Ashes in Reverse

"Start!"

Alvis swung his hand down, signaling the beginning of the duel.

Kami charged at Leon instantly, so fast he couldn't even tell where she was for a moment. His instincts kicked in, and he began running, trying his best to dodge her attacks, though it was clear he had no strategy or stance. Just pure reaction.

This isn't just a normal duel... I have to prove myself to Master Alvis. If I don't, I won't be placed under his supervision.

I made that vow to live peacefully, to never walk the path of a cliché reincarnator. But now...I don't care, I'm going against it, As It's all for my sister.

Kami's wooden sword came crashing down on Leon's head. Somehow, he took the hit and remained standing, though dazed.

She leapt back, frowning. A small cut had appeared on her cheek, but she didn't notice it. Her focus remained locked on Leon

Is he stupid? Or just not taking me seriously? That blow could've cracked his skull.

Kami charged at him again, faster and more aggressive this time.

Their wooden swords clashed, the sharp crack of impact echoing through the training ground. Blow after blow, strike after strike, neither of them backed down. The air around them grew tense with pressure.

The constant clashing filled the area with sound, each hit louder than the last. Sparks flew with every strike, and soon the edges of their wooden swords began to burn faintly from the heat building up between them.

Impressive... that boy can keep up with Kami.

Alvis clapped his hands once, signaling them to stop. Both fighters came to a halt. Leon dropped the wooden sword to the ground, exhausted, while Kami sat down nearby, panting heavily.

"I acknowledge your capabilities," Alvis said calmly. "You just need a lot more training."

The orange-haired guy walked over to Alvis and spoke up. "Master, why did you stop the duel? In just a few more moments, we would've seen the result. But... who do you think would have won?"

Alvis lit another cigar and took a slow drag, a faint smirk appearing on his face.

"Leon would have won."

The orange-haired guy blinked in surprise, turning to look at Leon, then back at Alvis.

"How is that possible? Kami's been training since childhood - with me, no less. She can't lose to some guy who says he used to train just because he was obsessed with power."

"Don't forget, it was a swordsman's duel, bound by rules," Alvis said as he took another drag from his cigar. "You're not allowed to kill, and swordsmanship arts are forbidden. Only raw power is permitted. Kami has better abilities overall, but in a straight-up duel like this, they're useless. That's why the winner is Leon. He had both stamina and speed on his side."

He scratched his forehead with a finger, his sharp eyes drifting toward Kami's cheek.

That cut on her face... I didn't even see when Leon landed it. That boy's a master of silent, unnoticeable attacks. Was he really just obsessed with power? Or is there something more to him?

Alvis adjusted his tie and said calmly, "In my opinion, in a duel, Leon would win. But on a battlefield where there are no rules, Kami would win effortlessly."

The orange-haired guy nodded thoughtfully, then turned to look at Leon with a hint of admiration. He walked over toward him.

Leon, now breathing steadily, slipped his coat back on and adjusted his messy hair.

I bought this coat with the last of my money. I can't afford to let it get dirty... I don't even have enough money to take it to the laundry.

A hand reached out toward Leon. He looked up and saw the orange-haired guy standing in front of him.

"I'm Hiroshi Nozawa, a Hunter in Training," he said with a friendly grin, then pointed over at Kami. "And that's Kami, my childhood friend. She's a Hunter in Training too."

So I have to introduce myself too, I guess.

Leon took Hiroshi's hand with a smile and replied, "I'm Leon. Nice to meet you both."

Kami walked over to Leon and shook his hand. "Nice to meet you too. You're good at duels," she said with a small smile.

Alvis clapped his hands, looking at Leon. "That's for your performance. Now, it's getting late. You all should head to your rooms and get some rest. Hiroshi, show Leon where he'll be staying in the hostel."

Hiroshi nodded and turned to Leon. "Let's go. After that, I'll introduce you to some of my other friends."

Leon looked confused. "Are they being observed under Master Alvis too?"

"No, they're being observed by different professionals, but there's no rule saying we can't talk to them." Hiroshi said with a smile.

They both walked through the building and exited from another large gate - a dark oak door carved with strange snake-like patterns. When it opened, it let out a loud creaking sound.

On the other side was a beautiful garden. The barrier above created the illusion of a clear sky with a bright sun. At the center stood a fountain, and around it were paths for people to walk and designated spots to sit and relax. Small sections of the garden bloomed with vibrant flowers. Many students were scattered around, sitting under the warm light, talking and laughing.

The sun's warmth and the joy in the air slowly washed away Leon's anxiety and nervousness. In that moment, he wanted nothing more than to lie down and sleep forever on the soft, warm grass surrounded by peace, with no one to protect and no battles to fight. Just a quiet place that belonged only to him.

Kami glanced at Leon, who was lost in thought but had a pleasant smile on his face. She looked over at Hiroshi and said, "Looks like he likes this place a bit too much."

Hiroshi smiled and continued walking, eyes forward.

Kami turned toward the girls' hostel, while Hiroshi and Leon stopped in front of the boys' hostel. The building, like the others in the area, was made of smooth marble. It was tall and lined with many windows, giving it a clean, sturdy appearance.

Leon looked back at the bright sun and asked, "Why did Master say it's getting late? It's only afternoon."

"He meant we're getting late for lunch," Hiroshi replied. "It will start in fifteen minutes and will only lasts an hour. After that, we go back to training. Master's only job is to observe our improvement throughout the year, not train us directly. We're expected to train on our own. The organization has provided everything we need."

They moved inside the building, walking through wide, quiet hallways. The floor was made of polished wood, and the walls were smooth marble, giving the place a clean and refined atmosphere. They climbed the stairs and reached the third floor. At the far corner were two rooms: one for Leon, and the one beside it belonged to Hiroshi.

"I'll come get you in ten minutes. Then we'll head to the cafeteria," Hiroshi said, opening his door. "Try getting comfortable in your room." With that, he stepped inside and closed the door behind him.

Leon let out a small sigh. "Let's see what my room looks like."

He opened the birch wood door with a nameplate that read 'Leon'. Unlike Hiroshi's door, his didn't make a sound. It opened smoothly and quietly.

As he saw his room interior, his eyes widened.