Garet's grip tightened on the spear, his knuckles turning white. The crowd had gone silent, all eyes locked on the two fighters. Garet could feel the weight of their judgment, the skepticism in the air. But he wasn't about to back down.
Sebastian, on the other hand, seemed unfazed. His posture was casual, almost indifferent, and yet there was something about his presence that made the air heavier. He wasn't even looking directly at Garet, his gaze lazily drifting across the arena, as though he was already bored of the whole spectacle.
Garet's heart pounded in his chest, but he refused to let his nerves get the best of him. This was his chance—a single opportunity to prove to everyone, and to himself, that strength wasn't a privilege reserved for those born into noble bloodlines.
"I'm ready," Garet muttered under his breath.
Sebastian finally shifted his focus toward him. His eyes, usually full of apathy, flickered with mild interest.
"Let's begin."
---
Garet wasted no time. He surged forward, spear held in both hands, aiming for Sebastian's side with a swift, calculated thrust. His muscles coiled like a spring, ready to strike with precision.
But Sebastian didn't move.
The spearhead was mere inches from his side before he lazily stepped back, almost too slow for anyone to notice. The tip of the spear barely brushed past his shirt, the sharpness of it grazing his skin without drawing blood. His nonchalant dodge seemed like a mockery.
Garet's expression tightened. He swung again, faster this time, aiming for Sebastian's head, but Sebastian's body shifted effortlessly, as if the spear was an irrelevant detail in the flow of the fight.
Garet growled, frustration creeping in. He had to think faster. With a quick pivot, he changed his stance and launched a low sweep with the spear, aiming to trip Sebastian at the legs.
Once again, Sebastian barely reacted—just a slight movement to the side as the spear whistled past him.
The crowd watched, eyes widening in disbelief.
"Is he…?"
"He's dodging everything without even trying!"
Sebastian's smile was lazy, barely there. He wasn't even breaking a sweat.
"Not bad," he mused aloud, his voice like velvet—casual, almost bored. "But you're going to have to do better than that."
Garet's grip on the spear tightened. His breath was ragged, and his muscles burned with the effort. He was pushing himself harder than he ever had before, but it was as though Sebastian had already anticipated everything he did. His every move was a step ahead, an insurmountable wall of ease.
Garet's mind raced. He could feel the weight of his people's expectations pressing down on him. He wasn't just fighting for himself—he was fighting for every commoner who had ever been overlooked, every person who had been told they weren't good enough, strong enough, or capable enough.
But Sebastian? He barely seemed to care.
With a growl, Garet lunged again, more forcefully this time. His spear jabbed straight for Sebastian's chest. But instead of dodging, Sebastian caught the spear with his bare hand, the wood pressing against his palm, almost as if he were holding it like a toy.
The crowd gasped.
Garet's eyes widened, shocked by the unexpected move. His spear was stuck, unable to move.
"Trying to overpower me now?" Sebastian murmured, his voice like honey, and then, with a smooth twist, he wrenched the spear from Garet's grip in a motion so fluid it was almost imperceptible.
Before Garet could react, Sebastian flicked the spear to the side, sending it flying effortlessly across the arena. It landed with a dull thud far out of reach.
Garet was defenseless.
The crowd was silent. It was clear now. Sebastian had barely lifted a finger, yet Garet was already outmatched.
But Garet didn't back down. His chest heaved with desperation, but there was no fear in his eyes.
"I'm not done yet!" he shouted, raising his fists.
Sebastian tilted his head, amused.
"You really think you can win this way?" He stepped forward, his pace slow and deliberate. "You've got spirit, I'll give you that."
---
The tension in the air grew thick as the two faced off once more. This time, there was no weapon between them—only raw, unrestrained willpower. Garet may have been a commoner, but his heart burned with determination. He wasn't ready to accept defeat, not when he had so much to prove.
Sebastian raised a hand lazily, the tip of his fingers barely glowing with energy. "Alright, let's see how long you can keep this up."
---
The crowd had barely recovered from the shock of Garet's failed attack when the arena suddenly shook. It was a small tremor at first, like a subtle gust of wind, but it quickly escalated.
