Laying down in the bathtub, I reached for the soap and applied it to my hair and face. Rubbing the soap, I dipped my head into the water and popped my head out. I opened my eyes, blinking at the ceiling. 'Am I ready?'

Perhaps it didn't matter if I was ready or not. In one more week, the culling game commences — a tournament to meet the king.

It had been a hellish year of school, science bullshit, and practice. Luckily, it was Allura's birthday today, April eight. She was going to turn fifteen. I assumed it would be a pleasant experience. I really needed a break from life.

I relaxed my body — letting my nose barely stay above the water. I took deep breaths, causing my eyes to close as I drowsed off.

*EIGHT MONTHS AGO*

I fell to the ground, grunting. "I give up." I remained on my knees, with my hands up in the air. The girl in front of me was skillful and fricken powerful. I stood up, stretching my arm and smiling. "Allura, you're too strong."

Allura shook her head, facing her back to me. "We weren't even using weapons. You have to do better." Allura was a candid individual. She wasn't afraid to speak her mind, but that's what angered me. It's not like I could reach her skill. Yet, she expected perfection.

I sat down on the couch located in the resting area. Ash remained near, meditating on the floor. Bertin and Forsona were in class, but still, the area was lively from all the recruits.

Our faction was composed of six groups. The first group was me, Allura, and Ash. We were the youngest, but Allura made us somewhat competent. The second group was two recruits: Elmon and Cailu. They were twin elves who were older than the first group but younger than the rest. The third group consisted of Bertin and Forsona. These two were considered our powerhouses — they were the most adequate. The fourth group included Mythrn and Nuibla — a Khausfallian. The fifth group had three Khausfallian students: Hekirr, Aki, and Chika. The sixth group possessed three individuals, Melia, Willan, and Easta.

We had a total of fifteen members. Currently, nine of them were present. Practices were more lively because of the urge on them.

Melia and Bertin both seemed relentless because of the tournament. Bertin informed me that tournaments never used to have a regulation on age. This notion explains why the faction contained mostly older students. Bertin planned on recruiting older students, but the new rules modified his plans. Therefore, practices became more strict because of the lack of veteran presence.

Looking around, I saw a student approaching me.

Nuibla stood in front of me, asking. "Up for a spar?"

He was a slender and tall Khausfallian. His ears were dog-like, but I tried not to pay attention to them. I got used to Khausfallians, but a part of me still got stressed when looking at them.

I stood up, nodding my head once. "A clean spar or magic?"

"I was considering a spar with solely magic. Would that work?" The fragile-looking male alluded. His structure made him appear anorexic, but that probably wasn't the case.

"Sure," I continued forward, following Nuibla. I stood a few feet away from him in the middle of the first room. My opponent augmented his body as air circulated around his hands.

In my short months at the Academy, I developed a few techniques. At the moment, I could successfully conjure one lightning sphere with minimal accuracy. My augmentation was around the same, and I still had no skills regarding manipulation, but at least magic began to feel natural.

The opponent in front of me focused on augmentation, meaning I needed to maintain space.

"Let's begin!" Nuibla shouted, clapping his hands. He gripped his hands, circles forming around his arm. Three sets of air rings circulated his right arm.

I nodded my head in agreement, augmenting my body in lightning. The lighting calmly pulsed around me.

I created an orb of lightning, launching it towards Nuibla.

My projectile neared Nuibla, but he didn't move. He stood still as the projectile missed him by a few feet.

Mocking me, he tilted his head, pretending to evade the attack.

Nuibla grew a smile, looking in my direction. He pointed his hand towards me and shot his rings.

His first strike caused a loud boom, causing him to take a few steps back. Each time he released a ring, he took more steps back.

I dodged the first two attacks, pivoting to my right and left. The last shot grew close to me, but I evaded it by falling to the floor.

I pushed up my left leg, standing tall again.

Nuibla raised his hand in the air, yelling. "Onward!" Rings formed around his legs and arms.

I took a few breaths, gaping at my opponent.

He stood there, tapping his feet on the ground.

Shaking my head, I flowed sporadic lightning throughout my body.

"Take off!" Nuibla screeched, air pushing off his legs. Each leg used a singular ring of air, propelling him towards me.

In seconds Nuibla was in front of me, his left leg facing my face.

