Chương 19: Between Two Academies

The second morning began with noise. Someone had overturned a cooking pot. Someone else was arguing about whose turn it was to collect water. A group of students from the Royal Knights Academy had already started a physical training session beside the camp, while several magic academy students were still trying to finish breakfast. Amon stood near the fire, holding a piece of bread.

"Why are they training this early?" Rowan, who was doing push-ups nearby, looked up.

"Because some of us want to improve." Amon stared at him.

"Before breakfast?"

"Especially before breakfast." Amon looked at Leo.

"I don't understand these people." Leo took a sip of water.

"You've been awake for an hour."

"That doesn't mean I understand them." Masha laughed. Alice was sitting nearby, tying her hair back. The first day had removed much of the awkwardness between the two academies. Students who had barely spoken yesterday were now sitting together, comparing techniques and discussing the magical beasts they had encountered. The expedition was beginning to feel less like two academies traveling together and more like one group. That changed when Gareth arrived.

"Everyone." The students gradually gathered.

"Today's schedule will be different." He unfolded a map.

"Instead of following the marked route, the groups will remain within the southern region of the forest." He pointed toward several locations.

"Your instructors will organize training exercises between the two academies." Amon immediately smiled.

"Now we're talking." Gareth gave him a flat look.

"Do not turn this into a tournament." Amon's smile disappeared.

"I wasn't going to."

"You were."

"…Maybe." A few students laughed. Gareth continued.

"The exercises will consist of three activities." He raised one finger.

"Hand-to-hand combat." A second.

"Target competition." A third.

"Team capture." The students immediately became interested.

"These exercises are intended to teach you how to cooperate with people whose training differs from your own." His gaze moved across the group.

"Winning is secondary." Amon whispered,"That's what people say before a competition." Leo glanced at him.

"You're going to participate anyway."

"Obviously." The First Competition The hand-to-hand competition took place in a clearing near the camp. No magic. No weapons. Only technique. The first matches were between students from both academies. Some were short. Others lasted several minutes. The differences became obvious quickly. The Royal Knights students relied heavily on physical conditioning and formal combat techniques. The Magic Academy students were more accustomed to using spells. Without magic, several struggled.

That made the competition unexpectedly entertaining. Amon stepped into the clearing. His opponent was Marcus. Marcus raised his hands.

"Ready?" Amon nodded.

"Always." If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. The instructor gave the signal. Marcus moved first. A straight punch. Amon blocked. Marcus followed with a low kick. Amon jumped backward. Marcus continued forward. Amon tried to counter. Marcus caught his arm. Amon twisted. The two separated. The spectators cheered. Amon smiled.

"You're good." Marcus nodded.

"So are you." They moved again. This time Amon attacked first. A quick punch. Marcus blocked. A second. Marcus deflected. Amon changed direction. His shoulder struck Marcus's chest. Marcus stumbled. Amon attempted to sweep his leg. Marcus jumped. He landed behind Amon. Amon turned. Too late. Marcus grabbed his shoulder and threw him. Amon hit the ground. The spectators shouted. Amon rolled and stood immediately. He rubbed his back.

"That hurt." Marcus smiled.

"You said no magic."

"I remember." They clashed again. Neither gained a decisive advantage. Finally, both rushed forward at the same time. Their shoulders collided. Both stumbled. The instructor stepped between them.

"Draw." Amon laughed. Marcus extended his hand.

"Again tomorrow?"

"Definitely." Alice's match came next. Her opponent was Elena. Neither girl spoke much before the fight. The signal sounded. Elena moved. Alice stepped aside. Elena's fist passed beside her shoulder. Alice caught her wrist. Elena twisted free. A second attack. Alice blocked. Elena attempted a sweep. Alice jumped. She landed lightly and immediately pushed Elena backward. Elena recovered. The exchange continued. Unlike Amon and Marcus, their fight was quieter. Precise. Controlled. Neither wasted movement.

After several minutes, Elena managed to force Alice toward the edge of the circle. Alice stopped one step before leaving it. Elena moved forward. Alice shifted her weight. Then stepped behind her. Elena stopped. Alice's hand rested lightly against her shoulder.

"You're out." Elena looked down. Then laughed.

"That was clean." Alice smiled.

"You're difficult to read."

"So are you." They shook hands. Then came Leo's turn. His opponent was Rowan. The red-haired knight stepped into the clearing. He rolled his shoulders.

"I've seen you fight." Leo nodded.

"Same."

"You don't move much."

"I don't need to." Rowan grinned.

"That's a confident answer." The instructor raised his hand.

"Begin." Rowan charged. Leo stepped aside. A fist passed through empty air. Rowan turned immediately. Another punch. Leo blocked it with his forearm. The impact forced him half a step backward. Rowan attacked again. Leo shifted. Blocked. Countered. Rowan absorbed the strike and continued. The pace increased. There was no magic. No spectacular display. Only two fighters testing distance, timing, balance, and reaction. Rowan attempted a heavy strike. Leo moved inside it. His hand stopped against Rowan's chest.

Rowan froze. Leo had won. The instructor lowered his hand.

"Leo." Rowan looked down at Leo's hand. Then laughed.

"You're annoying." Leo withdrew his hand.

"I've heard that before." Rowan shook his head.

