Zane and Vale was in the process of finding a spot, to do some physical activities. The training hall had a really large space. So, it didn't really take that long.
Sooner after, they finally found the spot they had been looking for. They were specifically looking for a space where they weren't that many people around them. Well, I guess they just prefer it that way.
Right after they found their spot. Zane then started stretching, Vale who felt too exhausted for some reason, sat down on the ground for a moment, before doing some stretches.
"Man, why can't they just separate mages and weapon users. Hell, I wouldn't have to do this stuff. Well, I mean it's not like I have too, actually, but still, this class is not needed for mages at all! It's a waste of time!"
Vale's face was somber as he complained.
The academy doesn't actually force students to do any physical activities in this class. It's optional, only if they want to, then, they can do some exercises. But this class is specifically meant for weapon users, mages and weapon users are different, but they technically learn the same thing. That's the reason why they didn't seperate weapon users and mages.
Vale was busy complaining about his life's experiences, while Zane was busy with his stretches.
[You are doing good, keep it up.]
Zane was doing some jumping jacks, while Velrath was coaching him. Zane had actually asked Velrath to personally mentor him, in improving his physical capabilities. Zane just really couldn't handle being so physically weak. Especially when he isn't that strong of a mage as well. Who knows? Maybe one day, all this hardwork will actually pay off. More than all those trainings he did on learning a bunch of magic spells.
Zane had actually learnt, atleast less than a hundred spells. But all of it was mostly useless in a fight. Magic spells that are used in fightings or specifically offensive magics, uses a ton of mana, which he couldn't really do back then.
Zane loves magic. He loves what magic can do, and what it's capabilities are. It didn't matter to him, whether it was an offensive magic spells he was learning or not. As long as the spell he learned could benefit him in someway.
As for why he didn't really like to do any physical activities back then? Well, honestly he was just lazy in things that he didn't like. He knew that being physically active had a ton of benefits to his body, but well, I guess, he didn't really mind it that much, since he was too focused on learning stuffs about magic.
But, after all the things he had experienced. He realized that he needed it more than what he had thought.
Zane was breathing heavily as he did some jumping jacks. His face was pale and he was also sweating heavily. Well, not so surprising considering he had been doing jumping jacks for less than a minute already.
Until, finally. He couldn't take it anymore and finally stopped. Right after he got done with his jumping jacks, he immediately layed down on the clean ground.
His eyes shifted to the floating human-like demon above him. He released a big sigh, he then asked Velrath in his thoughts.
[What next?]
Velrath's arms were crossed as he responded to Zane.
[That's pretty much the warm up. Next is exercise!]
Zane's face turned even paler as he heard Velrath's words. He then responded in his tired voice.
[You're kidding! I feel like I am about to die just from those things you call a warm up!]
Velrath smirked. He then said in his playful tone.
[Well, since you are still new at this. I won't go too hard on you. Just simply do a mental note on what I am about to say.]
Velrath paused for a while before continuing. Hearing that Velrath was going to say something very important, Zane immediately rose up from the clean ground. He then waited for Velrath to continue.
[50-Push ups, 50-Sit Ups, 50- Squats, 5km run. And do this at least 5x a week.]
Hearing Velrath's words. Zane's face became dumbfounded. His mouth was slightly open, as he listened to Velrath. He couldn't even say anything back, since he was the one who had asked Velrath to mentor him.
[D-don't you think this is a little bit too much?]
Velrath paused for while, he then responded with a casual tone.
[Too much? Sigh, since when had kids become so weak? I used to do hundreds of this everyday back in my days.]
Zane frowned. He was regretting his decisions. However, there was no turning back. He didn't really want to retailiate against a demon king after all, so he just simply listened and nodded.
[Alright, alright. Old man...]
"..."
Zane grinned as he stared at Velrath, when suddenly, Velrath's gaze met his eyes. His eyes were burning with malice and fury, that Zane couldn't help but tremble.
[...Old man? I am not that old! I am only over a thousand years old!]
Zane stared at him with a blank face. He then responded furiously.
[That's more than old, old man!]
Just when things was about to get worser. Suddenly, a familiar sound, resounded on Zane's ears.
"Hey, Zane!"
Zane looked towards the source of the sound.
There, he saw Vale lying on the ground. He looked drained, like half of his soul had been devoured.
"Oh, Vale. What happened?"
Vale paused for a bit, he then said.
"Help me stand up... I tried doing what you did, and for some reason... I can't feel my legs anymore."
Hearing Vale's words. He couldn't help but laughed for a moment, before help him out. After laughing his ass out, he helped Vale stand up, then led him to a seat.
"You're in a much worser shape than me."
Vale was sitting in a stone made seat, looking really drained. He then responded.
"You're right... maybe I really should exercise daily. Anyways, I'll rest for a while, you can continue your exercise, I'll follow later."
Zane paused for a while, he then responded.
"Alright."
Zane then went back to their spot earlier. He was going to continue his exercise, or rather begin his exercise. He released a big sigh before starting.
[How dramatic, just start already!]
Hearing Velrath's words, he didn't waste any time and started doing some push ups.
As he did some push ups, he couldn't help but feel a bunch of gazes at him for some reason. However, he cast the thought aside, thinking it was just his imagination.
'11... 14...'
Putting all his strength on the last push, he gritted teeth. Veins could be seen from his head, as he went all out for the 15th push.
"Finally!"
After his 15th push, he immediately layed down on the floor again, feeling extremely exhausted. Hell, he doesn't even know if he could actually do 50-push ups. But it wouldn't hurt to try, well... actually it does. It won't kill him atleast.
Breathing really heavily, he opened his eyes. He then looked around him.
"Huh?"
He could see a bunch of people looking at him. Or rather, the person behind him. For some reason, he could tell who this person was.
'Ah... crap.'
Slowly, he looked behind him. Then after looking behind him, he could see a woman with jet-black hair, with crystal like blue eyes.
"...Hello there, Eris. It's been a long time."
Smiling awkwardly, he patiently waited for the woman in front of him to respond.
"How surprising, my little brother is actually exercising?"
Zane rose from the ground, he then faced towards her, and said.
"...Yeah, well. I thought that I should be more productive from now on. Just to feel healthy..."
Eris sighed, she then responded.
"Anyways, never mind that. Mom wants to see you, why didn't you go the other week, before the acadamy started?"
Zane's face turned somber. He paused for a while, he then said in a relaxed tone.
"Would you even understand me if I told you the reason? Geniuses like you focuses more on being logically intelligent, rather than being emotionally intelligent. You won't understand."
He paused for a bit before continuing, he then said afterwards.
"Anyways, I will be moving to the main castle soon. So, don't worry. I will see mom and father soon. As well, as my asshole cousins."
Eris looked at Zane dead in the eye for a while. She looked like she was going to say something else, but changed her mind. She then responded.
"Oh? You seem confident you will be able to move to the main castle. You couldn't pass the trial for over 4 years, so why now?"
Zane smiled, then looked away from her. He then said.
"...Just trust me, I will move to the main castle this week."
Eris paused for a bit, then she said in a soft tone.
"...Alright."
She then turned away, leaving. Walking farther away from Zane.