Chapter 3: Training

Many students were still talking when a loud bell rang across the academy and a young woman entered a class.

She was a charming woman in a leather outfit with curves in the right places and beautiful white hairs that quickly brought all attention to her in the class.

The woman threw several glances through the class before throwing a bag with something at her table before turning to the audience.

"My name is Astra Bekins. I will teach you how to defend yourself. Some of you may know that I am a teacher from the Battle energy department, but because of the new policy of the academy, all prospect mages should learn the basics of battle energy and basic swordsmanship.

Surprise took students back because of such a change. They started creating noise.

"Teacher, why should future mages learn how to use battle energy? You said you will teach us swordsmanship basics? Do you mean we will play with sword and shield? Isn't magic enough?" asked a student dressed in a robe.

"I chose the Magic department because it does not demand physical exercises." Said one of the fat and rich-looking students.

"How could a sword help us, if one spell could kill our enemies?" asked another noble-looking student in a robe.

"Will we have to pay extra for this change?" asked an ordinary-looking student.

The class quickly descended into chaos because nobody expected such changes. Some talked with elder students and knew many things about a 1st year in the academy, but this change was shocking even for them. Many quickly remembered controversial rumors regarding their new teacher.

Astra had a prodigious reputation as a knight, her skills, strength, and beauty made her famous, but it also brought attention from nobles who tried to court her, but she always refused them and made it in a humiliating way by the opinion of nobles. Irritated, noble, tired from constant refusals, drank several bottles of alcohol and made up a story regarding her affair with 2 different nobles. Many similar men could only grit their teeth each time they saw her. Of course, they contributed to the made-up story. Quickly rumors went out of control, and Astra became known as the mistress of most of the nobles in the city. The story continued to change and transferred from one person to another up till a story about Astra's affairs didn't become one of the tavern talks in the city and even children heard about them.

Astra observed how class erupted into noise and disagreement. She mentally noted to be harsh with all trouble-makers. Of course, she knew students won't be happy with the new policy, but it was ordered from the highs, how could she a simple teacher refuse orders from the Freinos family and risk prolonging her secret service for them.

She just approached the nearby wall and hit it with a bare hand.

*Boom*

A vast hole appeared on the enchanted surface made of stone and iron, quickly making the entire class silent.

"First, I am also not happy to teach and train a bunch of magic weaklings like you to use swords and give knowledge about the basics of battle energy, but the order is order. My course will be fast, free, compulsory, and productive. It will take fewer courses than you think. If some of you disagree, you can leave and complain to Lord's manor. Besides that you can see the result my hand has done on the enchanted stone, and, it was just a hit with a small portion of my powers, you can replace yourself with a wall and imagine the result. You are so-called mages who constantly improve and learn how to use magic, but most of you forget about your own protection in the melee. If an ordinary knight reaches even a squadron of such mages, he will most likely kill half of them or more. You do not know how many people died because of this problem. What's the meaning of all your learning if simple knights can kill you, so our academy will at least provide basic knowledge and look at the result to see if the change was successful."

"What about the Fire squadron? The one that annihilated most of the knight's squads in the last war with Griffon kingdom? Isn't it the proof of mage superiority?" asked one of the noble students.

Astra looked disdainfully at the noble student, freezing him with just a glance.

"Fire squadron isn't an ordinary mage squadron. More than half of mages in that group know or have several ways to fight except magic use, be it alchemy, enchanting, battle energy, or other skills. They are veterans that passed through many battles. They can't be compared with an ordinary mage's squadron. Talking about the last war, you omit hundreds of mage's squadrons that perished in battles with elite knight squads of the enemy. Or you imply that students here will be like fire squadron, knowing several ways of fighting?" asked Astra, looking at the noble student.

The student shook his head and sat in his place.

