The academy grounds grew quiet as evening settled over Aetherion Academy.
Most students had already returned to their dormitories after the long day of evaluations and announcements. Only a few remained in the smaller training areas scattered across the campus.
One of those training rings sat near the edge of the academy gardens.
The stone floor reflected the dim orange light of the setting sun.
Ethan Aldric Voss arrived first.
He stepped into the ring and placed a wooden training sword against his shoulder while waiting.
The air was calm.
Quiet.
Exactly how he preferred it.
But Ethan knew the quiet would not last long.
Footsteps approached across the stone path.
Catherine Ravenscroft stepped into the training field.
Her crimson hair moved slightly in the evening wind as she walked toward the ring.
She carried a wooden sword in one hand.
Her expression was calm.
Focused.
Behind her—
Two other figures appeared.
Lucas.
Marcus.
Lucas raised both hands dramatically.
"We are here as official witnesses."
Marcus nodded seriously.
"For fairness."
Ethan sighed quietly.
"You just wanted to watch."
Lucas grinned.
"Correct."
Catherine stepped into the ring.
Her eyes immediately focused on Ethan.
"You kept me waiting."
"You arrived early."
She lifted the training sword and tested its balance briefly.
Around them, a few other students had noticed the gathering and slowly began approaching the training field.
Word traveled fast in the academy.
Lucas leaned toward Marcus.
"This is about to become the most watched spar of the week."
Marcus nodded.
"No pressure."
Catherine raised her sword.
"Ready?"
Ethan picked up his own training sword.
"Whenever you are."
The two stood facing each other in the center of the ring.
For a brief moment—
Neither of them moved.
Lucas whispered dramatically.
"This feels intense."
Marcus whispered back.
"Stop narrating."
Catherine stepped forward first.
"Begin."
She attacked immediately.
Fast.
Her sword cut through the air with sharp precision.
Ethan blocked.
The wooden blades collided with a loud crack.
Students around the ring leaned forward.
Catherine attacked again.
Two quick strikes.
Ethan parried both.
Their movements were clean and controlled.
No wasted motion.
Marcus whispered.
"They're both serious."
Lucas grinned.
"I told you this would be good."
Inside the ring, Catherine increased the speed.
Her footwork shifted.
Her sword moved faster.
Ethan stepped back slightly and blocked another strike.
The force behind it was stronger than before.
Catherine's aura flickered faintly along her blade.
A few students gasped.
"She's using aura already."
Ethan noticed it immediately.
Her aura control had improved again.
Faster than expected.
Catherine attacked again.
Three consecutive strikes.
Ethan parried the first.
Redirected the second.
Dodged the third.
Then he stepped forward.
One quick counter.
Catherine blocked.
Their swords locked briefly.
For a moment—
They were face to face.
"You're still holding back," Catherine said quietly.
Ethan didn't respond.
Instead he pushed the blades apart and stepped away.
The crowd around the ring had grown larger now.
Several Advanced students had even arrived to watch.
Lucas whispered loudly.
"Everyone wants to see this."
Catherine raised her sword again.
Her aura flared slightly stronger.
"Stop holding back."
She moved again.
Faster than before.
Her blade flashed downward.
Ethan blocked.
The impact echoed across the training ring.
Marcus blinked.
"That was strong."
Ethan stepped aside and countered.
Catherine barely avoided the strike.
Their movements accelerated.
Strike.
Block.
Step.
Counter.
The crowd watched in complete silence.
Even the wind seemed to pause.
Catherine's attacks became sharper.
More aggressive.
Her aura flickered with each strike.
Ethan continued defending calmly.
But gradually—
His movements began to change.
Lucas noticed first.
"…Wait."
Marcus leaned forward.
"What?"
Lucas pointed.
"He's speeding up."
Inside the ring, Ethan finally allowed a small portion of his aura to flow through his arm.
His sword moved faster.
Sharper.
Catherine's eyes widened slightly.
Their blades clashed again.
This time—
Ethan pushed forward.
One precise movement.
Catherine stepped back.
The distance between them widened again.
Silence spread through the watching crowd.
For the first time since the fight began—
Catherine smiled slightly.
"So you were hiding it."
Ethan lowered his sword slightly.
"Only a little."
Lucas slapped Marcus's shoulder.
"I KNEW IT."
Marcus stared at Ethan.
"You're insane."
Catherine adjusted her grip on the sword.
"Good."
Her aura flared again.
"Now this is interesting."
She stepped forward once more.
The real sparring match—
Had only just begun.