Chapter 14: The Prodigy Duelist of Beauty...

After hearing Ser Rheya's full instructions, the four members of squad A were huddled together trying to brainstorm.

"So... what is our plan?" Levik opens up their discussion.

"Hmm, Ser Rheya's achievements in dueling are actually well known, it is why she was able to become a noble. She had an unprecedented 8-to-2-win rate in tournaments when she was still in the academy." Belle recalls all the information that was explained to her when it was learned that Ser Rheya would become her homeroom adviser. Additionally, she was actually present in some of the tournaments Rheya had won.

"Mhm, Ser Rheya is known for flawless foundation and technique when it comes to swordplay. Although I mainly use a bow, she was one of the people who taught me swordsmanship. Even the most experienced knights in our order could not reach an even win ratio with her." Venia adds.

"Huh, sounds like it will be good training then." Calid remarks in a positive joking manner.

"Ser Rheya likely wants us to develop our squad tactics however we aren't experienced enough with each other to try anything complicated. I think it would be a good first step for us to be able to fight without getting in each other's way." Belle surmises her analysis of the situation.

They were four talented prodigies that lacked training and experience. It would be arrogant and foolish not to take advantage of their numbers advantage, however it would be asking too much for them to suddenly become an experienced team within an hour of meeting each other. Thus, they kept their plan simple; Calid would be their frontline tank who would distract Ser Rheya, Levik would be their front-line flanker who would try to encircle and backstab. Meanwhile, Venia would roam and fire arrows when she found an opening while Belle would stay at the back and adapt to the situation with her magic.

After a few more minutes of strategizing, Ser Rheya calls for everyone's attention.

CLAP!

"Alright, is everyone ready? We shall begin, I have received word that your other classes for today will be cancelled for reasons to be explained later. Therefore, we shall have enough time to go through each match one at a time instead of doing them in pairs. However, we will instead be imposing a 5-minute time limit. Everyone, remember the etiquette of sparring: we do not fight to win, we fight to improve and learn." Rheya explains.

Her last statement was a common saying in all training fields, though how loyally it was adhered to depended on context. Here in the academy within a block of classmates with nothing to be gained, it was very much expected to follow that statement. Though, Ser Rheya still kept an eye on students like Calid who had dispositions which may have led to them lacking control and/or discipline.

"Alright then, aside from squad A, each squad will be paired in alphabetical order: B shall face C, D shall face E, and so on and so forth. A member from each squad pair and Squad A, come in front and write your squad letter on a piece of paper and place it in this sack. We are going to be drawing the order in which we will do our practice matches." Ser Rheya instructs.

The members of the class nodded and did as they were told. Meanwhile, there were many eyes secretly and publicly watching the training field. One of these hidden pairs of eyes belonged to the headmaster of the academy Lord Rhys. He stroked his long gray beard and pondered on the reason for the cancellation of classes.

There were two reasons why classes were canceled that day. The first was the arrival of the delegates from Asphodel, as many of the visiting professors who were from the knight orders and magic towers were sent to escort the delegates and provide security. The second was that the Royal family and some of the more prominent nobles requested some time to be given for the students to acclimate to the new environment. When many of these said powerful nobles saw that some homeroom classes were planning to have training sessions, they sent their spies to watch over their wards and scout the different students for strong recruits or enemies.

Lord Rhys watched Ser Rheya draw from a bag the order in which matches would be held. From what he could make out, it appeared that Squad 1 would participating last. He did not know if it was planned but it did enhance the drama of the training session. The training session began, and every single spectator watched closely, though in the back of their mind they were waiting in anticipation when the nicknamed "Royal Squad" would begin their match with Ser Rheya.

Time passed and matches were concluded, Lord Rhys and most observers that the quality of this batch and class was higher than most. There were many competitive and instructive sparring sessions. Eventually, it became time for the final match.

