Beyond Mana and Pride

As Aqua and Casial ascended the grand staircase towards their room, the soft echoes of their footsteps resonated in the quiet corridor. The subtle aroma of fresh wood polish mingled with the faint metallic scent from the sparring weapons stored nearby. Casial, his carefree demeanor evident, turned to Aqua with a sly grin. "Aqua, what will you do now that your second-grade sword is broken?"

Aqua paused for a moment, his sharp black eyes reflecting calm contemplation. "Instructor Lucas won't have us practicing with real swords today either," he replied evenly. "I'll buy a new one when we head to the capital city later."

Casial chuckled, shaking his head in mock disbelief. "That's fine, but don't you think it's dull going over the basics again?" he asked, his tone teetering between exasperation and amusement.

Aqua gave a faint smile. "It is dull for us, maybe. But for others? They still need to master the basics. And honestly, revisiting fundamentals doesn't hurt—it's useful practice. Let's make today interesting. No mana during training—dodging lasers will be tougher."

Casial's eyes gleamed at the challenge. "Great idea! Let's hurry!" he said, dashing ahead with renewed energy. Aqua followed at a measured pace, his composure unfaltering.

Before 20 minutes of starting of class, the two arrived at the training ground. Sunlight streamed in through tall windows, casting dynamic beams across the polished stone floor. Only a handful of students had gathered so far, their voices hushed with anticipation. The gazes of awe that followed Aqua as he entered were impossible to ignore. The entire academy had buzzed with whispers about Aqua's feat the previous day—his victory over Jonathan's older brother, the second-year star student.

Jonathan was present as well, standing stiffly at the edge of the hall. His face bore a mix of resentment and shame, the kind that simmered beneath a stoic exterior. He glared at Aqua, silently blaming him for the disgrace brought upon his family.

Casial leaned closer to Aqua and smirked mischievously. "You're getting popular. Everyone's talking about you! Don't be surprised if you get a pile of love letters soon," he teased, his tone dripping with playful exaggeration. Then, with a mock-serious grin, he added, "How about becoming my brother-in-law?"

Aqua glanced at him with mild amusement but chose not to dignify the comment with a reply. Casial's lighthearted antics had become a familiar soundtrack to their friendship.

Their banter was interrupted when Instructor Lucas strode in with his usual purposeful demeanor. His firm yet warm voice cut through the room, commanding attention. "I hope many of you practiced your footwork during your spare time. Today's lesson will focus on footwork drills combined with sparring matches. Pair up and choose your sparring partner!"

Casial wasted no time turning to Aqua. "Let's spar without mana," he suggested eagerly.

Aqua nodded with a faint smile. "Fine by me," he said, his tone calm but tinged with quiet enthusiasm.

They moved to a corner of the training ground, taking their positions as the other students eyed them curiously. To many, the sight of two skilled fighters forgoing mana seemed odd—why handicap themselves?

Jonathan couldn't resist commenting, his voice dripping with disdain. "Who would fight without mana? It's foolish—Aqua's behavior is rubbing off on the prince."

Lucas, who had been observing silently, decided to intervene. "Mana is a substance we manipulate to strengthen our bodies," he said, his tone neutral yet authoritative. "But that doesn't mean we should neglect the strength of our bodies themselves. They are our true foundation."

The sparring began, and Aqua and Casial faced off in an electrifying duel. Their movements were swift, the clash of blades ringing through the air like an intense rhythm. Without mana, every dodge and counter required heightened precision, leaving them both breathless yet exhilarated. The other students watched intently, some bewildered and others inspired by their decision to rely solely on their physical prowess.

The session carried on, their duel drawing attention even from Lucas, who couldn't help but admire their dedication. Finally, the class came to an end, and Aqua and Casial lowered their swords, the satisfaction of the intense spar etched onto their faces.

Lucas approached them with his characteristic encouraging smile. "Good work, both of you. Training the body is as important as mastering mana—keep it up." With that, he left, his words lingering like a subtle nod of approval.

Aqua and Casial exchanged a glance, silently acknowledging the praise, before thanking Lucas and heading off to their next class together. The sunlight outside seemed brighter as if reflecting their unwavering commitment to improvement.