Over the school year, Leo, now 12-year-old, continued to practice his magic and combat skills after classes, he and everyone else promised to not speak about the special class and for now it seemed to be working.

The principal was doing his best for it to be accepted publicly again but there was still strong opposition to it.

Their final exams were getting closer as time went on and they had to decide what class they would choose next year.

Leo looked at a form that he needed to return in a week time. Not really knowing what to take.

“What are you going to choose?” He was asked by a boy now sitting next to him. His name was Michael, he was one of the boys that admired Leo, despite him being quite uncomfortable with it.

“I’m not sure… I have been thinking about Magic Theory lately though.” Mastering his magic was now one of his top priorities, and maybe that could help in a long run. He also tried to use the healing magic he used back then, but every time he tried it, he just ended up becoming a living flashlight which while looked funny was not very useful.

There seemed to be something he was missing but he was not sure what that was. It seemed that magic was not that simple. He consulted with the principal and was told that he would need to learn how natural process of healing worked and more magic theory if he wanted to learn it.

“We would part then since my mom wants me to go take Extended Math class.” said Michael.

“We would still go to the same school.” said Leo.

“Yeah. I hope they will reopen the combat class, I would get to see you fight again.” Said a blond haired girl from his class to Leo.

In their eyes the scene of Leo fighting the wolf to protect them was still strong and vivid. It wasn’t strange that they started idolizing him as their hero.

“Yes, me too…” Leo said while stroking the back of his head, it was not exactly a lie since he too wanted for it to be made public again.

“Leo, let’s go we will be late.” said Mary who was suddenly behind him. The air felt cold for some reason.

“Ah, sure.” Leo nodded and got up from his seat. “See you later.” He said to his classmates and they responded to him in the same manner.

“Why are you in hurry? It’s not like we can be late there.” Asked Leo as they went through the school hallways.

“No reason. I just wanted to go already.” she said not looking at him.

“I guess that’s okay.” he said smiling.

After they arrived in the underground hall, the vice-principal was already there and everyone was standing in front of him forming a line. He looked at them and said “Get in the line, I have an announcement today.”

After they joined the formation Mr. Etan continued “The end of the year is coming close and I also know that few of you are going to finish school this year. So we will have a small tournament tomorrow. You will be able to see what progress have you made since you started training here.”

Everyone in the class looked excited after hearing the news. They spared with each other daily but despite it, the perspective of the tournament was more exciting since it was an actual competition.

Leo too was excited about that, he was going to show the result of his training.

“I hope we will be able to fight together.” said Jerry to Leo.

“Eh… I would rather not, I don’t want to lose in first round.” said Leo.

“If you really think so then why I see fire in your eyes.” Said the big boy with a smile on his face.

“I just always do my best.” said Leo.

“Hahaha, that’s more like you.” He laughed. “I’m planning to win since it’s my last year. So watch me, you may learn something.”

“I will be sure to watch, I will miss you though.”

“Yeah, me too.”

“Don’t just stand there idly, it’s training after all.” Mr. Etan said suddenly standing next to them.

They run off to the weapon stands while laughing. Afterwards training with their axes together which had already become routine to them.

-*-

Next day came quickly for Leo, he has already changed in the tracksuit and waited with everyone for the vice-principal.

“Who do you think you are going to fight in first round?” asked a girl sitting next to him. She was only one year older than Leo and they spared together quite often. She had long black hair and green eyes, she used a spear and water magic while sparing.

“Who knows maybe it will be some kind of lottery?”

She came closer to him. “Then what would you do if you had to fight me?”

“I would do my best.” Leo answered resolutely.

“That’s not the answer I wanted but I guess it’s alright.” She said.

Mary sat between both of them tearing the girl away from Leo. “Alice, you shouldn’t invade Leo’ private space like that for no reason.”

“Ah, and the fun is over.” Alice corrected her black hair with her hand. “And why you can invade his personal space like that?”

“Because I’m his friend.” she said.

“Leo am I not your friend?”

“Ehhh!? I think you ar…” Mary glared at him. He didn’t understand why that conversation turned out into this. Both of the girls were glaring at him and not knowing what to say and why they were angry at him he hoped someone would save him. He was too young and too disinterested in girls to understand.

