Zaria was the next one to step within the square of the dagger coach. She held her short swords tightly and looked at the masked figure before her with a dark expression.

"I can do this," She mumbled under her breath, though her feet betrayed her as she unknowingly took a few steps back.

She turned her head to look at others locked in combat with the masked coaches. Afterwards, her gaze fell on the students who were watching her with examining and expectant eyes.

Their eyes reflected the expectations they held for her; she was the top student in theoretical studies, after all. However, none of them knew about her true combat strength.

"I-I c-can..." she mumbled with quivering lips, and the dagger coach, who was studying her, asked in the same monotonous voice, "Why did you pick up the dagger?"

Zaria turned towards her and fidgeted her fingers together as she lowered her head. Her voice trembling, "B-because it's easiest for me to use."

The dagger coach raised an eyebrow and tilted her head before she questioned in a bewildered tone, "If that's the easiest for you... How hard are the other weapons?"

Zaria lowered her head in shame as tears slid down her cheeks and splashed onto the ground, "I-I am sorry," she replied in a low voice.

The dagger coach shook her head and spoke softly, "Don't be sorry. Not everyone is cut out for battle. But, you must understand..."

She paused before continuing, "That the world — or the worlds — we live in are no paradise, the strong prey on the weak, and the weak on the weaker. There is no common ground here. If you want to live in such a world, you must learn to kill — not to take lives but to keep yourself alive."

She raised her dagger, "We are not doing this to defeat each other or to prove ourselves to anyone; we are doing this for ourselves. I am here to teach you, to help you find your weaknesses and strengths. Don't be scared of me and pick up the blade and strike hard, strike fast."

Zaria's expression turned into that of determination as she tightened her grip around the short swords and stepped forward.

Moments later, Zaria lay on the ground, wide-eyed, as the dagger coach crouched beside her with her dagger at her throat, "You are bad."

Zaria bit her lower lip and nodded slightly as she sat up and began to leave.

Just before she left, the dagger coach added, "But, not the worst."

She stopped in her tracks as tears rolled down her face. She wiped her face and mumbled, "Thanks..." before stepping out of the square.

***

Jamie looked at the sword coach before him. He closed his eyes and heaved a deep sigh before unsheathing both of his one-handed straight swords.

The sword coach looked at him with curious eyes and asked, "Why did you pick up the swords?"

Jamie looked at his swords and replied flatly, "I am fine with anything that lets me live a moment longer, as for the swords... I simply like them more."

The sword coach let out a hoarse chuckle and spoke, "I never thought that I would hear something like that from a noble."

Jamie also let out a stifled chuckle—one between amusement and annoyance. He replied, "A nightmare or star beast would neither let me live because I am noble nor would it show mercy for being a commoner. Death comes for all... the only thing that changes is the method."

The sword coach fell silent upon his words and raised the sword before adding, "For life."

Jamie's lips curved up into an appreciative smile as he raised both of his swords and responded, "For a life worth living."

Jamie moved and swung his swords like a beast, like a madman. A wide, vicious grin stretched across his face as he swung, slashed, and stabbed continuously, without halting for a single moment.

The sword coach deflected those he could and dodged the others, and spoke, "Are you a beast or a human? If you consider yourself a human, then why are you acting like a beast?"

Jamie began to laugh at the question—a mocking, unhinged laugh that echoed through the room.

"Hahaha! Maybe I am a beast."

His grin widened as steel met steel—each strike wilder than the last.

"One that wears the skin of a human... aren't we the same in that regard?"

Everyone within the room turned silent, and the other masked coaches lowered their weapons as they watched Jamie swing his sword while laughing like a madman.

"What's wrong with him?" A student questioned as he looked at Jamie with a dark expression.

The one beside him turned towards him, his mouth agape as he questioned, "Don't you know him?"

"Eh? Am I supposed to?" The first student questioned.

The one beside him shook his head and answered while pointing at Jamie, "He is Jamie Bannister... They called him the Broken Sword because he was a cripple from birth."

"Then how is he here?"

"Surprisingly… he recovered just a few months before the academy's first year began."

A few moments later, the clash ended as the sword coach's sword rested around Jamie's neck. Jamie frowned at the blade and stepped back. He gave a slight bow and added, "I am thankful for your teachings, and I apologise for my rudeness."

He turned around and stepped out of the square. At the same time, Jaden walked towards the square, and both of them halted to look into each other's eyes.

A moment later, Jamie spoke, "I am mad at myself."

Jaden stayed silent for a moment before responding with a chuckle, "I'd take a mad Jamie over a bad one any day."

He stepped within the square after saying so.

Jamie glanced at his back as he frowned in thought, 'What does that even mean?' He shook his head and walked towards Arden.

______

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