thief of fate-Chapter 38: The fist that ended a war

It was morning when the brass bell rang, marking the start of the third period. In the outer courtyard of the academy.

In the class, the students entered in batches, some dragging their feet lazily, others whispering in low voices about the upcoming exam. Selina sat next to Zenith, accompanied by Valerian in his silence, leaning his arm on the table, while his eyes watched the window with a focus that didn’t show on his face.

Teacher Alina Miral entered,

"Do you know what makes this day special?" she said in a calm tone, cut by a hidden warmth that was hard to define.

One of the students hesitantly raised his hand, "Because... a hundred years have passed since the end of the Great War?"

She nodded, then lightly drew a simplified map on the board showing the Kingdom of Evis in the west of the continent, and across from it, a large island in the east, surrounded by water from three sides, with the name: Kingdom of Ozria written above it.

"A hundred years ago today, the Glove Shadow Treaty was signed, ending a seven-year war between the Kingdom of Evis... and the United Islands Union, which we know today as Ozria."

The words sounded familiar to some, strange to others. One of the students asked: "But why did the war break out in the first place? Weren’t the two continents far apart?"

Alina smiled slightly, then clasped her hands behind her back and walked slowly in front of the board:

"The reason? As always... interests. Nothing sparks wars more than the desire to survive, to control, and to protect. Ozria was suffering from the extinction of some of its vital resources, especially the Farion plant, which only grows in our northern forests. And we... were facing a disturbing increase in monsters coming from the ocean, which required Ozria’s weapons."

She paused briefly, then added, "No one was entirely wrong, and no one entirely innocent."

Zenith whispered to Selina, "So... just a resource game?"

Selina replied in a low voice, "More like a chessboard. Each side protecting its king, but no one asks about the pawns’ fate."

Alina continued, and her eyes began to shine with something like respect:

"But what ended the war wasn’t a weapon... nor an alliance. It was a man.

The former king... Saint Dimitri."

She raised her head toward the students as if asking for their respect, then added:

"He was called ’Saint’ not for deep faith, but for a rare power that appeared only once in the kingdom’s history. His combat style is still unknown to this day, but those who witnessed it said he didn’t use a sword, or a spear, or even skill... only his fists."

Valerian, who hadn’t been paying much attention initially, raised his head slightly, as if something inside him was drawn to that.

"His fists?" one student asked in surprise, "Was it physical martial arts?"

Alina replied as she walked toward the window, looking outside where the trees swayed gently:

"Yes and no. Military reports from both sides described his movements as... silent. No aura, no visible energy. Yet when he struck the ground, it cracked. When he slapped the air, metal armor shattered. Even his opponents from Ozria said they didn’t understand how they were defeated."

Silence filled the classroom.

"The documents say he ended the war in a single battle. Alone. Against the eighth Ozrian garrison, which included over a thousand elite soldiers. After that battle, he went directly to the King of Ozria... and with few words, they signed the treaty."

Here, a hint of hidden pride appeared on the teacher’s face, but she quickly masked it with artificial neutrality.

"Some may say peace was nothing but the result of fear, but... isn’t peace, even if born of a fist, better than endless destruction?"

Her words were directed at the class, but they seemed like she was talking to herself.

Valerian asked quietly, "Did anyone keep his style? Document it?"

Alina looked at him, then shook her head, "No. It wasn’t passed down. Even his son, the father of the current king, did not inherit the fist style. It is said that Dimitri died silent, as he lived."

She shook her head in slight sorrow, then added:

"And thus we have peace, but... a fragile balance. The Kingdom of Ozria didn’t vanish, but rebuilt itself, far from the continent, and cut contact with us decades ago. We don’t know their intentions today."

Then she looked seriously at the students,

"But you, the post-peace generation, must understand history not to carry hatred, but to carry responsibility. History is not a wall where we hang pictures of heroes... but a mirror where we see our faces, even if they are distorted."

After the class

After class, the students left the hall, each immersed in their thoughts. Some debated the realism of the story, others mocked the idea of a man defeating an army with his fists.

But Valerian stood for a moment near the board, contemplating the war map. Something inside him felt uneasy... not just about Lucian, but about the idea itself:

"A style that can’t be inherited, or understood... as if it came from another world."

Selina approached him and asked, "What do you think?"

He replied after a moment of silence, "If his style was real... then it means there’s something beyond our understanding."

Selina said with a semi-sarcastic tone, "Dark thoughts."

But he didn’t answer. His mind was elsewhere. Not in the past, but the future.

And in the corner of the hall, teacher Alina sat alone, reviewing her notes, her fingers passing over the name "Lucian" as if touching a trace that could not be erased.

Maybe she saw him as a hero, maybe she knew more than she said.

But the one certain thing... is that a single fist, a hundred years ago, changed everything.

Minutes passed after the class ended, and the hall became almost empty. Only teacher Alina remained, still sitting behind her desk, lightly browsing some papers. The cold air slipped through the high windows, stirring the edges of its white curtains, and with it came a small memory... a faint, yet sudden reminder.

