell said, exasperated. “I want you to swear here, and now you will not cause any harm to Alex,” Maxwell asked, holding out his hand for her to seal the pact.

“Sure, I didn’t intend to hurt him in the first place. So I hereby swear for the duration of this bout, I will not cause harm to Alex,” Elissa replied, taking his hand.

The moment their hands made contact, the pact was sealed and set in stone. Till the match was over, Maxwell had secured the safety of Alex. Though Elissa was still mystified as to why Maxwell was so insistent on something she had no intention of doing anyway.

“Ok, with that sorted, here we go!” Maxwell shouted as he transformed his left hand into a large claw and took a swipe at Elissa, who narrowly avoided the surprise attack.

Maxwell, however, pursued Elissa, not letting up. Unlike Tasha, he had actually been trained in unarmed combat, so he was holding his own at Elissa’s current level. Taking light jabs and throwing in feints, Maxwell kept Elissa on the defensive.

Clearly frustrated with the barrage of attacks, Elissa, rather than dodge backward from one of Maxwell’s latest swings, stepped forwards instead. Surprising the young werewolf enough that he didn’t have time to react as he felt an elbow dig into his stomach.

Doubling over as he stumbled backwards from the strike, Maxwell called on more of his bestial self to help him regenerate from the minor injury and not let it limit his movements.

“Good shot,” Maxwell complimented.

“Indeed, I could say the same for you. You actually know what you are doing compared to Tasha,” Elissa replied, returning the compliment.

“Guess I can’t go all half-measures on this then, can I?”

As Elissa tilted her head at Maxwell’s comment, she saw his lower legs begin to warp and change. His armour warped to accommodate his new shape along with the rest of his form. His lower half now looked like large muscular, bipedal wolf legs.

“Think the wolf’s speed will help?”

“It couldn’t hurt,” Maxwell replied as he channelled mana through his now-augmented muscles and moved at a frightening speed. The class watching this were astounded as the most they had ever seen him transform were his hands.

“Wow, he must be taking this seriously,” Kline observed.

“What do you mean?” Bea asked.

“He limits how much of him is transformed when fighting. For him to willingly transform more means he isn’t taking this fight easy,” Kline explained.

“But why does he limit himself like that?” Tasha asked.

“The beast can take control if we let too much out. Our inner animal already colours our personalities. It’s why I’m a bit…”

“Jumpy?”

“Yes,” Kline replied with a nod. “Maxwell, though, is from a special bloodline of werewolves. They are far more ferocious and untamable. Above all, though, they are immune to silver.”

The class were all silent at this bombshell Kline had casually dropped. It was known silver was toxic to the physical structures of most werebeasts. Something about the metal affected the metabolism and forced it into overdrive, killing the host in high enough quantities.

It was one of the easiest ways to kill a werebeast when they went wild. But from what Kline had just revealed, such a trick wouldn’t work with Maxwell.

“So he’s immune to silver?” Daisy asked just to confirm she hadn’t misheard.

“Yeah, supposedly, his family practices secret rituals from birth, and they build an immunity. Though I should say it’s more like a very high resistance,” Kline replied.

“So if the chief goes entirely into his beast form?”

“He could lose all control and will be a rampaging feral monster till he burns through all his mana,” Kline replied.

“Between us though… He hates the beast within. He has only transformed fully a few times and has deeply regretted his actions every single time,” Kline explained.

“He couldn’t help it, though,” Tasha pointed out. “Like he had zero control when he went wild.”

“Yes, and I, alongside a lot of others, have told him that. But he still feels guilty for what he’s done. It’s the main reason why he limits how much he transforms. He’s afraid of losing control.”

Looking back at the fight that was still ongoing, the class could see Maxwell using a very controlled and conservative fighting style. It was textbook, and there was no wasted motion. But with their new insight, they could see how hard Maxwell tried to keep everything in control.

“No wonder he has such a stick up his butt so often,” Bea muttered.

