The echoes of cheers and the clang of metal faded as the arena emptied, leaving Kaito and Ryker standing in the aftermath of the entrance exam. Their adrenaline was still pumping, but a gnawing concern replaced the initial thrill of victory.
"Did you see Ayana and Sylvie?" Kaito asked, glancing back at the arena. "They seemed really shaken after their match."
Ryker, still riding high from their victories, shrugged. "Eh, they'll be fine. It's just a little battle. Besides, they're tough! Ice and forest magic? They probably just need a snack or something."
But Kaito wasn't so sure. He felt a twinge of guilt. After all, the other duo they had faced—those mysterious students—had been brutal. No one deserved to get stomped like that.
"Let's check on them," Kaito insisted, leading the way to the sickbay. "If they're hurt, we can at least offer some words of encouragement… or something."
"Like 'better luck next time'?" Ryker quipped, following with an exaggerated pout. "So encouraging!"
Kaito shot him a glare, but couldn't suppress a smile. "Shut up."
As they reached the sickbay, the atmosphere shifted. The room was filled with the faint scent of antiseptic, and students lay on stretchers, some groaning while others were surrounded by healers. In one corner, Ayana and Sylvie sat, looking much worse for wear.
"Guys!" Kaito exclaimed as they approached. "What happened out there?"
Sylvie looked up, her icy demeanor softened by exhaustion. "We were ambushed by two… very skilled students. They weren't just lucky; they were really strong."
Ayana nodded, clutching an ice pack to her forehead. "I miscalculated their power. It was like they had training wheels off their magic. They caught me off guard."
"Training wheels?" Ryker echoed, a mix of confusion and humor in his voice. "So you're saying they were just riding around like a toddler on a tricycle?"
"Exactly!" Sylvie shot back, eyes narrowing. "And I was the one who ended up in the bushes."
Kaito couldn't help but laugh at the image. "I can picture that. I mean, you all graceful and icy, and then boom—into the bushes."
"Very funny," Ayana said dryly, her lips twitching. "But we weren't prepared for them to be so ruthless."
"Ruthless?" Ryker's eyes sparkled with mischief. "Are you sure you weren't just outperformed by a couple of 'grunts' sent by Emperor Ray Darker? You know, to spy on us?"
"Don't say that!" Kaito scolded, but he couldn't hide his grin. "Now I'll have nightmares about shadowy minions lurking in the trees."
"Don't worry," Sylvie said, her voice almost teasing. "If they show up again, I'll freeze them into popsicles before they can even think about ambushing us."
"Yeah!" Ryker added, his enthusiasm contagious. "And I'll set the popsicles on fire!"
Ayana groaned, burying her face in her hands. "Do you always have to make everything so ridiculous?"
"Yep!" Ryker shot back, puffing his chest out. "It's my specialty."
As they laughed, Kaito's expression turned serious again. "But we need to find out who they are. If they're working for the Emperor, we can't just let them get away with this."
"Agreed," Ayana said, her demeanor shifting back to determination. "Next time, we'll be ready."
"Next time?" Sylvie raised an eyebrow. "You're planning to face them again? After getting knocked into the bushes?"
"Yeah!" Ryker said, beaming. "We'll form a 'Battle Buddies' club! Our motto can be 'To the bushes and back!'"
Kaito snorted. "That's not exactly a great battle cry, Ryker."
"Speak for yourself! It's catchy!" Ryker argued, waving his hands dramatically.
"Right. Maybe we can come up with something a little less... bush-related," Ayana said, suppressing a laugh.
As they continued to joke, a healer approached them, shaking her head with a bemused smile. "You four really are something else. I've seen worse injuries, but your spirit is impressive."
"Thanks!" Ryker said, puffing up proudly. "We're basically the best team ever—Battle Buddies and all!"
Kaito rolled his eyes but felt a swell of camaraderie. He looked around at his new friends, their laughter ringing in the sickbay, and knew they would face whatever came next together.
"Alright, team," Kaito said, his voice filled with determination. "Let's figure out who those guys were, and then we'll show them what we're made of."
"Yeah!" they all cheered, their spirits lifted as they plotted their next move.
"Next round," Sylvie said, a fire igniting in her icy gaze. "We'll turn the tables."
With renewed energy, they left the sickbay, determined to be better prepared for whatever challenges lay ahead. But first—snacks. Because every great battle plan needed a fuel-up.