Six Warriors

Flaming Excitement - (Jack)

"I have no fear or trepidation, I've passed my trial by fire and I'm stronger than ever!" That's what Jack thought as he walked to the room indicated in his letter. Wasn't that what he had always dreamed of? Become respected? Become important? Become powerful and experience adventures, be someone people trust and even depend on. He was very excited, anxious even to know what he should do. He would succeed, no one would ever underestimate him for anything, he was and would be even more a legendary warrior.

With all those thoughts of adventure and success, Jack didn't notice someone simply pulling his ear cap off his head, and when he went looking for the funny one, someone gave him a headlock all of a sudden.

"If we were fighting again, I would have won, wouldn't I, Jack?" Thea asked as she held him.

"Don't think it would be that easy." Jack laughed as Thea released him.

"Why were you there all distracted?"

"I was thinking about proving myself more and more."

"I bet you're pretty excited about it, am I right?" Thea smiled.

"Absolutely yes!"

"Then follow me, newbie!" Thea followed the path, then looked back, giving Jack a suggestive smile, "or rather... let's see if you can catch up with me, how about that?"The girl started to run and Jack followed behind her, running and trying to catch up with her, in an improvised race. Thea was very fast and athletic. In fact, she looked like a real athlete and was way ahead of Jack in that aspect. In the end, Jack lost the race.

"We're tied now, Jack, one win each." Thea said with a smile as they reached their destination, while Jack was panting with exhaustion.

"Alright, I think you're right." Jack said with a smile. When they entered the room, they saw two people there, a girl and a boy.

"Well you guys finally arrived…a little sweaty maybe, but…hmmm look, I'm not going to ask what you were up to." Said the guy who was still sitting. He had short brown hair, eyes the same color, a jovial face of no more than eighteen years of age, and carried a sword and wore armor.

"Hey you i***t, what are you implying, huh?" Thea asked aggressively, in a scene that Jack found comical.

"Alright guys, let's just calm down." Said the girl in a gentle voice. She had long and strong, glossy black hair. Her face was even more youthful than the boy's and was perhaps sixteen or seventeen, she wore a robe in white and red and what most called her attention to Jack were her pink eyes.

"So Thea, aren't you going to introduce us to our new little friend? Or should I say big friend?" The guy gave a smile.

"Jack Zaek, the bearer of the Fire Kerd, this is Jeremy Swan, from Second Class, and Kaia Marchio, a healer of the Order."

"Nice to meet Jack," said Jeremy, standing up and giving Jack a handshake, "you guys beat the Third Class, right? One of them is even at risk of death, you guys were wild."

Thea looked uncomfortable with that comment, but said nothing.

"Hm… it must have been an accident, I think," Jack said.

"It wasn't an accident!" Thea spoke with a growl, "that friend of his did it on purpose, he almost killed one of our companions. We fought with no intention of killing and he acted evilly."

"Sorry Thea, but who are you talking about?"

"That boy who inherited the powers of darkness he intended to kill!"

"It was a fight after all, dammit!" Jeremy said like he didn't care.

"You wouldn't be that calm if you were one of your Second Class subordinates, would you, Jeremy?"

"If it was one of my subordinates, the guy who did this wouldn't be alive anymore." Jeremy replied in a slightly sinister tone of voice.

"Fenrir then. He did it?" Jack flashed a quick smile, "my friend, but also the one I regard as a rival. He seems to be quite strong, so?"

"If he's your rival, be careful Jack. He's sneaky and dangerous." Thea said with some concern, but the next moment she gave him a smile, "but I bet you could beat someone like him."

"I can only say that I am curious about the capabilities of the new crystal bearers, the ones who have unfairly swept away all other candidates." Jeremy gave a confident smile, "I'm looking forward to working with you boy, I want to see what you're capable of."

"Hm... b-but our mission... we shouldn't draw too much attention..." Kaia said shyly.

"Don't worry, as long as we complete the mission no matter what, Eagle is a results guy!" Jeremy spoke casually.

"Look, don't be reckless, okay? Dude, what were they thinking when they put this team together? The reckless, impulsive, empty-headed team! I can't believe I'm going to have to be the most responsible here, hey, that's not my role!" Thea complained. She then looked at Jack, "okay Jack, it's time for us to do what we have to do. Take your shirt off."

"Sorry?"

"Don't think nonsense boy, it's just that you have to join your crystal, understand? I'll guide you through this, take off your shirt and hold the crystal orb close to your chest."

Jack did as requested, the crystal flickering a blazing light. Jack felt like he was near a cozy fire on a night camping with friends, but he also felt like he was standing in front of a volcano. It was warmth and power, creation but also destruction. He felt so close to the power of his crystal that he could almost hear the crackle of flames, or smell the volcanic smell, or even feel the presence of a great fire dragon... when the crystal orb entered his chest, it was like an ember that touched his skin, it was like he were always had cold and now he was warm, it was like he had always been powerless and now powerful. A luminosity flared in the center of his chest, red and orange, also appearing a mark that represented the symbol of fire magic. The luminosity was slowly extinguished like a dying bonfire, but the mark remained as a drawing or even an branding iron mark.

"Cool man, congratulations, now it's official." Jeremy said.

"Now there is no turning back, Jack, you must always surpass yourself to show the heroism you claimed, the adventures will always be with you and you will have to stand out over them and help people. My congratulations, new chosen of the fire!" Thea congratulated him with a sincere smile on her face.