The promise uttered in the bustling cafeteria echoed louder than Zaken realized. It wasn't just a bluff; it was a vow that bound his family name and his future. That night, instead of returning to the dorm to rest, Zaken pulled Arian to one of the academy's most secluded training grounds, located near the forest at the edge of the school property.
The twilight sky cast hues of orange and purple, the same colors as Zaken's hair and eyes, as if the universe itself was highlighting the restless young man.
"I know I acted impulsively," Zaken began, his voice more serious than usual. He punched his own palm in frustration. "Kaelen… he's strong, Arian. His wind magic is fast and brutal. I've seen him train. He's like a storm."
Arian merely leaned against an old tree, arms crossed. He said nothing, simply observing his friend with a strange calmness.
"But I won't go back on my word," Zaken continued, his eyes gleaming with determination. "And that's why I need your help."
Arian raised an eyebrow, playing his part. "My help? Zaken, you know I can't even cast a basic light spell properly. I'd be more help if I just sat back and cheered you on."
"Not your magic," Zaken shook his head. "I need your brain." He pointed at Arian. "You might be useless at practical magic, but your theoretical grades are never less than perfect. You've memorized every book in the library.
You understand how magic works, its pros and cons, better than even the professors. I need your strategy, Arian. Teach me how to defeat Kaelen from the perspective of a theoretical genius."
The request was perfect. An opening created by Zaken himself, allowing Arian to intervene without the slightest suspicion. This was the greatest irony: his friend was asking him to use his greatest asset, while believing it was the only asset he possessed.
"Alright," Arian sighed, seemingly reluctant. "If you insist. But don't blame me if my advice sounds odd."
"I'll try anything."
And so began the most paradoxical training session in Solaria Academy's history.
For Zaken, it was an enlightening training session. For Arian, it was like a chess grandmaster teaching a beginner how to beat another mediocre chess player, all while pretending he himself only knew how to move pawns.
"Okay, show me everything you've got," Arian instructed, his voice flat. "Consider that training target over there as Kaelen. Don't hold back."
Zaken nodded. He took his stance, bow raised. With a spirited roar, he unleashed a volley of magical arrows. Explosive Fire Arrows. Ice Arrows that froze the target instantly. Wildly bouncing Lightning Arrows. It was an impressive display of power.
Arian was unimpressed. He waited until Zaken was panting, then walked closer.
"You're too wasteful, Zaken."
"What?" Zaken frowned, not understanding. "I hit all the targets."
"You're wasting about 30% of your mana on visual effects," Arian said, pointing at the remnants of a fire explosion. "See? The explosion is big, but the core isn't hot enough. Kaelen's wind shield will easily disperse it. You'll only impress him, not hurt him."
Arian picked up a twig and began drawing diagrams on the ground. "Kaelen's wind magic is both defensive and offensive simultaneously. He creates air currents around himself. Large, slow projectiles will be slowed and deflected. But small, dense, and very fast projectiles..."
He looked at Zaken. "Your Fire Arrows. Don't make them explode. Compress the fire. Make it the size of a needle, but as hot as the core of the sun. It will pierce his shield like a hot knife through butter."
Zaken stared at the diagram on the ground, then at Arian, his eyes widening with understanding. "Compression... like Professor Jia taught?"
"The principle is the same, the application is different. Don't just compress, but spin the energy. Create a drilling effect," Arian explained easily, as if quoting from a book, though he was inventing the theory on the spot based on his experience.
For the next hour, Arian bombarded Zaken with bizarre yet logical instructions.
"Why are you drawing your bow so far back for a mid-range target? That's a wasted 0.3 seconds of movement. Kaelen will exploit that opening."
"Don't just fire one element. Fire three arrows in sequence: Earth Arrow to disrupt his footing, Ice Arrow to slow his movement, then a compressed Fire Arrow for the final strike."
"He'll attack from above. He always prefers a superior position. Prepare a Wind Net Arrow to snare him when he descends."
Zaken was overwhelmed. He tried, failed, and tried again. Frustration was evident on his face. Several times, his arrows exploded before reaching the target due to failed compression.
"I can't do it!" he cried, throwing his bow to the ground. "It's too complicated!"
Arian approached and placed a hand on his shoulder. "You're thinking like a fighter, Zaken. Start thinking like a hunter. You don't need to be stronger than him. You just need to be one step smarter than him."
In his mind, Arian felt a bitter wave of irony. I'm teaching my friend how to fight a battle I could finish even before it began. I'm giving him strategies to survive, while concealing the power that could give him absolute victory.
He pushed the thought away. This wasn't about him. This was about Zaken.
Inspired by Arian's words, Zaken picked up his bow again. He took a deep breath, ignoring everything he knew about flashy combat. He focused on efficiency.
He drew three arrows.
First, an Earth Arrow. It shot silently and struck the ground in front of the target, causing the earth to tremble and crack.
Second, an Ice Arrow. Not a large explosion, but a spreading cold mist that froze the cracked ground, making it slippery and unstable.
