The dining hall was buzzing with students enjoying their morning. Since there were no classes, everyone was taking their time, lingering over breakfast. Toad was busy showing off a Lego house he had meticulously built, and a small crowd had gathered to listen to his detailed explanation. However, Kai wasn't easily impressed. He looked at the Lego creation and scoffed.
"Seriously, Toad? This is such a waste of time. We should be doing something actually productive instead of playing with blocks!"
"A waste of time?!" Toad snapped back, clearly offended.
"This is art, Kai! Someone like you wouldn't understand the creativity that goes into this!"
The two of them began bickering back and forth over the Lego house, their usual playful rivalry lighting up the table.
Kai, refusing to back down, turned to Jack for backup. "Jackie, tell this guy! This Lego thing is just plain boring, right?"
Jack, who was buried in his books even while eating due to the upcoming exams, knit his brows and looked up with a roll of his eyes.
"Toad's Lego shows his patience. Patience is a virtue, Kai. It's not boring. You're the one who's just being a restless nuisance."
Toad gave a triumphant smirk and shot Kai a "See?" look. Feeling betrayed, Kai pouted. "Traitor!" Jack simply gave him a sharp glare and went back to his reading. Finn, ignoring the pointless bickering, focused on his breakfast, while Simon watched them with a small smile between bites.
Suddenly, a Fyrnic Exigros player stormed into the dining hall. Simon recognized him as one of the core members he often saw at the training grounds. He marched straight toward Captain Vukasin, who was sitting with the Chamber Leader, Lucas.
"What do you mean you've kicked me off the team?!"
His loud outburst silenced the nearby tables as all eyes turned toward them. Even Kai and Toad stopped their squabble to watch.
"I've been playing for this team since my fourth year! Just because you're the Captain doesn't mean you can do this to me!"
The entire Dining Hall fell into a deathly silence, every pair of eyes fixed on the unfolding drama. Vukasin, however, remained unfazed. He took a steady sip of water before looking up at the fuming player with a gaze as cold as ice.
"I kicked you out because you're useless," he stated flatly.
The bluntness of his words cut through the air. Vukasin continued, his tone devoid of any emotion.
"You failed to gather enough points in your fourth year, and it was the same in your fifth. Even now, in the match against Daven, your performance was the lowest on the team. Even a 'Scrap' could find more flags than you."
The senior student's face twisted in a mix of shame and fury. Being compared to a newcomer was the ultimate insult.
"You... you can't do this!"
"I did it because I can. You got a problem with that?"
Vukasin countered, pushing his chair back and standing up. His towering height loomed over the other student, creating an even more intimidating atmosphere.
Lucas quickly stood up, placing a steadying hand on Vukasin's arm.
"Vukasin, don't start a fight... calm down," he warned softly, trying to de-escalate the rising tension.
The student's chest heaved with fury. Pointing a trembling finger at Vukasin, he spat out his final, stinging words.
"You're so blinded by your obsession with beating Malthen that you've lost sight of everything else! With that mindset, you'll never win! Malthen will always be the champion!"
Those words pierced through Vukasin's thin veil of restraint. His fist shot out before Lucas could even react, striking the student with explosive force. The student didn't back down either, swinging back with equal desperation. Within seconds, the hall erupted into chaos. Dean and other senior Fyrnic students, along with bystanders from other Chambers, rushed in to tear the two apart. First years like Simon and Kai could only stand by, watching the violent spectacle with wide-eyed shock.
A few moments later, Master Hart and Master Valandor arrived. They promptly escorted the brawling Vukasin and the other student, along with Lucas as the Chamber Leader, out of the hall. It was only after they had departed that the dining hall gradually fell into a heavy, uneasy silence.
"Is that how seniors always fight?" Finn asked softly, his voice trembling slightly. He had always hated conflict; seeing such raw violence up close genuinely terrified him. Simon, however, said nothing. He simply stared at the exit of the dining hall, his mind fixated on the disappearing figures and the chaotic energy they left behind.
