Arden led Clive into a new room. Inside was a broad shouldered man, but his composure and the sense of 'sharpness' that he carried made Clive feel like he was staring at a dangerous beast "who's this" Clive asked, swallowing his saliva as Arden replied. "This is Mr. Roman, he will be handling your... adjustment". The titan like man flashed a grin that showed his teeth and carried a certain ferocity."Hey kid" The Titan Like man greeted Clive before turning to Arden with a less wilful tone. “experience” He spoke the word as if it was a question, with no further context given, his manner of speaking exceedingly direct.

Arden could only reply stiffly "he has no combat experienced" The man, Mr roman, continued his questioning “Clearance” He drilled Arden. “Probationary neophyte” Arden replied with an even tone. The man shook his head, glancing at Arden before looking to Clive with a steely gaze making eye contact with him as he spoke "I'll go easy on him, but not too easy" Arden had a steady expression but the fluctuations in his tone betrayed him Like an anthropologist encountering a dangerous beast outwardly calm but internally unsettled. "I expect nothing less Mr. roman" the response was professional if not curt, as if Arden had succeded in emotionally removed himself from what was unfolding.

Without warning it had begun. The first fist came without warning as if it were just a blur of motion, it seemed like something unavoidable, a tsunami, earthquake, or some other unstoppable force of nature.Clive tried to speak but forcefully swallowed his words "wha-" Clive dodged instinctively while speaking, his body acting on instinct before his mind could process what was occurring. inwardly he couldn't help but think that this was what they meant when they said adjustment.

"pay attention kid" a foot swept in from below Clive skipped back to avoid it but had to block an incoming fist, parrying with his forearm. it hurt, like he had struck hardend stone, a dull pain radiating out from his forearm. Roman Closed the distance quickly and seized Clives shoulders, grabbing him and slamming him down over his knee, the blow punctuating his words."Never jump if you can avoid it, being in the air is just as bad as being immobile, you have no way to change your trajectory or position"

Maybe it was the pain or his sense of crisis had simply peaked, Clive's body had gone into fight or flight response as he absorbed the information, every word, sight, smell, sentastion had been magnified. any piece of information that could be gatherd from this was engraved into his mind. Mr roman threw him away and Clive used the momentum to retreat and right himself, but before he could recover fully and scramble to his feet a kick came this time sweeping high. Clive ducked and bobbed making his posture steadily as he had to dodge the sidekick morphed into an ax kick as quick as he could blink.

There was almost no time to react as Clive turned on his heel and stepping in, closing the gap and moving in close enough to make the increased range useless. as he threw out a jab, lighting fast like a rabits kick. "Good response, bad opponent" an arm reached out clasping his armpit and flung him over, Clive had to think fast, he responded turning his body while grabbing the arm to stay close and adjust his position and stick the landing. It was touch and go but Clive reversed his position in the air and retreated the moment his feet touched the ground. Clive felt like his body was on pins and needles, he had never been athletic, where was this sense of control coming from, his body seemed to act before his mind knew what was happening.

Mr. roman cracked his knuckles and the air around him changed, as Clive's hair stood on end, it was like encountering a dangerous predator. the feeling only intesified when roman spoke "That's it for the warmup, I'd say he passed his adjustment just fine, now its time for orientation, you said he was only a probationary neophyte let me Carve a few good habits into his bones before I leave." Arden Replied with a resigned sigh "if you feel the need"

"I hope your ready kid" Mr. roman suddenly disappeared from Clive’s vision; all he could do was move instinctively, he dodged, weaved, and twisted in one motion, moving like a snake, the motions seemed to deny the natural limits of anatomy as his muscles and tendons contorted freely to match the needs of the movement. there was a booming as the air seemed to break in the space, he just occupied Clive felt something sweep in at head level giving him no time to think, live flung himself back bending at the same time, he felt his eyes water and pain in his nose, it was broken with just a glancing blow. Clive used the momentum from the dodge to transition into a flip and then a roll as he tucked his body, keeping it low and curling tightly he landed on all fours, skittering to the side like a lizard as a heel slammed down shattering tile and a foot swept in via a sweep kick.

