NOTE: Sorry guys for the long wait had to focus on studies and other stuffs but i'm back now also for those who have read the recent chapters i rewrote it cause of some ideas
The morning bell rang across the academy.
Roy opened his eyes slowly.
For a moment, he considered going back to sleep.
Then he remembered he had classes.
"Seriously?"
He pulled the blanket over his head.
A few seconds later, he threw it aside.
"Fine."
Roy got out of bed, prepared himself and left the dormitory.
The academy courtyard was already crowded when he arrived.
Students moved in every direction, some heading toward their classrooms while others were making their way toward the training grounds.
Roy walked through the crowd with his hands in his pockets.
He had only been at the academy for a few days, but the place was beginning to feel less unfamiliar.
He knew where his classroom was.
He knew where the training grounds were.
He knew where the cafeteria was.
And, more importantly, he had started making friends.
Although Roy wasn't the type to admit that easily.
"Roy!"
He turned.
Leo was running toward him.
"Morning."
Roy looked at him.
"You're late."
Leo stopped.
"I'm not late."
"You almost are."
"I woke up late."
Roy laughed.
"Then you're late."
Leo pointed at him.
"Don't start."
The two continued walking toward Class 1-A.
Leo was unusually energetic that morning.
Roy noticed.
"You're in a good mood."
"Of course."
"Why?"
Leo smiled.
"You'll find out."
Roy frowned.
"I don't like surprises."
"You'll like this one."
"That's exactly what someone says before giving me a surprise I don't like."
Leo laughed.
"You worry too much."
Roy shook his head.
---
Classes went by normally.
Nexis Theory.
Elemental Control.
Combat Theory.
By lunchtime, Roy was ready to leave the classroom.
Leo grabbed his shoulder.
"Come on."
"Where?"
"I told you I'd show you."
"Show me what?"
"My favorite place."
Roy stared at him.
"Why?"
"Because I want you to meet someone."
Roy sighed.
"Who?"
"My brother."
Roy stopped walking.
"Your brother?"
"Yeah."
Roy remembered their conversation from earlier.
"Blaze..."
He had known Leo was from the Blaze family, but he hadn't known much about him.
"You have a brother?"
Leo nodded.
"His name is Ken."
Roy raised an eyebrow.
"Ken Blaze?"
"Yep."
Roy suddenly remembered something.
"The captain list from the academy."
Leo grinned.
"Exactly."
Roy looked at him.
"Wait."
He pointed at Leo.
"You're the Leo Blaze from Class 1-A."
"Yes."
"And Ken Blaze is your brother."
"Yes."
"Then why haven't I seen him?"
Leo shrugged.
"He's a second-year."
Roy nodded.
"That makes sense."
Leo continued walking.
"He's also much more serious than me."
"I noticed."
Leo stopped.
"What?"
Roy smiled.
"Nothing."
---
They eventually arrived at a large courtyard behind the main academy building.
Unlike the central courtyard, this area was relatively quiet.
A large tree stood in the center.
Underneath it sat a boy reading a book.
He had blond hair similar to Leo's.
But there was an obvious difference between them.
Leo's expression was energetic and friendly.
The other boy looked calm and serious.
Leo waved.
"Ken!"
The boy looked up.
His eyes immediately moved toward Roy.
Then back to Leo.
"You brought someone."
Leo nodded.
"Yeah."
Ken closed his book.
"Who?"
"This is Roy."
Ken looked at Roy.
"The new first-year."
Roy raised an eyebrow.
"Everyone knows me?"
Ken smiled slightly.
"You fought Lee Ching."
Roy sighed.
"That again."
Ken laughed.
"News travels quickly around here."
Leo sat down beneath the tree.
Roy remained standing.
Ken looked at him.
"Sit."
Roy sat.
For a moment, nobody spoke.
Then Ken looked at Leo.
"So?"
"So what?"
"Why did you bring him?"
Leo smiled.
"Because he's my friend."
Roy looked at him.
The word caught him slightly off guard.
Friend.
It wasn't that Roy didn't have friends before.
But things had always been different at his old school.
Most people knew him because of his fighting.
