When I arrived, I sent the Headmistress the letter. Then, I got walking. I was interested in physical fitness/dueling/health now that I had the books from the history class at my house. How would it work?

  The benefits were, on paper, few. But I saw it as a chance to learn more about potential friends and foes. Basic body structure would help for medical care, or shot placement after all.

  I eventually exited to the back of the rather large school building, and entered a large field area. I had seen this on my walk through days ago, and it was, as projected, massive.

  I looked around, and found the teacher. Like me, she was an hour early, and was setting up something. I approached.

  "Good morning, Professor Leria." I call out.

  She turned, and I notice the rapier on her opposite hip. It had been hidden behind her body. It wasn't overly ornamented, just some gilding of silver. It was scratched on its cup guard.

  She had scars on her hands and arms, some shallow ones on her face. She actually looked like a professional. She looked me up and down, assessing me. She then spoke.

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  "So, assistant professor, why did you ask to join?" She asks.

  "I am interested in anatomy, professor. As well as curious in general, of course." I chuckle a tad.

  "Hmm. Do you know how to fight?" She asks.

  "To a degree, professor. It was never my focus in any degree. Why?"

  "This class involves dueling. All participate, including teachers. What weapon or weapons do you use?" She asks.

  I can see where this is going. I begin entering combat protocols. "I have used a knife and sabre, professor."

  "Hm. Follow me." She orders. I do. I prepare myself, reevaluating my body, readying tactics, and more. My body was about 1.5× the average fit human male in terms of strength. It was criminal how underperforming this body was.

  I knew it was mana. The body was reliant on something I just couldn't provide. The average civilian model, that was up to date and in good repair, could modulate from 1x to 3x strength. Being stuck at 1.5 was... unfortunate. Adjustments to tactics needed to be made immediately.

  She led me to a small building off to the side. Inside were steel training weapons. She picked up a similar looking rapier, just without the edge and a blunt point. She gestured me to pick what I wanted.

  I looked, and found a knife first. It was a 6in by 2in blade. It tapered to a blunted point, and dull edges. It was a centimeter thick at its widest. It was heavy for a knife, but if it was sharp, it would be good on getting through chain mail.

  It took a bit to find a proper sabre though. Ultimately, I chose one that was 3ft long, with a good, if not overbearing curve. I turned to the professor, and she smiled.

  It looks like I was having a duel today.