Solo [Training] Time Under Tension

[Elias Caldera]

5th day of Fall, 517 AV

Muscles creaked and groaned with thunderous protest as Elias stretched in quiet contemplation. He stood alone upon the training field that particularly stagnant morning, as was his habit of late. He had risen early in hopes of beating the other apprentices out here, for as was custom in the Vitrax, within only a few bells at most these blood-stained sands would be choked anew with dozens of dirty, grunting recruits all reeking of desperation and sweat as they went about their own morning rituals of self-improvement. He was glad for the solitude when he could find it. After so long away, with so much time spent on his own, life back in the barracks was still proving a difficult adjustment, one that continued to elude him even despite his best efforts to reintegrate. Now however, without distraction or worry to cloud his mind, the young stryfer was preparing himself for a standard morning warm up, or at least he had been before a pang of inspiration had taken him by storm.

Inhaling sharply, Elias bounced up and down on the balls of his feet, shaking loose his still sleep exhausted muscles as best he could. Without any more preamble to stall the inevitable, he leaned forward and broke out into a dead sprint down the familiar stretch of track that surrounded the sands. He pushed himself as fast as his unprepared body would tolerate, and then faster still, all the while quietly counting the ticks as he raced ahead.

Thirty

Coming to a beleaguered halt after a moment, the ravokian caught his breath. He wasn’t winded just yet, but his heart was undeniably beating faster. For his troubles though, he’d gained his time to beat. Now it was just a matter of putting that number to the test against his abilities.

Elias, for all his constant pomp and arrogance, understood far too well that he still did not fully grasp the grander intricacies of his own body, let alone the magical pathways that riddled it from head to toe. He’d peeked with Flux abilities a long time ago and had remained content to let them linger as they were since. For whatever reason, unlike his others arcane disciplines which had bloomed over the years since his studies in Zeltiva began, it was his first art, his first delve into the world of magic, that had suffered his indifference the worst. It had been the talent he had learned here, in these very hallowed halls, and the Caldera feared it was because of that reason alone that they had languished so. Nevertheless, he was ready now to put the Flux to use, and better yet, his body along with it.

As he breathed, he slowly tapped into the lingering awareness that drifted on the edge of his consciousness. A complete openness to himself wherein he could feel the very energy that pulsed within. It was random for the most part. A mere acknowledgement of the fact that he was now able to feel -to move- certain parts of that vast river coursing through his body. The grasp on it was unrefined and lacking, thus Elias was limited in his ability to wade through those waters, let alone redirect the current at whim. Still, like a rock placed in the way of a stream, he knew he could cause some change. To that end, the mage focused on redirecting a portion of that current to his legs for today’s purposes.

He found the effort almost immediately draining.

The mental force of pushing against the natural flow of his energy was met with great resistance, as it often was. Pulling more of himself into the focus of adjustment and control, he felt the effects take place more than he could see them.

It was slow, but bit by bit, he’d make it work.

[Elias Caldera]

When Elias called upon the power of the Flux in the past, it was often at his own expense. Hectic and chaotic in its summoning, when the arcane art was beckoned and its glory rushed through his body like a careening wave, it was almost never in a proper or controlled manner. Usually, it was instead because its punch-drunk practitioner had gone and gotten himself into yet another inescapably perilous bind that desperately relied upon that little extra nudge in order snatch victory from the slavering jaws of defeat. He’d reap the rewards of his win happily when all was said and done of course, but he’d suffer for it later as the repercussions took their effects of his body.

He knew such a partnership could not last for long. It would destroy him without hesitation if he gave the magic a chance, and such, it was time to take control -real control- or risk the consequences one time too many.

To that end, Elias had steadied his breathing again, staring down the stretch of track as he kept hold of the energy within his legs. Not wasting a moment as he felt the resistance against his tenuous grip growing, the mage leaned forward, bursting out into another dead sprint. As he ran he began to feel the difference; his legs were lighter and his feet seemed to barely touch the ground before they were off again. He felt invincible, and it was a struggle just to remember than he still needed to count the ticks as they went by before he reached the end of the track.

Twenty ticks.

Immediately, Elias released the hold he exerted upon the energy in his legs. He felt much wearier than he would have normally if he had just been doing his regular drills. In fact, at that moment he felt as if he’d done several full laps around the track as opposed to just two short bursts. Unfortunately, the difference in speed between his first run and that one was not large by any stretch of the imagination, but still, it was a step in the right direction.

Now it was time to get serious.

While it was a rudimentary knowledge, he was fully aware of the fact that the Flux was capable of increasing his speed, his strength and his reflexes if directed properly. It was simply a matter of pushing his limits to see how that could be achieved to the fullest and safest extent. Elias liked to believe that he was not overly reckless with his magic, but even he knew that was a lie, and as he grew to become more proficient with multiple disciplines, he’d begun to notice that there was a need to keep track of the essence of each.

