Individual Lesson [1]

*Shhshhhshh*

Taking my morning shower, I couldn't help but think back at the previous day.

Long and tough, but productive would be the best way to describe it.

Having practiced my [Lightning Step] for ten virtual hours, using every possible tool available to keep using it, I had gained a bit of proficiency in its usage.

I had figured out that with two consecutive steps, which made my legs feel like they were ripping apart, I could move like a triangle to almost instantly get behind a target.

I also found a way around falling to my death when blinking into the air. By using my second step to move to the ground, I could bypass the impact when touching the ground for some inexplicable reason. This could be used to dodge attacks covering the ground, while at the same time approaching an enemy.

However, my martial technique also had two glaring weaknesses. The first one was a bit less detrimental, it was the fact that it took just about a full second to activate it.

That meant that if I were to try to double-step to get behind an opponent, I would first have to lose the momentum from the first step, leaving me lingering in one spot for a second, before stepping behind them.

The second weakness was a lot more crippling. As stated before, consecutive uses caused exponentially more damage to my legs. Even if I could use a single [Lightning Step] a bit more than ten times, before having to let my legs recover, the double-step execution of the technique led my legs to give up after only four steps, meaning I could only do it twice.

After having experimented with my martial technique, I had also attended the meeting with the Dragon and the Gorilla. After the principal had departed, there wasn't all too much left for us to discuss.

Today was the day we would finally start our different courses, with me commencing my training sessions with Mike and the principal.

****

"Good morning! We will start with a roll call, and then I'll answer any questions about your schedules."

We held the same seats as the week before during homeroom. James and Lindsey, Sarah and Brad, Arthur and Bayyan, Suzuka and Akane. Of course, I was sitting alone in the corner, on my height-raising pillow so I could use the desk.

After Mike had finished the roll call, he reminded us briefly about how our days were structured.

"Your morning will always consist of homeroom, followed by some general theory classes, like mathematics or history. Lunch break will start at 11, ending at 12, and after that, you will split up to attend your individually chosen courses."

'Oh right, we would also be attending normal classes as well. As Miren, I have never had any problems with learning, so it shouldn't be too hard, I hope.'

"Now, all your individual schedules will be sent to your DADS, please do take a minute to check it out."

My DAD vibrated following his words, and I had gotten an incredibly hollow schedule sent to me.

Instead of my afternoons showing my chosen courses, they were empty. Most of my classmates would have had their days filled with different lessons all the way to 5 pm, but for me, presumably, they probably thought it was unnecessary to designate periods for my individual training.

With our teacher not getting any questions about the schedules, he exited the room and left us to our own devices.

To the surprise of my other classmates, my newly made friends all stood up and made their way to my table, creating a little bit of a barrier to the rest of the classroom.

James, being the most excited, initiated the upcoming conversation, "Yo, Miren! How does your afternoon look? I assume we will at least have the close combat course together.

Looking up at the shining young man I responded, "Yea, I chose close combat too, but unfortunately I won't attend any afternoon classes with anyone. The principal decided it was too premature for me to do so."

Three confounded faces appeared around me for a couple of seconds as Sarah took the lead, looking a bit exasperated, "What do you mean? Shouldn't you be just as ready as the rest of us? Isn't that discrimination?! Just because you have low strength and are small and cu... Just because you have a smaller stature shouldn't matter, I mean you are an assassin-type anyway?"

*Haaaa*

After letting out a sigh, I tried to explain, "They just want to make sure I am truly ready, after all, I didn't go through the entrance exam for Kirkegaard."

Another round of confusion was inflicted on them, save for James who already knew of the situation. Trying to mitigate the upcoming swarm of questions I continued with a half-lie, "Yea, me and the principal have kind of a special relationship. I would appreciate it if you don't ask about it though, as that would put me in a tight spot.

Even if their interest was still fully piqued, they appeared to let it go, accepting my request.

His hand on his chin, Brad joined the conversation, "So that means we will not see you for any combat courses at all? Being an assassin I would have at least assumed you to attend the mana control class to learn some detection spells."

"Erm... No, I'm actually gonna be practicing my mana control with the principal as my teacher..."

"THE PRINCIPAL IS GOING TO TRAIN YOU?!"

My three friends had gained the attention of the entire classroom in an instance, as they managed to reveal the fact that I was getting special attention from the principal in an instant.

To my benefit, a blonde woman entered the classroom and broke the, "Please sit down so we can start the first lesson. My name is Shirley Johnson, and I will be your teacher for all of your general theory lessons. Now, let's begin."

****

Being saved by Ms. Johnson, I was able to undisturbed go through my morning classes, which had consisted of mathematics and social science.

Right now I was eating with my three friends, who had remembered that I did not want to disclose any information about my relationship with the principal. Thus, they appeared to have decided not to inquire about it.

All of them looked quite excited about attending the combat-oriented classes after finishing our lunch. The succubus was the first to voice its inner feelings, "I'm so excited! We are finally going to get to train to get stronger!"

Brad brashly interrupted her with, "But you have the rize element right? Aren't you just going to practice support-oriented spells?"

"Shut up, Brad! That's beside the point!"

The race was off, and not even James tried to stop them this time. He looked as if he was too excited about his guided training to even care. His blue eyes shone with determination, and he resembled a lion preparing for a hunt, his body not flexed but certainly not relaxed.

'They all seem so pumped about this... I just don't want to die...'

****

In a larger training room, Mike's own practice space, I was listening to the instructions of the practice I was going to have to endure.

"Your training sessions with me will be separated into three different parts, and we will be doing this every day up until the ranking matches."

He brought out three fingers, "Firstly, we will start by you practicing your martial technique and elemental imbuement until you deplete your mana. At that point, you will be given some rest and a mana potion to make sure your energy recovers."

Bringing down one finger he continued, "Secondly, you will be practicing attacking a dummy with all you have for at least two hours."

"Two hours?! That's insane! How am I going to be able to hold out for that long?!"

'Why would I even need to be able to fight for two hours? Most fights probably only last for half an hour at most.'

Wearing a small grin he explained, "It's not about being able to, it's about having to. We don't have time to take it easy. Even if it's just attacking a dummy, you need to get accustomed to dealing accurate and lethal blows as fast as possible."

He straightened his back a little, "Your sole purpose is going to be to kill. Why would we not train you to do so as fast as possible?"

The gorilla made a good point. I had to get stronger fast, even if my reason was not related to the killing part, I had to be able to fend for myself when danger strikes. Running away was an option, something I still hadn't let go of, but if I wanted to live a fulfilling life, I couldn't just run away.

"You're right..."

"So you are on track, good! Now, let me carry on. This part will be solely focused on dealing lethal blows, meaning you will only be focusing on the neck, the heart, the eyes, etc... Even if your lightning seems to carry a lot of potential, your strength won't let you approach combat in a traditional way. Forget about parrying and blocking, you need to dodge every single attack, and approach as quickly as you can, to finish off your opponent before they can respond. This will be your way of executing your opponent."

Slightly disgusted by the fact that I was going to be made into someone who could only kill, I asked with a frown, "So what's the third part?"

A devilish smile appeared on the Gorilla.

"You are gonna spar with me!"