As they stepped onto the platform, a cool breeze swept past, brushing against their faces. They moved in a single line, feeling the gentle push of the wind as they advanced.
"EVERYONE, GET INTO YOUR STANCE!" a man yelled. At his command, everyone assumed their martial arts stances.
Shin glanced around, noticing everyone getting into position. He followed suit, spacing his feet apart, slightly squatting, and placing his right hand at his hip in a tight fist while his left hand hovered near his upper chest, also clenched.
"Just follow our lead, Shin," George said.
Shin nodded and carefully mimicked the movements.
"STRIKE!"
Everyone thrust their left fists forward, then switched, striking with the right while pulling the left hand back to the hip. They repeated this routine for a full 30 minutes, and Shin quickly adapted.
"This isn't so bad; I can keep up with their training," he thought.
As time passed, a bell rang, and a man called out, "TIME TO TRAIN YOUR MANA!"
"Mana?" Shin wondered, turning to George.
"What's mana?"
"It's our inner energy. You've probably trained it before. We just meditate to control and balance it."
"Shit, I've never trained this before," Shin panicked.
"Y-yeah, of course, I've learned it before," he stammered.
As they walked to the next platform, Shin's heart raced. "Well, it doesn't matter, right? After all, I'm the hero. Sir Bahar can just teach me later," he reassured himself.
"Find your own spot," George instructed.
Everyone found a place to sit and began meditating, focusing on their inner energy. Shin leaned against a tree and took a deep breath, closing his eyes to concentrate.
"Please work!" he muttered, but his worries faded when he felt a surge of energy inside. He relaxed, letting the energy flow through him. "So this is it—it feels just like when the priest made me meditate before," he realized, continuing to meditate until the bell rang again.
Shin opened his eyes as everyone stood up. They headed to the next area, which displayed an assortment of weapons.
"GET READY FOR SPARRING OR CONTINUE TRAINING YOUR MARTIAL ARTS!"
Shin approached George. "Uh, hey George, could you help me train a bit?"
"Sure, what do you need help with?"
"It's my first time learning martial arts, so I was hoping you could guide me."
"I see, no problem. Let's start," George agreed, though he couldn't help but think, "That's strange. I can sense mana inside him, but he seems clueless about martial arts."
George began by correcting Shin's stance and refining his basic forms. He pointed out every mistake Shin made, offering guidance at each step. As time passed, Shin gradually improved, making noticeable progress.
"He's already halfway to mastering the technique. It seems he has a natural talent, even for martial arts," George thought with pride.
All around them, other students were busy honing their skills—some sparred with each other, others practiced their techniques on wooden dummies, while a few tested their weapons.
The bell rang again, loud and clear. "EVERYONE, LINE UP! IT'S TIME TO MEASURE YOUR MANA CIRCLE!"
"Measuring mana circle? What's that?" Shin wondered. He turned to George for an answer.
"It's how they measure the size of your mana circle. You just have to place your hands on the relic."
"Based on what I saw earlier, I'd say you'll have a three mana circle," George guessed.
"I see, thanks for the info!" Shin said, trying to hide his anxiety. "Three mana circles? No way—this is only the second time I've ever circulated my mana," he thought, feeling uneasy.
One by one, the students stepped up to place their hands on the relic. Many left disappointed, revealing only one or two mana circles. The atmosphere grew tense as the crowd murmured, sharing their dismay.
Then, the mood shifted. A group of twenty students stepped forward, their expressions filled with a mix of confidence and nerves. One by one, they touched the relic, which glowed brighter, displaying three mana circles. Among them, Jack and Lloyd stood out with their calm demeanor and evident potential.
This surge of promising results reignited the crowd's excitement. It wasn't common to see so many students with three mana circles.
George stepped up next. He placed his hand on the relic, and it responded with a bright glow, revealing four mana circles. Whispers of awe spread through the crowd.
Eclid followed calmly, his expression unchanged. As he touched the relic, it shimmered once more, displaying four mana circles, just like George.
