The impossible

Morning at the Hero Academy is heavy with anticipation. Clouds roll over the training grounds like silent judges, and the air crackles with nerves. Students line up around the main courtyard where a platform has been placed - a single huge square stone.

Mike stands at the center, cloak unfastened, staff planted loosely in the stone. His face is unreadable, but his voice carries with sharp clarity.

“This will be your third and final test,” he begins. “The Duel.”

Murmurs ripple through the students, even among the elites. No one expected the name of the final trial to be so…simple.

Mike raises a hand, and silence returns.

“Here’s how it works. Each party will send out three members. You’ll fight three rounds of one-on-one matches. Best two out of three wins.”

He looks pointedly at Arthur’s group before continuing. “Unless your party suffered a test drop, in which case you’ll need to win all three rounds to pass.”

A few people turn toward Arthur with raised eyebrows and hushed whispers.

“Only one party holds the highest score after two tests,” Mike continues. “That party is led by Enger Rithiel. Therefore, you must challenge them to take the hero title. Of course, you can always take the civilian test to pass the academy as a knight.”

Arthur stands taller at the mention of the title. His fists tighten, breath steady.

“Team captains have to face each other, the other battles can be any one you want,” Mike casually adds.

A pulse seems to travel through the crowd.

Asa’s arms cross slowly. Spidaract clicks his inner jaw once.

Mike finishes with a lazy wave. “That’s it. Matches will be scheduled after a formal challenge. Now get out of my courtyard.”

The students begin to disperse, all knowing that their hero dreams are all lost in the dust now. Fighting Enger is something that just his sister can do, that’s as obvious as the blue sky or yellow sun. However, Arthur remains standing, as if his feet have rooted into the stone.

He doesn’t flinch when Asa appears beside him with her arms crossed.

“Sorry,” she says with a much less exaggerated tone than usual. “I should sign myself as the captain.”

Arthur looks at her, then to Spidaract who joins them in silence.

“No need to,” Arthur declares. “We will become the hero party anyway.”

Spidaract tilts his head. “You can’t just call a beat down a win.”

“I know,” Arthur says.

“We could help you,” Asa offers carefully. “I know that you are struggling with your academics, but that’s easier than dealing with Enger.”

Arthur turns to her fully now, voice low but unwavering. “I’m not here to be just a guy.”

Asa’s eyes narrow. “And I know either a corpse.”

“He’s just a talented guy. I am the hero of prophecy!”

“A hero who has just known how to do a thrust.”

Arthur blinks, sweat starts falling on his face. “I won’t back down.”

Spidaract clicks again, putting a limb on Arthur’s head. “I believe you, but we need another way.”

Arthur smiles slightly. “I believe I was meant to do this, the ultimate underdog win!”

There’s a long silence. Then Asa exhales, slaps her hand against her thigh.

“Fine,” she says, and spins on her heel. “We’re doing this the hard way.”

That afternoon is filled with every tactic Asa and Spidaract can throw at him.

Spidaract brings in mock battles, weaving quick traps and launching projectiles at Arthur until he’s too bruised to move straight. Asa sets up timing games using her ability, smashing Arthur with invisible sticks made from condensed wind whenever he slows down. They even do a full on presentation about stability.

At one point, Spidaract hurls a ball of string straight at Arthur’s chest. “You know you don’t need to be a hero to be useful to the world.”

“I don’t want to just be useful or just a hero,” Arthur says, rubbing his sternum. “I want to be the hero.”

“That’s idiotic,” Asa says bluntly.

“I know.”

After not long, Spidaract and Asa can no longer force themselves to attack Arthur.

But they never change his mind.

Late in the evening, as the sun begins to fall, Arthur lies back on the training mat, breathing hard. Asa sits beside him, arms around her knees. Spidaract perches overhead, on a tree limb, unmoving.

“I don’t understand you,” spidaract says softly.

“I don’t either,” Arthur replies.

Asa sighs, throwing Arthur a copy of the knight certificate. “We will…let you think about it yourself.”

They go outside, slowly closing the door.

Arthur lays still on the ground. Although he talks big, there is no plan, no support and no security. Logically, he should choose a more stable career, but the responsibility of the divine won’t allow him.

After god knows how long, there’s a knock on the door.

Arthur sits up to open the door.

Outside, Uta and Carrie stand, looking like they’ve just walked out of a strategy session.

Uta’s eyes glance between them before settling on Arthur. “We need to talk.”

Carrie scratches her head. “Sorry for…trying to kill you, but you are kind of my only hope.”

Arthur narrows his eyes. “What do you mean?”

“Enger,” Carrie says. “We’ve got a plan for you to beat him.”

“Why?” He asks.

Uta’s voice is calm, but with something hard under the surface. “We have seen how…self-destructive Enger can be.”

“He tried to kill a legendary forest to minimize death in the last test. And you’d seen the result,” Carrie follows.

Arthur turns back. “Come in.”

He knows these people are untrustworthy, but they are his only bet.

He’ll take it.