Book 2: Chapter 20 – Four For Four

Next, the four students stepped toward the ten cubic platforms designated for the Test of Lightning.

If before the crowd had watched Jabari in anticipation of a spectacular failure, now their attention was glued to him for a very different reason – curiosity, awe, and an uneasy excitement.

He had already secured two five-star results, and considering that the next test he was about to face was the one he had scored perfectly in during the original selection, most assumed he would do so again. The only question was whether he could maintain the momentum when it came to the Tests of Water and Earth, the trials he had yet to attempt.

But even those who once doubted him now found themselves wrestling with a dangerous thought – What if he succeeds?

Of course, there were still those who hoped to see him falter. Not that that mattered to Jabari as he prepared for his third trial.

Ironically, the one most unsettled by the upcoming Lightning Test wasn't the audience – it was Jabari himself.

It wasn't that he thought he might fail. He was certain he could pass. But this time, he was choosing to take the test without relying on his bloodline. He wanted to face it with nothing but his training and his instincts.

As he stepped onto his platform, his expression sharpened, his posture relaxed, and a controlled breath passed through his lips. His focus was razor-sharp.

The other three – Malia, Chidi, and Gichinga – stood ready on their own platforms, preparing for the challenge ahead.

"Begin!"

At the Deacon's command, the first ball shot into each cubicle, whistling through the air.

All four students dodged with ease, their movements fluid and precise. Even Malia, who had once been eliminated within the first dozen seconds during her initial trial, now danced around the ball's trajectory with impressive dexterity.

But the real test began with the introduction of the second ball. The added pressure pushed their reaction speeds and movement flow to the next level.

Malia began to sweat, her footing just a fraction off. The third ball didn't take long to arrive, and her sloppiness caught up with her.

"Malia, 2 minutes 21 seconds – three stars," the deacon called out.

Despite her elimination, Malia stepped out with her chin held high. The result might not have been mind-blowing, but for someone who had once barely lasted eleven seconds, it was a massive leap.

Next to fall was Gichinga.

"Gichinga Omondi, 3 minutes 3 seconds – four stars."

It should have been a proud moment. He'd improved. He had breached the four-star threshold. Yet, none of that mattered when he turned and saw Jabari still inside his cube, smiling faintly, his movements smooth – almost artistic.

It wasn't just that Jabari was dodging. He was gliding, flowing through the test like a dancer moving to the rhythm of a hidden melody. Each dodge, twist, and sidestep was effortless.

To Gichinga, that smile looked like mockery. He gritted his teeth, the sting of inferiority deepening by the second.

But Jabari wasn't even aware of him. He was far too immersed in what he was doing.

Though without the support of his bloodline, he was still adapting well. His reaction time had dulled slightly, but on the flip side, his body had grown stronger, more fluid, and his body control was near-perfect thanks to his progress in the [Cloudy Demon Style].

The only other student remaining was Chidi, who fought like a man possessed. His every movement was desperate yet somehow precise, as if his body was fuelled by an indomitable will to survive.

Still, it was clear who had the upper hand.

Then, the fourth ball entered Jabari's cube. And still, he danced.

By the time the fifth ball was introduced, the air around his platform had grown silent. Everyone was waiting to see how long he would last this time. If he would be able to set yet another record for an event he so clearly excelled at.

Unfortunately, Jabari didn't give them the chance to find out.

With deliberate calm, he caught two of the balls in his hands and smoothly ducked the other three, stepping out of the test before it could go any further.

"Jabari, 4 minutes – five stars."

The Deacon's voice rang out, confusion written all over his face.

The murmurs in the crowd started almost instantly.

Why did he stop?

Why not go further?

Why throw away a chance to break another record?

The Elders, however, understood the message all too well.

If they weren't convinced before, they were now – Jabari was toying with the assessments.

He wasn't just acquiring five-star scores – he was choosing to stop there. Making it clear to everyone watching that he had long since surpassed this level.

And that message, intentional and resounding, landed like a slap across the face of the Supreme Elder himself.

An uneasy silence settled over the Elders' stand as the full weight of Jabari's stunt sank in.

They had seen many things during their years at the Institute, but a first-year student deliberately capping their performance to make a statement? That was a first.

Diallo, true to form, maintained his cold, indifferent mask… but not everyone was fooled.

Grand Elder Nala and Zahur noticed the slight tremble of his clenched fist as Jabari exited the testing cube with that casual, unreadable expression. That tiny betrayal of emotion spoke louder than any outburst.

Nala sighed internally. While she couldn't blame Jabari for being angry – she herself would've likely been far less subtle – she still believed he was pushing things a little too far. Diallo might be petty, but he was still the Supreme Elder.

Zahur, however, simply leaned back with an amused grin tugging at his lips.

"Chidi, 4 minutes 19 seconds – five stars," the deacon finally announced.

The spectators snapped out of their daze, momentarily reminded that someone else had been taking part in the trial.

Chidi staggered slightly as he exited the cube, drawing in sharp, measured breaths. Beads of sweat clung to his brow, but there was no mistaking the triumphant smile that stretched across his face. He turned toward Jabari with a triumphant smirk.

But instead of meeting that competitive energy, Jabari gave him a warm nod and offered a simple, sincere, "Congratulations."

The words weren't laced with sarcasm, nor was there even the faintest trace of bitterness in his tone. It was pure. Honest.

And that unsettled Chidi more than any taunt could have.

He had bested Jabari in his signature event, but now... it didn't feel like a victory. The calmness in Jabari's eyes made Chidi question if he'd truly won at all.

Still, he turned to face his mentor and smiled brightly.

But the man didn't even blink.

His expression remained unchanged – eyes half-lidded, cold and unreadable. There was no praise, no pride. Just silence. As though Chidi's achievement meant little to nothing.

