About an hour later, the four of them stand before the appropriately named Sword Hall.

“Where’s Clover?” Void asks.

Clover is indeed nowhere to be found, but like a ghost, he returns.

“I left something in my room.” He says gesturing to the sword strapped to his hip.

“Well anyways, shall we?”

They push open the large double doors. A genuine smile starts to appear on Clover’s face as the doors open. But that smile tragically faded away.

“Wooden?” The single word that described the scene before his eyes.

In the center of the hall, two students are having a sword match surrounded by a bunch of other students. A sword match that sincerely confuses Clover since the students are using wooden swords.

“Why wooden? …Wooden swords? Why are they using sticks? Why aren’t they using swords?”

“This is a necessary precaution. We wouldn’t want someone to get severely injured, now do we?” Void answers.

“But that’s the fun part…” Clover mumbles greatly disappointed.

The two students swing the wooden swords with all their might. However, the dark-haired boy has the upper hand due to his superior physique and sword-handling skills. In the end, he easily overpowers the shorter boy and wins the match.

“You bastard! You cheated!”

“Hah! Using my legs isn’t considered cheating. You’re just upset because this is your fifth loss in a row.”

“Good work Rook. Your skill with the sword seems to be getting much better. Keep up the hard work.” Their instructor says as he pats the dark-haired boy on his shoulders.

“However, Bennett, your foundation is lacking. I suggest you do more core workouts but otherwise good job.” He says while helping the shorter one to his feet.

A group of footsteps approaches the bunch of students. The instructor turns to see Void and his class walking toward them.

“Ah, Void. I’m so happy you could make it.” He says as he stretches out his hand.

“The pleasure is all mine. The students should learn not to depend on their powers so much. And what other way than a sword arts class?” He finishes and shakes the instructor's hand.

“My thoughts exactly. Now, are any of your students well-versed in the way of the sword?”

“Yes, they’re all proficient with a sword, one more so than others.”

“Splendid! And would any of your students be up for a friendly spar?”

Void turns and looks at Clover, who’s still trying to wrap his head around the usage of wooden swords.

He sees Void looking at him and says, “I decline.”

“What, are you too afraid?”

They all turn around to find out who asked such an unsavory question.

“Don’t worry. I’ll go easy on you~” Rook says, overhearing their conversation.

“You’ll… go easy… on me?”

“I’m practically a sword master compared to you,” Rook says arrogantly.

Clover flinches at his words. A flinch caused not by fear or nervousness, but by the sheer confidence he has in himself.

“Oh yeah? You’re a sword master?” He turns to the instructor and holds his hand out, “Give me the stick.”

***

After a minute or so of prepping, Clover and Rook are in the center of the hall with wooden swords in hand.

“The match will be completed when either party scores three points. One point shall be given when your sword makes contact anywhere above the belt and below the chin. And two shall be given for any hits to the head. All forms of martial arts can be applied without the usage of your powers. Any questions?”

“Nope.”

“None.”

“Alright then, without further ado let the friendly match between Clover Metyr and Rook Vander commence!”

Rook wastes no time and goes on the offensive. He moves confidently while Clover waits for him cautiously.

Welding a thick wooden sword with two hands, Rook attacks him. Clover efficiently deflects the heavy attack as he backs up.

However, Rook follows up with a swift diagonal slash. With a lightning-fast reaction speed, Clover cancels out the attack with one of his own.

‘He’s good… But not good enough!’

Rook unleashes a flurry of heavy sword strikes. Clover barely manages to defend against the unrelenting barrage as he’s getting pushed back.

‘That boy’s good but his technique could use some work.’ The instructor says as he studies Clover’s moves.

Rook’s never-ending attacks start to overpower Clover. However, as much as it looks like he’s losing, Clover’s serene expression hasn’t changed in the slightest.

Noticing Clover’s calmness angers Rook. He lashes out at him. He weaves huge arcs with the wooden sword in his hands. 

His hard swings force Clover to take a knee. And in all his overconfidence he waves the wooden sword over his head to crush Clover with all his might.

‘You’re finished…!’

He brings down the weapon on him. But Clover jumps to the side, barely evading the attack. Rook’s follow-up attack is insanely fast as he’s already on Clover again. He steps to him while preparing another attack. 

However, a preemptive swing from Clover and sloppy defense staggers Rook. In the span of a single moment, Clover gets a hit on the defenseless Rook.

“One point goes to Clover! Take your stance.” The instructor announces.

“Lucky bastard.” Rook grumbles as he adjusts his footing and holds the wooden sword upright.

“Begin!”

Unlike before, they both sprint at each other. They cross blades numerous times in close quarters. None give way to the other as a heated exchange ensues.

‘He’s livelier than before…’

Rook goes for one of his signature hard swings, but Clover sticks to him like a leech not giving him any space to do his big attacks.

