Chapter 201: A Fellowship With A Spice

Noah discovered that Valhalla’s library was considerably larger than he had expected.

He stood at the entrance, staring down a corridor lined with towering shelves, suspended lanterns, and wooden staircases that connected the different levels. Students moved between the aisles carrying books, while a librarian at the front desk watched everyone with the expression of someone who had seen every possible form of academic stupidity.

Eric stood beside Noah.

"Why are we here again?"

"Research assignment."

"Right. I was hoping you’d forgotten."

Noah walked inside.

Their Combat Theory assignment required them to study an existing squad formation and explain how it could be adapted to different opponents. Damien had suggested using the library rather than relying on their own observations.

It was a sensible suggestion.

Which meant Eric had immediately complained about it.

Sophia and Damien headed toward the reference section. Luna went looking for books about mana control, while Laura wandered toward a row of historical records.

Noah followed Damien through several aisles until they reached a section dedicated to combat manuals.

"Here," Damien said, pulling out a thick volume. "Squad formations used by Valhalla’s previous generations."

Noah opened it.

The pages contained diagrams of different arrangements, explanations of their strengths, and examples of how they had been used in historical battles.

He began reading.

Some formations emphasized overwhelming offense. Others prioritized defense, mobility, or the protection of support fighters.

One principle appeared repeatedly.

A formation was only as effective as the people who could adapt it.

Noah leaned back slightly.

That explained why Squad Seven’s first attempts had failed. They had tried to follow a fixed arrangement rather than responding naturally to one another.

He made a note.

Across the table, Damien was already several pages ahead.

"You found something useful?"

"Maybe. We keep trying to make everyone occupy a specific position. But our strengths don’t work that way."

Damien looked at the diagram Noah showed him.

"You’re suggesting a flexible formation."

"Exactly. We establish responsibilities, not fixed positions."

Damien considered it, then nodded.

"That could work."

For the next hour, they studied examples and compared them with their own training. By the time they finished, Noah had several ideas to discuss with the others.

He was beginning to enjoy the assignment.

That realization was almost embarrassing.

Later, Noah went looking for Laura.

He found her near a window on the upper level, reading a book about Valhalla’s founding generations.

"Found anything interesting?" he asked.

Laura closed the book halfway.

"Mostly things that remind me how little I know about this place."

Noah glanced at the title.

"History?"

"Academy history. Its traditions, its early instructors, how the squad system developed."

"Sounds complicated."

"It is. Valhalla has changed considerably over the years."

She looked down at the courtyard.

"People talk about the academy as if it’s always been the same institution. But every generation has changed something."

Noah rested his arms on the railing.

"Maybe that’s the point. The academy changes because the students do."

Laura looked at him.

"That was surprisingly thoughtful."

"Don’t sound so shocked."

She smiled and returned to her book.

Noah remained beside her for a while, watching students cross the courtyard below.

He had spent so much time thinking about the powers inside him that he had neglected the world surrounding them. Valhalla had its own history, its own traditions, and countless people who had lived entire lives before he arrived.

Not everything needed to connect to Ragnarok.

Some things were simply worth learning.

A voice interrupted his thoughts.

"Blackwood. There you are."

Elias Rumo approached from the staircase, carrying a pair of books.

"I was told you were researching combat formations."

Noah nodded.

"Assignment."

"Ah, the glamorous life of a student."

Elias glanced at the book in Noah’s hand.

"Flexible formations? Good choice. They’re difficult to master, but they can be extremely effective when a squad understands itself."

"Speaking from experience?"

"From watching people fail at them."

Noah laughed.

Elias placed one of his books on the nearby table.

"Don’t make the mistake of thinking flexibility means everyone can do whatever they want. Without discipline, it becomes chaos."

Noah considered that.

It was a useful point.

"Thanks. I’ll keep that in mind."

"Anytime."

Elias gave Laura a polite nod before continuing down the aisle.

Noah watched him go for a moment, then looked back at the book.

Perhaps Elias was right about flexibility.

It required discipline.

Trust.

And an understanding of when to follow the plan and when to abandon it.

Noah closed the book.

He had enough research for today.

Tomorrow, Squad Seven would put their ideas to the test.

And this time, they wouldn’t be trying to fight like a formation diagram.

They would be learning how to fight as themselves.

