Success

"Why are you trying to learn a backflip?" Logan couldn't fathom why Archer Brooks wanted to learn a stunt. How would it help him in the long run?

"I may be Archer Brooks, but I'm Archer Reid to the world," Archer explained, and even though he hadn't said much, Logan understood him.

"I'm just learning a few stunts so I don't give myself away in the future."

"You do know it's not that easy, right?"

Archer nodded. He did, especially now. He was still unable to master the backflip even though he had spent hours on it. A profound admiration pervaded his heart for all the stuntmen. They made the stunt look so good despite it being utterly difficult.

"I know. It's just that..." Archer scratched his head, thinking of a lie. He couldn't reveal the system. Logan was already looking at him as if he was an alien. If he disclosed about Calix, the poor man might run for the hills.

Archer wasn't that keen on becoming a monster in Logan's eyes. So, he held himself back.

"I'm just attempting to understand Archie's lifestyle. After all, I'm still a stuntman and I have to fill my tummy as well." Archer wasn't lying. It'd take him some time to start over from the bottom and until he returned to acting, he had to find other ways of earning money.

"Fine. I'll help you. Although it'd be difficult to master risky stunts within a short time, you can learn the menial ones."

"Thank you. Thank you so much."

Archer was genuinely grateful. Logan wasn't obligated to help him, but he did it anyway despite knowing his truth. A warm feeling wrapped around his heart and he smiled in gratitude.

Logan nodded and stood up, patting his jeans. "Just learn the backflip today. You can learn the other stunts one by one later."

"Sure." Archer didn't argue with him. After all, that was what he wanted. 

"First, start with a backward roll. Have you loosened your muscles?"

"What?" Archer frowned, not comprehending why they were talking about a backward roll instead of a backflip.

"I'll teach you the method I followed."

"How long did it take for you to succeed?"

"Umm... seventeen days," Logan said after thinking for a while, and Archer's eyeballs almost popped out of his sockets.

"Seventeen days? No way!" His voice rose an octave and he shook his head, recalling what Calix had told him. "I can't prolong it for so many days. Can't I learn it sooner? Like in a day perhaps?" He looked at Logan hopefully.

But all he got in return was Logan's silence until he chuckled in amusement.

"You sure are easy to trick," Logan teased, his eyes gleaming with wickedness. "If you practice sincerely, you will succeed in a few hours."

Archer narrowed his eyes and gave him an unimpressed look. "Were you pulling my leg?"

"Yep." Logan didn't deny it, rendering the man bereft of speech. "If you are done, shall we start?"

Archer almost flipped the gym mat on Logan's face. Was he the one delaying? They could have started already if Logan hadn't tricked him.

"Sure," he huffed and rolled his eyes in annoyance.

Logan noticed his actions but said nothing. "If you are diligent, you can learn to do a backflip in less than an hour."

"Are you serious?" Archer's annoyance vanished like smoke and he was thrilled to hear it.

"Yes. You just need to follow my instructions and practice more. Now, let's start with the backward roll. But before that, let's begin with stretching."

Logan started circling his neck and Archer followed his actions immediately. "This will help your tense muscles relax and you can practice the stunt easily."

Once done, Logan directed him to rotate and relax his arms, followed by his ankles. 

"Do you know how to do a backward roll?"

"Yeah. I can do that." Archer was confident. Backflip was difficult for him. But he could easily do a backward roll.

"Cool. Show it."

"Shall I use the gym mat?"

"It's up to you." Logan didn't care about it. He was more interested in seeing him execute the backward roll.

"Right." 

Archer didn't dare risk it and lay flat on the gym mat. Taking a few breaths, he raised his legs and tucked in his chest. Once his ankles reached his head, he moved his body, making sure to not put much pressure on his chest.

Logan was impressed. Although the man's backward roll wasn't brilliant, it was still good. He nodded at him and even showed a thumbs up once Archer rose to his feet agilely.

"You're better than I thought. Now, try doing the backward roll faster, putting more momentum to it."

Archer didn't question even once and did as he was instructed. He tried the backward roll twice, thrice, even more until he felt the momentum increase.

"Good. Let's go the next step. Can you do a backbend?"

"I can try." Archer was confident with the backward roll. But a backbend? He wasn't that certain.

"Give it a try. I'll lend you support."

Archer nodded and once again, lay flat on the gym mat. Placing his palms beside his head, he arched his body, putting all his weight on his hands and feet.

"Now, raise his legs and roll your body backward."

"But..." Archer gritted his teeth while blood rushed to his head.

"I'm here." Logan kneeled beside him and held his waist, supporting him from the side.

Archer gritted his teeth and braced himself as he raised his leg. However, he was unable to support himself and ended up falling back, landing heavily on his butt. 

'Thankfully, the mat protected me. Otherwise, my butt would be squashed today.'

"Try again."

Archer took in a deep breath and tried again. He reached halfway, almost reaching a handstand before he lost balance again and fell.

Huffing lightly, he repeated the backbend a few times before he was able to roll over completely, with Logan's assistance of course.

"Now, do it a few times until you don't need my help."

Archer was pumped up by his small success. Although he was far from what he wanted to achieve, this small success motivated him and he practiced the backbend a few more times until he was able to roll over without Logan's assistance.

"Awesome. Now, all that is left is to combine the backward roll and the backbend and you are good to go."

"Can we take a break?"

"Sure. I was about to suggest you the same. Take a few minutes break."

Archer didn't waste much time. He waited until his breath had returned to normal before he returned to the stunt.

"Do the backbend roll faster. Push your feet harder as if you are stepping on springs."

Archer followed his instructions and his backbend roll was visibly faster.

"Good. Now, I'll teach you how to do a macaco flip. You will use only one of your palms to support your weight." Logan executed the macaco flip for him to observe and Archer's eyes sparkled as he stared at him in awe.

"Amazing!"

"Thank you."

"Now, you try it. You will have to be careful though. You might sprain your wrist if you are reckless."

"I understand." Archer gave it a try with hesitation. After practicing backward roll and backbend roll repeatedly, he had gained some confidence.

Although his macaco roll wasn't perfect and he ended up landing towards his side inside of his back, it was still a significant improvement.

Archer didn't lose heart and kept trying until he could execute a macaco flip. He tried it a few more times until he deemed it perfect.

"In the next step, don't use your arm for support and you're done."

Archer nodded, his confidence dropping for a moment. But when he met Logan's expectant and encouraging gaze, he mustered his strength and jumped lightly before bending his body back.

In the first attempt, he landed on his knees, his legs giving away the moment he landed. The result repeated in the next few trials.

On the seventh try, Archer maneuvered his body well and controlled his strength, and boom... he landed on his feet, upright.

The next instant an all too familiar mechanical voice resounded in his mind.

CALIX: Congratulations on completing the daily task. You will be rewarded 50 SEP. The daily task will reset in nine hours and thirty-eight minutes. You may complete the other tasks to gain more SEP.