They came to a back room of the hall. Taz swiped his card and it opened up to an expansive white room.
As they walked in the mechanical door closed behind them. Kayui didn't hesitate, "You wanna spar?"
"What else would we do in here? The safety system will make sure you won't get hurt too bad, I wanna see you use that blade."
The bloodlust in his voice made Kayui slightly uncomfortable, but he did want to fight. He'd been knocked off his training routine since leaving Grayshire and he was ashamed.
He took off the jacket of his uniform and unleashed his aura. He instantly felt a minor strain on his altitude. Nothing too serious but his reserves weren't anything special. At most, he could keep his aura flowing for a few hours without doing anything but maintaining. In battle, it wouldn't last 20 minutes.
Taz did the same took off his jacket and black shirt to reveal his dark arm uncovered by his tank top.
"Sparring will begin in 3…"
There wasn't anything to speak about. The high-tech room would handle everything.
Kayui drew his blade and Taz formed his arm into a sort of jagged spike.
"2…. 1!"
Taz lunged first charging straight at Kayui.
"I know you're not that dumb" Kayui mocked without moving.
Taz was already upon him as he finished his sentence. He swung the heavy arm and missed by a lot carrying his momentum far crossing his own body allowing him to turn and throw a kick at Kayui
He was unfazed. He dodged both attacks and jumped back. His goal wasn't just to win, but to analyze his new roommate and potential friend. Someone in his circle couldn't be weak.
As he was dodging the attacks he felt a slight pull of his aura towards his blade. Not caring about the risk he let it absorb some of his aura.
He felt it drop rapidly for a second before restringing his aura again.
'Trying new things wouldn't be smart right now.'
"Stop holding back!" Taz yelled, losing his cool demeanor and fury in his blue eyes.
Before Kayui could respond the giant ice spike was hurling at him. He slashed at it, parrying the projectile but Taz was nowhere to be found.
In an instant, an uppercut came at him from below. He tried to block but the punch redirected slamming into his forearm covering it with black ice.
He jumped back and took his stance once again. His arm hurt like hell, it felt like it was broken. His left arm was completely immobile.
The barrage didn't stop Taz was already running toward him. This time Kayui wasn't going to hold back.
He tossed the katana to the side and widened his perception, he wouldn't get caught off guard again.
Another black fist came flying at his face, to no avail. He ducked it and closed the distance sending an aura-filled right hand with all his momentum into Tazreal's liver.
He stumbled back and froze. Kayui had made sure to hold back a little.
He looked down at his arm. It was slightly mangled, but his adrenaline took the edge off. He didn't want to stop fighting.
The cost didn't matter if he wanted to get stronger.
Noticing his hesitation, Kayui dashed forward to land a final blow.
"That's enough" a speaker in the room sounded.
His tunnel vision now broken he noticed Taz on a knee. He halted immediately and didn't dare stare at his fallen roommate.
A door opened and a medic tended to them with a healing ability. No words were spoken.
The healing ability took energy in exchange for health so both were pretty exhausted.
After the medic left the two followed, finally Kayui spoke. "If you're gonna act like this, you don't deserve to get stronger." He said bluntly.
Kayui lived by strength, and someone who couldn't acknowledge they were weak was bound to stay that way.
Taz didn't respond, his usual self was non-existent. Kayui could tell by his body language that he was ashamed.
"You fought well." He said trying to be kind.
"I still lost."
Kayui shook his head and let the silence remain, not wishing to pry further. He knew the feeling. He had a feeling they'd grow strong together.
***
The next morning Taz walked Kayui to the campus like nothing had happened. They made casual conversation, but Kayui could still sense a tinge of anger from Taz. And not his usual kind, more like anger with himself.
He didn't pry. It wasn't his place, he had his own problems. His thoughts drifted.
'I still can't use my altitude ability to a decent degree. How can I beat him?' He zoned out for a while overthinking about childish ideals.
"This is our class," he noticed Kayui still walking, completely zoned out.
He grabbed his shirt and he stopped immediately.
"This is our class, class two. Remember where it's at, I won't be babysitting you again."
He stepped into the classroom. There were fewer students than in his old school, only around 12. Their teacher wasn't there yet. He was immediately intimidated. He took note of one student in the back. The one he saw in the training hall.
He didn't recognize anyone else but he still felt like an outcast. They were all at least a full year older than him, and probably considerably stronger.
Even Taz lowered his head when he walked in. It was evident he wasn't the strongest.
He took a seat in the back trying not to attract attention, but it was already on him. He was the infamous little brother of Makil. The Fourth Yotai of Celestia Awakened Academy and the one with seemingly the most potential from a political standpoint.
After all, he entered the academy at the youngest age. Little did they know from an insider standpoint he was the weakest by far.
"Ah, I see you made it Kayui Yotai. I hope Celestia has been treating you well." A man walked in the door with a blue suit on.
The suit seemed as if it were about to rip in multiple areas. Kayui made a face of concern.
His hair was in a ponytail, his eyes a vibrant gray and sharp — if you could call gray vibrant. His skin was also healthy and clear if he fell into the spring of eternal life.
'How old is this man?'
"I'm your teacher Mr. Kong. Nice to meet you."
The man disappeared into thin air and reappeared in front of Kayui with an outstretched hand. He couldn't track the man at all.
'Teleportation?' was his first thought but he knew it wasn't true. He'd sensed him move at an insane speed. His hair stuck up.
He hesitated and then shook his hand.
In a flash, he was back at the front of the class.
"Since we have a new student. Today we do an attribute re-assessment"