Some liked him.
Some avoided him.
Some were afraid of him.
Leo was different.
He had simply walked up to Roy and asked if they could be friends.
No questions about his family.
No judgment.
Roy looked away.
"You're making it sound serious."
Leo laughed.
"It is serious."
Ken smiled.
"Leo doesn't make friends easily."
Roy looked at him.
"Really?"
"He's usually too busy talking."
"Hey!"
Ken laughed.
Roy couldn't help smiling.
---
After lunch, the three stayed beneath the tree.
Roy learned more about the Blaze family.
The family was one of the Five Great Families.
Their specialty was Fire.
Their members were known for their exceptional control and powerful offensive abilities.
But Roy noticed something.
Ken didn't seem interested in bragging about it.
"Being a Blaze comes with expectations," Ken said.
Roy looked at him.
"What kind?"
"Strength."
Ken looked at his hands.
"Everyone expects you to be strong."
Leo nodded.
"That's true."
Roy looked at him.
"Do you care?"
Leo smiled.
"Of course I care."
Ken looked toward his brother.
"But Leo doesn't want to become strong because of the family."
Leo frowned.
"Don't say it like that."
Ken smiled.
"You know it's true."
Leo looked at Roy.
"I want to become strong because I want to."
Roy nodded.
"That's better."
Leo smiled.
"What about you?"
Roy looked at him.
"What about me?"
"Why do you want to become strong?"
Roy didn't answer immediately.
He looked toward the academy buildings.
"I don't know."
Leo frowned.
"You don't know?"
Roy shook his head.
"I've never really thought about it."
"Not even once?"
Roy thought about the question.
He remembered his fight with Lee.
His mother.
His old school.
The strange feeling he got whenever he fought.
"I guess..."
He paused.
"I just don't like losing."
Leo laughed.
"That's it?"
"Pretty much."
Ken smiled.
"That's actually a good reason."
Roy looked at him.
"Why?"
"Because people who hate losing usually don't stop improving."
Roy smiled.
"Then I guess I'm in trouble."
Leo laughed.
---
The conversation eventually turned toward Roy.
Ken looked at him.
"What about your family?"
Roy's expression changed slightly.
"I don't know much."
Leo looked at him.
"Really?"
Roy nodded.
"I grew up with my foster mother."
Ken's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Foster mother?"
"Yeah."
Leo became quieter.
Roy continued.
"She's the one who raised me."
Ken nodded.
"I see."
He didn't ask any more questions.
Roy appreciated that.
He didn't like talking about things he didn't understand himself.
Especially his past.
---
Later that afternoon, Leo convinced Roy to visit the Combat Club again.
The two entered the training hall.
Leo immediately started practicing.
Roy watched.
Leo's fighting style was aggressive.
Fire surrounded his fists as he moved.
He wasn't as technically skilled as some of the older students, but he had raw power.
Roy studied him.
"You're leaving your left side open."
Leo stopped.
"What?"
"Your left."
Leo looked at his stance.
Roy walked over.
"When you attack with your right hand, you drop your left."
Leo frowned.
"Do I?"
"Yeah."
Roy demonstrated.
"If someone attacks here..."
Roy lightly tapped Leo's shoulder.
"...you're exposed."
Leo nodded.
"Then show me how to fix it."
Roy adjusted his stance.
"Keep your hand here."
Leo copied him.
"Like this?"
"Yeah."
Leo threw another punch.
This time his left hand stayed in position.
Roy nodded.
"Better."
Leo smiled.
"You're actually a good teacher."
"I'm not a teacher."
"You're still better than most."
Roy laughed.
"Thanks."
---
They continued training for almost an hour.
Eventually, Leo became frustrated.
His Fire repeatedly lost control.
The flames around his fists grew larger than he intended.
Roy stepped back.
"Control it."
"I'm trying."
"You're forcing it."
Leo gritted his teeth.
The flames grew.
Roy shouted.
"Leo!"
Leo looked at him.
"Stop."
Leo immediately cut the Nexis flow.
The flames disappeared.
Leo breathed heavily.
"I hate this."
Roy looked at him.
