CHPT 7: New girl, Old enemy

After Claude was reminded of his sparring match he looked around his group of classmates until his eyes fell on his opponent, Samuel.

Samuel was at the front, spearheading the line of students. He was walking with an air of confidence and relaxation that angered Claude to no end. Every fight they've had has resulted in a win for Samuel, Claude knew his weaknesses and tendencies but the damn difference in gear and strength was always the deciding factor.

Prof. Raizen thought training in your armor helped you become more comfortable in it and that everyone should use their individual armor to their advantage. Claude didn't like this idea very much considering the fact that he was broke.

He walked to the Combat section with an angry but determined demeanor, he knew he'd gotten stronger since their last match. Claudes memory of their last match was fuzzy since it ended with him being sent out of the ring in a bloodied mess while Samuels groupies laughed in his face as if what happened was at all humorous. Another thing he knew that would prove beneficial in the ring was that Samuel had a short fuse, just like him Samuel was easily triggered so he had to play on that.

Prof. Raizen approached Claude, his Eurasian features exaggerated in the afternoon sun made him look like the battle hardened warrior he was. He smoothed his white tipped black hair back and gave some words of encouragement to Claude. "Good luck in your fight today, let's try not to have the same conclusion as last time yea?"

Claude took in the Prof. words and processed them as, "Don't let him obliterate you in front of all these people again." Claude replied with honesty saying, "I'll do my best to win this match, Prof. Raizen."

He never knew exactly why but Prof. Raizen excited and inspired Claude, he gave him motivation in every sense and probably didn't mean to. His attention to detail in class and rather harsh but vital critiques in training made Claude recognize him as a true leader and a teacher that was a cut above the rest.

***

Claude was by the triple stair that led into the ring, he took a deep breath to soothe his nerves. The air was cool and the sky was almost completely cloudless, he felt that even the weather anticipated this match.

Claude looked into the ring and saw that someone very important was missing.

"Prof. Raizen, wheres Prof. Callista?"

"She's running late but she'll be here soon, until then warm up and get ready for your match. Samuel I expect you to do the same."

"Yes Sir."

Claude did some jumping jacks and arm swings to loosen his joints and warm up his legs while internally discussing his opponent. "Ok, I know Samuel is talented in many areas, he's a hard hitter who can take what he dishes out. What I do have over him is speed and stamina, so I have to wear him down and avoid critical strikes...which is all of his strikes. Alright, I've got a plan. It's time to execute."

Samuel walked around the ring like a lion roaming its cage, his broad shoulders accentuated by his regal blue, silver and gold armor. He held Claudes comical predatory gaze. "Who is he to look at me as if I'm what's on the menu!?" He thought to himself. He decided to play on one of Claudes insecurities by going and talking to his regular group of female supporters.

"Hey ladies, I'm feeling a little nervous about my match how about some words of encouragement?" He asked sarcastically while putting his arms around the two closest to him.

"Haha, good one Samuel...just try not to make him cry so hard this time or I might actually die from laughter." Samuels friend Veronica said as she curled a strand of her violet hair around her finger.

Claude watched as Samuel chatted up Veronica and her squad of nobleborn fan girls, he could hear them laughing over his last match with Samuel, as if crying was a laughable sign of weakness and not frustration.

Claude felt his cheeks heat up at the realization that a student was staring at him, her heavily muscled frame was visible through her reinforced light armor, as she began to walk he could see the flexion in her quads and calves, her long brown ponytail swinging with each step. "Wait...she's walking towards me???" Claude realized.

As she continued to walk towards him, her features became easier to identify. Her thick brown eyebrows held a stoic yet determined position that framed her brown almond eyes nicely and her freckles seemed somewhat out of place when combined with her overall tough appearance.

"Hey, your name's Claude, right?" She asked.

"...Yea." He replied, too stunned to add anything else to the conversation.

"Well good luck in your match, by the way...I hope you smoke that smug blondie." She said with an excited look in her eye.

Claude was appalled, he'd never really spoken to anyone but his father and the Professors in this way, in a way that wasn't so...confrontational? Much less get support from someone in this way. He felt like he wanted to say something but his throat closed up and his body was hot and itchy. He felt like he was melting internally, but he knew it was a nervous reaction to this new girl.

Right when Claude was about to say something so embarrassing it would probably keep him up at night Prof. Raizen interrupted saying, "Alright everyone, gather round the ring. Samuel and Claude step into the ring and get ready for your match."

Claude gave a quick nod and attempt at an awkward smile to the girl who he didn't get the name of and headed to the ring. The Platform erupted with cheers and words of encouragement for the match that was about to begin. The large mass of students around the ring cheering were all supporting one person, Samuel. He embraced the praise like a celebrity, coaxing the crowd to get louder while he waltzed around his side of the circle with his chest puffed out like a proud rooster.

This fueled Claude, knowing that he had no supporters made him want nothing more than to reduce the boisterous crowd of students to a state of collective silence when he beat their apparent champion, Samuel.

"Ok, I want a clean match, anything but that and I'm getting involved, there are two ways to win, the first to either step out or be removed from the circle is the loser. And if that doesn't happen, then whoever has the most significant strikes landed after 20 minutes wins. Samuel are you ready?" Prof. Raizen asked

"Born ready Sir."

"And you Claude?"

"Ready."

"Ok, then the fight begins now!"