Sai walked through the morning corridor of the Academy, Nox keeping pace beside him. The little dragon's wings twitched slightly with each of Sai's steps, as if reacting to his master's movements. He felt the weight of the entire day ahead, but also a flicker of excitement. Nox was with him, and that added a layer of confidence. In his hands, he held his schedule for the day: four classes, followed by training with Aella.
"Alright, Nox," Sai muttered, "let's see how today goes. We mustn't be late."
Nox let out a quiet, short sound, as if confirming he understood. Sai smiled faintly. Even if the dragonling couldn't speak, his attention and reactions spoke volumes.
The first lesson began in a bright, spacious classroom where books and notebooks lay on the desks. Sai sat next to Lars, who immediately started cracking jokes.
"Look, I got a new notebook for magical formulas," Lars said with a wink. "What about you?"
"Haven't had time to prepare one yet," Sai replied, glancing at Nox. "But I think with this friend, it might be easier."
The instructor, a young upperclassman with neat hair and a stern gaze, approached the board.
"Today we begin with elemental concentration magic," he said. "You need to learn to control small amounts of energy and maintain flow stability. Attention and concentration are paramount."
Sai could feel Nox reacting to the magical energy in the classroom, rising slightly on his paws and twitching his wings. Sai quietly gripped his pen and focused on following the instructor's movements, absorbing every piece of advice.
"Energy obeys your will," the instructor continued. "Any distraction—and you lose control. Let's start simple: create a flow between your palms."
Sai closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and allowed a small amount of inner energy to flow through his hands. He felt a slight warmth, which Nox instantly noticed—the dragonling perked up and watched Sai's hands intently.
"Excellent," said the instructor. "Sai, show us."
Sai opened his eyes, blushing slightly. He slowly extended his hands, concentrating, and a faint blue energy streamed from his palms. The flow was barely visible but steady. Nox tilted his head slightly, studying the magical manifestation.
"Not bad for a beginner," the instructor said. "Continue the exercise."
For the next ten minutes, Sai diligently repeated the exercise, feeling the energy move through him, the dragonling's reaction amplifying the sensations. Every movement was carefully measured, and with each repetition, the flow grew stronger and more stable.
After the first class ended, he headed to the next one—Algebra and Numerical Structures. The instructor was strict, but his explanations were clear. Sai focused on formulas and equations, immersing himself in calculations. Nox sat quietly beside him, pressing against his leg as if understanding this wasn't magic, but still part of mental training.
"Hey, Sai," Lars whispered, "I think there's a mistake in this problem."
"Let's check," Sai said quietly, and they worked through the equation together. He was surprised how logic and concentration helped him handle the pressure of the lesson.
The next class was on the history of the Last War and the Cataclysms. The instructor recounted how superpowers used nuclear weapons, destroyed cities, and how monsters began falling from the sky afterwards. Sai listened, feeling his heart tighten. He knew parts of these stories were true, parts were legends, but still…
"The weak aren't spared," he muttered under his breath, "and I have no right to be weak."
Nox shuddered slightly, as if sensing the weight of his master's thoughts. Sai stroked his scales, trying to distract himself, but the thought of the world's cruelty lingered.
The final class for the day—Combat Arts and Tactics. The instructor, a tall upperclassman with short dark hair, demonstrated movements and techniques, explaining how to properly control an opponent and the surrounding space.
Sai watched every move, trying to mimic the instructor. He was getting tired, but he understood its importance. Nox sat nearby, observing. When Sai made a wrong step, the dragonling let out a soft hiss, as if signaling he needed to be more careful.
"Excellent," the instructor said at the end of the class. "Lessons are over. Remember, the training session after lunch is no less important."
Sai checked the time. There was enough time before curfew to get to the training hall. He stood up, adjusted his uniform, picked up Nox, and headed to the location.
When he entered the hall, Aella was already waiting for him. She stood with her hands on her hips, her eyes drilling into him.
"Well, my little student," she said with a smirk, "today is the third training session. And yes, no matter how you perform—I will correct every mistake you make. Ready?"
Sai nodded, his heart pounding.
"Um… what the hell?" he muttered quietly, watching her hold a combat sword. "Are you seriously going to beat me up for everything?"
"Absolutely," she said, raising an eyebrow. "Every wrong step—a strike. Every failed block—another one. You do want to learn, right?"
Sai took a deep breath, set Nox down on the floor—who immediately hid behind his back—and assumed a combat stance.
The training began.
Every one of Aella's movements was precise, fast, and lethally beautiful at the same time. She taught Sai how to hold the sword correctly, how to move, how to control his breathing. Every misstep was met with a light or more substantial strike.
"Block!" she shouted, and when he failed to react in time, a light blow landed on his shoulder.
"Ow!" he exhaled, jumping back.
"Again!" she said sternly. "And no whining."
Sai repeated the exercises, each time feeling his muscles grow stronger, his breathing steadier, his control over his movements improving. Nox watched, giving a little hop when Sai performed a technique correctly and letting out a soft hiss at mistakes.
The hours felt like minutes. Sai was exhausted, but he understood: every training session was a step towards strength, control, survival.
Finally, after the long, grueling day, Sai left the hall. He was drenched in sweat, his clothes stuck to his body, his muscles burning with fatigue. Nox let out a quiet sigh, approaching him as if sharing the feeling of complete exhaustion.
"Alright," Sai muttered, leaning against the wall, "now I understand… what 'the third training session' means."
Aella merely nodded, her eyes shining with respect.
"You held up better than I expected," she said. "But don't get comfortable. The next session will be even harder."
Sai took a deep breath, looked down at Nox, who was quietly hissing and pressing against him.
"Okay, Nox… we made it," he said, smiling, though with effort. "And tomorrow, we'll work again."
In that moment, he understood that strength wasn't just about magic or combat skills. It was endurance, control, patience, and the willingness to take hits but keep moving forward.
He looked at the dragonling, at the world around him, and for the first time in a long while, he felt that he could withstand anything life threw at him, as long as he took it one step at a time.