Chapter 60

The next day, as I boarded the academy bus, my heart raced with excitement. Today wasn't just any day—it was sparring day. But this time, we wouldn't be facing teachers; we'd be sparring against each other.

Mama had carefully tied my hair into two neat ponytails, her fingers moving with practiced precision. She always said, "A warrior should never let their hair distract them from the battle ahead."

As the bus began to pull away, she called out, her voice full of encouragement, "Good luck, Aleena!"

I turned, waving both hands with a beaming smile. "Thanks, Mama!"

When I entered the classroom, it was nearly impossible to stay calm. The buzz of excitement around me only fueled the adrenaline rushing through my veins. My classmates chatted animatedly, speculating on their potential matchups.

But I already knew which fight I was looking forward to the most.

I was certain that I'd be paired against Gale. It only made sense—after all, we were the strongest students in the class.

Gale's fighting style was mesmerizing, a mix of calculated risk and unparalleled creativity. The way he seamlessly integrated magic circles into his combat made him a force to be reckoned with. Watching him fight was like witnessing art in motion—dangerous, yet captivating.

And then there was that feeling, the strange, unexplainable pull toward him. I'd felt it before—a hard pound in my chest i had experienced several times whenever he looked my way or spoke my name.

Am I really?... With a mere mortal?... With a kid?...

I imagined his cute face as I got lost in thought.

I quickly shook my head.

No, that can never happen.

I spotted Gale standing amidst a group of students. Without hesitation, I rushed over, my excitement bubbling over.

"I'm so excited to fight you today!" I exclaimed, barely able to contain my enthusiasm.

Gale blinked, startled by my sudden approach. "Huh? What are you talking about? The matchups haven't been announced yet. Plus—"

I cut him off, waving a hand dismissively. "What do you mean? We're the strongest here, aren't we? Who else would they pair us against?"

Before Gale could respond, a familiar voice cut through the chatter.

"Actually," Ganth, one of the teachers, said with a smirk as he folded his arms, "when students are too skilled, they're paired against teachers, not other students."

I froze, the words sinking in like a lead weight. "Huh?!"

Ganth continued, clearly enjoying my reaction. "You'll be sparring against me, Aleena. Gale, on the other hand, will face Bargue."

My dreams of an epic battle against Gale crumbled in an instant. I sank to my knees, devastated. "No way…"

Gale shrugged, his expression almost apologetic. "That's what I tried to tell you."

I groaned dramatically, burying my face in my hands.

But then Ganth turned to Gale, his smirk widening. There was a knowing look in his eyes, as if asking a silent question: "Are you up for it?"

Gale glanced at me briefly, then back at Ganth. After a moment of thought, he nodded with a confident smile.

Ganth clapped his hands, his excitement unmistakable. "Well, looks like we've got a special treat today! The best versus the best. This is going to be fun!"

I shot to my feet, blinking in surprise. My gaze shifted to Gale, who was now looking at me with that same confident smile. He gave me a small nod, and just like that, my energy surged back to life.

"However," Ganth said, snapping his fingers, "we're going to need some ground rules."

A large ring began to form around us, the earth itself shifting and rising to create a boundary. The arena stood roughly knee-high, marking the battlefield.

"Here are the rules," Ganth announced. "No lethal attacks. No mind disruption magic. And if you're thrown completely out of the ring, you lose. Understood?"

Gale and I nodded, taking our stances.

"All students!" Teacher Maria shouted from the sidelines, her voice carrying over the murmurs of excitement. "Move to the far back of the spectator seats! This is not a safe zone!"

The students scrambled, their excitement palpable as they rushed to safer vantage points.

Meanwhile, Bargue strolled into view, carrying a large bag of popcorn.

"Seriously?" Ganth said with a chuckle. "You're treating this like a movie?"

Bargue smirked. "What? If you don't want any, just say so."

Ganth rolled his eyes but grabbed a handful of popcorn anyway.

I turned my focus back to Gale, the playful banter of the teachers fading into the background. Our gazes locked, and the tension between us grew, electric and unspoken.

"You might want to unsheathe your sword," I called out with a grin. "Even if it's wooden, it might give you a fighting chance!"

Gale chuckled softly, shaking his head. "I don't need it."

My grin widened. "We'll see about that!"

Without warning, Gale slapped a glowing magic circle onto his back. I barely had time to process it before his speed increased dramatically. In an instant, he was in front of me, his fist aimed straight for my face.

I grinned, feeling the familiar thrill of battle surge through me.

This was going to be so much more fun than I'd imagined.