“Every monster is different. Its greatest strength is also its greatest weakness—the magic it possesses. Figure out how to counter that, and you can kill god-beasts. Also, it helps if you stab it a lot.”

- Professor Boaz Redmoor

“GET YOUR HANDS UP, OR I’LL STOMP YOU SO HARD YOUR GRANDPAPPY WILL FEEL IT IN HIS GRAVE!” The thickly bearded man snapped at a group of cadets to my left as I tried to focus on doing the same thing.

“YOU THINK THE BEASTIES OUT THERE WILL WAIT FOR YOU TO BE READY?!?!” Our combat instructor screamed into the faces of two cadets, and I jumped at the sheer volume the muscular man could produce. Maybe he had an enchantment for that?

I raised my spear and sighted the straw target a dozen paces away. I heard heavy footsteps behind me as the scarred human that was our professor neared.

“Any time today, dearie.” Professor Redmoor’s voice startled me to attention. I reflexively threw the spear at his command. It hissed through the air and flew right past my inanimate nemesis. Again.

“Shit,” I breathed. I stiffened and stood to attention. “Sorry, sir! I didn’t mean to—”

He held up a single hand.

“I have heard the howls of Zengos and my comrades scream as they fight for their lives. I can handle a little shit here and there, alright?” The red haired giant grinned mischievously at me, and I couldn’t help but return the smile. His eyes shifted to something behind me and he bellowed in full volume.

“SWORDS ARE NOT AXES, YOU FECKING MORON! STOP SWINGING IT LIKE ONE! SWORDS SLASH, AXES CLEAVE, YOU BIG FOOL!” The man screamed. He started to walk toward the trembling boy at a sword post nearby, but he paused briefly and leaned in.

I tensed at his words, but I didn’t have time to ask him anything before he was off and yelling at more students. We were in a spacious courtyard set against the giant wall of Halistair. Dozens of students utilized all sorts of equipment. We were on twenty minute rotations in order to figure out which weapon type we were most comfortable with. I had no idea, as it wasn’t really a priority for my parents to train me beyond simple self-defense.

I had already attempted to use the swords and had several small knicks in my legs and a few bruised knuckles to prove it. Archery hadn’t been much better. Spears were now proving to be the same.

“I am not cut out for long range attacks,” I told the cadet next to me.

“Have fun getting up close and personal with the monsters, then, “ she responded sarcastically. I chuckled but nodded.

“You have a point there,” I answered truthfully. My attention quickly shifted back to the issue at hand as I picked up another spear. Then a thought struck me, and I stiffened with cold excitement. I glanced around to make sure no one was watching, and then shifted my attention downward.

Could I use my gauntlet?

I focused on the ornate bracer and tried to imagine it extending across my hands. Nothing happened.

“Okay, you annoying little thing. Be that way,” I huffed and raised my spear to throw it again. Before I did, I tried one more time. I pushed my thoughts at the dormant device and hoped with all my might that it would respond—that it would lend it me its aid.

Nothing.

“Whatever,” I muttered annoyedly and threw the spear. Heat swept through my arm as the tip of my weapon shot forward with incredible speed. It slammed into the target and straw went everywhere. I yelped in surprise as the other cadets on the spear throwing section all turned to me shock and jealousy alike.

“How did you do that?” The girl next to me asked. I shrugged, just as dumbfounded.

“Hey! That was my target!” Another student yelled in protest.

“Sorry!” I yelled back, feeling my skin burn with the exhilaration of what just happened. I stared down at the bracelet, hoping it would offer some sort of clue. After that brief wave of heat, it was as static as one of my mother’s paperweights.

“CADETS!” Professor Redmoor bellowed from the central training grounds. “FALL IN!” We all dutifully dropped what we were doing and joined him where ten separate fighting rings were etched into the dirt with subtle wards. He waited until we were all gathered before he spoke again in a slightly less painful manner.

“You all have tried out the basic weapons of monster fighting, but they are by no means the extent of the warfare that you’ll be expected to use in the days to come. And when you all gain your first enchantments, your fighting styles will evolve even further.” He glared down at all of us, which wasn’t hard with his sunken eyes and thick scars along the left side of his face.

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“But I am here to teach you how to fight ALL opponents. We Orions are deployed to combat rogue elements amongst the five kingdoms as well as the biggest and baddest beasties. So,” and he took a step back to gesture around us. “Each of you will learn to fight people as well. This will sharpen your senses, iron out the basics of how to not stab yourself in a fight, and ensure that when the time comes, you can put any enemy you face into the dirt.”

Cheers and grunts of approval arose from the gathered students, but all I could feel was the raw nerve in my heart as a few of the nobles glanced at me. They were all covered in various trinkets and gear, a clear display of power and status. Subconsciously, I pulled my right arm behind my back to hide the wristband there. Not for the first time, I pulled down on the retracted gauntlet, but it was as useless now as it had been the previous times.