Under my shoe, I formed a lightning ball until it exploded. The explosion forced me to the left, dodging Nuibla, but not without consequence.

My leg felt as if it were to fall off. I limped into position, waiting for another attack.

I raised my arm, centralizing all the lightning to the tip of my hand. Lightning sporadically sparked off since I failed to constrain it.

Nuibla used his last air-ring, propelling himself towards me. Air circulated his body, moving towards his fist, creating an air gauntlet.

His fist neared my face.

I placed my right arm in the air, holding it up with my left. Guiding my right arm with my left, I sporadically moved my arm in the direction of Nuibla.

"Damn it," I yelled, clenching my right arm with my left. I gritted my teeth, sweat etching down my face. "Blow UP!" My head thrust backward as my hand released a blade-like blast — long and sharp.

Nuibla punched my lightning blade, dispersing it. He brought his other fist near my face, causing me to jerk back and avoid being hit, but I fell to the floor.

I sat on the ground, holding my arm in slight pain. I stood up, closing my eyes and trying to ignore the loss. It didn't matter. After all, he was twice my size, and he was older. I mean, he was technically older...

I shook my head and placed my hand in the air. "Nice job."

I went to the resting area, but on my way, Allura passed me.

She disregarded my presence, waving at Nuibla and standing in front of him. She stood poised, looking upwards at Nuibla. "Want to spar?"

Nuibla lowered his gaze, shrugging. "Maybe another time."

"Too afraid to take on a younger girl?" She shrugged her shoulders and turned her back on him. "You put shame on wind magic."

Wide-eyed, Nuibla extended a broad smile. "You know what, I changed my mind." He grabbed Allura's shoulder, "Just because you're the Comma..."

Melia jumped from the second floor, compacting her fall damage using vines. She swiftly created vines around both Allura and Nuibla. "What the hell are you doing, Allura?!" She held Allura's hand, hurling it down. "Do you intend to hurt a teammate? The combat uniforms can only sustain so much damage." Allura was embodied with vines — raised from the floor. Nuibla was also wrapped around with vines but remained on the floor.

I was confused why Melia interfered, but honestly, it wasn't like I could do anything. Still, a scuffle shouldn't have caused such a reaction.

Ash opened one of his eyes, looking at the scene. He turned his head, looking at me. Narrowing his eyes, Ash looked back at the scene.

Nuibla was staggering, trying to break loose. Melia grabbed Nuibla's neck, gritting her teeth. "Can you release the incarnation?"

"Sure," Allura broke free from the vines, falling. Allura waved her hand in the air and pointed towards Nuibla. In an instant, a large circle of wind surrounded Nuibla's neck. Each part of the circle contained many air spikes, almost touching the boy's neck.

The spiked circle disappeared, allowing Melia to let Nuibla lose. She recalled all her vines, and they began dissipating. She flicked Allura on the head. "I knew that I sensed something dangerous, but this is absurd. You idiots."

I remained seated on the sofa, blinking. "Dangerous? More like deadly."

Ash agreed, looking at me. "This was bound to happen." He stood up and sat next to me, turning his head to the spectacle.

Ash was right. Something like a fight was bound to occur. Allura was an anomaly. She somehow could compete with the older students. Many held animosity for her, and her damn attitude didn't help.

"I want a spar!" Nuibla scoffed, towering over Melia. He stared her down, clenching his teeth. "Let us have a spar."

Melia twitched her eyes. Clicking her tongue, she muttered. "Sure, but I'll be escorting the fight. You children think our combat uniform can resist anything! Too much damage will cause the magic receptors to die."

Melia was right. Our combat uniforms weren't for sham, but they could only take so much. Our combat uniforms absorbed attacks but still caused pain. Though, too much damage could cause the magic shards in the uniform to shatter.

Melia stood in the middle of Allura and Nuibla. Both the participants spread out, waiting for Melia's signal. She raised her arm, letting it fall — signaling to start.

Nuibla placed both his arms into the air, shouting. "Twelve rings!" Six air-rings formed on his right arm while six appeared on his other. The air pulsating around him lifted his hair and animal-like ears.

Allura remained poised, staring at her palm. She twitched her index finger, slightly raising it.

Nuibla grew frustrated, pointing both his arms toward Allura. "I won't let you disrespect me like that!" He said, releasing all his air rings and causing him to be pushed back from the force.

