“Since he’s busy, we’ll come back later,” Metis said, apparently not seeing the same look of disdain on the librarian’s face that I did. “There’s one more thing I want to show you.”

We left the library and headed over to the building that she’d pointed out earlier as the gym. It wasn’t quite as large as the library, but it was impressive all the same. Banners announcing the academy’s championships in various sports like archery, fencing, and swimming dangled down from the rafters high overhead. I eyed the colorful fabrics. Fencing? Seriously? They taught that here? Why?

I shook my head and looked at the rest of the gym. Glossy wooden bleachers jutted out from two of the walls and butted up against the thick mats that lined the floor. The mats stretched out to the far wall, which was covered with something rather surprising—weapons.

Racks and racks of weapons—swords, daggers, throwing stars, staffs, axes, a variety of bows with arrows to match. More weapons than I had ever seen before in one place.

But the really freaky thing was that the kids were using them.

A couple dozen kids stood around one of the mats, holding weapons and watching two guys fight with swords. At least, that’s what I thought was happening, as ridiculous as it seemed. Metis noticed me standing on my tiptoes, trying to see what was going on. The professor climbed halfway up the bleachers and gestured for me to do the same so I could get a better view.

I hadn’t been imagining things. Down below, two guys who seemed to be my age were trying to hack each other to pieces with long swords.

Clang-clang-clang!

The metal blades crashed together in a furious roar, so loud and sharp that it made me want to cover my ears. But I couldn’t look away from the mock battle. Back and forth, the two guys fought, attacking and retreating, each one trying to get the upper hand.

My eyes locked on to one of the guys. He had thick black hair, a totally muscled body, and he swung his sword like he knew exactly what he was doing with it. He was power and grace and elegance, and I could see the intense focus burning in his blue eyes even from up here on the bleachers. I didn’t know anything about weapons, but even I could tell that he was the better fighter. Again and again, he attacked, while all his opponent could do was try to get out of the way of his whistling sword.

Finally, the second guy wasn’t quick enough. The first guy, the fighter, knocked his opponent’s sword away, then stepped forward, his blade an inch away from the other guy’s throat. I blinked, wondering how someone could move so fast.

The other kids watching the battle started clapping, and the winner gave a little flourish with his sword and bowed to his classmates. A grin spread across his face, and I realized just how gorgeous he was—the kind of guy who could take your breath away without even trying.