The morning sun had barely risen over the horizon when a familiar voice shattered the morning silence.
Captain Baka: "Rise and shine sleepyhead."
Captain Baka stood at the entrance, staring nonchalantly at Sieg. A can of beer rested casually in his hand.
Sieg: "WHY ARE WE WAKING UP THIS EARLY?!"
Captain Baka: "Because training doesn't wait for you to finish complaining."
Aturia was already outside, stretching her arms. Miki followed shortly afterward, looking considerably less enthusiastic than her teammate.
The four stood beside a dirt clearing near Iroh house.
Captain Baka: "Since our encounter with Phoenix, I've realized something."
Sieg folded his arms. "That we're awesome?"
"That you're inexperienced, still reckless and yes a bit awesome."
Sieg smirked proudly ignoring the criticism and only latching on the word Awesome.
Aturia rolled her eyes, irritated by his behavior.
Aturia: "Of course that's the only part he heard... Tch."
Miki nodded quietly, understanding Baka's point without making a fuss.
Captain Baka: "Your teamwork has improved, but your individual abilities are still inadequate. You're still Rank 3. That means you have a lot to learn."
Aturia narrowed her eyes.
"Then teach us, no need to waste further time."
Captain Baka: "That's precisely what we're doing."
The First Exercise: Physical Conditioning
Captain Baka "Ten laps around the clearing."
Sieg stared at him.
Sieg: "WHAT?!"
Baka: "Ten."
Sieg: "YOU'RE JOKING!"
Baka raised one finger.
"Twenty laps instead."
Sieg immediately started running behind his teammates who had already left him behind.
By the fourth lap, Sieg was complaining as he dragged his feet from exhaustion.
By the seventh, Miki was breathing heavily but was still keeping up the pace.
Meanwhile Aturia had completed her ten laps. She stopped beside Baka barely looking tired.
Aturia: "Finished, I'm doing another ten."
Captain Baka: "Sure break a leg."
Without another word she resumed running.
Eventually, Sieg crossed the imaginary finish line
He immediately dropped onto the grass, lying flat on his back.
Sieg: "NEVER... AGAIN..."
Miki giggled while tossing Sieg a towel.
Miki: "That... was exhausting..."
Sieg turned his head toward her.
Sieg: "You think?!"
Baka approached them.
Baka: "Congratulations, You've completed ten laps."
Sieg weakly raised one hand.
Sieg: So... Are we stronger now?"
Baka: What? No you have to keep training everyday, One time isn't going to cut it."
From somewhere in the clearing, Aturia casually passed them on another lap.
Aturia: "Twenty-one."
Sieg stared at her in disbelief.
Sieg: "SHE'S STILL RUNNING?!"
Miki looked toward Aturia, then back at Sieg.
Miki: "She's... very motivated."
Sieg abruptly stood up.
Sieg: "Damn it! I'm not letting her outdo me! I'm going for another run. Come on, Miki! Let's do this!"
Miki: "Alright. I'm right behind you."
20 minutes later after the laps followed by basic bodyweight exercises.
Push-ups and planks.
Baka demonstrated each movement, correcting Sieg posture when he began cheating.
Baka: "Straighten your back."
Sieg: "I'm doing it!"
Baka: "You're doing something. It isn't a push-up."
By the time the session ended, all three students were exhausted.
"Physical conditioning is fundamental," Baka explained. "You can possess incredible magic techniques from your element and still lose if your body cannot keep up with the demands of combat."
Sieg: "I hate training."
Captain Baka: "You'll hate dying considerably more."
The Second Exercise: Magic Energy
Baka: "I'm sure you three are familiar with the term Magic Energy, though probably only the basics. Today, we'll be going a little deeper."
He glanced at Miki.
Baka: "Miki, mind explaining it to them?"
Miki blinked.
Miki: "...Captain?"
Sieg: "Wait. Aren't YOU supposed to be teaching us?"
Baka: "And she's better at magic control than either of you."
