The week zipped by as Jeremy and his friends got used to the academy’s crazy schedule. Every morning kicked off with weaponry class, and every day was packed with challenges and little wins. Jeremy could feel himself improving with his spear—his strikes were hitting harder, his movements were getting quicker, and he was starting to find a rhythm that felt natural. Getting stronger was actually pretty exciting, more than he thought it would be.
It wasn’t just him, though. His friends were improving too. Marcus seemed like he could read his opponents’ minds, always dodging and striking at just the right moment with his sword. Timothy’s hammer swings were like thunder—calculated and powerful, like he knew exactly where to hit. Perci moved like she was dancing with her daggers, fast and smooth, and Mia’s arrows? She was deadly from a distance.
And then there was Andrew. He was getting the hang of his mace, and Jeremy could tell he wasn’t stressing as much about keeping up with everyone else. Andrew wasn’t rushing to match anyone anymore; he was just doing his thing, and Jeremy respected that. They didn’t need to say much—just a quick nod during class, like their way of saying, We’re still good. No big speeches, just brother stuff.
Memorization class was a whole other beast. Professor Thalis made them repeat tricky patterns over and over until their brains felt like they might melt. Jeremy was determined, though—especially after the mess in the dungeon with Mia. He didn’t want to be the weak link. Little by little, he could feel his memory sharpening, and it was actually helping in other classes too. It felt good to be on top of things.
After classes, everyone always ended up at Jeremy’s suite. It had pretty much turned into their hangout spot. They’d joke around, share funny stories about their instructors, and laugh at all the dumb mistakes they made during training. It was nice having people who just got it, friends who understood the ups and downs of academy life.
By Friday, they were all in sync. The days were tough, sure, but they stuck together, helping each other out whenever they needed it. Even Andrew, who had been keeping to himself at first, was starting to loosen up. He’d jump into their conversations like he used to, cracking jokes and acting like his old self. It didn’t feel like just a group of classmates anymore—it felt like a real team. For Jeremy and Andrew, it felt like they were finally back to being brothers again.
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As Friday afternoon rolled around, Jeremy’s suite was packed with his friends, everyone sprawled out and laughing as they finally had a chance to chill. For once, the usual pressure of the academy felt far away. The upcoming duel came up now and then, but mostly, they were just enjoying the break.
Marcus leaned forward with a sly grin. “Hey, Andrew,” he said, raising an eyebrow. “Why do we always hang out here? What, you hiding something cool in your dorm or what?”
Everyone laughed, and Perci joined in with a smirk. “Yeah Andrew! Jeremy’s suite is awesome, but don’t tell me your place is some big secret or something.”
Andrew shrugged, a small smile tugging at his lips. “I could’ve had a suite like this,” he admitted casually. “They actually set me up right next door to Jeremy.”
The room fell quiet. Mia’s eyes widened as she sat up straighter. “Wait—you turned down a suite? Just because it was next to Jeremy?”
Andrew chuckled, his tone turning a little serious. “Yeah, kind of. When we trained with Dad, it always felt like I was stuck trying to catch up to Jeremy. He’d always get the praise, and I’d just be there, trying to measure up.”
Perci wrinkled her nose. “Ugh, that sounds annoying. I don’t blame you for wanting a break.”
Andrew shrugged, a small smirk on his face. “Yeah, but it’s whatever now. Picking the dorm was just my way of saying, ‘I’m doing this on my terms.’”
Jeremy blinked, feeling a mix of guilt and surprise. His friends glanced at him like they were waiting for him to say something, but he stayed quiet, letting Andrew explain.
Andrew rubbed the back of his neck, looking a little awkward. “Honestly, choosing the dorm was kind of a last minute thing. But it’s been good. I get to figure stuff out at my own pace without feeling like I’m competing with Jeremy every day.”
Timothy nodded, grinning. “Makes sense, man. A little space can do wonders. But still,” he added with a smirk, “we’re glad you’re here with us now. Feels like you actually want to hang out, not just because you’re stuck with your brother.”
Perci raised an eyebrow, her tone teasing. “But, Andrew, isn’t it kind of the same now? I mean, you still see Jeremy, like, all the time.”
Andrew glanced at Jeremy, then turned back to the group with a grin. “It’s different, though. Being here with you guys isn’t about comparing myself to Jeremy. We’re all working together, helping each other get better. It’s not about me versus him anymore. It’s just... us.”
The room went quiet as everyone took that in. Jeremy felt a weird mix of pride and relief. Maybe Andrew was finally finding his own way, and maybe they could just be brothers instead of rivals.
Stolen novel; please report.
Marcus broke the silence with a grin. “Alright, Andrew, but don’t think you’re off the hook. We’re gonna need a tour of that dorm sometime.”
Andrew laughed, relaxing. “Fine, but don’t expect it to be anything like this place.”
“Yeah,” Mia added, smirking. “And you better have good snacks. Jeremy’s set the bar pretty high here.”
The group burst into laughter, any tension completely gone.
Then Marcus leaned forward, his eyes lighting up. “You know, we should hit up a dungeon tomorrow. Think about it—more Essence, extra practice, and by Monday, we’ll all crush it at the duel.”