When they returned to the chambers, the news was already spreading like wildfire. Vukasin hadn't been banned from the match, but he received a stern final warning from the Headmistress: one more slip-up, and he'd be officially suspended. As for the other student involved in the brawl, he had made a definitive choice to leave the team for good. While no severe disciplinary action was taken this time, the Headmistress's warning hung over them like a dark cloud, making it clear that such behavior would not be tolerated again.
In the days that followed, the Fyrnic team redoubled their efforts. To fill the vacancy left by the departed senior, Vukasin made a surprising move by promoting a third-year student. Although he had previously been a Scrap, his consistent performance in gathering flags during the Daven match earned him a coveted spot as a Core Member. Usually, third-years remain in the Scrap tier for a long time, but this boy's talent propelled him forward.
With a Scrap position now vacant, the Trainees are pushing themselves to the limit, each hoping to prove they are worthy of joining the official lineup.
School is back in session. Since Fyrnic shares classes with Kaelen, Simon felt a wave of unease knowing he'd have to face Logan, Oscar, and Damien again. In the Herbology greenhouse, students sat in groups around circular tables, quietly awaiting the arrival of the elderly and slow-moving Master Kit.
Finn had rushed out to the restroom earlier and was hurrying back to join his friends. As he hurried toward their table, he accidentally clipped a bag of soil perched on the edge of Logan's desk. The contents spilled directly onto Logan's pristine uniform.
"Dammit! Are you blind, you fat pig?!" Logan roared, leaping to his feet and frantically brushing the dirt off his clothes. His voice was laced with pure, unadulterated venom.
Finn kept his head down, visibly shaken. Suddenly, Conner Wulian snapped to her feet and spoke up firmly.
"He didn't do it on purpose. Watch your tone."
Oscar, sitting next to Logan, smirked.
"Protecting your fat little boyfriend, are you, Wulian?"
That was the breaking point. Kai jumped up from his seat, shouting, "Watch your mouth, you stick insect!" Beside him, Toad stood up and cracked his knuckles, ready for a brawl. Jack tried to hush them, whispering for them to stop, but his pleas fell on deaf ears.
Unexpectedly, Oliver—despite being a Fyrnic—sided with Logan and the other "Old-Bloods."
"All of you, shut up! Can't you see Logan's uniform is ruined?" he interjected. Kai and Toad's glares immediately snapped toward him.
"Shut up, you French bootlicker! Always looking for a pair of Logan's shoes to sniff!" Kai snapped back. Oliver's face flushed with a surge of fury. The grudge between him and Kai seemed deeper than ever.
"You uncultured brute! Keep your filthy, mud-stained mouth shut!" Oliver spat, pointing an accusatory finger at Kai as he rose from his seat. Jack, seeing the situation spiral out of control, looked to Simon for help in restraining Kai, but Simon remained eerily silent, his gaze locked onto Logan with chilling intensity.
Finn, paralyzed by his fear of conflict, kept his eyes squeezed shut and his head bowed. "I'm... I'm so sorry, Vermillion," he stammered, his voice trembling. Logan merely scoffed and crossed his arms over his chest.
"Kneel. Beg for my forgiveness on your knees," he commanded coldly.
That was the last straw for Kai. "Don't you dare go too far, you bastard!" he snapped, stepping forward as the tension in the room reached its breaking point.
Finn looked at Kai, Toad, and Conner with pleading eyes. He didn't want a fight; he didn't want his friends dragged into trouble on his account. But as he prepared to lower himself to his knees, a firm hand caught his arm. It was Simon.
Simon held Finn steady, preventing the humiliation, and then turned his gaze toward Logan. Logan's expression hardened, while Oscar and Damien exchanged uncertain glances.
"He already apologized. Words are enough,"
Simon said calmly. But he wasn't finished. Before Logan could utter a word, Simon continued in a cool, level voice.
"Now, it's your turn to apologize. You spoke to him with utter disrespect. Apologize for that."
Logan narrowed his eyes, his arms remaining defiantly crossed over his chest. Beside him, Damien started to lash out. "A filthy brat like you has the nerve to—"
But Logan raised a hand, cutting Damien off. His focus never wavered from Simon. He let out a cold, mocking smirk and took a deliberate step toward him. Standing taller and broader than the more slender Simon, Logan looked down at him with clear disdain.
