He slid off his shoes and hung them loosely in his hand. His feet were warmed by the hot sand. He lifted them hastily up and down, scuttling across the beach as they adapted to the heat.
He crossed the beach, heading straight toward the familiar muscular build of Jay Holiday. This time he bypassed the fans that swooned over him.
Other weightlifters surrounded him grunting vigorously. They dropped weights into the sand, and others hoisted themselves up on to pull-up bars. He was impressed by their dedication to coming out in the sun and sand, day in and day out. But then again, determination took many forms.
He approached Jay Holiday as he was doing some stretches and then a few push-ups to warm his body up.
“Hello, Mr. Holiday. You have another request for the Rune Knights?” He asked Jay and got ready for a flurry of flexing coming his way with whatever answer followed.
“Oh, it’s you again,” He said, raising his hands in the air and dropping his powerful arms down on Kazimir’s shoulders.“Thanks for the help with the contest. I won!”
Kazimir let his body sink a little under the pressure of Holiday’s muscles, going along with the situation, “I never doubted that you would, so what do you need today?”
“Down to work like always. If I remember you are pretty quick on your feet, but let’s see what those arms of yours can do. I need someone to spot me.”
He laid down on the bench press with a light load and demonstrated a single press, “I’ll need you to add more weight to it and put your hands under the bar. If you seem me struggling, then pull it up and make sure it doesn’t fall on my chest. Sound easy enough?” he asked with a wink.
Kazimir looked at the amount of weight and the plates lying in the sand that needed to be added. He then looked at his own arms in a little dismay. He was more of the intellectual type, but he gave a small sideways nod and replied, “Yeah, I think I can handle this. The worst-case scenario I just use my magic and blow it off you.”
Jay sat back up and pulled some of the plates closer. A stack for each side was set under their respective spots beneath the bar. He settled back down and said, “Alright. Load up those plates and let’s get to pumping some iron!” It seemed he was flexing already, squeezing every ounce of preparation out that he could.
Kazimir loaded the plates and Jay Pressed the bar off the rack and lowered it to his chest for the first of eight reps.
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