A moment of silence passed, the seven of them standing together, surveying the four instructors at the far end of the training ground. Their chests rose and fell with anticipation, adrenaline mixing with nerves.
Lily: "Well… here goes everything."
Lora: "No turning back now."
Cassia nodded, fists clenched tighter.
Cassia: "Then let's do this. Whatever it takes."
Then Lily stepped forward, still nursing her singed arm, swallowed hard before speaking cautiously.
Lily: "Are you… the instructors the Princess arranged for us?"
A brief pause followed—so silent they could hear the wind shifting.
Then Irfin laughed. A sharp, fiery sound that rolled through the air like thunder.
Irfin: "That depends entirely on you."
He grinned, predatory and amused, eyes narrowing as embers flickered faintly in his gaze.
Irfin: "Whether you're truly worthy of being our students… well, that remains to be seen."
The wind picked up, sweeping dust and ash in lazy spirals across the training ground.
The man in navy—the one with the silver hair—chuckled softly, amusement glinting in his eyes.
The blue-haired woman said nothing—her gaze steady as ever—while the one in emerald simply folded her hands before her, watching with calm patience.
Lily's breath caught.
Worthy?
Gerald shifted uneasily, Ella's fingers twitched near her dagger, and Melinda clicked her tongue in irritation.
Lora stepped slightly in front of Lily—protective, tense.
Lora: "We… we'll prove ourselves. That's why we're here."
Irfin's smirk widened, clearly entertained.
Irfin: "Good. I like confidence. Let's hope it's not empty."
Aeron sighed dramatically from beside Irfin.
Aeron: "Well, you always go straight for intimidation. At least let them breathe before you start roasting their pride."
Irfin: "I wasn't even trying."
Aeron raised a brow.
His long silver-white hair swayed with the breeze as he tilted his head, studying the seven students with a faint smile—too serene, too knowing.
Aeron: "Hmm. They look nervous… but determined."
He glanced meaningfully at their burnt sleeves, dust-covered boots, and trembling stances.
Aeron: "And a little singed. Were we too impressive earlier?"
Gerald mumbled.
Gerald: "A little."
Ella elbowed him—not subtly.
Evelyn stepped forward before any of the seven could speak, her presence cutting through the tension with quiet authority.
The seven straightened instinctively as she approached, her cloak brushing softly against the ground.
Evelyn: "Since you've met them already… allow me to properly introduce your instructors."
The four figures behind her stood tall—silent, composed, their power restrained but unmistakable.
She gestured to the blue-haired woman first.
Evelyn: "Lady Nerevale — master of water magic. She will be guiding Claire."
Neris inclined her head, expression serene, gaze cool and steady as a still lake.
Next, Evelyn turned to the woman in emerald.
Evelyn: "Lady Gravemont — skilled in earth magic. She will instruct Melinda and Cass."
Terra offered a gentle smile—warm, grounded—yet the weight of her presence felt like ancient stone.
Then Evelyn gestured toward the silver-haired man, whose expression held a playful mixture of amusement and quiet mischief, as if curious to see what name Evelyn might assign him.
Evelyn: "Sir Galehart — proficient in wind combat, speed, and precision. He will take charge of Gerald and Ella."
Aeros gave a courteous half-bow, silver-blue strands of hair catching the breeze, amusement sparkling in his eyes.
Evelyn: "And..."
Finally, Evelyn motioned toward the crimson-haired man standing with arms crossed.
Irfin raised an eyebrow, silently warning that if Evelyn dared give him a trite, uninspired, tasteless name like she had the others, she would witness his temper firsthand.
Evelyn: "…"
So childish...
Evelyn: "This is... Sir Ignaris — unrivaled in fire magic and offensive force. He will train Lily and Lora."
A slow, satisfied smirk spread across Irfin's face. His arms remained crossed, eyes glinting like burning embers.
Irfin: "Try not to disappoint."
Aeros sighed at him, but Evelyn continued as if she had expected it.
