The first two years we stuck to the wooden swords but around the beginning of the third year, both Iris and my skills were polished enough that we were sure we were responsible enough to hold a real sword.

I’m not trying to brag but for young kids who had no proper teacher, me and Iris were pretty awesome! 

Granted, Iris was way more awesome than I was. While we were both great with swords, Iris was a thousand notches better due to her fire magic. Since her powers awakened Iris trained non-stop at her home to learn the most powerful spells. As years went by she gained the power to manipulate flames and even touch them without burning her own flesh. One time when we practiced in the forest she almost torched all the trees. That was a hectic day because I remember us panicking as we tried to put the fire out.

During practice me and Iris would always end it with a duel. Of course, it always ended with her victory which half annoyed me but half impressed me. Iris’s talent was not something to laugh at and even the mayor of the town was certain she would become a great Holy Knight like her grandfather.

Everyone in Lore began to recognize Iris as a powerful warrior. While I did as well I also started to see my best friend as…something else.

Since the first day we met, I saw Iris as no different than a sibling. But during the three years of training which were also the roughest years for me because of how people were treating me, Iris was always by my side. She defended me, comforted me, and encouraged me. Plus thanks to the raging hormones I started to realize that she had a very attractive body.

It didn’t take me long to put the pieces together that I was in love with Iris. At first, I tried to bottle the feelings away but then one day in practice made me change my mind. 

We ended the session with our usual spar which concluded with Iris’s victory. As I tried to go in for a strike, Iris parried me and summoned flames from her sword.

“Flame Magic: Solar Dance!”

Iris swung her fire-blade to my feet, tripping me. As I was on the ground she quickly got on top of me and her sword to my neck.

“It’s my win…again…”

Iris said between heavy breaths and smiling. At this point in our relationship, I lost so many times that it didn’t really bother me anymore. But what did bother me was my heart beating irregularly speed due to Iris being on top and getting a great night light view of her gorgeous face. She was drenched in sweat, smiling, and her golden eyes never stopped shining.

“Okay…get off idiot!”

I yelled as I tried to look away, trying to keep my red face from her view. Iris got up and sheathed her sword.

“Hear the middle of June, the Observers from Eleiweth will come.”

I nodded in response.

“I’m well aware. It will be our only time to take the exam. If we miss it we would have to wait another year.”

The exam that me and Iris were talking about was the entrance test to get into Elendria Academy. It was a great school of combat where the best would go to learn. Graduating from the school was the best Holy Knights Ocaleveth had to offer and we were aiming to be students there.

While I was confident that Iris would pass I was mainly worried for myself. I was fifteen years old and my magic had not awakened. I tried everything—books, medication, meditation, doctors, and prayers. But all my attempts to try and awaken my magic proved to be useless. I had to fully accept that I was a Null.

My mother was heartbroken and mourned for me as if I was going to die. However, I did my best to stay positive and try to find the silver lining in it all. I continued to train non-stop and my body felt as hard as iron. Despite that, I feared that the Observers would turn me away after hearing I was a Null.

Beforehand I did my research to find that there were Null students who attended Elendria Academy in the passed. Sadly almost all of them quit the school either because it was too difficult or they got seriously injured to the point that they couldn’t continue.

I wracked around my brain trying to find a solution to my difficult situation.

“Baxter.”

I got out of my head and looked at Iris who stared at me with her usually reassuring smile. She obviously could tell I was anxious and held my hand.

“It will be fine. We will both pass.”

“Y-yeah…”

I tried my hardest to sound confident but it was difficult to pretend to be something I wasn’t.