Looking back to the fight, Maxwell was focusing on rapid and direct strikes. Leaving Elissa no time to recover from defending from his other strikes. But by the sheer level of power Elissa commanded, she was keeping up. Making his herculean effort almost seem trivial by comparison.

“ARGH!!” Maxwell cried out as he struck again, only to find his strike easily deflected.

“How are you so good?” Maxwell asked, huffing and puffing as he struggled to catch his breath, panting like a wolf.

“Eh, it’s less. I’m good. It’s more you have become predictable,” Elissa replied.

“Huh?”

“You are using the Plausine school of combat, right? Where do you focus on rapid strikes using claws or strike gauntlets?” Maxwell just nodded.

“Well, you keep cycling through the first four strike forms and every seventh strike, you go for a form nine strike,” Elissa explained.

Hearing her words left Maxwell speechless. She had seen through his combat technique with such ease it almost ate away at all his confidence.

“Don’t get me wrong; you are truly an expert at the school. But if you fight someone who is familiar with the school, you will find yourself becoming easy to read.”

“But the other strikes are so much wilder.”

“You are a werebeast, Maxwell; you should embrace your wild side. I still don’t understand why you limit your transformations.”

“I can’t let the beast win and take control.”

“Ah… I see… Well, let’s use this match as a chance for you to learn to control it, even if only for a little bit. The Greyback clan are rather tough to teach by outsiders, especially as you build up your immunity, so there are no drugs you can take to help curtail the beats within,” Elissa replied, seemingly unbothered by Maxwell's consternation.

“So go on, release your inner beast. Prove you are the master, not it. MAKE YOURSELF THE ALPHA!!!” Maxwell, though, still hesitated despite Elissa's provocation.

“Listen, Maxwell. You have four of the strongest fighters on this side of the continent right here. If you really think you could hurt me in full beast mode, you clearly have an insultingly low opinion of me. That or an absurdly high opinion of yourself. SO UNLEASH IT NOW!!”

Maxwell hesitated for a moment more before realising Elissa was right, letting go of the control he had worked so hard to maintain. Releasing all the metaphorical shackles he kept on his beast, he let himself fully transform for the first time since he was nine.

His entire body began to shift and warp as he grew in height and width. He now held a similar size to Gunter, the only difference being he was leaner and athletically built. His face had elongated into a maw with sharp fangs. Looking down at Elissa with golden irises, the beast that was once Maxwell bared his fangs.

“Wowzers, you are a big bo-” Elissa didn’t get a chance to finish her sentence as she was struck from the side by Maxwell’s far more prominent and sharper claws. Still easily blocking the wild and uncontrolled strikes, Elissa looked directly into his eyes.

“You are the beast, and the beast is you. Don’t keep them separate!”

Maxwell, however, only responded with a vicious snarl as he bared his fangs at her before giving a near-deafening howl. Crouching down and relinquishing his humanoid shape to a more fully wolf-like shape, Maxwell began to hop around, trying to disorientate Elissa. Elissa, however, was unimpressed and held up two fingers and bapped Maxwell’s snout.

“You pride yourself on control? NOW TAKE CONTROL!!!”

Maxwell, in response to this provocation, turned to face Elissa head-on. His face was in an unrestrained angry snarl as his eyes met Elissa’s though a spark shone within his eyes. A spark of his inner self fighting for control.

Maxwell began shaking his head violently as the wolf form warped back to the bipedal semi-human wolf form. Looking up at his form Elissa searched his eyes for that spark she had barely glanced. Only for Maxwell to hold out a claw in her direction. She couldn’t help but let out a disappointed sigh.

“Come forth, for I seek the greater beyond!” Maxwell slurred out, unused to trying to speak with his wolf tongue.

Elissa, however, looked at him with a beaming grin, overcome with pride in having taught one of Alex’s students something properly. It was as if she was lost in her own little world. A small form shot out and landed against her shoulder. Looking at the source, Elissa could see a squirrel.

