Kyel was standing among some rows of students, wearing a special training suit. He was looking towards the instructor, Lokmein, who was explaining to them what they would be doing in this session. "As specialists in the Arcane Knight, over these years you have been taught several times that timing and integration are the keys to blending the gentleness of magic with the toughness of being a knight. Everything you have learned so far is just a small part, and most of it is child's play."
He continued, "Even this year, there is nothing substantial to learn. It only begins next year when you will experience the true essence of being an Arcane Knight. Why does everyone fear the Arcane Knight? Why is it the most difficult specialization among all the others? But this year, I thought you should not feel the element of surprise next year. So I told myself that I should teach you some serious things at this very moment."
"Since there are 4 months left until the end of the semester and your ninth year, for the next four months, every class will be a training session between you, a training session consisting of one-on-one fights until one of you falls or until I stop the fight!"
Everyone was excited by Professor Lokmein's words, which meant they would have the opportunity to test what they had learned over the years in real battles against each other, battles to the last breath until one falls.
But some were scared, knowing that they would be mere punching bags for the strong and would be subjected to severe beatings. However, there was relief when they heard that the coach would stop some fights if necessary.
Coach Lokmein said, "Starting today, this will be our daily routine. Additionally, I will be a witness to all the fights. There are some things you can't see while on the battlefield, so I will lead you and teach you during this period. I will give you advice during the actual fights to improve your quality and correct those mistakes. So, let's see your skills."
And of course, as he said, in that large training arena, there were several ongoing fights, and Coach Lokmein was watching them, monitoring each fight, pointing out the mistakes of some students, and stopping some fights that might cause problems. Additionally, he was guiding and instructing the students on how to balance magic with the specialized close combat techniques for knights.
In the field of Arcane Knights, there was something very common, which were magical weapons. To put it simply, an Arcane Knight is a person with high physical abilities like a knight, but at the same time, they are capable of using magic.
Most of those in this field were first-class knights, but the same cannot be said about their ability to use magic. They do not use any magical spells, draw any magical circles, or do anything related to magic. Most of them here would buy a magical weapon, charge it with mana, and use it for close combat.
But in the current training field, there were two people who defied this rule: the heir of the Malzar family, who was using the [Ice Spear] spell, in addition to close combat charged with physical strength. On the other hand, his opponent Venus, one of the commoners accepted due to their good results.
Venus was using advanced wind magic spells. He was launching rings using air magic, compressing it into sharp blades. Of course, many eyes were watching this battle, precisely because of Redderen— his identity in particular, or perhaps just who he was as a person.
That's what left many people puzzled. Venus was only using magic and didn't let Redderen get close to engage in close combat.
Venus resembled more of a mage than an Arcane Knight.
Kyel was closely watching Venus while dodging the incoming wind blades. He knew Venus would have to end this barrage sooner or later— if he didn't, his mana would run out, and he'd lose immediately afterward due to the gap that would open between them.
But what was Venus's mana reserve? Or maybe he was doing this on purpose, trying to exhaust him before striking.
Kyel didn't think too much about it, knowing the power gap between them was large, and he could easily defeat him as long as Venus lost focus even for a short while.
Amidst all this, Kyel smiled faintly under Venus's gaze, leaving him either stunned—or perhaps the opposite.
In the next moment, Kyel vanished.
Venus was waiting for Kyel to reappear, calculating where he would show up next.
"From behind? Above? Where are you hiding, Redderen?"
"There you are—you took the bait!" From behind, then.
Venus quickly turned around to find an icy spear rushing toward him—but it evaporated into the air before reaching him.
Then Venus saw a shadow on the ground, slowly growing larger as if falling from the sky. With a faint smile curling his lips,
a wall of wind formed around him—like a slicing and shredding machine that would tear apart anything the moment it tried to break through.
Venus turned and said,
"Heh, Redderen, I doubt you can fly or dodge in midair. In the end, you'll fall straight onto my absolute defense and be shredded!"
Shrrkk!
Something was sliced into pieces—it turned out to be a jacket. Venus smiled… but moments later, his expression changed.
It was just a jacket.
BOOM!
Venus felt a searing pain in his lower abdomen—Kyel had burst out from the very shadow Venus had seen earlier on the ground.
With a punch to the gut, Kyel shattered the wind wall around him, forcing it to collapse. Venus was sent flying into the air by the sheer force of the blow.
Before the wind barrier fully vanished, it did manage to slice off part of the hair at the back of his head—but there were no serious injuries.
At least, not counting Kyel's punch to his stomach… which made Venus vomit part of what he'd eaten.
Venus was lying on the ground, but he quickly came to and stood up. There was some blood on his lips.
"Ugh… you tricked me, Redderen! I admit it—you got me with that move and your skill!"
"But it's not over yet. How about a fight with just fists and kicks? No magic—like real knights."
Kyel looked at him with an empty gaze, then said with mock surprise,
"Oh? You can still stand? I guess I should've hit harder. But really, you've already lost—no need to drag this out."
Venus snapped back,
"Just admit you've got one trick and can't—"
But Instructor Lokmein interrupted him.
"Redderen, there's no winning or losing here. You're all exchanging experience. You're students—and friends. No differences. Equals."
"And you, Venus… maybe not just you, but all of you seem to have missed the point of these special sessions.
They're for sharing experience with everyone in the class—not for one-on-one duels that end with someone collapsing and heading to the infirmary."
"Even if neither of you is exhausted, I'll stop the fight to make sure you're still in shape to spar with others. That's how you benefit from each other."
"There's no point in fighting just one person and getting used to only one combat style. Do you all understand the point of this?"
"It's good that you start getting used to this and understand it," Instructor Lokmein said.
"My class and subject aren't meant for venting your frustrations, settling scores, or fighting over your differences."
"Do you know why this type of lesson is exclusive to the tenth year?
Because starting next year, you'll be held accountable for everything you do. Grudges and random fights are forbidden—especially after the recent incidents at the Tower."
His voice was calm but carried absolute seriousness.
"No one who breaks the rules will be protected from next year onward, even if they have support from external factions. The Magic Tower is a place that values discipline and the development of responsibility."
"Most of you came here at a young age. You haven't seen the outside world. You don't know how ordinary people live—those who've never received an education and know nothing about magic.
People who still live as if it were thousands of years ago, clinging to superstitions and ways of life that might seem laughable to you—but are, in truth, tragic."
"That's why you must take responsibility toward those people as well—not to negatively influence their way of life, their beliefs, or what they hold sacred."
"What do you think someone who has never seen magic would feel if they saw a man summon fire from his bare hands? Fear? Awe? Or perhaps even worship, if it comes to that."
A student near Lokmein raised his voice,
"Is that why we're forbidden from using magic outside the Magic Towers?"
Lokmein looked at him.
"Using magic and abilities is forbidden across the entire continent of Liwanis.
Any use, no matter how small, is considered heresy—and the punishment is death."