The next day, the Crimson Blades returned to the city after handling the bear situation. When the sisters turned in the quest, they received a rank-up to Bronze. It was a small step forward, but progress nonetheless.

  With the formalities out of the way, they headed straight to the training room.

  “So, me versus Severus and Nebula versus Everah?” Nova asked, gripping a wooden sword and giving it a few experimental swings.

  “For now, yeah,” Everah confirmed, rolling his shoulders.

  Nova gave a sharp nod before turning to Severus, a determined glint in her eye. “Alright, Severus. Let’s get to it.” She moved to the far side of the training floor, rolling her wrists in preparation.

  “Just watch how I fight,” Severus instructed, his tone calm but firm.

  Nova wasn’t sure if that was advice or a warning. Either way, she didn’t intend to let him run circles around her.

  They took their stances, wooden swords at the ready. Severus’s grip was light but controlled, his form relaxed yet prepared. Nova, on the other hand, stood tense, her instincts telling her to charge in.

  Then, in a flash, they moved.

  Severus struck first—not a full-force attack, just a probing slash to test her reflexes. Nova blocked it, but the sheer force of his blade reverberated through her arms. Her stance nearly faltered.

  “Too stiff,” Severus noted as he smoothly disengaged.

  Nova clenched her jaw and lunged forward, swinging at his side. He twisted his body just enough to evade, and before she could react, he redirected her strike with a flick of his wrist. The sudden shift threw her off balance, and she stumbled forward.

  Severus didn’t attack immediately. He just watched. Studying her.

  “You fight like someone who relies on power,” he observed. “That won’t work on an opponent who can read you.”

  Nova scowled. She had fought before—wild beasts, creatures that operated purely on instinct. Against them, overwhelming force worked. But Severus wasn’t some reckless fighter. He was calculated, precise.

  Fine. If brute force wasn’t the answer, she’d have to adapt.

  She adjusted her grip and circled him, searching for an opening. Severus let her, his blade resting loosely in his hand. She lunged again, but this time, she feinted.

  It was a simple trick—fake an attack to bait a reaction. But Severus didn’t bite. Instead, he shifted smoothly and struck. His wooden sword tapped against her ribs, right where a real blade would’ve pierced through.

  “Dead,” he said flatly.

  Nova exhaled sharply. She had barely lasted a few seconds.

  “Again,” she said, stepping back.

  Severus gave a small smirk. “Try to last longer this time.”

  They reset. Nova tightened her grip, studying him more carefully. He wasn’t just blocking—he was redirecting her momentum, forcing her to overextend. Every time she moved too aggressively, he used it against her.

  This time, she tried a more measured approach. She led with a smaller attack, testing his defense. Severus blocked it with ease but didn’t counter immediately. He was waiting, anticipating her next move.

  Nova hesitated. Then she struck at his shoulder, aiming for speed over power.

  Severus sidestepped, but this time she was ready for his counter. She twisted her body, parrying his strike, and tried to step around him.

  For a moment, she thought she had him.

  Then his foot hooked around her ankle.

  Before she could react, he yanked her off balance, sending her crashing to the floor.

  “Too focused on the sword,” Severus remarked, stepping back. “You forgot about footwork.”

  Nova groaned, pushing herself up. Her pride was taking more of a beating than her body.

  “Again,” she muttered.

  Severus arched his brow. “You sure?”

  “I’m not quitting until I land a hit.”

  He smirked. “Alright.”

  They reset once more. This time, Nova forced herself to slow down. She watched the way he moved, the way his weight shifted before an attack.

  Severus attacked first again, a quick strike aimed at her midsection. Nova stepped back, narrowly avoiding it. He pressed forward, keeping the pressure on her. She parried one attack, then another, but she could feel herself slipping—her reflexes were slower, her movements clumsier compared to his.

  Then she saw an opening.

  It was small—just a brief gap in his guard. She lunged, swinging her sword toward his side.

  But before she could land the hit, he twisted his body, avoiding the blade entirely, and drove his wooden sword against her stomach.

