Ryan woke with the first rays of sunlight creeping through his window.
His night had been peaceful. For the first time in days, no nightmare had visited him. He saw no fire, no pit of flames, no prince with a cold face. He slept deeply, and woke feeling he had regained some of his strength.
He got up from his bed, stretched, and felt his muscles were less sore than they had been in previous days. His body was beginning to adapt to the harsh exercises.
"Wednesday. New classes."
He looked at the schedule hanging on the wall:
Wednesday:
· Basics of Elements (Hall 3)
· Ethics of War (Hall 9)
· Advanced Fencing (Practical) – Fencing Ground
· Ancient Languages (Hall 11)
He dressed quickly and headed to the dining hall, where he met Edan. Edan looked excited, as if he had been waiting for this day for a long time.
Edan said eagerly.
"Today is the practical fencing class!,Finally, we'll apply what we learned theoretically."
Ryan replied.
"Yes,But I have different classes afterward. Ethics of War and Ancient Languages."
Edan said.
"I'm not enrolled in those subjects,I have other classes. But we'll probably meet in the afternoon."
"Alright. See you later."
They parted after breakfast, each heading to their destination.
********
First Period: Basics of Elements – Hall 3
Ryan entered the hall that was now familiar to him. Its walls were covered with complex diagrams illustrating the flow of spark and the different elements. At the front stood Professor Laurian Feld – the man with grey hair and grey eyes. He wore his usual formal robe, but today he carried a small stick in his hand, which he used to point at the drawings on the board.
He began the class without introductions, as he always did.
"Today we will talk about something important: how to control the flow of spark during battle."
He picked up a piece of chalk and began drawing on the board. He drew a circle representing the fighter's body, and arrows coming out of it representing the spark.
"Many fighters waste their spark on unnecessary attacks. They unleash fire without thinking, draining their energy in the middle of battle. This is a fatal mistake."
Professor Laurian explained how to distribute spark between offense and defense. He spoke about the importance of breathing, and how to use spark intermittently instead of continuously releasing it. He gave examples from real battles, and how some soldiers lost their battles not because they were weaker, but because they drained their spark too early.
he said, pointing to the drawing.
"Spark is like water in a vessel,If you empty the vessel at the beginning, you'll have nothing left to drink at the end. Use your spark wisely. Save some of it for retreat if necessary."
Then he moved to another topic: how to read your opponent's spark.
he said.
"Every fighter leaves a mark on their spark,Some release their spark with force, some with lightness. Some quickly, some slowly. If you learn to read these marks, you'll be able to predict your opponent's attacks before they execute them."
This part was new to Ryan. He had never thought about it before. He used to think of spark as just energy to be released, but Professor Laurian made him see it as something more – a language, a mark, a unique signature for every fighter.
said the professor.
"Look at your classmates,Notice how their sparks differ. These differences will help you in battle."
Ryan looked around. He saw some students releasing their spark like fire – fast, sharp, burning. He saw others releasing it like water – smooth, slow, flowing. Each one was different.
he wondered.
"What is the mark of my spark?"
He didn't find an answer yet. But he felt he was beginning to understand something new about himself and about others.
At the end of the class, Professor Laurian said:
"Remember: spark is not an inexhaustible resource. Use it wisely, or it will run out at the worst possible moment."
Ryan left the hall feeling he had learned something useful. He was thinking about how to apply this advice in the upcoming duel. And how he could read his opponent's spark before they attacked.