"Excited? Are you excited? I'm excited!" Jenna laughed brightly when she saw the thirteen faces look down in fear. The stone citadel was already in the middle of the field. "You lot are lucky! I decided you don't need to do the first lap! But in return, you'll all have to do ten laps around the citadel before you can start! Everyone else does twenty!"

Jenna seemed a lot more eager to see the individual physical training than the other aspects of the gauntlet. Perhaps, it was due to the ability to concentrate more fully on the spectacle, instead of being swarmed with two dozen moving bodies like before.

Seeing their fear, anguish, hatred, and loathing rise up - towards her or the monsters inside - was a pleasant experience for her on the sidelines.

She prayed that none told the others about the drop since it was always a good way to start. The creatures she didn't care too much about.

Luckily, none did. More vivid images were etched into their minds than falling from ten meters into the mud.

Jenna looked happily at the group before shouting, "run!"

And they took off.

Elise and Robert, having nothing better to do, joined them.

Elise stayed at the front with the leaders of the pack, Tanner and Stacy, whereas Robert stayed in the back with those that were in the back, such as Jennifer and Wendi.

Everyone who went the day before was far slower than their normal pace. Even Alfred, a boy with zero experience or interest in combat and physical exertion, was keeping pace with Erik and Ayla, the usual leaders.

Mathias and Lisanna were comparatively unchanged from their usual position of third or fourth. There was some fatigue in his legs, but when he did treatments for muscle tension on Lisanna the night prior, he did it for himself.

After five laps, Jenna got impatient and plucked Stacy and Tanner from the ground.

And when the rest finished their run, Elise was already waiting for them by the yard by the storage room.

"See that?" She said, pointing towards the distance.

Everyone looked.

Another marble citadel was born.

"... You're pushing the others, too. It's amusing to watch, but I am somewhat concerned. This course is intended for about the six-month, after all. Granted, it is modified to have it be passable for you right now."

'It's just the fifth day, right?' He thought with a sigh, kicking his new boots into the grass.

"It's fine, isn't it? As long as we beat them!"

"Yeah, I just don't want to lose to them," Erik added to Ayla's comment.

"Pacing yourselves is important, too, but I won't speak ill of trying to reach your limits. Nevertheless, we'll go over a few more weapon forms for you twelve. We covered this yesterday, but that does not mean the rest of you can slack off." Elise said.

"Yeah, I'm interested in seeing where this is going. Hey, have any of you found dates yet?"

He saw both sides squirm uncomfortably and others blushed as they immediately glanced longingly to those they sought after. On one occasion, both looked at another, but it was separated by a moment of anxiety that forced their gazes away before the other would copy their actions. A few did not and Robert smiled inwardly at their obvious reactions.

"If not, my fee is ten gold per hour, but I can pretend to the most charming boyfriend you'll ever have. Elise?"

"I don't sell myself out like that. Now we'll be starting."

Elise immediately took charge and begin leading the whole class through several different forms. First at normal speed, slow speed, the normal speed with a variation, and then she would move one. It was more important to have the conceptual idea of efficient (and effective) transitions, but the forms helped practise that.

Those that did it yesterday seemed well-versed in it, but a few still needed help. Robert gave personalized instructions since he was more capable on the theoretical aspects; a skill that helped in describing how to position one's body for maximal impact, even if he was less experienced in swordsmanship than Elise.

After all, he was still more experienced than the vast majority of those in the first-year class.

"James, your form is getting better but you leave your left side open. Even if you have a shield, it is a bad habit when practising without one."

"Understood. Thank you for making me aware."

James and the other gratefully took their advance.

Elise continued with the different forms, occasionally rotating to others she had already covered, as she let them go through the motions. Of course, not everyone had a sword. There was even a guy with a steel pipe. However, he was getting proficient in its use. In reality, it was not much different than Mathias' half-staves, in form or function.

He even managed to learn how to release channelled mana through it - acting as a primitive gun barrel of sorts.

"Good. I do hope you'll leave your blade at home come time for the exhibition," Elise said to Erik during one of her own rounds.

"Eh? No. Never. Especially not if the Great Clause Fellstone will be there!"

