“Darus.”

“Fera.”

“Hela.”

“Fux.”

“Lau.”

“Tina.”

“Skur.”

Jake felt his chest rise and fall heavily as he took a knee in the corner of his mat. After his two hour rest, the fights almost seemed endless. One after another, Mur pushed fellow students to Jake’s mat. Jake had become used to the quick pace, but this was different. There were no pauses in between matches. No time for him to recover or any brief amount of time for him to even wipe off his blade. It was at the point that Mur was calling names before Jake’s matches were even over, forcing Jake to start them practically back to back. He’d never seen this before, and it was wearing on him.

But he held firm. Lau was aloof and lazy, and it reflected in his technique. He was easy to dispatch. Tina was resilient and patient, but her lack of aggression gave Jake time to catch his breath- making it easier to deal with her. Skur was a spaz- he was the true definition of ‘no technique’ and his combat style was entirely random. Skur fought based on feeling and urges, rather than any mental preparation. It made him the hardest to deal with. The boy was covered in scars and didn’t crumble when struck. He was like a beast himself in the ring, but Jake finished him with a harsh blow to the jaw.

Now, his mat was clear for the first time in a while. Mur didn’t call another name, giving Jake a moment to collect himself. He spent the precious pause in the fighting to wipe off his blade and expended mana to deal with the fatigue in his muscles. He’d earned a few bumps and scratches from his fights so he made sure to tend to those as well. He hated multi-tasking under pressure this way. He felt rushed and always felt like he was forgetting a detail.

“Reyna.”

The name caused Jake to pause. He immediately looked up and across the room at a corner mat. It’s occupants had changed. Two other students stood within the square, fighting for their own right to maintain control of it. The usual King of the mat was gone, and Jake turned to see her stepping onto his. His mind suddenly went blank and he felt fear run down his spine.

“I like that expression,” Reyna giggled as she twirled her two staves nimbly in her hands. “I’m glad my name brings you such terror, little boy.” The girl didn’t take any kind of stance- she continued to walk towards him. Jake quickly tossed his rag away and scrambled back to his feet. By the time he’d got his balance, she was on him.

The two staves moved in a blur. One for his face, the other at his gut. Both from separate directions. He used his blade to block the top staff and his forearm to stop the other. Pain raced up his arm as the wood cracked against bone. She grinned and her foot drove into his stomach. He was knocked on his ass, the wind forced from his lungs.

“Clear the mats,” Mur shouted. The fights around them ceased, and Jake quickly rolled over onto the next square to avoid another twin strike from above. He hopped to his feet, only to have to lean back as she jabbed at his face. His left foot suddenly went skyward and he was uncomfortably tilted backwards. As his arms flailed, she brought a fist down on the center of his lower abdomen. He jerked forward, straight into a violently thrown fist. It cracked his nose open and his vision flickered as he flattened out on his back.

“I warned you that your technique was nothing but violent.” Reyna cackled as she brought a staff down at his head. Jake rolled out of the way, flinching at the rough thud against the floor where he had just been. He pushed up to his feet and immediately backpedaled to give himself some distance.

As he did, a staff came from the corner of his view- Mur. The teacher took a swing at Jake from the side, forcing him to dodge and deflect the surprise attack. Jake took a step out of range of another swing, but found himself back in range of Reyna. The girl swung at him wildly, the wooden sticks whiffing as she forced him backwards. Jake tried to find an opening, but her arms were too quick and the swing too heavy. A block would leave him in a deadlock. A parry wouldn’t be strong enough to stop her. A deflection would only leave him open to her own counter.

Jake narrowed his eyes and jumped back, giving himself a brief moment of respite before he jumped back forward. He raised his sword high and brought it down in a heavy swing- easy to block. His left arm extended behind him, his hand open as he showed his unprotected side. Reyna took the bait and swung a staff up to collect his sword. Once the two weapons connected, she swung her other staff in a wide arc, aiming to crash it into his ribs.

Instead, Jake’s open left palm struck first. A powerful Wind Ball appeared at his fingertips and shot forward into her exposed stomach. Reyna’s eye opened wide as she was hit directly, the wind ball knocking her across the mats. The surprise spell did the trick.

“Oh?” Mur rumbled off to the side. The other students all stared in a mixture of awe and confusion as Reyna regained her footing.