Garet's eyes widened.
Sebastian's aura was leaking out, faint, yet undeniable. It was a power that pulsed in waves, heavy like a storm cloud gathering overhead. It wasn't his full strength, but it was enough to send a ripple of fear through the audience.
The temperature in the arena seemed to drop, the air thick with pressure. Garet's stance faltered for just a moment, the chill crawling down his spine. He had never faced power like this before.
"I can feel your determination," Sebastian said, his voice colder now, sharper. "But it's not enough."
Garet gritted his teeth, his hands clenched into fists.
"I'll make it enough," he growled, forcing himself forward once again.
---
The duel was far from over, and neither was Sebastian's silent challenge to Garet. As the fight raged on, the tension between the two of them could only escalate—one unwilling to back down, the other reluctant to give it all, but both determined in their own ways.
The air around them pulsed with quiet intensity, the arena now thick with expectation. Every eye in the bleachers was glued to the two combatants, but only a few had the courage to speak.
Garet's chest heaved with effort. His breath came in sharp bursts, and his hands—those worn and calloused hands—were trembling. Despite the weight of the audience's expectations, his body screamed for rest. His muscles burned, his stamina had long since started to wane, but the fire in his heart refused to be extinguished.
Sebastian stood there, still as a statue, not an ounce of effort in his posture. The calmness in his demeanor, the ease with which he'd dodged everything Garet had thrown at him—both maddening and mesmerizing. The academy had whispered about Sebastian's abilities for years now, but only a handful of people knew just how strong he truly was. Even his friends suspected that he was beyond tier 5, perhaps even pushing the limits of tier 6. But here, today, in front of everyone, he showed no sign of pushing himself. No sign of ever getting serious.
Garet wiped sweat from his brow, his hand trembling as he readied himself again.
"I'm not done yet…" His voice was quiet, but it carried through the arena. The fight, the struggle—it wasn't just about proving himself to those around him; it was about proving himself to the only person who truly mattered: himself.
Sebastian's smile flickered, as if he found something amusing in Garet's desperation. The quiet crackling of energy around him intensified, an invisible weight pressing against everything in the arena. He shifted his weight slightly, his hand still loosely hanging at his side.
"You sure about that?" His tone was almost… bored.
With a flash of resolve, Garet surged forward once more, closing the distance between them in a flash. This time, he wasn't going for a thrust or a slash. No, he had seen something earlier—something that made him realize Sebastian was always one step ahead of him. It wasn't just his speed or his technique; it was his awareness.
So Garet made a bold move.
He swung his arm out, not toward Sebastian, but toward the ground. He used the blunt end of the spear to strike the sand beneath them, kicking up a large cloud of dust and debris into the air.
For a brief moment, everything was obscured. The crowd gasped, the spectators leaning forward, wondering how the duel would unfold.
Sebastian's eyes narrowed as the dust swirled around him. He remained still, an unshaken tower of calm. But there was a flicker of understanding in his eyes now. This was no longer a simple fight. Garet had adapted. The commoner wasn't just throwing punches and hoping for the best—he was thinking.
But it wasn't enough.
Garet didn't wait for the dust to settle. The moment his attack landed, he dropped his spear and rushed forward, closing the last few meters in a flurry of movement. His fist collided with Sebastian's jaw, his whole body twisting with the force of the punch.
It landed.
For the first time in the duel, Sebastian's head snapped to the side, the force of the blow visibly affecting him. His eyes widened slightly in surprise, but that was the extent of his reaction. His hair, usually so neatly kept, was now disheveled, and for a brief second, a small trickle of blood slipped down his lip.
The crowd held its breath.
Sebastian straightened slowly, his hand rising to touch his chin. His expression didn't change, still that same lazy indifference. But his eyes… his eyes burned with something else. Something deeper. Something dangerous.
"Not bad," he murmured, his voice low but clear. "Not bad at all."
