The Sparring Partner

"So, let's start." Kaelrix said, stepping forward with a spark in his eyes. "Let's pair up and spar. That way, we can push each other and see where we stand."

"Actually a solid idea." Dante added, his tone casual, but the smirk tugging at his lips was anything but friendly. His sharp gaze locked onto Elias. "Wouldn't you agree, Elias?"

Elias didn't flinch. He held Dante's stare, the weight of tension growing between them like a drawn blade.

"Yes." he replied coolly. "It is a good idea."

"Wait!" Slain interjected quickly, stepping between them with a nervous grin. "Let's not go picking our rivals just yet. We've already prepared lots for this, remember? It's better if we leave it to chance."

He held up a small wooden bowl filled with folded chits. "Whoever's name you pick, that's your sparring partner. And remember—mana and swordplay are both allowed. We're not here to win. We're here to learn where we're strongest."

"Right." Kaelrix agreed. "That way, we'll see if we lean toward martial combat, mana… or both."

Silence stretched for a moment as no one stepped up. Slain laughed awkwardly, shaking the bowl slightly. "Alright, no volunteers? Then how about you first, Serelith?"

Serelith shrugged with a small smile and stepped forward gracefully. She reached into the bowl, plucked a chit, and unfolded it.

"Daina." she announced.

"Oh-ho!" Daina grinned and cracked her knuckles. "Well then, get ready to be humbled, golden girl."

Serelith raised a brow, amused. "We'll see about that."

"Next!" Slain called. "Zaden?"

Zaden strode forward like he already knew he'd win regardless of the name. He pulled a chit, read it, and gave a crooked grin.

"Simyle."

Simyle didn't say anything. He just stepped forward slightly, eyes steady, as if he had already calculated the entire match in his head.

Then came Sarina and Nantos—an unusual pairing, but one that drew a few curious glances. Sarina avoided everyone's gaze as she quietly nodded at Nantos.

Next, Kaelrix reached in and pulled out the name "Ashton." much to his own visible displeasure.

"Great." he muttered under his breath. "A human wall."

Then Dante stepped forward, practically skipping with smugness, and drew his chit.

"Slain." His smirk widened.

"...What a luck." Slain groaned.

Everyone turned to Elias now. Only one chit remained.

He stepped forward, hesitated for a second, then pulled the last slip from the bowl.

Unfolding it, his eyes flicked to the name written there. Ofcourse, since there was no other guy left except him.

"Razah."

Razah stepped forward, arms folded, eyes unreadable as ever. "Looks like it's you and me, Astiars."

Elias didn't speak right away. He looked at Razah—at the calm confidence in his stance, the precision in his movements even when standing still—and nodded once.

"Yeah." he said. "Guess it is."

And just like that, the matchups were set.

Three days of pressure. A dozen pairs of eyes watching.

And Elias had just been matched against one of the most unpredictable opponents in the group.

Perfect.

"Let's go with Dante and Slain first." Kaelrix announced, stepping aside as the rest of the group formed a loose circle around the open courtyard. The air was thick with anticipation.

Slain sighed dramatically, stretching his arms as he stepped into the center. "Of course I'm the sacrificial lamb." he muttered, casting a half-playful, half-dreadful glance at Elias. "Wish me luck, my friend."

Dante was already walking forward, loosening his shoulders, the faintest trace of a smirk playing on his lips. His dark eyes were locked onto Slain, cold and analytical, like a predator sizing up a rabbit.

"Try not to embarrass yourself too quickly." Dante said casually, drawing his blade in one smooth, elegant motion.

Slain snorted, drawing his own sword. "No promises."

Kaelrix stepped between them. "Alright, you both know the rules. Mana and martial allowed. First one to be disarmed, pinned, or knocked off their feet is out. No fatal strikes."

"Understood." Dante replied smoothly.

Slain gave a quick nod. "Yeah, yeah. Let's just get this over with."

Kaelrix raised a hand. "Begin!"

For a second, neither moved.

Then Dante vanished.

Slain barely had time to react before a blur of motion appeared behind him. He twisted on instinct, his blade rising just in time to block a swift strike aimed at his back. Sparks flew as metal clashed, the sound sharp and clean.

"Whoa!" Slain shouted, jumping back. "You're fast!"

"You're slow." Dante replied coolly, pressing forward with calculated, precise strikes.

Slain blocked and parried, his footwork unpolished but unpredictable. Every so often, a wild strike would nearly catch Dante off guard—but only nearly. Dante was calm, his movements crisp, barely wasting any energy.

"Let's spice things up." Slain muttered, sliding back and raising his free hand. A pulse of red mana sparked to life around him as a circle of flame erupted at his feet. He launched a firebolt toward Dante.

Dante didn't dodge.

He sliced through it with a thin arc of wind magic, dispersing the flames effortlessly as he charged again. Their swords clashed in a whirlwind of speed and magic—Slain sweating, Dante utterly composed.

Then Dante pivoted, stepped to the side, and slammed the hilt of his sword into Slain's ribs. Slain stumbled.

Before he could recover, Dante swept his leg under him and sent him crashing to the ground.

"Match over." Kaelrix announced, even as Slain groaned from the dirt.

"I think I saw god just now." Slain coughed.

Dante exhaled slowly, sheathing his sword and turning away without a word.

"Well… that went about as expected." Serelith whispered beside Elias.

Elias watched Dante's expressionless face as he returned to the group—then glanced at Slain, who was still lying flat on his back, arms spread out like a starfish.

"And I'm fighting him." Elias muttered under his breath.

