The next day at school was the usual. Adrian kept a low profile and avoid the bullies. Surprisingly, Cody and his lackeys did not bother him today, which surprised Adrian.
School work wasn't particularly difficult for Adrian, but to not attract attention, he had learned his way to maintain average scores so he wouldn't attract the jealousy of others. Ofcourse he couldn't compete with those students who awakened abilities of the mind, who often had excellent didactic memory and could breeze through academics.
After school ended without any incident, Adrian sighed in relief as he made his way to the Training Center he registered at. He found that the center was actually quite well hidden and one had to go through dense alleys and minor connecting roads to find a small door in a back alley. The door, however, was deceptive in its appearance. It was a small metal door, but it led into a rather large factory.
Adrian walked towards what appeared to be a reception desk only to find that no one was sitting there. After a few minutes of waiting, an old man appeared behind the desk from an inside room. It was none other than the mixed martial arts teacher.
"Are you the news student, umm, Adrian?" The old man asked in a disinterested voice mirroring his apathetic facial expression.
Adrian nodded. "Yes, I wish to get basic self defense training."
"Do you have any ability?" The graying old man asked nonchalantly, to which Adrian shook his head.
"Okay. I need you to go through a few tests so that we can optimize a training schedule for you." Jimmy Orville elaborated as he led Adrian into a room full of medical instruments.
The two people, young and old engaged in basic banter. The older trainer was explaining his life as an MMA fighter as he attached electric pulse monitors to Adrian's arms, feet, chest and head as well as a mask connected to a machine on his face.
"Very well, I want you to do a basic set of exercises. Run as long as you can on this treadmill, followed by 200 pushups, pullups and sit ups while we vary the room's temperature. We will be able to quantify your stamina, endurance, strength and physical fitness." Jimmy explained before leaving the testing room.
At his motion, the test began. Adrian ran on the treadmill as advised for about fifteen minutes at full speed, while the temperature and humidity of the room kept changing quite rapidly. When he couldn't go any further, he stopped took a break before commencing with the basic exercises.
the test took about forty five minutes, after which Jimmy returned with a stack of papers showing electrocardiogram readings, heart rates, oxygen rates and lactic acid build up among other parameters.
"Your body is very healthy. Your heart rate remained steady and your lactic acid build up is very low. Your lungs are also quite good and your muscles seem quite tough. It is like you've done a lot of heavy duty body training, but at the same time your strength and stamina is quite poor. It is like you've not done a lot of exercise before." Jimmy explained.
Adrian thought of the regular beatings he received from his bullies followed by the healing potion treatment and had a bitter smile on his face, but he didn't bother explaining it to his new trainer.
"Very well." Jimmy said. "I think I have a good training plan for you. Before we begin self defense training we need to well round your physique, improve your stamina amd endurance as well as basic strength, while we work on exercises that will improve your muscular flexibility. Flexibility, reaction and hand eye coordination are quite important when it comes to self defense, so we will work on that as well. Does that sound agreeable?"
Adrian nodded. "Your the coach. I'll follow your lead."
Jimmy laughed and patted Adrian's back. "Very good. Let's begin."
Three hours later, Adrian slumped into his apartment like a dead dog. He already realized on his way back that he just wouldn't be able to cook dinner today and ordered food based on the coach's nutrition recommendations on the way back. Struggling to chomp on the bitter tasting food, Adrian cursed that old man Jimmy. The training he was put through was really like hell, constantly pushing him over his limits. His entire body was paining like he was beaten all over.
"Remember, if possible I'd suggest you try to procure Enigma's Nucleus Solution. It is extremely good for body recovery after strenuous exercise and helps improve the physique." Adrian recollected Jimmy advising him.
Lying down on his bead, Adrian used his laptop to check the price of the Nucleus Solution and felt like cursing. This thing was bloody expensive!
After hesitating for a good while, Adrian finally used his smartphone to make a call.
"Adrian? How are you son?" A delighted voice spoke from the other end.
"I'm fine dad. How are things at your end?" Adrian asked in a resigned voice.
"Good, good. Things aren't bad here. Our company is planning on recruiting an elite ability user with a power scale of seven. It's a big move!" Adrian's father replied enthusiastically.
Adrian's father Norman Miles was the co-owner of an esoteric mineral processing company, Miles-Teller Extraction Corp. It was one of the bigger conglomerates in the country, yet as someone who hadn't awakened an ability, Adrian knew that he wouldn't be considered as a potential heir of his father and had tried to become self independent. It was why he was reluctant to ask money, but he felt that he really need to have some self defense skills, or one of these days he would die.
"That's good dad. How is the family doing?" Adrian continued asking.
"Everyone's doing well son. Your elder sister's ability has reached Grade 7.5 in the most recent test and she is being ushered into the company." Adrian's dad explained.
"Dad... I need some money." Adrian finally replied after some struggle.
"You stubborn brat. You know that the family never forced you to do anything. Are you trying to disown your family, huh? I'll transfer some money to your account in a bit. If you need anything don't hesitate to ask. Whether you awaken an ability or not, you are still a Miles. you are my son! Don't forget that." Adrian's father began lecturing.
"..Dad. Thanks." Adrian replied.
After ending the call, Norman's smile disappeared and he turned serious.
"What happened dad? Is something wrong with little Adrian?" Adrian's elder sister, Zither Miles who happened to be sitting opposite their dad asked in worry.
"Little boy seems to be under pressure since he hasn't awakened an ability. His principal told me that he was being bullied at school and was regularly being injured." Norman said with a somber atmosphere surrounding him, that caused the room to chill down dramatically.
"Dad, do you want me to go solve the bullies?" Zither asked, seemingly unfazed by the frost beginning to accumulate along the walls of the office room.
"No. Pressure is a necessary requirement to awaken. Let kiddo deal with it on his own. If he can't deal with it, then there's no need for him to have the name of our Miles family." Norman said as he tapped with his index finger on the table.