"I want a rematch."

"Sure." The match ended. The Target Competition The second exercise was held after lunch. Targets had been placed throughout a wide clearing. Each student had ten magical projectiles. The goal was simple. Destroy as many targets as possible. The Royal Knights students used enchanted weapons. The magic students used spells. Amon stood beside Leo.

"Watch this." Leo looked at him.

"You said that yesterday."

"And I was impressive yesterday."

"You almost burned Rowan."

"Minor detail." Amon stepped forward. His first projectile hit the center of a target. Second. Third. Fourth. The crowd reacted. Amon smiled. Then his fifth projectile missed completely. Masha laughed. Amon turned.

"Don't." She laughed harder. Alice stepped forward next. Her light spells were smaller than Amon's fire attacks. But every one struck the center. One. Two. Three. Four. Five. The instructor marked her score.

"Excellent precision." Alice stepped back. Masha went next. Her earth projectiles were slower. But when they struck, the targets cracked heavily. She destroyed seven. Amon looked at the scoreboard.

"Seven?" Masha smiled.

"Seven."

"That's unfair."

"You missed."

"I was warming up." Leo stepped into position. The instructor handed him ten basic magical charges. Leo looked at the targets. He had no interest in overpowering them. He simply adjusted his aim. The first projectile struck. Center. Second. Center. Third. Center. The next seven followed. Every shot landed almost exactly where he intended. Silence spread through the spectators. The instructor looked at the score.

"Ten." Amon stared at him.

"Seriously?" Leo handed the remaining crystal back.

"You should practice." Amon looked offended.

"I hate you."

"You'll survive." Alice covered a smile. As the afternoon progressed, the competition became more relaxed. Students began cheering for people from the other academy. The rivalry remained, but it was friendly. Even Adrian had stopped trying to impress Alice for several hours. That changed when he returned carrying a small wooden box. Alice looked at him.

"What is that?"

"A gift." She stared at the box.

"Why?"

"I noticed you liked the flowers yesterday."

"I said they were pretty."

"Exactly." He opened the box. Inside was a silver hair ornament shaped like a flower. Alice hesitated.

"It's beautiful."

"I had it made especially for you." Amon whispered to Masha,"He's back." Masha nodded.

"Unfortunately." Alice looked at Adrian.

"Thank you, but I can't accept this." Adrian's expression fell.

"Why?"

"It's too much."

"It's only a gift."

"I still can't accept it." Adrian looked disappointed. Then he smiled again.

"Very well." He closed the box.

"I won't force you." Leo watched the exchange from a short distance away. Alice noticed him. She walked over.

"He's exhausting." Leo smiled.

"You've said that before."

"I mean it more now."

"Then tell him."

"I did."

"And?"

"He thinks persistence is a virtue." Leo looked toward Adrian.

"Sometimes it isn't." Alice laughed.

"That's what I've been trying to tell him." The final exercise began near sunset. Team capture. Each team had to retrieve a flag from the opposing side and return it to their starting point. The instructors created barriers around the area. Students spread through the forest. Leo's group moved together. Marcus led them. Rowan stayed near the front. Alice and Masha remained in the center. Amon watched the rear. Leo moved quietly beside the group. The exercise began. They encountered another team within minutes.

Amon immediately charged.

"Found them!"

"Wait—" Too late. Amon and Rowan rushed forward. The opposing students scattered. Masha raised a wall. Alice created a light barrier. Marcus pursued one of the runners. Leo intercepted another. The student swung. Leo stepped aside. A second attack. He blocked. Then pushed the student outside the marked area.

"You're out." The student groaned.

"Already?"

"Yes." Leo continued. The exercise lasted nearly an hour. By the end, both academies were covered in dirt. Several students were exhausted. Amon was lying on the grass.

"I hate team competitions." Masha sat beside him.

"You volunteered."

"I regret it." Alice looked at Leo.

"Did you enjoy it?"

"A little."

"That's surprising."

"It was different." She smiled.

"Different is good sometimes." Leo looked toward the forest.

"Sometimes." That evening, the students gathered around the campfire. The atmosphere was completely different from the first night. They knew each other's names now. They had fought together. Competed against each other. Laughed together. The distance between the two academies had almost disappeared. Amon was arguing with Rowan about who had won their hand-to-hand match.

"It was clearly a draw."

"It wasn't."

"It was."

"You fell first."

"And you couldn't finish me." Masha shook her head.

"You're both children." Alice sat beside Leo. She was watching the fire.

"Tomorrow should be quieter." Leo looked at her.

"Probably." She smiled.

"I hope so." A sudden howl echoed somewhere deep inside the forest. The conversation stopped. Everyone looked toward the trees. Another howl followed. Then another. A teacher standing near the perimeter raised his head.

"Stay calm." The sound faded. Nobody moved for several seconds. Then Gareth appeared.

"Probably a pack of beasts." The students slowly relaxed. Amon exhaled.

"Probably?" Gareth looked at him.

"Go to sleep." Amon immediately looked away.

"Yes, sir." The students gradually returned to their conversations. The campfire continued burning. Beyond the perimeter, the Mist Forest remained dark. Farther inside, beyond the routes assigned to the students, a faint metallic sound echoed between the trees. Once. Then silence. The expedition continued. End of Chapter 19.