Jack woke up early and found himself in bed, not remembering when he had returned to his room. He stepped outside and went to Bee's room to find her asleep, with the blanket fallen on the floor.
He went in to cover her, then left for the living room.
He took the energy book and went out to the garden to read and try practicing a little from it. As he stepped out, he saw Gara standing there, but he seemed lost in thought. Jack was a bit surprised and walked over to him.
Jack: "What's wrong, old man? Why do you look like a bird just landed on your head?"
Gara didn't notice him… which made Jack realize he hadn't felt his presence or heard him. So, Jack went and shook him lightly.
Jack: "Old man!"
Gara (startled): "What is it…? When did you get here?"
Jack: "I've been standing here for 15 minutes trying to wake you up. What's wrong, old man?"
Gara: "Nothing… Why are you out here so early?"
Jack: "I want to train a little."
Gara: "Really?"
Jack: "No, I just came to watch the sunrise with you."
Gara rolled his eyes at the mischievous dwarf standing before him, but he felt like Jack wanted to say something.
Gara (seriously): "Say what you want to say."
Jack looked at him coldly.
Jack: "When my flames ignited, I felt something I didn't understand at first. But after reading a bit in the book, I figured it out."
Gara: "What is it?"
Jack: "It was the power of others. I could feel the strength of others, including yours."
Gara (calmly): "And then…?"
Jack: "You were stronger than all of them. But… you said they were the weaker team."
He paused, thinking:
Jack: "Your strength was enough to deal with that team—but not enough to face the stronger ones among them. That's why you didn't interfere. Because if you had, they would've sent someone stronger after you. Right?"
Gara: "Smart."
Jack: "Yesterday I was just angry and ignorant. But when I calmed down, I remembered—my mother said you helped them before. So, you didn't just stand by. You helped as much as you could, without causing trouble for yourself."
Gara: "You said yesterday you were just ignorant and angry. What are you today?"
His expression grew colder and harsher.
Jack: "I'm a man of vengeance. I'll be calmer, smarter, and stronger than them. I don't care how powerful they are… I'll burn them all."
Gara looked at him with an expression of amusement, certain now that this small boy would become like a blazing storm to anyone who stood in his way.
Suddenly, they heard Black calling them from inside. Jack went in to see her, and Gara followed.
Jack: "Bee, why did you wake up so early? Go back and sleep a bit more."
Black (sleepily): "No, Jack. Let's train. I'll wash my face and come—don't start without me."
Gara: "Well said, Black. When you're done, come to the garden so we can begin the test, alright?"
Jack: "Not now. You'll have breakfast first, then we start the tests."
Gara: "No. You're not allowed to eat until you finish the test."
Jack was about to object, but Black stopped him.
Black: "Jack, let's not waste time. I really want to start training—right now. Did you forget what you told me yesterday? We must become stronger. Not just you, but me too. We need to train hard… Don't worry about me, I'll be fine."
Jack agreed after her insistence.
Jack: "Alright. Go wash your face."
Black went in, excited to begin her training—to avenge her family and help Jack.
As she entered her room, Jack turned to Gara and glared at him with burning eyes.
Gara: "Like she said, she must train just like you. And at times, she'll even have harsher training than you."
Jack: "I'll kill you if you hurt her."
Gara: "It will happen. So you both learn how to resist and grow stronger. Or do you want her to be killed?"
Jack (shocked): What... what do you mean?! What are you saying?!
Gara: If your answer is "no," then don't interfere with how I train her. And remember this—her life will be in danger just like yours. Which means you must be more serious than both her and me when it comes to her training.
Black came running out of her room toward Jack, who was lost in thought about the old man's words. She grabbed his arm and pulled him outside.
Black: Come on, Jack… Come on, teacher! We're waiting for you!
Gara followed them out to begin their test.
Jack: How are you going to test us? We only know what we read in that book.
Gara: I know. And I'm not testing your energy abilities. I'll test other things—your intelligence, endurance, physical strength, problem-solving skills, knowledge of the outside world, and whether you speak other languages. Your training won't just be about supernatural powers and energy—it will be about everything I can teach or train you in.
Jack and Black: Okay.
He began testing them, and the test lasted eight hours. He made them carry rocks of different sizes and shapes to assess their physical strength.
He attacked them to see how they'd react, spoke to them in different languages, asked them to perform what they had read the previous night in the book, told them to climb trees and mountains, use a computer, and many other things—until they could no longer continue.
Well, in truth, Jack was still capable of continuing. But he noticed Black—she had been struggling for a while, but forced herself to keep going so she wouldn't discourage him.
Gara noticed what was happening in their minds.
Gara: Black, your test is over. Go inside.
Black: What about Jack?
Gara: I told you before—your trainings will be a little different. That's why your test ends here. The rest is Jack's test alone. Go ahead, you can go inside.
But she refused to go in and eat while Jack remained outside exhausted, continuing his difficult tests. She chose to stay with him until he was done.
Jack tried to convince her to go back, but she refused.
Two hours later, Jack's test was finally over. Black ran inside.
Gara and Jack thought she was running to eat, but she quickly returned with a big cup of water and handed it to Jack.
Black: Jack, drink some water!
Jack: Okay, but you drink first, you...
She cut him off, placing the cup to his lips and making him drink. He drank the entire cup while Gara laughed at her actions. He now fully realized that the two of them would look out for each other from now on—they had no one else to rely on but one another. Not even him—they didn't fully trust him yet.
As Jack finished the water, he was about to scold her—but she ran faster than the wind toward the fridge, drank some cold water, and rushed to the table, placing all the food she could grab on it. Jack couldn't stop laughing at her and the way she looked.
Black: Come on, Jack! Come on, teacher!
Jack (laughing): I thought you were going to sit down and eat all the food by yourself.
Gara: Yeah, I thought I wouldn't find anything to eat today.
Black (pouting): Fine! I was wrong! Don't sit down… Don't eat anything!
They quickly sat down. When they finished eating, they found that Black had fallen fast asleep.
Jack tried to carry her to her room, but he was too tired. Gara picked her up from his arms and took her to her room.
Jack helped Gara clean the table and the rest of the mess. Then he went to get some sleep—it had been a very exhausting day for them.
Meanwhile, Gara stayed up organizing his thoughts, planning how to train them and where to begin. He saw their intelligence and how fast they learned—they had already managed to execute some skills just by reading the book. Their endurance was good for their age.
But they didn't know much about the outside world, how to deal with others, or how to use most modern technologies.
He started listing their training priorities. After a while, he finished organizing his thoughts and went to sleep as well.
The next morning, he gathered them.
Gara (strictly): Jack, Black, I'll begin your training today. But don't think for a second that it'll be easy. You are not allowed to object to anything I ask of you. You will do everything exactly as I command. Understood?
Jack and Black: Yes.
Gara: Jack, you will train in offense, both close and long-range combat, as well as politics, leadership, and other sciences and skills.
He turned to Black and continued.
Gara: Black, you will train in medicine in its various forms, especially poisons, and increase your physical endurance and sensory awareness. You have excellent potential in this field.
He continued firmly:
Gara: I will not be lenient with either of you. From now on, your training will be harsh and intense. There will be no retreat, no surrender, and no slack. If either of you decides to give up during training—I will kill you. So if you want to back out, do it now.
Jack: We didn't stay here to back out.
Black: We'll endure and complete our training to the end, teacher.
Gara nodded at them.
Gara: Then let's begin.
And so, their harsh and long training began.
...To be continued
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