Martial Demons Ascension

The sun was low by the time the day wound down painting the classroom and training yard in streaks of orange Most of the students had already begun packing up their things chatting in small clusters as they prepared to head home The earlier tension of Rhyka's "departure" had dulled into background gossip though his sudden display copying Loretta's dance still clung fresh in everyone's minds

Loretta lingered She didn't usually hang back she liked to leave with her friends laughing and chattering but now she stood stiffly at her desk eyes flicking toward the back of the room where Rhyka sat Mask off blade leaning against his chair he looked as if he hadn't a care in the world

Her pride twisted in her chest She could still see him in the courtyard earlier tracing her dance with such precision it looked like hers No worse Cleaner sharper stripped of magic but still dangerous

Finally she exhaled and marched toward him

The class noticed Conversations faltered A few students leaned in curious Loretta golden hair catching the last light of the day stood before Rhyka's desk with her arms folded

"Rhyka" she said flatly

He cracked an eye open expression lazy "Hm"

"I want you to help me"

The words hung in the air like a stone dropped into still water A few students actually gasped

Rhyka sat up straighter one eyebrow quirking "Help you"

"With my fighting" Loretta clarified her jaw tight "Your movements your… instinct I can't match it I've trained for years to perfect my dance but you learned it in one afternoon If I keep going the way I am I'll hit a wall So" she paused forcing the words out "…teach me"

The room went dead silent

Rhyka leaned back in his chair tapping his chin His smirk returned slowly

"Teach you huh" he drawled "Well sure Why not I don't see a problem with it"

Loretta blinked "…Really"

"Mm" He tilted his head eyes narrowing playfully "But you're gonna have to pay"

The class erupted again

"Pay"

"Is he serious"

"He's charging her now"

Loretta's cheeks flushed hot "Pay… Pay you For what"

"For my time" Rhyka said coolly "For my expertise You wanted my help didn't you Nothing in this world's free Besides" he let the pause hang "…you just gave me an idea"

Loretta frowned confused "What idea"

"A dojo"

The word landed heavily Students blinked muttering

"I could train people Kids like you kids who want to sharpen their fighting skills to better utilise magic also I save up coin build my name and when that caravan comes through in two years I've got enough to pack up and leave" He rested a hand on his blade smirk widening "And by then I'll have polished myself even further"

Loretta stared caught between disbelief and indignation He had just turned her request into the seed of a whole scheme

"You're… unbelievable" she muttered

"Unbelievably generous" Rhyka corrected smoothly

Around them the whispers swelled again

"He's actually gonna start a dojo"

"No way anyone pays him"

"…Would it even work though"

Eto sat quietly frowning as she studied the exchange Millis scoffed loudly muttering about Rhyka's "delusions" while Hella smirked whispering venom about him trying to "scam" the class

But Loretta didn't back down She met his smirk with a hard stare

"…Fine I'll pay" she said finally "If it makes me stronger I don't care"

Rhyka's grin widened "Good Then you'll be my first student"

The murmurs still hadn't died down after Loretta's shocking declaration The golden haired dancer agreeing to pay Rhyka of all people to train her was absurd enough that half the class thought they'd misheard Some laughed under their breath others muttered that Loretta was desperate and a few whispered that she was braver than the rest

But before anyone could fully process it another voice spoke up

"I'll join too"

Heads snapped around

Rinnte was walking steadily toward the back his hands shoved into his pockets his expression as calm as ever His eyes sharp and unwavering fixed on Rhyka

"I've said it before" he continued evenly stopping beside Loretta "I admire you Rhyka Your instinct your control it's what I've always wanted to see up close If you're teaching I want in"

A ripple spread through the classroom This wasn't Loretta swallowing her pride after being humiliated in a fight This was Rinnte one of the strongest in the class one of the few who could stand beside Eto

And he had just called himself an admirer

Rhyka leaned back in his chair smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth Behind the mask of indifference his heart leapt Perfect This is even better than I planned

He tapped his chin with exaggerated thought "Hmm You huh One of my top admirers wants in…"

The class snickered at the wording but Rhyka ignored them eyes narrowing playfully at Rinnte

"I'll give you half off"

The words landed like a hammer Loretta's mouth dropped open

"Half off" she hissed "Why him"

"Because" Rhyka said smoothly leaning forward with a conspiratorial grin "he's an admirer Loyalty deserves a discount"

Laughter broke out across the room some mocking some genuinely amused Rinnte didn't flinch though He just nodded once "That's fair"

Most of the class however wasn't impressed

"Pathetic"

"First Loretta now Rinnte Can't believe they're actually falling for this"

"He's scamming them"

"Half off What's he even charging"

The students whispered and chuckled amongst themselves already brushing it off as another ridiculous stunt In their eyes it was just Rhyka being Rhyka always trying to play mysterious always trying to stand above them

But there was an unease beneath their dismissal Because now it wasn't just talk Loretta and Rinnte had actually committed

That meant at least two of the class's strongest talents were stepping into Rhyka's shadow

Rhyka leaned back again folding his arms smirk widening under the weight of the whispers

"Two students already" he said lightly as if musing to himself "My dojo's practically writing itself"

Loretta glared at him Rinnte stood steady beside her and the rest of the class tried to laugh it off

But no one could shake the truth

Rhyka had just gone from outcast to teacher and the balance in the room had shifted again

The final bell rang its clear tone echoing across the stone walls Students began packing their things scribbled notes quills half burned practice charms yet the air in the classroom didn't carry the usual relief All eyes were fixed toward the back

On Rhyka

He rose slowly from his chair mask dangling casually in one hand blade slung over his shoulder He didn't rush didn't glance at the chatterers or whisperers He simply stood straightened his back and walked toward the door

Every step carried the weight of finality

For once no one laughed

Even those who had spent weeks ridiculing him fell silent as his figure passed them by Loretta clenched her fists already rehearsing what she'd say when she met him again in a week Rinnte's sharp gaze followed him steadily full of quiet determination Eto's lips pressed into a thin line guilt and disappointment warring inside her Millis and Hella looked on with forced smirks but their stiff posture betrayed their unease

At the door Rhyka paused He glanced over his shoulder his expression unreadable behind the mask

"One week" he said flatly "Loretta Rinnte You know where to find me"

The class murmured some scoffing some whispering in disbelief But no one interrupted

Rhyka turned and walked out

Emmet didn't dismiss the class right away He lingered staring at the door long after Rhyka had disappeared beyond it Then without a word he strode after him

He caught up in the corridor outside where Rhyka was waiting with arms folded as if he'd known Emmet would follow

"You didn't need to dramatize it again" Emmet said dryly

Rhyka's smirk twitched beneath the mask "Dramatize That was restraint"

The teacher pinched the bridge of his nose "You're going to be the death of me"

But despite his exasperation there was something else in Emmet's eyes an acknowledgment Not just of Rhyka's skill but of his intent

Rhyka shifted his blade across his back and started walking "C'mon I haven't eaten since morning You're buying"

Emmet raised an eyebrow "You make demands like a lord when you don't have two coins to rub together"

"Then it's good I have a patron" Rhyka shot back with a grin

Emmet sighed but followed anyway The pair walked side by side out of the academy grounds the whispers of students fading behind them

That afternoon while the rest of the class gossiped and speculated about Rhyka's "dojo" he and Emmet sat across from one another at the village tavern bowls of steaming stew between them

One teacher

One student

Both aware that the next two years would decide everything.