"What?"
"My control."
Roy sat down.
Leo joined him.
"Everyone expects me to be good because I'm a Blaze."
Roy looked at him.
"You're already good."
"Not good enough."
"You've only been here a few days."
Leo laughed bitterly.
"My brother was already stronger than me at my age."
Roy looked toward the training arena.
"Then don't try to become your brother."
Leo looked at him.
"Become better than yourself."
Leo remained silent.
Roy continued.
"You're comparing yourself to someone who has had different experiences."
Leo slowly smiled.
"Since when did you become wise?"
Roy shrugged.
"I don't know."
Leo laughed.
"Thanks."
---
The door suddenly opened.
Ken walked into the Combat Club.
He looked at Leo.
"Training?"
Leo nodded.
"Yeah."
Ken looked toward Roy.
"You too?"
Roy nodded.
Ken smiled.
"Then let me see something."
Leo immediately stood.
"What?"
Ken pointed toward the training arena.
"Fight me."
Leo's eyes widened.
"Now?"
Ken nodded.
Roy stepped backward.
"This should be interesting."
Leo entered the arena.
Ken followed.
The instructor noticed them.
"Ken?"
Ken nodded.
"Just a spar."
The instructor allowed it.
The students nearby began gathering.
Everyone knew Ken Blaze.
He was one of the academy's stronger second-years.
Leo stood opposite him.
Ken smiled.
"Ready?"
Leo raised his fists.
"Always."
The instructor raised his hand.
"Begin."
Leo immediately attacked.
Fire erupted around his fists.
Ken blocked effortlessly.
Leo attacked again.
Ken dodged.
Another attack.
Blocked.
Leo jumped backward.
"Fire Nexis Art!"
Flames exploded around him.
He launched forward.
Ken's expression became serious.
"Good."
He raised his hand.
A massive burst of Fire met Leo's attack.
BOOM!
Leo was pushed backward.
Roy watched carefully.
Ken's Fire was completely different.
It was more controlled.
Less wasteful.
Every movement had a purpose.
Leo stood up.
He was breathing heavily.
Ken smiled.
"Again."
Leo charged.
The fight continued.
Roy studied every movement.
Ken wasn't simply stronger.
He was smarter.
He controlled his output perfectly.
Eventually, Leo dropped to one knee.
Ken lowered his hand.
"That's enough."
Leo was frustrated.
"I almost had you."
Ken smiled.
"Almost."
Roy walked over.
"You did better."
Leo looked at him.
"Really?"
"Yeah."
Roy looked toward Ken.
"He's controlling his Nexis much better."
Ken nodded.
"Exactly."
He looked at Leo.
"You're improving."
Leo smiled.
"Thanks."
Ken then looked toward Roy.
"And you."
Roy raised an eyebrow.
"Me?"
"You were studying every movement."
Roy didn't answer.
Ken smiled.
"You're not just a fighter."
Roy remained quiet.
"You observe."
Ken continued.
"That's a dangerous trait when combined with your instincts."
Roy smiled.
"Is that good?"
Ken nodded.
"It can be."
---
That evening, Roy and Leo walked back toward the dormitories.
Leo looked exhausted.
"I'm going to sleep for a week."
Roy laughed.
"You lost one spar."
"To my brother."
"Still."
Leo pointed at him.
"Don't remind me."
They continued walking.
After a few seconds, Leo spoke.
"Roy."
"Hm?"
"Thanks."
Roy looked at him.
"For what?"
"For earlier."
Roy smiled.
"Don't worry about it."
Leo nodded.
The two continued walking.
Neither noticed the faint smile on Roy's face.
For the first time since arriving at the academy, Roy was beginning to understand something.
Strength wasn't just about winning.
It was about the people beside you.
The people who pushed you.
The people who challenged you.
And the people who stayed when things became difficult.
Roy looked toward the academy's massive towers.
He still had no idea what his future held.
He didn't know why his abilities were different.
He didn't know why Kenneth had reacted so strongly to Serpent Lightning.
And he certainly didn't know what secrets were waiting for him.
But for now...
He had a friend.
And that was enough.