"Put your butts up and start running around the school ten times! Now!"
Fifteen minutes after finishing the warm-up, Ainkrad started shouting. He would not teach knightly manners or how to fight before his students had a suitable physique.
"D-Do we have to run around the school? On top of that, ten times!?" Ayduin asked his friends beside him.
His friends could only gulp in awe as they surveyed the massive 18000 square meter expanse of Raven Academy. It was certainly an area large enough to accommodate a variety of running sports.
Even though the school only had four buildings, almost all of the area had been used because several spots were used as fighting arenas for mages and knights. The stadia were more durable and sturdy, also broader than the training ground in the Knight Division class.
Amidst the doubts of the knight-class students, Aizen was the first to move out of the classroom. He slowly trotted. And according to the track, he would sprint around the school just like Ainkrad's orders.
"What are you guys waiting for!? There's still more practice if you don't move now and finish this!" Ainkrad shouted, causing the silent students to run and follow in Aizen's footsteps.
Even though they were too excited during the warm-up, the fifteen students were still able to run and were able to overtake and even surpass Aizen within a few moments.
Aizen didn't care that he was passed over. He continued to run moderately while controlling his breathing.
After 30 minutes, the students were getting overwhelmed, and sweat was pouring down their faces and bodies. But there were still six laps remaining.
"Hey, Ayduin. Want to go to the canteen for a bit? I'm thirsty now. Besides, I can't seem to run anymore. My legs feel weak."
Ayduin was tempted to hear that. However, he remembered that an upperclassman had told him to obey the instructor's orders. Otherwise, his punishment would be double what he did now.
"I-I don't want to! We better try to finish this run. You know how scary our teacher is when he screams, right? So, forget your suffering and keep running."
Ayduin hurriedly answered while shaking his head. Yesterday's incident made him a little more docile than usual.
The other students might not have picked up on that, but he knew that Ainkrad was a cruel instructor. The fact that Ainkrad didn't stop Aizen even though he was unconscious already showed off Ainkrad's true mask.
'A demon with a dog mask!'
That was implied by Ayduin every time he faced Ainkrad.
"No need to worry. The teacher won't know if we don't open our mouths! Let's go, Ayduin!"
Again, that was a temptation that was hard to resist. Especially considering what the students were feeling, taking a short break was an amenity for them.
Ayduin's determination crumbled, and he looked back. Unknowingly, his eyes fell on Aizen at the back.
'Oh, that white-haired boy isn't far behind? I felt he was running slow before. Well, it doesn't matter.'
When Ayduin tossed aside those thoughts, he instead saw Ainkrad not far behind Aizen.
His eyes widened, and he immediately turned his face forward. Even though he was tired and thirsty, he endured the pain and maintained his running speed, which was not as fast as before.
When his friends started to slow down and stopped running, Ayduin covered his ears so as not to hear the devil's temptation.
And sure enough, when the students started walking, Aizen passed them casually and clearly.
The students just stared blankly, but not long after, they all fell to the ground, kicked by Ainkrad from behind.
"I said run! Not walk!
"Ascend right now and run. If not, I'll make you run longer than ten laps!"
The students were at a loss and panicked, hearing Ainkrad's screams. They also tried to get up chaotically.
"I didn't hear any answer! Where are your voices!? Answer me when I order or ask! Got it!"
"Yes, sir!"
"Yes, Instructor!"
"Yes, teacher!"
Even though their answers varied, their shouts were also loud enough that Ainkrad stopped yelling at them and prepared to run behind to watch. It was only the first day. Thus, he still made concessions even though the students had difficulty carrying out the exercises.
Meanwhile, Aizen began to overtake Ayduin in front. The decision to maintain a medium speed and breathing control made his stamina last a long time.
Ayduin was not so stupid. He knew that he was the one starting to slow down and was being caught up by Aizen. Besides that, how could he be arrogant and find trouble with Aizen?
