Orin Alpheratz (15 years old) Location: Solaris  Date: Year 873 / Pegasus Cycle (1) / Craftsman's Day (5)

An unusual tension filled Dome C. All the students seated in the upper stands surrounding the venue had just witnessed a brilliant tactical display by Hector's team. Now, all eyes turned to the next match, between Perseus, second in the knight class, and Orin, the mysterious new student.

As both teams descended onto the battlefield, Orin watched as one of Perseus's team members approached them. A boy of average build, with short black hair and matching dark eyes. There was nothing particularly striking about him at first glance, but Orin recognized him. He had seen that face yesterday during Professor Schedar's knight class.

The boy stopped in front of Orin and extended a hand with a calm smile.

“We haven't had the chance to formally introduce ourselves. I'm Wesen Tyl,” he said.

Orin took the offered hand, giving it a firm shake.

Before he could reply, Wesen's gaze shifted toward Sirius. “Two unconventional knights on one team... that's quite the matchup. I'm looking forward to facing you guys.”

Orin wasn't sure how to take that. Was it a compliment or a warning?

“...Likewise,” he replied curtly.

Just then, another member of Perseus's team appeared, this one with a completely different presence. His features were sharp, almost aristocratic, and his piercing blue eyes scanned the area with silent authority. Auburn hair, shoulder-length and tied loosely behind him, swayed with each step. Judging by the silver trim on his robe, he was a sorcery student.

Without a word to Orin's team, he walked past them and stopped beside Wesen.

“Perseus wants to speak. Let's go,” he said coldly.

Wesen gave a polite nod of farewell to Orin before turning to follow the other boy, who hadn't spared them a single glance.

As Perseus's teammates retreated, Orin's group exchanged puzzled looks.

“That knight student... he wasn't trying to intimidate us, was he?” Cor asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Nah, I don't think so,” Sirius replied, arms crossed behind his head. “He's probably one of Hector's fans. A lot of them are like that, respectful but way too confident.”

Another one? Orin blinked. Just how many “followers of Hector” were there?

“But the other guy?” Sirius continued. “Man, he didn't even look at us. That's a whole different kind of scary.”

Orin turned to his fellow sorcerers. “You know who he is?”

Gina nodded, a little hesitant. “Draco Thuban... he's a fire sorcerer. But... he rarely talks to anyone.”

“His father's part of the royal court,” Eridus added. “He acts like he's a step above the rest. Still, he and Perseus have been close since they entered the academy the last year.”

That piece of information caught Orin's attention. Two lone wolves, one from the knights, the other from the sorcery division, managing to form a bond?

Cor rubbed his chin. “Isn't it too convenient that two friends ended up on the same team? I bet Professor Velorum paired them together on purpose.”

Orin and Eridus exchanged a quick glance, but Eridus, sensing the moment was slipping, changed the subject.

“Shouldn't we go over our strategy while there's still time?”

“Yeah,” Orin replied.

The area around them was a wide clearing at the forest's edge. A narrow path ran into the woods, leading to a sparkling stream that cut across the terrain.

Noticing it, Orin's eyes lit up. “This place is perfect.”

His teammates looked at him, puzzled.

“This place? We're still at our starting point,” Cor said, confused. “The battlefield center's a good distance away.”

“You're not planning to wait here, are you?” Eridus asked. “Wait... don't tell me—”

“We'll stay here,” Orin said, flashing a confident smile. “More precisely, we'll be waiting near that stream.”

He pointed toward the gentle glimmer of water hidden beneath the trees.

Sirius squinted. “If your idea is to tire them out, I don't think walking across the battlefield will do it...”

“That's not the goal,” Orin started, but before he could elaborate, Gina’s voice chimed in:

“An ambush.”

A sly grin formed on her lips, and her tone lifted with excitement. Clearly, the idea of not starting with a direct clash appealed to her.

“Exactly,” Orin said with a nod. “We'll stick to the original plan, but we'll use the trees and bushes for cover. Perseus might not tire easily, but once he passes the midpoint and sees no one... he'll get impatient. With any luck, the outcome could be something similar to what happened to Kuma's team.”

Surprisingly, everyone nodded in agreement. Even Cor, who usually had the most reservations, voiced no objection.

Soon, they took their positions. The forest around them went still, cloaking them in anticipation.

The air grew heavier with each passing second. Tension thickened like fog.

No turning back now. It was all or nothing.

The clearing fell into absolute silence.

Stillness.

And then—

“Battle begins.”

