Blake Anthony Mathis.

I once read that he was a powerful pyromancer and practitioner of lost martial arts. Guess the resource material wasn't exaggerated.

Blake's attacks were fluid, dangerous, and extremely precise. His flames were all burning azure, mesmerizing flames scattered like petals in a summer breeze; elegant, but deadly.

I had a hard time fighting the guy, aside from his flames, he was a practitioner in close quarter combats. His fists connected with my face everytime I tried to levitate an object off the ground, or he would break my focus by blasting a wave of heat and fire.

"Get serious with me Noan." Blake shouted as I blocked his fist encased in flames with my ability. Eventhough I didn't make contact with it, it was still burning and damaging my hands. "Or is your resolve to avenge Elios that weak?"

That hit a nerve...

"Screw it." I snarled and tossed Blake aside with my psychokinesis, the sky blue energy wrapped around his body prevented him from being too hurt from the impact. He looked skeptical at me.

"Pitying your opponent? That wwill get you killed on the field Marc." He said as he slammed his fist on the ground and a blazing wall surged forward and singed my line of sight. I was half-blinded by the heat and stumbled backwards.

"Checkmate!" Blake said and he scored a direct hit on my mid section. Searing heat bursts forth and sent me flying towards a crevice. I gagged and coughed out air and blood. Blake was a serious opponent, dangerous even. His aura and his breathing are all in a master level of experience. How can a 13 year old like him hold this much power?

"I guess we'll end the charade here. Marc Callahan Noan... You fa-"

Before he finishes his sentence, I sent a tree flying towards him. Of course he smashes it with his hands engulfed in azure flames, but at least I got him to back off. I stood up with my legs shaking from the damage dealt by Blake. My eyes were still pretty badly damaged but I feigned wiping my eyes while I accelerate its healing. My vision returned, but with my glasses shattered, it's limited.

"So you won't give in huh? I am actually being merciful here Marc. Elios is quite lucky to have a brother like you. However..." Blake moves in with flames propelling him in high speed. I didn't have any time to react nor use my ability to stop the collision. But instead of crashing towards me, he slides to the left and delivers a painful spin kick on my side. He then took the chance to lock me in a choke hold.

"You're easy to distract and manipulate."

My consciousness was fading and my breathing was beginning to feel like hot flames, Blake was seriously planning on knocking me out. He was exuding heat and killing intent.

"Yield, or I'll make you regret it." Blake whispered with a threatening tone. His grip tightened every second.

"In... reality... Yielding means death!" I said and I elbowed Blake's side and he and I dispersed. I took solid seconds to recover my breathing. "I won't give up Blake. So it's either you stop my breath or you stop me from moving!"

Blake chuckled and his eyes began to burn brighter. His fists began to seep azure flames, violently crackling as it leaves his limbs.

I began to think of a plan. Lady Emma discussed it during her lessons, House Mathis is a prestigious family with a long line of pyromancers. And the first thing to come in mind is... Prevent him from starting a fire.

Easier said than done however, lifting the stones will require me to focus, and Blake will not allow me to do so. But there are other resoruces available to my disposal.

"Let's end this Marc." He said and lunges forward. It was do or die. The plan was risky, but I have no other choice.

"Hey Blake... Hope you have eye insurance!" I shouted as I used Psychokinesis on the ground and sand and earth erupted upward. Covering his line of sight and engulfing him in an avalanche of dirt. I was breathing heavily. But I wasn't letting my guard down, Blake isn't a weak person to be defeated by a wall of soil.

Then the lump burst out and a pillar of azure flames scattered across the field. Blake was riding on top and delivered a drop kick that somehow broke a bone or two on my chest. I flew away from my original position and landed hard against my back. My vision was dangerously getting hazier.

Blood was escaping from my lips and every breath was like inhaling daggers.

'Shit Blake... are you trying to kill me?' I asked.

"You have a good plan Marc. But don't think the lessons from Lady Emma will help you. I'll always find ways to cover up my weaknesses." Blake said as his palms were burning.

The current situation isn't good, and I have no chance. Blake... was just too strong for me to face.

"I give..." I said quietly and the trial was over. Blake extinguished his flames and sighs.

"Why did it took you too long to give up?" Blake asked, he wasn't even breaking a sweat.

"You were holding back. I needed to see your look once you went serious. Turns out, I can't even make you get serious with me." I heaved.

"But-"

"Before you say anything else... I think you broke a rib or two." I said and sure enough, more blood began to seep from my mouth. Blake then reverted from his battle mode, to the meek and nervous class representative that I know he is.

He helped me towards the infirmary and sure enough, Doctor Belforma was anticipating this would happen. But that didn't stop him from being mad at me.

