As soon as Nolan left the class, students started talking and forming groups. The biggest was the noble group with others in which students with the same affinity joined.

Theo preferred to sit alone without joining others, and thinking about his situation when several boys approached him.

When he raised his head and looked at them, he saw Leonardo, Zed, and Felix looking at him. He already knew why they came to him. Theo was the only one in the ordinary clothes who had a high affinity. They preferred to form a group with him than with others.

“Hey, would you mind forming a group with us?” asked Leonardo as he looked at Theo.

‘A group. Hmm... That won’t affect my plans. So be it.’

Theo threw a quick glance at the three boys before looking at Leonardo.

“You won’t call others?” asked Theo.

Leonardo looked at others when Zed made a hesitant expression.

“I wanted to call her too,” said the boy as he pointed at Liza with a loving expression on his face.

Felix only shook his head.

“Come on, wake up. Do you really think you have a chance? Don’t you think the difference is too much?” asked Felix as he looked at his friend with an amused expression on his face. “Just ignore him. It’s his first falling in love. So, he is acting weird.”

Theo only smiled at their short exchange. The wide guy and thin guy were really friends. Their personalities also looked good. He already knew about Leonardo. It was good company.

“I am Theo. What about you?” asked Theo as he stood up from his place.

Their faces brightened when they heard him. They were glad that he joined them.

Soon, a newly formed group started introducing each other.

Theo, Leonardo, Felix, and Zed.

The boys took this chance to talk while Theo joined them from time to time, but preferred to stay silent.

Just like them, many students were still talking when a loud bell rang across the academy and a young woman entered a class.

She was a charming woman in a leather outfit with curves in the right places and beautiful white hairs that quickly brought all attention to her in the class.

Few quick glances were enough for her to release a helpless sigh.

“My name is Astra Bekins. I will teach you how to defend yourself. Some of you may know that I am a teacher from the Inner energy department, and you wonder why I am here. Because of the new academy policy,” said Astra, with a clear irritation in her voice. “Starting from today, you all will have to learn basics of inner energy and swordsmanship.”

At first, the class was silent because of the surprise, but then students started creating noise.

“Why should future mages learn how to use inner energy? You said you will teach us swordsmanship basics? Do you mean we will play with sword and shield? Isn’t magic enough?” asked a student dressed in a robe.

“I chose the Magic department because it does not demand physical exercises,” said one of the fat and rich-looking students.

“How could a sword help us if one spell could kill our enemies?” asked another noble-looking student in a robe.

“Will we have to pay extra for this change?” asked an ordinary-looking student.

The class quickly descended into chaos because nobody expected such changes. Some talked with elder students and knew many things about a first year in the academy, but this change was shocking even for them. Many quickly remembered controversial rumors regarding their new teacher.

Astra had a prodigious reputation as a knight, her skills, strength, and beauty made her famous, but it also brought attention from nobles who tried to court her, but she always refused them and made it in a humiliating way by the opinion of nobles. Irritated, noble, tired from constant refusals, drank several bottles of alcohol, and made up a story regarding her affair with 2 different nobles. Many similar men could only grit their teeth each time they saw her. Of course, they contributed to the made-up story. Quickly, rumors went out of control, and Astra became known as the mistress of most of the nobles in the city. The story continued to change and transferred from one person to another up till a story about Astra’s affairs didn’t become one of the tavern talks in the city and even children heard about them.

Astra observed how class erupted into noise and disagreement. She mentally noted to be harsh with all trouble-makers. Of course, she knew students won’t be happy with the new policy, but it was ordered from the highs. How could she, a simple teacher, refuse orders from the Freinos family and risk prolonging her secret service for them?

She just approached the nearby wall and hit it with a bare hand.

*Boom*

A vast hole appeared on the enchanted surface made of stone and iron, quickly making the entire class silent. Only a few students, among whom was Theo, Kaleb, Liza, showed no reaction.

“First, I didn’t ask to train a bunch of magic weaklings like you. If not for the order, I would have been in a different place. So, I am angry, and it would be better if you shut up for your own sake,” said Astra as she released her irritation and made many students feel it. “My course will be fast, free, compulsory, and productive. It will take fewer courses than you think. If some of you disagree, you can leave and complain to Lord’s manor. I don’t care if you are here or not. I will complete my duty and fewer students are preferable. That’s why I will give you only one chance to leave, and it’s now.”

