Classes and Professors I

|Lancelot|

"Are you ready Gary?" I asked while buttoning up my Student Council blazer. I looked at myself in the mirror briefly before turning back to see Gary ready as well.

"Yes, we should go to our 'Special Class' now," he said as he opened the door and exited the room. I wordlessly followed him down the corridors towards our class.

Neither of us preferred to talk much, despite our somewhat close relationship. However, this meant that the silence between the two of us wasn't awkward, rather it felt more comfortable to me than making random small talk.

As we made our way through the students, they parted and made way for us, their eyes filled with admiration and respect and they stared at our faces. However, neither of us displayed any change in expression as we strode confidently down the hallway.

Eventually, we arrived at a classroom with a door that had a mana signature lock. I couldn't help but wonder how secretive and exclusive this class was as Gary effortlessly opened the door using his signature.

Inside, the class was small with only a few seats and a large arena just outside. The other members of the Paladins were already seated, and at the head of the classroom sat a young man with a sharp and angular face, his fiery red hair contrasting with his slender but toned physique.

"You must be the last students," he said with a smile. "You've grown much stronger since I last saw you Gary."

My eyes flickered to Gary, who showed a slight sign of surprise at the identity of the man.

|Gary|

Standing before me was a man I hadn't seen in five years, the Vice-Master of the main branch of the Adventurer's Guild, Nicole Fejalk. Since our last meeting, he had advanced a full core colour, showing immense growth and talent.

"Has he improved this much?" I thought, impressed with his progress. My deep connection with aether allowed me to sense that he was now in tune with the spirit, removing any doubt from my mind that he wasn't at least at the level of a Lance.

"You've improved by leaps and bounds, as expected," Nicole chuckled, acknowledging my growth.

Returning the compliment, I smiled and said, "The same could be said for you."

Taking our seats beside our respective fiancées, Lancelot and I listened as Nicole began the class.

"The Director created this class to nurture the seven greatest talents of Dicathen," he explained. "You are already too qualified to be taught by other professors. While I don't feel fully qualified to teach you, I'll do my best. The Director will also bring in the Lances for some sessions."

Everyone's eyes lit up at the mention of the Lances. They represented the pinnacle of strength on the continent, and the prospect of being taught by them was thrilling. However, I knew that Nicole was already on their level, and we would all surpass them in a few years.

My thought returned to the being I had encountered in the Death Talon Dungeon. She was beyond compare, so far above even the Lances that their power was insignificant in comparison.

As I contemplated the possibility of there being other beings as powerful as the one I had encountered, I couldn't help but feel that the people of Dicathen were limited in their understanding of the world.

My thoughts returned to the being's second power, which she had sealed away within me. Despite my attempts to access it using mana and aether, I found it impossible to interact with.

Just then, Nicole's words brought me back to the present moment. "Before we begin the class," he said, "I would like to challenge Gary Whiteborn to a rematch."

|Nicole|

As I entered the classroom, I couldn't help but be impressed by the Paladins. Their mana cores were well-developed, and I could tell that they could make excellent adventurers, with at least an AA-class evaluation.

My gaze lingered on the elven prince among them, sensing his power and potential.

Just then, two more students entered the room, one of whom was Gary. I was surprised to see him again after so many years, and even more surprised to sense that he had advanced to mid-silver at the young age of twelve.

I introduced myself to the class and then turned to Gary with a smile. "Before we begin, I'd like to challenge you to a rematch, Gary."

He met my eyes with an indifferent expression, but nodded and stood up, ready to face me once again.

My heart raced as Gary and I stepped outside onto the battle stage. The other members of the Paladins filled the seats, eager to witness our fight.

Be careful, Nicole, Salamander cautioned as he materialized beside me.

Already showing yourself? I asked, surprised at his early appearance.

He isn't someone you can beat even with me, Salamander snorted.

My confidence wavered at his words. Though I didn't want to admit it, I had lost to Gary the last time we fought. I had only wanted to demonstrate my power to the Paladins, and Gary had been the strongest among them.

"Ready yourself," I said, drawing a platinum sword from my spatial ring.

Gary rested his thumb on the hilt of his sword, the same one he had used in our previous battle. Goosebumps prickled my skin as I sensed him preparing to strike first.

[First movement of the Keiki Style: Quick Slash]

His sword blurred as it moved at hypersonic speed, heading straight for me. Instinctively, I called out to Salamander.

But my spirit only grunted and formed a wall of fire in front of me, which shattered under the impact of Gary's attack. I reacted quickly, slashing my sword towards his neck.

Salamander conjured blue flames atop my blade just as I was about to strike. A chill ran down my spine, and I retreated with a burst of flame from the soles of my feet, narrowly avoiding Gary's counterattack.

