The spatial volume of this facility is remarkably excessive.
It was closed off from the outside, and had four distinct fields: Swamp terrain, desert terrain, grass field, and stone ground; while the training grounds provided to the regular students was just a layer of sand above a patch of grass that died decades ago.
"Assemble." Clive shouted. His magic echoed throughout the two hundred meter by two hundred meter enclosed training field.
At once, the Continuing Students ceased their conversation and began to move; all in the same direction.
Their operational cadence is distinctly uniform. Until I map the behavioral constraints of this hierarchy, I must flawlessly mirror the existing variables.
He had turned with the rest while the new students watched in confusion.
Taking his spot on a 1.5-foot by 2.5 foot by 1 centimeter pad with a rubber-like texture on the top left, others followed after him.
I must systematically establish dominance over them while simultaneously extracting their empathy. Is a thought Arthur had at least once an hour when awake.
"Attendance complete," Clive declared when the last person stood on their pad.
"I am reassigning combat pairings. You possess zero authority or influence over this directive."
"Ranks thirteen through twenty-two will pair with the person nine ranks below them."
"Rank Twelve is paired with Rank Eleven; Rank Ten is paired with Rank Eight; Rank Nine is paired with Rank Five; Rank Seven is paired with Rank Four; Rank Six is paired with Rank Two."
"Head to the Swamp Arena; four pairs will go at a time."
An anomaly in the pairing matrix. Has my assignment been deliberately omitted, or am I expected to engage the Head Instructor?
"State your purpose," Clive asked after Arthur appeared in front of him, delaying the spars from commencing.
A measured delay in response will force him to provide context without compromising my facade.
"Proceed to the isolated sector. Continue independent drills," he says, pointing at the corner in the opposite side of the field, made of stone, and upon further dilation of pupils, craters.
This isolation is optimal. It prevents immediate exposure of my physical inadequacies. When my deficit is eventually revealed, the delayed timing will maximize the psychological shock and deflect suspicion regarding my identity.
My primary objective is to implant the narrative that the incident has severely damaged my combat efficacy.
A simple fabrication.
"I was given this, sir. The clinic's physician insisted I present it to you."
As Clive brought the paper closer to read–no longer focusing on Arthur–the actor held his head down and loosened his muscles to display his fake depression.
"Acknowledged. You are dismissed to your quarters. Recover."
He responded with a smile. "Thank you for your understanding, Instructor."
It was the total opposite of his expression just seconds before. Nobody could change that quickly, and everyone looking knew that.
Even when he was in grief, even when he was ill; he would smile; for us; for me.