"So, I hope you understand now the reason for a policy change. It's prime time for weaklings like you to learn several tricks outside of magic. I have only 3 objectives for you which you should meet to pass my course. The 1st is to learn basic swordsmanship, the 2nd is to evoke your battle energy source and become 1st rank squire, and the last is to pass the final exam on your stamina. If you have worries about failing this course, know that you will have to take it again next year because several interesting magic courses won't be available to you. Those who think that they can pass with cheating or using stimulants without working and training can already forget about progressing further in their studies. I can swear to all of you if you try to cheat this course, you will be kicked out of the academy without getting your money back. Our city and academy don't need cheating weaklings. So I hope our small period together will be as warm and welcoming as it has already been."

Some students paled, quickly realizing the importance of this course and potential sufferings during training sessions for offending the course teacher that had the power to create a lot of hardships for them.

While Astra was lecturing students, Theo's attention was concentrated more on the teacher herself than the words she said.

'Seems like she is still an unknown knight. Back then, after I entered the army, she became the second person after me who earned fame across the whole Trade union from our city. She became a legendary figure known as "Sword lady", because of her character and sword techniques that were unique across the whole Trade union, annihilating many Griffon kingdom squads. It is such a pity that she disappeared together with others at a certain period. How simple would it have been if she was by my side fighting against Empire?'

While Theo was deep in his own thoughts, using the silence in the classroom as the answer, Astra began her lecture.

"Since I have your attention, let me quickly explain the basics of battle energy. Unlike magic, battle energy is a natural power of humans. While magic requires a certain amount of talent, battle energy is available to everyone, including soldiers, merchants, artists, nobles, kings, and even slum dwellers. All of us have a sealed battle energy source inside our bodies from birth. Unlike mages that concentrate on learning how to use their mana, we knights and warriors concentrate on unlocking our hidden potential with battle energy and learning how to use it as a weapon." said Astra, moving from one place to another.

"Battle energy users advance through harsh training and battles that help them improve their skills, it also helps to strengthen their bodies. Besides, every warrior has a unique energy that has its own properties, but they relate most to fire, water, wind, and earth. However, there are also knights with bloodlines and other anomalies that have unique energies, but they are too rare compared to magic bloodlines that can use attributed magic."

"Battle energy seems similar to magic? Is it possible for warriors to use it in the same way mages use mana?" asked 11 years looking, girl.

"Nice question. Battle energy differs from magic. Of course, warriors can attack their enemies through energy attacks, but such attacks are less destructive, but they are more concentrated compared to attacks made by mana. That difference forces us to continue polishing our skills and energy techniques and train with our unique weapon that serves as the concentration point of battle energy during the battles. We can use battle energy similarly, but today knights and warriors rarely fight like this because it's difficult and energy-consuming." said Astra, looking at the students.

"By the way, let me jot the general power structure of every energy user.

*A squire realm*

5 ranks

*A knight realm*

4 ranks

*A great knight realm*

3 ranks

*A high knight realm*

3 ranks

*A master realm*

2 ranks

"Anyway, it's too early for you to think about your own weapons and next realms. The first thing you should do is to become a 1st rank squire and learn how to use your energy using these scrolls on my table. You might not need them now, but take them and study at home. Since I have already explained all the basic information you need, it's time to show me your swordsmanship skills. Now proceed to the training field."

***

City academy training field.

A crowd of over 30 students lined up in front of the teacher. All of them were panting from the recent warm-up.

"Listen up, now I will explain to you the basics of swordsmanship, open your ears and engulf knowledge in them. Without them, you will not understand how to use a sword in practice. By the way, if you change your mind and decide to become a knight, though most of you are already physically fit you will have to improve your physical condition even further." Said Astra, throwing her glances at the several fat students for a moment.

"Part of the squire's progress depends on physical condition, so you should never forget about this factor," said Astra, beginning her lecture.

"First, before using the sword, clear your mind from disturbing thoughts. A sword is a weapon, and, it needs focus. Those with no focus have a big liability in their own sword that the enemy will use. Besides, a concentrated mind would help you learn faster. Take the training swords and show me your stance." ordered Astra, pointing at the wooden swords nearby.

