Chapter 63 – Excellence Camp – Duel Hall III

Ashern City - Reinhart Institute of War, 17th of Brightforge, year 315 UC

"Again!"

Instructor Silivia Grace shouted, her voice echoing through the gymnasium's high vaulted ceiling. Beads of sweat glistened on her forehead as she slammed a playing card onto the growing pile beside her bench, her red hair swinging with the forceful movement.

"Move it, people!"

Bryan watched as Alexander took a deep breath before charging into the obstacle course for the third time. Despite the exhaustion evident in his teammate's face, Alexander's initial burst of speed was impressive—dodging the first holographic attacker with a quick sidestep, then ducking under a swinging blade.

He was slightly ahead of some other students who were pacing themselves. They were sprinting down the field, keeping their breathing in check while still managing to dodge the attacks coming their way. Unlike Alexander, who seemed to be rushing headfirst without a care for his form.

'Fifty-Two Pick Up' is what Silivia called it, this game of hers. So far they've been doing this exact type of exercise every Monday and Friday.

It was by far the best physical conditioning that the instructors had them doing. And when they would eventually add body weights to the mix, Bryan couldn't help but grin slightly at that thought.

While the others complained about the constant shouting and how hard the training was. Bryan couldn't help but enjoy himself. The familiar burn of exertion was almost comforting compared to what he was feeling lately.

He was a bit sadistic in the way he loved to watch the others suffer during this kind of training. Hard work would pay off, and the pain they were feeling now was their body telling them they were alive and well and would reward them later on.

What doesn't break you only makes you stronger.

"Spades! Twenty push-ups!"

Silivia called, flipping a card onto the growing pile beside her bench. Bryan dropped immediately as he began the exercise.

Out of all the instructors at the camp, she seemed to be the most energetic, especially about magitech. No one imagined that she would keep that same energy up while doing physical conditioning.

Turns out, Silivia Grace was a lot more than a magitech enthusiast.

Whenever she pulled a card out of the deck, it would align with one type of exercise that they had to do.

Spades: Push-ups

Diamonds: Burpees

Hearts: Mountain Climbers

Clubs: Squats

And for any Jack, King, or Queen, it was whatever exercise Silivia felt like calling out, her creativity seemingly endless when it came to finding new ways to make their muscles burn.

As for the Joker…

All cards that had been played would be put back into the deck, except the joker, and they'd have to start all over from the beginning, their collective groans of despair music to Silivia's ears whenever she revealed that particular card.

Even Bryan had to admit it was best when that card was pulled out early on, rather than after they'd already completed forty or more exercises.

One person ran the course while the other member of the two-person team completed the exercise routine. And, it didn't stop until the teammate running the course returned, then they would switch. The system kept everyone constantly moving, no chance to catch their breath or recover fully.

Around him, other pairs struggled through the same routine. Some students had collapsed onto their backs between sets, chests heaving as they gasped for air. Others leaned against the wall, legs trembling, sweat dripping onto the floor.

"Come on, Silvermark! My grandmother moves faster than that!"

Silivia bellowed, her hands cupped around her mouth to amplify her already considerable volume. She leaned forward on her bench, her uniform stretching across her shoulders as she pointed accusingly at Alexander.

Alexander being called out was not new; they all had been at some point. Today was just his day, it seemed, and for a good reason at that. He was falling behind even though he had been slightly ahead at the start, his initial burst of energy fading rapidly as he progressed through the course.

Bryan completed his push-ups just as Alexander reached the halfway point. The course grew more difficult as it progressed—holographic attackers appearing with less warning, their strikes coming faster and from multiple angles.

"Diamonds! Fifteen burpees!"

Silivia called, her fingers dramatically revealing another card with a snap of her wrist. Bryan transitioned smoothly to the new exercise as Alexander stumbled, barely avoiding a holographic spear thrust. His movements were becoming erratic, his reactions delayed. His feet dragged slightly with each step, no longer clearing the floor properly.

Bryan watched between burpees as Alexander narrowly avoided another strike, his movements becoming increasingly desperate. There was something wrong with his footwork, he was not watching the movement of the hologram in order to counter their strikes.

