Gunter led Bartre and me through the halls and asked, "Maxis, what exercises do you usually perform."
"Well, I have an app that I use."
"'App?'"
"It's— It'd be better if I showed you. Maybe when we get to— Where're we going exactly?"
"To the training grounds, of course."
"Oh, right. Suppose I shoulda known that." When we reached the grounds, I pulled out my phone and opened the app. "So, I tap 'personal' down there at the bottom, and it automatically gives me workout routines. Like this week, there's one for the legs, then the arms."
Gunter nodded as he and Bartre looked over my shoulder. "I see. And what do you do during these routines?"
"Well, for legs, there's side hops, lunges, plie squats… Then there's always stretches at the end."
"Not at the start?" Bartre asked.
"These are beginner exercises so far. Up at the top, there's a button to adjust the plan, and currently, it's set to build muscle, uh, yeah, beginner, greater than eighteen minutes to get the fullest workout, focus on abs, chest, arms, and legs, then two workouts per week. I can do more obviously, but if I have more, I feel like it'd be too daunting to even start an exercise, like putting off a large pile of laundry or dishes."
"I see," Gunter said again. "And do these exercises work for you?"
"I'd say so. The only reason I don' exercise is because I don' want to, and not because of the workouts. Most of the time, anyway. There are some ones that I struggle with, like pushups, admittedly, but otherwise, I find that I kinda like exercising for the most part."
Bartre let out a hearty laugh before slapping me on the back pretty hard. "That's good to hear! We'll make you a warrior yet!"
"But why don't you want to exercise?" Gunter asked.
"Uh, well, there's not really enough space in my bedroom, my mom bothers me, and I don' wan' 'er to, and,… well, my— I get distracted by things that are easier to do and that my brain tells me is more rewarding, to put it simply."
"Hmm. I see. I would like you to demonstrate these exercises for us."
I blinked. "Right now?"
"Yes."
"Here? In the dirt?"
"Yes."
"In jeans and a sweatshirt?"
"Is such clothing suitable for exercising?"
"No."
"I see."
I blinked twice. "I could take off the sweatshirt, I suppose, but I'd still be pretty overdressed."
"Is it irregular for you to train in these garments?"
"Uh, yes?"
"I see. For myself and fellow knights, it is normal and even expected for us to train in our full armor," Gunter explained. "In fact, if you ever take up a more leading-from-the-front type of role, I would have you do the same. Though I don't expect you to at all."
I blinked. "I… guess I'll keep the jeans on then." I at least rolled them up a bit before I started the leg routine and heard the familiar monotonous voice start me off with side hops. Before moving on to lunges, there was a rest period, then plie squats, burpees, and Bulgarian split squats before repeating—sans side hops this time. However, this time I felt the burn on my skin rather than in my muscles, my jeans trapping the heat. I was noticeably struggling this time around, especially with the burpees.
I would have given up on the assigned exercises and traded them out for jumping jacks or something similar if I wasn't trying to minimize the embarrassment of being watched by two seasoned warriors. Though, that was far easier said than done. Especially when I had to do stretches against a wall and the nearest wall wasn't within ten feet of me.
To be fair, I shouldn't have felt embarrassed at all because neither man did or said anything to offend—though Gunter was undoubtedly stiff. In fact, I heard that men enjoyed being able to help train other people—and not just with exercise but different skills and such—and I believed that to be true despite never witnessing it myself.
No, that wasn't true. Everyone was very accepting when I was confirmed into the Church. Especially while I was going through RCIA.
Anyway!
Bartre grunted. "I've never seen some of those exercises. But they did look pretty effective."
"Likewise," Gunter added. "From now on, we will be making sure you… Erm…"
"Exercise?" I asked.
"Yes, but…"
"Use the app?"
"Yes, that's it. You expect you to do one routine every day."
I sighed in relief once I realized that this wouldn't be anything like the classic drill-sergeant-shouting-in-your-face, crawling-through-mud-and-barbed-wire, wake-up-at-one-AM, sort of thing like in movies, or real-life, for that matter. "Thank goodness…!" I whispered.
