Combat simulation was a mandatory class that all students regardless of status, had to participate in. It was a mixture of teaching theoretical knowledge in the classroom paired with dangerous and extensive practical fieldwork.
It was notorious for being unbiased and had a knack for highlighting to the Instructors those most notable in the field. From mock dungeon trials to class v class games, it encapsulated majority of the 'fighting' in Kordell Academy as well as in the novel.
I looked at myself in the mirror in the locker rooms. The training uniform consisted of a navy and white fitted tracksuit and trackpants, on one's left chest, an insignia of a grey shield was sewn on.
Ruffling my medium length black hair in the mirror, I scowled.
Although assimilating with this guys memory was getting better, I hadn't yet fully enveloped myself into all of his experiences. There were some details I brushed over in mind and some I felt I just couldn't reach for whatever reason.
Rolling my hips and stretching my arms, I began to head to the combat grounds. Passing with other similarly dressed students, I felt a sense of excitement in the hair.
For some it seemed like the idea of beating up one another was a great idea, perhaps for others, a way to prove their strengths. Afterall, it was the beginning of the year and these are adolescents we're talking about.
A small jitter of emotions toiled in my stomach for another different reason.
My gaze subconsciously looked back in the hall to catch a frail figure acting chummy with a shy-looking guy.
It was time for another main event to happen...
When I finally arrived, I soon enough saw how huge the combat grounds was. The size of a decently large stadium and even mimicking their stands, in the centre stood a square platform where a certain bald muscle head could be seen with their arms crossed and feet shoulder-width apart.
"All right, freshman!" His mighty voice roared as majority of the student cohort settled before him. "Today is your first lesson of Combat Simulation. As many of you know, this is a mandatory subject and will occur 3-4 times a week."
A couple of groans could be heard. Not everyone was as enthusiastic about getting punched in the face.
"But it is for your own benefit that we keep this practice as routine. Here at Kordell, we do not train individuals to be strong, but to be able to survive in the outer world. No greater experience to take away from this academy than the ability to fight..." Instructor Donny continued then to ramble on a bit.
For a man who seemed so in tune with this philosophy, he had a lot to say. Which was a bit ironic looking at his hulking physique.
"...So for today, we will have you freshman find yourself some sparring partners within yourselves." As soon as he said that, a few students already gravitated towards a few people they wanted. A few notable figures attracted a lot of popularity. "But please, it is a mutual agreement that would normally be best between evenly matched people. It would ruin the point of this exercise if you're just looking at..... appearance."
My face went blank as Instructor Donny tilt his head down, crestfallen. Some raw emotions must've leaked out from past experiences...
Seemingly finished with his speech, he took to the side and let the students talk amongst themselves. The decibels immediately rose as a few hundred students deliberated amongst themselves.
A twitch pinched my cheek as I spotted a white-haired figure in the distance be approached by Ella, the black-haired elf. All whilst in the distance a copper-skinned figure with silver-rimmed circular glasses watched. Anger softly boiling beneath the surface.
It was a predictable scenario. Man, how I wish the author could've strayed from these cliché tropes in the beginning of the novel.
With my arms crossed and standing near the back of the crowd of adolescents begging for partners, a pink-hair pigtailed girl caught my eye. Not only because she somehow already modified her uniform top into a cropped shirt, but because I could see her steadily approaching.
This.... shouldn't be a problem?
"Hey!" I looked down at Alicia unimpressed. "Be my bxtch..."
"It's pronounced, partner - Hey!" Suddenly I had to quickly slap her foot away, her stance returning to normal after nonchalantly kicking towards me. "Y'know, this isn't helping your case. I feel like saying no more now."
Her squinted eyes and propping of arms on her hips were oddly cute. I... needed to not be thinking like this now.
"Dude, just be my bxtch. I can already tell you got no friends." She stepped forward and I couldn't help but take a step back as well.
"Even so..." I was hesitant to accept the offer. Who had she originally partnered with?
"No! Your the only one capable of fighting with me for so long, it can only be you!" Alicia shouted. I looked incredulously at her pointed finger and the roused crowd from hearing her words. It seems like I have to accept if I didn't want this being overblown.
"...Okay, fine. Just chillax though." I sighed. "You gotta learn how to ask nicely. I might've said yes quicker if I wasn't insulted."
The gothic girl nodded not-so-appreciatively. It seems like my words went in one ear and out the other.
Typical.
"If you have partnered up, you may use the open field and designated rings to train and spar. For now this exercise will be student-led before we get into any techniques. *clap*" At the sound of Instructor Donny's clap, the duos started to disperse.
Me and my partner's gaze drifted to the sparring rings that had automatic safety measures, seeing how full they were with long lines for each one, we collectively sighed. Our gaze meeting.
"We just raw dogging it on the field?" I could see a poor student stumble whilst accidently eavesdrop on this chick's language. That poor guy.
"....Yeah yeah. You really got to watch your language though."
"Uh huh."
She really only cares about fighting, does she?
Moving away from most of the crowd, because most of the training rings were on one side of the training grounds, we were able to secure a large enough space away from most people.
There was an interesting tension in the air as we both stretched and sized each other up. We had decided to fight bare-handed so as to reduce the amount of injuries we could've inflict on each other.
I felt a tinge of smugness. My original life had plenty of experience fighting bare-handed. This was also a great way to brush off my rustiness for when I'll begin training at the dojo.
"You ready?" Finished with my stretching, I approached Alicia.
"Lets do this thing."
A smile unconsciously started growing on my face.
Time for some revenge.