Some brave students exchanged glances and already wanted to stand up and leave when Astra interrupted them.

“But before you leave, just place yourselves on the position of the wall and imagine the result. Gruesome, right?” asked Astra as she looked at some students who paled. “That will be your fate if you leave because you won’t know how to protect yourselves in the melee. You can’t even imagine how many so-called mages died because of that. If you want to join them, you can leave.”

As soon as she finished speaking, no student left the class and only a few raised their hands.

Astra only rolled her eyes before looking at those students.

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“What?”

“What about the Fire squadron? The one that annihilated most of the knight’s squads in the last war with Griffon kingdom? Isn’t it the proof of mage superiority?” asked a student in the robe.

Astra looked disdainfully at that student, freezing him with just a glance.

“Fire squadron isn’t an ordinary mage squadron. More than half of mages in that group know or have several ways to fight except magic use, be it alchemy, enchanting, inner energy, or other skills. They are veterans that passed through many battles. They can’t be compared with an ordinary mage’s squadron. Talking about the last war, you omit thousands who perished because of the enemy sword. Or you imply that students here will be like fire squadron, knowing several ways of fighting?” asked Astra, looking at the noble student.

The student shook his head and sat in his place. Other students who wanted to ask also put down their hands.

“Hmm... I hope you understand why they changed the policy. You can accuse your previous generations,” said Astra as she raised her hand. “You will need to meet only three goals to pass my course. The first is to learn basic swordsmanship to the amateur’s degree. The second is to evoke your source, and the last is to pass an examination on stamina. I don’t care how you will do it, you may even ignore my classes, but if you come with a result, I will give you a passing grade.”

Some students exchanged glances among each other with a similar thought in mind, but Astra disrupted them.

“But, in case you try to cheat,” said Astra as she narrowed her eyes and released a threatening pressure at the class. “You won’t get mercy. I will kick you out of the academy without refund, and you will lose the right to study here.”

Those students paled when they heard her and quickly got rid of their funny ideas.

“Hope that our time together will be as welcoming as it already was,” said Astra with a threatening smile and gleam in her eyes while many students swallowed their saliva.

While other students concentrated their attention on her words, Theo couldn’t take his glance at Astra herself. He remembered her.

‘A legendary Sword Maiden, famous across the whole Trade Union. Indeed, her personality is just like her sword. Furious, fast, and deadly. How many things would have changed if she was by my side fighting against Griffon Empire?’

Astra nodded in satisfaction as she watched after her silent class. Finally, these weaklings were ready to lecture. She raised her hand and words started appearing on the board.

*A squire realm*

5 ranks

First transformation

*A knight realm*

4 ranks

Second transformation

*A great knight realm*

“I don’t plan to repeat my words, so listen carefully,” said Astra as she looked at her class.

“Inner energy differs from magic. While only a few talented can use mana, anyone can evoke their source and use it. It doesn’t matter whether you are a noble or a peasant. You all have sealed sources inside you from birth,” said Astra as she moved from one place to another.

“Unlike mages, warriors and knights advance through harsh physical training and battles. Of course, we also use meditation techniques just like you to learn how to control inner energy. But, we focus more attention on the mastery of weapons, physics, and other factors. In short, our bodies are much stronger than the bodies of mages because of our training and inner energy. Besides, just like mages, we have our battle sub techniques for squares and full techniques for knights or stronger people.”

As Astra explained the basics, most of the students pretended to attentively listen to her. They didn’t like this change. Of course, their teacher noticed that and released a tired sigh.

“That should be enough for you. Anyway, most of you won’t move a thumb after passing the course. So, no need for me to explain it. It will be better to show,” said Astra, with a sly smile on her lips.

The whole class felt how goosebumps passed through their spines.

“Proceed to the training field,” said Astra as she moved out of the room.

...

..

.

City academy training field.

A crowd of over 30 students lined up in front of the teacher. All of them were panting from the recent warm-up.

“Listen up. Now I want to see your fighting stances and how you will attack your opponent. Just make a thrust and it will be clear if you are a newbie. Fatties, move back, earn the right to show your skills,” said Astra, throwing an amused glance at few fat students.