  The impact knocked the wind out of her.

  Nova doubled over, gasping for breath.

  “Dead again,” Severus said simply.

  She clenched her fists. “Damn it…”

  “You’re improving,” he admitted, stepping back. “But you’re still thinking too much like a brawler. Strength is useful, but against someone who can read you, it’s a weakness.”

  Nova took a slow breath, regaining her composure. “So what do I do?”

  “Stop attacking just to attack,” Severus said. “Make me react. Control the pace.”

  Nova processed his words. She had been the aggressor this entire time, charging in recklessly. But what if she made him come to her instead?

  She adjusted her stance. This time, she didn’t lunge in. She held back, waiting.

  Severus watched her, nodding slightly in approval. “Good. Let’s see how long you can hold out.”

  Then he attacked.

  His first strike was fast, aimed at her shoulder. Nova dodged, barely. He followed up with another, and she deflected it, stepping back to create distance.

  Severus didn’t let up. He moved in again, his sword cutting through the air with practiced precision. Nova blocked, sidestepped, ducked—anything to avoid getting hit.

  She lasted longer this time. Five seconds. Then ten.

  Then Severus shifted his stance.

  Nova barely saw it before he swept her legs out from under her.

  She hit the ground hard.

  “Dead,” he said once more.

  This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

  Nova groaned, staring up at the ceiling. “I hate you.”

  He chuckled. “You lasted longer.”

  “Not long enough,” she muttered, pushing herself up. Her body ached, but she wasn’t done yet. “Again.”

  Severus studied her, then nodded. “Alright.”

  They went again. And again.

  Nova kept getting knocked down. But each time, she lasted a little longer. She stopped relying on brute strength. She focused on footwork. She learned to read his attacks, even if she couldn’t counter them yet.

  She wasn’t winning. Not even close.

  But she was improving.

  After nearly an hour of sparring, Severus finally stepped back, lowering his sword. “That’s enough for today.”

  Nova wiped the sweat from her brow, breathing heavily. “Tired already?” she taunted, despite the exhaustion in her own limbs.

  Severus smirked. “Hardly. But you need time to actually process what you’ve learned.”

  She sighed, rolling her shoulders. “Fine. But next time, I’m landing a hit.”

  "I look forward to it," Severus said with a smirk, lowering his wooden sword. Then he gestured toward Everah and Nebula, who had been watching from the sidelines. "But we should let those two have a go."

  Nebula grinned, arms crossed. "Never thought I’d see my sister get her ass kicked."

  "Ha ha, fuck you," Nova muttered, crossing her arms and looking away, her cheeks tinged with embarrassment.

  Nebula chuckled. "Well, let's see what Everah has to teach." She turned toward him expectantly.

  Everah stepped forward, a relaxed but confident look on his face. "Since you two already know how to cast magic, I assume you at least understand the fundamentals?"

  "Mhm," Nebula nodded. "Mana is all around us. We breathe it in just like air."

  "In doing so, if you concentrate while chanting the right phrases, you can use it to cast spells," Nova added.

  "You can also, with enough practice, cast spells without chanting at all," Nebula finished.

  Everah nodded approvingly. "Correct." He raised a hand and began explaining, "In most cases, spoken words form the foundation of spellcasting. For example—" He gestured with his fingers and spoke clearly, "In light’s day, burn bright and strike true."

  A small firebolt formed at his fingertips before launching forward, fizzling out harmlessly into the air. "And just like that—firebolt." He turned back to them with a smile. "Now, you need to know the phrase in order to cast a spell, but with time, you can alter incantations or even create your own variations."

  Nova nodded. "We also know about mana exhaustion," she added.

  "Good," Everah said. "Pushing yourself too far will drain you completely, leaving you vulnerable." He clapped his hands together. "Now then, why don’t you two show us what you’ve got? Let’s see what spells you can already cast."

  The sisters exchanged a glance, then stepped forward, preparing to demonstrate their magic.

