As the morning class on Ashura concluded, he stepped out of the classroom with a weary expression etched on his face. Just then, Edmond, his cheerful companion, draped an arm over Ashura's shoulder with a bright smile.
"Come on, Ashura! Let's head to our practical combat class," Edmond said, his enthusiasm evident as he strolled alongside Ashura.
But their path was suddenly interrupted by the presence of a figure radiating a heavy aura. Ashura's heart sank as he recognized that familiar silhouette. He flinched slightly, involuntarily.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, older brother Veramount," Ashura greeted, trying to maintain a neutral tone, though he couldn't completely mask the displeasure that crept into his voice. Edmond, who had been happily chatting away, fell silent at the unexpected tension.
"Follow me," Veramount commanded, casting a knowing glance at Ashura as he turned to walk away. Ashura, compelled by a mix of obligation and unease, followed him without hesitation.
"Edmond, you go on ahead; I'll catch up with you later," Ashura said, his voice steadying as he stepped behind Veramount.
Edmond watched the scene unfold, a gnawing feeling settling in his stomach. *What heavy pressure he gives off... no wonder Ashura looks displeased. Just a single glance from him could make a kid cry instantly,* he thought, a shiver running down his spine as he hurried to keep up with the rest of their classmates.
### HOXRRARY ACADEMY: OPEN GARDEN
The sun streamed down through the branches of a large, leafy tree, creating a pocket of shade where Ashura and Veramount stood, tension crackling in the air around them.
"I will be frank," Veramount said, his voice steady but urgent as he locked eyes with Ashura. "Drop out of the academy right now and return to Hearthwood Haven Manor. It will do you no good to be here."
Ashura's brow furrowed in confusion as he searched for answers in his brother's piercing gaze. "I don't understand, brother. Why must I drop out?"
"There's no need for reason," Veramount replied, his tone firm, almost final. "Just drop out immediately. I will handle your paperwork." He began to turn away, ready to walk off from the troubling conversation.
"I REFUSE!" Ashura's voice rang out, filled with a fierce determination that made Veramount stop in his tracks. He spun around, surprise flickering across his face at Ashura's sudden outburst.
"I enrolled under the permission and authority of the late Empress Rozaria," Ashura continued, his intensity unwavering as he glared at his brother. "You don't have any right to change that, brother!"
"You're still talking to the late Empress Rozaria even though the family head warned you not to!" Veramount shot back, his disappointment palpable as he crossed his arms defensively.
Ashura clenched his fists, his frustration bubbling to the surface. "The family head and any of you have no right to order me or warn me! After all he did to ignore my presence!" His voice rose with anger, his expression twisting with a mixture of pain and indignation.
"The family head has his reasons, Kanon—" Veramount began, but his words were abruptly interrupted.
"Then his reasons damn well don't care about my feelings!" Ashura shouted, his eyes aflame with defiance. The air thickened with their shared intensity, and the sunlight flickered as if responding to the fury between the brothers.
As the silence stretched, both of them stood firmly in their positions, the emotions swirling between them palpable.
"Ugh, let's stop this here for now. We'll discuss it more later," spoke Veramount as he felt that Ashura's stubbornness had reached a new level.
"My answer is the same: I will not drop out, and I don't care about the family head's opinion," said Ashura as he began to walk away from Veramount, thinking it would only make him more upset if he continued the conversation.
"That idiot! I never thought there would be a day when he would challenge my words," whispered Veramount as he watched Ashura walk away, then turned and began to walk away himself.
###HOXRRARY ACADEMY: COMBAT FIELD
"Ashura! Lucky you arrived just as the professor did. What took you so long?" Edmond said cheerfully as he waved his hand at Ashura.
"Ugh, how can you be so positive all the time?" Ashura replied tiredly, his emotions seemingly non-existent. As Ashura and Edmond exchanged conversation—mostly from Edmond—the professor, who had been preparing for today's combat lesson, finally finished and centered himself around his students.
"My name is Lum Zepar, your professor for combat class," Professor Lum said with a cheerful smile as he looked at his students. He also glanced at Liraeth and gave a slight bow, acknowledging their shared family ties.
Liraeth, recognizing the gesture, smiled back at the professor, knowing him for a long time. "What are we learning today, Professor?" Liraeth asked eagerly.
"Today, we will be training our combat sense. As you know, many fighters develop their combat sense to gain an advantage in close combat fights. Some even cultivate it to the point where they can see moments of the future. That's why it's one of the important skills you need to master," Professor Lum explained in detail, ensuring that his students were fully focused.
He continued, "Now, how do you develop combat sense? The answer is simple: you just have to fight or spar until it appears on its own," he said happily, as if it were as easy as falling asleep.