“Deca?”

“No… His Name is Alex,” Maxwell slurred out as the squirrel named Alex began burrowing its way into Elissa’s armour and squirming around.

Elissa herself was left defenceless as she began twitching and squirming, trying to get the unwelcome resident in her armour out. Her every attempt to swat the creature away blocked by the pact she sealed before they started. She was so focused on this task that she missed the large bestial fist rushing to meet her face.

The second before it collided, though, Elissa spotted it and began to make her move to deflect it, only to see there was no need. Maxwell collapsed on the floor, his form begging to revert to his human form.

“Guess spending so much mana taming your beast would lead to you going mana out,” Elissa muttered as she gently tapped Maxwell’s

The class looked on as Elissa picked up Maxwell by the scruff of his collar and dragged him back to the stands. Sharing a look, they all recognised that it would be best if Bea and Gunter didn’t fall unconscious. Arriving near their seats, Elissa roughly dropped Maxwell and turned to face the remaining two students.

“Hmm,” Elissa muttered as she tapped her chin dramatically before pointing at Bea.

“Eeny,” then to Gunter. “Miney,” Elissa proceeded to go through the entire rhyme, much to the confusion of the observing class, finally landing on Gunter.

“You,” Elissa said, not giving him a moment to respond before turning and walking back to the centre. Gunter, however, didn’t move to follow, looking at his classmates nervously.

“Everything alright?” Alex asked as he stretched his arm, creating a popping noise as he did.

“Big Chief, can you hold her for me?” Gunter asked. The class’s gazes all went to Bea, who was nestled in her favourite spot on his shoulder.

“Not me, you idiots!” Bea protested under their gazes, hopping down.

“Yeah, I need someone with armoured skin,” Gunter added as he reached into his breast pocket and took out a hand-sized bird with a metallic sheen.

“Nicklas is still very sharp, and I don’t have her cage, but she would cut up anyone else so,” Gunter held his hand with the bird in it out.

“Gorm shall delight in caring for your bird!” Gorm declared as he reached out and gently took the bird out of Gunter’s hand.

“But your-”

“Gorm has already said not to worry about that. Gorm shall delight in caring for this little Nicklas!”

“Thank you, sir,” Gunter replied, bowing his head repeatedly before picking up his warhammer and entering the arena grounds.

Walking over to Elissa, who was tapping her foot impatiently for him to arrive. Finally arriving at the point he felt was appropriate, he readied his hammer in both hands.

“So you like Gorm then?”

“Yes, he is very admirable; I can’t wait to tell my folks I met one of our royals!”

“No, I meant… I meant the way you fight?”

“Ah…” Gunter lowered his head, his cheeks flushing in embarrassment.

“Besides, it’s obvious who your heart belongs to,” Elissa added teasingly.

“Pardon?”

“Oh, you’re oblivious? How cute.”

“Chief, please explain what you mean?!” Gunter asked, feeling tension already starting to knot his stomach.

“Beat me, and I’ll tell you who your heart belongs to,” Elissa replied, gesturing for him to attack.

Not wasting any more time, Gunter raised his hammer up and brought it down with an earthshaking amount of force. Elissa, however, had jumped backwards, avoiding the strike.

“RAGHHHH!!!” Gunter roared as he pursued all whilst swinging his hammer with all his might.

“This the best you can do?” Elissa asked as she stopped dodging and caught one of his swings with her hand. The strike only shifted her roughly an inch to the left before all energy was stopped. Gunter tried his best to move the hammer, only to find it firmly held in her grasp.

“I know you are an artificer and craftsman. So I didn’t expect you to be a true blue combatant like me or Gorm over there. But even Yuu can fight better than you can,” Elissa explained as she released his hammer, causing him to stumble backwards with the sudden release.

“What do you mean, chief?”

“Who do you think they target first when a war is on the horizon?”