Garet's heart hammered in his chest. He had finally landed a hit. It wasn't much, but it was something. He could feel the crowd's shifting energy, the ripple of surprise spreading through the arena. His fist had broken through that invisible wall, and for a split second, Sebastian had been on the receiving end.
But Sebastian wasn't fazed. He never was.
The next moment, everything happened so quickly, Garet barely had time to register it. Sebastian's hand shot out, grabbing Garet by the wrist with terrifying speed. Garet barely had time to react before Sebastian's other hand shot toward his chest, and with a swift, almost lazy movement, pushed him back.
Garet stumbled, his feet skidding across the sandy arena. The force was so much stronger than he had anticipated, the pressure in Sebastian's grip like iron chains around his wrist.
"Did you think that punch was enough?" Sebastian's voice was cold, detached, yet there was something in it that made Garet freeze. "That was your moment, and you wasted it."
Garet gritted his teeth. "I won't waste this one."
Without thinking, he reached inside, pulling the very last reserves of energy he had left. The raw power of a commoner. The desperation of someone who had been told he was never meant to reach the heights of his peers. The power of someone who knew that if he didn't fight with everything, he would fall into the shadow of others forever.
A blast of mana shot through his body, a surge of raw, uncontrolled power. His eyes burned, his body crackled with the weight of it, and for the briefest of moments, his aura flared outward. The air grew thick with it.
Sebastian raised an eyebrow. "Interesting…"
Garet grunted, his body trembling from the effort. His stance shifted, this time more grounded, more controlled. He might have been a commoner, but that didn't mean he lacked the ability to tap into his own latent potential. He was more than what others saw. He was more than what they expected.
Garet charged again, but this time he didn't go for a simple attack. He went for an all-out strike, one that would challenge Sebastian's indifference.
The energy from his body surged toward his fist, gathering into a point of sheer force. He aimed directly for Sebastian's chest, pushing every ounce of mana into the blow, making it crackle and hum with raw power.
But Sebastian didn't dodge this time. He didn't even try to block it.
Instead, he stepped forward, almost as if he were meeting the strike halfway. His body, relaxed as ever, absorbed the blow with ease.
The impact was thunderous, echoing through the arena.
Garet's entire body locked up with the force of the collision. His fist collided with Sebastian's chest, but there was no satisfaction, no feeling of hitting flesh. It was like hitting a wall—one that had no give, no weakness.
And then, with a single motion, Sebastian twisted Garet's arm, forcing him down to the ground in a swift movement.
The arena fell silent once again. Garet lay sprawled out on the sand, his body aching, his chest heaving with exertion. The energy he had summoned had dissipated, and now there was nothing left but the overwhelming pressure of defeat.
But Sebastian stood over him, his hand extended.
"You've got guts," Sebastian said, his tone still casual, still as if nothing were out of the ordinary. "I'll give you that."
Garet glanced up at him, still panting, still processing the sheer power that Sebastian had effortlessly displayed. And for the first time in the duel, he realized the truth: Sebastian had never once taken him seriously. He had been playing—testing him.
But even then, Garet wasn't ready to concede defeat.
With every ounce of will he had left, he pushed himself up from the ground, meeting Sebastian's gaze.
"Not yet…" Garet whispered, his voice strained but full of determination. "I'm not done yet."
Sebastian looked down at him, his expression unreadable. And for a brief moment, there was something in his eyes—something that flickered like a spark.
"You really don't know when to quit, do you?"
---
The audience held its breath. The duel had taken an unexpected turn.
Garet, still on his knees, struggled to regain his footing, his hand pressing into the sand for support. Every muscle in his body was screaming at him to stop. The raw power he had used just moments ago had drained him, leaving him weaker than ever. Yet, in his eyes, there was a fire that refused to go out.
Sebastian looked down at him, his expression still as indifferent as ever. But there was something else there now—a hint of respect? Maybe. It was hard to say, but the brief flicker in his eyes betrayed something deeper than mere boredom.
Garet gritted his teeth, pushing himself to his feet, ignoring the sharp pang of pain that shot through his limbs. His breath came in shallow bursts, his heart racing as he tried to steady himself. This was it. This was the moment that would define him.