‘Dammit…’

He quickly takes advantage of Rook’s blunder and forces him to go on the defensive. Because his nimble technique is much more suited for extremely intimate exchanges as opposed to Rook’s hard-hitting style.

‘That’s odd. He barely managed to land a hit on Rook last time. But now here he is overpowering him. Was he testing him earlier?’

The same thoughts run through Rook's mind as he’s being slapped around by Clover.

‘Am I fighting the same person? He wasn’t this strong before.’

The wooden sword flies past Rook’s face by an inch and then another. The speed of Clover’s attacks is increasing as time goes on. 

The speed of the attacks is making Rook feel a bit dizzy as he blocks and evades them. Sweating heavily, he gets pushed back even further by Clover’s swift movements.

‘I need to break free of him somehow… I just need a second to coordinate my attacks. Just a single sec-’

A downward swing from Clover breaks his train of thought. Both wooden swords connect by reacting just in time and managing to copy Clover’s technique.

The sound of the two swords hitting reverberates throughout the hall as he brings Clover’s onslaught to a halt. A power struggle ensues as the wooden swords are locked together.

‘Yes…! I am stronger than him so the upper hand is mine!’

Thinking he has the upper hand, Rook begins putting strength into his hands. He begins forcing Clover’s blade back.

‘...Fool.’

Clover circles around Rook causing him to lose balance. As he stumbles forward, a hefty kick to the back makes him fall on all fours.

“You little shit! That’s cheating!” Rook barks.

“Hah! Using my legs isn’t considered cheating,” Clover says quoting Rook, however, his monotonous tone is original.

Rook slams his fist on the floor as the veins on his forehead pulsate.

“How dare you mock me?! I’m a swordmaster compared to you!”

With bloodshot eyes, he charges at Clover.

“A swordmaster? Don’t make me laugh…”

Rook goes to attack him, but with a single movement of his sword, Clover disarms him.

“Wha–”

Rook briefly saw the ceiling as his back hit the floor with a loud thud. Clover swept his legs away when he disarmed him.

“Don’t claim such a haughty title it makes you seem weak. Well, you are weak. Like a caged mongrel, all bark and no bite. And to think, I was using my offhand. You really are weak.” 

He’s holding the wooden sword in his right, but he played the cello with his left. 

“Aren’t you going to finish the match?” He asks, choking back his anger, “But remember this, if we were fighting with actual swords you’d already be dead–”

The wooden sword connects with Rook’s temple and knocks him unconscious. Blood runs down the side of his head as some of it lingers o the edge of the wooden sword.

“I’m sorry. Were you saying something?” Asks Clover sarcastically.

An hour later, the joint class ends with Void apologizing on behalf of Clover, who sent Rook to the infirmary. 

Now with no classes for the rest of the day, they all went their separate ways. Jasper went back to the infirmary to change his bandages and Zachry went to meet a friend at the school’s conservatory.

Weirdly enough Clover and August are left to their own devices. Walking through the open-air pathways they reach the courtyard filled with students.

Out of all the students, one stands out. Sitting by the fountain with long emerald hair and wearing an altered uniform dress. She exudes elegance and beauty.

Every student that passes her gives her a pleasant bow, but she acknowledges none. The only thing she’s interested in is the notebook in her hand.

“And who’re you supposed to be?” August asks as he saw her.

“...Avarice Fuimaono. The only female among the four heirs.” Clover answers.

“You’re quite talkative today. Any particular reason for that?”

Clover answer’s him with a solemn silence. August doesn’t give up as he badgers him even more.

“I heard you asking Void about Uber swords earlier.”

August's words peak Clover’s interest as his expression changes slightly.

“...And what of it?”

“Nothing much. It’s just that I know the location of one such sword. But I need to know why you’re looking for it.”

“...Why are you looking for the Solace Library?” Clover answers his question with another question.

They reach a stalemate as none intends on answering the other.

“Alright then, since it doesn’t seem like either of us is going to get an answer, how about a proposal?”

“A…proposal?”

“I’ll lead you to the sword and you’ll owe me a single favor in the future. How does that sound?” August proposes.

Hesitant to accept the deal, Clover asks him another question, “What’s your endgame?”

“My… endgame? I’ve never really thought of that. I guess my sole enjoyment of life.”

“Chaos.”

“?” Puzzled by Clover’s reply August stands waiting on him to explain.

“From the moment you arrived at this school you’ve sowed discord amongst the heirs. Your presence is chaos itself. And I feel like this is only the beginning.”

“As I said, I’ll enjoy life to the fullest. But back to the matter at hand. Do we have a deal?” August says as he holds out his hand.

After mulling it over for a second he gives his answer.

“Okay then deal,” He answers as he grabs hold of August’s hand, “But remember this, you are just a means to an end.”

“Nothing more, nothing less,” August says while grinning from ear to ear.