The morning light stretched lazily across Starfall Academy of the Gifted, brushing the crystal spires with a faint golden glow. From the gates, Tetsuo Hikaruzaki could feel the subtle pulse of Tenki permeating the grounds. It wasn't visible—no floating lights or shimmering aura—but the energy was alive, brushing against his senses like a whisper in the wind. The air itself hummed with tension, every student radiating a presence that could be felt, even if it couldn't be seen.
Tetsu stood at the entrance, twin sai secured at his back, heart pounding with anticipation. Around him, students from every clan were interacting with one another: making the school seem like one big extended family.
On his way to the hall, he met Kaede standing quietly off to the side with her bow slung over her shoulder. Her eyes, sharp and calculating, scanned the crowd and flicked briefly toward Tetsu. He recalled their trek to the Academy—the careful guidance she had provided, her discreet knowledge of the forest paths, and the subtle hints of her cautious nature. Even now, her gaze softened for a moment as it met his before returning to its vigilant sweep of the students.
They both walked into the hall where the revised hostel arrangement had been dropped on a bulletin board.
Inside the main hall, banners and murals of great students who had passed through the school hung proudly, decorating the stone and crystal structures . Students crowded around the luminous board listing dorm assignments. Tetsu approached and read:
Dorm Cluster B — Room Set 7
Tetsuo Hikaruzaki
Haru Kage
Only two names. Just… two?
The chatter in the hall didn't stop, but a subtle dip in volume signaled something had changed near the main door. A tall figure stepped through the archway, cloaked in robes that seemed deeper and darker than everyone else's. He moved with a slow, deliberate cadence, his dark hair falling over a sharp, angular jaw. His eyes, the only truly visible feature of his face, were fixed straight ahead, conveying an emotionless, distant seriousness.
He walked straight to the bulletin board and stared at it for a minute. He then turned towards Tetsuo. "I take it you are Tetsuo Hikaruzaki?"
"Yes I am. And you are?" Tetsu asked
"Haru Kage. I believe we'll be sharing a dorm room?"
"Yes. I believe we will" Tetsu replied, trying to sound confident.
Haru gave a single nod and turned, walking ahead. Tetsu exhaled, a mix of relief and trepidation. My roommate is a stone wall.
As they moved toward their room, Haru's voice came, quiet and deliberate:
"Get a hold of yourself". Tetsu stopped abruptly, shocked by this comment "What do you mean by that?"
"I mean control your energy. Anyone within a 200 meter radius can sense and locate you based on the aura you're giving off. Learn to conceal it, and you have a better chance of survival in battle.
"So that's how he gets around unnoticed ,Tetsu thought as he took mental notes.. "Uh… thanks," Tetsu muttered. Brief, blunt, but useful.
************
In the courtyard, A woman who introduced herself as Ms. Lysandra; a small yet strong looking woman raised her hands. The students immediately fell silent.
"Welcome students, to Advanced Combat class" she began, voice carrying calm authority. "Here, your fighting skill will be honed, your abilities tested, and your mastery of Tenki techniques refined. Remember: strength is measured not by birthright, but by control, precision, and technique. I am the teacher for Healing and Restorative Arts but I'll be filling in today. Your teacher has some urgent business to attend to and so he won't be around for a while. A substitute teacher will be provided for you soon "
Tetsu scanned the crowd. A few students like Blaze from Pyronis and Star from Celestia looked interesting and capable. Raika, the Lumina princess, also stood out although she didn't seem to like him very much considering the looks she shot him. Denki's glare followed Tetsu, competitive and slightly resentful, but unwavering.
"You will begin with mock battles" Ms Lysandra continued. "Your performance as teammates and your ability to cooperate will determine your success, not just raw power. Learn from your mates, push each other, and adapt. Friendly rivalries and competition is one of the ways to grow exponentially. Consider it as extra classes and your rival as an instructor"
Rivals as teachers… perfect, Tetsu thought, a grin forming. This was going to be fun and somehow, he knew his classmates felt the same.