'Pay attention to the shoulders, the hips, and the feet.'

Bryan thought as he finished his burpees, sweat beginning to darken the collar of his training uniform. The advice was directed at Alexander, though the boy who could not hear his thoughts continued to flail through the course, missing obvious cues in the hologram's movements.

He knew it was pointless. He knew it would not help. Yet, he still said it. Just to himself.

"Hearts! Thirty mountain climbers!"

Silivia called out as she turned her attention away from where Alexander was to look at another cadet, her finger jabbing the air accusingly. Her brow furrowed as she placed her hands on her hips.

“Vane, pick up the pace! Don’t let Klein finish before you.”

Christopher was trotting along the course. Over these last few weeks, his stamina had increased, allowing him to move without tiring as fast. His speed wasn’t the greatest, but he never gave up.

Bryan had to give him some credit for all the hard work he was putting in. Between all the classes and the extra training Christopher undertook with Bryan, he was improving himself at a rapid pace.

It was a sight worth taking in. Compared to the boy who had nearly died during their first training under Alan. This was a huge jump in his physical prowess. Christopher caught him watching and gave a short nod in his direction.

As Bryan began the new exercise, his knees pumping rapidly toward his chest as his hands remained planted on the floor, Alexander reached the final section of the course. Just three more holographic attackers to dodge, then back to the starting point. Alexander weaved past the first, his shoulder brushing against the wall as he overcompensated, then ducked the second with a movement that was more collapse than intentional evasion. But the third caught him with a glancing blow to the shoulder, the holographic weapon passing through his body with a flash of light.

The hologram, which was transparent blue, quickly turned red, while a screech went out alerting Silivia Grace to Alexander's misfortune. The sound cut through the gymnasium, causing several students to wince.

"Hit! Start over from the checkpoint!"

She made a circular motion with her finger, her expression showing no mercy as Alexander's shoulders slumped.

Alexander's face contorted as he returned to the checkpoint marker. His hands were visibly shaking now, his breathing ragged. Bryan completed the mountain climbers, watching as Alexander attempted the final section again.

‘Come on. Just a few more times and we’ll be done for the day.’

Bryan thought as he watched Alexander stumble back through the course with a pale and sweaty face. His usually bright blonde hair was dark with moisture, plastered against his skull.

Bryan rose smoothly to his feet as Alexander collapsed to his knees, hands braced against the floor as he tried to catch his breath. His entire body trembled with exhaustion.

"Clubs! Twenty-five squats!"

Silivia announced, slapping down another card. She twirled her finger impatiently, indicating Bryan should begin his turn on the course.

Alexander attempted to stand by the time he entered the course. Unlike Alexander, who struggled through the course dodging the holograms, Bryan had an easier time. His movements were precise and economical, wasting no energy as he analyzed each hologram's attack pattern before it fully manifested. He pivoted smoothly around one attacker, dropped into a roll beneath another, and sidestepped a third with inches to spare.

It only took him forty-eight seconds to reach the end of the room, his breathing only slightly elevated.

He glanced back once to see Alexander struggling through squats, his form deteriorating with each repetition. His knees wobbled dangerously, threatening to give out entirely. Something was definitely wrong—Alexander had never been the strongest physically, but he'd never looked this bad before. His face had taken on an alarming grayish tint, and his eyes seemed unable to focus properly.

‘Did he not get enough rest last night? Or is he feeling sick?’

Bryan wondered as he completed the course and saw Alexander hunched over, barely managing to complete the exercise.

It was time for them to switch, so Alexander did not need to finish the squats. But he tried to push himself anyway, finishing his set with a final, shaky squat that nearly sent him toppling to the floor. His hands braced against his thighs as he fought to remain upright.

"Spades! Thirty-five push-ups, let’s go, people!"

Silivia shouted as she flipped over another card.

Alexander rose unsteadily, swaying slightly before forcing himself forward into the course. Bryan once again assumed the front-leaning rest position before pretending he was moving the earth underneath him.

