The sun hung low in the sky, casting a warm golden hue over the training grounds of the Titan Institute.
Zazm Mystic stood at the center of the mat, his bare feet planted firmly on the polished wood, a stark contrast to the vibrant colors of his training uniform.
He had been practicing capoeira for a month now, and the rhythm of the music pulsed through him like a heartbeat. The sounds of berimbau and atabaque filled the air, creating an atmosphere that was both exhilarating and grounding.
Zazm's body moved fluidly, each kick and spin a testament to his quick learning.
He executed a perfect meia-lua de compasso, his leg slicing through the air with precision, followed by a swift armada that sent him spinning gracefully to the ground.
He rolled back to his feet, a wide grin plastered across his face. The coach, Silva, watched from the sidelines, his arms crossed and an eyebrow raised in disbelief.
"Zazm, you're a natural!" Silva called out, his voice booming over the music. "You've only been training for a month, and you're already mastering moves that take others years to perfect!"
Silva said while laughing in a playful tone and clapping his hands, 'But what's with this insane growth? He is a monster.' Silva's thoughts were into their own world.
Zazm beamed with pride, his heart swelling at the praise. "Thanks, Coach! I just feel the rhythm, you know? It's like the movements are part of me."
"Keep that energy up!" Silva encouraged, clapping his hands together. "Let's see you combine the meia-lua with a queixada!"
Zazm nodded, focusing his mind. He visualized the movements, the flow of energy through his body. He launched into the meia-lua, his leg sweeping low before transitioning into the queixada, his foot arcing high and striking the imaginary opponent with a powerful kick.
The move was fluid, a dance of strength and grace, and Zazm felt the exhilaration of mastering his body.
As he finished, Silva approached him, a look of admiration in his eyes. "You've got something special, Zazm. Just remember, capoeira is not just about the moves; it's about the spirit. You need to connect with your opponent, feel their energy."
Zazm nodded, absorbing the wisdom. "I'll keep that in mind, Coach. I want to be the best."
---
Meanwhile, across town, Jahanox Nova was deep in concentration, sitting cross-legged on the floor of his dimly lit room.
In front of him sat a small, fluffy rabbit, its nose twitching as it nibbled on a piece of carrot. He had gotten this rabbit from his neighbors. They were going out and asked his family to look after it.
"Jahanox what are you doing inside?" Jahanox mother knocked on the door. Jahanox quickly got up and opened the door.
"Haha .. nothing mother. Just playing a little." He said while letting out a dry laugh. His mother looked at him concerned for a second.
"You never used to get involve in this stuff before." She put her hand on her chin, "You seem more cheerful and fun now. You go out more often.
You even stopped wearing those fake glasses. And you even joke more around now. Not like I hate the change but it's still a little concerning.
Jahanox laughed dryly, his mind racing for answers, 'I can't tell her I go out to practice my powers on different animals or some people.'
"Well... Zazm told me I should try to make more friends and be more nice... So I just took his advice." His mother smiled gently, "Well if thats the case... Enjoy the time with rabbit."
Jahanox nodded and put his head on the rabbit. He was smile in a maniacal way.
"Okay, little buddy," Jahanox whispered, his voice soothing and still smiling. "Let's see if I can help you forget about that carrot for a moment."
He closed his eyes, linking himself to the rabbit. He could feel the gentle pulse of its thoughts, the simple desires of hunger and safety.
With a deep breath, he reached out with his mind, weaving a delicate web of influence around the creature's psyche.
He opened his eyes and to his delight, the rabbit paused, its nose twitching in confusion. He left carrot he was eating and started jumping here and there from excitement.
Jahanox felt a rush of triumph as the rabbit's thoughts shifted. Its eyes widened, and it hopped around, seemingly lost in a world of vibrant blooms. Jahanox opened his eyes, grinning from ear to ear. "I did it! I actually did it!"
The rabbit went closer to the wall and directly jumped into it. Jahanox ran and picked the rabbit up. "Hell... It's not a real grass Field man.. he quickly removed his thoughts and made him normal."
He spent his days practicing on various animals--birds, squirrels, even a stray cat that wandered into his yard.