"Oh..." she murmured as she suddenly stood, lightly striking her forehead, "I completely forgot to hand out the rewards for the top five in the last evaluation..."

She moved toward one of the drawers, pulling out a thick leather scroll bearing the academy’s seal, and a small notebook covered in dark blue leather.

"These students really deserve it..." she muttered in a voice closer to internal monologue, then left the hall heading toward the back courtyard where the students had gathered for physical training class.

When she arrived, the instructor was observing the students as they performed their usual combat drills. Alina nodded to him, so he stopped them with a loud voice.

"Attention! Teacher Alina will now announce the rewards for the last combat evaluation."

Some whispers and nervous breaths rose. Alina approached with steady steps, and stood in front of the rows, then slowly opened her notebook.

"Before I announce, let me remind you of the martial arts system we use, so you understand the value of what will be granted today."

She stepped forward, then spoke confidently:

"Martial arts are classified into five main levels:

Level One Basic Arts: These are the fundamentals of combat, including simple movements and body-enhancing exercises. They are granted to beginners.

Level Two General Arts: Used in daily training for soldiers and taught in the kingdom’s schools. These skills are balanced and not based on a specific fighting style.

Level Three Specialized Arts: Each one has a defined combat style, such as spears, bows, daggers, or hand-to-hand combat. These are what will be granted today to the top three ranks.

Level Four Advanced Arts: Rare, usually granted only to knights or royal guardians. Known for their unique and difficult-to-master techniques.

Level Five Forbidden Arts: Abandoned or lost, often tied to powers that shouldn’t be used without royal permission or under extreme circumstances.

She paused for a moment, then raised her gaze to the students.

"And now... we announce the winners."

Tension threads rose in the arena. Whispers, exchanged glances, and eyes full of anticipation.

"First place: Selina."

With steady steps, Selina advanced. Her blonde hair lifted slightly with the breeze, her face bore no arrogance, only silent focus.

Alina handed her a small sealed scroll:

"The art of ’Eyes of the Wind’ A specialized combat style focused on swift sniping and precise aiming. It relies on synchronizing breathing with the wind to shoot arrows from unexpected angles."

Selina said quietly as she received it,

"I thank the academy."

But in her eyes... there was something else. A faint worry, as if she understood that victory had placed a new burden on her shoulders.

"Second place: Zenith."

Zenith advanced with familiar coldness. His grey eyes stared steadily. When he received his scroll, Alina said:

"The art of ’Tilted Sword Dance’ – A sword specialization that blends speed with defense. Suitable for one who balances strength and analysis."

Zenith said in a soft voice,

"Grateful."

Then stepped away.

But inside, doubt gnawed at his mind.

"If I had given them everything I had in the evaluation... they would’ve chosen something higher for me. But it’s fine. This art is enough for now, even if it doesn’t suit me."

He watched Selina from the corner of his eye, then Valerian, who still stood silently in the row.

"As long as I watch them closely... they won’t need to know what I truly possess."

"Third place: Valerian."

Valerian stepped forward without a word. His gaze was distant, as if searching the horizon, not here.

"The art of ’Phantom Blade’ Relies on light daggers and stealth. Designed for one who moves in the shadows and strikes from unexpected angles. A style that plants doubt in the hearts of enemies."

He took the scroll, saying nothing. And thought to himself:

"Assassination is better than direct confrontation. Will this surpass what Kyle taught me?"

He looked at his fingers for a moment, then gently clenched them, as if feeling what was to come.

Alina said,

"Fourth place: Alistair."

"An instructional book for the art of Barrier Summoning A general art, but used to develop tactical defense."

Then:

"Fifth place: Leonard."

"An advanced training tool Simulates a realistic opponent using advanced techniques. Will help improve your reaction time."

Alistair and Leonard exchanged brief glances and light smiles. They had recently become friends, training together.

When the distribution ended, Alina exhaled deeply. Her students were now more than just names on a list; they were people holding beginnings that might change their lives.

But she didn’t know... that those arts especially the dagger... and the sword might meet again sometime later, not in training, but in a real war arena.

Valerian, as he walked away, muttered to himself:

"Lucian’s fists ended a war... I wonder, can a dagger start another?"

[Specialized Combat Art Acquired: ’Phantom Blade’]

A small window followed:

[Modification performed by the Primary Entity. Cannot be undone.]

His fingers froze, and his eyes narrowed with a seriousness he hadn’t shown in days. His eyelid twitched for a moment, then he inhaled with restrained fury, as if his chest was trying to hold back a volcano.

"Damn you..." he whispered first.

Then louder:

"You cowardly dog! Do you think you’re playing with me like a puppet? I am no puppet in your filthy system!"

He raised his fist as if to punch through the screen, but the light vanished suddenly, leaving the echo of silence to slap the walls.

Valerian spat on the ground, then muttered with cold lethality:

"When I find you... I’ll teach you the difference between a dog begging for a bone to gnaw... and a dragon that devours mountains."