So this spar was like an exercise, which allowed them to learn from their classmates.
However, there was a problem.
The sparing match was a method for the top students to bully others.
As the students began pairing up with one another, I noticed that everyone was avoiding me.
I walked towards a few of my classmates who were still unpaired, but they all turned away in another direction the moment they noticed me approaching.
Some appeared scared.
Others looked away in disdain or wore a blank expression as though they hadn’t seen me.
I halted my steps and sighed.
"Are you having problems pairing with a partner, Ezekiel?"
Fredric’s voice resonated behind me.
I snapped my head backwards and looked at him with a frown.
Though I knew his intentions, I was uncertain about his current plans.
"Did I scare you?" Fredric slightly chuckled. "Well, do you want me to help you find a partner? Given your current reputation, it’s understandable that no one wants to partner with you. However, as your instructor, I can easily pair you up."
"Come, I’ve already made arrangements for your partner."
Without awaiting my response, Fredric gestured for me to follow him, turned around and walked away.
He was doing this intentionally.
Still, I couldn’t refuse, as disobeying an instructor’s orders without a proper reason would put me at odds with other instructors.
The last thing I wanted was for them to target me as well.
They were all busy with their own problems, and my infamous reputation was likely the least of their concerns.
I followed behind him.
We arrived at the front of the class.
"Jaran, come forward," Fredric called out.
A fair-skinned boy with purple hair walked forward. He glanced at me briefly with disdain before focusing on Fredric.
"I want you to be Ezekiel’s sparing partner. He’s one of our Class Three’s rising talents, but since he doesn’t have a good relationship with the rest of his classmates, I’ve decided to have you spar with him. Do you have any objections?" Fredric said, his tone calm.
"No. Since you say so, I’ll handle it," Jaran replied, shaking his head with a smile as he glanced at me once more.
"Alright then. I’ll leave it to you," Fredric replied with a nod at Jaran and me before walking away towards the other students who had already begun sparring to instruct them.
Jaran walked up to me. He scrutinised me from head to toe before locking gaze with me.
"I still don’t sense anything extraordinary about you. It seems that the rumours were right. You had cheated in your duel against Ivory," he said, with a scornful expression.
I stared back. Then smiled.
Jaran was ranked third in the Class three swordsman rankings. He was from the Windcrest Clan - a prestigious noble clan of the Swordsman Path.
He was one of the many who hated Ivory and Milas for claiming the top two ranks. Because without them, he would have been the top-ranked in Class Three.
Now that I was also a rising star in Class three, he was probably a part of those targeting me to ruin my chances of becoming a hero.
I was glad that the quest enabled me to decipher which information was correct, saving me the time to filter through it.
Nevertheless, Jaran was already at the top of my list of suspicion for the students who would target me, so I wasn’t too taken aback by the system alert.
Seeing that I didn’t bother responding, Jaran’s expression shifted into a frown.
"Fine. Since we are here to learn from each other, I’ll go first, and you can go second. Do you have any problems with that?" Jaran said, gripping his wooden blade firmly forward.
"No," I shook my head.
"Okay. Here I come," Jaran said, charging forward. He thrust his blade forward.
However, the blade showed no signs of stopping.
I swiftly stepped to the side, narrowly evading it.
"What’s the meaning of that?" I demanded, as I saw the broad smile stretched across Jaran’s face.
The blade was inches away from striking my face, and if I hadn’t reacted in time, it might have pierced my head, seriously injuring me.
I realised that he was planning to take any advantage he could to incapacitate me.
Jaran withdrew his blade. "Sorry, it seems that I hadn’t gotten used to the move correctly. I didn’t mean to strike like that just now," he said.
His smile faded and was replaced by a solemn expression.
I seriously wanted to smack him. But I restrained myself.
"What? My apology isn’t enough?"
"No. It’s fine," I shook my head.
I gripped my sword and got into position.
Jaran nodded and held his sword in front of him.
I advanced a single step and thrust my wooden blade forward.
As the blade was inches from his face, I tilted it to the side, and with a swift movement, I withdrew my blade, transferring the motion to the back of my leg.
I looked at Jaran with a slight smile.
Jaran was frozen in his spot, shocked.
At the side of the face where I had struck, several strands of flowing purple hair descended to the ground. His eyes tracked the hair strands before he raised his head and locked his eyes with mine.
"You... you did this on purpose," he said, his teeth gritted together.
I shook my head. "I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’ven’t gotten used to this move, so it’s understandable that I still made a few errors. Fortunately, I managed to control my strike on time, or else the results would have been catastrophic."
"What? Is my apology not enough?" I asked, faking a frown.
Jaran was silent. His body trembled as he glared at me with unconcealed anger.
I tightly gripped my sword, preparing to slip away in case he lost control and attacked me.