After the first assessment, a wave of renewed determination surged through the institute. Training sessions intensified as both students and mentors pushed harder than ever, especially in light of two of the seeded students now officially ascending to the ranks of true Beast-Warriors.
This was particularly evident among the remaining seeded students, who refused to allow themselves to fall too far behind Jamal and August. Pride, ambition, and rivalry fused into a potent drive that gripped their hearts and feet alike.
But there were two exceptions.
Jamal, who had all but vanished into the depths of the institute under the shadow of the Supreme Elder's tutelage, and Jabari, who was seen regularly, but never where expected.
Unlike Jamal, who had completely disappeared from public view, Jabari was almost a permanent fixture, walking with quiet resolve across the institute grounds, his glaive always in his hand, bound to him like another bone in his body.
Mockery clung to his every step.
It wasn't just Gichinga and his cronies anymore. The ridicule had spread like wildfire, and even some of the other slum-born students began to join in – not out of malice, as such, but sheer disbelief.
From their perspective, Jabari was squandering an opportunity they could only dream of, dabbling in trivial pursuits like cooking when he should have been training relentlessly to claim his rightful power.
The rumours of Aziz requesting ingredients to teach Jabari how to cook had not only fanned the flames, but practically set the whole first-year cohort alight with ridicule.
Yet Jabari never once responded. He didn't snap. He didn't defend himself. He didn't even flinch.
He simply continued with his daily training. Silently, resolutely, with tunnel vision so sharp that the jeers of the world couldn't pierce it.
The sun had barely risen when two figures stood outside a large cottage, side by side in perfect silence, both holding a horse stance like stone statues.
On the left stood August, who now towered at 6'8" – his monstrous frame layered in dense muscle that bulged against his uniform. In each hand, he held a 50kg weight like they were no more than paperweights. Strapped to his back was a fearsome twin-headed battle axe, each blade curved and wicked like a dragon's claw, engraved with glowing crimson inscriptions.
The shaft of the weapon was crafted from Nether Tree wood, the same material used in the construction of elite weaponry across Ulo. Its immense weight and density made it more training tool than combat weapon – at least for now.
Next to him stood a leaner figure, a young man with an unruly afro and sharp, focused eyes: Jabari.
He held his glaive aloft above his head with both arms, his entire body trembling under the strain. His muscles quivered from exertion, veins bulging beneath the skin as sweat glistened on his brow. Despite his smaller frame, there was a refined sharpness to his physique – a hint of power honed rather than inherited.
After just over fifteen minutes, Jabari's knees buckled, and he dropped into a seated position, panting heavily.
"It's hard to believe how far you've come in such a short space of time," August remarked, his voice calm and even as he maintained his stance without the slightest shake.
Jabari gave a breathless chuckle, rolling his eyes. "Me? You're the monster holding 300 kilos like it's nothing."
"My jump in strength primarily came from becoming a Beast-Warrior," August stated matter-of-factly.
Jabari nodded, remembering clearly the first time he saw August after his transformation.
Though he had grown taller and bulkier, the most staggering change wasn't his body – it was his presence. August had developed a subdued but tangible pressure. Just standing near him made it impossible to ignore the chasm between them.
'That's the kind of strength I need… the kind that makes others think twice before even daring to threaten her safety,' Jabari thought, his mind wandering for a moment to Inayah.
"I can't wait for the day when I, too, become a Beast-Warrior," he said aloud, almost dreamily.
"Then stop skipping the monthly assessments," August replied, not unkindly. "You probably qualified in at least one element months ago. You already reached Five-Star in the Test of Lightning during the entrance trials."
Jabari looked down at the grass as he caught his breath, saying nothing.
August didn't push. He'd had this conversation with Jabari more than once, and the answer was always the same.
"I'm still not ready," Jabari said quietly.
August gave a long, slow exhale through his nose, then shook his head. It wasn't irritation – just resignation.
Whatever Jabari was waiting for, he kept it buried deep inside. And while he had his suspicions, August wasn't the type to force answers.
After leaving August to finish his training alone, Jabari returned to his own accommodation to shower and change. The morning sun warmed the roof tiles as a gentle breeze drifted through the institute, but Jabari barely noticed. His thoughts were elsewhere.
He knew August was right.
Technically, he'd been eligible to become a Beast-Warrior since the very first monthly assessment. But something about choosing one path…
It just didn't sit right with him.
That discomfort had only grown stronger with each passing day, especially the deeper he delved into [Empyrean Breathing]. His body was evolving in a way that defied convention – balanced in every physical aspect, like a blade honed equally on all edges.
Even Aziz had marvelled at his development, commenting more than once that such well-rounded physical growth shouldn't have been possible – even with his help.
So, how could he possibly limit himself by selecting just one element? How could he choose speed at the expense of strength or reflex at the cost of endurance?
He couldn't.
And that's why he kept skipping the assessments.
When Aziz had asked him directly, Jabari said he was waiting – waiting to reach the absolute limit of his body's natural potential before undergoing the Beast-Warrior transformation.
To his surprise, Aziz hadn't argued. In fact, he seemed to support the idea. During his own discussions with the other Elders, Aziz had learned something interesting: while it was true that a stronger body made for a better foundation, there was another side to the equation.
The younger the body, the more thoroughly it fused with the beast blood.
At sixteen, the body was still growing. By twenty-one, it would have finished developing – but that same development created resistance during the fusion process. A younger body, though physically weaker, was more malleable, more receptive – and so the result was often more profound.
Thankfully, though, because the bodies of those between the ages of twelve and sixteen are still in a state of rapid development, the differences in the depths of fusion are minimal.