Clive found himself in a handstand to avoid it , but the next blow was impossible to dodge, he felt a fist hammer into his ribs, feeling a crack, he knew a rib was broken "why the hell are you doing a handstand, that’s even worse than jumping, plan your evasions, never allow yourself to be forced into a compromising position, Instincts are inferior to experience, you need to act fast, think faster” Clive Coughed "I understand" If someone Like roman had planned to kill clive he could as easily as breathing, Clive felt powerless but the gap didn't seem unclosible, what Mr roman was willing to teach him, he wanted to, no, needed to learn.

Suddenly Arden spoke up "let’s stop here, thank you Mr. roman" Clive Spoke up "No, I need to see this through" The air around Mr roman changed as he looked at Clive with interest before grinning "You wanted an adjustment right, after seeing that performance of his I can’t let this stand in good conscience" his tone was betrayed a sense of excitement “mr. roman, Mr. adkins” Arden sounded at a loss lookikng at Clive’s gasping and pained form

“This kid won’t survive out there if you send him out like this, I can tell that he’s barely seen a playground scuffle and you still gave him clearance, you need to see it through, Be Cuel to be be kind, its the way of the society Mr parish” Arden sighed before Speaking "With our blood we guard against the dark, Lest the ides of march repeat. just like the adkins you take your family motto to the extreme, yet you still forsook the name Ceasar"

Roman approached Clive with sharp, swift strides “It held no meaning after rome burned” Clive got up shakily before another jab hit him, square in the rib he just broke the pain almost made him see stars, thankfully it didn't puncture his lung. “enemies will exploit your weaknesses , GUARD THEM” roman was like a drill sergeant, ruthless, unrelenting, downright abusive, but his lessons were insightful, swift and brutal, truly Clive had become a student in the school of hard knocks. there were moments when Clive felt tears in his eyes as the rage blinded him, he charged forward before he felt knuckles dig into the side of his head every time he lost himself. and every time roman would repeat the same words “pain leads to anger, don’t let that rage go out of control, you make stupid mistakes, stupid mistakes make dead men” it dindnt take long for live to get the anger beat out of him, and then the fear, and then hesitation. Clive needed to act fast and think faster. None of the blows seriously injured Clive, they just hurt a lot, alexander was holding back. Still every lesson Clive learned was earned with sweat and blood. Clive carved every single reprimand into his heart.

If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.

“keep your feet on the ground”

“keep your guard up”

“no fancy moves, keep your movements small”

“Ignore the pain, FOCUS”

“I said be unpredictable, not be impractical”

“WHY, WON’T, YOU DODGE”

Clive’s adjustment took far longer than expected a full three days. During that time Clive had the absolute basics of fighting drilled into him no perhaps adjustment was the right term, but it was not his body that had been adjusted, no it was his instincts.

Sure, Clive had taken one class of judo at the academy ONE class. It was just basic forms, when it came down to fighting Clive knew nothing before, he was forced to learn quickly, an most lessons ended up being punctuated by Mr roman hitting his rib. Still Clive was certain that he had learned more in these three days about fighting than any number of classes might teach him, Clvie had learned not through notes demonstrations or lectures but through blood and pain. Mr. roman made sure that Clive made every mistake in the book, taking great care to correct every single one of them, With prejudice.

The sound of panting and blows being exchanged could be heard Clive dodged a straight by stepping swiftly to the left keeping his guard up the entire time, his lower and upper body moved independently of each other but maintained a tentative harmony.

throwing out a low kick while keeping his eyes on his opponent not caring where the foot went, he retracted it and circled, throwing a jab of his own as he did so.

Mr. roman ducked a punch by suddenly dropping low and came out with a sweep kick, it served to disrupt Clive’s footing. Clive was prepared however, stepping back just outside of its range.

