I'd dressed for training, so I went straight through to the gym. I missed the familiar feeling of a bag on my shoulders, and it felt odd walking around without one. In the gym, we met our teacher. He was called Guardian Alto, and hadn't seemed to realise that I was new. Nice. When the class was assembled, we practiced some punching moves, which I knew none of. I tried to join in, but found it difficult. When he assigned us partner work, I walked up to him.
"Um, excuse me. Guardian Alto?" I turned at my words. He was so tall.
"What are you doing?" he barked, gestured to my partner looking sorry for herself in the corner alone whilst everyone else around us was practising moves. They look quite experienced to be able to perform these difficult moves, although it wasn't like karate. I was sure it wouldn't be too hard to grasp, but then again, I could've been entirely wrong.
"I'm new to this class."
"New?"
"Yeah. I joined yesterday." Or was it the day before?
"Oh. Do you know how to punch?"
"Vaguely."
"Great." He jogged over to my partner, who donned some pads on her hands. She handed me some boxing gloves and they stuck to my fingers as I slid them on. "Show us what you've got." I brace my feet shoulder width apart and brought my fists to settle in a fighting pose by my chest.
"What would you like me to do?"
"What you know." I tried to make my expression look fierce and lunged out with my left fist. My mum had taught me a bit of self-defence so I knew a few expressions. This particular punch was a jab. I crossed over with the other fist, putting in as much strength as possible. My partner didn't even budge. Dammit. I moved her arms to a particular position, which she seemed to recognise, and stood firm, doing twenty hooks to my side. I wasn't entirely sure how that would help me in battle, but one thing I was sure of: I was getting worn out rapidly. Maybe I wasn't a dhampir. I finished my little display of non-existent talent with some uppercuts, which I wasn't very good at. I could feel my face burning from how red I was getting and my breath came in short pants. Guardia Alto didn't look impressed.
"Is that all?"
"What do you mean? How do you expect me to know anything else? I thought I was normal. A human." I swapped pads with my partner. It seemed my technique was okay, but when she lunged towards me, it was almost as strong as Rose earlier. I found it difficult to believe that this girl was only fourteen.
"This kids have been training to keep fit until they were ten, when they started learning combat training. You've got a lot to com up with." He didn't need to add that I was one of the most unfit people he knew. One of the most unfit people I knew. The rest of the lesson, my partner tried to work on my simple techniques, but she seemed bored. I knew she'd want another partner tomorrow. Hopefully I would build up some skill soon to at least not make the other students bored. When the other students left to go and have free time, I reluctantly stayed behind, taking a quick swig of water from my bottle. Rose jogged into the room.
"Right. What do you want me to do?" I asked.
"Sit down," she commanded. "Technicalities come first."
