Now dodge.

As Arlan led Kael to the center of the Training Hall, the commander rolled up his sleeves, his grin widening.

"Alright, lad. I may have said before that you are going to learn how to throw a punch, but hand-to-hand combat isn't just about throwing punches. It's about discipline, control, and instinct.

I will make you learn how to read your opponent, anticipate their moves, and strike with precision."

Kael nodded, a little taken aback by Arlan's boundless enthusiasm.

For some reason, his instincts told him that the words 'I will make you learn,' were dangerous, very dangerous.

"Now," Arlan began, cracking his knuckles,

"Show me your fighting stance."

Kael nodded, awkwardly raising his fists and standing with one foot slightly forward.

Seeing his 'stance,' Arlan squinted at him.

"No, no, when I say fighting stance, I am talking about the one you use in a real fight, not the one you use to fight with your 8-year-old niece."

"Uhh..."

"You have never fought before, have you?"

Arlan raised his brow.

"I... Uh, no. Not really."

Kael was embarrassed.

"Figured"

The commander nodded.

"I've seen scarecrows with better balance."

"I'm trying, alright?"

Kael winced.

"Trying to lose a fight? You will succeed in that, I see the potential."

Arlan laughed. Then, with a serious look on his face, he started.

"Here, let me show you."

In one swift motion, Arlan dropped into a fighting stance similar to Kael's, but his was much more balanced and had next to no opening.

His body was perfectly aligned, fists up, feet firmly planted yet nimble.

"See this? This is a stance. Stability, power, readiness. Copy it."

Kael nodded as he mimicked the position.

Or he tried to.

Arlan circled him, shaking his head.

"Your knees are locked—bend them.

Arms too high—lower them.

Your back... Lord Feraos, Kael, you're leaning like an old man with a bad back. Straighten up!"

Kael adjusted, changing his stance as Arlan instructed.

Once satisfied, Arlan finally clapped his hands.

"That's good enough. You will learn the rest as you proceed.

Now, let's test it."

"Test it?"

Kael blinked, barely finishing the question before Arlan's hand shot out, aiming for his face. Kael's body shook, involuntarily, he covered his face with his hands and closed his eyes.

Arlan used this chance to punch his abdomen, which was wide open.

"Agghh."

Kael groaned in pain.

"Failed,"

Arlan declared as he shook his head.

Then, he grinned,

"If I were an 8-year-old girl, maybe you'd survive."

Kael groaned, rubbing his abdomen.

"Are all your lessons like this?"

He questioned.

Arlan, however, didn't answer. He just observed Kael in silence.

"The first thing you do when you are attacked is close your eyes…

This won't do…"

He shook his head.

"Alright, we will do it this way."

As if he found an answer to an unanswered question, Arlan's eyes brightened, he stared at Kael and,

"Take your stance again, not the girly one, but the one I taught you."

"…"

Kael stared at Arlan, cursing the man in his head, but he got into the stance the commander taught him without making any major mistakes as if he had memorized it perfectly.

Seeing that, Arlan was momentarily taken aback, his expression, however, quickly returned to normal.

It was quite surprising to see that an outspoken man like Arlan had such good control over his expressions.

But the only one who noticed that inside the training hall was Althea, the Almoner of Services, who... didn't react to it.

Kael, on the other hand, was busy thinking about what was coming next.

"Now, throw a punch."

Arlan stood in front of Kael and ordered.

Kael threw what he thought was a decent punch, but Arlan caught his wrist mid-swing.

"Too slow. If you punch like that in a fight, your opponent will have enough time to write a letter before dodging.

Again!"

Kael tried again.

And again.

And... again.

Each time, Arlan pointed out a flaw—his footing, his angle, his power.

Kael felt like a toddler learning to walk. He was making too many mistakes. It felt like no matter what he did, Arlan was never satisfied.

Of course, 'the Hero' had no clue how wrong he was.

Arlan was taken aback; the longer he observed, the harder it became to hide his growing surprise.

