Luna strolled through the open corridor of the Academy's inner garden, her footsteps light and quick, almost dancing across the stone tiles. The gentle breeze carried the scent of blooming mana-lilies, but her mind was elsewhere—still replaying the wonders of the Open Magic Lesson.
Her wide grin said it all—quiet, confident, and impossible to hide. Her steps were light as she moved through the garden, pink hair fluttering behind her like a bright banner.
"I guess reincarnation does come with its perks," she mused, hands tucked behind her back. "Didn't expect to be this good at magic, but... maybe it's not just luck."
She glanced up at the sky, thoughtful. "Still, nothing comes free. There's always a trade-off. Well, the illness..."
Engulfed in her thoughts, Luna suddenly bolted forward, eager to find something—anything—to do to pass the time.
Then, from the corner of her eye, she caught movement on the nearby training grounds. A group of students were gathered, locked in a sparring session.
She skidded to a stop, eyes narrowing with curiosity.
Among them, she saw someone familiar.
"Nyx!" she blurted out, voice bright with recognition.
Without a second thought, she dashed toward her brother, eager to see what he was doing—and more importantly, to watch him in action.
Luna pushed through the crowd, weaving between students until she reached the front. Her eyes lit up the moment she spotted him—Nyx, standing at the center of the training ground, preparing to duel.
In the middle of tightening his gloves, Nyx caught sight of her small figure among the onlookers. His eyes widened.
"Luna?" he called out, surprised.
He quickly jogged over and knelt in front of her, placing a steadying hand on her shoulder. "Luna? Hey, what are you doing out here? Did Aria lose you again?" he asked, concern etched in his voice.
"She probably went to her lessons," Luna replied with a sunny smile, practically bouncing with excitement. "I went to the Magic Lesson today, and it was amazing! The instructor was so cool—he taught us the fundamentals of magic, and I—"
She caught herself just in time, biting back the part about sensing magic. Some things were better kept secret—for now.
"—I had a lot of fun!" she finished brightly.
Relief softened Nyx's expression. He chuckled, then stood and gave her a gentle pat on the head.
"Come sit over there," he said, pointing to a worn bench carved from the trunk of a fallen tree. "You can watch the duel from there. I bet you'll enjoy this one."
"I bet I will!" Luna grinned.
Nyx turned and made his way back to the center of the field, joining his opponent—a boy named Ron.
As Luna made her way to the bench, her cheerful expression wavered just a little.
"I feel bad for lying to him," she thought, settling onto the bench. "But I don't even know how big of a deal it is. Sensing magic... is that rare? Dangerous? Hm. No point in worrying now—let's enjoy the show."
"Wait… was it because of the tattoo on my forehead?" she wondered, brushing her fingers across it. Her lips pressed into a pout as she caught herself mid-thought. "Ugh, I'm overthinking again." With a quick shake of her head, she let the worry go. "Whatever. Let's just enjoy the duel."
She kicked her feet and leaned forward, eyes sparkling with anticipation.
Ron and Nyx stood across from each other on the training field, tension crackling in the air. They bowed in silent respect, then took their stances—still, focused, waiting for the first move.
Nyx moved first.
With a blur of motion, his sword sliced through the air in a horizontal arc—so fast it barely caught the eye.
Clang!
Ron parried just in time, metal shrieking against metal. He leapt back—once, twice—putting distance between them. Dust stirred at his heels.
Without wasting a breath, Ron cast a speed enhancement spell, light surging at his feet. His form blurred faintly with power.
Nyx raised an eyebrow, then grinned.
"Well, well, well… scared already?" he called out, his tone teasing but impressed.
He chuckled—not mocking, but admiring. "Do whatever it takes to win. Just know… I can't lose. Not in front of my sister."
Without a word, Nyx whispered his own incantation. Magic pulsed beneath his boots.
Ron dropped into a defensive stance, his eyes sharp, ready to react.
Nyx exploded forward.
The ground beneath him cracked slightly as he launched into the air, leaving a sphere of dust swirling behind. In the blink of an eye, he brought his blade down in a devastating vertical strike.
Clang!
Ron blocked—but staggered, his arms trembling under the sheer force. Sparks burst from the point of contact. The crowd erupted.
Luna gasped, eyes wide in wonder. Around her, cheers echoed—many rooting for Ron, some playfully booing Nyx. Luna narrowed her eyes, shooting the crowd a look that could cut steel.
Clang! Crash! Clang!
Nyx unleashed a flurry of attacks, his sword dancing like lightning. Ron struggled to keep up—barely blocking each strike, his breathing quickening, sweat trailing down his brow. He searched for an opening, but Nyx gave him none.
Then—bang!—a brutal clash knocked Ron's blade back, his grip slipping.
Nyx moved to press the advantage, but—
Ron saw it.
He gritted his teeth, gripped his sword with both hands, and raised it high.
"RAAH—!"
With a roar, he brought it down.
WHAM!
The impact was thunderous. A shockwave blasted across the field. Nyx was hurled several meters back, landing hard on his feet, boots skidding in the dirt.
But he didn't fall.
He straightened slowly, laughing under his breath.
"Good… good—" he muttered, eyes gleaming with the thrill of battle.
With a firm grip, Nyx tightened his hold on the sword. Slowly, deliberately, he brought two fingers down to the hilt.
Without hesitation, he dragged the blade across two fingers—clean, precise. Blood welled, trickled down. With reverence, he smeared it along the length of the sword, hilt to tip.
Then, he poured mana into the weapon.
The blade ignited—not with fire, but with a deep, eerie glow that pulsed like a heartbeat. A sinister aura burst forth, bathing the ground in an otherworldly light.
The glow deepened—ominous, unnatural.
Ron's grip tightened.
Nyx's voice dropped to a murmur, barely audible—"Now, we're having fun."
He straightened his stance, his spine like steel, then—
Boom.
He exploded forward, so fast the ground behind him fractured under the force.
Ron flinched, eyes wide. "Shi—!"
Too late.
Nyx was already there—his sword a blur, fast, silent, merciless.
Ron barely had time to react. He jerked his body back, narrowly avoiding the lethal arc.
Or so he thought.
Slice.
A thin line of red bloomed across his nose.
Staggering, Ron leapt back—once, twice—creating distance. He reached up, touching the cut with his fingertips. Blood.
His expression shifted. The smirk vanished. Seriousness took over.
He looked up at Nyx, eyes narrowing.
"So now we're serious?" he said, the corner of his mouth twitching into a grin. He chuckled low.
"—Well then… let the fun begin."