After training, the group gathered near the academy's spring — a beautiful glade surrounded by ancient cherry blossom trees.
Yuto sat on the grass, exhausted but happy. Noa leaned against him, her head resting lightly on his shoulder. The scene was peaceful… almost too peaceful.
Aya Nishimura approached them, her eyes shadowed with something that made Noa immediately tense up.
"Yuto," Aya said, forcing a smile. "Do you want to spar with me tomorrow? Just a friendly match."
Yuto hesitated. He glanced at Noa, whose eyes narrowed slightly. She smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes.
"Sure," Yuto said carefully. "We can practice."
Noa's grip on Yuto's sleeve tightened.
From the corner of the glade, Leonhard Stahl observed the interaction with a frown. He spoke quietly to Sarina Velrose. "They're too soft. They won't last when real danger comes."
Sarina said nothing but kept her cool gaze on Noa.
That night, back in the dormitory, Noa sat on the windowsill, watching the stars.
"Yuto," she whispered as he came up behind her. "Promise me… no matter what happens, you'll stay with me?"
Yuto smiled, wrapping his arms around her waist. "Always, Noa. Always."
Down below, hidden in the shadows, Leonhard and Sarina spoke.
"They have power," Leonhard said coldly. "But we'll see if their love can survive the real tests."
The next morning, the academy grounds were alive with excitement. Sparring matches would decide ranking among the new students.
Aya versus Noa.
Yuto versus Leonhard.
Noa stood across from Aya, her wind magic swirling at her fingertips.
"You won't win just because you're engaged to him," Aya said, tightening her gloves.
Noa smiled gently. "I'm not fighting for a title. I'm fighting because I love him."
The whistle blew.
Wind clashed against wind. Fire met slicing gusts. The two girls battled fiercely, Noa's calm and Aya's desperate energy swirling around them.
Finally, with a single elegant movement, Noa captured Aya's magic in a spiral of fire and knocked her staff from her hand.
The crowd roared.
Yuto's heart swelled with pride.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the field, Yuto faced Leonhard.
"You're not worthy of her," Leonhard sneered.
"I don't need to be worthy," Yuto said calmly. "I just need to be with her."
Lightning flashed from his hands, and Leonhard charged with his sword. Sparks flew as metal met magic. The battle was intense — but Yuto's calm focus gave him the edge.
In the end, Leonhard lay defeated, his sword embedded in the ground a few feet away.
The rankings were announced.
Noa was first.
Yuto was second.
Aya and Leonhard trailed behind.
Later that evening, as Noa and Yuto sat under the cherry blossoms, Noa looked up at him shyly.
"Thank you," she whispered.
"For what?"
"For being my strength."
He smiled and kissed her forehead.
From afar, Sarina watched. A strange, dangerous gleam entered her eyes.
The real trials hadn't even begun yet.