Page 1
Mabo stands firmly under the rock. His teeth are clenched. His eyes are fixed on a point in front of him.
Thian goes to get some food.
A loud thud.
Thian turns to see the Grandfather has placed the rock on Mabo's shoulders, and the ground cracks slightly under his feet.
In his imagination… Mabo is completely serious, with muscles that don't fit his age, carrying the rock with one hand and performing squats non-stop like a machine.
Page 2
Thian returns to reality.
The real Mabo: His eyes are almost rolling back, his face is red as a tomato, and his breath is ragged as if he is dying.
Thian pauses for a moment.
Then he spits the food from his mouth and collapses on the ground laughing.
"Damn you, Thian!" Mabo's voice is hoarse from under the rock.
Thian laughs even harder. Mabo grinds his teeth and descends into his first squat with extreme difficulty.
Page 3
He stops halfway. He can't get back up.
He breathes. He tries again. He succeeds in the first one.
Thian stops laughing and focuses.
The second. Thian takes a step closer.
The third… the fourth… Mabo screams from the weight.
The fifth.
He drops the rock and lies flat on the ground. He doesn't move.
Page 4
Thian stands over him and looks at him sincerely:
"I'm impressed."
He gives a single, simple clap.
Mabo raises one finger from the ground without moving. Finally.
The Grandfather says: "You both succeeded. Today, the preliminary training ends, as it was only a simplified version of the original. Tomorrow, the real training begins."
Thian: "What is this training?"
The Grandfather smiles a smile that reveals nothing: "Sleep well tonight. Early tomorrow… you will see."
Page 5
The rooster crows before dawn.
The Grandfather wakes them without mercy. They prepare themselves in the silence of sleepiness.
The three of them set off toward the training area. The road is long; they walk a great distance. Until a massive forest appears before them.
Page 6
Its trees pierce the sky. Their trunks are larger than the village houses.
Mabo walks close to the Grandfather without admitting it.
They venture deep until the sound of the village vanishes behind them.
The Grandfather stops suddenly: "We've arrived."
Mabo looks around. He sees nothing but trees.
"Your new training is… to break these trees."
Page 7
Mabo looks at the Grandfather in surprise: "But… where are the axes?"
BOOM.
A single punch from the Grandfather.
A group of trees falls before them like dry leaves.
The Grandfather raises his hand slowly. Mabo glimpses his hand turning black for a moment… then the color gradually fades as if it never was.
Page 8
Mabo opens his mouth, but no sound comes out.
Thian's eyes sparkle: "Grandfather… you are so strong!"
The Grandfather turns toward them: "This is your training."
Page 9
"Strengthening your fists. Two hours. Warm up first, then punch the trees with everything you have until you break them."
Mabo gives an involuntary laugh: "What?"
Page 10
"Do you also want us to move the forest to the south? Don't be shy, Grandfather, just ask!"
Grandfather: "Your goal is clear. No more talk."
Mabo: "Do you mean this… is for real?!"
Page 11
"Yes. For real."
Mabo puts his face in his hands: "Impossible."
"Nothing is impossible, Mabo."
"But… look at the size of them!"
Page 12
Thwack.
A light hit on Mabo's head from Thian.
"Be quiet for a bit."
Thian turns to the Grandfather with a calm smile: "Don't worry, Grandfather. Everything is under control."
The Grandfather looks at Thian for a moment. He nods. "I'll leave it to you."
He disappears among the trees with quiet steps, as if the forest is swallowing him.
Page 13
Mabo stands before the first tree. He walks around it. He examines it.
Thian stands behind him: "Breathe slowly. Take the punching stance. And strike with all your might."
Page 14
Mabo breathes deeply. He focuses slowly, takes the stance, and strikes.
The sound of breaking.
The bones of his hand. Not the tree.
The tree is unharmed.
Mabo collapses on the ground screaming from the intense pain. Thian laughs so hard he can't stop.
Page 15
"Alright. Move aside. It's my turn."
Thian widens his stance. He focuses. He strikes.
The sound of breaking.
His hand bones as well.
The tree is unaffected.
Now both of them are on the ground. Mabo is writhing in pain and laughter at the same time.
Page 16
Thian finally calms down: "Alright… warm up first. Then we try again."
After the warm-up, Thian strikes with a harder punch.
A small crack in the tree.
Thian holds his swollen forearm, but a smile of hidden pride crosses his face.
Mabo tries. Nothing. He tries again. Nothing.
Page 17
Time passes. The punches continue.
Thian causes more damage after every attempt.
Mabo doesn't stop. He strikes, he hurts, he strikes again.
Finally… very small cracks appear in the tree before him.
He says nothing. He just looks at them.
Page 18
Thian approaches and pats Mabo's shoulder with slight arrogance:
"Don't be discouraged, Mabo. You'll develop with time. It's just that… I'm stronger than you."
Mabo turns to him quickly. He starts talking in angry gibberish and attacks.
Thian puts his hand on Mabo's head, holding him at a distance, laughing while Mabo punches the air in full rage.
Page 19
The Grandfather returns after two hours.
He stands before the trees. He examines the damage in silence.
Thian's damage is clear and much deeper.
Thian points to Mabo's damage with mock pride: "Hahaha! Look, Grandfather!"
Mabo turns to him slowly. Real anger. He starts shouting.
Thian takes a step back, laughing and fearful at the same time.
Page 20
"Your progress is very good. I didn't expect to see any cracks today. I am proud of you both."
Mabo stops shouting suddenly.
He puts his hands behind his head. He scratches his nose shyly.
"As you see, Grandfather… I'm just taking it easy so Thian doesn't feel too weak."
Page 21
Thian looks at him with a squint.
Mabo scratches his hair and smiles a smile that convinces no one.
The three of them return home.
Page 22
Mabo goes to wash his hands.
He freezes in front of the mirror.
His hands are swollen in a way he has never seen before. They are dark red. Their size almost matches a bowling ball.
He looks at them in a long silence.
Page 23
The three of them eat dinner in silence.
"Tomorrow you go back to the same place. You continue at this pace until you can break a tree with a single punch."
Mabo eats silently. He looks at his swollen hands on the table.
Page 24
"Grandfather…"
The Grandfather raises his eyes.
"In the morning when you punched the tree… I saw your hand turn black for a moment. Was I imagining things?"
The Grandfather sets his spoon down slowly. He looks at Mabo with eyes that read something far away.
Then he smiles a calm, confident smile:
"Everything comes in its time, Mabo. I will explain everything to you… when the time is right."
To be continued in Chapter 6