Second Chance

I walked through the school hallways toward the combat magic building. The same place I had gone to challenge Lyra last time.

My steps were long and steady, my gaze determined. The people I passed stared at me with respect, without getting close. I don't know if it was because they recognized me from my last fight against her, or if they understood where I was heading.

I walked until I saw Lyra, sitting on the same bench. She was talking to some other girls, laughing loudly. Unlike the other day, the place was no longer filled with students as it had been before. She had already made it clear to everyone that she hadn't found anyone worth training.

But I was stubborn, and there I was, trying my luck one more time. The moment her eyes met mine, her expression hardened, and she stood up from the bench.

"Haru. What are you doing here?"

"I want to fight you again."

"I thought you understood the message that day. Our difference in power."

"I don't think the result will be the same as last time."

"I have no intention of fighting you."

She sat back down on the bench as if she had already judged that I wasn't worth her time. But I couldn't leave without at least trying. I had trained, understood, and improved so I could fight her again. I needed this to enter the tournament with a clear head, hoping to go far and maybe even win the grimoire.

"I recognize your skills, and I want you to recognize mine too," I said. Then I put my hand in my pocket, pulling out the small amber stone. Its warmth heated the palm of my hand.

"I hate persistent people."

I saw a smile on her face as she conjured a sword in front of her. In the same way, I extended my hand and made a sword appear in front of me.

"In a way, I knew you'd come back."

She didn't show any aversion. She also knew that our last fight had been a simple misunderstanding. Just as I hadn't shown what I could really do, she also seemed to want a new challenge.

My fate would be sealed in that moment. But I wasn't nervous. I knew what I had to do. Nina had given me the missing key to how magic worked, and I understood that my abilities had grown with this new understanding.

We both took a combat stance and faced each other without looking away. I could feel the strength of the sword. The threads that formed it passed through my entire body as if its weight was also a part of me, an extension of my own inner magic.

So this is how she feels.

Time seemed to stand still. No one moved. I knew her strength well and couldn't make any reckless attacks. I had to stay calm, do what I knew, and unite the forces of each thing—magic and physical combat.

A drop of sweat ran down my forehead. I took a deep breath, not feeling the pressure like that other day. There were no judging eyes from the people around me. It was just her and me, a proper and worthy duel between two forces.

Then I advanced, without leaving any apparent openings. Lyra parried the attack, throwing her body to the side. The magic from her sword, cutting through the air beside me, was palpable. And as I noticed her counter-attack, I dodged by spinning in the air.

"Looks like someone's been training."

"We're just getting started," I smiled, and she returned it with another smile.

This time, she was the one who initiated the attack, a sharp lateral cut. I was forced to parry it with my sword to the side. I almost couldn't hold it, feeling the vibration of the contact go up my arms. A sharp sound resulted from the clash of our blades. Just like me, Lyra also didn't want to lose. Her conviction and her desire were transmitted through her strikes.

"Why do you want to win so badly?"

"Because I need everything I can get to win the tournament."

"Are you just seeking glory? An empty title?"

I paused for a moment. I knew why I fought. I knew what motivated me to move forward, to pursue my best.

"I don't fight for glory, but for those who depend on me," I replied, launching a sequence of quick strikes.

The clash of our swords let off sparks. Neither of us showed any kind of opening. And with an intense blow, we were both thrown backward. A moment for us to catch our breath.

Our gazes showed that the battle couldn't be stretched. We were almost at our limits. This would be the last attack. I had to put everything into that short moment. The end would be here and now.

I clenched my teeth hard. The sword in my hands became hot from all the energy I was putting into it, but even with my hands about to catch fire, I held it tight. Lyra also advanced to meet me, fast and direct.

Her strike hit my sword, but in a sequence of fluid movements, after my block, she dissolved the weapon mid-air. Then, she spun her body before I could react, and in the middle of the movement, she conjured the sword again, breaking free from my blade.

I was surprised by her agility, but unlike before, I was prepared. And the moment she made her move, I defended with a magical barrier, just like Nina had done to me.

Lyra's eyes widened. Her surprise left a clear opening, which I didn't fail to take advantage of. I spun my sword and attacked her in an arc, aiming for her legs. She narrowly managed to dodge it.

"You're not bad at all, but it ends here."

After she said that, she seemed like a different person. I could see the energy and her magical power overflowing from her body, her eyes seemed to be lit up with pure excess magic. Her feet moved too fast for me to keep up until I felt a blow to my stomach that almost knocked me out.

I knelt on the ground, knowing I had been defeated. Lyra approached and extended her hand, helping me get to my feet.

"It's been a long time since I've had to fight for real with someone," she said, wiping the sweat from her face. "For a few moments, I really thought I was going to lose."

She spoke in a light tone, with a smile. In that moment, I knew that despite being defeated, I had managed to get a positive reaction from her. I had managed to show my growth.

"So..." I tried to ask what she had decided, but the words wouldn't come out.

"I'll train you for the tournament. But I'll warn you now, I won't go easy on you."

I was too out of breath to show any sign of happiness, but inside, I wanted to scream.

I was relieved and exhausted. So exhausted that with her news, it felt like a weight had been lifted from my body. And with that, I could relax for a moment. A moment in which I couldn't hold on and collapsed to the ground.

I had done it. Even though I lost, I had proven that I was capable and that I could go much further with her help. And now, the path to the tournament was clearer. The results would only depend on me.