CHAPTER 27: Sparing Partner

"Hey Oliver wassup!" Reynolds casually greeted, waving his right hand at the confused Lad.

"I'm….. I'm fine, thanks for asking!" Oliver replied, clearly trying to fake a smile.

"How about both of you?" He added, referring to Yetunde and Reynolds.

"We're fine!" Yetunde answered, earnestly staring at Oliver, who presently had his tongue twisted.

"That's great to hear!" Oliver commented.

"What was that all about?" Reynolds inquired, staring earnestly at Oliver.

"What was what?" Oliver slyly asked.

"Those guys, who were they?" Yetunde sternly inquired.

"They're…. they're friends from The Earth Faction!"

"Friends?" Reynolds inquired, rolling his eyes.

"Yes, Friends!" Oliver replied, obviously lying through his teeth's.

"He's obviously lying!" Yetunde thought to herself, while she stared at Oliver, causing him to choke on his saliva.

"Why did it look like they were about to punch you?" Reynolds earnestly inquired, stroking his chin.

"Er…. It was have been from you own perspective, we were actually greeting each other with a fist bump!" Oliver simply lied, extending his hand towards Rey, indicating a fist bump.

" Oh, that's great, I thought they were about to do something really bad!" Reynolds commented, reciprocating Oliver's kind gesture.

"Since that's settled, how about you hang out with us today?" Reynolds added, wearing a bright smile.

"Sorry, I've got to get going!" Oliver said, promptly exiting the hall.

"He's Lying!" Yetunde immediately said.

"Absolutely!" Reynolds replied.

"We've got to tell the others!" Reynolds promptly added as both he and Yetunde casually exited the Hall.

Walking out of the Hall, they both noticed dinging sound, similar to a notification. The sound attracted both Yetunde and Reynold's attention, as they both stared at Rey's left pocket. Noting that the sound originated from his pocket, he instantly reached into it, pulling out a classic Arcane smart phone.

"Hey Vanessa!" He said, pulling the phone towards his ear.

"Hi Rey, where are you guys?" She inquired over the phone.

"We're still at the Hall!" He answered.

"What about you and Chioma?" He promptly added.

"We're at the Park!" She immediately replied.

"Inside the school?" He earnestly asked.

"Of course dumb-dumb" She yelled trying to frustrate Reynolds.

"I am not a… Never mind, We're on our way" He exclaimed in frustration, attempting to terminate the call.

"Wait!" She screamed, momentarily halting Rey and also causing distress to the lad's ear.

"Ouch, what do you want!" He exclaimed in anger.

"How'd it go?" She inquired curiously.

"Well, We've got good news and bad news!" He calmly responded, taking a nice breather.

"What's the good news?" She quickly inquired.

"We're definitely right, he's actually getting bullied" He answered.

"Yes, I mean no…. So, what's the bad news?" She said, trying to mask her excitement.

"He refused to tell us" He promptly answered.

"Ooo, I knew it won't be easy. Alright, get your butts over here!" She exclaimed, obviously annoying Reynolds in the process.

"Whatever you say, captain!" He said, rolling his eyes in annoyance and immediately terminating the call.

"That was fun" Yetunde commented, mocking Reynolds.

"No it wasn't. Let's go!" He promptly exclaimed.

Immediately, both Reynolds and Yetunde surfed through the bustle and tussle of the Academy, scaling through an infinite campus, trying to get to it's park, where they had an appointment.

After a rough ride through the Hallways, they finally exited the Main Complex building and beside it was an Enormous landscape, with green vibrant colors alongside, multiple benches, stalls and Street lights made from Arcatech.

This Landscape was obviously Solaris Arcane Academy recreational park.

After walking further into the park, they soon spotted Chioma and Vanessa, seating quietly on the bench while munching on chips from a bag.

"Hey dumb-dumb!" Vanessa yelled from a distance, waving at Reynolds and Yetunde.

"Would you shut up!" Reynolds exclaimed, waving at Vanessa and Chioma.

After their brief exchange, Reynolds walked over to Vanessa's location. On arrival, they spotted the duo munching on bags of chips.

"hey can I have some?" Reynolds inquires, reaching into Vanessa's chip packet.

"No!" Vanessa answered, momentarily closing the Chip packet.

"Whatever!" Reynolds snorted, turning his attention to Chioma.

"Hey Chi-Chi!" He greeted with a wave and a warm smile.

"Hi Rey… Hi Yetunde!" She greeted, waving at her friends.

"Hey Chioma!" Yetunde answered, waving back at Chioma.

"Yo Reynolds, what happened in the Hall!" Vanessa inquired, taking a giant munch while staring at Reynolds for answers.

"Well, just like I said on the phone, he's definitely getting bullied by a group of guys. I haven't really seen them before!" Reynolds answered, stroking his chin.

"I have!" Yetunde promptly exclaimed.

"Really!"

"When?" Vanessa, Chioma and Reynolds simultaneously exclaimed.

"I think they're part of the students that barely made through the acceptance mark…. I think the guy that was about to punch Oliver in the face was….." Yetunde explained.

"Oliver almost got punched!" Vanessa exclaimed, interrupting Yetunde's detailed explanation.

