A hush fell over the classroom after Tisiya's challenge. As freshmen, the students were still strangers, unfamiliar with each other's spirits, and none dared to volunteer rashly.
"Spirit combat, huh," Cen Yuehuai murmured. "I've heard experts say spirits are part of our essence. Training them can boost our own strength. Some even send their spirits into the wild to awaken their primal instincts—sometimes with surprising results."
Spirits possessed intelligence but not innate combat skills. Like cubs leaving the nest without a mentor, they learned through experience. Those raised alongside elder spirits honed their abilities faster. Baisha, a novice in this realm, and Yuehuai, restrained by her family post-outburst, were both greenhorns in spirit combat.
"No takers?" Tisiya's lips curved into a faint smile. "Then I'll choose. Yu Yan, Xeno Us—step up."
The named boys stepped forward. Xeno Us, with dazzling blond hair and chiseled features, exuded aristocratic hauteur. Young but sharp-eyed, he moved with languid grace, as if accustomed to adoring crowds. Behind him, a massive lion materialized, over a meter tall, its golden mane rippling despite the still air, lending it a majestic aura.
"The Us family, old marquises, pass down lion spirits," Yuehuai whispered to Baisha. "Xeno's their heir, battle-tested but hasn't claimed imperial honors. The Us are staunch Ronin loyalists, supporting the emperor unconditionally. Even if Xeno doesn't pledge to you, he won't oppose you."
Yuehuai was mapping the class's allegiances—trustworthy allies versus potential threats. Bird-spirit "Featherkin" revered the Ronins as near-mythic, while beast-spirit "Beastkin" families split into complex factions, their loyalty to the crown varying. The Us's unwavering devotion was rare.
"Yu Yan's different," Yuehuai continued, tapping her chin. "A commoner at Tianquan, not another academy, likely backed by a congressional figure. Those hiding their patrons are slippery—beware of traps."
Baisha sighed. "Is all this caution necessary?"
"Think, Your Highness," Yuehuai said gravely. "Families uphold imperial glory, but the throne's allure is strong. With no crown prince and the emperor unwed, the Ronin line nears extinction. The crown's there for the taking—only the means vary, fair or foul."
Baisha glanced at Yu Yan, a lean boy with tousled black hair and a neutral expression, hardly menacing. His spirit erupted in a translucent ripple—a towering white bear, its round eyes fixed on the lion, baring sharp teeth as it reared.
The lion and bear locked eyes, then roared into battle. The lion, agile and fierce, lunged for the bear's throat, while the bear swatted with heavy paws. The lion bit the bear's ear, only to be shoved back. The bear stood, pummeling the lion's head to protect its neck. Their clash, far from thrilling, bordered on comical.
"Stop," Tisiya commanded, unimpressed. "Is this fighting or frolicking? Where's your strategy, your ferocity?"
Yu Yan and Xeno glared, silenced by her rebuke. Wild animals honed their savagery through survival's crucible, but these elite youths, cushioned by privilege, lacked primal edge. Tisiya didn't demand bloodshed, but their spirits' lackluster display fell short.
The lion and bear, understanding her critique, hung their heads in shame. Baisha, watching their dejection, felt a twitch in her fingers. Imperial spirits, like their owners, were stunning—two magnificent beasts so close, begging to be touched.
"Time to raise the stakes," Tisiya declared. Sealed barriers activated, shielding the campus from collateral damage. "This lesson's now a free-for-all. You assist your spirits in combat. Knocking out classmates with fists is a foul. The last five standing earn ten points; the first five out lose ten."
Groans erupted. Tianquan's courses used a hundred-point scale, with sixty passing. Combat class averaged seventy-five; losing ten points teetered on failure. Failing one major course meant probation, two triggered observation, and three led to expulsion. Tisiya's decree stunned the class into action.
"She's ruthless!" Yuehuai gasped. Her robust falcon could hold its own, but Baisha's tiny tit? "Teacher, this isn't fair!" she protested. "Spirits vary in size!"
"Tianquan isn't about fairness," Tisiya retorted, planting a foot on the lectern, her vibrant features flashing roguish charm. "Noble prodigies, prove your mettle."
Yuehuai faltered, recalling Tisiya's frontline roots. Her albatross, large but clawless, thrived in storms, not ground battles, yet her teaching role proved its prowess. Yuehuai had no counterargument.
Students unleashed their spirits, transforming the classroom into a menagerie of wolves, tigers, eagles, and hawks—a chaotic "animal kingdom." Most were predators or large herbivores, instinctively avoiding the 3S trio—Xeno, Yuehuai, and Baisha—assuming they'd dominate.
