Well, that was dramatic

The next class was held in a massive arena that looked more like a coliseum than a classroom. The polished stone walls were reinforced with glowing runes, and the open roof let sunlight pour in, illuminating the large circular space.

Students milled about, their excitement palpable, whispering among themselves as they craned their necks to see the man who stood in the center.

He was tall and broad-shouldered, with the kind of imposing presence that demanded attention.

His armor gleamed, a mixture of steel and enchanted gold, and his flowing dark blue cape bore the insignia of the Knight Mages a shield encircled by a blazing sun.

His face was handsome, rugged, and framed by short, perfectly tousled black hair. A sword, glowing faintly with an azure aura, hung at his side.

The girls around me were practically swooning.

"He's so handsome!" one whispered, clutching her friend's arm.

"I heard he's one of the youngest Knight Mages in the kingdom," another said. "He's a prodigy!"

I rolled my eyes and crossed my arms, unimpressed. Compared to Elira, who practically oozed strength and discipline, this guy was all flair and no substance. At least, that's what I told myself.

"Welcome, students," the man began, his deep voice cutting through the chatter.

"I am Sir Kael Drayden, a Knight Mage of the royal order, and I will be instructing you in combat magic today. Fighting with magic is not just about power it's about control, strategy, and understanding your opponent."

His gaze swept over us, lingering on each student long enough to make even the boldest squirm. When his eyes landed on me, I kept my expression neutral, determined not to flinch.

He started his lecture, explaining the principles of combining physical combat with magic.

I knew all of it already. Elira had drilled these lessons into me during countless grueling training sessions. My mind wandered as he spoke, and I found myself fiddling with the hem of my sleeve.

Suddenly, his voice cut through my thoughts. "You. In the back. The one who's clearly not paying attention."

I blinked and looked up, realizing with a sinking feeling that he was pointing directly at me. The entire class turned to stare.

"What's your name?" he demanded.

"Ren Khasar," I replied, keeping my tone even.

Sir Kael's eyes narrowed. "Well, Ren, since you seem so confident that you don't need this lesson, why don't you come up here and show us what you've got?"

A ripple of murmurs spread through the class, and I felt my cheeks flush.

"Put her in her place, Sir Kael," Xyra's voice rang out, cold and mocking. My stomach twisted. Even though I adored her arrogance, it stung to hear her voice supporting the teacher.

I hesitated. I didn't want to make a scene, but the growing smirk on Xyra's face and the Knight Mage's condescending tone ignited a spark of anger in me.

"Fine," I said, standing. The crowd parted as I walked to the center of the arena, feeling the weight of everyone's gaze on me.

Kael drew his sword in one smooth motion, the blade glimmering with a faint blue glow. "You can use any magic or weapon you like. Let's see what you're capable of."

I closed my eyes for a moment, drawing in a deep breath. The anger bubbling in my chest sharpened my focus. "Don't overthink it, Ren," I muttered under my breath. "Just do what you know."

When I opened my eyes, flames erupted in my hands, coalescing into the shape of a sword. The weapon was sleek and fiery, the blade glowing with intense red flames that danced like they had a life of their own. Gasps echoed through the crowd, but I tuned them out.

Kael raised an eyebrow. "Impressive. But can you use it?"

He didn't wait for a response. He lunged at me with surprising speed, his sword slicing through the air.

I sidestepped, the movement almost instinctive, and brought my fiery blade up to deflect his. The clash of our weapons sent a shockwave of heat and water vapor through the arena.

"You're fast," Kael admitted, his tone grudgingly respectful. "But speed alone won't win a fight."

He shifted his stance, and a surge of water magic erupted from his sword, a wave crashing toward me. I leapt back, the flames of my sword intensifying as I slashed downward, the heat evaporating the water before it could reach me.

The crowd murmured in awe, but I wasn't paying attention. My focus was on Kael, who was already moving again, his sword a blur. I parried each strike, our blades colliding in a flurry of sparks and steam.

"Not bad," he said, smirking. "But you're holding back, aren't you?"

I gritted my teeth. He wasn't wrong, but I didn't want to unleash everything. Not here. Not yet.

Kael pressed the attack, his strikes growing faster and more precise. I was forced to retreat, my mind racing as I deflected each blow. Elira's voice echoed in my head: "Don't fight your opponent's battle. Make them fight yours."

The memory sparked an idea.

I jumped back, putting distance between us, and dissolved my flaming sword into embers. Kael hesitated, confusion flickering across his face.

"What's the matter?" he taunted. "Giving up already?"

"Not quite," I said, raising my hand. The flames in my palm twisted and morphed, elongating into the shape of a bow. A quiver of fiery arrows appeared at my side.

Kael's eyes widened, and I seized the moment. I nocked an arrow, the flame steady and bright, and let it fly. It streaked through the air like a comet, forcing Kael to dodge.

Another arrow followed, then another, each one faster and more precise than the last.

Kael tried to close the distance, but I kept him at bay, my fiery arrows creating a barrier he couldn't breach. He slashed at one, but the heat singed his arm, forcing him to step back.

The crowd was silent, the tension palpable as they watched the exchange. Xyra's icy glare burned into me, but I didn't dare look her way. My focus was entirely on Kael.

Finally, with one last arrow, I aimed for his sword. The flames wrapped around the blade, forcing him to drop it as the heat became unbearable.

It clattered to the ground, and Kael raised his hands in mock surrender.

"Well," he said, breathing heavily, "I stand corrected. You're not just some overconfident kid."

I lowered my bow, the flames dissipating. My heart was pounding, and my hands were trembling slightly from the exertion, but I kept my expression neutral.

The silence broke as the class erupted into cheers and applause. Even Nyla was clapping, her grin wide and approving.

Kael gave me a nod, his earlier arrogance replaced with genuine respect. "You've got talent, Ren. Don't waste it."

I returned to my seat, feeling a mix of triumph and exhaustion. As I sat down, Nyla leaned over, whispering with a smirk, "Well, that was dramatic."

I couldn't help but grin. "You have no idea."