Five days had passed since Alex's last class. The academy's bustling corridors, once familiar, now seemed distant. Instead of attending lectures, he devoted himself to cultivation, seeking to refine his skills. The girls he saw at the ceremony watched his training daily, their interest piqued.
Lars stood before him, sword in hand, as Alex guided the young man through the intricacies of swordsmanship. The clash of steel on steel echoed through the air, punctuated by Alex's instructions. "Shift your weight, Lars. Feel the balance of the sword."
As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm orange glow, Alex called the training session to a close. Lars bowed, his face flushed with exertion, and sheathed his sword.
"Master—"
Alex laughed quietly, shaking his head. "Lars, stop calling me 'master.' We're just training together."
Lars grinned, undeterred. "Okay, sir! But please, continue to teach me."
As Alex walked away, seeking a well-deserved rest, he noticed three figures approaching him. Arthur, accompanied by two girls – one with purple hair and the other with white hair – walked toward him.
"Hi, sir!" Arthur said, waving. "We saw you training and thought we'd come over."
The purple-haired girl, Nancy, interrupted Arthur. "Sir Alex Agniverta, please, can you teach me too what you were teaching that guy over there?" Her eyes sparkled with a mix of curiosity and competitiveness.
Alex raised an eyebrow, sensing a hidden motive behind her request. He ignored her, instead focusing on wiping his sweat from his body he was half naked his muscles giving him a ferm balmy look.
Arthur leaned in, whispering in Alex's ear. "Sir, this is Nancy and Elvika. They wanted to talk to you about something and followed me."
Alex's gaze flicked to the girls, his expression neutral.
Nancy's eyes locked onto Alex, her voice laced with determination. "Sir Agniverta, I just wanted to learn, that's it."
Alex raised an eyebrow, sceptical. "Oh, okay. Then watch from afar and learn."
The white-haired girl, Elvika, stepped forward, her gentle expression a stark contrast to Nancy's fiery demeanour. "Alex, pls, can you teach me too? Tomorrow is the duel, and I'm frustrated."
Alex's gaze softened slightly at Elvika's pleading eyes. "I don't think so. Are we that close that I'd teach you?"
Elvika's eyes sparkled with hope, her voice barely above a whisper. "Please?"
Alex muttered under his breath, "Aha, these kids..." Before looking up at Elvika and saying, "Okay, I'll teach you for an hour, but only you and Arthur."
Nancy's face fell, her eyes narrowing. Alex turned to her, his tone firm. "Our purple-head, go and learn where your merchant skills will come in handy."
Nancy's grin revealed a hint of malice as she turned to leave. "How did that weak guy know I wanted to humiliate him?" she muttered to herself, her eyes flashing with annoyance. "That's okay, tomorrow he'll be the one humiliated, losing that sparring match."
She took deliberate steps, her heels clicking on the ground, as she disappeared into the fading light of day, her mind already focused on the next day's confrontation.
"Okay, Elvika and Arthur, train with Lars for now. I'm going to rest for a while," Alex said, walking away.
Lars called out, "Yes, master!"
Alex stopped and turned around, a hint of exasperation on his face. "I'm not your master, Lars. I am only a 12-year-old kid."
Lars looked sheepish, but Arthur chuckled and clapped him on the back. "Get used to it, Sir Lars. We're all in this together now."
Elvika smiled gently, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "Let's focus on training. We don't want to lose tomorrow."
The three of them began to train, their laughter and shouts filling the air as Alex walked away, seeking a well-deserved rest.
The day of the spar had finally arrived. Alex stood on the sprawling sparring grounds, his eyes scanning the bustling area. Here is the continuation of the refined passage:
The grounds seemed to have materialized overnight, replacing the empty space that had existed just the day before. "I think it was magic they used to make one," Alex thought to himself, impressed by the academy's capabilities.
The air was filled with excitement as students and instructors alike gathered to witness the highly anticipated spar. Elvira, Arthur, and Lars stood beside him, their faces set with determination. Nancy, on the other hand, seemed to radiate an air of confidence, her eyes gleaming with a fierce competitiveness.
The training grounds were abuzz with excitement as thousands of students packed the spectator seats, eager to witness the highly anticipated spar. The grounds themselves were a sprawling expanse of open space, surrounded by tiered seating that rose like a gentle hill.
At the centre of the grounds, the actual sparring area was marked off with a distinctive boundary. And just beyond the perimeter, two grand halls stood like sentinels, reserved exclusively for VIPs and instructors.
The air was electric with tension as the crowd waited with bated breath for the spar. Miss Albian's gaze swept across the students, her signal to begin the duel. One by one, students from each class took to the sparring area, their skills on full display.
While the second-year students dominated the matches, the new students, including those from Alex's class, struggled to keep up. However, two students caught Alex's attention – the white-haired girl, Elvika, and the purple-haired girl, Nancy. Despite their youth, they fought valiantly, showcasing impressive skills.
Now, it was Arthur's turn. He gazed at Alex, his eyes wide with nervousness. "Sir, I'm nervous. What if I lose?"
Alex offered a reassuring smile. "Dude, don't worry. No human being can win every battle, but they can always win the next one. Just try your best and fight well, so you don't have any regrets."
Arthur fought bravely, showcasing his sword skills, but ultimately fell to his opponent, the last of the second-year students. The team of second-years had completely humiliated the new students, leaving them demoralized.
The second-years' laughter and jeers still echoed through the air. Miss Albian's gaze locked onto Alex, her eyes seeming to say, "If you can win, then do so; but if you can't, surrender now and spare yourself the humiliation."
The commentator's booming voice cut through the tension. "Today's final match is between Shelly Grevillea and Alex Agniverta!"
The audience fell silent as if awaiting the arrival of royalty. And then, Shelly Grevillea emerged, her regal presence commanding attention. Her beauty was mesmerizing, her charm rivalling the moon's gentle glow.
With each step, she seemed to own the ground, her confidence and elegance inspiring awe. Alex watched her approach, his expression unreadable. The crowd's anticipation was palpable, however.
In the audience, whispers began to circulate. "Really? This royal guy thinks he can beat Shelly?" "I heard he's fragile, didn't even know how to wield a sword."
The murmurs grew louder, all directed at Alex. Alex's eyes flashed with anger, his patience worn thin. He'd had enough of the constant ridicule and humiliation.
Taking a step forward, his voice thundered across the grounds. "You lowly kids of Oxid Academy, you really think this lady is unbeatable? I'll beat her today, right now! And then, I'll take down everyone who dared utter a single word of humiliation against me!"
All the students in the crowd laughed, and someone from the students yelled, "Royalty bum, don't cry after losing!"
From the teacher's hall, Principal carlas watched Alex with a mixture of surprise and amusement. "That brat never learns," he muttered to himself. "I know he's strong, perhaps even a match for all the students, but he can't defeat Shelly... not yet, at least."
The students, their eyes fixed on the referee, waited for the signal to begin. "Take your stance!" the referee yelled, and the air seemed to vibrate with anticipation.
Shelly's gaze met Alex's, and for a fleeting moment, a flicker of awareness danced in her eyes. But unlike the other students, she didn't sneer or mock him. Instead, she remained calm, her expression serene, as
if she knew that Alex was not someone to be underestimated. The referee's yell echoed through the grounds once more: "Start!" And with that, the match began.