Loir woke up to the soft light of the morning sun pressing against his eyelids. His head was throbbing. His nose ached. He still felt too much pain in his nose.


    "Ughhh! , where am I? ", said Loir while touching the bandage on his nose.


    " You are finally up, Mr. Loir." , said a voice behind him. When he turned, he saw her. Miss Jennifer, the Royal healer and the person who established "Hands of mercy", an army branch of Paradise that is build upon the gentle hands of the healers of Paradise.


    "Miss Jennifer? What are you doing here? Where am I?", said Loir nervously.


    "it''s obvious that you are in the Infirmary, you fool. Do you expect me to be in your room? ", said Miss Jennifer.


    " U-uhh, no. I mean what am I doing here? " , said Loir. His voice trembling.


    "You got punched in the face by your childhood friend, Celis. She broke your nose with one punch. You are so weak. Getting destroyed by a healer. ", said Miss Jennifer with a huge smirk on her face.


    "Agghhh! , that girl. I don''t even know why she is always obsessed with what I will do." , said Loir.


    "A jealous girl''s heart. You gotta understand it, kiddo", said miss Jennifer.


    " It''s not possible for her to like someone pathetic like me. I mean, I can''t even fight correctly. " , said Loir.


    "It''s because you don''t want to improve. Atleast, improve your habits. Your life will change automatically", replied Miss Jennifer.


    "Damn, never thought you would lecture me about life , mam.", said Loir


    Then another person woke up on the bed next to Loir''s. It was kyren. But his three teeth are missing. Kyren yawned and rubbed his eyes.


    " Ah, you Mr. Kyren. You woke up too? I thought you are going to spend the entire day here sleeping " , said Miss Jennifer.


    " Oh, Loir is that you? Good morning. It''s the first time I got to sleep fir such a long time. "


    Loir couldn''t believe his eyes. "Is this creep is actually Kyren? ", he thought to himself.


    "Well, if you are really Kyren then tell me. How did you lose your three teeth?" , said Loir.


    "Miss Madelyn came here in the morning to share a cup of tea with me. But when she saw this guy her cheeks turned red and she punched him in the face. That''s how he lost his three teeth", said miss Jennifer while sipping a cup of hot tea.


    " Life''s rough, isn''t it buddy? " , said Loir.


    "Yeah. Especially when women is involved in your life. I didn''t even do anything this morning. I was just drinking water when she entered the infirmary. We looked into each other''s eyes and then she begin to blush. After that, she punched me in the face", replied Kyren.


    "Uhh, seems very bad. Btw, miss Jennifer. How long I was out?", said Loir.


    " Oh! , umm for almost 12 hours. Congratulations, you both slept much longer than anyone else in this academy. " , said miss Jennifer.


    "Oh no!", said Loir and Kyren in total sync.


    " Anyway, you both missed prayer and drill classes. Run to sir marlok''s cabin and tell him what happened to both of you. Or else he might make you run 100 laps around the ground.


    Both of them started to run, but Sir Marlok was on the ground. Waiting for both of them.


    "Where are you going guys? ", said Sir Marlok, his voice is menacing and calm at the same time.


    " Uhh. Sir we ummm, we were searching for you sir. " , said Loir. His voice is trembling.


    "Searching for me? Well now that you have found me , tell me what is the reason behind your absence during morning prayer class and training drills.also who is this creep behind you?", said Sir Marlok.


    " It''s me Kyren , sir. " , said Kyren. Showing his smile. Which wasn''t pretty good.


    The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.


    "No, I don''t believe it. That idiot will never look like this.", said Sir Marlok.


    " Well Sir , he is indeed Kyren. Well, he got punched in the face by Miss Madelyn." , said Loir.


    "Did you confess to her again? TELL ME. DID YOU CONFESS TO HER AGAIN? HUH?"


    Sir Marlok''s eyes narrowed dangerously.


    Kyren’s smile wavered. "N-no, sir! I didn’t confess! I was just… existing!"


    Sir Marlok''s eyebrow twitched. "Existing?"


    Kyren nodded vigorously. "Yes, sir! Existing!"


    Sir Marlok sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "You’re telling me that Miss Madelyn punched you in the face hard enough to knock out three teeth because you were existing?"


    "Technically… yes?" Kyren said weakly.


    Sir Marlok’s eyes flashed. "Did you at least apologize?"


    "For what? Breathing?" Kyren’s expression was dead serious.


    Sir Marlok''s jaw tightened. "And you--" he turned toward Loir. "What''s your excuse?"


    Loir rubbed the back of his head. "I got punched in the face too."


    Sir Marlok''s expression darkened. "By whom?"


    "Celis…" Loir muttered.


    Sir Marlok’s mouth twitched upward --barely. "Interesting. You two really have a gift for provoking the women of this academy."


    "It’s not our fault!" Kyren protested. "Women are complicated!"


    Loir shot him a look. Don’t drag me into this.


    Sir Marlok folded his arms across his chest. His armor creaked softly with the motion. "Perhaps if you both spent less time charming women and more time focusing on your training, you wouldn’t be on the receiving end of their fists."


    Kyren raised a hand. "Technically, I wasn’t charming her. I was just breathing."


