The Academy's Sparring Tournament (1)
Seong Hyun-jin stood a bit dazed in the training grounds, where he'd come for Combat Department class. His mind was occupied with thoughts of one person.
Aiel Northwood.
From what he'd learned, the guy had placed fourth in the entrance exam for the 35th class and then claimed top spot in the Magic Department. Surprisingly competent, which had caught Hyun-jin off guard. But that wasn't why he was thinking about him.
"He just has that face like he's gonna cause trouble."
In his previous life, Seong Hyun-jin had a pretty sharp eye for reading people. Those who gave him a bad vibe always ended up stirring up problems or starting something. And Aiel Northwood set off those same alarm bells.
Serena had said the guy was all talk and couldn't actually touch her... but to Hyun-jin, it felt like he'd cross that line anyway.
It's making me uneasy...
Just then, as he mulled it over, Serena approached from the side.
"What're you thinking about so deeply?"
"Huh? Oh..."
Hyun-jin hesitated, wondering if he should tell her Aiel Northwood felt off. He wanted to warn her, but since it was her family, it might come off as meddling. She probably knew him better than he did anyway, so he didn't want to overstep.
After a moment's thought, he skirted around it.
"I was thinking I should tell you to watch out for guys."
"Didn't you say that last time too?"
"Be even more careful this time."
Serena tilted her head at his advice.
"You're a guy too, you know."
"...Not me."
"Then your department classmates?"
"Classmates... yeah, caution's good, but no need to outright avoid them."
Watch out for guys, but not him, and not classmates either? Then who? Serena narrowed her eyes slightly and asked, half-guessing.
"You mean Cousin Aiel, don't you?"
Serena wasn't stupid. Right after that incident, Hyun-jin suddenly warns her about guys. Connecting the dots, it was easy to figure he meant Aiel Northwood.
But she looked at him like it was unnecessary worry, her expression puzzled.
"Why bring it up out of nowhere? Like I said before, I don't need to be careful. If anything, you should, since you got into that argument with him."
"I'm fine. Even if a hundred of those guys showed up, I'd win."
"...He's the Magic Department top student, you know?"
"I know."
Hyun-jin said.
"That's why I'd win."
Serena eyed his bold declaration, first thinking it was bravado, then realizing what he meant.
"Oh, your spirit... the Chaos attribute, right?"
"Yeah! Stuff as slow as magic can't even activate!"
Spirit magic required casting time—chanting incantations. In that window, all he had to do was unleash his spirit, the King of Chaos, that curse-like power. Since spirit magic stemmed from spirits, it was nullified before the Chaos attribute, which canceled all spirit power.
Serena seemed to get it. But she shook her head, saying it wouldn't be that easy.
"But that requires your spirit power to reach him first, right?"
"Yeah?"
"Do you know how long it takes Cousin Aiel to cast a single spell?"
"Dunno? But he's top of the department, so maybe... ten seconds?"
Ten seconds. It didn't sound long, but in combat, it was an eternity—enough time to decide the fight. Especially when battles unfolded second by second.
Mages' casting naturally took time. In exchange, their spells packed far more punch than spirit arts or created wildly unpredictable effects. Normal casting could drag up to thirty seconds, so ten was actually quick.
Hyun-jin's guess wasn't far off. But Serena shook her head firmly.
"Cousin Aiel's casting takes just one word."
"Huh?"
"One word, and the magic activates. He's a master of compressed chanting."
"...Casting done in one word?"
"Yes. Don't you know what compressed chanting is?"
Hyun-jin blinked, then a beat late, pretended he did.
"...Ohhh~! Yeah, I know."
Anyone could tell he had no clue. Serena sighed softly.
"You really have zero interest in magic, huh?"
"...No, really? Isn't it just shortening long chants?"
"Sort of... but it doesn't weaken the power at all."
"How's that possible?"
"You really don't know..."
Hyun-jin seemed uninterested in anything beyond swordsmanship from his master, Karin. Swordsmen rarely dabbled outside their field, but not knowing famous techniques like compressed chanting was surprising.
