The academy grounds were quiet as Ray meandered through its outskirts, eventually finding a large, shady tree. Resting against its sturdy trunk, he stretched out, hands behind his head, and let his eyes flutter shut. The soft rustling of leaves and the distant hum of academy life lulled him into a light doze.
The written exams concluded, and groups of students came out, their chatter buzzing through the air. Many passed by, glancing at the relaxed figure under the tree, but none disturbed him. That is, until Lily approached.
Her steps were light, her dark energy cloaking her like a shadow. Curiosity danced in her eyes as she reached out to touch Ray's shoulder. But just before her fingers made contact, an invisible barrier flared, halting her movement mid-air.
Ray's eyes opened lazily, their Crystal blue hue catching the light.
"What is it, Lily?" he asked, his voice tinged with amusement.
Lily stepped back, slightly flustered.
"You're not exactly approachable, you know," she said, pouting. Then, without hesitation, she added,
"Spar with me."
Ray raised an eyebrow, sitting up.
"Why?"
She shrugged, her confidence unwavering.
"You're strong, I want to test myself against you. Plus," she grinned,
"you're the only one here who seems interesting."
Ray thought for a moment, weighing the idea. It had been a while since he'd had a proper sparring match, and Lily's unique dual primal attributes intrigued him. Darkness and light, opposites coexisting within one fighter, it was a rarity worth observing.
"Fine," he said finally, standing and dusting himself off.
"Just don't go crying afterward."
Lily's grin widened as she led the way to one of the training grounds on the outskirts. Along the way, they caught the attention of Lewis, Ririna, Henry, and a few others. Intrigued by the odd pairing, the group followed, settling into the seats around the arena.
---
Lily stepped into the training ground, drawing one of her twin swords, a pristine white blade adorned with a tiger symbol. Its aura gleamed under the midday sun, radiating power. She took her stance, her expression focused and determined.
Ray, on the other hand, stood casually, arms at his sides, no weapon in sight. He didn't bother adopting a stance, his posture completely relaxed.
"Come," he said simply, his tone calm yet challenging.
The spectators exchanged uncertain glances. Was Ray mocking Lily? Even with his immense potential, to face her so nonchalantly bordered on arrogance.
Lily, however, didn't waver.
"Here I come!" she called out, launching herself forward with a burst of speed. Her blade sliced through the air toward Ray's shoulder.
Ray sidestepped effortlessly, his movements fluid and precise. Lily's eyes narrowed as she feinted, twisting her blade to aim for his waist. This time, her sword met resistance as Ray's hand, glowing faintly with aura, caught the blade mid-swing.
He leaned in slightly, his voice low enough for only her to hear.
"The reason I'm not drawing my sword is simple—it's meant to kill or protect. This situation requires neither."
Lily blinked, momentarily thrown off by his words. But then she chuckled, regaining her composure.
"Don't underestimate me,"
she said, her blade now enveloped in light aura. She slashed at him in rapid succession, her movements so quick that even Ririna and Lewis struggled to keep up.
Ray, however, dodged each strike with unnerving ease. His expression remained calm, even as the flashes of her blade came perilously close.
"You're holding back," he said, a teasing edge to his voice.
"Use both swords. Show me what you've got."
Lily scowled, her cheeks flushing slightly.
"Don't mock me!"
"I'm not," Ray replied, picking up a random stick from the ground. He twirled it lazily in his hand.
"But if you're going to fight me seriously, I will use this as my sword."
The spectators gasped, some suppressing laughter. Lily, visibly flustered, gritted her teeth and drew her second sword—a sleek black blade with a serpent emblem. The twin swords radiated opposing energies, light and dark swirling in harmony around her.
"Full power, huh?" she muttered.
"Fine, but don't regret it."
Ray smirked, ready for what was to come. The battle had only just begun.
The air crackled with tension as Lily lunged forward, her twin blades gleaming. Ray, armed with only a stick covered with his silver aura, met her assault with a calm confidence.
The clash of energies echoed through the training ground as their weapons collided, sparks flying. Lily's attacks were relentless, each strike more powerful than the last. She combined the might of light and dark, her movements fluid and graceful.
Ray, however, remained unfazed. He parried her blows with ease, his stick moving with a speed that defied belief. She was using her twin swords as if she was dancing, a kind of sword play Ray had read somewhere in Zen's library and it belonged to a dragon warrior.
The crowd watched in awe, their eyes glued to the spectacle. They had never seen such a fierce and evenly matched fight. Ray, the mysterious newcomer, was proving to be a formidable opponent, even against the skilled Lily. and that too using a wooden stick...
As the battle raged on, the intensity grew. The ground beneath them trembled with each clash of their weapons. Dust swirled around them, obscuring their movements. The spectators strained to see through the haze, their anticipation building.
Suddenly, Ray launched a counterattack. His stick, imbued with his own silver energy, struck Lily's swords with incredible force. She was pushed back, stumbling a few steps. Before she could recover, she felt as if something had held her for a moment, as if she missed a second there..
Ray followed up with a swift kick, sending her flying.The crowd erupted in cheers as Lily landed gracefully, her eyes wide with surprise. She had never been so easily overpowered.
Ray, however, remained calm. He knew that Lily was far from defeated.
"You're strong," he admitted, his voice barely audible over the cheers.
"But you need to learn to control your power, especially when you wield those swords make your grip completely loose and use your wrist and air currents to your advantage, this swordplay can be even quicker and precise with an unpredictable factor."
Lily glared at him, she understood what he was saying, and was shocked at the fact that he was able to find and correct the fault in her swordsmanship just by experiencing it once...
Ray was just admirable for her. The battle continued, a mesmerizing dance of light and shadow.