Alexander's first few steps were surprisingly strong—a sudden burst of energy that seemed to come from nowhere. His movements became sharper, his reactions quicker, as if a switch had been flipped. But by the midpoint, that unnatural energy began to falter.

"Keep it together, Silvermark!"

Silivia called.

Bryan finished his push-ups just as Alexander reached the final section. This time, Alexander missed two consecutive dodges, holographic blades passing through his torso in what would have been fatal strikes in real combat.

Both holograms turned red and alerted the instructor.

"Checkpoint! Again!"

Silivia's voice held a note of impatience now, her fingers drumming against her thigh as she shook her head.

Bryan would be more embarrassed than anything by not restarting once, but twice! And in front of so many people. He was sure that even Alexander was feeling the pressure to perform at a level he just wasn't up to at this moment. The other students had begun to cast sideways glances at Alexander, some with sympathy, others with barely concealed disdain.

Alexander turned, his face a mask of frustration and something else—fear? He attempted the final section once more, making it through by the barest margin before staggering back toward Bryan.

"Spades! Forty push-ups!"

Silivia called, seemingly oblivious to Alexander's deteriorating condition.

Bryan entered the course again as Alexander dropped to the ground, his limbs trembling visibly now. Around them, other students continued their rotations, though many were showing signs of fatigue.

None, however, seemed to be in the same state as Alexander. Even Christopher, who was supposed to have the worst stamina, was not trembling. If he was, he was holding himself together.

When Bryan returned from finishing the course, Alexander was struggling through his push-ups, his form barely recognizable. His arms shook violently with each repetition, his back arched incorrectly, and his head hung low between his shoulders. Sweat poured down his face, dripping onto the floor beneath him and creating a small puddle. His skin had taken on an alarming grayish tint, and his breathing came in ragged gasps.

Surely he would stop right now. Surely, Silivia Grace had seen his appearance. The instructor was usually observant, her eyes missing nothing when it came to form and technique.

Yet, neither one of them said anything. Silivia continued to call out exercises, her attention divided among all the students, while Alexander pushed himself beyond what was clearly his breaking point.

Alexander could stop, he could give up. Everyone would think he was a coward and had a weak heart for not pushing through. But was it worth killing himself over?

"Diamonds! Planks."

Silivia called out as she looked around at the students.

Alexander pushed himself up from his final push-up, swaying dangerously before lurching toward the course. His uniform was completely soaked through with sweat now, clinging to his body and revealing how badly he was trembling. He made it three steps before his legs gave out. He crashed to his knees with a painful thud, then pitched forward onto all fours. A violent heave shook his body, and he vomited onto the gymnasium floor, the sound causing several nearby students to step back in disgust.

The room fell silent except for the continued movement of holographic attackers, now striking at nothing.

Silivia rose from her bench as she approached Alexander. Her boots clicked against the wooden floor, the sound unnaturally loud in the sudden silence. Bryan maintained his plank position, muscles locked in place, watching as she knelt beside his teammate. Her expression was unreadable as she studied Alexander, who continued to heave though nothing more came up.

It was not his place to get involved. Bryan held his position, sweat beginning to bead on his forehead as the seconds ticked by.

"Cadet Silvermark, clean yourself up. Then clean this up. Last I checked, your mother wasn’t here."

Even the bright and cheery Silivia Grace was unsupportive. It sounded like she was disappointed, if anything else, her lips pressed into a thin line as she stood back up.

Alexander nodded weakly, still on his hands and knees, his head hanging low between his shoulders.

Silivia turned away from Alexander to address the rest of them, her hands clasped behind her back as she surveyed the room.

"That's enough for today. Cool down, then hit the showers."

A collective sigh of relief passed through the students. Several shot grateful looks toward Alexander, whose collapse had effectively ended the session early. Some began immediate stretching routines, while others simply dropped to the floor, limbs splayed in exhaustion.

"Don't look so pleased with yourselves, form a line."

Silivia ordered, her finger pointing to the center of the gymnasium. The students scrambled to comply, forming a ragged line as they continued to catch their breath.

Bryan moved to help Alexander, who was attempting to stand without success.

