Joe sighed, taking that piece of information carefully and added it to the list to ask him about later. They all then did their physical training in the inn courtyard, with Joe pushing himself to empty all mana and endurance so that he was pushing himself physically. He was a bit worried about how his HP was also protecting him in some way, and wondered what was weakening in him as the HP was acting as a buffer, somehow, against basic general something. He was also growing a bit more concerned about the healer’s healing, wondering if it wasn’t really helping. Gonna have to test it… carefully. Probably quickest would be seeing it in a new … well… crap. Can’t use Garnedell and me… that would... yeah... I’ve had too much training… can’t use Garnedell and Zilnek… not sure of the difference between the two species… and Kilniara is female… that affects training very differently… Gwenvair’s ulvan… so can’t use Kilniara and Gwenvair… I’m going to need to get two people to test this… take a month… should be able to figure it out right quick, but… Joe sighed, finding another thing on his plate and struggled to figure out what to really do, although… Oh… stack the odds… Acokzau are ‘known’ to be more agile and dexterous, so likely not as strong as Garnedell? So Garnedell would likely develop his muscles faster than Zilnek… so do the opposite. Put Zilnek on working out the way I know works, and compare it with Garnedell using HP and healing… Can also take notes of growth of time… that might figure it out… of course… I’m assuming Garnedell is pretty much human like me, so…

But… at least for myself… He wasn’t sure what it was, and while it was easy for him to recognize his stamina points as keeping him from physically training his body and his mana points working like stamina but specifically for his magic capabilities, he struggled to recognize how his HP, hit points, were keeping his body from training. Unless… it’s a bit more like the martial arts monks of China? Am I not developing… ooh! Wait! Will I not develop my physical strength! HP keeps me from being hurt! But muscle development comes from tearing muscles and healing them! Then…it’s not even just healing… so… then… strength training without HP and healing… and one with both?

Joe’s thoughts, while he was practicing, struck him and he paused in his exercise to consider, waving the others on to continue their workout. His mind wandered rapidly. This test… gotta find a group… same species… this is! Joe’s sigh was pretty loud now, and the others turned to look at them but Joe waved them on again. Maybe I just… have to see with Garnedell and Zilnek right now… maybe do others later… but gonna have to make a pretty … this will get extensive if I want to compare all species!? … hmmm… if I’m going to make this a serious test, then I’m going to need… thousands… dozens for each species... that… heh… maybe later when I have time… But for now… maybe just Garnedell and Zilnek… and me… just comparison over time? I’ll have to check myself then? If I’m guessing right, HP will keep me from developing muscle mass, so… I’ll need to do weight training without emptying my HP first. Bench press and curls? Squats? Those will show the biggest and most obvious mass gain, can measure biceps, quads, and chest? Shoulders? Then work out heavy weights with HP first. Maybe do a good three or four months … maybe six months to make sure, then check to see if there is any difference. If I’m right, nothing should show! Then, after I kill my HP and exercise, then I should see a big increase in my muscle mass… That’s… a long time though…

Joe sighed at that, worried about the effort necessary and considering his time, worried about what it would mean when he naturalized. There was really nothing in the act that concerned him anymore; nothing concrete. But the unknown was never something comfortable and trying to live in a place while not knowing the rules of society was a terrifying struggle. Add in an odd alien magical system that actually controlled his physical and mental capabilities only increased his discomfort. And he really didn’t want to lose what he’d put in years of effort to gain.

He was already quite filled out, his life dedicated to martial arts had slimmed his body but when he’d gone back to the USA for a year, the amazing gyms had gotten him and he’d worked his body pretty hard for the short time he’d been in the States. He was bulked up, nothing like any body builder extremes, but he was wide and thick enough that several local football coaches had sought him out for recruitment after seeing his size and speed. His parents had been quite adamant against it, as well as his martial arts masters and coaches, worried for any harm. Most of his Western coaches were actually happy for his bulk, but warned him often and early to maintain his flexibility. His Eastern coaches were ambivalent of his muscle mass gain, at best, while some even dismissed it or worried that it would affect his ability in their arts.

In any case, it wouldn’t likely show much of a change as he’d already bulked close to a decent lean mass, but definitely nothing near the massive size of body builders, and not too many more changes were going to occur, except for tone, possibly. That would be almost impossible to check, however, as he had none of the machines or tech that would easily show changes to tone or offer a legitimate before and after.

Guess the easiest way is going to be having Garnedell and Zilnek for comparison?

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Joe dismissed the concern and idea for now and turned back to his workout, rejoining the other three who had continued, but were looking at him with curiosity. He didn’t explain anything and they quickly fell back into their routine, rapidly finishing up. They all then turned to the healer, and he came forward, seeming a bit more concerned.

He healed two of them easily enough, but struggled to heal the third, collapsing in exhaustion after, dropping over and placing his hands on his knees. Joe frowned, a bit worried.

“You alright? Didn’t get enough sleep last night?”

The healer shook his head, “It’s… much more difficult to heal… more mana than I’m used to. I don’t think I’ve recovered completely from yesterday.”

