GUROGAN

CHAPTER 4 :CHAST ACQUISITION

"Yo Tom how was the weekend!?" it was Joe who had just arrived and was calling out to Tom who was silent in thought still processing the weekend's events. It had been a very long and peculiar weekend filled with much to be questioned. It had started from discovering a cabin to acquiring unthinkable supernatural powers. "Yo Tom!" Joe yelled a second time snapping Tom out of his deep thoughts and Tom slowly turned to look back at his friend he'd been ignoring. "Full of surprises and yours?" Tom said. "Actually, super boring, mom made me read throughout the whole weekend" narrated Joe. Tom just stared back, feeling better about himself and his weekend. "Whoa, that's a big bummer," said Tom. "Yeah, I know right." The conversation was cut short when Tom and Joe saw Jack Thompson. Jack's imposing physique commanded attention, his towering height and chiseled muscles exuding an undeniable aura of confidence. His face was a masterwork of rugged perfection: a sharply defined jawline, piercing blue eyes that seemed to see right through, and a nose sculpted with precision. His lips, inviting and full, hinted at a smile that could disarm even the most discerning heart. His body was a testament to disciplined dedication; its contours honed to flawless perfection. The subtle ripple of abs beneath his fitted shirt and the sleek definition of his muscles left no doubt – Jack was the epitome of athletic prowess. As the school's star American Football quarterback, he embodied the quintessential All-American hero. His reputation preceded him: Jack was the most sought-after catch in school, renowned for his captivating charm and mesmerizing, good looks. Little wonder, then, that he had captured Jessie's heart, securing his status as the envy of every girl – and guy – on campus. 

There seemed to be an intense argument between Jack and Jessie by the lockers, so Tom and Joe decided to get closer to get a clearer picture of this rare drama that was just erupting. It seemed Jack had been caught by one of Jessie's lackies cheating with Anais, a friend of Jessie's. Every word that came out of these two's mouths spelt utter violence directed towards the other until they both reached a point of silence, like the conflict had ended a stalemate. "You know what? It's over Jack! I can't deal with your shenanigans anymore" Jessie finally exploded breaking of their stalemate. Jack, without saying anything, contorted and walked away, absorbing Jessie's words into him. Everywhere he walked he could hear whispers and murmurs of his recent humiliating moment with Jessie. 'How could that wretched spoiled brat treat him, the school's model like this' he thought.

