NOVEL NEXT Chapter 36: Forbidden Lessons
Chapter 36: Forbidden Lessons
After the entire class completed their sparring matches, the initial thirty students were reduced through successive rounds of combat. Each match grew fiercer, revealing the grit and determination of the participants. By the end, only five remained the strongest contenders.
The substitute instructor stepped forward, his tone calm but firm, as he addressed the class. "These five have proven their strength and resolve. They will represent this class in the Pyropeia Tournament, a test of not just power but of discipline, strategy, and adaptability."
Among the five was Thrain, his selection causing a wave of murmurs from the others. Some whispered with admiration, others with envy, but none could deny that his skill was undeniable. Thrain stood tall, glancing at the other four chosen alongside him, each a formidable opponent in their own right.
As the room buzzed with excitement and speculation, Thrain's thoughts wandered. "With this, I could do more than just fight. I could create change, challenge the system, and show them what true strength looks like."
The Pyropeia Tournament was no longer just a test, it was an opportunity. An opportunity for Thrain to make his mark and redefine what it meant to wield power in this world.
…
The atmosphere in the hall was thick with tension and quiet whispers as the chosen five stood apart from the rest. While some students discussed the upcoming Pyropeia Tournament with excitement, others mulled over their losses, analyzing their mistakes and missed chances. Thrain remained silent, scanning the room, until one of the other chosen students approached him.
"You think you'll win this tournament?" the student asked, voice low but edged with curiosity.
Thrain looked at him for a moment before replying, "I don't know. Winning isn't the only thing on my mind."
The student frowned slightly, but before they could probe further, another chimed in. "When is the tournament, anyway? Do we have time to prepare?"
The substitute instructor, overhearing, answered from the front. "You've got two weeks. Use it wisely. Those two weeks will determine how well you perform, not just as individuals but as a team." His gaze swept across the five, sharp and unyielding. "Your progress is what matters now. Remember, this is a class effort as much as it is personal."
The announcement was met with quiet nods. Some students whispered about strategies, while others simply stared, their expressions determined.
As the session ended, the class made its way back to their usual room. The remainder of the lessons focused on theory, refining their understanding of flame manipulation and stamina conservation. Though Thrain paid attention, his thoughts drifted to what lay ahead.
At break, Thrain found Lynx leaning against the academy's outer wall, eating a piece of fruit. "You made it to the Pyropeia team, huh?" Lynx said with a small grin.
"Yeah," Thrain replied, stepping beside him. "You're in your final year of the Advanced class, right? Did they pick your team yet?"
"Not yet," Lynx said, tossing the fruit core into a nearby barrel. "But soon. For us, it's different. It's not just a selection. It's a fight severe, and not for the faint-hearted."
"Gunther's way, I guess?" Thrain asked, referencing Lynx's instructor, who was known for his brutal training methods.
"Exactly. He doesn't just want the strongest. He wants the most unshakable, the ones who can endure and keep going no matter what. It's not like your class, our selection is a full on survival test."
Thrain nodded, absorbing the information. Lynx's words made the tournament seem even more daunting. If every class was pushing their students to their limits, then the Pyropeia wouldn't just be a test of skill; it would be a battlefield.
"Be ready, Thrain," Lynx added before walking away. "The tournament isn't just a competition. It's a statement."
As Thrain watched him leave, his resolve hardened. "A statement… That's exactly what I plan to make."
…
The instructor stood before the class, his arms crossed, surveying the room. "This marks the end of your seated lessons," he declared. His voice carried the weight of finality. "No more reading and theory. From now on, it's all training, sparring, strategy, weapon mastery. You'll be tested, broken, and reforged. The Pyropeia Tournament is two weeks away, and you'll need every second to prepare. Move out!"
The students sat in silence for a moment, the gravity of his words sinking in. As they filed out of the hall, a buzz of nervous excitement filled the air. Some exchanged strategies, others murmured anxieties about the tournament. Thrain walked among them, deep in thought. His mind flickered back to the cold sparring hall and the progress he'd seen in his classmates. The tournament wasn't just a test of strength it was a proving ground.
The academy corridors seemed different now. The usual hum of casual conversations and laughter had been replaced with a focused tension. Thrain overheard fragments of conversations about tactics and rivalries, but his thoughts were elsewhere.
"Two weeks," someone muttered beside him, echoing his own thoughts. The timeline felt both close and distant, and the weight of expectation hung heavy.
Back in the main class, the substitute instructor took over again, running them through weapon drills. It wasn't just about swinging swords or wielding spears; it was about precision, timing, and control. Thrain noticed that even here, the atmosphere had changed. His classmates were quieter, more focused. Every strike and movement carried intent. The academy wasn't just teaching them to fight, it was shaping them into something more.
When the day ended, Thrain walked home with a strange sense of anticipation. He could feel the shift in the air, something was coming, and he needed to be ready.
---
At home, the Bijins were waiting. The three of them stood in the courtyard, their green flames flickering like ghostly lanterns in the evening light.
"You've been asking to learn something new," Emiri said, stepping forward. Her voice was calm, but there was a strange undertone to it, something Thrain couldn't quite place.
"Tonight, we'll teach you a skill you won't find in any academy," Hikari added, her tone sharper, more deliberate.
"It's not something everyone can handle," Akane said. "But you... You'll need it one day."
Thrain watched as Emiri knelt and conjured her green flames, directing them toward a small rat scurrying along the ground. The flames touched the creature, and it froze in place, its small body going stiff as though trapped in invisible chains.
"Watch closely," Emiri said. She raised her hand, and the rat began to move, but its steps were unnatural, jerky. It stumbled forward, its head twitching to the side as if pulled by strings.
"It's called control," Hikari said, her eyes fixed on the rat. "The green flames bind to the target, suppressing their will and forcing them to obey. It's not just for animals, either."
"Why would anyone use this?" Thrain asked, his voice low.
"To protect yourself," Akane replied without hesitation. "To gain an advantage when your opponent won't play fair. This skill isn't about honor, it's about survival."
Emiri flicked her fingers, and the rat collapsed. The green flames disappeared, and the creature scurried away, free but shaken.
Akane turned to Thrain. "Your turn. Try it."
Thrain hesitated, staring at the spot where the rat had been. The idea of wielding such a power, it didn't feel right. But the Bijins' eyes were on him, waiting, expecting.