"Cough."
It was a low, automatic cough he made.
"Let's go; it seemed like you needed to be checked up a bit. I fell on you quite hard, considering I sleep quite high up there."
Rezal pointed up, and Michael followed his finger. There are no branches he could see because of the leaves, but there may be some behind those leaves. He then turned his head towards one branch that was on the ground—apparently the branch this boy slept on just now.
'Why the hell did he sleep on the tree?'
"I'm fine. No need to worry."
He shook his right hand to indicate there was nothing serious, but his movement froze after a slight shake, and his eyebrows twitched.
"It looks like you are not."
Rezal looked at his right hand, but he quickly hid it behind his back.
"No, totally fine. It was just a scratch."
Rezal scratched his head before letting out a sigh. It was a really unexpected situation to happen today.
"It has been so long that I have broken a branch."
He spoke slowly while eyeing the branch; his mind rewinded back to the past before he let out an amused snort. He looked back at the student he fell onto just now.
A sense of deja vu washed over him.
"Nope, don't be stubborn. I should apologize again."
"Everything is fine. It was unintentional."
Michael stood up, still hiding his right hand behind his back. Rezal followed along.
"Stop being stubborn, black-haired stranger. Did you know where the infirmary is? Let's go check your hand; it might have a sprain or worse."
Michael let out a sigh. It looks like he can't push away this boy.
"Fine, let's go. I'm new, so I don't know the infirmary."
"Wait, you are? What's your name? What year are you from?"
They began to walk to the infirmary.
"Shuu, Shuu Orion. Year Five."
Rezal scrunched his forehead before his eyes widened.
"Oh! The special exam student! Right? That's you, right? Wait, if you are in year five, you are in class A, right?"
"Yes, I am. I just got into the class this morning."
"I shouldn't sleep just now. I totally missed your introduction."
Michael looked at the grinning Rezal.
"You mean..."
"We are in the same class. Maybe I should introduce myself now. I'm Rezal Nuribenstin. Just call me Rezal. Nice to meet you, Shuu."
"Likewise. It seems like you love to sleep a lot until you don't notice the branch breaking."
Rezal rubbed the back of his neck.
"Ah, it usually doesn't happen. Perhaps because I have been sitting on the same branch every day, it has begun to fray. It was unfortunate that today, when you were there, the branch began to break."
"A misfortune for the first day, I guess."
"I'm sorry again."
"It's fine. Just make this a part of a memory that will be remembered later. A shocking event was easier to remember."
"That's true. Anyway, you don't look like someone I imagined passing a special exam."
He looked at Rezal with a raised eyebrow. Is he being insulted right now?
"Should I be appreciated by the comment or humiliated?"
Rezal glanced at him before smirking.
"Interpret however you want, but I would not insult someone I just met today."
"Oh well, thanks, I guess. I was always known to be a genius anyway."
Rezal snorted.
They arrived at the infirmary. The nurse told him that he had sprained his wrist, so she put a compression bandage around his wrist and told him not to use his hand too much for several weeks. The doctor was away at this moment, if not, he would be healed by healing magic instantly.
He should have avoided getting crushed by Rezal when he heard the creaking sound, but he was too preoccupied with his snack to react faster.
Sora would be disappointed if he heard about this.
"Be careful next time, okay? It's just your first day, but you have met a troublemaker."
The nurse glanced at Rezal, and the boy gave a Cheshire smile.
"Madam, don't clump me into those troublemakers. I am a respectable student that handles those rule breakers; you know it."
"Handle them with proper manners, not pummel them into submission, Mr. Nuribenstin."
"They won't budge in a soft way. This is what turns them into proper students."
Rezal pulled out his fist with a boyish grin before he got hit by a ruler.
"Quit it. You should take responsibility by looking out for Mr. Orion since you are the one who has hurt him. You have another class after this, right? I'll be giving Mr. Orion an excuse letter to not attend the class today."