Razah, standing beside him, offered a rare smirk.

"Pray." he said simply.

As Slain dusted himself off and limped back to the group, Kaelrix clapped his hands. "Alright! Let's keep it going. Serelith, Daina—you're up!"

Serelith stepped forward, tying her silver hair into a loose ponytail. Her lavender eyes sparkled with quiet confidence. She gave Elias a small smile as she passed, then tightened her gloves.

Daina grinned wide, already bouncing on her heels. "Finally! Let's see if the Ice Queen lives up to her name."

"You talk a lot for someone who hasn't drawn their sword yet." Serelith replied calmly, drawing her blade in a smooth arc that shimmered with a pale blue sheen.

Daina chuckled and summoned her own weapon—a curved saber that pulsed faintly with yellow mana.

Kaelrix stood between them. "No holding back, but don't maim each other. First to disarm, knock down, or pin. Ready?"

Both girls nodded.

"Begin!"

Daina shot forward like lightning, swinging her saber in a swift upward arc. Serelith dodged to the side with dancer-like grace, the tip of the blade barely grazing her arm.

"You're quick." Serelith admitted, voice composed.

Daina twirled her saber, smirking. "You're not too bad yourself. Let's turn up the heat!"

Suddenly, golden runes lit up across Daina's arms as she launched into a flurry of fast, precise strikes. Serelith backstepped, parried, then created a flash of frost at her feet—ice crystals spreading along the ground like veins.

Daina's foot slid on the ice, and in that instant, Serelith struck. Her blade clanged against Daina's, forcing her backward.

"You enchanted the ground?" Daina gasped, regaining balance.

Serelith exhaled slowly, frost curling around her lips. "Always observe the terrain. It's part of the battle."

Daina grinned, clearly enjoying herself. "You are good. Okay then—no more holding back!"

A burst of yellow mana exploded from her feet as she zipped across the courtyard, circling Serelith in blinding speed. Her saber danced like lightning, each strike forcing Serelith to block or retreat.

The others watched in awe.

"She's fast.x Elias whispered.

"But Serelith's precise." Slain murmured back. "Watch."

Just as Daina moved in for a finishing strike, Serelith lifted her free hand. A concentrated spike of frost burst from the ground beneath Daina's foot.

She lost balance again—this time falling.

In a blink, Serelith stepped forward, blade at Daina's throat before she even hit the ground.

"Yield." Serelith said softly.

Daina stared for a moment—then grinned and dropped her saber. "I yield. Damn, that was good."

Kaelrix raised a hand. "Match goes to Serelith."

The group applauded lightly as Serelith helped Daina up, both girls smiling at each other.

"Remind me not to piss her off." Slain muttered.

"Noted." Elias replied, heart beating a little faster than before.

Two duels down. The tension was rising. And now it was getting closer to his turn.

Kaelrix glanced at the names. "Alright. Next match—Sarina and Nantos."

Before the words had fully settled, Sarina stepped forward with a calm, confident stride, her arms crossed and a half-smirk on her lips. She wore her confidence like armor, gaze sharp and unflinching. Her ponytail bounced slightly with each step, but there was nothing soft about her presence.

Nantos followed, cracking his neck, twirling one of his short daggers. "Didn't think you'd volunteer first." He said, raising an eyebrow.

"Please." Sarina replied smoothly. "Someone had to break the ice. And it's not like you're that intimidating."

A ripple of amusement ran through the group. Elias raised a brow.

Nantos grinned. "Alright then. Let's dance."

Kaelrix stepped aside. "Rules are clear—disarm, pin, or knock down. Mana and weaponry allowed. Begin!"

Nantos dashed in quickly, a blur of motion, both blades swinging in controlled arcs. But Sarina was faster.

With a flash of crimson mana, she conjured a whip-like energy from her palm, solidifying it into a sleek red chain-blade. It snapped through the air like lightning, wrapping around one of Nantos's blades and yanking it from his grip.

"Try harder." she said coolly.

Nantos clicked his tongue and jumped back, switching to a more grounded stance. He came in again, this time feinting left and slicing low with his remaining dagger—but Sarina blocked with the chain, twisted it, and used her foot to sweep his legs.

He stumbled, but didn't fall. "Not bad."

"I know." she replied dryly.

With a graceful spin, she wrapped the chain around his leg and pulled hard. Nantos went down with a grunt, his blade flying from his hand. Sarina stepped over him, chain tip poised near his neck.

"Yield." she said, not a whisper—but a command.

Nantos stared at her, wide-eyed, then let out a breath. "I yield."

Sarina rolled her eyes, unwrapping her chain and stepping back. "You boys better step it up, or this is going to get boring fast."

Laughter and a few impressed whistles followed as she returned to the group like it was nothing.

"Match goes to Sarina." Kaelrix announced, clearly impressed.

Elias blinked. Okay, damn.

After that, Kaelrix and Ashton stepped in for their match. It didn't last long—Kaelrix was quick, precise, and utterly dominant. He won without much effort, leaving Ashton scowling but silent.

"Alright." Slain said, clapping his hands. "Who's next?"

Next up were Zaden and Simyle. From the moment their match began, it was clear—both were skilled, fast, and deadly serious. Neither wanted to give up. The clash between them was sharp and relentless, drawing the attention of everyone around.

But in the end, it came down to a single mistake.

Zaden hesitated for just a second—barely noticeable to most—but it was all Simyle needed. He took the win, clean and efficient.

Zaden looked frustrated, but not angry. He knew exactly where he went wrong.

Finally, it was Elias and Razah.