As I stepped into Runic Language class, a glowing notice flickered in the air, its enchanted script shifting before my eyes:
All students report to the outdoor training grounds.
I exhaled slowly, already dreading this.
The last time I had been at the training grounds? Things hadn't exactly gone well for me.
I threw a glance at the five other students from my class, none of whom looked particularly thrilled by the change in scenery either. Together, we trudged outside, heading toward the open expanse beyond Brightforge's main halls.
The moment I stepped onto the training grounds, my stomach dropped.
I froze in place, my breath catching. Standing there, waiting, wasn't just my class. It was way worse. Students from the Elemental Manipulation class and Group 2 of Combat & Defense were already gathered, forming a loose crowd around the field.
Oh, for fuck's sake. I hated merged classes.
The air buzzed with low chatter, shifting energy rippling through the field as students exchanged murmurs and wary glances.
And, just my luck, I could feel eyes on us already, silently watching and judging.
I forced my shoulders to stay loose, even as unease crawled beneath my skin.
In the center of the gathering stood Toric, Ms. Amara, and Professor Dwayne, their expressions unreadable.
Toric, as always, looked calm but imposing, his sharp eyes scanning the students with careful precision. Ms. Amara's gaze was cool, assessing, her arms folded as she watched our approach. And Professor Dwayne, well, his usual no-nonsense demeanor was in full force, his stance rigid, arms clasped behind his back.
I resisted the urge to groan out loud.
Whatever they had planned for us today, I already wanted out.
Toric clasped his hands behind his back, his steel gray eyes sweeping over the gathered students before finally landing on us.
"Now that the last of the students have arrived," he said smoothly, his gaze flicking briefly in our direction, "we can begin."
I shifted uncomfortably, my grip tightening around my bag strap.
Begin what, exactly?
Toric's expression remained unreadable as he continued.
"As you may have already noticed, today's lesson will not be restricted to your individual classes."
Low murmurs rippled through the crowd.
Professor Dwayne, ever the stern presence, stepped forward. "The reason for this merge is simple. All of you, whether Runic, Elemental, or Combat-focused, are part of Elarion's next generation of magic wielders, scholars, and warriors. You must learn not only your own strengths but also how to work with and against different types of magic."
My stomach tightened. Please, no. Not another practical assessment.
Ms. Amara's cool gaze swept over the field before she spoke. "Today, we will be evaluating your adaptability and strategic thinking in real-time combat scenarios. You will be paired with students outside of your class and expected to complete a set of assigned exercises."
Yeah. I officially hated this.
Toric's voice carried effortlessly over the shifting murmurs. "Your abilities will be assessed not only on individual performance but on teamwork and tactical awareness."
Jax, standing somewhere to my right, muttered, "Just say it. They want us to kick each other's asses for fun."
I resisted the urge to snort.
Professor Dwayne's sharp gaze flicked toward him, as if he'd heard every word, before addressing the group again. "Pairings will be assigned randomly."
Randomly. I didn't like that.
I could already feel the anticipation crackling through the crowd as students shifted, glancing around, silently wondering who they'd be stuck with.
I did not want to get paired with someone unpredictable.
Like, a certain brooding Combat student who was already standing too close for comfort.
Toric lifted a single, gloved hand, and a swirl of golden magic unfurled in the air before shifting into illuminated names.
The pairings had been made.
And when I saw mine, I immediately wanted to turn around and leave.
Athena – Riven
Why the fuck do we keep getting paired together? Either the magical system is broken, or fate has a twisted sense of humor.
As Jax passed by, he let out a low whistle. "Well, that's going to be fun."
I shot him a glare. "Shut up."
I wasn't even looking in Riven's direction, but I could feel it. The weight of his gaze, pressing against me like a storm about to break.
Toric's voice carried over the field. "You'll have two minutes to locate your partner. Once paired, instructions will be given."
The crowd began to shift, students murmuring as they searched for their designated partners.
I stayed rooted in place for a second too long.
I heard footsteps approaching and then felt a presence at my side, close, familiar.
I didn't have to turn to know it was him. "Athena."
I bristled at the way he said it. Low, unreadable.
I forced myself to face him, ignoring the way the morning light caught in the strands of his dark hair, the faint breeze ruffling the edges of his jacket.
Focus, Athena.
"Riven." My voice came out flat, unimpressed.
His gaze flickered over me, sharp and assessing. "Try not to look too thrilled."
I crossed my arms. "Oh, don't worry. I'm absolutely vibrating with joy on the inside."
A muscle in his jaw ticked, but his expression remained carefully neutral.
"Good." He shifted slightly, rolling his shoulders like he was already preparing for a fight. "Because whatever this is? We're getting through it."
I lifted a brow. "And you think that's up to you?"
His gaze darkened. "It's up to us."
The words sent something sharp through my chest, but I ignored it.
Toric's voice rang out again. "Now that you've found your partners, listen carefully. Your task today will be split into two phases: one designed to test your combat instincts, the other to challenge your teamwork."
I barely heard the rest of his instructions.
Because for the next however long this exercise lasted, I was stuck with Riven.
Just perfect.
Toric continued, "Each pair will receive a challenge tailored to their respective skill sets. Elemental students will rely on their magic, Combat students on their technique, and Runic students..."
His eyes flicked to me for half a second.
"...will be expected to integrate Runic casting into combat scenarios."
Great. So not only was I stuck fighting alongside Riven, but I also had to use Runes, something I still hadn't fully mastered, against students who could literally control the elements or snap bones with their bare hands.
Just fantastic.