"Blackburn. Simon Blackburn. It seems you've tasted heroism once... and now you've developed quite a craving for it," he whispered in a chillingly smooth tone, mocking Simon's newfound boldness.
Simon remained unphased, his gaze steady and calm as he looked Logan in the eye.
"Did that disturb you?" he asked simply.
The sheer simplicity of the question wiped the smirk right off Logan's face. He hadn't expected Simon to stand his ground so coolly. Logan pressed his tongue against the inside of his cheek, staring Simon down with rising fury.
"Quite the brave one, aren't you, Blackburn? Fine then. Let's see if that bravery holds up. Meet me outside after class. Let's settle this with strength..."
Simon stayed silent. Logan continued, "If I win... you'll lick the dirt off my boots. But if you—"
"Apologize to Finn." Simon cut him off sharply.
"If I win, you will apologize to Finn."
Logan let out a final, chilling smirk. "Deal. After class, I'll look forward to seeing you beneath my boots," he said before casually retaking his seat.
Simon walked back to his table, with Finn scurrying right behind him, looking pale with worry.
"Simon, please... I'll just kneel and apologize. Don't do this to yourself because of me."
Simon gave him a reassuring, faint smile as he sat down. Jack immediately leaned in, his face etched with anxiety.
"Have you lost your mind, Simon? Vermillion is an Old-Blood! Those families train their kids in combat from the moment they can walk. You're going up against a professional!"
Kai and Toad watched Simon intently, waiting for his response. Simon stared at natural marks on the table for a moment before looking up at Jack with unwavering eyes.
"Then I guess I'll just have to try harder not to lose."
Jack was left speechless, his mouth hanging open in shock. Kai, on the other hand, couldn't contain his excitement.
"Simon! You are seriously so cool, man!" He barely finished his sentence before Jack's thick textbook slammed into his back with a heavy thud.
"Shut up! You're just making things worse!" Jack snapped, exasperated.
Kai rubbed his aching back, narrowing his eyes at Jack.
"Jackie, were you a pro boxer in a past life? That was one hell of a heavy hand!"
"Stop exaggerating," Jack snapped back, fixing his posture. At that moment, Master Kit entered the room. Completely unaware of the chaotic confrontation that had just unfolded, she greeted the students with her usual warmth and began preparing for the lesson. To her, it was just another peaceful day of teaching, but the students knew better. They knew this was merely the eerie calm that precedes a violent storm.
As the bell rang, Logan gave Simon a challenging look that clearly said, "Let's go." They waited until they were a safe distance from Master Kit's greenhouse before heading toward the open grassy field. This was the very spot where Simon and Kai had built snowmen and engaged in snowball fights during Christmas. A place once filled with play had now transformed into a battlefield.
The news spread like wildfire across the castle: "Blackburn and Vermillion are going head-to-head." Kaelen students had secretly whispered the news to others, ensuring the Masters remained unaware. Henry, emerging from his history class, heard the rumors. Unlike the others, he didn't react with shock; he remained calm, though a flicker of intrigue and concern for Simon danced in his eyes.
The students formed a tight circle around Simon and Logan. Logan took two wooden sparring swords from Oscar and tossed one toward Simon with a mocking flick of his wrist. Simon reached out, but the sword slipped through his fingers and clattered onto the grass. Logan and several other students erupted into laughter, but Simon remained unfazed, calmly bending down to retrieve the weapon.
"May the gods protect him... Gods of Mythaion, please stop this," Jack muttered under his breath, his face pale with dread.
"Jackie, don't worry so much," Kai countered, trying to stay positive. "Simon isn't a pushover. He's been training with Senior Dean for a while now."
"Simon only started combat training this year, Kai!" Jack hissed back.
"Vermillion has been wielding a blade since he could walk. The experience gap is massive. Do not underestimate a Vermillion."
Logan smirked, taunting, "You can't even hold a sword properly," before launching a fierce initial strike. To his surprise, Simon reacted instantly, raising his wooden sword to parry the blow horizontally. Logan hadn't expected Simon to be that quick, so he scoffed and doubled down on his assault.
Simon fought back with everything he had, but the exchange was brutal. Logan's strikes were not only incredibly fast but also possessed a raw, aggressive power that forced Simon into a desperate defense. Despite knowing better than to underestimate Logan, Simon found himself struggling just to keep up with the relentless barrage of attacks.
