"First things first, this will not be a battle to the death," Alexi started to explain.
"You will be allowed to exchange blows however you see fit, but no weapons besides your limbs are allowed. All fighting styles are permitted and the fight ends once your opponent is knocked down."
A shadow of a smile formed on Kenneth's lips when hearing this. She could feel the excitement bubbling in her chest at the prospect of finally having a proper spar.
"Your opponents will be displayed on the screen right now. So as to not waste any time, you will begin when you hear the siren."
The training room's layout changed from the Nebula to a makeshift sparring ring. The ring was half the size of a football field giving the students ample room to go all out during their spar.
On the screen just like the race, a list of the students names were displayed along with their opponent. Kenneth scanned her eyes trying to find her name just for it to be at the bottom. She would be going last.
That's great! Just what my anxious body needs.
She was going to go against a boy named Vincent Karlsson. Since they were all new students and most of them didn't know each other, the students started looking around trying to find their opponent. Kenneth could feel a pair of eyes on her and as she turned to look she caught eyes with a tall boy with ginger hair and glasses. It didn't take a genius to know that he would be the person she would be fighting against with the way he was sizing her up, his inquisitive eyes never leaving Kenneth.
Kenneth couldn't gauge the boy's level of skill nor strength but from the way he wielded his weapon and the way he ran, she could tell he was a strategist. He played smart, always making efficient and calculated moves, never revealing his full strength which she respected. Unfortunately, it made it hard for her to discern wether or not he would pose a threat to her.
The fight began with instructor Alexi standing at the side and Lucien and Alcione standing on both ends, watching the fight and stepping in when needed. The first thing Kenneth noticed was that there was no concept of weight class in the duels. It didn't matter how big and burly a person was or how tall and slender they were either. Anyone could be paired off with each other. This was a concept that Kenneth had mixed feelings about.
She believed that it was important to take note of weight class during spars because it allowed the fighter to truly shine and showcase their talent it also prevented any unfair advantages and accidents. On the other hand, she understood why the match ups were the way they were. This class wasn't suppose to train the students to fight professionally in a sport. It was a survival course meant to teach the students how to fight in the real world and how to better prepare for unexpected situations. In the real world, you are going to have to face people who will be noticeably stronger than you and if you want to survive and win in these fights, you need to find a way to adapt in order to emerge victorious.
Looking at instructor Alexi, she had a newfound respect for him. He wasn't just working them hard, but actually testing their adaptability levels which was important in combat.
...
The couple of fights were interesting but nothing to be impressed about. Kenneth noticed that most people practiced mixed martial arts, with a few having specific disciplines. Mixed martial arts is a full contact style of fighting that incorporated various forms of fighting which was ideal for close combat. A perfect example of this was the fight between Arlo and Fae. It was a fight Kenneth was looking forward to because she knew that they were both strong.
Facing each other each lost in their own worlds, they bowed their heads respectfully and moved to a fighting stance. The vibe between the two changed as soon as the buzzer went off.
As Fae felt the tension leaving her body after taking a deep breath, she knew she couldn't afford to let Arlo make the first move. Despite her smaller stature compared to his towering figure, she was determined not to let this disadvantage hold her back. Summoning all her resolve, she charged at Arlo with a surprising burst of force, striking him in the chest with a blow that reverberated through the room, catching everyone off guard.
Though momentarily taken aback by the unexpected attack, Arlo gained back his composure, blocking Fae's strike with ease. Undeterred, Fae pressed on, unleashing a flurry of punches and kicks in rapid succession. With each movement, she demonstrated a level of agility and determination that exceeded her smaller frame.
As Fae's foot connected with Arlo's jaw, she knew that victory would not come easy. Sure enough, Arlo countered her move with swift precision, using the palm of his hand to block her foot and seize control of her ankles in an attempt to throw her off balance.
But Fae refused to be outmaneuvered. With a quick twist of her body and a deft push of her foot, she managed to break free from Arlo's grasp, regaining her stance with a determined look in her eyes.