"I understood your position is difficult, but with Rettih being there, issues may arise. So long as you act respectfully, there is no issue."

"That man? I agree he is stronger than me, but the way he fights is so pathetic!"

"Say what you will, it doesn't matter to me, but Synthy is his daughter, is she not? She is next to you."

"... I agree," she muttered, practising her own strikes and kicks at her own pace. "... That man... that guy..."

Her eye twitched as she glanced at Mathias who was drilling in the basics. He knew them, but his feet took a while to catch back up to him. Spear and sword were different. And being reactive and responding reflexively wasn't ideal if he reverted to different footwork than what was optimal.

"Why not use a blade again? You clearly have the capacity." Elise asked Synthy bluntly.

"I don't need it now. I didn't need it inside. So why bother?"

Erik poked her. "Come on, it'll be fun to spar when you're serious. I don't want to be underestimated - I tied with him, too! And that means until it's been decided formally, I should be a challenge for you with a blade!"

Elise sighed. "There's an issue of compatibility. Your weapon is a hindrance in such a fight. Synthy, would you be willing to spar with me?"

There were screams coming from the citadel behind them. None that already passed paid it any heed, having already been through it, but the others' expressions shifted each time they heard one, little by little.

Their anxiety burst and their forms were noticeably poorer than before the noise.

"... I don't see a point." She looked at her fists. "Yeah, no. I'm fine."

"So be it. I have nothing to teach for unarmed combat that you wouldn't already know." Elise turned to the next one in line. "Lisanna, your hips are too tight when you do horizontal strikes. It becomes an issue when you are not stationary. Fix the habit."

"U-understood."

"Mathias, switch to a polearm."

"...?"

"Do it."

Mathias sighed, grabbed the baton that was hanging on his back, and reattached the two half-staves.

An azure spear-tip bloomed on the quartz guard and reinforced ice replaced that which he shifted.

At this point, reinforcing ice to resist steel was something he could do in his sleep. His training over the past two days helped a lot in making the process much more efficient.

"Now start."

Mathias took a step forward, stabbing into the air; retreated back and swept the spear across the same spot in the air, and stabbed in three different locations above, on, and below the original target he set in his mind. He shifted into a defensive posture and his spear stopped Elise's blade before he knew what was going on.

She slashed again.

Tilting the spear, he parried the blow, guided it to the side, and used the butt end to swipe her as he rolled the spear into a reverse grip. She recovered far quicker and the new grip's rotation knocked the sword's path enough to secure his head on his shoulders. The exchange lasted for a few more blows before she was satisfied.

"Good. If you are to switch grips like that, you need to pay better attention to the distance lost due to the new hand position. Also be mindful about the point. A more nefarious opponent would have just opted to use a spell to drive the spear into your own stomach when it passed. It was a good choice, however. Lethal versus potentially lethal."

"Mina and Lina Kakarot. It's time," shouted Jenna happily.

"Wha-!? I-I don't-"

Even in mid-air, Lina whispered something nonchalantly to Mina which would make her rethink her comment. She opted for a banshee's scream instead. Even Lina yelped when they crested over the walls.

Lisanna was torn at the thought of Lina being subjected to the citadel. On one hand, she did not want anyone to needlessly go through it; on the other, it was somewhat pacifying to her that Lina was being punished by circumstance after being tricked this morning.

"... Wait, don't they only have knives?" Lisanna muttered.

Everyone was attuned to their departure, but only those inside knew the challenge they would undergo.

"... Uh, isn't... isn't that...-" another scream interrupted Ayla. Everyone thought of the fall. "A-at least I-I didn't have to touch them...!"

Ayla used a rapier - an extremely poor weapon in that arena, but when compared to something with a third of the rapier's reach...

They shuddered at the thought. Just the harpy's talons alone were longer than their knives.

"Well... it'll all work out... probably?"

"Probably," Erik affirmed sagely, not knowing what else to say.

Synthy grumbled under her breath, "... what about me...? I worked hard, too..."

No one heard it.

Those that followed her might have noticed the damage right away, but this group seemed to not care. It was baffling to her, but she did try to lean in closer to their conversation.

