The sound of voices in the classroom was muffled, a constant murmur of curiosity and expectation. The curtains were drawn open, letting the soft morning light stream through the glass. When the door opened, silence spread immediately.
A tall man with a firm build and piercing gaze entered. His black hair was beginning to show discreet streaks of gray, and a thin silver necklace gleamed against the collar of his dark shirt.
"Good morning, class."
The deep voice resonated through the room, imposing without needing to be loud.
"I am Darius Klaus. Level A Hunter, and from today onward, I will be your combat instructor."
A soft murmur ran through the students. The name Klaus was not unfamiliar — a family of barons known for their lineage of beast-like warriors. Darius scanned the young faces before him, briefly fixing his gaze on Arven and then on Elara.
"Today, we'll do something simple. Partner training."
He moved to the center of the room and, with a gesture of his hand, the floor lit up with luminous lines, revealing a wide training area designed to handle magical energy.
"Choose your partners."
Immediately, Lucien approached Gabriella. The girl with long blue hair and matching eyes gave a confident, subtle smile. Arven looked away — since the incident where he had intervened in a dispute between Gabriella and Elara, she treated him coldly.
Elara watched silently, her lips pressed together.
For a moment, Arven noticed her expression.
"Elara... do you want to be my partner?"
She looked at him, surprised; his tone was calm, yet sincere.
"Of course..." she replied, a faint blush rising to her cheeks.
The pairs took their positions. Darius crossed his arms and announced:
"You may begin whenever you're ready. Remember: it's not just about strength, but control."
The field filled with the sound of footsteps and clashing blades. The battle between Arven and Elara began slowly, with precise, calculated strikes, but it quickly escalated.
Arven's movements were fluid and fast, his black sword emerging as an extension of his soul. Elara responded instinctively, shaping her own black blade, and the air around them seemed heavy, dense, charged with almost metallic energy.
The other students stepped back slightly, whispering among themselves.
'I've never seen anything like this… they're… different.'
'The entire field vibrates with each strike… it's terrifying and mesmerizing.'
Arven leapt to the side, dodging a diagonal cut from Elara, and spun his blade to counterattack. She blocked with her own sword, the impact making the ground tremble slightly, sending sparks of black energy into the air.
'How… her mana reacts to mine? It's like… the same resonance echoing within me.'
Elara moved back, spinning her blade in a horizontal strike, forcing Arven to duck. He rolled to the side, rose quickly, and struck in an upward arc. She blocked, pivoted, and launched a thrust he barely managed to evade.
'She reads my movements… it's impossible to ignore this.'
'And somehow, I feel something different… something connecting me to her.'
With each strike, the ground vibrated, the air compressed and released small waves of energy that made even the spectators' hair stand on end. Black sparks appeared and vanished, as if the training field itself were alive.
"Arven… what is this?" — asked Elara, breathless, her eyes shining with intensity.
"I don't know… but I feel as if our energies are calling to each other."
They advanced and retreated, dodging, leaping, and spinning with near-perfect precision. Their blades collided with sharp clinks, shadows intertwining, reflecting the essence of their souls.
Darius stepped forward, arms still crossed, watching intently.
"What I'm seeing… isn't just a contest of mana. It's as if their shadows are calling to each other, seeking something even they don't understand."
Arven tried to advance again, but Elara pivoted and struck his flank, forcing him to leap back. He rolled on the ground, rose, and struck in an upward arc, which she blocked with precision.
'She's incredible… so much like me.'
'And yet, I feel something different… like she knows every move I make.'
They exchanged a rapid sequence of strikes and blocks, each impact leaving temporary marks on the training floor. The students watched in awe, some murmuring:
"These two are… unbelievable!"
"It's as if each sword has its own life."
For a moment, Arven realized they were mere inches apart, breathless, looking at each other, and something in Elara's eyes reflected recognition and trust.
"Going easy on me, Arven?" — said Elara, smiling slightly despite her exhaustion.
"No… just trying not to hurt you too much."
The entire field seemed to react to the concentrated energy of their blades. The sound of metal slicing through the air, vibrations underfoot, and sparks of mana filled every corner.
The wind carried the metallic scent of mana, the sound of strikes echoing across the space, and even the clanging of weapons created a rhythm that everyone present subconsciously felt.
Finally, they both stepped back simultaneously, breathing heavily, their black swords suspended between them. The silence that followed was almost reverent.
"Enough for today." — said Darius firmly. — "Keep this energy… it does not appear by chance."
Arven looked at Elara one last time before stepping away.
'What was that…?'
Elara pressed her hand to her chest, feeling something pulse differently inside her.
'Why is my heart reacting like this…?'
Across the field, Darius watched with narrowed eyes.
'These two… fate seems to toy with how it unites certain types of mana.'