“Technique gets you killed. Violence gives you opportunity.” Jake spat as he raised his left hand. Four Wind Balls formed at his fingertips and he fired them rapidly at where Reyna stood. She used her staves to block them, swinging her wooden sticks harshly to hit the balls away from her. When diverted, they scattered harmlessly without damaging the surrounding walls or students.

During the day, Jake focused solely on swordplay. He was diligent in focusing only on combat and refining his physical abilities in close-quarters. He didn’t distract himself with magic nor did he ever spend time in the Hall going to the Library. His breaks were spent practicing his techniques, studying the other students, or resting. When on the mat and in matches, Jake never once cast a combat spell. He only used recovery and healing magic, just like he would in a normal fight.

However, as he fought- he paid attention to the rhythm of his style. He looked for openings in his opponent’s movements, adjusted his own footwork and sword swings. Even though he never actually cast a spell, he made sure to make mental notes of when he could. The brief moments of separation, the moments of gridlock, the feints. The moments when his opponents backed off or took a pause. The moments when he dodged or deflected a blow. No magic ever came out of his left hand, but he gathered and dispersed mana actively within his palm as if he had been casting all along.

Then, when the sword training was over and Mur cast his students out for the evening- Jake went to the side of the lake so he could meditate. He cultivated his mana, reinforced his connection with the elements, and practiced various spells to make himself more familiar with them. He would spend several hours by the lake, rotating actively through his available spells and testing his capabilities with each element to push his imagination and his mana control to its limit.

When he was finally tired, he would sleep. However in his sleep he would go to the Library. There, he’d study the elements, the spellbooks, and researched the different cultivation techniques he had come across before. One technique specifically was the Flow of Chi, or the Flow of Mana. Jake had practiced incorporating the cultivation technique into his fighting but it was hard when his opponents never gave him time to breathe or truly reflect on what he had felt. Thus, he spent his nights in the Library, practicing the technique on his own. He had originally expected the Fire Style to be his best bet, however that was not the case.

The Flow of Chi Technique, Fire Style, required the user to utilize two handed weapons, not one-handed. Jake had already dedicated himself to using the single blade as it allowed him to keep his left hand free for other magic spells. The Water Style did not allow for the use of weapons at all, and the Thunder Style only went well with Hammer-style weapons. Ice Style was viable, but Jake would need to practice more with the Water element to make it effective. That left him with the Wind Style. Wind Style had long, flowing movements and was useful for mitigating damage to one's self. It also worked well with Light Magic, as the flow of mana increased the effectiveness of recovery and healing spells. While it wasn’t strong on its own, it would be deadly in the hands of a capable battle mage.

After deciding on mastering the Wind Style, Jake’s affinity for the Wind and Water elements skyrocketed. Using them had become second nature to him. They certainly weren’t as deadly as Fire or Rock spells, but that was only because Jake hadn’t used them properly. All of the elements were dangerous and useful. He just needed to be a better mage.

“You runt!” Reyna shouted as she swatted another wind ball out of her face. Jake smirked and twisted his hand. He pointed two fingers forward at Reyna. A small cone of air appeared at the tips of his fingers, with a small ball of water appearing at the tip of the cone. The wind whirled rapidly. A high pitched whistle rang out from the cone. It wasn’t loud, but Reyna acknowledged the danger as she rushed him, one of her staves up protectively as she tried to stop his spell.

“Too slow.” Jake’s hand clicked up like a trigger, and the wind cone cracked through the air. As the twirling cone pushed through it, the water ball expanded, coating the outside of the cone and mixing into the spiral as the small cone rocketed across the mats. Reyna swung her staff to block the dangerous wind bullet and she moved to avoid it, as planned. Jake grinned as the spell impacted the wooden rod.

Almost instantly, the wood splintered and cracked as the cone drilled into the rod. The bullet exploded outwards, the water shooting out in every direction. The staff shattered in Reyna’s hand. She closed her eye and instinctively released the staff as the wood was obliterated. Splinters and pieces of wood scattered across the mats and into her face and body. Small chips cut into her skin and tore her shirt. When she opened her eye, Jake’s fist was in her face.

She staggered back, but Jake caught her feet up with his own. She tripped out of surprise and slammed onto the mat. An instant later, Jake stabbed his sword down beside her head, cutting the mat as he sliced open her cheek. Her eye jerked open as she scowled up at him. But she didn’t move- Jake held a large, violently twirling spiral of wind right in front of her face.

