A moment of silence passed, the seven of them standing together, surveying the four instructors at the far end of the training ground. Their chests rose and fell with anticipation, adrenaline mixing with nerves.
Lily exhaled first, rubbing absently at her still-singed sleeve.
"Well…"
A weak laugh escaped her. "Here goes everything."
Lora adjusted her grip on her sword beside her.
"No turning back now."
Cassia clenched her fists tighter, determination hardening across her expression.
"Then let's do this," she said firmly.
"Whatever it takes."
Lily swallowed nervously and stepped forward despite herself.
"Um…"
She glanced between the four instructors cautiously.
"Are you... the instructors Her Highness arranged for us?"
Silence answered her at first. Deep enough that even the shifting wind became painfully noticeable.
Then—
Irfin laughed.
A sharp, fiery sound that rolled through the air like thunder.
"That," he said with a grin, "depends entirely on you."
Golden eyes narrowed toward the seven. Embers flickered faintly within them like living sparks.
"Whether you're actually worthy of becoming our students…"
His smile sharpened into something almost predatory.
"…well."
Heat rolled subtly through the air around him.
"That remains to be seen."
The wind picked up, sweeping dust and ash in lazy spirals across the training ground.
The man in navy, the one with the silver hair, chuckled softly to himself, amusement glinting in his eyes.
The blue-haired woman said nothing, her gaze steady as ever. While the one in emerald simply folded her hands before her, watching with calm patience.
But the word itself lingered heavily in the seven people' minds.
Worthy.
Lily's throat tightened slightly.
Gerald shifted his footing uneasily. Ella's fingers twitched instinctively near her dagger. Melinda clicked her tongue under her breath in visible irritation.
Lora stepped slightly in front of Lily, protective and tense.
"We'll prove ourselves," she said firmly.
"That's why we're here."
Irfin's grin widened immediately. "Good."
A flicker of flame danced lazily around his fingertips.
"I like confidence."
His gaze sharpened. "Let's hope yours isn't empty."
Beside him, Aeros sighed dramatically and pressed a hand against his forehead.
"You always go straight for intimidation," he complained.
"At least let them breathe before you start roasting their pride."
Irfin snorted. "I wasn't even trying yet."
Aeros raised one elegant brow.
His long silver-white hair swayed with the breeze as he leaned slightly forward, studying the seven with unsettlingly perceptive eyes.
"Hmmm…"
A slow smile curved across his lips.
"They look nervous… but determined."
He glanced meaningfully at their burnt sleeves, dust-covered boots, and trembling stances as he said playfully,
"And a little singed."
His grin widened mischievously. "Was our entry too impressive?"
Lily mumbled. "A little."
Ella immediately elbowed her slightly. She immediately shut up.
Astra stepped forward before any of the seven could speak, her presence cutting through the tension with quiet authority.
The seven straightened instinctively as she approached, her cloak brushing softly against the ground.
"Since you've already met them," Astra said evenly, "I'll formally introduce your instructors."
The four figures behind her stood tall—silent, composed, their power restrained but unmistakable.
Astra first gestured toward the blue-haired woman standing beside Irfin.
"Lady Nerevale."
Neris inclined her head slightly. Elegant, serene and as untouchable as deep water beneath moonlight.
"Master of water magic."
Her cool gaze shifted toward Claire.
"She will guide Claire."
Claire visibly stiffened in surprise, tightening her hold on her books so hard her knuckles whitened instantly.
Neris merely observed her calmly.
Next, Astra turned toward the woman clad in emerald green.
"Lady Gravemont."
Terra offered a gentle nod. Her presence felt grounding in a way difficult to explain. Like forests after rain, or like mountains unmoved by centuries.
"She specializes in earth magic."
Astra's gaze shifted briefly toward Cassia and Melinda.
"She will be instructing Cassia and Melinda."
Melinda blinked once slowly. Cassia looked slightly nervous.
Terra simply smiled patiently at both of them.
And somehow…
That calm smile felt more intimidating than Irfin's flames.
Then Astra gestured toward the silver-haired man, whose expression held a playful mixture of amusement and quiet mischief. The corners of his lips curved faintly, as though he were genuinely curious to see what kind of interesting alias Astra might give him.
Astra spoke without hesitation.
"Sir Galehart — proficient in wind magic. Speed and precision is his specialty. He will take charge of Gerald and Ella."
Aeros placed a hand over his chest and gave a graceful half-bow, the motion exaggerated just enough to border on theatrical.
"My, my," he mused lightly, silver-blue hair fluttering in the breeze. "A proper knightly title? You wound me, little one. I almost feel honored."
Astra ignored him completely.
"And…"
Finally, Astra motioned toward the crimson-haired man standing with arms crossed.
His crimson hair flickering faintly like smoldering fire beneath sunlight. The moment Astra looked at him, one sharp brow arched upward.
The meaning behind the look was painfully obvious.
If Astra dared give him a trite, uninspired, tasteless name like she had the others, she would witness his temper firsthand.
