Chapter 24: Preparations(2)

The academy buzzed with a mix of excitement and tension as the students prepared for the upcoming Inter-Academy Tournament. With only a month left before the event, the administration had declared a holiday—a time for students to rest, train, and refine their skills. For many, this was a chance to push themselves to their limits.

...

Aria and Arthuria stood outside Professor Jadestar's office, their expressions a mix of determination and uncertainty. The two had decided to put aside their usual independence and seek advice from their professor. The tournament was too important to leave anything to chance.

"Do you think she'll have time for us?" Aria asked, her green eyes flicking toward the closed door.

Arthuria nodded, her silver hair shimmering faintly in the hallway light. "She's always made time for students who are serious about improving. We just need to be clear about what we want."

Before Aria could respond, the door opened, and Professor Jadestar stepped out, her crimson eyes scanning the two of them. "Aria, Arthuria. What can I do for you?"

Aria straightened, her voice steady. "We need your advice, Professor. The tournament is coming up, and we want to make sure we're as prepared as possible."

Professor Jadestar's expression softened slightly, and she gestured for them to enter her office. "Come in."

Inside the office, Professor Jadestar listened intently as Aria and Arthuria outlined their goals for the tournament. Aria would be participating in the one-on-one duels and the war games, while Arthuria would compete in the battle royale and the war games. Both of them knew they needed to refine their techniques and strategies.

"Aria," Professor Jadestar began, her tone firm but not unkind, "your strength lies in your speed and agility, but you need to work on your stamina. Sometimes you might not be able to finish your opponent quickly, and you can't afford to tire out early."

Aria nodded, her green eyes narrowing in determination

Arthuria leaned forward, her icy blue gaze focused. "And what about me, Professor?"

Professor Jadestar turned to her, her expression thoughtful. "Your ice element is versatile, but you rely too much on defense. You need to be more aggressive, especially in the battle royale. You can't afford to play it safe."

Arthuria's lips tightened into a thin line, but she nodded. "Understood. I'll work on my offensive techniques."

Professor Jadestar's crimson eyes gleamed with approval. "Good. But remember, this isn't just about individual skills. The war games will require teamwork. You two need to learn how to fight together."

Aria and Arthuria exchanged a glance, their earlier tension fading as they realized the importance of working as a team. "We'll make it work," Aria said, her voice firm.

...

After leaving Professor Jadestar's office, Aria and Arthuria found themselves standing outside the Warblades' training facility. They had decided to put aside their grudges against Katharine and ask her for a sparring session. Despite their reservations, they knew that Katharine's experience and skill would be invaluable.

Katharine was inside, her red eyes gleaming as she practiced her shadow techniques. When she noticed Aria and Arthuria approaching, she smirked. "Well, well. What do I owe the pleasure?"

Aria crossed her arms, her green eyes narrowing slightly. "We need your help. We want to spar with you."

Katharine raised an eyebrow, her grin widening. "Oh? And here I thought you two couldn't stand me."

Arthuria stepped forward, her icy blue gaze calm but determined. "This isn't about personal feelings. We need to prepare for the tournament, and you're one of the strongest second-years. Will you help us or not?"

Katharine's smirk softened into a genuine smile. "Alright, I'll bite. But don't expect me to go easy on you."

The sparring session began with Katharine standing casually in the center of the training ring, her daggers of shadowy energy resting loosely in her hands. Aria and Arthuria stood opposite her, their expressions serious but determined.

"Ready when you are," Katharine said, her voice light but carrying an edge of challenge.

Aria didn't wait. She darted forward, her daggers wreathed in flames. Her movements were swift and precise, the heat of her fire element radiating through the air. She aimed a series of quick strikes at Katharine, each one calculated to test her defenses.

But Katharine moved like a shadow, her body twisting and turning with effortless grace. She dodged Aria's attacks with ease, her red eyes gleaming with amusement. "Too slow," she teased, her voice light.

Arthuria, standing at a distance, summoned a barrage of ice shards and launched them toward Katharine. The shards cut through the air with deadly precision, but Katharine vanished into the shadows, reappearing behind Arthuria in the blink of an eye.

