Night
Academy
Third person
The cool night air of the Academy courtyard did little to soothe the thrumming exhaustion in Isshin's bones. He leaned against the ancient stone wall, eyes closed, focusing on regulating his breathing. The recent refinement of his bloodlines had left him feeling simultaneously powerful and utterly drained.
"Yo Isshin, you're fine, you seem exhausted."
Isshin didn't open his eyes, but a small, tired smile touched his lips. He recognized the calm, almost detached voice of his friend, Raizel. "Well that's because I fuck am."
"Hmm interesting why? That academy is at night what you do in the morning and other times of the day?" Raizel's tone was genuinely curious, his presence as still and quiet as the night itself.
"Let's see... training, training, and relationships," Isshin finally replied, pushing himself off the wall to stand properly. He ran a hand through his hair, feeling the unfamiliar weight of his near-perfect bloodlines settling within him.
"Oh so you have a life out of this academy. Good to hear that," Raizel noted, a hint of approval in his voice. He was a being of simple, direct needs, and the concept of balancing multiple facets of existence seemed to intrigue him.
"It's a busy life," Isshin said, his gaze drifting towards the arena where the night's matches were being held. "Someone has to keep things interesting."
"Hmm, anyway today is my match just like you had yesterday with Rias." Raizel stated that Isshin didn't know about his duel. "Huh? With whom." He naturally asked, fascinated as he wanted to see his friend fight.
"He's some werewolf race." The black haired vampire thought he was not or very least interested in violence as by nature he was a pacifist. But he had to do what he had to do.
"You will win easily." Isshin said in complete confidence which made Raizel blink in surprise as he gave a simple smile and asked. "How can you tell you never saw me fight even once."
"Gut feeling or instincts I guess." Isshin truthfully spoke which made Raizel laugh out loud for the first time after a long while. ".....HAhahaha you have quite a dangerous sixth sense."
...…
...…
They together took a few classes and then came the time to go to the duelling area. It was less crowded than his battle comparatively. There was just a referee today and another instructor instead of a teacher to oversee the event.
Both rivals took their designated spot and were ready for a battle.
"The third match begins!"
The announcer's voice boomed across the colosseum. In the center of the illuminated circle, Raizel stood impassively, his dark hair and school uniform stark against the sand. Opposite him, a hulking figure transformed with guttural snarls, his body twisting into a monstrous hybrid of man and wolf. Claws extended, and fur sprouted across rippling muscles.
"Fuck her up, Raizel," Isshin muttered from the stands, leaning forward with a predatory interest.
The wolfman, a brawler from a lesser-known clan, wasted no time. He lunged, a blur of feral speed and raw power, aiming to tear his stoic opponent apart.
Raizel didn't move. He simply raised a hand.
A field of invisible force, dense as a neutron star, slammed into the wolfman mid-charge. The creature's momentum was annihilated instantly. It was like hitting a wall the size of a continent. Bones cracked audibly as the beast was flattened against the unseen barrier, before being hurled back into the arena wall with a sickening crunch.
The crowd gasped. The wolfman struggled to its feet, its eyes wide with a mixture of pain and disbelief. It had never encountered such absolute, effortless power. Raizel's eyes glowed menacingly red.
"You rely too much on physical transformation," Raizel's voice echoed, devoid of emotion but carrying across the arena. "Your spirit is weak."
With a flick of his wrist, Raizel summoned a sword of pure energy, crackling with crimson lightning. It shot forward, not with blinding speed, but with an undeniable purpose. The wolfman, despite its injuries, managed to dodge, its survival instincts screaming.
But that was Raizel's true attack. As the wolfman moved, the very space around it warped and solidified, trapping it in a prison of psychic force. It struggled, clawing at the air, but Raizel's control was absolute.
"This is over," Raizel stated. He made a closing gesture with his hand. The psychic prison imploded, not with a bang, but with a silent, crushing finality. The wolfman slumped to the ground, unconscious and defeated, his monstrous form receding back to that of a battered young man.
The arena was silent for a moment before erupting into applause. Raizel simply turned and walked off the field, as if he'd just taken a stroll.
"That was quite anticlimactic…. To be honest with you." Isshin said in pure disenchantment all over his tone and face which made the vampire friend's eye brows twitch in slight anger as he responded with equally harsh words.
"Dude I'm a noble vampire not some grunt or physical type fighter." With that response they left for other classes which taught magic, races and little history about gods.
...…
...…
After the matches and classes were over, students were dispersing into the night. Isshin was making his way towards the exit, his mind already shifting to the next problem on his list, when a familiar voice called out.
"Isshin! Wait!"
He turned to see Rias Gremory hurrying towards him, her crimson hair a vibrant splash of color against the dark architecture. Her expression was a mix of determination and slight nervousness.
"Hmm you want something, Rias?" he asked, his tone neutral thinking what she might want from him now.
"Yeah, a few of my friends were interested to know you," she said, coming to a stop before him. She met his gaze directly, unflinchingly observing. Isshin raised an eyebrow, a faint smirk playing on his lips.
"Are they? Now or later?" He answered and asked, he had nothing else to do moreover Raizel left early leaving him behind.
"Now, if you have time or are interested," she pressed, her confidence unwavering yet taking his consent.
He let the silence hang for a moment, observing her. "Are they as beautiful as you?"
A faint blush touched Rias's cheeks, but she recovered smoothly. "Umm, I guess you can be the judge of that?"
"Fine, let's do it," Isshin agreed with a slight shrug. "Lead the way. Also you have to drop me home."