Two more students stepped forward and received the same result—four mana circles each. The room buzzed with excitement; it was rare for so many candidates to show this level of aptitude.
Finally, it was Shin's turn. He stepped onto the platform and placed his hand on the relic. George, Jack, Lloyd, and even Eclid watched intently, anticipating the result. The relic revealed just one mana circle.
Disappointment rippled through the crowd. Many had expected more from him, especially Eclid and his friends, who had seen him in the bathhouse earlier.
George rushed to comfort Shin. "It's okay, that's still good for a new recruit. Don't let it get you down," George said cheerfully.
"Yeah, it's a solid start! Just keep training!" Lloyd added with a thumbs-up.
"Don't slack off, buddy!" Jack chimed in.
"Haha, thanks, everyone," Shin replied, bowing. "What's with everyone? This is only my second time doing this. What did they expect?" Shin wondered, confused.
After the mana circle measurements were complete, the students took a break. Shin sat under a tree, staring at the sun as it shone brightly in the sky. The reflection off its golden rays was beautiful. In this world, the sun was called Apollo, and it looked stunning.
George, Jack, and Lloyd approached him. Jack extended a hand to Shin, helping him up. "Let's go eat," the three of them said in unison.
The group left the sparring platform and headed to the mess hall, drawn by the mouthwatering aroma of roasted meats and the comforting scent of simmering soup.
They lined up, gradually moving toward the trays of food.
"Today's lunch is mashed potatoes, corn, wolf's meat, and some orange juice," Lloyd observed.
"Do they change the menu every day?" Shin asked curiously.
"Yeah, the academy's budget is pretty big since we're the future of this kingdom," Jack laughed.
"Just be grateful," George remarked.
After grabbing their trays, they found a spot in the middle section of a long table and settled down comfortably.
They ate, savoring every bite, enjoying the meal to the fullest.
As they finished their food, Eclid and his group approached again.
"Your mana circle is disappointing. I expected more from you," Eclid grinned.
"I'm not even planning to fight you," Shin thought, irritated.
"Th-thank you, I guess?" Shin stuttered.
"As you should," Eclid laughed arrogantly with his group before leaving.
George looked at Shin seriously. "Are you planning to fight him?"
"No, I have no intention of fighting him. I saw him spar earlier—he's strong," Shin admitted.
"I agree. I only won against him because I used a trick during our duel," George confessed.
"Wow, you're actually admitting it?" Jack laughed.
"Don't worry about it. Just keep training!" Lloyd encouraged, flexing his muscles.
"This guy, Lloyd, is all muscles," Shin thought, noticing for the first time.
"Our next schedule is exercise," George announced.
"I'll help you out, Shin! I'll make sure you build some serious muscle," Lloyd said, flexing his biceps.
"Quit showing off, musclehead," Jack teased.
"Shut up, you're just mad because you can't attract girls like I can," Lloyd retorted, kissing his biceps.
Jack's face flushed with irritation, a vein popping on his forehead.
"Enough," George said sternly, and they stopped bickering immediately.
After finishing their meal, they moved on to the next part of their training. As they entered the new area, the sharp scent of metal and polished wooden weights filled the air, invigorating them with a fresh burst of energy.
"Shin let's go" Lloyd said
Shin nods and he follows Lloyd
"Take care of shin!" George said
"Cyaa!" Jack waved to shin and Lloyd
Shin and Lloyd arrive at their spot
"Have you excersize before?" Lloyd asked
Shin remember something from his past in earth "hm i use to ran from my bullies and endure their punch and kick but i think doesn't count as a training" shin carefully thought
"Nah i haven't train before or anything" shin replied
"I see then we'll start with some warn ups!"
"C'mon, it's only the warm-up!" Lloyd cheered, clearly enjoying Shin's struggle.
"Kill me," Shin thought, gritting his teeth as the pain intensified. Every stretch felt like his muscles were being pulled apart, and the constant movements made his legs feel like they were made of lead.
