A few days later…
The first light of dawn stretched lazily across the academy grounds, painting the sky in soft hues of gold and pale blue. Morning mist still clung to the edges of the vast training field, curling low over the battered stone floor like a fading veil. The air was crisp, quiet, untouched by the noise that would soon fill the campus.
But even before the sun had fully risen, two figures were already there.
Ashan and Zevi stood opposite each other at the center of the training ground.
No greetings. No unnecessary words.
Slash..!
Slashhh…!
The sharp clash of wooden blades tore through the silence.
Without wasting even a second, they launched into combat as if they had been waiting their entire lives for this moment.
Since both of them had agreed to prioritize weapon mastery, the duel was strictly physical; no magic, no spells, no mana reinforcement. Just pure swordsmanship, raw instinct, and refined technique.
Zevi stepped in with a fast diagonal cut aimed at Ashan's shoulder.
Ashan parried smoothly, twisting his wrist and sliding the impact aside before countering with a thrust toward Zevi's ribs.
Zevi pivoted on his heel, the wooden blade grazing past him by inches.
The exchange flowed without pause.
Hours passed.
Neither of them slowed.
The rhythm of their swords only grew heavier, sharper, more demanding. What had begun as a technical duel evolved into something far more intense, an unspoken contest of will. Sweat drenched their clothes. Their breathing grew rougher, deeper, but their eyes only shone brighter.
Ashan carefully matched his combat level to Zevi's. He did not overpower him. He did not allow himself to dominate. He fought at exactly the level Zevi could endure.
That balance drove Zevi insane, in the best possible way.
For the first time in a long while, Zevi had found someone who would neither lose nor win.
Every time Zevi pushed harder, Ashan met him.
Every time he tried a new angle, Ashan responded with something equally refined.
Every time he thought he found an opening, Ashan closed it before the thought could fully form.
Zevi's grin widened.
He was searching desperately, obsessively, for a breakthrough.
Ashan, on the other hand, looked composed, almost amused, but there was fire in his movements. He enjoyed this endless exchange. The tension. The testing. The subtle learning that happened with each clash.
They were sword-drunk.
For days they had fought like this at the same spot. The once polished stone floor beneath them was now cracked, chipped, and uneven. Scattered fragments of broken wooden swords lay abandoned nearby, trophies of past sessions.
By the time the sun rose fully into the sky, the rest of their team began arriving for their own practice.
They stopped.
And stared.
The duel was still ongoing.
Clack..!
Zevi forced Ashan back three steps.
Ashan spun and retaliated with a rapid three-hit combination that made Zevi slide backward across the worn stone.
"They are seriously crazy, aren't they?" one of the team members muttered, folding his arms as he watched.
"They've been doing this all day and night ever since we formed the team. Why don't they look tired? Or bored?"
Another let out a long breath. "Haa… what a ridiculous match. When I first saw Ashan, I thought he was the soft and charming type. Calm, polite, gentle. Turns out he's just as insane about fighting as Zevi."
A third member chuckled. "That's true. But honestly? It's interesting to watch them. I've picked up a few surprise angles just by observing."
"You're right," someone else added. "They don't waste movements. Every clash has purpose. They're not just fighting, they're searching for something new each time."
A younger member swallowed nervously. "Should we try fighting like that too? I feel like we're falling behind…"
"Nah," came the immediate response. "We'd collapse in ten minutes. They fight like the world is ending tomorrow. We're progressing fine. No need to break ourselves trying to imitate that madness."
Another voice chimed in, half amused, half wary. "It's self-study day today. They're definitely going to continue until one of them passes out."
"I don't know…" someone muttered thoughtfully. "I feel like that duo is going to cause something big eventually. They've got that kind of energy. The type that flips the entire academy upside down."
As if on cue, Ashan suddenly jumped back, landing lightly, and raised his hand.
"Let's stop here," he said, voice steady despite hours of combat.
"Breakfast?"
Zevi blinked, chest rising and falling rapidly, sweat dripping from his jaw. Then he laughed.
