Eizan stood in the center of the training field, breath still ragged after his intense duel with Graham. Sweat streamed down his face and neck, but it did little to diminish the calm determination in his eyes.
The spectators were still stunned. They had never expected Eizan, who had always been known as a novice fighter, to display such power. Many of them began whispering among themselves, calling him a monster hiding extraordinary strength behind a seemingly ordinary appearance.
"How did that farm boy beat Graham, a nobleman?" one observer whispered to a friend, his eyes still fixed on the figure in the center of the arena.
"It's impossible. I've never seen Graham cornered like that before," his friend replied incredulously.
Eizan took a deep breath, trying to steady his breathing. The fight with Graham had been no easy feat. Graham was one of the strongest fighters at the academy, and defeating him was no small accomplishment. Yet, Eizan was not fully satisfied. There was something inside him that still craved a greater challenge.
From the audience's vantage point, Alex, Eizan's close friend, ran up to him. His face was filled with awe and a touch of disbelief. "Eizan! That was incredible!" he exclaimed enthusiastically. "I can't believe you beat Graham!"
Eizan turned and gave Alex a weary smile. "Thanks, Alex. I didn't think I could make it this far either."
Alex clapped Eizan on the back with enthusiasm. "You must have trained incredibly hard. All your effort has paid off."
Eizan stood on the training field, dust from the duel with Graham still floating in the air. He wiped sweat from his brow and took a deep breath, savoring the brief moment of peace. Alex stood beside him, vigilantly scanning their surroundings.
However, this tranquility was soon disrupted. From a distance, three noble figures approached. Adam Silva, Travis Grey, and Alan Becker—three names known throughout the academy for both their power and arrogance.
"Look who we have here," Adam said with a mocking tone as they drew closer. "A lowborn pretending to be a hero."
Travis chuckled softly and added, "How pathetic. You should know your place, Eizan. Someone like you doesn't deserve such power."
Eizan showed no signs of fear. He stood tall, his eyes locking directly with Adam's. "What do you want?" he asked calmly.
"I just want to teach you a lesson, Eizan," Adam replied with a sneer. "To make you aware of your limits."
Adam raised his hand, and a powerful wave of magical energy began to emanate from him. A surge of energy slammed into Eizan, sending him sprawling several meters back. Eizan felt a sharp pain throughout his body as he crashed hard against the ground.
Alex quickly moved to help Eizan up. "You don't have to do this!" he shouted angrily. "This isn't fair!"
"Fair?" Alan Becker, who had been silent until now, finally spoke. "Someone like Eizan doesn't understand the meaning of the word. He needs to be taught a lesson."
Eizan slowly rose to his feet, though his body still ached. He stared at the three nobles with increasing resolve. "You can hit me, but you'll never make me give up."
Adam laughed again, this time more loudly. "Oh, truly brave, aren't you? Let's see how long you can keep this up."
With a swift motion, Adam launched another attack. But this time, Eizan was ready. Using the last of his strength, he formed a protective shield around himself, blocking the incoming wave of energy. Though the shield cracked in several places, Eizan managed to remain standing.
"I will not be defeated," Eizan declared firmly. "Not by you."
Travis and Alan exchanged looks, then turned their attention to Adam. "It looks like we need to get more serious," Travis said, his eyes glowing with lethal magic.
Meanwhile, Alex, standing behind Eizan, began casting a protective spell to support his friend. "I'm here, Eizan. We'll face this together."
Eizan nodded, drawing strength from Alex's support. With a determined movement, the two prepared to fight back.
"I won't let you trample over me," Eizan shouted, launching a counterattack that forced Adam to step back a few paces.
Adam growled in anger, feeling insulted. "You'll regret challenging us!"
Just as Adam was about to strike again, a bolt of lightning crackling in his hand, the attack was suddenly intercepted. Professor Arion appeared, blocking Adam's strike with a swift and skilled move. "Stop what you're doing, Adam!"
