Today marks the first day of training for Claire. Training for soldiers qualified to join the Special Infantry Troop is quite unique than regular training. Since they are wielders of a special complex weapon, they are required to undergo certain training that'll help them use the shifter more efficiently.
For the first stage of the training, they will be tested for their flexibility, it's one of the most important aspects for combat with a shifter weapon. If the user is too stiff, they cannot use the weapon properly, and it could cause damage or even destruction to their body.
Through this stage, they will be capable of good, smooth movements that allows a fast fluid switch to the desired form of weapon.
"Hmm, there's atleast eleven of us here..." Claire observed as she entered the specified training room. And it wasn't much of a surprise to find a small number of people that's going to be trained here. Only a few ever pass the compatibility test with the shifter weapon
When she sat down on the nearest seat, she felt like she was at school or something. It brought quite a nostalgic feeling. Then her seatmate took the initiative to make a conversation between them. "Hi, the name's Ross." He greeted.
"...I'm Claire." This indeed felt like a school settings to Claire.
"So, you also passed the compatibility test, huh. I have 72% compatibility rate with the shifter weapon. They put it on my left arm and it still kinda hurt, what about you?" He even seemed smug with his compatibility rate.
"I never really checked my compatibility rate, mine's installed on the calf of my right leg." This got Ross taken aback. Usually, shifters are installed on the arms or shoulder for better control and movement.
"No way! Are you for real?!" Ross looked at her, implicitly asking her to show him. She didn't pay much attention to Ross and kept quiet. "What about your compatibility rate?" He asked again.
"I just told you, I don't know."
"That's weird, most people are told about their compatibility rate. Hmm, is it possible that your rate is low? Hmm~" Now he's beginning to annoy Claire. "Haha! Don't worry, we're buddies now! If anything happens I'll be there to help 'ya." Ross said with a wink.
It didn't matter if Claire ignored Ross, he just kept blabbering his mouth the way he wants to. All he ever did was to boast about himself, and it was really testing Claire's patience. Though she managed to maintain calm and keep her fists to herself.
Claire almost thanked the heavens when the instructor arrived, completely shutting Ross's mouth from talking further. "I apologize for the delay. Before we start, I would like to introduce myself..." this instructer seemed as strict as Captain Wright, but he was younger and based on his uniform, he was clearly of a lower rank than the Captain.
Perhaps he's also a part of the Special Infantry Troop? Claire was about to find out.
"I am 2nd Lieutenant Franklin Jones, a former member of the Special Infantry Troop that used to ranked in the 32nd. I will be the one to see you all through the end of this training!" All the trainees tensed up when they felt that things are about to get serious from the tone of Franklin's voice. "For now, we will proceed with a 30 minute orientation so that you'll all know what to expect and do during our training sessions..."
They all strictly followed the given schedule and routines for the first stage of the training. This part of training will continue for two weeks straight, and trainees must produce atleast a decent evaluation rate before they can proceed to the next stage.
The trainees during this stage is required to do basic to extreme exercises in order to have a well rounded physical fitness that will help them become effective when in combat, and help them stay alive for longer in the face of danger.
All of them were able to pass the basic exercises during the first three days. Passing the basic exercise, 2nd lt. Franklin increased the intensity making the exercises a bit more difficult but still bearable.
As the trainees were ordered to maintain a butterfly stretch for a span of 5 minutes, most of them were already shaking after reaching a 2 minutes point. Ross was the most shaky of them all, he decides to check on Claire to see if she was as bad as him to make himself feel atleast better but he was stunned to see that she's still stiff and composed.
When 2nd lt. Franklin checked on them, only three including Claire earned a praise for completing the exercise without trouble. The shaky ones were to repeat until they mastered composure while maintaining the butterfly stretch form in the given span of time.
The first ones to finish were given a five minute break until they proceed to the next phase. Whilst watching from the sides, a fellow trainee offered Claire a drink. "Here, you must be thirsty." He seemed like a soft-spoken and gentle person, he smiles at Claire when their eyes met.
"Ah, no thanks. I'm not thirsty." She declined.
"Alright then... you know, I find you really impressive." He began to talk. "It's great to see some tough girls out there."
This made Claire raise an eyebrow at him. "Is that supposed to be a compliment?" She can feel from his stare that he was actually looking down on her.
"Huh? Oh, did I say something offensive? I apologize if that's the case." He really appears to be that typical kind guy, but if one were to carefully read between the lines, they can tell that the words doesn't really match what it actually means.
"No. Just don't talk to me again." She bluntly said which got him confused.
"Ehh?? How unfriendly of you, are you sure you won't even bother to ask me for my name?" He tried to maintain that friendly tone, but he was so pissed off by Claire's rude attitude.
"I don't care." And she left him just like that.
Glaring at her from behind, have Claire suddenly made an enemy!?