Feeling disappointed at Walt's lack of conversation I just looked around the room and did some pacing. While killing time I noticed the abbot return and they brought some friends. There was now a group of 5 abbots standing around the instructor at the tree. Seems like they were expecting a ramp up of more injuries now?

Oh, the instructor's speech. That was supposed to inspire everyone to take it serious and maybe injure their partner. Got it. Wait, I need to find where Tom and Bea are then. There's no way Tom will go hard enough and I just may need to tease him if Bea hurts him.

Since Walt was not a talker I just wandered around until I found them. Sure enough Tom was there looking nervous while Bea just looked serious. I gave them a simple greeting while walking up.

"Aren't you supposed to be reflecting with Walt on your performance? Thanks for that by the way, now the instructor is going to be expecting us to hurt each other." Tom said all mopey. Clearly he was dreading either hurting Bea or getting hurt by Bea. It probably felt like a lose/lose situation to him. Maybe I wouldn't tease him after all..... he looks like he's beating himself up enough as is.

"Hah, I told you before! Even now after he got healing he won't talk! The guy may as well be a training dummy. He's over there meditating now." I waved my hand over towards him while explaining my dilemma.

"Wait, he was the one who was injured?" Bea inquired. She kind of looked shocked and surprised by the comment.

Did she think I was weak? I know I've only been here for a few months but I can't be doing bad. I had earned my way to the top 10 after all. Even if it was the obstacle course determining rankings it was still my own merit that got me there.

A bit confused, I decided to take a different tact and just tease her.

"Oh, were you worried about me Bea? I had no idea you would care so much!" I exclaimed with mock surprise.

Bea's eyes widened as large as they could go before she blushed fiercely. "I just didn't want to have to report to your parents you were getting beat up a lot is all!" Good deflection, but the way she was studiously not looking at me gave it away in my opinion.

I laughed good naturedly and told them to try and swing by afterwards so they could see Walt and I's condition after the spar. Bea and Tom just made their own non-committal grunts in response and I just shrugged. I needed to get back to Walt and be ready so I waved goodbye and walked back.

And of course he's still just sitting there, looking for all the world like he's still meditating.

—----

Although I didn't land another big hit, the last spar before lunch went much the same. Walt and I went at it until time with no one landing any significant touches, just the occasional graze from deflections. Walt was still utterly exhausted and an abbot eventually came by and gave us each a little touch up. Tom and Bea did not come to see us so I had to go find them.

After some more rousing words, the knight dismissed us for lunch. I half-bowed to Walt and went to find my friends. I did not realize lunch was coming so soon, it seemed like we had just gotten started to be honest. Either way, I found my friends and we went off to eat.

We had some small talk about the sparring but mainly everyone focused on eating. Guess our bodies could tell the food was giving us, as Sam put it, a "trace amount" of mana as nearly the entire class went up for more food.

Still, the day must continue and that meant more sparring. I talked them to heading back early to the training area. I think maybe I was a bit attached to it since it was where I first came to in this world. Maybe.

When we got there I noticed Walt had beat us there and was talking to the instructor. I motioned for Tom and Bea to come with me, I wanted them to see how much Walt doesn't talk. They seemed a bit reluctant at first but they followed anyway.

We just stood near my circle having a bit of small talk before Walter finished up with the knight instructor. He glanced our way and then headed over to us. I introduced everyone and got just a small nod from Walt. I was barely able to make it out with my peripheral vision but Tom and Bea glanced at each other when all they got in response was a nod.

I had to press on to really drive the point home though.

"Oh, hey, Walt I've been meaning to ask you about what you do after our sparring. It reminds me of meditation or something. What exactly are you doing? Reviewing our matches in your head?" it was a haphazard query, but an honest one. It really was curious, I didn't see anyone else doing it after all. It also seemed like he might have to give an elaborate answer for it which would really help my case.

He raised an eyebrow at me and pondered for a bit before eventually answering "Its something we should be taught at the end of the year. The order guides us along a path and it is not my place to disrupt that for you."

Well, that kind of cryptic answer made me more curious. Does that mean it had a purpose? And he was being so cagey about it!

But.... "Oh, that's neat, thanks for the heads up. How did you learn of it then?" Maybe talking about himself will loosen the guy up. That would be nice.

He just gave me the flattest stare as a response. I was beginning to think that maybe this was not the right approach to get him to talk more when he finally sighed and explained "This is my second year of page training actually. I did not meet their standards last year, but I will not give up my goal."

This was eventful for me. I had no idea this was an option. Could.... could I just stay here free forever just training martially? That would be something.

"Oh that's good. I didn't even know that was an option. Well good for you! Is there a limit to the amount of attempts you get?" This would be great if he gave a good answer for me that would set me up for awhile.

He did not seem to appreciate the question though and squinted and stared hard at me. He did eventually answer though, "Like all professions you need to have advanced by 18 years of age. After that if you have not been able to mature into a squire you will not be permitted back."

Oh well this is all new and good information to store away for later.

We noticed the knight instructor began to walk to her position where she would call out to us. I glanced around and noticed the rest of the class was back. I excused myself briefly as I needed to say goodbye to my friends before the matches start.

As we walked away I commented to them "See! I had to drag every word out of him! I did everything I could to keep him talking!"

Tom and Bea agreed as we got to their ring. I jogged back to my ring and got there right as the instructor reiterated our conviction to the training.

Walt of course just stoically stared without comment.

Ahh well, time to get started.

—----

The rest of the week passed without anything else of note happening. Walt and I sparred with very little talking. I vented with my friends. Lots of extra food was had. It was good times, sans the bore Walt.

On the final day of the week I looked to still maintain my position and honestly "fell" off right where I did last week. I figured I would be matched up with either Walt again or, if I was lucky, #11 would pass me and swap spots for a week. I could use the break.

I couldn't remember the height limits a human could survive comfortably from back in the old world, but I knew we were breaking them here. It definitely was not just body conditioning, it had to be the mana we all seemingly had. I just wish I knew a bit more of how to use it actively rather than this just "passive" accumulation thing we had going on.

I noticed that every time I got back in line though, the knight instructor's gaze lingered on me. I definitely think he had his suspicions about me doing it on purpose. He didn't say anything though, so I guess he was okay with it technically?

Either way that "Solsday" passed with nothing new happening either. That meant tomorrow it was back to sparring.

Even though it was essentially just practice and nothing would get permanently damaged in the sparring rings, I realized I was a bit too eager to fight someone.

Was I secretly aggressive or violent or something? Did I like it?

Huh. Food for thought at least. I didn't want to become that type of person.

I thought about that little conundrum while I lay in bed.

I never figured out the answer all the way up until I fell asleep.