Chapter 25: The Way Of Muscle
The pelt job had gone smoothly. It belonged to two Orcs in the outer ring who ran a tailoring shop and wanted the pelts for winter coats.
They were quite impressed with the pelts and how cleanly they were skinned. Julius received seven silver pieces for both pelts and eighteen extra copper pieces as a tip. They also asked Julius to stop by their shop if he had some other pelts or hides to sell
Julius noted the orcs didn’t care what he looked like and were simply happy with his services. Although, they did make fun of his physique and told him to hit the gym. He gave them a nod and went on his way.
He put the coins in his pocket as he walked. The Draft activated within them on contact. To anyone watching, he simply pocketed his money. The coins manifested on the inventory tab with their values attached to them.
He also saw Daren’s dagger in the inventory. He had forgotten to give it to Joan and Neznala. Another time, he thought.
The market district was full of mid-morning movement, traders calling, stalls busy, Imps bargaining. Julius activated the Eye for a second as he walked, just long enough to read the structures around him.
Almost every building had a defect. Mend prompts flickered across his vision like notifications stacking up: cracked walls, scrap metal, shifted wooden pillars among others. The outer ring seemed to go about their lives with no regard for the structures around them.
He deactivated the Eye before the pain set in. It arrived anyway, much milder than last time.
The system had mentioned the best way to level up his tier was to use his skills consistently. Julius had a few more days before Mudgob’s contact arrived. If he was going to do tasks from the adventurer’s guild, he had to level up his tier and see what other abilities were there.
He needed a way to be able to use the abilities in public without drawing attention.
’What are the skills and abilities in the builder tier?’
A screen popped up listing them. Architect’s Eye. Harvest. Construct. Processing. Extraction. Architect Draft. Mend. He’d used all of them at least once.
’Pull up the bond protocol ones’
Another screen appeared.
[Foundation]
[Resonance]
He looked between both screens.
’Hmm...So the Architect path provides powers that are structurally related and the bond protocol provides traits that affect my biology.’
[Yes that would be correct]
’How much of my biology is being altered?’
[Bones, muscles, certain biological compatibilities]
Julius understood what the system was referring to. It had mentioned that his current dimensions might be insufficient for certain races. While he wasn’t blessed with a greatsword, he wasn’t cursed with a dagger too.
He had never measured his member with a tape or rule, instead he opted to eyeball it with his phone case and other things and found it was within what his world considered average.
His logic was using a proper measuring tool meant giving it a defined length and he didn’t want that. Besides, the women he had been with had never complained. He had navigated his sexual life with other things. Different strokes for different folks.
But here the system was telling him it wouldn’t be enough. Julius didn’t even know why he was entertaining the notion. His primary goal was getting home, not laying pipes. Not that he was entirely opposed to the idea but he —
Focus, he thought and drew his attention back to the screen.
’Can I use magic?’ He recalled the magic circle that had summoned the Imp.
[No. While the architect path abilities use mana. They are not magical in nature]
’Then what are they?’
[This information cannot be provided to you at this tier.]
’Do you even know?’
There was a pause. Then:
[Not to you at this tier]
[Iris Note: You still haven’t started your daily foundation training]
"Good way to deflect. Tch. Show me the training?"
[100 push-ups]
[100 sit-ups]
[100 squats]
[10km run]
[Iris Note: Proper diet and water intake are also necessary]
Julius looked at the screen of workouts and offered only one reply.
’No.’
[Those are bare minimum]
’Yeah, bare minimum if you’re trying to kill me.’
Julius hadn’t worked seriously out in a long time. His routines were mostly tied to his desk. These exercises would surely kill him. He remembered the Orcs recommended a gym that was a few streets over.
He adjusted his path until he found the building that matched their descriptions.
The building was composed of two floors. The entrance of the gym had the skull of a creature that looked like a bull with horns but it had three eye sockets mounted above the door frame. He saw the sign Tusker Gym: The Way of Muscle.
He pushed the door and stepped inside.
The smell greeted him before anything else. Sweat, metal, leather. The interior consisted of a main hall large enough to accommodate the many orcs, dwarves, beastkins and a few figures he couldn’t place.
There were equipment he recognized and some he didn’t. Weights made of stone and other materials. Pulleys rigged to rafters. A boxing ring setup where two beastkin were sparring. No elves or goblins in sight.
He stood in the doorway for a moment, taking it in.
"You lost?"
The voice came from his right. He turned.
