Chapter 34: [34] Watch Him Work
Calypso trailed behind Xavier as they finally located the training gym, a spacious facility with glass walls that caught the afternoon sunlight. She’d never admit it, but her divine sense of direction had apparently been one of the powers she’d lost in her mortal transition. Not that she needed to tell Xavier that—his smug expression said he’d already figured it out.
The gym was busy despite being between official class periods. Most students wore the academy’s standard workout attire—navy shorts or pants with gray t-shirts emblazoned with the Catalyst logo. Several women occupied the cardio section, their bodies enhanced with various training accessories: one blonde had crystal-embedded wrist weights that glowed faintly blue, while another ran on a treadmill with what appeared to be gravity-altering bands around her ankles.
"This place is actually pretty impressive," Calypso said, taking in the high-tech equipment. One student near the weight section had his hands coated in orange energy as he lifted a barbell that should have been impossible for his frame. Another was somehow manipulating the density of dumbbells as he curled them.
Xavier didn’t respond. His attention had already locked onto the mixed martial arts section in the corner, where padded mats covered the floor and various striking equipment lined the walls. Two female students occupied the space—one holding striking pads while the other practiced combinations.
Calypso immediately recognized the striking student as Eliza Demara from their class. She wore the academy’s standard gym shorts, which showcased her long, toned legs, and had rolled up her t-shirt to tie it just below her sports bra, revealing a flat stomach adorned with geometric black tattoos. More tattoos wrapped around her arms, creating intricate patterns that seemed to shimmer slightly when she moved. Her short black hair clung to her face with sweat as she executed a perfect combination against the pads.
Xavier stopped at the edge of the mat area, his purple eyes fixed on Eliza’s movements.
"You’re being creepy," Calypso said, nudging him with her elbow. "Stop staring."
"I’m not staring," Xavier replied without taking his eyes off Eliza. "I’m studying her technique. I need to know if martial arts works the same way here as it did in my world."
"Uh-huh. And it has nothing to do with her abs or those shorts?"
Xavier finally broke his gaze to give Calypso an exasperated look. "I spent years fighting and killing people. Forgive me for being interested in how combat works in this reality."
Calypso rolled her eyes but couldn’t help noticing the way several women on the cardio machines kept sneaking glances at Xavier.