The next day, Leo arrived early.
The training field was already active.
But something was different.
Someone else was there.
Rin.
She stood in the center, facing the instructor.
"You said I wasn't ready," she said. "Test me again."
The instructor looked at her for a moment.
"…You improved."
Rin didn't respond.
Leo walked closer.
Rin glanced at him. "…You're late."
"…No," Leo replied. "You're early."
Ray's voice came from behind. "And I'm just in time."
The instructor raised his hand.
"Good. Then we begin."
He looked at all three of them.
"Today is not about spells."
A short pause.
"…It's about combat."
The air became tense.
"Leo," he said, "you will fight."
Leo stepped forward. "…Against who?"
The instructor pointed.
"…Her."
Rin.
Silence.
Ray stepped back immediately. "Yeah, I'm staying out of this."
Rin walked forward.
No hesitation.
"…Don't hold back," she said.
Leo looked at her.
"…I won't."
The instructor stepped aside.
"Begin."
Rin moved first.
Fast.
No warning.
A direct attack.
Leo reacted instantly.
Minimal movement.
He deflected it.
Rin followed up.
Second strike.
Third.
No pause between attacks.
Leo stepped back once.
Then stopped.
Adjusted.
Her rhythm.
Her pattern.
"…Faster than before," he said.
Rin didn't reply.
Her attacks changed.
Less predictable.
More fluid.
Leo narrowed his eyes.
"…Better."
He moved forward this time.
Closed the distance.
Rin reacted—
But Leo was already there.
He raised his hand.
Not to attack—
To disrupt.
Rin felt it.
Her spell collapsed mid-formation.
She stepped back instantly.
"…You're interfering earlier now," she said.
Leo nodded.
"…You improved too."
A short silence.
Then—
Rin smiled slightly.
"…Good."
Her mana surged.
Stronger than before.
Faster.
Sharper.
She attacked again.
This time—
Leo didn't just defend.
He countered.
A precise movement.
A small shift in flow.
Rin's attack turned—
Slightly off.
Enough.
Leo stepped in.
Stopped just before contact.
Silence.
Rin looked at his hand.
Right in front of her.
If it was real combat—
She would have lost.
She exhaled slowly.
"…Again."
They reset.
This time—
Longer.
Faster.
More intense.
Attack.
Defend.
Counter.
Adjust.
Neither stopped.
Ray watched from the side. "…This isn't normal training anymore."
The instructor didn't reply.
His eyes followed every move.
Rin pushed harder.
Changed patterns.
Forced Leo to react.
Leo adapted.
Read her faster.
Moved cleaner.
At some point—
They stopped thinking.
Only reacting.
Only fighting.
Then—
Both stepped back at the same time.
Breathing steady.
Eyes locked.
No clear winner.
But—
Both stronger.
The instructor stepped forward.
"…Enough."
Silence.
Rin lowered her hand.
"…Next time, I win."
Leo replied calmly.
"…We'll see."
Ray clapped lightly. "Yeah… I definitely don't want to fight either of you."
No one laughed.
But the tension eased slightly.
The instructor looked at them.
"…This is what real growth looks like."
A short pause.
"…From now on, training gets harder."
Leo nodded.
Rin didn't look away.
And for the first time—
They weren't just rivals.
They were pushing each other forward.
At full speed.