Swallowing the lump in his throat, Chidi turned back, trying to stay focused as the Deacon announced a ten-minute break before the next assessment.

When they regrouped, they found themselves standing side by side, spaced out by ten metres of open ground. Ahead of them stood a woman whose very presence seemed to calm the air.

She was beautiful – gracefully so. Her crystal-brown skin shimmered subtly under the sun, while her shoulder-length waves of black hair framed a pair of warm, intelligent eyes. A kind smile sat softly on her lips.

Her bearing was poised, but there was a natural fluidity in her every movement – like flowing water given form.

"My name is Mariama, and as a Beast-Warrior of the Water Element, I will be overseeing your assessment today," she said, her tone gentle but clear.

A light flickered across Jabari's as he listened intently.

As a seeded student with his own mentor to guide him, his interactions with other Deacons were limited at best. And of those limited interactions, aside from those with Kwame, the rest were malicious.

Still, as far as he could tell, this Mariama was different. There was no malicious undertone in her words as she spoke. If anything, she seemed friendly.

That was especially obvious when she went out of her way to explain how this round would proceed in full. Something that was clearly for him as the only person yet to attempt this trial.

"I will perform a stretch, and all you have to do is copy and hold it with me. There will be a total of three stretches in each round. Successfully completing a full round earns you one star. If your name is called, it means you've failed to complete the stretch, and your final score will be based on the number of rounds you passed."

She gave a moment's pause. "Any questions?"

None.

With that, she began.

Raising her right leg, she reached back and clasped her ankle with her right hand, balancing gracefully on one foot.

"Round One: Stretch One – The One-Legged Quadriceps Stretch."

"Keeping your knees together, grab the ankle of either foot and pull the heel up toward your glutes. Hold."

"Ten... nine… eight…"

Jabari smoothly followed her movements, noting how easily his body fell into alignment.

"…three, two, one. Now switch legs."

Mariama mirrored the motion flawlessly on her opposite side, and the students followed suit.

"…ten… two, one… Done."

"Round One, Stretch Two – The Cossack Squat. Spread your feet wide – wider than shoulder width – keeping both feet flat on the floor and your toes facing forward," Mariama instructed, her voice calm and fluid, like water flowing through a stream.

"Now squat deeply to your left. Keep your left foot flat, but twist your right toes toward the sky, heel still on the floor. Just like that… hold for ten…"

As the students mimicked her movements, the crowd's focus narrowed sharply onto one figure – Jabari.

Whether it was admiration, envy, or anticipation, all eyes were drawn to him.

"Do you think he'll manage a fourth five-star result?" Danso asked the others seated among the Beast-Warrior ranks.

Chantelle was about to respond when Azurian's calm voice cut through the air with quiet certainty. "Yes."

The others turned, surprised not by the content of his answer but by the assuredness with which he delivered it.

Chantelle scoffed lightly. "He's improved, sure. More than I ever thought he would. But just because he earned five stars in fire, lightning, and wind doesn't mean he can do it here, too. You know as well as I do that strength and flexibility rarely go hand in hand. The only people who manage both are top prodigies from the Great Tribes who've had elite training since they could walk.

We all know that Jabari doesn't fall into that particular category," She folded her arms. "Other than Jamal, none of us do."

Still, Azurian said nothing further. He simply watched as Jabari dropped into each stretch with effortless control, his body flowing through the postures with quiet grace. No wasted movement. No signs of strain.

Back on the field, the Deacon's voice rang out.

"Gichinga Omondi, third round, second stretch – two stars."

Gichinga grit his teeth, the score cutting deeper than any blade. Flexibility had always been his weakest point, but to place last in the presence of so many – to fall behind Jabari again – was almost too much to bear.

Still, the only thing he could do was clench his fists and lower his head in shame.

"Malia, fourth round, third stretch – three stars."

Hearing her name, Malia turned briefly toward Jabari, who was currently locked in a perfect Twisted Bow Floor Pose, his back arched gracefully, hands and feet in flawless position.

A quiet sigh slipped from her lips.

She had worked hard – harder than she ever had in her life – but seeing Jabari's performance now, it was obvious: the gap between them had only grown wider. She had believed, naively, that his absence at prior assessments was due to fear. That maybe, just maybe, she had caught up to him – potentially even surpassed him.

But the truth hit her like a brick to the chest.

He hadn't been hiding. He had been waiting.

Now, only Jabari and Chidi remained.

In the Elders' pavilion, eyes shifted between the two students.

"So," Elder Idir mused with a sly smile, "who do you think takes this one?"

"Chidi will win," Elder Yared said without hesitation, his sharp eyes narrowing slightly as he observed the two students.

Idir raised a brow. "You have that much faith in your apprentice?"

Yared didn't look away. "Jabari will stop after the fifth round. But Chidi will make it halfway through the sixth."

A chuckle escaped Idir. "And if Jabari gave it his all?"

Yared didn't hesitate. "Then Jabari."

There was no doubt in his voice. No defensiveness. Just clarity. Even though it was his own student being compared, he wasn't blind to reality.

Jabari, after all, wasn't straining in the slightest. His poses were picture-perfect, his breath calm, his focus unbroken. His movements flowed with the precision of a dancer and the composure of a seasoned warrior.

The other Elders, silent but no less attentive, had come to the same conclusion. Jabari could've pushed further – much further.

But he didn't. He chose to stop.

And just like that, the voice of the Deacon rang out once more, loud and clear.

"Jabari – Sixth Round, Zero Stretches – Five Stars!"

Idir leaned forward, his gaze sweeping the silent crowd, a slow, almost mischievous smile blooming on his face as he glanced sideways at Diallo.

"Four five-star scores…

Interesting."

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