He felt a bit bad for him. This was the first training session where Alexander was the main focus of attention by the instructors, and he also didn't complete the course. With the way Alexander was right now, he would take a hit to his confidence. The humiliation of vomiting in front of everyone would be hard to overcome.

Bryan did not need that right now.

He didn’t want Alexander to be wallowing around feeling bad for himself. It would make his team look bad, as the others would be focused on him instead of pulling their own weight.

"I can manage."

Alexander muttered, though he leaned heavily on Bryan's offered arm. His voice was raspy, his breath coming in short gasps as he tried to straighten up.

"Get him to the side. Then rejoin the line."

Silivia instructed Bryan, her finger pointing toward a bench along the wall.

Bryan guided Alexander to a bench along the wall before returning to the forming line of students. Once seated, Alexander hunched forward, elbows on his knees, head hanging low.

Silivia's gaze swept across the line, lingering briefly on Alexander's hunched form on the bench.

Silivia gave a speech about taking care of yourself before training, not lagging behind, and knowing when to ask for help. How while some of them might laugh at another person's dismay, they should think about how it feels to be in the other person's shoes.

She also mentioned that tomorrow would be a new day and the training would only increase, so they should rest and make sure they had a well-balanced diet. The threat of more intense training tomorrow caused several students to exchange worried glances.

As the students dispersed, heading toward the locker rooms with dragging feet and slumped shoulders, Bryan returned to Alexander, who was attempting to stand again.

He could see Farrah and Sabrina looking over at Alexander. Sabrina was close to Christopher, who looked like he was going to die, his chest still heaving as he bent forward with his hands on his knees. Farrah stood alone. She had performed well, but she didn’t need to get tangled in this. She caught Bryan's eye, her expression questioning, clearly concerned about Alexander's condition.

Alexander’s condition wasn’t serious, and he didn’t need coddling. Some water and rest would do him wonders. Even a quick trip to the infirmary would do the trick, and they would get him out before the next class period.

With a small nod in their direction, Bryan tried to communicate that he would handle it. Farrah seemed to understand, giving a slight nod in return before turning to help Christopher, who had finally sunk to the floor in exhaustion.

"I've got it."

Bryan said, supporting Alexander's weight as they moved toward the exit. Alexander's arm was draped over Bryan's shoulders, his feet dragging slightly with each step. A janitor had already appeared with cleaning supplies, waving off Alexander's attempt to help with a sympathetic smile.

"How are you not used to this by now?"

Bryan asked as they stepped into the hallway, the gym door closing behind them. The corridor was cooler than the gymnasium, and Alexander shivered slightly as sweat began to dry on his skin.

Alexander gave him a faint smile.

"You're right. I should be."

Bryan didn’t know why he was smiling. This wasn’t anything to smile about, it was a serious question. With them already being weeks into training, this sort of physical exercise shouldn’t have driven Alexander to such a state. His fingers tightened slightly on Alexander's arm, supporting more of his weight as they moved down the corridor.

Not that Silivia’s methods weren’t good, it was just that Alexander seemed to have a harder time than everyone else, which should not have been the case. Based on his other performances, Alexander was in decent shape and was never one to lag behind. In fact, he had shown remarkable improvement in their other training sessions.

"Your performance at the start was good."

Bryan noted, adjusting his grip as Alexander stumbled slightly.

"But you need to learn to pace yourself. Burning all your energy in the first round leaves nothing for the rest."

Alexander nodded weakly, his hair falling across his forehead. He made no attempt to brush it back.

"I know. I just... wanted to keep up."

It sounded like a lie, but Bryan was not going to push him into revealing anything. As long as he did better next time, that was all that mattered. He glanced at Alexander's profile, noting the dark circles under his eyes that hadn't been there a week ago.

But now that he was thinking about it, that could be the reason for his current state of being.

The pressure to live up to expectations.

Alexander could have—and, based on Bryan's understanding of him, would—push himself to try to meet those expectations. So, saying anything more would only harm him. The desperate need to prove himself was written all over Alexander's face, even now as he struggled to walk unassisted.

In fact, Bryan should try to ease the burden, but he chose to stay silent.