Timothy nodded eagerly. “That’s actually a good idea. A Tierless dungeon should be easy enough, and we’ll figure out what we need to work on before the big day.”
Everyone nodded and murmured in agreement, clearly hyped. Perci bounced on her toes, her usual calm replaced with pure excitement. “I’m in!” she said with a big grin. “I need all the Essence I can get if I’m gonna keep up with you guys in the duel. Plus, it’ll be fun to practice as a team.”
Mia nodded, her eyes determined. “Definitely. We have to gather Essence anyway, so why not get a head start? And I need to build up my Soul stat if I want to keep up with my spells.”
The group kept talking, throwing out ideas about strategies and how they’d use their Essence. Jeremy leaned back, listening to their energy grow as they planned. They were clearly all-in, ready for the challenge and excited to level up together.
Then Marcus turned to Jeremy, raising an eyebrow. “So, Jeremy, you’re in, right?”
Jeremy hesitated for a second, then shook his head. “Actually… no. I’m going solo this weekend.”
The room froze. Everyone turned to stare at him, their chatter stopping as his words sank in.
“Wait—you’re going solo?” Perci asked, her voice half surprised, half worried. “Why would you do that? This isn’t like the beginner dungeon. A Tierless dungeon alone is still dangerous.”
Jeremy met her eyes. “Because I don’t want to split the Essence,” he explained. “If we all go together, we’ll have to divide everything we earn, and right now, I need as much as I can get. Going alone means I keep all the Essence for myself. Plus, I have some equipment from my family. It’s strong enough to handle a Tierless dungeon solo—maybe even a Tier 1.”
Mia crossed her arms, looking unsure. “You’re really serious about this?” she asked, sounding impressed but still a little uneasy.
“Yeah,” Jeremy said, his voice steady. “The duel on Monday is huge for me. I want to go in with every advantage I can get. If I’m going to push myself, I’m going all-in.”
Marcus considered for a moment, then nodded. “Your family hooked you up with gear?” he asked, his tone curious. “That makes sense. I’ve got some stuff from home too, but nothing like what you probably have.”
Timothy, though, let out a small sigh, looking down at the floor. “Must be nice,” he said, his voice light but tinged with frustration. “I get why you’d do it—it just… changes things.”
Jeremy felt a pang of guilt but didn’t argue. He knew explaining himself wouldn’t fix anything. Instead, he gave a small nod, sticking to his decision.
Then, out of nowhere, Andrew spoke up. “Actually, I think I’ll go solo too.”
The room turned to him, shocked.
Andrew glanced around, feeling a little heat in his face but keeping his voice steady. “Look, I’ve been working hard like everyone else, and I think I’m ready. It’s not about trying to prove something to anyone else. I just… I want to know I can do it.” His words felt awkward, but they were true.
“Andrew, really?” Perci asked, her eyes wide. “Are you sure? I mean, going solo is a big risk.”
Andrew shrugged, a small smirk on his face. “Yeah, I’m sure. I’ve been training just as hard as everyone else, and it’s time I pushed myself. Plus, I trust my instincts.”
Perci glanced between the two brothers, frowning. “I don’t know. You’re confident, but what if something goes wrong? These aren’t practice dummies. I don’t want either of you getting hurt.”
Andrew smiled at her, calm and reassuring. “I’ll be careful. I’m not going to be reckless—I just feel like I’m ready.”
Marcus sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “Alright, I get it. The academy’s about challenging yourself, after all. And if the two of you got the gear for it… maybe it’s not as crazy as it sounds.”
Timothy sighed, his shoulders slumping. “It’s just... I’ve been working on crafting my own gear, you know? I even offered to make stuff for the group, but what I can make right now? It’s, like, beginner-level junk compared to what Jeremy probably has. I’m trying, but it’s frustrating knowing my stuff doesn’t even come close.”
There was a short silence as everyone let that sink in. Then Marcus turned to Timothy and Mia, his face serious. “Look, I know it’s tough, but we’re still a team. Just because Jeremy and Andrew are going solo doesn’t mean we can’t crush it as a group.”
Mia nodded firmly. “Exactly. I’d rather go as a team anyway. Strength in numbers, right? And who knows what we’ll find.”
Timothy let out a breath, his shoulders relaxing as he nodded. “Yeah, you’re right. It’s just… frustrating, you know? But we’ll figure it out.”
Jeremy noticed Timothy’s frustration but didn’t respond, knowing it wouldn’t help to push the issue. Instead, he gave a small nod. “You guys will do great.”
Marcus grinned, leaning back with a challenging smirk. “Alright then. Guess we’ll see who brings back the most Essence.”
Jeremy grinned back. “Game on. Just don’t be shocked when I come out ahead.”
The group laughed, the friendly competition adding some lightness to the mood. But as they kept talking and planning for the weekend, Jeremy couldn’t shake the tension hanging in the room. By going solo, he and Andrew had created a divide—one that felt small now but still marked a shift in their group. They were still friends, but with the brothers setting out on their own, their paths were starting to head in different directions.