'Is this why General Deren told me to not go easy on him?'

He questioned inwardly, his eyes were literally sparkling as he observed Kael.

His progress was too fast, every mistake he made, he didn't make it the second time.

Arlan was simply planning to check the Hero's condition and teach him a proper stance today but...

If it is this little freak, then he might as well go all out, no?

'A Hero, huh…'

Arlan's grin widened.

"Alright, little man, again!"

He instructed.

...

After an hour of drilling basic punches, Kael's arms trembled; even raising them felt like an impossible chore.

"Hmm, that's somewhat acceptable."

Arlan nodded, finally approving Kael's last punch.

This, however, wasn't the end.

"Now let's add some footwork."

"Footwork?"

Kael frowned.

Arlan didn't reply.

Instead, a wooden staff appeared in his hand, and he swung it at Kael without warning.

Kael stumbled back, narrowly avoiding the blow.

"Wha-"

"Move your feet, lad!"

Arlan laughed.

"It will be painful if you don't."

'Where the hell did that even come from!?'

Kael complained in his head. He, however, wasn't given time to think as Arlan continued to advance forward, the staff continuously targeting Kael's legs.

Kael dodged the first few, but Arlan's speed continued to increase. In the end, Kael, who saw the staff coming at his left leg, wanted to sidestep, but his legs refused to cooperate, and,

"Aggghh!!"

He screamed in pain as the staff hit his shin.

In an instant, he lost his balance and fell.

"Get up!"

Arlan ordered. Kael wanted to use this moment to rest, however, Arlan raised the staff in the air.

'Son of a…'

Kael's eyes widened as he barely rolled over and dodged the incoming attack.

But Arlan didn't stop and continued to attack.

"At least give me time to get up!"

Kael screamed.

"I gave you three seconds."

Arlan answered with a grin as he swung the staff.

'Fuck! Is something wrong with these people's heads!?

Why is every single one of them trying to kill the Hero before he can even make a debut!?'

Kael cursed in his head as he continued to roll over and over again, barely dodging the attacks.

"We're in a battle, not a circus! Save the somersaults for later!"

Arlan shouted.

Kael, however, didn't listen and continued to shamelessly roll on the ground.

Seeing that, Arlan's mouth twitched.

"Sure, just keep rolling, a good strategy, maybe the enemy will die of laughter."

He teased, thinking that would work but,

"But I won't."

Kael replied shamelessly.

And as he said those words, Arlan, with his mouth now twitching uncontrollably, raised his staff again.

This time, he decided to stop playing around.

His staff descended on the ground and,

BOOOM

The floor cracked as Kael saw the blunt staff piercing through the stone floor, just a few inches away from his head.

"If you don't stand up, the next one will come at you."

Arlan threatened.

'Thug! This bastard's no a commander, he is a thug!'

Kael complained, but he didn't dare say anything out loud and stood up.

"Take your stance again!"

Arlan ordered, his previous playfulness now gone.

Kael did as he was told.

"Now dodge."

Once again, Arlan started swinging his staff.

For the next two hours, Arlan continued to mindlessly swing his staff, and Kael was forced to dodge. Each failure was met with a sharp crack of the staff against his legs.

Thud

In the end, Kael collapsed again. This time, he could no longer stand up.

His legs were in no condition to move; there were swellings and bruises all over the place.

"Aggghhh…"

Kael groaned in pain, this had become a common sight in these past few hours.

[Ding!]

[Defense: +1]

[Agility: +1]

[Agility: +1]

[Defense: +1]

[Speed: +1]

[Defense: +1]

…

...

The system worked to its full potential, but this time, the messages it displayed brought Kael no joy. The pain he was in was enough to overwhelm any excitement a few messages could bring.

Or at least… that's what Kael thought...

But then,

[Ding!]

[Skill acquired: Hand-to-Hand Combat (Incomplete)]

...

A/N: Pending character illustrations (clearer in discord)

Future Kael (the one in the dream and vision)

Kael 

Igni