As soon as Sheek walked through the door, Silas widened his eyes once more at the sight of a boy with fiery red hair walking through the door. His blazing red eyes scanned the room for but a moment until he locked pupils with Silas. Yet, before the boy could call it out instinctively, Sheek took the pedestal.
"You all might know who I am… some of you may not. Either way, I simply do not care. Think what you want of me, but today I will be taking you out of this bullshit theory class and get you to do some practice fighting. Sparring if you will…" Sheek smiled.
The boy with fiery red hair quickly took a seat, passing by Silas and taking his own spot at a seat just a tier above Silas's own row. His eyes dug into the back of his head, but he couldn't do much now as Sheek began to speak once more.
"Now, let's have some real fun. Not this bullshit studying…"
The classroom seemed to quake and transform, gears and cogs clanking and turning with metallic precision. The walls shuddered, as puffs of steam erupted from hidden mechanisms, enveloping the room in a misty veil. As if guided by unseen hands, desks slid away, forming a circular enclosure around a dirt ring that materialized in the room's center.
The atmosphere crackled with energy, the once familiar classroom was now a stage for an unusual spectacle. Metal plates shifted and aligned, creating a barrier between the students and the central arena, which appeared to emerge out of the ground.
The students stared in bewildered silence as the enclosure manifested, the noise of mechanical shifts dominating the once-serene space. Shadows danced across the metal walls as the structure locked into place, encapsulating the classroom in a steampunk transformation.
The previously mundane setting had morphed into an enclosed fighting ring, the dirt floor beckoning confrontation. Gears spun in the background, and pulsating energy resonated from the transformed walls, an unexpected stage for whatever was about to unfold.
A sense of both curiosity and uncertainty filled the air, as the room buzzed with the machinery's symphony. The once orderly classroom had been reformed into a peculiar enclosed battleground, awaiting the unknown.
Silas felt a sudden jab at his side and swiftly turned, his eyes meeting Calix's deathly stare. The intense glare cut through the air, causing a brief silence between the two boys. The unspoken tension was palpable yet still crackling with unbelievable tension.
"Where is it?" The boy demanded through grit teeth. Simultaneously, his eyes returned to our new instructor who took center stage, stepping into the middle of the dirt ring.
"Where is what?" Silas smirked.
"You know damn well what I'm talking about."
"I don't know… well, maybe I do remember if you give me something good-"
"Silas!" A voice cracked across the arena, causing the two boys to snap their heads towards Sheek who didn't look too happy about their reserved conversation. "Silas… Silas… Silas… It's been a while. I had no clue you attended this school."
Silas said nothing in response. But upon seeing how the boy was tensing up, the teacher who manipulated time couldn't help but smirk. This was the perfect chance for him to harass the boy.
"Come on up. If you can talk so much, I believe you don't need any of my guidance when it comes to combat, correct?"
"Whatever…" Silas shrugged before walking into the center of the ring, the eyes of his peers digging into him at every possible angle.
"I will be using our good friend Silas here as an example…" Sheek placed his hand on his right shoulder and squeezed so hard that Silas couldn't help but wince in pain. "... All of you little shits have learned the theory of combat. Strategies, different styles of fighting, various weapons… but have any of you ever really fought somebody? Hand-to-hand combat?"
A couple of children raised their hands with Calix and Silas being one of them.
"Good, then-"
BAM
A familiar face suddenly flung the door open and staggered into the room, her chest heaving from a long sprint. Her usually composed face bore a panicked expression, her eyes wide and searching. Sweat glistened on her forehead, her hair disheveled, as she sucked in quick breaths of air.
The room fell silent as her sudden arrival drew the attention of everyone inside. Her eyes darted around the enclosed space, seeking someone specific. Without a word, she zeroed in on Sheek, the worry etched into her expression, and hurried toward them. Yet, just as she passed by the crowd of children, she soon recognized another familiar face within his grasp.
"Silas?"
"Marlene?"
"Damn, we're in the same class? Where have you been all semester?"
"I just recently transferred in."
"Cool," Marlene grinned before darting her eyes towards Sheek who quickly rolled his own in each socket. "I was late because-"
"Yeah, yeah, whatever. You're still getting marked late. Don't try and make excuses, kid," Sheek rolled his eyes once more. "In fact, how about you be the test round with Silas here? Let's see your combat skills since both of you apparently know how to fight."
The two children looked at each other before simply shrugging.
"Fine."
"I'm down," Marlene smiled before the circular ring of children backed up, allowing the dirt ring in the center of the new classroom to truly shine.
Silas backed up onto the left side, cracking his joints and stretching just a bit before taking a relaxed boxing stance. Marlene on the other hand took the right side, hopping up and down in order to warm up her body before taking a similar stance, only her body was more relaxed.
"I hope you won't hold it against me if I beat your ass," Marlene smirked.
"..."
Silas was silent, his eyes unable to blink as they analyzed each twitch and movement of the girl's body.