Chapter 3: Physical training class

Chapter 3: Physical training class

"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..."

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.