[Instructor Rowan's Final Analysis]
The morning sun had risen higher, burning away the last traces of chill from the training ground. The matches were over, but the conversations were just beginning.
Kyle sat on a low bench near the edge of the training field, stretching his arms as he listened to the murmurs around him. His gaze flicked across the crowd, noting the reactions—some were deep in thought, some frustrated, and others still buzzing from the excitement.
Then, as expected, the usual group began to gather.
Darius Holt approached first, shaking his head with a small smirk. Jace Torren wasn't far behind, his Silvercrest Raven perched lazily on his shoulder. Vivian Marchand joined them with a thoughtful look, and soon enough, Lena Voss, Rael Stroud, Soren Vale, and even Erik Fenrow formed an informal circle.
The conversations overlapped at first. But then, Darius spoke, cutting through the noise.
> "Alright, let's hear it—who had the most embarrassing fight today?"
A beat of silence. Then, predictably—
> "Rael," Erik said immediately.
Rael groaned. "Oh, come on. Like you did any better?"
Vivian smirked. "You got thrown like a sack of flour."
"Hey," Rael shot back, "you weren't fighting a damn walking fortress." He jerked a thumb at Soren, who simply shrugged.
"You could've planned better," Lena cut in, her tone even. "You kept attacking without considering the lack of impact."
Rael exhaled. "Yeah, yeah, I get it. Should've switched strategies."
Kyle, who had been quiet until now, finally spoke. "Soren controlled the fight the moment he chose not to chase you. He forced you to be the aggressor, and once you took the bait, it was over."
Rael's shoulders slumped slightly, but then he nodded. "Yeah… makes sense."
Darius leaned back slightly, stretching. "I'll admit, Markus surprised me a little. He actually thought ahead instead of just throwing himself at Theo like a wild beast."
Theo, standing a little off to the side, let out a deep sigh. "Still lost, though."
"Yeah, but you lasted longer," Jace said. His tone was lighter, always aiming to lift morale rather than crush it. "You weren't just standing there this time. You tried to adjust."
Theo gave a small nod. "I need to work on movement. I know."
Kyle tapped his fingers against his knee. "That's not just on you. Verdant Warden isn't built for fast combat, but you can train to compensate. Strength isn't just about how much damage you can take."
Theo considered that for a moment before nodding again, this time more determined.
Vivian crossed her arms. "Lena's fight was the cleanest, though. Not much to critique there."
Erik scowled. "Yeah, yeah. I get it. I rush too much."
Lena's gaze flicked to him, unreadable. Then she simply said, "It's not about not attacking. It's about making each attack count."
A moment of quiet followed as everyone took that in. Then—
> "So," Jace said with a grin, "who's the best among us so far?"
Most eyes went to Darius and Lena.
But then, as if on instinct, several pairs of eyes also flicked to Kyle.
Kyle, who had not fought today.
Kyle, who had already proven too much in his last fight.
Darius noticed and let out a low chuckle. "Oh, don't look at him. He's getting 'special treatment' now."
Kyle rolled his eyes. "It's not special treatment."
"Sure, sure," Erik said, grinning. "We fight, and you sit there, looking all mysterious."
Kyle shook his head. "I was literally given basic training drills. You think I'm enjoying that?"
Darius snorted. "Well, we're gonna make you fight again soon, 'cause I'm not letting you get rusty."
Vivian smirked. "Oh, please. Like Kyle getting rusty is even possible."
Jace leaned in slightly, eyes glinting. "And yet… I get the feeling he's still holding back."
A quiet pause.
Kyle didn't react. He didn't have to. The truth was, even he didn't fully know what he was holding back.
But soon… he would.
And so would they.
---
Just as the tension in the air settled, a firm presence approached, cutting through their conversation like a knife.
Instructor Rowan Calder stood behind them, arms crossed, his expression unreadable.
> "I see you're all doing my job for me," he remarked dryly.
The group immediately straightened, their casual banter silenced in an instant.
Rowan's gaze swept over them, then he exhaled, shifting slightly.
> "I've analyzed your battles. Some of you showed progress. Others…" His eyes flicked toward Rael and Erik for half a second. "…still have a long way to go."
Rael sighed. Erik just clenched his jaw.
Rowan continued.
> "Stroud, you have speed but no patience. You react before you think, and it cost you. Next time, don't let your opponent dictate the pace."
Rael gave a tight nod.
> "Fenrow, same problem, different approach. You attack with no plan, no restraint. The moment you get stopped, you crumble. If you can't learn control, then you'll never advance."
Erik muttered, "Understood."
> "Vale, your defense is solid, but defense alone won't win battles. A fortress that never strikes back is just a wall waiting to be broken."
Soren met Rowan's gaze and nodded. "I'll adjust."
> "Voss, your execution was near flawless, but don't let that make you complacent. There will always be someone faster, stronger, or more resilient than you. Plan for that."
Lena gave a simple, "Yes, sir."
Rowan's attention turned to Darius.
> "Holt. Your offense is formidable, but stamina remains your flaw. If an opponent drags you into a drawn-out fight, your strength will mean nothing."
Darius smirked. "Guess I'll have to finish fights faster then."
Rowan's stare was unimpressed. "Or you could train your endurance."
Darius's smirk twitched, but he gave a sharp nod.
Finally, Rowan's gaze landed on Kyle. Unlike the others, he didn't critique a battle. He simply studied him for a long moment before speaking.
> "And you."
Kyle met his gaze calmly.
> "There's no point in telling you what to improve when you haven't shown anything yet."
The group tensed slightly, glancing at Kyle. But Rowan wasn't done.
> "But from what I've seen, you already understand more than you let on."
A pause. Then, his next words carried a weight that settled deep.
> "That won't last forever. Eventually, you will have to step forward and prove it."
Kyle held his stare, unreadable. Then, he gave a slow nod.
Rowan exhaled and stepped back.
> "Training resumes tomorrow. Don't waste the day."
With that, he turned and left, leaving the group in thoughtful silence.
Kyle exhaled, rolling his shoulders. He had already known it was coming.
And yet, something about Rowan's words felt like an unspoken challenge.
One he would have to answer.