*****
"Alright, Professor Shirone, let's settle this,"
Ren declared, stepping forward with an air of determination.
As he channeled his mana into his fist, a faint red glow enveloped his hand, crackling with restrained power.
His lips curled into a smirk.
"Don't hold back, Professor. I'd hate for people to think I won because you went easy on me. My ego wouldn't survive the pity."
Professor Shirone raised a brow, his calm demeanor unshaken.
"Bold words for someone who still struggles to maintain a steady mana flow."
Ren's smirk widened as he flexed his glowing hand.
"Hey, I'd rather lose spectacularly than win with boring precision. Besides, I hear humility builds character. Might as well start today."
Professor Shirone sighed, his mana rippling subtly around him like waves in a tranquil lake.
"Very well. Let's see if you can at least provide me with some entertainment."
Ren grinned, lunging forward with a playful laugh.
"Entertainment? Don't worry, Professor—I charge extra for my comedy routine!"
Whoosh!
With flames now surging around his right fist, Ren propelled himself forward like a comet, the air around him rippling from the sheer heat.
The fiery glow painted his determined face as he closed the gap in an instant, aiming straight for Shirone's gut with the full force of his momentum.
"You better brace yourself, Professor!"
Ren shouted, grinning through the intensity.
"This one's coming in hot—literally!"
Professor Shirone's eyes narrowed, his expression calm yet calculating.
As Ren's blazing punch drew closer, Shirone muttered under his breath,
"Still no balance in his footwork. Am I teaching a warrior or a reckless blacksmith?"
Ren caught the remark and laughed mid-attack.
"Better a reckless blacksmith than a boring monk!"
With a fluid motion, Shirone twirled his staff, intercepting Ren's flaming fist with effortless precision.
The clash sent sparks flying, but the professor didn't flinch.
Instead, his calm voice carried through the heat.
"Your to Reckless, Ren,"
Shirone remarked, his staff glowing faintly as mana coalesced at its tip.
In a split second, a swirling orb of water formed at the point of the staff, shimmering with concentrated energy.
Whewhsh—!
Without hesitation, Shirone thrust the staff forward, launching the orb straight at Ren with a force that seemed gentle yet undeniable.
Ren barely had time to react.
His eyes widened as the orb hurtled toward him.
"Ah, come on! Can't we talk this out like civilized adults?"
He yelled, twisting his body in a frantic attempt to dodge.
Splash—!
The orb struck with a splash, drenching him from head to toe and extinguishing the flames around his fist.
He stood there, soaked and blinking in disbelief.
"Great. Now I look like a wet cat in a rainstorm. Thanks, Professor. Really boosting my self-esteem here."
Shirone raised a brow, the corner of his mouth twitching with amusement.
"If you spent as much effort on control as you do on complaining, you might actually land a hit one day."
Ren gritted his teeth, shaking off the initial shock of the water orb.
"Alright, Professor, no more playing around,"
He muttered, his voice tinged with irritation but also excitement.
Closing his eyes, he focused on his fire affinity, letting it surge through every fiber of his being.
A fiery aura began to envelop him, and steam hissed and rose from his drenched clothes and skin, evaporating the water in seconds.
The wet strands of his hair dried and flared upward slightly, giving him a wild, untamed look.
When the last traces of moisture disappeared, Ren opened his eyes, which now gleamed with a fiery intensity.
"Dry as a bone,"
He said with a smirk.
"Thanks for the steam bath, Professor. I feel like I just visited a spa—except way more violent."
Shirone tilted his head, his expression unreadable.
"Impressive recovery, but you're forgetting something crucial."
Ren raised an eyebrow, flames still flickering around him.
"And what's that?"
Shirone pointed at Ren's charred sleeve, now hanging by a thread.
"Your shirt didn't survive the spa treatment."
Ren glanced down, groaning as he noticed the scorched remains of his sleeve.
"Great. Now I look like I got into a fight with a campfire... and lost."
Sigh
"Okay, I am done playing around"
*****
"He's clearly just playing around,"
Lyrium muttered, his gaze fixed on the battle unfolding before him.
His tone carried a mix of annoyance and concern, though his expression remained calm.
Beside him, Instructor Alicia sat with her arms crossed, her sharp eyes observing every move with the precision of a hawk.
She didn't respond immediately, but the slight furrow of her brow betrayed her own unease.
Lyrium glanced at her briefly before continuing, his voice dropping slightly.
"If he keeps this up, he's going to get himself killed. Recklessness like that isn't bravery—it's just stupidity wrapped in confidence."
Alicia finally spoke, her tone clipped but firm.
"Ren's stubbornness has always been his greatest strength—and his greatest weakness. But Shirone isn't someone who would let him die so easily. This is a lesson, not a death sentence."
Lyrium snorted.
"A lesson? Looks more like an elaborate suicide attempt. The professor doesn't look like he's even breaking a sweat."
Alicia turned her head slightly, her piercing gaze locking onto Lyrium.
"And if you were out there? Would you fare any better?"
"...."
For a moment, Lyrium said nothing, his jaw tightening.
Finally, he looked back at the battle and muttered under his breath,
"At least I'd have the sense to dodge."
"By the way,"
Lyrium began, his tone casual but laced with curiosity,
"Judging from Ren's style, he isn't holding any weapon. Is he a martial artist?"
The question sounded genuine, but Lyrium knew the answer all too well.
Ren in the Path of the Elemental Sage—he was a charater that revolved around harnessing his fire element through pure physical mastery.
No weapons, no crutches, just the body and its connection to mana.
Ren was one of those rare individuals who could make such a style look almost poetic, even in its chaos.
Lyrium's gaze lingered on Ren as he dodged and countered with fiery fists and reckless precision.
A small smirk tugged at his lips as he added silently to himself,
'He might look like a fool, but there's something admirable about his conviction.'
Beside him, Alicia glanced at Lyrium with a hint of amusement.
"You already know he's a martial artist. Why bother asking?"
Hearing Alicia's word's make Lyrium Stiffened,
'What? How did she know I know already'
But he decided to ignore it.
Lyrium shrugged, leaning back slightly.
"Just making conversation. Not every day you see someone so dedicated to martial arts in a world where most people hide behind swords, staffs, or, you know, common sense."
Alicia's lips twitched, but she held her composure.
Lyrium continued, his tone softer now.
"Ren's reckless, sure, but there's something... respectable about his way. No armor, no weapon—just himself. It's pure, in a way."
Alicia glanced back at the battle, her expression contemplative.
"Pure, maybe. But pure fire burns out quickly if it's not controlled."
Lyrium smirked again, his eyes still locked on Ren.
"Maybe. But if nothing else, Ren's flames are something no one can ignore. That's worth respecting."
Then he shifted his eyes towards Ren.
'Good luck My friend'
*****