Chapter 10 – The First Sparks of the Blade
The academy gates suddenly opened. Three unfamiliar figures entered the noisy training grounds alongside Lion Knight, observing the children's practice.
Lion Knight: "Alright, kids. I've brought three of my friends so training can move forward more effectively. Right now, split into four groups—Melee, Ranger, Summoner, and Mage."
After the students divided into four groups and the murmuring subsided, Lion Knight turned to them again.
"Each new talent will lead their group. That means Demad for the Melees, Fira for the Mages, Zaran for the Summoners, and Miren for the Rangers."
Several students protested, but their objections led nowhere. After a moment, the three newcomers stepped forward from behind Lion Knight.
Lion Knight approached Demad's group.
"My name is Lion. I'm the instructor for the Melee group."
A woman wearing a witch's hat, with violet eyes, approached Fira's group.
"Hello, little cuties. My name is Ane, and I'll be training you little magicians."
A black-haired man with faint scars across his face stepped toward Miren's group.
"My name is Naul. I'm your instructor, you little brats."
A green-haired girl with sharp red eyes walked toward Zaran's group with an air of pride.
"My name is Monila, your new and beautiful instructor."
After a few minutes, once every group had become acquainted with their new instructors and leaders, disciplined training began.
Lion Knight: "The essence of the Melee class is how you infuse power into your blade. Some of you sharpen the blade but fail to preserve its durability, and it breaks. Others maintain strength but lack sharpness, so it cuts nothing."
Lion Knight: "You must maintain balance."
Demad and dozens of others focused intensely on their swords, causing them to glow. Some blades emitted blinding light; others radiated thick, layered energy. Demad's sword was both dense and brilliantly luminous.
Lion Knight addressed a black-haired boy.
"No. Focus more on the edges. It looks like you're trying to cut butter."
From the other side of the field, the sound of glowing arrows striking targets rang clearly.
Naul: "Tell me, kids—during battle, what's the first enemy of a Ranger?"
The students exchanged blank stares. No one answered.
Arman: "A fast-moving target?"
Naul: "No."
Miren: "Running out of arrows?"
Naul smiled. "Correct."
He continued, "So when we run out of arrows, we create them using our light aura."
Several students concentrated and formed unstable arrows from radiant energy. Some flew toward their targets; others dissipated midair. The only constant sound was Naul's frustrated shouting.
Elsewhere, Ane stood smiling before her students as they shaped spells with deep focus.
Ane: "You idiots need to use thought and creativity to shape your magic. Otherwise, your effort is worthless."
Fira, brows furrowed, formed a circular flame. Ane watched closely as Fira hurled the fire like a comet. It struck the target—boom. Stone fragments exploded into the air.
Ane: "Well done. Two points for Fira."
From another direction came raised voices—Zaran, Fiora, and others arguing with Monila. Monila held up a crude drawing of a skeleton.
"You miserable fools should be grateful I'm teaching you anything."
Fiora: "What do you expect us to summon from that drawing? You could've drawn something better!"
Monila: "That's what you get. Don't like it? Go cry."
Zaran stepped forward.
"Watch this."
He extended both hands and focused intensely. A glowing square formed beneath his feet like a luminous carpet. From within it emerged a skeleton with red eyes, rusted iron armor, and a golden sword. More skeletons followed behind it.
Fiora, Monila, and the other students stared in astonishment, mouths open. Soon, determination replaced their shock. They resolved to summon something even better.
Time passed. Many students sat exhausted. The sun turned orange, hanging like a burning fruit in the crimson sky. Lion Knight, Monila, Naul, and Ane stood off to the side, arms crossed, talking.
Lion Knight: "Demad maintains balance well, but Kian can't sharpen his blade properly. He was driving me crazy."
Ane: "I'm very satisfied with Fira. And Genia is finally learning her stone magic."
Monila: "They nearly tested my patience today. Zaran was slightly better than the rest."
Naul: "I'm pleased with the kids' performance."
Darkness gradually fell. The dining hall filled with the clatter of utensils and conversation.
Demad: "Today I managed to split a rock this big in half."
Miren: "I finally mastered Seafor Three."
Demad: "The one that turns into a comet arrow?"
Miren: "Yeah, that's the one."
Fira: "I blew up a rock."
Demad: "I wish I'd seen that."
Zaran: "You should've seen my skeletons."
Later, in the hallway, Demad said goodbye and entered his room. He closed the door and collapsed onto his bed like a corpse.
Al's voice echoed inside him.
"When you wear that ring, it makes the powers of darkness completely ineffective against you."
Demad's face tightened in shock. He sat upright.
"Why are you telling me this now?"
Al sighed.
"It's the right time. And I wanted to tell you something else."
"What?"
"Promise me you'll never use that ring. If you do, it means you've used someone else's life."
Demad frowned.
"What does that mean? How?"
"Forget it. I told you—you'll understand when you're older."
Demad sat for hours, staring at the moonlight spilling into his room, lost in thought. Time dragged. The world felt like a question mark. Eventually, his eyelids grew heavy, and he fell asleep.
The next morning began with Fira's voice. She, Miren, and Zaran stood inside Demad's room. He blinked at Fira's face before waking fully.
"How did you get in?"
Zaran shrugged. "Easy. I summoned something from inside to open the door."
Fira laughed. "Sleepy bear."
Miren smirked. "You're lucky Zaran didn't strangle you in your sleep."
Laughing, they stepped into the courtyard. Once again, there was running, exhaustion, envy, and admiration.
As before, Lion Knight entered with the other instructors. But today, something felt different. Naul carried a gun over his shoulder, its surface marked by countless battle scars.
Lion Knight: "Today, we decided to show you some of our skills to help guide your training."
Monila wore a mischievous grin.
The four instructors stood before separate targets while the students sat watching and whispering.
Monila stepped forward first. She raised her hands. The entire academy fell under her blinding aura. Suddenly, from the ground rose an army of hundreds—human soldiers formed entirely of radiant light.
Demad and the others stared in stunned disbelief.
Next was Naul. Without visibly loading the weapon, he aimed his rifle at a massive rock. In a flash—faster than a second—dozens of bullets struck with supersonic force. The rock vanished under the barrage.
Some students hadn't even seen the bullets travel.
Then came Ane. Using wood and metal magic, she created a towering wooden giant wielding an iron sword. Without hesitation, the giant brought the blade down, pulverizing its target like dust.
The impact and shockwave forced everyone to shield their eyes and brace themselves against the ground.
Finally, it was Lion Knight's turn.
He stood before his target empty-handed. The students watched in silence, wondering what he would do.
The space beside his right hand trembled slightly. Suddenly, from nothing, a katana teleported into his grasp.
Its straight silver blade shone like radiant light. It was nearly as tall as Lion Knight himself. The golden hilt bore the emblem of a lion.
Demad stared, breathless, as if witnessing the most extraordinary sight of his life.
Lion Knight raised the sword. Light began flowing through the blade like living fire. Then, with savage speed, he brought it down.
A luminous line sliced through the center of the rock. The cut extended beyond it, splitting even the academy walls behind.
The division was so precise and terrifying that the gap itself seemed invisible.
Demad was in pure shock. In his mind, he imagined himself standing where Lion Knight stood—cleaving matter in half with perfect precision.
The students erupted into applause. Whistles and cheers filled the air. The aftermath of destruction lay scattered across the