Professor Arion's POV
I stood at the edge of the arena, my eyes fixed on the battle between Eizan and Graham. From my vantage point, the duel was incredibly tense. Eizan, a relatively new student at the academy, was fighting against Graham, one of the noble-blooded students known for his troublemaking. Every move Eizan made was filled with determination and skill. I was impressed by how quickly he had adapted to Graham's attacks.
As Eizan faced Graham, I could sense the tension in the air. Graham's attacks were powerful and precise, but Eizan seemed to possess something deeper—a strength he had not fully harnessed yet. Watching Eizan dodge and counter Graham's strikes, I realized that this fight was crucial.
When Graham began using more serious techniques, I understood that this battle would determine much. I knew Eizan could win, but I also knew Graham's more experienced power could be dangerous. I focused intently, ready to intervene if the situation worsened.
But what is this? The power that had been lost for hundreds of thousands of years now resurfaces in a fifteen-year-old boy. I didn't expect him to wield such an Element. I could also sense a profound threat and intimidation emanating from the boy. I smiled faintly, marveling at how surprising he was.
Finally, Eizan achieved victory, and the crowd's cheers echoed around the arena. However, I saw Eizan, breathless and standing in the center of the arena, his sword still drawn, with Graham lying incapacitated before him. I felt a mix of pride and concern.
The atmosphere shifted abruptly as Adam Silva and the other two nobles, Travis Grey and Alan Becker, emerged from the spectators' seats and approached Eizan. I felt a new level of tension replacing the earlier sense of triumph. These three nobles clearly exuded a powerful and dominating aura, heightening my anxiety. "For now, I'll observe their intentions closely."
I watched as Eizan spoke with Alex, seemingly unaware of the approaching danger. The three nobles stopped in front of Eizan, and I could see from afar that Adam, in particular, was eyeing Eizan with a sharp and formidable gaze. I heard Adam warning Eizan about his power being a significant threat.
I sensed that the situation was extremely dangerous. When Adam touched Eizan's shoulder, I could feel the implied threat in that gesture. Every passing second felt more tense, and I knew I had to act swiftly.
Then, Adam raised his hand, apparently ready to strike Eizan, who was already weakened by the previous attack. My heart raced. I couldn't allow my student to face such danger. Without hesitation, I rushed towards Adam to intercept his attack.
Back to the Confrontation
As Adam lifted his hand to strike, I suddenly intervened with a swift and skillful motion. Using my power and agility, I blocked Adam's attack with my experienced hand.
The three nobles were shocked by my appearance. Adam narrowed his eyes, quickly assessing the situation. "Professor Arion," he said with a mix of surprise and irritation. "What are you doing here?"
I wasted no time explaining. "Eizan is my student. I won't allow anyone to harm him, especially without a clear reason."
Travis and Alan looked confused and anxious as they witnessed the escalating tension. "Professor Arion, we just..."
I cut off Travis's words. "I don't care about your reasons. Eizan is too exhausted to face further threats. If there are issues, handle them in a more honorable manner, not through violence."
Adam, apparently not wanting to escalate the situation further, finally lowered his hand and took a deep breath. "Very well, Professor. We'll leave this matter for now. But remember, Eizan possesses a power that could threaten the realm and even the world."
I nodded firmly. "I'll ensure that Eizan understands his responsibilities. Now, leave before things get any worse."
The three nobles gave Eizan one last glance before leaving the arena. Adam, Travis, and Alan disappeared from my sight. I could still feel the residual tension in the air as they departed. Eizan, slowly coming to terms with what had just happened, gradually sat down and looked at me with a mix of gratitude and amazement.
"Professor," Eizan said weakly.
I looked at my student with concern. "You've drawn the attention of very influential people. They fear the power within you. But don't worry, Eizan. As long as I'm here, I'll protect you from such dangers."
Eizan nodded, feeling a sense of relief and warmth from my support. "Thank you, Professor. I'll work even harder."
I gave him a gentle smile and helped him to his feet. "I know you can do it. Now, let's head back to your dorm and get some rest."
With the tension still lingering in the air, Eizan and I left the arena, followed by the other students and Alex, who helped Eizan towards the dormitory.