Leo left Ms. Raven's office, the weight of the recent revelations still heavy on his mind. He gripped his amulet tightly, reassured by its new enchantment but acutely aware of the responsibility it now represented. Taking a steadying breath, he headed toward his next class: hand-to-hand combat. The idea of training without magic felt oddly refreshing—a chance to focus on strength and agility, skills where the rules felt simple, clear.
The training hall was a vast space with high, vaulted ceilings, lined with mats and sparring equipment. A few students were already warming up, the sounds of footsteps and muffled impacts echoing off the walls. As Leo entered, he spotted his instructor, Master Calder, a broad-shouldered man with a presence that demanded respect. Known for his intensity, he was equally respected for his fairness, pushing students to become their best regardless of where they started.
Master Calder glanced up and nodded as Leo approached. "Ready to learn how to handle yourself in close quarters, Wildehart?"
Leo nodded, his determination sharpening. "Yes, Master Calder. I'm ready."
The instructor's gaze softened slightly, noticing the intensity in Leo's eyes. "Good. Remember, strength isn't just in the body—it's in the mind. You're here to learn control, balance, and focus. Use those, and they'll serve you well."
They began with warm-ups, then moved into drills—stances, punches, and blocks, each motion practiced with precision. Leo fell into the rhythm, surprised at how natural the movements felt. Master Calder moved through the room, correcting postures and adjusting stances. When he reached Leo, he watched for a moment, then clapped him on the shoulder.
"Solid foundation, Leo. Now, let's see what you've learned. You'll spar with Darian today."
Leo looked over and spotted his friend Darian, who gave him a quick grin. They took their positions, and with a nod from Master Calder, began to spar. The exercise was straightforward—no magic, no enchantments, just raw technique. Darian moved quickly, his strikes sharp and calculated, but Leo's focus was honed. He ducked, blocked, and countered, each move guided by the same calm and control he'd practiced in Mr. Brookfall's magical training.
As they sparred, Leo found himself slipping into a focused calm, each movement flowing smoothly into the next. Darian lunged with a quick jab, but Leo sidestepped, pivoting to avoid the blow before landing a light tap on Darian's shoulder.
"Nice one!" Darian laughed, steadying himself. "Been holding out on me, huh?"
Leo grinned, the weight of his worries momentarily lifting. "Guess I'm full of surprises."
The rest of the session passed quickly, with Leo and Darian taking turns practicing new techniques under Master Calder's watchful eye. Leo's muscles burned with exertion, but there was a satisfaction in each ache. In both magic and combat, he was learning to push his limits and focus his strength, each step preparing him for what lay ahead.
At the end of the class, Master Calder gathered the students in a circle. "Well done, everyone. Remember, true strength lies in mastery of yourself, not just in defeating your opponent. Keep practicing, and you'll go far."
A surge of pride welled in Leo at those words. As he and Darian walked out of the training hall, Leo could feel the difference. Today wasn't just about learning a few combat moves; it was a step toward becoming stronger, more focused.
Darian nudged him as they made their way toward the dining hall. "Ready to grab some lunch and meet up with the others? I think you earned it."
Leo laughed, feeling the familiar warmth of friendship. "Lead the way, Darian."
As they walked, Leo allowed himself a moment to relax
Leo and Darian arrived at the dining hall and spotted their friends—Sera, Mira, and Alaric—already seated at their usual table. After grabbing plates of food, they made their way over, sliding into seats as they joined the conversation.
"So, how was class?" Leo asked, looking around at the others.
Sera, who was finishing a bite, looked up with a tired smile. "It was good, but healing really takes it out of me. Every time I finish a session, I feel drained. But it runs in my family—all of us are healers. I guess I'm just naturally talented at it, so it makes sense," she added with a shrug.
Leo turned to the twins, Mira and Alaric, curious about their experiences. Mira spoke up first, smiling. "I'm learning healing because our family doesn't have many healers. With both me and Alaric studying it, it'll be a big help to everyone."
Darian smirked and nudged Alaric with his elbow. "Come on, admit it, Alaric. You're just taking it because of all the girls in class. You love showing off."
Alaric flushed, clearly embarrassed but unable to hide a grin. Mira snickered, agreeing with Darian. "Yeah, Alaric, you're not exactly subtle," she teased, nudging her brother with a knowing look.
"Well, it's not my fault!" Alaric defended himself, though he couldn't keep the laughter out of his voice. "But hey, can you blame me? We don't have forever to figure this stuff out, you know. Might as well see who's out there, right?"
Darian laughed harder, and Leo joined in, enjoying the easy banter. These moments made him feel normal again, even with everything weighing on his mind. He glanced at his amulet, feeling its reassuring warmth, and looked around at his friends, grateful for them.
The group chatted happily until the lunch bell rang, signaling it was time to head to their next class—Elemental Studies. Together, they walked to the classroom, settling on the ground in a circle around the instructor, who was preparing for the day's lesson.
Their instructor, a calm and focused woman with silver-streaked hair, introduced herself and explained what they'd be working on. "Today's lesson," she began, "is about learning to control wisps to summon elemental creatures. This requires both control of the wisps and an understanding of summoning magic."
To demonstrate, she extended her hand and gathered ten small, shimmering water wisps. The tiny lights clustered together, spinning and merging until they formed a one-foot-tall water imp—a translucent, blue creature that glistened like flowing water. She instructed the imp to follow her commands, even making it target practice dummies with splashes of water. After the demonstration, she turned back to the students.
"The process involves combining wisp control with summoning skills," she explained. "I know most of you learned summoning techniques last year, so you can start practicing. For now, gather wisps of any element—except water—and try to form a small creature."
The students began their work, focusing on gathering wisps of their chosen elements. Meanwhile, the instructor motioned Leo over to the side. "Since you're new to the academy, I want to make sure you're up to speed," she said, giving him a gentle smile. "How much do you know about summoning?"
Leo thought for a moment. "I know how to summon small creatures and a few basic things," he answered, "but I've never combined wisps to create anything before."
The instructor nodded, her eyes thoughtful. "Well, that's a solid foundation. Combining wisps requires a bit more finesse. It's similar to what you've done before, but you'll have to learn how to blend their energies smoothly."
Leo nodded, absorbing the advice. Little did he realize, he'd already done something similar when he accidentally created the electric snake not long ago—but that had been more of an instinct than a controlled effort.