Volume 1: Path – [Academy Arc]
Chapter 35: Problem
Caelus rushed forward toward Aiv, who stood calm and collected, holding his sword with both hands pointed forward. His posture was flawless, his expression unreadable and focused, without any tension.
Caelus shifted his left hand to the tachi's scabbard and his right to the handle. As his fingers wrapped around the hilt, a faint change stirred in him. His instincts sharpened. Unbeknownst to him, the red glow in his pupils darkened ever so slightly.
He drew the blade in a swift arc and slashed from his right side, clashing directly with Aiv's sword. The impact jolted up Caelus's arm, but Aiv's stance didn't falter. His sword didn't even budge.
Caelus gritted his teeth. 'His physical strength is stronger than mine.'
But brute strength wasn't everything. Even a low-tier fighter could defeat someone above their level with the right plan.
'I just need a strategy.'
In the brief second that their blades locked, an idea sparked in Caelus's mind. He couldn't tell if it would work, but he'd never know unless he tried it. The problem is that he was afraid that his body couldn't move exactly the way he imagined it.
Without hesitation, he shoved the scabbard forward with his left hand, aiming directly at Aiv's face. It was a calculated move to disrupt his vision and force an opening.
Aiv's eyes narrowed. He jumped back to avoid being struck. As he moved, he slashed his sword, batting the scabbard clean off the platform.
Caelus didn't waste a heartbeat. He lunged forward, thrusting the tachi toward Aiv's torso, the only target within reach.
His arm extended fully, eyes narrowed in focus, but just before the blade could reach, Aiv's sword came crashing down in a fluid, practiced motion.
Clang!
The force knocked the tachi clean from Caelus's grip. He stumbled from the momentum and hit the stone platform hard, his breath knocked out of him.
Dazed, he looked up.
Aiv stood tall, sword leveled at Caelus's chest, a calm but playful grin curling on his lips.
Caelus, that was a good first spar we had. Though it was short, you've improved a lot since I first saw you this morning," Aiv said with a calm smile as he offered a hand.
Caelus, still breathing heavily from the fall, looked up. His brows were furrowed, and sweat clung to his temple. He reached out, grasping Aiv's hand, and let himself be pulled up. Aiv's grip was firm but steady, effortlessly helping Caelus back to his feet.
"But I still lost... without even managing to land a solid hit like I did this morning," Caelus muttered, brushing dirt off his sleeve, his voice tinged with frustration.
"That's because you two are beginners(Uriel And Caelus), unlike me," Aiv replied with an encouraging tone. "I told you before, I've been training in swordsmanship for years. But for your level, you're improving fast. Honestly, it's impressive. Don't let a few losses get to you."
Caelus managed a faint smile. "Okay... can we spar more?"
"Sure," Aiv nodded, taking a step back and resetting his stance.
With that, they returned to their positions and resumed sparring.
Caelus continued to lose each round; the difference in their experience was undeniable. Still, every exchange pushed him a little further.
They were now on their final spar before heading to the next block, which is dinner.
The progress was clear. Caelus had improved so much that Aiv praised him mid-spar. He could now hold his ground for a full minute, a marked leap from where he started.
Recalling the duel between Sakura and Uriel, Caelus tried to mimic their techniques. One in particular, the spin slash, a full 360-degree rotation, caught his interest.
Though his first attempts were clumsy, over time, he began to perform the move, albeit with flaws. His balance wavered, and the timing was off, but it was progress. And progress, for Caelus, meant everything.
Caelus, deep in thought on the training platform, swung his tachi upward just in time to deflect the sword descending rapidly toward him.
The blade was knocked off course, but not by much because Aiv's strength was on another level. Caelus had to grip his tachi with both hands, straining to absorb the pressure as strike after strike poured down from above.
His stance trembled slightly with each blow, but he held firm. In the earlier spars, he couldn't even react fast enough, but now, something had shifted. His awareness had sharpened. It was as if glowing trails briefly appeared in his vision, highlighting the arc of each incoming strike before it landed.