"Squad A, begin when you are ready." Ser Rheya said as she drew her ornate rapier and a rare-type of single-edged dagger.

Many who recognized the dagger's unique design were surprised that Ser Rheya possessed such a specialized weapon. The dagger's name "sword-breaker" was a misnomer, it could not actually break swords: but rather it blocked and trapped them in the notches shaped along the blunt edge. This kind of dagger required high-level smithing and materials as it needed to be strong enough not to break when blocking. Those who had watched Ser Rheya previously were also surprised as Ser Rheya was usually seen fighting only with a rapier and without a dagger.

"Oh, it's been sometime since I've seen that dagger. Though I do recall that it was wielded by someone else when I saw it. I wonder what it means for her to be using it." Lord Rhys thought internally as he reminisced on a spar he had observed.

Ser Rheya proceeded to take a fencer stance with one arm holding the rapier slightly extended pointing toward head-level, while the other arm holding the sword-breaker at her side for balance. She was in her knight order uniform.

The four members of squad A nodded each other and began their plan. Levik and Calid advanced, Calid with his bloodline activated approached from the front while Levik went left to try to flank Ser Rheya. Meanwhile, Venia notched an arrow and Belle started channeling her mana getting ready to cast support magic.

It became obvious to most observing that the students were planning a simple but effective plan of surrounding Ser Rheya.

"Very good, let us see if you can implement it properly." Ser Rheya praised them and nodded. She signals that the students will have the privilege of attacking first as she begins using quick footwork to position herself and keep all four students within her line of sight while slowly moving towards Belle and Venia.

Seeing this, the students for their part, do their best to synchronize and attack at the same time. Calid and Levik both swing their warhammer and katana from opposite directions while Venia quickly fires an arrow at where she thinks Ser Rheya may dodge to and Belle summons a vine made out of water that appears from the ground near Ser Rheya and tries to grab Ser Rheya's foot. Unfortunately, they may have been a bit hasty as they attack before they can fully encircle Ser Rheya which allows Ser Rheya and opening where she can safely dodge. While dodging, she swiftly kicks at the side of Levik's knee which causes him to stumble momentarily due to being off balance while swinging.

She steps out of the way and then quickly begins running towards Venia and Rheya while they are still grouped together. Levik the fastest of the two between him and Calid, is delayed by Ser Rheya's kick; Calid himself needs to turn around before running after their professor. Venia notices this and quickly fires another arrow but it is quickly deflected by Ser Rheya's dagger without causing any delay. Belle begins summoning a water barrier to dry and cover both her and Venia so that they can stall for time until their squamates get to them.

FLASH

However, Belle's concentration is interrupted as Ser Rheya quickly casts a well-timed flash spell the moment Belle looks at her. This blinds both Venia and Belle causing them to be blinded and distracted, causing Belle's spell to fizzle. Levik seeing this calmy sheathes then draws his katana quicky launching a wind blade carefully aimed at Ser Rheya without the possibility of hitting Venia and Belle. Ser Rheya, however, is aware and prepared for these types of attacks and hears Levik's wind blade being launched, this allows her enough time to quickly glance behind her and dodge. By this time, she is almost within striking range of the two girls.

Everyone, including those who are watching, is alarmed by how badly the situation has turned without even 10 seconds having passed. Even Lord Rhys is surprised by Ser Rheya's growth.

Venia frantically tries to use an arrow as an improvised dagger to stab at Ser Rheya while Belle tries her own dagger. Unfortunately, Ser Rheya dodges Venia's stab and grabs her wrist while push-kicking Belle to the ground with the momentum of her running. Consequently, she then grapples Venia's arm and hip-tosses her on top of Belle. When Levik and Calid finally catch-up to Ser Rheya, she has her rapier and sword-breaker dagger pointed towards both Belle and Venia who are defenseless on the ground.

"Venia and Belle, good try but I believe you have to yield. Levik and Calid, there are now only two of you remaining. " Ser Rheya says simply.