Evelyn: "These four will be overseeing your training from this day forward. Their methods will be… demanding. Their expectations even more so."
The seven swallowed hard.
Evelyn's next words were quiet, but unyielding.
Evelyn: "I will not interfere unless absolutely necessary. Your growth will depend on your own effort. Remember—strength cannot be handed to you. You must seize it yourselves. Forge your own strength."
Her gaze swept over each of them—Lily, Lora, Gerald, Ella, Melinda, Cassia, Claire—lingering just long enough to plant determination in their chests.
Evelyn: "From this point on, you are in their hands."
She turned to the four instructors, giving a small nod.
Evelyn: "They're all yours."
Irfin's grin sharpened.
Aeros chuckled softly.
Terra clasped her hands gently.
Neris's eyes shimmered with calm focus.
Evelyn spared the seven a final look—one that said good luck without speaking the words.
Then she stepped back, her cloak swirling as she turned away.
Evelyn: "Do your best."
With that, she walked off the training grounds, leaving the seven alone with the four overwhelming presences… and the beginning of their true trial.
The silver-haired man flicked his fingers in a breezy half-wave.
Aeros: "Children, No need to be too tense."
He paused, tilting his head.
Aeros: "Though a little tension isn't a bad thing."
Irfin's eyes glowed faintly as he swept his gaze over the seven—measuring, judging, already bored.
Irfin: "If you survive my training, I might even consider remembering your names."
Aeros sighed dramatically.
Aeros: "Ignore him. He's always like this."
Irfin: "Because weakness irritates me."
The seven swallowed hard. Ella subtly reached for her dagger again.
Lora stepped forward, still protective of Lily.
Lora: "We… we will do our best, Lady Nerevale. Lady Gravemont. Sir Galehart and... Sir Ignaris."
A small breeze rustled through the training ground, as if the world itself acknowledged their resolve.
Aeros smiled faintly.
Aeros: "We shall see."
Irfin: "We will see whether any of you have talent… or if we're wasting our time."
Aeros folded his arms, eyes narrowing playfully.
Aeros: "Littl... Evelyn must have her reasons for choosing them."
Irfin: "Her reasons are often troublesome."
Terra pressed her fingertips together, serene as the earth beneath them.
Terra: "Still, we are here. Let us guide them as promised."
Irfin: "Hmph."
Aeros groaned dramatically, throwing his head back.
Aeros: "She didn't even let us rest two more days before making us instructors. She is as heartless as ever."
Irfin smirked.
Irfin: "I agree. But she knows we hate idleness."
Aeros: "So she is heartless."
Terra smiled calmly.
Terra: "A good leader is rarely gentle."
Neris exhaled softly, her gaze sweeping over the seven.
Neris: "Prepare yourselves. Your training begins… now."
As her words left her lips, she waved her hand with a graceful motion. Instantly, a cool, soothing sensation coursed through their bodies.
Every ache, every bruise, every injury they had sustained from Irfin's earlier attack melted away as if it had never existed.
The seven froze, wide-eyed, marveling at the sheer power radiating from her.
So powerful… they thought in unison, hearts pounding with a mix of awe and anticipation.
Their princess had truly found formidable instructors.
They had never once doubted her judgment. She had already told them not to question who their instructors were or what they were, but to focus solely on their training.
Even so, none of them had expected her to find beings of such extraordinary power to guide them.
Irfin's grin deepened—sharp, predatory. Tiny flickers of flame danced in his eyes.
Irfin: "Good. I was starting to get bored."
The seven tightened their grips, bracing themselves as the four instructors stepped closer, their presence suffocating and electrifying all at once.
The sun glinted off blades, flickered in magic, and danced across the scorched earth, but it was nothing compared to the heat of expectation burning in the air.
And as the seven faced the four instructors, a single truth settled over them like iron in their chests: strength would not be given—it would be claimed, forged in fire, and tested without mercy.