War Craft

Chapter 4: The New Heroes

When I returned home, I discovered her sitting by the fireplace, her eyes filled with joy at the sight of me. She kissed me on my cheeks and lips, and I smiled, promising never to leave again as I wiped away her tears...

The Grandmaster grinned and remarked, "Congratulations, Master Jack. You have completed the enlightenment stage. However, there are still more tasks that you must undertake before achieving purity." Gratefully, I replied, "Thank you for guiding me in mastering my powers." The Grandmaster nodded and said, "You are welcome. It is our responsibility to help you harness the control of your inner spirit." With a smile, I quickly left the temple, eager to learn more about Ricko Chang.

I needed to find out how he was connected to Jeremy and me. I wanted to have a conversation with the kids I was put in charge of. I approached Shan and asked, "Shan, how old are you?" He remained silent, and Sarah chimed in, "He's twenty and doesn't talk much." I then guessed, "So he must be Black Ninja or Void?" Sarah was surprised and asked, "How did you know without us telling you?" I explained, "Quiet people are usually suited for stealth combat. Dan has speed, Luke is smart and can control things with his mind, you can read minds and create force fields around you as a shield, and create portals to other dimensions or specific spaces where everyone can pass through." I reassured them that I knew their powers and ages, but I just wanted to have a conversation with them.

They were all standing there in shock. Luke was amazed, Dan didn't know what he had heard, Shan remained quiet, and Sarah kept her distance. Then Dan asked, "Are you serious? How did you know all of our powers?" I smiled and replied, "I saw it in your eyes." Dan looked at me with a strange expression and said, "You must be joking." I shook my head and said, "No, I'm not. I saw through you and your friends."

Feeling unsettled, they all appeared uneasy and avoided eye contact. I could sense their fear as I spoke, reassuring them that I intended to protect and teach them how to defend themselves. I explained that I had absorbed their powers by looking into their eyes, but assured them that I meant no harm. Their expressions shifted from fear to relief, and they began to smile, except for Shan, who remained silent. His lack of communication intrigued me, and I was determined to discover the reason behind his silence. Sarah, reading my thoughts, informed me that Shan was mute and had never spoken a word. Despite their efforts to communicate with him, he chose to remain silent. I couldn't help but feel a sense of disappointment upon learning this. "So he prefers to stay quiet," I remarked, with a tinge of regret in my voice.

I then thought to myself with regret, "I won't be able to find a speech in him." Luke appeared troubled, piquing my curiosity. I asked, "What's bothering you?" He seemed upset and warned me, "You shouldn't meddle in other people's problems or you'll get hurt." I chuckled and replied jokingly, "I can't help it, I have a soft spot for those who are sad and lonely. So, what's on your mind?" He smiled and posed a deep question, "Why are we born with powers?" I grinned and explained, "I wasn't born with powers; they were the result of a failed experiment that exposed me to gases that altered my..." Before I could finish my sentence, he walked away, leaving me to realize that he needed assistance.

Upon arriving in my hometown, a wave of happiness washed over me. I was thrilled to be reunited with my loved one once again, with the promise of staying together forever this time. However, weighing heavily on my mind - I needed to confront Jeremy about Ricko Chang and his constant surveillance of me.

Turning to the children, I instructed them to go to the park on G Street and assured them that I would be there to bring them home later. With that taken care of, I hailed a cab and made my way to Kalvano Prison, where Jeremy was being held.

As I approached the prison gates, I was stopped by the guards. Thankfully, Kevin was there and vouched for me, allowing me to enter. He seemed surprised to see me and questioned why I hadn't informed him of my return. Sensing his unease, I explained that I had just arrived today and enjoyed surprising people.