"You're kidding me, right?" He wiped his forehead with his sleeve. "What are you? Some kind of beast? We've been at it for hours and you look like you just woke up."
Ashan tilted his head slightly. "You look fine too."
Zevi grinned wider. "Nice. Nice. Pairing up with you was the best decision I've made in a long time."
Then Zevi's gaze shifted.
Far away, seated quietly on a bench near the edge of the field, was Narasha.
She had been watching the entire time.
Her class professor was absent that morning, and instead of wandering aimlessly, she had come to observe Ashan's training.
Her long hair moved gently with the breeze. The morning light seemed to favor her, outlining her figure with a soft glow. She didn't cheer. Didn't call out. She simply watched.
Zevi looked back at Ashan with a teasing expression.
"You really are something," he said in a low voice. "Not only can you keep me in check, but you've got one of the academy's top beauties watching you like that."
Ashan placed his worn training sword aside. It was splintered beyond reuse.
"We're close," he said calmly. "But we're not official yet. We're still… understanding each other."
Zevi stared at him in disbelief.
"You're joking. That means she's technically still single?" He leaned closer. "You know I accidentally overheard a few A-rankers talking about her. One of them's planning to confess soon."
For a split second, something flickered inside Ashan's mind.
A faint tension.
But he didn't show it.
"Confess if they want," Ashan replied evenly. "It won't change anything. She won't accept them."
Zevi raised an eyebrow. "That confident, huh?"
Ashan's gaze softened as he looked at Narasha.
"No one understands her the way I do. Being good-looking or talented isn't enough. Even if someone kneels in front of her, she won't even look their way if she's not interested."
Zevi stretched his arms overhead, muscles tightening and relaxing.
"Well, good luck then," he smirked. "By the way.. you said you'd introduce your childhood friend to me."
Ashan brushed his hair back, glancing at the rising sun.
"I did. But he recently got a girlfriend. He's spending most of his time with her. I figured I should give him space."
Zevi snorted. "You're too considerate. If that were me, I'd tease him every single day."
Ashan chuckled lightly. "Let's introduce both of you at once."
"Now that sounds efficient," Zevi agreed.
They walked toward Narasha.
Zevi clapped his hands lightly. "Hello, pretty lady. We met briefly two days ago, right?"
Narasha lifted her gaze calmly.
"Yes. I remember."
Her eyes moved to Ashan, who gave her a gentle nod.
"We're going to grab breakfast," Ashan said. "Want to join?"
She stood without hesitation. "Sure."
The three of them headed toward the cafeteria.
It was still early, so the place wasn't crowded. Sunlight streamed through large windows, reflecting off polished tables. The smell of fresh bread and brewed tea filled the air.
"What a perfect time," Zevi said cheerfully. "Peaceful. I like it."
Ashan's eyes suddenly caught a familiar figure.
Nevil.
And sitting beside him was Elara.
They were sharing breakfast, seated closely, speaking softly.
Ashan nudged Zevi subtly. "There's my friend."
Zevi squinted. "That guy looks completely absorbed in his own world. You sure he won't get annoyed?"
"He won't," Ashan replied confidently. "He's kind."
After grabbing their trays, they approached.
"Nevil," Ashan called.
Nevil looked up instantly, his face lighting up. "Ashan! Come sit. There's plenty of space."
They joined them.
"Nevil," Ashan said, gesturing, "this is Zevi. An A-ranker. We've been sparring."
Zevi waved casually. "Nice to meet you. I've heard about you."
Nevil smiled warmly. "Any friend of Ashan's is welcome. We've known each other since childhood."
Ashan turned toward Elara, who was smiling shyly.
"You must be Elara. I've heard quite a bit about you."
Elara's cheeks flushed. "I hope only good things."
"Only good," Ashan assured her.
Elara's gaze then shifted slowly.
To Narasha.
Her eyes widened slightly.
"Nevil…" she whispered softly. "Who is she? She's… stunning."