Chapter 257: Academy’s Rising Stars [2]

The interdepartmental demonstrations were still several days away, but Holy Trinity’s training grounds had already become busier than usual.

Knights occupied the open fields, practicing formations and coordinated attacks, while wizards reserved the adjacent arenas to experiment with spells they intended to present during the event.

Ilya had little interest in joining the preparations immediately.

He had already spent the better part of the morning attending lectures, and Professor Hakon had assigned him another series of exercises concerning mana control. Adding another training session would accomplish little if he couldn’t maintain his concentration.

Unfortunately, Tristan Bellacourt seemed to disagree.

The southern nobleman intercepted him outside the Magic Department shortly after lunch.

"I’ve reserved the western arena for an hour."

Ilya looked at him.

"Congratulations."

"You’re coming."

"Was that supposed to be an invitation?"

Tristan ignored the question.

He had apparently been experimenting with a new application of his translucent planes and wanted to test it against someone capable of changing direction in midair.

That narrowed the list of suitable opponents considerably.

Ilya considered declining.

His recent training had already exposed several weaknesses in his fighting style, and he hadn’t finished addressing all of them. However, testing his improvements against Tristan would provide more useful information than another afternoon spent practicing against stationary targets.

He agreed, provided they maintained the same restrictions as their previous engagements.

Tristan accepted without complaint.

By the time they reached the western arena, several students were already practicing nearby. The two obtained permission from the supervising instructor and activated the protective formation.

Their previous matches had attracted enough attention that a few spectators gathered almost immediately.

Ilya ignored them.

He was more interested in discovering what Tristan had been preparing.

"Ready?" the instructor asked.

Both students nodded.

"Begin!"

Tristan attacked first.

Three mana blades appeared around him, each positioned beside a translucent plane suspended in the air. With a small movement of his hand, the blades accelerated toward Ilya from different directions.

Ilya released a current of freezing wind and moved sideways.

The first blade missed.

The second passed through a plane and changed direction, approaching from above.

He formed an ice javelin and intercepted it before accelerating toward Tristan.

That was when the third blade returned.

It had traveled through another plane behind Ilya, allowing Tristan to redirect it toward his exposed side.

Ilya twisted away, narrowly avoiding the attack.

Interesting.

Tristan had improved the arrangement of his planes.

Previously, he had relied on redirecting individual spells through carefully positioned surfaces. Now, he appeared capable of maintaining several connected trajectories, allowing his attacks to approach from angles that weren’t immediately obvious.

It was a troublesome development.

Ilya responded by releasing several ice javelins.

Tristan redirected two through his planes and destroyed the third with a compact lightning spell.

Their exchange continued as Ilya gradually closed the distance.

He knew better than to fight Tristan through a prolonged contest of conventional spellcasting. The southern nobleman possessed greater mana reserves and far more experience with higher-circle techniques.

His advantage lay elsewhere.

A burst of freezing wind carried Ilya toward Tristan’s left.

Tristan immediately repositioned one of his planes, anticipating the approach.

However, Ilya changed direction before entering its effective range.

The surrounding cold currents scattered, producing several disturbances across the arena.

Tristan’s attention shifted toward the strongest one.

Ilya accelerated from another angle.

For the first time, Tristan’s response came slightly late.

Ilya closed the distance and delivered a punch toward his shoulder.

Tristan raised a defensive barrier just in time.

The impact forced him backward several steps.

A few spectators murmured in surprise.

Ilya was satisfied.

The adjustments Vera had suggested were working.

By spreading smaller disturbances throughout the surrounding air, he could make his actual movements more difficult to anticipate. The technique consumed additional mana, but careful control allowed him to maintain the effect without exhausting himself immediately.

Unfortunately, Tristan wasn’t someone who would fall for the same trick repeatedly.

The next time Ilya attempted a similar approach, the southern nobleman adjusted his position rather than following the apparent disturbances.

Several translucent planes appeared around him.

Ilya recognized the danger.

He withdrew just as lightning passed through the nearest plane and emerged along his intended route.

The attack struck the ground where he would have landed.

Tristan had anticipated his acceleration.

Ilya smiled.

That was more like it.

Their engagement continued for another few minutes, with neither securing a decisive advantage.

Tristan gradually learned to distinguish between genuine movements and disturbances created by Ilya’s surrounding cold currents. Meanwhile, Ilya began recognizing the positions from which Tristan could establish his most effective redirections.

Both adjusted their approaches accordingly.

Eventually, the supervising instructor announced the end of the session.

The result was another draw.

Neither seemed particularly dissatisfied.