“Everyone stand up!” The vice-principal said and for once Leo was thankful for his sudden appearance. “We will now showcase the order of the tournament.”

Then a big holographic screen appeared in front of them. “The rules are simple who wins their fight gets further into the tournament. We will start in 10 minutes. Since we have 15 pairs and 10 arenas only 10 fights can happen at the same time, so first ten pairs get ready.”

Leo looked for himself among the 15 pairs, he found that Mary and Alice would fight together in the first round and they were third pair. Jerry would also fight with a boy he only knew used a great sword. He fought with him once and he couldn’t see Jerry losing to him.

Leo found himself at the end of the list, that meant if he wanted to fight Jerry he would need to get to the finals but who he was fighting in the first round was even worse. It was a girl, 3 years older than him. He knew her a little since his father friend who was a general brought her once to his home when he was younger.

She had long blond hairs made into a ponytail and blue eyes like him. She used a saber in a fight and fire magic that once melted part of the floor in the arena, after that they needed to extend the absorption field to the ground too. Leo and she didn’t get well together since she was always competing with everyone and somehow learned that he was part of the reason why the combat class was closed.

“Oh Leo, it seems we are going to fight together in the first round. I hope you will do your best.” she said with a smile, she looked down at him since she was higher than Leo.

“Hi, Sophie. I always do my best.” she responded.

“Hmm... We will see about that.” she said before walking away, still smiling.

Leo only watched her go before speaking to Mary. “Are you ready?”

“To fight that girl, always.” she said. The girls fought quite often, but Mary always had an edge because of her ice spells.

“Contestants, take your protective equipment and get ready!” shouted one of the judges.

There were few teachers here to watch over the fights. The principal made sure that the ones he let on onto what was going here were the ones that supported it.

Leo didn’t know which of his friend to watch but in the end, he chose to watch Mary since he was sure that Jerry would win his fight.

Mary stood with her shield ready in front of her while Alice was standing with her spear at the ready.

“Begin” shouted the teacher.

Alice made the first move releasing a water spear at her enemy following soon after with her own spear.

Mary dodged the first spell with single step and parried her enemy spear with her sword. She then tried to attack but before she could do that a big water surge was heeding her way.

The brown haired girl jumped backward and put all mana she could into creating a big shield of ice in front of her that blocked the water. Afterwards, the middle of the arena looked like a big puddle of water.

Mary and Alice breathed heavily using such big amount of mana in such short spawn on time was tiring for young girls.

Mary this time attacked first, Alice thrust at her with a spear in counterattack but it was redirected by Mary buckler allowing the younger girl to step in range for an attack. She performed a diagonal slash at her opponent.

Alice jumped backward to evade a strike but as she landed her foot slipped and she hit the ground. Looking around she noticed the water on the ground turned into ice.

Mary jumped at her with a sword to finish the fight, Alice tried to attack with a spell again but she used to much power before and didn’t manage to gather enough mana and only a small spray of water was released making her opponent wet. The protective device didn’t even bother stopping the spell after it determined it was not harmful in any way.

The younger girl, now irritated, struck Alice on the head with her sword and ended the fight.

“The winner is Mary Edge!” shouted the teacher, announcing the victor.

“Are you alright?” said Leo to Mary passing her a towel.

“Yes, I’m okay. I may have used too much mana though with that shield, I may not have enough for the next match.” She complained.

“Oh, that’s right we shouldn’t use too much energy since there are more fights today.” realized Leo.

“Yes, but some girl forgot about that.” She said looking at the blond haired girl already drying herself. She looked frustrated.

“You did well though, making your opponent slip on a water she created herself was smart.” Leo complimented.

“Thanks, now get ready. Your match is starting soon.” Leo now looked worried remembering his own opponent. “Don’t worry I’m sure you can win, you just need to hit her once with your strength.”

“I feel like hitting her even once without losing just by touching her flames will be a problem. But I will give it my best.” said Leo.

Soon enough the ten fights finished. Jerry won his fight against the greatsword user and progressed further.

Leo looked at the arena. Sophie was already there, smiling and waiting for him.