"Alright maggots, take a lap around the gym and you better give it your best or I'll make you keep running until you drop dead." Captain Silvermane shouted with a grin on his face. He was a middle age man with a muscular physique and a torso much more developed than his legs, it gave him a somewhat comical appearance, but his deep angry voice countered every possible mockery before it came to be.
Uriel didn't know much about him, the only times he talked to him was to scold him about being a wimp or getting tired too easily. One of the few things he knew about the captain was that Silvermane wasn't his real name but a nickname, oddly enough, his hair was black and he didn't have a clue about the reason behind people calling him like that.
If he had gray hair it would have been be obvious, but even the well trimmed beard on his square face was black. Like any aspirant archaeologist, Uriel couldn't stand being in front of a mystery without attempting to solve it which was the reason why he took a glance at the captain any time he thought he could do so unnoticed.
Before running the first quarter of the lap he was supposed to, Uriel was already sweating profusely. He just wasn't built to do any physical effort, every single one of his talents was of an intellectual nature and he just didn't see the point in sweating.
"You there! Yes, the wimpy one! If you finish last again I swear on the flag you'll regret it!"
'Oh! Crap! He's talking to me!' Uriel thought as he doubled his efforts.
"Don't say I didn't warn you, you're the last one again, Miss Cassandra." The man stood in front of her with a threatening demeanor, but the girl remained unfazed as if the hulking man in front of her was invisible. She didn't even seem to be tired, she just didn't care.
"I see you're pretty good at pointing out the obvious."
"Oh, and now you got an attitude. Drop and give me five!"
"What's the point?" Her cold reply didn't make any sense to Silvermane, he wasn't a bad guy nor was he unreasonably strict and, despite using harsh words all the time, he was well liked by everyone. Yet, he was a simple minded man and he couldn't understand the reasoning of the girl in front of him. "I said, what's the point..."
"Do you not understand the importance of staying fit? I'm only being strict to increase your chances of surviving!"
"Pfff, yeah, nope, I can do that pretty well by myself. I don't need to do this stupid laps, or anything. The only reason I'm taking this course it's because it's mandatory, but there's no need to be any good at it."
Her words opened Uriel's eyes, he had been doing his best all this time to avoid getting scolded by captain Silvermane. He couldn't believe that he never realized there was no need to try hard on the physical training, he only needed to attend. It was only thanks to that girl, Cassandra, that he was now free from this physical torture the captain called training.
"You really don't get it, you think you're all high and mighty because you're studying and will become scholars, but don't forget that the army could eventually draft you in case of an emergency and if that happens, it's better if you're fit enough to not be a nuisance."
"I said it already, what's the point? All I need is to get a strong trait and that will be it." Cassandra scoffed at the captain making him flush in anger.
"It's funny that you mention traits, because if you happen to get a physical trait you'll be forced to fight on close combat and if you're not ready..."
"Whatever." Cassandra looked the other way signalling that she wouldn't be listening to anything else the captain had to say.
In the end and, despite having every intention to give up on his physical training, Uriel couldn't drag his feet as he wanted because captain Silvermane became even more strict after his argument with Cassandra. The first time he attempted to slack off he was targeted by the captain who scolded him in front of everyone, that's when he realized that he couldn't handle the pressure as well as Cassandra did.
"Gather 'round kids, I got something to say." Captain Silvermane cleared his throat before continuing. "As you all know, the army is in charge of your first incursion that will take place next week and if you want to participate you need to pay for your tickets. This is a once in a lifetime chance and if you don't take it you'll regret it for the rest of your life. It doesn't matter if you want to be academics, join the army or work behind a counter all day, whatever you decide to do will be a lot easier with a trait and this is the only time the army will be assisting you in getting it safely. That's all, class dismissed."
Uriel knew exactly what he meant by that, he himself didn't want to have anything to do with hunting or fighting and he couldn't care any less about the army. One thing he did know, though, was that if he wanted to be an archaeologist he would have to often face danger. He could only pray to get a trait strong enough to defend himself, but not that strong as to be forcefully drafted.
Anyway, thinking about it would make no difference if he wasn't able to get enough credits to pay for the ticket and he only had one week left.
Although he wouldn't recognize it, even to himself, he was kind of counting on Tina stepping up for him and paying for his ticket. She was rich after all and Uriel had never asked anything from her, but now that she broke up with him he deeply regretted not asking for it in advance. 'How pathetic, I can't even pay for my own ticket.' Uriel fell into a self deprecating line of thought as he kicked a stone in the ground.
Uriel, though, wasn't one to linger on such depressing thoughts and he quickly made up his mind and hurried his steps, he had a week left and there was still a spark of hope in the form of a job.
"Wellcome to Starborgs, how may I help you?" The young girl behind the counter greeted Uriel with a smile. He was so nervous he couldn't help but stutter.
"I- I would- I would like to work here please!" He bowed his head in despair. It was the last place in a long list of possible jobs. Worst part was, even if he got the job, he wasn't sure if he would make enough money to pay for the ticket for the incursion.
The girl behind the counter grimaced in reply, her smile turned upside down and her attitude became cold. "We're not hiring at the moment, but feel free to take a form from the counter."
'There's really no hope for me.' Uriel cursed inwardly as he retreated from the Starborgs after being unable to land a job. His situation was far from being unique, or even rare, because he was just another victim of the government.
It was just 500 credits, just 500 credits. But that was a lot more than what he had. He knew he was about to miss the opportunity of a lifetime just because he was too poor, but that didn't mean his world was over.
He could still study hard and become a respectable archaeologist, maybe he wouldn't be able to investigate ruins on site because of the dangers that posed, but at least he would still be able to teach and make a living, just like professor Pangiotis.
Finding some relief in this thoughts, he set up his old digital camera in front of his desk. The same he bought from a flea market for spare change when he was still in highschool. It was most likely stolen, but he couldn't afford to care about such matters.