The sharp ring of clashing steel echoed through a secluded corner of the academy.

  "Faster!" Zaros barked, parrying Kael’s downward strike aimed at his right thigh. Their blades met in a brief flash of light and motion. With a deft twist of his wrist, Zaros deflected the blow and pivoted, stopping the edge of his sword a hair’s breadth from Kael’s chest.

  "You're dead," he said calmly, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his lips. He stepped back, lowering his weapon.

  Kael sighed and collapsed onto the fresh grass, his chest heaving from the exertion. The blue sky above him blurred in his vision.

  "How am I supposed to make up for such a difference in strength?" he muttered, draping one arm over his forehead. “You shattered my defense with a single block.”

  Zaros didn’t answer immediately. He sat beside Kael, his gaze drifting toward the horizon. "Look," he began. "You've definitely improved these past few days. I actually have to take you seriously now and that alone says a lot.”

  He glanced down at Kael, his tone softening. "But you can’t expect miracles. You can’t close a gap like that overnight. I don’t know how you managed to beat Liam, but to reach the level of the top students or mine, you’ll need years of training. Stamina, reaction speed, instinct... That takes time. It’s harsh, but it’s the truth.”

  Kael exhaled heavily, knowing Zaros was right. Still, I thought I could push further. If I train the entire week before the evaluation test, maybe...

  His thoughts were cut short by a familiar, cheerful voice.

  "Guys! The picnic’s almost ready!” Lia's voice rang across the courtyard. She was kneeling on a checkered blanket, arranging a colorful array of food with her usual care and enthusiasm.

  Zaros stretched his arms above his head and grinned. “The pleasure after work, as they say.”

  Kael chuckled, brushing grass from his sleeves. Together, they walked toward Lia.

  She was kneeling on the blanket, arranging the last dish from her basket with delicate precision. The sunlight glinted in her red hair, turning it almost golden.

  "All done," she said brightly, flashing them both a smile. "Dig in."

  Kael blinked, momentarily taken aback by the sight. "Thank you, Lia," he said, still catching his breath. "But you really didn't have to go through all this trouble. I only suggested we hang out and train.”

  "I know," she replied lightly, pointing a finger at him in mock reproach. "But I thought a picnic would be the perfect way to end your training session. It’s our day off, after all.” Her smile widened as she tilted her face toward the sky. "And the weather practically begged for a picnic."

  Zaros smirked. "Is that why you changed your outfit today?" he teased, his gaze flicking toward her red dress, which ended just above her knees.

  Lia followed his gaze and frowned. "Creep," she said, though her tone was more amused than angry.

  "Wait. No, I—" Zaros started, raising his hands defensively.

  Lia ignored him entirely and turned to Kael, crossing her arms. "And you? Got something to say?"

  Realizing he couldn’t stay silent, Kael rubbed the back of his neck, his expression cautious. "It looks good on you," he admitted, embarrassed but sincere.

  "Good answer," Lia murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. She lowered her gaze, her smile deepening where no one could see it.

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  "Enough chatting," Zaros interrupted impatiently. "I'm starving, and this food smells way too good to ignore."

  Kael and Lia burst out laughing at his remark. Soon, all three were eating and talking about mundane things while sharing old stories. The air was light, filled with the warmth of friendship and the scent of autumn.

  After a while, they lay back on the blanket and watched the clouds drift lazily across the sky.

  “That was delicious,” Zaros sighed contentedly. He turned his head toward Lia. "Lia, I've never found you more attractive than I do right now. Marry me.” He pitched his voice higher, clearly joking.

  Kael laughed, but Lia kept her eyes on the drifting clouds. "Sure," she replied calmly. "But only if you agree to be my guinea pig for potion experiments in the future. Deal?”

  The color drained from Zaros’s face in an instant. Kael laughed so hard that tears welled up in his eyes. He wiped them away, still grinning, and then fell quiet, his gaze returning to the sky.