“Stop!” Mur barked. Jake canceled the spell and pulled his sword from the mat as he moved away from Reyna. She sucked her teeth and pushed herself up to her knees.

“Good show. Return to your mats.” Mur spoke as if it was just another fight and several students began to move as instructed.

“He used magic!” Reyna shouted, her voice cracking as she snarled at Jake.

“I never said he couldn’t,” Mur retorted, brushing her complaint off without even batting an eye.

“That’s cheating! Since when is magic allowed in the Hall?!” Reyna continued to protest and rose to her feet, stomping one foot down as she glared at Jake. Jake shook his head and stepped out of the rings and to the side of the mats.

“You lost, Reyna. Accept it and take a seat with the losers,” Mur turned to face her, his arms falling threateningly to his sides. Yet the fire in Reyna’s eye didn’t subside. She had been made a fool, and she wasn’t going to let the Surface-Walker get off so easily.

“You always tell us that our own hands will decide our fate! But he cheated! He used magic! Against the Beasts, he would never have time to use it! So why is it fair for him to use it here?! He’s defiled the sanctity of this hall! He’s not a warrior, he’s a coward!”

“Enough!” Mur’s voice bellowed, shaking the walls and causing every moving body to pause. “If you cannot accept your loss, then you do not belong here.” Mur stomped across the mats directly into Reyna’s face and he grabbed her firmly around the throat. He raised her into the air without pause, his forearms tensing around her neck. Reyna dropped her staff and clawed at his hand.

“The Beasts don’t care for your honor, your morals, or your training! They don’t give a shit for what feelings you have about fighting! The limits you place on yourself are your own acts of stupidity! It’s selfish and pathetic!” Mur tossed Reyna like a doll across the mats. She slammed onto her back and rolled several feet before laying still on her stomach.

“I am not teaching you how to swing sticks and spears just because it is fun! You are not here practically killing each other every day out of kindness or out of spite! You are here training to kill. You are here training to eliminate your foe, to slaughter the Beasts, because if you don’t- they’ll eat you alive. They’ll tear your limbs off and devour every piece of you.” Mur’s voice brought a heavy silence to the hall. Most of the students didn’t dare look at him or one another. Most stared at the floor, or their own weapons.

“You are food. That is what the Beasts view you as. I don’t care how you fight or how you survive in this pit. Whether you come home or not after your missions is up to you. How you prepare for those fights and how you execute will decide whether or not you live or die.” Mur paused for a moment, taking in a long breath as he looked around as his students. His eyes locked with Jake’s, who stared at him blankly. Then, he looked at Reyna- who hadn’t moved from her landing spot.

“Who cares if he used magic? He beat you. Nearly killed you, and he would have if I hadn’t stopped the fight. In my eyes, you’re a corpse. That’s because you failed to prepare for the worst. That’s on you, Reyna. Not him.” As he spoke loudly, and clearly, he walked over to where Reyna lay on her stomach. With a firm kick, he flipped her over onto her back and glared down at her barely open eye. She was conscious, but her pride had been split open. She looked pathetic.

“And if you think the Beasts only use weapons and their hands- then you’re fucking wrong. They know Magic, too. And they don’t care if they hit their own kind in the blasts. All that matters is that you die. That’s it. You should be lucky to have had someone skilled like Jake as an opponent. You could have learned quite a bit from him during your time here if you had noticed.” Mur huffed at her and then purposefully stepped over her.

The words seemed to click in Reyna’s mind after a few seconds. She jerked upright and stared at Mur’s back.

“C-Could have?” She whimpered. Mur nodded as he approached the roster board.

“Could have.” With a single swipe, he removed her name from the board. “Get out.” His voice was resolute.

“B-but, Master!” Reyna jumped to her feet, water forming at the edge of her eye.

“I. Said. Leave!” Mur turned and slammed his fist against the wall, causing it to crack beneath his hand from the impact. Reyna flinched. Slowly, she took a long look around the room. The other students stared at her, a mixture of sadness and confusion on their faces. When she looked at Jake, he wasn’t even looking her way- his back was turned to her entirely. Jake sat at the corner of his mat, tending to his blade as he prepared for his next match. Reyna’s expression hardened and she clenched a hand into a fist. Without daring to utter another word, she snatched up her remaining staff and left the hall.

Mur stared at the door for a long few breaths before he let out a held sigh. He stood up tall and folded his arms neatly on top of his chest. He looked out to the scattered and unmotivated looking occupants of his hall.