"I'm not quitting," Garet muttered, his voice hoarse but determined.
Sebastian didn't respond immediately. Instead, he tilted his head slightly, as if pondering Garet's words. Then, with a casual shrug, he raised his hand.
"I guess we'll see," he said, his voice as lazy as ever. His hand twitched, the barest movement, and a subtle ripple of energy danced through the air.
Garet blinked in confusion.
Suddenly, the ground beneath them trembled. A soft rumble, barely noticeable at first, but growing steadily more pronounced. Then, as if the earth itself had decided to obey Sebastian's will, a gust of wind whipped through the arena, pushing the sand into a swirling vortex around them.
Garet's heart skipped a beat as he realized what was happening.
Sebastian wasn't just standing there. He was gathering energy. He had been holding back, and now, he was ready to show Garet exactly what it meant to be at the top.
The wind intensified, the force of it bending the sand and debris into sharp, whirling blades that cut through the air like projectiles. Garet's eyes widened in disbelief. This was no longer a simple spar. This was a fight against someone who didn't just play with power—he controlled it.
The sand storm rushed toward him. He barely had time to react before the first wave of debris slammed into him, forcing him to stumble back. His hands shot up to shield his face, but the relentless barrage kept coming. Each grain of sand felt like a needle, each gust of wind like a slap to his body. He gritted his teeth, trying to focus through the pain.
But then, through the chaos of the storm, he saw it. Sebastian. He was standing in the middle of the vortex, not even flinching as the wind howled around him. His eyes were closed, his posture relaxed as though he were meditating.
It was then that Garet realized the truth.
Sebastian wasn't using his full strength—not even close. He had turned the environment against him with ease, with barely any effort at all. The storm was his doing, the very air bending to his will.
A cold shiver ran down Garet's spine. The gap in power between them was immeasurable.
And yet, Garet's will didn't falter. His body screamed, his senses screamed to give up, to fall to the ground and admit defeat, but he refused. He wasn't just fighting for his own pride anymore. He was fighting for every commoner who had been overlooked, every person who had been told they were nothing because of their bloodline, their status.
Garet clenched his fists.
"I will not back down."
With one last surge of energy, he pushed himself forward, forcing his body through the storm. He barely felt the impact of the sand as he moved—his focus was entirely on the figure ahead of him, the one who had made him feel so small, so insignificant.
Sebastian opened his eyes just as Garet closed the gap, his calm expression unchanged. Garet's fist shot forward, a final attempt to land a decisive blow. But this time, something was different. His aura flared around him, not as raw and uncontrolled as before, but focused—tamed.
It was the culmination of everything he had learned up until now.
And then, with terrifying precision, Sebastian moved.
He didn't dodge. He didn't even block.
Sebastian's hand shot out and caught Garet's fist mid-air, the force of the impact enough to knock Garet off his feet. But instead of falling, Garet's body twisted in mid-air, using the momentum to land gracefully on his feet, his chest heaving with exhaustion.
But the storm, the wind, the pressure—it all stopped.
The dust settled. The arena fell silent.
Garet stood there, his chest rising and falling with every ragged breath, his body exhausted, his limbs trembling. The fight had taken everything he had. His mana reserves were nearly depleted, and his body was on the verge of collapse.
Sebastian, on the other hand, was unfazed. He was still standing, still as calm as ever, his posture unbroken.
The silence stretched, heavy and taut.
And then, a slow clap came from the stands.
It was Luna.
"Not bad," she called out, her voice carrying over the hushed crowd. "Not bad at all, Garet."
For a moment, Garet thought he had imagined it. But then, one by one, the other students began to clap as well. The sound was tentative at first, unsure, but as the minutes passed, it grew louder, more unified. Garet's heart raced, a rush of adrenaline coursing through his veins.
But it wasn't just the crowd's approval that made his heart swell—it was the understanding in Sebastian's eyes.
"You're strong," Sebastian said, his voice low but clear. "Stronger than I thought."
Garet's breath caught in his throat, and for a fleeting moment, he allowed himself to relax. But only for a moment.
