"So... As I said, the crystal of a tier one common beast would offer almost no help to an advanced-level user," Miss Lyra spoke, her sharp gaze scanning the room as she continued the theory lesson with the textbook in hand. She was about to continue when her eyes caught sight of something that instantly soured her mood.....Rex, head bowed down, looking like he was dozing off.
She halted mid-sentence, her lips pressing together in a thin line. The classroom grew quieter, sensing the tension in the air. Magnus, sitting two seats away from Rex, smirked to himself, probably thanking the gods that it wasn’t him this time catching Miss Lyra’s ire. He had teased her enough during the lesson, and he knew she was already close to freezing him solid.
Miss Lyra clenched her fist momentarily, debating how to handle the situation. Her fingers twitched, and in a heartbeat, a small, gleaming blue mist swirled around her index finger, coalescing into a ball of ice. She flicked it towards Rex, aiming for a harmless but humiliating wake-up call.
The class stifled their laughs as they watched the ice ball zoom toward him, yet, to everyone’s surprise, Rex’s hand shot up before the ice could touch him. Without lifting his head, he caught the ice ball effortlessly between his middle and index fingers, his reflexes so quick that the room fell silent.
"Go on! I’m not sleeping," Rex said lazily, his head still bowed as if he hadn’t just performed a minor miracle of speed and precision.
Miss Lyra let out a short gasp, startled at how deftly Rex had caught the projectile. His nonchalant posture was almost insulting, but she couldn’t deny what she had just witnessed. She doubted even she could catch such a fast-moving object with such precision, and Rex had done it without even looking.
"Such reflex!" she murmured under her breath, impressed but unwilling to show it outright. She cleared her throat and quickly continued the lecture, although her thoughts lingered on Rex’s untapped potential.
The theory session finally ended, and Miss Lyra led the students out to the training grounds, which buzzed as usual with energy and technology far beyond what any normal academy could offer. The sleek, metallic surfaces and holographic displays made the field look like a blend of an ancient battlefield and a futuristic arena.
Miss Lyra stood at the front, her posture rigid with authority as she addressed the group. "Now, remember, using abilities isn’t always the best option in a fight. Sometimes, brute force and speed will be your greatest allies. Relying too much on your powers could leave you vulnerable in situations where those powers are ineffective."
With a flick of her wrist, she activated a large, humanoid training dummy that hummed to life. It shimmered slightly, indicating that it was set at the strength level of an intermediate-ability user. The class watched as it took a defensive stance, ready for combat.
Miss Lyra stepped forward, her long white robe rippling in the cool breeze, her eyes focused and sharp. The students watched in awe, their whispers hushed as they waited for her to make the first move.
The training dummy whirred to life, its metallic limbs adjusting into a perfect defensive stance. It was designed to mimic the reflexes and strength of a seasoned fighter, but Miss Lyra had no intention of holding back. She cracked her neck from side to side, rolling her shoulders before dropping into a low, fluid stance. Every part of her seemed coiled, ready to strike.
"Watch closely," she said, her voice calm but steely. "This isn’t just about brute force. It’s about understanding your opponent’s rhythm, waiting for the right moment to break through."
Without warning, she shot forward, her movements a blur. The dummy responded instantly, its arm snapping up to block her punch. The impact echoed across the field like the crack of a whip, but Miss Lyra didn’t falter. She pivoted on her heel, using the force of her blocked strike to spin into a roundhouse kick. The dummy’s metallic arm shot up again, parrying the kick with a sharp clang.
"See?" Miss Lyra called out, not even out of breath. "It can block if you’re predictable."
The dummy pressed forward, throwing punches and kicks. It moved with terrifying efficiency, each blow calculated to break through defenses. Miss Lyra ducked and weaved between the attacks, her movements fluid and controlled, almost like she was dancing. The students could barely keep up with her speed as her robe billowed with each dodge.
The dummy’s arm swung down in a powerful chop, aiming for her shoulder. Miss Lyra dodged at the last second, her hand shooting out to grab the dummy’s arm. With a sharp twist of her hips, she yanked the arm forward, using the dummy’s momentum against it. The dummy stumbled but quickly regained its balance, sweeping out with a leg in retaliation.
Miss Lyra leaped backward, her feet skidding across the smooth surface of the training ground. She grinned, the fire in her eyes unmistakable now.
"Alright, time to stop playing around."
Seizing the moment, Magnus threw himself forward, his body twisting as he delivered a powerful spinning kick to the side of the dummy’s head. The sound of metal crunching under his boot was music to his ears as the dummy’s head jerked violently to the side.
The dummy staggered but didn’t fall. Its systems hummed, recalculating its approach as it shifted back into a defensive stance. Magnus panted heavily, sweat dripping down his face, but his eyes gleamed with determination.
"C’mon!" Magnus taunted, beckoning the dummy forward. "Is that all you’ve got?"
The dummy surged forward again, faster and more aggressive this time. Its fists became blurs of steel, aiming for Magnus’ ribs, head, and legs in a flurry of strikes. Magnus barely dodged, his body moving on instinct. The sheer speed of the dummy’s attacks pushed him to his limit, forcing him to dig deep.
Then, as the dummy overextended slightly with a punch, Magnus saw his opening.
He slipped inside the dummy’s guard, his fist driving up in an uppercut that collided with its chin. The force of the blow lifted the dummy off its feet, and before it could recover, Magnus followed up with a brutal knee strike to its torso. The sound of metal denting filled the air again as the dummy crashed into the ground, sparks flying from its damaged body.
Magnus stood over it, chest heaving, adrenaline still pumping through his veins. His fists were bruised and raw, his arms trembling from exertion. But as he looked down at the defeated dummy, he couldn’t help but grin.
"Now that," he said, wiping the sweat from his brow, "was a fight."
One by one, the other students began finishing their matches, some struggling more than others. It became clear that while most relied heavily on their abilities, they weren’t as proficient in basic combat. Miss Lyra observed all of them carefully, making mental notes about each student’s progress or lack thereof.
After a short while, she clapped her hands together, drawing everyone’s attention. "Well done, everyone. Remember, this is just the beginning. Keep honing your instincts and your physical prowess. Dismissed."
As the students dispersed, Rex wiped his hands off on his uniform and began making his way toward General Silas’ office. His mind buzzed with anticipation. "This dude better not waste my time, I also have a dodgeball session coming up
He walked through the academy halls, the bustling energy of students and faculty fading as he reached the more secluded part of the building where Silas’ office was located. Taking a deep breath, Rex knocked on the door.
"Come in," Silas’ deep voice called out from within.
Rex entered, finding Silas standing behind his desk, looking through a window that overlooked the academy grounds. The air in the room was thick with tension. Silas turned to face Rex, his expression unreadable, but there was something in his eyes that set Rex on edge.
"Rex," Silas began slowly, his voice almost unnervingly calm, "I’ve been waiting for this conversation."
Rex tensed, ready for anything. But before he could speak, Silas continued, his voice dropping into a more serious tone.
"There are things you need to know... about the academy... and yourself."
A/N: .....your opinions needed here? Should I make my chapters longer or shorter? Which do you guys prefer (Oh...please...let them say......)
And um..... Is the fight scene detailed enough?