“You are all the same in my eyes. I don’t care how long you’ve been here or how skilled you are. At any moment, you could be called to fight the beasts. If you are not prepared, then you will die. It is not my job to coddle you. It is my job to ensure you are ready. You all must understand that it is on my shoulders to decide that, and I will not send any one of you out into those tunnels to die.” Mur’s words seemed to bring some life back into the hall and his students slowly began to look up at him- one by one.

“You are all precious to me. It takes courage to stand within these walls. Be proud that you are here, and take advantage of every moment you spend here. Listen close and listen well, and I will ensure you learn everything you need to be successful within the tunnels.”

Briefly, Mur looked to the board of the lost. And for the first time, he reached out and placed a hand beside the list of names.

“I never shared the stories of those who have gone ahead of you all, and while it would take a while to tell them all individually, it is unnecessary.” Mur paused, staring at the list. After collecting his thoughts, he removed his hand from the board. “They’ve all died the same way- ensuring the safety of their comrades. Your brothers and sisters on this board have all fallen in final acts of true selfishness. Moments a few of you may even dream about. They sacrificed themselves to provide enough time for their teams to retreat, as the horde was too much to face. They provided time for the Warriors to seal the tunnels, or they held off the horde long enough for reinforcements to arrive. The fallen on this board are known just not here, but by many within the ranks of the Warrior teams. Because without these heroes, our village would have fallen long ago.”

The scouts are viewed by many as the weakest group in this village’s defensive force. However, we are the tip of the spear. We are the first to face the horde of Beasts in these dark tunnels. We are the first to die, but we are also the first to achieve victory. It is due to our sacrifices in these tunnels that the Warriors can quickly find and eliminate the threats to this village. It is because of our fearless actions that the other villagers know which tunnels are too dangerous to traverse, and which are safe. It is because of our courage in battle that we can trust our right and left to our comrades.

“Weakness is not welcome here. Excuses and complaints are nothing more than cries of the future dead. Discipline. Fortitude. Strength. Experience. Adaptability. These are things which will allow you to survive in the tunnels. These are things you must learn if you wish to succeed as a scout.”

Mur stopped talking for a few moments and stopped circling the mats. He reached down and placed a hand on top of the head of a student. The student was staring at the floor.

“By stepping into this hall, you made a mental choice. You chose the hard path. My hall is well known for its painful nature and difficulty, yet here you are. Earn your place, and you will be rewarded.” Mur patted the student’s shoulder and gave it a firm squeeze, and then he continued his circling of the mats.

“Now, take your mats! The day is not over! Tir, you will fight Jake! Do not disappoint me!” Mur roared.

“Yes, Master!” The hall erupted in unison as the fights resumed.

* * *

The end of the day came shortly after Jake’s fight with Reyna. Only three more fights took place on his mat before Mur called the training session to a close. He ordered them all to take their places in rows before him and stood at the front of the hall. The students organized themselves into a box and each placed their weapons down in front of their knees as they sat on their heels. The healers sat at the back behind the students. While they hadn’t done any actual fighting, they looked just as exhausted.

“Today was an eventful one, but it is my hope that you all learned something from today's session. Whether you were a Winner or a Loser, neither matter to the Beasts nor do they matter to me. You have all done well and I look forward to seeing you all continue to progress.” Mur paused as his students all bowed their heads briefly to him. He nodded and then looked up to the board. It was time.

“We have two achievements for the day. First, Ailuck. Today is your fortieth day,” he said aloud. Ailuck rose to his feet, a faint smirk at the corner of his mouth. Even though he was usually a stoic individual, he must have been extra excited for today. Jake didn’t blame him. Surviving to earn one circle was praise enough, but four? Even Jake was feeling a bit tired from it all.

“Yes, Master.” Ailuck bowed his head.

“I have received a number of requests for you, but have decided to only offer you two that I believe will suit you the best. You may join with either the Hydras, or the Thuns.” A few students began to whisper to one another as Mur made his announcement, but the background noise was hushed as Mur raised his hand. Ailuck didn’t hesitate. Almost as if he expected the choices.

“I would like to join the Thun Squad, Master.” Ailuck bowed his head again as he made his decision. Mur nodded.

