"I am not fighting with someone who doesn't even know how to stand up for oneself," Ivan's sharp voice rang. His words mixed with his Russian accent made it sound more brutal. "He should not be here."

Sargent Griffon cleared his throat. "That's not something you get to decide, boy."

A tiny frown appeared on Jeremy's face as he stood besides Seb. The twins craned their necks closer to listen.

"Also, I don't need a partner," Ivan replied.

"Why not have a duel," Artemis said as she flipped her hair. "We can see if he is worthy or not by seeing him fight. Against Ivan, to see if he is fit to be his partner."

Gabrielle nodded. "Seems fair."

"Gabrielle!" Jeremy said. "He just got here and didn't have training."

"His evaluation won't come up as Rank Zero otherwise. What about it coach?"

"I agree with my sister," Apollo said.

"You agree with her in everything!" Jeremy said.

"Hush, sweet-bean," Gabrielle said.

"I will accept if he accepts," Ivan said with a sharp glare at Seb. Seb looked to the Sargent. Sargent Griffon shrugged.

"As long as no one gets badly hurt, then fine."

Everyone looked at Seb. He could only blame his luck. No one liked him at first glance ever since he was little. Maybe except Jeremy, but Jeremy seemed to be a person who was nice to everyone. Ivan was a celebrity for being able to slay class five monsters on his own, so Seb didn't feel like it was a good idea. Yet, refusing would only cause the others to dispise him more and he needed to survive in the academy for years to come.

He somewhat still believed that him being a Rank Zero was still a mistake.

"Fine," Sebastian said.

"It's only a duel. Don't kill each other. Ivan? He's just starting. Don't go to hard on him."

"I won't hold back Sargent," Ivan replied.

"Then make sure he doesn't loose a limb or something."

"That I can do."

The others cleared the court and climbed to the balcony while Seb and Ivan remained on the court. It was a two hundred square feet simulation room and the two of them were still wearing their simulation suit. Up above, there was a long observation deck reinforced by bullet proof glass in addition to a balcony for anyone who wanted to witness new fighting styles safely.

Ivan drew out his weapon first. It was a  beautiful knight sword with a golden pommel studded at the end with a blue sapphire. Seb swept his hand over the air, drawing out his own sword. The moment he did, Ivan attacked.

Seb couldn't even see him comming. But instinct drew in and he blocked it.

Five adults stood behind the observation deck. They had been there for quite some time, though those below didn't notice them.

"This should be good," said Mr. Clavory his a chuckle. "Are you confident about your son?"

"Hm," said Mr. Prolove.

A lean man with sandy blonde hair watched the match rather attentively while the lady besides him clicked her tongue.

The two boys were exchanging blows with their swords. Ivan Prolove had an advantage of agility and speed. He was trained since young in fencing and swordmenship. The other, had a disadvantage of speed, as the sword he carried was big, bulky and heavy. Yet the ancient looking sword was able to defend its owner and the boy surprising stood his ground.

"What do you think Miss. Grace," asked Mr. Clavory.

"The boy has good instinct."

"His movements are rough," said the oldest I'm the room, "As Miss. Grace said. He has good instinct."

The two boys separated. Ivan's face was cold as always, emotionless, but it was evident that he was getting irritated. Seb had his jaws clenched. He had fought fast monster before, like the dark elf at one time. It was both intelligent and quick in its feet. Seb had quite a struggle to kill the dark elf and he had a hard time for he looked most human out of all monsters.

Ivan was different. His each movement was calculated, precise. He seemed to have thought that he could have defeated Seb in a simple sword fight, but it seemed that it wasn't the case.

"He's resorting to magic," the oldest elder, Mr. Hawthorne said.

Seb watched in wonder as Ivan's feet left the ground slowly. A powerful force seemed to erupt from him as Seb felt wind whip off his face. Yet he still stood his ground on the floor. Ivan's sword, Excalibur, flashed in a deadly light. Seb's instincts screamed at him that he is about to do a power move. Spells took time, the more powerful, the more time it took. Seb quickly swept his hands over the air.

Seven swords appeared.

"Duplication magic!" Mr. Clavory gasped.