He's lived in those mountains too long... common sense is lacking.
No helping it. Serena explained simply for him.
"Compressed chanting isn't just shortening the incantation—it's a technique that maintains full spell power despite the reduction."
"Then why don't all mages use it? Why waste time chanting long-winded spells?"
"It takes talent."
Serena tapped her temple with a finger.
"You need a good brain."
"...Intelligence?"
"Close, but it's computational ability. You know how magic works, right?"
"Of course. The caster computes the formula in their head, then manifests it through chanting."
This time, he sounded legit, answering confidently. Serena couldn't help smiling faintly, looking at him fondly—like a teacher pleased with a cute student showing off knowledge. Maybe it was his looks.
"Yes, exactly. You know it well."
"...Your eyes look weird. Like you're treating me like a kid..."
"Wh-what? No way."
Serena shook her head hurriedly.
"Anyway... to enable compressed chanting, you cut the time needed to form the mental image through casting, so your computational power has to match."
"Slow computation means no compressed chanting?"
"Right. That's why not every mage can do it."
Hyun-jin stroked his chin thoughtfully, glancing at Serena before asking carefully.
"This might sound rude, but... your cousin doesn't strike me as that smart."
"He's pretty sharp in his own way. Especially math—he's always excelled there since he was little."
"So that's why he handles compressed chanting well."
Hyun-jin nodded in understanding.
"Then you really need to be more careful."
"He can't harm me, I told you."
"You never know. People snap out of nowhere—who knows what'll happen? Some stab others for no reason."
"...Where does that happen? There must've been some hidden motive."
Serena didn't buy it, but surprisingly, that kind of thing happened often in Hyun-jin's past life.
"Anyway, just be careful. That guy's got a bad vibe—bad face."
"Now you're using physiognomy as an excuse?"
"I'm serious!"
Hyun-jin stared at her intently, urging her not to brush it off. Serena tilted her head slightly.
"Are you worrying about me right now?"
"Yeah, I'm worried."
"Why?"
Serena stepped closer, her ruby-red eyes sparkling with curiosity, interest, and some unspoken anticipation.
"Why worry about me so much?"
"...?"
Hyun-jin caught the expectant glint but couldn't pinpoint what she wanted to hear.
What answer is she fishing for?
Pondering, he went with the simplest response.
"'Cause it's good to help someone I know."
"...That's your reason?"
Serena looked a touch disappointed, like it wasn't what she'd hoped for.
Hyun-jin blinked, then pushed further.
"Wait, no—we're not just acquaintances; we're friends. Worrying about a friend is normal."
"...Friends?"
"Uh... aren't we?"
Hyun-jin glanced awkwardly at her, wondering if he'd misread it. Serena met his eyes steadily, then let out a soft chuckle.
"I'm glad you think that way."
"Your reaction made me think I was alone in it."
"If it's a friend's concern... yeah, I'll be careful."
Serena smiled warmly.
"Thanks for telling me."
Hyun-jin looked at her. She seemed genuinely pleased. Because he'd called her a friend?
...He really doesn't live up to his looks.
With a face like that, saying "friends" would make anyone—100 out of 100—jump at the chance. Yet here she was, thrilled over just that. What an odd one.
"......"
Watching her happy smile suddenly reminded him of his master's words. There'd be plenty of younger, prettier girls once he entered society.
Master was right, as always. He'd felt it with Yeonhui before, but Serena was undeniably beautiful. Meeting more people ahead meant encountering more beauties like her, right?
Thinking that way... yeah, society was worth it, Hyun-jin admitted inwardly.
But Master's still the best.
Of course, his feelings for his master hadn't cooled one bit.
#
Time came, and Instructor Hayes Penrel appeared in the training grounds right on schedule. She strode in with her usual orderly gait and stood before the students.
"How's everyone's condition today?"
"Great!"
"No issues!"
"Good to hear."
Hayes scanned the group, nodding lightly.