Miki stepped in front of them
Miki: "Well, from what I know, think of Magic Energy as a combination of physical and spiritual energy within the body. When combined, they form Magic Energy, which allows a person to awaken and use their own magic element, like my Healing Magic, Fire, Ice, Light, or Mist."
She paused briefly.
Miki: "Oh, and don't worry about running out of Magic Energy. It can be replenished through rest. Even if you're completely drained, you won't die."
Aturia: Well i get that, but we're already able to use magic techniques of our own.
Sieg: Yep the dweeb is right."
Captain Baka: "Having plenty of Magic Energy doesn't mean much if you can't control it properly. Inefficient control can cut your effectiveness in half or even cause your techniques to go out of control."
He glanced at Sieg.
Baka: "That's primarily your problem. Aturia, you're joining him."
Aturia raised an eyebrow.
Aturia: "Excuse me?"
Baka: "Your control is better than his, but there's still room for improvement."
He turned toward Miki.
Baka: "As for you, you'll be training in hand-to-hand combat with me."
Meanwhile, inside an unfinished, secluded building...
A small figure walked in, carrying an unconscious Phoenix in his arms—it was none other than Az.
Az: "Phew! That was a close one back there. I thought we were going to be goners because there was a Rank 1, but luckily, he didn't suspect anything further."
Az lowered Phoenix onto the floor and stared at him blankly.
Az: "He should be awake soon. It's already been twenty minutes."
He gently poked Phoenix's face.
Az: "Hey, wake up already."
Suddenly, Phoenix shot upright, gasping for air before coughing slightly.
Az: "You're finally awake, Big Brother."
He stuck his tongue out, taunting him.
Phoenix massaged his neck.
Phoenix: "I admit your technique has been getting very good, but it's also uncomfortable. So maybe tune it down a bit."
Az smiled genuinely
Phoenix: Why the hell are you smiling like that?
Az: Well big brother is praising me, of course I'll be happy.
Phoenix: Whatever...hng
Phoenix groaned in pain as the scar on his chest from baka earlier throbbed in pain.
Az smile immediately disappeared as he looked concerned.
Az: "Stay still i have some bandages and antibiotics with me."
Five minutes later Phoenix wound was wrapped cleanly in bandages.
Az: "You might still feel some pain but the only wound is likely to take months before it heals.
Silence dropped a bit
Az: "So i bet we're going to get our revenge on them soon enough."
Phoenix looked up at the dark cloudy sky through the hole in the roof.
Phoenix: "Oh don't worry i assure you next time it's going to be a massacre."
(Laughs Eerily)
Then suddenly they were interrupted by a knock on the door as the man who was the leader of all this stepped in.
Mr Moss Head: Tch... Unbelievable you got beaten and you dare retreated. You are a disgrace of a rogue. I knew i should've hired someone better.
Az: "Hey keep your voice down can't you see that he's resting?"
Mr Moss Head: Have you forgotten how much i paid you to get the job done to kill that bridge builder. Don't vex me you little boy, show some respect to your elders.
Mr Moss head angrily threw his walking cane toward them as Az caught it.
Az threw the cane aside and in just a flash he stood behind Moss's head with a menacing glare, he grabbed his arm and twisted it as he screamed in excruciating pain.
Az: Don't take us so lightly, just because we said we'd do the job for you doesn't make us your obedient dogs.
Mr Moss Head: I get it... Please just let go of my arm.
Az released his arm.
Mr Moss head winced in pain
Moss Head: "Just remember, if you fail next time the contract is off, and you can forget about the money.
He left angrily muttering under his breath.
Phoenix: I can't wait to get rid of that filthy greedy pig but we'll just have to endure it a bit longer for the sake of our plan.
Meanwhile back at Iroh home where the training still continued.
Sieg: "So you want me to do what again?"
Baka: "As i said, you see these three candles in front of you i want you to ignite the two candles on the side simultaneously while leaving the middle candle untouched.
Sieg: "Alright i haven't tried this before but it should be easy enough."
Captain Baka: "Aturia, your exercise is a little different."
Aturia folded her arms.
Aturia: "Different how?"
Captain Baka: "First, create an ice sphere."
