In the training hall today, they were doing their duels.
Recently Cyril learned through random gossip from his class that they were doing way beyond the normal amount of duels.
No other class has been doing them every lesson like they have.
Turns out their professor just really liked them personally. This caused a good amount of students to curse their fate. Not everyone wanted to go straight into battle after graduating.
Though Cyril happened to be one of the few who did want that, so he didn't complain.
Currently he was locked in a duel with Myra as per custom.
It was no longer a one-sided battle like in the past. Despite only a month and a half passing, he already managed to reach her level.
He was yet to properly defeat her in a duel, but it could happen any day.
This caused their professor to marvel in awe, and his already obvious bias towards Cyril was getting only stronger.
Cyril himself felt weird about his own progress. It's true that fighting Myra became easier, and it's true that he became much stronger.
But he felt that this future-seeing girl lost some of her edge. Somehow, Cyril got the impression that the Myra from a month ago would've defeated the Myra of today.
Though he would not say that to her face, lest she fall into sadness again.
...
As he dodged a thrust of Myra's spear, Rhamn's voice, colored with amusement, could be heard: "Atheris is approaching us, followed by Tigris."
What? They are trying to enter the castle? Cyril was startled.
Seeing him being distracted, Myra gritted her teeth and made a sweep at his feet.
Luckily he was able to react in time by jumping away.
Let's talk after the duel.
Cyril quickly replied. He didn't want to lose because of this. Rhamn naturally had no complaints and disappeared.
"Sorry," he briefly apologized to Myra.
Getting absent-minded in the middle of the duel wasn't the most polite thing to do.
She pursed her lips without replying and approached again.
They exchanged several more blows. Each time their wooden weapons collided, they made a booming sound echoing in the whole hall.
Their weapons bent under the extreme force they put them under.
Without mentioning Cyril's strength, Myra, too, used plenty of medicine to enhance her physique. She was well above a common guard in that regard.
Just as the duel was getting into the finale and the surrounding students observed with bated breath, the loud voice of their professor interrupted it all.
"Stop!" Roland screamed with a beaming smile.
Cyril urgently braked with his feet from a charge, sliding some distance before coming to a stop.
Myra did the same, and they soon were only an arm's distance away from each other.
Their faces carried the same hint of dissatisfaction.
"It was a good duel." Cyril held out his hand for a handshake, as they were insisted by Roland to do every time.
He called it 'good sportsmanship.'
"Good duel." Myra nodded and accepted the handshake.
Together they went to their usual seats and sat down, ready to observe the rest of the duels.
Every time, they were one of the first to compete, and only after they were done did the others start with their duels.
It was mostly because everyone wanted to observe them first.
Rose usually found some random, weak-looking classmate and fought with her sword. Her duels were not a great spectacle. She simply went through the motions.
Cedric was a very popular student and had fought almost everyone in this class by now. He usually picked whoever volunteered, and together they fought a rather intense duel.
Leo Arken no longer tried to challenge him during these lessons. He was still keeping himself quite low-key. Though he still sent Cedric some unfriendly glances from time to time.
Clayton Fairfax's duels appeared more like theater plays than anything proper. No student dared to fight against the prince with all his might, so it was a rather embarrassing sight.
Having vaguely observed his classmates' duels, Cyril now had the energy to talk to Rhamn.
What were you saying?
The red-eyed woman in a business suit appeared in front of him with her hands on her hips.
Her face currently held a rather mischievous expression. She wanted to laugh but held herself back.
"Atheris is trying to find you right now. She is already in the castle. Her route is pretty chaotic."
Cyril sighed helplessly. He didn't expect that snake to be so clingy she couldn't even wait for a few hours.
"I think she is being chased by the staff right now. Tigris is with her too, by the way." She replied without any worry.
Be it confidence in the academy's staff professionalism or in the magic creature's ability, she didn't look nervous for their safety.
I need to do something...
He got up from his bench and quickly approached Roland.
"Since I am done, can I leave class ahead of time?" Cyril asked without any shame.
To the surprise of some of the students around, the professor of Combat Training replied almost instantly, "Of course! If anyone asks, feel free to tell them I let you go!"
Cyril nodded and hastily moved to get out of the training hall.
Alright, lead the way.
"Certainly," Rhamn appeared in front of him, and together they went to find the silly snake.
Myra observed his departure with a confused look on her face.
Then, as if coming alive, she got up from the bench as well.
"I want to go too," she hastily said.
Roland smiled and waved his hand. "Sure, sure! For showing me duels like these, you can do whatever you want! Haha!" He heartily laughed.
"Thank you." Myra nodded and quickly went after Cyril.
She didn't know what was happening, but she didn't want to feel left out.
At this moment a brave student cautiously approached the professor, "Excuse me, I am done with my duel too. Can I—"
The professor silenced him by glaring at him with furious eyes, "In your dreams! First stop being a waste! Since you have the energy to ask for foolish things like that, then you have the energy for more training!"
The student lost all color from his face. A few of his mean friends chuckled at his troubles.
Rose observed that with a helpless expression and decided against attempting the same.
...
Cyril ran on the marble floor after Rhamn. Atheris was trying to move in their direction, but her path was extremely chaotic.
Soon they were close enough for Rhamn to communicate with the snake.
Her face immediately became even more amused. "Indeed, she is being pursued by several members of staff..."
Cyril could only sigh internally at this coming trouble and pick up the pace.
At this moment another person appeared at his side.
"Cyril, what's happening?" Myra warily asked.
Surprisingly, she managed to catch up so quickly.
"It's Atheris. She is making a bit of trouble right now. Nothing life-threatening," Cyril quickly replied.
He would rather she stayed in class, but since she is here, he is not going to send her away.
Myra's face gradually lost its tension, replaced by a certain understanding expression.
Just recently she experienced the same! Having this common point inexplicably put her in quite a good mood.
Her pace changed to a more casual one, and she moved a bit behind to not get in the way. She wanted to see how it plays out.
"In the auditorium to your right!" Rhamn suddenly exclaimed.
Cyril hastily ran up to the door she was showing and opened it.
Inside was quite the spectacle. It appeared this auditorium was in use by a certain class. However, it was rudely interrupted.
Most of the tables were lying overturned , the chairs fallen over.
The majority of the students were gathered in the corner with various expressions on their faces. Some scared, some curious, some tired.
Presumably the professor of this group was standing in front of them, waving his hands, and with a quiet, unconfident voice, asked everyone to calm down.
He was saying that to the people currently causing chaos in the middle of the room.
A few members of staff, along with some students, were all trying to catch a particular slippery snake.
"Careful!" "Don't get in the way!" "Let me show you how to handle this!" "Foolish."
It was chaos. They screamed and all tried to work on their own, often times obstructing each other.
The staff sent all manners of spells at the troublemaker—a water whip, a net made of light, or a hand made of stone—but nothing managed to land.
One of the students participating wore a scarf obscuring half her face.
She used a familiar spell to make lightning-fast dashes in an attempt to catch the snake.
It was Regina. It's been some time since Cyril last saw her. Her spell looked more intricate than last time.
However, she still wasn't fast enough to catch Atheris. The snake easily saw through her attacks and evaded in time.
It seems she had quite the talent in dodging things.
"So this must be class II," Rhamn deduced upon seeing familiar faces.
What a headache...