Tad woke up the next morning feeling as if he was hit by a freight train, guess I'll have to train a little less to not feel like this anymore, he thought to himself. He kicked his legs off the bed and tried to stand when the light-headedness hit him and he fell back onto the bed. "Damn it's worse than I thought" Tad said out loud to no one. "Oh yeah it's bad you almost reopened your wound, no training until that is fully healed" Gadreel said from the window materializing in the sun light coming in. Tad looked down and saw the blood stains on his shirt and swore under his breath. " Am I doing it wrong, is this normal?" Tad asked with disappointment in his voice. Gadreel looked at him and placed both his hands on his shoulders and looked him in the eyes and said, "No. You are just excited and eager to figure this out just like anyone else would be. You just need to remember you just got this power and it will take time for your body to adjust, you have proven yourself now it is time to strengthen yourself." " Like weight lifting and cardio?" Tad asked with a hint of sarcasm. Gadreel looked at him and grinned, "What a great idea." Tad was not pleased to hear that because now he has to find somewhere to do these exercises.
Later at lunch Tad was still feeling the fatigue from last night and got extra fruit to help, according to Gadreel that will help with the soreness and fatigue. "Why so much fruit?" Gus asked him "Is this a new diet fad I haven't heard about?" chimed Cado as he sat across the table from Tad. Niki sat and looked at the group and the tray in front of Tad and said "Yeah that isn't like you, you really don't need that much." Tad not really listening to anyone looked up and said " Yeah kind of I am thinking of doing some weight training and cardio and read fruits and vegetables are good for that so I am going to eat more of them." The three looked at him like he was crazy. Tad has some muscle definition and is not lacking in the strength department, but could use more. " I'm thinking of using my free period to run laps and do simple exercises." Tad said with a smile.
The days and weeks went on with his training sessions and working hard to work off his debt to his dad. The weight training has been intense and almost as brutal as the cardio training, I thought that this would get easier the more that I do it and it's not getting any easier, Tad thought to himself. He pushed himself to run an extra mile that day, after looking at the time noticed he was running late to get home and start on his chores around the house. On his way from the track he saw Gus and shot him a head nod but did not stop to greet his friend. "Hey to you too dude." Gus said a little irritated. Tad kept running but made a mental note to call his friend after diner that night. He felt his phone buzz in his pocket as he was running he pulled it out and saw it was a text in his group chat with his friends asking if Tad was avoiding everyone. Tad put his phone back in his pocket and kept moving. After getting his chores done later than agreed he sat down to diner with his dad and apologized that he was late but something came up and he had to take care of it. His dad just brushed off the excuses and continued eating in silence. Tad showered and pulled his phone out about to text the group chat about his activities when his phone rang. " Why is Gus calling me so late?" Tad said, he answered the call,"What's up dude I was about to text you about earlier." But before Tad could get another word in the call was merged with Cado and Niki. "Yeah what is going on with you man you haven't been around during our free period anymore what are you doing?" Gus' voice came through first then Cado"Yeah what the hell man you're just leaving us out." "I haven't got to spend more than like a few hours this week." That was Niki's voice sounding hurt."Woah guys hold on one at a time let me explain." Tad said a little defensive."I told you guys I was going to start weight training and doing cardio a few weeks ago." Before Tad could say more he was cut off "That's fine and dandy bro but where is the invite for us to come, do you just want us to sit out while you run off every day?" Gus said in an accusatory tone, " We have been friends since like second grade and have been there through everything and now you want to just drop us?" Cado added. Damn, I have been neglecting everyone. "Yeah and I am girlfriend and I haven't gotten more than a few texts from you since you started this whole venture," Niki's soft voice came through."okay you guys are right I have been a little distant lately" " A little?" Gus chimed "Okay a lot and I am sorry you guys are right how about you guys come with me tomorrow during our free period?" The group was quiet for several moments Gus spoke first "Fine as long as we meet at the quad as a group and leave together no more leaving us out man."" Deal" Tad said with excitement in his voice, everyone on the call was in agreement about tomorrow. Tad got off the phone shortly after that and went to bed but only after sending a "goodnight" text to Niki.
While in the empty weight room with his group of friends he picked up the dumbbell and a memory flashed his mind from the battlefield All of sudden the weight was heavier than usual
looking down holding his sword dripping at the tip with thick black blood
Tad curled the twenty-five pound weight again but his vision flashed making him nauseous
Sulfur fills the battlefield and his lungs as he struggles to breathe
Tad dropped the weight and sank to his knees
The shield man running to him with his shield covered in black blood grabs his shoulder
With wide eyes he looked in the mirror trying desperately to catch his breath. Gus noticed him first and ran to him, "Tad are you okay? What happened?" Tad didn't say anything he was trapped in his head reliving the moment and there it was the roar of the water around him, Tad focused and called it to him straining all of his muscles to get it to him. "Snap out of it Tad you are not in danger you need to release your hold." Gadreel's voice boomed from the back of the room. The three turn to see the angel Gadreel running toward Tad wings tucked close so he can run faster and protect them from what was going to happen. In an instant the pipes in the wall burst and the water came rushing to Tad forming ice spikes around him and swirling around his body. This lasted a few seconds before Tad passed out and fell the rest of the way to the floor. Gus, Cado, and Niki peering over the angel were stunned at what they were seeing and they looked at Gadreel in awe, the group of three gasped in shock as the dark red wings lower to expose Tad lying on the ground covered in blood. "Not now we have to stop the bleeding someone grab a rag and the other two check for other wounds." Gadreel said in a commanding tone. As soon as the group dispersed Gadreel vanished.
Tad came to feeling pressure on his face and hands, "What happened?" Tad said with a muffled raspy voice. " Try not to talk right now we almost stopped the bleeding." Niki's smooth voice hit his ears. Something was off he swore he smelled sulfur again and swore he saw a mark of some sort on Nikis forearm. "You have some explaining to do bro that was wild." Gus said. Tad tried to sit up but coughed and fell back down. "It's okay Tad you don't need to get up right now the other guy in the room is going to take care of the mess and we will get you out of here just relax." Cado chimed from somewhere down the line of his body. Gus and Cado got him off the floor and standing with his arms around their shoulders they slowly walked to the parking lot and got Tad some fresh air.