“Generals and Leaders and-” Gunter stopped as Elissa held a hand up to stop him.

“Both of those have literal armies of warriors keeping them safe. The easiest way to cripple an enemy war effort is to go for their production first. It takes a long time to provide gear to soldiers. Kill the best craftsmen; you can weaken an entire army significantly.”

“But chief that wouldn’t-”

“Yuu there has had roughly about eighteen assassination attempts since she was three. All were agents trying to clear the land of skilled artificers for an eventual invasion.”

“That is…”

“It is one reason why she learnt to fight. It is why all within the domain of Wrath, the lord responsible for production, learn to fight.”

“What is the other reason?”

“To quote my future husband. It’s cheaper to get your own materials by killing monsters yourself,” Elissa replied with a tilt of her head and a smile before she vanished from Gunter’s view.

Looking around in a panic, trying to find Elissa, he couldn’t find her till he felt an impossibly strong force collide with his brand new breastplate. Looking down, he could see Elissa had gone low and had gut-punched him.

Unable to resist the force of her punch, Gunter’s only choice was to jump upwards to try to lessen the damage she would be able to exert. Jumping up with all his might, he was relieved to see that the damage done to his armour was negligible this time round.

Looking back to Elissa, his blood quickly ran ice cold as he could see a predatory smile plastered on her face. The kind a cat who has found a bird with an injured wing might have.

Not wasting the opening he had given her, Elissa jumped into the air with such speed she quickly overtook Gunter and was above him. Looking down with the same kind of mad grin Alex often wore, she clenched her hands together and brought them down in a heavy strike.

Gunter instinctively brought up his hammer to defend himself. Her strike was immense and almost enough to knock the hammer from his hands. Keeping his grip, Gunter fell to the ground like a meteor landing with a loud crash creating a new crater.

“OI LISSY, I JUST GOT DONE FIXING THAT!!!” Yuu shouted from her seat in the stands. Looking at Yuu, they both could see she was barely being held back by the combined efforts of Tasha and Gorm.

“A reasonable reaction to a blow from below to jump to mitigate the strike,” Elissa said with a nod. “Problem is when you are in midair, if you have no way to move, you become an easier target.”

“Wh-what about you?” Gunter asked with a groan as he used his hammer to help himself back to his feet.

“Oh me?” Elissa asked as she jumped into the air doing a flip. When she was mid flip where she was right above Gunter, he thought he finally had an opening being given to him, only for Elissa to stomp down.

Though it would be upwards from his perspective, the result of the stomp was a loud bang as Elissa was launched forwards like a bolt from a crossbow. Holding his hammer up to defend himself, he was shocked to see even his mithril alloy hammer was beginning to bend under the pressure of her strikes.

“A skilled fighter with enough power can compress the air so much it becomes like a solid platform. This is what the airwalk spell does,” Elissa explained.

Retreating back to make some space between him and Elissa, Gunter couldn’t help but pant heavily. He could swing away at an anvil for hours, if not days on end, but this utilised movements he was unaccustomed to.

“Just how strong are you?” Gunter panted out.

“Hmm… Dunno,” Elissa replied with a shrug.

“If it’s any metric to help you, I once beat Tyr in an arm-wrestling match,” Elissa added after snapping her fingers as if just recalling it.

“Tyr? As in the God of War for the Northern Pantheon, Tyr?”

“Yeah, that’s him. Really nice guy,” Elissa replied with a nod.

“Sir… She isn’t serious, right?” Daisy asked Alex as they listened in to this exchange.

“Oh no, she is being as serious as the plague.”

“So not only has she personally met a god. But she has bested him in a contest of strength?” Maxwell asked, as sceptical as Daisy was.

“Kids, when you reach a certain level of power, you start meeting Gods more regularly than even the papacy. Hell, us four are friends with a few,” Alex replied, gesturing to himself, Yuu, Gorm, then Elissa.

“Friends?” Daisy repeated, still in utter disbelief.

