The training grounds felt different.
Not quieter.
Sharper.
Students stood in lines, wooden swords in hand.
No one spoke unnecessarily.
Because today—
They would fight.
At the front, Instructor Darius Varn observed them.
"Aura without application is meaningless."
His voice carried across the field.
"Today—you fight."
A slight pause.
"Your performance… will be remembered."
A ripple of tension spread instantly.
Some students straightened.
Others smirked.
Adrian adjusted his grip slightly.
So it starts now.
First Match
"Victor Falken. Step forward."
A tall boy walked out confidently.
Golden embroidery on his uniform.
Pride in every step.
"…Falken," Adrian thought.
A ducal house known for overwhelming force.
Victor smirked at his opponent.
"Don't embarrass yourself."
The match began.
Victor moved first.
Fast.
Heavy.
His aura surged violently as he swung—
CRACK!
The opponent barely blocked once—
Before being knocked back hard.
The second strike ended it.
"Too weak."
Victor lowered his sword casually.
Murmurs spread.
Power.
Raw and obvious.
Second Match
"Leonhart Vale."
A quiet boy stepped forward.
No expression.
No wasted movement.
Vale… Marquis family, Adrian noted.
The match began.
No explosion.
No shouting.
Leonhart moved once—
A single clean strike.
The opponent's weapon was knocked aside instantly.
Match over.
"…Efficient," Adrian muttered.
Third Match
"Lila Ardent."
The commoner girl stepped forward.
Her grip was tight.
Her opponent smirked.
The match started.
She struggled immediately.
Forced back.
Barely defending.
"…She'll lose," someone whispered.
Then—
Her movement changed.
Breathing steadied.
Less panic.
More control.
She adjusted.
One step.
One opening.
Tap.
Her blade struck cleanly.
Silence—
Then surprise.
She had won.
Lila exhaled sharply.
"…Not bad," Adrian thought.
Fourth Match
"Bruno Hale."
"…Alright, watch this!" he said loudly, stepping forward.
The match began—
And immediately turned chaotic.
Wild swings.
Missed steps.
Almost falling—
Then somehow—
He tripped into his opponent.
And knocked him out of bounds.
"…I planned that," Bruno said proudly.
Silence.
Then a few laughs.
Fifth Match
"Elena Morcant."
A girl stepped forward.
Cold eyes.
Still expression.
Count's daughter, Adrian noted.
The match began.
Three movements.
That was all.
Precise.
Clean.
Her opponent couldn't even react properly.
Match over.
No emotion.
She walked back silently.
Sixth Match
"Seraphina."
The atmosphere shifted slightly.
She stepped forward calmly.
No arrogance.
No hesitation.
The match began—
Her aura flowed smoothly.
Not overwhelming.
But refined.
Every movement had purpose.
Within seconds—
Her opponent was disarmed.
Clean victory.
As she turned—
Her eyes met Adrian's briefly.
A silent acknowledgment.
Then she walked away.
Adrian's Match
"Adrian. Step forward."
He walked calmly.
His opponent—a mid-tier noble—smirked.
"Don't think awakening aura makes you special."
Adrian said nothing.
The match began.
The opponent rushed in immediately.
Heavy strike.
Adrian sidestepped.
Minimal movement.
Second strike—
Blocked.
Third—
Dodged.
"…Stop running!" the opponent snapped.
Adrian stepped in.
One precise movement—
Tap.
Direct hit.
Silence.
The match was over.
"…That's it?" the opponent muttered in disbelief.
Adrian stepped back calmly.
"No wasted movement," he said quietly.
Reactions
Victor Falken clicked his tongue.
"Tch. Tricks."
Not impressed.
Leonhart Vale watched silently.
"…Efficient," he murmured.
Nearby—
Lila glanced briefly at Adrian.
Recognition.
Seraphina's gaze lingered a moment longer than before.
After Matches
Students gathered again.
Breathing heavier now.
More aware.
More serious.
Darius Varn stepped forward.
"You've seen the difference."
His gaze moved across them.
"Talent. Effort. Control."
"All of it matters."
A pause.
"From now on…"
"…your ranks will be recorded."
A ripple spread instantly.
Some excited.
Some tense.
Adrian stood quietly.
His grip tightened slightly on the wooden sword.
Ranks…
This wasn't just training anymore.
It was competition.