Clive got up from the bed and washed up to get ready for school, he was quite excited because today would be their first time piloting a real mech.
he marched from his dorm room towards the academy grounds, as he walked he stared at the vast space filled with stars through the wide and clear window. the academy is located outside the atmosphere of the Hellion Empire Capital Planet on a ring-shaped structure, to be able to conduct experiments and perform actual mech training in outer space.
after a few minutes of low-gravity travel, Clive arrived at the training grounds where other students were already warming up their bodies and making various preparations.
Clive picked a spot and he started warming up as well since any minute now their instructor would arrive to start their class.
"Now, everyone, finish your warm-up in three minutes and line up " instructor Klay announced, he is the same instructor of the Mech Piloting Simulation class.
Clive looked up in the direction of the voice and quickly finished his warm-up exercise.
All twenty students in Clive's class are now neatly lined up awaiting the instructor's words.
Clive looked around and he saw Ben giving him a nasty smile.
It seems that they have planned something today, then Clive remembered what Lisa told him a few days back, that Ben is planning something.
" it seems like today is that day, " Clive told himself as he continued to pay attention to their instructor.
" as you all know, today will be your very first time to pilot a real mech," Klay said and the students cheered excitedly.
Even Clive started to feel excited about the fact that they would be able to pilot a real mech today. Since he was a kid he has heard countless stories about mechs and their glory how they opened a path for humanity to be one of the overlords of the Milky Way, and how their ancestor braved the vast space along with other mech pilots to claim a piece of their galaxy, that is also the story on how his family gained nobility through military effort, from then on Clive dreamt of being a great mech pilot just like his ancestor and restore their family to its former glory.
A metallic his and clack sounded from not far away behind their instructor, and then images of a twenty-meter giant slowly emerged from the opening of the giant steel door.
"Woah"
" wow "
Various sounds of exclamation and amazement filled the spacious training grounds.
The wide and spacious training grounds started to look cramped as five twenty-meter giant mechs entered.
The mechs lined up behind their instructor the mechs were equipped with a sword and a dagger, and compared to the steel titans their instructor looked like an ant and some even chuckled at the amusing sight.
The pilots operating the mechs left the cockpit of the mech and greeted their instructor then left.
" Since there are only five mechs available, you will be divided into four groups with five members each, now group yourselves " Klay instructed the class, and quickly they formed their respective groups.
" who wants to go first " Klay asked and no one was raising their hands except Ben and John's group.
" Okay, then you guys choose a mech to pilot while the rest go to the side and wait for your turn," Klay said.
Clive just like the rest of the students went to the sides just like instructed then a group of people wearing white lab coats approached their instructor and the mechs, they also gave some reminders to the students.
Not long after Ben and the rest climbed up the cockpit and entered.
"Are you guys settled in? " their instructor asked.
" yes sir, " the five students said simultaneously.
" Again, the goal of today's class is for you guys to experience how it feels piloting a real mech, you are not allowed to perform complicated moves, you only have to perform some of your melee combat skills and you are not allowed to attack each other, " Klay said.
After the instructor's words, the five mechs started to move.
The mechs move sluggishly as they perform slashes and stabs with their sword and dagger.
They all know how to use one melee weapon since it is the standard for all the mech pilots of the empire.
Ben and the others took a few more minutes before they completely managed to adjust and familiarize themselves with the new sensation of piloting a real mech.
As time went by their movements started to look less sluggish but it was still not great, they finished their demonstration and were all commanded to stop and leave the cockpit.
Ben and the others jumped down and their classmates greeted them as they asked various questions about how it felt.
Then the next batch of students climbed up the cockpit of the mech, this group of students was where Lisa was so Clive paid attention since Lisa was one of the rare people he considered as his friend.
The new batch of students excitedly climbed up the cockpit, they immediately started to move their mechs when they received the go signal from the mech technicians.
Just like the first group, the mechs move the same way, sluggish, except for one mech, it smoothly performed a graceful yet deadly swordsmanship.
Clive revealed a shocked expression since he recognized the beautiful swordsmanship, it is the same swordsmanship that Lisa uses, he is familiar with her swordsmanship since they have sparred countless times during their first year as students.
Even Klay is shocked but he doesn't show much reaction unlike other students and the technician.
Clive's shock turned into a smile as his competitive spirit started burning wanting to pilot a real mech so bad.
As the group finished their demonstration they left the cockpit and their instructors praised them but Lisa gained much more attention because of her shocking performance.
She quickly finished talking to other students and she went to Clive's side with a proud smile on her face.
" so how was it, are you shocked, when you saw my piloting skills " She asked Clive who was also smiling towards her.
" not really, " Clive said with a smile.
" why not? " Lisa asked while pouting.
" As expected of the famous Belle Family, their descendants are truly outstanding, " Clive said.
Lisa just punched him in the stomach.
The Belle Family where Lisa was from has a long history attached to their mech pilots, the Belles are also involved in the development of the mechs, and during the conquest to conquer the Milky Way to the present great mech war, their pilots are among the key players, so it is easy for Clive to imagine that Lisa can achieve such great result.
After their short interaction, it is time for the third batch of students to use the mech. Clive then shifted his attention from Lisa towards the Mechs.
Two students from the third batch performed quite well but they didn't make quite the impression because of Lisa's stellar performance, they both performed a dagger technique with great mastery they also took a short time to improve their control over the mechs.
It was now the turn of Clive's group, they quickly approached the mechs, Clive looked up at the mech in amazement, and then the mech technicians gave them some reminders.
" once you put on the helmet you will feel a slight sting of pain, but don't worry that is normal that just means that the mech has successfully established a mental connection with you so do not panic "
Clive nodded his head as he listened to the technician's words.
"Now get in, " the technician said.
Clive excitedly entered the cockpit, he was familiar with the inside of the cockpit since the simulators had the same layout, he quickly made himself comfortable, and he took a deep breath as he was putting on the helmet.
Clive made a small sound when he felt the sting that the technician was talking about.
While that was happening inside Clive's cockpit, Ben, the one who beats Clive up looked towards the group of technicians one of the technicians made eye contact with him, Ben nodded and the technician nodded back.
Lisa saw the whole thing and started to worry about Clive.
"This bastard, I wonder what he is planning, I hope Clive is okay," Lisa said to herself.
Inside the cockpit, Clive is now looking outside through the display screen inside the mech with a smile on his face, he is now actually inside a real mech.
Then suddenly a small image appeared at the top right corner of the display screen it was their instructor.
"Are you guys ready? " their instructor asked.
" yes Sir " the group answered in unison.
The technician made some final adjustments and then gave Clive and the other the go signal.
Clive didn't immediately start to perform his swordsmanship, instead, he started to move every limb of the mech trying to familiarize himself with the feeling of piloting a real mech.
Once he got the hang of it, he held up his sword in front of him with both hands and the eyes of the mech gave off a yellow glow.