Zaeryn stood in the center of the circle, the golden sword construct fading from his hand after he was finished.

He wasn't even breathing heavily. Three regenerating targets, neutralized in under three seconds with controlled speed, spontaneous constructs, and instinctive defense.

Among the shocked faces that could not believe what they had just witnessed.

Leia was the one Zaeryn noticed. She stood perfectly still, arms crossed, but her posture had lost its usual razor edge confidence.

Her eyes were locked on him. They weren't wide with shock, they were scrutinizing him with an intensity that felt almost physical. The mocking smirk from moments ago had vanished completely, replaced by something harder to read, shock, yes, but beneath it, something sharper.

Calculation, maybe. Or reassessment.

Their eyes met across the training floor and for a heartbeat, neither of them looked away.

Then Leia's jaw tightened, and she turned her head deliberately to the side, as if dismissing him. But Zaeryn caught the faint redden creeping up her neck, the way her fingers dug just slightly into her own arms.

The two friends beside her simply stared, their expression caught somewhere between disbelief and intrigue.

Zelda lowered the device in her hands slowly. Her eyes held a look Zaeryn hadn't seen before, not just approval, but something bordering on awe, quickly masked by professional assessment.

"Well, Zaeryn," Zelda said finally, her voice lacking its usual sharp edge. "It appears your confidence wasn't entirely... misplaced. Your efficiency rating is: Exceptional."

A low murmur swept through the chamber again no longer mocking, but buzzing with disbelief and grudging respect.

Zaeryn offered Zelda a curt nod, the adrenaline fading slightly, leaving a pleasant hum of accomplishment in its wake. He turned and walked back toward his spot, pointedly ignoring the wide-eyed stares that followed him.

Jyn practically tackled him in a sideways hug the moment he reached them. "Holy shit, Zaeryn! That was insane! Sword and shield constructs? And that speed!"

"You were amazing," Yuna added, her eyes shining with genuine admiration.

Stepping forward, Morticia's usual calm assessment gave way to a direct, appreciative gaze. "Congratulations Zaeryn," she said smoothly, her voice carrying easily, "you just made me feel even more attracted to you." Without hesitation, she leaned in and pressed a firm, deliberate kiss to his cheek.

Zaeryn grinned, accepting their praise. "Just getting warmed up."

He couldn't resist. His gaze sought out Leia across the floor. She was still standing with her friends, though her arms were no longer crossed, her posture less rigid as she was engaged in a conversation with them.

"So, Leia," Zaeryn called out, his voice carrying clearly again, laced with a playful challenge. "Still think my power is 'pathetic'?"

Leia's head snapped fully toward him watching him as he approached her and her friends. Her earlier shock had been replaced by a carefully reconstructed mask of cool disdain, though her eyes still held a spark of something intense. "I never said your powers were pathetic, anomaly," she replied smoothly, deliberately turning her gaze towards Jyn and Yuna. "I believe I was commenting on the rather… weak displays from some others". The dismissal was clear, pointed, and designed to sting.

Jyn and Yuna knew she was talking about them, and they clearly did not like her words. Jyn bristled, a scowl on her face as she bristled. "Honestly Leia, fuck you," she snapped. But even as she said those words, her voice was a little playful, "Not everyone has a decorated Tier 2 Warlady for an older sister who's been drilling them since they were five.'

Leia and Jyn had the same group of friends, so this was like a normal thing between them, so she didn't take Jyn's words as offensive.

Her gaze simply returned to Zaeryn "You on the other hand. Just put up an impressive display," she conceded, her voice tight, "for a male anomaly trying to mimic real power". She tilted her chin slightly. "I'm just giving praise where it's due. There's simply no competition between us. We are not on the same level."

"Why do you think that?" Zaeryn asked although deep down he knew she was right. She was at least a league above him, for now.

Before Leia could reply, the blonde friend beside her stepped forward, eager to reinforce her leader's point. "Why would you even ask such a stupid question?" she asked, "Leia is a Tier 2 Vitae wielder. You think taking out a few Class F sims puts you anywhere near her level?" She scoffed, looking Zaeryn up and down dismissively. "What even are you? Tier 4? The bare minimum required to even be considered for Warlady service? Don't make us laugh."

The brunette beside her nodded vigorously, adding a soft, agreeable hum of support.

Zaeryn didn't even glance at them. "I was speaking to Leia. Who asked you two?"

But his mind had already snagged on the crucial detail.

Tier 2.

So far, he'd only absorbed Tier 3 signatures and one Tier 5. Leia was exactly what he needed. A Tier 2 wielder with devastatingly powerful abilities. The necrotic flames. The siphon.

This changed everything. He knew he had to get on her good side now. Which was going to be harder, since they started off on bad foot. Which was not his fault, it was entirely Leia who started off disliking him, but he had to change that.

He ignored the blonde completely, his focus sharpening solely on Leia. The earlier irritation melted away, replaced by genuine, almost excited curiosity.

"Tier 2, huh?" he said, his voice losing its mocking edge, taking on a tone of friendly challenge and authentic interest. A slow grin spread across his face, appreciative, free of hostility. "Didn't realize I was sparring with someone elite yesterday."

Leia was a little taken aback by his less sarcastic tone.

Jyn's supportive declaration, "And you almost won?"hung in the air for a beat, drawing a sharp, incredulous look from Leia, though she didn't dignify it with a verbal response this time.

Her gaze remained fixed on Zaeryn. "Genevieve said you were going to challenge me to a spar."