Third, a Fire Arrow. He concentrated, visualizing the fire energy spinning and condensing at the tip of his arrow. The arrow glowed with a dazzling yet tiny orange light.
Whoosh!
The Fire Arrow shot forth with incredible speed, without the sound of an explosion. It struck the training dummy and pierced through it, leaving a small, smoldering hole with intense heat.
Zaken stared at the result, mouth agape. He had done it.
He turned to Arian, his eyes shining. Before he could say anything, his legs gave out from mental and physical exhaustion, and he fell to the ground, panting but with a wide smile on his face.
"Arian…" he said between breaths. "You're… you're a crazy genius."
Arian gave a small, rare, genuine smile. "I just read a lot of books."
As they walked back to the dorms under the moonlight, Arian knew he had increased Zaken's chances from "impossible" to "possible." But possible was still just possible. Kaelen's raw power remained a factor that couldn't be ignored.
One battle at a time, he thought, glancing at his friend, who walked with a new, confident stride.
And this one, I won't let my friend lose.
The exhaustion Zaken felt wasn't a painful kind, but a satisfying one. The kind that comes after pushing yourself beyond your limits and discovering that those limits were further than you'd imagined. As they walked back towards the main dormitory area, Zaken's previously heavy steps now felt lighter, infused with a new energy born of accomplishment.
"I never thought magic could be viewed like… a math problem," Zaken finally spoke, breaking the night's silence. "Every movement, every element, you dissect it into variables and possibilities. It's… brilliant, Arian."
"It's just logic, Zaken," Arian replied, once again concealing the truth behind the most plausible explanation. "All magic follows rules. I just showed you how to read that rulebook better."
They arrived at a rarely used small courtyard, a garden dedicated to one of the academy's past headmasters. A cold stone bench beneath an ancient oak tree looked inviting. Without needing words, they both sat there, letting the cool night breeze refresh their sweaty bodies. Zaken leaned back, gazing up at the countless stars in the sky.
"Do you think… I have a chance?" Zaken asked softly, the doubt that had momentarily vanished now creeping back in.
"You have a strategy," Arian corrected him. "And a good strategy always gives you a chance. The rest depends on how you execute it when the pressure is on."
Just then, a small shadow emerged from the darkness at the end of the path. The figure seemed hesitant, stepping forward then back, as if debating with herself. Arian noticed her first, his eyes, accustomed to darkness, immediately recognizing the figure. Zaken, still gazing at the sky, remained oblivious.
Finally, the figure mustered her courage and walked closer. Her pale pink hair glimmered under the moonlight. It was Lena.
She carried a small basket, holding it tightly as if it were the most precious thing in the world. When she was close enough, Zaken finally turned and sat upright in surprise.
"Lena?"
The girl stopped a few steps from them, bowing deeply. "Forgive me for disturbing your rest, Mr. Efasa, Mr. Vallen."
"It's alright," Zaken replied, a little awkwardly.
"Can we help you with something?"
Lena shook her head quickly. She stepped forward again, this time with more confidence, and placed the small basket on the bench between them. The aroma of warm, freshly baked bread and soothing herbal tea immediately wafted into the air.
"I… I made this," she said softly, her cheeks slightly flushed. "As a thank you, Mr. Efasa. What you did in the cafeteria today… no one has ever done that for me before." Her voice trembled at the end of the sentence, filled with genuine emotion.
Inside the basket were several warm meat buns, wrapped in a clean cloth, and a small thermos. A simple offering, yet it felt more valuable than gold to the two exhausted and hungry young men.
Zaken looked stunned, not knowing what to say. Accustomed to formal interactions between nobles, he wasn't used to such sincere and personal forms of gratitude. "This… you didn't have to go to all this trouble, Lena."
"You are fighting for the honor of someone like me," Lena countered, her large eyes looking at Zaken with admiration. "This is the least I could do. Please, accept it." She then glanced at Arian. "Also for you, Mr. Vallen. I heard from some students that you are a great strategist. Please help Mr. Efasa."
Arian merely nodded slowly. "Thank you, Lena. We truly appreciate it."
Lena bowed once more. "Good luck with your exam, Mr. Efasa." With that, she turned and quickly vanished back into the darkness, leaving silence and the scent of warm bread behind her.
Zaken stared at the basket, then at the direction Lena had gone. He picked up one of the warm buns and took a bite. His eyes closed for a moment.
"This is the best bread I've ever eaten," he murmured.
Arian took one for himself. The bread was indeed delicious. Made with simple ingredients, but with something money couldn't buy: sincerity. He ate in silence, observing the new expression on his friend's face. No longer just a determination to win, but also a sense of responsibility. He was no longer fighting just for himself.
The cafeteria, Kaelen, and the terrible wager felt like they belonged to another life. Here, under the old oak tree, there were just two friends sharing food and comfortable silence.
Perhaps, Arian thought as he chewed the warm bun, true strength sometimes feels like this. Simple, warm, and utterly unexpected. And for a strength like this, he would do anything to ensure his friend would not lose.