Vil and Training

Vil impresses Savanaclaw students with his physical prowess during Beanfest, explaining that his personal trainer is a former kickboxing world champion.

Vil also surprises them with how fast he can run, and Silver compliments him on “dodging and sidestepping enemy attacks with such grace and ease.”

Silver asks where he learned such moves and Vil says, “I learned quite a bit about martial arts and self-defense techniques when I played a spy in a TV show. I had tutoring from a first-rate coach. It wasn’t just kickboxing, either; I also picked up karate and tae kwon do, among other things. And really, I can never be sure when those particular skillsets will be in demand again. So l make it a point to maintain a training regimen, to ensure I don’t lose my touch. If I looked like a seasoned fighter, that’s why.”

Silver asks if he exerts himself that hard just for acting and Vil responds, “This is the baseline expected of a first-rate actor. It’s hardly worthy of being called ‘exertion.’”

Vil proceeds to surprise the Savanaclaw students again later on, as well as Octavinelle students who had betrayed him, with a roundhouse kick that Silver again compliments.

When Floyd decides to attack Vil during the event Vil tosses him through the air, saying that he might have had to put in real effort if Floyd hadn’t been already tired out.

Floyd is delighted by having been thrown by what Vil describes as “a basic self-defense technique,” agreeing to join Vil’s group for the day in exchange for being taught how to do the move he used.

Vil also beats Epel in a physical fight just before opening ceremonies on Epel’s first day at school.

Vil assigns Book 5’s VDC team to post-rehearsal cleaning duties like wiping the floors and windows, and Rook explains it is “a trademark Vil regime”, and a cleaning regime is referenced again in Vil’s dorm vignette.

During Book 7 Silver mentions Vil ensnaring him in his arms so tightly that he was completely immobilized. Silver says, “It reminds me of the submission holds Father used to use on me when we grappled…”

Despite Vil’s physical prowess he is not strong physically or magically enough to wield the Thunder Spear of Book 6 alone (as Leona does), requiring help from Epel, Rook and the prefect to take down the Earth Titan.

Vil reluctantly agrees to help Idia capture his tsum after Idia asks how he is supposed to do so with his athletic level.

After the tsum starts running away with a basket over it Idia sends Vil in pursuit, but the tsum’s stamina is revealed to take after Idia’s own and it soon stops.

Vil seems to do yoga as a part of his morning warm-up exercises in addition to going on morning runs, joined by his tsum during Tsumsted. The tsum also joins him for additional training at Pomefiore afterwards.

Vil is unamused by the idea of Vargas Camp, saying, “some of us exercise every morning. Not everyone here needs to get in shape,” but he later admits that hauling firewood was “quite a workout.”

When the surviving students of Trey, Azul, Jade and Vil need someone who is good at running to capture the Vargas Monster Jade observes, “I doubt I could hold a candle to someone who jogs every morning like Vil does,” and Vil does ultimately end up filling the role of confronting the monster and leading them on a chase.

Azul says, “I’m very glad Vil is here. He has to sprint in a zigzag while both avoiding attacks and making sure we can keep up…I shudder to imagine how this might have gone if we didn’t have someone who jogs every morning.”

After the events of the camp Vil says he can see the Film Research Club spending a few nights camping in the woods and training as a form of exercise. 

Vil is in charge of training the Fairy Gala IF team, having Jack and SIlver do splits, walk across a balance beam 2,000 times each, and do hour-long leg holds.

We see Vil go on a morning run with Jack who says he is surprised that Vil is able to keep up with him. Vil responds, “Morning workouts are part of my daily routine.You’d do well not to underestimate me,” but refuses to do an additional lap, saying, “My goal is to maintain a perfectly lean muscle tone, not create bulging sinew everywhere.”

Vil says that he has always kept his core muscles toned, which “apparently makes (him) well-suited to sports that require a lot of balance.”

After being tested on by STYX Vil says that he would like to get in his daily workout or some yoga.

During the Cloudcalling event Leona says that Vil is almost as formidable as Lilia, with both likely to win against just about any opponent. Leona’s strategy for Vil involves drawing the fight out, which Vil describes as “an elegant and refined fighting style, perfect for me,” saying, “I’ve no objections. The spectators will no doubt appreciate the extra time to admire me.”

During the bout Vil reminds himself, “Draw out the fight, look to counter… And above all, remain beautiful…”