After settling into his room, Alex showered and changed into the dark uniform provided by the school. The clothes felt stiff against his skin, like armor, though he knew they couldn't protect him from what this place demanded.
He decided to walk, to breathe, to make sense of his new environment. His steps carried him toward the round building he had seen earlier: the practice hall.
Inside, the air was thick with the sound of steel clashing, feet pounding, and voices barking corrections. Second-year students trained in small groups, blades flashing under the dim torchlight. But the instant Alex stepped in, movement ceased. One by one, heads turned. Eyes bored into him with suspicion, hostility… hatred.
Even Klein stopped mid-swing, lowering his sword to watch Alex.
'Why are they staring? Am I not supposed to be here?' Alex wondered, heat prickling at the back of his neck.
"Is that one of the first-years?" a girl's voice cut through the silence.
"You don't need to be told," another replied flatly.
The first girl scoffed, flicking her orange hair over her shoulder. A smirk spread across her lips. "Then let me welcome him."
She strutted forward, eyes fixed on Alex like a predator sizing up prey. Alex froze as she raised her hand toward him—only for Klein to step between them.
Her face twisted. "What is it, Klein?"
"Know your place. Leave the boy," Klein ordered, his tone like iron.
"What's it to you?" she snapped, trying to sidestep him. Klein's arms shot out, barring her path.
Her temper flared. "Don't interfere! It's because of him that half our mates were slaughtered! Because of him, you were punished! I must take my revenge!"
The room buzzed with murmurs. Eyes flared with agreement.
"The others died because they weren't strong enough to protect themselves," Klein said evenly, though his voice carried a dangerous edge. "And I was punished because it is my duty as their leader. Blame no one. Return to your place."
"What if I refuse?"
Klein's gaze hardened. "Then as your leader, I order you—stand down."
Her jaw clenched. The hierarchy was absolute; to defy meant punishment by Klein and the Academy itself. Still, rage smoldered in her eyes.
"Fine," she spat, "but only on one condition."
Klein's brows narrowed. "Which is?"
"You fight him. Here. Now. If he loses, I'll punish him myself. If you lose, I'll drop it."
"That's not—"
"Or," she cut him off, spinning toward the others, "the rest of us will take him instead." Her finger stabbed toward Alex. Murmurs rose into growls of assent.
Klein looked at them, measuring the bloodlust, the risk. If they all turned against Alex, the boy wouldn't survive. Perhaps he wouldn't either.
"…Agreed," Klein said at last.
He turned, eyes locking with Alex's. "Let's duel."
Alex blinked. His stomach dropped. "I–is that a good idea?"
"Face me, or face them," Klein said simply, walking to the center of the hall.
Alex's mind raced. Klein was fast—too fast. Strong enough to kill him, yet hadn't. Why? And now, here he was, cornered into fighting again.
"I'll make it simple," Klein added, watching Alex hesitate. "If you win, I'll take you to a place worth your time. Good for training. If you lose… you'll never set foot there."
"It sounds tempting," Alex muttered, forcing his nerves down, "but I'm not here for prizes. Let's just fight."
He stepped into the circle opposite Klein, raising his stance.
"How is the winner determined?" Klein asked, turning to the orange-haired girl.
"Exchange blows. First to retreat loses," she said, her eyes flicking coldly toward Alex. "And remember, Klein—you are not allowed to lose."
Klein smirked. "You heard her, right?"
Alex forced a grin. "Don't go easy on me."
Inside, his chest tightened. I can't rely on myself yet. Not against him. Arthur… lend me your power.
"No," Arthur's voice growled in his mind. "This is your fight. Prove yourself."
What—?
Pain exploded in his stomach. Klein's fist had already buried itself in his gut, launching him across the room. Alex's body slammed into the wall with a sickening thud, the breath torn from his lungs.
He hit the ground, face-first. Gasps and laughter rippled through the students.
"When facing an opponent," Klein's voice carried across the hall, calm and merciless, "never let yourself be distracted."
"Damn it!" Alex spat, staggering back onto his feet, his chest heaving, his knuckles raw, and his lip split open. He wiped the blood with the back of his hand, the metallic taste still hot in his mouth. Across from him, Klein lowered his stance, eyes burning with a mixture of irritation and reluctant respect.
"Don't glare at me like that," Klein growled, his voice low but carrying through the hall. "You heard her—there's no room for weakness. She expects me not to lose. And I won't."
Then he charged.
The air shifted as Klein's body blurred forward, swordless fists moving with the speed of a predator. His strikes came down in a flurry, fists hammering Alex's ribs, his arms, his chest. Each blow reverberated through Alex's body like iron on an anvil. His bones screamed.
The watching students murmured, eyes fixed on the first-year boy who refused to crumple.
Alex covered his face with both arms, taking blow after blow, each strike rattling through him. 'Father's words…' he thought, jaw clenched. 'A man's pride is in his face, his strength, his bearing. Never let your face be marred, Alex…'
That rule had become law to him since childhood. Even now, with Klein's fists raining down like a storm, Alex kept his arms guarding his face, letting his torso absorb the punishment. His sides throbbed, his legs shook, but he refused to lower his arms.
"Pathetic!" Klein barked between strikes, sweat dripping from his brow. "You should've fallen already—why are you still standing?"
"I told you…" Alex's voice rasped through clenched teeth. "…I won't give in."
Klein leapt back suddenly, chest heaving. He raised his right arm, closed his eyes, and the hall grew unnaturally quiet. The murmurs from the second-years stilled, anticipation replacing mockery.
A faint glow spread across Klein's arm, pale blue at first, then flaring brighter until it painted the hall in cold light. Power surged from him like a tide, his aura sharp enough to make Alex's skin prickle.
Alex's breath caught. This… this is different. Stronger. His ultimate attack.
Klein opened his eyes, his pupils lit by that same deadly glow. "If you can withstand this without falling," he declared, his voice echoing off the hall walls, "I'll admit defeat. But if not—your loss is final."
Then he moved, faster than Alex's eyes could follow.
"Damn it!" Alex hissed. His entire body screamed in protest, but his pride screamed louder. He bent his knees, raised his arms again, and braced. 'I have to hold! Even if it breaks me—I can't lose here. I won't.'
Klein's fist tore through the air.
The blast of blue light shot from his arm, ripping toward Alex with unstoppable force. The air cracked with pressure, and the ground beneath their feet trembled. Alex's heart slammed against his ribs as the wave of power surged at him—blinding, deafening.
He barely had time to curse before it hit.
BOOOOM!
The hall shook. Dust rained from the ceiling. Students shielded their eyes from the glare.
And then… silence.