Jon and Mallory trudged behind Hector, who led them through the building.

As soon as they reached the dining table, both Jon and Mallory took a seat at the table immediately.

“Uh, guys, are you okay, really?” Hector asked.

“Yeah, yeah, um, Hect, could you get my food?” Mallory asked.

Jon wanted to ask the same question, but his head was down on the table, letting himself catch his breath. While he was gathering enough gumption in order to talk, he witnessed Hector’s weltering glance; he was thinking very hard about something. Jon decided to allow Hector to speak first.

“Um, guys.”

“Yeah?” Mallory’s head, which was also slumped on the table, turned over so that he was facing Hector.

“Since we’re doing this exercise thing…” Hector began, “can we follow it through to the afternoon? I mean diet and physical exercise and-”

“Yes! Everything!” Mallory turned around again, turning face down into the table. “Just get the damn food!”

“Yeah!” Jon added after.

“Uh, sure!” Hector sounded excited before he stepped off hurriedly in the direction of the table.

The table was silent as Jon and Mallory waited. Jon felt a little embarrassed about how worked over he had been. He had spent entire days moving around, but here, he could barely move. He wondered if Mallory felt the same. If either of them spoke, it would be like they were acknowledging their weakness. All they could do was wait for Hector to return and start the next part of the exercise.

Eventually, one of the cooks came by the table with a large metal jug and some cups. Jon and Mallory picked themselves up off the table immediately.

They took turns pouring themselves water and drinking it quickly.

“More coming,” the cook told them as he left.

As the cook promised, another jug of water was brought by a second cook not too long after. Jon might have felt a little guilty that they had to leave the kitchen, but he was happy for the water. It was as if they already knew.

Soon, Hector returned with his own cup.

“Don’t drink too much,” Hector warned, “you may get cramps and you don’t want to be too full from the meal.”

“Yeah, sure, sure.” Mallory took several large breaths. “Wow, I don’t do enough.”

Hector took his seat next to Mallory.

“Mallory, you… are you okay?”

“Yes, Hector!” Mallory huffed out air. “I know I’m like… mana incapable, and a string bean, but it’ll be fine. It’s not totally debilitating on my body, or I wouldn’t be able to follow you around, remember?”

“Right.” As Hector spoke, a cook brought two plates full of scrambled eggs and an assortment of cooked greasy meats.

When the plates were put in front of Jon and Mallory, Jon was happy to smell that there was cheese underneath the eggs.

“Uh, this is a little heavy for me…” Mallory said with a tinge of shame while he looked down at the plate.

“Yeah, but for this exercise you’re gonna have to bulk up a bit,” Hector explained, “so, at least for now, I’m gonna have you eat high energy…”

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

Even before Hector had started talking, Mallory had taken a small piece of bacon and nibbled on it. His face widened in glee and then used his fork and started eating the food at a mouthful.

Jon had already worked on his plate. Hector stopped talking when he saw the boys tackling their plates.

“Holy crap, why do I torture myself?” Mallory asked when he was finished, slumped back in his chair. “Do I get to eat like this all the time if I exercise?”

“Well, yeah, but if you don’t, then you’ll end up like Harris,” Hector answered.

“I wanna end up like King Harris.” Mallory rubbed his belly through his robes.

“Uh… okay then.” Hector clapped twice. “A few minutes, and we can work out again, yeah?”

Jon and Mallory nodded lazily.

After letting his own body percolate all of the food he’d stuffed himself with, Jon stood up from his chair. Mallory followed suit.

“Let’s go.” Hector gestured in his own direction. “Past here.”

They followed Hector in the opposite direction, further towards the kitchens. Jon’s stomach had settled so much, he was almost falling asleep while he was walking, so it was hard to tell where they were going much at all.

They came to a room that was large, square, and orange. Jon could already make out the familiar arena ring in the center of the room. He finally started to realize how much of Hector’s downtime really was fighting.

“Alright, have you guys done pushups?” Hector asked.

Jon nodded. He looked at Mallory, who rolled his eyes.

“Alright. Down we go!” Mallory declared as he and Jon and Mallory went down onto their bellies.

“Alright, just start by doing 20 push-ups,” Hector said. “Then, we’ll do some laps. Then do some more pushups again.

Jon remembered years ago when his brothers Ben and Jason would challenge each other to a push-up contest. Jason always won, as Ben would turn over in defeat just about any time.

However, what Jon noticed was that even if Ben lost every time, he began catching up with his brother more and more. Eventually, Ben and Jason tired out at the same time.

“You exercised more before this!” Ben cried, kicking Jason in the leg in jest.

Both of the young men laughed. This was after Susan had departed from the house.

Jon looked back at Mallory.

“Do you want to race?” Jon asked.

“Race?” Mallory raised his eyebrow. “Hell no.”

Jon’s mouth tightened.

“I’m sorry, Jon.” Mallory answered. “I don’t think I’d be able to keep up with you. Wouldn’t be much fun.”

“Hmm… you have to focus,” Jon responded.

“Yeah. And then we’ll race!” Mallory put his hands on the ground beside him and began to push up.

Jon did the same for himself. He tried not to think about Mallory’s groans of struggle. He kept himself doing pushups until he stopped.

“Wait, wait!” I didn’t even give you guys…” Hector sighed as he watched the both of them do pushups.”

When Jon finished, he pushed himself up, breathing heavily.

“Can you do 5 laps?” Hector asked. “And then another 20?”

Jon nodded without stopping. He leaned into his run and started making laps around the room.

“Mallory, you don’t have to do-”

“Shut up, Hect, I’mma do 20!” Mallory groaned in effort until he finally stood up. He stayed still, catching his breath before he started trotting around the room as well.

Jon came around to his final lap, then he went back down and started doing pushups again.

After finishing the pushups, Jon made a second ring around the circle.

“Can you finish up with thirty?” Hector asked when Jon finished.

Jon nodded. He was starting to sweat, and he wanted to make sure he didn’t lose his breath.

Jon got down and started doing pushups again. He forgot about counting at all.

At the end, Jon stopped doing push-ups and sat on the floor.

It was weird to be so active without any enemies around. It felt like his body was fighting with itself, trying to discern any danger.

“Alright.” Hector nodded. “I think that’s enough.”

“More? Jon asked through his breaths. Now that his body was steadying, he realized he liked the feeling of being exhausted.

“Well, I should probably get back to the kids, right?” Hector asked. “I did say I would train them. And this felt pretty good.”

Hector walked over to Mallory and helped pick him up off the floor, steading him onto his feet.

“I can do more…” Mallory moaned. He tipped over, but Hector caught Mallory by the stomach with one hand.

“Thanks, Mal,” Hector said. “You should get some rest.”

“No!” Mallory used Hector as a brace and pushed himself up. “To the kids!”