[Chapter 31 - Suum Cuique : To Each His Own Pt. 1]

"Have you heard anything about the third member or our instructor?" Reigner asked. We were standing together in a large grass filled field near the academy waiting.

I shook my head "No, but I guess I didn't try to find out either."

"Same here if I am being honest" he chuckled somewhat awkwardly. The other day went well but we hadn't interacted since. Maybe that made things weird…

After some more time a figure eventually appeared in the distance, walking towards us. It was a younger man, though his face and build were rather ambiguous. His posture was lax and lazy, he wore clothes that were baggy and flowing in a similar way ; like oversized monk-ish garments. His eyes and short curly hair were both a vibrant oak brown.

As he arrived he was holding a stack of papers in his hand, reading over them with a puzzled and stressed look. Finally he reached us and spoke

"Greetings!" he said with a business-like enthusiasm before looking back at the papers "Uhhh, okay" he kept reading for a few seconds before moving back to us.

"So!" he clapped his hands together "I'll be your instructor, my name is Lichen. Starting today the three of us will train and function as a special unit under the command of Balor Academy. As such we will operate more as an active military force rather than as scholars. Do you have any questions thus far?"

"Wasn't there supposed to be four of us…" Reigner interrupted

Lichen's face lost its enthusiasm and became exasperated at his response. It was clear that wasn't the question he was looking for.

Tired and lazily he answered "Yeah, there was. But things have changed. For now let's just focus on getting you both ready for your first mana zone okay?"

"Excuse me" I spoke

"Yes?" he turned his attention to me

"I actually grew up hunting in a mana zone…"

Reigner added on "Yes, not to be rude but I unlocked ki defending myself against a mana beast when I was kid so…"

Lichen's enthusiasm further evaporated as he stood there in confusion. For the next minute or so he was repeatedly looking over the papers in his hand then back at us until he eventually half hazardously shoving the papers in his pocket in a flurry of crumpling noises.

"Well then!" he regathered himself "In that case we can focus on training to better work as a unit within a mana zone. First things first, have you two even trained or practiced or anything together?"

After exchanging looks Reigner and I both replied "No"

With a sigh "Of course not. With that in mind let's start by having you two get a baseline understanding of one another. Things like how the other fights, their skills, technique, that type of thing."

"Like with drills?" I reluctantly asked

Lichen chuckled "Drills?! That's boring, do that on your own time." he smiled "No, the best way, is with a duel!"

He spoke as if it was a big reveal.

"It will cease when one of you surrenders, cannot continue, or at my call. Other than that everything is on the table ; just don't, you know, kill each other. Understood?"

"Understood"

"Understood"

"Great!"

He began directing us to be about 100ft or so apart before taking his position off to the side and yelling out

"Now, I want you to show a display of technique! Don't just go throwing out your strongest attack out the gate! Got it?!"

"Got it!"

"Got it!"

"Good! Then on my call"

The grass swayed gently in the wind. I stood at one end gripping my wand, focusing on every breath and the mana coursing through me. At the other was Reigner. Wielding a zweihänder his body had taken a lowered stance with one foot placed behind him similar to a track runner getting ready to launch.

I swallowed my spit, letting out one last breath before I heard Lichens voice break the silence of the breeze

"BEGIN!"