Klarion waited a moment for most of the scions and their bodyguards to rush over to the wall and the racks of practice weapons. With how many weapons were orderly stacked, waiting to be used, he wasn’t worried about finding a wooden greatsword for himself. Hatsune, taking his lead, waited with him until the majority selected the weapon they wanted to practice with and returned to the floor, where Professor Thrain was directing them to take positions in various circles with their sparring partners.


    Once the press had cleared somewhat, Klarion moved toward the nearest rack, his eyes scanning the array of wooden weapons. He hesitated a moment, looking over the options before he selected the wooden greatsword furthest to the right. The hilt felt unfamiliar compared to his own weapon, but the weight and balance were close enough. Hatsune chose a nearby longsword, a rough facsimile of her own, but despite her nod at him, Klarion could tell she was not the happiest with her weapon.


    As they joined the pairs being directed to their own circles throughout this part of the gymnasium, Professor Thrain motioned for them to begin. “Show me your form, your control, your instincts,” he commanded. “This isn’t a competition — yet. Focus on demonstrating what you know.”


    Klarion took a moment to watch as the other scions and their bodyguards began to move. Some were tentative, their strikes lacking confidence, while others attacked their sparring partner with overzealous enthusiasm, their techniques unrefined. A few stood out with practiced stances and deliberate motions, but even the more skilled pairs seemed rough around the edges to him.


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