“Yeah, Tyr is set to be the Godfather of our kid when they’re born,” Alex replied.

“You’re… I’m sorry, sir, but did you say you will make a literal god be your… Screw it; that very much seems to be in line with what you’d do.”

“Maxwell?” Daisy said, looking at her friend, who looked far more exhausted than he had when unconscious.

“Daisy, either they are screwing with us because it’s funny to them. Or they are being honest. At this point, everything seems possible.”

“Atta boy, Accept nothing but expect everything.”

At these words, the whole arena violently shook. Looking back to the fight that had picked back up, they could see Gunter had made a significant split in the floor of the arena, creating a perfect line between Elissa’s feet.

“You know Yuu is going to be pissed, right?” the pair looked back to the stands and could see Yuu being restrained from a fresh attempt to join the fray as an independent third party.

“I’m not done yet,” Gunter replied as he lifted his hammer and infused mana into a second gem near the top of the handle. Watching on with curiosity, Elissa did nothing to stop him.

Bringing the hammer back down where he had struck before to create the crack, the whole floor shook and shot up, hinging on the crack he had previously made. With the two halves of the arena floor now coming from both sides to crush her, Elissa, for the first time, looked surprised.

The floor finished its colliding motion and sandwiched Elissa between its two halves. Slowly but surely, the ground began to squeeze harder and harder.

“Do you concede?!” Gunter shouted.

“To…Nghh…WHAT?!!” Elissa shouted back.

“It will crush you, miss!!” Gunter shouted, hoping Elissa would concede.

“This…. Little… thing?”

“Please just-” Gunter didn’t even get to finish his sentence as Elissa retracted her hands, and the built-up force instantly forced the two halves together. There was no room left between the two parts.

“OH NO!!!” Gunter cried out in panic as he lifted his hammer to try to reverse the spell combo he had performed, only to stop when he saw the two halves of his Earthen-Vice begin to shake. Slowly but surely, the two halves began to lift off the ground.

Retreating as far as he could on the remainder of the undamaged floor, he looked on in horror as an unharmed Elissa lifted what all observing had no doubt were several tonnes of stone above her head with ease.

“Do you concede?” Elissa asked, putting emphasis on the word you.

“NO!!” Gunter shouted back.

“YOU WILL DIE!!” Elissa warned as she started swaying her lifted arms back and forth, clearly preparing to throw the mass of stone.

“I won’t concede just yet when you are-” Gunter vanished from everyone's view and reappeared behind Elissa, who was stunned.

“H-how?”Elissa asked, looking up at the boy who was now standing behind her.

“I’m an artificer chief. I can make enchanted gear. All this stuff I’m using was enchanted by me. These boots, for instance, were enchanted with blinding speed,” Gunter explained as he lowered his hammer to the floor.

“Well then, I just need to do this,” Elissa replied as she held the two halved next to each other so if they dropped, they would fall on the pair.

“I will still best your attack,” Gunter replied confidently.

“Oh? How so?”

“With this,” Gunter replied, reaching into a pouch and taking out a normal bird feather. The fluffy kind you’d find in a bed pillow.

“You wouldn’t dare!!” Elissa said, looking at Gunter with a warning glare.

“I remember how the chief beat you in the first sparring match. Something even I’m sure Maxwell utilised when he fought you,” Gunter replied with his own mad grin growing on his face.

“You are cripplingly ticklish. Concede, and I won’t use it,” Gunter warned.

“If you tickle me, I will still drop these,” Elissa replied, gesturing with her chin to the stones above her.

“Not unless you concede.”

“I don’t think I will. I can feel the third enchantment on that hammer of yours. I want to see it before I let this match end,” Elissa replied as she maintained eye contact with him.

“Very well,” Gunter nodded as he lifted his hammer off the floor limply, keeping his hand over the stone on the bottom of the handle.

“Sand Shatter!!” Gunter shouted as he gently swung the hammer up and into the stone above him, causing it to fall apart entirely into nothing but soft sand.

