Aren reached the doors of the infirmary, his hand hovering over the handle. But as he paused, he noticed something strange. The sharp, stinging throb in his forehead had vanished.
Tentatively, he reached up and brushed his fingers against his skin. He froze in disbelief. Where there had been a bleeding gash just moments ago, there was now nothing but smooth, unblemished skin. It was as if the injury had never existed.
Is this Varkas's doing too? Aren wondered, a chill running down his spine. Rapid regeneration... just how much power is hiding inside me?
Realizing he no longer needed medical attention, he turned away from the infirmary and headed straight for the combat class. He couldn't afford to be late.
As he entered the hall, Mr. Stephen caught his eye and offered a small, knowing smile. Aren greeted him with a respectful bow, which the instructor acknowledged with a sharp nod. Aren took his seat and immediately began scanning the room, his brow furrowed in concern.
"Looking for someone?"
Aren jumped slightly as a familiar voice whispered in his ear. He let out a breath of exasperation to find Evy sitting beside him, her chin resting on her hand as she watched him with an amused glint in her eyes.
"I was looking for Theo," Aren replied, pointedly looking away. "He said he'd meet me here, but he's nowhere to be found."
Students continued to trickle in, but Aren's eyes remained glued to the entrance. A moment later, Faith entered the hall.
Their gazes met for a fleeting second long enough for Aren to see the cold, burning resentment in her eyes before she looked away with a scoff and took her seat on the far side of the arena.
Mr. Stephen's voice soon boomed, commanding the room's attention. "It seems everyone is present. Let us begin."
Aren's heart sank. Theo missed the start. He's never late... did something happen? "Will your friend be joining us today?" Evy asked, her tone uncharacteristically serious.
"I don't know," Aren muttered, his worry deepening.
"In our last session, we discussed the necessity of Control," Mr. Stephen announced, pacing before the students. "And in my experience, the finest method to master that control is through the use of a weapon."
A student raised their hand. "Sir, wouldn't using weapons alongside our powers just make us more dangerous? How does that teach control?"
Mr. Stephen smiled, though his eyes remained sharp. "An excellent question. A sword can take a life, yes. But if the hand wielding it is clumsy or undisciplined, that same blade will eventually find the throat of its master."
He turned toward a series of recessed wall panels and pressed a concealed button. With a heavy mechanical hiss, the panels retracted, revealing rows of gleaming, lethal weaponry. The students gasped, their eyes wide with wonder as if they were children staring at a display of toys.
"Pick a weapon that speaks to you," Stephen commanded. "Once you have chosen, find a partner and begin your drills."
The room erupted into motion. Students scrambled toward the racks, reaching for elegant longswords, heavy battle-axes, and slender spears. Evy was among the first to return, twirling a sleek, silver short-dagger between her fingers.
"What do you think, Aren? Does it suit me?" she asked with an excited grin.
Aren glanced at the wicked little blade. "It's... fine," he said flatly.
Evy puffed out her cheeks in annoyance. Fine? That's all I get? she grumbled to herself.
Suddenly, the heavy doors at the back of the hall creaked open. "Permission to enter, sir?"
Aren spun around. It was Theo. He looked slightly disheveled, but he carried his usual easy-going smile. Mr. Stephen narrowed his eyes. "You are late."
"My apologies, sir," Theo said, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly. "I got... caught up in something. It won't happen again."
Stephen gave him a long, searching look before nodding. "Choose a weapon and join the others."
Theo hurried over to Aren's side. "Where were you? Is everything okay?" Aren hissed.
Theo laughed it off, though the spark in his eyes seemed a bit dimmed. "Yeah, yeah, just got stuck with some errands. What'd I miss?"
Aren quickly filled him in on the assignment. "A weapon, huh? Let's see what they've got left." Theo walked to the rack and pulled out a standard steel longsword. "This should do the trick."
As Theo pulled the sword free, Aren noticed something tucked away in the shadows behind where the blade had been resting. It was a heavy, unrefined piece of equipment. He reached in and pulled it out, looking at it with confusion.
"What kind of weapon is this? Is it even finished?" Aren wondered aloud.
"Those are black iron knuckles," Mr. Stephen said, appearing seemingly out of thin air behind them. "Few warriors choose them. In a war of spears and magic, they lack reach and utility. They are weapons for those who prefer the brutal honesty of their own hands."
Aren looked at the cold, heavy iron. All the 'good' weapons had already been claimed by the other students. He let out a sigh and slid the knuckles over his fingers. They felt surprisingly balanced.
Better than trying to swing a sword I don't know how to use, he thought, trying to convince himself.
With weapons chosen, the students began pairing up. Aren turned to Theo. "Theo, would you mind showing me some basic"
"Don't worry about Theo!" Evy interjected, stepping between them and grabbing Aren by the arm. "I'll be your instructor today, Aren. I think I can teach you a thing or two about 'contact' sports."
"Wait Evy! I asked Theo"
But Evy wasn't listening. She practically dragged a stammering Aren toward a vacant corner of the arena. Theo watched them go, a small, amused smile playing on his lips.
Well, I guess I need a partner too, Theo thought, scanning the room.
His search didn't last long. A cold, sharp voice cut through the noise of clashing practice blades.
"The duel we started in the jungle was never finished," Faith said, stepping into his path. She held a practice spear with a grip that looked ready to snap the wood in half. Her eyes were locked onto Theo's with an intense, icy fire. "Shall we settle it now?"