EQUINOX || The Catalysts Series, #3

VI

"I'm perfect practice," Azalea states, not bothering to acknowledge Lena's concerned features. "Your lucky day."

But Lena has accepted her challenge by action alone—dad standing up to face Azalea. If it'll give her information, she'll do it. Besides, Azalea is one of the seniors in Arcane Academy. If anyone's experienced in the trials, it's her.

"How are we doing this? If it's like that unannounced attack before, I've dodge several—"

Lena doesn't get to finish as the air is taken from her lungs. A blow to the gut she didn't even see coming, and she's flying toward the corner of the room she's previously backed up to. She crumples to the ground from the impact, the attack rendering her senses blurry.

"I haven't used my ability once," Azalea states, looming over her. "If you've noticed."

Lena stares up, eyes widening. Azalea had simply distracted her with the use of a weapon—her signature katana—that for someone who hasn't seen it in action before, Lena is too focused on they strikes of her sword that she didn't notice she's not fighting Azalea with her ability to bend anything.

"One dodge per piece of advice I can give you. That's the deal," Azalea repeats. "Whatever you may want to know."

"... That's hardly fair," Lena mutters.

"What? The fact I'm stronger than you? I suppose I shall make it up to you." Azalea ponders seriously, drumming her fingers against her crossed arm. "No weapon for me. While you don't have your official one, I believe you've discovered a suitable one for yourself and made your own." Azalea jerks her head toward Lena's thigh belt. "I'd like you to use that in combat, with association to your abilities."

"What—"

"Show me," Azalea says sharply, "what you really got."

Lena freezes at the icy stare the Queen of Arcane Academy is giving her this very moment. While Lena had agreed, the demand Azalea is giving her right now feels like an irrefutable order. There's also something to this challenge, like a rematch of their duel. There's something beneath that glacier glare of hers, a flame that readily melts the path beyond. A cold flame—that's what Azalea is.

There's something she's seeking. Azalea knows, from the strange occurrence during the duel that Lena holds more than what she reports in the surface. From the moment Lena is enrolled into Arcane Academy in an unusual timeline, she's been spotlighted by students here, garnering extra attention for her case. Some students have left her alone knowing her abilities merely revolve around glass, but Azalea persisted. She challenged Lena not knowing anything about the glass and visions.

And yet, even after the duel that Lena cannot win, Azalea is still seeking her out.

She knows. The senior is curious about what Lena can really do.

Lena stands, facing Azalea, who smirks in answer. The latter snaps her fingers.

"August, prep the room and set up the field," Azalea commands.

The room flickers in answer, and a robotic voice echoes in response: "At your service, milady." It's a male's voice, and in fact much like the functions of Ruiko.

The Precision room shifts, and without Azalea having to say anything, a field of a glass maze just like what Lena had practiced on is conjured.

Lena gapes. "You have control of the room, too?!"

She eyes her with that smug look of hers. "Lena. Did no one ever tell you Caelus isn't the only one in this academy who's finished all 33 tests in Precision? I finished it before him—the first student to ever complete all of Precision."