CBLT: Huntsmen in Training

Chapter 10: Academy Days 2

The students gathered patiently in the viewing area for the training room. They had been told that their combat instructor was absent for the first week, but it now seems that he has returned. The doors slide open with a metallic whoosh. In steps a middle-aged man, black hair slicked back with gel. Judging the class with amethyst eyes that were as vibrant and hard as the gem itself. But a black suit adorned with purple accents clings to him nicely offsetting his gaze. The room sets with tension at his appearance.

He pivots on heel standing straight before them, "Students of Atlas. The future of this great kingdom. I stand here as your instructor. Your warden. I may not be the general, but I have the authority to run you through hell. Out there against the grimm we find ourselves wasting our aura too fast and end up gravely injured. It may be my first week back, but it is not my first day laying my eyes upon this future generation of hunters. What I saw... was horrendous. Sir Frost nearly lost his aura fighting one manticore. Just one of thousands of grimm. Sir Frost had three allies with him armed and fighting. Yet, a single common grimm to Atlas gave one of brightest prospects trouble! From here on out I expect everyone to know how to use their semblance. We are going to test your ability to not use it."

He continues. "To savor your aura. There will be long runs, lifting of various heavy objects and climbing walls with teammates strapped to your backs. There will be weaponry showcases, target practice, hand to hand sparring, using weapons you are unaccustomed to. Under my instructions, you will learn and harness every advantage that there is to battle. Believe me when I say this. You will be fighting grimm on a weekly basis. If you have problems with this. Take it up with the general. He's the reason I'm here. Are there any questions?" A few students raise their hands. "I didn't think so. Now get dressed, I want fifty laps around the campus before the end of class lets go!" The students scramble into action.

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The dorm room door slams open smacking the wall behind it. Team CBLT trudges into their dorm room with sweat soaking their combat clothes. Cobalt's entire body shakes as he shakily makes his way to his bed. He takes a deep breath and throws himself onto the upper bunk, his body screaming at the sudden movement. Bianca does practically the same onto the adjacent upper bunk. While Tanaka casually walks into the room covered in sweat but looking in remarkably better shape as he stands tall and strong in his metal armor. Over his should however, Lapis lies on top of him like a children's ragdoll. Currently unconscious from exhaustion.

"That was pretty exciting." Tanaka happily says while emptying the contents of a nearby bottle of water from the desks.

"I hate him." Cobalt says.

"Come on now, the exercise is good for you." He replies.

"It's order. Lawful. Strict. It's perfect." Bianca says while simultaneously appearing like she's about to join Lapis.

"Fifty laps. Two hundred push-ups. One hundred dead-lifts." He trails off out of breath. Tanaka hands him a bottle of water that Cobalt happily chugs away hoping to regain some measure of strength.

"The push-ups weren't that bad." Bianca chastises him.

Cobalt reflexively crushes the bottle in anger. Feeling his blood boil. "You didn't have Tanaka strapped to your back during it! You had Lapis. She's a third of his weight."

Tanaka passively bounces Lapis on his shoulder while standing in the middle of the room. "Actually, it feels more like a fourth." Cobalt groans and drinks more water. Bianca's eyelids grow heavy as she sinks into the comfort of her pillow. The moonlit pouring into their room from high above.