Professor Dwayne stepped forward, his deep voice cutting through the murmurs.
"The first phase is individual. Each pair will be separated, and you will each face an opponent designed to test your primary skill."
That got my attention.
Separated? That meant Riven and I weren't working together. Yet.
I almost sighed in relief. At least I wouldn't have to deal with him breathing down my neck just yet.
Professor Dwayne gestured toward the far side of the training grounds, where several sparring rings shimmered into view, enclosed by glowing sigils.
"Runic students will step into the casting rings. Combat and Elemental students will remain in the sparring zones."
I exhaled slowly, already regretting waking up today.
Toric raised a single, gloved hand, and instantly, runes flared to life in front of each pair, marking where we had to go.
A golden ring of glowing inscriptions materialized in the dirt beside me. My battlefield.
Riven's designated area was further down, a separate sparring ring meant for full-contact combat.
I wasn't watching him.
I definitely wasn't noticing how easily he rolled his shoulders, stretching like this was routine for him.
I had my own problems.
Like figuring out how the hell I was supposed to use Runic magic offensively.
I stepped into the glowing ring, feeling the faint hum of magic beneath my boots.
Across from me, my opponent appeared.
A student from Elemental Manipulation.
Fire.
Of course.
He cracked his knuckles, fire flickering between his fingers, curling up his arm like living embers.
"Try not to burn too easily," he said, smirking.
Oh, I already hate him.
I didn't respond. Instead, I lifted my hands, grabbing the rune-sketching wand as it floated into place, its tip already pulsing with energy, waiting for my command. Focus, Athena.
Runic magic wasn't like elemental magic. I couldn't just summon flames, bend water, or send a gust of wind knocking someone off their feet. I had to write my spells into existence.
And in combat? That was a major disadvantage.
I had seconds to react.
Which meant I needed to cast fast.
The sigils around the ring flared to life, signaling the start of the match.
My opponent wasted no time.
A streak of fire exploded from his palm, racing toward me in a twisting arc.
Shit.
I barely had time to react. Instinct took over.
I ducked, dragging my fingers across the air in one fluid motion, tracing the rune for Barrier as fast as my mind could process it.
ᛉ
A shimmering shield of light snapped up in front of me, the flames crashing into it with a deafening roar.
The impact rattled through my bones, heat licking at my skin. But it held.
I wasn't dead yet. Good start.
My opponent tilted his head, impressed. "Not bad. But you'll need more than defense, Runic girl."
No shit. I gritted my teeth, already tracing my next rune.
I needed to go on the offense. The problem?
Most Runic offensive spells took too long to cast in a live fight.
Which meant, I had to be creative.
I darted to the side, sketching the rune for Disrupt mid-motion.
ᚦ
The rune glowed faintly, shimmering in the air just as he launched another fire blast.
I flung the rune forward, the symbol colliding with his flames, and the fire cut out instantly.
His smirk vanished. "What the--?"
Disrupt. A rune designed to break active magic in real-time.
I didn't wait for him to recover.
I sketched my next rune, faster this time.
ᚱ
A pulse of energy shot forward, slamming into his chest like a shockwave.
He stumbled back, his flames sputtering out completely. I had him.
For the first time since stepping onto the training grounds, I felt something dangerous stir inside me.
I was winning. And it felt good.
For a non-magical person like me, it felt like using a cheat code.
I may have sucked at Elemental combat, but in Runic combat? I was holding my own.
My opponent's eyes narrowed, irritation flashing across his face.
"Alright, Runic girl. Let's see how long you can keep that up."
I barely had time to process his words before he threw out both hands, summoning a spiraling inferno around him.
Oh, hell no.
I gritted my teeth, already moving. Next move, next rune. Think, Athena.
Just as I moved to cast, a warmth pulsed through my arm. The Ancient Rune.
A deep, steady thrum vibrated beneath my skin, spreading through my veins like liquid fire.
And before I could even think, my hands moved on their own.
The rune-sketching wand drew through the air, faster, surer than I had ever moved before.
But I wasn't tracing Barrier or Disrupt. This was something else. Something I didn't even know existed.
The symbol flared to life before me, twisting into a shape I had never seen in any of my studies.
My opponent must have sensed the shift, because his fire faltered, his eyes widening slightly.
The rune pulsed once before a force erupted outward, invisible but heavy, slamming into him like a shockwave.
His flames didn't just vanish. They collapsed in on themselves, snuffed out like a candle in the wind. The energy hit him full force, sending him skidding backward, his boots dragging deep grooves into the dirt before he barely managed to stop himself.
A hush fell over the training grounds. I stared at the space where the rune had flickered out, my breath uneven, my heart pounding.
What the hell was that?
Slowly, I lowered my wand. That wasn't a standard combat rune. That wasn't anything I had ever seen before. My fingers brushed against the Ancient Rune on my arm, still faintly warm.
And then I realized. It had guided me. It had known exactly what I needed.
And I had let it.
As I looked around, I realized the professors had been watching.
Toric's sharp steel gaze locked onto me, his usual mask of neutrality cracking just slightly.
Ms. Amara, however, didn't bother hiding anything.
Her eyes burned with something close to understanding.
Approval. Pride.
Professor Dwayne simply crossed his arms, nodding once. Like he had just confirmed something.
Whispers broke out among the students, and I could feel the stares.
I clenched my jaw, forcing my breathing to steady. I wasn't supposed to be good at this.
I wasn't supposed to win like this.
But I had.
And judging by the stunned silence hanging over the training grounds, everyone else had just realized it too.