Leon's Perspective:

I stood outside on one of the Academy’s sprawling training grounds, the kind that stretched so far you couldn’t see where it ended. The field was meant for first-years like us, but today felt different. Uneasy. The group of Adventurers who’d shown up out of nowhere loomed over us, watching our every move. I could feel their gazes, sharp and assessing, like they were waiting for us to screw up.

Miss Ava stood off to the side, her usual calm self, but it was the man next to her—Valek—that made my skin prickle. He didn’t say much, just stared at us with this cold, calculating look. What was he even doing here?

I don't like this. I didn’t like how quiet it was, or how Miss Ava kept throwing glances at Valek like they shared some kind of secret. Something was about to happen. I just didn’t know what.

My classmates’ spirits were high, their eyes burning with determination. I could almost feel the energy buzzing between us, like we were all standing on the edge of something big. The air was thick with tension, heavier than usual, as both my classmates and the Adventurers readied themselves for whatever was about to come next.

"To be honest, I really don't care too much for this training," I murmured underneath my breath. "I have already been through enough with the duel with Karl Stuart."

"Huh?" My classmate, Samuel, turned to face me, his hazel eyes filled with concern. "What did you just say, dude?"

I hadn’t meant to speak loud enough for anyone to hear, least of all Samuel. Great. Just what I needed—someone to start worrying about me. I forced a shrug, trying to play it off, but deep down, that duel with Karl had taken more out of me than I wanted to admit. My body was still sore in places I didn’t even know could hurt. But more than that, I was tired.

"It's nothing," I said, waving him off. "Just thinking out loud. This training? It's kind of pointless after what I went through with Karl."

Samuel frowned, clearly not convinced. "You sure, man? You’ve been off since that duel."

"Yeah," I almost whispered in response to Samuel.

Samuel didn’t push further, but his voice softened as he looked ahead. "Don’t be shy about talking to me, alright? I’m here if you need it."

The murmurs and scattered conversations came to an abrupt halt when Valek stepped forward, his presence commanding attention without saying a single word. He didn’t need to shout or raise his voice—just the way he carried himself made it clear he was in charge.

"Listen up," Valek's voice cut through the air like a blade, sharp and cold. "I don't care how tough you think you are or what you've been through until now. None of it matters here." His eyes scanned the group, lingering on each one of us as if he could see straight through our Bravado.

"Today’s training is not a test you can afford to fail," he continued, his tone leaving no room for doubt. "We’ll be pushing you harder than anything you’ve faced in the classroom. I suggest you keep up."

He paused for a moment, letting the weight of his words sink in. The tension around us only grew thicker, the air practically crackling with anticipation.

"You’ve got five minutes to get yourselves ready," he added, stepping back. "Don’t waste it."

None of us dared to speak and when about preparing themselves for whatever they have in store for us. No one touched the old, wooden swords which seemed like they hadn't been used in decades, other than me and another student named Vincent.

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

I glanced over at Vincent as he picked up one of the old swords without hesitation. His movements were smooth, practiced, like he’d done this a hundred times before. He wasn’t the kind to draw attention to himself, but there was something about the way he handled the weapon that made me take notice.

Vincent didn’t talk much in class, and I couldn’t remember the last time we’d had a real conversation. But in moments like this, it was clear—he wasn’t like the others. He was deliberate. Focused. I wondered if he felt the same tension that was gnawing at the rest of us or if he was just better at hiding it.

Either way, I had a feeling Vincent wasn’t someone you’d want to underestimate.

This could be a good way to see how good he is with the sword...

At least I'm not the only one who can't properly use magic... I kept watching Vincent, who held his sword as if it were nothing special, while Valek looked at us with mild interest, not bothering to hide a smirk.

My other classmates stood still, unmoved like statues standing in a grand garden or in a castle, whispers buzzing in the air around us. I caught snippets of their conversation– excitement about the Adventurers, awe at Vincent's impressive sword skills, and speculation of what we were facing next. Their chatter felt distant, a stark contrast to the tension that coiled within me.

The gazes from our classmates pierced through the air, fixated on Vincent and me. I heaved a heavy sigh and joined my classmates, along with Vincent.

Samuel remained quiet after I joined them, his usual smirk replaced with a tense silence. He stood tall, facing the Adventurers with an unspoken challenge hanging in the air. The others shuffled nervously, the anticipation thick enough to feel like it was weighing us down.

"I can see that you're all fully prepared," Valek said, his sharp gaze cutting through the crowd. His eyes lingered over all of us, sizing us up, calculating. "But remember, this is no classroom drill. This text is designed to push you to your absolute limits!" His voice boomed across the training grounds, echoing off the walls like a warning.

Suddenly, the whispers died down, leaving only the tense silence hanging in the air. We all froze, standing at attention as if time itself had stopped. My classmates exchanged nervous glances, their eyes darting between each other and Valek’s imposing figure. His party stood like shadows behind him, their expressions unreadable, but their presence alone made the air feel heavier.

"Listen up!" Valek stepped forward, his boots thudding against the ground like thunder. He stood before us, his gaze piercing through the group. "I want all of you who can wield magic effectively to stand in front of the women in my party." His voice boomed, like it carried the weight of the world. The earth almost seemed to tremble at his words, or maybe it was just our fear. "The rest of you, those without magic, stand in front of the paladin," he commanded, his tone leaving no room for hesitation.

The class hesitated for a moment before slowly separating. My classmates, all capable of magic, moved quickly to stand in front of the women. They murmured to each other, their eyes full of anxiety, but focused on the task at hand. I watched them forming up, magic already sparking faintly in the air around them. All of them could use magic. All of them, except for me and Vincent.

Vincent gave me a sidelong glance, his expression neutral but his eyes betraying a flicker of annoyance. He hated standing out for this reason. With a resigned sigh, I gave him a slight nod, and together, we stepped forward.

The paladin—Sir Kael—stood before us, smiling broadly as if we were old friends meeting on a sunny day. His armor gleamed, and despite the seriousness of the moment, there was a warmth in his eyes. He clasped his hands together in a welcoming gesture.

"Ah, don't worry, lads! We’ve got this," he said, his voice rich with kindness. "Stand strong, and leave the rest to me.” He gave us a reassuring wink, the complete opposite of the stoic warriors you'd expect. His demeanor was calm, almost cheerful, which did help to ease some of the tension, though the nervous energy still lingered.

Vincent raised an eyebrow but didn’t say anything. I couldn’t help but feel a small sense of relief. Being the only ones without magic was one thing, but at least the person standing behind us was as solid as they came—both in skill and spirit.

"Just like old times, huh?" Vincent muttered, though there was still that touch of bitterness in his voice.

I smirked, trying to match Sir Kael's energy. "Yeah, let’s hope it works out just as well. "

'I feel like this is the beginning of a brand new journey as a student... I can't wait to see where this takes me!' I thought, my eyes gleamed with determination. I clenched my fists, not out of anger but from excitement.

Deep down in my stomach, I felt like this day will be different from the others– a stark contrast to days sitting in the classroom and doing nothing productive.

End of Leon's Perspective.

To Be Continued