“Alright, mystery man,” she said with a grin, still intrigued by Towan’s abilities. “Let’s see what you think of the matches here.”

Towan smirked, glancing toward the large doors of the training hall. “Lead the way. I’m curious to see what this place has to offer.”

As they stepped into the training hall, the sound of chatter and faint murmurs of excitement filled the air. The crowd gathered tightly around a raised square platform in the center of the room, where two students stood facing each other. The atmosphere buzzed with anticipation.

“We’re lucky—they haven’t started yet,” Alira said, her voice tinged with eagerness.

Towan’s gaze shifted to the platform. On one side stood a girl with silver hair tied neatly into a ponytail. Her stance was poised, confident, yet devoid of arrogance. Her calm demeanor made her presence even more commanding. On the opposite side, a boy stood in a guarded position, his posture rigid with determination.

“Are you ready, Sylra?” the boy shouted, his voice cutting through the murmurs of the crowd.

“I’m always ready, Jyn,” the girl replied, her tone steady, almost casual.

“That’s Sylra Auren,” Alira said, leaning closer to Towan as she gestured toward the silver-haired girl. “She’s ranked first right now, and no one’s been able to dethrone her. People say she’s unbeatable.”

Towan’s eyes narrowed slightly as he studied Sylra. “(She’s definitely strong…),” he thought, his focus sharpening as he observed her. Her essence flow was precise, the air around her subtly shifting in rhythm with her breathing. “(That flow… it’s wind. Feels familiar, almost like the headmaster’s, but nowhere near as refined or powerful.)”

“Pretty, isn’t she?” Alira teased, nudging Towan with her elbow and breaking his concentration. Her grin widened mischievously as she added, “Don’t tell me you’ve already fallen in love!”

“What? No! Of course not,” Towan replied quickly, his cheeks reddening just slightly as he avoided Alira’s gaze.

“Is she ugly to you then?” Alira pressed, clearly enjoying her playful interrogation.

“That’s not the point,” Towan said firmly, attempting to steer the conversation away. “Let me focus on the fight. It’s about to start, right?”

Alira chuckled, relenting for now. “Uh-huh. Keep telling yourself that,” she said, her tone teasing but light. “But yeah, pay close attention. I always learn something new whenever I watch her fight.”

Towan nodded, turning his attention back to the platform as the air grew still. Sylra’s calm intensity was matched by Jyn’s focused determination, their auras now flaring faintly as they prepared to clash. The crowd hushed in anticipation, the energy in the hall charged with excitement.

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“(This should be interesting),” Towan thought, leaning slightly forward to catch every move.

“The boy’s name is Jyn Arvex,” Alira whispered to Towan, her tone low but brimming with excitement. “He’s ranked number two and has been trying to take down Sylra since the term started. They’ve clashed multiple times, but he hasn’t won yet.”

Towan’s eyes narrowed as he shifted his attention to the boy on the platform. Jyn’s stance radiated determination, his fists clenched as faint sparks of electricity crackled around him. His aura seemed to pulse with restrained energy, like a storm waiting to erupt.

Before Towan could analyze further, the fight began.

Jyn burst forward, his speed astonishing. Electricity crackled louder now, surging through his body and amplifying his movements. To the untrained eye, he was almost a blur.

“(He’s fast),” Towan thought, his expression sharpening as he tracked Jyn’s sudden acceleration.

Jyn closed the distance in an instant, leaping high into the air with a fist aimed directly at Sylra. The air around his punch seemed to hum with energy, the force behind it clear even from the audience’s perspective.

But Sylra didn’t flinch. Her expression remained calm, almost unreadable, as she sidestepped his attack with precise timing. Jyn’s electrified fist struck nothing but air.

Before he could recover, Sylra pivoted on her heel and delivered a fluid 360° spinning kick. Her movement was graceful yet powerful, and the moment her foot connected with Jyn’s torso, a burst of wind rippled outward, amplifying the force of the strike.

Jyn was sent hurtling backward, landing heavily on the platform. The crowd gasped collectively, some murmuring in amazement.

“Damn it,” Jyn muttered under his breath, his tone laced with frustration as he propped himself up. Sparks of electricity flickered around him as he steadied himself, clearly not willing to give up yet.

Towan’s gaze lingered on Sylra. “(That wind control… it’s not just raw power. She’s using it to enhance her strikes and maintain her balance. She’s reading his every move.),” he thought, impressed by her skill.

“See what I mean?” Alira said, nudging him slightly, her eyes glued to the platform. “Sylra doesn’t just rely on strength. She’s a master at turning her opponent’s aggression against them.”

Towan nodded, his interest piqued. “(This isn’t just a fight of raw Essentia—it’s a battle of strategy and precision.),” he thought, leaning forward slightly as the fight continued to unfold.

Jyn rose to his feet, his resolve unshaken despite the earlier blow. This time, his movements were even faster, the crackling electricity coursing through his body intensifying. Sparks danced around his fists as he rushed at Sylra again, his focus sharper than ever.

He launched another punch, aiming straight for Sylra’s center. Once more, she sidestepped effortlessly, her movements fluid and controlled. But Jyn didn’t stop. His attacks came in a relentless flurry—punches, jabs, and swift kicks, each more aggressive than the last. The platform echoed with the sharp sounds of his strikes and Sylra’s light-footed evasions.

Sylra dodged each attack with precision, her expression calm, though her movements betrayed a slight shift—she was stepping back with every dodge. The audience murmured as the two fighters moved closer and closer to the edge of the platform.

“What happens if she falls out of the arena?” Towan asked, his curiosity piqued.

“She’d lose,” Alira replied, her voice steady, “but trust me, she won’t fall.”

Sylra’s heel touched the edge of the platform, the boundary mere inches behind her. Jyn, sensing an opportunity, threw a powerful right hook, electricity surging around his arm. But just as his fist closed in, Sylra leaped gracefully into the air, her body propelled upward by a sudden gust of wind.

The crowd gasped as she ascended high above the platform, her figure framed by the soft glow of sunlight streaming through the hall’s skylights. Slowly, she descended, carried gently by her wind Essentia, landing back at the center of the platform.