CHAPTER 14: COMBAT TRAINING
1485 Words
"Good afternoon, class," a young-looking lady greeted the students.
"I am Winona, your combat training instructor." She was wearing skinny jogging pants and a mid-rib top, showing her toned abs.
"Good morning, Winona," everyone greeted her back.
"She's so gorgeous," one of the boys said.
"She is my dream girl," Blade said in a loud voice.
"Thank you," Winona said. "But I don't go for younger men." She winked at him. "I will teach you different types of combat skills in this class. You can use this in the future to defend yourselves and your loved ones. The school produced many Spirit Beast Masters and they became our kingdom's pride. I do hope that someone from my class will also be one."
"We will, Miss Winona," Blade responded with a sparkle in his eyes. "You will be proud of me!"
Czarina shook her head. "This kiddo is impossible." She called Yin's attention. "He's worse than you."
"I'm not like him at all. I don't go for older women," he said while pouting his lips. "You always mock me."
"There are a lot of fighting skills and techniques around the world, from different places, and it's impossible for everyone to memorize all of it," Winona continued. "There is jiu-jitsu, capoeira, huka-huka, luta livre, vale tudo, taekwondo, karate, judo, kungfu, and our very own Zariste martial arts, among others. We will practice as much as possible during the school year, hoping that each of you will break through by then." She glanced at her students. "But before we start discussing different combat techniques, let's discuss first about your stamina." She walked slowly to observe her students who were sitting on the ground.
"Whoa!" Valk exclaimed. "Are we doing an exercise?"
"Precisely!" Winona replied. "As a combat master, you should develop strength, endurance and stamina. How to achieve it? By doing exercises regularly." Everyone made a sound of objection. "No more protests! Please, stand up and run on the tracking field for 50 rounds."
"No way!" a boy with a huge belly shouted. "That will kill me!"
"You should start running to tone down your belly. Come on, stand up and run. Now!" The students have no choice but to run.
"Isn't it already too late for running ? It's half past three and the sun is still up," Maple said.
"We can't complain. She won't listen, anyway. Let's go." Czarina started running, Maple followed her.
"A prince is running on the tracking field, it's new," Yin said, teasing Kev while running.
"Girls can see a handsome prince running on the tracking field," he corrected him. "I won't mind at all."
They continued running until each one surrendered at the count of fifteen rounds. Some are laying on the ground, the others are no longer running, just walking and dragging their feet to continue the task.
"I can't do it anymore," Maple said. "I give up." She abruptly sat down on the ground.
Kev also sat beside her. "Are you okay?"
"I don't think so," she said. She looked at Yin and Czarina, the two are still enthusiastically running. "How can they do that?"
"Well, they just walked straight from Vatra to the capital for three days, I bet running fifty times for them is like walking for one hour." He laughed.
"They did that? Whoa!" She also stared at the siblings. "They are also doing well."
"I think that's the advantage of living a normal life. They can do those impossible things for us," Kev said in amazement. "I envy them."
"There's another one who's showing good stamina." Maple pointed at Jed. "Remember him? The one Czarina said she saw at the National Treasury."
"I am suspicious of him, but it's probably because he is too quiet." Kev observed the boy running away from other students.
"Yeah, he doesn't mingle with us. I have not seen him talking to anyone either." Maple tilted her head a bit while observing Jed. "We have the same feeling. There's something odd about him. I just can't tell what it is though." An hour has passed, only five students remained running on the tracking field.
"Okay, time is up!" Winona shouted. Everyone shouted, a mixture of tiredness and frustration. "Gather here, class."
They all walked closer to Winona and sat on the ground. "I need a gallon of water," Blade cried.
"Good job to the five people who finished fifty rounds." She looked at them. "What are your names?"
"I'm Czarina." She took a deep breath and smiled.
"I'm Yin!" He was still hyper and raised his hand.
"I'm Valk and she is Sirie." He pointed at his sister.
"Jed." His face is still serious and with no emotion at all.
"Good job," Winona said. "For the five of you, you are exempt from running tomorrow, and will move to the next workout. The rest will continue running until they complete fifty rounds. Got it?"
"Not again..." everyone said in unison.
"You can all now go to your dorms. The class will end now. Have some rest, eat, take a bath and relax." She was about to turn around when she remembered something. "Before I forget, the school administration has a new directive. No one is allowed to leave the campus after seven o'clock in the evening until six in the morning. There are threats in the capital from the shadow clan. Stay in your room. Understand?"
"Yes, Miss Winona," everyone responded.
Czarina and her friends glanced at each other. They need to talk about their plan for tonight. They all walked to the dorm building to freshen up.
"Czarina, go to our room later. We'll talk about the plan," Kev whispered to her. "Bring Maple, Valk and Sirie."
"We're going to the prince's room?" She was shocked.
"Yin is staying in my room, that's nothing." He put his arm around Yin's shoulder and dragged him to their room. Yin waved his hand to Czarina and the others.
"What did he say?" Maple asked.
"He said to go to their room later to talk about... you know," she glanced around to make sure no one's nearby. "We will find the night market."
"Okay," Maple replied. "I'll go to your room later and pick you up." She waved her hand to Czarina. Valk and Serie also proceeded to their rooms.
- Writer
