The academy bell rang three times. Midday sparring time. Students grabbed their gear and headed to the arena.
Dust kicked up as they lined up. The air smelled like sweat and mana.Ethan stayed with the Tier 2 group at the back.
He pulled his hood down a bit. Not to hide, just to blend in. His wooden practice sword felt normal in his hand. Guys around him talked about who would win. Some bet on Adrian.Adrian was up front with the Tier 1s. He stretched and his hair caught the sun. Catherine stood next to him. Her grip on her sword was tight.
Elara was off to the side. Frost formed on her fingers. She stared at the pairing board. Seraphina talked to a nervous first-year. Her voice was calm.Ethan watched them without staring.
He remembered their problems from the second life.
Adrian's left side was slow sometimes. Catherine chased fake moves. Elara used too much mana too fast. He could help fix that later. Without anyone knowing it was him."Pairings are up," Instructor Hale said. His voice was loud.
The board showed the matches. Tier 1s fought each other.
Tier 2s got easier ones.Ethan's match was against Tomas. The kid looked nervous. He was skinny and his sword shook a little."Good luck," Tomas said."You too," Ethan said.The whistle blew. Tomas swung hard but missed.
Ethan moved to the side and tapped his wrist. Tomas dropped his sword.Ethan held out a hand. "Keep your elbows closer next time. You show your move early."Tomas took the hand and stood up.
"Thanks. You're fast."Hale walked by but didn't stop. No one paid attention.Ethan looked at the main fights. Adrian beat his guy quick. People clapped. Catherine won her match clean.
Elara's fight ended in a tie. Her ice was good but she breathed heavy after.That was her mana problem. Ethan saw a small rock on the ground near her spot. During the water break, he picked it up.
He threw it when no one looked. It landed right where she would step for her next practice.Elara moved forward.
Her foot hit the rock. She adjusted her feet lower without thinking. She cast ice. It hit the dummy hard and clean. No problem after.Hale nodded. "Good stance, Winterfeld. Do that again."Elara looked at the rock. Then she looked around at the Tier 2 group. Her eyes stopped on Ethan for a second. Then she looked away.
Ethan drank from his bottle. His heart beat a little faster. She would use that stance more now. It would help her later.Sparring went on. Seraphina fixed a guy's ankle nearby. Catherine and Adrian fought to a draw.
They laughed about it. Ethan did two more matches. He won both. He gave short tips to his partners. "Step back more." "Breathe from here."The horn blew. Time over. Adrian had a group around him. Elara walked off alone. Catherine cleaned her sword. She looked toward Tier 2 for a moment. Seraphina helped first-years pick up stuff.Ethan put his bag on his shoulder and left. No one said bye.
Tomas caught up by the fountain. "Hey Voss. That tip worked. I got my next one."Ethan shrugged. "Just watch closer. It'll help."Tomas smiled and ran to his friends.
At the dorm steps, Ethan's communicator beeped. It was Lina."Big brother! How was sparring? Did you win?"Ethan smiled a little. "Yeah. A few easy ones.
You practice today?""Look!" She showed a small ice flower in her hand. It stayed steady."Nice job," Ethan said. "Keep it up. Don't rush.""I won't.
When do I see you?""Soon. Study hard."He went inside. The room was dim. Sun hit the floor. Ethan sat on the bed. He put the sword down.One day done. He helped a little. No one knew.Tomorrow was group drills. More chances.