Of course it can!

The whole class gets out of their seats and floods into the hallway. I'm carried away by the tidal wave and end up at what I assume is the gym.

Typical looking gym but instead of a volleyball court, it looks like a battle arena. There are targets and manikins sprinkled around the corners of the large room. Along with what I think are black lockers.

Then there's the bleachers. Most of the students sit down with excited grins. As if this is some gladiator match.

Olivia and I are the only ones standing now. Staring each other down in the center of the room. Well, she's staring. I'm fidgeting like some lost child.

"I'll give you the first pick of an artifact. You can even use that demon beast in the fight if you want." Olivia says again with a haughty tone.

"I won't even correct you anymore. Sorry Smokey, I have to do this by myself."

Smokey looks up at me with pleading eyes

"No, go stay up there with Aren. This won't take long."

For better or for worse.

Smokey takes a moment to consider my words before running up to Aren. Thankfully, he doesn't push the corgi away. He even lets him view this from his lap. Cute.

"Are you done human, pick your artifact already."

"Maybe I would if I knew what that was."

"Does your world lack even basic weaponry? Pathetic."

"Does your world lack even basic manners? Sad."

"We'll see how long that confidence lasts. Since you're too uneducated, I'll pick an artifact first while giving you a lesson even a child can understand."

Olivia, or maybe I should call her bitch from now on, goes to one of the black lockers. With a press of a button, it opens up to reveal...weapons!

"Hold on, are we really going to fight using weapons?!"

"Duh, you're clearly not on our level of hand-to-hand combat. I'm actually doing you a favor."

"But one of us might die!"

"Don't worry, I won't let that happen. I have standards."

She says that but grabs what looks like a sword.

"Cool it, it's not sharp and I even picked one with a weak wind enchantment. Happy?"

"I...guess."

"Good, now pick yours."

"...I can't believe we're settling this in such a barbaric manner."

I go over to the weapons. All of them are melee weapons and they all look dangerous. But what really worries me is the color.

"Gold...again..."

Well, it's a darker gold with different colored gems but still. I pick up the most non-lethal weapon there, the staff with red gems.

I walk back to the center and get into whatever I think a battle stance is.

"The staff huh? Interesting that you chose the deadliest weapon."

"What!?"

"The staff has the greatest capacity to channel magic. It even has a fire enchantment. But I suppose in your hands, those things mean nothing."

"S-Stop playing with me!"

"Well, if you insist."

Olivia kicks off the ground and bursts towards me. I quickly raise the staff to block her downward slash. For a moment that lasts way too long, I'm locked in a clash with a crazy woman!

"Someone so weak has no business in our class, let alone with Aren."

Suddenly, the clash is broken and Olivia goes on the offensive. Strike after heavy strike, Olivia hammers into me. I try my best to block with the staff but I've never done something like this.

Yeah, I had to slap a pervert or two but never fight!

"Fight back!"

Suddenly, Olivia picks up the pace and starts thrusting alongside slashing. No longer would my defense hold out. Every other second, she would stab my shoulder or gut.

I tried to keep a brave face and hold back the screams of pain. But that only made it worse. As soon as my arm strength falters a bit, she goes for my leg with a hard blunt hit.

"GAH!"

I'm forced to my knees. The only thing keeping me from falling is the staff.

"How boring. To think your race almost drove us all to extinction."

"We...what?"

Humans did what here...

"As you can see class. This human doesn't deserve to be in our class and surely can't learn magic. I mean come on, I didn't even have to use my enchantment."

No...I won't let it end so terribly. This is not an ending I can be proud of. I feel my eyes drift over to Aren and Smokey. Anything to give a boost of strength.

Aren is still in the stands with a troubled look. He's looking away from this whole affair. Well, I shouldn't blame him. Considering how everyone else is acting, this isn't anything new. I'm just another in a long line of...wait a minute...

"Wait...where is-"

I hear a sound I'd usually be happy to hear, Smokey barking.

"Smokey?"

Smokey stands defiantly in front of me. His gaze and growl directed toward Olivia.

"Stupid, get away!" I screamed.

"Ha, figures you'd call your demon beast when you're beaten." said Olivia with a bored expression.

"W-Wait Olivia, he's not-"

Before I could say anymore, Smokey attacks the heels of Olivia.

"Smokey stop!"

"It...tickles. What, didn't feed your demon beast? Well, it doesn't matter. We should've killed this thing long ago."

Olivia goes to strike the ever-determined Smokey. I try to get up but my legs refuse to listen.

Time slows down as the blade gets closer to the only thing I have left of home. The only person that cares for me.

"NO, PLEASE STOP!"

Images of Johnathan and me overlap with Olivia and Smokey. My heart pounds like a jackhammer until unfamiliar words force themselves out of my mouth.

A large blast of light erupts from my body and I feel something metallic flow up my right arm. Everyone covers their eyes from the light as I outstretch my left arm toward Olivia.

"Roar, fire!"

The light fades as fire erupts from my now golden metal arm. Olivia quickly reacts sadly.

"Breath, wind!"

A strong gust escapes her sword and nullifies my fire. But that's not what's important. Among the chaos, I can still see my beloved corgi. The gale blew him away but not far enough that I can't catch him.

By some primal instinct, I move the gold from my arm to my feet. With the new equipment, I quickly jump to catch Smokey in my arms.

I land safely away from Olivia with Smokey in tow. I look down at my baby and he's...unconsciousness...

"Wake up Smokey, I know that wouldn't...Please, wake up."

I use my free hand to check a pulse and thankfully, he's alive. But he is hurt and that is...unforgivable.

I look back toward Olivia who is looking at me with some hint of fear.

Good.

"You...really are a human. Like the ones in the stories, able to fuse with artifacts and..."

That fear is quickly replaced with determination. Well, she's not the only one.

"For the sake of all elves-"

"For Smokey-"

"I'll kill you." We both say in unison as we lift up our weapons. Her sword of wind and my golden arm of fire.

"Roar-"

"Breath-"

"ENOUGH!!"

That voice...wait...what...was I doing?

As if he teleported, Aren appears between Olivia and me.

"But Aren, she's-"

"This fight is over. I can't bear to see anymore."

"What do you mean?"

My legs begin to give out again and my eyes become heavy. The gold leaks out of my body and slowly forms back into a staff.

Regardless though, whatever happens, I won't let go of Smokey. I hold him tight but lovingly as I lose consciousness.