The seven swords circled around the boy while the boy plucked one out of the air. He then charged at Ivan, leaping as he did. His feet touched a blade of a sword and he leaped again, using the Levitating swords to build himself a stairway and he jumped at Ivan. The pushing force around Ivan intensified as his eyes flashed in a deadly glint. Seb got blown away.

Ivan didn't see it, but the observers did. A sword flying towards Ivan from behind. Ivan had to use his move meant for Seb to deflect the sword from behind.

Seb on the other hand, handed on the ground with a roll, the other swords breaking into fragments and disappearing as it did. While Ivan as occupied with the flying sword, Seb created more and then they flying towards the levitating boy, all of their points directed at him.

Ivan deflected all swords with a swipe, destroying them instantly except one while flew towards Seb like a magnet to iron. He then slashed directly at Seb, who created a shield of five swords in front of him, their blades digging the tiled floor of the simulation room. All swords but the one in the center shattered, leaving Seb his a cut on both his arms and a deep cut mark on the walls behind him.

"Wind slash," the blonde man said.

"Maybe we should stop the match," Miss. Grace said, her fingers reaching for her holo-watch.

"Wait," Mr. Hawthorne said.

Ivan repeated the move three times consequently, to which Seb managed to defend himself my creating his sword shields and sacrificing them. Ivan's eyes grew colder, his fist clenching Excalibur tightly as he did. The temperature of the room lessened, while frost started to appear around where Ivan floated. Icicles grew on Excalibur as it did.

Seb felt himself gulp.

Aloof as the wind, cold as ice... The perfect discription for Ivan Prolove.

Seb sent more swords flying at Ivan in hopes of lessening his concentration on whatever spell he was preparing. Ivan avoided them seamlessly, as the swords struck the wall and shattered, leaving multiple dents.

"I think this is enough," Miss. Grace said.

Seb ran his hand around in a arch, creating nine swords as he did. All floated around him and positioned themselves, the points facing towards Ivan.

"Wait!" Mr. Hawthorne said. "Don't end it yet."

"One of them will die!"

"Ivan has self control," Mr. Prolove said.

"How much concentration do you think it needs to control all those swords," Mr. Clavory asked speechlessly.

A bright light flashed in the simulation room. Once the light was cleared, the sight horrified everyone's sight. The adults didn't notice when there were so many spectators around them, most them them trainees in the Academy. The girls were gasping, one screamed.

Miss. Grace cursed. The side of the room which Seb stood was covered in ice. Blue crystal ice and Seb was nowhere in sight. The only possibly was that Seb was frozen inside.

Jeremy drew out his quill to quickly draw a thawing spell so that Seb won't freeze to death. Gabrielle had her breath sucked in.

"Bloody hell," Apollo muttered. 

Even Ivan was surprised at his own actions. He slowly floated down till his feel touched the tiled floor, his sword still in hand and his face quite white. Even he didn't expect things to go that far. At least, he didn't want to completely freeze half of the room along with the boy.

Then a sound of a crack silenced everyone. The cracking sound became louder. A sword flew out of the cracks and flew towards Ivan. Ivan raised his gaurd and deflected the incoming sword with Excalibur. The deflected sword flew back towards the ice as a figure emerged out of it.

Seb didn't look very happy. His breath blew out of his nostrils and mouth in white whispy mist. He drew his non-sword hand in an arc, six swords materialized around him making seven in total. Ivan feet left the ground again and froze only a feet above the ground, his sword ready with his eyes narrowed in concentration.

"Okay! Enough!" A voice rang.

Sargent Griffon ran to the middle of the two Wielders whistling his whistle like a madman.

Ivan dropped to the ground. Seb's swords disappeared, a look of surprise on his face as he did. Sargent Griffon blew the whistle even louder, causing everyone, even the spectators to hold their ears.

"Never again!" He yelled. "Look at what you both did!"

Ivan and Seb looked around.

The simulation room was in complete ruin. Half of the room still was covered in icicles.

"We are done for the day! You two! Settle your differences and be here at the same time! Yous are partners! That's final! Fight again and your pay will be deducted!"

"I don't get paid," Seb said.

"Your food privileges then will be deducted!"

Sargent Griffon blew the whistle again.

"Dude. You said he was a looser," Brain said to Theodore as they watched everyone leave the simulation room.