Astra: "…"
Honestly... so childish.
"This is... Sir Ignaris," she finally said, voice perfectly even. "Unrivaled in fire magic and offensive force. He will train Lily and Lora."
A slow, deeply satisfied smirk spread across Irfin's face, smugness practically radiating off him in waves. His arms remained crossed as ember-colored eyes gleamed with unmistakable approval.
"Try not to disappoint," he drawled.
Beside him, Aeros let out a dramatic sigh.
"Look at him," he lamented. "One respectable title and suddenly he thinks he's royalty."
Irfin snorted. "At least mine sounds powerful."
"You mean pretentious."
"Same thing."
Terra closed her eyes briefly, already exhausted.
Neris merely sighed beneath her breath, though the faintest hint of amusement flickered across her otherwise serene features.
Astra continued as though she didn't hear them.
"These four will be overseeing your training from this day forward."
Her voice remained calm, but something within it sharpened subtly.
"Their methods will be… demanding. Their expectations even more so."
The seven swallowed hard.
Astra's next words were quiet, but unyielding.
"I will not interfere. Your growth will depend entirely on your own effort."
The wind rustled softly through the training grounds.
"Remember this well, strength will not be handed to you. You must seize it yourselves."
Her eyes lingered on them one by one, steady and unwavering.
"Forge your own strength."
Something tightened in their chests at those words.
Determination.
Astra folded one arm behind her back.
"From this point onward… you are in their hands."
A collective shiver ran through the group. Then Astra turned toward the four spirits and inclined her head once.
"They're all yours."
Irfin's grin sharpened.
Aeros chuckled softly.
Terra clasped her hands gently.
Neris's eyes shimmered with calm focus.
Astra spared the seven a final look, one that said good luck without speaking the words.
Then she stepped back, her cloak swirling as she turned away.
"Do your best."
With that, she walked off the training grounds, leaving the seven alone with the four overwhelming presences… and the beginning of their true trial.
For several long seconds, nobody spoke.
Then the silver-haired man, Sir Galehart, flicked his fingers in a breezy half-wave.
"Children," Aeros said lightly, "there's no need to look so tense."
He tilted his head thoughtfully.
"Though a little tension isn't a bad thing either."
Irfin's ember-bright eyes swept slowly across the seven—measuring, judging, already bored.
"If you survive my training," he said flatly, "I might even consider remembering your names."
Several of them nearly choked on air.
Aeros sighed helplessly. "Please ignore him. He's always like this."
"Because weakness irritates me."
The seven swallowed hard.
Lora stepped forward and spoke first.
"We… we will do our best, Lady Nerevale. Lady Gravemont. Sir Galehart and… Sir Ignaris."
A small breeze rustled through the training ground, as if the world itself acknowledged their resolve.
Aeros smiled faintly. "We shall see."
Irfin's smirk returned immediately. "We'll see whether any of you actually have talent… or whether we're wasting our time."
Aeros folded his arms loosely, glancing toward the path Astra had disappeared down.
"Little one must have her reasons for choosing them."
Irfin scoffed. "Her reasons are usually too troublesome."
Terra pressed her fingertips together serenely.
"Still," she said calmly, "we are here. Let us guide them as promised."
"Hmph."
Aeros groaned loudly, throwing his head back in exaggerated despair.
"She didn't even allow us two days of rest before forcing us into teaching. She is as heartless as ever."
Irfin smirked. "I agree. But she also knows we hate idleness."
Aeros pointed accusingly toward the empty terrace.
"Even so, she is still heartless."
Terra smiled softly. "A good leader is rarely gentle."
Neris exhaled softly, her gaze sweeping over the seven.
"Prepare yourselves," she said quietly.
"Your training begins… now."
As her words left her lips, she waved her hand with a graceful motion. Instantly, a cool, soothing sensation coursed through the seven' bodies.
Every ache, every bruise, every injury they had sustained from Irfin's earlier attack melted away as if it had never existed.
The seven froze in stunned silence.
Lily stared at her hands. Gerald flexed his shoulders in disbelief. Claire touched the sleeve that had been scorched moments earlier.
They marveled at the sheer power radiating from her.
So powerful… they thought in unison, hearts pounding with a mix of awe and anticipation.
Their princess had truly found formidable instructors.
They had never once doubted her judgment. She had already told them not to question who their instructors were or what they were, but to focus solely on their training.
Even so, none of them had expected her to find beings of such extraordinary power to guide them.
Irfin's grin deepened, sharp and predatory, tiny flickers of flame danced in his eyes.
"Good," he said.
"I was starting to get bored."
Instinctively, the seven straightened. Tightened their grips, bracing themselves as the four instructors stepped closer, their presence suffocating and electrifying all at once.
The sun glinted off blades, flickered in magic, and danced across the scorched earth, but it was nothing compared to the heat of expectation burning in the air.
And as the seven faced the four instructors, a single truth settled over them like iron in their chests: strength would not be given—it would be claimed, forged in fire, and tested without mercy.