“I will let them know. Tomorrow you will meet with your team for inprocessing with them. After tomorrow, you will meet with the other alumni in the second Hall for morning training. Then, you will go with your team afterwards. Your squad leader knows the deal, as he is also an alumni. You two will work well together and I have high hopes for you both.” After the fortieth day, the graduates trained separately from the other students. Both due to the fact the alumni would have actual combat experience, and to eliminate distractions.

“Yes, Master.” Ailuck bowed once more before taking his seat.

Jake had mixed feelings about Ailuck’s situation. He was both jealous and happy to hear that his compatriot had received multiple invitations. He was glad a fellow student was sought after in such a way. Ailuck certainly deserved it. On the other hand, Jake knew he wouldn’t be given the same treatment. His expectations for invitations to teams were very low. To the point that Jake had questioned why he was still here a few nights.

“Second, Jake.” Mur’s head turned as Jake rose to his feet. “Today is your thirtieth day in this Hall. You have earned your third circle.” Unexpectedly, Mur’s initial statement was short. Shorter than usual.

“Thank you, Master.” Jake bowed his head politely, shutting his eyes briefly as he did so. When he stood back up and looked at Mur, he saw a bit of conflict in Mur’s expression. Jake felt uneasy. Rather than be told to sit, Jake remained stiff as Mur continued to speak.

“Along with that, something has also occurred today that has not ever happened since the opening of this Hall.” At Mur’s words, Jake felt a lump grow in his throat. He didn’t like the way Mur said that. A few of the students began to look at one another and whispers once again rolled through the hall. “Enter.” Mur suddenly called out. All eyes turned to the door as it was promptly slid open.

Two individuals stepped inside. One was a shorter, pale-skinned Oryx. Her large, round eye seemed to glow a faint blue around its edge. She carried two black-hilted short swords on her left hip. The other person was a much taller individual, and he wasn’t Oryx. His skin was a dark blue, his ears long and pointed. He had two golden eyes and a wide smile. His black hair was elegantly twisted and braided down his back, and his clothes were finely designed. He, too, carried two black-hilted short swords. Jake didn’t need to reach out with his mana to sense that this fellow had plenty of it.

“Hello, Jake. I am Nuronzi Tulzor, but you can call me Nuro.” The tall figure smiled wide, his perfect teeth peeking through his colored lips. Along with his introduction and mischievous smile, the man performed a shallow curtsy. Jake felt a bit uneasy with the two golden eyes staring at him. The whispers around him only grew in intensity, but Mur hushed them with a thump of his hand. Was this someone important?

“Nuro is the leader of the Pharos squad, and from here on, you will report to him and him only.” At first, Mur’s words didn’t register. When they did, Jake’s head snapped around and he stared angrily at Mur. His face felt hot. Those words made Jake feel like he had just been tossed to the side.

“Why? I’m only on day thirty. I should be here for ten more days.”

“You are a special case,” Mur said bluntly as if brushing it off. Jake’s fingers curled tight as he squeezed his palms. He wanted to punch that lug’s head in.

“You just said earlier that none of us were special here, so what’s your deal?”

“Don’t be angry with him, child. If anything, be angry with me.” Nuro spoke politely, but his tone irritated Jake. “I have been watching you closely, from a distance of course, and I am not patient enough to wait forty days full of nonsense. I think you have spent enough time in this place, and I would like to make use of your talents.”

“Can it, string-bean,” Jake hissed without looking away from Mur.

“Oh, that’s not nice.” Nuro muttered.

“I did not make the decision to accelerate your graduation from his hall. I actually fought pretty hard against it as I believe tradition supersedes rule. However, our Leadership has deemed it fit to place you within the Pharos squad regardless of this Hall’s customs. My hands are tied.” Mur grabbed onto his knees with two hands and folded his other arms over his chest. He shot a sharp glare over at the two ‘guests’.

“No. Not until I reach day forty, like all of my fellow students have before me,” Jake spat. Mur shook his head.

“This is not a discussion,” he rumbled. Nuro let out a sigh and shook his head.

“Mur, you always produce quite the characters. Seeing as you are so firm in your traditions and customs, how about a duel?” Nuro stepped slowly up to the front of the hall beside Mur and neatly crossed his hands behind his back. “Will that be suitable?”

“Sure. I wouldn’t mind knocking your head against the wall,” Jake rumbled and glared at the stranger. Nuro’s expression changed. He looked disappointed, but also unsurprised.

