Harsh training.

A week later the academy was back in full swing. 

Classes resumed, lectures dragged on, and Raphael was barking orders. 

Though, this time he had good reason. 

The academy-wide shutdown didn't just mean no classes, it meant the team couldn't train. 

No training meant they had to skip the first week of the season.

And this week, the team only had a day to prepare for their first match. 

The afternoon was crisp.

It was cool, with the faint echoes of winter creeping in. The trees were losing their leaves, and the flowers were beginning to fade.

But though winter was coming Raphael remained heated with passion and fire.

"Faster strikes," Raphael commanded, throwing his hand to the wind as he drilled Josephine.

The young girl was sweating profusely as she swung her wooden spear with speed and power. 

"Yes, sir." She replied with heavy breaths. 

Across the field, other players practiced with the same ferocity. Making them look more like an elite unit preparing for war rather than a team game. 

Alexander watched with a side eye, before returning his focus to his practice dummy. 

He struck the target with perfect precision, jabbing his spear into the dummy before dogging its retaliatory strikes. 

His mind was still clouded with doubts and fears.

His heart raced as sweat beaded down his forehead, back, and chest. 

He thought of Elizabeth.

The upcoming game.

The lack of prep. 

The pressure was building. 

And yet, the longer he fought against his training dummy the more his mind cleared. 

His golden eyes narrowed with clarity as time began to slow. 

His body reacted with doges and dashes as if it were second nature.

His strikes hit harder, faster, and were more deadly than ever. 

He was in the zone.

But it wasn't to last.

As easily as he slipped into it, the training dummy knocked him out of it. 

A wrong move by Alexander followed by a quick retaliation of the spinning dummy sent a wooden ball crashing against his head with a thud. 

"Argh!" Alexander quickly reached for his ear as he dashed backwards. Blood trickled down the side of his face as his vision blurred. 

A radiant white pain kept him off balance.

Raphael swung his head in Alexander's direction, his black eyes narrowing. 

"Get back on your assignment, now." He barked. 

Alexander showed Raphael his bloodied hand, "I… I need a minute." He replied, shaking his head to lift the fog.

Raphael gritted his teeth. 

"That was an order, little brother."

Alexander focused his blurred gaze on Raphael. 

He stood unmoving. 

Alexander could never read Raphael. 

One minute his laughing hysterically about dancing, the next… he's like an apex predator staring you down. 

Both were terrifying.

"Fine…" Alexander grumbled, tightening his fist as he stumbled towards his dummy. 

The pain was strong but not unbearable.

Just a few more hours.

After preparing his spear once more, Alexander took a deep breath and began again. 

The rhythm soon came back to him, his instincts taking over as his body moved with honed precision. 

— — — 

As the sun began to set and the chilly breeze nipped at Alexander's skin, Raphael called for a break. 

The team relaxed in response, some more drained than others. 

Everyone began migrating towards the center of the field, where Raphael stood with an unreadable expression. 

"Listen up, especially the first years." Raphael took a step forward, his voice booming in the chilly air. "Tomorrow's match is against Lorie Academy, and unlike us, they'll be coming onto the field with a win from last week."

Everyone shifted, as if a weight had been dropped on their shoulders.

Raphael continued. "They're more prepared, more experienced, and more disciplined. They'll be playing to extend their winning streak… but I refuse to let that happen." 

"Our strategy is simple. We'll launch a two-pronged attack with Lucie and Aloïs acting as squad leaders."

"Aloïs will go for the center, then once secured Lucie will press the midfield. Following that I'll bring up the rear with the first years to hold the center, allowing Aloïs to push for the backfield and crush the final defense."

He then held his head high with his signature grin. 

An unnerving expression. 

"Victory is assured, because if you fail… Well, I think you know the consequences." His gaze honed in on Alexander, before he turned to leave. 

"You're all dismissed!" He said with the wave of his hand. "Try not to disappoint tomorrow."

The team dispersed, some heading towards the dorms while others hung around to chat. 

Alexander sighed as he slung his gym bag over his shoulder, his muscles aching but his mind clear. 

"Hey, Alexander are you alright?" Karl said as he and Jules caught up to him. "That was a nasty blow."

Alexander touched the dried blood on his ear, the wound had long healed, but it still ached to the touch. "Yeah, just slipped up a bit, nothing to write home about."

Jules breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank goodness, I was afraid I'd have to carry the team tomorrow." He teased.

Alexander forced a smile. "Yeah."

Karl then sighed. "I've looked into the Lorie Academy, their pathfinder team is stacked, blah, blah, blah…"

Alexander barely listened to Karl as he talked about the opposition. Not to be rude, but because all Alexander cared for was sleep at this point. 

As he nodded off, Jules began snapping his fingers. "Hey, Sir Alexander… Alexander… Alex!"

Alexander snapped up, his eyes wide. "Yes?"

"Are you alright?" Jules asked with a concerned yet playful smirk. 

Alexander rubbed the back of his neck with a cheeky smirk. "Yeah, yeah… I'm just ready to hit the sack, you know?"

Karl raised an eyebrow. He studied Alexander closely, "hm… alright, guess it is pretty late."

Jules reached for Alexander's gym bag and spear. "I'll be taking these, Sir Alexander. You should handle your obligations before you crash in the dirt."

Alexander chuckled. 

"Thanks, Jules, I owe you one." He then turned to leave, heading towards the student council building.

Jules and Karl watched as he stumbled away, massaging his temples while yawning.

The boys then turned to face each other. 

"He's not making it to the dorm tonight," Karl said.

Jules nodded. "Almost certainly not."

— — —

Alexander walked up the familiar steps of the student council building. Fixing up his clothes as best he could before slipping inside.

He was greeted in the lobby by a familiar duo, Hinata and Elizabeth. The two were chatting over tea when Elizabeth's gaze snapped towards the entrance.

"Ah, Alex!" Elizabeth squealed as she set her teacup down. 

She practically leapt from her striding towards Alexander, with a giddy expression. 

She stopped just in front of him, her dress swishing softly as she shifted side to side. 

"I was starting to think you forgot about me, Alex." She finally whispered, before hugging him. 

As Elizabeth pressed herself against Alexander, he took a sharp breath. 

Normally he would've pulled away or laughed awkwardly. But now, he was too tired to even fuss. 

As such he simply hugged her back, enjoying her company and presence. "Mhm, you smell nice," Alexander whispered, catching a floral scent.

Elizabeth giggled. "And you… smell bad." She whispered, pressing herself closer to him. 

Alexander chuckled, before closing his eyes.

The moment she was peaceful.

So peaceful, that Alexander closed his eyes and cleared his exhausted mind.

Then, seconds later Elizabeth began straining under Alexander's weight. 

"Uh… Alex." Elizabeth whispered as she tried to hold him up. "Wake up, please."

Alexander's arms dangled freely as he dozed into a deep slumber. 

Elizabeth chuckled nervously as she quietly looked at Hinata for help. 

Hinata swiftly stood up in a single motion.

She approached the duo with long strides and gently placed a hand on Alexander, before lifting the boy into her arms. 

Elizabeth giggled as she crossed her arms. "Ugh, it's just like him to run away when it's getting good." She mused.

Hinata smirked as she held Alexander close. "Should we return him to his dorm, your highness?"

Elizabeth put a finger to her chin and thought for a moment. She then shook her head, "No, he's mine for the night, seeing as Chloe won't be there anymore."

Hinata nodded. "As you wish, Your Highness."