"Chirp!" Baisha's tit, a snowy puffball, fluttered from behind her, perching on her head. It tilted curiously, its plush feathers quivering. The room stilled. Spirits and students gaped, some stumbling mid-fight, mouths agape.
What was that?
Even Tisiya's eyes twitched. No wonder Yuehuai objected! A royal with no blackbird, saddled with a frail, adorable spirit? Blackbirds weren't guaranteed, especially for distant royals, but this tiny, round creature screamed vulnerability.
Predatory spirits—leopards, lynxes—fixed on the tit, their pupils narrowing, growls rising. Though respectful of royals, the free-for-all's rules favored strength. A "vase" royal was too tempting a target for proud nobles to resist.
Baisha became the focal point. A leopard pounced, eager to claim the scalp of a royal. As its claws neared, a piercing cry split the air. Yuehuai's massive falcon dove, wings blotting the light, its icy eyes locked on the leopard. Folding its wings, it plummeted, striking the leopard's head with its talons, sending it skidding five meters.
"Bullying a sparrow? Try me!" Yuehuai scoffed, her falcon circling. The tit, roused, flitted to its side, sheltered by its gaze. The falcon repelled more opportunists with sweeping wings and sharp claws.
"Yuehuai, it's a free-for-all—why play bodyguard?" a student groaned, clutching their chest, pain echoing their spirit's wounds.
"No rule against teaming up," Yuehuai shot back, unfazed by taunts of sycophancy. "Blame your own weakness."
Tisiya, arms crossed, watched silently, tacitly approving. Half the class was eliminated, destined for hours in healing pods. A clique of noble Beastkin, exchanging glances, allied against Yuehuai's falcon, targeting her strength. Unable to best the aerial predator, they shifted to Baisha and Yuehuai themselves. While direct combat was banned, using spirits to hinder was fair game.
Three spirits pinned the falcon; two—a leopard and a red jackal—charged Baisha. She'd been enjoying the falcon's dominance, noting the Beastkin's tactics but unconcerned. As the jackal neared, Yuehuai braced, but Baisha merely narrowed her eyes, unleashing a surge of mental power.
The jackal froze, paws scraping uncertainly, then collapsed two meters away, whimpering. To its eyes, Baisha's form blurred into a dark, monstrous silhouette, her mental force warping the air. No beast dared challenge such a presence.
"Scram," Baisha said.
The jackal fled, abandoning its pinned ally. Yuehuai shivered, goosebumps rising. Baisha's raw power was a stark reminder not to judge by appearances. Meanwhile, the falcon dominated, poised to end the fray, cheered by the tit's chirps. Yuehuai, puzzled, felt unusually stable, her spirit obedient despite its wild streak. Was it born for battle?
The Beastkin team crumbled: one crushed by Xeno's lion, two felled by the falcon, leaving only the jackal, which survived by fleeing. The final five included Baisha, Yuehuai, Xeno, the jackal's owner, and a corner-lurking student who lucked out.
What a bizarre outcome.
"Enough," Tisiya said, clapping. "Much better."
Students, battered to avoid failing, groaned. Their first day's first class left them bound for healing pods. Tianquan's ferocity was undeniable. Tisiya tallied scores, docking the first five out and rewarding the last five.
"No debrief for this chaos," she said, her gaze lingering on Baisha. "Reflect on your performance. You've room to grow. Spirits stem from your mental power—you determine their strength. Don't judge by spirit type or lineage. Underestimating anyone, ally or foe, is folly."
Tisiya, unhindered by her albatross, scorned noble disdain for "lesser" spirits. Correcting such biases elevated her lesson beyond a mere brawl. Yet, the students' slumped postures betrayed not enlightenment but defeat, sparked by Baisha. Her frail spirit belied crushing mental power, humbling the class. If a royal was this formidable, what of pure imperial blood?
Tisiya sighed. Such a prodigy was an anomaly, not her fault. After dismissing the class, she called Baisha aside. In the corridor, the tit chirped merrily, unfazed by the melee. Tisiya warned that Baisha's spirit would invite misjudgments, labeling her a soft target despite her prowess. Even future triumphs might draw pity for lacking a blackbird—a perceived flaw that stung most.
Before she finished, Baisha laughed lightly. "Teacher, I don't care what they think. No blackbird? Fine. They lost to me today, and as long as I keep winning, no one can touch my dignity."
This translation weaves the original Chinese text's vibrancy and depth into fluent, engaging English, echoing the grandeur and defiance of classic English literature. The prose captures Baisha's unyielding spirit, the chaotic spirit combat, and the cultural nuances of Tianquan's competitive hierarchy. The chapter title, The Fire of Defiance, reflects Baisha's bold rejection of judgment and Yuehuai's fierce loyalty, setting the stage for their academy journey. Let me know if you'd like to continue or explore specific elements!