“No, you won’t be fighting me, child. My companion here is more than a match for you.” He motioned to the girl he had brought. Jake, and the other students, all turned to look at her. Her expression remained blank as she stared at Jake, and only Jake. Her eye was almost unblinking, until it did.

“Defeat her and I will wait the remaining ten days. Lose, and you will join my squad immediately.”

“No. If I win, then you will never show your face to me again.” Jake stared at the girl, his blood boiling as he stared at the one thing between him and the freedom he sought. The freedom to slaughter the Maedra. If he lost here, there was no telling what this group would make him do. He had a feeling it had nothing to do with hunting Maedra.

“The win condition is superfluous, unnecessary, but fine. If it pleases you, then I agree. Now, what are your rules in this Hall?” Nuro looked down to Mur, who let out a heavy and weighed sigh.

“Students,” Mur spoke loudly as he stood. “Clear the mats.” And they did- almost too quickly.

Jake knelt down to grab his blade and then drew it, checking the edge for any blemishes or chips. There were none- it was ready. He stepped to the edge of a central mat and found his way to the corner of it. The girl looked over to Nuro, who nodded and stepped off to the side of the mats. He stood along the wall, out of the way. The girl turned her attention to Jake as she pulled free both blades.

“The fight begins when a healer calls it so. There are no rules, no limitations. Winning is achieved either by subduing your opponent, pinning them beneath your weapon, or achieving a ‘kill’. Harming your opponent is okay. Broken bones, slashes, stabs. As long as the strike is not fatal, your opponent is not incapacitated, or your opponent does not give up-the fight continues. I am the only one in the Hall who can call a stop to the fight outside of those conditions.” Mur spoke the rules loudly and clearly for Nuro and the girl to hear.

“Both opponents start in the corner of the same mat, however, the hall is yours to use after the start. Do you understand?” Mur stepped to the edge of the mat, and the girl followed the instructions. She now stood across from Jake in the opposite corner.

The girl nodded.

“Good. Wait for the signal.” Mur stepped away from the mat and returned to the front of the hall. He sat down in a louder heap than usual and folded his arms over his chest. As if restraining himself.

Jake dropped the sheath of his blade and took his comfortable stance. The girl across from him stood tall, her blades at her sides, almost casually as she stared at him. Her eye continued to glow but that glow was brighter now than before. Jake could sense mana, so he summoned forth his own and readied it.

Nuro hummed in the corner.

A healer stood suddenly and raised her hand. Jake and the girl both glanced over as the hand dropped- the fight was on.

The girl lunged forth in a flurry. Her body flared with magic as she jumped at him. Her speed was intense, but Jake was ready for it. He used rock magic and the floor of the hall shot upwards into her face. However, it wasn’t just a flat wall like when he’d fought Talia. Spikes jutted out and shot forward into the girl’s face. Surprised, she skidded to a stop and jumped up into the air to spin over the top of the wall. Jake had his left hand raised as she appeared over the top of it. Several Wind and Water balls shot forth, peppering her.

The girl’s blades danced nimbly as she sliced through the spells easily. Almost too easily. Jake sucked his teeth. She continued to spin and dropped onto his position like a rock. Jake jumped aside to dodge and cratered the floor as she plunged to where he stood. The sudden depression wasn’t expected and she slammed down on her face- but not for more than a breath as she was back on her feet.

Jake sensed mana and jumped away as the floor suddenly spiked upwards in front of him- she knew rock magic?

Jake flooded the floor with mana, dumping it through his feet. It collided with an external source that had been surging towards him from her direction. The impact of the two different sources caused the floor to crack. Jake dropped his hand to the mats and glared at her. She stood across the room, calm as the sands in the spring as she looked at him. Jake was patient enough to stare back as he held off her mana with ease. When he didn’t budge beneath the floor, she charged with her swords again.

Jake raised his hand and fired more wind balls. Them being ineffective, he switched to wind drills- the violent spirals slicing through the air. Along with his shift in spell choice, the girl’s blades began to glow. Both of the black hilts flared first as she pumped mana into them, and then the blades themselves shimmered with light. Jake realized what it was the moment the light hit his eyes- enchantments.

The blades deflected his spells without any effort and she was on him before he could react. Pulling back his left hand, he used his blade to defend her strikes. She was fast, faster than Reyna, but her swings were methodical. They had a rhythm, which Reyna didn’t have. Jake mentally set the beat of his hand as he deflected the swings and stepped backward. She chased him around the mats, swinging without so much as a heavy pant as he stalemated her. As his arm fatigued, his mana began to circulate within him to mitigate it. After just a few careful breaths, it was gone.

