"Student Ling! what happened?"
All of the students in the classroom was surprised by this situation. Even the the teacher who lectured in front.
"I'm sorry teacher, the table suddenly collapsed on it's own" Ling replied calmly while getting out of his stupor earlier.
"What, how could that happen? The maintenance was done a week ago" Mr. Ku said while in doubt. Well, since this was a private school for upper class nobles. The academy maintenance was strictly followed. How can they answer the parents of the students who have a big position or influential in the government in the Fire Nation if they have mediocre qualities being given in the academy.
"I also don't know teacher" Ling looked at his surroundings while giving an innocent eye.
"When I put my hand on the table it's suddenly collapsed, like what you all guys saw"
"Sigh, well just share the table with student Tee" Mr. Ku sighed while looking at the collapsed table. 'Damn, what are those guys doing, not checking the furnitures properly enough' Mr. Kuu mentally thought. Well, If something happened to the students here, the one whose in charge was obviously blamed.
"Well, let's continue with the discussion"
"As I mentioned earlier, after gaining a foothold the soldiers usually clears the area by advancing at great speeds with cavalry and tanks. After the first advancement, the military usually swarms over the area with infantry. Other strategies like making use of maneuver warfa--"
'Damn, I lost my cool there for a moment. This gacha is really .." Ling inwardly thought. Seeing the reward he got he can't blame his own luck. 'It was good if I got the training weights but still a green jumpsuit!'. Imagining himself wearing it while training and shouting 'Youth' all over the Fire Nation.
SHUDDER
'Breath in, Breath out' Ling inhaled and exhaled while clearing his thought about the imagination. 'Well, maybe I can help Zuko if I met him and give him a present while at it'.
Looking at his remaining gacha spin he can't help but hesitate to open, maybe his luck today was bad. But seeing the temptation to receive new price he can't really wait. His urge was pushing him to make the spin again.
{Gacha}
'Damn, this time just give me something useful'
SPIN
SPIN
'Come on give me something stronger and cooler'
SPIN
SPIN
SPIN
{Ding}
[Congratulations! You have recie--]
Ling suddenly felt a burst of power inside him. He can't help but touch his forehead near his right eye. The effect last for ten seconds. The boy who was sitting at his right can't help but ask.
"Hey, are you okay. You look like you're sick or something" Tee whispered to Ling. Who was still absorbed in his new condition.
Hearing what his temporary deskmate said, Ling inhaled and replied softly to him.
"Yeah, I'm okay just getting sleepy because of this boring lesson"
"Yeah , me too. History classes will always make me sleepy" Tee replied. "Not just us though, look over there. That sleepy guy will probably eat a fly if he don't close his mouth" he continued.
Both of them chuckled while the lecture is still ongoing in front.
Meanwhile Ling looked at his reward and can't help but be overjoyed. 'With this, I can just show to everyone that I'm a firebender'. He can't help but put a smirk on his face. Well almost all of the ninjutsu techniques used hand seals to properly activate it.
While techniques may require a number of hand seals to work, a skilled ninja can use less or even one to perform the same technique. But Ling don't have that kind of skill yet. So performing hand seals in the middle of the battle while most firebenders just punch and kick is pretty suspicious to everyone especially if an advance firebender master will see it.
'Hehe, with this ability no one will be able to differentiate me to other firebenders. Well it's another case if someone will check my chi paths' Ling mentally though while getting giddy about his new power. Well he can just use genjutsu to anyone who want to check him if that's the case.
----------
Duels are formal combats that involve two or more opposing fighters. They can be as quick as a minute or last for hours and are sometimes regulated. Duels can be fights to the death, as is the case with most Agni Kai, or simply recreational spars. Duels are also used in training, both in the four bending arts and in specialized fighting styles, such as swordsmanship and chi blocking.
In the academies, students who can firebend are required to attend firebending class. It was mandatory unless one can't firebend at all. This class was usually held in the courtyard, outside the premises of the classroom. In there, students will be trained in basic form of bending and the art of combat.
Most classes about firebending will be held every afternoon. The courtyard was packed with students. Most instructors in firebending were elite officers in the military. Both academies, from the boys and girls were being taught by this people.
Ling who always skip his classes in the afternoon was looking at the courtyard in front of him. Well his classes in the afternoon were mostly music about instruments and the like, it also include learning about blueprints of different building structures across the four nation. Which he finds it boring since he knew that the school just wanted them to learn in order to familiarize it, when the time comes they needed to destroy it from the invasion and the like.
After sometime the students were silent and listened to the instructors who give his personal battle experiences.
"Listen up!, always remember that fire is the element of power, consisting of overpowering force tempered by the unflinching will to accomplish tasks and desires"
"Firebenders use their chi as a source for their bending. This facet of firebending is a sharp contrast to the other bending arts, which manipulate already present sources of their element, though firebenders can also control or enhance flames nearby"
"I for myself uses concentrated barrages of fire to overwhelm opponents before striking a fatal blow. Swift, whirling kicks and punches generate diverse shapes for offensive attacks"
The instructor continued to give lecture in front of the students. He then proceeded to climb in the platform built in the courtyard.
"Okay now, we will have a simple spar. I will be your opponent and each of you will fight will all your might. Experience is the best teacher after all" he then smirked.
"Come who will volunteer first"
The students below was nervous, well they don't have the confidence to fight a seasoned firebender master after all, it's a different case though if they only fight and spar with their fellow classmates.
A minute have passed but no one came to the platform. Not even one. "Hmm, well if no one will volunteer, I will just choose one of you".
The instructor looked below the platform and began to think who he wanted to pick.
"Okay then, yo-" but before he can finish his sentence a youth walked slowly and climb on the platform. This boy had an unusual hair within the fire nation since Fire Nation citizens tend to have black or brown hair. Though he admit that with looks alone he was utterly defeated.
Noticing that there was a volunteer who came up to the platform, the students below was overjoyed while thinking.
'Thank you, good Samaritan. Thank you for your sacrifice'
'You will be forever remembered'
But some of them were shocked. Yes, these were the classmates of the one who volunteered.
'How come he volunteered. He can't firebend'
'Ling?'
'Does he want to suffer injuries?'
The instructor in front was impressed with this young firebender. Benders and non benders don't meet each other always, so he didn't know that this kid was a non bender. He can't help but feel strange though. He was sure that this young kid was never in his class. With his unusual hair he can easily remember and spot him.
"Hmm, kid are you new?"
"Yes, instructor I was transferred recently"
"Good, I admire your personality. Out of all students you were far more fearless than them. That's what a real firebender needs to be. Then young bender don't hold back" Mr. Muusa said. He was an elite firebender and a captain. He already had experienced battles and hone his skills and combat to a higher degree. He is also proficient in bending and commanding troops.
They both readied and assumed a stance.
"Instructor, shall we dance?"
" ..... "
" ..... "
" ..... "
" ..... "
" ..... "
" ..... "
The audience below was petrified. Asking to dance in a battle are you out of your mind. Go dance in the festival then.