" We should pick the pillars, " said Reijin Arataka. " Both of them are yen ranker and could potentially compete with hunters "
Escrald with his jaw being landed on his tangled palms spoke, " I have my eyes on them, in fact Dan Vonter is a perfect candidate, he is an all rounder. "
" Ellena Raskira is an equal to Dan Vonter, " added Norli Logen. " I heard she spars most of the time with Dan Vonter and that they are perfect battle partners, "
" Hmmm, that's good. They might be able to resist the hunters. Any other?, " said Escrald.
" Quillen, another talented individual not on par with the pillars but he could be our third option, " spoke Oreon Pleinsg while raising his hand.
" The one who came in third position in Master Senx test?, " asked Escrald.
" Yes and he is sharp too, " replied Oreon.
" What about Gira Bren, the winner of the test?, " said Escrald.
" He is a full jar, ignorant and full of overconfidence, although he is good. I wouldn't recommend him since he would be easily provoked in battle, " answered Reijin.
" Hmmm,, keep him in the list though " Escrald was contemplating deeply, he needed a promising individual for the third spot who could be an equal to the pillars, however none were coming to his mind.
" There was a rumor recently that a fight broke out between Gira Bren and some student of his class and he was defeated badly, " spoke Sen Hampdher in her thundering voice, she was a big woman and even though she was just a second year, her strength as a fighter could be compare to Oreon and Escrald Lejes personally recruited her.
" Who was it?, " asked Escrald.
" How come he was defeated? he is the son of Master Cas Bren. " said Reijin shockingly.
" I heard from one of the students that Gira Bren was a bully and he provoked this kid name Lan Gwen Ethren and that kid beat him up pretty badly, " answered Sen calmly.
" Maybe he caught him off guard?, " Reijin suggested. " After all I heard Gira was trained by Master Cas Bren from a young age, in a fair fight he wouldn't lose that easily. "
" That could be true but I found out something interesting too, that kid is magicless and it seems although he is magicless, he is a talented fighter and everyone in his class is secretly afraid of him. " said Sen. " That's what I found after talking with the first years, they seem to avoid him, "
" Magicless? he has no magic?, " asked Escrald.
" Apparently no and he can only fight, " answered Sen.
"Hmmmm... Although he is an interesting individual, I still can't get him on the list since he has no magic, no matter how good he is at fighting, in front of hunters frightening magic, he would be nothing but a fodder, " said Escrald coolly.
" I agree, I wonder how he even got into the academy without magic, " spoke Leiyan Teidder who was sitting quietly for the whole time.
" Alright, are there no other candidates?, " asked Escrald for the final time.
No one spoke and shook their heads.
" In any case, should we invite this magicless kid? I want to see if the rumors are true or not. " spoke Reinner Delron, he was just a ren yanker but his fighting talent could be considered one in a thousand, he was a natural born fighter and without even using any high level magic, he had defeated many students of the academy in his first year.
" I still won't select him, Reinner. Even if he turns out to be good, he just can't represent us without magic. " affirmed Escrald.
" It's okay, " replied Reinner playfully, " It would be fun in the selection, " and he smiled.
Escrald looked at him for a moment and said, " Do as you please ". He stood up from his chair and declared, " the council is dismissed "
Sen Hampdher followed Reinner Delron as they walked out of the room and she spoke to him, " Do you want to go check out that magicless kid? I'm kind of curious to see what he is like "
" I was about to, " replied Reinner.
" Let's go then, " said Sen.
Norli Logen approached them from behind and said, " I'm coming too, I don't believe he defeated Gira Bren. Master Cas's son was a talented kid, he is a relative of mine. "
Reinner and Sen looked at her and smiled, " alright then, let's go find out "
It was about noon, the mess hall was noisy and full of students. Three council members who were rarely seen in the mess hall were coming towards it and students gave them quick glances as they entered the mess hall and approached Gira Bren who was quietly enjoying his meal with few of his friends. Whispers and murmurs rose from the tables and by passers. Three of them joined Gira Bren at his table. Gira was sitting along with two of his classmates. He looked up surprisingly as they suddenly appeared out of nowhere and joined him at his table.
" Sister Norli, " greeted Gira respectfully.
" Seat down Gira, we just want to have a talk, " said Norli as she ties her red hair into a pony tail.
" Yes sure, " replied Gira.
" We heard you got into a fight recently with Lan Gwen Ethren? " said Reinner.
Gira replied hesitatingly, " Yes, it was my fault "
" What really happened?, " asked Norli Logen.
Gira sighed and said, " It was nothing serious, I provoked him in front of everyone in the class and he fought back, "
" And what were you doing? Sleeping?, " snapped Norli.
Gira expressions turned into a face of regret and fear. " I couldn't fight back, he punched me from from behind, "
" See! I told you? He fought unfairly. " exclaimed Norli to her friends. Sen looked at her and didn't say anything. Reinner wasn't convinced at all, he was still skeptical to believe either of them.
