A gleam.
High above.
From the left.
A spear of fla.
Not just any fla-concentrated, sharp-edged, burning with a white-hot intensity. But more than that-
Lilia's pupils contracted.
The mana signature wasn't pure fire.
Threaded through the core-spatial psions.
'-What?'
The spear shouldn't have reached her yet. She had calculated the angle, the timing, the fla speed-she should've been safe.
But this?
This was faster.
Far faster than it had any right to be.
And in that instant, she understood.
Irina hadn't just empowered her spell.
She had layered [Telekinesis] into the projectile, amplifying its speed post-cast. The spear's kinetic force wasn't elental anymore-it was tethered to space itself.
It struck.
Not her body-Lilia's defense spells flared just in ti. But the mana impact rattled through her system like a shockwave. It wasn't the damage that mattered. It was the displacent.
Her trajectory broke.
Her focus wavered.
Her stance-compromised.
And as she hit the ground, skidding across the stone, her bow scraping beside her, the simulation flickered-
[Duel Complete.]
Victory: Irina Emberheart.
Silence fell for a breath.
Lilia's hand twitched, fingers still curled around the bow's grip. Her heart beat hard in her chest, not from exhaustion, but from the sheer shift she had just experienced.
She hadn't lost because of carelessness. She hadn't misfired.
She had been outmaneuvered.
Outpaced.
And for the first ti in a long ti-
She smiled.
'So that's where you are now, Irina.
It was annoying.
But it was also exhilarating.
Lilia exhaled slowly, lying on the cool stone floor for a second longer, the echo of that last impact still humming in her bones. Her eyes stayed fixed on the ceiling above, but a grin tugged at the corner of her lips.
"Wow..." she muttered to herself, voice light with disbelief. "You really stepped up your ga."
Footsteps approached-light, precise.
Irina stood over her now, her usual composed expression tempered by the faintest arch of a brow. "I wasn't staying idle."
Lilia reached up, gripping Irina's offered hand. She pulled herself up with a grunt and dusted off her training gear. "Sa can be said for you."
Irina's lips curved slightly. "Well, I fell short before too."
"Not today," Lilia admitted with a short sigh. "You got ."
"Happens," Irina said simply, tilting her head. "Don't fret over it."
Lilia huffed, brushing back a loose strand of hair that had fallen over her face. "I want to punch your smug face right now."
Irina blinked. "This is my neutral face."
"It's smug, and you know it."
Across the room, Julia-who'd been lounging nearby with her arms folded-watched the exchange with growing amusent. Her blue eyes lit up as she strolled over, her steps casual and easy.
"Well, well," Julia said, grinning as she arrived. "That was quite the spectacle. Fireworks, aerial maneuvers, tactical footwork... Almost makes not want to fight either of you."
Lilia narrowed her eyes. "Don't get cocky, Jules."
Julia grinned wide, hands planted on her hips as she leaned in slightly.
"? Cocky? Never," she said with exaggerated innocence. "I'm just stating facts. Since
I'm stronger than both of you, I'd naturally win. That's just simple math"
Lilia rolled her eyes. "You are tripping"
"By getting launched across the floor again?" Julia teased, smirking.
Before Lilia could fire back, a new voice chid in-calm, dry, and far too perfectly tid.
"Nah, I'd win."
The three girls turned as Lucas approached, adjusting the cuffs of his sleeves and giving Julia a look that was just a bit too smug for his usual deanor.
Julia blinked, then narrowed her eyes. "Was that a reference?"
Lucas shrugged innocently. "I've always wanted to say it."
Julia scoffed, flicking her fingers toward him like she was brushing dust off her shoulder. "We'll see how long that confidence lasts when Carl starts swinging."
As if summoned, Carl appeared just behind Lucas, arms folded, expression unreadable. The difference in size between them was almost comical-Lucas was lean, sharp-eyed, light on his feet. Carl was broad, grounded, and built like a mobile fortress.
Lucas looked over his shoulder, caught the stare, and let out a slow breath. "Right.
Carl"
Carl nodded once. "Ready?"
Julia gave Lucas a playful pat on the back, flashing a grin that was far too cheeky for the situation. "See the big guy. Ready to take him?"
For a mont, there was silence.
Then, simultaneously, all three girls-Lilia, Irina, and even Julia herself-winced.
Lucas slowly turned his head, staring at her like she'd just committed a war cri. His hand ca up to his face. "Please don't ever say it like that again."
Irina let out a quiet sigh, pinching the bridge of her nose. Lilia just facepald
outright.
"Seriously," Lucas muttered, dragging his hand down his face. "Sotis I genuinely wonder how you of all people are my twin."
Julia blinked, then tilted her head with an exaggerated innocent smile. "What do you an how? We ca from the sa hole."
Lucas choked. "You-!"
Lilia snorted.
Irina looked away, muttering sothing about needing to bleach her ears.
Julia burst out laughing, hands on her knees, doubled over with glee. "Ahahahaha!
Co on, you walked right into that!"
Lucas stared at her, utterly betrayed. "I regret everything."
Before the banter could escalate further, Instructor Verren's voice echoed across the
hall like a thunderclap.
"Lucas. Carl. Platform Four."
Lucas sighed dramatically. "Saved by the bell."
"Let's go."
Julia wiped away a fake tear. "Good luck, bro. Make us proud. Or, you know, just don't
get pancaked."
Lucas shook his head as he walked off. "Sa hole... Unbelievable."
Carl didn't comnt.
He never did, really-not unless it mattered.
As the two of them walked side by side toward Platform Four, Lucas glanced at Carl's
face, searching for any reaction.
Nothing.
Stone-faced as ever, Carl marched with the sa solid, unshakable rhythm he always
had. His expression was unreadable, eyes forward, posture straight.
Lucas sighed, almost theatrically. "You didn't understand it, did you?"
Carl glanced sideways. "Hmm?"
That was all. Just that single sound-quiet, curious, but clearly disconnected from
whatever chaos had just unfolded behind them.
Lucas almost laughed.
Of course he didn't.
He looked forward again, lips twitching into a faint smile.
'Right... Braveheart family,' he thought, watching the way Carl moved-efficient, grounded, like he'd been drilled to perfection from the mont he could walk. Lucas could see it now: the drills, the marching, the strict als and earlier mornings. Jokes like Julia's? Probably didn't even exist in Carl's world.
He sighed again, though this one had a hint of fondness behind it. "Man, must've been wild growing up with people who saluted you for sneezing."
Carl didn't respond.
He didn't need to.
They reached the edge of the platform, footsteps echoing faintly in the hall's quiet.
Lucas flexed his fingers, eyes now sharpening just slightly. His stance shifted as he
stepped onto the dueling floor, his movents loose but asured. A glint danced across his gaze-not mischief, but sothing quieter, more focused. 'Let's test it, he thought, glancing at Carl again.
The corner of his mouth curled up.
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