Farouk stood silent for a long moment, his piercing eyes watching Kealen as he poured his full rage onto the poor tree trunk. The sound of the hits wasn't just an impact; it was a heavy, harsh thud that shook the corners of the place. The copper aura enveloping Kealen's fist trembled and flickered with every stab into the wood, like a trapped energy trying to explode and break free from its master's grip.
The wind was strong that morning, blowing violently and tossing Kealen's hair, which had grown significantly over the past twenty days, making it dance in the air like the rebellious leaves around him. Kealen's state had completely changed; after having a soft youthful face and neat hair, he now possessed a wild and scattered appearance. His hair was long and messy, and light strands had sprouted on his face, forming a small beard that made him look like the wanderers who struggle for survivar
yet it granted his face features of maturity and strength that weren't there before.
Farouk cut through this scene with a powerful shout, raising his hand high:
"Kealen! Your training is over; you can rest now."
Kealen turned his face slowly, an indescribable spark of happiness in his eyes. He gradually withdrew the aura from his hand and sighed deeply, then began walking toward Farouk, whispering to himself: "Twenty days of continuous hell.. I've even forgotten what I look like." He felt a strange mix of sadness for his condition and joy because he would finally rest for seven days, before departing in the final three days to reach the exam's starting location. He remembered his spacious room, the hot food, and the luxury he had left behind.
Kealen quickly reached Farouk, who greeted him with a rare smile and said:
"Good morning.. you woke up early as usual, training with such vigor."
Kealen began to laugh spontaneously, and Farouk joined him, then Farouk placed his hand on the boy's shoulder and said:
"You have truly changed, Kealen.. your childish facial features have vanished, and you've started to look like me. You're only missing a thick beard like this blonde-black one of mine!"
Farouk burst out laughing while jokingly slapping Kealen's shoulder, to which Kealen replied with a similar laugh:
"If I lived with you for another month, I'd become a complete carbon copy of you!"
Kealen stopped laughing and said seriously:
"Alright, I want to remove this beard and this thick hair. Wait for me here; I'll go get the knife."
Farouk walked into his house and returned carrying a sharp knife and a wooden chair. He placed the chair in front of the house and called out:
"What are you waiting for? Do you want me to come and carry you?"
Kealen shouted playfully: "Alright, old man!" and ran toward the chair and sat. He turned to Farouk and said:
"I want the same hairstyle you saw me with the first time, and take off this beard that's started crawling over my face."
Farouk sighed, feigning sadness, and said:
"What a shame.. you looked like a man just now, and now you'll go back to being a little child as I first knew you."
Kealen replied, laughing:
"But you once told me: Manhood isn't in the beard, but in the actions!"
Farouk went silent suddenly, knowing he had lost this verbal battle to Kealen. He nodded in agreement and began to work. Farouk enveloped the knife's blade with his own aura to increase its sharpness and started cutting the long strands of hair and removing the beard hairs with amazing speed and precision. This lasted for about fifteen minutes, with Farouk intent on reshaping Kealen's features.
Finally, Farouk deactivated the aura, set the knife aside, and said:
"I'm finished."
Kealen stood up and felt his face and hair with his hand, saying doubtfully:
"How do I know you haven't made me bald?"
Farouk replied coldly:
"Go to the water source and look at your reflection if you don't believe me."
Kealen hesitated, but Farouk let out a devious laugh that made Kealen panic and dash toward the water source. He threw himself at the water's edge and looked at his reflection, then smiled with relief; the handsome young man had returned as he was. He shouted from afar in annoyance:
"You scared me, you idiot!"
Farouk exploded with laughter as he watched Kealen's panicked run:
"You should have seen your face while running toward the water!" Kealen joined him in laughing as he returned.
Farouk placed his hand on Kealen's shoulder with a calm tone:
"You have one week left before you depart."
Kealen said gratefully:
"Yes.. one week. I will never forget your kindness and the good you've shown me."
Farouk smiled and said:
"Since you trained hard and are now ready for the third level, I will give you a gift that will help you greatly in your upcoming fights."
Farouk entered the house and closed the door, leaving Kealen puzzled, wondering about the nature of this gift. Suddenly, the door moved, and Farouk came out carrying an old wooden box covered in dust. Farouk said, smiling:
"This is your gift.. open it."
Kealen took the box with curiosity, brushed off the accumulated dust, and opened it, freezing in shock. Inside the box, there wasn't just one pistol, but two identical pistols; a masterpiece combining shining gold, black steel, and polished white metal. The golden engravings on the black grip gave them an indescribable luxury.
Kealen said in amazement:
"This.. this looks very expensive!"
Farouk laughed:
"Don't worry, these are two old pistols given to me by a friend. Since I don't use firearms, I decided to give them to you."
Kealen thanked Farouk warmly and reached out to hold the pistols; they were heavy and made the hand feel powerful. Kealen asked:
"Is there ammunition so I can try them?"
Farouk laughed again:
"They don't need bullets; these pistols create their ammunition from your own aura." He then took one from Kealen's hand and continued: "Release your aura into the pistol, let it envelop it completely, then pull the trigger."
Boob! The sound of the shot echoed. The bullet made of aura was so fast that Kealen couldn't glimpse it with his eye. Farouk warned the boy seriously:
"That is the way, but whatever you do, do not press with excessive force; create a bullet that fits the pistol's capacity. If the aura pressure increases, the weapon might explode in your hand and kill you."
Farouk tossed the pistol back to Kealen and said: "Your turn now.. I want to see your skills on that tree."
Kealen gripped the pistols with both hands, charging his right and left hands with aura. Farouk watched him sternly, ready to intervene if something went wrong. Kealen thought of Farouk's words, controlled the aura pressure precisely, then fired!
Two bullets shot accurately toward the tree. Kealen jumped with excitement and began firing like a madman in every direction while laughing. Farouk shouted and hit him on the head: "Stop, you lunatic! You'll destroy the place!"
Kealen stopped, laughing:
"Using them is really easy; it just needs pressure control." Then he looked at the sky with a slight sadness and asked: "Will I see you again, Farouk?"
Farouk took a deep breath and said :
"Perhaps.."
Kealen smiled, but in that brief moment, a massive explosion shook the forest! It was a terrifying sound that made birds flee and animals panic everywhere. Farouk was shocked, his features changing completely. He shouted at Kealen with a pale face:
"Go inside the house and lock the door immediately! A powerful intruder has entered our territory!"
Farouk's shouts carried a tone of danger Kealen had never heard before.