Sparring

On the platform, Isadora and Lyria stood facing each other, their gazes locked in mutual anticipation. Lyria, with her martial artist's posture, radiated a controlled energy. Isadora, usually seen with her sword, had opted to fight with just her fists this time around. She exhibited a quiet stillness, a stark contrast to Lyria's restless energy.

V, looking on from the sideline, couldn't suppress his amusement at the scene. Hahahaha, look at that dumbass, he thought, shaking his head in delight. Desperate not to let Biana miss this unexpected show, he shook her awake. "Come on, Biana, don't miss this! The stupid senior of ours is actually going to fight Isadora~"

"Wake up, you lazy bitch," he added, giving her a painful slap.

Biana groaned, her eyes still heavy with sleep. Without a word, she grabbed her pillow and, with a surprising burst of strength, wrapped it around V's head, choking him. "Why did you have to wake me up, you idiot?" she mumbled, her voice muffled by the pillow. She momentarily released him, only to catch sight of the impending brawl.

Her grogginess seemed to vanish instantly as she cheered, "Hehehehe, come on, Isadora, get your ass beaten for once!" 'Just once, I want to see you on the ground you monstrous bitch!' 

In her excitement, Biana forgot she had practically strangled V with her pillow, still holding him captive as she cheered. V's muffled protests went unnoticed as Biana's eyes remained glued to the fight.

On the platform, Lyria launched her first move, her arm shooting out like a whip towards Isadora. Isadora effortlessly sidestepped, her eyes still cold and emotionless. Lyria's frustrated grunt could be heard as she tried to land a hit, only for Isadora to dance around her with ease.

For someone witnessing this scene, it was clear that Lyria was struggling. Each missed strike, each failed grapple, only seemed to add to her growing desperation. Isadora, however, remained as tranquil as ever, as though she were merely practicing rather than engaging in an actual fight.

As the fight continued, Lyria's movements grew swifter, her stances shifting, revealing a higher level of martial arts proficiency. She channeled her aura through her limbs, her entire being glowing with an ethereal light. 'Tsk, Aira, what kind of mess did you get me into?' she thought, throwing a flurry of punches at Isadora.

Isadora responded in kind, her aura wrapping around her, creating a mirror image of Lyria's. The arena echoed with the thunderous claps of their strikes against one another. Their footwork on the platform was a spectacle in itself, both women seemingly dancing a violent tango, moving with unparalleled agility.

Lyria's moves became more intricate, showcasing mid-ranked martial arts, momentarily putting Isadora at a disadvantage. But Isadora calmly watched, internalized, and within minutes, reciprocated with a similar technique, creating her own variation on the spot.

Biana's gaze never left the platform, her clenched fists revealing her barely contained emotions. "Tsk, you fucking monster," she whispered, glaring at Isadora. 'Who the hell trained her? Is this crazy fucker going to be the next Hero?'

Lyria's frustration became palpable. Her eyes widened in disbelief. "How can you...?!" she spat out, breathless. 'How can someone create a martial art in mere minutes!?'

The fight intensified, each strike stronger, faster, and more vicious than the last. The platform, built to withstand a significant amount of force, began to tremble and crack under the sheer power of their confrontation.

From the sidelines, V's face was turning a shade of blue, his eyes bulging as Biana continued her merciless pillow assault. Yet, in a feeble attempt, he managed to grasp Biana's wrist, trying to free himself.

Lysandra, who had been lazily watching up until now, sat up straighter, her eyes glinting with excitement. She bit her nails, clearly struggling with her urge to jump in and make it a three-way battle.

Suddenly, as a powerful kick from Lyria sent shockwaves across the platform, causing the first real fissure to appear, Lysandra couldn't contain herself. She leaped to her feet, eyes fixed on the dueling pair.

Biana felt the shift in energy and instinctively loosened her grip on V, her attention now split between the fight and her unpredictable 'friend'. V gasped for breath, coughing and sputtering, but his gaze remained locked on the epic showdown unfolding before him. F-fucking... Fucking hell, Damn Biana nearly killed me. 

