Chapter 634
“I get it now, Evelyn. I’ve learned a lot from you today, and I’ll keep it in mind for the future. If I ever get confused, I’ll come straight to you p>
“Good. You’re a quick study p>
Mira had finally managed to smooth things over with the older woman.
“But dating seems like such a hassle. Isn’t it better to just stay single? It saves you from having to overanalyze every little thing and accidentally walking into a trap p>
“Oh, stop it. Once you actually fall for someone, you’ll give them your whole heart. You won’t care about the hassle anymore. You might even risk everything you have for them,” Evelyn chided gently. Rachel, standing nearby, nodded in agreement. After all, wasn’t Lacey’s foolish devotion the perfect example of that?
“Wouldn’t that just make me hopelessly obsessed? I would never let that happen p>
With the Leadership & Discipline Orientation more than halfway over, the freshmen had transitioned from exhaustion and complaints to full acclimatization. The dynamic between the instructors and the students had also grown much friendlier.
Over the past few afternoons, after the daily training concluded, Instructor Vance had taken to sparring with the class. The students who had some fighting experience were eager to test their mettle, only to be effortlessly wiped out by the instructor.
A crowd of students formed a ring around them, cheering enthusiastically.
“Instructor Vance’s moves look seriously impressive,” Elara Finn mentioned to Mira. “Wow, he’s so hot. I don’t think a single person in our class could take him,” Leah Monroe said, her eyes practically glued to the spectacle.
“He’s a trained professional. It would be weirder if he couldn’t fight,” Mira pointed out.
“It looks like Instructor Vance has won the whole class over with his fists alone,” Harvey remarked as he joined them.
“Could you take him?” Mira asked. Harvey was a skilled fighter, having trained since he was a kid.
He shook his head. “Hard to say. His combat style shows years of foundational training. You don’t get to that level just by picking it up after joining the military p>
“Why don’t you get in there and try?” Mira challenged, glancing at him. “He’s the instructor. There’s no shame in losing to him p>
Right on cue, another boy was sent sprawling to the ground.
“Anyone else want a turn? If not, I’m wrapping this up,” Instructor Vance called out.
He held nothing back. Those who
could hold their own exchanged a
few solid blows while the crowd applauded. Those who couldn’t were dropped with a single punch, sparking roars of laughter from the onlookers. They were young and full Of adrenaline. When they got knocked down, they just dusted themselves off. Bruises and sore muscles were par for the course, and everyone accepted their defeats with good humor.
“Did you get floored again?” someone teased as the defeated student scrambled back into the crowd.
“So what? At least I’m braver than you. You don’t even have the guts to get hit p>
“Last call! Anyone else?” Instructor Vance shouted again.
“Wait. I’m up,” Harvey volunteered. They were young and naturally competitive, after all.
“Whoa, Harvey’s finally stepping up to the plate p>
“I’ve been dying to see what Harvey can actually do,” one of his roommates murmured.
To Mira’s surprise, Harvey’s sparring match dragged on without a clear victor. The two seemed evenly
matched, and it eventually camenet
down to a battle of endurance But Instructor Vance had a few years on him, and Harvey eventually succumbed to exhaustion, taking the loss.
“You’ve got some great moves. You
almost fought me to a draw p>
Instructor Vance wiped the sweat
from his forehead with a towel,
eyeing Harvey with genuine
appreciation.
“I actually had an unfair advantage,” Harvey admitted. “You were already tired from
fighting half the class, while I’ve been resting this whole time p>
“Don’t be so modest. I’m the instructor, after all.” With that, it was time to wrap things
up, and the students began trickling back to their dorms.
“Mira, when are you and I going to spar?” Vance asked suddenly.