"Everyone looks healthy. Glad we can proceed smoothly today."
"Why the training grounds instead of the sparring arena today?"
"Of course there's a reason."
Hayes said.
"You all know the Academy Sparring Tournament is coming up."
"Ah, yes."
"We select reps from each year and department to compete. So our department needs to pick ours too."
"Isn't it already decided?"
The student's question was obvious. Standouts like Serena Eldark and Seong Hyun-jin had dominated the entrance and placement exams. Why not them?
Hayes shook her head.
"Representative selection is separate from past exam results. Exams and sparring are different beasts, so we'll choose independently. Don't assume it's set—show us your skills."
Hayes added.
"You're all talented enough for Class A, so go in confidently. Honestly, I'm hoping for some unexpected results."
The students' eyes sharpened at her words. These top-tier Combat Department elites weren't immune to tournament hype. Prizes, fame beyond the academy, future scouting offers or high positions—everyone wanted in.
"What's this Sparring Tournament? Sounds like just a big fight fest."
Except for the one guy clueless about academy basics, showing zero excitement.
Serena stared at him in disbelief.
"You came to the academy without even knowing that?"
"Yeah, Master suddenly told me to come here. Got a recommendation letter."
"Huh? Recommendation?"
Surprised, Serena met his puzzled gaze.
"It's that shocking I got one?"
"No, it's just... I got one too."
"Oh, cool?"
"Yeah."
Hyun-jin nodded, figuring it made sense.
"Yeah, you're Dragon Star's daughter. Academy head's a Palstar Hero, right? Probably why we both got letters—your dad and my master are Palstar Heroes too."
"Guess so."
"Connections are key, huh."
Reaffirming life's ties of blood, school, and region, Hyun-jin suddenly asked.
"But we still took the exam same as everyone. What's the difference?"
"Recommendations waive tuition for your time here. Though for us, topping the entrance exam made it moot."
"Aha."
He'd wondered since they entered like normals—turns out there was a real perk.
Curiosity sated, he asked next.
"So, Serena, what's the Sparring Tournament?"
"Pretty much what you said. Each department picks year reps—two per department. Eight departments means sixteen start in the round of sixteen."
"You interested?"
"Sure."
Serena nodded.
"Good chance to prove my strength."
"Didn't you say you hate getting famous?"
"True... but I like confirming my own power regardless."
"You like fighting strong guys too, huh?"
Hyun-jin grinned, kindred spirits.
"It's fun, right?"
"...I don't hate it."
Serena preferred proving herself over brawling for fun, but she didn't elaborate.
...He loves it.
Sharing tastes with him wasn't bad—especially seeing him so pumped. Serena chuckled.
"So you'll go for rep too. You wanna get famous."
"Obviously."
"Everyone probably thinks the same."
Hyun-jin glanced around, nodding.
"Yeah, looks like it."
Class A burned with ambition, eyes wary of the entrance exam one-two punch who'd also topped placement.
"Feels like public enemy number one."
"Kinda."
Serena said.
"But I prefer those looks. Better than the usual."
"You really hate expectations."
"...Meaningless ones, yeah."
Serena glanced at Hyun-jin.
"Why?"
He noticed.
"...Someone out there hopes for expectations."
"Gotcha."
Hyun-jin shrugged it off, assuming family or something. Serena averted her eyes, ending it there.
"?"
Her sudden silence puzzled him, but she stayed quiet.
What's up with her?
Meanwhile, Instructor Hayes addressed Class A.
"We'll now start preliminary spars for rep selection. I've made the bracket— we'll proceed as listed."
"Got it!"
"I'm in the tournament!"
The class dove in fired up. As Hayes said, exams and real fights differed. Top scores didn't guarantee combat prowess. But sheer grit couldn't overcome certain walls, and every match ended predictably, making her encouragement ring hollow.
"...It's decided."
Hayes eyed the two still standing straight amid the dust.
"Sparring Tournament reps: Serena Eldark and Seong Hyun-jin."