The gentle morning sun shone on the sands of the training field, creating long, trembling shadows.
The entire first-year class had gathered around the field. The smell of training armor leather and dust kicked up from the ground filled the air.
Master Allen, a thin man with sunken eyes and a sly look, rumored to be on the payroll of House Von Taurus, stood in the center of the field. With a resonant voice rippling with sadistic pleasure, he said:
"Today, there is no magic or aura. I want to see how long you can survive when your mana runs out. Today, I will assess 'Pure Technique' to decide how to proceed with your pathetic training."
Allen glanced at the list in his hand and sneered, revealing his yellow teeth.
"Maria... with Brook."
Brook was a burly boy with broad shoulders whose uniform was bursting at the seams. Contrary to his appearance, he had an alert and sharp look. He picked up his heavy training sword and stepped forward with earth-shaking strides.
Master Allen's goal was clear: placing the tiniest student (Maria) against the heaviest (Brook) to humiliate Maria with a disgraceful defeat and discredit Edward, who had recommended her to the Academy.
The kids whispered:
"Poor girl... she'll be crushed."
"Look, Brook is twice her size!"
Brook stood in front of Maria. His shadow completely fell over Maria, plunging her into darkness.
"Don't worry, little one. If you surrender quickly, I promise not to break your bones. You'll just get a little bruised."
In silence, Maria held her wooden sword low. She spread her feet shoulder-width apart and shifted her weight onto the balls of her feet.
Opponent analysis: Heavyweight, long weapon reach. If I block, my wrist will break. The only way is close-quarters combat.
"Begin!"
Brook attacked immediately. Not a clumsy strike, but a fast and powerful horizontal swing aimed at Maria's ribs.
Whoosh!
The sound of the air splitting was terrifying.
Maria reacted, but her body lagged behind her mind.
At the very last moment, she knelt and ducked her head. The wooden sword passed millimeters from her hair, and the wind from the strike slapped her face.
Maria hadn't expected such a fast strike from that large frame. A cold sweat beaded on her temple, and her heart skipped a beat.
Close! Too close... This body is still slow. If I had been a second late, my ribs would have turned to powder.
Before she could catch her breath, Brook continued his attack.
Brook wasn't surprised. He had expected the dodge. He immediately used the centrifugal force of his body's rotation to bring down a second strike from above, like a sledgehammer.
"Thought you could dodge forever?!"
Maria saw the shadow of the sword coming down. She had no chance to retreat backward; the sword was longer than her small steps.
Death (or a crushing defeat) was one step away.
So she did the craziest thing possible.
Instead of going back, she dove forward. Right into Brook's arms.
Boom!
Brook's heavy strike hit the ground where Maria had been a fraction of a second ago, kicking up dust into the air.
Now Maria was pressed against Brook's chest. Where the boy's long sword was useless.
Brook was startled. He wanted to push Maria away with his free hand, but Maria was faster.
She lowered her center of gravity. She pressed her back against Brook's chest, grabbed the boy's right arm holding the sword, and locked it over her own small shoulder.
Judo Technique: Ippon Seoi Nage (Shoulder Throw).
Of course, with Maria's little strength, a full throw wasn't possible, but Brook had also lost his balance due to the heavy previous strike.
Maria used her legs as a lever and pulled Brook with all the power in her hips and lower back.
"Get down!"
Brook stumbled. His own heavy weight worked against him. His ankle twisted, and with a tremendous sound, like a felled tree, he slammed headfirst into the ground.
Thud!
The ground shook, and more dust rose.
Before Brook could move, Maria jumped onto his stomach. She drove her knee into Brook's chest, knocking the wind out of him and placed the edge of the wooden sword against his throat.
Maria's breathing was rapid, but her hand remained steady.
"If this sword were real, your jugular would be cut."
Brook, with a dusty face and widened eyes, was frozen. He didn't even understand how he had been taken down by a little girl.
Absolute silence engulfed the field.
In the corner of the field, Prince Arthur, who had clenched his fist in worry until that moment, let out his held breath, and a smile of pride and satisfaction settled on his lips.
A few noble girls who were waiting for Maria's humiliation covered their mouths with their hands.
Sarah's eyes sparkled, as if she had found her life's hero.
