Chapter 25: On This Side

*TREVOR*

Two days have passed since I returned from the guild where my family was staying while Therius was asleep and had the seizure attack. After promising my parents that I would investigate the cause or what could have caused his strange fever, I've been researching in the library after my classes, but despite searching and searching, I can't find anything.

Even Layra, who isn't fond of reading or interested in it, has been helping me with my investigation in the library whenever she has some free time. Yesterday, we received the news that Therius had awakened and that they would depart for Shira tomorrow to finally return home.

Layra and I nearly collapsed when our worry vanished upon receiving the letter from the guild teacher informing us that Therius was okay and that they had prepared some medicines in case he encountered another problem on the way home. "Trevor, it's late, we need to return to the dormitories," came my close friend Celis Reigord, "Just a little longer, please, I haven't finished this book yet," I replied.

"Oh come on, Trevor, your brother is fine, stop worrying. Be grateful that he woke up and is alive," she said. When she noticed I hadn't taken my eyes off the book despite her words, she gave me a stern look as she placed the book on a nearby shelf. "Okay, I'm coming, just let go," I told her as I removed her hand from my arm.

After chatting a bit about how tough the coach was on us and how he barely let us go when the teacher he liked arrived, the next day I started my weapons training class. "Alright, let's start with simulated duels," shouted the coach, "Rachel and Nadia, step forward and prepare your weapons. Remember, you can use your real weapons since your injuries will heal in this area as long as you're inside," he ordered my two classmates to enter the ring where we conducted our 1-on-1 training. After three more matches, it was my turn. "Trevor and Celia, step forward and get ready," the coach ordered again.

As I drew my sword, my classmates stared at my new sword, and even the coach asked, "Where did you get that sword? I'd like to get a new one," he said as he examined my sword. "It was a gift from the guild teacher, Atheria, who took me to her armory and let me choose one to keep," I said with a smile.

"The guild teacher? Why did she give it to you?" he asked, still curious. "My parents were part of the LEVIATHAN guild during their youth, and the guild teacher was their companion during their time in the guild."

"Lucky guy," said the coach, a hint of jealousy and sarcasm in his tone. Not dwelling on that further, we continued with the duel. I imbued my mana into my body to strengthen myself, and Celia did the same. "Fight," announced the coach. Celia and I charged forward, our blades clashing. We had similar abilities and were almost always evenly matched in combat.

Thanks to my fights with Therius, I had sharpened my senses since his weapon was larger than mine, but even after a few minutes of fighting, we still couldn't decide who the winner was. And indeed, neither of us won; despite training with Therius and his large weapon, I still couldn't move fast enough to react.

Our class always lasted two hours, and we had already exceeded our class time with the teacher, so we moved on to the next one, which was Team Formation and Functioning. "Good afternoon, dear students, I hope you had a good time on your vacation," said Professor Irina Meigud as she passed through the door of the testing area. "Good afternoon, Professor, it's nice to see you again," I said to her, and she only nodded. "Alright, let's begin," ordered the professor, "you're in your final year, ready to graduate, so let's see how you've progressed all this time. As you know, we'll have small team duels with 5 people each," she said, and everyone in the class prepared for her to form the teams.

"Alright, I see you're ready, so I'll start naming them. As always, we have Emwind and Reigord, along with Rachel, Nadia, and Anatia," after naming us, we gathered, waiting for the professor to finish forming the teams. Once she finished forming us, she began giving us instructions on each member's role in the team. "Emwind, since you're a sword bearer, you'll go up front, and your fire magic will be the main offense," she ordered him, "Reigord, since you also use a sword, you'll go up front too, and your fire magic will provide long-range support," she ordered Celia.

"Anatia, since you combine earth magic and use an axe, you'll be the defense of your team, providing support to whoever you see fit. Nadia, since you can use advanced fire magic and use a lance, you'll be in the backline with the defense to protect Anatia," she ordered.

"Rachel, since you use a bow and can use water magic, you can move around easily. You'll be the one to reposition the team, moving them around and covering their blind spots," the teacher finally said.

After finishing with our team, she moved on to the other 5 teams, and we began choosing opponents. When we headed to the fighting area, we positioned ourselves. Anatia, our defense, stayed behind while Nadia, our defending player, stood by her side. Rachel hid behind some trees nearby to cover us and move around, while Celia and I stood in front, ready to fight. I infused my team with a bit of wind magic to make them move more lightly as we waited for Professor Irina to give the order to fight.

"Begin," shouted the professor, signaling us to start moving. Celia and I began moving quickly, while the others moved calmly since they would be behind us. We had traces of water magic tied around our waists in case Rachel moved us. I saw several arrows pass over us, heading towards the direction the opposing team was coming from. A wall of wind stopped the arrows. I felt something approaching.

I immediately turned my head, and several stone arrows flew past me, heading towards Anatia. She blocked them with her earth magic, but in that moment, our blades clashed, and the fight began. I faced Reimond, and Celia faced Gil.

More arrows kept coming from our side as the other three members of the opposing team went towards our teammate. I saw, out of the corner of my eye, our opponent Maya coming from above with a mace towards Nadia, and at that moment, Rachel's magic moved Nadia's body, making her move out of the way to avoid the blow.

Anatia quickly struck Maya, and they began to fight, while another member of the opposing team, Maria, came to fight Nadia. Lance against close combat, I didn't expect that. It seemed everyone was distributed to fight 1 vs. 1 from each team, except for Rachel and another member of the opposing team, Marcus, who apparently was also long-range support.

An arrow passed by the side of my right leg, causing a superficial wound. "Celia, switch places with me. I'll take on Gil, you handle Reimond," I tell her, and she nods. We approach each other slowly, making our backs collide, and at that moment, we move in opposite directions, exchanging opponents.

I envelop my body with more mana, directing a low kick towards Gil's legs. He manages to avoid the blow but doesn't avoid my immediate response. As he loses balance from jumping and being somewhat in the air, my next strike hits the blade of his sword, causing the clash to push him backward.

Feeling his body retreat, I start swinging my sword, causing him to continue moving backward with each swing. Just as he's about to fall, I feel something at my waist, pulling me back; it's Rachel's magic. Meanwhile, Maya swings her mace where I was standing. I turn to see Anatia getting up from the ground; Maya managed to overpower her since I didn't see Nadia covering her, as she was busy with Marcus.

I create some fire orbs towards Maya, managing to hit her with at least one. A fireball hits her ribs, causing her to cover the wound with her hand.

I notice a wall of earth next to me and hear the loud sound of two rocks colliding, imagining it was the opposing team's support. That was close, I tell myself as I charge towards Maya and Gil once again. I see Anatia beside me, heading towards the same target. I infuse a bit more wind magic into the whole team as I see Nadia's fiery red flames sending Maria flying away from her. It seems she managed to defeat her since she didn't get back up. Quickly, I see Nadia heading towards the opposing team's support while Rachel defends her from the arrows aimed at Nadia.