The dry wind carries fine red dust through the air.
The training ground is silent, except for the exhausted breathing of the recruits, who stand at a safe distance, watching the spectacle unfold. It is the first training fight, in which Stigmata are allowed.
Two figures face each other: Seren and Nico.
Nico, a year older than Seren, is a towering presence. His muscular frame, the sharp scar running from his right cheek down to his neck, and the fierce determination in his eyes make him an intimidating opponent.
Nico raises a blood smeared hand, and the ground beneath Seren begins to tremble. Sharp, gleaming spikes of blood shoot up from the earth with deadly precision, aiming directly for her.
She dodges effortlessly, as though she can predict each attack.
Her movements are fluid, almost like a dance.
A massive blood arrow whizzes past her, missing her by a hair's breadth, and it just so happens to crash into the quarters of General Marcus Veylith. The loud crack of splintering wood and the rising plume of smoke immediately draw the general's attention.
He now stands at the edge of the training ground, his presence as chilling as an icy wind. His eyes are cold blades, his expression as unmoving as stone.
Nico and the other recruits are stunned, their jaws practically on the ground. Striking the general's quarters is tantamount to signing one's own death warrant.
But Nico can't afford to lose focus. Every second counts.
Seren uses this brief moment of distraction to close the distance between them.
Nico, however, has other plans. With a sharp inhale, he summons another attack from his blood.
Scarlet droplets hang in the air and coalesce into fresh spikes that erupt in front of Seren, forcing her back. He's determined to keep her at bay, no matter the cost.
Sweat drips down his forehead. Blood trickles slowly from his nose, staining the dirt beneath him.
Samir, observing the fight from the sidelines, narrows his eyes.
"That's enough" he calls out, his voice cutting through the tense atmosphere. "This match is over. It's a draw."
"No!" Nico's voice is sharp and defiant.
"I won't accept that!"
The spectators murmur among themselves, but their eyes remain glued to the two combatants.
Seren remains silent, though her gaze makes it clear she isn't backing down. Nico is resolute.
His pride won't let him retreat, especially not when Seren hasn't even used her Stigma.
The atmosphere shifts. The blood scattered across the ground begins to rise, drop by drop, gathering into a massive, liquid orb hovering two meters above the ground. The crimson mass pulsates ominously, absorbing more droplets from Nico, who is rapidly loosing blood, as if it's feeding.
Seren sees her chance. Nico is entirely focused on his attack, and she knows this is the moment to close the gap.
With a sharp breath, she tenses her muscles and sprints forward. The thirty meters between them vanish faster than most can comprehend.
Her movements are precise, every step a calculated strike. She grips her wooden sword tightly, aiming for Nico's shoulder as she winds up for the attack.
But just as she nears, the blood orb surges upward, forming a protective barrier in front of Nico. The ground beneath Seren tears open, and a blood spike shoots up directly in her path.
Seren leaps, her instincts sharp and her movements graceful.
She uses the rising spike as a springboard, launching herself into the air. With a fluid motion, she throws her wooden sword at Nico.
The sword strikes its target with a dull thud that reverberates across the training ground. Nico's eyes widen as the weapon slams into his chest.
He stumbles back slightly, and a piercing whistle cuts through the air, the signal that the fight is over.
The spectators break into applause as Nico stands up again, breathing heavily.
Seren lands beside him, her foot throbbing in pain, but her expression is triumphant without a hint of arrogance.
She approaches Nico and extends her hand.
"Good fight" she says, her voice calm and respectful.
Nico hesitates for a moment before taking her hand.
"Good fight" he mutters, his pride clearly hurt but not broken.
Samir, who has been watching the entire match, steps closer. His gaze is one of approval. Seren has won the fight without using her Stigma, demonstrating an exceptional level of skill.
Her ability to channel Essence deliberately, enhancing her body with precision, sets her apart from the other recruits.
Most of them use Essence instinctively, without finesse or control. Seren, however, had funneled Essence into her thighs during the final moments of the match, allowing her to leap higher than anyone expected.
Samir's attention shifts to Marcus Veylith, still standing at the edge of the training ground. But before Samir can say anything, the general turns and walks away.
This surprises Samir. He had expected the general to punish Nico after the attack on his quarters. But nothing happens.
Samir frowns.
Perhaps it's because the quarters technically don't belong to the general.
Marcus Veylith is usually stationed in southeastern Europe, where the situation grows increasingly dire. The coastal regions are heavily affected by Void Breaches.
Rumors circulate that the government is planning to evacuate civilians to the north and abandon the southeast entirely.
Samir understands the strategy. It's easier to concentrate the remaining forces in a central location than to defend an entire continent.
But what will happen to those left behind?
His gaze returns to Seren, now speaking with Nico and the other recruits. Her confidence and determination are remarkable, but Samir wonders if she fully understands the weight of the responsibility she carries.
The dust on the training ground slowly settles, and the crowd begins to disperse.