The girl chased him for two laps around the mats, his guard holding firm. She stopped as they started the third and changed her stance. Her hips opened, her legs swept wide, and she held one blade low and the other high. Her expression stiffened.

“Having trouble?” He spat as he regained his own composure.

Her eye narrowed briefly before she lunged again. Jake caught the slip in her wall of a face and he moved forward to meet her. Her low sword moved only side to side while the raised blade only moved vertically. While it was easy to time and deflect the swings, Jake was once again kept from actively attacking her.

However, he continued to push and swung to meet the swings rather than brush them away. While their blades never locked, there was no more running around the mats. As he put effort into keeping her in place, Jake reached out to sense for mana. The only mana he could feel was in her hands- so he put some into the floor. She didn’t react as he prepared his trap, so he assumed she either was baiting him in, or she couldn’t sense it.

Just as he fired off his trap, her eye widened and her swings stopped.

“Too late.” The floor snatched up her feet and the lower halves of her legs. The girl looked down to evaluate her situation just long enough for Jake to attack. His left hand cracked into her jaw with force. The girl let out a grunt as her body folded backward, her feet and legs still trapped in place as she leaned back onto the mat. As she hit, the floor turned to mud. The rock swallowed up her hands and swords, trapping her in an uncomfortable position.

Jake was about to finish the job by sticking his sword in her face when the rock around her feet shattered. She flipped up and kicked him in the chest, knocking him backward. As she did, she broke her hands free as well. Her swords were not so lucky, and she left them behind in the ground. Jake growled and flooded mana into the ground, pulling the swords down and out of view. The girl’s eye narrowed as she lost sight of her tools, but she wasn’t deterred. She closed her hands into fists and took a brawler’s stance.

While Jake felt advantaged with his sword to her being unarmed, he wasn’t going to let it get to his head. She was a strong magic user and she was a tricky fighter. He wouldn’t play the fool here. Instead, he moved to the center of the room and took a defensive stance once more. The cocky would move to finish the fight. The patient would force her to try and win it.

“So he plays with his food, I see,” Nuro spoke up from the corner of the room. There was no response.

The girl glared at Jake from behind her fists, likely waiting for him to rush her. When he didn’t, she took the pleasure of moving first. She rushed forward and used magic to enhance her speed. With her fists up, she jumped forward towards Jake’s face. He adjusted the grip on his sword and sidestepped as she swung at him. He returned the swing with his blade. She dodged. Another jab, another slice. An uppercut, a slice. Haymaker- dodge to stab. She even twisted her hips and threw kicks. Jake avoided the first flurry of leg use but adapted and blocked with his left forearm. Using mana to reinforce the bone, he braced against the strike. She had enhanced her own attacks with magic. If he hadn’t used mana at that moment, his arm would’ve shattered.

The leg dropped and she twirled into another kick. Jake leaned back to avoid it and swung at her exposed back. She rolled forward and away, planting her hands in the ground. Jake noticed the move and dumped mana in to block her. She reached into the floor for her swords and tried to retrieve them. Jake had buried them deep, too deep for her to get in a few seconds. He cut off her flow from the swords and threw a flurry of Wind Drills at her. They smashed into the floor, forcing her away from the swords. As she reset, Jake used magic to separate the blades and moved them underground away from the known spot. Better to be safe.

She rushed without waiting this time and mana-charged fists filled his view. She was much quicker without swords but was forced to maintain her distance as Jake’s blade remained a threat. He swung only to keep her away from him and when he knew he had an opening. Otherwise, he dodged and evaded on his own. He sensed mana in the floor again and noticed she was planning to trigger a spell. He reacted by blocking the flow again with his own. Her eye narrowed and her jaw tensed. Was she not expecting such a show?

The girl swung her fist hard in a violent and powerful haymaker, whiffing as Jake twisted to his side. He swung his left arm in a quick swing, striking her in her exposed stomach. The girl coughed and moved back. Resetting, she kicked. Jake blocked and then snatched her ankle. Mana triggered at her other foot and he trapped her leg again- the same trick. With his sword hand, he threw a heavy punch into her lifted inner thigh, he wrapped his arm around the leg and then drove his right knee into the leg. She winced and tried to throw a punch. It was weak. Jake pushed her leg out of his face, sending her off balance before swatting the slow hand out of his way. He stepped forward and blasted her nose open with another swift jab. Then, he brought the pommel of his blade down on her temple.