"Taking a drop kick huh? Well, should I just toss you off the Lune Building and patch you up again?" Doc offered and he was as usual, rough with the treatments.

When he was finished treating (and torturing) me, he left me alone with Blake, who also received treatment. I didn;t hit him per se, but the avalance must've been painful.

"I lost. Fair and square. That means I lost my bet with Seth too." I sighed as Blake made strides towards me.

"Well that's to be expected. I did mop the floor with you." Blake said bluntly and I just rolled my eyes.

"That means I'm not cut out for this job huh?" I asked and he nods.

"Yeah, you're not cut out for the main assault force." Blake said. "But that's for the headmaster to decide."

Headmaster Auron? I'll admit, his presence did made him very intimidating and commanding, I wonder if he's as regal and polite as he appears.

The sound of a buzzer meant something, because Blake's face tightened.

"It's time. Can you stand?" He asked and I nod.

Blake led me towards another room, and inside it, were 3 more candidates and a whole classroom sized audience. The two winners of the duel against fellow newbies, and the lucky one. Among them, Theodore was also present and he looked like he was hitting the gym.

Before, he was a bit skinny and meek, but now, he was confident, muscular and even more refined. His blue eyes were sharper and more alert than usual. But he still retains his upbeat personality and his kind smile, which made me feel glad. Also... did he get a growth spurt?

He had no visible injuries so it was either he got lucky or he easily defeated his opponent. As for the other two, the girl with red highlights had bruises all over her right arm, but other than that, she was fine. The other girl, had her glasses broken a bit, her minty hair was disheveled even if it was tied to a ponytail. Her injuries only includes her hands and her jacket had a threadbare

By the podium, glimmering from his desk, headmaster Auron was looking at his tablet, he winced, and covered his mouth, and he even giggled. What is he even doing?

"Sir. Everyone's gathered already." Blake massaged his temples, as if he deals with this all the time. "The Light Novel can wait..."

Headmaster Auron got up and apologized, was he always this vague?! And why do I get the feeling that Blake was used to this?

"So these four are the ones who passed? And the reasoning?" Mr. Auron yawned and I swear I heard Vann and Seth snicker. "Very well, give me your assesments."

"Rhea Hans, fought with Dyke Travers and prevailed, her ability of Hypervelocity is critical in moments of recon missions." Phoebe gives the details regarding the Red haired girl.

"Jade Amari here has defeated her twin, Lisa Amari, her ability is Sonokinesis. Perfect for blocking out sound recording devices. She can also hear the static of soundwaves, so she's an asset to our communications team." Eula introduced the mint hair girl.

"Theodore Scifios was able to go through the door of luck. While his power was not demonstrated, he is shown to be amicable and is well loved by his peers. He is a worthy candidate of the sixth seat." Diego announced, making Theo blush.

There was a murmur of agreement, and everyone was very hopeful that Theo was going to be the sixth seat. Then the master's eyes fell toward my direction, and why was he smiling?

"Marc Noan fought against me and lost. However, his unwillingness to surrender and his tenacity in the face of an impossible scenario, while fool hardy and absolutely suicidal, I can vouch for his ingenuity and his power." Blake said in a kind face, but his words were like stones when he called me a fool. He can be really harsh. "Thus, I also vouch for his installment in the sixth seat."

Heads turned and the voices became hushed whispers. The whole room was expecting it to be a mistake. Blake was endorsing me, so what's the big deal?

"Blake, you can't be serious." Phoebe shook her head, and glared at me. "While yeah, he was ingenious with the avalanche, and yes, you were powered up by Eula during the extent of your bout with him. However, that does not exempt him from his previous misconducts."

"He is also under Kaiser's radar. It's a bad idea for him to be installed as the sixth seat." Diego interjects as well. "There's so much to lose if he becomes a member."

"Not only that... You saw what happened to the whole student council? He's too untrained to. He has no control on his emotions." Eula said.

'Kind of hypocritical coming from an empath who forces others to feel what she feels like.' I said in my mind.

But the whole audience was murmuring in agreement, I mean sure... I don't want to be seen as a model student anyways. That is long since passed because of Kaiser, and honestly I don't mind.

"Why does it seem so personal?" Vann interjects. "Because it does feel personal."

"Why are you three so opposed?" Blake nods in agreement while he asked them and they all glared at me. "I get that he didn't make an ideal first impression, but none of us explained it to him either."

"Something about him feels very off. Like he's hiding something really important." Phoebe said. "Plus, didn't we agree that Elios Dracon Noan was the one we're going to scout? Not some... replacement?"

