Draeyer Academy
Drae Skyland
Northeastern Space

Areisha sighed as she threaded the path leading to the lake. The renovations for the stadium were finished and they could resume holding classes there. However, Professor Gravis seemed to have developed a fondness for that particular clearing near the lake. None of them complained though, because they hated the dirt in the arena.

As she walked she thought of her mother's dagger. She still wondered how it ended up in Alec's hand. At the thought of the young man, a smile made its way to her face without her noticing. It had surprised her that they could actually have a normal conversation, and he seemed―she dared say―nice. However, just when they were starting to get along, the same coldness he had when they first met emerged.

Although she would never admit, she blamed herself for making him say something he didn't want to say. Buried in a dear friend's chest, his words echoed in his mind.

Her mother's murderers were already executed for their crime, so it made her wonder if there was another one who escaped the Council's justice.

"Roselintine."

She snapped from her train of thoughts, and looked up. Then did she only realize that she already stood in the clearing with Alec and Professor Gravis standing in front of her. The former tilted his head to his right while watching her with curious eyes.

"You all right, Areisha?" Professor Gravis said. "Pull yourself together. You and Alec have a major role to play in today's exercise."

She nodded before the man ordered them to raise their wrists. Alec brought up his left, while her, her right. Their professor spoke the word and the white bands appeared. The lights shot out and the chain materialized between them.

When Professor Gravis left she spoke. "What did he mean by major role?" She looked up at Alec to find him still staring at her. She managed to stop herself from squirming under his gaze.

"I don't know," he said. "But it's something crazy I bet."

"I guess so."

"I've been thinking," he said. Areisha furrowed her brows at him. "You said Solana is physically weak, but she's so strong that her punches leave bruises on me."

She stood there staring at him, until a smile tugged at the corners of her lips. She shook her head, which contributed to the crease between Alec's brows.

"She's not as strong as you think," she said. "In order to keep up with physical classes, she's learning a technique wherein she could increase the attack power in her moves. And it seems she's been using you as a practice bag."

She chuckled at his bewildered expression. However, she raised a brow at him when his gaze never strayed away from her. Her cheeks suddenly felt warm, but she met his gaze head on.

"What are you staring at?" she asked. His silence greeted her before he turned away while blinking rapidly and shaking his head. He walked over to where their classmates gathered, and with the chain, she had no choice but to follow if she didn't want to be dragged around like what happened all morning. He didn't even take in consideration the difference in their strides. She was taken out of her thoughts again when he spoke.

"I knew your frame was small, but I never realized exactly how small." At his words she looked down at herself. She understood why he said it. Her grey shirt was bigger and looser than usual because most of her combat clothes were in the wash. It made her look smaller than she actually was. She loathed being called small or short, or anything degrading about her height. The fact that his 6'3 and broad frame towered over her 5'3, didn't make her feel any better.

She upped her pace until she was ahead of him. "If you want to survive in one piece before the next two months are over, I suggest you stop making comments about my height."

"Whatever you say, squirrel," he said. Her temper escalated to a dangerous level and she had to remind herself that they weren't allowed to beat each other up...unless it was part of a lesson. She whirled her head to tell him to not call her by the stupid nickname. She paused though when Professor Gravis yelled out.

"Pair up in twenty seconds!" he said. "First pair to bring Alec and Areisha down won't participate in the heavy drills tomorrow. Start!"

The both of them froze, while their classmates stood there gawking at their teacher. Panic struck them like lightning and they ran about looking for a partner. Meanwhile Areisha turned to Alec who had sighed. He ran a hand through his hair before facing her.

"Don't get in my way," he said.

Her eyes widened before she yelled. "Why you―" she was cut off thought.

"And work with me."

Her mouth clumped shut, and for the next few seconds all she did was meet his gaze. She looked away and without anymore need for words, stepped closer so they stood side by side. His words made her anger diminish―but by only a small fraction. At least she had her classmates to vent her anger on.

"Areisha, Alec," Gravis called. "Weapons are not allowed, which includes the chain. Fight without using it to your advantage."

They both nodded, given no other choice but to agree. The 20 seconds were up, and their classmates stood in pairs. They looked uncertain, but she knew they won't be very soon.

"Squirrel," Alec called. She tensed at the ridiculous nickname before stiffly turning to him with slit eyes.

"I know you're angry and you'll try to vent it out," he said. "Just don't get carried away."

"Yes, now could you shut up?"

The first pair, a boy and a girl, came charging with an earsplitting battle cry. The girl who she knew was named Tara came for her. In one fluid motion, she raised her leg and swung it. Tara flew to the side when her kick connected with her chin. However, the boy was on her at once and she had no time to reel back.

"Duck." She instinctively lowered her head at the sound of Alec's voice. His fist flew over her head and connected with their classmate's cheek. He too was sent rolling over the grass unconscious.

"Who's getting carried away now?" she asked as she straightened.

"I can't let my partner do all the work now, can I?"

The word "partner" had a smile tugging at the corners of her lips. But then he just had to open his mouth again.

"I don't want you getting squashed. You're already small as you are."

"Saggar's Blade! I hate you!" she yelled with her voice ringing throughout the area. Her attention snapped to her classmates to prevent herself from hurting him and possibly lengthen their punishment. "Who's next?"

