Chapter 12 – The Final Lesson

Ariel stood across from Selene, sword in hand, his muscles tensed like a coiled spring. The morning air was cool, yet sweat clung to his skin. His breath came steady, measured. He had fought this fight a hundred times before, but today—today would be different.

Selene lifted her practice blade with the same unshakable grace she always did, her expression calm and unreadable. "Begin."

Ariel moved first. He surged forward, his blade carving through the air in a controlled arc. Selene met it effortlessly, the sharp ring of steel-on-steel reverberating through the courtyard. He pivoted, twisting into another strike—denied again. Every movement, every adjustment, she countered as if she had already fought this battle before it had begun.

'Oh sure, just another day of getting humiliated by my dear, kind mentor,' Ariel thought bitterly as he barely avoided a counterattack. 'I bet she wakes up every morning excited to throw me into the dirt.'

Selene pressed forward, her strikes growing sharper, more relentless. Ariel gritted his teeth, pushing his reflexes to their limit. He had trained for this. He had suffered for this. But Selene—she was untouchable.

Every step he took, she was already one ahead. Every strike he launched, she countered before he had even finished moving. It was infuriating. It was humiliating. But he refused to falter.

Selene twisted into a downward slash, forcing Ariel to duck low, the blade passing inches above his head. He pivoted sharply, driving himself into an aggressive counter, his sword flashing toward her midsection.

She parried with effortless grace, her blade barely moving more than necessary. The force of her deflection sent a sharp jolt through Ariel's arms, but he didn't let it break his rhythm. He had come too far for that.

For the first time, he saw it—a real opening.

His mind screamed at him to take it. His instincts flared, screaming move, now, now, NOW!

He didn't hesitate.

He surged forward, pouring every ounce of his momentum into a single, precise strike. His blade carved through the air, aiming directly for her shoulder. He saw the moment Selene shifted—not enough.

And this time—he connected.

The impact wasn't strong, barely enough to make her shift her stance, but it didn't matter. The weight of that moment settled over him like a tidal wave. He had landed a blow.

After months of failure, of relentless training, of feeling like he was always a step behind—he had done it.

Ariel's mind took a moment to catch up with reality. He blinked a few times, staring at the place where his strike had landed.

Ariel blinked. "Wait… I hit you?"

Selene stepped back, examining the point of impact with mild interest. "Yes."

Ariel's triumph flickered. His grip tightened around his sword. "You weren't using mana enhancement, were you?"

"No."

His excitement deflated slightly. "Great. So I finally manage to hit you, but only because you were fighting like a normal person."

Selene arched a brow. "Would you rather I had been enhancing my speed?"

Ariel opened his mouth to argue, then shut it. "No, actually, I quite like my bones intact, thanks."

A faint smirk ghosted across Selene's face. "Then consider this progress. You landed a strike because you have improved—not because I was holding back."

Ariel let out a long breath. He was happy. He wasn't about to start gloating or anything—okay, maybe just a little. But still, after all these weeks of being thrown around like a ragdoll, this felt like something worth celebrating.

'You hear that, universe? I, Ariel, have officially graduated from completely useless to only moderately incompetent. Tremble before my might.'

Selene lowered her sword and gestured for him to do the same. "That concludes our training."

Ariel frowned. "Wait—what?"

Selene's expression remained neutral. "You have been here for two months. You have caught up. It is time for you to enter the Academy."

Ariel blinked. "...You're kidding."

"I am not."

Ariel frowned and let out a deep sigh

Selene tilted her head slightly, studying him. "You may or may not know this, but most children from wealthier families awaken earlier than others—typically at 12 years of age. Their families provide them with soul fragments to accelerate their awakening. Because of this, most of your peers have had three extra years of training compared to you."

Ariel stared at her. "Excuse me—what?"

"Yes, but do not dwell on it too much. We have trained here for a reason. You may lack the years of experience they possess, but skill is not measured in time alone. You have caught up to the third years in raw ability, and with enough dedication, I have no doubt you will not only match them—but surpass them."

Ariel pondered her words for a moment before speaking. "I have a question. If soul fragments can be used to assist in awakening, why don't families just provide enough of them to break through all the seals at once? Wouldn't that make a wielder stronger much faster?"

Selene hesitated, her gaze sharpening slightly as if choosing her words carefully. "Absorbing soul fragments is not as simple as adding power. It comes with extreme risk. If both the body and mind are not properly conditioned, the fragments energy will tear you apart from the inside. The energy they contain is volatile and must be gradually refined through training and battle."

She folded her arms. "Furthermore, if a wielder lacks a deep enough connection to their Legacy and attempts to force their way through their seals, their mana heart will implode. The very foundation of their power would collapse, and in most cases, they would not survive the backlash."

She then smiled faintly, a hint of amusement flickering in her eyes. "Anyways, may I continue where I was before you so kindly interrupted me? Or would you like to derail the conversation a little longer?" 

Ariel thought for a moment and then responded "Sorry, please continue" 

She nodded and continued the wind blowing away at her beautiful golden hair 

"The Academy is filled with exceptionally talented students. The third years, in particular, are a fearsome bunch, and most of them have already gained some form control over their Legacy abilities." She paused, letting the weight of her words settle. "One of them has even broken his first seal—an achievement that takes most warriors years to accomplish. He is not the only one pushing past limits, and you will find no shortage of challengers once you arrive." 

Selene continued. "You should also know that many of the students at the Academy come from noble families of the faction but all of them are from wealthy and somewhat influential families in the faction. Try not to get on anyone's bad side."

She allowed Ariel a moment to process everything, watching as the weight of her words settled upon him. Then, with a measured breath, she continued, her voice lowering slightly, as if the next words held a gravity beyond the rest. 

"As for the most important information, in four months, The Oathsworn Tournament will take place—a battle that extends far beyond the Academy. This is not just an internal competition; it is the grand tournament of the kingdom, where every faction sends its finest warriors to fight for supremacy.

Selene's gaze hardened slightly, her tone shifting into something more serious. "It is the most prestigious competition in the kingdom, a battlefield where the strongest warriors of your generation clash. The Lightbound Order, the Shadow Veil, the Astral Vanguard—all factions will send their champions, and only one will stand above the rest." A proving ground where the strongest warriors of your generation will clash. Every faction sends their finest, and the victor earns not just prestige, but recognition from the highest-ranking figures in the Order."

Ariel absorbed her words, his fingers tightening slightly at his sides. A tournament. A real one. Not just training or spars, but a true test against warriors who had been doing this for years longer than him.

Selene continued, "This is more than a simple display of strength. The results of The Oathsworn Tournament determine one's future within the Order. Those who stand out may find themselves being groomed for greater roles and their names spread across every corner of the kingdom. Those who fail... are often forgotten."

Ariel felt something stir inside him—excitement, unease, anticipation, all tangled together. "So, let me guess. You want me to enter?"

Selene's eyes met his, unwavering. "No. I expect you to win." She paused for a moment before continuing "But to do that, you must not only control your powers but also truly understand your Legacy. It is not just a weapon or a tool—it is a part of you. If you fail to forge that connection before the tournament, you will be fighting at a fraction of your true potential. And against the opponents you will face, your defeat will be all but guaranteed." 

"Oh, and did I mention? The other three Mythical Legacy wielders will be competing as well."

Ariel's breath hitched, his stomach twisting. "W–wait, what?"