The afternoon sun filtered through the tall, arched windows of the classroom, casting long shadows over the rows of desks. The blackboard was already filled with formulas, equations, and scribbled diagrams of magical calculations—though none of it involved actual spells. Today was math. Pure, brain-bending math.
Rei sat near the window, arms folded, eyes locked on the problem written on the board:
"If a spell costs 80 mana and regenerates at a rate of 4 mana per minute, how long would it take to cast the spell again?"
Easy.
He picked up a piece of chalk, walked up without being asked, and scribbled the answer below: 20 minutes.
The professor raised an eyebrow. "Efficient as always, Rei."
Behind him, Kajala groaned, slumping over his desk with his face pressed into his notes. "Why are there numbers?! I didn't sign up for this! I'm a knight, not a… a wizard accountant!"
Rei returned to his seat without a word, sliding into his chair as Kajala leaned over to whisper, "Okay but like… how'd you know it was 20? Did you guess?"
"It's just division," Rei muttered.
Kajala blinked. "Like… with swords?"
"No. With numbers."
Kajala slumped again. "I hate numbers."
Across the room, Rika sat at her desk… chewing on a pencil. Not writing with it. Chewing. Her eyes were wide, unblinking, watching the teacher with the same intensity a cat might give a mouse.
"Rika?" the teacher asked cautiously.
She blinked slowly. "Hmm?"
"Do you... have an answer?"
She bit the pencil in half.
"...I'll take that as a no," the teacher said.
Meanwhile, Regulus held up his hands and muttered, "One… two… three… wait—did I count that finger already? Ugh, curses!" He started over. "One, two, three—wait, no, that was two…"
The teacher looked like he was reconsidering his life decisions.
Rei sighed.
This was his guild.
This was his team.
And somehow, they'd all made it into knight academia.
What a world.
Class had just ended. The bell rang with a soft chime, and students filed out of the room in groups, chattering about spells, math, and the upcoming mock battles. Rei, Kajala, Rika, and Regulus trailed behind the crowd, their pace relaxed — or in Regulus' case, confused, as he still counted on his fingers while mumbling something about fractions.
But then—
CLANK!!!
A sudden gust of wind whooshed down the corridor, blowing loose papers into the air. A figure strode into view from the courtyard entrance, boots clicking against the polished stone floor, coat fluttering like a cape. His uniform was customized silver-lined with feather patterns stitched into the sleeves and his emerald-green scarf whipped behind him with magical flair.
He held a sheathed longsword at his hip, and as he approached, a smug grin stretched across his sharp face.
"HA HA HA!" he boomed, arms spread wide. "What's this? A group of knights-in-training struggling to comprehend a task so elementary, I would sooner teach it to a blindfolded goat!"
Kajala froze... "Oh no," he whispered. "Not ...him."
"Who is that?" Rei muttered.
The boy stopped in front of them, flicked back his golden bangs, and raised his voice to the heavens. "I am Oluis Kanto! The Blade of the Gale, prodigy of the Silverwind House, and undefeated master of wind-blade technique!" He struck a pose. "You may tremble now. I allow it."
"...Trembling's optional, right?" Kajala said, squinting.
"Silence, fox!" Oluis pointed a gloved hand at Kajala. "I have seen enough of your kind. Always talking, always waving those silly tail-
"My tail's majestic, thank you very much."
"And you," Oluis continued, turning to Rei. "You're the no-magic swordsman they whisper about in the halls, yes? The one who lost a duel to a second-ranker earlier this week?"
Rei's eye twitched. "I won."
"HA HA HA! Splendid! Perhaps there's hope for you yet." Oluis unsheathed his sword with a dramatic whoosh, wind spiraling up the blade as it gleamed. "A true sword must dance like the wind! Strike like the storm! Be as beautiful as it is deadly!"
He twirled the blade, spun in a circle, then stopped with his sword pointed upward and a dramatic wind sweeping through his hair.
"Show-off," Kajala whispered to Rika.
Rika didn't respond. She was chewing on another pencil.
Regulus clapped slowly. "That was shiny."
Oluis sheathed his blade, eyes sharp. "I'll be seeing you in sparring practice. Especially you, Rei Lyer. I want to see if the rumors of your stubborn style are true." He turned on his heel and strutted off, wind still swirling around him like he brought his own weather.
Rei watched him go. "He's going to be a problem, isn't he?"
Kajala nodded. "Yup. And probably important too."
After some time a small tornament started at the straining yard.
The training yard buzzed with energy. Students lined the perimeter, forming a loose circle around the dueling grounds. Instructors stood at attention, watching closely as two combatants squared off under the afternoon sun.
Oluis Kanto stood confidently at one end, his blade resting over his shoulder, green scarf fluttering like a banner. "Rei Lyer!" he called across the arena. "As promised, I challenge you to a duel of grace, speed, and superior swordsmanship!"
But Rei didn't step forward.
Kajala did.
"I'll be taking his place," Kajala said, grinning as he cracked his knuckles. "You seem fun. I like breaking people like you."
Oluis raised an eyebrow, amused. "You? You think you can handle the Blade of the Gale?"
"I do," Kajala replied sweetly. "But I'm gonna make it look like a game."
The crowd murmured. Rika perched on a nearby fence post, still gnawing a pencil. Regulus leaned on a stick, having lost count of his fingers again.
Rei, arms crossed, watched from the sideline with a conflicted expression. "He's going to do something weird, isn't he?"
"I hope so," Rika said.
The instructor raised a hand. "Begin!"
Oluis lunged forward in a blur, wind magic flaring around his blade. "Let's see you dodge this! HA HA—"
Crack.
Kajala vanished and reappeared behind him, whip already flicking.
SLAP.
The tail of Kajala's chain-whip caught Oluis across the back, launching him forward in a stumble. He recovered quickly, twisting mid-air with a gust of wind, landing in a slide.
"Interesting," Oluis growled, adjusting his grip. "Not bad."
Kajala winked. "Thanks. You've got nice hair. Shame I'm gonna mess it up."
With a yell, Oluis slashed forward, sending slicing gales toward Kajala. Kajala ducked, rolled, danced between the blades, laughing as he went.
"You're not even aiming!" Kajala taunted. "You just swing and hope! Typical wind guy."
"I am the wind!" Oluis shouted, flaring faster, closing the distance.
Their weapons clashed — chain and sword — sparks flying. Kajala wrapped his chain around Oluis' sword arm, pulled, then pivoted behind him in a blur.
Oluis tried to spin, but Kajala kicked his legs out and threw him with the chain still wound tight.
WHAM.
Oluis hit the ground hard, groaning. The crowd gasped.
"Victory," Kajala said casually, tossing the chain back over his shoulder.
"You...!" Oluis sat up, hair a mess, pride even messier. "This isn't over!"
Kajala smirked. "Didn't think it was. I'm always open for round two, pretty boy."
Oluis glared, then stormed off, cloak fluttering dramatically behind him.
Kajala turned to Rei and winked. "All good now?"
Rei sighed. "You're exhausting."
"And cute," Kajala added proudly.