The whole class was grouped into pairs for the activity at random. The students are to battle in order to gain hands on experience in the ways of magic combat. The professor watched attentively as he pointed out the errors committed by his students, while also healing those with minor injuries and canceling the effects of hexes and jinxes. He is very strict and loud like a drill sergeant from hell while claiming to be very linient to the freshies.
Experience in magic combat is something Viktor sorely lacks and so he did have expectations but his overwhelming cast time and vast magic reserves made it quite pointless to battle his classmates. It wasn't even a challenge for him at all, and is thus a pointless endeavour.
The students enjoyed the class session as they were able to learn many restriction type of spells, dodging, casting a barrier, minor jinxes, hexes and of course they were able to be familiar with the feeling of facing an opponent albeit with the lack of malevolent intent.
'Well its not a gem, but it's not a complete waste of time either. Although I think my time can be better spent elsewhere.'
He was walking towards his last subject as he thought about whether or not to send a double to attend the afternoon classes.
The Physical Combat class is something unique to Durmstrang as other schools of magic looks down upon those who have to put too much sweat into their work in order to defeat their foe, they prefer the more elegant and less tiring route of swishing the wand and achieving good enough results. Durmstrang on the other hand gives great importance to the physical capability of a wizard especially those who focus on battles, the olden ones have theorised that the body is capable of accommodating more magic if one is fit. Aside from that, it can also help in pounding discipline into one's heart and promotes a healthy mind, it makes it easier to dodge spells and many more aside from the fact that one can eliminate an enemy without the use of magic if one is strong enough.
The freshies are already lined up on the field wearing their brown uniform black pants and black leather combat boots, standing in attention. Being larger than most of his peers he was once again in his most favourite place, 'back of the line' is his kind of thing after all.
The teacher is standing in front and looked rather thin when compared to professor Soriano, he has short golden hair and clear hazel brown eyes and a calm smile on his face.
'Hmmm he looks familiar.'
"Good morning everyone! I'm Professor Alphonse Alrick, glad to have met with you."
'Ohhhh they should be brothers or something.'
"Yes, yes,,, the Transfiguration professor and I are related. He is my elder brother. Alright let's start the class everyone 'attention'!"
"I know that some of you don't think very highly about this subject. So today I'm going to show you how important it is to be capable of fighting without the use of magic. If anyone from this class can land a hit on me using magic alone then they will automatically be marked as a pass in my subject, no need to bother about coming here anymore. Who would like to volunteer?"
One of the excited students raised his hands and challenged professor Alrick. They stood twenty meters apart and the student bowed in courtesy before proceeding with his attacks, professor Alrick on the other hand simply dodged his spells with minimum movement. In the end he grew tired from magic exhaustion without even getting close to landing a hit. Then he challenged them five at a time, then ten at a time with none getting that one hit as the professor exhibited his prowess in dodging spells without batting a single drop of sweat, clearly not feeling pressured at all by his challengers.
"There's only four of you, do you wish to do the challenge? Yes... Speak."
Professor Alrick called out to one who raised his hand.
"Excuse me. Professor. Can I please be allowed to do it alone?"
"Alone? Haven't you seen your peers struggle even when there were ten of them trying to hit me? Tell me, do you still wish to challenge me alone Mr. Krum?"
"Yes please. Thank you in advance for letting me do this alone and listening to my selfish request."
Viktor gave a slight bow in greeting and respect.
'Nox' (wand light off)
'Fumos' (smoke screen)
'Aquamenti' (water summon)
'Glacius' (freeze)
'Incarcerous' (bind)
It was a quick combo which can be very effective especially when attacking an unsuspecting opponent, but the professor saw through it and was spinning in the air by the time the water froze while dodging the binding spell.
"I would like to take the challenge alone."
A brown haired male student declared in front of his bewildered professor who was then thinking how this particular student looked very familiar to him for some reason.
"Are you sure about that Mr. Krum?"
Finally remembering the reason why he looked very familiar I asked him first if he was sure of his request. This student is listed on the high priority profiles given to us by the headmistress. Special children will need special attention after all, so I decided to agree to his request to challenge me alone while also evaluating his potential. It's not like an eleven year old kid can best me in combat after all, but let's not underestimate the kid.
"Yes please. I thank you in advance."
"Alright. Show me what you've got."
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Alphonse POV
What a strange kid. Challenging me alone after seeing ten of his classmates fail in landing a hit.
The kid slightly bent his back in courtesy and began channeling a spell. Or so I thought. He is clearly casting multiple spells in succession and without pause. I am amazed at his speed, accuracy and technique in casting. He is using a combination of weak spells to achieve big effects. The most amazing thing is that he can cast most of his spells chantlessly, he even hid the light of his wand while casting a smokescreen spell to hide his movements. I also think he used muffling spell on himself to hide the sound of his footsteps. What a clever child. Aside from that, his blasting and knock back spells kept on coming like a barrage of muggle artillery which means he's got quite the 'gas tank' in there.
Dodge, dodge, dodge and dodge again. Something is strange.
'shit'
I stepped onto something ominous and cold sweat began to roll from behind me. Now, I'm beginning to regret saying that I would not use magic for this challenge. My shoe is stuck, transfigured to the soil which delayed me by a fraction of a millisecond in dodging an incoming impediment charm with all my ability but it was of no use as the spell actually managed to graze my left arm. The smokescreen vanished and only now did I realise that I am trapped in a metal cage full of thorns which pointed inward, making it almost impossible to escape from unless I used magic or became invulnerable to physical damage. (which he can't)
'He already won the bet by hitting me with a spell anyway. A hit is a hit even if its just a slight graze. My arm is still numb from that impedimenta did he increase his magic input to make it more powerful?'
"Alright you win. You pass this class, no need to come here tomorrow just make sure to train yourself so as to not neglect your body. Us wizards are gifted with magic and has much better physique than that of muggles, but that doesn't mean that you can overlook your physique training. Off you go."
It pains me not to be able to have such a talented student but there's really no point in keeping him here. A teacher must stand up to his own words.
"I have a favor to ask professor."
He spoke cordially as if nothing changed after he won and I am thankful to him for not looking down upon my capabilities as a teacher from winning this one bet. This shows that he is quite matured for his age. I hope this defeat will not affect the behaviour of the whole class in a negative way.
I simply nodded in response.
"If you used magic in that challenge, there is no doubt that no one here can beat you in combat and I greatly admire your skills. Would it be possible for you to give me special training in combat? I think I still lack experience when it comes to fighting opponents who are capable of dodging so many spells."
Oh my... what a thoughtful child. Is he purposefully helping me out in proving the importance of having a good body state to his classmates for me to agree to be his personal training dummy for combat spell practise?
Sigh*... my original plan to encourage them thru advertisement was ruined when he won. Now this cunning kid is trying to get his way with me. But yeah, I am thankful for that. I like teaching talented kids. (who wouldn't?)
Thinking about it again, the kid is a real monster. How can he cast magic so fast? Even my elder brother can't cast as fast and as many as he can for spells to layer. Is he really an eleven year old child?
The kid looked sincere and without any other hidden intentions aside from his desire to learn so I decided to meet with him later to further discuss the topic as the class is still on going.
"Okay, meet me in my office tomorrow before the start of this period. I'll give you something to work on."
I don't know why but I feel excited for some reason. Maybe it's what a teacher feels when their students surpassed their expectations.