"Well, whatever! It doesn't matter! All that matters from here on is getting through training so I can make the best sculpture-thing ever! Or at least better than Erik's! Wendi can beat me here though."

"Hey?! Your wind is too sparkily to even see anything! What do expect others to see, glitter?"

"Hmph, you don't even know good-"

"We're in training."

"Ah! Yes, Elise! Has anyone told you that you are looking especially beautiful and awesome today? If not, you are! I'd love for you to help me! Please! Please?! Pretty, pretty please!"

"Then show me."

"Okay!

Elise pushed Ayla back who was eagerly jumping towards her, motioned her to her spot, and crossed her arms. Ayla performed the forms Elise did near-perfectly. Near-perfectly.

"Again."

"Wha-?! I get spend more time with you? Okay! Let's try this one!"

"I've told you where your weaknesses lie. Fix them. Again."

Ayla sensed that she couldn't monopolize Elise forever so she did her very best attempt. Elise still criticized it. She was given one last chance and managed to do it flawlessly.

"Good. Practise."

After a leisurely hour of practising forms, listening to their classmates screams, and fixing their issues, the group was allowed to spar.

Everyone rotated with their sparring partners after five minutes, so Mathias finished with James and began sparing with Kira.

"... U-uh, h-hello..."

She mumbled and looked down nervously.

"...?"

"Uh, uh, should we s-start... m-maybe?"

He nodded. It was her behaviour that confused him.

Shrugging it off, he reverted the half-staff he used to a spear, retracted the spear-tip from earlier, and got into position.

She stood there waiting. And waiting.

Normally he might ask if she was okay, but he just slowly approached.

And poked her.

She did not respond immediately. Her reaction was delayed a second and she fumbled the staff out of her hands.

"S-sorry..."

Waving it off, he motioned for her to pick it up. She did.

She managed a single weak strike before the hands shook and the staff scattered to the ground.

She bit her lip hard enough to draw blood, yelped at the taste of it, and apologized profusely. Mathias was completely confused.

Sighing, he noted that Elise saw them but said nothing. It was almost as if she expected the result. Mathias did not think he was that intimidating. On the contrary, he'd prefer to have a more masculine face such that he might scare off the trouble that always followed him whenever he wanted an easy life.

Nevertheless, not knowing what else to do to the girl whose attention was near-perfectly locked on the arena, he made a section of reinforced ice, connected it her staff, bound it as well as he could, and began making figurines.

It was his only form of communication.

Well, aside from literally spelling things out with water magic but that would grow tedious.

After tapping on her shoulder, he pointed at them. And at the spear tip on her staff.

"W-wha...?! W-when...? W-why...? And... uhm...?!"

He pointed to the figurine's again to get her attention.

He motioned to the first one: a mud golem. Then the spear. And his neck.

"S-so... k-kill t-them... t-that... w-way..?!"

He nodded.

The harpies were next: he motioned to the scars he received from them, particularly those on his back, and pointed to the talons.

"... W-watch o-out? W-wa, watch out for the t-talons...?"

He nodded.

And the murderous doves.

He grabbed that figurine, made a point of having it fly around a little before diving into her staff.

It shattered. The staff fell to the ground and she yelped.

He motioned to the scene.

"... T-they... do t-that... then, r-right?"

He nodded.

He did not have much information about the fire ox demons. He just made a motion of them throwing their axe, their hands gripping her throat (pointing to the scar covered in a layer of ice), and other such tendencies.

She nodded rapidly as if to say she understood.

The naga were the hardest to describe. He settled on throwing the tridents since everything else was fairly self-evident. He wasn't sure if others would have to swim in the ice water for the orbs if they weren't capable of controlling ice (due to a naturally emergent resistance to the cold), but if she did, there was nothing else he could do for her anyway.

She'd have to deal with it one way or another unless there was another water mage around.

"Kira Jessal and Hana Kanata! Guess who is up?" They were already flying.

Kira was screaming, but Hana was shouting cheerfully. She wanted to get it over with and beat Fara. However, her excited shouts turned to silence whereas her partner's grew a pitch higher.

After a moment, both screamed, and both screamed some more.

It was time for a new rotation.