During lunch, the academy's central courtyard remained lively despite the rain. Students huddled under covered walkways and overhangs, forming groups engaged in conversations that varied from serious academic topics to silly and absurd discussions.
Near the fountain—currently flooded with rain—a group of third-years was engaged in a heated debate.
A student named Helena argued that individual combat events should be banned from the Inter-Academy competition, citing their danger and the high injury rate.
James argued, "The main goal of the competition is to test combat skills. Banning real combat undermines its purpose."
"I'm not advocating for banning all combat. I'm suggesting we ban the specific matches where students sustain serious injuries annually. Team combat benefits from safety through numbers, whereas individual matches are simply advanced dueling."