  "It really was delicious," he said softly. His tone had changed. Lighter in volume but heavier in weight.

  Lia and Zaros exchanged a look, both sensing the shift in his mood.

  "Kael," Lia began carefully, hesitation in her voice. "Why are you training so hard all of a sudden?"

  Kael frowned and pushed himself upright. “What do you mean?” he asked, glancing between them.

  "You've never trained like this before," Zaros added, his tone thoughtful. "Since I've known you, you've always been the logical type, the one who fights with his head, not his muscles. You used to say that survivability comes from adaptability, not raw strength. So, what changed?”

  “Isn’t it obvious?” Kael asked, his tone steady. "I told you that we have the evaluation test in two days."

  Zaros's expression turned skeptical. "Of course I know that. But you’ve never cared this much about a test before. So why now?”

  Kael hesitated, glancing at his friends. After a moment of silence, he finally exhaled. "All right," he said quietly. "I'll tell you the real reason."

  Both of them leaned closer, their curiosity piqued.

  "They told us that the top three students will be allowed to choose a professor for private tutoring. It’s meant to help the best students become true protégés and learn things that the professors wouldn't share with the rest of the class.”

  Lia’s eyes lit up with recognition. “And you’d pick Professor Nora as your tutor, right?” she said knowingly.

  Kael didn’t respond. His silence said enough.

  Zaros pushed himself to his feet, his calm cracking. "Unbelievable," he muttered, his voice hardening. "We had an agreement. We lay low and do nothing until another opportunity arose. And you go and do the exact opposite.”

  "No," Kael said firmly, his tone calm yet resolute. "I'm not breaking our agreement. I'm seizing an opportunity. Why shouldn't I? This is the perfect chance to learn something valuable. It's not dangerous. I'm not spying or following anyone." He met Zaros’s gaze with quiet sincerity. "Besides, I'd choose him even without an ulterior motive. His command of the Words and his teaching methods are remarkable. Anyone in my class would want to be his student."

  Zaros said nothing for a moment. The two simply stared at each other, the tension in the silence thick, until finally, Zaros sighed.

  “You’re right,” he admitted. "He is the best choice." His expression softened, though a note of apology lingered. "But that doesn't change your situation with the sword. You’re more driven than ever, which is good, but it won't be enough to reach the top three. Not yet.”

  Kael grimaced, acknowledging the truth in his words. "You're probably right," he muttered, then turned to Lia. "What do you think? Do you have any ideas on how I can improve in just two days?”

  Lia tapped a finger thoughtfully against her chin. "I don't know much about swordfighting, but I've watched you two train for quite a while," she admitted. "Honestly? Zaros isn’t the right person to help you improve anymore.”

  Both men turned to her, surprised. “What’s that supposed to mean?” Zaros asked, irritation creeping into his voice.

  “Look,” Lia said, pointing between them. "You two are built completely differently. You might not notice it when you’re fighting, but from an outsider’s perspective, it’s obvious. Kael’s improving, sure, but he’s mimicking your style, Zaros. You’re stronger and heavier, so you fight with power and endurance. Kael’s frame is leaner, though, so he should focus on agility instead of brute strength or heavy blocking.”

  Kael’s eyes widened slightly. That’s a good point. Zaros was a great teacher, no doubt, but she is right. He was adapting Zaros’s form, not refining his own. The only other move I’ve ever used that wasn’t his was Astra’s, he thought, the realization tightening in his chest.

  Zaros seemed lost in thought, resting his chin on his hand. “I hate to admit it, but Lia’s right,” he finally said. "Different body types aren't that hard to train across, but in your case... yeah, it might be better to find someone else to teach you."

  Lia lifted her head proudly. "Of course I'm right. I’m the best when it comes to observation and calculation.”

  "Yeah, yeah," Zaros muttered, waving her off with a smirk before turning to Kael. “So, got anyone in mind who could take over your training?”

  "Maybe," Kael said after a pause, his tone quiet but tense. "But I’ll have to be very convincing."