After receiving his training regimen, Luke set out to find the first instructor who would be available to train him at this time.
According to the parchment paper, the next training to be done on his list was [ Hand To Hand Combat Training ] which started at 12:00.
The instructor that principal Wood recommended for this training was a female knight who went by the name 'Elara Stones'.
With the semester having not yet begun, the academy's corridors were unusually silent, amplifying the sound of Luke's footsteps as he walked across the halls looking for Mrs Elara's cabin.
Since principal Wood had just created his training regimen, Luke assumed that he would not have had the time to give all the teachers the memo before the day ended, however, since he was eager to start today itself, Luke took the liberty to inform his teachers about the schedule himself.
Soon, He arrived at Mrs. Elara's staff room, easily identified by the nameplate on the door, and knocked.
*Knock*
*Knock*
The door was promptly answered by Mrs. Elara who looked surprised to see a student before her door.
" Yes?" She asked surprised as Luke politely bowed and said " Hello, teacher, I'm Skylion, I've been enrolled into the university prior to official admissions because of special reasons, may I have a word with you?"
" Sure, come in," Elara said, intrigued as to who Luke really was and what he wanted with her.
Once Luke entered her chambers, the first thing he noticed were the countless trophies and letters of honor that stood framed behind her, a testament to her skill as an excellent knight.
The next thing he noticed was the striking appearance that Mrs. Elara possessed.
She exuded a warrior's presence with her brown hair being pulled back tightly and being secured in a manner befitting a seasoned combatant.
The neck of her robe was slightly low exposing the strong muscle definition of her neck where muscles and veins popped out in places where Luke had no idea they even existed.
Her brown eyes were deep and perceptive as she held a rugged beauty that spoke a tale of a lifetime of rough training.
"I'm Skylion. Sir John Wood has recommended I start training before the semester begins and for you to become my hand-to-hand combat instructor temporarily," Luke stated, presenting the parchment that detailed his training regimen.
Mrs. Elara's expression shifted to one of interest as she reviewed the document.
"It's rare for a student to seek a training regimen directly from the principal and for him to oblige, who exactly are you? Are you the Duke's kid or the disciple of the master knight?" Elara inquired, her tone indicating both approval and challenge.
"I'd be the latter-" Luke said, as Elara sized him up really nicely.
"Very well, this should be fun, follow me to the training arena" she said, as she led Luke through the massive academy to the spot where hand to hand combat classes would be held once semester started.
It was a nicely built arena with lots of open space and a soft ground to land on should one be mauled over and banged on the floor.
The ground was hard enough to not restrict movement, but soft enough to not break bones like training on a hard surface would.
"So? How proficient are you in hand to hand combat?" Elara inquired once the two reached the training ground as Luke candidly admitted to having no experience.
"I have only been in street fights before, never a proper training environment" Luke said as Elara smirked listening to his response.
" A master knight's student with no formal training, this will be fun!" She said as her aura changed remarkably as she launched an attack on Luke.
Reflexively, Luke fought back, however, his technique was too crude and his strength too lacking as within three exchanges he found himself being hit with two flat palms on his chest as he was knocked to the ground below.
*GAHHH*
Luke gasped for air and coughed as he felt the full impact of Elara's blow, however, his instructor seemed to be willing to show him no mercy at all as she yelled "AGAIN"
Slowly, Luke got back up on his feet and assumed a boxing-like stance.
Boxing was the only hand to hand combat style that he was remotely aware of, as he knew the basics of how to throw a jab.
" Master Tyson's stance? A poor imitation-" Elara said as she approached Luke once again, ducked under his jab with inhuman speed, circling around his waist and grabbing him by his ribs from his behind as she hoisted him up for a suplex.
*BANG*
Planted head first onto the matt, Luke felt the dark clouds circling his vision as for a second he literally lost his sight.
"AGAIN" he heard the devil shout in the background as somehow he got to his feet again.
"You're too stiff, although it's called hand to hand combat 60% of it is footwork. Move! move! move! Always keep moving, you stagnate means you're dead" Mrs. Elara instructed as she came at him once more.
Luke tried his best to incorporate her advice as he tried to be light on his feet and throw punches where he could, however, Elara parried them like she was playing with a child and kept knocking Luke down over and over again.
" You have a loooong way to go Student Skylion if you wish to live up to the hype of being a special admission student.
With how weak you are, the normal entrants will walk all over you when semester starts" Elara said, as she gave the facts straight to Luke about his strength.
The current him was a joke and he needed to improve a lot and fast.
Thankfully, if there was one department that he was not lacking in at all, it was grit and determination.
He acknowledged the fact that he was weak, however, he had the tenacity to get back up and fight no matter how many times Elara planted him down.
For the full two hours that their session was scheduled, Luke was absolutely man-handled by her, however, not once did he complain, nor did the fire in his eyes ever die as towards the 120 minute mark, it was Elara who felt the pressure of those focused eyes falling on her as she was forced to acknowledge Luke's tenacity.
'What a mentality monster! While this kid might not have much of a training background, with a mentality like this he will become much stronger very fast if he can keep this up.
It's too early to be excited, everyone can be motivated for a day or two, let's see how long he lasts' Elara thought as she reminded Luke to not be late for the next day's session as she looked forward to training him again before lessons formally began.
Wobbling and feeling disoriented, Luke thanked Elara for the day's teaching before asking her for directions to the weighted west training area as it was the next activity on his list.
For this training, he did not require an instructor and only an assistant as it was basically only strength conditioning, as Elara guided him towards the correct training hall.