Part-41

  "Don't worry," Riva reassured him, pg a hand on his shoulder. "Everyoarts somewhere. The key is sistenbsp; Take it slow, listen to your body, and gradually increase the iy. Rome wasn't built in a day, aher are bulging biceps."

  James offered a weak smile. Riva's words were a wele dose of reality. He might have the System egging him on, but true progress came with dedication and hard work.

  "Alright," he said, f himself to sit up straighter. "I get it. Today's a rest day."

  Riva nodded approvingly. "Exactly. Your body ime to recover. e baorrow, and we'll tackle those Loop Missions again, but at a pace that works for you."

  Leaving the gym, James stretched his stiff muscles, a newfound respect for physical trainiling in. He g a nearby bicycle shop, the idea Riva had paking root. A bicycle for the Loop Missions, and maybe some fortable shoes for those m jogs… a pn began to form in his mind.

  With a determiride, James picked up his pace, a small smile pying on his lips. WIth running he also plete his running loop mission.

  A dull ache throbbed in James' arm as he gazed out the window. Three days of training under Riva's watchful eye had left him pleasantly sone was the initial overfidenow, a healthy respect for physical exertion tempered his enthusiasm. Today, however, the familiar rhythm of school life felt strangely off-kilter. The usual cacophony of hushed whispers and nervous giggles was subdued. There were no shoving matches in the hallway, no mog ughter eg in the corridors. An uling quiet hung in the air.

  James sed the , his gaze nding on the empty seat beside him. Emdad, his one and only friend within the school's walls, was missing. A pang of loneliugged at his heart. He remembered overhearing Emdad's parents mentioning a busirip overseas a few days ago. James couldn't help but let out a silent sigh. The privilege of the filthy rich, he thought bitterly. Here he was, stu the daily grind while Emdad jetted off oic adventures.

  The frustration was quickly overshadowed by a flicker of . Emdad wasn't just a friend, he was also a potential target for the school's resident bullies. Without James' unofficial prote, would Emdad bee the new focus of their harassment? The thought sent a jolt of uhrough him. He couldn't stop the bullies entirely, but he could at least be a deterrent within the school grounds.

  His ption tly interrupted by a crumpled piece of paper sailing towards him, nding on his desk with a soft thud. He unfolded it cautiously, his eyes widening at the message scrawled across it in messy handwriting:

  "Meet me at the park after school. Alone. Don't be te."

  The blood drained from James' face. He reized the handwriting – it beloo Ryan, the mastermind behind the Judo club challenge. A knot of apprehension formed in his stomach. Was this about the fight with Sourov? Or something more sinister? He gnced around the , searg for any sign of Ryan, but the smug smirk was absent.

  Taking a deep breath, James scribbled a quick reply on the back of the note:

  "Fine. Be there."

  He shoved the note bato his pocket, his heart pounding a frantic rhythm against his ribs. Today's peaceful quiet seemed like a cruel joke.