More time passed, and Kalem continued his steady climb from struggling newcomer to a competent student. His evenings, usually consumed by relentless study, were finally beginning to loosen up, giving him some time to focus on other activities. One of the few things he'd grown to enjoy was the supervised sparring sessions held every evening at the academy.
While most students treated the sessions as mere practice, Kalem saw them as a chance to sharpen his skills and refine his unorthodox fighting techniques. His experience with real-life combat—especially his encounter with the Garon—set him apart from the others, even though he wasn't the most refined fighter. He relied on quick thinking and ingenuity, and it worked well enough to hold his ground.
One cool evening, Kalem made his way to the familiar training grounds, expecting the usual sound of wooden weapons clashing and students grunting as they exchanged blows. Instead, he was greeted by an unusual quiet. A few students loitered around, talking in hushed voices, while the sparring arena itself stood empty.
Frowning, Kalem approached a tall, broad-shouldered senior leaning lazily against a weapons rack. The senior had a wooden practice sword slung over his shoulder, his posture casual and relaxed.
"Hey," Kalem said, gesturing toward the empty grounds. "What's going on? Why is everything so quiet?"
The senior turned, giving Kalem a once-over before smirking. "You're one of the new guys, right?"
Kalem shrugged. "Something like that. So, what's the deal? Are we not sparring tonight?"
The senior chuckled, clearly amused. "Haven't you heard? Sparring sessions are canceled for the next three weeks."
Kalem's brow furrowed. "Canceled? Why?"
The senior leaned in slightly, lowering his voice as if sharing a secret. "They're not canceled forever. They're just making way for the return of the old system."
Kalem blinked, confused. "The old system? What's that supposed to mean?"
The senior tilted his head, studying Kalem's reaction with a grin. "Wait—you really don't know, do you?"
Kalem sighed, crossing his arms. "I'm not much of a social guy. If it's not in a class or a book, I probably haven't heard about it."
The senior laughed, shaking his head. "Man, you're in for a treat. Let me give you a little hint: it's nothing like the tame, wooden weapon sparring you've been doing. The old system is... let's just say it's a whole different beast."
Kalem's frown deepened. "Different how?"
The senior smirked, his expression almost teasing. "That's for you to find out. But here's a piece of advice: bring real weapons, not practice ones. And make sure they're in top condition—you'll need them."
Kalem raised an eyebrow. "Real weapons? Isn't that dangerous?"
The senior's grin widened. "That's the point, newbie. You'll see. If you fight well, you might even impress the higher-ups. But, uh, don't expect it to be easy. Some of the best fighters in the academy come out for the old system."
Kalem narrowed his eyes, his curiosity growing. "And what happens if you don't fight well?"
The senior chuckled darkly. "Well, let's just say you'll learn the hard way why they call it a 'trial by fire.'"
Kalem stood there for a moment, processing the cryptic explanation. The mention of real weapons and a trial by fire didn't exactly fill him with confidence. But at the same time, he couldn't deny the flicker of excitement stirring in his chest.
"I guess I'll find out soon enough," Kalem said finally.
"That you will," the senior replied, clapping Kalem on the shoulder before strolling off with a casual wave.
Kalem watched him go, his thoughts swirling with questions. The old system. Real weapons. Trial by fire. Whatever was coming, it sounded nothing like the controlled sparring he was used to.
As he walked back toward the inn, Kalem's mind raced. He thought about his own weapons—his axe and spear, both painstakingly crafted and enchanted with care. They'd served him well in the past, but were they enough for whatever lay ahead?
By the time he reached the inn, the sky had turned a deep shade of blue, and the faint glow of lanterns lit the streets. He pushed open the door and stepped inside, finding Lyra hunched over a table covered in alchemical tools and vials.
"Hey," Kalem said, dropping his satchel onto a chair.
Lyra glanced up, her goggles perched on her forehead. "You're back early. Done with sparring already?"
Kalem shook his head. "Sparring's canceled for the next three weeks."
Lyra frowned. "Canceled? Why?"
"They're bringing back something called the 'old system,'" Kalem said, sitting down across from her.
Lyra's expression shifted to one of curiosity. "The old system? What's that?"
Kalem shrugged. "No idea. Some senior told me to bring real weapons and be ready for a 'trial by fire.' Whatever that means."
Lyra raised an eyebrow. "Real weapons? That sounds... dangerous."
"Yeah, that's what I said," Kalem replied. "But apparently, it's a big deal. He made it sound like everyone's going to be watching."
Lyra leaned back in her chair, tapping her chin thoughtfully. "Sounds like some kind of tournament. Maybe it's a way to showcase the academy's best fighters."
"Maybe," Kalem said. "But I get the feeling it's more than that. The way he talked about it... it felt like a test. Something to prove yourself."
Lyra nodded slowly. "Well, whatever it is, you'd better be ready. You're good with weapons, but this sounds like it's on a whole different level."
Kalem smirked, leaning back in his chair. "I'll manage. I've been through worse."
Lyra gave him a skeptical look but didn't press further. Instead, she returned to her alchemical work, while Kalem sat there, staring out the window at the glowing city streets.
Whatever the old system was, he knew one thing for sure—he wasn't going to back down.