"Good, you kept your footing I only had to do It a few hundred times"

"that's an exaggeration" Clive replied flatly

"Getting cocky gets you killed"

the man suddenly changed positions, taking the spinning motion from the kick and did a near handstand in a motion that would make a break-dancer blush and threw a kick at Clive’s head

Clive was thrown off guard for a split second and nearly ate a foot

"Keep composure" roman growled

"yes"

the spar continued blows were exchanged they were quick to pull back their punches at the last moment when the energy of the blow was beginning to get exhausted

"Never commit everything to an attack, keep your options open"

"I know"

“really"

Clive felt a sharp pain in his arm as an elbow swept down from romans guard and slammed down on Clive wrist.

"You distracted me"

"Then focus"

Clive didn't reply and sidestepped a low kick, most of the motion’s roman made were simple and telegraphed, but occasionally he would throw in moves that left Clive at a loss.

the moves were impossible for Clive to replicate effectively with his current level of skill, sure he could pull them off, but he couldn’t use them without it backfiring splendidly, so Clive needed to remain conventional in his methods of engagement.

Clive knew how to throw a few punches and kicks, even the occasional elbow or knee, he understood how to keep his footing, and had taken enough punches to avoid flinching from a glancing blow

the main reason he was able to learn so quickly was that primal factor, his body seemed quick in mastering the new movements under threat, it had also become more and more responsive with each day, giving Clive extremely fine control of his movements, there was also the dedicated and exhaustive teaching he received from Mr. Roman.

Mr Roman was a man who spent his entire Life honing his craft of fighting it was just the world he had been born into he came from a family of hunters who worked for the hunter’s association.

brutal simplicity, that was Romans martial doctrine, using the quickest and most efficient way to subdue the opponent while throwing in enough tricks and fancy moves to throw them off guard at an opportune moment, or might would lull you into a false sense of security only strike ruthlessly when you become complacent.

this made him the ideal teacher, his way of fighting encouraged an opponent to make mistakes and thus he knew how to correct them

The exchange was tense ducking weaving, punching, and kicking, Clive had to repel any intrusion on his personal space or gain ground on it quickly, no complacency no resting on your laurels

no, you needed to control the space around you, it was like a chess game, but the pawns were infinite, every move needed to be calculated but your resources were unlimited if you could maintain and recover them in an instant if you were decisive enough. Acting recklessly however could mean losing everything with just a few well-placed moves.

the key was to be decisive in your use of resources while having just the right amount of judiciousness, whether losses were temporary or permanent all depended on your ability to read the situation and act accordingly.

After a few more rounds the spar came to a close.

“Thank you, Mr. Roman,” Clive sincerely thanked the man even if between gasps

“my pay” mr. roman turned to arden

"you can collect it at the front desk, As always you go above and beyond mr Roman"

"Stop sending for me to fix your rookies"

“I don’t know whatever you’re talking about Mr. roman” Arden spoke evasively

"Drop by the hunters association, pick up some lessons there, take a few hunts at G level in the local exclusion zone"

"Hunters association?" Clive asked

"we handle various task, we hunt men, dangerous animals and..." the man trailed off looking to garden for approval

Arden nodded "certain... anomalous organisms" Roman said sounding as evasive as possible

"Clive if you want more information talk to your roommate, he will introduce you to things, there is no need to brief him further Mr. roman"

"What should I say to my roommate, is there some secret handshake"

For a moment there was a stifled sound and then silence causing Clive to look over

Arden coughed assuming his usual state of composure" no, nothing of the sort, simply state that you are a neophyte, as for your involvement in clinic you can choose whether or not you want to declare it"

“I need to be going back now”

“of course, your uncle should be waiting, I contacted him ahead of time”

Clive sighed “I really need to get a car” Clive spoke as he walked out with Arden

“A neophytes work pays well; it shouldn’t remain a problem if you’re diligent” Arden assured him

“Thanks for everything Arden” Clive spoke as he got in Camden’s car

“I’ll put you to work soon, for now get some rest”

Clive made eye contact and nodded in response as Camden drove off