Nyx's POV
As Astor and I were preparing to resume our spar, I noticed a boy approaching us. He looked about our age, probably a first-year like us, with light blue hair and an average build. But what stood out the most were his eyes—strikingly red, catching the attention of everyone around. The crowd began to murmur again as he walked up, and I could see the curiosity on their faces.
When he reached us, he bowed slightly and spoke, "It's my pleasure to meet the Shadowstar twins. May I have the honour to greet you, my lords?"
Before I could respond, Astor, with his usual impatience, cut him off. "Who are you?" he asked bluntly.
The boy hesitated for a moment, then answered, "My name is Mike, my lord."
I tilted my head, curious. "You don't have a last name? Are you a commoner?"
The boy seemed to panic slightly, his voice shaky. "Yes, my lord. I am a commoner's son—" he started, but Astor, once again, interrupted him.
"Well, tell us your purpose faster. We've got a duel to start," Astor said, his eyes narrowing.
Mike, hearing this, seemed hesitant for a moment but then, gathering his resolve, said, "My lord, may I have a chance to spar with you?"
His red eyes locked onto mine with determination. I could see it clearly—he wasn't just here out of curiosity. He wanted a chance, maybe even to prove something. I sighed. Well, the kid had guts, that much was certain. I glanced at Astor, and it was obvious from his eager grin that he wanted to fight.
So, with a sigh, I said, "Alright, Astor will fight you."
Mike's face lit up immediately. "Thank you, my lord! Thank you!"
I shook my head slightly. "No need to thank me. Astor just wants to fight you." Then I glanced at him more closely. "Do you have any armour with you?"
Mike's expression shifted, and he lowered his head. "No, my lord, I don't."
I could see the concern in his eyes, knowing full well that fighting without armour against Astor wouldn't end well. Reaching into my storage ring, I pulled out a chest plate and handed it to him. "Wear this. It will be pretty dangerous if you fight him without any protective gear."
Mike took the armour, visibly grateful, and quickly strapped it on. Once he stood in his fighting stance, I observed him more closely. He used a spear—an interesting choice, but his form had too many openings. Astor could easily exploit that. Still, I had to admire his bravery for stepping into the ring with us.
This was going to be interesting. Let's see what happens.
As Astor and Mike took their stances, the onlookers murmured in surprise, the unfolding events catching them off guard. A commoner challenging a noble was already unusual, but the tension in the air made the situation even more captivating.
Mike wasted no time, charging forward with his wooden spear in hand, chanting "Lightstride," which caused a noticeable increase in his speed. But Astor, unfazed, moved faster still. He thought briefly about Mike's casting speed—was it really that slow, or was his own just much faster? Either way, he sidestepped Mike's attack effortlessly, not even needing to cast a spell.
Just as Astor was about to deliver a sidekick, something unexpected happened. From Mike's hand, a gust of wind shot forth, slamming into Astor's chest. Nyx, watching from the sidelines, was impressed. A commoner with dual affinities, casting two spells in the heat of battle with such perfect timing—Mike was far more capable than he appeared.
Astor, though caught off guard, quickly regained his footing. The force of the wind spell only pushed him back a step, his sheer physical strength keeping him grounded. Without hesitation, Astor responded by casting a fireball, the blue flame striking Mike square in the chest. The impact sent Mike flying several meters backward, and the intense heat scorched his neck. Nyx, observing from the side, noted that the fight hadn't even lasted a minute.
As Astor approached Mike at a leisurely pace, the young commoner winced in pain from the burn. Astor tossed him a minor healing potion, remarking, "You're not half bad for a commoner, but your spells are too weak to hurt me."
Mike caught the potion but hesitated, unsure how to use it. Astor, rolling his eyes, added, "Looks like you're worse than I thought. Just apply it to your neck."
Mike did as instructed, using the entire bottle. His wounds began healing rapidly, but Nyx, walking over, shook his head. "Astor, you should have held back a bit more," he said before turning to Mike. "And you, next time don't use the whole bottle. A third would've been enough for that wound."
Astor scratched his head sheepishly, while Mike, flustered, stammered, "I-I'm sorry, my lor—"
Astor interrupted him yet again, this time with a playful grin. "Cut the crap. Just call me Astor, and he's Nyx, the bookworm."
"Shut up, you monkey," Nyx retorted, offering a hand to Mike to help him stand.
Once Mike was back on his feet, Nyx asked, "What's your grade and affinity?"
Mike, still catching his breath, replied respectfully, "I have A-grade, my lor—" but corrected himself under Astor's sharp gaze, "I mean, Master Nyx."
Nyx smiled. "No need to call me master. Just Nyx will do. And you have light and air affinities, right?"
Mike nodded. "Yes, Nyx."
"Good," Nyx said, clearly impressed. "It's rare to see someone like you, especially among commoners. What do you think, Astor?"
Astor grinned. "Yeah, pretty rare."
Nyx turned to Mike again, his expression more serious this time. "Now, Mike, follow us. We want to ask you something."
With that, Nyx and Astor began walking towards the resting area, and Mike, still a little unsure of what was happening, obediently followed them, the eyes of the other students watching every step.
The crowd buzzed with excitement and disbelief as they witnessed the sparring match between Astor and Mike. Whispers and murmurs filled the air, with students exchanging shocked glances at the unexpected display of skill from a commoner.
"Did you see that wind spell?" one student exclaimed, his eyes wide with astonishment. "He managed to push Astor back!"
"Yeah, but Astor's fireball was insane!" another replied, shaking his head. "It's not every day you see a commoner take on a noble like that."