The next morning, Lucas awoke to the sound of birds chirping outside his window. Sunlight streamed in, casting warm rays across his room. He stretched, feeling invigorated and ready to embrace another day at Golden Crest Academy.
“Lucas! Are you up yet?” Aveline’s voice called from the hallway.
“Yeah, I’m getting ready!” he replied, quickly pulling on his training clothes.
As he stepped out of his room, he found Aveline waiting for him, her hair neatly tied back, and a determined look on her face. “I’ve been thinking about our combat tokens. We should use them today!”
“Definitely! Who do you want to challenge first?” Lucas asked, excitement bubbling within him.
“I was thinking we could go after some upperclassmen. I heard they’re really strong, and it’ll be a good test for us,” Aveline suggested, her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm.
“Sounds like a plan! Let’s gather Nephy and Rael first,” Lucas said, heading towards their friends’ rooms.
They found Nephy outside her room, practicing her wind spells again. “Morning, Lucas! Aveline! What’s the plan for today?” she greeted, a bright smile on her face.
“We’re going to challenge some upperclassmen with our combat tokens! Want to join?” Aveline said, her voice filled with eagerness.
“Of course! I could use the experience,” Nephy replied, finishing her spell with a flourish. “Let’s find Rael!”
The trio made their way to Rael’s room, knocking on the door. “Hey, Rael! You ready?” Lucas called.
“Coming!” Rael shouted from inside. Moments later, he opened the door, looking disheveled but excited. “What’s going on?”
“We’re going to challenge some upperclassmen! Are you in?” Aveline asked, her voice brimming with excitement.
“Count me in! I’ve been itching to test my skills,” Rael said, grabbing his sword and slinging it over his shoulder.
With their team assembled, they headed to the main courtyard, where students milled about, some practicing combat while others engaged in magic training. The atmosphere buzzed with energy.
“Let’s find some targets,” Lucas suggested, scanning the area for potential challengers.
“Look over there!” Aveline pointed toward a group of upperclassmen practicing together, their movements synchronized and powerful. “They look strong.”
“Yeah, but we can’t back down now!” Nephy said, her determination evident. “Let’s see if they’re up for a challenge.”
As they approached the group, Lucas felt a mixture of excitement and nervousness. “Excuse me! We’d like to challenge you to a sparring match!” he called out.
The upperclassmen turned, eyeing the four friends with a mix of amusement and surprise. One of them, a tall girl with fiery red hair, stepped forward. “You want to challenge us? Do you even know what you’re getting into?”
“We know what we’re capable of! We’re ready to prove ourselves,” Aveline replied confidently.
The girl chuckled, glancing at her friends. “Alright, I like your spirit. How about this: we’ll go one-on-one with each of you. If you win, you get our tokens. If you lose, we take yours. Deal?”
“Deal!” Lucas said, feeling a surge of adrenaline.
“Great! I’ll take you first,” the red-haired girl said, stepping into the makeshift arena they formed.
Lucas watched as Aveline stepped forward, her posture relaxed but focused. The two began to circle each other, sizing each other up. Aveline took a deep breath, ready to make her move.
“Don’t hold back!” the upperclassman taunted, lunging forward with a swift strike.
Aveline dodged to the side, countering with a thrust of her own. Their blades clashed as they exchanged blows, each girl moving fluidly and strategically. The other students gathered around, watching with keen interest.
“Come on, Aveline!” Lucas shouted, cheering her on.
“Stay light on your feet!” Nephy added, her eyes wide with anticipation.
Aveline focused, channeling her energy. She feinted left, then spun around to deliver a powerful strike. The upperclassman barely managed to block it, but Aveline pressed her advantage, striking again.
“Impressive!” the girl admitted, pushing back against Aveline’s attack. “You’ve improved since the last time we met!”
“I’ve been training hard!” Aveline replied, determination burning in her eyes.
With a final thrust, Aveline disarmed the upperclassman, sending her sword clattering to the ground. The crowd erupted in cheers.
“Nice job, Aveline!” Lucas shouted, pumping his fist in the air.
“Looks like we’ve got a challenger here!” the red-haired girl said, picking up her sword and grinning. “Alright, who’s next?”
“I’ll go!” Rael stepped forward, his confidence unwavering.
The crowd cheered again as Rael took his position. The red-haired girl exchanged glances with her teammates before accepting the challenge.
Their duel commenced, and Rael showcased his strength and speed. He swung his sword with precision, each blow calculated and powerful. The girl matched him blow for blow, but Rael’s training allowed him to stay one step ahead.