Sebastian stepped back, raising a hand in surrender. "That's enough. You've proved your point."
And with that, the duel was over. The energy that had crackled in the air began to fade, leaving only the weight of the moment hanging between them.
Garet stood there, still panting, but something had shifted. He had landed a blow on Sebastian—a blow that had not only tested his limits but shown him that he was capable of more than even he had thought.
As the crowd cheered, Garet stood tall, not as a commoner, but as someone who had earned the respect of the greatest student in the academy.
The arena was alive with the sound of clapping, but Sebastian remained stoic, his gaze fixed on Garet. He was different now. The boy who had walked into the arena with nothing more than a reinforced practice spear and a desire to prove himself was standing in front of him, not as a defeated commoner, but as someone who had made an undeniable impact.
Garet stood there, his body still trembling from exhaustion, but there was a pride in his eyes that burned brighter than ever. It was the pride of someone who had fought with everything he had—who had refused to back down, even when the odds were stacked against him.
"Impressive," Sebastian finally said, breaking the silence. His voice, though calm, carried a weight that only came with years of experience. "You're stronger than most give you credit for."
Garet's eyes met his, and for a split second, he felt a rush of respect from the other boy. It wasn't pity. It wasn't mockery. It was genuine recognition.
"I still have a long way to go," Garet replied, his voice steady despite the fatigue. He had learned something important today. Strength wasn't just about raw power or noble bloodlines. It was about determination, resilience, and the will to never give up, no matter the cost.
Sebastian shrugged nonchalantly, his eyes glinting with a faint smile. "A long way to go, huh? Maybe, but you're already ahead of most." He turned to face the crowd, raising his hand for silence. The cheers gradually faded, leaving only the murmur of students discussing the duel.
"That's enough for today," Sebastian continued, his voice cutting through the hushed crowd. "You've earned my respect, Garet. Keep training, and maybe next time we meet, we'll see if you can make me break a sweat."
Garet nodded, his chest swelling with pride. He had done it. He had made an impact, not only in his own eyes but in the eyes of someone who was widely regarded as one of the most powerful students in the academy. That was no small feat.
As the arena slowly emptied, the students began to disperse, each one talking in hushed tones about the unexpected turn of events. Some whispered that Garet had gained Sebastian's respect. Others wondered if the commoner had finally found a place among the elite. But regardless of their opinions, one thing was certain: Garet had made his mark.
Luna walked up to him, her expression unreadable. She crossed her arms and stared at him for a long moment before speaking.
"Not bad, Garet," she said, her tone surprisingly approving. "You've got some guts, I'll give you that."
Garet chuckled weakly, wiping the sweat from his brow. "I had to do something, right?"
Luna smirked. "Yeah, well, you definitely didn't just sit there and let him crush you. But next time, try not to get completely wiped out, alright?"
Garet's smile faltered slightly. "I'll do better next time. Promise."
Luna nodded, giving him a rare smile of her own. "Good. You might just fit in with this crazy bunch after all."
As Garet left the arena, he couldn't shake the feeling that things were changing. Not just for him, but for everyone watching. Sebastian had proven himself to be far more than just a lazy genius. He was a force to be reckoned with, and Garet now understood why.
But there was still something about Sebastian that nagged at him. Something that didn't sit right. He wasn't just playing around—he was holding back. And Garet had a feeling that there was more to this academy, more to this world, than he had ever imagined.
The day after the duel, the academy grounds were quieter than usual. It was as if the events of yesterday had put everyone on edge. Whispers echoed through the hallways, students exchanging hushed words about the unexpected turn of events. The name "Garet" was on everyone's lips, and the respect he'd gained from Sebastian Raizen, one of the academy's top-tier students, spread like wildfire.
Luna stood at the window of their shared training room, her arms crossed as she stared out into the courtyard. Her thoughts were far away, her mind replaying the duel over and over again. She had always known Sebastian could be lazy and carefree, but she had never truly seen him hold back like that. It wasn't just a lack of effort; it was like he had chosen not to fully engage.
Why?
