As the two devastating attacks hurtled toward each other, the arena trembled with the sheer magnitude of their clash. But before the collision could occur, a sudden force intervened, destroying both spells as if they were paper.
"That's enough!" Miss Xirenia declared, her tone firm. "This is supposed to be a friendly spar, not a battlefield. Your spells are too destructive, and the mana they release is too much for your classmates."
As Sarah and Brandon stood frozen in disbelief, their gazes sweeping over the aftermath of their clash, a somber realization washed over them.
The once lively classroom now lay in shambles, the air thick with the lingering echoes of magical energies.
With a heavy heart, Sarah's eyes darted around the room, taking in the sight of her fallen classmates. Some lay sprawled unconscious on the ground, their bodies still twitching from the residual effects of the powerful magic unleashed in their midst.
Others stood with wavering resolve, their strength all but depleted by the intensity of the battle that had unfolded before them.
But amidst the chaos and devastation, one figure remained untouched by the havoc that had wreaked havoc upon their surroundings.
Jaylen stood resolute, a few classmates could be seen kneeling behind him mostly safe from the magical energies in the air.
Both Sarah and Brandon apologized, chastened by their teacher's reprimand.
"Sigh, alright, both of you, go help wake up your classmates. We'll take a break to make sure everyone is alright," Miss Xirenia instructed, allowing a short moment before the next fight to ensure everyone's well-being.
***
Looking out at the crowd of students, Miss Xirenia claps her hands, drawing their attention. "It looks like you're all A-OK. So, let's get back to the lesson," she announced, ready to resume the class activities.
As Miss Xirenia's voice cut through the tense atmosphere of the classroom, the students slowly turned their attention toward her, their expressions a mixture of relief and apprehension.
Her words, however, offered little comfort to the weary and wounded, eliciting disgruntled groans and mutterings of discontent from the exhausted crowd.
Some students regarded Miss Xirenia with incredulous looks, their eyes betraying a sense of betrayal at her seemingly callous demeanor in the aftermath of such a tumultuous event.
To them, she appeared as a distant figure, out of touch with the pain and chaos that had unfolded before her very eyes.
Confusion rippled through the crowd as whispers and murmurs filled the air, students exchanging puzzled glances and hurriedly questioning their neighbors about the events that had transpired. For many, the true extent of the confrontation remained shrouded in mystery.
Amidst the scattered chaos, only a few students could be said to be in tip-top shape, their resilience and fortitude shining through amidst the turmoil.
"Sarah and Brandon," Miss Xirenia's voice rang out, and both Sarah and Brandon focused more intently on what she was saying.
"I'll point out some details I noticed during your fight," she continued, preparing to provide feedback on their performance.
"First, Brandon, you are way too reliant on your superior ability to cast spells. While it might work against opponents that use nothing but brute force, against others it will not. Try to sharpen up your hand-to-hand combat skills to better utilize the capabilities of your family lineage," Miss Xirenia advised
"Yes, Miss Xirenia, I will take your advice to heart," Brandon responds with a look of understanding, but upon glancing at his side, you could see his clenched fist.
"Next, Sarah," Miss Xirenia continues, shifting her focus to provide feedback to Sarah.
"Yes, Ma'am," Sarah yelps in response, ready to receive feedback from Miss Xirenia.
"Sarah, you have superior physical capabilities compared to most of your peers, which, if utilized correctly, could give you the edge in any fight regardless of the opponent. However, you couldn't land even a hit on Brandon."
"If you took more time to think out your actions instead of relying solely on brute force, you could have won. Additionally, your magical capabilities are not that much worse than Brandon and Yuki. Try to use magic more when fighting," Miss Xirenia advises more strictly.
"Yes, Sensei," Sarah responds, acknowledging Miss Xirenia's advice.
"Alright, that's all I'll tell you for now. Figure out the rest yourself. Now, Jaylen, enter the arena." Miss Xirenia's authoritative voice cuts through the charged atmosphere, her words carrying weight and authority.
"As you wish, Sensei," Jaylen's response was measured and respectful. With steady steps, he entered the arena, the katana gripped firmly in his hand, its blade catching the light as he moved.
As Jaylen stepped into the arena, the atmosphere crackled with anticipation.
The arena itself seemed to pulse with energy, its boundaries marked by sleek, metallic walls that glinted under the stark overhead lights. The air hummed with a mix of tension and excitement, every eye in the room fixed on the impending clash between student and teacher.
On the opposite side of the arena, Miss Xirenia stood poised and confident, her presence commanding attention. The way she held herself spoke volumes of her skill and experience, a formidable opponent for any who dared to face her.