As he did so, he felt a solid fist strike his chest and send him flying backwards into the part of the arena wall Alex had damaged earlier. Gunter crumpled to the floor; he could only let out a wheeze as he reached for his hammer, only to find it wasn’t there.

Looking up, he could see the second stone turn to sand and fall into the hole the stone was pulled from with his earlier spell. Walking across the now sanding ground was Elissa holding his hammer.

“I… I concede,” Gunter said before she could get closer.

“You really should engineer the three rules into your gear Gunter. Ask Yuu or Alex about how I’m sure they’d love to,” Elissa said, handing the hammer back to Gunter as she turned and walked back to the stands.

“Ok, so last is Bea,” Elissa said with a clap of her hands.

“Don’t worry, Gunter; I will avenge you!” Bea said to the limping Gunter, already rolling up her sleeves.

“Avenge? What did Gorm do to him?” Elissa asked with a confused tilt of her head.

“Gorm?” Bea repeated, starting to go pale.

“Yeah, I’ve done three, but he’s only done two. I picked Gunter so he could fight all out and not hold back against Gorm,” Elissa replied as if it was apparent.

“So I’m going to fight….”

“GORM WELCOMES THE CHALLENGE FROM THE SMALL OPPONENT!!” Gorm boomed as he rose from his seat and gently handed Gunter Nicklas.

“She had a little nibble on some steak I had in my pocket. Hope that’s ok.”

“It is fine your most… Sir,” Gunter replied, unable to bring himself to look Gorm in the eye.

“Come small one, Gorm’s blood was ignited with passion anew watching Lissy fight!!” Gorm roared as he confidently strode into the middle of the arena.

“Bea wait one,” Alex said as he stepped over to her and knelt down to whisper something to her. Bea nodded along with what he was saying, only to recoil and look at him with shock.

“Is that true?”

“It is; now, come on, I got to fix the arena first. Gunter made a sand pit that needs hardening before you two duke it out,” Alex replied as he walked alongside Bea, every so often whispering something to her.

“What do you think he told her?” Tasha asked aloud.

“Well, can’t be Gorm's weakness,” Yuu replied. “I haven’t found one yet, and he knows I would give him faulty limbs as punishment if he concealed that from me.”

“Must just be advice. From all the time I’ve spent with Bea, she seems to have the same kind of trickster mindset the chief has,” Gunter added, only for the class to stare at him.

“When have you two been spending time together?” Tasha asked as she poked one of Gunter's bruises teasingly, causing him to flinch.

“After school. Bea was forced to join sir’s lessons to get a boost to her grades. I joined because the Big Chief suggested it. I’ve been helping her study.”

“Study what, anatomy?” Tasha asked, arching her brow up and down suggestively.

“No, we just studied normal stuff?” Gunter replied, looking perplexed why Tasha was talking weirdly to him.

“Kids don’t rush them. They need to realise it themselves,” Elissa warned as she settled into her seat. Looking out into the arena, Alex had just finished repairing the damage Elissa and Gunter had done and was returning.

“Hey, hon, what did you say to Bea?”

“Just a little advice is all. If she can use it is another story,” Alex replied, slumping into the seat next to Elissa.

“ARE YOU READY SMALL ONE?!” Gorm boomed, having not moved from his spot even when the arena fixed itself around the soles of his boots.

“One moment,” Bea said, holding up a hand and letting the three rings on it light up.

A flash occurred, and three demonic familiars appeared, standing between her and Gorm. Gorm, however, looked displeased at this action.

“This is meant to be a test of your strength in a close fight. Not a test for you to keep away from me,” Gorm said, looking thoroughly disappointed.

“I’m not done yet,” Bea replied as she closed her eyes deep in thought. “Come forth, for I seek the greater beyond!”

Gorm looked around the arena for the familiar she was summoning, only to see nothing arrive to join the three demons already waiting for orders. Only when Bea opened her eyes did he understand what she had done.

