Nestled in the opening of a cavern was the Flame Squad's base. Further in was the training room reserved for the best of their ranks. The room was fairly large but enclosed with a jagged and high ceiling. On all four corners of the room were lights that seemed to be attached to the wall.There was even a vent somewhere in the room out of view so no one would asphyxiate themselves.
They had just got done demonstrating the foundational exercises. Three of them were starting to really perspire, when Jetto insisted they continue. There was barely a moment from the conclusion of Zukki's last sit up and the sound of the energetic woman's "so".
Zukki just blinked while Karada chuckled.
"You already know this.. don't rush her." Karada responds first like he's the most acquainted with jetto's antics.
"Ahem..well, Jetto even if you are a little too eager it is best to start understanding the fundamentals of how we use our flames" Kappa finally starts his seemingly long lecture. "Now I don't have to stress this enough, but using fire will burn you. It will hurt you"
Zukki winces because she's felt it first hand. The feeling of her body nearly becoming fuel for her own flame.
"Flames sear your skin...in time you'll have drying skin like the rest of us" Kappa says, not holding back how grim the outlook is. "But in exchange for all that pain we will become strong enough to rid ourselves of the many evils that run free in the universe."
Kappa continued to give this long speech about the potential for growth and change that could be accomplished under their guidance, but that all flew over her head. Zukki really just heard the flashy bits and the easier to understand aspects of it. Like how fire enables better combat techniques and such, but she did keep the fact that it was all for helping the weak to her heart.
Zukki was always looking up and had only recently been introduced to those stuck in the mud.
"Those who are weak rely on the strong, and it's those who are strong will eventually need the weak to lean on..." Kappa came to the climax of his speech, but for the first time he choked on his words.
Cough
"Anyways, fire isn't only dangerous in the way it burns you, if you burn all the air in an enclosed room you will also poison yourself. Be mindful little ember" he concluded his speech while successfully deflecting the unearthed emotions.
Zukki felt as though her father had more to say, but she did not fight him on wanting to continue the explanation. She is still very much eager after all. After nodding to her father she continues to listen.
Karada and especially Jetto remain silent. The latter put in great effort to remain as such.
"Before you cool down too much, start doing some squats for me. I'll explain while you do so" said Kappa in a lighter tone, preparing for the meat of the subject.
After wiping the sweat off her brow Zukki went right into positioning herself. Taking an extra long moment to place her feet the right distance apart. Everyone was patient with her hair, even Jetto albeit she is giggling like a weasel on the side with her canines showing.
"First, it is hard to feel it now, but our home planet has a rare super high gravitational pull. Most just find this to be a major obstacle, but not for our race. The other races need chips planted into their spine just to stay here. For us it means we gain strength ten times faster here than on most other planets" Karada turns and mines the spot on his nape for Kappa's explanation.
"It's true about the gravity advantage, it really stoke the flame" Jetto jokes and the most of it goes over Zukki's head.
"Zukki, what I am about to share with you from here on out must not be shared with anyone else besides your mother, the three of us, Ringu, and Hikari." the tone shift in his voice and use of her name made her stop mid repetition to focus.
Zukki stood up straight and out of the corner of her eye the other two were standing straight and were serious.
"Remember that spark, use the heat built in your body to ignite it. You can do that, correct?"
"Yes father!"
She then holds her hand out, right palm upwards. Zukki tensed her fingers and created the sudden combustion like she had been prepared. Little embers rose into a hand sized flame that lit up the girl's face. With her decent restraint it didn't burn..yet.
"Oh wow" Kappa says with pride in his deep voice. "Exactly, and it was easy to focus your warmth with your body so hot already right?"
Zukki nods in response, and maybe it's how warm her body is, but she does not struggle to control this fire in her hand. From the side Karada and Jetto follow suit with the demonstration. Her eyes continue to keep that innocent sparkle of joy as she then sees Kappa create his own palm sized flame.
"The goal, in the end, is to have you learn to shroud your body in flames. Not as a combat specialty, but, well I'll have your mother explain the ritual later tonight with the importance of your exercise. For now Karada is going to head your training. He's the expert in the full shroud of flames." Kappa motions with his hand to Karada.
"Uncie! You're going to teach me?"
"Haha! Of course. Maybe you'll even learn how to save your tail hair and..hair hair"
"You mean I'll burn off my hair.." Zukki nearly whimpers as she holds the spikey locks of hair.
"No no, only if you go too hard like this fool. You don't need to shroud your body in flames all the time. Just when it truly matters" Jetto cuts in with a rare super accurate piece of advice to reassure.
"So do I just create flames from all over my body?" Zukki asks, eager to continue.
"No, you start by surrounding your hand and slowly work your way up." Kappa advises clearly. "Now I'll leave the rest of your training to Karada. I must attend to important duties"
"Wait" Zukki suddenly speaks up now that kappa was preparing to leave.
Kappa stops moving before even taking the single full step. Catching his daughter as she leaps into his arms. His hand trails through her spiky locks.
"I'll come pick you up later for dinner" he says while caressing the girl's head as she nuzzles into him. "Make sure to drink water and eat some food"
kappa glanced up at the two he would be leaving her with. They understand the assignment right away.
After a long moment he put her down and one side of his lips curled ever so slightly.
"Work hard little ember, make your mother proud"
The three of them watched the retreating back of the man they all deeply respected. Zukki's lips quivered only briefly before they solidly curled up into a smile.
The girl spun on her heel and turned to her new instructors.
"Soooo, ready to practice!" Jetto responded before Karada or Zukki. This time the incredulity was left behind and her enthusiasm was reciprocated.
"It's as the leader said. We'll start by wrapping our arms in flames. Karada begins his demonstration.
Holding his muscular arm out, palm down and fingers relaxed outwards. The flames started flickering to life at the tips of his fingers, but a closer eye could see the heat traveling from his lower body and upper body towards his arm. Like as if a gas was leaking and visibly distorting the air around him.
Zukki didn't notice the intricacies of the action. Only the flashy bits for now.
The fire ignited at a safe distance from his skin. It cast over his hand until it was entirely shrouded in flames that crackled upwards. Karada's expression did not change, since he was used to this level of heat.
Then Jetto followed the demonstration as well, her technique is just as good as Karada's. Then she and Karada gave the girl an expectant look.
"Ok!" She agrees nearly instantly, save for the two moments of admiration that preceded it.
Like before she leads with her palm out. The fire ignited in her hand as she had practiced those dozen or so nights. The little fire in her hand moved and nudged in different directions as she concentrated.
"Mmm"
"Mngmm"
"Mnnngah" she finally accepts her inability to move the fire as it fails to bend to her whims.
Jetto for once just kept quiet. A little silent chuckle here and there.
Karada was honestly impressed she got this far on just knowledge of the initiation alone. He, like the other three, was there to witness it, the day she became a proper flame conjuring warrior.
"Alright, put out your fire and let's get some water and grub!" Karada flashed the girl an approving grin.
"Perfect timing... because I'm starving" Jetto complained so easily it caught even Zukki off guard.
"Me too me too! The food over in the prison is horrible" Zukki wines in a very similarly over dramatic way that her Antie does.
"Those monsters!.. tell antie all about it" Jetto lifts Zukki onto her shoulder. The two of them shared complaints about horrible food experiences.