The sun rose slowly over the horizon, casting its orange light on the rooftop training grounds of the Fyre Academy. Jayce and Ekko followed the crowd of eager freshmen, who had woken up before dawn to attend their first swordsmanship class. Swordsmanship classes always took place the earliest leaving room for spell craft during the afternoon and potions at night to allow potential candidates for Knight of the Realm to attend each.
They climbed the stone steps, feeling the cool breeze on their skin and the fresh smell of the morning grass in their nostrils. They could sense the excitement and nervousness in the air, as they prepared to face their first challenge.
On the roof, a large phoenix emblem was painted, symbolizing the spirit and ambition of the academy. The students gathered around it, forming a tight circle, their eyes shining with anticipation. They looked at their instructor, who stood in the center of the emblem, holding a wooden sword in his hand.
"Welcome to Fyre Academy, where you will learn to master the art of the blade," he said in a loud and clear voice. "You will refer to all teachers as Master. My name is Master Darius, and I will be your teacher for this course. You are here because you have shown potential and passion for swordsmanship, but potential and passion are not enough. You need discipline, skill, and courage. You need to train hard, practice often, and never give up. You need to respect your sword, your opponents, and yourself. You need to be ready for anything, because anything can happen in a real fight. Are you ready?"
He paused for a moment, letting his words sink in. Then he raised his sword above his head and shouted:
"Are you ready?"
The students responded with a loud and unanimous:
"Yes, Master Darius!"
The instructor, a veteran Templar, faced the students with a wooden crate beside him. He opened it with a serious look and took out the wooden training swords. They were heavy and balanced like real swords, but their edges were dull and coated with tomb weaver spider venom. The venom would cause temporary paralysis if it touched the skin, mimicking the effect of losing a limb in battle.
He warned the students about the danger of the venom and told them to be careful with the swords. Ekko, however, was too curious and careless. He grabbed a sword and accidentally cut himself on the blade. His right arm went limp and he tried to speak, but his tongue was numb.
The instructor sighed and called for the academy mages to help Ekko. They rushed to his side and took him away from the rooftop for treatment. They looked at him with pity and concern, wondering if he would recover soon. Jayce watched his friend go, feeling worried and guilty.
The instructor then proceeded to teach the remaining students the basics of swordsmanship. He showed them how to slash, stab, strike, parry, block, and counter with their swords. He also taught them the rules of dueling in the academy. He said that a duel could only happen if both parties agreed to it, and that they had to set the terms and have a blademaster as a witness.
The students practiced what they learned, pairing up and sparring with each other. The rooftop echoed with the sound of wooden swords clashing and feet moving in sync.
The class was almost over, when the blademaster asked the students if anyone wanted to duel. Everyone was shocked when a red-haired prankster stepped forward. "I, Darvit, challenge Jayce to a duel. And if I win, Poppy will be my bride!"
The class burst into laughter, while Jayce looked unfazed. The blademaster frowned and corrected the prankster. "You cannot involve someone else in your terms without their consent. Watch your words."
Jayce turned down the challenge. "I appreciate your offer, but this is our first lesson, and we have a lot to learn before we duel."
The prankster muttered under his breath, feeling embarrassed. The blademaster nodded and dismissed the challenge. The students left the rooftop, still buzzing with the thrill of the class.
Jayce hurried to his next class, stopping briefly to check on Ekko, who had recovered from the spider venom. He asked him why he did what he did. Ekko shrugged and said, "I was curious about how it felt. Now I know, and I won't do it again."
The students entered the spellcraft class in the late morning, feeling a quiet excitement as they took their seats among the wooden desks. Poppy, who was usually shy and reserved, found a seat and waited for the class to begin. Jayce walked into the classroom and saw her right away.
"Hey, Poppy," he said, his voice warm and friendly.
Poppy looked up and smiled when she saw Jayce, her eyes sparkling with happiness. She felt a surge of relief, glad to see a familiar face.
They sat next to each other and Poppy leaned in to whisper something to Jayce, her voice low and urgent. "I have to tell you something," she started, sounding frustrated. "There's this guy who's been… well, stalking me. He's told me he loves me three times today, and I've turned him down every time, but he won't leave me alone."
Jayce's smile changed into a smirk as he cut in, "Is he the one with the red-brown hair?"
Poppy gasped, her eyes wide with shock. She stared at Jayce, wondering how he knew. "How did you know that?" she asked, curious and confused.
Jayce's smirk grew bigger. "Don't worry. I'll deal with him soon."
The spellcraft teacher walked to the front of the class, drawing the students' attention. She had a commanding presence, and her voice was authoritative and confident. She began to teach them about the different types of magic.
"There are five basic schools of magic: destruction, illusion, conjuration, healing, and alteration," she said, her voice reflecting her knowledge and expertise. "Each school has its own applications and limitations."
She gave some examples of each school. "Destruction spells are used to harm or destroy, such as fire spells. Illusion spells are used to manipulate or deceive, such as fear spells. Conjuration spells are used to summon or store things from other dimensions, such as interdimensional storage spells. Healing spells are used to restore or enhance health, such as healing spells. Alteration spells are used to change or improve things, such as enchantments and body alterations."
She then explained the grading system for the class. "To pass this class and become a mage, you need to learn either a C-rank spell in each of the five schools of magic, or an S-rank spell in one specific school of magic."
She then dismissed them for self-study.