"Yes, I was." Zaeryn met her stare, the friendly challenge still glinting in his eyes. Tier 2 or not, he wasn't backing down. "And I still wanna fight you."

Leia nodded slowly. "Sure, anomaly. We can spar again". Her eyes gleamed, the smirk sharpening. "Consider it a practical lesson. I'll enjoy humbling that misplaced confidence of yours this time. Properly."

Just then, Instructor Zelda clapped her hands sharply, the sound echoing through the now-silent chamber, instantly drawing all attention back to her. "Alright, cadets, enough chatter," she commanded, her voice regaining its crisp authority. "Vitae assessments are done. We know where you stand, more or less."

She gestured towards the main floor. "Now, we strip it down. Forget the light shows, forget the energy tricks. Next up: close combat. Hand-to-hand only."

Zelda tapped her console again. The low hum of the chamber shifted, intensifying slightly. The faint glow from the hexagonal floor panels dimmed almost completely. "Aegis Chamber dampeners now at maximum," she announced, her voice sharp. "Your Vitae is offline. Completely. Right now, you're relying on muscle, technique, and whatever grit you've got left."

Her steel-gray eyes scanned the room. "Alright, head to the locker rooms adjacent to the chamber. Change into standard CQC training gear. Five minutes. Move!"

A rustle went through the cadets as they began moving toward the designated exits.

Zaeryn didn't follow Jyn and the others. They were going to the changing rooms and he didn't think it was a good idea to follow them, after all he was a male.

"As for you, Zaeryn." Zelda's hand came to rest on his shoulder. He turned back. Zelda removed her hand from his shoulder and crossed them, that faint, wry smirk back on her lips. "Apologies, but the Lyceum's architects didn't exactly plan for co-ed enrollment. There's no locker room for you."

She tilted her head, her expression mock-thoughtful. "I suppose you could use the girls' facilities," she drawled, "but I can't guarantee your safety in there. Unless," her eyes glinted with dark amusement, "you think you'd enjoy getting jumped by two all those curious or hostile Warladies-in-training?"

"Jumped?" Zaeryn echoed, his eyebrows rising slightly.

"Yes," Zelda confirmed bluntly, her smirk widening just a fraction. "Let's just say privacy protocols are… fiercely enforced. And curiosity can be just as dangerous as hostility in large numbers. Although I'm pretty sure you enjoy contact with women, I doubt you would like it if it were forced."

Zaeryn got the picture immediately. Being cornered by a crowd of curious or angry women, even with his strength, sounded less like a fantasy and more like a recipe for getting torn apart, literally or figuratively.

He let out a short laugh, playing along. "Got it." he echoed, running a hand through his hair. "Dozens? Maybe I could handle two at most, if I got lucky. But all of them at once? Nah."

Zelda actually chuckled this time, knowing neither of them was talking about actual fighting. His ability to meet her humor head-on seemed to genuinely amuse her.

"Wise choice." She moved to a nearby equipment locker, keyed in a code, and pulled out a neatly folded set of white flexible CQC gear, long sleeves top, reinforced pants. She tossed it to him. "You can change here."

Zaeryn caught it, then hesitated, glancing around the now nearly empty chamber. "Here? Like... right here? In front of you?"

Zelda simply leaned back against the platform railing, arms crossed again, making no move to turn away or give him privacy. Her eyes watched him, openly curious, assessing. "Problem?" She put on a disappointed look. "Dont tell me you're embarrassed."

"Not really. I… just didn't expect it?" He said with a shrug. Without turning he removed his upper outfit. The cool air hit his bare chest.

Before he could continue, he heard Zelda draw in a sharp, almost imperceptible breath.

Glancing over at her, he saw her eyes fixed on his upper body, her usual expression momentarily replaced by something else, surprise, maybe, or simple appreciation. Her gaze traced the lean muscle, the defined abs, and he saw her swallow once, quickly.

Trying to ignore her scrutiny, he quickly undid his uniform pants and stepped out of them, leaving him standing only in his dark boxer briefs. He bent to pick up the CQC pants. As he straightened, he caught Zelda's gaze again.

This time, her eyes weren't just looking; they were cataloging. Her gaze lingered on the powerful lines of his thighs, then flicked to the distinct outline clearly visible beneath the thin fabric of his underwear. Her lips parted slightly, and she shook her head almost imperceptibly, a flicker of disbelief and amusement crossing her features.

"Wow," she murmured, the word escaping before she could stop it. "You really are a contradiction to everything they say a man is, aren't you?"

"You could say that?" Zaeryn responded.

She gave him one more lingering look, taking him all in at once and then she nodded. "Get dressed quickly, the girls will be back here."

Zaeryn pulled on the out, the flexible material molding to his frame. He felt her eyes on him the entire time, a heavy, assessing weight that was somehow more unnerving, and more thrilling, than simple hostility.

When he was finally dressed, he looked at her.

Zelda pushed off the railing. "Alright," she said, her voice crisp again. "Let's see if that physique translates to actual skill."

Just then, the doors to the locker rooms hissed open, and the other students began filing back into the Aegis Chamber. They were now dressed in the same standard white CQC training gear, the uniform making them look more like a cohesive unit, though the individual personalities still shone through in their postures and expressions.

The standard white CQC gear molded differently to each trainee. On Zaeryn, the long sleeve top and close-fitting pants accentuated the lean muscle and broad shoulders of his physique, highlighting his natural strength.

On the female cadets, the same flexible synth-weave material conformed to their varied athletic builds, hugging curves while allowing for the fluid movement required for combat training.

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