Still, that newfound clarity came with its own hurdle. His body simply couldn't keep pace with his mind. Every time he saw an opening or a counter, his limbs lagged behind, like a delay between thought and movement. That disconnect was one of the main reasons he continued to lose.
'He could easily attack me from any angle, but he keeps striking from the top... It's like he's telling me to confront my weakness head-on,' Caelus thought as a faint smile curved his lips. 'I don't know why I'm overthinking a simple spar, but it's just so damn fun.'
Adjusting his stance, Caelus subtly angled his blade downward and forward, not just to block, but to use the momentum to push himself back. He intended to use the force of the clash to launch his body into a backward roll and escape the mounting pressure.
The sword came crashing down. Caelus braced himself.
Clang!
The timing was perfect. The impact sent him sliding back just as planned. With a smooth roll, he regained his footing, landing several steps away clear of the immediate threat.
As he rose from the roll, his expression lit up not just from relief, but from genuine excitement. His eyes met Aiv's, and for a brief second, the two shared a silent exchange of respect mid-battle.
"That's a good move, Caelus... but—"
Caelus instinctively turned toward Aiv's voice just in time to see a sword flying straight at him. His eyes widened. Reacting on pure instinct and muscle power, he rolled hard to the side, narrowly avoiding the incoming weapon as it clattered onto the ground.
But he missed the real threat.
The sword had been a distraction because the moment Aiv let go of the blade, he had vanished from Caelus's sight, sprinting with speed and precision, using the sword throw as a diversion. He anticipated exactly where Caelus would roll from the way his body was about to move.
As Caelus completed the dodge and looked up, still catching his breath, a hand suddenly appeared inches from his face.
Aiv stood there, already in front of him, grinning casually, his hand extended to help him up again.
"You can easily get distracted," Aiv said with a teasing smile as he extended his hand.
Caelus chuckled under his breath, still catching his breath. He grasped Aiv's hand and stood up with a slight wince, brushing off the dirt on his uniform.
"Thank you for pointing out the mistakes," he said, his voice sincere but laced with fatigue.
Together, they walked to the stack of weapons and carefully placed their sword and tachi back where they belonged.
With the training over, they began the walk toward the dining hall, the same location where both lunch and breakfast were held. The sun was already starting to dip, casting long shadows across the academy grounds as they walked side by side.
The food on the menu looked so delicious that Caelus wanted to try everything, but the limited merits in his account held him back.
It made him a little sad, but he reminded himself that to earn more merits and enjoy better meals, he first had to stay healthy. And to stay healthy, he needed proper food. With that mindset, he decided to carefully pick two items.
He chose dishes that are mostly found from where he came from. One was a steaming bowl of Ashikara Udon, thick wheat noodles in a smoky herbal broth infused with purple seaweed, sweet lotus root, and firebean oil. The other was Kurogiri Wraps, delicate rice crepes filled with grilled myco-fish, pickled frost-greens, and a spicy citrus glaze folded like origami.
Aiv, on the other hand, went for something more familiar to his tastes. He selected a hearty plate of Velmoran Roast, slow-cooked herb-crusted meat served with golden root vegetables, and a side of Sunspire Loaf, warm bread laced with melted dusk-cheese and soft herbed butter. A small cup of berry-spiced stew completed the meal, comforting, savory, and perfectly suited to his laid-back appetite.
They both sat down and began eating, savoring every bite of their meals. Caelus, in particular, devoured his dishes down to the last grain with his plate and bowls left spotless.
The meal was light yet rich, subtle yet energizing. Every bite carried a blend of warmth and depth, and for Caelus, it was worth every single merit.
Still, a pang of regret settled in his chest. Dinner had cost him three of his six remaining merits, leaving him with just three. If he wanted to eat tomorrow, he would need to participate in the arena and not just participate, but win. Especially in tomorrow's ranking match, Instructor Garron had mentioned.
'No food means no strength… and no strength means no survival,' he thought grimly. 'I have no choice but to aim for the top.'
[End Of Chapter 35]