"At first light tomorrow morning, you are to gather here to commence team mock battles. For now, you're dismissed". said Ms Lysandra.
The students then returned to their assigned dorms and settled for the night.
***************
The next day, morning sunlight spilled gently through the tall crystal windows of the school male dormitory wing, scattering soft green beams across the stone floor. The Academy grounds were unusually peaceful—birds gliding past the skybridge, students stretching outside, and faint Tenki signatures pulsing like soft heartbeats in the air.
Tetsuo inhaled deeply.His second day at the Academy had begun.
Unlike Verdantis City, where people called his name every time he stepped outside, the Academy felt… neutral. No special treatment. No royal guards. No royal carriage—especially since he'd ditched it the moment he left the capital.
Here, everyone was just a student trying to prove themselves.
Tetsuo tightened his gloves and stepped into the hallway, only to find Haru leaning against the wall, arms crossed, hood half-drawn over his face. He looked like he hadn't slept, but his eyes—dark like polished obsidian that drew in all the light—were unusually sharp.
"You overslept," Haru said flatly.
Tetsuo blinked. "It's sunrise—"
"And you overslept." Haru pushed off the wall. "Come on. They're gathering for the mock trials today."
"Already?" Tetsuo asked.
Haru nodded once.Calm… but with a strange tension under his voice.
**********
The arena buzzed with anticipation as Ms Lysandra stepped forward. "Today, students, your mock battle will test not only your combat skills but your strategy and teamwork. Each team possesses a Core Crystal, infused with your collective Tenki. Only the striker, marked by the armband, can damage the opposing Core. Victory comes by destroying the enemy Core or knocking all opponents out of the arena."
The teams were announced:
Team Tetsuo: Tetsuo Hikaruzaki , Haru Kage , Oupou Denki , Ella Magnus
Team Star: Blaze Raiden, Star Vance, Raika Hoshino, Naeva Pike
The students lined up at their starting zones. The Core Crystals hovered at each team's base, pulsing with their elemental auras. Tetsuo's fingers flexed nervously. Today, he wasn't just fighting—he was protecting his team's crystal.
"Begin!" shouted Lysandra
And they begun immediately.
Denki didn't wait for strategy. With a roar, he grabbed the armband and charged at Naeva, who was defending her team's core. Stone cracked beneath their feet as Naeva braced, summoning her Titan Skin. Her fists collided with Denki's attacks, sending vibrations through the ground.
"Pathetic," Haru muttered under his breath, watching as Denki barreled into the fight without thinking. "You're just asking to be pinned!"
Denki ignored his comments, swinging wildly, trying to break Naeva's defense. Naeva's strength matched his fury blow for blow. He then stepped back and spread his legs wide apart, crouched in that stance and slammed his foot hard into the ground, creating cracks.
He punched one fist to the air while keeping the other beside him. He then shouted, "Tectonic Shift: Unmovable Aegis". Just then, from the surface he stood on, raw stone essence erupted, spiraling up his body to instantly solidify into the a golem shaped suit. He then lunged forward, resuming his fight.
Denki's Earth Golem slammed into Naeva, who braced her Titan Skin. Each strike reverberated through the ground like a drumbeat. Naeva's strength was overwhelming, but Denki's Golem amplified his own power, allowing him to land hits and although his hits met their mark, they didn't do enough damage thanks to Naeva's strong defense.
Meanwhile, unoccupied an itching for a fight, Blaze decided to go on the attack. He surged forward, flames wrapping around his fists like living serpents. His eyes glinted with excitement; clearly relishing the challenge. He darted toward Ella, who held the core for team Tetsu.
Tetsuo's roots burst from the ground. "Whiplash Vines!" jagged, snapping roots shot upward, wrapping around Blaze's legs. Blaze managed to react in time, leaping high. "Inferno Dash!" Fire enveloped him as he twisted mid-air, barely dodging the roots.
He landed on his feet, and grinned as he stepped forward, igniting his fists in roaring flames. "Forest prince, let's see what you've got!"
