I returned to the campus and entered the training hall.
Inside, dozens of students sat in stands that were arranged around a court of sorts. Tectus stood in the center with his arms crossed.
We locked eyes as I took my seat.
He didn't say anything.
Neither did I.
Reinhardt stepped down from the top row to sit beside me in the first row. "I was starting to think you weren't coming." He whispered to me.
I sighed. "Didn't really want to. But I can't afford to lose my position either." I whispered back.
Tectus waited for a few more students to enter the hall before he finally spoke. "All of you should be here for one of three reasons."
He raised three fingers.
"One, you are here to witness the matches." He lowered a finger. "Two, you are a challenger." He lowered another finger. "Or three, you were challenged."
He lowered his hand.
"The rules for each match are simple. Each match lasts four minutes. Defensive techniques are allowed to maximum capacity. Offensive techniques are limited to hand-to-hand. We are here to test your ability to fight, not blow a hole through the building. Save that for the competitions."
He looked over the crowd of students in the bleachers. "And finally, you will fight until you either surrender or are rendered unable to continue. Are there any questions?"
No one raised their hand.
Tectus pulled a sheet of paper from his pocket and unfolded it. "Alright, the first match is between Reinhardt Faluh Tide and Himithy Him Terra. Get your asses down here."
Reinhardt exhaled deeply. Without thinking I reached out to pat his back. "You got this."
Reinhardt slapped his cheeks. "Thanks." He stood to his feet and walked onto the court.
He rolled his shoulders as he held eye contact with Himithy. Himithy was large to say the least. He looked like he'd eaten another 12-year-old.
Broad shoulders.
Strong chin.
A slow and confident walk.
Tectus stepped back and raised a hand. "I want a fight. A real, clean fight. If I see any bullshit I'll kick both your asses myself. Begin."
He threw his hand down.
Reinhardt didn't waste a second and coated himself in a thin film of water.
Himithy stepped forward. After three hand symbols, rocks began to form at the tips of his fingers and crawl up his forearm.
"Prepare yourself, Tide."
Reinhardt raised his head along with one of his hands. He formed three hand signs and summoned a water dagger. "I'll make this quick, Terra."
The two boys kicked off the court and launched at each other.
FUOOOM-BOOOM!
They clashed in the center of the court with a shattering force. Himithy raised his arms to throw down on Reinhardt's head.
Reinhardt weaved to the left and thrust his dagger towards Himithy's stomach. Himithy dashed back and crossed his arms over his stomach.
With the wave of his hand, Reinhardt dispelled the dagger and formed six hand gestures in quick succession. A long water scythe was summoned.
Reinhardt spun the blade and a ring of water formed around him.
Himithy walked around Reinhardt with a calm and careful expression.
"A defensive technique? You'll run out of Ouro before I attack you."
Reinhardt grinned as he slammed his scythe down. The water ring floated around him. "Did you forget already? There's a time limit. You have to attack me."
Himithy's eyes widened as he quickly threw his hands back. He then threw them forward with a loud clap. The rocks on his hands rolled off and formed a projectile.
A rock bullet. It spun faster and faster until it began to whine with a high-pitched sound.
He shot the bullet forward. But before it hit Reinhardt's shield it was knocked off course by a fireball.
The rock bullet dropped harmlessly on the floor as all eyes shifted to Tectus. "What did I just say before the match started?"
Himithy blinked.
"S-sir?"
"I didn't stutter, boy. Now answer me, what was the third rule?"
Himithy clenched his jaw as he swallowed. "Offensive techniques are limited to hand-to-hand… sir."
Tectus stepped forward with a glare that could kill. "So you're not deaf? Then explain what part of hand-to-hand you do not understand?!
"I, I understand it, sir."
Tectus got Himithy's face.
"Do you?! Because to me it looked like you were about to shoot the damn boy!" He gestured wildly at Reinhardt. "What part of hand-to-hand involves a projectile?! Answer me!"
"N-no part, sir!"
"Damn straight! Now get your dumbass off my court and learn the fucking difference! NOW!!!!"
Himithy nodded as he quickly jogged out of the room. Tectus watched him go with a frown. Then he turned on Reinhardt.
"And you, what are you? Scared to get hit? The entire point of a fight is engagement. If I wanted to watch you stand there I'd get a damn statue. Get the fuck off my court!"
Reinhardt jogged backwards with a confused expression. He sat beside me and sighed. He didn't speak immediately, but after a moment he turned to me.
"What did I do wrong?" He asked.
I shrugged. "If you're asking me? Nothing, the best fight is the one that leaves you untouched. But for Tectus? I think he wanted you to press him, not just outlast him, but to win."
Reinhardt crossed his arms. "Maybe, I'll look into that."
Tectus called the next match. Two Fire users who launched at each other the moment they were given the green light.
Four minutes of a straight-up brawl.
Skin was burned, blood was boiled, but neither side gave up an inch. By the time the fight was over, it was a draw. Both students still stood.
But in this situation? A draw is a win for the page.
Both students healed themselves and returned to their seats.
Two more matches came and went. In both cases, the pages defended their position.
By the fourth match, I was finally called. "Lafayette Dumica Tide and Victor Fuma Blaze."
I unbuttoned my jacket and slid it off. I walked onto the court with a bored expression. Victor stepped down with eyes lit and jaw clenched.
He was lean, tall, and fast.
He stopped across from me and held his head up. "I'll make this quick, but you can make it faster by surrendering now."
I shrugged. "Tough talk for someone in a gray uniform."
Victor smirked. "This is a choice, see, I wanted to take my uniform off your corpse." He leaned close, "By the way, thanks for keeping it warm."
Tectus stepped forward. "Enough with the flirting ladies, I want a fight." He raised his head. "You know the rules, begin!"
Victor moved fast.
After summoning a thin water film, I stayed still.
Victor arched back a leg and kicked my side. His shin connected with my thigh but I felt nothing. He pivoted with a fist and slammed it against my jaw.
Again, I felt nothing.
As he continued to land blow after blow, I slowly realized something. I was genuinely beyond this kid's level.
My eyes narrowed as I tried to piece together why. And then it hit me. Lilith and the dragon. Those two put me through so much that my body was far beyond what it was supposed to be.
This wasn't just gonna be easy.
It was gonna be criminal.
"Had enough?!" Victor taunted as he stepped back to wipe his nose.
I fought to hide a smile. "In all my fights, of being outnumbered, out-skilled, and out-matched. I took it personally." I nodded a bit, as I licked my lips. "But, now that I'm on the other side of that coin, what I'm about to do… I'm going to enjoy it. Very, very much."
Victor rolled his eyes. "Ha, what are you—"
I blitzed him before he could finish.
My body surged forward with an almost effortless grace as my fist connected with Victor's jaw.
I could feel his bone shatter beneath my fingers as he slammed into the court. Blood splattered across the hardwood floor.
And as I rose, Victor stayed down.
He was out.
The training hall was in complete and utter silence for a long time after that. Everyone just stared at Victor with shock.
Even Tectus looked utterly bewildered at the sight before him. To be honest, I had almost forgotten how strong I was.
After so many lopsided fights I got used to being the underdog.
I shook the blood off my fist and turned to Tectus.
"Hey, do you mind if I knock out my next six challengers?" I paused, then chuckled. "Not literally knock them out, but, you know."
Tectus took a long breath. "Alright, from now on I'm allowing students to jump you six at a time. Get off my court."
I shrugged and walked back to my seat.