As the two combatants squared off, a palpable tension settled over the arena like a heavy blanket. Jaylen's gaze never wavered from his opponent as he awaited the signal to begin.
"I won't hold back, so come at me with all you've got... Okay!" Miss Xirenia's declaration rang out, breaking the silence with its clarity and determination.
With a nod of acknowledgment, Jaylen steeled himself for what was to come. His muscles tensed, and his focus sharpened as he prepared to meet his mentor's challenge with all the skill and determination he could muster.
"Alright. Ready… Set…. GO!'' With a final command from Miss Xirenia, the battle was set into motion.
Elsewhere In a quaint, snow-covered hut nestled by a frozen lake, a blue-haired girl sat in deep meditation, her presence like a beacon of serenity amidst the icy wilderness. The air around her seemed to hold its breath in reverence, as if reluctant to disturb her profound connection with the wintry landscape.
But the tranquility was abruptly shattered by the sudden entrance of another girl, her hair an ethereal shade of pale blue that mirrored the frost-kissed surroundings.
"Hey... Hey, Senior sister Yuki!" The girl's voice cut through the quiet of the hut, her tone tinged with curiosity.
As Yuki's eyes snap open, the icy glare of her fiery red eyes locks onto the girl. "I heard you had a run-in with Jaylen. How'd that go?"
Yuki's response was guarded, a subtle annoyance tingeing her words. "I don't want to talk about it," she retorted, her voice betraying a touch of frustration.
But the persistent girl refused to be deterred, her persistence bordering on pleading "Aw, come on, tell me," she pleaded, her persistence unwavering.
But Yuki's patience was wearing thin, a chill creeping into the air around her as her annoyance grew. "I said no! Now leave me alone and go bother someone else," she snapped, her words laced with anger.
"No, not until you tell me," the girl persisted, not giving up despite Yuki's perceived anger.
Before the tension could escalate further, a voice cut through the frosty atmosphere, authoritative and commanding.
"That's enough, Aimee. Leave Yuki alone and return to your training," it commanded, bringing an abrupt end to the confrontation.
"Yes, Teacher," Reluctantly, Aimee acquiesced, but not before sticking her tongue out at Yuki before retreating from the hut.
Standing next to Yuki was a woman with long black hair that stretched down her back, her irises painted a beautiful hue of cerulean blue, her figure hidden by the white cloak that adorned her. With an apologetic smile that painted her well-sculpted visage, "Yuki, don't mind her."
"Sigh, it's fine, Teacher. I know how she is," Yuki responded calmly, her demeanor reflecting a sense of resignation to Aimee's persistent nature.
With a gentle smile, Yuki's teacher shifted the conversation, her tone careful and probing. "Yuki, I know you don't want to talk about it, so instead, why don't you tell me how you feel after your encounter with him?"
Taking a deep breath, Yuki collected her thoughts before speaking. "I wasn't sure how I wanted to approach him or how I wanted to treat him again after so long. I didn't know if I still felt the same way as when I was younger."
Interrupting with genuine curiosity, Yuki's teacher posed another question. "Well, do you still feel the same way?"
"I'm... not sure," Yuki admitted, her uncertainty palpable.
"Hmm, I see then how do you plan to deal with your engagement? " Yuki's teacher inquired, leaning forward slightly.
"I..." Yuki hesitated, her expression troubled as she struggled to articulate her thoughts.
"Go on, Yuki, go ahead and speak your mind. It's only us here," her teacher encouraged gently, her voice a comforting presence in the small, snow-covered hut.
"I'm not sure I want to interact with Jaylen. On the one hand, because we're engaged, I want to have a good relationship. But on the other hand, every time I'm around him, I can't help but..." Yuki's voice trailed off, a shadow passing over her features as a surge of bitterness rose within her.
"I understand, Yuki." Yuki's teacher said with a sigh, her heart aching
So if you ever need help getting out of your engagement, I believe I can help. After all, your mom still owes me a favor, and I don't think the Orpheus family will mind," Yuki's teacher offered, her words laced with a hint of reassurance.
"If it comes to that, Teacher, I would rather battle him instead," Yuki asserted, her tone resolute.
"Are you sure about that, Yuki?" Concern etched into her teacher's expression. "You said you've never beaten him in a fight before."
"I'm sure," Yuki's confidence rang out clear and unwavering. "I will most likely have my full awakened bloodline by then."
"Really? Well, if you're that confident, I'll just wait and see. But my offer still stands."
"It's fine, Teacher. The only way he could win is if he has a way to surpass the limits imposed by not having his bloodline awakened," Yuki declared, her resolve firm as she looked towards the future with determination.