Putting everything into words to help someone else. That wasn’t him. He did not know how to do that.

What was he going to say? Better luck next time? Don't worry about it?

They were more than three weeks into the Excellence camp. If he could not do this amount of training now… Then what about when the term officially began? The standards would only get higher, the expectations more demanding. Alexander's current struggle did not bode well for his future at the academy.

They walked in silence for a moment, Alexander's breathing gradually steadying.

"How are those control exercises coming?"

Bryan asked just to bring up a topic to fill the silence, he had a feeling was bothering Alexander.

He knew it would take a while for any results to show, but he wanted to make sure that Alexander was still doing them.

‘When did I start to worry about others?’

Bryan couldn’t help but question as they turned a corner.

The change was subtle, and he wasn't sure if he liked it. When did it even happen? How did it happen? Three weeks ago, he wouldn't have given Alexander's struggles a second thought beyond how they affected team performance. Now he found himself genuinely concerned about his teammate's wellbeing.

"I'm doing a lot better."

Alexander replied, a bit too quickly.

"Really making progress."

Another lie. If anything, Alexander's control seemed to be deteriorating, not improving.

‘Whatever. You do whatever you want. Train. Don’t train. You’re only harming yourself.’

"That's good."

Bryan replied.

They reached the locker rooms, the smell of sweat and soap growing stronger as they approached. Alexander paused before entering, his hand gripping the doorframe for support. His knuckles whitened with the effort of keeping himself upright.

"Bryan, would you... I mean, if you have time..."

He hesitated, his eyes fixed on the floor. A drop of sweat fell from his hair.

"Could you help me with some studies later? I have questions about Magic Theory, and that test for Professor Lin's class is coming up..."

"Might as well invite the others, too. If you're having trouble with that class, they might be struggling as well."

Bryan stated as he looked over Alexander. He looked a lot better than before, some color returning to his cheeks, and Bryan was relieved to know that he wasn't devastated by what happened in the gym.

Then Bryan paused. Relief?

Again, why was he concerned with someone else? The unfamiliar emotion felt like an intrusion, something foreign taking root where it didn't belong.

“Yeah, that would be awesome. Thanks!”

Alexander said, his smile more genuine now. He pushed himself away from the doorframe, standing under his own power for the first time since leaving the gymnasium.

Bryan nodded once.

"Library, after dinner."

As Alexander disappeared into the locker room, Bryan remained in the hallway, considering what he'd observed.

Whatever Alexander was doing to himself, it was getting worse.

***

Ashern City - Reinhart Institute of War, 17th of Brightforge, year 315 UC

Bryan arrived at the library first, selecting a table in a secluded corner and arranging his materials.

He placed his notebook exactly parallel to the table's edge, then aligned his pen beside it. His textbook he positioned to the left, open to the chapter on magical resonance theory.

Farrah arrived next, her footsteps nearly silent on the thick carpet. She wore her uniform as always, but had changed to a fresh one after training.

"Alexander said you're organizing a study session?"

She asked, setting her books beside his with a soft thud. The subtle scent of her floral soap was caught by his nose.

He eyed the books for a moment before looking at her.

‘Did she have to sit here?’

Bryan was curious what kind of game she was playing. The idea that everything was a lie was still roaming around in his mind. He shifted slightly in his chair, creating more distance between them.

Still, it wasn’t bad that she chose to be seated next to him. Out of the others on their team, she was by far the best choice if he had to pick.

‘But why?’

Why did he feel that she was better compared to the others? They all had their problems, nothing stood out that made them special compared to him. Christopher might even sit in silence next to him the entire time.

But her?

Farrah?

He could still recall the event two days ago as if it had happened ten minutes ago. When she placed her hand on his. He never felt as calm and relaxed in that moment as he did during his entire life training under the Inquisition.

"He requested help with Magic Theory."

Bryan replied as he looked down at his materials and started to adjust them when they were already perfect. His fingers straightened the already straight edge of his notebook, a meaningless gesture to avoid meeting her eyes.

"I thought it might benefit everyone."