Magic was power to the young man, and power was everything.

Like any man, he enjoyed having that power for all the wrong reasons. Among those wicked and petty incentives however, were the more paramount ideals that guided his will on a daily basis. Service, duty, ambition, domination… redemption, these were all the things that demanded of him his best, and to deny them was deny his existence, yet to fulfill them Elias had to sacrifice. Whether it was his body or his mind, he’d long ago come to realization that he’d give such offerings willingly at the altar of improvement if only it would elevate him just a bit higher than everyone else.

‘Petty,’ some might call it. ‘Necessary,’ Elias would argue.

[Elias Caldera]

The exercises continued in that fashion for almost another thirty chimes after that until the fatigue combined with the sweat dripping into his eyes threatened to blind him. Abandoning the track after he’d felt he’d done enough, Elias made his way into the actual drill hall to make use of the equipment that was available there. By then, he was not alone anymore. From initiate to paladin, the Ebonstryfe was an order that prized strength and discipline, it was a way of life he had once -and was now again- dedicated to wholly, so to see the gym begin to fill with new, sleepy faces didn’t disappoint or annoy him as much as it normally would have. They were just like him after all, desperate to climb that ladder with whatever means was at their disposal.

Coming to stand in front of the weighted bench press, the mage began to prepare himself for the new task at hand. He tried to recall the amount that he had placed upon the bar when he’d first been given the basics in the gym by his teacher back then, Instructor Sylvari. He shuddered at the thought of the woman. That had felt like a lifetime ago, and he wondered if she was still here, somewhere, teaching and brutalizing like she had been back when Elias was just a petitioner. Shaking the anxious idea of her reappearing from his mind, he went about adding that same weight to the bar as he situated himself on the bench, prepared to go into his repetitions. Placing his hands upon the bar roughly shoulder width apart, Elias lifted it off of its stand and began his set.

Down. Up.

“One.”

Down. Up.

“Two.”

Down. Up.

“Three.”

He repeated the slow continuous motion seven more times before he began to feel the weight of it affect his form. The basics of his first ventures into bodybuilding reminded him that sacrificing form simply to push out more weight was not an effective way to train, regardless of how big and manly it made you feel at the time. He finished his last repetition with a grunt and brought the bar to rest upon its stand again. Rising from the bench, the next apprentice in line gave him a nod, a broad shouldered and powerfully built young man Elias was sure he’d seen before but couldn’t quite recall the name of.

The Ravokian moved off to the side observing the boy as he went through his exercise. The dark-skinned youth was already adding more iron to the bar, increasing its load and its former occupant’s shame in equal measure. Elias looked down at his calloused hands, irritated to think he was about to be one-upped by some kid probably five years his junior. He flexed them stubbornly before stepping back up to the bench once the other apprentice had completed his set. Elias nodded, then reached for the extra weights. He was not about to start his day off by being beaten by some whelp, that was for damn certain.

He lay his back upon the bench silently situating himself once more. Positioning his hands, he tested the weight of the bar. Instantly he knew that he would not be able to match the same amount of repetitions as he had with his initial set, at least not on his own in any case.

Without word or warning, the scarred sorcerer delved deep within himself to find the power residing within, dragging it from its restless slumber and coaxing it back to life and purpose once more. Muscles cheered and swelled, lapping eagerly at the influx of newly acquired might being stewarded into his arms. Elias had to remind himself once more to take it slow lest the riverbanks overflow and he ended the day hunched over on his cot, broken and sore by his own hubris. After a little while longer than usual, the Flux was secure in its torrent, its tide made safe and controlled as was his will. Now, all that as left was to use it to its fullest.

[Elias Caldera]

Pulling the energy along from different areas all across his body and willing it all to move into his arms, Elias hefted the bar off of its stand with relative ease. He let his arms remain fully extended for a few moments, as if to show the other apprentice how easy it was for him. In truth, he was concentrating on consummating his strength, and turning his resolve to iron. When his mind was ready, his arms fell to action. With a steady breath, he brought the bar down to his chest. The weight was easier to handle than when he’d lifted it initially, but he knew he wouldn’t be able to keep a tight hold on the power for too long. He performed another rep with the bar, exhaling sharply with a focused grunt. The energy in his arms had begun to push back at the hold he kept over it.

“One more.” He heard someone say from above, and was surprised to see the apprentice there spotting him. He seemed excited for some reason.