"However," Gunter continued. "Should you fail to do a routine, I will lead you through an exercise to replace it, and you will no doubt be unable to complete it."
I paled. "Waiwaiwait! Then…! Look, you gotta at least let me have a day or two t' skip! Jus' in case I can't fer some reason!"
"Very well. I understand that sickness and injury can prevent proper exercise, as well as a busy schedule, so I will allow some days of rest. While your progress will be slow, it is essential that one paces one's self so as to avoid injury and exhaustion. Now tell me, do you run?"
"N-no."
"Then we will be doing that as well. We will run for as long as you are able, then just a bit more."
I groaned quietly.
I like to fancy myself as someone who never gives up, but I'm a quitter.
We didn't run for long, but I did run a bit more, then a bit more, then a little bit more.
The two warriors weren't even winded, but my stomach had that familiar sharp pain in it whenever I did this.
"Caused by your lack of experience, I'm sure," Gunter commented. "That and possibly your posture."
"I think I know an exercise er two t' fix that," I said through labored breathing.
"Good," he said simply before starting off. "Good day. We will meet again tomorrow." He turned around. "One last thing, Maxis. I am most pleased with the way you pushed yourself to run for longer."
Bartre grunted in thought as the older man continued towards the castle. "Hard to know what to make of him. I can say for certain that he'll do you good, though!" he exclaimed with a rough slap to the back.
"Yeah," I smirked. I'm not a quitter. So long as I start.
A bit later, we all sat down for lunch—sandwiches—and got to talking. Or at least, they did. Until Sharena asked me if I was feeling alright.
"Yeah, I was jus' exercising with Gunter and Bartre a while ago."
"Oh! They look like a good pair to train with! How was it?"
"Alright."
"It wasn't too intense?"
"No. Well, it was more like they were watching me do my own exercises."
"Really?"
"Yeah, I don't… I'm not ready for those high-intensity workouts like they prob'ly do."
"Ohhh. I think I get it now!"
"That's good."
There was a moment's silence before she continued. "It's just that you looked a little sleepy, is all."
"Sleepy?"
"Yeah."
"'Suppose so. My sleep schedule's been pretty bad lately."
"Oh, I see. Sleep is important, you know!"
"Yeah. I'll go t' bed at a decent time tonight. Prob'ly."
There was another moment of silence. "I was thinking of going to Alice's later. Would you like to come with me?"
I thought about it for a moment. "Sure! Why not?"
"Hello, Sharena!" the noble greeted. "And Maxis, too! Welcome, both of you! Valjean is out helping with the laundry, so unless you don't mind me fetching him, there won't be tea for a while."
"Oh, no, that's okay; I don't need tea," Sharena said.
"And I'm not really a tea drinker as I said before," I added.
"I see," our host said. "One never knows when that could change, however! Not to mention that it would be rude of me not to ask. Well, come come! Let us sit down and chat." She led us to a different room—the living room if I had to hazard a guess. We sat down on a couch while she sat on one opposite of us. "So, how have you two been? Well, I hope?"
"I've been doing well," Sharena said. "I mostly practiced with my lance and got to know the Heroes that Maxis summoned. Behind Alfonse's back, though, I'm afraid."
I cocked an eyebrow. "Why behind his back?"
"Well, Alfonse doesn't like to get attached anymore. You see, we used to be friends with a Hero, and—um, maybe it isn't my place to say, actually."
"Fair enough, I suppose."
"But he's always treated me like that. Been protective of me, I mean. Especially on the battlefield."
I hummed in acknowledgment and made a mental note. "Seems like a good older brother."
"Yeah, I just… wish he wouldn't treat me like that all the time."
"Yes, there will come a time when you and he will have to separate, I'm sure," Alice commented. "But until then, you should enjoy the time you have together."
"I know, I just…" She sighed instead of continuing.
"How about you, Maxis?" the noble asked.
"Me? Nothin' much. I had work on Saturday, then Church the next day."