Now Tom was even more motivated to try his chances with Jessie, she was now single again and he had a window to make his dream come true, so Tom ran after Jack. "Hey! You better not hurt Jessie at all you hear!" Tom had done it now. He was so angry at the thought of Jack mistreating Jessie that he impulsively rushed towards Jack, and he was also now trained to the extent that he could easily take on anyone who wasn't supernatural. "Oh, so what are you gonna do about it.......Geek!" Jack turned violently towards Tom. With his current mood, the last thing he wanted to see was a geek. His blood was now boiling and his fists screaming violence. Tom also clenched his fists in response ready to fight. He then recalled promising Sensei Carlton to never use what he learned to fight other kids at school and then withdrew his fists. "So...you're just gonna stand there punk", said Jack as he pushed Tom to the ground. As soon as Tom got up he graciously received a fist which was directly implanted to his face and once again fell face wards to the ground. Before he knew it, blood was now dripping out of his nose and his face was all busted up. Jack then started laughing maniacally feeling better about himself. He had to blow off some steam from his earlier scene and the Tom had somehow given him an opportunity. Joe came running towards him. His cheeks were swollen from holding back his laughter. "Dude, you have a black eye!" Joe was still trying to fight back his laughter which seemed to build up. "Yeah, I'll be fine don't sweat it" Tom had spotted Jessie walking towards him when he was still lying on the ground and so he was trying to impress the empress approaching. "You know, for your own information you should have just left it alone. You can't beat Jack, and I can very much protect myself, you're useless. So next time stay out of my business okay" Jessie then went on her way swaying down the hallway. This was a total twist and an unexpected turn of events. Tom had expected some chivalric scene to transpire and finally win the fair maiden's heart. Instead, he'd just worsened his situation and chance. "Whoa, that was harsh. But dude, what were you thinking trying to go up against Jack?" Joe couldn't contain himself anymore and had to laugh. "Whatever man, just please let me be alone right now" Tom said vehemently standing up and then walked away still trying to read his situation.
*****
"So Tom, which Chast will you take?" Asked Master Grub. A while after Tom's failed chivalry, Sensei Carlton came and took Tom to Gurogan. Tom now had to pick a Chast. "We don't have all the time in the world boy, make your choice fast", added Master Grub. Tom was now conflicting in his mind. Which Chast would best interest him and suit his character type. 'What is it that really defines me?' he thought. Suddenly images of his father's death started flashing in his mind, the jebra viciously tearing him limb from limb, fire spreading across their insubstantial little house and his mother weeping and pushing him away trying to take him away from the scene. 'Why were old wounds resurfacing again?' Before he knew it his temper had risen. He also began to remember his face being pounded by Jack earlier at school. "I'll take the fire Chast old man." His face depicted clear vehemence. "Are you sure about your choice boy?" Master Grub had noticed the rage that was building up in him. "I know what I want" persisted Tom. "Fine then." Master Grub decided to just let Tom be and face his path that he would create with his own choice. The old man then weaved strange hand signs and then a fire symbol appeared on the top part of Tom's arm, near the scapula. "Now you're one of us...." said Master Grub, "....and now Sensei Carlton take him to the Fire Chast Village" ordered the old man. "Yes Master" Sensei Carlton replied obsequiously. Sensei Carlton held Tom's shoulder and swissed them away to the Fire Chast Village entrance. The entrance gate had a similar build as that of Gurogan's entrance gate. This gate however had different types of red-velvet flame patterns engraved on it and two concrete pillars with phoenixes engraved on them that supported it. It was also smaller than the main entrance gate.
"So where am I?" Tom's eyes were wondering about in the room space that they were in. Strangely it had a Japanese cultural suite and design. "This is the Sacred Fire room, where all fire users are created." Sensei Carlton broke off the silence. "So am I going to be staying here?" Sensei Carlton flinched and gave a cold stare at Tom. "No" he simply said. "Phew, that's a big relief. So why am I here?" Tom kept firing more questions at Sensei Carlton. "To put fire intra energy into you, so that you can be able to perform fire techniques." "So where do I get that?" Sensei Carlton was starting to lose his cool with Tom's bombardment of questions. "So what brings you here Carlton?" a voice spoke from behind them. They turned around to see another old man, probably the same age range as Master Grub. "This boy has just joined your Chast and needs fire intra" Sensei Carlton was relieved the Fire elder had come to break Tom's unending inquisitions. 'Who knows what I'd have done to that boy if Fire elder hadn't shown' he probably thought. "Name's Tom, not boy" Tom was now tired of being addressed as boy. "Has he done all the necessary training?" asked the Fire Elder whilst examining Tom's body. "Yes" replied Sensei Carlton. "Fine then. Let's begin the procedure." The Fire Elder removed his hands from Tom's chin heading towards a cylindrical vault. Tom was instructed to enter into the vault and as someone who was totally oblivious of anything he just did what he was instructed to without question. The Elder also weaved hand signs, but they were different from Master Grub's. The vault Tom was in started to fill up with thick clouds of smoke that would infuse intra into Tom's body. Surprisingly it didn't make him cough. Minutes passed by and smoke was still incessantly filling up the vault and more than the required amount of intra was being infused into Tom's body. "Aaarrgghh!!" Tom was shouting in pain. His body felt like it was burning up from the inside and he felt like he'd wither away any moment. Every muscle in his body was hot and aching in agony. "Make it stop!" shouted Sensei Carlton who had no idea what was going. "I can't...I'm trying but I can't" The Fire Elder was just as confused as Sensei Carlton. The vault was acting on its accord and he had no way to stop it. "So what will happen to him if this doesn't stop?" asked Sensei Carlton. "If this continues more than enough intra will be infused into this boy until his body reaches a certain point when he can no longer withstand it. He will then burn to cinders." The Fire Elder's voice was raspy. When he cleared his throat it was like a pocket of phlegm was deep inside. Meanwhile Tom was still shouting in agony. His pain seemed to increase with each passing second.
Just then, the vault exploded, but it didn't break. Its material was made from a material called kanadicine a very strong fibre resistant to heat and great pressure. The smoke gradually began to clear and there Tom was still standing in perfect condition without a scratch or so much as a bruise on him. "I don't understand. Why didn't you burn to ashes?" asked the Fire Elder sounding as if he wanted Tom to get burned. "Well, this boy is full of surprises" said Sensei Carlton rubbing the bridge of his nose with his finger, his voice full of both relief and disbelief. "Whoa what's this burning sensation flowing in my body?" Tom could feel a soothing warmth flow through his veins. The burning sensation within him was somehow painless. "That's fire intra you're feeling there" replied Carlton sensei who stilled showed a puzzled look in his eyes. "Cool" Tom was still feeling his new found self. He'd transgressed from an ordinary human-being to a supernatural human being with fire abilities. To him it felt like a rite of passage to coolness. "Here take this", the Fire Elder was handing Tom a red scroll. "What's that?" Tom asked. "That's a level 1 scroll of fire. It contains all the Fire techniques of level 1 that you need to learn" replied the old man. "How many levels are there?" "Four." "Can't you just give them all to me?" The Fire Elder was now agitated by Tom's unending questioning. "No! You're not yet ready for those" the elder replied contorting towards the door's direction. "Oh man, that's not fair" grumbled Tom. "So Carlton, have you given the boy rank yet?" The Fire Elder looked at Sensei Carlton intently. "Yes, he's at 125 according to the rank reader?" "What's this rank thing about", once again Tom felt left out as if the two men in front of him were speaking some alienated language. "Rank symbolizes your strength and skill. The higher your rank is, the stronger you are" explained Sensei Carlton smirking awkwardly. 'How did Sensei Carlton read his rank without his notice and when?' Tom thought to himself. "Ok so what are your ranks?" He was now curious to know how powerful his superiors were. "Mine is 502" said Sensei Carlton confidently. "....and mine is 600" the Fire Elder also followed. Upon hearing this Tom's hopes of ever becoming someone respectable and honorable were completely shattered in an instant. How could he hope to ever surpass his Sensei with such a vast difference in skill? "So how do I become that strong?" Tom put an incredulous expression. "Through training boy...now go" replied the Fire Elder. "Thank you elder, we will take our leave now" said Sensei Carlton as he bowed his heads and forced a bow on Tom's resisting head as well.
Tom and Sensei Carlton were now at Gurogan's gate once again. "You can go home now" Sensei Carlton suddenly spoke opening the Kon Gate. "Thank you for everything sensei" Tom bowed in respects implementing what he'd just learned from his sensei. Sensei Carlton smiled wryly, "It's ok Tom, just make sure you read and practice that scroll's techniques" "Sure thing sensei" Tom walked through the gate and returned back to Earth. "I foresee an eventful future ahead" mumbled Sensei Carlton as he began to chuckle by himself.