He noticed Farrah studying him from the corner of his eye, a slight smile playing at her lips as she observed his nervous adjustment of his perfectly arranged materials. The soft light caught in her green eyes, making them appear almost luminous.

"That was... considerate of you."

She said, her voice carrying a note of pleasant surprise. She opened her own notebook, the pages rustling softly.

Before Bryan could respond, Christopher appeared.

"I heard we're tackling Lin's test."

He said, dropping into a chair. He placed a single, well-worn notebook on the table.

"Perfect timing. I was just trying to make sense of his lecture on magical resonance."

Christopher stifled a yawn, covering his mouth with the back of his hand.

Christopher looked up at him and Farrah and opened his mouth to say something when Sabrina arrived a moment later. Her brown hair was damp, hanging in loose waves around her shoulders. Water droplets occasionally fell onto her collar, creating small dark spots on her uniform.

"Please tell me someone understood that mess about harmonic frequencies and spell amplification."

She said by way of greeting.

Sabrina slid into the chair next to Christopher and leaned her head back as she let out a small groan, the chair tilting on two legs. She balanced there for a moment before letting it fall forward with a soft thud.

“Pretty straightforward, actually. It’s the relationship between—"

Bryan started to explain when Farrah put a hand up in front of him, the movement bringing her fingers inches from his face. He pulled back slightly, surprised by the sudden proximity.

“Wait for Alexander so we don’t have to explain it twice.”

She suggested, her hand dropping back to the table. Her fingers drummed on the polished wood.

Bryan nodded, though he noted Alexander was already ten minutes late. When Alexander finally appeared, fifteen minutes after the agreed time, his appearance had improved considerably from their last encounter.

"Sorry I'm late, had to finish something."

He said, sliding into the chair on the other side of Christopher.

"No problem, we were just getting started."

Farrah assured him. She pushed a spare notebook toward him across the table.

Bryan observed Alexander carefully as they began reviewing Professor Lin's material. The trembling he'd noticed earlier had subsided, replaced by an almost manic energy. Alexander's questions were rapid-fire, his pen tapping constantly against his notebook with a rhythm that grew increasingly irritating. His eyes darted from person to person, never settling on one face for long, and his leg bounced continuously under the table, occasionally bumping against the wooden support.

"So, magical resonance is basically when two spells have compatible frequencies?"

Alexander asked, his pen tapping rapidly against his notebook.

"How does that even happen?"

"It's when the ether frequency of your spell matches the natural frequency of the target. That's why certain elements are more effective against specific materials or other elements."

Farrah explained. She drew a simple diagram in her notebook, showing overlapping wave patterns.

"Like how water conducts lightning?"

Sabrina added, leaning forward to see Farrah's diagram. Her elbow knocked against her textbook, nearly sending it sliding off the table before Christopher caught it with a quick movement.

“Something along those lines.”

Bryan said as he crossed his arms and leaned back in his seat.

"The magical resonance amplifies the effect, creating greater impact with the same energy expenditure."

"And that's why some mages can affect larger areas than others with the same spell."

Christopher said, comprehension dawning on his face. He tapped his own notebook with his finger, circling a passage he'd written earlier.

"They're not necessarily more powerful—they're just better at matching frequencies."

"That's part of it."

Bryan confirmed, uncrossing his arms to turn a page in his textbook.

"Though core size and ether control are still significant factors."

As the discussion continued, Bryan noticed Alexander's attention repeatedly drifting, his gaze unfocusing before he would suddenly snap back to the conversation. His eyes would glaze over, staring at some point beyond the bookshelves, then he'd blink rapidly and rejoin the discussion with renewed intensity.

"What about spell breakthrough?"

Alexander asked during a discussion of elemental affinity.

"Lin mentioned that emotional states can trigger new spells. How does that work with the resonance theory?"

Bryan considered the question. If he wasn’t mistaken, that’s what happened to him when he was at the orphanage. The memory flickered at the edges of his consciousness—the fear, the anger, the sudden rush of power that had manifested in that moment of desperation.

He awakened due to his emotional state, allowing him to gain a spell years before any of his peers. But from his knowledge, it wasn’t a set method, as it had been tried in the past when some parents tried to forcefully awaken their children.

