Volume 1: Path – [Academy Arc]
Chapter 19: Duel & Partners
"Since you all chose your weapons, I'm going to assign your partners for the rest of this first year. It doesn't matter whether you're low-ranked or high-ranked; you just need to follow the rules of the academy. If you break them, then you're out of this academy.
Aeren and Aiven, you're partnered together. Uriel and Caelus, you're the second team. You'll now be having a sparring match against each other using only physical strength no affinities, no Leym, just your bodies and weapons. These partners will stay the same for the entire year. I don't care if you like the teams or not.
In battle, you don't always get to choose your ally. You need to adapt to the unfamiliar to survive. That's why the academy enforces this. Learn to trust, adapt, and move in sync with someone you've never fought beside before, got it?
Any questions?" Garron said as he looked at the four students.
"..."
"Since none of you have any questions, start your duel with your assigned partner. Get familiar with your weapons and learn how to move together." As he spoke, he stomped the ground with immense force.
With a deep rumble, two platforms rose from the earth, smooth, elevated, and wide enough to host a proper sparring match.
Each dueling ground was square-shaped and tiled in pristine white stone, its surface unmarred and level.
"Now go and start your duels. I'll be watching both teams. Your match doesn't end until the class period is over. If even one of you drops out or gives up, all four of you will be running 100 laps around this courtyard."
At his command, the students split up, with Aeren and Aiven headed to one sparring ground, while Caelus and Uriel moved to the other. The two dueling grounds stood side by side, close enough to feel each other's presence.
As Uriel stepped onto the platform near Caelus, she paused. Her eyes shifted toward him, glancing sideways in silence. It wasn't quite a glare; rather, it was curiosity.
"Excuse me, Miss Uriel, but why are you giving me the side-eye?" Caelus asked, feeling awkward.
"Did we ever meet somewhere before? I don't know why, but I feel like I've met you a lot of times… I just can't remember when," Uriel said, looking straight into Caelus's eyes.
His gaze wavered slightly. "I don't think so. This is the first time I'm meeting you, Miss Uriel. I've only heard your name on TV."
"Oh, okay then. Nice meeting you, Caelus. Please take care of me for the rest of the year."
"Yes, Miss Uriel," Caelus replied.
"Can you drop the formalities? Since we're partnered up, I don't want anything too formal between us. Otherwise, it might affect our growth during battle," Uriel said with a smile.
"But won't your fiancé say something about it? Like, if I speak casually, won't it cause misunderstandings between you two later?" Caelus asked, a hint of worry in his eyes.
"It's fine. He trusts me. And if he doesn't even have that much faith in me, then the only thing he's really after is my body. Either way, drop the formalities. Everyone around me always talks formally, and it's exhausting to deal with."
"Well, then you also take care of me for the rest of the year, Uriel," Caelus said as he walked to the other side of the stage, with Uriel walking to the opposite side.
"Hmm, and fight with all you've got. Don't hold back just because I'm a girl," Uriel said, gripping her spear confidently in her right hand.
She settled into a standard combat stance with an overhand grip. Her back hand gripped near the butt of the spear while her front hand rested just past the midpoint. The spear angled diagonally across her body, its tip pointing slightly upward and forward. This positioning gave her control, precision, and the ability to execute swift, accurate thrusts at a moment's notice. Her posture was stable, practiced and fully ready to engage.
Caelus nodded and raised his weapon. In his right hand, he held a scythe its blade made of matte black alloy, curving like a crescent moon. The tip hooked downward, like the claw of a predator. The inner edge was honed thin for clean slicing, while the outer edge remained rough, almost jagged, as if still unfinished.
The pole of the scythe was a dull steel shaft, scuffed at the edges and marked with subtle grooves. Its charcoal gray body contrasted the black blade, and the rubber-coated grip near the center made it easier to control though its slightly oversized blade still made it hard to wield for someone untrained. Still, it felt right in Caelus's hands as if it belonged there.
Caelus shifted into an offensive stance.
His rear foot angled back and his front foot pointed straight at Uriel, forming a solid combat triangle. He lowered his center of gravity slightly, steadying himself for sudden movement. His grip on the scythe widened rear hand positioned low near the base of the shaft, while the front hand guided closer to the blade.
The scythe's black edge gleamed faintly under the sunlight. He raised it high and angled it slightly forward, perfect for momentum-heavy downward arcs or wide, sweeping horizontal cuts. Caelus looked calm… but nervous deep down cause he is dueling against the person he loves.
'I don't want to fight her… I really don't. Hey, what the fuck are you thinking? She's not her anymore. The one who told me to live life to the fullest is gone. And I made her a promise to live the way I want, so I will. I'll enjoy this life until my time runs out in ten years. From now on, I'm done loving her. Not that I'll fall for someone else, but loving someone who already has another man… that's just pathetic. So let's give up. At the very least, I can be her practice dummy. Let her hone her spear skills. So… let's fight to the fullest.'
"Let's have a good spar," Caelus said to Uriel.
"Yes," she replied with a small nod.
'I've never held a weapon in my life and never even trained, never swung, never even touched one seriously. But the moment I wrapped my fingers around this scythe, it felt... natural like I have known how to use a scythe for a long time. I don't know the forms. I don't know the stances. But I'll trust my instincts. Just move, Caelus.'
He closed his eyes briefly, breathing in the chilled morning air. As he opened them again, the blur of movement greeted him of a spear, Uriel's, already lunging toward his face with a sharp whistle. There was no hesitation. The weapons they were using weren't training props rather they were real weapons meant to cut, break, and injure.
As the spear was about to thrust into his face, Caelus swung the scythe downward, aiming directly at the handle of the spear before it could reach him. The strike smashed into the shaft mid-thrust, knocking the weapon off course.
As the spear dipped low, he tracked its motion, but Uriel didn't pause. With a sudden burst of movement, she slammed her right palm against the back end of the spear, driving it forward with brutal speed, this time targeting Caelus's legs.
She charged behind it, maintaining the pressure, her momentum adding force to the thrust. Caelus reacted quickly, jumping back to create space, but not fast enough. In a flash, Uriel stamped her foot down on the back end of the spear, pinning it to the ground. The sudden force caused the spear's tip to spring upward, snapping toward Caelus like a sprung trap.
The tip came dangerously close to his neck.
But Caelus didn't freeze.
In one sharp motion, he brought the scythe across his body. With his left hand still gripping low, he swung downward and caught the rising spear mid-air before it could make contact. As the curved blade connected, he rotated the scythe, turning the edge skyward, and slid his left hand up the shaft, switching grips with practiced fluidity.
With a single powerful motion, he pushed through and sent the spear flying out of Uriel's control. Because her foot had been bracing the weapon, the sudden release threw off her balance, and she tumbled backward onto the ground.
"Ouch."
Hearing her voice, Caelus immediately rushed over and offered his hand to help her up. "Are you okay?"
"I'm good, thank you," she said, accepting his hand and rising to her feet.
Just then, Garron's voice cut through the moment. "Uriel, you could've won that one easily if you'd just thought one step ahead. I know you're both new to this, but when Caelus was about to cut your spear down again, you could've grabbed it with your hand and driven yourself forward with it. That would've disrupted his attack before it even landed, making him stumble back from surprise.
Of course, if he had another plan, like say, just blocking instead of cutting, he might've recovered. Who knows, but this is your first lesson. In a battle, there are countless ways to win, regardless of strength. Victory often goes to the one who plans further ahead. If one plan fails, switch to the next immediately. Try to simulate these outcomes in your head. I know it's not easy, but give it a try. You too, Caelus."
"Yes, sir," both responded in unison.
[End Of Chapter 19]