- 2nd August 2138, Afternoon, GCA Campus Arena -
Blurry figures above me slowly came into view I woke up. I could feel a constant pounding in my head. I'd been taken out in a single, solitary hit. If anything this was proof I needed to train. I tried to get up, but my arms and legs wouldn't respond. I could only lay there, staring up at the blurry figures before me.
"Shrimp, you're weak. Very weak. We have much work to do" one of the figures said.
This was Warmund Abolstein, the violin touting strongman. He was two years my senior, this meant it was his last year studying at the academy. To think those in their last year could wield such power. I could only imagine how strong the graduates were.
"But first," he said as he lifted his violin, it glowing a pale white "a little song for the fallen" he chuckled.
As he started to play I could feel my body start to tingle, waves of sound reverberating through my body. I wanted to go back into my unconscious state to rest more, but my body wouldn't respond. The tingling turned into a burning sensation and soon I felt the vigor of one thousand men coursing through my veins. I'd been healed. Body like a torch lit anew.
"You're right," I responded, wiping the slick sweat off my pale forehead.
As I spoke, a book slammed into my face, thrown by Warmund. It was titled 'Your Body and Your Rhythm' by Grug Absonstein.
"It's no enhancement method, shrimp. But a basic regiment should get you into shape." He disclosed, patting himself on the back and smiling smugly to himself.
Opening to the first page, it seemed the language in this book was nowhere near as flowery as the one Alastar had bestowed upon me. The first page simply read 'Apes together strong' with an image of two apes, one with his fingers together. Perhaps harkening back to our specie's evolutionary history with the apes. The next few pages seemed to carry on in a similar vein, with short statements that could be interpreted in many ways. The book was not what I had expected. Nonetheless, I could still glean some semblance of a training method from it. Despite the fact, it looked like the InfoComm history of an 8-year-old.
It seemed I'd have to do 100 push-ups, followed by 100 sit-ups. Then a 10-mile run. Followed by a high-protein, EX-Energy enhanced meal prepared in an air-fryer. A feeling of dread made its home in my mind as I thought about the workout ahead of me. I didn't even own an air-fryer!
As I was frantically reading page after page, trying to make sense of what I was supposed to do. Warmund interrupted me, his imposing figure holding some sort of contraption decorated with EX-metal, the conductive material used in all EX-Foci. Emblazoned on the front the words 'Fry-Meister' were visible.
"Clearly, you don't own an air-fryer." He said in a smug voice, before passing me the contraption.
I didn't give him a response. I was too busy trying to figure out how to use the air fryer. It seemed to work on EX-Energy, but I'd never used an EX-Foci before so the whole concept was new to me.
"You're worse than I thought, shrimp." Gloated Warmund, in a rough tone. "Just channel your energy through it like any other spell"
Following his instructions, the contraption whirred to life with a soft purple glow. Sizzling as it begged for food to be placed within it.
This training was going to be hard. I'd been absolutely destroyed by Warmund. I could say without a shadow of a doubt that he may be stronger than a few of the teachers here. Considering his pure physicality combined with his almost symbiotic relationship with the sound he had at his command. A beast in all but name.
It would be in my best interests to exercise caution. I didn't want to get hurt, but at the same time, I wanted to learn as much as possible from this man. He had a lot of experience and knowledge that I could use in my quest for power. Maybe I could become a grandmaster-level caster someday?
"So what do you think?" Warmund asked me after he finished his explanation.
"You up for it?" I nodded eagerly.
"Of course." Warmund smiled. "Good. We'll meet every day at the Gym, get you in shape for that little exam of yours."
Thanking Warmund for his help, I began walking back to my apartment. Fry-meister resting firmly between my arm and shoulder.
"You're welcome shrimp." I heard him remark as I made my way past the bleachers.
-------:-
The next day of classes breezed by like a blur of interactions. I spoke with Siska and Minerva some more, before making my way to the Gym to convene with Warmund. We'd set up a daily training regiment, to put me on a fast track to getting stronger. Only 2 months remained until the exam. Just before reaching the entrance of the gym, I was accosted by two people I recognized to be from my class. Hayden and Finnegan of the Verräter family. They were twins, both with blond dyed hair with brown roots showing. Reaching about the same length as mine. They stood, blocking the way to the gym.
"Looks like a useless boy here is trying to get stronger," one remarked, chanting a {Zeigen}. He held the orb of spiraling craggy rocks on his finger as if to threaten me.
"He can't even cast a simple Zeigen, what an idiot," the other said, cracking his knuckles.
It seemed these two had it out for me. Did they care so badly about academics, or was this some ego-fueling status thing for them? Both of them had disgusting grins on their faces as they slowly walked closer. This was fun for them. The sort of person who goes out of his way to trample on those perceived to be weaker than themself.
Without giving me a second to think, they both leaped at me at the same time. Hayden flinging the Zeigen straight at my abdomen. As a result of my untrained body, I wasn't able to move away in time, leading to my feeling of blunt, visceral pain coursing through my stomach. I felt sick, this was awful. Barely able to stand up after one spell. This yet again showed me the disparity between those who could follow an enhancement method. I needed to approach this fight intelligently. Focusing my eyes on Hayden I charged toward him. He was the one who had hit me with the spell and I wanted to make him pay for it.
Impacting him with a tackle I managed to knock him to the ground. Finnegan simply watching it unfold. Perhaps he had confidence in his brother? Hayden got back up, and I prepared myself for the next attack. Hayden began chanting, this time sounding out a {Felsen}, This spell was new to me. It was rather simple though. A large rock had materialized in Hayden's hand, it was vaguely spherical while giving off the natural feel all rocks do. It seemed weightless in Hayden's hand as he launched it directly toward me. Thankfully it seemed the adrenaline of a flight or fight situation had kicked it, I was able to roll under the rock and cast a {Zeigen} myself. Employing it as a sort of taser, the ball of crackling energy dissipated into his crotch. He fell to the ground, in a daze. convulsing.
I fully admit that was a dirty move. Nonetheless, I refocused and faced Finnegan. feeling the fatigue of battle already. I'd channeled a lot of energy into that Zeigen. I probably had about half of it left. Hopefully enough to beat Finnegan.
"Well well, it seems the useless little idiot can cast a Zeigen now," Said Finnegan, as he cracked his knuckles a second time.
Pulling out an ornate knuckleduster, akin to those a gangster would use. channeling his energy through it formed 4 distinct orbs of stubborn rock along his knuckles. It seemed the two brothers were similar in attribution.
"He was weak anyway, the little piece of trash" Finnegan rattled off, spitting to the side as he formed a rigid stance akin to that of a boxer.
He went for a strong and slow hit to my chest. I feinted to the left, then quickly jabbed to the right as Finnegan was already moving to block me. I followed up with a quick series of jabs and thrusts, driving him back. Despite his gloating, he seemed to be scared of getting hit. He was certainly physically stronger than me, though if I kept up the offensive I may be able to take the victory.
Continuing our skirmish of feints and retaliations, I managed to get a clean hit on his chest with my balled fist.
"Not so strong now, are you Finnegan" I jeered, taunting the boy.
"Ughh. Damn you little rat, you've got some instinct there." He snarled.
I had to admit he was right. It felt like this battle was my home. Like I'd always been destined to fight. The rushing feeling in my arms grew stronger by the second. Perhaps it was time to try and end this fight, once and for all...