Leading to the death of thousands before anything was done about it. The history books spoke of the "Awakening Trials"—children subjected to increasingly traumatic situations in hopes of triggering magical breakthroughs. His fingers tightened around his pen at the thought.

"Emotional states alter your ether flow patterns. During moments of extreme stress or emotion, those patterns can temporarily align with spell formations you haven't consciously mastered yet."

Bryan answered with what little he knew about that specific topic.

It was not the proper way to gain new spells, and there was more information based on training instead. Although no one knew that a combination of training to increase specific stats could unlock different kinds of spells.

That was something he only found out about recently when he gained the M.A.G.I.C ring. And even now, he wasn’t certain that was accurate and was testing to find out.

"So you could potentially unlock a spell through emotional stress?"

Alexander asked as he leaned forward.

“It’s considered unreliable and dangerous, but possible.”

Bryan stated, wondering where Alexander was going with this.

He doubted that Alexander would do something that would put his life in jeopardy. But then again, it was all possible. There were many factors that could never be accounted for, since Bryan wasn’t Alexander and was not living his life.

"But it happens, right?"

Alexander insisted, his voice taking on an almost pleading quality.

"People unlock spells in life-or-death situations all the time."

"It happens, yes. However, in those types of situations, those people were already close to awakening a new spell. There’s no telling if they would have unlocked it on the same day, later, or in a few days. The life-or-death scenario simply pushed them further than they would have normally gone.”

Farrah answered before Bryan could respond. She closed her book with a soft thud, drawing Alexander's attention.

As she spoke, Farrah poked Bryan under the table, her finger jabbing into his side with surprising force. The unexpected contact made him stiffen slightly.

Bryan glanced at her, wondering why she did that. Her eyes met his briefly, a warning clear in their green depths. She gave a nearly imperceptible shake of her head before returning her attention to Alexander.

“I’m going to go grab a snack. Anyone want anything?”

Christopher asked as he got up out of his seat. His chair scraped loudly against the floor, earning a disapproving look from the librarian. He stretched his arms above his head, his uniform pulling tight across his shoulders.

“Where are you getting a snack from? The shop is like five minutes away, you don’t plan on going that far, do you?”

Sabrina asked as she looked up at Christopher. She twirled a strand of damp hair around her finger.

Christopher shrugged, rolling his shoulders as if working out lingering tension from their earlier training.

“Doesn’t matter to me. If Alexander’s going to go down this line of questions, then I might as well grab something to pass the time.”

Alexander looked down and away as his face flushed red, the color spreading from his cheeks down his neck.

“Sorry, sorry. I was just wondering, is all.”

He said as he scratched the bottom of his chin, his fingernails leaving faint red marks on his skin.

The study session continued for another hour, covering the remaining topics for Professor Lin's upcoming test.

As they gathered their materials to leave, Alexander lingered behind.

"Thanks for organizing this."

He said to Bryan when the others had moved ahead.

"It really helped."

Bryan didn’t say anything for a few seconds, and Alexander grinned.

“So, you and Farrah huh? I wasn’t expecting that, but I guess it’s obvious with you being rank one and all. Also, being on the same team does help.”

Alexander started going off, and Bryan had no idea how he came up with the notion that he was dating Farrah or something.

He wasn’t bothered by the question, but something seemed off with Alexander the entire day.

Bryan studied him for a moment. Thinking that he was going to regret asking his next question.

"Alexander, is everything alright?"

Bryan asked. He crossed his arms, leaning against the edge of the table.

"What? Yeah, of course."

Alexander replied, too quickly. His eyes darted away, focusing on a point over Bryan's shoulder.

"Just tired from training. Silivia really pushed us today."

"If something's wrong—"

Bryan began, uncrossing his arms and taking a step toward his teammate.

"Nothing's wrong."

Alexander interrupted, his smile strained.

"I just need to work on my conditioning, like you said. Pace myself better."

Bryan could have pressed further, could have confronted Alexander about the obvious signs. But, he didn’t.

"Alright."

Bryan said.