"He is," Theodore said, gritting his teeth.

"That's a looser? Dude. Even you can't hold up against Ivan."

Theodore didn't say anything.

"No wonder they classified him as a Rank Zero out of the blues. His weapon his Grade One, but the way he uses it! Damn!"

"Do you think even I can learn to use my weapon like he does," Killian said hopefully, drawing out his gladius.

"He has had years of practice fighting monsters alone. You need more practice and experience to rise your ranks squirt," Brian said with a laugh as he patted Killian's back. "Let's go. I am hungry."

While all of the trainees left, Theodore was one of the few to remain, staring at the wrecked simulation room.

"Those two are a good match, they complement each other well," Mr. Hawthorne said as he rubbed his beard.

"That's all you can think of!" Miss. Grace said.

"What do you think, Davis?" Mr. Clavory asked from the young blonde man who had stood silently most of the time.

"Gilgamesh," Mr. Davis said, his eyes transfixed on Seb. "His sword will be called Gilgamesh."

A slap rang through the boy's changing room. Seb stared in shock as Ivan simply stood, his face still turned away while Jeremy lowered his hands.

"You went too far, Ivan."

Apollo, who was nearest to Jeremy, slowly crept away.

"He survived."

"We kill monsters. Not humans! Your pride always get to you, Ivan."

Ivan checked his jaws as he turned stared at Jeremy. Jeremy was taller than Ivan. Much taller. Seb never imagined that Jeremy had it to even slap a person.

"I will tolerate this for your seniority and for the respect I have for you. Hemingway."

"This won't be the last if you behave like this again. If Sebastian had not been stronger, we would have lost a Wielder. Heal him before you leave."

Jeremy left the locker room while Apollo dressed. He looked between Ivan and Seb. He simply left after than, leaving the two boys behind.

"Come here," Ivan said, holding out his hand.

Seb hesitated.

"Give me your hand!"

Seb gave the boy his hand. Cold pale fingered grabbed his and Seb felt a strange warmth rush through him.
He watched in awe as the his wounst closed and his gaze flickered back to Ivan whose face was as cold as a glacier. He even felt the cut on his cheeck gradually heal, leaving only the sensation on an itch.

"That class four troll," Ivan said, "You could have ended him in seconds with the wall you use duplicate spell. Why drag it out? For a good show?"

Seb felt himself splutter as he yanked his hands away from Ivan's cold fingers.

"None of your business," he muttered.

Ivan leaned on a locker behind with his arms folded.

"To lie low? To keep yourself from too much attention? That's weird Sebastian. Regularly, social outcasts like you would find ectasy in the adoration of masses," Ivan said.

Seb felt his fists clenched. "What do you know about me? Aren't you the one always basking in limelight?"

"It's for publicity," Ivan explained. "This facility gain it's income from it. I am just supporting the family."

"Good for you." Seb muttered as he left. "At least one didn't loose a parent for publicity."

Seb thought Ivan didn't hear, but Ivan's ears were sharp. Ivan frowned. He heard from his father that Sebastian's father was a Wielder. A prominent one. He didn't mention who since that Wielder didn't want to acknowledge a teenage son, it would be a scandle if that happened.

Well, it wasn't his business anyways. Still, that might explain why Sebastian seemed like prefer to make himself small and unnoticeable.

But Seb stopping halfway before he opened the locker room door.

"It would be useless," Seb explained.

Ivan hummed, raising a brow.

"It's not a duplication spell. It's a scattering spell."

"Scattering?"

"The more swords I make, the more the strength and durability reduces in each sword. It's okay for low class monsters, even humans. But not a troll. They have thick skin. I need the entire stenght of the sword in one to pierce its skin."

"So the more you make, the more it reduces in stenght. Interesting... How much can you make."

"Twenty one," said Seb without looking at Ivan, "It gains the consistantcy of a regular sword when it scatters into twenty one."

Still, it couldn't simply be is a measly Grade One weapon, Ivan thought himself as he watched Seb leave. It would have been a Grade two weapon at least with a duplication spell of more than seven duplicates. Then again, he wondered about the number of Trolls one would need to fight in order to learn its weaknesses and to know how to handle them.

He closed his eyes and sighed. Still, he really did underestimate the newbie.