The eastern training field was nearly empty when Squad Seven arrived.

Noah preferred it that way.

Without dozens of students crowding the surrounding arenas, they could concentrate on their work without attracting unnecessary attention. Damien had brought his notes from the library, while Sophia carried a small board on which they could sketch their formation.

Eric eyed it suspiciously.

"More diagrams?"

"Would you rather repeat yesterday’s mistakes?" Damien asked.

"No."

"Then stop complaining."

Luna laughed as she took her position.

Noah gathered everyone around the board.

"Yesterday, we learned that our formation needs to be flexible. We shouldn’t force ourselves into fixed positions just because a diagram says so."

Laura nodded.

"Everyone needs a primary responsibility, but we should be able to cover one another when something changes."

"Exactly," Noah said. "Eric can pressure the opponent, but he shouldn’t be the only one attacking. Damien can protect the formation, but he shouldn’t have to defend every opening. Sophia can exploit gaps, Luna can control space, and Laura can support whoever needs it."

Sophia studied the arrangement.

"And you?"

Noah paused.

"I move where the formation needs me."

Eric grinned.

"So you’re the person who fixes our terrible decisions."

"I’m beginning to understand why you need me."

"That’s friendship."

They took their positions.

For the first attempt, Damien acted as the opponent’s frontline fighter while the others practiced responding to his movements.

Eric advanced too quickly.

Sophia followed, leaving an opening behind her.

Luna tried to cover it, but that forced Laura to redirect her attention.

The formation collapsed within seconds.

Everyone stopped.

Eric looked around.

"That was almost good."

"It wasn’t even close," Sophia replied.

Noah rubbed his forehead.

"We’re moving too early. Nobody is watching the whole field."

Laura considered the problem.

"We need a signal that tells everyone when the formation is changing."

"Not necessarily a verbal command," Damien added. "During an actual fight, we might not hear one."

Noah nodded.

They settled on a simple system of movements and visual cues. Nothing complicated, just enough to communicate changes without shouting instructions.

Their second attempt lasted longer.

The third went better.

By the fourth, they were beginning to understand one another’s intentions. When Eric advanced, Sophia no longer followed automatically. When Damien shifted to defend Luna, Noah covered the space Damien had left behind.

Their formation wasn’t beautiful.

But it worked.

After another round, Noah raised his hand.

"Stop."

Everyone lowered their weapons.

Luna wiped sweat from her forehead.

"That felt different."

"Because we weren’t trying to follow a script," Noah replied.

Laura smiled.

"We were responding to each other."

Damien looked at his notes.

"We should test it against another squad."

Eric immediately brightened.

"Squad One."

"Eventually," Noah said. "But first, let’s make sure this works consistently."

Eric groaned.

Noah ignored him.

They spent the remainder of the morning refining their movements. By the time they finished, the formation was far from perfect, but everyone understood their role and knew when to adapt.

That was enough for today.

As they left the training field, Noah noticed Elias standing near the entrance, speaking with another student.

Elias finished the conversation and approached them.

"Morning training?"

"Something like that," Noah replied.

"How’s the new formation coming along?"

Noah looked at him curiously.

"You heard about it?"

"I saw you working on it yesterday. I was wondering whether you’d managed to make it practical."

"We’re getting there."

Elias glanced toward the empty arena.

"Don’t be discouraged if it takes time. Flexible formations are difficult because they require everyone to think independently without losing sight of the team."

Damien nodded.

"That’s what we’re trying to develop."

"Good approach."

Elias adjusted the strap of his training bag.

"Anyway, I won’t keep you. Good luck with it."

He offered a friendly wave and continued toward the academy buildings.

Eric watched him leave.

"He’s surprisingly interested in our training."

"He’s a B-Rank student," Laura said. "He probably enjoys discussing combat."

"Maybe."

Noah didn’t see anything suspicious in the conversation itself. Elias had offered reasonable advice and hadn’t asked for anything in return.

Still, Noah made a mental note to remember his words.

Independent thinking without losing sight of the team.

That was exactly what Squad Seven needed.

As the group headed toward lunch, Noah looked back at the training field.

They hadn’t unlocked a new power.

They hadn’t climbed the rankings.

They hadn’t even won another match.

But they had made progress that belonged entirely to them.

For now, that was worth more than another victory.