“A possession summon? MAGNIFICENT, THE LAST ONE GORM FOUGHT GAVE HIM A BATTLE FOR THE AGES!!”

Looking at Bea, everyone could see what Alex had witnessed that day when they were first summoning and contracting their familiars. Bea had two pupils in each eye. One her usual colour and another a vibrant crimson red. An overlap of the pupils made it look like a ven diagram had nestled in her eye.

“We welcome combat!” Bea said in an echoing voice that carried another within it.

“AS DOES GORM!!”

The trio of demons stuck between Bea and Gorm began to look panicked as they glanced back and forth between Bea and Gorm. It was clear to all witnessing the fight that the demons could only see a painful demise in front and behind them.

However, Bea ignored this and gave a limp gesture with her hand, mimicking how a queen would wave to her subject. The demons forced to obey not only by their contracts but by the hierarchy of the demon realm charged at Gorm.

“Gorm is disappointed you would be so-” the rest of Gorm’s sentence was cut off as the demons piled on him and, rather than attack, all wrapped around his face.

Gorm seemed not at all bothered to have a trio of demons wreathed in flames stuck to his face. He had even started to tap his foot impatiently as he waited for Bea to actually commence her own attack.

“Mhmmhm,mhmhm, mhm,” Gorm mumbled out through his new headwear.

“Yes, we will be right with you,” Bea replied as she began pacing around Gorm’s still figure and placing her hand on the floor every so often.

“What is she doing?” Daisy asked, watching all this.

“No idea?” Alex replied.

“Hmhmjhmh!” Gorm loudly mumbled as he began punching his fist into his free hand, clearly telling her to start already.

“One more moment. We apologise for the delay,” Bea replied with that eerie double voice she now had.

“GORM TIRES OF THIS!!” Gorm roared as he ripped the demons firmly wrapped to his face in half, leaving a pair of arms and legs still wrapped around his head.

“As did we,” Bea replied as she returned to her starting position.

“Menaloss!” Bea chanted a cantrip-grade spell to carve a small line in the earth. Everyone watching was confused, only for them to see the lines all spread out from the points, she had tapped and begin to converge. Slowly but surely, a magical circle began to take shape.

“What is your rank, demon?!” Gorm asked.

“I am an Earl. But I was once a prince who fell from grace. My power, while diminished, does not mean my knowledge has also been,” Bea replied with more of the deep monstrous voice being dominant rather than her usual tone.

“So you seek to seal Gorm?” Gorm asked, looking bemused. “With earthen magicks?”

“No,” Bea replied with a shake of her head, her usual tone of voice now being dominant.

“Sir gave me a tip on how to use my demon possession,” Bea explained.

“How is that?”

“They are very good at making copies apparently,” Bea replied as every point she had tapped now shone brightly, and surrounding Gorm were now a dozen extra copies of Bea.

“Gorm will not be fooled by such-” Gorm stopped midsentence as he could only now just see what she had kept well hidden even from the observers. Manathreads were connecting all her copies to her.

“They aren’t distractions. They are helping,” Bea replied, looking smug.

“Are you ready me’s?” Bea asked to which all the others nodded.

“Golems can be granted a voice if well made enough, but they can’t cast,” Bea explained. “Miss Rosy taught us a way to make inanimate voices cast spells.”

“So it is no longer Gorm versus just you but-”

“It is you versus me. It’s just there is more than one of me,” Bea replied, giving a cheeky wink.

“It matters little; Gorm need only defeat the real one, and Gorm will win!”

“Sir, have you ever seen those street games where they hide a little pea under the shell, and you need to find it where it’s been moved?” Gorm just nodded.

“Well, let’s play a good ole game of find the Bea,” Bea said as all her copies stood next to each other and began dancing and spinning around each other, making it harder and harder to tell which was the real one till it became entirely impossible.