Elias lowered the bar once more as instructed, happy to oblige. As he pushed it up however, he released his hold on the energy within his arms just as soon as he tipped the bar up into its place on the stand. Sweat was beading on his forehead and his heart was pounding in his ears. His chest was rising and falling more rapidly than if he had simply kept up the exercise using his natural strength. “That was impressive.” The other apprentice muttered, studying the numbers engraved on the weights as he made a mental tally. He seemed to be deciding whether or not he’d be giving the same challenge a try, but by then the Caldera was gone.

He needed a break.

It was easy to forget how taxing the first few steps into a new magic could be, but there was a greater danger for those who were competent enough in its application that they often grew too comfortable and confident, forgetting the truth all mages were reminded of the hard way every once in a while; Magic was never free, no matter how cozy you got with it. Elias had been working with disciplines that he was greatly familiar with for such a long time that the difficulties of being an initiate had all but faded from his mind. It was good to be tested like that once more. It kept him humble in times when no one was around to see it, so he could go on to be extraordinary in times where every eye in the room was upon him.

He knew there were would be some who might have viewed augmenting his strength with magic as cheating, as deviating from being a true athlete. Petch them, he said. If they had felt the strain he was feeling now, the satisfying ache of flesh brought to its limit, then perhaps they would have understood as he did. He was there to test the strength of something other than just his physical form. He was there to become better, no ifs ands or buts about it.

Running a hand across his scalp, Elias made his way across the gym toward the climbing rope. There was no line so he took his time as he chalked his hands that he might protect himself against rope burn. Taking hold of the rope, Elias looked up to the ceiling gauging how long it might take him to get from the floor to the top of the ceiling. As with his test on the running track he wanted to see if he could enhance the strength in his arms that he might pull himself up faster.

He would do a test climb first, he decided. Gripping the rope, Elias began pulling himself up.

[Elias Caldera]

“Breathe.”

It might have seemed silly advice to hiss at himself, but it helped him maintain his focus as he made his ascent up the rope. Inch by inch he climbed his way skywards until at last he made it to the halfway point. He was already at fifteen ticks by then.

Not good enough.

Elias continued to push forward, feeling the strain in the muscles of his arms and in his chest as he used nothing but his own might to heave himself up. Hand over hand he continued his climb until the ceiling of the gymnasium was within reach. As soon as he he did reach it, Elias began his awkward descent back down to earth, hastily retreating back to ground level. When his feet finally touched the floor again he’d counted a full chime from start to finish.

It was a start…

He wasted no time in returning to the rope after that, ready to put both his muscles and his abilities to the test again. Diving into the depths once more, Elias opened himself back up to the flow of power that pulsed within. He furrowed his brow as he worked on redirecting that undercurrent into the muscles within his arms. It was slow going at such a calm and steady pace, but Elias tuned out the world around him and allowed his patience to persevere. Gritting his teeth once he felt the task complete, Elias grasped the rope and fixated his gaze on the goal above.

With a smirk, he began his ascent anew.

The beginning was astonishingly easier than last time. By the time Elias reached the halfway point however, the concentration of keeping the energy flow directed at the strength of his arms was beginning to weigh down on him. He paused, breathing carefully as he closed his eyes and steadied the burning rush coursing through his limbs. The drain of pushing his djed away from its normal flow and into the different sections of his body had been demanding, and it felt like the entire morning’s efforts were now all culminating into one agonizing ache, but the mage welcomed the challenge!

Elias grunted, undeterred as he began moving one hand over the other, determined to finish this climb no matter what. When he reached the ceiling, sweat was already rolling down his forehead and down his back. He would have smiled in triumph then, but even his jaw felt too stiff and sore for such a monumental task. He’d have to celebrate later.

His bare feet hit the ground a little while later, arms gorged to bursting on suffering and magic alike. The Stryfer reveled in them both as he languidly prepared himself to leave. Whatever the rest of the day held in store for him, he would have to do it carefully. He resolved that it would be best not to push himself too far too often until such time as he was more comfortable with the Flux. It was always an embarrassment to be waylaid by one’s own ignorance and incompetence with the arcane, and Elias Caldera was resolute in his new commitment for betterment. If that meant learning restraint so he never had to deal with idiotic bouts of unnecessary overgiving again, then so be it.

The sacrifice would be worth it in the end.

[Alija]

ENJOY YOUR GRADES

Skill	XP
Running	1XP
Flux	3XP
Endurance	3XP
Bodybuilding	2XP
Climbing	1XP

• Flux: Channelling in to the legs
• The Vitrax: Only empty early in the morning
• Flux: Hectic and chaotic
• Elias: Likes to have power
• Climbing: Climbing a rope
• Climbing: Chalk hands to prevent rope burn
  

Let me know if you have any issues or questions about these grades, otherwise enjoy!