Might Be Screwed
1 Month Later
CLANG
"They're at it again, huh?" Falael and Curtis briefly stopped their own training as they turned towards the source of weapons clashing.
"... No matter how many times I see it, it's a bit hard to get used to. Seeing Aubrey fight like that." Curtis said with a wry smile.
"Forget that. The fact they are using cold weapons in the first place is strange. Every other person on this training field uses casting. They just look out of place." Falael huffed, however, the way their eyes locked onto the current bout made it clear they were paying attention.
'It's absurd, honestly,' The sighed inwardly. 'Never in my life did I imagine that I would find channeling of all things... dangerous.'
"Remember, Aubrey. I have the range advantage on you, your dagger is too short to clash with my sword at range, get closer." Xander said calmly as he methodically batted aside the thrusts and swipes of Aubrey's dagger.
The girl, who had shed her glasses and tied her hair into a tight bun, clicked her tongue as she stepped forward, her speed unnaturally fast.
'He says that, but he isn't letting me get close.' She looked intently at him and his movements, but try as she might...
'His guard is solid, I can't find an opening at all.' Realizing this, she took a breath.
Mana circulated in her body with the breath before focusing into her legs, and she jumped back, kicking up dust in the process. As she did so, she quickly sheathed her dagger and removed her bow from her shoulders.
Drawing this string, an arrow of pure mana condensed into her fingers, and she let the arrow fly, her senses guiding the shot.
However, Xander just deflected the arrow and charged forward, almost immediately catching up to Aubrey.
"The swap between your bow and dagger wasn't bad, but your use of Mana Breathing is still a bit too sloppy." He said as he swung down, and Aubrey hurriedly drew her dagger to block, but her hand still ached from the impact.
'He's going to swing up–' Before her thoughts could finish, Xander suddenly freed one of his hands and reached forward, grabbing Aubrey's arm and pulling her towards him.
Next thing she knew, the world went upside down, and her back hit the floor with enough force to knock the wind out of her. And before she could regain her bearings, a sword was at her throat.
Xander looked over her with a knowing smile on his face.
"My sword isn't the only thing is can fight with." He hummed, and she just sighed and raised her hands.
"I yield." Satisfied, Xander got off her and helped her too her feet, then he immediately started giving her pointers, and Aubrey listened attentively.
In this past month, Xander had effectively become Aubrey's teacher in the ways of combat.
Even though he primarily used swords, he still dabbed in all sortsnof weapons back on earth and was quite adept at using them. As such, he was more than qualified to teach Aubrey how to fight using them.
'She's improving far faster than I could have imagined.' Xander's eyes gleamed as he watched Aubrey soak up his teachings like a sponge. He'd be lying if he said he had high hopes of her, and yet...
'To reach the stage of practical combat in just a month after picking up not one, but two weapons. It's baffling, honestly. Is this what they call a genius?' He sighed in his heart.
Naturally, he was the last person to be calling others geniuses, but details.
'She still has quite some ways to go. Especially in using the combat styles I taught her and using them in sync with her magic. But for all intents and purposes, she's almost as good as a proper combatant at this stage.' He smiled inwardly.
"Anyway, keep at it. Oh, and you're doing great by the way, seriously." He praised her sincerely, and Aubrey smiled brightly, her cheeks turning pink.
"You're also good at teaching. Your instructions are easy to follow." She said humbly, but it was obvious she enjoyed the praise.
"At least she's enjoying herself." Curtis smiled when he saw the two interact, but an annoyed snort caught his attention.
He looked to the sight just in time to see Falael turning away with an irritated gaze.
"Tch, whatever." They mumbled as they started practicing by themselves, pointedly ignoring the scene.
"?" Curtis was very confused, but before he could dwell on it, two claps suddenly sounded throughout the field, catching everyone's attention.
"Alright, everyone. Eyes on me." Sergeant Alya spoke calmly, her voice commanding attention. Granted, the effect was a bit dampened by Mia who was nestled in her arms.