Aturia casually formed a perfectly round ice sphere in her palm.
Captain Baka: "Now make it bigger. Gradually."
The sphere expanded until it was roughly the size of her head.
Captain Baka: "Good. Now change its shape without destroying it."
Aturia glanced at him before transforming the sphere into a cube.
Baka nodded approvingly.
Captain Baka: "Now do that with something considerably larger. And keep it stable throughout the process."
Aturia looked puzzled.
Aturia: "How is this going to make me stronger?
Captain Baka: Well it helps to develop versatility and continuous magic manipulation.
Aturia: "Oh i understand, then I'll continue my training Captain."
They were interrupted by Sieg as he groaned in frustration.
Sieg: "Aww damnit not again."
He threw the three burnt charcoal candles and set in new ones as he sat down and concentrated.
Captain Baka: "Well it looks like someone is motivated. Alright Miki are you ready for your hand to hand combat training, i won't be going easy on you just so you know.
Miki: "I know Captain, i wouldn't have it any other way, i too need to get as strong as I can to protect my teammates.
Baka: Alright then you can begin. You can decide to go barehanded or use your dagger if you want.
Miki: I'll go bare handed instead.
She charged in swinging with a left punch followed by a right and a kick but Baka easily dodged them and responded with a kick sending Miki tumbling on the floor.
Captain Baka "Balance. Guard. Distance. Movement. These are the four things you need to focus on not just your attacking power."
Miki stood up from the ground as she breathed heavily.
Miki: "Alright let's go again."
After five hours had passed baka decided to bring the training to an end.
Baka: Alright that should be all for today, good job Miki you're gradually improving bit by bit. I hope i didn't injure you too much you might need to get a first aid.
Miki: it's alright captain i can heal myself.
Captain Baka: You can heal yourself at the age of 12 that's kinda impressive. Most experienced people with healing magic still find it difficult to heal themselves. And you've already mastered it along with the flash step technique as well.
Miki blushed shyly
Miki: You give me too much credit, it was nothing really, All it took was home training.
Captain: Hmm well keep up the good work, Let's see how the others are coming along.
Sieg: Yes!! After 65 tries and 195 candles burnt I've finally done it. I ignited two candles simultaneously while leaving the middle one untouched.
Baka looks at them as two of the candles are ignited while the middle one is untouched.
Baka: "Good job but keep on practicing at home so you won't lose the hang of it."
Sieg: "Believe it or not i told you it was easy, you should have given me something harder instead. One step closer to becoming the King of Knights.
Captain: "Okay stop getting a big head. And what about you Aturia?
Aturia: "It was no problem for me. Now i can maintain multiple ice weapons simultaneously while changing their shapes while they're already in motion.
Captain: Good job three of you.
They heard footsteps approaching as Iroh stepped forward.
Iroh: Hey are you all done with your flashy training because I'm about to head to the bridge and check on the construction the other workers have been up to.
Captain Baka: Well we just finished, You three should take a bath and a little rest while you're at it. I'll escort Iroh to the bridge and protect him.
Iroh: Let's not waste much more time before it gets dark and we also need to buy supplies for dinner.
Baka walked beside him as he whispered.
Baka: Hey umm is there any chance we're going to buy beer too. I'm afraid it's all out.
Iroh smiled
Iroh: Oh don't worry about it i know something much better than beer we can buy.
Captain Baka: Oh you have my attention what is it?
Iroh: Green Tea
Captain: And you've lost my attention.
The kids glanced at both of them from behind as they walked out of sight.
Sieg: Alright time to get a good nice bath I've earned it.
Aturia: Who said you were going in, In case you haven't heard of ladies first you doofus.
Sieg: Well i called dibs on the hot tub first so I'll go in first you dweeb."
Aturia: "Do you care to repeat that doofus I'm afraid i don't understand stupidity!"
Miki: "Please you two should calm down, it's not worth fighting about I'm sure we can all find a way to share."
Five minutes later Aturia and Sieg are dragging and pushing each other for whichever enters the bathroom first.
Miki sighed
Miki: Oh boy this is going to be a long day.