Book 2: Chapter 25 – One Step Closer

"If I'm going to be your disciple," Jabari's gaze dropped to his feet, his words weighing heavy on his tongue. "Then you deserve to know the truth about me."

"You mean how that Oluwa brat used taboo methods to transfer your sister's Mage Vassal to himself – and how you plan to go up against the Kamara Tribe to get it back?"

"You…" Jabari's head snapped up, shock painted across his face. "How did you know?!"

Aziz gave a lazy shrug, his tone bordering on nonchalance. "Remember the conversation we had when I first asked you to be my disciple?"

It felt like a lifetime ago, but Jabari recalled it as though it had happened only yesterday.

As Jabari gave a faint nod, Aziz continued. "I saw the excitement in your eyes when I told you I was stronger than anyone in the Kamara Tribe. But then, the disappointment hit you hard when I explained I couldn't make a move during my time here in Ulo."

"You figured all that out from just that?" Jabari interrupted, disbelief colouring his voice.

"Of course not, idiot! I'm not psychic," Aziz snapped, rolling his eyes. "That was only the first clue."

He leaned back, folding his arms as he spoke, his voice now measured but sharp. "Even though you didn't trust me, it was clear that you were willing to throw your lot in with me if I could shield you from the Kamaras. And a gamble that foolish, it had to be for someone you love deeply."

Aziz's eyes narrowed. "After spending more time with you, it was obvious: your little sister is the only one who fits that bill."

Jabari's shoulders stiffened, but he didn't deny it.

"Then came the slip. You mentioned she got sick five years ago. But your face… it didn't show just sorrow – it was a fury buried beneath guilt. The kind only someone who blames himself could wear."

Aziz tapped his chin thoughtfully. "And five years ago… that's when Oluwa was declared the last of the Three Supremes and, by extension, Ulo's so-called messiah. Put all that together with your obsession with growing stronger, and there was only one conclusion that made sense."

He smirked. "Though I still wasn't 100% sure until just now, when you confirmed it."

Jabari met his Master's eyes, the weight of being seen leaving him breathless. With a sigh, he asked, "Let me guess – you're going to tell me it's impossible, and I should just give up."

Aziz's reply came swift and biting. "Do you even understand how the vassal transference technique works? Do you know how strong Oluwa really is? How powerful the Kamara Tribe are? Which hidden forces back them?"

His gaze sharpened. "Are you trying to save your sister – or die with her?"

"What do you expect me to do?" Jabari snapped, his voice trembling with frustration. "Just give up and watch Inayah die?!"

"Idiot!" Aziz barked, smacking the back of Jabari's head. "I'm not telling you to give up – I'm telling you to stop charging in like a headless goat!"

His voice lowered, though it lost none of its intensity. "Power means nothing without strategy. Wars are won by those who control the board – not those who blindly throw themselves at the enemy."

Aziz jabbed a finger toward Jabari's chest. "Luckily for you, your enemies have no idea what you're planning. That gives you something far more valuable than brute strength – secrecy. You can move in the shadows, grow in silence, build your strength until you're finally ready to strike."

He flashed his signature grin. "And since I'm such a phenomenal Master, I happen to have the knowledge you'll need to start laying the groundwork for a proper plan."

"You actually want to help me?" Jabari asked, hope flickering behind his uncertainty.

"I'm your Master now, aren't I?" Aziz said, his tone laced with feigned arrogance. "I can't have my disciple shaming me by losing to some fake Supreme."

Jabari said nothing, but the gratitude burning in his chest was almost too much to contain. No mere thank you could express what Aziz's words meant to him. His Master's tone might have been light and casual, but Jabari understood the truth: any move Aziz made could bring heavy consequences – especially since he wasn't a native of Ulo.

"Stop looking at me like that." Aziz groaned, sliding away as if repulsed. "It's disgusting!"

Jabari rolled his eyes at his Master's exaggerated display of disgust. "By the way, the Supremes you mentioned…

What exactly are they?"

Aziz looked at this new disciple of his like he had been living under a rock when he remembered, although that analogy wasn't quite accurate, it wasn't far off.

"To understand the significance of the Supremes, you first need to grasp the basics of what it means to be a Mage," Aziz began, slipping effortlessly into the role of teacher.

"A Mage's strength comes from their ability to harness the elemental laws. Much like Beast-Warriors, most Mages align with one of the five primary elements – Wind, Water, Fire, Earth, and Lightning."

As he spoke, he raised his left hand. Bolts of vivid purple lightning danced across his fingertips, crackling with restrained force.

"As you can probably guess, my vassal belongs to the lightning element," he said with a smirk before continuing. "Now, while most Mages are born attuned to one of these five elements, there are exceptions."

He lifted a finger for emphasis. "The first exception comes from certain bloodlines. Unlike mine or yours, there are some unique bloodline abilities that take the form of a mutated vassal – elements that fall outside the typical five. These aren't inherently stronger, but they are rarer."

"Then," Aziz said, his tone deepening, "there are those born with superior vassals. These rare individuals are called Supremes. The first thing you need to understand about them is that every Supreme is born with twin vassals – meaning they can manipulate two elements at once."

Jabari's eyes widened slightly, but Aziz raised a hand. "Before you get too excited, know this – there are others with twin vassals who aren't Supremes."

