In the first year the students would have five compulsory modules that they had to do and four elective modules (a module where you have to take one, but you get a choice between four).

The five compulsory modules:

Practical Applications of Alterations (PA)

Alterations and Technology (Tech)

Biological and Psychological Alterations (Bi-Psy)

Weapons and Hand to Hand (Weapons)

Alterations in our Society (Socio)

Electives:

A Foreign Language

Design of Alteration Assistance (Design)

Financial Implications of Alterations (Maths)

Alteration Management and Employment (Careers)

All of the shortened names were the names that had been decided by Jude and his group of friends.

It had been about a week and a half since the test in the arena. Jude’s mind had started to become fixated on improving himself. Though it probably wasn’t the best time to be thinking about that since there was a blunt disk charging at his face.

His right shoulder rolled out of the way, his whole body falling backwards. Slamming his right down he was able to catch himself. It was then that he noticed it wasn’t a disk it was the flat end of a Bo Staff, a Bo Staff that had stopped midday only to be pulled across to Jude.

It had aimed right for his stomach. Assessing his options there was no way he could jump it or duck under it, even if he were flexible or agile for either option, he simply did not have the time.

There was a dull thud as the pain reverberated through Jude. His hands clasped around the exaggerated stick.

Before he could even collect his breath, his own body began to move. Releasing his left hand from the hold he pulled with the right.

As his assaulter flew toward him, carried by the moment of the yank, Jude raised his left arm. At the precise moment he went to throw a punch. Unfortunately for him he had not anticipated the weight of the gauntlets he was currently wearing. Not only did he miss the target by his hand going too fast he had also followed through. Thus, both the assaulted and Jude had landed on polyurethane floor of the gym.

Weapons class, as the name would suggest, was a few hours a week wear the students would train with weapons and hand to hand combat styles. The weapons they train with can be any that the school provides. For their final assessment you can choose any weapon you want but they recommend the one you are most comfortable with.

During the first week Jude had tried using a sword; though the three hours they had were more than enough for Jude to come to the realization that not only could he not wield a sword well but also it would not suit how he uses his alteration.

This second week was the choice of gauntlets. Though he had not fought another person yet, opting instead to practice on a dummy or helping by dodging some of his friends’ attacks.

The gauntlets themselves covered up to his forearm and were a metal coating over gloves. Whilst mainly a dull grey there was an exception on the back of the palm; a small golden disk sat there partially covered by a blue curve that protected the knuckles. The gloves underneath were black to try and blend with the gauntlet’s metal.

Jude laid on the floor his chest feeling the cold hard material that had been used to construct it. Struggling to push himself up onto his knees Jude began to feel the weight of the gauntlets for what they were.

But as he looked around the room, he saw all of his friends succeeding.

Nerissa was fighting someone who had a sword. The opponent sliced down at her, yet she easily caught it with her weapon; the trident had slots at the top that were amazing to parry with. Catching the sword, she pulled it down only to dance way over the sword. Using the trident as a pole it was not even a second before her heel was an inch away from her opponent’s face.

The poor guy going against her had his hair fly in the breeze that was caused by the kick. The only reason that he was not sent hurtling across hard floor was due to the fact if you could avoid hurting someone you should during class.

Due to his reaction time Jack had actually decided to use projectiles. He was at a small section of the gym with another person running about. The target had been padded up, which made him easier to hit but far more protected. Jack’s arsenal included small knives, darts and he even had tried bolas.

Rin had taken up a dagger, if he was fighting in his own body that means it would be up close and thus, he would need a close ranged weapon. He did not really ever practice with other people and instead chose to spend his hours slashing at target dummies.

AJ and Kuna did not take a weapon. AJ had instead decided to practice forms of Shaolin Kung Fu. By far his favourite was the horse stance. With a wide leg stance, he was able to fire his fist out and shoot electricity at a high concentration without much kickback. Though he did also practice the main stances of the kung fu, yet it was early days.

Kuna was merely lazy and would disappear inside his portal and play videos games for an hour or so.

“Specula!” Jude heard from below him. The guy he had been fighting only repeated this phrase whenever he lost his glasses, which unfortunately had come off when Jude tugged on the Bo Staff. The man in question was Glasses from the test.

Passing him the glasses that were on the floor suddenly stopped the phrase. “I thank you Jude.”

“You know Archie, why don’t you just use contacts in such a physically intensive course?”

“Well, if I were to do that it might hamper my chances of winning.” As they spoke Jude helped Archie to his feet.

“Oh, is it to do with your Alteration?”

“If it was, I would have just handed you my weakness and why would I do that against an opponent?” He smiled at Jude. Before leaning over to pick up the staff.

“By the way Archie, how’d you know I’d dodge that way?” Jude was curious at how quickly Archie had swung the staff towards him.

“The reason I chose the staff was for it’s range. As long as you understand the intrinsic properties of it and how you can apply that to momentum and air resistance you can realistically move it how you want mid-air. Given that fact all I had to do was calculate your five most likely movement patterns, the data for which came from your stance, eyeline and demeanour. At that point I just waited for your movement and algorithmically moved the staff to best attack.”

Jude was dumbfounded. He thought that the quick reactions from Archie could have shed some light on how to improve but instead he got an overly long speech that basically amounted to ‘just be smart’.

Clearing his mind with a deep breath Jude brough up his fists to a guard stance. “Right, shall we get back to it then?”