Physical training

The gym facilities are up and running. Power hasn't run out yet. As long as the solar cells are functioning, it should be up and running. It is automatic so just having the power on would be enough. I open the door and turn on the lights.

It's a bit dusty but the equipments seem fine enough.

This is the same gym I used a while ago. Been a while. Maybe more than a year. Trevor is amazed at this. Come on dude, you lived here. How could you not know that there was a state owned gymnasium in this town?

"This is a gymnasium. It's an all around training facility."

"But all I see is big dome. Where is the training ground? I don't see any weapons either." (Louis)

"General, this place is solely for physical training. You can practice hand to hand combat and close quarters combat but weapons training ground is different. At least, this town doesn't have one."

I try to explain it to general Louis. When a militaristic man from a medieval world meets the modern day gym. Amusing, truly amusing.

"Let's get your measurements, Aldo."

He was looking around but when I said that, he was a bit confused. Well, that world probably doesn't have any measurements. Or common people don't use them. It could be either.

I lead them to the locker room. It has 20 lockers and shower facilities. There is weighing scale and a stadiometer.

I tell Aldo to stand on the weighing scale. He takes his shoes off and stands on it. The scale reads 30 kilograms. Then I move him to the stadiometer and measure his height.

He is currently 140 centimeters tall. Hmm…I guess that's average.

"You are underweight but don't worry, it'll be fine."

I put my hand on his head. This kid hasn't had proper meals for a year. And on top of that, he was being beaten to death almost everyday. But that changes from now.

"General Louis, you probably have some questions, right?"

"Too many actually. Why can't I feel any mana? Like this place has literally no mana. Then how is everything shining? I thought those were magic lamps but if there's no mana, how are they working?" (Louis)

"Mmm….this planet has no mana. No, that's wrong. It has mana but that's too scarce to be felt. And those are light bulbs. They run on electricity. It's a different type of energy than mana."

Giving him the actual rundown would only confuse him so I just gave him a simple answer. Still, he seems to be taking it well. On the other hand, why are you acting so surprised, Trevor?

"Trevor, you have lived your entire life here. And you didn't know that a gymnasium existed in this town."

"I mean, this place looked abandoned. It was always locked so I thought it was an abandoned warehouse or something." (Trevor)

Well, I had the same first thought as well so I stop asking him.

We go back to the equipments. But now wouldn't be a good time to start rigorous exercise. I have to get Aldo's body ready for exercise.

"You aren't in any condition for exercise so let's just stretch. General Louis, would you like to try weightlifting?"

I ask general Louis. He has been giving the dumbbell rack an intense stare.

"Those weights aren't weapons?" (Louis)

"General, this planet has seen its fair share of war. So weapons were prohibited. These are just plain iron dumbbells. They are used for weight training. Like this."

I pick a 25 kg dumbbell and do some curls. It's not doing anything. I don't even feel the weight. My body had gotten used to this much weight a long time ago.

He seemed curious so I gave him the dumbbells. I have no idea how strong he is but he didn't immediately drop the dumbbells. That I would take as a positive result.

He imitates my curls and after 25 curls, he puts them down on the rack. He is slightly out of breath.

"Those are moderately heavy. Like a small cannonball." (Louis)

"We have heavy ones as well. Like this 100 kg dumbbell."

I pick up the 3rd biggest one. The heaviest dumbbell here is 140 kg. But I didn't give it him right away. I put it back and tell him to lift it up.

He tries. It took him a moment to lift it up from the rack. But he needed both of his hands and he almost dropped it. I caught it in air.

"That was too heavy." (Louis)

He breathes heavily. I guess 100 kg is too much for him.

"Those are the 3rd heaviest. The heaviest one is that one. That 140 kg dumbbell."

"To think you all used to train with such heavy weights. I think I should revise our military training as well." (Louis)

"We did some body weight exercises as well. Like push-ups, sit-ups, squats, crunches. There are many variations of exercises. By the way, I think Trevor had gym as his elective in high school."

Trevor was just listening to us while sitting on the bench press.

"How do you know that? You weren't even in high school." (Trevor)

"Gwen told me. She sometimes used to call me at night. We would talk about for an hour before going to sleep."

That's something I always wonder about. Why did she call me? I'll ask her later.

"That sister of mine. Yeah, I did have gym as an elective." (Trevor)

"How did you perform?"

"Above average. I had a grip strength of 80 kg in my right hand and 70 kg in my left hand. My 50 meters record was 6.34 seconds. I could run for a while and jump higher than others in class." (Trevor)

"Seems above average. Good for you. Anyway, why not exercise a bit. Always swinging a sword won't build your core. You need a strong core for good upper body and lower body strength."

By the time it was afternoon, we had already gone through several sessions of exercise. I think it was relatively easy but still, why did I become a fitness expert today?

"That's enough for today, I guess. Let's go back."

"Yeah. My muscles are gonna ache tomorrow." (Trevor)

"To think I was this weak. It seems that I have to retrain myself." (Louis)

It seems that general Louis has taken a liking to exercising. He seems fired up. Aldo only did the light stretch I showed him. I have made a diet for him as well. For now, he should get some meat in him. That way, he would have a good body if he exercises.

And then his magical training will begin. This is a lot of work. Saying that in my mind, I go through the portal. I need to shower as well. I'll come back later. I need to tell Hazel and others about my encounter with Gu as well. I'll ask Samantha about the harbinger of space too.

How did so many things come up in such a short time? It baffles me.