As she stood chest heaving, contemplating her next move, Fae knew that the battle was far from over. With Arlo still standing before her, she had to admit that he was a formidable opponent who would not go down if she took this fight lightly. And as she weighed her options, she knew that the decision she made in that moment would determine the course of the battle to come.
As Arlo shifted from defense to offence, Fae braced herself for the onslaught, her slender frame moving with grace and precision as she blocked, struck, and dodged his jabs. With each exchange of blows, Fae countered with a calculated combination of hooks, jabs, and kicks, her movements fluid and deliberate.
Fae had a childhood that deferred from most. She came from a family of elite soldiers graduating top of the Academy and going on to serve Caüs proudly. Growing up in a household where her two older brothers were expected to carry on their father's legacy as soldiers, Fae felt the weight of their expectations bearing down on her. But rather than succumb to the pressure, she channeled her frustrations into determination, using her brothers' training sessions as an opportunity to hone her own skills in secret.
Learning to fight, wield a sword, and defend herself, Fae devoted countless hours to mastering the art of combat, driven by the belief that she was destined for greatness. Despite her parents' lack of faith in her abilities, Fae harboured a burning desire to prove herself worthy of her goals. And now, standing in the ring at the academy, she knew that this was her moment to prove to her father, her peers, and herself that she was capable of achieving that goal.
With the memories of her childhood struggles fuelling her resolve, Fae faced Arlo with unwavering determination, each blow and strike a testament to her strength and resilience. For Fae, this fight was not just about winning—it was about proving that she belonged, that she was worthy of her place among the best and brightest at the academy.
And as she fought with everything she had, drawing upon the skills she had cultivated in secret, Fae knew that she would not rest until she had emerged victorious, as she fought through, refusing to yield. For Fae, this was more than just a fight—it was a declaration of her worth, an attestation to her unwavering belief in herself and her abilities.
Despite their significant height difference, Fae remained agile and composed, using her speed and agility to her advantage as she sought out openings in Arlo's defenses. With each strike, she concentrated her power, her focus tireless as she prepared to deliver a decisive blow.
As Arlo reflexively guarded his side, anticipating her attack, Fae seized the opportunity for a feint, quickly changing trajectory and delivering a powerful punch straight to his gut. The force of the blow sent Arlo staggering backward, his defenses momentarily shattered.
Before he could regain his footing, Fae unleashed a spinning back kick with lightning speed, connecting squarely with Arlo's face making sure to hold back just a little bit as to not injure him too severely and sent him crashing to the ground. As Alcione approached the young man, checking to see if he was still able to fight, Fae silently prayed that he wouldn't get back up. She knew her chances of winning would go down significantly if he did. If there was one thing Fae severely lacked, was endurance. She didn't know if she could take any more blows if he did get back up. But luckily for her, Arlo couldn't bring himself to get up, therefore it was his lose and her win.
In under ten minutes, Fae had won the sparring match, as Arlo remained laying on the mat. She could hear the cheers of the watching students, Fletcher's being the loudest of them all as she let out a shaky laugh, still in disbelief that she had won. Fae stood victorious in the ring, her chest heaving with exertion yet her expression one of triumph and satisfaction.
As Fae's eyes scanned the small crowd, she unexpectedly locked eyes with Durian's intense gaze. Despite his attempts to conceal his stupefaction, Fae couldn't help but notice the way his eyes lingered on her, his expression betraying a mixture of admiration and discontent.
With a playful smile, Fae returned Durian's gaze, her eyes sparkling with joy and her skin glowing with the sheen of sweat from the intense fight. The sight of her radiant beauty only seemed to deepen Durian's inner turmoil, his discomfort evident as he quickly averted his gaze, grumbling under his breath.
A faint blush tinted the tips of Durian's ears as he turned away, his emotions in disarray as he struggled to come to terms with the unexpected stirrings within him. And as Fae's smile lingered in his mind, Durian couldn't help but wonder if perhaps there was more to this intriguing woman than met the eye, though this would be something he'd come to understand much later.