Over time, his times with his guardian, Edgar, seemed to have gotten harder and harder, incorporating more and more skill sets. In fact some of the training exercises that he was regularly put through might have even seemed a little harsh for a boy his age, but he took on each and every one without complaint. Instead of petulance and childish tendency to give up because something hurt, Jace tended to look stubborn, determined, getting up again as soon as he fell, only taking breaks when his guardian allowed them. After all, he was being hardened into someone that wouldn't bend or break, wouldn't falter, and would die before betraying his orders. It was a shame that Edgar had no idea what Jace had planned when it came to his abilities.

Despite that, the Hirayama kept pressing him harder and harder, teaching him more and more until Jace was exhausted mentally and physically. He couldn't help but wonder if it was more to keep him occupied than because he actually really needed to push him so hard, but it didn't matter. In all honesty Jace was already seeing and feeling the results of his training and it filled him with silent, secret pride. Every extra set he was able to do, every hard line that was added to his body, every time he didn't break a sweat, it made him practically glow.

However now that he had a friend, now that he actually wanted to get away from his guardian for any period of time, his regiment had become even more taxing. More katas were pushed at him daily, heavier weights were added, longer distances had to be run. Jace couldn't help but wonder if he would hit his limit, child that he was, before he'd be able to escape Edgar. Eventually he did receive his answer when he dropped the weights he was using, barely saved from being crushed by his guardian who gave him a stern look of disapproval.

Jace's eyes narrowed in response as he sat up, dripping with sweat and breathing heavily, mentally frustrated and upset due to his slip up. Heaving a sigh the Hirayama set the weights aside and gestured for the Poochyena to move on to running his laps, causing Jace's shoulders to slump immediately. It was never that he disliked working for his abilities, more that he felt that he sometimes couldn't be pushed farther despite how fast his guardian said that he seemed to be maturing. Everything he was doing felt so pointless when he knew that his age limited him a lot.

When he slipped up a second time, however, falling and tumbling, he felt that maybe, just maybe, Edgar had seen the same thing. After a few long moments of Jace panting, too exhausted to be ashamed, the Hirayama came over and plucked him up like he weighed nothing. Already the Poochyena felt his eyes fluttering, his body feeling far to heavy to move in that moment. As the large man carried him inside, he spoke, he spoke, the words making Jace smile a little.

"Fine, fine. We'll take a break. Go visit your friend." Jace couldn't remember an order he'd be happier following.