Her eyes narrowed slightly. Was there something more to Sebastian than even she knew? A question that gnawed at her despite her best efforts to focus on other matters.
"Hey, Luna. What's got you so deep in thought?"
Luna turned, finding Kenjie leaning against the doorway, an eyebrow raised. His always calm and analytical demeanor was softened by the ever-present glint of curiosity in his eyes.
"Just... thinking about yesterday," Luna said, turning back to the window. "About Sebastian. He could've ended the fight with Garet in seconds if he wanted to. Instead, he held back. Why?"
Kenjie stepped inside, his face thoughtful. "Well, that's Sebastian for you. He's always been unpredictable. But maybe he saw something in Garet. Something worth acknowledging. You saw how Garet fought. He was relentless, even when the odds were against him."
"I know," Luna replied, her voice quieter now. "But it's not like Sebastian to show any real interest in others. Especially not in some random commoner."
Kenjie's smile was small, but knowing. "Maybe it's time to realize that Sebastian isn't just some lazy genius. He's more complicated than that."
Luna was silent for a moment before she turned to face him fully. "I think you're right," she muttered, then grinned slightly. "But I still don't get it. He never takes things seriously, so why this time? It's not like him to go so easy on someone, even if they're talented."
"Well," Kenjie continued, a sly smile tugging at his lips, "I suppose that's part of the mystery. You know how much he loves to leave us guessing."
Just then, the door to their room flew open, and in walked Jovhan, his usual enthusiastic self.
"Oi! You two are at it again," he said, looking between them with a half-amused expression. "Is this about Sebastian again?"
"Just trying to figure him out," Luna replied, glancing at Jovhan. "You know how it is."
"Well," Jovhan said, a grin spreading across his face, "if you want my take on it, it's simple. Sebastian's a lazy genius, sure. But he's also a fighter. That's why he didn't end Garet in one move."
Luna and Kenjie exchanged looks. "What do you mean?" Luna asked, confused.
Jovhan shrugged, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "Think about it. Sebastian fights because he loves to fight. Not because he's trying to prove something or show off. But because he enjoys the challenge. So when Garet challenged him, he saw it as just that—a challenge. And honestly, he was probably bored. So he let the kid have a go. It's not often he gets a real fight."
Luna blinked, then gave a slow nod. "I see... He didn't fight to win, he fought to experience something different. I guess that makes sense in his own way."
Kenjie chuckled. "Always looking for something to make it interesting."
Jovhan stretched, cracking his knuckles with a loud pop. "Speaking of which, I'm gonna go train. I'm feeling the urge to spar after all that talk. You coming, Luna?"
Luna hesitated for a second, then nodded. "Yeah, I'll join. But only if you promise not to break the training dummies again."
"You wound me," Jovhan said dramatically, throwing a hand over his heart. "But fine, I'll go easy on you. This time."
As the trio headed out of the room, the chatter from the other students was already filling the air. Word had already spread about the duel, and Garet had become something of a hero among the commoners. He was proof that hard work and determination could overcome the advantages of bloodline and nobility.
Sebastian Raizen, on the other hand, remained an enigma. His actions had only deepened the mystery surrounding him, and that mystery seemed to intrigue the students just as much as it irritated them. What did it all mean? What was he truly capable of?
At the training ground, the others were already there, waiting for their turn to practice. Garet stood a little apart from the rest, quietly observing as the students sparred. He still felt the weight of the duel from yesterday, but there was also a sense of accomplishment. Sebastian had respected him. That was something no one could take away from him.
As Luna, Jovhan, and Kenjie approached, Garet nodded in their direction, though he didn't say anything. He wasn't sure if they'd want to talk to him, but he was starting to feel like maybe, just maybe, he belonged here.
"Well, well, Garet," Jovhan said, his voice light. "Didn't expect to see you here again so soon. You're not planning on challenging Sebastian again, are you?"
Garet chuckled, shaking his head. "No, not for a while. But... if I ever get the chance, I think I'll be ready."
Luna raised an eyebrow. "You sure about that? Sebastian's not easy to beat. Even if you've got the skills, you'll need more than that to win."