Whatever magic it wielded, it wasn’t going anywhere, and it wasn’t like I was going to go over there and ask those rich assholes for help. For all I knew, there was no way to get it off without cutting off my arm. And they might even do that anyway for my ‘insolence’ or whatever other excuse they wanted.

“So, in accordance with the hunter handbook, we will begin duels starting in the second week of classes.” Professor Redmoor looked around at all of us as if silently admonishing us for something on his mind.

“Some students get it in their heads to gamble certain possessions or benefits during these duels. They see them as a chance to change their fates. While I can do nothing to stop you, I would strongly warn against such wasteful behavior. We are Orions! We do not need to stoop to such low levels in order to acquire more strength. We take it like the old gods taught us to: by wrestling it from the dead bodies of the beasts that plague our lands.”

“I wouldn’t mind ridding our lands of a certain beast that’s snuck in,” Prince James whispered loudly. I turned and saw the young royalty not-so-subtly glare at the tiefling.

“You have something to add, Cadet Lancaster?” The large man demanded.

“Oh, no sir,” James answered nonchalantly. “I was just expressing to my comrades the excitement I feel at getting to rid our world of dangerous animals.”

“Is that so?” Redmoor challenged. I held my breath and looked between the three of them. “You think you have what it takes to down an opponent stronger than you? Someone like Cadet Aetherulf, perhaps?” The combat instructor pointed at the tiefling I was pretty sure was named Azuris, and my jaw dropped.

There’s no way he’s going to just let this happen?! I thought frantically. I briefly considered if I should go grab someone, but then thought better of it. I had no power or influence here.

“Azuris,” the tiefling replied softly.

“What was that, cadet?” Redmoor barked back.

“Aetherulf is not a name I am worthy of. Just call me Azuris.”

“Aye, true enough.” Redmoor returned his attention to Prince James.

“What’ll it be? You wish to duel a dangerous animal?” Our instructor asked in a lethal tone. The prince only nodded while his group of nobles patted him encouragingly on the back and shoulders. Behind them, I caught sight of Charles. He was far more reserved, but I saw the hatred that glinted in his eyes. They never left Azuris, and I finally started to connect the dots.

“Oh, Charles,” I whispered, and I felt like a terrible friend and utterly helpless in this unfolding shitstorm of a class.

“Fantastic! Cadet Lancaster, approach the dueling ring,” Redmoor commanded. I took several steps back. as everyone formed a circle around Prince James. The young noble nonchalantly strolled to the center of the ring. The professor pulled out a stone tablet and pressed several runes. The wards sizzled into existence and a half dome was formed out of a thin golden membrane. Azuris approached the edge of the ring, but the barrier wouldn’t let him through.

All that remained in the ring was the young noble and our instructor.

“Ready to face off against a monster, boy?” Redmoor asked in the softest tone I’d heard from the man. Somehow, that made his question all the more dangerous.

“What are you—”

SLAM

Prince James ricocheted off of the barrier. It gave slightly from the sheer force of his impact, but it regained its form as it spilled onto the hard packed dirt below.

“Get up, boy. Prove to me you’re ready to face off against an opponent stronger than you.”

SLAM

I watched Prince James’ head roll back as redmoor kneed his jaw. Blood dripped from between his teeth and one eye was already swelling shut. I wasn’t positive, but I was fairly certain Redmoor was holding back, and the thought terrified me.

“You know nothing of real battle—real combat. None of you do!”

SLAM

“Stop relying on the incorrect assumption that ANYTHING can save you in here besides yourself.” Redmoor kicked the Lancaster heir one last time in the ribs, and he was sent sprawling across the dirt. The combat teacher strolled over to him and lifted him by his hair. Bile rose in my stomach at the nearly unrecognizable face that was lifted up from the dust. Our professor knelt down and whispered something into the noble’s ears, but I couldn’t catch a word of it.

Redmoor stood up and addressed all of us, a cold fury etched into his stony expression.

“I know some of you might be thinking that your enchantments might save you here. That simply possessing whatever boons your family deemed to give you would be enough to slip through to graduation. Nothing could be further from the truth. Enchantments do not make one powerful. The proper and tactical use of those powers is what separates the wheat from the chaff.” His eyes settled on where the prince’s clique were trembling, though whether it was due to fear or outrage, I couldn’t tell.

“And if I ever hear word that you threaten another one of my students based on something they can’t control, I will see to it your miserable lives are thrown into the seventh hell. IS. THAT. CLEAR?!”

“YES SIR!” We all chorused. He waited for a moment and then gestured for a few cadets to join him. Hesitantly, they followed his command.

“Get this boy to the infirmary. Tell them that only essential injuries are to be addressed. Any more and his pappy will have my head.” The cadets nodded quickly and rushed to help the unconscious prince. Fear and adrenaline coursed through my veins, but I had no outlet.

All I knew was that I needed to get stronger. If someone like the prince could be thrown around like it was nothing, then I stood zero chance to be of any use to my big brother.

I needed to evolve. And my first step conveniently hung along my wrist.