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"Okay, gather up, brats!"
It has been a week since the camp began. Mr. Eden has seen everything he needed to see from this year's batch of young warriors; therefore, he felt that it's the right time for them to move on to the next stage of this training.
"A week has passed since you awakened. I've been observing you closely, and all I can say is that I'm quite disappointed in the majority of you."
The words pressed heavily on the hearts of the students.
"Since you enrolled in this prep school, we have repeatedly told you the importance of professions. We told you this so many times that even we are tired of it. We sound like a broken record already. And time and time again, you lot will say that you understand the point we're trying to get across."
"Yet from what I've observed from you so far, only a few of you actually take this seriously. And that few could be counted on a finger, which is rather embarrassing."
"..."
"If I had it my way, all of those who aren't taking this class seriously would've been expelled by now. I really don't feel like wasting my time on most of you, especially knowing that my words would fall on deaf ears anyway."
"Alas, I can't have it my way. I can only hope that the majority I'm referring to fail at the practical exams so I could have the pleasure and satisfaction of telling them that they'd be repeating a year."
Mr. Eden didn't hold back. He all but called most of them trash and lazy. Some of the students didn't like hearing that, yet they're also too afraid of Mr. Eden to object.
"Because of this, I decided to relax. I figured that I don't have to stress myself out because of some lazy brats, especially since they'd probably end up as repeaters anyway. I'm much better off spending my time with those who are actually showing some promise."
"Anyway..."
"You brats have punched and kicked enough. Most of you already know how to run, dodge, and defend too, so much sothat some have grown really bored in this class."
"Well, I decided that that's enough for now. We'll move on to the next phase of the camp, and that is 'Equipment.'"
"Knowing how to punch and kick well is nice, but against all manner of creatures you could encounter inside dungeons, unarmed combat isn't always advisable, unless, of course, your class or boon calls for it. Other than that, you would most likely be using weapons to fight."
Mr. Eden gestured behind him, and the wall behind him shifted, revealing a special compartment of shelves decorated with all sorts of weapons and armor.
"Even though you're still young, you can't be reckless. Practicing and/or mastering a weapon takes a very long time. Mess around long enough, and before you know it, it'd be too late for you."
"This is why you can only pick one or two types of weapons to train with in the meantime."
"Choose one of the weapons you'd like to learn from the ones available on the shelves, but don't take them. You are to inform me so that I can place an order for training equipment for you."
"You'd receive it as soon as the next class, along with the beginner's guide and skill for that specific weapon."
"In addition, you'd also receive your novice gear, which includes one or two weapon types, leather vest armor, padded camo pants, military-grade shoes, and a set of training weights should you want it."
"Remember, this is borrowed gear; you must take care of it. Otherwise, you'd have to reimburse the school for it."
Hearing that they'd start learning how to use weapons, the excitement of the class had been reignited.
"I wouldn't look too happy if I were you. I wasn't done talking, after all." Mr. Eden's words poured water over their smoldering enthusiasm.
"Like I said earlier, most of you have been disappointing. Typically, I would also include my personal instructions along with this. But since none of you seemed to be interested, then I'd save myself the trouble."
"Train on your own. Whether you succeed or not will be determined during the practical exam."
"I'll be here, just standing and observing which one of you actually has the potential to pass this class. I won't offer any more help after that. I don't like wasting my time and effort dealing with kids, anyway. I have enough brats to take care of at home; I don't need more."
"So, since it seems that most of you had a better idea of what your training should be like, go ahead. I won't interfere."
"My only job is to record who will pass in the class this year and move on to the actual Warrior Class at the start of the next semester. As for the rest, it's safe to say that we'd be seeing each other for longer than necessary."
"With that out of the way, start choosing now and notify me of your preference, and then get out of class. We won't have class during weekends up to Monday because of the incoming storm. Stay at home during those times, and don't go out unless you want to die."
Mr. Eden's last words were ominous, but it's for a very good reason.
Just this morning, it was announced that a magnetic sandstorm was about to hit District 13.
Magnetic sandstorms are a natural phenomenon that annually strikes this district. It causes technology to go all funky and weird in addition to lowering the visibility, and harsh winds, obviously, come with sand, lots and lots of it.
Because it regularly occurs and hits this place, previous generations of District 13's residents built something to protect it from Magnetic Sandstorms, making it less fatal to the following generations.
That said, the defenses they created don't always work as intended, not because they're faulty or outdated, but because they're pieces of technology that magnetic sandstorms tend to disrupt. Even though it's created for the sole purpose of countering these storms, a particularly strong one could easily disable it.
Of course, District 13 had more ways to protect itself other than that piece of technology; they just rely on it because it's the easiest to use. After all, it's just a barrier that covers the entire district, and it could be activated with a single press of a button.
Breaches caused by the magnetic storms are rare, yes, but it still happens. Whenever it does, it always results in casualties.
It's because of this that Mr. Eden grimly warned them. It's his way of showing concern for them.
Alas, it seems that his concern fell on deaf ears again because, from the looks of it, the children still haven't gotten over the fact that they're about to start training with actual weapons now.
Even the harsh words Mr. Eden said earlier had been completely ignored by the easily distracted teenagers.
"Ugh, Magnetic Sandstorms," Sieg sighed tiredly within TJ's earshot. "I hate them; why do they need to happen?"
"Ask the founder of the prep school; maybe you'd get some answers." TJ muttered a reply.
"But he's dead! He's been long dead; don't you know that?"
"Is he? Shame, then."
Of course TJ knew that the founder of the prep school was dead. He's not stupid. He's just joking about his suggestion earlier; he didn't think that Sieg would actually think that he's being serious.
Anyway, the reason why he said this was because rumors said that the Magnetic Sandstorms only started because the school's founder did something. What that is isn't recorded anywhere...at least not anywhere in the public records. The school neither confirmed nor denied these claims, and who knows who knew the truth?
"Ah! You're kidding me!" Sieg smacked TJ's shoulders as he finally caught up. "Good for you; I didn't know you could tell jokes now."
TJ rolled his eyes and ignored him. Instead, he walked towards the weapon rack and began looking through the options available.
Weapons of all sizes and shapes were in here. Some were more common; others were rare and/or unorthodox.
Even before this day, TJ had been thinking about his weapon of choice. Mr. Eden was right; mastering weapons was one of the important decisions that warriors like him needed to consider.
Mastering a weapon takes great time and effort to do, and in the early days of one's professional career, nobody could afford to waste time or take detours. Fall behind a single step and you'd be falling behind forever.
TJ had seen the forums. He'd seen many pros expressing their regrets at not taking this seriously, as it considerably held them back in their later years. He even read one article where someone wasted an entire decade because he mastered the wrong weapon, and it devastated his career.
Most of these posts were verified by the system, meaning that they're true-to-life stories.
Determined to not make that mistake, TJ thought about his steps as soon as he awakened as a Warrior.
Therefore, this time, it didn't take him long before he made a decision.