Each time, he felt the thrill of success as he manipulated their thoughts, creating new memories and experiences. But he knew he had to be careful; the power to control minds was intoxicating, and he had to use it responsibly.
Later that evening, Zazm and Jahanox met at their favorite café, a cozy little spot with mismatched furniture and the aroma of freshly brewed coffee wafting through the air. They settled into a corner booth, excitement buzzing between them.
"Dude, you won't believe how much I've improved!" Zazm exclaimed, his eyes sparkling. "I can now do the queixada and the armada in one fluid motion! Coach Silva says I'm a natural."
Jahanox chuckled, shaking his head in disbelief. "No idea the hell they are but whatever if you enjoying them, I suppose it's fine. But I'm extremely exhausted school work and then focusing on my abilities...."
Zazm waved a hand dismissively. "Come on, you're doing amazing things too! How's the mind control practice going?"
Jahanox leaned in, lowering his voice conspiratorially. "I've been practicing on animals, and it's going great! I made a rabbit forget about its carrot and think it was in a field of flowers. It was incredible! I felt like superior for a moment."
Zazm laughed, his eyes wide with excitement. "That's awesome! You're like a magician! But… have you tried it on humans yet?"
Jahanox's expression shifted slightly, a flicker of hesitation crossing his face. "Well, I did… once. It was a bit risky."
Zazm leaned forward, intrigued. "What happened?"
Jahanox took a deep breath, recalling the incident. "There is this guy at school, you remember Jason?"
Zazm raised a brow his face filled with suspicion, "That third year who picks on kids?" Jahanox nodded.
"I thought it might be a good idea to mess with him a little, I put my hand on his back while we were in the cafeteria waiting in the line for lunch.
I than made him think he was allergic to juice and there were cockroaches in his plate instead of beans."
Zazm raised an eyebrow, impressed yet concerned. "And? Did it work?"
"Yeah, it worked too well," Jahanox admitted, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly. "He started freaking out, and I had to release the mind control before the entire cafeteria freaked out."
Zazm nodded, letting out a big laugh. "Hahah.... trust me he deserved it."
"I know," Jahanox replied, his voice serious. "I'm trying to be responsible. I only use it when I think it's necessary."
Zazm smiled, appreciating his friend's intentions. "That's a good way to use your powers. Just remember, with great power comes great responsibility, right?"
"Yeah, yeah, I get it," Jahanox said, rolling his eyes playfully. "What about you? How's the whole space-time manipulation thing going?"
Zazm's expression brightened again. "I've been doing some research on the fabric of space-time. I can see the colours of threads now, and I'm starting to understand how they connect.
I even managed to increase the distance of teleportation around my room! It's like playing with a puzzle."
"That's insane!" Jahanox exclaimed, his eyes wide with admiration. "Can you teleport yourself yet?"
"Not yet," Zazm admitted, his tone slightly deflated. "But I'm working on it. I think I need to get a better grasp of the threads before I can move myself. It's all about understanding the connections."
"Dude, you're going to be unstoppable," Jahanox said, his enthusiasm infectious. "Imagine what we could do together! You could teleport us out of trouble while I control the minds of our enemies!"
Zazm chuckled, shaking his head. "We'd be like a superhero duo. But we have to keep our powers under wraps. We can't let anyone find out what we can do."
"Agreed," Jahanox said, his expression turning serious. "We have to be smart about this. School is already tough enough without adding superpowers into the mix."
"Anyways Zazm, don't you think you are skipping school alot nowdays?" Jahanox said raising his brows and giving Zazm a skeptic look.
Zazm spoke in a nervous tone,"Oh-Oh yeah... I'm just skipping a few clas--" but before he could finish Jahanox interrupted him.
"You come 2 days a week now. I agree the attendance is not compulsory but man you have to understand."
"Fine fine I'll make it 3 but I'm busier than you." He waved his hand and went back to his chat.
As they continued to chat, the café buzzed with life around them. Students laughed and shared stories, the clinking of cups and the aroma of pastries creating a comforting atmosphere.
Zazm and Jahanox felt a sense of normalcy amidst their extraordinary lives, a reminder that they were still just two friends navigating the challenges of adolescence.
---
The following week, Zazm found himself back at the Titan Institute, his body moving with newfound confidence.
