Chapter: The First Year Curriculum
The morning sunlight peeked through the academy's massive stone walls, casting long shadows over the gathered crowd of new recruits. Damian stood amongst the other first-year students, fidgeting as the principal's words from the grand assembly echoed in his mind.
Five years. Five years of relentless training and survival, with only 10% of the recruits expected to graduate. Those who made it would become the future soldiers, leaders, and even generals of the empire.
The first-year students had been assigned their dormitories the night before, and now it was time for the real test to begin: the first-year curriculum. The air buzzed with nervous energy as the recruits waited to hear how they would be shaped into warriors for the empire.
The Academy's First-Year Curriculum
Instructor's POV
The principal, a seasoned warrior who had risen through the ranks to become a Rank 7 aura practitioner, stood before the assembly of wide-eyed students. He glanced at the young faces, sensing the potential within them, though most were unrefined. His mind wandered as he looked at the top 10 ranked recruits from the obstacle course; they might just surpass the golden batch currently in their last year. But the real test was yet to come.
Beside him, one of the academy's combat instructors, a hulking man with a presence that commanded respect, spoke up. "This year is going to be something, isn't it? These recruits may prove stronger than we thought."
The principal nodded but remained silent. They would see. The first year would weed out the weak, as it always did.
Back to Damian
Damian adjusted his shirt, which was now stained with dust from the morning drills. The academy uniform felt stiff and uncomfortable, but it wasn't the uniform that made him uneasy—it was the curriculum that they had been briefed on that morning.
Each student had been handed a scroll detailing their daily routine for the first year. Damian unrolled his scroll and scanned the contents.
First-Year Curriculum Overview
1. Morning Physical Conditioning
Daily Time: 5:00 AM - 7:00 AM
Description: Students begin the day with rigorous physical conditioning. The first weeks are focused on stamina, flexibility, and basic strength building. Activities include:
2. Long-distance running
Climbing obstacle courses
Bodyweight exercises (push-ups, sit-ups, squats)
Basic agility drills
Goal: To increase the student's overall fitness level in preparation for combat training. Aura users must have a strong, healthy body to channel their aura effectively.
3. Basic Combat Training
Daily Time: 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Description: The core of the first-year curriculum focuses on introducing students to the fundamentals of combat.
Swordsmanship: Learning basic stances, strikes, and blocks.
Hand-to-Hand Combat: Basic techniques for defending oneself without a weapon.
Spear and Bow Training: Introduced after sword basics are mastered.
Goal: Mastery of the fundamental forms of combat. All recruits must become proficient in at least one weapon.
4. Aura Awakening Theory
Daily Time: 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
Description: For those who haven't yet awakened their aura, the academy provides meditation classes and energy training to help trigger the initial stages of aura manipulation.
Focuses on controlling breathing, meditation techniques, and visualization.
Theoretical Lessons: Students learn about the theory behind aura—how it works, the different ranks, and how it can be manipulated through the body.
Goal: To awaken aura in students who have yet to achieve it and to further refine control in those who already have.
5. Military History and Tactics
Daily Time: 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Description: Recruits are introduced to the history of the empire, major battles, and military tactics.
Lessons include an analysis of past conflicts, the rise and fall of prominent figures, and the structure of military organizations.
Strategy and Formation: Basic battle formations are taught, with a focus on group tactics rather than individual combat.
Goal: To instill discipline and provide recruits with the knowledge necessary for making tactical decisions on the battlefield.
6. Practical Survival Training
Weekly Time: Every Friday, 6:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Description: Students are sent into the wilderness surrounding the academy to practice survival skills.
Activities Include: Building shelters, foraging for food, creating fire, and basic wilderness first aid.
Danger Level: Limited exposure to mana beasts in controlled environments.
Goal: To teach recruits how to survive in harsh environments, honing their instincts and resilience.
Merit System & Ranking
Merit System: Throughout the year, students earn merit points based on their performance in physical, combat, and theoretical classes. Rankings are updated weekly.
High performers have access to better training equipment, personal instructors, and advanced aura cultivation techniques.
Combat Challenges: Students are allowed to challenge each other to sparring duels to climb the ranks. However, duels between drastically different ranks result in penalties for the higher rank if they win, to prevent bullying.
Goal: To foster competition and drive recruits to constantly improve themselves.
Damian stared at the scroll, trying to suppress a groan. The days were packed from dawn until dusk, and survival training on Fridays? He hadn't expected the academy to be so grueling so soon. He'd expected more time to ease into things, but it seemed the empire had no time for patience.
First Day in Combat Class
As the first official combat class began, Damian and the rest of the recruits gathered on the training grounds. The instructor—a battle-scarred veteran—strode in front of the group, his gaze cold and calculating. His aura was intimidating, a visible ripple of energy that radiated from his body, even without effort.
"Welcome to combat class," the instructor bellowed, his voice booming with authority. "This isn't a place for children. By the end of this year, you will either learn to wield a weapon, or you'll be sent home. I don't care if you're a noble or a commoner. In this academy, you're all maggots until you prove otherwise."
The class started with basic sword drills, the instructor walking between students, correcting their stances and movements. Damian struggled to keep up, feeling the weight of the wooden sword heavier than it should have been. His body was still recovering from the beating he took before the academy, and every strike sent a dull ache through his limbs.
As he practiced, his mind wandered to the ranking system. He was far from the top, barely scraping through the obstacle course with a low rank. Watching the others, especially the top-ranked recruits like the emperor's son and the duke's daughter, filled him with frustration. They moved effortlessly, their strikes precise and powerful. He couldn't help but think about Kael too. The boy who had ranked high despite being a commoner.
"Focus!" The instructor's voice snapped him back to reality. "Sloppy technique like that will get you killed on the battlefield."
Evening Reflection
As night fell, Damian returned to his dormitory, his body aching from the day's training. His three dormmates were already half asleep, exhausted from the rigorous first day. Damian lay awake, staring at the ceiling, his mind racing with thoughts of the next five years.