After the school Ben met his friends & they decided that they would meet at school regularly. The only bad thing was that Ben could not train martial techniques. He would have to study for 60 days. Since he was a martial knight now, the exams he would have would also be of the same caliber. Most of them would be application of what he learned.
Soon he & his sister reached home. He cooked for her which she absolutely regretted. Sometimes Miraya would be in good mood & sometimes not. So she didn't say much. But Ben could understand. So he promised her that when they were returning home the next day, he would buy her from the famous Barbos Restaurant. He also wanted to buy something for his parents as well. He also needed to talk to them. It is high time that they resumed their martial journey & it was not long before he sat to study.
He segregated the subjects into two: which contains calculations & the ones which did not. Physics, Maths, Chemistry & Device Studies had calculations in them. History, Biology, Political Studies & Etiquettes did not have them.
Of all these subjects, the easiest to learn & the hardest to execute was the Etiquette Studies. Ben pulled out the materials for the subject. 'The name of this subject does not do any justice to the contents in it. It ranges all the way from table manners in a civilian setting & military setting to protocols to be followed in survival situations and who puts basic medical practices in the Etiquette Studies.
What does all those have to do with etiquette? Who designed this subject anyway? I can quickly complete this. After all, most of these I have already practiced. As far as theory in this goes, it is negligible. It is actually a practical lesson.
But they have converted all that into essay questions & MCQs. But the fact that I have to study an entire subject for a full year just for learning protocols is really daunting. I don't know where I will end up in the military.
Next, I would tackle the political studies or history depending on my mood. Both of them are heavy in theory & boring to study.
Haa... what do I do? But these 3 subjects have to be completed in another 7 days. If not, I won't be able to find time for the time intensive subjects. Mathematics & Physics are somewhat fine. Chemistry is a problem. Its formulas are a pain. Fighting in the forest was better than this. Why do people have to make the school itself so complicated.
Device studies are also fine. Biology & Chemistry — I need to tackle them somehow. Well right after these 3 easy subjects, I will take them on. It is better to get those over with. Next is the question of time allocation. I can't let myself get rusty over these 60 days. I need to be at my top condition to start learning martial techniques. Even though I have developed, it will only take others a few months to catch up with me. I can't waste time. I refused to be mediocre.'
When he thought this something came to his mind. Something he did not want to recollect. Ben quickly calmed himself down. He started to use his cultivation technique. There was not much to gain, but it calmed him down.
He made plans again. 'I will study for 2-3 hours today. Tomorrow I'll go by 6 in the morning then after breakfast I will go for exercises. But I am not really sure if the forest is really appropriate considering my powers. Forget it. It is better not to take risk right now. I think the only option is to go to school. I wonder if they will allow me to use the facility. Well, that actually takes up my time. Well we will see what happens. I will send an application form using the school facilities. Anyway, I will have to practice for at least 4 hours a day. Only then will I be able to maintain my pace.'
Now the next question is how I convince my parents. I know them & they will definitely not allow me to use my own money. But I can't have them delay their martial journey. He could not allow that. Both of the gen— I cannot allow that. Well I will figure something out. I will talk to them tomorrow. I will have to convince them somehow.
With this Ben started to study. For him who had spent 30 days in combat, it was really difficult to adapt to this lifestyle. He truly could not sit still. He concentrated & in about 45 minutes he got his focus on studies. He studied for 3 hours & also spent another hour meticulously organizing his study materials. He not only organized them for each subject, but he also organized the materials that he needed to take for the next morning. He was planning to spend his morning at the school studying & the afternoon training his martial art.
The next day Ben woke up, did his morning things & soon got ready for school. It was really a hassle because whenever he had to go to the school he had to be in a perfect uniform & now he had to have a knight badge. He would not go through all these if he did not have a choice. This set him apart from other students. Not long after he & his sister reached the school.
She reminded him of "buying from Barbos Restaurant". He did remember that. He in fact was going to buy for the entire family. It was not long before he found himself in the training area. But now he was trapped, because all the students as well as the martial teachers from the entire final year of the school was here. And he was standing with Mahaansh. Ben sighed. He knew what was going to happen.
And as he expected Mahaansh began, "Students, as you all know, in a few months all of you will undergo meridian seed implantation. You all must really be thrilled. But now this will be a demonstration skill match. It will be done between Benjamin John from our school." Mahaansh paused. Ben looked at Mahaansh. So did every other student & teacher. They were all expecting a one-sided match between Ben & Mahaansh, where Mahaansh would beat down Ben & then finally give some lessons.But it seemed like someone else was coming. Mahaansh continued, "& Tervin from the Pergos City!" Ben raised an eyebrow. He had gone to Pergos City but didn't meet anyone there & he also did not know this person. Soon another person came in. He had a good build & was dressed in a carefree martial attire. He seemed to be relaxed & even had a lazy look in his eyes. Overall it seemed though he was not interested in this. He did not say anything or greet Ben. He just stared at Ben indifferently.
No change was there on his face. He even had an arrogant look on his face. Mahaansh said, "Tervin is from Pergos City & his family runs a business. He came to Kel-Sherpa along with his father for business purpose. I thought it would be a good idea to broaden your horizon with this spar."