Whispers buzzed in the air, the students and Adventurers whispering about what happened. An awkward silence filled the air on the training grounds. Her party members were in disbelief. She was never the type of person who would open up to strangers; she was a reclusive person—her hood was a barrier from the world.

"I never thought she'd show her face," Valek said, still in confusion. "Especially to students. That's unlike her..."

"I know, she's usually reserved and keeps to herself," Eryndor, the party's rogue said, also in disbelief. "That's strange of her... maybe she found potential in this class?" He added, chuckling.

The sudden events took aback the students. It was a surprise, of course, but they didn't know what to do in response. All they know, they'll have to fight the two mages either way. Their chances of winning are slim, but there is still a small chance.

"I'm Zena, nice to meet you," she introduced herself to the students. "I'll be the one to fight first, please don't hold back!" She added, bowing afterwards.

Zena reached her hand into her cloak, and took out a small wand, with a small crystal on the top. The student's eyes followed her every move.

Emma, Alice, and Alexis stepped forward, forming a line in front of Zena, their eyes burning with determination. The air around them seemed to crackle with an unspoken challenge, thick with tension that even the onlookers could feel. Scott stood back, not wanting to get involved with anything, though he'd have to fight alongside the girls.

Leon and Vincent stood off to the side, observing their classmates and the Adventurers gathered there. The paladin, ever watchful, stood silently, a faint smile playing on his lips as though he already knew how the scene would unfold.

"They all seem tense for some reason," Kael murmured, his sharp gaze darting between the students and Adventurers.

"Yeah, it looks like a fight's about to break out," Leon added, leaning slightly forward in anticipation.

Vincent rolled his eyes, muttering loud enough for them to hear, "You two are so clueless sometimes."

Leon and Kael turned to face him, their faces filled with confusion.

"Huh?"

"Hey there, you don't have to be so mean," Kael said, his face pouting. "Besides, it's natural to get excited for a fight!" He added, smirking at him.

Zena had a smile on her face, a smile her party members hadn't seen in a while. It wasn’t a forced smile, but a genuine one. It was as if she'd open up to the students, a rare occurrence to witness.

"Are you ready?" Alexis asked, eying Zena the Adventurer, the air thick with tension. "These aren't the monsters we fought in the VR world; this is a real professional," Alexis warned.

Emma and Alice nodded, their resolves strong. Scott also gave an affirmative.

"If there's an opportunity to prove myself, then I won't hold back!" Scott exclaimed, his eyes burning with determination, as he tried to control his heartbeat.

They stood in front of the Adventurer Zena, filled with confidence, their postures rigid and straight. Zena had an unreadable expression on her face; no one couldn't read her expression, not even her party members.

The other students stood back, waiting in anticipation for the fight to start. Silence filled the air, as the tension grew thicker between them.

"A reminder before you begin," Valek said, his voice cutting through the tension. "You're not allowed to use any dangerous spells in the duel. Only low-level attack spells," he added, stepping back to join Ava.

"Are you sure of what you're doing?" Ava asked. "Please don't underestimate the students; it's not going to end well for you."

Valek turned to face her, a smile on his face. "I'm not underestimating them. I'm giving them a handicap."

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She sighed, holding back what she wanted to say. "Alright, if you say so... I'm just saying..."

"Just relax and enjoy the fight, Ava!"

"Alright," Ava finally agreed, her tone heavy with resignation. She cast a glance at the girls and Scott, their determined expressions leaving no room for doubt—they were serious about facing Zena. Reluctantly, she yielded. It was a tough decision. On one hand, she prided herself on giving her students the freedom to choose their paths, unlike the other instructors at the academy. Yet, deep down, a nagging doubt gnawed at her—was she failing them as a teacher by letting them take such risks?

The other students watched with bated breath, their cheers echoing across the training grounds, cutting through the tense air. Excitement rippled through the crowd as they rooted for their classmates.

Zena’s eyes narrowed, her irritation unmistakable. She crossed her arms, tapping her fingers against her elbow impatiently.

"Can we start already, Captain Valek?" she snapped, her voice sharp with annoyance. "I'm getting bored just standing here!" With a huff, she stretched lazily, her movements exaggerated as if to make her point.