She was tall. That was his first observation. Taller than him by a clear margin, taller than the orc men he had seen and were in the gym. Broader in shoulders too.
Her skin was a darker green, sharp tusks, hair cropped short and practical. Her muscles in her arms and legs weren’t for show. She was carrying a bucket of water with one hand like it was nothing.
There were two leather bands around her left wrist. Different braid patterns. She was waiting for his reply.
"No," he said. "Looking to train."
She set the bucket down and gave him a once-over. Her assessment took about two seconds.
"What’s a veshari like you doing in a place like this?" She folded her arms.
"I believe in the way of muscle," Julius said with all seriousness.
That got the corner of her mouth to move slightly. "I doubt you’ll last a week, veshari, your kind aren’t the best at pulling their weight."
"I’ll manage."
"Membership is two copper a day, eleven a week if you commit. Bring your own water. Weights are color-coded: green for light, yellow for standard, red for heavy. Don’t touch black weights unless you know what you’re doing. If you bleed on the floor, you clean it."
Julius nodded. He pulled out two copper coins and handed them over.
"Brena," she said as she took the coins and pocketed them. "I run this place. You break something, you replace it. Any questions?"
[Brena | Orc]
"What do you recommend for someone like me? It’s been a while," Julius said.
She tilted her head slightly and assessed him again. "Depends on what you are training for. Your frame looks weak, so it’s best you do basic build exercises. Push-ups, squats. Work up to weights when your body stops shaking. Then I can recommend something specific."
There was a pause before she added. "But if you want I can train you personally."
"I’m guessing that’ll cost extra?"
"Of course, but money isn’t the issue. It’s showing up. I’m good with teaching you for free but only if you show up consistently. I have never seen a veshari at the gym."
"Got it." Julius wasn’t settled enough to be sure he could commit to anything. "Any rules?"
"Hmm, respect everyone in the gym, no fighting and if you must, do it in the ring. I think that’s it." She paused before her eyes widened a bit. "Oh and no magic too, although since you are a veshari, there’s nothing to worry about."
She pointed at a corner where a long mat was laid out near a rack of stone weights. "You can train there for now. Most of the equipment is occupied by these meatheads. Also meet Drovak for a contract and sign it. In case you die while working out." She pointed to the receptionist desk.
Julius walked to the desk to sign the form.
Brena started to walk away, then paused and called back over her shoulder — not to Julius, to someone across the room.
"Korak says he’ll be home tonight. Tell Branthir if you see him."
A dwarf at one of the racks gave her a thumbs up.
She kept walking.
Julius watched her go for a moment. He noted she’d mentioned two men casually and the dwarf had nodded as if it was the most ordinary thing in the world. Maybe it was.
He found the corner she’d pointed to and started.
The push-ups were harder than he remembered. He got through thirteen before his arms started shaking. He pushed to seventeen before his elbows gave out.
He could hear the voice of his gym coach back on Earth calling him weak as he lay there breathing. Somewhere in the gym. Brena watched him, shaking her head before she took the water bucket elsewhere.
[Iris note: That was below bare minimum.]
He ignored the screen, pushed himself up and started again, this time he got through twelve. His arms were locking up but he felt he could go another set if he rested. A shadow fell upon him.
"You done?"
He looked up. A woman stood two feet away from him. Her fur covered arms were folded, her hair covered her eyes. Sweat glistened on the exposed parts of her skin. She wore shorts and a sports bra. Her ears and tail gave her race away. Lycan.
"Resting between sets." Julius answered.
"You’ve been resting there a while," she said
"My arms are tired and it’s only been a minute."
"Then you’re done."
"Then I’m resting." Julius countered.
There was a moment of silence. Her tail moved before she spoke. "I want the mat."
"There’s space." Julius gestured at the other end. The mat was wide enough for three people to workout simultaneously.
"Tsk. I need this end."
"I am using it."
The lycan crouched down, enough for Julius to feel the heat from her, enough for him to see her silver eyes.
"Veshari don’t work out. So what are you even doing on the mat?"
He let that sit for a moment.
The hall was watching. Not dramatically, nobody stopped what they were doing but their attention was divided, half on their work and half on the conflict between the Veshari and the Lycan. The beastkin in the ring had stopped sparring and the dwarf at the rack had adjusted so he could get a proper view.
Julius exhaled before he spoke. "Resting. Between sets."
He put his hands on the mat to do the push-ups.
The Lycan’s ears twitched and her tail moved once.
