The training ground was wide and gleaming under the morning light. Mana particles shimmered faintly in the air like dust caught in sunlight. Students formed a loose circle around the sparring area, whispering nervously.
Then she walked in—Professor Livia.
Her presence alone made half the class straighten. She wasn't just beautiful—she was commanding. Long, flowing hair the color of polished bronze, eyes sharp and sea-blue, and the kind of posture that told everyone she could knock them unconscious without breaking a sweat. Her sleeveless combat uniform made no effort to hide the muscle tone beneath smooth skin, yet there was a grace to how she moved—like a dancer who'd learned to kill.
"Today's lesson is simple," she said, her voice calm but carrying through the field like a whip crack. "Magic alone won't save you. Muscles alone won't save you. You must learn to blend both."
She raised one leg slightly—fluid, almost lazy—and then snapped it forward. The kick didn't just slice the air; it screamed through it. A blade of condensed water followed the motion, slashing into a practice dummy and splitting it cleanly in two.
The crowd gasped.
"That," she said, lowering her leg with absolute poise, "is how you merge movement and mana."
Silence. No one dared breathe too loudly.
Then she smiled faintly, eyes scanning the crowd.
"Now… who'll spar with me?"
No one moved.
Her smile didn't fade—but her eyes did narrow. "No volunteers?"
Everyone suddenly found their shoes fascinating.
She sighed. "Then I'll choose." Her gaze swept over the students—and stopped.
"You," she said, pointing straight at Zane.
Mira's jaw practically hit the floor. "Wait, him?!"
Zane blinked, pointing at himself lazily. "You sure? I'm more of a 'sit and observe' kind of guy."
"Up. Front."
Mira muttered under her breath, "She's going to kill him."
Zane walked up with that same casual gait, hands in pockets, expression unreadable behind the faint shadow of his hood.
Livia's lips curved. "Hit me with your strongest attack. Don't hold back—and use your magic."
"I don't have one," Zane said flatly.
She tilted her head. "Everyone does. It's just a matter of forcing it out."
Before Zane could argue, she moved.
Her leg cut through the air like lightning—too fast for anyone else to react. But Zane's body did something on its own.
His eyes flickered blue. For the briefest instant, a glowing ∞(what I had to go through to get this symbol here) symbol pulsed in his pupils.
He raised his arm just as her kick came in—
CLANG.
A shockwave rippled through the arena, tearing dust off the ground and making the students stumble back. The air quivered from the impact.
When the dust settled, Livia's leg was caught midair—Zane's hand gripping her ankle, calm as ever.
The entire class stared, dumbstruck.
Zane blinked once, slowly letting go of her leg. "…Reflex."
Livia's lips parted, surprise flashing across her normally composed face. Then—just for a heartbeat—she smiled.
"Interesting."