Arthur woke up the next morning groggy. He got up, checking his phone, seeing a reply.
"Aww, so sorry to hear about your week. But absolutely, Wednesday works great! Might be a bit difficult, but can we meet up at Bordeaux Park? Not to brag, but I've been honing my BBQ skills for years in preparation for this day. You can choose if you want, whatever works for you is what I'll go with! It's Monday, you've got a new week, I hope it's better than last week! Love you!"
Arthur looked at the text and smiled slightly, moreso out of awkwardness. His heart was nervous, and he thought about it, before deciding that it would work to meet at that park.
It was about an hour away from campus, so the drive wasn't an issue.
'But how'd he know where I went to college? I can't imagine that Mom told him. Well, he might have stalked me on the internet, it's not like I'm super secret online.'
That did remind Arthur of his social media. Initially he never used it, but since going to college, his friends made him make one since they didn't know each other all that well back then.
Arthur brushed his teeth. Since classes started at 10, he had some free time.
When Arthur looked back at previous situations he found himself in, when it came to the world of dragons, he noticed a few big issues with his performance.
Firstly, his skill with his Dragon Art wasn't efficient. Sure, he could create weapons, but he lacked refinement with the weapons themselves, and for all he knew, the ability could be pushed to further limits with skill.
Secondly, was his own body. He was strong by human standards, but it was apparent that when it came to dragons, he lost easily due to his own physical weakness.
The thought hurt him. He'd had some issues in the past about his weakness, so this was a very bad thing, one which gained his heart more than anything.
Third was his martial arts skill. It was lacking, but it could be improved relatively quickly compared to his body.
The final component of his subpar performance was his stamina. If stamina could convert to healing, it wasn't complicated to understand that your stamina could be the literal determining factor between life and death.
Arthur reviewed that information, and came to a conclusion.
What he should train was his stamina, at least for now, as the main focus.
Building muscle takes time, even if his dragon's blood might make it easier. And martial arts skill was obvious.
While skill with weapons can be easier to get the basics of, ultimately he wouldn't be able to practice at college.
And if he left the college, there was the chance of being immediately attacked, as he was marked with the Scent of Traitors.
So, naturally, the choice would be to train stamina. Arthur went down to the campus gym, and decided to use the treadmill.
He turned it on, and noticed two immediate problems. One was the noise. The treadmill was loud, and even if that was to be expected from a gym, Arthur's perception of a gym blocked him from using it.
To Arthur, the gym was a place of gymbros and "popular" folks. While that idea is only half—or perhaps a quarter true, as not everyone in the gym is inherently a gymbro, it was still what came into his mind.
If Arthur made too much noise, they would no longer allow him to exist there, and he would be forced out.
The second, much more practical and glaring issue, is that it literally wasn't good enough for him. Even at a maximum speed of 30 miles an hour, that treadmill lacked substance for the awakened dragon.
So Arthur was left without hope. Just as he hung his head low and was about to leave, he saw something.
This campus gym also has wrestling mats for the wrestling team to use. When Arthur looked over, he saw a man, a large one at that, doing weird movements.
He stepped forward, shifting to a downward angle and brought his knee to the mat carefully, before bringing his other leg forward and on his foot.
That was a very crude explanation, but simply put, he was doing drills. And panting, sweating while doing so.
Arthur had an idea. He had absolutely zero clue what the man was doing, however he was given a flash of inspiration.
Shadowboxing. Even if Arthur's physical capabilities were boosted, shadowboxing was more relative, and could train his stamina.
Arthur searched it up online. He didn't know what shadowboxing was, so he looked up "fighting alone for stamina."
Arthur then watched a video, which went over how to properly do it. While the risk of injuring himself from throwing terrible punches was present, they could be healed at the cost of stamina, so it wasn't too big of an issue.
So, Arthur took his inexperienced self and went to an empty space, beginning to shadowbox.
'Hands to my face, keep my hands loose until right before impact, focus on snap rather than pushing…'
'I must look like such an idiot. I don't belong here. Anyone watching who sees me probably knows I'm doing it wrong.'