Jabari putting off becoming a Beast-Warrior for a few extra months to increase the quality of his body beforehand would only serve him well in the long run.
It was a trade-off. Strength now, or strength later, and Jabari had chosen later.
…
Once ready, Jabari stepped out, making his way back toward Aziz's accommodation. As usual, he drew plenty of eyes – and not the kind anyone would enjoy.
Still, the mocking stares were nothing new. He ignored them, just as he always did.
But this time, he was stopped. Three teens blocked his path.
Jabari sighed. "Can't you try and mock me from the side like everyone else?"
"I'm here to-"
"I know, I know," Jabari cut in, waving a dismissive hand and yawning. "You're here to officially challenge me to a fight at tomorrow's assessment. You know, the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result."
Gichinga's eyebrow twitched.
He'd learned the hard way that a war of words with Jabari never ended well. Still, this time, he came prepared.
"I'm not here to argue. I just want to know if you regret it," Gichinga said, forcing a calm tone. "You had the chance to be mentored by the Supreme Elder, the strongest Beast-Warrior in the entire Western Branch, and you threw it away."
"You ignored every Elder in the institute just to pick some worthless foreigner. A man who isn't even a Beast-Warrior. A man who teaches you how to cook instead of how to fight. So, I just wanted to know…
Do you regret picking that pathetic forei-"
"I accept."
Gichinga blinked. "You what?"
"I accept your challenge at the assessment tomorrow," Jabari said flatly, his tone as cold as his gaze. "I just hope you don't regret it."
He brushed past them, and for a moment, none of the three teens moved. Jabari glanced to the side and noticed a few Deacons watching with concealed smirks. No doubt hoping for a show.
In the last few months, several of them had "encouraged" Jabari to participate in past assessments, saying that even if he hadn't reached the required level, it was important to test his progress.
Jabari wasn't fooled, though. They didn't care about his progress. They wanted to see him fail.
They hadn't forgiven him for turning down the Supreme Elder. To them, his decision had been the height of arrogance – an orphan from the slums daring to reject one of Ulo's greatest warriors in favour of a foreigner.
But Jabari had never cared much for their opinions. What he did care for, though, was Aziz.
The moment Gichinga insulted his mentor, everything changed.
Over the last six months, Jabari had spent more than twelve hours a day with the man. Though he wasn't at a place where he could admit it out loud, the truth was, Aziz had become something Jabari never expected:
Family.
He never had a father. Growing up in the slums, it was always just him and Inayah. And that was enough. He never resented it. He never yearned for more.
Until now.
Aziz, with all his sadistic training methods and sarcastic humour, had been the one constant that made the hell of separation from Inayah even remotely bearable.
He trained Jabari harder than anyone ever had, but he also taught him how to cook, healed him, taught him to read…
He taught him to live.
This fight with Gichinga, it wasn't for himself. This time, he was fighting for Aziz!
…
"Jabari."
Snapping out of his thoughts, Jabari turned in the direction of a faintly familiar voice.
"Malia? Is that you?"
It was the first time he'd seen her since their induction, and the transformation was staggering. The small, frail girl who once looked like the wind might blow her away now stood with the presence of a true warrior. She was nearly 5'6", her frame sturdy and powerful. And yet, even with the muscle she'd gained, there was no mistaking her femininity. Her posture, her poise – everything about her exuded quiet strength.
"It's been a while," Malia said, offering a warm smile.
That alone surprised him.
When they first met, she could barely hold his gaze. Shy and withdrawn, like a child peeking out from behind a curtain. But now, she looked him square in the eyes. There was confidence in her voice, in the way she carried herself.
"You look like you've really made the most of your time here," Jabari said as they began walking side by side toward the Elders' residence.
"I have," she replied brightly. "That's actually why I've been hoping to run into you!"
"Me?" Jabari raised an eyebrow. "Why?"
"If it weren't for you, I never would've chosen Master to be my mentor."
"Master?!" Jabari stopped mid-step, blinking in disbelief.
Malia beamed. "He officially accepted me as his first disciple a couple of months ago."
Jabari's eyes widened, but before he could say anything else, she added, "Everyone knows. You would, too – if you didn't spend all your time ignoring everyone and everything around you."
"August never mentioned it," Jabari muttered under his breath.
"You speak to the rock?" she asked, eyes wide with mock surprise.
"The rock?" he echoed.
"That's the nickname people gave him," she said with an amused grin. "Because he shows about as much emotion as one."
Jabari burst into laughter. "Does he know people call him that?"
"I doubt it. I don't think there's anyone brave enough to say it to his face." She paused, giving Jabari a side glance. "But I'm surprised you two even talk. Neither of you exactly screams friendly."
"We just train together in the mornings," Jabari shrugged.
"Still. That's more than anyone else gets from him."
Her tone shifted as they continued walking. "How's your training going, anyway? There's been all sorts of talk since you skipped the assessments. People are curious."
Jabari's eyes narrowed slightly, a cold gleam flashing through them. "I'll be at the assessment tomorrow."
Malia glanced at him, noting the shift in his expression. Whatever reason he had for finally showing up, it wasn't casual. There was intent behind it. But sensing that he didn't want to elaborate, she didn't press.
"Well, this is me," she said, stopping outside a residence that mirrored Aziz's. "I'm looking forward to seeing your progress tomorrow."
As she turned to enter, Jabari watched her with a small, lingering smile. She'd come a long way from the timid girl she once was.
"Master, huh?" he muttered to himself, his voice soft but thoughtful.
A strange warmth fluttered in his chest.
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