All twelve air rings neared Allura, each coming at her differently. She remained unamused, twitching her index finger. She looked up at all twelve air-rings approaching her, but she maintained a calm expression.

Melia bit her lip, stepping forward. Probably in an attempt to counter the attack, but before she could...

Allura twitched her finger downwards, forcing an immense cast of air. The air hit everything in the vicinity.

I stood up, trying to observe what was happening, but a fluctuation of magical air encompassed the area.

I could vividly remember hearing Allura. Even though the sound of the air, her voice reverberated in my ears. "Shambles."

In that second, the magical gust dissipated, but both participants remained standing.

Though that didn't matter, It was the aftermath that spoke volumes.

Ash poked me on the shoulder. "Do you see that?"

"No shit, I see it," I clicked my tongue, maintaining contact with the surroundings. The ground had been annihilated in a thick line from Allura to Nuibla. I was shocked because the ground was said to be magic resistant. The flooring was manufactured for combat, or so we were told. That's also why it had such a soft property. Destruction was quite eye-opening. I mean, shit, the same ground took magic from other students like Bertin and Forsona.

Nuibla fell to the floor, slamming his fist onto the ground. "How?!" He slammed his fist onto the ground again. "How did you…!?"

Allura acknowledged him, creating eye contact. Looking down at the tall male. She replied with no emotions, remaining a stern face. "It's because..."

Nuibla slammed his fist. "How?!"

"...I'm better," Allura whispered, turning around and nearing a stressed Melia.

I looked at Ash, narrowing my eyes. "Now's a good time to dip before we get involved!"

Ash agreed, nodding his head. We both ran out of the training facility.

On our way out, we could hear Melia scream. "Admin is going to kill us!"

Both I and Ash changed into our regular clothing in the cafeteria's bathroom.

While in the bathroom, I couldn't help but be hungry from training.

I asked Ash. "Are you down for a bite?"

"I'm hungrier than a pig!" Opening the bathroom door, Ash rubbed his stomach.

We both ordered the usual meal from Alfred's shop: Albread special. The bread was a simplistic food, yet the warmth of the soft crumb — the soft inner part of bread — elevated the meal. The heat emitted from the bread when I broke it open. I took a sniff of the bread, biting into it. The airy bread was a perfect complement to any meal.

After a hearty meal, we both began pacing toward the practice facility. We were curious about the aftermath, but as we walked, something peculiar occurred.

Ash moved towards my left, trying to hide behind me.

I stopped walking and asked. "Are you okay?"

Ash didn't answer, but he pushed me forward.

He remained behind me in a hidden position.

I glanced to the right, noticing a familiar face. My head shifted backward, and my eyes moved toward the individuals. "Isn't that Ulotaine? But why is she holding a..."

I stopped talking, pushing Ash towards the side.

"She left you for another person!" I laughed, patting Ash on the shoulder. Chortling, I tried to speak as tears of laughter spread down my eyes. "Y-y-you really made her switch teams."

Ash grew flustered, darting his eyes at everyone who passed, then at me. "Shut up," he whispered, pushing me more towards the side. I didn't stop laughing, but instead, I laughed louder. He punched me in the stomach, scratching his head. "I'll let you know that we broke up on equal terms."

I held my heart, trying not to laugh. The slightest chuckle hurt. "This explains why you started to hang out with me more!"

My wristband began shaking, but I ignored it. Looking at Ash, I remained smiling, but the shaking kept continuing.

Closing my eyes, I sighed and looked Ash in the eyes. "I have somewhere to be. I'll see you tomorrow during practice."

Alren's science bullshit was always a party killer. Why did it have to happen when I could meme Ash for the rest of his life? It's not like I wanted to leave, but I had to...

Ash stared at me, blinking. "Where do you go? This isn't your first time randomly disappearing." Ash's once flustered self turned solemn.

I couldn't blame him for the question, but it wasn't like I could tell him.

I turned my back to Ash, waving at him. "I'll tell you once you redeem yourself." It was a lie, but maybe I meant it. Perhaps, a part of me wanted to tell Ash the truth.

The inconvenience of timing was weighty but not as consequential as my resentment towards Alren. If my presumption was true, I couldn't forgive Alren. I wouldn't...

After entering the scientific department, I gripped my right hand. "Where's Alren?"