  Nebula went first. She extended her hand, fingers spread apart, as if feeling the mana in the air. A moment later, a faint shimmer surrounded her fingertips. Then, with a flick of her wrist, a small ball of water formed, floating effortlessly in the air.

  She manipulated it with ease, splitting it into multiple droplets before weaving them back together into a single orb. Then, without warning, she clenched her fist. The water crystallized instantly, forming sharp ice shards. With another flick of her fingers, the shards shattered into fine mist, dissipating as if they had never existed.

  Everah gave an approving nod. “Good control. Elemental transitions aren’t easy, even at a basic level.”

  Nebula smirked. “Took practice.”

  Now it was Nova’s turn. Unlike her sister, she wasted no time on theatrics. She simply raised her hand and, without a sound, snapped her fingers. A spark of electricity crackled between them before leaping outward in a short burst of lightning. It was small, but precise. She snapped again, this time directing the bolt toward a training dummy across the room. The moment it struck, the wooden figure twitched slightly, as if reacting to the sudden surge of energy.

  She wasn’t done. Taking a deep breath, Nova clenched her fist and extended her arm. The air around her shimmered faintly before her entire forearm became enveloped in crackling blue energy. Without breaking focus, she swiped her arm through the air, leaving behind a faint afterimage of pure lightning.

  Severus arched an eyebrow. “An enhancement spell?”

  Nova exhaled, letting the energy fizzle out. “It’s not perfect yet, but yeah. I’ve been working on reinforcing my strikes.”

  Everah rubbed his chin. “How long can you maintain it?”

  “About ten seconds before it starts draining me too much,” Nova admitted, shaking out her arm.

  “Not bad,” Everah said. “But that spell’s effectiveness depends on control. Too much energy, and you’ll burn yourself out. Too little, and it won’t hit hard enough to be worth the cost.”

  “I know,” Nova muttered. “That’s why I’m still working on it.”

  Everah nodded, then turned his attention back to Nebula. “And you? Any offensive spells you can cast?”

  Nebula rolled her shoulders. “I’ve got a few.”

  She raised a single hand and, with a slight motion, gathered mana into her palm. A swirling orb of compressed air formed between her fingers, crackling with barely contained force. Then, with a flick of her wrist, she released it.

  The moment the sphere hit the ground, a powerful gust of wind burst outward, kicking up dust and nearly knocking over one of the wooden training dummies.

  Severus took a step back, shielding his eyes from the sudden whirlwind. “An impact spell?”

  Nebula grinned. “I call it ‘Air Burst.’ It’s quick if I focus enough.”

  Everah crossed his arms, clearly impressed. “Nice work.”

  “Casting without chanting? Pretty impressive for newbies.”

  A familiar voice echoed through the training room.

  Everyone turned toward the entrance to see the guildmaster leaning against the doorframe, watching them with an amused expression.

  “Well, it did take us a few years to get the hang of it,” Nova replied.

  “Still, not many can pull off that feat,” the guildmaster said, stepping inside. She made her way to a bench and sat down, crossing her legs. “That being said, do any of you know anything about summoning?”

  “I know a little,” Everah admitted. “But I’ve never actually done it myself.”

  “Can’t say I’ve put much effort into magic at all,” Severus added with a shrug. “I barely know the basics.”

  “The books we studied didn’t really cover summoning magic,” Nova said.

  The guildmaster smiled. “Then let me show you something.” She lifted her hand, her voice steady as she spoke:

  "Let echoes ring, let silence break, by will alone, thee I wake." A circle appeared on the ground.

  The summoning circle flares to life, a churning vortex of shadow and ember, as the air grows heavy with an ancient presence. Sparks of violet lightning crackle through the room, illuminating swirling obsidian runes etched into the floor. The temperature drops—not to the frost of winter, but to the cold void between stars, where silence reigns and time holds no dominion.