"Yes, right in the face!" Reynolds answered.

"Now let Yetunde finish her explanation!" He promptly added, rolling his eyes.

"Whatever" Vanessa said, shrugging her shoulders.

"I think his name is Hendrik Denmark!" Yetunde said, earnestly thinking.

"That's great, I can't believe you remembered!" Chioma brightly said, earnestly staring at Yetunde.

"So, did Oliver get punched in the face?" Vanessa inquired, glaring wickedly at Reynolds.

"No he didn't. It seems like those bully's spotted us watching and decided to leave. I'm definitely sure that they'll still go after him " Reynolds sternly explained.

"At least we're making progress. Now that we've confirmed he's being bullied, we just have to force him to admit it, so we can help!" Vanessa brightly commented.

"It's not going to be easy" Chioma subtly responded.

"Of course, who said it was!" Vanessa exclaimed, wearing a proud smirk.

" We can't really do much today, since we can't actually find him and we also got Combat lessons today… Let's pick up tomorrow!" Reynolds explained, waving his hands frantically.

"Agreed" The Trio simultaneously agreed, nodding their heads in affirmation.

Few Hours Later,

Reynolds, Yetunde and Vanessa were seen with a bunch of other First year students in the Fire/ Lightning Combat Hall. In front of them were non other than, Head Instructor Blake and Clark.

The Hall was ten times bigger than the great Hall and Cafeteria combined. It's architectural designs were extremely dazzling and flawless, beautifying the room.

"Hello Young mates!" Blake excitedly exclaimed.

"Hey Sir!" The Students reluctantly answered

"Let's not waste our time!" Clark said sternly glaring at the students.

"Today's lesson will be a little bit different from others, due to the fact that you'll have to choose a Sparing partner!" Clark promptly added.

"The purpose of having a Sparing partner is so that you can grow as a Combat Mage. Your first year as students will be completely focused on developing your Combat ability. With a Sparing partner, you'll easily be able to practice and develop a sense of experience" Blake explained, interrupting his twin.

"So, We want you to pick person you haven't actually met or fought with to be your Sparing partner." Clark exclaimed, prompting the students to begin the exercise.

"Also note that after two weeks, you'll be required to change your Sparing partner. Doing this will actually increase your Battle Aptitude" Blake promptly added.

"Hey guys, I've gotta go" Reynolds said, wearing an awkward smile.

"You've chosen your Sparing partner already?" Vanessa inquired, staring earnestly at Reynolds.

"Well yeah, but I'm not sure she'll agree" Reynolds chuckled, awkwardly ruffling his crimson hair.

"Who is she?" Yetunde curiously asked

"D...Daniella!" He stuttered.

"That girl you saved earlier!" Vanessa brightly said, solemnly staring at the awkward make that stood before her.

"Yeah!" Reynolds answered, pointing at the shy teenage girl that stood idly in the middle of the crowd.

"So you're into her!" Vanessa commented , wearing a seductive smile.

"No, not really. I just want to help her, so she won't end up like last time!" Reynolds calmly explained, wearing a saddened expression.

"Alright, that's nice of you" Yetunde commented with a cheery smile.

"Thanks…. Well, I'll see you later!" Reynolds said slowly walking away.

"Hey Daniella!" Reynolds exclaimed, grabbing the confused female youth's attention.

"Oh hey Reynolds!" Daniella greeted with a wave.

"Do you have a Sparing partner yet?" Reynolds curiously inquired, staring earnestly at her.

"No!" She promptly answered, shivering in fright.

"Alright, how about you be my Sparing partner!" Reynolds asked, wearing a bright smirk.

"Really?" Daniella replied, obviously shocked.

"Yeah!" Reynolds excitedly responded, wearing an extremely bright smile.

"Thank you so much!" Daniella appreciated with a bow.

"That's not necessary!' Reynolds awkwardly exclaimed, frantically waving his hand at Daniella.

"Awwn, look at him over there" Vanessa seductively blurted, staring at Yetunde.

"Yeah!" Yetunde said with a hint of jealousy.

You're jealous!" Vanessa out rightly said, trying to mock her friend.

"I'm not!" Yetunde promptly exclaimed, rejecting the allegations.

"Yes you're!"

"No, I'm not"

"You are totally jealous that he's going to hangout with her and bit you!"

"Quit Vanessa, I'm not jealous of anyone!" Yetunde said walking away while she waved at Vanessa.

"You are!" Vanessa said, shifting her attention towards potential candidates.

After leaving Vanessa, Yetunde soon finds herself in a total pickle, as she struggled to find a sparing partner. Trying and getting rejected a couple of times, Yetunde got fed up with her hopeless situation, as she froze up in confusion, profusely staring left and right.

Suddenly, she spotted a girl standing bat the end of the combat Hall, also in the same predicament as Yetunde. Without further hesitation, Yetunde subtly walked towards the confused looking teenage girl.

"Hi!" Yetunde said, waving her hand.

"Oh, hey!" The confused teenage girl answered, reciprocating Yetunde's wave.

"I'm Yetunde".

"I'm Ashley"

"Would you like to be my Sparing partner"