Among the cheering crowd, Henry remained a silent observer, his calm demeanor contrasting with the chaotic energy around him. His emerald-green eyes were fixed on the duel, tracking every movement with clinical precision, missing nothing.
On the field, Simon was struggling. He hadn't been able to launch a single offensive move, trapped in a continuous cycle of defending against Logan's relentless strikes. Kai and Toad were shouting their support at the top of their lungs, while Finn and Jack watched with bated breath, their hearts pounding. Even Conner found herself gripping the hem of her shirt tightly, the sheer intensity of the fight weighing heavily on everyone watching.
As they fought, Logan delivered a powerful kick that sent Simon reeling backward. Simon struggled to maintain his balance, barely managing to steady himself before a wooden sword swept toward his neck. He parried it just in time, fueling Logan's growing frustration. Simon's uncanny defensive skill was driving Logan into a blind rage. The spectators watched with bated breath, the tension nearly unbearable.
Consumed by fury, Logan unleashed every combat technique he knew. He was skilled—far more skilled than Simon. However, by letting his anger take the lead, he began to make critical mistakes. During a particularly reckless swing, Simon spotted a momentary opening and seized it instantly. With a swift, precise move, he disarmed Logan, sending the wooden sword flying through the air. Before anyone could blink, the tip of Simon's wooden blade was pressed firmly against Logan's throat.
Both boys were panting, exhausted. A heavy silence hung over the crowd—you could have heard a pin drop.
"You... you cheated!" Oscar shouted, but Kai immediately roared back in protest. The two combatants, however, remained still. Logan stared at Simon with a mixture of raw fury and utter disbelief. Something was churning inside him—a feeling of defeat he had never known and absolutely despised.
"You're incredibly skilled, Vermillion," Simon said calmly, looking him in the eye. "You have talent I can't match. But when you let your obsession with winning cloud everything else... that's what leads to your downfall. I simply exploited that opening."
Simon lowered his wooden sword. "You lost. Now, apologize to Finn."
Logan's knuckles turned white as he clenched his fists. "I'd rather die than apologize," he spat out through gritted teeth.
"Don't be a sore loser!" Kai yelled, but Logan ignored him. He stepped closer to Simon, looming over the smaller boy.
"Mark my words, Blackburn. I will never forget today. I'll make sure you pay for this," he hissed before turning on his heel. Oscar and Damien hurried after him as Logan stormed off, shoving through the crowd of onlookers in a fit of uncontrollable rage.
"Hey! Apologize to Finn! Keep your word!" Kai shouted after the retreating Logan, but Finn gently stopped him. "It doesn't matter anymore. Simon won, and that's enough."
"You're right! Simon!" Kai cheered, and along with Toad, they hoisted Simon onto their shoulders in triumph. Some students joined in the cheers, while Logan's supporters—including Oliver—slipped away in silence. Simon's eyes widened in surprise.
"Whoa... Kai... I'm going to fall!" he protested, though he couldn't suppress a bright smile. Finn was so overwhelmed with gratitude and relief that his eyes brimmed with tears, prompting Conner to pat his shoulder comfortingly. Even Jack finally exhaled a long-held breath, a faint smile touching his lips as the heavy weight of worry lifted.
Amidst the celebration, Simon felt a pair of eyes on him. He looked over to see Henry watching from a distance. Henry didn't smile; he simply observed with his usual inscrutable expression before turning to walk away. Simon found himself staring at Henry's retreating back, his mind momentarily drifting away from the cheers surrounding him.
Simon was so lost in watching Henry walk away that he failed to notice another set of eyes fixed on him from the shadows. It was Vukasin. He had witnessed everything—from the first strike to the final disarming move.
Now, Simon's reputation within the walls of Willowgate has shifted dramatically. Beyond the infamous "Blackburn" label, he is now known as the boy who nearly caught fire while saving two girls and, most shockingly, the one who took down a Vermillion. His name is on every student's lips. But with great change comes both light and shadow. As fame and notoriety intertwine, one can only hope Simon is prepared for the challenges that lie ahead.