Tristan dismissed his remaining spells before approaching.

"Your movement’s improved."

"So have your planes."

"I noticed you were deliberately interfering with my perception."

"Was it effective?"

"At first."

Ilya laughed.

A fair assessment.

Tristan had adapted quickly enough that repeating the same approach would have become dangerous. Still, the experiment had confirmed that his recent training was producing results.

More importantly, he had discovered another limitation.

His disturbances were most effective when Tristan relied on identifying his movements through mana fluctuations. Once the southern nobleman began watching his physical positioning instead, the advantage diminished.

That meant further adjustments were necessary.

As they left the arena, Tristan suggested that they continue training together over the coming weeks.

Ilya agreed.

Their rivalry had become a surprisingly useful arrangement.

Neither possessed much patience for opponents who couldn’t challenge them, and their different strengths forced them to reconsider techniques that worked perfectly well against ordinary students.

Besides, Tristan was becoming easier to speak with.

He remained proud, occasionally arrogant, and entirely too interested in winning their next engagement.

Then again, Ilya couldn’t claim to be much different regarding that last point.

They separated near the department entrance, each intending to review the results of their match.

Ilya headed toward the research wing, where he had arranged to meet Solenne regarding the upcoming magical engineering exhibitions.

She was waiting near one of the laboratories, examining a collection of documents provided by the faculty.

When she noticed him approaching, her expression brightened.

"You’re late."

"Tristan wanted another match."

"Did you win?"

"Draw."

"Again?"

Ilya sighed.

Apparently, his inability to secure a decisive victory was becoming public knowledge.

Solenne laughed before handing him the documents.

The research exhibitions would include several laboratories specializing in mana circulation, magical materials, and experimental propulsion systems. Students who registered in advance would be allowed to observe demonstrations and speak with participating researchers.

Ilya examined the schedule.

Professor Antoine Chastellain’s name remained on the list, although his appearance had yet to be confirmed.

Several of his colleagues would present preliminary findings associated with the project regardless.

Solenne had already reserved places for two visitors.

"I assumed you’d want to attend."

"You assumed correctly."

She seemed pleased.

Their conversation continued as they reviewed the different presentations.

Solenne was particularly interested in the commercial applications of magical engineering. Her family’s business interests had exposed her to numerous technologies that originated in academic laboratories before becoming widely available throughout the Empire.

Ilya found her perspective useful.

He tended to approach magical research through its practical possibilities, often considering how a technique might improve combat, transportation, or exploration.

Solenne, meanwhile, understood the difficulties involved in turning an experimental invention into something ordinary people could actually use.

A magical device might function perfectly inside a laboratory and still prove useless if it required rare materials or an experienced wizard to operate.

Their discussion eventually turned toward the propulsion research.

Ilya explained that Antoine had been investigating ways to maintain stable magical movement at extreme altitudes, where conventional techniques encountered increasing difficulties.

The underlying principles were fascinating, although the practical obstacles remained formidable.

Solenne wondered whether a successful propulsion system could eventually transform long-distance transportation.

Ilya considered the possibility.

If the technology could be made reliable and affordable, its applications would extend far beyond academic research.

However, they were still discussing theoretical possibilities.

Antoine’s work had a long way to go.

By the time they finished reviewing the documents, the afternoon was nearly over.

Solenne suggested that they have something to eat before returning home.

Ilya agreed.

They visited a small café near the research wing, where Solenne ordered tea and a selection of pastries while continuing their conversation.

Without the surrounding students and instructors, the atmosphere became noticeably more relaxed.

Solenne spoke about her family’s expectations and the difficulty of balancing her studies with the responsibilities she would eventually inherit.

Although she enjoyed attending Holy Trinity, she knew that her future would involve far more than academic accomplishments.

Ilya understood that feeling.

His own family circumstances were complicated, but he had grown up knowing that his decisions could affect people beyond himself.

For a while, they discussed their respective experiences without dwelling too heavily on the obligations awaiting them.

Solenne seemed to enjoy having someone who understood those pressures.

When they finally prepared to leave, she thanked him for accompanying her.

Ilya assured her that he had enjoyed himself.

Their conversation had been pleasant, and the research documents had given him several ideas worth exploring later.

As they parted outside the café, Solenne reminded him about their upcoming visit to the exhibition.

Ilya promised not to forget.

He continued toward the academy gates with the documents tucked beneath his arm.

Between Tristan’s increasingly troublesome magic and Antoine’s ambitious research, the coming weeks promised to be interesting.

And judging from how quickly his schedule was filling, he would need to become rather good at managing his time.