The students shared Zena's sentiment. They had been waiting under the scorching sun for what felt like an eternity. It made no sense to stand around any longer.

Valek let out a reluctant sigh, raising his hands in the air. "Alright, ready?" He asked, pausing for a moment before bringing his hands down. "Fight!" He signalled the start of the battle with a sharp hand motion.

'The fight has begun. It'll be exciting to see everyone's abilities,' Leon thought, leaning forward in anticipation. His gaze narrowed on one participant. 'But that mage... she looks pretty strong.'

Zena began to chant a spell, her voice low and deliberate yet quick, each word flowing seamlessly into the next. The crystal atop her wand responded, emitting a brilliant glow that pulsed with a white-blue hue, illuminating her determined expression. The air around her changed, and her aura had become strong.

The girls and Scott backed away, preparing for Zena’s attack. Zena remained observed in her spell.

"Is she serious?" Valek asked, his eyes narrowed on Zena. "She's putting way too much energy into that spell!"

A small water sphere materialized in the air, its surface shimmering and nearly formless as it hovered. It expanded steadily, growing larger with each surge of magic Zena poured into her wand. The orb quivered slightly before stabilizing, its size now fixed, radiating a faint, watery glow.

"This can't be good," Emma murmured, her gaze remained focused on the watery sphere, surging with magical energy. The students and Zena's party members gazed at her magic, in amazement and anticipation of the upcoming fight.

Small fragments splintered off from the glowing sphere, their edges shimmering with an ethereal light. The pieces orbited Zena in a graceful dance, forming a barrier that pulsed gently, as though alive. The sphere quickly regenerated itself, its fragments spreading out in the air like an extension of her will.

Zena smirked, folding her arms. “Come at me if you want. I bet you can't touch me.” Her voice carried an air of both challenge and certainty, and the students hesitated, unsure if they were dealing with a mere girl or something far beyond their understanding.

"I've never seen her this excited yet," Valek said, his focus remaining on Zena. "Ever since she joined this party, she'd been a total mystery."

"I thought she was shy," Kael, the Paladin, said with a laugh as he approached Valek and Ava, Leon and Vincent following close behind. "She surprised me with her bravery!"

"Hey, what are you doing here, Kael?" Valek asked, turning to face Kael. "You should be preparing. Soon it will be your turn."

Kael assured Valek with a confident smile, his voice steady but carrying a faint edge of determination. "Don’t worry, I've got this under control, Captain."

Leon exchanged a glance with Vincent, their shared silence speaking louder than words. Both watched their classmates preparing for the upcoming fight, their movements precise but tinged with nervous energy. The training ground buzzed with muted tension, the clink of weapons and faint murmurs filling the air.

Vincent’s sharp eyes scanned the arena, assessing each fighter with practised ease. Leon, on the other hand, seemed lost in thought, his gaze distant as if contemplating the weight of the challenge ahead.

Meanwhile, Scott, Emma, Alice, and Alexis stood in front of Zena, the fragmented pieces of the water sphere hovering around them, as if ready to attack.

"What are we going to do?" Scott asked, panic faltering his determination.

"I don't know, but we'll make it count," Alexis said, a little taken aback.

"I- I think we can beat her if we work together," Alice said, trying to motivate her classmates.

Everyone nodded, with a newfound determination. Though it will be tough to defeat the Adventurer Zena, they know they'll have to give it their all.

Zena raised her hand, pointing her wand toward the students. Her face was unreadable, like a mask. The fragments, shattered pieces of something unknown, slowly floated toward Alexis and her team.

Scott acted quickly. "Get back!" he shouted, launching a fireball at the approaching shards.

The fireball hit the water spheres with a loud explosion. A thick mist spread across the training ground, cutting visibility to almost nothing.

Alexis struggled to see through the fog, her heart racing. "What now?" she muttered under her breath.

Scott gritted his teeth. "I can't stop them all. They just keep coming."

The fragments were relentless, their edges gleaming in the dim light. Alexis could feel the danger closing in. 'We need to stop Zena. Now.'