'I look like a lunatic. Everyone's watching, and they know I'm pathetic. Fuck my life.'
Arthur's head went hot and numb at the same time. He began to sweat, trying to keep his form on point.
Of course, being a dragon, his body was more suited for combat, so he wasn't too tired. However, it helped him get the results he desired.
…
10 AM.
Arthur had worked out for some time, went back and showered, before going to class.
He sat down next to Sally, who he hadn't seen since the party.
"Mornin'," she told him. "Good morning," he responded. It was silent afterwards, and she continued getting her stuff ready, taking out her laptop to take notes and the like.
Arthur fidgeted, playing with a pen in his hands before looking at her with a small smile.
"Uh, how was the party? Did you stick around?" He asked, unable to meet her eyes.
"Oh, no, no. I didn't stay, the dude was kinda weird," she told him. "Actually, how'd you even break his door? Like seriously?"
"Ohh, y'know, I've been working out, so…" Arthur blurted out as a joke. She laughed, saying "oh sure you have. But seriously, I didn't stick around. Turns out he only invited me because he thought I'd be easy."
Arthur looked at her in confusion, then put his hand to his mouth.
'Huh. Wait, could they actually view her romantically?'
"You're staring at me weird, what's going on?" She asked.
"Oh, nothing," Arthur quickly pointed out calmly, before looking down at the professor who was setting up.
'Interesting.'
"Are you thinking something rude? Don't tell me you're thinking something rude," She nearly yelled, which made Arthur nervous.
"No, I'm not! I just didn't really think anyone…"
'Actually, that is kinda rude, ain't it?'
"Well? Go on," she said.
"—"
"—no."
It wasn't that she was unattractive. Quite the opposite, as a matter of fact. However, Arthur was so rejecting of viewing her that way at all that the thought of it was foreign.
It took him a moment, a glance at her, to think to himself—
'Yeah, I guess I could see it. Though, it's best if I don't feel that way myself.'
"Ugh, fine," she said, letting it go. Class started.
…
Arthur drove to work, clocked in and began his shift. He had to restock shelves, so he did so mindlessly.
Before this he struggled with overhead lifts. However, his Dragon's Blood came in clutch, and things that were once heavy were now seemingly weightless.
It wasn't all bad.
And once he finished restocking, he went outside to get carts and bring them back inside. More, and more tedious but relatively undifficult work until he finally finished his shift.
He clocked out, got in his car and left, going back to the dorms and getting ready to go to bed. Sally texted him, wanting to watch another episode. Arthur had already gotten into bed, so he dismissed it quickly.
"No thanks" he typed out, before wondering whether to send it or not. He ultimately decided that since exams would be coming up soon, he should watch the show when he could, since he wouldn't be able to due to studying.
Arthur let her know he would, before going out. He was also hungry, so when he arrived, he mooched off her and ate dinner in her dorm. He sat down on the couch and watched the episode.
…
Those two days flew by without much issue. Arthur worked on his cardio, worked, and hung out with his friends.
And on Wednesday, after classes and at 5 PM, Arthur arrived at Bordeaux Park. He got on his phone, checking the messages with his dad, before he received a new one.
"Over here!"
'Please don't be a trap to kill me…'
Arthur looked up, as that message was pretty bad in terms of giving directions to one's location. And when he looked around, he saw him.
A fairly tall man, at 5 foot 10, with some pretty sick muscles for his age and a clean shaven face, glasses and brown combed back hair. His smile was toothy and incredibly white, as the man gestured for Arthur to come over, as he'd already set up a barbeque.
Arthur went over to him, feeling very nervous.
"Uhm…"
The man rushed at Arthur, who flinched and put his arms up to block any attack the man might throw, before the man wrapped his fairly large arms around Arthur, pulling him close and resting his head on Arthur's shoulder.
"It's been a looong time, hasn't it? I've missed you so much…"
Neither of those statements were lies.