Within the week's events.

"I did it, finally". Hugo uttered at the top of his voice as he saw Captain Wayne fall to the ground.

Captain Wayne lay on the ground for some seconds before standing up. Then he said to, Hugo,

"You finally did it, you hit me. Your fighting skills are improving, your power level would soon start increasing. But that punch of yours was hard though".

"Umm..I'm sorry". Hugo uttered.

"No, it's no prob, just saying. I'm happy to see that you're improving in just two days of training, keep going with your personal training".

"I will".

And with that, the training continued, but it was another type of training. It was still under martial arts, but now, it concerns imparting knowledge...knowledge about martial arts.

*******

It's been a week and two days since Hugo got to the Lotus sage academy. Things had happened, and Hugo's martial arts skills have improved greatly, in fact, it can be said that his martial arts skills are above average now. Captain Wayne's training helped a lot, and his training helped a lot too.

Apart from the first time his attack touched Captain Wayne making him fall to the ground, more of his attacks had touched him throughout their training. They only focused on martial arts, but seems like it would reach its climax since Hugo was showing great progress already.

They'll move to other training, Hugo doesn't even know how to handle his weapon yet. He was better than average when it comes to martial arts, but he wasn't good at sword fighting at all. That would most likely be the next training he and Captain Wayne would move to next. At this point, Hugo could say that his power level had increased, but it can't be compared yet to that of an F class student.

Apart from, Hugo, other students in the A class were improving also, their power levels were increasing bit by bit. The likes of, Everett, Evelyn, Ryder, and Vera were making great progress also. In fact, Ryder and Vera were done learning martial arts, their skills were past average. They were now learning how to use their weapons.

And you know what? Some students of the A class moved to the F class. Those that had been in the A class for some time now. Those whose power levels have increased, they were at another level now. Captain Wayne was even considering moving some F class students to the S class, they were showing tremendous improvement...but he wasn't sure yet.

Hugo, Ryder, Everett, Evelyn, and Vera had bonded a lot within the week, they had gotten to know a lot about each other...but there were still some things they don't know about each other though. And apart from them, Hugo had gotten to know the names of many students in the A class. And apart from knowing their names, he bonded with some.

And he's also noticed another trait of, Vera, it wasn't much of a good one. She had a bit of over-confident type of character, and sometimes, she always wants to do things first. Her apathetic behavior reduced immensely the moment she started flexing out with, Hugo, and the rest.

But even with these traits of hers, Hugo still liked her. She was over-confident, and she likes doing things first in any activity they were engaging in, but Hugo was looking at the good side of her, and that was enough for him to continue liking her. And you know what? Apart from the first time Hugo caught her staring at him, he had caught her staring at him at some other times also...whenever they were together.

He was just having the feeling that she likes him too, but he wasn't that sure yet. And apart from that, he's also noticed that Evelyn has been staring at him more often, does she like him too? Like, what was happening?

Everyone in the A class was given the results of the brain testers they engaged in, and Hugo's score was average. According to what was written on his paper, he knows what he was saying, his writing was true, but there were still some things missing in his answer. But his surviving spirit was high, and he's got intelligence.

The remarks put a smile on Hugo's face, he liked what he read. And at least, his performance was average. But not everyone in the A class performed averagely, some performed excellently, while some performed poorly. Those that performed poorly executed their answers in the wrong way, and their answers lacked many important details...their intelligence was a bit low.

But none of Hugo's friends performed poorly. Everett and Evelyn performed averagely, while Ryder and Vera's performance was excellent...they were intelligent and they grab points fast. This happened within the week of Hugo's stay in the Lotus sage academy. And within that same week, other events took place in the academy.

Captain Wayne was already preparing the next students that would go get Monk Talon's scroll. Preparing them was a little hard 'cause he had to choose the best of the best group. As known, the students were shared in groups, that was always Captain Wayne's main aim. Both students in the A class, F class, and S class.

And Captain Wayne planned on picking students from the F class to go get the scroll, skilled students. But as known, he was looking for the best of the best group, so he was having problem preparing them, he was having problem picking them. But soon, he'll come to a final decision and choose a certain group. The scroll has to be gotten, it's very important.

Hugo had also gotten close to Monk Talon, he had gotten to know a lot more about him. Hugo knew that he was a cool person, though he was a monk and he does a lot of praying and meditating, he was still a fun person to be with. Hugo discerned that when he clarified them about the four tiers of zombies in Captain Wayne's office.

But Hugo had come to realize the cooler side of him when he got closer to him. He was good at cracking jokes, Hugo really liked that part of him. But how did they become closer? This is how it happened. Monk Talon was an old man, and there were times when he does have some body pains and all that, and it does affect his legs seriously.

So, one certain evening when it was time to eat and everyone was heading to the cafeteria, Monk Talon couldn't go 'cause of the pain he was feeling in his legs. How would he descend from the staircase? It wasn't possible. So he told Captain Wayne ahead of time that he wouldn't be able to make it to the cafeteria 'cause of the pain he was feeling in his legs...his food should be brought to his compartment.

Captain Wayne got to the cafeteria, told the cooks to dish out Monk Talon's food, then he told Hugo to go give him in his compartment, and Hugo did as he was told. He took the food to Monk Talon's compartment, and something led to something which led to a conversation, and that's where it started from.

Hugo went back to the cafeteria late 'cause of the chat he was having with Monk Talon, and when he was eating, many people had left and were leaving the cafeteria. And that's it, that's how he and Monk Talon became closer, nothing special about it, right? And even at this moment, he and Monk Talon were together.

The normal daily activities had taken place, Hugo and Captain Wayne trained, and today would most likely be the last day of their martial arts training. Everyone had eaten dinner, and right now, Hugo was in Monk Talon's compartment. Monk Talon had the strength to visit the cafeteria today, and after he was done eating, he and Hugo headed straight to his compartment.

Hugo had been asking him some questions about his family, the eldest son he spoke of, and the whereabouts of his other children...he had been very curious. And Monk Talon decided that he was gonna explain everything to him today. He gave him the exact detail of how his eldest son died, how he sacrificed his life just to save his old father.

And right now, Monk Talon was about to tell him what happened to his wife and two other children.

"I know most of you guys might be wondering, how is it that I got married and had children? Aren't monks not supposed to get married? Well, I had to go against that rule, but I had to pass through many processes. I got married successfully and was still a monk, and my wife loved me for who I am..."

Then Monk Talon paused for some seconds before uttering once again, "That loving wife of mine died before the break out of the apocalypse though".