" Even so you could have fought back, right? " added Reinner. " You don't look like the type to go down easily, "
" No, he is really strong and way stronger than me, " confessed Gira.
" What are you saying? no matter how strong he is, he doesn't have any magic while you can overpower him with your magic, " said Norli pissed off that her cousin has become such a timid man.
" No! " snapped Gira, " I don't meant to- "
" It's okay, " Sen assured.
" He is different, you don't understand.. " said Gira as if he was recalling a traumatizing event.
" Like what? " asked Norli.
" He is not like the other kids around here, when he attacked me, he was not just fighting back because he was angry... he was like he wanted to kill me and I saw full of blood lust in his eyes, " Gira was shivering as he recalled his memories.
" What a weakling you have become, Gira! is this what you wanted to become after coming to the academy? cry like a baby for getting down by someone of your age?, " said the angered Norli and slammed on the table.
" It's not like that, sister Norli. I was just ignorant before, " replied Gira calmly. The earlier Gira would have been provoked easily, its like he was humbled down significantly.
" So you still don't think you can win over that magicless kid?, " said Reinner.
" Now, I don't. I have seen what he is capable of and I think you people are underestimating him a lot just because he doesn't have magic.." said Gira confidently admitting Lan strengths.
" If you are this much under spirited, I don't think Escrald is going to consider you for the spot. " sighed Norli depressingly.
" What do you think? Can he fight against the pillars? Dan Vonter and Ellena Raskira?, " asked Reinner curiously.
" He is close friends with them, " Dan looked to his right side and pointed out to a table far right to a corner. " See that table, he is right there with the pillars, " Norli, Sen and Reinner looked at the table and saw Lan Gwen Ethren for the first time, he was laughing and peacefully enjoying his meal with them. " That scrawny looking kid ?, " remarked Norli.
" Oh he was much thinner when he first came, " said Gira.
" So can he ?, " asked Reinner once again.
" Honestly his strength is unknown, he likes to lay low and doesn't show off much but he could even be stronger than the pillars, " Gira said.
" You think that high of someone who thrashed you badly?, " Norli commented with a scorn.
" I'm just saying what I feel like, if you don't believe me, you can just test him out?, " Gira replied humorously.
" Shall we?, " said Sen Hamphder excitedly.
Reinner nodded his head with a crude smile and Norli was agreeing too. " Shall I have a go?, " added Norli.
" No, let Sen handle him, I know you won't hold even against a kid. " remarked Reinner.
" Alright, alright... " Norli shrugged.
" Sen, go call him out at the back field. We will meet you there and mention you are recruiting for the tournament, " instructed Reinner.
" Alright," replied Sen and walked away from the table.
Sen walked over to Lan's table and they were staring at her as she approached them.
" Hello, Lan " greeted Sen with a friendly smile.
" Yes? " replied Lan suspiciously.
" Could you just follow me to the back field?, " said Sen still retaining her friendly smile.
" Reason? " asked Lan.
" The council is interested in your skills, we would like to see your strength and might consider adding you to the list for the wingless tournament. " explained Sen.
" Really? but the selection is two weeks from now, right? " he said and looked over his friends.
" Yes, it's just an unofficial test. So will you come?, " said Sen.
" Ah yes, " Lan wiped his mouth clean and stood up. " are you guys coming?, "
" Why not, this looks fun! " replied Dan. " Lets go Zenorah ".
Lan, Ellena, Dan and Zenorah followed Sen quietly to the back field. They didn't speak a word on their way, however Sen was humming a melody the whole way. When they reached the back field, there was Gira, Reinner, Norli waiting for them.
" We just want to see your skills, your senior, Sen Hampdher will be your opponent.'' Reinner declared.
" Alright, Weapons? " asked Lan.
Ellena, Dan and Zenora sat themselves on a stone raised bench near the edge of the field, It was just the size of a courtyard. Gira and others sat on the adjacent bench.
" you can take my sword, " Gira offered.
" Thanks " Lan smiled politely and accepted the sword.
" Will this just be a friendly sparring ?, " Lan asked innocently.
" Oh it is but I insist you go all out, " said Reinner with a mocking smile.
" Don't worry, your Senior is one of the strongest in the academy. " added Norli.
Lan couldn't care less who was the strongest or not but he was also curious to try out his new tactics and techniques against someone who is considered strong. Sen Hamphder was also a talented individual, her big muscular frame with her deadly agility makes her even more of dangerous opponent for someone like Lan who was much smaller in frame but Lan was confident and he didn't see himself losing against anyone. Sen Hampdher, despite her lack of magical skills she was welcomed in the student council due to her monstrous strength, if she was however, bestowed with much higher magical powers, she would be one of the top students of the academy.
" I have a request, " said Lan.
" And that is? " continued Sen.
" If I go all out then you have to use magic too, " said Lan without an ounce of hesitation.
" Kiddo! Don't get ahead of yourself !, " Norli shouted. Reinner patted on her shoulder gesturing to stop.
