The day started like any other, but one student stood out from the beginning. The girl was exceptionally diligent during the first two hours of class. She absorbed every lesson quickly, her focus unwavering.
Then came the physical training. The first task was an 8 km run, followed by strength drills and combat exercises. What caught my attention was how effortlessly she handled them all. Her movements were sharp, her endurance impressive, and her fighting style powerful. Even Andrew, my brother, took notice. That was rare, he usually kept his attention elsewhere, but something about her intrigued him.
There are many distinguished ones, But the attention at the moment was directed to her.
When the break came, she sat alone, catching her breath. Andrew, spoke up.
"Roy, are you paying attention to everyone? What do you think about that girl?"
I thought for a moment before responding. "We have time. No need to rush."
Andrew sighed but let it go. "Fine, as you wish."
After lunch, the optional hours began. We choose to keep training with Yuri, I was surprised that she chose to study even with her unique skills. It was clear, she was more than just strong; she was disciplined.
That night, back in our room, Andrew brought it up again. "So, what do you think of the first day? This place is going to be our home now."
"It's not that bad," I replied simply.
We had bunk beds, Andrew on the top, lowering his head with a grin. "Did anyone catch your interest? What about that girl? I want her on our team. She's strong."
I shrugged. "If you want her, go ahead. If she's as good as she seems, that's fine."
Andrew's grin widened. "Good to hear. I'll take care of it. By the way, what are you reading? A romance novel?"
Annoying. But when it came to talking to people, I trusted Andrew. He handled things better than I ever could.
"Oh, almost forgot, what about leadership? You have the skills to be our leader."
"I don't care about that. You handle it. I don't like those things."
Andrew chuckled. "As you wish. But even if I'm the leader, you'll be the one making decisions in the end. Let's just take it slow for now."
The next day, the girl arrived and took a seat next to Andrew. She carried herself with a calmness that was almost unsettling, but I had already decided to stay out of it. Andrew would handle this.
At lunch, we entered the dining hall, and as expected, my brother headed straight toward her. He was like a storm, I just… can't stop him. Before I could even say anything, he approached her table, asked if he could sit, and took a seat before she even had a chance to respond. She looked surprised and was about to say something when he cut her off and spoke.
"Hey, we're sitting near each other in class, so I thought, why not get to know each other, right? I'm Andrew, and this is Roy Celgius, we're brothers."
Her silver hair falling softly around her face. Her red eyes, bright and sharp, stood out against her soft skin. Though she was not tall, there was something strong in the way she held herself. She didn't need to say much, her calm and focused look said enough. Even with the hard world around her, her beauty felt untouchable.
"I know who you are," she said, her voice soft yet steady. "People have been talking about you. I'm Sophia Vila."
Andrew leaned forward slightly, his tone shifting. "I'll get straight to the point. We're selecting members for our team. We want the strongest. We want you."
I blinked. What? He said we'd take our time, but now he was already asking her to join us? Too fast.
Sophia tilted her head. "Isn't it a bit hasty to ask me to join when you barely know me? And why me, specifically?"
Andrew smiled. "Simple. Your performance is so good. But it's not just skill—we need balance. You bring that."
She raised an eyebrow. "I appreciate that, but like you said, teams aren't just about skill. They're built on trust, and we don't know each other yet."
Andrew didn't back down. "That's fair, but are you sure you want to risk being placed with a weaker team or with moody people? Opportunities like this don't come twice."
Sophia's expression changed slightly. "You speak with confidence. Who's the leader of your team?"
Andrew turned to me with a mischievous glint. "Roy, of course. He's smart, experienced—better than me in every way that matters."
I shot him a look. What was he playing at? Sophia studied me, her gaze sharp.
"So, you're the leader," she said. "In that case, I have a proposal. Let's duel. If I win, you stop bothering me. If I lose, I'll join. And with that we can get to know each other's."
I wasn't expecting that. Bold move, but reasonable considering how suddenly we had approached her.
Andrew hesitated. "Is that really necessary?"
Sophia nodded. "I want to see our difference in strength. Or I could wait until the team selection ends and get the opportunity to be lead my own team"
Andrew considered her words, then smirked. "How about you fight me instead? Roy is far beyond my level. The deal stays the same."
Sophia looked at him for a moment before shrugging. "Do whatever you want," she said, turning away. "We'll settle this after class at the training ground. Make sure Yuri knows."
With that, she left.
Andrew turned to me. "So?"
"You rushed things," I said, shaking my head. "And you nearly dragged me into it. But it's fine. So far. Good luck."
He grinned. "Sorry, sorry. But do you think she'll be a strong opponent?"
I closed my eyes, then said, "I don't know. It's hard to say, you're going to win easily. But just don't underestimate her because of that. People always have their tricks. Be careful."
Andrew's grin didn't waver. "Don't worry, brother. I'll make sure she joins us."