As the blows closed in, one from above and one from the side, it was as if time slowed down.
Noah’s eyes contracted wildly, zooming in on the blows, his lips stretching into a grin.
With a sudden thwip, his tail erupted from his back, scales glinting in the light of the training hall.
It lashed out like a striking whip, coiling around Arlo’s fist mid-swing.
The appendage tightened, yanking the arm violently to the side before the blow could connect.
Arlo stumbled forward, his impossible balance thrown into chaos by brute force.
Noah twisted his torso just in time, but Damien’s descending punch still grazed across his chest.
Pain erupted all over his chest, and a soft crack echoed in the air as at least one rib gave way.
Noah gritted his teeth from the pain, bending with the attack, and his knee came roaring upward in answer.
It slammed into Damien’s jaw with a sickening crunch. The bigger man reeled, spittle and blood spraying from his mouth as his head snapped back.
Noah didn’t stop. The tail swung again, slamming Arlo across the ribs with the force of a hammer.
The blindfolded boy wheezed, collapsing sideways. Noah whipped around, the tail striking low, sweeping Damien’s legs out from under him.
The two tried to recover, but Noah was already on them.
His tail cracked like a whip across Damien’s chest, forcing the air from his lungs.
He spun with it, the appendage slamming Arlo into the ground with bone-jarring force.
Every movement was merciless and efficient.
Blow after blow rained down, From his tail, his fists, and his knees.
Their defenses shattered under the onslaught.
Arlo’s dodges failed him as every angle was sealed off by the living weapon.
As for Damien, his resilience crumbled as Noah’s strikes broke past his guard again and again.
Finally, both were sprawled across the sand, bruised and bloodied, gasping for breath.
Noah stood over them, his tail coiled high like a predator ready for another strike.
"That’s enough."
Professor Cecilia finally stepped forward, putting an end to the fight.
The tail froze where it hovered behind Noah.
Noah stared at her for a moment before stepping back, slowly retracting it, the sound of his classmates’ ragged breathing filling the hall.
Cecilia’s footsteps echoed across the training hall as she walked into the center of the battered triangle her students had formed.
Her eyes swept over them.
Damien still kneeling, jaw bruised and swollen, Arlo on one knee, clutching his ribs, and Noah standing tall, chest heaving, his tail fading back into his spine.
"Well done," she said, nodding at each of them in turn. "This was what I wanted to see. Not victory, nor defeat, but truth."
Her gaze settled on Damien first. "You rely too much on your strength, and it can become your greatest weakness."
"Your fists are weapons, yes, but you charge in without thinking. Every step you take announces itself, and someone with faster reflexes will punish that."
"You must learn restraint, Damien. Control your power, or it will control you."
Then, she turned to Arlo. "You’ve been able to cleverly apply the technique I taught you in your dodging, and it saved you more than once."
"But do not forget how fragile you are, and the fact that cleverness cannot carry you forever."
"That means you need more endurance. Build your body to survive the hits you will take. Otherwise, one good hit is all it will take to end you."
Finally, her golden eyes rested on Noah. She studied him longer than the others.
"And you... your instincts are lethal and your execution is exactly what the Executioner’s Path requires of you."
"But at this point in time, you fight to dominate, not to learn. You are quick to crush your opponents instead of testing them."
"That mindset will blind you to the true purpose of training. Discipline yourself, Noah. Otherwise, you’ll mistake overwhelming force for true mastery."
The hall was silent as everyone digested her words, mulling over them.
Cecilia straightened, clasping her hands behind her back. "You each have holes in your armor. Fix them, and you will become more than students."
"Ignore them, and they’ll be the cracks that destroy you."
[][][][][]
Noah stepped through the second-year dorm entrance, making his way to the lift.
A few seconds later, it was rising to the third floor.
His reflection in the polished metal doors stared back at him until they slid open with a soft hiss.
He stepped out, walking down the hall with unhurried strides.
The second-years loitering in the hallway fell silent when they saw him.
A few exchanged glances, but no one spoke.
They all knew who he was. And to them, he was more a curiosity than a threat.
Noah ignored them, his eyes fixed on the end of the corridor.
He stopped at a familiar door and knocked once. Then again.
On the second knock, the door opened.
Leo stood there, surprise flashing across his face at the sight of Noah. "Noah? What are you doing here?"
Of all the people he expected knocking on his door, Noah didn’t even make the list.
"Can I come in?" Noah asked flatly.
Leo hesitated, then stepped aside. "Uh... yeah. Of course."
Noah entered, taking in the familiar large room, while Leo closed the door behind them.
"I... I’ve been meaning to say," Leo began, scratching the back of his neck. "I should’ve spoken up back then. When they dragged you off to the Investigation Authority. I didn’t. And I’m sorry for that."
Noah cut him off with a shake of his head. "I’m not here for that."
Though, if this was the same Noah of a few weeks back, Leo would be choking on his own blood, and no one would’ve seen Noah taking the front door.
Leo frowned, confused. "Then... what? Did Arlo give you a cut of the money we got? Because if he didn’t, I can—"
"It’s not that either."
He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, his eyes locking onto Leo’s.
"I’m here," Noah said, voice low, "about the monolith."