'It would be great to get some pointers for her. Though my skills are already formidable and I achieved significant results in my sword mastery in my previous life, I am a newbie compared to the 1st swordsman of the Trade union. She could easily show me my weak points in my sword style, and foundation. It is better to build good relations with her.' Theo thought as he adjusted his stance, showing a Great knight sword style, but with some changes. It was a sword style he created for himself after cruel battles with a plethora of weapons and magic use.

The rest of the students quickly adjusted their positions and looked at Astra.

Throwing a glance at her students, Astra noticed several interesting or unique stances that picked her curiosity and stopped her glance at several students, including Theo before moving further.

She could not stop herself from sighing and shaking her head. She will have a lot of work.

"Ahh ... half of you are beginners that never held a sword in the hand while another half know something but have some problems with basics. Only several of you meet my standard. You, you, you, and you, come here." said Astra, showing at Theo, Leonardo, and other 5-6 students.

"You can proceed with sparrings. Learning basics would be a waste of time for you while I deal with newbies," said Astra, looking at them.

Moments later, we took our wooden swords and moved some distance away from the teacher.

As we moved, we heard Astra's voice.

"Newbies, listen up, this is a right stance ..." Astra began explaining basics to the students.

Meanwhile, after we decided with whom to spar I and Leonardo moved to fight against each other. There were 8 students together with Leonardo and Theo that met Astra's standards, and only 1 boy and 1 girl dressed as nobles ended up with them because of their unique sword styles while the rest were mainly soldier's children and those who knew how to use a sword.

"Bowing before the fight?" Theo asked with a nostalgic smile on his lips, looking at Leonardo.

"I am just following my family tradition, my ancestors came here from distant lands on the west, thousands of years ago, but this is the custom that my family follows even after so a long time," said Leonardo, adjusting his stance for the battle.

Though Theo felt nostalgic because of such a familiar scene before him, he was quick to adjust himself and prepare for battle.

Moments later, Leonardo moved and began his attack. The sparring started under the sounds of wood collision.

Leonardo was physically stronger and taller than Theo, but just several sword collisions were enough for Theo to grasp his approximate sword mastery.

Theo was quite amazed to learn that his friend already mastered several difficult sword styles that could easily make him a knight realm fighter, just in terms of sword mastery.

Unfortunately for him, Theo knew many similar sword styles, several Great knight realm styles, and even created his own Great knight realm sword style he was using against Leonardo.

Though Theo had the advantage in terms of mastery, he was weaker in terms of physics, couldn't block or dodge every attack from Leonardo, so they were relatively matched and their sparring prolonged for some time.

While they were sparring, Astra finished dealing with most of the newbies and began looking at 10 sparring students from time to time to observe and evaluate them in battle, mentally taking notes about each of those students.

The time continued to pass, and Theo eventually disarmed Leonardo during one of his secret attacks right when a bell resounded across the academy.

Soon, all the students finished their business and lined up before Astra.

Of course, she noticed Theo's use of several interesting techniques, together with Leonardo and the other 3 students that picked her interest, and noted mentally to look closely at them. It was quite a pleasant surprise for her to find potential seedlings among a bunch of trash. Unknowingly to Theo, he was placed on the list of students with potential.

"Okay, class, that's the end for today. Half of you have learned the basics of swordsmanship and another half got some extra experience during sparrings. What a good beginning. I hope you will train and improve your skills. The next lesson will be fully practical, everyone will have sparrings among each other, and, you will earn points based on your skills. That point would be eventually added up and can get you several things from the academy, including the private training session with me. By the way, don't forget about meditation scrolls for evoking your energy source. You can also take some books about evoking energy sources from the library. By the way, you should all proceed to the main square of the academy. The headmaster has something to tell you. See you next lesson." said Astra leaving the training field.

Just as she finished her speech, a voice belonging to the male passed through the academy, quickly picking all the attention.

"All 1st-year students, please proceed to the main square of the academy, I repeat, proceed to the main square."