As soon as their teacher's voice echoed through the dome, the five members of Orin's team sprang into motion, vanishing into the surrounding trees and bushes like shadows. Orin and Sirius took opposite sides of the path near the stream, crouching low in the underbrush. Gina and Eridus mirrored their positions just before the stream's edge. Further back, Cor scaled a tall tree and settled on a thick branch, bow at the ready, his eyes scanning the forest below like a hawk.

Time ticked by slowly.

Orin's heartbeat thudded in his ears. They should've crossed the center by now... He clenched his fists. Any second now.

If Perseus was following a conventional formation, like the one Kuma's team had used, then his two knights would be leading up front with shields raised, while the mages and others brought up the rear.

But then—

Paf, paf, paf.

Footsteps echoed along the path, nearing the stream. The rhythm was... off. Slower than expected. More deliberate. And not five people. Just one, maybe two individuals.

Orin narrowed his eyes. That's not right.

He parted the bushes ever so slightly, just enough to catch a glimpse of the path.

Sure enough, walking just ahead was Perseus, unmistakable with his black uniform and cold, focused gaze. But beside him wasn't Wesen. It was a boy wielding a short sword, someone from the warrior class.

So that's it, Orin thought, eyes widening. He split the team in two. A vanguard unit and a rear guard... Which meant Perseus had probably kept Wesen and the mages in the back, approaching cautiously while he led the close-combat specialists ahead to scout.

A smart move.

Too smart.

Paf, paf, paf.

Perseus and his companion crossed the stream.

And then—

“Aaaahgh—!”

The ground beneath them collapsed with a wet, sucking sound.

What had moments ago appeared to be solid earth turned into a pit of churning mud, pulling them in like quicksand. Gina's trap had been sprung.

Chaos erupted in an instant.

High above, Cor steadied his aim.

“ACTIVATE ARCHER SKILL: Stun Arrow!” she shouted, voice echoing across the clearing.

A glowing yellow arrow soared through the trees toward Perseus. But the knight twisted, shield raised, and clang!—the arrow deflected harmlessly to the side.

“Tch...!” Cor muttered, already drawing again.

But before she could loose a second shot, the earth trembled violently.

Right in front of Orin, the ground split open, and from the depths, three figures burst forth in a spray of dirt and roots.

Wesen. Draco. And a third boy, likely an earth sorcerer.

They tunneled underneath us?! Orin's instincts screamed. He had no time to be impressed. Draco and the others had seen Perseus trapped and were making a beeline toward the stream. No way he was letting them through.

“Eridus, now!” he shouted.

“SPELL: Water Wall!”

With a roar, the calm stream exploded upward. Water surged into the air and twisted into a massive wall, crashing down between the two teams like a waterfall in reverse. Mist and spray danced in the sunlight, cutting visibility to nearly zero.

The three boys skidded to a stop, eyes wide, breath caught.

Their hesitation was all Orin needed.

He burst from the bushes.

Sirius was already at his side.

Like lightning, the two dove into the stunned enemy formation. Orin's eyes locked onto the earth sorcerer. One clean throw, and his sword struck the boy's temple with the flat of the blade. Out cold.

Sirius ducked low and slammed into Wesen's lower back. Wesen stumbled forward with a grunt, but twisted just in time to reduce the damage.

Draco whirled around, eyes blazing.

And from behind the water wall—

Thwip.

Thunk.

Cor's second arrow slammed into Perseus's companion, the one with the short sword, and the boy's body froze, paralyzed.

Two down.

The momentum had shifted.

“You think this is enough to stop me?!” Draco roared, raising one hand toward Orin. “SPELL: Fireball!”

A glowing orb crackled in his palm. But just before it launched, Orin's vision shimmered.

There! A flicker of light curved from Draco's hand, not straight, but arcing toward Orin's left.

He didn't hesitate. Rather than raise his shield in front, he pivoted and brought it up to the side—

Boom!

The fireball slammed into the metal, exploding in a flash of flame and sparks.

“W-What?!” Draco staggered. “How did you—?!”

Even Sirius, dueling with Wesen, managed a quick thumbs-up. “Nice one!”

Draco snarled, raising both hands this time. “Let's see you block this! SPELL: Double Fireball!”

Two spheres ignited in his palms, brighter and hotter than before.

Again, those strange arcs of light. One straight. One curved, this time veering toward Sirius.

“Sirius, dodge!” Orin shouted.

“On it!”

Sirius rolled aside just as the fireball passed through where his head had been.

Orin caught the second shot on his shield with a grunt, boots sliding back in the mud.

Draco's eyes twitched. “You're reading my magic... how?!”

But before he could act again—

Hsssssshhhh!

Steam burst from the water wall.

A glowing silhouette emerged through the fog, shield shimmering with golden light.

Perseus.

He'd crossed through the wall.

And he didn't look happy.