The Astra Clan…

Sybil didn't know whether to love or hate being born into it.

On one hand, her clan gave her everything she was proud of… her power, her heritage, her ability to command the wind like it was part of her soul.

On the other hand, it chained her down with expectations she never asked for.

As heiress, she was meant to marry into power, mainly to someone who could make "stronger heirs."

Her parents even recommended Reinhardt... but she couldn't even imagine seeing herself with that narcissist.

But where was her choice in that?

Her life had already been written for her by people sitting on golden thrones.

She had come to the Academy to escape that fate… to breathe, to live, to be her.

Not some tool of alliance.

However… even here, the shadow of her clan followed her.

She couldn't forget that humiliating custom… the one that said a woman of the Astra line must challenge the man she loved when he was at his weakest, and only if he defeated her could she truly be his equal.

They called it the "Trial of Winds."

Sybil called it nonsense.

If you wanted to test a man, face him at his best.

'I'm sorry,' she thought quietly, keeping her face calm as the air stirred around her.

All she needed him to do was win.

And she wasn't going to hold back.

"Are you trying to kill me?" Azel said, he was clearly annoyed.

The explosion from her compressed wind had shredded the spot completely.

The ground was torn apart and the trees around were swaying under the aftershock.

Dust floated around him.

'If that hit me," he muttered, brushing dirt off his shoulder, "I'd be gone."

"No," Sybil replied softly. "I like you."

Then she raised her hand. "That's why I'm doing it."

Azel blinked. "Huh?"

Then it hit him… the air had grown dry.

He tried to breathe and nothing came in.

'Oh, right… this thing.'

It was one of her spells called air deprivation.

The air around him had lost its oxygen… It was really suffocating.

He held what little breath he could and glared at her.

'I forgot she could do this…' he thought grimly, moving his legs and leaping backward. 'She's serious this time.'

"I can't have that," Sybil said as she launched forward. The wind wrapped around her body, propelling her through the air like an arrow.

Azel barely dodged, dirt exploding under his feet as he leapt to the right just as she was about to reach him.

The wind cracked like a whip, leaving a thin line on the ground where he had just stood.

Sybil didn't stop, instead she twisted mid-air redirecting herself instantly and shooting at him again.

"All you need to do is win, Azel," She said. "Nothing more. Nothing less."

'Yeah right… when you're literally choking me.' He thought.

Wings of golden light burst out from Azel's back.

Sybil's eyes widened. "Wings?"

She increased her speed and closed the distance between them, kicking him with all the power she could muster. However Azel immediately flew out of the way, narrowly dodging the strike.

The wind of the strike shot and collided with a tree, making the tree rattle and shed all of it's leaves. Sybil watched as Azel gained his balance and gave her a kick.

The air screamed as his kick met her stomach.

A crunch sounded.

"Hngh—!" Sybil gasped with saliva flying from her lips as her body spun backward, rolling across the ground.

Dirt covered her hair and shoulders and she coughed, struggling for air.

Her ribs hurt, but she smiled nonetheless.

'He's fast… he's not just using raw strength. He's thinking while he fights.'

She had watched him fight Elione and he was thinking quick… which went well with the fact that he didn't waste any movement.

The same thing went for their battle right now, a Wind mage could only use their wind when they had breath, if you knocked the air out of them, they would be practically useless however it was hard to catch someone that had literally been training for the situation all their life offguard.

So what he did was impressive.

'Stop it, Sybil,' she told herself, rubbing the corner of her mouth where blood now stained her lips. 'You're supposed to test him… not fall deeper.'

She stood again and raised her hand.

Several holy spears of light flew toward her, cutting through the air like bullets.

She moved her wrist slightly and the air thickened becoming dense enough to stop the projectiles mid-flight.

They froze in front of her like glass shards.

"I'm not sure projectile attacks will work on a wind user like me," she said confidently, brushing her hair behind her ear.

But she didn't notice the soft sound behind her… and by the time she did… A cold edge touched her throat.

"Idiot," Azel sighed from behind her.

His voice was calm, but she could feel the exhaustion in it. "Now… will you explain why you're trying to kill me?"

His blade was right at her neck and he wasn't smiling.

"And drop your hands too," he added.

Sybil slowly lowered her hands behind her back but she wasn't giving up yet.

Mana gathered at her fingertips and she tried a spell.

She'd just need to create a small burst of wind to push him back…

Thud.

The back of Azel's sword met her head.

Her vision blurred.

Her lips parted slightly as her body slumped forward.

"…Seriously," Azel muttered as he caught her before she hit the ground. "You don't know when to stop."

He knelt, laying her gently over his shoulder. She wasn't badly hurt… just knocked out.

'You're lucky,' he thought while sighing, dispelling the spears of light in the air. They vanished into particles.

Azel straightened, holding her weight easily.

She was lighter than he expected. Her face had some kind of grin on it…

"First I kill Elione," he said under his breath, "and now Sybil is trying to kill me out of love. What next?"

He adjusted his hold and began walking toward the Academy gates.

He didn't even make it ten steps.

"Student Azel Thorne. Lady Sybil Astra."

Two robed mages stepped out from behind the trees…

They were both women and part of the disciplinary committee.

Azel's shoulders slumped. "…Of course."

The first mage raised his staff toward him. "You are both under disciplinary review for multiple offenses… unauthorized use of high-tier magic, destruction of Academy property, and absence from assigned classes."

Azel blinked. "You're kidding me, right?"

The second mage pointed toward the meadow.

The once beautiful field was now torn apart with massive cracks and a few fallen trees.

'When did those happen?'

"Do you deny your involvement?" the first mage asked coldly. "You were seen engaging in combat on restricted grounds."

Azel sighed and rubbed his temple. "Look, I didn't start this. She—"

"Both parties share equal responsibility," the second mage cut in sharply. "Regardless of who initiated the conflict."

The second mage glanced at Sybil, who hung limp over Azel's shoulder. "Is Lady Astra injured?"

"She's fine," Azel said quickly. "Just knocked out."

The mages exchanged a look that said you're still in trouble.

The first mage lowered his staff slightly but didn't drop his tone.

"Regardless," he said, "this is a violation of Code Section 3, Article 19: endangering students through unsanctioned combat. The penalty includes detention and written confession."

"Wow, sounds serious," Azel muttered, shifting Sybil slightly on his back. "Can we at least do this after I drop her off at the infirmary?"

"You will accompany us now," the mage replied. "Both of you."

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