Garet looked at her, a slight smile on his lips. "I know. But I'm not backing down. Not anymore."
There was a quiet determination in his voice that caught everyone's attention. Luna, Jovhan, and Kenjie exchanged looks, and for the first time, they all silently agreed on one thing: Garet wasn't going anywhere. He was here to stay.
The path ahead would be difficult. But Garet was no longer just a commoner looking for approval. He was a warrior in his own right, one who had earned the respect of those who mattered most.
And as for Sebastian? He wasn't done yet either. The duel might have been over, but there was still much to learn, much to discover.
The following week was a blur of whispered conversations and a strange, palpable tension in the air. The academy had shifted. Not dramatically, but subtly. Garet, once just another commoner among the students, had become a topic of fascination. Some saw him as an underdog hero, a figure of inspiration, while others, the privileged ones, dismissed him as a mere fluke.
But for those who mattered—Luna, Kenjie, Jovhan, and the rest of their circle—it was clear that Garet was more than that. He wasn't just some kid looking for approval. He was talented, driven, and his fight against Sebastian had proven that he was someone who would only grow stronger.
Yet, as the days passed, it became increasingly clear that Sebastian himself was... different. He had always been a mystery, his actions unpredictable and his motivations often unclear. But after the duel, something about him seemed even more distant. His friends noticed it first—the way he had become more withdrawn, more introspective.
It wasn't that he wasn't still training, or that he wasn't still hanging out with them. But something had changed.
Luna couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to the story than just Sebastian's laziness. She had known him for years, and yet, there were parts of him that still eluded her.
"Do you think he's... okay?" Luna asked, her voice low as she sat next to Kenjie in their usual corner of the training hall. The sun was beginning to set outside, casting long shadows across the floor.
Kenjie glanced over at Sebastian, who was currently sparring with a few of the other students. He was going through the motions—his movements were fluid, effortless, but there was no intensity in them. It was as if he was simply going through the motions.
"I don't know," Kenjie replied quietly. "He's always been... unpredictable, but this feels different. He's distant. More so than usual."
Luna frowned, watching as Sebastian parried an attack without even looking. "It's like he's... lost in his own head."
Kenjie nodded. "I think he's been that way ever since the duel with Garet. Maybe the whole thing... shook him more than he lets on."
Luna thought about it for a moment, her brow furrowing. "But why? He won. He could've ended it whenever he wanted."
Kenjie's gaze softened. "Sometimes, winning isn't everything. Maybe it's not about the fight itself. Maybe it's about something deeper. Something he hasn't come to terms with yet."
Just as Luna was about to respond, a familiar voice cut through the silence.
"Oi, you two are at it again."
They both turned to see Jovhan standing at the entrance, his hands on his hips and a wide grin on his face. Behind him, Renji and Orion had also entered the hall, their usual energy filling the space.
"You two are always overthinking things," Jovhan continued, shrugging as he walked toward them. "You know Sebastian better than anyone. He's probably just bored again. Maybe we should throw him into a real fight. That'll get him back to normal."
Luna rolled her eyes. "You're unbelievable. You think throwing him into a fight will solve anything?"
"It's worth a shot!" Jovhan said with a laugh. "Anyway, where's Kai? I need to talk to him about something."
Kenjie raised an eyebrow. "You mean your next scheme to get him to actually train?"
Jovhan just grinned and winked. "Exactly."
Luna sighed and shook her head. "You're hopeless."
As they talked, Sebastian finished his sparring session and walked over to them, his expression still as unreadable as ever. He was sweating, but there was no sign of fatigue in his posture. It was like he hadn't even broken a sweat.
"Finished?" Luna asked, her tone casual, but there was an underlying concern in her voice.
Sebastian nodded, wiping his brow with the back of his hand. "Yeah, just wrapping up."
"Everything okay?" Kenjie asked, his tone softer than usual.
Sebastian hesitated for a moment, his gaze flicking between Luna and Kenjie before finally settling on the ground. "I'm fine," he said, though his voice lacked its usual confidence. "Just a little... tired, I guess."
