A few more hours passed as Kora and I continued to spar lightly, mostly sticking to strictly reviewing our sword strikes and our postures. Since the Magic sword style doesn't possess any real sword play nor elegance, relying entirely on the users strength and mana manipulation, Kora's style was very much honed through instinct and experience. Though her style was unconventional and awkward at times, I couldn't really fault it if I was comparing it to her years level.
Her stance left no openings to a young swordsman, but anyone above our year would either be able to break her defence or overpower her through their use of armis which as a first year Kora wouldn't have yet had the chance to learn it.
And so I pointed her in the right direction, adjusting her feet placement and adjusting her thinking patterns which seemed to be simplistic at best, relying on her ability to adapt on the spot. In that regard, her genius may have excelled mine. But even with the sword and her unconventional style, the fact she came this far and achieved this level of skill is frightening. It was no wonder that she was able to become the strongest paladin to emerge in the last three hundred years.
Regardless, our little session came to an end as the rest of the class started showing and so did the professor. Fortunately, we dispelled the mounds of mana taking up space in the arena before everyone got in so there was no explaining to do to the instructor apart from our early arrival. And amongst the group of noble kids, flaunting and cocky gazes stuck to their faces like a disease, the hero emerged with another person alongside him.
"I see the two of them have already met..." I muttered to myself, my hand stroking my chin.
Kora's eyes only turned to me as she didn't speak up and only focused her attention back on the instructor.
Since he's the hero, I suppose I should make an effort to at least greet him for all his worthless title is worth.
"Yo Leon, I see you made it." I waved to him as I smiled. Though disheartened, seemingly harbouring some sort of negative opinion about me, he waved back and gave a strong smile.
"Hey Kaise-."
"WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE!? I WILL NOT LET YOU TAKE ADVANTAGE OF POOR LEON HERE! SO DON'T THINK YOUR POSITION AT THIS SCHOOL LET YOU THINK YOU CAN DO WHAT YOU WANT!"
He's just like I remembered.
His plain brown hair and his unrecognisable face threw a fit in rage as he stood before Leon with his hands out as if I was going to mug him or something. C'mon, even I wouldn't do that in broad daylight. I'm a better bully for the hero than that.
My face twisted into disgust as I came closer to....what was his name again? Oh, that's right, he didn't have a name in the actual game.
"Fucking NPC!" I snickered to myself.
"DID YOU SAY ANYTHING!?" He continued to scream at me.
"Me? Nah, don't worry your big head about it, Friend A." I patted his shoulder and walked off. "Let's talk later Leon!" I shouted to him, facing the other way as I walked back over to Kora.
"HEY, I HAVE A NAME YOU KNOW, ITS TOPAN! AND DON'T THINK I'LL LET YOU BULLY LEON!!!" The others of our class looked at him contempt as his voice screeched and a chirping smile turned on his face as he face Leon.
"Understood, shitty protector!" I replied equally as chirp, but hi focus was gone at that point.
It was commendable for his focus to stretch outside of his cutscene anyway.
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As the professor finished his instructions, everyone split off to spar in pairs. Kora said she wanted to ask more questions to the instructor and left my side. The hero was surrounded by his own fan club, or should I say the multiple NPC's that were placed for show in the game to show his 'Godly power'. I, on the other hand, patiently awaited a certain figure to approach me.
And soon, his feet began stepping in my direction. His clear brown skin goaded in the radiant beam of the sun and his long dishevelled blonde hair flapped at his sides as his strides lengthened. His blue eyes naturally were fixed at the position of mine and the two of us intently examined each other.
His royal prince continued to grow as he stood before me, his blazer wafting in the wind as he extended his hand to mine.
"Chris Rosenheart," he introduced himself his face marring as if he was preparing himself to go into battle. His gaze hardened and his hands white-knuckled around the hilt of the obsidian blade. "I would like to spar and learn from you, No.1!"
His brazen voice spread around the arena as a calm expression controlled his face.
I stepped one step closer, the ground shaking beneath my step, our faces mere millimetres away as the tension between us two grew palpable. "Sure, I'll accept. But only if you offer me something worthy of my time."