CHAPTER 14: HARDCORE TRAINING

"Damn!!!" A round fat man with a moustache dressed in police uniform hits the table in rage, "they cut off the wires."

"Sir, at least we got something from it", another policeman who is his subordinate speaks to him.

The fat policeman twist his moustache, while walking to and fro to show he is deep in thoughts. "You are right, now we are sure there is a portal there. Go now and send a message to Seth, telling him that we have found the location of the portal in Lexington. The subordinate salutes and leaves to carry out the order he was given.

"Although, we don't know the exact location, I can get more officers to patrol that place often. Just in case, they spot this gifted beings", the fat man speaks to himself. He sighs and pinches the bridge of his nose. "I'm tired of taking orders from that man. Let's just get this over with over with."

IN THE GIFTED REALM (AVALON)

"So from now on, you all will have four sessions per day for a month. Each session will be carried out by an immortal. In 15 minutes get ready, I'll be training you first. Theux concludes the drilling and motivational talk of the immortals to the five chosen gifted beings. Keira (from werewolves), Jethro (from trolls), mighty (from dragons), Tania (from fairies) and Toban (from mermaidsndmen) disperse after listening to the immortals.

"Toban,please see me at the garden before you join the training", Reebabo requests and walks towards the garden.

Toban approaches Reebabo at the gardens of Avalon.

"I see you requested to be a part of the taskforce instead of allowing us to pick from your kind. This worries me a bit due to the thought of your motive behind this action", there is concern in Reebabo's eyes as he stands looking at Toban seriously.

"You think I may be doing this to avenge my son right?" Toban raises his eyebrows as he asks the question.

"I am not certain. but seeing what Felix has taken from you, there's a chance it would be for that reason. Whatever it maybe, just know that revenge never gives satisfaction for good. Yes,you may feel it at first but afterwards the emptiness you hoped to fill with the satisfaction from revenge will still remain as empty as ever."

Toban gives a heavy sigh as if pondering on the words of Reebabo. He finally breaks the silence, "I know revenge is not the way and frankly speaking my reason for joining this task force is not for that. I feel I owe my son this sacrifice. One reason is because I was not early enough to protect him when the time came. I know you will say I'm blaming myself but that's the way I see it. Another reason is because I see it as my obligation to the realm. I basically see it as making amends for the loss this realm has suffered. Though the responsibility is shared, I would like to make it personal. The ultimate truth is it would never feel right for me to stay comfortable in my home hiding behind these portals when there's an opportunity out there." Reebabo nods in perfect understanding of Toban's point, "Ok. It's a good thing you decided to carry this responsibility on your shoulders but in the meantime who will take charge of your responsibilities to the mermaidsndmen?"

" My wife. I trust she has the required leadership traits to help me in that part", Toban answers with much certainty in his eyes. "Very well, you may join the others now. You are permitted to go." Reebabo says this with his hand stretched towards the others.

Toban joins the others who are already in a line with spacing in between and Theux in front of them.

"I'm testing your teamwork and agility, when it comes to dodging dangerous things like bullets and punches. I will throw flames in various forms to you. You must not go out of this court", he spreads his hands to indicate the restriction within the metal walls surrounding the square area, of about the length and width of a basketball court. He also adds, "if one of you gets burnt, you all fail today's first session. The 5 nod in obedience of their instruction. Theux then looks at Keira, while raising his eyebrows, "you are the youngest here, hope you can keep up?"

Keira smirks before answering with much confidence, "of course, I can. That's why they call me Keira."

Toban suddenly asks in curiosity, "what does Keira mean?"

"Honestly, I don't know... it's just felt cool to say that." She gives a cocky smile causing everyone to laugh after her statement.

"Well, let's begin", Thuex rises into the sky in the form of phoenix ready to send flames down.

It doesn't take up to ten minutes when the tips of Tania's hair is burnt, Keira has a burn on her left hand, Mighty has bruised his knee from the running in different directions, Jethro and Toban have their shirts burnt.

Theux shakes his head in disappointment after he transformed back to human, "this is saddening, no one is without a scratch. Hundred percent loss." "You were not easy on us sir", Mighty whines as he covers his bruised knee.

"Do you think Felix would be easy on anybody?" Theux asks with a little annoyance.

They wince in pain and frustration. "This is not like your games or competitions. you have to work together and lookout for your teammates. The absence of that today, shows the reason for this outcome. What a mess!" Theux looked at them like they were a pile of rubble after giving them a piece of his mind. "We will take this session tomorrow and until you get it. Prepare for Gangola, he's coming now. Afterwards, you will have sessions with Reelora and Reebabo", Thuex delivers his final instructions before leaving. "Mehn, I'm not going to lie. I thought this would be easy." Keira frowns in sweat and pain from the dodging.

"Tell me about it", Tania agrees with her, while feeling her hair with her hands. "By the time this month is over, my hair is probably going to be bald like troll boy here,from all the fire." She adds in a whiny voice.

Jethro responds with shame while touching his shiny green head, " Hey! It's still a good thing tho. Besides, it's our first time, he should be a little nicer."

"No matter how hard it gets, we have to do this. Nothing should stop us." Toban speaks this hoping to motivate them. They all agree and straighten up ready for their next sessions.

Several hours later........

"What did you say about nothing stopping us?" Jethro asks with his hand on his swollen shoulder.

"I can't move anymore, my body is failing me." Mighty shouts in pain while trying to fly.

"At least you can talk properly-ow!-didn't you see when-ow!-I slammed my face into that wall that-ow!-Gangola magically made appear." Toban tells Mighty, as the five of them exit the gates of Avalon after training was concluded. They are all either leaping or holding a part of their body that was bruised because of the training. "This ointment may not be enough, let's just manage it", Tania speaks as she distributes a green liquid, that smells minty, to the others. "Honestly, we still have more days of misery to come", Keira adds while holding her hand out for some of the ointment given to them by Gangola. "I am certainly not looking forward to tomorrow", she adds while applying it to her left arm. The others grumbled in agreement to her remark before they later departed to their different homes.