He looked at me with his purple eyes, his expression devoid of annoyance as he calculated his next move.

I swallowed hard, recalling the terror I had felt during our last battle. Gary's swordsmanship was terrifying enough, but it was his mind that truly frightened me. He was capable of calculating several steps into the future with a high degree of accuracy, and also capable of correcting his predictions based on the subsequent actions.

With determination surging through me, I closed the gap between us once more, my mind racing with strategies to defeat him.

[Triple Sunflower Bloom]

The blue flames I conjured transformed into three powerful storms that charged at Gary alongside me. My sword moved with lightning-fast speed, its movements a blur even for me.

But Gary was unfazed as he countered with a mix of lightning and sound magic.

The three blue flame storms dispersed into nothingness and my blade was deflected by his.

"Get serious," he said in a cool voice before landing a powerful kick on my stomach, sending me flying backwards.

Now was the time to bring out the big guns, I thought, as I mentally communicated with Salamander.

His blazing energy surged through my body, causing me to grit my teeth in pain as my silver core adjusted to the rush of mana.

I opened my eyes, unfurling my wings of red fire. A crown of inferno materialized on top of my head, while my body was enveloped in a protective suit of Salamander's mana.

[Salamander: Full Spirit Dive]

Gary's previously indifferent eyes betrayed a hint of emotion as he activated his lightning magic, his mana coiling around his body and forming a yellow, crackling armour.

The stakes had been raised, and the battle was about to intensify.

The heat intensified as I unleashed my ultimate spell, "Hell Ground," and the stage beneath us erupted with towering columns of blue flames. It was a chaotic and unpredictable assault, but Gary managed to dance around them with ease.

Determined not to let him gain the upper hand, I infused my sword with more powerful red and yellow fire magic and charged towards him, my wings of red fire propelling me at an unprecedented speed.

[Third Movement of the Keiki Style: Void Step]

However, Gary was able to more than keep up with my improved speed as he met my quick attack equally.

With the aid of Salamander's power, I delivered a series of powerful slashes and thrusts, but Gary proved to be an elusive target. He countered my attacks with a deadly mix of lightning and sound magic, perfectly used through his mastery of the sword.

Our blades clashed repeatedly, the sound echoing throughout the arena. It was a battle of wits and strength, my blue flames and Salamander's infernal fire against his lightning and sound.

But as the fight continued, I couldn't help but marvel at Gary's prowess. He was a true prodigy, with talent for the sword, mana, intelligence, and senses that were all off the charts.

Despite my best efforts, I couldn't gain an advantage over him. His eyes could track all of my movements, and his brain could process them quickly enough to formulate perfect countermeasures.

My heart sank as I realized that, even with Salamander's help, I might not be able to defeat him. But I refused to give up. I would fight until the bitter end.

"I won't use illusions to beat you this time," Gary announced suddenly, "So don't worry about them."

I couldn't help but feel suspicious of his words. Was he trying to throw me off my game? I shook my head, reminding myself that Gary was an honourable fighter and wouldn't resort to such underhanded tactics.

With a deep breath, I focused all of Salamander's power within me. It was time to end this battle.

"I'm ready," I said to Salamander, feeling his fiery energy coursing through my veins.

I saw Gary shifting his left foot back, preparing for something big. A warning bell rang in my head, but I ignored it as I released the ultimate attack.

[Salamander's Ultimatum: Nebula's Inferno]

The blue and red flames merged, forming a blinding white inferno that swirled around me before launching towards Gary.

To my surprise, Gary remained calm as he unsheathed his sword, and the space around him distorted. The ground was dissected into equal pieces, and his black blade clashed with my white sword surrounded by swirling flames.

I watched in disbelief as his blade cut through my white flames with ease. "How is this even possible?" I muttered under my breath, amazed at his power.

Our blades met, and to my surprise, we were evenly matched. I could feel the sweat dripping down my forehead, and my heart pounding in my chest as we continued to exchange blows. Gary was a formidable opponent, and I had to give it my all if I wanted to emerge victorious.

|Gary|

'To think he would force me to use this attack,' I thought as I prepared to release the fourth movement of the Keiki Style.

My unused purple core rumbled to life as I siphoned just a bit of spatium out, cycling it through my body before using it in my attack. The space around me distorted as my black blade clashed with Nicole's white sword surrounded by swirling flames.

Our blades met, and to my disappointment, we were evenly matched.

'Limiting the use of aether so that Alistair does not detect it certainly causes problems,' I thought.

Our attacks cancelled each other out and we both collapsed to the ground in exhaustion.

Nicole exited the Spirit Dive stage while my core was almost empty.

"While I did want to win, I will take a draw for now Gary Whiteborn," he said as he gave me his hand.

I stared at his hand for a bit, before sighing and grasping it.

I don't like this feeling, not one bit.