"It's fine, madam. I can attend the class."
"A swordsmanship class with this condition? I don't think it was a good idea, Mr. Orion."
"My dominant hand is my left hand. Please, I don't feel good being absent on my first day of school."
The nurse contemplated, but Michael gave her his determined look before the doctor sighed.
"I warn you, Mr. Orion. I don't want you to use your right hand until you have fully recovered. I don't want to meet you again with the same injury because of your stubbornness. Understand?"
"Yes, thank you, madam."
"Watch over Mr. Orion for me, will you?"
Rezal nodded.
"Of course, it's easier because we are classmates."
"Right, you may leave now. I hope you won't be dragging Mr. Orion into your shenanigans, Mr. Nuribenstin."
"I can't promise you anything, madam. He looks like someone fun to hang out with. Let's go, Shuu!"
Rezal pulled his arm. He was dumbfounded, getting dragged out before he bowed a little to the nurse.
×××××
"Are you really going to participate in the class, Mr. Orion?"
"It's fine, Professor. I could handle myself with just one hand."
Professor Klinder looked at his bandaged hand before he looked at the boy next to him.
"If you insisted so much, Rezal, you would be his sparring partner."
"Are you sure?"
"Just don't be too hard on him considering his condition now. It was such a shame that I couldn't see how you handled the sword."
He tilted his head.
"I would like to see you using your full strength in sparring to see your potential, considering the principal was talking highly of you about your physical exam."
Professor Klinder smiled.
"I hope I will get the opportunity when you have healed properly, Mr. Orion."
"I was nothing special, professor. However, the opportunity would arrive someday."
Professor Klinder let out a soft laugh before he instructed both of them to start practising. They were given a sword each before they both stood on the empty spot in the training ground among the other students from their class.
"I apologize early if I hurt you, Shuu."
"The sentiment is retaliated."
Rezal looked stunned a little before he smirked.
"Well then, let's start."
Rezal and Michael raised their swords, pointing at each other from a distance. Michael put his injured hand behind his back. The area around them seemed silent, but the sound of swords clashing echoed around the training ground.
There is no sound to announce that they should start moving, but with one clashing sound of the swords, they dash towards each other reflexively.
Their swords clashed in a hard blow. Rezal appeared to be astonished before his eyes turned sharp.
They kept their distance after the single blow just now before they dashed towards each other again in a more threatening manner. The swords clashing let out loud sounds, making the other students stop their sparring to take a look.
Michael's feet dragged on the ground after the hard blow from Rezal. Rezal was coming at him again before he made the same movement. Rezal swung his sword with his strength towards Michael, but then his eyes widened a bit when his opponent suddenly disappeared from his view.
When he felt a presence on his back, he quickly turned back to defend himself from the attack from Michael. His feet get dragged on the ground due to the intensity of the swing. He frowned a little when he noticed his hand was shaking.
'Should I use two hands?'
He contemplated a little when he felt the strength from Michael's swinging, but that would be an unfair fight.
He deflected Michael's sword before he raised his leg to push the boy away. He knew this fight was not an easy one for him.
Michael noticed the gesture before he made the same movement; their feet collided before both of them flew back. Without their noticing, their faces were painted with a thrilled smile.
Both boys exchanged more blows without stopping. The students around them watched in wonderment, including Professor Klinder.
They did not manage to leave a single scratch on each other due to their strong defence. They would catch their opponent off guard by swinging a kick or two, but it was like a futile attempt from both sides.
Sweat was wetting their bodies, but somehow the adrenaline let their bodies continue moving forward even after almost 40 minutes passed, like telling them if they stopped, their excitement would be gone in an instant. That was something they didn't want to put a pause on.
Nevertheless, their sparring needed to stop at one point. The time came when both of them lost grip of their swords, and the swords flew away from their hands, making them stare at each other in shock. Even the spectators watched the sword fly away slowly before it hit the ground.
The training ground was silent.