"You need to be faster than that," Katharine said, her voice calm but firm. She tapped Arthuria lightly on the shoulder with the flat of her dagger, a playful reminder of her advantage.

Aria gritted her teeth and charged again, this time with a burst of speed. Her daggers left trails of fire in their wake, the flames erupting in a controlled burst. But Katharine was ready. She parried Aria's strikes with ease, her movements fluid and precise.

Arthuria joined the fray, her ice shards forming a barrier around Katharine. But Katharine simply smiled and stepped through the shadows, reappearing on the other side of the barrier. "You're getting better," she said, her voice light but carrying an edge of challenge. "But you're still not fast enough."

The spar continued, with Aria and Arthuria pushing themselves to their limits. They tried every tactic they could think of, but Katharine was always one step ahead. Her movements were unpredictable, her attacks relentless. She seemed to anticipate their every move, countering with precision and grace.

Finally, Katharine decided to end the spar. She vanished into the shadows, reappearing behind Aria and Arthuria in the blink of an eye. With a swift and precise strike, she disarmed both of them, her daggers resting lightly against their throats.

"And that's how it's done," Katharine said, her voice calm but firm. She stepped back, her daggers dissolving into shadowy energy.

Aria and Arthuria stood there, their breathing heavy and their expressions a mix of frustration and admiration. They had been completely outmatched, but they had also learned valuable lessons.

"Thanks," Aria said, her voice grudging but sincere. "We needed that."

Katharine shrugged, her grin returning. "Anytime. But next time, try to keep up."

...

Aria stood in the middle of a secluded training ground, her green eyes focused and her daggers gleaming in the sunlight. The air around her shimmered with heat as she channeled her fire element, the flames dancing along the edges of her blades. She moved with precision and grace, her movements fluid and deliberate. Every strike was calculated, every step purposeful.

Aria had always been a close-range fighter, relying on her speed and agility to outmaneuver her opponents. But for the tournament, she knew she needed to refine her techniques. The one-on-one duels would be her chance to shine, and she was determined to make the most of it.

"Focus, Aria," she muttered to herself, her voice steady. "You can't afford to make mistakes."

She spun, her daggers leaving trails of fire in their wake. The flames erupted in a controlled burst, scorching the training dummies she had set up. Aria's breathing was even, her mind sharp. She knew her opponents would be strong, but she was ready to prove that she belonged among the elite.

...

In another part of the academy, Arthuria stood in a frost-covered training ground, her silver hair glinting in the pale light. Her icy blue eyes were calm but focused as she summoned her ice element, the air around her growing colder with every breath. She raised her hand, and a barrage of ice shards shot forward, piercing the targets with pinpoint accuracy.

Arthuria specialized in mid-range combat, using her ice element to control the battlefield and keep her opponents at bay. For the tournament, she would be participating in the battle royale and the war games, events that required both individual skill and teamwork. She knew she needed to be at her best.

"I can't afford to hold back," Arthuria said to herself, her voice quiet but firm. "This is my chance to prove myself."

She extended her hand, and a wall of ice erupted from the ground, forming a barrier between her and the training dummies. With a flick of her wrist, the wall shattered into countless shards, each one flying toward its target with deadly precision. Arthuria's expression remained calm, but her determination was unwavering.

...

In the heart of the Warblades' training facility, Kaelith and Elias were preparing for the tournament. Kaelith's blue eyes were sharp as he observed Elias's movements, his expression calm but focused. Elias, a tall and lean student with a calm demeanor, was one of the few who could keep up with Kaelith's relentless pace.

"The tournament will be our last chance to leave a mark," Kaelith said, his voice steady. "We need to make sure that Celestia Academy's legacy is secure."

Elias nodded, his expression serious. "Understood. We'll give it everything we've got."

The two of them sparred, their movements precise and calculated. Kaelith's purple lightning crackled through the air, while Elias's wind element created gusts that disrupted Kaelith's attacks. Despite their differences in style, they worked together seamlessly, their years of experience evident in every move.

Kaelith knew that this tournament would be his last as a student. He had already decided to pass the mantle of the strongest student to Luciel, but he wasn't ready to step down just yet. He would give everything he had to ensure that Celestia Academy remained at the top.