"Church? I didn't peg you for a religious type."
"Yeah, well, I wasn't wearing my necklace," I said as I pulled the piece of jewelry out from behind my sweatshirt.
"May I?" she asked as she held out her hand. I took it off and gave it to her. She hummed as she examined the Crucifix and the Miraculous Medal. "Such beautiful craftsmanship…!" Alice murmured.
"May I see it?" Sharena asked, and her friend handed it to her. "Oh wooow! Who's this man on the 't' thingy?"
"That's Jesus Christ!" I chirped as I crossed a leg over my knee. "The letters above him are the Latin abbreviation of 'Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews.'"
"Latin?"
"An old language from my world."
"And who is this woman on this one? 'O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to there,'" the princess read. "What does that mean?"
"Mary was—is—the mother of Jesus."
"Hey, wait a minute! Didn't you talk about Him when you talked about the three-leaf clover?"
"Yep! The Son of— Actually, I don' know how t' accurately say it, but yes, He is the Son."
"Pardon me," Alice interrupted. "But would you be able to enlighten me as to what the two of you are referring to?"
I leaned forward and started explaining—that zealous fire rising in me again.
"I'm afraid I don't understand how that all works, but it sounds interesting nonetheless."
"Well, there are a lot of things we don' fully understand an' likely can't, but it's impor'ant t' have faith. I, for one, jus' kinda smile an' nod along t' a lot of it, but I don' foresee myself straying from the path. Too far, at least."
"I see."
I felt something brush against my leg and saw a big, white, hairy feline rubbing against my pants.
"Oh, hello, Jackson!" Alice greeted it.
"Your cat, I presume?"
"Yes, he's a white Plegian. And quite fussy, as well. Marches to the beat of his own drum, that one!"
I smiled at that before he jumped on my lap and laid down. "Hello," I said to it as I moved my hand to stroke his back. As soon as it touched fur, the cat got up and jumped down, walking away. It stopped, turned toward us, and licked itself before continuing away.
"Like I said," Alice sighed. "Fussy. Though I must say, that was an unexpected act from him. He usually doesn't like people."
"I used to have a cat. Maybe that's it?"
"Possibly. What kind?"
"A calico. Her name was Bella. There were complications and…," I trailed off with a shrug.
"I'm sorry to hear that. So," the noble started, readying to change the subject. "I've heard that you're from another world. How do you like Askr so far?"
"It's great! The air is cleaner; it's quieter… There's no end t' what I like about it! Though some of it has taken some getting used to. Like when I went back home for those two days, I was grateful t' be able t' shower properly rather than bathe lying down. Shower—if ya don't know—the water sprays down from above rather than sitting in the tub."
Alice hummed. "Interesting. Is there anything else you can tell me about your world different from here?"
I chuckled. "Everyone always asks me that. But sure. There are a lotta modern conveniences like cars—wagonless horses—horseless wagons, sorry! And in the cities, there's buildings taller than anything else called skyscrapers. Now, I live in the suburbs, so I don' have t' worry about that, but there are still places—businesses everywhere! Companies have these—!" I sighed and leaned back. "I dunno if I'm explaining this well, but it's not good."
"How so?" Alice asked.
"Convenience has made people fat—lazy. Scornful. Greed is the problem! It's made sin run rampant! I'm glad to be outta there."
The noble hummed. "Well, I'm glad you're happy."
"Mm-hm." I snapped my fingers and pointed at her. "Oh, hey! I jus' remembered what I wan'ed t' talk t' you about! So! Gunter, Bartre, an' I were training—well, not training; more they were watching my form—anyway, we got t' running an' Gunter said I need t' fix my posture, an' I could not have agreed more, so I thought I could ask you t' help me with that!"
Alice's polite smile grew. "I would be delighted to help you!" She opened her mouth to speak again when there was a knock at the door. After a moment, Anna appeared in the doorway. "Greetings, Miss Anna! What brings you here?"
The commander bowed her head slightly to the noble. "Hello, Alice. I'm sorry to interrupt, but the Order has a mission."
