The first was not finished.
A blade of condensed wind tore through the space where Yves Yahn had been standing a heartbeat earlier, slicing the air apart with a shrill scream.
The second attack followed immediately-three fire lances collapsing inward from different angles, their trajectories perfectly calculated to leave no avenue of escape.
A third spell fell from above, and that was lightning. Again and again, the bolt struck nothing but empty space. On top of one another, wind, fire, ice, gravity-all were unleashed without pause, any single one capable of killing a trained mage.
Finally, the magic ended.
Silence ensued, apart from the faint hissing sound of dissipating mana.
"… Let's take a break for now, Yan," a voice said.
Standing several meters away was a young woman with long dark hair tied neatly back behind her head and an academy uniform that was immaculate despite all that was happening around them. Magic lingered on the sharp points of her fingertips.
Yves shrugged his shoulders.
"As you say big sister," he replied calmly.
They fell on the ground at almost exactly the same time.
Dust danced lazily around them as the remaining hint of magic was washed away from the air. Yves was on his back, looking up at the sky, taking deep, steady breaths. Next to him, Yvette puffed out air, her arm over her eyes as she tried to catch her breath.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then Yves sat up. He looked at her bright academy uniform with minimal wrinkles despite the rough exchange and slightly squinted his eyes.
"…Actually I never even asked. Why did you come here wearing your uniform?"he asked.
Yvette glanced under her arm to look at him.
"Were you just flexing on me?"
A part of her lips turned up.
"Who knows?Maybe I came here in uniform just to flex."she said lazily.
Yves clicked his tongue, annoyance briefly flashing on his otherwise serene countenance. "You're insufferable."
She laughed softly.
"Hey today was your last day as a second-year student, right?"said Yves as he brushed dirt off his sleeve and stood up.
Her head was turned towards his with a confident sparkle in her eyes.
"Well? What do you think?" she asked.
Yves didn't answer right away. He leaned back on his hands, his eyes looking upward, as if he were really considering the idea. A few seconds went by.
"You took first place again," he said calmly.
Yvette outbursts in laughter, clear and unashamed, completely full of confidence. Yves lets out a brief laugh as well, shaking his head.
"…You're unbelievable," he muttered, though there was no particular bite to his words. It was all almost amusing to him, her pride. For a brief moment, it was just the two of them.
"You two seem to be enjoying yourselves."
The words sliced through the air like a knife. Both siblings froze in place. Instantly, they stood upright. The slouching Yves and Yvette had altogether lost any look of relaxation, as if they had never possessed one. They dropped their heads without any pause, perfectly assuming a proper stance.
"Greetings, Father," they said in unison.
"Yvon stepped closer, his presence heavy and undeniable."
"Raise your heads."
Yves and Yvette promptly complied, straightening as they raised their eyes.
Yvon's attention first went to Yvette.
The question was: "How was your second year at the academy?"
Yvette answered promptly, with an untroubled look on her face. "I again came out on top at the school."
There was no pride in her voice. von nodded once. "Very well done. Now that you're entering your third year, I expect the same result."
"As you wish, Father," Yvette replied, bowing deeply
Only then did Yvon turn his attention to Yves. Yves was standing silently, his arms at his sides, his face calm and expressionless.
"Boy, you have been training here for the past two hundred years." Yvon said, his voice low,
Yves looked at him.
"I believe you are ready."
Yves' brow wrinkled. "Ready for what?"
"It is your turn, you will be attending the academy," he said.
"…Why?" "Why must I go there?" he asked, his eyebrows knitting together.
His tone was peaceful, yet there was real confusion behind his words.
"I already have battle experience. More than enough. My mind is sharp. and my magic is complete. I don't need an academy to teach me anything." He looked Yvon in the eye. "I'm ready to fight in the upcoming war."
Yvon listened attentively without interrupting. After Yves had finished speaking, his father nodded slowly.
"Yes you are right." Yvon said.
"You possess two hundred years of experience,you have faced isolation, pressure, failure, and mastery. In terms of combat and magic, there are few who could stand against you."Yvon continued evenly.
Yves' shoulders relaxed slightly.
"But that is all. Outside of this room you are still sixteen years old." Yvon said.
"You know all of this," Yvon continued. "The Yahn family has a reputation. We're under a microscope, I guess you'd say. We're measured by how our children do." His eyes focused intently on me now. "Your sister lived up to that reputation. She was perfect."
Yvon moved a step closer to Yves.
"You will not be the one who ruins it."
"Father
"It is an order."
The words were absolute. Before Yves could react, Yvon unleashed his magic.
Yves' knees made impact with the earth an instant later, with the stone crunching beneath him as he felt the weight of some force press down on his body from all directions, his breath being wrenched from his body and his chest locking in protest.
His eyes blinded.
Magic screamed in protest inside him, his instincts, which had been sharpened over two hundred years, shouting at him to fight back, to resist, to dispel the pressure forcing him into the floor.
Yves grit his teeth, his hand trembling as he attempted to heave himself up from the ground. The ground cracked even further under the pressure of his hand, but his body did not budge. Every breath was a struggle, shallow and painful, as if the world was sitting on his chest.
Yvette remained frozen, her eyes wide open.
"Father
The pressure disappeared.
Just like that.
Yves settled fully onto the ground, coughing from the rush of air back into his lungs. He drew deep breaths in succession, forcing his body to normalize itself.
Footsteps were heard
Yvon looked down at him, her expression unaltered.
"You are leaving first thing tomorrow for the academy's entrance exam." He said calmly.
Yves slowly raised his head, his eyes sharp with awareness even with the lingering pressure.
"Your mother has already signed your name, There will be no delays and when you take that exam you will do so using your best ability."
Yves' eyes narrowed slightly.
"I expect you to take the top spot."
Yves crouched forward upon his knees, then upon his feet. His movements were slow and controlled, but there was something different about them. Something cold had settled in behind his eyes.
"…Understood," he said quietly