Chapter 193: Learning the Difference

The classroom was louder than usual.

The notice about the new training program had spread quickly, and almost every freshman seemed curious about who they would be paired with.

Noah sat at his desk, staring at the board.

A list of names slowly appeared across the magical display.

FRESHMAN COMBAT PAIRING PROGRAM

TEMPORARY PARTNERS WILL BE ASSIGNED FROM DIFFERENT SQUADS.

Eric leaned toward him.

"Please don’t let me get paired with someone boring."

Noah looked at him.

"You talk enough for two people. You’ll be fine."

Eric frowned.

"That wasn’t reassuring."

Sophia smiled from the desk ahead.

The instructor entered before Eric could complain further.

"Your temporary partners will remain assigned for the next two weeks."

A few students immediately began whispering.

"Your objective isn’t to defeat your partner."

The instructor pointed toward the display.

"It’s to understand them."

The names began moving.

Noah watched the list carefully.

One pairing after another appeared.

Students reacted with excitement, disappointment, or confusion.

Then the display stopped.

NOAH BLACKWOOD

MARIA BILLU

Noah blinked.

Eric immediately laughed.

"You got Squad One."

Noah glanced across the room.

Maria looked equally surprised.

She pointed at herself.

"Me?"

The instructor nodded.

"Maria Billu. Noah Blackwood. You will train together."

Maria stood and walked over.

She stopped beside Noah’s desk.

"Well, this should be interesting."

Noah picked up his training equipment.

"Hopefully."

Maria smiled.

"You’re the guy everyone keeps talking about."

"Unfortunately."

"Don’t worry. I don’t believe most rumors."

"That’s good."

"Especially the ones saying you’re secretly some kind of monster."

Noah paused.

Maria laughed.

"I’m joking."

Eric looked between them.

"That joke was terrible."

Maria looked at him.

"You must be Eric."

"How do you know?"

"You’re loud."

Sophia covered her mouth to hide a laugh.

Eric looked offended.

Noah stood.

"Let’s go."

The training hall was already filling with students.

Maria walked beside him.

"So, what kind of fighter are you?"

"Close-range."

"That’s convenient."

"Why?"

Maria held up her hand.

A thin layer of mana gathered around her fingers.

"Long-range."

Noah nodded.

"Then we’ll work well together."

They entered the training arena.

A series of practice targets appeared.

Maria immediately moved backward.

"You take the front."

Noah stepped forward.

The first construct charged.

He blocked its strike and pushed it away.

Maria fired a concentrated burst of mana.

The construct’s shoulder shattered.

Another appeared.

Noah moved toward it.

Maria attacked from behind him.

Their timing wasn’t perfect.

But it wasn’t bad.

After several minutes, the final construct collapsed.

Maria lowered her hand.

"Not bad."

Noah looked at her.

"You either."

She smiled.

"That’s the first compliment I’ve gotten today."

"It wasn’t a compliment."

"It counts."

Noah shook his head.

Across the training hall, other students were practicing with their assigned partners.

Squads that normally trained together were now scattered.

The academy suddenly felt different.

Students were being forced to step outside their usual circles.

Noah realized why Valhalla had created the program.

It wasn’t just about combat.

It was about making them adaptable.

About teaching them how to trust someone they barely knew.

Maria looked toward him.

"Same time tomorrow?"

Noah nodded.

"Sure."

She walked away.

Noah watched her join Squad One.

Eric approached.

"So?"

"So what?"

"How was your partner?"

"Good."

Eric smiled.

"Looks like you’re making friends."

Noah glanced around the training hall.

Maybe he was.

For the first time since returning to Valhalla, Noah wasn’t simply recovering from what had happened.

He was beginning to live again.

And strangely enough, that felt more difficult than fighting.

The next training session began with a simple instruction.

"Switch."

Noah looked at Maria.

She looked back at him.

"Switch?"

Professor Astrid stood at the edge of the training field.

"Yesterday, you were allowed to fight according to your preferred styles. Today, you’re going to do the opposite."

A few students groaned.

Astrid continued.

"Close-range fighters will support their partners from a distance. Long-range fighters will move to the front."

Maria stared at Noah.

"So you’re the long-range fighter today."

Noah looked at her.

"And you’re taking the front."

Maria’s smile disappeared.

"I suddenly dislike this exercise."

Eric laughed from nearby.

"Welcome to Noah’s world."

Noah picked up a training bow from the equipment rack.

He had barely used one before.

Maria grabbed a wooden sword.

She held it awkwardly.

"How difficult can this be?"

Noah looked at her stance.

"Very."

"That’s encouraging."

The signal sounded.

Training constructs appeared.

Maria rushed forward first.

Her movements were fast, but she lacked experience with close-range combat.

The first construct swung at her.

She blocked.

The impact forced her backward.

"Too strong!"

Noah raised the bow.

He released an arrow.

It struck the construct’s arm.

Maria immediately took advantage of the opening.

She struck its chest.

The construct fell apart.

Maria looked over her shoulder.

"That worked."

"Again."

Another construct appeared.

This time, Maria moved differently.

She waited.

Noah fired.

The construct turned toward him.

Maria rushed in from the side.

Her sword struck its exposed joint.

The machine collapsed.

Maria grinned.

"Okay. I understand."

Noah lowered the bow.

"Good."

They continued.

At first, Maria relied heavily on Noah.

But gradually, she began reading the battlefield herself.

She learned when to advance.

When to retreat.

When to draw an enemy’s attention.

And when to trust Noah to cover her.

By the end of the exercise, their movements had become noticeably smoother.

Professor Astrid watched from a distance.

"Better."

Maria wiped sweat from her forehead.

"That sounded almost like praise."

"It wasn’t."

Maria sighed.

Noah laughed quietly.

After the session, they sat beneath one of the large trees overlooking the training grounds.

Maria rested her sword beside her.

"So."

Noah looked at her.

"So?"

"Why did you join Valhalla?"

Noah was quiet for a moment.

The question was simple.

The answer wasn’t.

"I wanted to become stronger."

Maria nodded.

"That’s it?"

"Pretty much."

She looked toward the academy.

"I want to become strong enough to protect my family."

Noah glanced at her.

Maria continued.

"They aren’t fighters. They don’t understand this world."

She smiled faintly.

"So I figured I’d become the person who does."

Noah understood that feeling.

More than he wanted to admit.

Before he could respond, Eric shouted from across the field.

"Noah!"

Noah turned.

Eric waved toward him.

"You’re needed!"

"For what?"

"Food."

Noah stared at him.

"That’s your emergency?"

"It’s lunch."

Maria laughed.

Noah stood.

"Coming?"

Maria picked up her sword.

"Sure."

As they walked toward the main building, Noah looked back at the training grounds.

The freshman squads were scattered across the field.

Different people.

Different abilities.

Different reasons for being there.

Yet they were all moving toward the same thing.

Strength.

Noah looked ahead.

Valhalla was beginning to feel less like a place he had returned to.

It was becoming somewhere he belonged.

And for the first time, he wondered what kind of person he would become if he stayed.