The intensity of their aura clash produced an electric atmosphere, the sheer force causing the surrounding area to vibrate. The platform, groaning under the extreme power, threatened to crumble any second.

A dark chuckle escaped Biana, the twisted humor not lost on her. 'Maybe today's the day I finally see you on the ground, Isadora. Either way, this is one hell of a show.'

-

The thunderous clash of fists echoes through the area, leaving a ringing in my ears. However, what truly adds to the cinematic flair of the moment is the cracking and splitting platform beneath the two fighters. I can't help but grin, reaching into my bag. Ah, there it is. I knew this would come in handy!

Pulling out two bags of popcorn, I shake my head in amusement, tossing the larger bag to Lysandra. She catches it with practiced ease, her eyes barely leaving the fight as she starts stuffing her face.

"Here you go, food beast," I tease, munching on my own popcorn. "Tsk, tsk, tsk. What does our senior think is going to happen?" I say aloud, smirking. "This is truly a great spectacle~ This is what happens when you try to drag me into your stupid politics."

Beside me, Biana, with an uncharacteristic fervor, reaches into my popcorn bag, stealing handfuls and shoving them into her mouth. "Come on, Lyria! Just hit her already!" she groans in annoyance. It's clear her patience is wearing thin with both fighters.

Isadora's strength is infuriatingly relentless, making me wonder why the hell I designed her like this. I mean, she's meant to be powerful, but this? This is next level.

The fight intensifies to the point that chunks of the platform begin to break off, crumbling into dust. I rub my forehead, wincing. "Shit, we should've used the platform for the second-year students for something like this," I mutter. "Ayla's gonna have my head for this."

Lysandra's usually nonchalant demeanor is nowhere in sight. Instead, her face is screwed up in a mix of frustration and excitement. She's practically vibrating in place, popcorn flying everywhere as she eats.

Biana, on the other hand, is a storm of expletives. "For fuck's sake, Isadora! Can you stop being so goddamn strong for once?!" She growls, before directing her ire at Lyria. "And you! You're supposed to be a senior! Hit her, damn it!"

★  ★  ★  ★  ★

The rhythmic clang of metal on metal echoes through the gym, every impact showcasing the intensity of our training. Sweat pours down my face as I face off against Sera, my blade meeting hers in a flurry of strikes and parries. Her movements are direct, more than I remember, slicing through the air with a ferocity that takes me off guard.

Tsk. While Sera is always a formidable opponent, today she feels different. More aggressive, more... precise. We clash once more, my enhanced blade grinding against her wind-infused sword. The gusts that follow her strikes are forceful, almost pressing.

"Are you alright, Zara?" she asks, pulling back for a brief moment and offering her signature gentle smile. "Do you need a break?"

I grit my teeth, trying to push aside the niggling feeling that something is off. Is this change in Sera due to her recent bout of sickness? She's been absent for a while, and now, it feels like I'm sparring with a slightly altered version of her.

"No," I pant, pushing away my doubts. "Let's go at it again." I'm not about to back down, not when I'm already grappling with one of the top students.

We lunge at each other once more, our swords singing as they cut through the air. Every strike I make is met with a solid defense, but I notice tiny openings in her stance, gaps that weren't there before. My aura flares, aiming for those vulnerabilities, forcing her to retreat a step, then another.

However, even as I find an edge, she retaliates with that unwavering smile and her wind-enhanced counters. A forceful slash narrowly misses my face, making me sidestep and regroup.

A brief pause lets me scan our surroundings. Many of our classmates, including Nyssa, watch our match intently. But my focus is entirely on Sera. Hmmm... Nyssa took care of Sera while she was sick. Something must have happened while she was sick, I'll ask Nyssa later. 

'Is it because she's been out so long? Am I overthinking things?' I muse, trying to shake the feeling that's nagging at me. I'm probably just being paranoid.