“Simple trick Gorm need only follow the manathread, and he will win!” Gorm declared as he struck at one of the Bea’s, only to have it shatter and coat his arm in a transparent crystalline shell.

“Oh, we’re sorry, but that was not the real Bea!” All the Bea’s chorused together, avoiding his strikes.

Looking at his sealed arm, Gorm shook it vigorously only to find the crystal would not budge. Smashing it against the ground had no effect either. It was then Gorm began to notice it.

“This is Manacite,” Gorm observed, realising his arm was now trapped in a crystal that absorbed any mana that channelled through it and grew in proportion.

“Yes, we planted manacite cores. So strike at us all you want but you will slowly either be drained of mana or be unable to move. We doubt even you can move when encased in this.”

“Gorm commends the method of fighting. It is very much like bestest buddy!!” Gorm said, finally showing a look of approval. “But small girl has not realised one thing!”

“Oh, what is that?”

“Gorm need only best you before he is sealed. If he strikes and wins, you will lose.”

“A game to see who lasts then?” the Bea’s all asked to which Gorm nodded.

The fight proceeded with Bea flinging spells and attacks at Gorm and him striking at who the manathread fed into, only to realise it was a trick and was only a conduit for the real Bea. Slowly but surely, his legs and arms were fully sealed, and only a handful of Bea’s still remained, launching petty spells at him.

“Gorm is… Gorm is tired…” Gorm puffed out as he took a swing and took out three more Bea’s. The crystals around his body grew more, and now only his waist and head were free.

“GORM WILL NOT BE BEATEN!!!” Gorm roared as he struck the ground creating an explosion of stone that launched rocks that hit the two remaining Bea’s. Both of them fell to the floor and were lost to the cloud of dust burying them.

Gorm grinned in triumph as he had won against such a wily opponent. He would no doubt brag about this opponent to his fellows in the warriors' halls when he got home from visiting his fiancee.

As the crystal now connected his waist, he was unable to turn and swing his body. Slowly it began to cover his head; only then did he see it. The dust that he had assumed concealed Bea’s unconscious form had settled, and he could see no body. Only a tiny mound of dirt that had once been a clone.

“A thing to remember,” Bea said as she clambered up onto his frozen shoulder to look him in the eyes.

“Those shell games are a scam. The trick is the pea was never on the table, to begin with,” Bea said as she patted his head once before the crystal finally fully sealed him. His expression frozen in the biggest grin any of his friends had ever seen. Bea casually hopped down and spoke her last chant.

“My will hath been done, and I have seen the way.” With a saunter, she walked back to the class, who were all staring, mouth agape. Even the teachers were shocked.

“Alex, did you tell her to do that?” Yuu asked, her gaze solely focused on Gorm’s frozen form.

“No, I only told her that demons can help make clones… I never considered getting him to strike clones to trap himself…” Alex replied, also gawking at the frozen Gorm.

“Uh… Is he ok?” Daisy asked, gesturing to Gorm.

“Oh yeah, Manacite is only a temporary hold. It’ll break in like half an hour. It’s just something some magical monsters use to paralyse magical prey,” Alex explained.

“So Yuu… we just lost a method to beat Gorm,” Alex said, turning to his friend. Bea, at this statement, looked confused.

“What do you mean?”

“Bea Gorm is a natural-born warrior. He learns from his losses and grows stronger the more he loses. You have just locked off this trick from ever working again,” Alex explained.

“WHAT?!”

“Yeah, he is a frustrating opponent. There’s a reason me and Yuu are cautious when we fight him because he may find a way to become immune to our attacks. Though I will say any other mage you use that method on will have trouble. Only Mimi would be able to avoid it, and that’s just because she could move faster than the manacite could latch onto her.”

“Though there is an issue with activation, it requiring a preset circle to indicate the manacite’s target,” Yuu added.

“Yes, it looked like something worthy of study. Good job, Bea, top marks,” Alex finished giving a big thumbs up.