Joe frowned, “Oh… are you sick? Or something?”

The healer shook his head, “No. Something has affected all of us healers… we struggle more to heal.”

“Oh,” Joe wasn’t quite certain how to respond to that, struggling for a bit before deciding to just be nice, “Would a little time between help?”

The healer stood back up, cocking his head in thought, “How do you mean?”

“Well… you could heal two of us, join us for breakfast, then heal the other two after?”

The healer paused at that, “It might help… some. There wouldn’t be much of a change with that, but it might help some.”

Joe nodded, then grinned. Maybe this would work… that… Joe turned to Zilnek and Garnedell.

“Hey, guys. Are you willing to help me with something? It would be something good to know and help me to better train you, but… it will be painful… or more painful.”

Zilnek seemed reluctant, growing bitter and Joe quickly reconsidered, “You don’t have to, Zilnek. It’s fine.”

Joe then turned to Garnedell, “I can do it, if you want, but it will be easier to check with you. I’m really OK if you don’t wan…”

“It’s OK, Joe. I’m willing.”

Joe nodded, “It’s probably better with you, since I know base humans better than Acokzau. When I have learned more, I can try to help you both. OK, Zilnek? Kilnaira?”

Kilniara elbowed her brother in the side hard and stepped forward, “I could do it, if you want.”

Joe grinned at that, “That’s part of the problem. Amongst base…my people at least, there is a difference between men and women. I really don’t know how it is between Acokzau. And… there’s a difference between Acokzau and base human, so… Honestly, it would be… yeah… never mind. Not the point right now. I can do it with just Garnedell for now, if he’s willing.”

“I am, Joe.”

Joe nodded, “Then how about this. You can heal Garnedell and I before our exercise every morning. Then we will exercise and have breakfast. You can join us for breakfast then heal the two Acokzau. That will give you a pretty big break between the two.”

Garnedell seemed to pause at that, “Then… I will go into the dungeon without healing?”

Joe grinned, “We both will. Although, I will lower the intensity of your exercise so it is not wiping you out for the whole day.”

Garnedell seemed to breathe easy at that, nodding his head, “OK.”

“Would that work?” Joe turned to ask the healer.

“Then… I will arrive earlier and leave after breakfast?”

“You have to eat breakfast anyway, yes?”

The healer took a look around the inn, considering, “I tend to make my own breakfast.”

“Ah… don’t like the food here?”

“It wasn't unpleasant.”

“Well, you could try for today… heal Kilniara after breakfast, and decide.”

The healer thought on it and then nodded, smiling, “That… might be acceptable… for today.”

Joe grinned at that, “Well… I’ve always wanted to ask healers some questions, so…”

The healer smile actually fell at that and Joe’s grin fell, “Oh… I’m sorry. I’m not … did I offend some way?”

The healer looked up at him, eyes carefully studying Joe’s face a bit before he smiled genuinely with politeness, “I … it is a struggle dealing with pestering.”

“Ahh… are healers often pestered?”

The healer’s smile grew more sincere, seemingly happy to be able to reveal the struggles of a healer’s life, “Often, regularly, and daily.”

“Ah… things like ‘please heal my daddy’ or ‘my wife is sick, please!’ … those kind of things.”

The healer’s eyebrow quirked up at that, “Those are the least of the questions, but they do occur.”

Joe nodded, “What are the most annoying?”

The healer considered, “Please teach me to be a healer. Take me as your apprentice. I want to be a healer. I’ll pay you anything for the secrets of a healer…”

Joe snorted at that and grinned, looking back at the healer, “And how do you respond?”

The healer shook his head, considering carefully before finally sighing, “To be honest… it depends on my mood. Mostly I say nothing and ignore them. Sometimes… I must confess, I am … quite rude.”

Joe chuckled, “Not sure I know the feeling, but some of my masters have… seemed to be that way… different secrets and requests… but similar. Probably a bit easier for you, though.”

“Easy?” the healer seemed a bit upset.

Joe noticed and cautiously replied, “Can’t you just ask if they have the healer job? Or mage job? If not, then… done.”

The healer frowned at that, “That is… true.”

Joe nodded, “Make it so it’s not your problem, but theirs.”

The healer grinned at that, “That seems reasonable.”

“So, how do you become a healer,” Joe asked, a soft smirk on his face.

The healer stared back at him, eyes wide and a tinge of anger on his face before he saw Joe’s smirk and then chuckled, “You enjoy playing with fire, do you not?”

Joe smiled bigger, “Ehh… there are another dozen healers back at that plaza.”

The healer’s eyes widened even more, then he began laughing boisterously and relaxed completely, “You… I… Well done…”

Joe shook his head, “Well… don’t worry about it. We’re not getting rid of you… we’re tying you closer to us. Now you’re eating with us… soon… we might even convince you to go into the dungeon with us!”

The healer tensed at that and Joe’s smile fell, “Oh… I’m… sorry… that was just a joke. I’m not going to do that… I… yeah… sorry.”