The next morning, after a hearty breakfast, Astor leaned back in his chair, his usual grin spread across his face. "Let's head to the common arena and practice some spear work," he said, brimming with excitement.
I paused for a moment, weighing our options. The private training halls were out of the question for now—those required CP, Contribution Points, which we hadn't earned yet. But the common arena? That was open to everyone, which meant more eyes on us than I was comfortable with. I sighed inwardly. It was bound to happen sooner or later. We couldn't stay in the shadows forever; eventually, people would know who we were and what we could do.
"Fine," I said, standing up. "Let's go."
As we made our way to the arena, I kept thinking about the attention we'd draw. It wasn't just any group of students practicing in the common arena—it was packed with first-year students, most of them sparring or perfecting their techniques. Right now, the senior years were likely on their vacations, leaving the grounds mostly to the fresh recruits. The arena buzzed with energy as spells flashed in the air, weapons clashed, and students shouted commands or encouragement at each other.
Astor and I were dressed in our light armor, nothing too extravagant but enough to stand out. As soon as we stepped through the archway leading into the arena, heads turned. I could feel the weight of dozens of gazes fall upon us. Whispers rippled through the crowd, but I paid them no mind.
"Looks like we've got an audience," Astor whispered, his usual playful grin plastered across his face. He thrived in moments like this, where attention came naturally.
"Just don't go all out," I warned, keeping my voice low but firm. "And refrain from using body casting. We don't need to reveal everything right away."
Astor nodded, the mischievous glint in his eyes fading slightly. He understood. There would be a time to show the full extent of our abilities, but this wasn't it. We were here to train, not to make a spectacle. Well, not too much of a spectacle, anyway.
We stepped onto one of the training platforms, and I could feel the anticipation building in the air. Everyone was watching, sizing us up. Let them watch. We were here to prove ourselves.
As Nyx and Astor entered the arena, all eyes fell upon them. Those who hadn't noticed their arrival suddenly hushed, and whispers quickly spread among the gathered students. A few nudged their friends, pointing, while others simply gawked at the Shadowstar twins as they approached an empty training plot.
"Usual routine?" Astor called out, his excitement bubbling over.
"Right," Nyx replied, gripping his wooden sword tightly. "One spar, then some spell casting training."
Astor didn't hesitate. He activated his Heatwave spell, and an unusual blue heat shimmered around him, rippling like a mirage. The intensity of the spell caused the other students nearby to sprint for cover, sensing the power radiating from him. With a grin, Astor charged at Nyx, the air around him crackling with energy.
But Nyx was ready. With a quick flick of his wrist, he cast Shadowsteps and Flashstep simultaneously, vanishing from sight and reappearing beside Astor, just out of the range of the Heatwave. In a heartbeat, he sent three Lightning Shocks flying toward his brother. Astor reacted swiftly, deflecting two of them with the blue flames of his Heatwave while the third struck him squarely in the chest. The impact made him stumble back, but before he could regain his balance, Nyx closed the distance.
"Damn it," Nyx thought, feeling his Flashstep spell wane just as he neared Astor.
Astor, seeing his brother so close, quickly conjured a Fireball spell and hurled it at Nyx. Reacting on instinct, Nyx ducked to the side. But in a surprising twist, Astor capitalized on the moment, delivering a swift kick to Nyx's leg, sending him sprawling to the ground.
Before Astor could unleash another spell or strike, Nyx swiftly executed Thunderclap. The shockwave erupted through the arena, stunning Astor momentarily. "This f#ucking spell again!" Astor muttered under his breath, the shock disorienting him.
Nyx seized the moment, kicking Astor away. With a nimble kip-up, both brothers quickly regained their footing, glaring at each other in a moment of silent determination.
"Damn, that spell of yours! That was my win!" Astor exclaimed, a mix of frustration and admiration in his voice.
Nyx smirked. "Because you're a monkey," he teased.
"Hey!" Astor shot back, a playful pout forming on his lips. "And you're a bookworm!"
As they chuckled, the watching students were left stunned by their banter and the display of skill they had just witnessed. The atmosphere buzzed with excitement and admiration, but one student in particular stood apart from the rest. His eyes glowed a menacing red as he watched the twins with a calculating gaze.
So this is the power of the elites, he thought, a sense of determination igniting within him. He would not be overshadowed by their prowess.
Unknown to the gathered students, two instructors stood hidden from view, observing the training session with keen interest. One of them towered over the others, easily above seven feet tall, his muscular build accentuated by the red hair tied in a tight bun. His green eyes glinted with curiosity as they focused intently on Nyx and Astor. The other instructor, draped in a black cloak that concealed most of his features, had jet-black hair and equally dark eyes. He stood silently beside his counterpart, equally engrossed in the spectacle before them.
"Did you see that?" the large instructor, Leon, exclaimed, breaking the silence. "That was short, but most of the spells they cast—none of them even chanted the names. The casting speed is astonishingly quick."
The cloaked figure nodded thoughtfully. "It's impressive to see this level of spell utilization at such a young age. I've always known that the main branch of the Shadowstar family has greater control over the shadow element compared to those of us from the branch families. But witnessing their skill without relying heavily on the shadow element, except for the Shadowsteps, is remarkable. The silver-haired one possesses an evolved affinity, while the black-haired one... how much time do you think he had to react when he was falling?"
"That's exactly what I'm saying," Leon replied, rubbing the stubble on his chin. "The casting time is exceptionally short. Duke Alaric was a spellcasting genius of his generation—arguably the best among them. Even he couldn't cast his spells this quickly, could he?"
The black-cloaked instructor remained contemplative. "Duke Alaric had greater control over his elements. That's why he could cast so fast. But as far as I've gathered, the twins were both born with S-grade affinities."
Leon chuckled, shaking his head in disbelief. "Two S-grades in the same family? It truly is a blessing that the royal family hasn't made a move against them yet."
"Speak carefully, Leon," the black-cloaked instructor cautioned, his tone becoming serious. "There are others who might hear us."
Leon sneered dismissively, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "I don't care. It's not like everyone doesn't already know what the royal family is up to."
"Forget that for now," the cloaked figure replied, crossing his arms. "It's true that after a talent like Alaric, the main family has given birth to two monsters. It's as if the Shadowstar lineage is trying to evolve itself."
"That's both a good thing and a bad thing," Leon said, his expression turning sombre. "They have the potential to reach the heights of King Theron, but the question remains: will they be given the opportunity?"
With a sigh, cloaked figure continued, "But that's a matter for the future. Don't dwell on it too much. For now, let's just watch over them."
The instructors turned their focus back to Nyx and Astor, their expressions a mix of admiration and concern, uncertain of what the future would hold for the remarkable twins.