"Does that mean we have to fight each other, Professor?" Fern wondered.
"That's right! You will pair up in twos and face each other—NO HOLDING BACK!" Professor Lum said, his face full of excitement.
Kanon, hearing this, couldn't help but groan. "Ugh, another tiring training session. I need to pair with Edmond before Jarek finds me; he will surely seize this chance to challenge me to a duel."
Suddenly, before Ashura could take action, Jarek raised his hand. "Professor, may I face Ashura in this match?"
"Oh, excited and feisty, are we? Well, what are we waiting for? Let's get started!" Professor Lum said with enthusiasm.
###HOXRRARY ACDEMY:CENTER OF COMBAT FEILD
As the palpable tension filled the air, Professor Lum's voice broke through the silence, vibrant with anticipation. "START!" he shouted, his excitement infectious.
In that electrifying moment, Jarek's eyes lit up with determination reminiscent of a hunter poised for the perfect strike. He darted forward, eager and confident. Meanwhile, Ashura stood a few paces away, a fatigued expression etched on his face. *Maybe dropping out of this damned place wouldn't be so bad,* he thought, stifling a yawn as he readied himself.
Without a second's hesitation, Jarek launched into action, his voice echoing a powerful incantation, the words flowing like a river of light.
"By the Light, swift and strong,
Guide my steps, make my stride long.
With courage bold and power true,
Grant me speed to carry through!"
As he finished the chant, his body surged forward faster than he had ever moved before. In a blur, he swung his right leg, aiming to strike Ashura with unyielding confidence. The air whipped past him as he closed the distance, expecting a triumphant connection.
But then it hit him: the surprising emptiness where his target should have been. "Huh?" Jarek's heart raced as he felt an unsettling shift. *I thought I hit him, so why do I feel like I struck air?* Just as that realization washed over him, he was abruptly yanked upward, as if an unseen force had seized him. His eyes widened in shock, the ground beneath him becoming a distant memory.
At that precise moment, Ashura whispered his own incantation, a hushed incantation steeped in shadows.
"Nyx, lend me strength of shadows deep,
In silent force, let power seep.
Upon this fist, thy might bestow,
One strike to fell my mortal foe."
A flicker of dark energy coalesced around Ashura's fist, an aura that seemed to absorb the light. With fluid grace, he propelled himself forward, channeling the dark power into a single, precise strike that connected with Jarek's mid-air form.
The impact was thunderous—a crescendo of force that echoed through the arena. Jarek gasped as the blow landed squarely in his chest, the sheer strength sending him crashing to the ground like a falling star. Dust exploded around him as he hit the earth, breathless and bewildered.
"What in the world just happened? I'm sure Jarek's speed should have helped him land a solid hit on Ashura, but suddenly, Jarek was thrown into the air, and Ashura struck his chest with one blow," Edric explained, bewildered about what had occurred in that fleeting moment.
"HAHAHA! Serves him right! I knew my friend was truly the best!" said Edmond, laughing heartily at Jarek's falling figure.
"Is he really a Defactus? How could he make such a blow?" Liraeth wondered curiously about Ashura's strike, which left their classmates with bewildered expressions. Meanwhile, Jarek, filled with confusion, could only raise his body. "Damn it, that was such a hard blow. This guy is totally different from the rumors! How can someone like him be called a Defactus? Are the Kanon families blind?"
"Urghhh, I'm not finished yet! Oh, Sword Mountain Breaker, answer my call and punish my enemy!" Jarek called to his weapon as a last resort. He continued, "I didn't expect to use my weapon against you. I guess that useless late Empress did see something in you, huh?!"
Ashura, no longer looking lazy, immediately responded, "You dog, did you just say Empress Rozaria is useless?" His gaze became serious as he spoke, "I didn't plan to go hard, but since you've pushed the limits of your arrogance, don't blame me for what will happen next."
Jarek, beginning to run forward, retorted, "What's wrong with my claim? It's true that she's no longer anything but a toothless tiger." He swung his sword, the light imbuing the weapon as he aimed to make an impact on Ashura before getting struck again. "RADIANT SMITE!" The impact created a shockwave that scratched the battlefield ground.
"Ashura!" shouted Edmond as he looked at the professor to stop the fight immediately. Edric commented, "It seems Jarek is the winner. Ashura may be strong, but Jarek's speed still outmatches him, creating an opening for Jarek to strike."
"Are you sure about that?" Liraeth asked, watching the unfolding battle with a smile.
"What do you mean...?" Edric began, but he was cut off when he looked back at the scene unfolding before them.
"That great strike? Unfortunately, it was useless against me," Ashura said, holding Jarek's sword with one hand.
"How can this be?!" shouted Jarek in surprise.