Everyone was now standing on the sports field. Kids were in their gym uniforms that were simple black and blue tracksuits.

The other classes were here too.

Miles stood in front of everyone. “Good, it seems that everyone is here. To explain why we are doing this is to showcase what the training will involve and if your parents agree with it. Last year there were few problems with us including it into normal PE lessons.”

“Is it dangerous then?” asked one of the parents.

“No there is no danger, as many of you have heard monster beast activity increased lately in the less populated territories and our principal got worried about it. It’s basic combat class. We use high-end personal shields to make sure no-one gets hurt. Last year it was introduced as an optional class that students could sign for. From now on we want more students to take it. This is the reason for this presentation. So unless parents disagree with it those will be compulsory classes for students.” Explained Milles. “Now two of our older students will showcase what it would include.”

As he said so, two students about 16 and 17 years old went to the middle of the sports ground.

“First let’s explain what equipment we use.” The teacher said. “The weapons are made of simple steelwood, hard and blunt, it’s impossible to penetrate the mana force field created by those necklaces with them.” He said pulling a necklace in shape of a cross with a white crystal inside of it. “Every student will get one when they are training. Now let’s see them in action.” He said pulling one on his neck.

“You!” Milles said pointing at one of the older students.”Hit me.”

The boy hesitated at the sudden request and just looked at the teacher.

“Come at me! I won’t do anything.”

Boy having no other choice performed a simple slash with his wooden sword at Miles' torso. Most people looked worried, some even closed their eyes not wanting to look but nothing seemed to happen.

The sword has stopped just before meeting its target and the cross on Miles' neck started to shine in red and then a simple beeping sound ensued.

“And that means I have been hit and lost. The duels between students end like that when someone's cross detects a hit. Only during the last month of the schoolyear tournament, it’s set to beep when the mana is depleted not on the first hit. Now boys set in positions.” Miles finished his explanation.

Both of them stood in front of each other and took a position. The older and little higher one had a two-handed greatsword and hold it in front of him ready to attack. The younger had a single-handed sword in right hand and shield in front of him ready to strike from behind it at any moment.

“Begin!” Shouted Miles.

Without waiting the greatsword user struck with a diagonal slash when making sure he was out of range of his enemy sword. The younger boy bore himself and stopped it with his shield, afterward proceeding to step within his sword distance and attacked with an overhead slash directed at the enemy shoulder.

The older boy stepped backward barely dodging the blunt blade and without brake attacked again with his sword aiming for sword hand of his rival.

He tried to block it with his sword but failed and lost a grip on it. Without waiting for his rival to gather himself the older boy attacked again this time landing a blow on his target shoulder.

The blade was stopped, again just a hair width from its destination and the cross started beeping and flashed red.

“And this is the end! Mark good job keeping the pressure on your target. Luke, you should have dodged that attack not block it. I will make sure to teach you that later. Thank you, both. Now those parents that don’t want their kids to take part in those lessons will need to file paperwork with our school staff. The rest we would like to have a small sparing session with the kids. Just to show them how it is.” monologed Miles.

Some of the parents took their kids and headed straight to the school despite their children protests. Especially the boys were the most disappointed that they wouldn’t be able to join the fun.

Two kids, a girl and a boy, from Leo class were taken away by their parents. The rest seemed to were willing to let their children took the class.

Leo looked at his father and mother worried.

“You don’t want to do this?” asked Jake his son.

“NO! I mean I want, I was worried that maybe you wouldn’t be okay with it.” Said Leo.

“I’m not really okay with it.” Said Julie. Leo looked at her disappointed. “But if you really want to do it I will allow it, it’s good exercise, but first time something dangerous happens you are signing out. Understood?”

“Yes, mom!” He said with a smile.

“Now go or there will be nothing left for you.” said Jake as he pointed at the some of the kids choosing their weapons already.

Leo started running to the weapons but as he went he noticed David just looking and not moving. “What’s wrong?” He asked.

“My parents won’t let me do it.” the black haired boy said disappointedly.

“Uwah, that sucks.” said Leo.

“Yes. I asked if I could watch at least.” David answered.

“Sorry. Is there nothing you could do to appeal to them?”

David shook his head.”I will try but I doubt it.”

“Well do your best, maybe we can think of something else later. I should go now.” Said Leo.