He had been practicing diligently, and today, he was ready to showcase his progress. The class was larger than usual, filled with students eager to learn the art of capoeira.
"Alright, everyone!" Silva called out, clapping his hands to gather attention. "Today, we're going to have a friendly sparring session. Pair up and show me what you've got!"
Zazm's heart raced with excitement. He quickly paired up with a tall, athletic boy named Lenz, who had been training for a few months now.
As they faced each other, Zazm felt the energy crackling in the air. He remembered Silva's words about connecting with his opponent, and he focused on the rhythm of the music playing in the background.
Lenz lunged forward, executing a swift kick aimed at Zazm's midsection. He ducked just in time, feeling the rush of air as his foot passed overhead. He countered with a meia-lua, his leg sweeping low and catching him off guard. He stumbled back, surprised by his speed.
"Nice move!" Lenz said, grinning as he regained his balance. "You've really improved since last month!"
Zazm felt a surge of pride at his compliment. "Thanks! I've been practicing a lot. Let's see what else I can do!"
With that, he launched into a series of fluid movements, combining kicks and spins with a grace that surprised even him.
He executed a perfect armada, spinning in the air and landing with a flourish. The other students watched in awe, and Zazm could feel their admiration fueling his confidence.
"Impressive!" Silva called out, nodding approvingly. "But remember, capoeira is not just about flashy moves. It's about strategy and connection. Don't forget to read your opponent!"
Zazm nodded, taking a moment to catch his breath. He focused on Lenz, watching his movements closely. He was quick and agile, and he knew he had to be smart about his next move.
As he advanced, Zazm feigned a kick, drawing him in. When he lunged to counter, he pivoted, executing a swift rasteira that swept his legs out from under him.
Lenz fell to the mat with a surprised yelp, but Zazm was quick to help him up, extending a hand. "Sorry! I didn't mean to knock you down like that!"
He laughed, brushing himself off. "No worries! That was a great move! You're really getting the hang of this."
As the sparring session continued, Zazm felt the thrill of competition and camaraderie. He was no longer just a beginner; he was becoming a part of something bigger, a community that shared his passion. Each kick, each spin, was a step closer to mastering not just capoeira, but himself.
---
Meanwhile, Jahanox was grappling with his own challenges. After a particularly exhausting day at school, he found himself in a dark alley, the shadows stretching ominously around him. He had heard rumors of a gang that had been terrorizing the neighborhood.
'How did I get myself involved with them....' Jahanox thought as he stood against some people of that gang. A swear tickled down his forehead.
"Oi, what are you doing in this area?" One of the man asked, He was tall black man with no hair over his head, his body filled with tattoos. 'Cool... He looks like the textbook definition of criminal.'
The man approached Jahanox and held him by his collar, "Whatcha looking at? Better start speaking."
Jahanox was afraid but he kept his calm, "Okay, Jahanox," he muttered to himself, steeling his resolve. "You can do this. Just remember to be careful."
He out his hands on the hands of the gang boss trying to loosen his grip or that's what the black guy thought.
Suddenly the boss put Jahanox down and punched another man that stood next to him, "What are you doing bo--" one of his men shouted as he got hit with a kick in the face.
Jahanox watched the chaos fold from the side lines, eventually all of them fought together and now lie unconscious on the ground.
"Alright... Now all that's left is to wipe their memories." He went up to each guy individually removing their memories.
He wiped sweat off his forehead, "I wish I can do it with multiple people at the same time or atleast without being this close to him."
---
Back at the Capoeira Institute, Zazm was finishing up his training session, his body glistening with sweat.
He felt invigorated, but his mind was still racing with thoughts of Jahanox. They had agreed to meet after training, and he couldn't wait to hear about his friend's latest exploits.
As he stepped outside, the sun was setting, casting a warm glow over the city. He spotted Jahanox leaning against a lamppost, his expression contemplative. Zazm approached, concern etching his features.
"Hey, man! How was your day?" Zazm asked, trying to lighten the mood.
Jahanox looked up, forcing a smile. "It was… interesting. I had to use my powers again."
As the both friends continued to walk, the sun continued to go down the horizon as Jahanox shared his interesting day with Zazm.
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