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C303 - First

Khan didn't go too hard on the recruits. Hurting them wasn't the point of the lesson, and he also wanted to reassure them a bit after everything that had happened with the Tainted ape.

None of the recruits were first-level warriors, and their proficiency level was also lacking. Many failed to perform perfect executions of their martial arts even after spending an entire minute preparing for their attacks.

Khan had some hopes for the six recruits who had faced the Tainted ape, but they turned out to be too innocent to express proper killing intent. Deborah came close to attempting a deadly blow, but she got scared near the end of her technique, leading her mana to disperse before her open hand could land.

John, Laurel, and Keith used their mana correctly, but they tried to attack Khan's waist or shoulders. Dwight failed to perform a proper technique, while Elsie's enthusiasm was nothing more than a desire to test herself. She liked to fight, but that didn't make her a killer.

A few surprises appeared among the other recruits. Khan counterattacked with simple kicks that only flung his opponents away, so everyone mustered the courage to face him. A couple of boys aimed their techniques at his neck, head, or center of the chest, but Khan addressed their success to personal problems and lingering anger.

No one showed the intention to kill Khan or even did their best to succeed in the task. Yet, Khan still used that chance to give pointers or comment on their performance.

Khan couldn't actually tell the recruits how to improve their offensive. They used different martial arts, so their flaws were connected to improper executions or weaknesses of their styles.

Still, Khan never failed to scold the recruits whenever their attacks didn't aim at vital spots. He understood why they held back or felt worried about the potential consequences of their offensive, but that wasn't the point of the lesson.

Killing was hard. Khan knew that far too well. Yet, developing the resolve to go all-out even if that could lead to an enemy's death was doable, and he wanted to achieve that.

The sparring was so harmless that the recruits agreed to go for another round. The second cycle of exchanges went better. Most students tried to deliver killing blows, but their fears to hurt Khan often took over their executions.

Khan continued to dodge every attack easily, and the power behind his kicks increased after every exchange. Pain could help eliminate eventual hesitation and fear, but he saw the results of that approach only during the third sparring cycle.

"Okay, let's call it a day," Khan announced after the third cycle ended. "It's actually past the time assigned to my lessons, so we'll have to skip the round of questions. I'm sure you'll have your chance to probe into my life the next time."

A series of disappointed voices came out of the group of recruits. They had already gathered into a line to prepare for the fourth cycle of exchanges. It was clear that they didn't want the lesson to end yet, but Khan couldn't do much about it.

"Come on, it's only two days," Khan laughed. "We even have a full semester in front of us. You'll have other chances to get kicked by me."

A few laughs resounded, and the line broke quickly. The recruits weren't tired since they only had the chance to test their attacks three times. However, they couldn't deny that it was already pretty late. They risked skipping dinner if they wasted time.

"Will we fight you again in the next lesson?" John asked as the students prepared themselves to leave the hangar.

"No, that will probably happen next week," Khan revealed. "I have something else in mind for the next lesson. It shouldn't be dangerous, but that will mostly depend on you."

"Will we fight the Tainted ape again?" A recruit asked, and his question spread a wave of fear among her companions.

"There would be no point in that," Khan stated. "You needed to see the Tainted ape to experience true fear. Putting you against it now will only lead to injuries. You'll see it again when I feel that you can fight it properly."

Smiles and nods happened among the recruits. No one wanted to face the Tainted ape so soon. Even Elsie refrained from voicing comments about the matter.

"Professor Khan," Deborah called as the group was about to approach the entrance, "Will you eat in the canteen?"

"Of course," Khan casually exclaimed as he approached one of the walls to retrieve his phone.

"Some of us are going there now," Deborah continued. "Do you want to join us?"

Khan almost froze on his spot when he heard that question, but his movements remained smooth and natural. Still, he chose not to hide his hesitation when he turned to face the recruits. He wanted to build deep trust with his students, so he couldn't resort to lies and pretenses.

"I don't know how proper that would be," Khan replied. "I'm a professor and your direct superior."

"We could use this chance for the questions," Keith announced, and many recruits nodded in approval as curiosity filled their faces.

Khan felt cornered by that enthusiasm. He wanted to get close to the recruits, but he acknowledged the need for a certain division between them and him. However, he was going to the canteen anyway. Also, his students would also have the chance to deal with their round of questions during the meal.

"I guess it doesn't sound like a bad idea," Khan responded as some hesitation still filled his tone. "Though I must warn you. I eat a lot, so I'd have to answer between a bite and the next."

The recruits laughed since they took Khan's line for a joke, and he smiled honestly in front of that general happiness. He liked seeing his students like that. He almost regretted that he had to create a crack in that innocence to deliver his message.

The recruits gathered around Khan as they began to walk toward the canteen. A few left since they had other matters to attend or wanted to shower before dinner, but many with similar plans changed their mind after learning that Khan would join them.

Needless to say, the questions started on the road, and Khan noticed how the general boldness of the recruits had intensified. The different environment was probably playing an important role in that change, but Khan liked to think that his relationship with his students had improved.

The questions covered random topics. Those recruits had only seen aliens through their phones, so they requested vivid descriptions. Surprised oohs echoed among them when they heard Khan speaking the Niqols' language, and Onia's tournament also aroused interest.