Blaze swung a Blazing Fist Strike!, Tetsuo rolled under it, retaliating with Crushing Root Strike! Sparks flew. "You know, it's dangerous to play with fire!" Blaze said.
"Well, life would be boring without a little danger" replied Tetsu as he launched Forest spires from the ground.
Blaze countered with Blazing Ground Smash!, sending jagged rocks and fire in all directions.
Tetsuo sprang over, using Forest Grasp!, roots lashing to strike Blaze midair.
Tetsu then noticed a sudden pull in his legs , while trying to dodge the area of attack. This sudden speed boost allowed him to effortlessly close the distance between them and land a flurry of punches at his opponent. He's getting faster by the minute, thought Blaze as he noticed the sudden change in speed. "Interesting…" he muttered, launching a Flame Spiral Kick!
Again, Tetsuo felt a the pull in his legs. His body moved faster, weaving through Blaze's attack instinctively. He twisted, vaulting over a spiraling wall of fire and slamming a Forest Grasp! strike directly into Blaze's midsection. Blaze staggered but grinned, flames flickering higher. Then Blaze flipped mid air and used his flames to propel him forward, landing a straight knee in Tetsu's face. Without stopping, he moved sideways and launched another Blazing Fist Strike! , this time landing it square in Tetsu's midsection.
On the opposite side, Haru faced Star, who swung his blade, releasing his Starlight Slash!, arcs of radiant energy slashing the air. Haru's eyes narrowed. With just a flick, he froze the tip of the sword mid-swing. "Temporal Pause!" Objects—the sword and nearby stones—halted for a heartbeat, giving him a chance to roll sideways and strike.
He struck with Cosmic Bind!, shadows coiling around Star's legs. Star twisted free, retaliating with Solar Burst!, a radiant flare sweeping toward Haru. Haru countered with a controlled Cosmos Wave, redirecting the blast and keeping the fight evenly matched. Haru tried using his time pause ability to limit Star's movement but the latter evaded this successfully due to his Gift of Vision.
The duel was precise, a test of intellect and timing. Haru's object-freeze ability allowed him to neutralize Star's attacks, while his Cosmos bursts mirrored Star's energy. He remained fully engaged in his own battle, leaving Tetsuo to deal with Blaze, Denki, Naeva, and Ella.
While the fighting went on, Ella advanced; Core held tightly. Raika lunged with a powerful Lumina Lunge! Her spear cut through the air, aiming to smash Ella's defense.
Ella raised her shield instinctively. Ripple Shield! Water surged around her, deflecting the strike. Sparks of synchronized energy pulsed subtly between Ella and Tetsuo, resonating and solidifying their Tenki.
Raika pressed on, slashing repeatedly. Ella parried with Wave Barrier!, reinforcing the shield around her Core. Each clash sent water and light spraying across the arena, blurring the boundary between defense and offense.
On Denki's part, the battle continued to drag on.
Denki lunged again, fists swinging wildly. Naeva responded with precise Titan Slam! and Earthen Wall!, blocking and countering. Rocks exploded as Denki struck Terra Uppercut!.
The fight dragged across the arena, back and forth. Denki's brute force collided with Naeva's strategic strength, every strike rattling the stands.
Both Denki and Naeva refused to let up, resulting in a good display of offence and defense. Realizing the impasse, Denki reluctantly handed the armband back to Tetsuo, who had been positioning himself closer to Team Star's Core.
Meanwhile, the fight between Blaze and Tetsu had begun to reach it's climax. Blaze swung a Blazing Fist Strike!, colliding with Tetsuo's Crushing Root Strike! Sparks flew, smoke billowed, and the arena shuddered beneath their clash. They traded blows rapidly: fire against roots, heat against tenacity, each strike landing with audible impact.
Finally, Tetsuo twisted past Blaze's swing instinctively, launching forward. Without thinking, he slammed out of Blaze's path and darted toward the Core. Blaze ignited himself for one final Inferno Blitz! towards Ella. hoping to reach their core before Tetsu reached his. Blaze's attack arrived just after Tetsuo's strike landed on Team Star's Core. The Core shattered under Tetsuo's blow, marking the victory. Blaze's own strike, despite its immense force and speed, was too late seeing as Team Tetsu had claimed the win.
