Chapter 7: Paragon of Defense

Two months had passed since the preliminary assessment. Jonathan was now a full-fledged student of Nexlark's Regional Academy. He and Carl were on their morning jog, pacing along the perimeter road near the academy. To Jonathan's surprise, Carl was catching up—easily.

"You're not half bad," Jonathan commented, slightly out of breath. "At this rate, you might even break into the top ten."

Carl smirked, feeling lighter—both in body and spirit—after losing a tenth of his weight over the last few weeks. "Heh, you bet!"

They continued to race each other until 0730 hours, enjoying the crisp morning air. Afterward, they returned to their dorms, took quick showers, and got ready for the day's training.

1100 Hours

The morning lecture ended. Jonathan slung his notebook under one arm and exited the classroom, his steps light but thoughtful. As he walked through the hallway, he caught sight of something unusual from the window: a sleek black car entering the academy gates.

He squinted. Probably someone important… or maybe just a visiting faculty member.

But when the car door opened, and he saw the Director step out—followed by a sharply dressed woman—his curiosity sharpened. She carried herself with poise and authority.

Still, he shrugged it off and continued down to the lower floors, headed for the cafeteria.

Near the cafeteria, a small crowd had already started murmuring.

"Hey, I hear a special guest is visiting the academy today," one student said, voice hushed but excited.

"Are you sure?" a girl asked, leaning in with interest.

"Yeah. It's Aegis. The Paragon of Defense—from West Sovereign City."

The girl's eyes widened. "Wait… that Aegis? The one with the unbreakable defense?"

"Yup. Master of Earth martial arts and water manipulation," her friend replied with a nod.

Jonathan passed them, pretending not to listen. He wasn't much for gossip, but he filed the name away.

Inside the cafeteria, he spotted Carl already seated with a girl he didn't recognize, both mid-meal. His stomach reminded him that he had other priorities. Jonathan grabbed a tray and picked out his lunch from the counter before heading over.

Carl noticed him and waved. "Hey, over here!"

Jonathan joined them, and Carl made introductions.

"By the way, Jonathan—this is Beatrice. We've been friends since childhood."

"Nice to meet you," Beatrice greeted with a friendly smile.

"Nice meeting you too," Jonathan replied, setting down his tray.

Beatrice leaned forward slightly. "So, have you heard the news?"

"Oh, you mean that hero… Lady Avenger, or whatever her name was?" Jonathan said between bites.

Carl chuckled. "Lady Aegis, actually. She's mastered the defensive forms and ranks among the elite heroes."

Jonathan scratched the back of his head. "Ah… right. My bad."

"It's okay," Beatrice said with a small laugh. "I've been hearing a lot about her. They say she's the embodiment of defensive martial arts. Earth techniques for stability, water for flow. Sounds amazing, doesn't it?"

Jonathan nodded. "Yeah… sounds like someone who knows how to endure. That's rare these days."

Beatrice looked at Carl, then back at Jonathan. "Carl's told me you've been helping him train. He's doing great lately."

Jonathan chuckled. "Not really. I just showed him what I know. In return, he helped me understand the stuff I kept tripping over in theory class."

"You're being modest again," Carl grinned. "But seriously, it's been good training with you."

The three shared a quiet moment of camaraderie, unaware that their visitor would soon shake up the academy in ways they couldn't yet imagine.

---

1400 Hours

All the hero candidates were gathered in the gymnasium, seated in neat rows at their designated spots. The room buzzed with quiet anticipation. Their guest, Lady Aegis, had arrived and was preparing backstage. Her visit was scheduled to include a speech, a demonstration, and a brief Q&A—altogether lasting only three hours.

Jonathan sat in his seat, eyes fixed on the stage. He wasn't easily starstruck, but even he couldn't deny a rising curiosity. As the clock ticked past 1415 hours, the gym lights shifted slightly, and she finally appeared.

Lady Aegis stepped into view with quiet authority.

She wore a black tactical jacket that hugged her figure, paired with fitted leather pants for ease of movement. Her hair was cut in a sharp bob—blonde with streaks of electric blue that shimmered under the light. In one hand, she held a tall wooden staff—six feet in length—reinforced with nanomaterial lattices. It looked ceremonial and functional, a fitting extension of her presence.

"Good afternoon, candidates," she greeted, her voice calm yet commanding. "I'm honored to stand before those who may one day wear the mantle of a true hero. My presence here is to serve as both inspiration and guide. I will demonstrate what it means to follow the path of service under the Nexlark Group."

Her speech lasted ten minutes—short, focused, and impactful. When she finished, she turned to her staff and raised it upright.

"For the next part," she continued, "we will hold an exhibition match. A demonstration of applied technique, discipline, and style. The top-performing candidates will be chosen to participate."

The emcee stepped forward with a clipboard. "Lisa Emris—you've been selected for the demonstration."

Lisa stood confidently, a slight smirk on her face. "I'm always ready."

Lady Aegis gave her an approving nod. "Good. I like your confidence."

Lisa approached the stage with poise, her boots echoing slightly against the polished floor. She was directed toward a weapons rack.

"Choose your weapon," Lady Aegis instructed.

Lisa's eyes scanned the options and settled on a glaive—sleek, silver-edged, and balanced for agility and reach.

"Are you sure about your choice?" Lady Aegis asked, lifting a brow.

"I'm sure," Lisa replied firmly, gripping the weapon with ease.

Lady Aegis stepped back, twirling her staff once with practiced grace. "Then show me what you've learned."