Exiting Classroom C-1, we were brimming with excitement, Orion's spellbinding demonstration still fresh in our minds.
"Did you see that? How he transformed fire into ice and fireworks?" Eliza exclaimed.
"Absolutely. I had no idea magic could do that; I always assumed that spells were static, and you were limited in what you could do," Caspian replied with awe.
Our animated discussion continued as we navigated the academy's magnificent corridors, searching for our next class - History of Wardenas.
Lady Seraphina was the instructor, and her reputation as a formidable and knowledgeable figure preceded her. As we took our seats, excitement rippled through the students.
Morning sunlight streamed through the tall windows, casting a warm, golden glow across the room. Seraphina stood at the front, her figure radiant in the gentle illumination. Her raven-black hair cascaded like a river of shadow, and her eyes shone with a serene wisdom that left us momentarily captivated.
Eliza leaned over and whispered, "Wow, she's even more beautiful in the morning light."
Caspian, caught off guard by Seraphina's ethereal presence, nodded in agreement. "Yeah, she's a living legend. I've heard she's one of the only reasons that the four nations on Wardenas are still at peace."
Jonas, his scholarly curiosity piqued, added, "I hope we get to hear some incredible stories from her."
Settling into our seats, Lady Seraphina began her class with a soft-spoken yet commanding presence. "Good morning, class. I am Seraphina, and I welcome you to History of Wardenas."
Her voice, like a gentle breeze, held an air of authority that instantly hushed the room. "In this class, we will delve into the rich tapestry of history that has shaped our world. But more importantly, we will explore the history of the Adventurer's Guild."
Seraphina's eyes scanned the room, her gaze unwavering. "The Adventurer's Guild is the backbone of our society, a pillar that upholds the delicate balance between civilization and the untamed wilds. It is an organization that has existed for centuries, serving as a beacon of hope and a shield against the darkness that lurks beyond our borders."
She gracefully walked to the front of the room, her steps measured and elegant. "The guild is organized into ranks, each symbolizing a distinct level of skill, experience, and responsibility. As you may already be aware, novice adventurers commence their journey at rank F. Yet, there exist numerous other ranks, ranging to SSS. It's worth noting, however, that the ranks S, SS, and SSS are seldom bestowed. In fact, the prestigious SSS rank has not been awarded in nearly four centuries."
Seraphina paused, letting the weight of her words sink in. "To rise through the ranks, adventurers must meet certain requirements and, in some cases, take examinations to prove their abilities. The process is rigorous, designed to ensure that those who ascend the ranks are truly deserving of their titles."
Looking us dead in the eyes, she continued, "I expect you all to live up to our expectations and graduate from this Academy as at least rank C adventurers."
....
After finishing our first class with Seraphina, we quickly went to our next class - also taught by her, Herbology and Monstrous Studies. It quickly became Eliza's favorite class but was pretty uneventful.
After a brief, yet enlightening session that left us all with a newfound appreciation for the intricacies of nature, we moved on to our final class of the day: Fundamentals of Combat. We knew this class would be a completely different experience, as it was taught by none other than Thorne.
As we entered the combat training area, the atmosphere shifted. The spacious arena was filled with terrifying energy, and we could see Thorne standing in the center, a towering behemoth of muscle and vitality.
"Name's Thorne!" he bellowed with a hearty laugh as he greeted each student, his voice echoing throughout the training area. "I'm sure you've all already met me! I'll be your instructor for the art of combat! We're going to have fun!"
What ensued next was anything but fun.
Instead of giving a proper introduction, Thorne had everyone immediately drop into a push-up position on the hard, unforgiving training ground. There was a collective gasp of surprise as we scrambled to obey his command.
"Push-ups, my friends, are the foundation of strength," Thorne declared with a grin that was equal parts encouragement and challenge. "And strength is the foundation of combat. Begin!"
With each repetition, the initial shock gave way to determination, and soon, the training area was filled with the rhythmic sound of bodies rising and falling.
"Remember," Thorne called out between breaths, "combat is not just about flashy moves and powerful strikes. It's about endurance, resilience, and the will to push yourself beyond your limits. Your goal is to survive longer than your opponent."
The push-ups seemed to go on forever, pushing us to our physical boundaries. Our muscles burned and our breath quickened, but we pushed through it.
Finally, Thorne called for us to stop, and we collapsed to the ground, our bodies protesting the intense workout. Thorne, however, seemed more energized than ever.
"Good job, everyone!" he exclaimed, clapping a few of us on the back with hands that felt like anvils. "That's just the warm-up. Now, we're going to move on to some basic combat stances. Get ready to sweat, because this is where the real fun begins!"
As Thorne launched into the next phase of our training, we couldn't help but wonder what we had gotten ourselves into. But one thing was certain: under Thorne's guidance, we were about to become warriors, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead in our adventures.
As Thorne continued to lead our rigorous combat training, I overheard hushed whispers from two cadets nearby. They spoke in low tones, casting occasional furtive glances at our massive instructor.
"Did you hear about Thorne?" one of them murmured, his voice filled with a mix of awe and curiosity.
The other cadet nodded, his eyes fixed on Thorne's imposing figure as he guided us through a series of combat drills. "Yeah, they call him the 'Broken Sword Genius.' He doesn't seem broken.... ugh, this training is so hard.... I bet he came up with the stupid run for the exam.... The nickname's gotta be for a reason, right?"
Their cryptic conversation piqued my interest. I had heard the nickname 'Broken Sword Genius' used before but hadn't thought much of it. Hearing it tied to this bustling, muscle brain seemed like an ill-fitting nickname.
I couldn't help but wonder what had earned Thorne such a unique and enigmatic title. Quietly, I resolved to find out more about our formidable combat instructor as our training continued.