The arena was still buzzing after Aster’s victory.

  “You hit him real good with that last strike.”

  “Kakeru kept trying to eat the hits.”

  Kakeru stepped away from the arena, grabbing his rib with an irritated expression.

  “You only won because I couldn’t use my core,” he muttered.

  Aster laughed.

  Clarence stepped forward.

  The noise in the arena died immediately.

  His sharp gaze settled directly on Kakeru.

  “Kakeru.”

  He stopped and turned.

  “What.”

  Clarence crossed his arms.

  “You fight like a chicken with its head chopped off.”

  Several students tried not to laugh.

  Kakeru’s irritation grew.

  “I was trying to hit him, but he just kept blocking and dodging.”

  “You were mindlessly swinging,” Clarence replied. “There was no control in your movements whatsoever.”

  Kakeru stayed quiet.

  Clarence continued.

  “The longer the fight went on, the more agitated you became. That made reading your movements predictable.”

  Clarence pointed at him.

  “Aster doesn’t nearly have the strength you do.”

  He paused.

  “He defeated you because he outsmarted you.”

  The class fell silent.

  Clarence’s eyes swept across the students.

  “Strength isn’t everything. Guardians must constantly control themselves. If corrupted users get under your skin, you’re as good as finished.”

  He turned back to Kakeru.

  “A Guardian who fights without discipline dies first.”

  Kakeru clenched his teeth.

  “…Yes sir.”

  Clarence stepped back.

  “Next match.”

  The tension shifted immediately.

  “Kageka. Charlotte.”

  The two students stepped forward.

  Kageka moved with calm, steady steps as she entered the arena.

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  Across from her, Charlotte already held a thin blade before lowering into a light stance.

  The students leaned forward again.

  “This should be interesting.”

  “Both are so fast.”

  Kageka took a reverse grip stance with her dagger.

  Clarence raised his hand.

  “Begin.”

  Kageka moved first.

  Her foot barely touched the ground as she dashed forward with surprising speed.

  Her blade flicked toward Charlotte’s shoulder.

  Charlotte leaned slightly to the side.

  The strike missed by inches.

  Kageka spun immediately, launching another attack from a different angle.

  Her blade flashed again.

  And again.

  Charlotte stepped back, barely dodging the strikes.

  Kageka frowned.

  “How long do you intend to dodge?”

  Charlotte answered calmly.

  “As long as I need to.”

  Kageka suddenly disappeared.

  The next instant she was behind Charlotte.

  The crowd leaned forward.

  “How did she do that without her core?”

  “I thought flash step was part of her ability.”

  The sudden movement caught Charlotte off guard.

  Kageka’s leg swept her feet out from under her.

  Charlotte hit the ground.

  Before she could recover—

  Kageka placed the wooden dagger against her throat.

  Tap.

  The arena went quiet.

  Charlotte groaned.

  “UGHHHH… You were so fast.”

  Kageka showed no expression.

  “Thank you.”

  Clarence raised his hand.

  “Good job, you two.”

  Students murmured among themselves.

  “That was quick.”

  “She had a strategy the whole time.”

  Clarence looked at Charlotte.

  “You must always account for everything. Expect the unexpected so nothing catches you off guard.”

  Charlotte nodded.

  “Yes sir.”

  He turned to Kageka.

  “Impressive control and movement.”

  Kageka bowed slightly.

  Clarence faced the class again.

  “Next match.”

  His gaze moved across the students.

  “Aurelia. Peter.”

  The two defensive-minded initiates stepped into the arena.

  Across from her, Peter calmly adjusted his stance.

  Unlike the previous fight, his posture was steady and cautious.

  Students whispered.

  “This fight could take awhile.”

  Clarence raised his hand once more.

  “Begin.”

  Aurelia rushed forward immediately.

  Her rapier lunged forward.

  Peter raised his blade and blocked.

  CLACK.

  The impact echoed across the arena.

  Aurelia attacked again.

  And again.

  Each attack varied, but none of them were precise.

  Peter barely moved.

  It was clear these two hadn’t used swords before.

  The students laughed.

  “This isn’t surprising when two defensive core users try to use swords.”

  Aurelia and Peter both looked embarrassed.

  “This is so embarrassing, Peter.”

  Peter sighed.

  “I know… I’ve never used a sword before.”

  Clarence stepped in.

  “Hold it, you two.”

  They looked at him.

  “Just rely on instinct and try to learn something.”

  The two looked at each other.

  Aurelia shrugged.

  “Let’s just have fun, okay?”

  Clarence nodded.

  “Sure. Have some fun.”

  Aurelia attacked again.

  This time she aimed lower.

  Peter stepped aside and blocked the strike.

  Aurelia’s rapier slammed against the flat of his blade.

  Before she could recover—

  Peter moved.

  His blade dropped downward.

  Tap.

  The wooden sword stopped just above her head.

  Aurelia froze.

  “Oops.”

  Clarence stepped in again.

  “Alright. That’s good enough, you two.”

  The students clapped.

  “Don’t worry, you guys don’t even need swords anyway.”

  Clarence walked toward them.

  “I know you’re defensive users, so I won’t scold you too much this time.”

  He paused.

  “But you still need to learn how to fight if you can’t use your core.”

  He turned toward the entire class.

  “I must say, I am very impressed with your performances so far.”

  “I have seen different styles.”

  He looked toward Vega.

  “Strength.”

  He turned toward Aster.

  “Strategy.”

  Then Alexander.

  “Determination.”

  “You three possess impressive qualities that are necessary to become successful Guardians.”

  He then turned toward Kakeru, Peter, and Aurelia.

  “You three must learn not to rely on only one source of strength.”

  He pointed at Kakeru.

  “Control your aggression.”

  Kakeru nodded.

  Clarence folded his arms.

  “None of those matter though if you don’t understand why you’re fighting.”

  Behind the students, Elaina stood quietly.

  Her eyes followed the next pair of students entering the arena.

  But her mind wasn’t focused on the fight anymore.

  Oscar’s voice echoed in her thoughts.

  What are you fighting for?

  Her fingers tightened slightly against the fabric of her uniform.

  The question refused to leave her mind.

  Across the field, Oscar stood beside Aster watching the matches continue. He laughed at something Aster said, completely relaxed like nothing in the world bothered him.

  Elaina frowned slightly.

  How can he ask something like that so easily…

  She looked away from him and turned her attention back toward the arena.

  But the question still lingered in her mind.

  Clarence’s voice cut across the field again.

  “Next match.”

  The training session was far from over.