“No don’t worry about it. I will cheer on you.”

Leo moved to the weapon stack, feeling sorry for his friend. Looking at it he couldn’t decide, the greatsword seemed cool but at the same time sword and shield too.

Looking through the weapons one of them struck his attention the most. Double edged battle axe with long handle, it blade was at least 8 inches long and in total it was around 35 inches long. It had some charm about it that he couldn’t put in words.

Taking it in his hands it was quite heavy but not heavy enough that he couldn’t lift it. Just not exactly in the comfort zone.

“Is that your weapon? Are you sure you can even wield it since to me it looks like as if you are going to brake yourself just by holding it.” said someone from behind him.

It was a boy with green eyes and short brown hairs with a smirk on his face. He looked somewhat similar to Mary. He was examined with lighting element if Leo remembered rightly.

“You are Max, right? Are you related to Mary?” Asked Leo.

“I’m not related in any manner with that loser!” Shouted the boy. “Anyway do you want to spar oh great double element user?”

Leo didn’t really understand what Max was angry about but he was really excited for a spar. “Yes. Sure, let’s get the necklaces from the teacher.”

Max little surprised by a sudden answer didn’t even notice when Leo went to the teacher and asked for the spar to happen.

“So hot for some action boys.” Miles said with a smirk. “Good! I like it.” He said taking two necklaces from a box. “Wear those and stand three meters in front of each other. You will begin when I say ‘begin’, understood.”

Leo and Max nodded.

Max seemed to use a sword and a shield like the previous student, but his pose was different. He held his shield lower and his sword pointed forward to the enemy. He seemed like if he knew what he was doing.

Leo just wielded his axe with two hands and didn’t really know what to do. For now he just held the axe diagonally to his chest with his main hand being right.

Max knew he was facing an amateur and his father showed him few trick with a sword. He was sure he could win.

“Begin!”

Max jumped and started the fight with a simple thrust. It was fast and only by pure chance Leo was able to parry it with a side of his axe which caused him lose balance.

Before the blond boy could gather himself he was attacked again this time from the right with a slash. He put his axe in the way but that made him completely lose his footing and fell down onto the ground.

“Haha! What are you a pig? Why are you rolling on the ground pig?” Jested Max.

Leo felt angry, he brought himself up from the ground and pointed his axe at his enemy. “Come!”

“Tsk. Don’t be overconfident!” Max shouted and jumped with a thrust again.

This time Leo was able to dodge it to the side and tried to attack with his axe but it was easily blocked by Max’s shield.

His hands were getting tired, the axe laid heavy on his arms.

Max attacked again with a thrust. This time it was even faster than before. Still, Leo didn’t want to lose, he turned his axe and tried to attack too.

In the clash, Max blade got in between the shaft and edge of Leo’ axe. Suddenly as if something clicked just right Leo turned his axe before pulling it down and up twisting his enemy weapon out of their hands.

Max's eyes went wide and looked at his sword soared through the sky.

It was rotating in the air slowly and started falling but due to Leo lack of strength it went to low and went straight for the blond boy’ face.

It was stopped by the force field just before his eyes and Leo could hear a beep from his necklace.

Both boys had dissatisfied look on their faces.

“Quite a good show young boys, Max you have potential with the sword I will be sure to polish it and Leo it seems that axe fits you well and the last move you made was really nice work, still you need to work on your strength if you want to wield it correctly.” Commented Miles.

“We will settle it next time!” Said Max and stormed off.

“Eh, ah! Sure!” shouted Leo. “Thank you for your guidance, Mrs. Miles!”

“Don’t worry about it I will make sure to teach you a lot! Now go to your parents and maybe watch the others fight!” Miles said and went to pay attention to other kids.

“Good job son, you didn’t do bad for your first time!” Said Jake.

“Still, I lost by my own hand…” said Leo

“Don’t worry, everyone makes mistakes and no one does great when they just began something for the first time.” Said Julie.

“We need to go now me and your mother still needs to go to work.” Said Jake.

Leo nodded and only looked back at the sports ground before following his parents.

He noticed David and waved to him goodbye, to which he responded in the same manner.

Leo also looked for Mary but couldn’t find her anywhere. Still, he was satisfied, he had met new friends, learned new things, and seemed like the school would be a lot of fun.