Chapter 49: Arcane Gym
"We have one more lecture today in two hours. It’s on Fundamentals of Combat," Vlad revealed, walking beside Chloe in the busy hallway filled with echoing chatter and the footsteps of students. "Do you have any plans in the meantime?"
"Mana stone?" Chloe replied, her hand holding Vlad’s arm by his biceps as they walked. She was in high spirits since Vlad called her baby. Although her face was neutral, Vlad could clearly see the bright smile hidden beneath, like sunlight behind a thin cloud.
"The market is located near the girls’ dormitory," Vlad revealed, checking the map on his phone. "It will take us an hour to reach there on foot. We can go there after the class."
"Okay," Chloe instantly agreed. "Where to then?"
"I have a place in mind—"
"Let’s go together," Chloe replied, cutting him mid-sentence.
"Sure," Vlad chuckled. Seeing her happy was a treat to his eyes.
The duo reached the central hall, from where they took the stairs leading to the lower floors of the academy. Their footsteps echoed in the stairwell, a rhythmic counterpoint to the fading noise above.
"I have only heard of places like these," Vlad murmured. "So it actually exists. This place is like heaven."
He and Chloe stood before a glass door that opened into a gym the size of a small arena.
The floor was divided into neat corridors by rows of iron machines: cable towers, press benches, pulley racks, each piece bolted to the ground. The metal glinted under harsh overhead lights.
Along both walls, floor-to-ceiling mirrors reflected the space back at itself, making the room feel twice as large. Between the mirrors hung framed paintings of bodybuilders frozen mid-rep, their muscles carved into anatomical exaggeration, and beneath each painting ran a block of bold text like IT NEVER GETS EASY. YOU JUST GET BETTER.
The smell of rubber and chalk dust reached them even through the glass.
Perhaps it was the time of classes; the gym was mostly empty. Only a handful of people were present, busy with their own sets. The clank of weights and the occasional grunt punctuated the silence.
The duo entered inside, where they were greeted by a muscular man sitting behind the reception desk beside the entrance. His heavy frame was clad in shorts and a vest, revealing his tattooed arms and legs. Ink swirled across his skin like dark vines. The strands of his brown hair from the centre of his head brushed his shoulders while the sides of his head were cleanly shaved.
"Oh, the Crownbearer himself visiting the gym," the man said, glancing at the red coat Vlad wore over his uniform. "I’m Roman, the trainer and manager of the Arcane Gym. Are you here for a visit or do you intend to become a gym member?"
"Please address me as Vlad, Mr. Roman," Vlad introduced himself before answering. "I want to join, but it’s my first time here. So I would like a briefing on everything from the basics."
"Haha, certainly, certainly." The man placed an A-4 sized card before them as he explained the costs.
Regular Gym: 7 credits/month
Gym + Cardio: 10 credits/month
Personal Trainer: 30 credits/month
Once he was done explaining, Vlad asked, "Are you the only trainer here?"
Roman frowned at his question. It felt as if Vlad was questioning his skills as a trainer.
"There are two second-year students as well that offer training part-time here," Roman revealed, keeping his professional demeanor. "But their schedule is tight. They will provide you only a fixed time slot."
"Hmm," Vlad nodded, thinking through his decision. "How much discount will you offer if I take you as my trainer?"
Roman let out a small chuckle, as if laughing at a silly question. "The prices are fixed, Mr. Vlad."
"Are you really sure, Mr. Roman?" Vlad asked, folding his arms. The red coat shifted with the movement. "Certainly if the Crownbearer himself joins the gym and takes you as his personal trainer, the number of customers you will receive should be plenty. You sure you don’t want to offer any discount?"
Roman’s frown grew deeper than before. He released a groan and said, "25 credits/month."
"Hmm," Vlad seemed completely unconvinced. His expression remained flat, unimpressed. "May you show me the time slots for the other trainers? I think it will be better to get closer to seniors if I’m paying this much."
Now, Roman’s brows were knitting together in annoyance. Most of the freshers that opted for personal training had selected the senior students as their trainer with a similar goal in mind. Vlad had certainly hit a nerve there with his sentence.
"20 credits/month."
"Ehh?" Vlad’s face contorted as if he would leave the gym instantly. He tilted his head, feigning disappointment.
Roman clenched his fist, veins bulging on his forehead. His professional demeanor was quickly going out the window. His jaw tightened.
"15 credits/month! That’s my final offer!"
"We have a deal!" Vlad replied, extending his hand. A triumphant smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
Vlad signed the contract and sent him the credits through his phone. The transaction was complete within seconds.
Obviously, Chloe also signed it at the same price. Roman didn’t agree to it at first, but when Vlad revealed that she was an S+ Rank, he had no choice but to agree.
"Dammit, I feel like I have been scammed," Roman muttered to himself, placing the contract in his counter. He shook his head, still processing what had just happened.
He handed them a gym bag which was filled with a tracksuit, sport shoes, a towel, a water bottle, and wrist and back supporters. The bag rustled with the weight of its contents.
"Change your clothes," Roman said, pointing at the changing rooms for male and female at the two corners of the gym. His voice was gruff, still carrying a hint of irritation.
Just as Vlad was about to move, Chloe tugged at his sleeve from behind.
"What is it, Chloe?"
She gestured for him to come closer. Vlad slightly bent his knees to bring his face to Chloe’s level. She placed both her hands around his ear, making sure Roman could not hear her, and whispered, leaning closer.
"Did you get a trouser in your bag?"
"Yeah."
She took a brief pause. Then replied, "I think the Ink Tank is a creep or a forgetful idiot."
It did not take more than a second for Vlad to realise whom she was addressing as Ink Tank. There was only one person who looked like a tank and had his body covered in ink. The description was unmistakable.
"Why? What happened?" Vlad asked, his voice turning serious. His eyes sharpened.
Chloe took another pause before replying, leaning even closer so that her lips were just a nail’s length away from Vlad’s ear.
"He only placed a sweatshirt and underwear in my bag."