  From the heart of the summoning sigil, the first ember ignites—a coal-black flame flickering with hues of deep amethyst and crimson. It grows, twisting into a spiraling inferno of dark fire, its embers falling like fragments of dying stars. The shape begins to emerge, wings first—vast and regal, their edges smoldering with black and violet flames that dance like the remnants of collapsed suns. The feathers, forged from molten obsidian, glisten like fractured starlight, shifting and refracting with every motion.

  A piercing cry echoes through the chamber, not of agony, but of rebirth—resonant, deep, and eternal. The phoenix unfurls its magnificent wings, sending arcs of celestial fire spiraling outward, as the flames of its own creation fold inward, binding into its final form.

  Its talons, sharp as meteor shards, carve into the earth as it lands, its very presence warping the light around it. Its eyes, twin voids of swirling galaxies, burn with knowledge as old as the cosmos itself. The last wisps of the summoning fire fade into the darkness, leaving only the black obsidian phoenix, standing before its summoner—unbound, undying, and waiting.

  "Holy shit..." Nova's eyes widened in shock.

  Sarah chuckled, gently stroking the sleek feathers of the obsidian phoenix curled in her lap. "Found this sweetheart up in the Northern Mountains. Saved my life, she did." Her smile was warm, full of fondness for the creature. "If you ever want a summon, you’ve got two options: either find a willing creature to form a pact with, or take a gamble with a random summoning ritual. Both have their advantages and risks, but either way, it’s worth it."

  “Can anyone try a summoning spell?” Nebula asked, curiosity sparking in her voice.

  "Mhm." Sarah nodded. "Just like casting spells—so long as you understand the pact and the summoning process, anyone can do it." She gave them all a knowing smile before standing, her phoenix shifting effortlessly onto her shoulder. "Well, I should head back to my office. Just wanted to see who was using the training room."

  “So soon? Want to join us for some training?” Nova asked, hopeful.

  Sarah smirked. "You wouldn’t last a few seconds against me. Maybe once you hit Emerald rank." She shot Nova a playful wink before turning toward the door. "Tata~"

  With that, Sarah walked out, leaving the room in a comfortable silence. Nova’s gaze lingered on the doorway long after she had gone.

  Nebula stretched and turned to the others. "So, you guys want to grab some food and check out the quest board?"

  "Yeah, I’m starving," Severus said with a nod.

  "Same," Everah agreed. "Though I am curious about summoning. Maybe we should try it later."

  "What about you, Nova?" Nebula asked.

  No response.

  "...Nova?" Everah tried again.

  Severus tilted his head. "Is it just me, or does she look lost in thought?"

  Everah studied her for a moment before smirking. "No… I think it’s something else."

  Nebula’s grin widened. She leaned closer, waving a hand in front of Nova’s face. "Hellooo~? Still thinking about a certain someone?"

  Nova blinked, suddenly snapping back to reality. "What? No!"

  Nebula chuckled, crossing her arms. "Uh-huh. You were totally spaced out the second Sarah walked out. Very interesting."

  Everah grinned. "Y’know, she did wink at you."

  Severus smirked. "And you did get awfully quiet."

  Nova groaned. "Oh, shut up."

  Nebula nudged her playfully. "Hey, no shame in crushing on the guildmaster. I mean, she is kinda badass."

  "I don’t have a crush on her!" Nova protested, but her flustered expression betrayed her.

  Nebula just laughed, throwing an arm around Nova’s shoulders. "Suuure you don’t. Anyway, food first, daydreaming later."

  Nova sighed in defeat as they headed out, Nebula still grinning like she had won something

  During the next few weeks, the Crimson Blades have been taking on quests after quests, training after training. Before they knew it, they were Steel Ranked. They have become a bit more experienced and are at least able to handle some of the bigger threats. Today the group were heading to a cave to clear out the nearby bandits plaguing the city.

  “Alright, are you guys ready to face some bandits?” Severus asked the group.

  “Heh, we haven’t been training for nothing. You bet.” Nova pumped her arm.

  “Let's take care of them.” Nebula smiled.