Kevin’s fist tore through the air where Adrian’s head had been a mont ago.
Adrian slipped past it with a twist of his shoulders, the knuckles brushing his hair but never landing. Kevin followed instantly—elbow, knee, heel—each strike chained together without pause, forcing Adrian to retreat for the first ti.
Only for a step.
Kevin lunged, feinted high, then drove a punch straight for Adrian’s ribs.
Adrian caught the wrist.
The impact echoed. The ground shook beneath their feet as Kevin pushed forward, raw strength forcing Adrian’s arm to bend despite the clean technique. For a split second, Adrian’s expression sharpened.
So he felt it.
Kevin capitalized—twisting his trapped arm, slamming his forehead forward. Adrian released instantly, slipping sideways just as Kevin’s head crashed past his shoulder. Kevin spun with the motion, heel snapping toward Adrian’s temple.
Adrian ducked, the kick slicing the air above him.
They crossed again in a blur—Kevin pressing, Adrian yielding by inches. Kevin forced him back with sheer aggression, driving punches that bent air and shattered the floor where they missed.
Adrian never struck back.
He parried. Redirected. Evaded.
Kevin grabbed for his collar—got him—only for Adrian to pivot, using Kevin’s own grip to spin out and reappear behind him.
Kevin grinned as he twisted mid-turn, fist already coming around.
Adrian was gone again.
By the ti they separated, Kevin was breathing hard, stance steady, eyes sharp.
Adrian stood untouched.
"Alright, it’s over," Adrian muttered as he relaxed his stance. He turned to the boy and said, "Go get yourself checked before returning to your room."
The young man bowed his head. "Thank you for the battle, sir. And... thank you for going easy on ."
Kevin wasn’t a fool to say that he actually pushed Adrian during the battle.
If anything, Adrian did him a favor by not going aggressive unlike the way he baffled against Aries.
That allowed the boy to gain so confidence and last this long. Possibly, the best instructor he could have asked for his assessnt.
Adrian only humd in response, watching as the boy made his way toward the dical ward.
Kevin was one of the brightest students in his class, but not soone known for actively participating in physical training. For him to display such sharp combat sense and adaptability was genuinely impressive.
And not only him, Adrian briefly observed other students too and he was genuinely impressed the way they ca out of their shells and seed actually prepared about this.
What should I do... Adrian wondered. If I’m being honest, every student feels like they’ve passed the exam.
But he knew he couldn’t lie to Rylie. He had made his expectations clear before the assessnt—there were specific points Adrian was ant to evaluate.
And according to those criteria...
Two out of the ten students would not make it through.
As he was lost in thought, a familiar woman approached him.
"What’s with that conflicted expression?"
It was Norma.
She had finished her share of the assessnt as well and looked slightly out of breath. Adrian gestured toward a nearby seat, but she shook her head in refusal.
After a brief pause, he answered her earlier question.
"I don’t know... I just don’t feel right about having a student fail their exams over a few mistakes."
A red mark on one’s record—signifying failure and a repeated year—tended to follow them far into the future. For those aspiring to work for the Tower, it could be especially damaging.
No wonder Adrian felt uncertain.
Just then, Norma spoke up.
"I think telling the truth would be the best option. The headmistress did ntion that we should be a little less critical for this particular examination compared to the other two."
The combat assessnt had been introduced without much warning. Because of that, Arriana had already made it clear that instructors were to be more lenient when grading—just for this year.
Adrian humd in acknowledgnt before glancing at her.
"Why do you assu I’d lie, though?" he asked lightly. "Or does that an you were considering doing the sa, Miss Norma?"
The red-haired woman abruptly averted her gaze.
"I don’t know what you’re talking about, ehehe~"
Adrian huffed and shook his head. "Well, thank you for your hard work."
Norma’s face lit up instantly. "You too, Professor. Thank you for your hard work."
She fidgeted for a mont before adding, "Um... how about we get so tea together? I know a great place in the market."
Adrian paused, considering how he should respond, when a voice suddenly cut in.
"Sorry to say, Norma, but Professor Adrian is already reserved to assist in my office for the evening."
Ariana delivered the words without hesitation, her firm tone leaving no room for argunt.
Norma hadn’t intended to argue in the first place. At the sight of the headmistress, she grew flustered and bowed her head.
"Yes, of course. Work cos first."
She turned to Adrian and gave him another brief bow. "Well then... see you tomorrow, Professor."
With that, she hurried away, leaving the two of them behind.
Adrian let out a sigh and gave Ariana a tired look.
"Have I not ntioned that you should refrain from speaking so many words at once?"
Ariana huffed. "If I hadn’t, you’d be on a date right now."
Adrian chuckled softly. "She’s just a colleague, Aria... soone who respects ."
Then he added, almost casually, "And I was going to reject her anyway."
He reached out and took her hand. "Because I wanted to spend ti with you."
Ariana huffed again, but she didn’t pull her hand away.
She knew a predator when she saw one.
And the way Norma looked at Adrian made it clear—whatever she felt for him went far beyond simple respect.
"Well, shall we go?"
Ariana nodded faintly before they began to walk.
anwhile, in the stands, Elana watched them leave, their hands discreetly intertwined. A sigh—tinged with disappointnt and longing—escaped her lips.
"How cruel of you."
A groggy voice ca from beside her. Elana turned to find Aries glaring at her.
"Here I am, sharing my tragic tale," she continued, rubbing her eyes, "and you’re busy eyeing the very man who’s the main villain of my story?"
Elana sighed and gently rubbed Aries’s back.
"Aries... just because you lost to him doesn’t make him a villain."
She cast one last, lingering glance at her professor’s retreating figure before adding,
"And besides... if the villain of a story is that charming, I might not mind switching sides."
Aries let out an exaggerated groan.
"How cruel! I don’t want to talk to you anymore!"
Elana faintly chuckled and rushed after her heartbroken friend.
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