A short time later, when everyone was ready, Astra gave a command and students stood at their stances and hit the imaginary opponent in the air. Training swords moved, while Astra facepalmed, cursing her bad luck.

“Enough with this blasphemy. Half of you are beginners with no experience with a sword. I will start from basics with you,” said Astra as she approached their line. She started pointing at the different students and made them step forward.

Several minutes later, there were six students there. Theo, Leonardo, Felix, Zed, Kaleb, Liza were the only six students. Even noble students failed to pass the challenge.

“You have met the minimum standard and showed that you have some experience with the sword. Though it’s better, compared to your classmates, you can grow further. Proceed to the sparring while I deal with the newbies,” said Astra as she pointed at the nearby empty fields.

Those students didn’t need more explanation and hurried to their destination, while Astra turned at the other students.

“Newbies, this is a right stance ...” said Astra as she showed them the correct stance while Theo and others already reached their fields.

After a brief time to decide on training partners, Theo ended up with Leonardo while Zed with Felix and Liza with Kaleb.

Astra’s small challenge was like a child’s game for Theo, even with only a partial memory of his previous life. It brought only a smile to his lips and a weird sensation.

‘What if I become her disciple? My deadly magic, combined with her deadly sword techniques. What a monster would I become?’

While Theo was in his thoughts, his opponent interrupted him by bowing.

“Really?” asked Theo because such a scene brought few nostalgic memories of his friend, making him smile.

“Don’t pay attention. It’s a family tradition. I made it so many times that it’s already on my instincts,” said Leonardo as he tightly clenched his sword and looked at Theo.

Theo only smiled and prepared himself for the battle. It was time to check his body.

Soon, wood collided as boys started their dance.

Though Theo was more experienced and could easily block and win in theory, his current physics was a problem. He was much weaker than a tall and strong Leonardo whose thrusts made his hands go numb and even made him retreat. His body didn’t recover from the disease he had for years.

Theo was at a total disadvantage in terms of physical strength and could only rely on technique. Each exchange was a challenge for his experience, mind, and skills. He needed to find extraordinary moves which his opponent didn’t expect from him. It was his only way to hold against such an opponent.

That’s why when Leonardo’s sword moved, aiming in his chest, Theo only moved towards it, pairing it in the last moment as he counter-attacked his opponent in the leg. He aimed to make him slow.

Leonardo only gritted his teeth and continued attacking Theo with new force and speed. He knew that few successful attacks would be enough to win.

While both boys sparred against each other, they didn’t know that Astra threw her glance toward sparring pairs from time to time and took notes, evaluating them. Three students out of six picked her interest, and she placed them as potential seedlings. Unknowingly for Theo, his recent thought became closer to get real.

As more time passed, Theo felt how his breath became unsteady and how his body got exhausted. So, there was nothing strange that Leonardo eventually disarmed him, making him fall.

“It was good sparring. I will get a few bruises on my legs,” said Leonardo as he stretched his hand for the sweated Theo.

“You will get only a few, but I will get them all over my body,” said Theo as he stood up with his help. “Let’s have a rematch when I work on my physics. The next time, the result will be different.”

Leonardo only smiled and nodded to his words when they heard a bell resounding across the academy.

Soon, all the students lined up in front of Astra.

“Okay, class, that’s the end for today. Newbies, I showed you the right stances and right thrust. Repeat them at least a thousand times. I don’t want to see the same mistakes in our next lessons. Those who sparred, think about areas which you can improve to win in the next lesson. Our next lesson will be fully practical. You all will spare against each other. Besides, starting from that lesson, you will earn points based on your performance, skills, and creativity. I will add these points up at the end of the course. They will allow you to get different things from the academy, starting from the books, scrolls, and finishing with a private lesson from me,” said Astra as she looked at her students. “Don’t forget to take meditation techniques from the library to evoke your energy source.”

As soon as she finished her speech and already turned to leave, the male voice passed through the academy, picking all the attention.

“All 1st-year students, please proceed to the main square of the academy, I repeat, proceed to the main square.”

Astra looked like she cursed when she heard that voice before turning and looking at her students.

“You heard him. Go to the main square. The old man has something to tell you.”