The training grounds are scorching under the sun. Students are drenched in sweat, their bodies trembling under the crushing weight of metal plates strapped to their backs. Groans echo through the hall as their muscles scream for relief.
"Come on, kids! Feel the fire in your bones! If it doesn't burn, it's not worth it!" roars a thunderous voice.
A towering man with a body like a mountain walks among them. Edric Vaughn, the fourth and final instructor of the academy, known across the campus by one name: Monster. His crimson veins glow faintly under his skin, pulsing with the terrifying energy of his fire-blood ability.
With one punch, he can reduce a boulder to dust. With one roar, silence a battlefield. He paces like a beast in a cage, watching the weak crumble and the strong persevere.
Isla and Fanny push through the session with grit and determination. They grunt and push their limits, beads of sweat mixing with dust. But Leon and Finn? They're nearly unconscious, collapsed on the ground like broken puppets.
Edric finally claps his massive hands. "Alright. Class dismissed!"
A collective sigh of relief spreads through the students, but none of them can move. They lie sprawled on the floor, dragging themselves toward the exit.
Edric walks up to Isla and Fanny, nodding with approval. "Good work. You two have strong bodies and sharper minds than most. Keep it up."
Then his gaze shifts. Leon and Finn are still on the ground, panting.
"Finn!" he calls, voice like an explosion.
Finn jolts upright. "Y-Yes, sir?!"
Edric narrows his eyes. "You Finn?"
"Yes, sir."
Leon pulls himself up, sensing something is about to happen.
"Selena told me about your fight with Fanny," Edric says. "She said it was intense. I'm impressed. You got potential, boy."
Finn blinks, stunned. "Selena... praised me?"
Edric grins. "Yeah. But talent isn't enough. Fanny beat you because her stamina crushed yours. You need to work harder. Build your body like a warrior."
Finn nods eagerly. "I will, sir. I'll give it my all!"
Moved by his spirit, Edric slaps Finn on the back.
CRACK!
Finn is launched forward like a ragdoll, skidding across the floor. Blood trickles from his nose. He groans.
Edric freezes. "Oh crap. Sorry, kid. Got a bit too excited."
Finn, face down and twitching, mumbles, "I'm okay, sir..." But his eyes brim with tears.
Fanny bursts into laughter. "You idiot! One pat and you died!"
Leon and Isla rush over. Leon kneels beside Finn. "Sir, we'll take him to the infirmary."
"Right. Tell him I'm sorry when he wakes up," Edric says, rubbing his neck.
At the infirmary, Finn lies unconscious. Darius Sir checks him over.
"Nothing serious," he says. "Just needs rest. What happened?"
Leon and Isla try not to laugh. Fanny, from the corner, can't contain herself.
"Edric just gave him a little pat... and he flew!"
Darius glares. "Selena and now Edric. Great."
Leon tilts his head. "Again? Has this happened before?"
"Of course! That monster can't control his own strength. Once broke a bench just by sitting on it."
Grumbling, Darius storms off to find both teachers.
Meanwhile, Finn stirs awake.
"Leon...?" he mumbles.
Leon smiles. "You alive, buddy?"
Finn pulls him into a weak hug. "Save me, bro. I swear I'm gonna die in this damn school. Injured twice in one day! And that witch is laughing at me!"
Leon chuckles. "You'll live. Just stop hugging me and crying."
Finn sits up, sees Fanny nearby, and scowls. "What are you doing here, witch?"
Fanny flips her hair. "I'm here for Isla. Not you, crybaby."
They glare at each other.
Elsewhere...
Darius stomps through the academy, yelling, "Selena! Edric! Are you both trying to kill students?!"
Edric hides behind a door, holding his breath.
He hears soft breathing.
He turns... and sees Selena also hiding in the same room.
Their eyes meet.
"You?" Selena whispers.
"You too?" Edric says.
Awkward silence. They both blush.
Later, the students head to an amusement park to unwind. Isla and Leon walk off to buy cotton candy.
Finn's eyes light up when he sees a shooting game booth with a giant bear as the prize. He rushes to the toy gun, but a hand grabs it at the same time — Fanny.
They freeze.
"You again?!"
"Stop following me!"
"You followed me!"
They play rock-paper-scissors. Fanny wins.
"Watch and learn," she says.
She fires.
A tiny blue bear keychain drops out.
Finn bursts out laughing. "You're hopeless!"
He takes the gun confidently.
Miss.
A pink bear keychain.
Now Fanny laughs. "'Watch me,' huh? What a loser!"
They argue, throw insults — and then walk away in opposite directions.
But both stop. Turn around.
Fanny says, "You can have this one... if you want."
Finn mumbles, "Yours looks cooler. I'll trade."
They swap keychains, both turning red.
Meanwhile, on a ride, Leon asks Isla, "Where's your brother? Haven't seen him since the dorm fight."
Isla's face hardens. "We don't talk much. He has a private tutor. He can teleport. Doesn't need school."
Leon nods. "You two fight?"
She looks away. "Family issues. But he never talks about it."
Leon doesn't press.
Back with the group, Leon and Isla return. They notice the new keychains.
Leon smirks. "Pink and blue bears? Interesting."
Finn and Fanny shout together, "Don't think anything weird! It's not what it looks like!"
Leon raises a brow. "We didn't say anything."
Finn snaps, "We saw your stupid faces! I'd never fall for her!"
Fanny adds, "And I'd rather eat dirt than like him!"
Their bickering starts again.
Leon and Isla share a knowing smile.
"Why are you smiling?!" Fanny and Finn shout.
The sun dips below the horizon as laughter and chaos follow them into the evening.