“This is my top student! I think she’ll prove an appropriate challenge for someone raised by a demigod! How about it, Lord Su?” Ahura turned to Su with devotion in her eyes, smiling creepily. Eislyn knew Su didn’t like people like this, but she still felt uncomfortable watching this zealot try to get close to her father figure.

  “Can we shut the yapping and just fight?” Eislyn moved to one end of the arena, raising her fists like Su trained her. Her body was stronger than most of the weapons she’d seen, she didn’t think these training weapons would fare much better in her hands. She breathed deeply, in a meditative pattern she learned at the start of her training. Slowly, the magical energy that was always stagnant in her body began to flow, filling her veins as she breathed. Eventually, she felt like her whole body was overflowing with explosive power, her potential almost fully realized.

  Another chill ran through Eislyn as she raised her eyes, finding Lily at the other end of the sparring ground. Despite the hair covering her eyes, Eislyn could feel her hot sticky gaze on her body. A sense of disgust passed through her as she shivered, not wanting to get entangled with Lily more than necessary.

  ‘I’ll end this quickly so she can’t cast anything. Her body looks untrained too, I doubt she has the endurance to survive more than one direct punch.’ Eislyn quickly strategized in her head, given her limited options it ended up something like ‘run in and punch her’.

  Su stood up to give a safety speech before raising his hand. “At the drop of my hand, the spar begins. Remember, this is a spar not a fight to the death. Give your opponent the proper respect they deserve.” He looked silently between Eislyn and Lily, his gaze lingering on Eislyn for a moment before looking straight ahead.

  “Begin!” Su dropped his hand with such force the air made a cracking sound with its passing. At the same moment, Eislyn moved first.

  ‘I’ll crush her!’ Eislyn’s legs were like coiled springs, the finely honed muscles tensed to the limit before Su gave the signal. Once the air cracked, her coiled muscles unwound with shocking force, her feet leaving deep indents in the grey floor. The ground further cracked as she took off.

  Lily’s mouth curved into an ‘o’ shape at Eislyn’s shocking speed before collecting herself. She waved her staff in the air before slamming it down.

  “Bind her!” Shadows formed around Eislyn, whispering words that she couldn’t understand but felt familiar. Her feet were slowed by the grasping hands of the darkness, ruining her forward momentum in a moment. Eislyn struggled against the hands for a moment, freeing herself in a split second. This second was enough for Lily.

  “Mind break!” Lily shouted as a tiny shadow with a toothy mouth shot from her hands. Heading straight for Eislyn’s head. Eislyn only had time to duck, but the shadow followed her movements like a homing missile. As it hit, Eislyn shut her eyes in trepidation.

  …

  After another short moment, Eislyn opened her eyes. Nothing happened. She grinned like a predator, then shot off towards Lily again, this time so close she couldn’t be stopped no matter what.

  Lily’s eyes widened under her hair, betraying her extreme surprise. “What the-!” Lily yelled as she stumbled backwards, fearing the human missile heading towards her.

  “Super punch!” Eislyn mocked Lily by calling out a silly name for her fist, her arm shooting out at mach speed as her fist closed in on Lily’s face. The punch connected with a satisfying crunch, smashing the weird girl’s face in with the force of a heavy beast.

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  Lily flew backwards, her body leaving the duelling arena and smashing into the soft fungus wall with a ‘POMF’ noise. Every student in the class stared with wide eyes, looking between Eislyn and Lily for what felt like an eternity. Lily still didn’t move. Eislyn begin to grin wider and wider, a feeling of intense satisfaction flowing through her and into her fists.

  “Eislyn is the winner of this duel.” Su calmly stated, looking at Ahura as he did. “Are you going to help your student?” He sounded nonchalant as he approached Eislyn and patted her head, still looking at Ahura.

  “Ah, yes!” Ahura stood stiff as a board before working her frozen muscles into a weird walk. She approached Lily quickly, with all the grace of a zombie.

  Lily’s face looked rough. A bruise was already forming around her eyes and broken nose. Ahura reached out and touched her, a white glow leaving her fingers and seeping into Lily’s skin.

  “Lesser cure wound.” Ahura cast her spell with urgency, not wanting her bright student to suffer more than needed. Lily’s nose slowly regained its form, the cartilage finding new strength with the spell’s touch. Her bruises mostly faded, but dark circles remained around Lil’s eyes no matter how much magic filled her face. Ahura pulled her hand away as she wondered if those circles had always been there.

  “I’m proud of you, Eislyn. All the years of sparring paid off. I didn’t anticipate just how overwhelming you’d be though. Honestly, great job!” Su rubbed Eislyn’s head like she was a cute puppy, beaming with joy. Eislyn felt like she would grow wings and fly away, happier than she’d ever been.

  “I think I understand now Su. Fighting is awesome!” Eislyn pumped her fists in the air, her excess energy spilling into her actions. “But Su, is this really the best place to learn magic? I beat their best student without even thinking about it, and they all don’t even like me in the first place.” Eislyn’s fiery gaze met with the other students, who all turned away at the provocation, keeping their heads low.

  Su laughed heartily, “Eislyn, didn’t I tell you I know somebody? This is a group of younglings just like you, of course they can’t properly teach you.” Su showed his age again by lumping the teacher in with the students. “I just wanted to see you socialize for a bit, we still have a bit to go before we meet your real teacher.”

  Su glanced at the door, considering the time. “We should head out. Rumi is just north of the village. The sun is setting so we don’t have much time.”

  By now, Lily had awakened and stood awkwardly, somewhat near Eislyn. She spoke softly, her eyes covered by her bangs as a much more demure energy flowed from her. “Eislyn, if you ever need somewhere to hang out, please come visit our class.” She smiled at Eislyn without malice. “I’m sorry for earlier, I’ve never met someone who looked like you and got excited. Sorry if I made you uncomfortable.”

  Eislyn glanced down at herself, noting her slight tan and tall, sturdy build. The students were each pale, gangly, and short, looking like gaunt ghosts. Eislyn once again realized just how much Su had changed her life, giving her lots of food to eat while she grew up. Even with working farms there must not be enough food for the people in Underwood.

  Why don’t they hunt monsters? Eislyn thought to herself, her frame of reference still wildly skewed by Su’s raising methods. Her lack of hardship made these things hard to understand.

  Eislyn smiled back at Lily, extending her hand. “It’s okay you don’t gotta apologize to me, I’ve also never encountered people like you guys. Well I haven’t encountered many people at all but you get what I’m saying. Sorry for punching your face so hard, I’ve never fought with anyone other than Su. I’m glad you’re okay.”

  Lily extended her hand after Eislyn spoke, but Eislyn simply stared at it. She turned to Su and whispered, “What is she doing?” She had never had a handshake before, so the action was totally foreign to her.

  “Extend your hand and grab hers then shake it up and down.” Su whispered back, patting Eislyn on the back to encourage her to step up to Lily.

  Eislyn reached her hand out and grasped Lily’s, perhaps a bit too tight as Lily grimaced from the force. Then, without any fanfare, she began to shake Lily’s arm up and down at high speed.

  Lily was pulled off her feet by the force, dangling helplessly by her hand as Eislyn shook her around like a ragdoll. “Thank you for the fight!” Eislyn spoke with a smile.

  Su stepped in a moment later, grabbing the poor ragdoll and setting her back on her feet. “Very good Eislyn, but a little less force next time.” He whispered to her. Eislyn watched Lily stumble in circles dizzily, wondering what she’d done wrong.