Luna studied him carefully. She could tell he wasn't being entirely truthful, but she didn't press him. Not yet.
"Alright," she said, forcing a smile. "Just don't burn yourself out. We still have a lot of training to do."
Sebastian gave a half-hearted smile in return. "Yeah, sure."
The group stood there for a few moments, the tension between them palpable. Finally, it was Jovhan who broke the silence, as usual.
"Alright, enough with the serious talk," he said, clapping his hands together. "Let's get to the real training. No more slacking off!"
The group nodded, the mood lightening slightly. But as they moved toward the training floor, Luna couldn't shake the feeling that something wasn't right. Something was off with Sebastian, and it wasn't just about the duel. It was as if he was holding something back—a part of himself that he wasn't ready to face.
And Luna had a sinking feeling that whatever it was, it wasn't going to be easy to figure out.
---
The next few days passed in much the same way. Training was intense, but Sebastian remained as detached as ever. He went through the motions, sparred when necessary, but there was no fire behind his actions. The others continued to worry, but none of them knew how to break through the wall he had put up.
Then, one evening, after the last training session of the day, Sebastian disappeared.
It wasn't unusual for him to leave without saying much, but this time it was different. No one had seen him leave, and there was no trace of him anywhere. His room was empty, and there were no signs that he had gone anywhere in particular.
Luna, Kenjie, and the others gathered in the common room, their faces tight with concern.
"Where the hell is he?" Jovhan asked, pacing back and forth. "This isn't like him. He doesn't just vanish."
"I'm starting to get worried," Luna admitted, her voice tinged with frustration. "He's not answering his comms, and this isn't like him at all. He's always around when we need him."
Kenjie frowned, glancing out the window toward the distant mountains. "This feels different. He's not just hiding from us. He's hiding from himself."
Luna turned to him sharply. "What do you mean?"
Kenjie's gaze remained distant, lost in thought. "I don't know, but whatever it is, it's bigger than just the duel. It's like he's... trying to avoid something. Something he doesn't want to face."
Luna's heart sank. If that was true, then Sebastian was in deeper trouble than any of them realized.
And just as that thought crossed her mind, the door to the common room suddenly opened.
Sebastian stood there, drenched in sweat and covered in the dust of the training grounds. His clothes were torn, his hair disheveled, and his eyes—those eyes were empty.
He looked like he hadn't slept in days.
"I'm fine," he muttered, before anyone could say anything. "Just needed to... clear my head."
Luna stepped forward, her voice soft but firm. "Sebastian, talk to us. What's going on?"
But instead of answering, Sebastian just turned away, heading for his room without another word.
And that was when Luna realized—he wasn't just running from them. He was running from something far worse.
Academy Leaderboard – Top 20 Students
1. Sebastian Raizen – The Lazy Genius
(Raizen Family, Abyssia)
(???)
2. Luna Blossomveil – Sword of the Plum Blossom
(Plum Blossom Sect)
(Tier 5)
3. Renji Xuanlong – Azure Dragon of Qi
(Xuanlong Clan, Cultivation Realm)
(Tier 5)
4. Jovhan Raizen – Phoenix Heart
(Raizen Family, Abyssia)
(Tier 5)
5. Sylvaine Elowen – Witch of Arcane Thorns
(High Elves, Verneville)
(Tier 5)
6. Kenjie Velstorne – Battle Tactician
(Strategists' Guild)
(Tier 5)
7. Orion Beasthold – Whisperer of Fangs
(Monsterborne, Beastlands)
(Tier 5)
8. Kai Drovian – Sleeping Storm
(Drovian Clan)
(Tier 5)
9. ??? – ???
(???)
10. ??? – ???
(???)
11. ??? – ???
(???)
12. Garet – The Commoner's Flame
(Commoner, Verneville)
(Tier 4)
13. ??? – ???
(???)
14. ??? – ???
(???)
15. ??? – ???
(???)
16. ??? – ???
(???)
17. ??? – ???
(???)
18. ??? – ???
(???)
19. ??? – ???
(???)
20. ??? – ???
(???)