“Come on, Rael! You’ve got this!” Lucas encouraged, feeling the adrenaline of the moment.
Rael grinned as he pushed his limits, using his agility to evade attacks. With a final strike, he landed a solid hit against the girl’s shoulder.
“Nice work!” she exclaimed, backing away and laughing. “You’ve definitely improved!”
As Rael bowed, Lucas felt a sense of pride swell within him. “We’re all getting stronger!”
“Who’s next?” the red-haired girl called, clearly impressed by their performance.
“I’ll go!” Nephy stepped up, determination etched on her face. “Let’s see what I can do.”
With a deep breath, she faced off against the upperclassman. Their duel was mesmerizing as Nephy’s wind magic danced around her, enhancing her agility and strikes. She weaved in and out, using her spells to create gusts that disrupted her opponent’s balance.
“Keep it up, Nephy!” Aveline shouted, her voice rising above the crowd.
“Show her your wind magic!” Lucas added, feeling the excitement building.
Nephy executed a series of swift maneuvers, pushing her opponent to the limit. With a final burst of energy, she unleashed a gust that knocked the red-haired girl off her feet.
“Impressive! You’re really talented,” the girl admitted, laughing as she stood up. “Looks like you’ve got some real skills!”
“Thanks! I’ve been practicing,” Nephy said, her face beaming with pride.
With their spirits high, Lucas prepared for his turn. “Alright, I’ll finish this up!” he declared, stepping into the center of the makeshift arena.
“Good luck, Lucas!” Aveline called out.
Lucas faced the red-haired girl, adrenaline pumping through his veins. “Let’s do this!” he shouted, raising his staff.
The duel began, and the girl charged at him, sword drawn. Lucas focused, channeling his shadows as she struck. He parried her blow and countered with a shadow-infused strike of his own.
“Whoa, what was that?” she exclaimed, barely managing to evade his attack.
“Just a little trick I’ve been working on!” Lucas replied, feeling confident. He unleashed a flurry of shadow strikes, his abilities flowing smoothly as he engaged her.
The crowd gasped as he seamlessly combined his staff techniques with his necromancer skills, creating an impressive display. He used shadows to create barriers, deflecting her strikes while launching his own.
“Nice moves!” the girl called out, her eyes wide with surprise.
Lucas could feel the energy around him, the excitement of the moment fueling his resolve. With a final burst of shadows, he launched a powerful attack that disarmed the girl, sending her sword clattering to the ground.
The crowd erupted in cheers, and Lucas couldn’t help but smile. “I did it!” he exclaimed, raising his staff triumphantly.
“Fantastic job, Lucas!” Aveline shouted, running over to him and giving him a high-five.
“You all did amazing!” Nephy added, her face lit up with excitement. “I can’t believe how well we worked together!”
The red-haired girl grinned as she picked up her sword. “You four are impressive! I wasn’t expecting such a challenge. You definitely earned our respect!”
“Thanks! It was an honor to spar with you,” Lucas said, feeling a sense of camaraderie.
As they wrapped up the challenges, the upperclassmen handed over their combat tokens. Lucas couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride as he looked at the tokens in his hand.
“Now, what should we do with these?” Aveline asked, glancing at their newfound treasures.
“We can use them to train with instructors or challenge other students,” Nephy suggested, excitement dancing in her eyes.
“Let’s take a break for now. We’ve earned it!” Rael said, stretching his arms.
“Agreed! How about we grab some food from the cafeteria?” Lucas proposed, feeling hunger pangs setting in.
“Sounds great! I could use some energy after all that,” Aveline said, leading the way.
As they made their way to the cafeteria, Lucas reflected on their victories and the bond they were forming. He felt a sense of belonging, a realization that together, they could achieve anything.
Little did they know, this was just the beginning of their journey at Golden Crest Academy. The challenges they faced would only grow tougher, but with each victory, they were forging their destinies together. 
“Hey, what do you think will happen next?” Lucas asked, curiosity lighting his eyes.
“I don’t know, but I’m ready for it!” Aveline replied, her enthusiasm infectious.
“Together, we can take on anything,” Nephy added, determination etched in her voice.
Lucas nodded, a confident smile spreading across his face. “Let’s make every moment count.”
As they entered the cafeteria, laughter and chatter filled the air. Their hearts were light, and their spirits soared. A new adventure awaited, and they were ready to embrace it, side by side.