"The difference lies in the laws they command. While ordinary and bloodline Mages wield common or mutated laws, Supremes command laws that exist on an entirely different tier. Each Supreme wields a law that surpasses all others in raw power and influence."

"Still, a big part of what makes Supremes so famous and revered is how rare they are." Aziz explained, his voice lowering to a near whisper, "There are only ever three Supremes alive at any one time. No more. No less. And only when all three die can the next generation of Supremes be born."

Jabari inhaled slowly, trying to absorb the gravity of what he'd just heard. It was difficult to reconcile this mythic-sounding legacy with the image of his sickly little sister. Had she not been robbed of her vassal, she would have stood among them – a being who stood at the apex of their world.

But one question still pressed at the front of his mind, refusing to be silenced. "What are the six laws? The ones the Supremes wield?"

Aziz's expression grew serious.

"The first two," he said, "are the Laws of Life and Death."

He held up two fingers.

"Next, the Laws of Creation and Destruction."

Two more.

"And the last two – the ones you're really asking about, the ones stolen by Oluwa – are the Laws of Space and Time."

Jabari froze. His thoughts tumbled chaotically as the weight of it all settled in. Oluwa didn't just steal a vassal. He stole dominion over the very fabric of reality.

The conversation didn't end there. The two spoke long into the day, their discussion flowing from ancient knowledge to tactical possibilities and personal philosophies. For the first time since becoming Aziz's disciple, the day was spent not in sweat and bruises, but in thought and dialogue. Yet Jabari felt he had grown more today than on any day spent training.

As he prepared to leave, Aziz called out, almost offhandedly, "Don't go doing your usual morning endurance session with August tomorrow."

Jabari turned, brow raised. "Why not?"

"Because," Aziz said, stretching like a man preparing for a nap, "you'll need to be at full strength when you absorb the beast blood. You're about to become a Beast-Warrior."

Jabari's heart skipped a beat. His journey was about to take its next irreversible step.

When Jabari returned home, he settled into his nightly routine, taking a deep breath before beginning the [Empyrean Breathing]. His body instinctively shifted into the proper rhythm, and as he completed the session, a small smile tugged at his lips. He remembered how, in the beginning, he had barely lasted a single second. Now, he could endure the entire forty-second cycle without faltering.

Though he was only about two-thirds of the way to reaching peak human fitness, the progress filled him with pride. There was a lingering frustration in how each advancement seemed to slow as he improved, but it wasn't enough to dim the sense of accomplishment.

Lying in bed, staring at the ceiling above, Jabari's thoughts turned to what lay ahead. He had hoped to hit peak human fitness before undergoing his transformation, but there was no putting it off any more.

'Just hold on, Yah-Yah,' he thought, his eyes closing slowly. 'I'm one step closer to saving you.'

The following morning, Jabari awoke feeling invigorated, as though his entire body had aligned in preparation for the day to come.

The clock on the wall read 05:45 AM. He grinned.

After six long months, Jabari had finally mastered reading, writing, basic mathematics, and even how to tell time. With these foundational skills finally in place, he could now devote more of his day to training and cultivation.

Stepping out into the early morning light, he made his way toward Aziz's quarters. It felt strange not heading to August's training ground, but that small oddity was overshadowed by a surge of excitement that quickened his steps.

"Today's the day I become a Beast-Warrior!"

The academy grounds were deserted. It was customary to give students the day off following any formal assessment, and no one in their right mind would be up this early without reason. Which was why Jabari was surprised to see two familiar figures walking toward him.

"Jabari," came the calm yet commanding voice of Grand Elder Nala.

He had noticed her and August moments before and had instinctively veered away to give them space. But now, he paused, curiosity getting the better of him as he turned to face the pair.

"Are you heading to your Master's residence?" she asked.

"Yes, Grand Elder," Jabari replied respectfully, giving a slight bow.

"As are we," she said, her voice leaving little room for negotiation. "Seeing as I will be overseeing your Beast-Warrior Awakening, we might as well go together."

It wasn't a suggestion, and Jabari knew better than to protest. Given that Aziz was still a guest from a foreign nation, it was no surprise the academy would take every precaution when it came to their most sacred ritual.

The three of them began walking side by side. Jabari and August kept their thoughts to themselves, lost in silent contemplation. Nala, trailing slightly behind, watched the two boys with a quiet helplessness.

'Most children their age, after spending so much time together, would've become close friends by now…' she sighed, the sound light but full of emotion. 'but these two…'

Her gaze drifted toward August's back, and a flicker of sorrow crossed her face. 'You used to be such a cheerful child, before your mother…'

A second sigh slipped from her lips.

"Grand Elder, is everything all right?" Jabari asked, catching the sound and glancing back.

Nala offered a gentle smile. "Everything's fine, child. I was merely thinking about the past."

Her eyes lingered on August as she spoke. The boy briefly met her gaze before quickly looking away, feigning indifference. But the flicker of conflict in his eyes didn't go unnoticed.

Jabari said nothing more. Whatever grief lingered in their expressions felt too personal to intrude upon.

And so, the trio continued in silence, the early morning light casting long shadows behind them as they made their way to Aziz's quarters – toward a transformation that would change Jabari's life forever.

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