Our duel intensifies, swords colliding with increasing fervor. I can tell I'm giving Sera a challenge, but there's that familiar spark in her eyes, the determination of a top student.

The session draws to a close, and I exhale, relieved. Both drenched and catching our breaths, we exchange a look of mutual respect. No words are necessary. Regardless of what might be going on with Sera, our spar reflects our commitment and skill.

"You're as formidable as ever," Sera remarks, admiration evident in her tone.

"And you," I reply with a smirk, "seem to have added a few new tricks."

Nyssa's grin is infectious as she steps onto the platform, offering water bottles to both Sera and me. Without hesitation, Sera chugs her bottle down, her thirsty gulps audible. When she finishes, she exhales deeply, satisfaction evident. "That was a good duel," she remarks before grabbing a towel and patting herself dry.

My eyebrows raise in subtle surprise. Sera usually has the stamina to train for hours. What's changed? "Are you busy right now?" I probe.

Sera hesitates before admitting, "Yeah... I want to check on my brother. Haven't received any mail from him." A shadow passes over her face, her worry apparent.

Understanding dawns on me. That's probably why she's been a tad aggressive lately. The strain of not knowing about her brother's welfare must be getting to her. I watch as she leaves the gym, Nyssa by her side. Their bond seems to grow stronger with each passing day.

Luna, with her bow strapped to her back, steps forward, her focus on me. "Let's go. You're not backing out, right? We have an appointment with the Student President."

I nod, determination flaring. "Of course not. Joining the student council is a goal I'm keen on achieving." Rumors have been circulating about the council's ineffectiveness, but I've seen the files. I know most of it's crap.

Eamon, having witnessed our exchange, approaches, stretching his limbs. "Mind if I tag along? Just curious about the Student President's strength."

Luna smirks with mischief in her eyes. "Sure. But be careful. Even I was caught off-guard when I first met her." Her warning hangs in the air.

'Idiot,' I think, glancing at Eamon. Ever since his humiliating defeat against that alchemist, he's been insufferable, training like a man possessed.

Tsk. Luna's sudden action, her bowstring singing as it releases a barrage of arrows, instantly draws my attention to the far corner of the gym. Rai, that cocky son of a bitch from Class A, deflects them all with ease. The sight is oddly satisfying – Luna's unrelenting nature against Rai's infuriating arrogance.

My eyes narrow. Why's he even here? Isn't it enough that he harasses Luna in class? Before I can contemplate further, Arin, Rai's much more reasonable friend, exhibits visible frustration, probably knowing full well Rai's tendency to dive headfirst into stupid situations.

Rai then, for once, looking somewhat uncomfortable, strides over, holding up a slip of paper towards Luna. "Hey, I'm not here to bother you," he stammers, rubbing his neck. His evasive gaze scans the surroundings, clearly not landing on what - or who - he's searching for.

I fold my arms, my lips curling in disdain. Just what is he playing at? Half tempted to slice him for Luna's sake, I'm taken aback when he murmurs something to Arin. Luna's hesitance is clear as daylight, and I move forward, intent on grabbing the note. But Rai pulls it back just in time, sighing, "V said only Luna can read this... So, please, don't look at me like that."

Arin, clearly unable to bear Rai's awkward fumbling any longer, steps forward, handing the mysterious paper to Luna. "Oh my goodness this is getting awkward. V is part of the student council," he explains with a patient sigh. "He's aware you're planning on joining, he said they told him, and well... He said if you aim for a high position, he can secure it. But you have to agree to whatever is written in that letter. And, well, I tried to peek – it's a mana signature letter so I couldn't read it... I'm sorry I tried that, I was just curious."

Dragging Rai, who's clearly on the verge of doing something more idiotic, Arin adds, "And, uh, he emphasized you shouldn't share the contents of that letter with anyone." With that, the duo makes their exit, leaving an atmosphere of puzzled tension in their wake.