And Damian... he watched with narrowed, precise eyes, devoid of any emotion. As if he were solving a math equation. He whispered under his breath: "Interesting..."
Maria stood up, lowered her sword, and gave a short bow.
"Thank you for the match."
Master Allen had gone pale. He ground his teeth together so hard the sound was audible. He looked at Maria with disbelief and hatred; his plan was ruined.
Taking down Brook was a victory, but Maria's young body had to pay the price. Her breathing was fast and ragged, the skin of her face flushed from the fever of adrenaline, and tiny dots of light danced like insects before her eyes. Signs Maria knew meant her victory had come at a high cost.
Ignoring Master Allen's flushed face, Maria returned to the line and tried to hide the trembling of her knees.
Other fights continued. Damian defeated his opponent in three seconds with sheer brutality, and Arthur won with the elegance of a classic swordsman. But Maria's mind was still preoccupied with the weakness of her own body.
***
After the practical class ended, it was almost noon. Maria entered the dining hall. This time, the atmosphere was different from the morning.
No heavy silence reigned upon her entry, but the vibe had shifted. Reactions were no longer uniform; the small society of the Academy had fractured.
On one side sat Damian's supporters and bigoted nobles. They looked at Maria with anger and hatred, as if she had insulted something sacred to them. Their whispers could be heard:
"Classless savage..."
"Did you hear how she cheated? She must have used Aura."
"Poor Brook, got caught off guard."
But on the other side, students of lower social standing or those tired of Damian's group's bullying looked at Maria furtively and with excitement. They tried not to draw attention; their whispers were different:
"Did you see how she took him down?"
"Good for her... finally someone found to cut them down to size."
"I'm going to ask her to be my teammate in the next class."
Some also watched Maria with a look that was a mix of fear, curiosity, and caution, as if they simply preferred to keep their distance from her.
Maria picked up her food tray. She tried to be indifferent, but she felt the weight of this division.
Now I'm not just a 'commoner' anymore. To half the school, I'm a 'hero,' and to the other half, a 'sworn enemy'.
She sat in a corner. Her muscles still ached from her fight with Brook.
Suddenly, a shadow fell over her table.
It was Julian Vane. With that same crooked, charming smile, he tossed a shiny red apple up and caught it in the air.
"Heard you started an interesting circus, First-Year."
Maria didn't lift her head. She busied herself stirring her soup.
"It wasn't a circus. It was self-defense."
Julian pulled out the chair opposite her and sat down without permission. He leaned back in the chair as if he owned the whole hall.
"That move you pulled on Brook... was a strange technique. None of the Alverin swordsmanship schools have a move like that. Savage, but... beautiful."
He took a big bite of the apple and continued with his mouth full:
"You know, this Academy is like a stagnant swamp. Everything is predictable. Nobles show off, the weak get crushed, and Damian... well, Damian rules. It's boring. Very boring."
His honey-colored eyes sparkled mischievously.
"But you... you were like a big rock thrown into the middle of this swamp. The wave you made smelled of 'change'. Or maybe the smell of 'blood'. Both are entertaining to me."
Maria left her spoon in the bowl and looked at Julian.
"So Your Excellency is looking for entertainment? I'm not a clown."
Julian laughed. His voice was resonant, and a few people turned and looked.
"Oh, don't be so hasty. Edward asked me in his letter to 'watch your back'."
Julian leaned forward and put his elbows on the table. His voice dropped, but his tone became more serious:
"But honestly? I don't care. I just came to see how long 'Edward's Choice' lasts."
Julian paused slightly.
"I bet on you."
"A bet?"
"Not with money. I'm betting my interest on you. I bet that you can stir up this swamp. So please... don't die soon. It's a pity for the show to end so early."
Julian stood up. He placed his half-eaten apple on Maria's tray, as if it were a prize.
"Your next class is Magic Theory, right?"
He gave a wink that was both friendly and ominous.
"Good luck. You can't slam your opponent headfirst into the ground there. I want to see what trick you pull out of your sleeve when 'physics' doesn't help anymore."
Julian put his hand in his pocket and walked away whistling, as if heading to the front row of a theater.
Maria looked at the bitten apple.
Julian Vane... neither friend nor enemy. He's a spectator who likes to set the stage on fire to get warm.
She squeezed her spoon tightly.
Fine, Mr. Spectator. If you want a show... I'll show you.