    Sir Marlok’s gaze sharpened. "Did I give you permission to speak?"


    Kyren’s hand lowered slowly. "No, sir."


    Sir Marlok’s lips curled into a dangerous smile. "Good. Now, since you two are so well-rested from your little naps, you’ll be making up for the missed training session."


    Kyren’s eyes widened. "Sir, no-"


    "Fifty laps. Each."


    Kyren’s mouth dropped open. "But si--"


    "Fifty more if you complain."


    Kyren’s mouth shut.


    "And you." Sir Marlok’s gaze turned toward Loir.


    Loir stood straighter. "Sir?"


    "I expect you to be in top form at the Trials next week. No more distractions. No more… drama."


    Loir swallowed. "Understood, sir."


    Sir Marlok stepped forward until he was inches from Loir’s face. "And if I heard that you are out there flirting with women again instead of practicing, then I would feed you to my pet lion. ", said Sir Marlok, menacingly.


    Loir stiffened. "I wouldn’t—"


    "You wouldn’t what?" Sir Marlok’s gaze bored into him.


    "I wouldn’t… disrespect Celis like that."


    Sir Marlok’s expression remained cold. "Good."


    He stepped back and turned toward Kyren. "Get moving. Your fifty laps aren’t going to run themselves."


    Kyren groaned. "Sir, my legs are still sore from yesterd--"


    "Sixty laps." , said Sir Marlok, interrupting Kyren.


    Kyren paled. "Wh-what?"


    "You heard me."


    Loir sighed. "Come on, Kyren." He grabbed Kyren’s arm and started dragging him toward the track.


    Kyren stumbled after him, muttering under his breath. "This academy is going to kill me one day."


    "I think that’s the goal," Loir said dryly.


    They reached the track. Loir stretched his arms over his head. "Well. Shall we?"


    Kyren’s eyes narrowed. "You seem awfully calm about this."


    "I’m used to pain."


    "Must be nice."


    Loir smirked. "Let’s see if you can keep up."


    Kyren groaned. "I’m going to die out here."


    Loir took off at a steady pace. Kyren forced himself to follow. His breath was already ragged by the time they finished the first lap.


    "Loir—" Kyren gasped. "Slow down."


    "You’re the one who got punched for existing, remember?" Loir called over his shoulder.


    Kyren’s eyes narrowed. "You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?"


    "Absolutely."


    They rounded the second lap. Kyren’s legs were trembling. Loir was still running with maddening ease.


    "Why are you so calm?" Kyren panted.


    Loir’s gaze softened slightly. "Because I’ve already survived the worst."


    Kyren frowned. "Celis?"


    Loir didn’t answer.


    Ahead of them, Celis stood at the edge of the track, arms crossed over her chest. Her braid was slightly loose, and she was wearing her training gear. Her eyes were sharp as they followed Loir’s form.


    Kyren noticed her first. "Uh, Loir?"


    Loir glanced up. His pace faltered slightly.


    Celis stepped onto the track. "Loir."


    Loir slowed to a stop. Kyren collapsed onto the ground, gasping for breath.


    "Celis?" Loir wiped sweat from his brow.


    "Training session."


    "Right now?" Loir’s brows furrowed. "I’m kind of in the middle of something."


    "Not anymore." Celis tossed him a wooden training sword. "Unless you’d rather keep running laps."


    Loir sighed. "I really don’t have a choice, do I?"


    "Nope." Celis smiled faintly. "Get ready."


    Loir took a deep breath and raised his sword. Celis did the same.


    Kyren groaned from the ground. "Don’t die."


    "I’ll try."


    Celis lunged forward. Their swords clashed in a flurry of quick strikes. Loir held his ground, but Celis’s footwork was faster — more precise.


    "You’ve improved," Celis said as her sword swept toward his side.


    "Thanks," Loir said, blocking the strike.


    Celis’s gaze sharpened. She feinted to the left, then swept her leg behind Loir’s knee. He stumbled.


    She pounced.


    Loir’s eyes widened as Celis’s thighs locked around his neck, pulling him off balance. He hit the ground hard, with Celis perched dangerously on top of him. Her face was flushed, her breath sharp.


    Loir froze. His face was pressed against the bare skin of her inner thigh.


    Celis’s eyes widened.


    "Oh! "


    Her hands flew to her mouth.


    Loir’s eyes widened. "Uhhhh, please stand up! "


    Celis’s entire face turned crimson. "I-- this--"


    Loir tried to move. "Celis, you’re --"


    "I know!"


    Her legs tightened around his neck in reflex.


    Loir choked. "Celis, just stand up. I am getting choked by your thicc thig--, I mean legs.


    "Ahh!" Celis’s body tensed. "I I didn’t mean to


    Kyren’s muffled laughter sounded from the sidelines.


    Celis’s eyes darted toward Kyren then back to Loir. Her mouth opened and closed.


    Then she fainted.


    Loir’s head hit the ground. "Ow."


    Kyren rolled onto his side, laughing so hard he could barely breathe.


    Loir lay flat on the ground, Celis’s unconscious body still sprawled over him. His face burned.


    "Loir," Kyren gasped between laughs. "I think you’re in trouble."


    Loir groaned. "Yeah. I know".