One time getting beaten up was enough to let him know what he could do and what he couldn't.
He also noticed Aizen wasn't too tired from his breathing. Unlike him, who was starting to run out of breath. But strangely, he was about to laugh when he looked ahead.
That was because Aizen was running while staggering. No matter what angle others saw him from, they thought he would immediately faint with the state of his running.
But in fact, it was not!
Ayduin was instantly amazed at Aizen's tenacity.
Small and thin body. But still able to run at the same speed even in unsteady conditions.
'Is that the determination to become a knight!?'
Ayduin thought, and subconsciously, deep inside, he wanted to be like Aizen. His eyes began to fall on the small boy's back.
Little did he know that the boy he saw from behind now would become commander-in-chief of an army in the future. Capable of battling on equal footing against the Asylum Empire and even the Tucan Empire led by their legendary generals.
The Supreme Knight, Aizen Barthomelo. A name that would be etched in history as the powerful commander in the battle of warfare.
Even though now, he was just a white-haired child, busy improving his physique.
After running ten laps, the Class 3 students were told to do 100 push-ups, 100 sit-ups, and 100 squats. The four exercise menus were completed by all students within 8 hours. That was quite a long time, according to Ainkrad.
Ainkrad, with cynical eyes, looked at the students, who were lying exhausted on the ground.
"Student Barthomelo, how much weight do you carry on your body?"
Aizen took a deep breath before answering, "That's 10 kg in total."
Ainkrad walked through the weapons cabinet inside the classroom training ground. He then threw weights just like the one Aizen used, causing the students resting on the ground to gasp.
"Put it on, and never take it off! 10 kg each.
"Remember, I'm watching you wherever you are! I have the means to know your activities out there.
"Class is over!"
The students could only pout and lament about their situation. The exercise alone was difficult. Now, they have to move while carrying the weight.
Crazy instructor!
That was what all the students had in mind.
But, Ayduin didn't think like that. He glanced at Aizen, then rushed to use the weights as ordered.
The students were surprised to see Ayduin's attitude. Like it or not. They also wear weights and go home exhausted.
Class 3 of the Knight Division continued the same practice until the weekend when the students only got one day off before returning to their hard and intense training.
Exactly one week after Raven Academy's first day of school started, the date was the 23rd of Spring. It had only been a quarter of a month, and it was still a long way from the end of the season.
Aizen returned to Class 10 of the Mage Division. His body was getting used to the exercise. He was also comfortable with the 10 kg weight. So it didn't interfere with his daily activities.
Milo was happy to meet him because every time Aizen came back from school, he immediately slept in the dorm room. Nathan was also happy to see him back in the mage class.
Both of them didn't notice the weight on Aizen's arm because of the long-sleeved school uniform.
"Wow, I haven't seen you for a week. You seem more manly," Milo said while looking Aizen up and down.
"Yes, big brother. You look like a knight." Nathan chirps in praise.
Aizen ignored the two of them and sat where he was at the back while looking at Milo with narrowed eyes.
"What about my request? Did something happen in class?"
"There isn't any," Milo answered.
"That's right. Class is peaceful when you're not here, big brother." Nathan added.
"Shut up," Aizen said while hitting Nathan's head.
"Ouch!" Nathan exclaimed. He became busy stroking his sore head.
"Strange, isn't it? Arman and his friends weren't as riotous as I thought. The learning atmosphere was so quiet, and no one made a fuss in class."
"Um!"
As Aizen had expected, Arman would not act recklessly with Nathan around.
Milo probably didn't know the imperial family name or the face of the emperor's descendant.
But Arman was different. He knew the imperial family lineage because his father had already forged the things he could do and the things he couldn't.
So, after Nathan entered Class 10, it was impossible for Arman not to recognize the fourth prince of the Aslan Empire.
However, the fact that Arman didn't make a fuss was quite worrying because the plan devised for revenge was dangerous.