They all took visible steps back while Gravis stood to one side with a grin of amusement plastered on his face.

―――

"Brinn and Eli, since you two came close so I'll allow you to only take part in half of the drills," Professor Gravis yelled. "Alec and Areisha the both of you stay. We have something to talk about. The rest of you hit the showers and get some rest for your suffering tomorrow!"

Groans filled the air as the students left one by one. Areisha in particular was groaning while she clutched her stomach. Brinn managed to do a number on her. Professor Gravis was a merciless teacher. He knew how to push his students to high levels. And most of these students aren't even aware that they already achieved great progress.

"That's what you get for being reckless," Alec muttered from beside her. He was rubbing his chin where Eli's leg connected. Her right eye twitched and seeing that she had run out of retorts for that one, she kept silent. They followed Professor Gravis' instructions when he motioned them to a large tree close to the lake. He ordered them to sit on the grass.

"Professor, we still have Power Mastery, and we can't be late," Areisha said.

"Cynn left this morning because his wife gave birth," Gravis said. "He asked me instead to discuss with you two what happened with your Flames when you fought. I'm sure you've been dying to know."

"Actually, no," Alec drawled.

"Shut it Alec," their teacher scolded. "After the both of you hear what you are now you'll think otherwise."

"What?" the pair asked in surprise.

Professor Gravis took a deep breath before his orange-brown eyes fell on them both. He smiled at them.

"There are almost rare occasions wherein two different Flames merge together to result in to a two-colored one. That Flame would inhabit an entirely different property or become a combination of the two."

Areisha leaned forward, the lecture getting her attention at once, not wanting to forget anything. If only she brought her notebook with her. She always took notes because she had a tendency to forget lessons and concepts.

"The both of you are now what we call Admix," Gravis continued. "An Admix is a pair of Draeyers who are...compatible as a team for battles. Most Admixes are made when two Draeyers fight with their Flames and spark a reaction. It's the same thing which happened to you two."

"But Professor, ice and nature don't mix, how come―"

"Areisha, you're not listening," Gravis said. He threw a small rock at her, which bounced harmlessly on her hair. "I said 'compatible as a team for battles.' It doesn't matter if the elements of the Flames aren't harmonious with each other, so as long the Draeyers' abilities are so."

Areisha's mouth fell ajar as realization finally dawned on her. She whirled her head to Alec and their eyes locked, before she turned back to their professor.

"You mean me," she pointed at herself, "and him," she pointed at Alec, "are compatible in fights?"

Gravis nodded. "It was really obvious when you fought your classmates earlier. You two were verbally fighting but you were still in perfect sync. Admixes are almost unstoppable when they work together."

Areisha looked down at the ground to process what she was learning. She and Alec are an Admix? She had always thought that if ever they were paired in Gravis' class they would end up seriously injuring or killing each other. And now she learned that they can actually become powerful pair. The thought didn't sit too well in her stomach.

"Anyhow, in the old days it was believed that other than combat compatibility, the paired Draeyers already share a heavy past before they became an Admix. How that makes a connection to the concept of Admixes I don't know."

His words made her frown. From the corner of her eyes, she saw Alec look down. One of his hands crawled its way slowly to his back. He jerked his head to her and she saw the wonder and questions in his pale blue eyes. Our scars, she thought, as her one her hands also reached for her back.

"But that's just the belief of old folks. It was later proven to not be true," Gravis' voice snapped them out of their thoughts. "The both of you are proof enough. There is no possible way you share a past with each other. You only met."

"I guess so, Professor," Alec mumbled with his brows still furrowed at the grass.

Silence engulfed them, as the wind blew through the trees, bushes, and caused faint ripples to appear on the lake surface. Their heads snapped up at Gravis when he stood and looked down at them with a smile.

"I have something for each of you," he said. "I'm sure you'll love and hopefully take good care of it."

He went around the large tree and later emerged with a rectangular box cradled beneath in his only arm. He sat down once again before placing the wooden black box gently on the grass. She heard a click and she assumed he pulled down a lock. He flipped the lid open, before turning the box so they could see the contents.

Alec and Areisha peered over it. "I am aware that you prefer close combat weapons, so I assume these are perfect for you," their one-armed professor said.

Two sheathed curved weapons, with rather large hand guards, which could cover the knuckles of the hand as well as the thumb and forefinger, greeted their sights. Areisha wrapped a hand around the brown hilt, before pulling it out from the worn leather sheath. Compared to the sheath, the blade looked new and had dangerous shine on the sharp single-edge.

"Sabers," she said. Gravis nodded, as he gave the other one to Alec.

"I was A Ryder who patrolled the skies, and these were my weapons of choice. Unfortunately I lost an arm and forced to retire," he said. "These sabers have been collecting dust, and I figured I should find new people to take care of them."

"Thank you, Professor Gravis," they both said together.

Gravis waved his hand at them in dismissal with a smile. "It's your reward for working very hard, especially you future Skylady," he said. He turned to Alec with a pointed hand. "And as for you, don't you dare grow lazy and waste your prodigious ass."

"Professor, saying vulgar words in front of your students is inappropriate," Alec said with furrowed brows. "And who says I'm prodigious?"

"I can't tell whether you're just too humble or too oblivious of your capabilities," Areisha whispered with a shake of her head.