Chapter 21: Outside? No, Keep Working

After the skills training with the mages finished, and they had all managed to drag themselves to lunch, exhausted but satisfied with their progression, Karl began to mentally prepare himself for the afternoon skills training.

Hawk was happily resting on the table with a chunk of roasted meat, but Karl could tell that the bird's mind had already wandered to the monster blood treated delicacies that had been stored in the taming space for him to snack on all afternoon while his leader learned how to fight.

"Do you think that they will let you go out with the newbie training patrols? I know that you're training alone, and on a different learning program than everyone else in the first year class, but we also heard the teacher talking today about how they might black badge you soon, and then you'll be able to lead a group into the woods.

The actual classes always have wilderness assignments, but they can't go without an awakened or stronger team leader, so most of the first years have to beg for favours from the upperclassmen, or wait until the teachers organize an outing." One of the girls asked.

She was also a black badged awakened mage, but looked older than many others in the misfit mages class, so she might be in her third year, not her second.

"I will have to ask Sergeant Rita about it. I didn't know that the others had to leave the academy grounds to do things in their first year, so it's all news to me. Other than the combat training class, where I don't actually spar with many of the other students because I'm physically strong and untrained, you guys are the only student interaction that I have." Karl explained.

"Oh, that makes sense. This early in the year, you wouldn't be doing much of anything but learning the basics. It's mostly the alchemists, druids, garden witches and such that have to go outside into nature to train. Their skill set requires it." The mage agreed.

"Yeah, and the more esoteric mages often don't leave the library for more than an hour or two a day for their entire time at the academy. They just learn as much as they can about spells, and then never actually use them for anything. I should have worked harder to be one of them, it would be less exhausting." One of the boys added.

"If you can, you definitely want to go outside, though. There are all sorts of good things out there, especially for a meat lover like Hawk, and you'll get extra credit for leading the group, which you can spend at the supply room."

Sergeant Rita's voice came from behind Karl. "Are you lot trying to steal away my student? He's got a long way to go before he's ready to go out into the wilderness unaccompanied."

The Mages laughed and everyone pointed at the bird on the table.

"Did you know that the Windspeed Hawk can use [Wind Barrier]? With that and Rend, it's already tougher than most of us. Plus, it's a magical beast, and there's still a whole Karl to go with it." One of the mages explained.

Rita gave the mages a stern look that said she wasn't going to be changing her mind on Karl going on wilderness outings, no matter whether he got the black badge or not.

"Your plates are empty, and Hawk has finished basking in the attention, so pack him away and get to the training class. We will be testing your memory today." Rita ordered, then left Karl to clean up and follow behind her.

"Looks like the mention of going outside got her upset. I'll see you all tomorrow." Karl laughed as he transferred Hawk back into the Taming Space.

He could do that from a distance, but he wasn't sure just how far it worked from, as he hadn't tried it from more than across the room. That was another skill that he would have to practice with Hawk eventually, once their bond and bodies were strong enough that they could operate individually and didn't have to rely on each other for everything.

Well, maybe they wouldn't wait on the bodies to get stronger, Windspeed Hawks were better known for their skills than their durability, but the sentiment was the same.

Karl jogged down to the training area, where Sergeant Rita was waiting for him with a few older students, and the regular class was just beginning to assemble in the locker room to get changed.

"Give me two minutes and I will be back out." He called as he saw the Sergeant already changed and waiting.

"Bare feet and shorts, shirt optional." One of the older students called back.

That was the normal sort of training outfit for the mixed martial arts class, so Karl didn't think much of it as he got ready and came back out.

"Not bad, still young but a good bit of muscle mass, lean and solid." One of the older students noted when Karl returned without a shirt. It would just get in the way while sparring, so he was carrying it with his towel and water bottle, both sourced from the shelves in the changing room along with the training outfit.

Rita looked over Karl and the training group. "Alright, first we will start with a quick sparring session to see how much of your training you actually managed to remember. I remember giving you some resources that will help you retain knowledge, so I have high expectations."

Karl couldn't tell how strong these students were supposed to be when everyone was in training outfits, but the boy he was paired up with was only a little larger than he was, and slightly more heavily muscled.

None of the students in this training class were pure bodybuilder physiques, it would interfere with their flexibility. That didn't mean much when there were supernatural abilities involved. Many of the Warrior Classes got strong physical enhancements as they practised, as good or better than the feedback that Karl got from Hawk.

"This will be a three-minute round. Now, start." Rita announced.

His opponent darted out a jab to test Karl's reaction speed, which he blocked while moving forward for a knee strike. Being smaller, it was to his advantage to get as close as he could, where the other boy's reach advantage didn't mean anything.

He had learned that yesterday while getting beaten up by Rita.

He only knew a few strikes, punches, knees and elbows, along with a few blocks, but hopefully, it would be enough to get him through the next three minutes.

The older boy aimed a strike at Karl's head, which he ducked under and punched toward the stomach.

This opponent was fast, nearly as fast as Rita, and he danced out of the way instead of blocking, which allowed him to move out of Karl's punching range. It put Karl on the defensive as the boy counterattacked, but either he was weaker than Rita or he was holding back, and he didn't manage to land a solid hit for the next minute as Karl threw a few kicks and tried to get back in close again.

It wasn't working, the boy had figured out the trick to keeping Karl away with knee strikes, and the two were at an impasse when the round ended.

"Not bad. But neither of you could land a hit to save your lives." Rita admonished them.

"He's short, and stupidly fast. If you want someone who can beat him up in a sparring match, ask the Monk Classes, not me." The boy complained.