As she crumbled, he delivered a violent uppercut into the center of her face. She was unconscious as she hit the mats. Blood poured out of her now-concave nostrils and her lip was busted open. Jake stood over her, the blood glistening on his knuckles as he threatened to swing once more. Before he could, Mur raised a hand.

“Stop,” he said aloud, declaring the end of the match. Jake used mana to reset the floor, returning the obstructions he’d created and refilling the holes that had been formed. He also retrieved the two swords. They popped out of the ground in two separate places. As healers approached to deal with the girl, Jake held up a hand to stop them.

“I’ll do it,” he said, kneeling beside his foe. The Hall remained quiet as Jake performed the task. His hands glowed bright green as he reconstructed her face and closed the wound in her lip. He looked deeper into her body for any other injuries and slowly went over the bruises. His knee into her thigh had done internal muscular damage and his punch had bruised a few nerves. The hit to her stomach had damaged her diaphragm. The strike to her temple cracked bone and caused a concussion. The finishing strikes to the face had done slightly more damage than just cartilage, but the bones weren’t shattered. Only cracked. Overall, she was fine and the work was easy.

A few minutes past and she let out a groan as she returned to functioning. Jake moved away to avoid a surprise sucker punch and walked over to where his sheath had been tossed. Another student ended up with it and held it out to him.

“It seems the superfluous win condition isn’t so superfluous, is it?” Mur finally broke the silence. Nuro let out a scoff and pushed himself off the wall.

“It seems so, but regardless of this match. The Elder’s decision remains the same.” Nuro spoke bluntly and Mur could only sigh. Jake clutched the hilt of his blade and glared at Nuro. “I would think twice before turning that blade to me, boy. My underling may have been disappointing but I assure you- I am not your enemy and you don’t want me to be.”

Jake stared at Nuro, considering ignoring that statement. But when he looked to Mur for some kind of acknowledgment that he wasn’t stupid, Mur lightly shook his head. Jake pressed his lips together and stuffed his sword into its sheath. There was far too much mana radiating from Nuro for Jake to consider him any less than too dangerous to fight. Jake could handle the girl, she seemed harmless from the start. Fighting Nuro would be like fighting the Maudrake at this point.

“Good choice,” Nuro huffed. Jake clenched his teeth. The same phrase the Guard from a while ago used.

“Tomorrow you will report to our Squad bay within the main building. A guide will meet you in the morning at the gate to show you the way. Breakfast will be unnecessary so don’t worry about eating. We will feed you, properly.” Nuro folded his hands behind his back again and began to walk towards the door. He stopped at it and pulled it open, sliding it wide. “Come, Pari. You need more training.”

The girl struggled to her feet, still off-balance from the sudden unplugging of her brain. She staggered to pick up her swords and practically zig-zagged to the door before lumbering through the threshold.

“Well done today, Jake. I look forward to seeing more of that from you.” Nuro said his final peace before leaving. The door slammed closed behind him, and silence returned to the Hall. Jake’s head turned from the door to Mur, who was looking back at him.

“I’m sorry, Jake. I did all I could, but the decision of the Elders is final.” For the first time, Mur showed a hint of weakness as he looked down at the floor. “This failure is my own, and I shoulder the weight of it. Hate me if you wish but know that I fully believe you to be a capable fighter regardless.” Mur raised his head again and then, he stood up. He walked over to Jake slowly and placed a firm hand on the boy’s shoulder.

“Compared to when you came to us thirty days ago, you have shown the most progress of any student who has ever come through that door. You embraced the culture of the hall and you have grown both as a warrior and as a man. Ten days shy, but ten days you will not need. You are ready, and I have faith you will represent us well.” Mur smiled and patted Jake on the head. Jake rumbled as the heavy, thick hand tousled his hair.

“Today, students!” Mur’s voice bellowed as he addressed the Hall. “Two of your fellows graduate to full-fledged scouts!” As he raised his hands, the student body erupted into a fit of cheers and clapping. The thunderous applause echoed, bouncing off the walls in a fit of joy. A stark contrast to the usual violent cries and screams for aid. In the center of it all, Jake stared at the board, at his name.

There were only three circles there. He wasn’t able to survive for four.