The academy training grounds stretched wide behind the stone walls of Aurelia Academy.
Flat terrain. Reinforced flooring. High observation towers.
A place meant for combat practice.
Students gathered slowly, whispering among themselves. Some stretched. Others tried small lifa techniques.
At the front of the field stood Sael Ardyn.
For once… he didn't look completely relaxed.
He had his hands in his pockets, gaze drifting toward the open sky as if expecting something unpleasant.
A few students noticed.
One of them asked, "Instructor Ardyn… why are we training out here today?"
Sael sighed softly.
"Because," he said lazily, "today you're meeting someone who would probably break half the academy if we stayed indoors."
The class fell silent.
Sael glanced at them.
"Her name is Lisa. Fire and lightning affinity. Teaching style…" He paused.
"…aggressive."
A student laughed nervously.
"How aggressive?"
Sael tilted his head.
"You'll find out."
Then he looked up at the sky again.
Right on time.
A sudden distortion of air rippled through the training ground.
Most students didn't even notice it.
But Sael sighed.
"Ah."
A purple blur flashed across the field.
BOOM.
The ground cracked as something slammed into Sael.
The impact launched him straight across the training ground.
He skipped across the stone floor like a thrown stone before crashing into a pillar near the far wall.
Students froze.
Dust slowly settled.
Standing where Sael had been was a tall woman with wild purple hair tied loosely behind her head.
Her eyes sparkled with excitement.
Lisa stretched her shoulders casually.
Then she grinned.
"Should've kept your guard up."
Across the field, Sael slowly stood up from the rubble like nothing had happened.
He brushed dust off his coat.
"…Still stronger than you."
Lisa laughed loudly.
"Keep telling yourself that."
Sael walked back toward the class, completely unharmed.
He stopped beside her.
"Brats," he said casually, gesturing toward her. "This is Lisa."
Lisa waved lazily.
"Hi."
Sael looked back at the students.
"Today's training will be… practical."
He paused.
Then added calmly,
"It might hurt."
A few students swallowed nervously.
Sael turned and started walking away.
"Keep your senses open."
Then he left the field entirely.
The moment he was gone—
Lisa disappeared.
A blur of motion crossed the training ground.
THUD.
One of the students suddenly collapsed face-first into the ground.
No one saw what happened.
A few gasps spread through the group.
Lisa was already standing behind them again.
She yawned.
"Wow. That was boring."
Another blur.
THUMP.
A second student dropped.
Students jumped backward in alarm.
"What—?!"
"Where is she—?!"
Nav's eyes widened.
Nav felt the air shift again.
Fast.
His mind raced.
No—
No no no no—
What the hell was that speed?!
Oh hell no.
She's fast.
Extremely fast.
Another blur crossed the training ground.
A third student fell instantly.
Lisa stood nearby, arms crossed, grinning at the terrified class.
"Didn't you brats hear what Sael said?"
Her eyes sparkled with amusement.
"Keep your senses open."
She disappeared again.
The ground cracked slightly as another student was knocked down.
Chaos spread through the remaining group.
Students spun in circles trying to detect movement.
But Lisa was already somewhere else.
Watching.
Laughing.
Testing them.
Nav's heart beat slightly faster now.
His senses stretched outward, trying to follow the distortions in the air.
But even then—
She was hard to track.
Not invisible.
Just absurdly fast.
Across the field, another student barely managed to dodge before tumbling to the ground.
Lisa stopped moving.
Her gaze slowly scanned the remaining students.
Then she smiled.
"Well… this might actually get interesting."