The next day arrived with a strange tension hanging over the training grounds of Aetherion Academy.
News traveled quickly among students, and by the time the sun rose above the academy towers, many first-years had already heard about the Intermediate group's next training exercise.
They would be sparring against the Advanced group.
For some students, that sounded exciting.
For most, it sounded terrifying.
Ethan Aldric Voss arrived at the training field at the usual time. The cool morning air carried the sounds of distant practice swords clashing from other sections of the academy.
Several Intermediate students were already gathered near their training ring.
Marcus stood among them, stretching his shoulders.
When he noticed Ethan approaching, he raised a hand.
"Morning."
Ethan nodded.
"Morning."
Marcus gave a small laugh.
"You look way too calm for someone about to fight Advanced students."
"Worrying won't help," Ethan replied.
Marcus couldn't argue with that.
Around them, the rest of the Intermediate group looked far less relaxed.
A few students whispered nervously.
Others were checking their grips on training swords again and again.
Everyone understood the same thing.
Advanced students were not simply stronger.
They were faster.
More disciplined.
More experienced.
A few minutes later, Instructor Selene arrived.
Her sharp eyes immediately scanned the group.
"Good. No one is late."
She stepped into the center of the ring.
"Today's training will test two things."
She raised two fingers.
"Your reaction speed."
"And your ability to remain calm under pressure."
The students listened carefully.
Selene continued.
"The Advanced group will arrive shortly."
Marcus exhaled slowly.
"…Great."
Ethan remained silent.
Because he already knew who would appear.
And how this exercise would unfold.
Footsteps approached across the training grounds.
Several students instinctively turned.
A group of Advanced students walked toward the field.
They moved with noticeably more confidence than the Intermediate group.
Years of training—or natural talent—showed clearly in their posture.
Lucas had somehow managed to appear again, leaning against the nearby fence.
He grinned when he saw Ethan.
"This is going to be fun."
Ethan ignored him.
Selene raised her voice.
"Advanced students will act as sparring partners."
She pointed toward the field.
"One round per match."
"No excessive force."
One of the Advanced students stepped forward to lead their group.
A tall third-year with short black hair.
His gaze moved across the Intermediate students.
Evaluating.
Measuring.
Then he nodded once.
"Understood."
The sparring pairs were formed quickly.
Intermediate students were matched randomly with Advanced students.
Marcus stepped forward when his name was called.
His opponent was a tall second-year who looked completely relaxed.
Lucas leaned over the fence.
"Good luck, Marcus!"
Marcus groaned.
The instructor raised her hand.
"Begin."
Marcus attacked immediately.
The Advanced student blocked effortlessly.
Three exchanges later—
Marcus's sword flew out of his hand.
The match ended.
Lucas sighed.
"That looked painful."
Marcus returned to the group rubbing his wrist.
"…They're fast."
Several more matches followed.
The pattern repeated again and again.
Intermediate students attacked.
Advanced students countered.
Most matches ended quickly.
Not humiliatingly fast.
But clearly one-sided.
Then Selene called another name.
"Ethan Voss."
Lucas immediately straightened.
"Oh."
"Now this one I want to see."
Ethan stepped forward calmly.
His opponent was a second-year Advanced student with short blond hair.
The student looked Ethan up and down.
"You're the one who disarmed a second-year yesterday."
Ethan said nothing.
The student picked up a training sword.
"Let's see if that was luck."
They stepped into the ring.
Around them, several students turned their attention toward the match.
Even some Advanced students seemed curious.
The instructor raised her hand.
"Begin."
The blond student attacked first.
Fast.
A straight thrust aimed at Ethan's chest.
Ethan stepped aside.
The movement was small.
Efficient.
The second attack came immediately.
A horizontal strike.
Ethan blocked.
Wood struck wood with a sharp crack.
The Advanced student's eyes narrowed slightly.
He attacked again.
Faster this time.
Two quick strikes.
Ethan parried both.
Marcus whispered from the sidelines.
"…He's keeping up."
Lucas grinned.
"I told you he was weird."
Inside the ring, Ethan remained calm.
His opponent increased the pressure.
Strike.
Block.
Strike.
Parry.
Ethan's movements remained controlled.
Nothing flashy.
Nothing dramatic.
Just precise defense.
The Advanced student stepped back.
His expression had changed slightly.
"You're not bad."
He attacked again.
This time aiming low.
Ethan pivoted.
Their swords clashed again.
For a brief moment—
Their eyes met.
Then Ethan moved.
One step.
One controlled motion.
The Advanced student's grip slipped.
His sword tilted sideways.
Ethan stopped his strike just before it would have disarmed him.
Silence filled the nearby field.
The blond student looked down at his sword.
Then he slowly lowered it.
"…That wasn't luck."
Ethan stepped back.
The instructor raised her hand.
"Match complete."
Students began whispering again.
Marcus blinked.
"He almost disarmed him."
Lucas laughed.
"I told you."
The Advanced student looked at Ethan with new interest.
"You're hiding something."
Ethan simply returned the training sword.
"Just training."
The student shook his head slightly but didn't argue.
Selene wrote something on her clipboard again.
Her eyes lingered on Ethan for a moment longer than before.
Then she addressed the group.
"That is enough for today."
Students relaxed slightly.
"You have now experienced the difference between tiers."
She paused.
"Use that knowledge to improve."
The students began dispersing across the field.
Lucas immediately ran toward Ethan.
"Okay."
"That was definitely suspicious."
Ethan raised an eyebrow.
Lucas crossed his arms.
"You're not telling me something."
Ethan looked toward the far side of the training grounds.
The Advanced group was preparing to leave.
Among them—
Catherine Ravenscroft stood quietly with her sword resting against her shoulder.
For a brief moment—
Her gaze moved toward Ethan again.
Not curiosity.
Not surprise.
Recognition.
Ethan noticed.
Then she turned and walked away with the other Advanced students.
Lucas followed Ethan's gaze.
"Oh."
"She's definitely noticed you now."
Ethan looked back toward the training field.
That was slightly inconvenient.
Because attention was something he preferred to avoid.
At least for now.
But the story had already begun to shift.
And small ripples—
Would eventually become larger waves.