*****************
The smoke and dust still lingered in the arena as both teams slowly stepped back, chests heaving from the intensity of their battles. Roots lay scorched and twisted across the ground, water from Ella's barriers shimmered in droplets over the scorched earth, and smoldering patches of Blaze's fire dotted the terrain.
Team Tetsuo huddled together first. Tetsuo crouched, wiping sweat from his brow, his legs still tingling from the sudden bursts of speed he hadn't fully understood. Haru leaned against a nearby rock, catching his breath, one hand still hovering over the armband that had sealed their victory. Denki scowled, hands on his knees, though a faint grin betrayed his grudging acknowledgment of Tetsuo's skill. Ella stood quietly, her shoulders rising and falling in deep breaths, her hands unconsciously creating faint ripples in the nearby water. Though she didn't understand it yet, her subtle Harmony had clearly contributed to their win.
"Not bad… for a bunch of rookies," Tetsuo said, his voice calm but carrying a proud undertone. He glanced at each teammate, nodding. "We worked together. That's what mattered."
Haru let out a soft chuckle, shaking his head. "You've got some weird instincts, Tetsuo. I don't know what's powering those legs of yours, but I'll admit—it saved the Core." He smirked, still playful, though his attention was already flicking toward the next fight.
Denki snorted, crossing his arms. "Yeah, yeah. Don't get used to me being nice." His scowl was offset by a gleam in his eye. "Next time, I'll make sure to take all of you down myself."
Ella gave a small smile, her fingers brushing over her arms, where tiny ripples shimmered in the fading sunlight. "I… I don't know why, but it felt like I could protect everyone better when we worked together," she murmured. Her words were tentative, almost as if she was realizing the extent of her own abilities for the first time.
On the other side, Team Star regrouped near their shattered Core. Blaze stood tall, flames flickering faintly around him, yet the sweat on his brow betrayed the exertion of the duel. "Not bad," he said to Tetsuo from across the battlefield. "You've got guts. That speed of yours… impressive."
Star leaned on his staff, brushing dirt from his armor, a faint grin forming. "Haru, you've got some control over that time trick. Clever use. Makes me want to push harder next round." He gestured toward Haru, who only smirked in response.
Naeva stood solidly, hands on her hips, surveying Denki with a critical eye. "You hit harder than I expected," she said, her tone more amused than harsh. "Still, next time, don't charge in without thinking. You're lucky I wasn't aiming to knock you out."
Raika adjusted her stance, nodding respectfully to Ella. "You held your Core well… more than well. I didn't expect you to last this long against me." She smiled faintly, an acknowledgment of Ella's skill.
For a few moments, the teams simply caught their breath. The tension in the arena eased, replaced by a quiet respect forged from the battlefield. Despite the rivalry, there was acknowledgment—mutual recognition of skill, determination, and the unpredictability of each fighter.
Tetsuo straightened, brushing his hands over his pants and glancing toward the center of the arena. "Alright," he said, voice steady. "We rest for now. That guy's battle is next, gesturing to Kazuta. Let's see if he can live up to the hype."
Haru cracked a smile, looking over to Star. "Don't blink," he said under his breath. "This one's supposed to be the real show."
Denki rolled his eyes but muttered, "Hopefully this one doesn't get in the way of my warm-up."
The two teams, now united in momentary truce through shared effort and mutual respect, gathered along the sidelines, watching the remaining two people in the arena. On one hand was Kazuta, His twin katanas glinting under the sunlight, and Mikido, his opponent, adjusted his single katana with a calm, calculating expression.
The stage was set. The air crackled—not with visible energy this time, but with the unspoken tension, anticipation, and competitive spirit that only true warriors could feel.
Both teams, resting yet alert, watched as the next clash began, knowing that the lessons learned today, the camaraderie forged, and the rivalries established would shape the battles to come.