Fists of Fury

"What was that all about?" Ezra asked, glancing over at Milo as they walked down the corridor, the sun already sinking beneath the horizon, casting a cool twilight over the school.

"Which one? Your roommates or Rui?" Milo

replied, adjusting his bag on his shoulder.

"Eh, both," Ezra said with a shrug.

Milo gave a small, knowing smile. "As you can tell, Rui's not like the rest of us. The monolid eyes, the pale skin… She's from the fallen Xian Empire, and yeah, that's a touchy subject around here. People like her, they don't really fit in with the whole Arcanis narrative. But Rui? She doesn't care. She speaks her mind, no matter who it pisses off."

Ezra raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "And what about Asli and Silas? They seem… strange."

Milo let out a small laugh. "Yeah, no one really gets them. Asli and Silas are a mystery to everyone. The weird thing is, Silas always sticks to Asli like glue. No one knows what's going on between them, but they're inseparable. It's like they've got some secret bond no one can break. Maybe cause Asli's blind, he acts as a guide—"

"Wait, Asli's blind?" Ezra asked, looking back toward the building they had just come from, a bit confused. "He doesn't look blind."

"Are you serious?" Milo chuckled, shaking his head. "Why do you think he always wears that blindfold? Of course, he's blind. You'll get used to it."

Ezra blinked, still processing the information. "But what about Silas? Why does he cover his eye?"

Milo shrugged nonchalantly. "I don't know. You could ask him yourself, but good luck getting a straight answer. Silas is… mysterious, to say the least."

"I mean, it makes sense why Rowan's so overprotective of them…"

"Who is Rowan now?" Ezra asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Oh, you're in for a treat," Milo grinned. "In about two days, you'll know exactly who he is."

The day came sooner than expected. The entire school seemed to buzz with excitement as the first years and a few seniors gathered in the massive arena after class.

It was midnight, and the air was thick with anticipation. Ezra stood among the crowd, feeling the hum of energy reverberating in his bones. All around him, students were talking, their voices rising above the low murmurs of the crowd.

In the center of the arena stood a raised platform, with two figures emerging from opposite corners. The cheers grew louder as the atmosphere thickened with tension. Ezra shifted uncomfortably, glancing at Milo who was standing beside him.

"Of course Rowan's gonna win," a voice behind them said, filled with a mix of awe and certainty. "He's on a winning streak after all."

Ezra furrowed his brow slightly, wondering what that meant. Milo, sensing his curiosity, leaned in closer and whispered, "Rowan's a senior. He's been winning every match for the last few months. He's unbeatable, basically."

Another voice nearby spoke up, a little disappointed. "Damn, the outcome is pretty obvious."

"It's a shame we won't see Soren and Rowan fight," the third voice muttered, sounding almost wistful.

"Who's Soren?" Ezra asked quietly, glancing sideways at Milo.

Ezra's eyes followed Milo's gesture, and his gaze landed on the figure stepping into the arena. If Eli was tall, Rowan was even taller.

He towered over most people, his broad, muscular frame exuding strength and confidence. His skin was a deep tan, giving him a rugged, sun-kissed appearance. His dusty brown hair fell slightly across his forehead, tousled but well-kept, and his sharp green eyes scanned the crowd, taking in the energy of the crowd.

Rowan's features were striking—handsome in a rugged way, with a natural confidence that radiated off him. He was dressed simply in a fitted t-shirt and shorts, his muscular frame obvious beneath the casual attire. The whispers around him grew louder.

"Dammit, he's so handsome!"

"Look at those muscles!"

"Erm, is he single?"

Milo snickered at the comments, glancing at Ezra with a raised eyebrow. "Told you. He's the total package, huh?"

Ezra couldn't help but smirk, trying to ignore the chatter around them. His attention was diverted when the fight began. Rowan's opponent emerged from the opposite side of the arena—much shorter than Rowan, but still carrying a strong, determined presence. Ezra could see the confidence in both of them, despite the clear size difference.

" I Mike Harrow , apprentice of Master Nox challenge you go a Duel. "

" Accepted. "

As the fight began, the air seemed to thrum with anticipation. The crowd hushed, all eyes locked on the two competitors as they squared off. Rowan stood tall and unbothered, while his opponent took a more cautious stance, sizing him up.

In an instant, they collided. The sound of fists meeting flesh and feet hitting the floor echoed through the arena like thunder.

Rowan's opponent was quick, darting in with a series of swift punches aimed at Rowan's midsection. But Rowan, unfazed, shifted his weight with a fluid motion, dodging with ease and countering with a swift elbow to the opponent's side. The impact forced the smaller fighter to stumble back, winded but not out of the fight just yet.

The crowd murmured with excitement, sensing the power behind Rowan's strikes. He moved with controlled aggression, each punch and kick a calculated response to his opponent's every move.

Ezra couldn't help but be impressed by the display of raw skill. He had seen strength before, but there was something almost effortless about the way Rowan fought, as if he had honed his body and mind to work as one.

Rowan's opponent, however, wasn't going down without a fight. With a quick, desperate movement, the smaller fighter lunged, aiming a low kick at Rowan's legs in an attempt to take him off balance.

Rowan, however, anticipated the move. With a sharp step to the side, he avoided the strike and retaliated with a powerful sweep of his own, knocking the opponent to the ground with a loud thud. The crowd erupted in cheers.

" Yield ! . Winner is Rowan "

Rowan stood over his opponent, his chest heaving slightly from the exertion. His opponent, now flat on the ground, struggled to rise but quickly gave up, raising a hand in submission. Rowan helped him up with a respectful nod, acknowledging the fight.

Just like that the fight was over .