Charles POV:
After Miss Lilith finished munching on the gold apple, I revealed the first part of my training plan. Early Evaluation/Assessment, this will give me a rough idea on what her capabilities currently are and how I need to train her.
I can try to teach a swordsman archery or an archer swordsmanship but they won't be proficient in that field of combat since they specialise in different skills.
The same logic applies here. Normally I'd train the soldiers on command to have some basic mastery over all basic weapons and manners of skills useful out on the field.
However, because we have only a week's worth of training time, I'll be having Miss Lilith focus on mastering a few select skills that'll give her a chance of winning next week's match.
Before that. I'll have to see how fit she is, since Miss Lilith can't use magic, we'll opt for the brute force martial arts or melee combat approach. This will give her an advantage over that Florence girl. In a one-on-one, unless a mage or ranged combatant can get distance over a melee opponent or reduce their speed, their more powerful and time-costly attacks will constantly be interrupted by their opponents relentless, close-up onslaught.
"Alright, first things first, before we officially begin training, I'll need to assess your physical capabilities and your skills.
Let's start off with a light jog of ten kilometres that you have to finish in under, let's say, thirty minutes."
Miss Lilith looked at me with a dead-eyed expression.
"Did you say I have to run ten kilometres in under thirty minutes? I just ate an apple you know? I'll have indigestion if you force me to go through such intensive physical activity."
I rolled my eyes.
Intense? Lassie, you should see the intensity of the education back in my world. During my childhood school years, I could run a one minute mile while having several hundred pound weights strapped to my limbs.
Maybe I was wrong about this world, if an average student at a world prestigious learning institution calls running ten kilometres "intensive." Then this world's inhabitants truly are undeveloped and weak. I suppose Miss Medea was just an outlier. Truly she was strong.
If it weren't for the words of Lady Vera telling me to be nice and take care of her, I would have already made Miss Lilith do an additional ten kilometres with weights strapped to her limbs. As well as conjure a miniature, magical thundercloud that would follow her and deliver a low-voltage shock every time she slows down.
I simply can't stand slackers and those who refuse to give their all.
The moment they meet a roadblock that gets in the way of their goals, they call it quits.
They always make the same excuse.
It's too hard.
I'm not strong enough.
I can't do it.
This is my limit.
I'm not a superhuman.
All of these excuses are pointless. The moment you decide you can't continue, you'll never be able to get back up again. I have seen far too many young geniuses and stars who've grown complacent with their current talent and skill, then end up deciding to slack off and enjoy all the worldly wealth and pleasures they've obtained. Causing their skills to slowly degrade from Genius to Talented to Average, becoming no better than those they once stood above.
I don't have anything against wealth, as a noble I need to have plenty to ensure the advancement and development of my fiefdom, ensure people could smile happily in the streets, and to maintain my mansion, weapons and suits so I may keep a noble and dignified appearance. You have no idea how tiresome noble socialising culture is. If you happen to dress properly or not behave a certain way, you'll be ostracised by the entire noble community. Noble society is like a shark tank! They're all waiting for you to bleed and then take the chance to pounce, ripping you to pieces.
I'm derailing again aren't I?
Breaking out of my inner monologue once more, I brought my mind back to how I'm going to train the young lady before me who was shivering in fright.
Wait.
Shivering in fright?
By Ishta's name!
Her face is paler than the snowy plains of Tundar!
What on Solaris am I doing! I'm being too harsh on her! She's a bullied child who needs support and not further disdain or hate from others! I even promised Lady Vera that I would take good care of her!
With my personal bias no longer clouding my judgement, I cleared my throat and calmly spoke to her without any negative thoughts or emotions.
*Ahem!*
"Miss Lilith, I apologise if I'm expecting too much from you from our first training session. How about this, run one kilometre as fast as you to that tree and back."
Unlike her usual fiery and temperamental behaviour, Miss Lilith responded with a simple "Alright." She took off her blue school blazer and ran in the direction of the nearby tree I pointed at.
After the results, the only thing I had to say was she has a lot of areas she needs to work on.
Evidenced by how she was bent over panting after the run and mumbling curses underneath her breath.
It took her not five, not ten but fifteen minutes to run ONE kilometre. Although part of it can be attributed to the stomach cramp she got after the halfway mark.
Seems like she was right about potentially getting indigestion.
Even if we cut off the five minutes she spent walking, clutching her stomach. The run still took ten minutes to complete the one kilometre run. She didn't complete effortlessly either, no, her body was slouched, sweat soaked her blouse and her breathing was very heavy and laboured.
I'll be honest, with the behaviour and grit she displays, my first impression of her was a temperamental, athletic tomboy or problem-child.
Turns out she was a temperamental, unathletic problem-child.
However, I can't help but be excited.
No, it's not from the way her clothes stuck to her developing teenage body or how her skin was partly visible from the slight translucency caused by her sweat.
Let's be clear that I'm not a criminal, alright? I prefer more elegant and refined women such as Lady Iseria.
I'm excited by the challenge at hand.
You see, aside from being a noble, general or a hero. I'm also a mentor, some of the world's greatest warriors were taught by me personally. Ash Forge, the Unyielding. Melania Rosencrest, Flame of The West. Karnis Jude, The Blood Berserker. As well as my proudest pupil and greatest regret, Vilitor, The Betrayer.
As a mentor, it is my greatest pride to see the pupils that I teach flourish into something magnificent that'll go down in the history books. Every single student I taught has achieved great success and fame.
Now look here, we have ourselves an unathletic girl who can't use magic, shunned by all of society.
Now imagine this same girl, through blood, sweat and tears, achieving martial prowess and becoming a great hero who saved the world. It'll be something that'll go down in the legend's for generations, no, centuries to come!
Before she can transform from an ugly crawling worm to a beautiful butterfly, soaring high above our heads. We must set the foundations.
[Author's Note: Sorry for the nearly month long delay and short chapter. I'm working on a new novel series, Sherlock In Another World (this is just the shortened name, the real title is much longer.) I'm still working on the characters and plot but I managed to get the prologue, setting and introductory first chapter done. Expect the first chapters to come out after I compile my Old Knight chapters into one volume. I promise that I won't drop the Old Knight series like the previous two I wrote.]