"You've got this, just push a little harder!" Lloyd said, giving Shin an encouraging slap on the back.
Shin groaned internally. "Why does it feel like this guy enjoys torturing me?" he wondered, trying to hide his grimace.
"Alright our warn up is done let's train our upper body well start with chest! Lay down on that wooden bench and star carrying this wooden weights and go up and down make sure you'll have a deep stretch in that muscles!"
Shin follow everything what Lloyd said he lay down on a wooden bench carrying the wooden weights he lift it up up and down stretching deep enough his chest muscles we're on fire
After a while Lloyd removed the weights in shin hands "good job you can rest for now well do it 1 more set! And after that well do a push up!"
Shin rest while he watch Lloyd train "wow this guy's is STRONG he's carrying all that heavy weight"
After that they did 1 more sets after they did that excersize Lloyd teaches how to push up he guides shin how to do it and shin quickly adapt doing 10 push up on his first set after that he rest and did 2 more sets of push up after that they went to rest
As time passes the bell rang for the weapon training shin and Lloyd stood up
"Hm i can't see jack and George maybe we should just meet them at the platform" shin nods
Shin nodded, following closely as they made their way through the corridor. When they stepped inside, Shin's eyes widened in awe. The room was filled with weapons of every kind, far more than what he had seen during the sparring session earlier. Racks lined the walls, displaying a dazzling array of choices: swords, longswords, greatswords, spears, warhammers, scythes, daggers, and many more. The sheer variety was overwhelming, each weapon gleaming under the light, promising both power and precision.
Lloyd pick up a warhammer he's personal choice out of the rest of the weapons
"Have you picked one yourself? This warhammer is my personal favorite i like how big it is and destructive" he swings the hammer to show for shin
"Wow I don't know I'll probably pick this one!" Shin grab a longsword "ill just use this instead of the normal one haha"
"I see well if you put some mass on yourself you could use that greatsword there's barely people used that sword!" Lloyd said
Z
"I see then ill take your advice Lloyd!" Shin bows
"Don't bow were comrades! If your planing to use a longsword you should go find jack that man uses a wielding sword similar to long sword since he's family is pretty rich they can afford it! Then cya"
"There's only a instructor there for guarding but no actual lessons how am i supposed to learn without zack george and Lloyd" shin negatively thought
Shin look around to find jack
He finally sees jack practicing his dual wielding style "jack!" Shin yelled
Jack looks back and he sees shin he wave back "oh hey you need anything?" Jack asked
"Ah yea Lloyd told me that you use a dual wielding sword similar to longsword i was thinking if you could teach me!"
"I see well if you want you can learn my family's style it applies on longsword and dual wielding but don't share it to anyone alright?"
"Yes!" Shin agrees to not shared it anyone
Jack starts teaching shin the basic of longsword he starts of teaching him the footwork it continues to basic slash stab parrying and more but jack remember something
"Hm he's doing good but there's something wrong about it" jack thought
Jack finally remembers "let's stop here"
The bell rang signing that the training is over "i forgot to tell you you need to master out breathing techniques to use our style efficiently" he grabs a shin hand and bite his thumb and write his family breathing techniques "just transfer it later to a paper or something also don't worry they cant just copy the breathing techniques so it's okay if anyone see that"
"Wow my whole left arm is full of blood anyways thanks!" Jack laughs
"Don't mind it let's go to the mess hall im hungry!"
While they exit the platform walking to the corridor back to mess hall they meet Lloyd and george "hey were here!" Lloyd waving with he's 2 huge arms george also waved
As they meet they quickly line up to get their stray they sat on the table same as were they eat earlier shin brings up a discussion while they eat how awesome jack and Lloyd at teaching him basic stuff of training there discussion continue until they are outside Time passes george Lloyd jack and shin say goodbye to each other as they enter their room shin quickly transfer the breathing techniques in the paper he find in his room writing every single details about it as shin finished it he thought he's first day of academy is over...