Sen smiled calmly and nodded her head, " you sure you won't regret it ? "
Lan smiled and didn't say anything. " Alright, then as you wish. " Sen announced proudly.
Sen and Lan walked to the center of the field and were getting ready to start the battle any moment.
Reinner approached them and said, " Ready? "
Lan had a stance as if he was about to launch himself at Sen, his left leg was upfront and the sword at his right hand. Sen stood normally and it seemed she was underestimating him quite a lot. Sen and Lan nodded. " Ready "
" Fight !! " announced Reinner and he backed off immediately.
In a blink of an eye, before Sen couldn't even react Lan lunged at her swinging a right horizontal arch but Sen was not slow, she brought up her sword and blocked it but the force of the blow was so unexpectedly strong that she was caught off balance. It made her retreat two steps back. Sen was surprised at the force of Lan's swing and so everyone was, from such a thin looking body, where was he drawing all the strength? that the mighty Sen was forced back. Lan didn't hesitate to slow down, before Sen could regain her composure, He ducked low and swung another upper vertical arch, Sen had no time to deflect his swing this time so she jumped back to dodge his attack. At the same time, Ellena was murmuring to Dan, " Wow, this is unexpected ".
Lan didn't stop there, he continued to keep a close distance because he knew Sen who had a large frame would need space to make movements and he being much more agile and small could take advantage of her weakness. He closed in the gap with his beast steps in a second and swung another backhand slash. Sen blocked it somehow but she was getting cornered, she was not able to get her breathing back, the force of Lan blows vibrated to the hilt of her sword and distracted her. " Such force ! '' she thought to herself as she fought to regain her posture.
After the third strike, Lan retraced back and gave her room to breath. Everyone was surprised as how a first year was overwhelming a council member, Norli swallowed the humiliation and watched the fight with distaste. Reinner was fascinated. Ellena and Dan were surprised, Zenora remained unchanged in her expression.
" I told you, use magic, " Lan said.
" Brat ! you- " Sen was loss at words, she felt as if she was being fought unfairly but she quickly realized there wasn't such a thing, he outwitted her by charging first and attacking her weakness, she felt ashamed and frustrated because just now, she lost cause she couldn't even use her full strength, what was more frustrating to her was that he didn't allow her to use her full strength and now he was allowing to regain her strength and provoking her, no matter how calm she was, she was consumed by anger of her own failure and the humiliation of her defeat, she knew it was because she underestimated him because he was just a first year. She looked down on him because he was much smaller in size and she didn't expect such strong blows from him.
" if you don't use magic then I will fight you bare handed. " declared Lan. His smile was a provocation of mockery.
" This kid!, " said Sen as she regained her strength.
" Activate Wolf steps, Activate strength boost. " Sen casted two low tier spells because she was only capable of low tier spells.
" That's more like it, " Lan teased. He was purposely provoking her so that she lose her composure and in battle, anger leads to haste decisions and narrow vision.
" Now come ! " barked Sen angrily.
Lan did the unexpected he charged in and threw the sword at her half way and he whispered to himself " Falcon breathing "
A breathing technique that increases once intake of oxygen and heart beats to pump blood in the body faster, the more oxygen the body takes, the more strength the body can exert. Lan heart was strong and much stronger than any average human, he had undergone severe trials and training to enhance his physical limits.
The moment Sen was caught in the brief moment of deflecting the thrown sword aside, Lan was already beneath her eyes, ' how come he is -? ' her thought process couldn't even complete, in swift succession Lan stabbed her body in three vital spots, one in upper abdomen, one in neck and the last one to her lower belly, all of them were acupuncture points of the body, when the three spots were all hit in quick succession at once, any human body can't help but freeze up and faint. Sen freezed and dropped her sword, she then choked and fell on her knees and finally laid flat on the ground with foam dripping from her mouth.
At this moment, everyone who was watching the battle became aware that Lan was not an ordinary person, Sen Hampdher, a council member was defeated as if she was nothing, to begin with that was not even a fight, it was more like a humiliation, a one sided slaughter just like what happened to Gira. Even Gira was surprised cause he never expected Lan would easily defeat a senior council member with just mere physical strength.
The speed and agility they saw was inhumane, it was almost as if Lan was secretly using magic. It surpassed their low tier magic spells.
Norli was infuriated, a council member was defeated in front of her, she cared about her reputation strongly, now they were made to look like fun in front of the pillars.
" Hahahaha- hahaha " Reinner burst out laughing and started clapping as he approached Lan.
" That's an amazing feat!! " said Reinner.
" So do I get a spot in the tournament?, " asked Lan.
" Of course, even Escrald won't sit still after hearing Sen was defeated, " replied Reinner.
" Thanks, " said Lan and approached Sen who was still cold on the ground. He pressed her back and hit a spot on the back of her neck. " She will be up in few hours "
" So Do you want to join the council?, " offered Reinner with a twisting smile appearing on his face