"It's been a little over a month since you lot arrived here, and initially, you were all hot messes. Now, though, you still suck, but not as much as before."
'... That has to be the most backhanded compliment I've received since I came to this place.' Xander stared with a deadpan expression.
"With that said, the school also seems to agree with this sentiment, which is also why, starting from tomorrow, you will receive your first year assignments." Hearing this, everyone straightened, Xander included.
'It's finally here, huh.' He thought.
Avoma Military school didn't just train its students until they graduated. Rather, from a certain point, students—specifically squads—would begin to receive certain assignments.
These assignments varied from team to team. Typically based on their overall strength and specialities. They could range from simply guarding certain parts of the school, to more advanced things like subjugation missions. And these were just the simpler ones. There were some truly wild assignments out there, and their durations were also varied.
"Now, even though I think there's no point, doing these assignments isn't free. That is to say, you will be compensated based on the assignment given to you. So you can look forward to that as well."
'Tf do you mean 'you think there's no point'? You want us to do free labor?' More than a few mouths twitched at her words.
"Anyway, since I'm not completely evil, I'll give you guys today off. So do whatever. You don't even have to train." She shrugged, and that raised more than a few eyebrows.
"... Is that really our same sergeant?"
"Giving us a free day with no catch? No shot."
"I'm gonna do something at least a little productive. That way, I don't get caught off guard." Everyone was so skeptical that the took the initiative to do some training. Which displayed just how much tortur– discipline they'd gone through in this past month.
'I suppose that's one thing she was chasing after.' Xander smiled wryly. She'd beat them up so nad they were scared of relaxing.
'Well, I guess we should get some training in as well...?' Xander turned to his teammates, only to frown a bit when he saw the three looking at him weirdly.
"Uh... Is something wro–"
"Xander."
"Fuck!" Xander nearly leapt out of his skin and spun, hand on his hilt, only to see Mia standing there with big eyes.
'Jesus.' He swallowed and glanced at Sergeant Alya who was supposed to be carrying the girl. The beautiful Sergeant was looking around in with visible confusion, only for her eyes to find Mia standing near the group, and she just threw her hands up and walked away.
'... I honestly feel that.' Xander sighed and looked down at Mia who was still staring at him.
"... Yes?" He forced himself to calm down, feeling the stares of the other three who were no doubt using telepathy to discuss his predicament.
"Let's fight." She said flatly.
"... Hm?" Xander thought he didn't hear well.
"Let's fight." She repeated in the same volume with the exact same tone.
"Come again?"
"Let's fight."
'A fuck.' He stared at the girl whose expression hadn't changed once, and he rubbed his head.
"... Can I ask why?" He ventured, and she just shrugged.
"It feels like it would be interesting." At that point, Falael spoke up with clear skepticism.
"Uh, I'm sorry. But you've barely been our teammate for over a month. We've been doing everything with just four people this whole time. Why are you interested in participating now?" They spoke, and there were the unspoken words as well.
Why only him?
'Ah, I kinda get it.' Xander sighed. To be frank, Mia had been pretty... useless. Every other squads had 5 contributing members, but theirs had been 4 dysfunctional ones and one that actively refused to participate. They managed to work around it, but bad feelings arising wasn't strange.
'Still...' He sighed again as Mia spoke frankly.
"It wasn't interesting until now." She shrugged again, and a vein bulged across the half-elf's head.
'The thing is that we truly aren't in any position to tell her what to do.' He rubbed a hand across his face as Aubrey and Curtis had to step in front of Falael to stop them from doing something potentially very stupid.
He looked back at Mia who hadn't moved once.
"... You sure?" He asked, entirely for his own sake.
"Yes."
"... Alright." He gestured to the others to move back, then he looked back towards her to ask if he should back up before they start, only to see that she was already about twenty meters away from him, her staff in her hands.
'... I might be fucked.' He thought with resignation before drawing his sword.
Well, no matter what, he might as well give it his best.