An hour later, I collapsed onto the gym floor, my body drenched in sweat.
"Good work!" Dove cheered, giving me a thumbs-up.
I looked up at her, a weary smile spreading across my face.
"Tomorrow, we'll focus on legs and add a bit of cardio," she announced. "Just a little bit."
"Okay... How long do you think it'll take for my body to... you know, reach its full potential?"
"A month, maybe?" Dove shrugged. "Irune's steroid is pretty potent, after all."
I nodded, then a thought struck me. "Can Vill see my future?" I asked, curiosity piqued.
"She might be able to… Why do you ask?"
"Can you ask her about my power? I want to know what I'm capable of."
"Sure, We used to ask her about our powers all the time."
"Let's go dry off and head home!" Dove announced, her voice echoing through the gym.
I nodded, following the others towards the locker rooms. As Dove walked away, I retrieved my bag from a corner of the gym and sat down on a bench, pulling out my phone.
A flurry of notifications lit up the screen.
[99+ messages from the class group chat]
Intrigued, I opened the chat to see what they were talking about.
[Dinda: Geez, Xian, our class is famous now because of you.]
[Marcel: Haha, isn't that surprising? He's always been popular.]
[Nadine: Well, it is what it is. I have to admit, he was pretty cool back there.]
Hmm, they're talking about me?
I started typing a response:
[Me: What are you guys talking about?]
[Marcel: Hey buddy, where are you now?]
Should I send them a picture?
I opened my camera app and took a quick selfie in the gym, then sent it to the group.
[Me: *Sending a picture*]
[Marcel: Bro, hitting the gym already? I never knew you were into that kind of thing!]
I chuckled at their reactions, a wave of warmth spreading through me.
Just then, Dove approached, holding out a bottle of cold water. "Here, Xian," she said, her voice gentle.
"Thanks," I replied, taking the bottle from her and taking a long, refreshing gulp.
"Well, that's enough for today," Dove declared, wiping the sweat from her brow. "You did great, Xian. You're stronger than you think."
I smiled, a sense of accomplishment washing over me. Despite my initial reservations, I was starting to enjoy the physical challenge of working out.
"Alright, that's enough for today, You did great, Xian. You're stronger than you think." Dove declared, wiping the sweat from her brow with a towel.
I smiled, a wave of exhaustion washing over me, but also a sense of accomplishment. Despite my initial apprehension, I was starting to enjoy the physical challenge of working out.
"Good thing I brought a change of clothes, I definitely need a shower."
Dove chuckled. "Yeah, me too."
We headed to the locker rooms to freshen up. After a quick shower and change of clothes, we rejoined the others in the lobby.
"Feeling good?" Dove asked, noticing the slight limp in my step.
"Exhausted, but good," I replied, stretching my sore muscles.
We piled back into Dove's SUV, the familiar scent of leather and air freshener filling the air. As we drove through the darkening streets, a comfortable silence settled over us.
I leaned back in my seat, my mind still buzzing with the day's revelations. The Unveiled, the Harbinger, the secret mission... it was a lot to process. But one thing was certain: my life had taken an extraordinary turn.
We pulled up to my house, the familiar silhouette a comforting sight in the twilight.
"Thanks for the ride," I said, opening the car door.
"Anytime," Dove replied with a smile. "Don't forget to rest up. We have another training session tomorrow."
I nodded, a wave of determination washing over me. "I won't."
Back at home, I found my parents already there, relaxing in the living room. I retreated to my bedroom, collapsing onto my bed with a sigh.
I pulled out my phone, the screen still displaying the Unveiled Family group chat.
Should I text Vill now? I wondered. I hope she's not too busy.
[Me: Vill, can you see my future?]
I waited, but there was no immediate response. I checked her profile and saw that she had last been online five hours ago.
That's right, She has a newborn baby. Perhaps she was too busy with her new family to respond to my message.
I closed my eyes, trying to relax my aching muscles and clear my mind. But even in the darkness, images of the shadowy figure and the ghostly woman haunted my thoughts. I wondered if I would ever be able to lead a normal life again, or if my destiny was inextricably linked to the supernatural world.
A sudden knock on my door startled me. "Xian, dinner's ready!" my mother's voice called out from the hallway.
I groaned, pushing myself up from the bed. My stomach grumbled in response, reminding me that I hadn't eaten since the early dinner with the Unveiled.
I made my way downstairs, the aroma of my mother's cooking filling the air. My father was already seated at the dining table, a newspaper spread out before him.
"There you are," my mother said, placing a plate of food in front of me. "You look exhausted. Did you have a good workout?"
"It was intense," I admitted, taking a bite of the delicious meal. "But I feel good."
My father looked up from his newspaper, a hint of amusement in his eyes. "So, are you going to become a bodybuilder now?" he teased.
I chuckled. "Not exactly, Dad. But I am trying to get stronger."
My mother smiled knowingly. "Well, that's good," she said. "Just don't overdo it."
I nodded, savoring the warmth of the food and the comforting presence of my parents. For a moment, the worries and anxieties of the day faded away, replaced by a sense of normalcy and belonging.
But I knew it was only temporary. The world of the Unveiled had opened its doors to me, and I was about to step through them, ready or not.
< Chapter 035 > Fin.