Khan learnt that some of his students had gotten their hands on the tournament's recordings. The recruits didn't snitch on their companions, but they revealed how everyone in the camp now had those videos.

That worked in Khan's favor, but it also increased the number of gossips around his name. The recruits didn't mention the most personal of them, but they still probed Khan about things that kept their curiosity on fire.

"No comment," Khan repeated while wearing a faint smile that tried to hide his sadness. "I don't mind telling you about the battlefields, aliens, and some funny experiences, but my personal life will remain a secret. You can give up on learning more about my time on Nitis."

"That's unfair!" Deborah complained. "Interspecies couples are so rare. Your experience might help many of us if we get stationed on alien planets."

"Why don't you try to apply the same dedication to my lessons instead of using it to get answers?" Khan joked.

Everyone laughed, even Deborah. The recruits could see Khan under a different light during the walk, and the event pleased them. Outside of the lessons, when Khan didn't need to give orders or use his experience to teach something, he revealed his true self, which was a seventeen-year-old man who had witnessed many things.

Khan also accepted that the situation was far from awful. Those students were his peers in terms of age, and he found himself comfortable among them. A few of them clearly had hidden motives behind their kindness and laughs, but many were simply trying to get to know him as if he were an ordinary recruit.

That was the social life that the six months in Ylaco's training had never managed to offer. Most of it was Khan's fault due to his packed schedule and general distrust of his peers, but the situation was different now. Khan saw what could have been back then, and he didn't know how to feel about the event.

The group eventually reached the canteen, and Khan stayed true to his words. The recruits remained speechless in front of the sheer quantity of food he could eat, and the random messages that reached his phone even occupied the short periods among his bites.

'How did you end up eating with your students?' Amber texted.

'I can hear you laughing from here,' Khan replied.

'That's because I am laughing really hard,' Amber responded.

'At least everything seems to go well,' Khan managed to write once he finished his fourth chicken wing.

'Oh, no, actually, you have my praises,' Amber texted. 'I never expected you to be so good at this.'

'Someone was underestimating me,' Khan teased.

'Shall I remind you that you have no teaching experience and that your whole life has been nothing but Slums and battlefields?' Amber commented.

'I thought I charmed you enough to gain your complete trust and devotion,' Khan continued with his teases.

'Okay, the devotion part got me,' Amber joked. 'You are funny, Professor Khan.'

'I am indeed a great man,' Khan texted.

'Don't get carried away, or I'll have to stop complimenting you,' Amber replied.

'Sure thing, ma'am,' Khan stated.

'Shut up,' Amber sent.

The conversation between the two ended there, but neither was to blame for that outcome. Khan had also exchanged messages with Cora during the walk, and she reached the canteen to see him.

"Hey, Khan," Cora smiled when she saw Khan turning while she was approaching his table.

The recruits had left the seats next to Khan empty out of respect for his position, so Cora could reach them. The students' curious eyes made her shy and forced her to keep her gaze on the floor during the walk, and Khan didn't help in the matter.

"She is Cora Ommo," Khan announced while Cora sat next to him. "I was lucky enough to have her on my crashing site on Istrone."

The students had naturally heard about Cora since they were from Reebfell. The list of survivors from the Istrone was short, so it wasn't hard to find her name in some reports. Still, the recruits never had the chance to identify her since she rarely spent her free time outside her dormitory or classes.

"He is exaggerating," Cora quickly overcame her shyness to correct Khan. "I was basically useless there. He did everything by himself."

The recruits saw the chance to gain a different perspective on Khan's feats and didn't let it slip. Cora only had to wait a few seconds to see countless questions flying at her.

"He has the bad habit of being modest," Cora explained after gaining a general understanding of what Khan had said to his students. "You should have seen him. He showed pure confidence from the crash to our rescue. I have countless bad memories about Istrone, and I hate everything that happened there, but I'm glad that I got the chance to watch him shine."

Cora wasn't a good liar. Her feelings appeared everywhere on her voice and face, but her words also carried a deep honesty. The students immediately understood that they could use her to learn more about Khan, and they didn't hesitate to exploit her.

"His first kill has happened there, right?" Elsie asked before her companions could voice other questions. "How was it?"

"I told you, I have been rather useless there," Cora responded. "Still, his battles were incredible. He never faltered, even when he failed to perform his martial art correctly."

"Yet, how did he have that confidence on his first battle?" Elsie insisted before moving her gaze on Khan. "Did you go for the killing blow without hesitation? Was the Kred difficult to take down?"

"I'd rather not describe that," Khan lied while wearing a fake smile.

"The Kred couldn't keep up with his movements," Cora described. "He was too fast and precise for them."

"So, did you go for its head?" Elsie added.

"I'm not too proud of my first kill," Khan continued with his pretense. "I'd rather speak about something else."

"Why is that?" Elsie asked. "Isn't this the point of your lessons, sir? Your first experience with death should be something valuable to share."

Everyone's eyes converged on Khan, and even Cora initially followed that trend. However, she suddenly recalled something, and her hand shot to squeeze Khan's arm.

Cora had an apologetic look on her face. Khan could see her trying to find the words that could get him out of that situation, but he had already made up his mind.

"Because she was ten," Khan revealed while Cora's grasp tightened.. "My first kill was a ten-year-old Kred."

To be continued