CUE THE MONTAGE MUSIC
*NOW YOU'RE A MAN by D.V.D.A plays in the background*
TQ out!
First Day of Training
"Get up, boy."
"I can't. My muscles hurt."
"That's the point. Come on, up."
"No."
"You've been lying there for twenty minutes." It burned. Everything felt sore. My legs felt like they were giving out. My arms felt like they were on fire. I felt something nudge my ribs. A foot. Dragon Handler's foot.
"Come on, get up."
"No. I can't."
"Get up, or I'll make you."
"I can't."
"Then, I'll have to do this." I couldn't help but yelp as I was yanked up by my ankle. She'd casted Levicorpus on me! Son of a bitch!
"Hey!"
"Get up."
"Fine. I'm up." I grumbled, only to yelp again as I fell into a heap when she cancelled the spell.
"Now, let's get started. First thing's first. You have to run a lap around the enclosure."
"But I already ran nineteen laps!"
"Beginner's requirement is twenty." She replied blandly.
"But why? I can barely move!"
"The faster you run, the sooner you can stop."
"BUT WHY?"
"Because I said so."
"That's not an answer!"
"Fine. Because you need stamina. Dragon Handling is-"
"No easy job, I know." I interrupted her. But she smiled.
"I like you. You have fire. That's good. It will serve you well."
"Thank you."
"Now, come on. Run."
"FINE!" I sighed, getting up and running. Everything burned and I felt like I'd throw up but I continued. Because fuck it. This is what I wanted to do. This is what I signed up for. So, I ran.
After I ran the required twenty laps, I collapsed into a heap and lay there.
"Well, that's enough." She concluded, standing over me.
"Good. Let's rest."
"Rest? Nein. It's time for the next part of training."
"But I just ran."
"I know. And now, we're gonna work on the core."
"Core?"
"Yeah, sit ups, planks, and push-ups. The works. Then, you have to do some squats."
"But why? I can barely move. Can't we do the rest tomorrow?"
"Nein."
"But-"
"Nein. No excuses. You need to train hard."
"But-"
"No, no, no. Pain is weakness leaving the body. You will master your body so you can master your magic. And then, and only then, you will be able to master Dragon Handling." She was a maniac. A bloody drill sergeant. I was fucked.
"I'm going to die, aren't I?"
"Probably. But at least you'll die doing what you love."
"What's that supposed to mean?!"
"Dragons. You'll die a dragon handler. And there's nothing more a dragon handler could ever ask for." She replied. And, with a smile, she got up and turned heel.
"I have a bad feeling about this." I mumbled.
"You'll get used to it, kleiner. Come on, up." She helped me up and led me to a nearby bench.
"Sit."
"Why?"
"So, you can watch me."
"Watch you?"
"You'll see."
"I... have a bad feeling about this." I repeated evenly.
"No worries. It'll be fine."
"You're not a normal person, are you?"
"Of course not."
"Oh boy."
"Alright. Now, the planks."
She got down onto the ground and put herself in a position that looked remarkably like a plank.
"This is a plank. It's an exercise that strengthens the core. And it will also strengthen your arms and legs. You're going to have to hold the position until I tell you to stop. Ready?"
"Uhhhh..."
"I'll take that as a yes."
"But-"
"Shush. Now get to planking!" She snarled, but without any bite. I grumbled and decided to do the plank.
"Ow, my knees."
"Don't let them touch the ground. Legs straight!" I felt an immediate sting and yelped, toppling over. She had tossed a stinging hex at my calf!
"You'll do better next time. Come on, try again."
I did, and managed to stay there for two minutes, until the pain became unbearable.
"Alright, alright. I give."
"Good. Now, sit ups."
"Sit ups? Seriously?"
"Yep. Now, come on, lie down. And cross your arms over your chest."
"Like this?"
"Yes, like that."
"So, I'm just supposed to... sit up?"
"And then back down."
"And how long do I do that for?"
"As long as I say." Fucking sit ups.
"You know, when I signed up to be a Dragon Handler, this wasn't exactly what I was expecting."
"I know. You expected a lot of flying and fighting and dragons and fire."
"Well, yeah."
"You'll get there. Just not yet. You have a long way to go. And, besides, a Dragon Handler's job is to not only know how to fly a dragon, but to be a well-rounded wizard. You'll have to be strong. Smart. Powerful. And, most importantly, you have to be a quick thinker. That is what it means to be a Dragon Handler."
"Huh." I grunted between sit ups. Ten. Eleven. Twelve. Thirteen. Fourteen.
"Dragons are dangerous. They are wild, unpredictable and powerful. But they are beautiful. There's nothing quite like seeing a dragon. Feeling the wind in your face. Hearing the roar. Feeling the magic."
"Wow. That's deep."
"You can stop doing situps now."
"Thank Merlin." I breathed, letting my head fall back. That was twenty five sit ups.
"So, what's next?"
"Now, we do the squats."
"But, but... I just did so much!"
"I know. This will be fun. Come on."
"Fuck my life."
"What was that?"
"Nothing. Nothing at all."
"Alright, now, squat."
"Like... this?"
"Ja. Like that."
"For how long?"
"Until you can't stand."
"I already can't stand."
"You'll see. Now, start."
"Oh gods."
And then we began.
After thirty squats, twenty five sit ups and two minutes of planks, I was a quivering mass on the floor, panting like a dog in the summer sun.
"Now, you're done." I raised a shaky thumbs up from my place in the ground, not trusting myself to speak.
"Now, I want you to rest. We'll continue tomorrow."
"Yes ma'am." I croaked out.
"You'll thank me later."
"Thank you."
"I know. Rest. Then we eat."
"Alright."
And so, I lay there. Thinking. What the fuck did I get myself into?!