"Phoebe! Retract your words." It was Seth's turn to interject. Wow... This is suddenly turning way too dramatic for me, the tension was so palpable it's making everyone nervous.

"Okay that's enough of this trivial stalemate, granted it was getting entertaining. So why not settle it the old fashioned way?" Mr. Auron yawned, as if being bored by this roundabout.

"But sir, Marc has sustained injuries and Theo has-" Seth tries to plead but.

"If you're in the field as the sixth seat, an injury won't stop you. Or are you just giving special treatment... brother?" Diego cuts him off with a harsh remark. Seth was again, about to say anything when a familiar voice barked:

"Narukami, stay your words." Lady Emma then comes in from behind the entrance, her black hair pulled back to a bun and her white blazer billowing behind her. Every clack of her heels made everyone look at her presence.

She then stopped in front of Theodore, gave him a quick scan, and did the same to me. Her opulent black eyes were startling at best.

"Sir Auron. You want them to fight correct? To settle which will be the sixth seat?" Lady Emma asked and Sir Auron just nods with a sheepish look on his face.

"Very well. Scifios, Noan... Are you two ready?" She asked us and Theodore nods without hesitation.

Fine... If this is how it's going to be Theo. But when I was about to step forward, Blake suddenly grabbed my arm.

"Are you insane? You're hurt." He said and I chuckled.

"I know. But that won't stop me from getting even with Kaiser." I said and I brushed off his grip.

Theodore was already stretching, seems like he did had ample of time to watch my fight with Blake. When we got in position, everyone was cheering for Theo, in which I wasn't too surprised

"Hey sea pup! You better win this!" Vann called out and that irritated me a bit, but it was reassuring that there was someone cheering for me.

"Vann is really invested in you." Theo said and he launches a nearby garbage can at me. His speed to channel his telekinesis was smoother and faster.

When I tried to dodge sideways, a sharp pain began to throb on my left rib, causing me to move sluggishly.

'Damn it... not now!' I thought as the can scores a direct hit on my head.

My mind was racing badly, why am I anxious? Wait... anxiety is a feeling... I have a theory, but I need to know more. So... It's time for another do or die time.

I took a deep breath and time seem to slowdown... But with my head hurting, I could only remain in this state for a brief period.

Psychokinetic Field... an extension of my senses. Perfect for identifying rogue elements in my surroundings. Everyone's thoughts... their minds were speaking to my with clarity. Some were disorienting and chaotic, and the voices are incoherent. But once I focused, I can hear them with perfect acquity.

'Eula's power is making an effect on him. He won't last long now.' Phoebe's mind said.

'I'll apologize to him later, but right now... We need Theo.' Eula said.

'So Eula is using her ability on Marc, weakening his psyche... I just hope Marc won't discover this deception.' Lady Emma's mind said and I broke off the field.

"You sure are lucky... People like you in more ways than one." I said to Theo quietly and returned the can he threw at me with the same speed. But with Eula's interference, it was weaker, so Theo caught it in mid-air and broke it.

I was taken aback, Theo's power has progressed this far? But I wasn't to surprised that they were interfering with my psyche too much.

"Why don't you surrender Marc? You're too injured to even use your powers." Theo said loudly, and he was right. I'm too fazed to even lift a tin can. However... I can't stop. For Elios.

"No can do Theo... It's either you stop me from staying conscious, or I make you surrender." I said rather hoarsely, Theo sighs.

"Now I get why Elios doesn't talk much about you." Theo said, and I flinched.

"What was that?" My heart started beating faster. Eula's power was overwhelming me all of a sudden.

"He never confided to you everything. Plus, you were always the last to know. As an older brother, you should be ashamed." Theo goaded and my fists were shaking.

"Shut up..." I whispered. But Theo went on.

"Elios was supposed to be here. If you weren't there as a variable, none of this would've happened and Elios was happy."

"Theo!" Seth shouted but I felt something from my head snap.

Once those words left his lips, I was blinded by my fury. I snarled in fury and lunged at him, but Theo was faster, and he caught and bound me with his ability, he then lift me from the ground, and created a telekinetic sphere above me.

"Checkmate." He said and snapped his fingers, and immediately the force of the telkinetic burst shot me down and pinned me underneath the rubble.

My eyes were getting blurry, I couldn't even move my limbs from the pain. Then I suddenly feel at ease. The effects of Eula's powers disappeared. So that's it... All in all... no one believed in me. Not them, not the whole present company, and... not even Elios. I closed my eyes and just wished it to be over.

'If only you weren't there, Elios would've been happy.'

"Time to add that to my playlist." My anxiety said as I disappear back to my own psyche.