Rey returned his face to normal, though the small feline on his head seemed to fall asleep.

"Would you be willing to help me in that situation as my master?"

"Only if your eyes ask me to."

As one who wanted to confirm his guess, Heroclades threw out a guess accompanied by a penetrating and serious look. "Then if you know what I mean by the word allies…" he spoke as if it were a secret, as if a crime was about to be committed.

Someone naïve was not capable of survival. But his disciple was not naïve at all. If he really had memories of when he was little he surely had been able to notice Katherine's intentions.

"Your behavior when you said goodbye to your brothers gave me a clue," said Heroclades as a good investigator. "You want and expect them to remain your family when they return from their training, especially since you noticed that both Katherine and Mijan are uncomfortable with your presence in the pack, and that perhaps their thoughts will end up influencing you. You also know why your siblings have something you don't. Am I wrong?"

Rey shook his head at the last question.

Returning to his jocular nature, Heroclades continued. "In conclusion, we will ‘train’ for the day each time you return and each night you will have the opportunity to measure your strength by trying to be free, to learn what you please, and find escape from your weakness, from Katherine, from Mijan, from your parents and, hopefully, from the initiation process."

"Heroclades..." He was interrupted by his master.

Heroclades, cutting off his disciple's words, with a raised finger, gave a clarification, "You may call me Hero, just as the others do... I hear you."

Rey, after rectifying himself, said, "Hero, do you really think I won't be able to attain enough strength to be able to deal with any situation?" he said with distrust, arrogance, and haughtiness, as one who still didn't trust the reasons why he was given the opportunity to escape if it was obviously what his mother least wanted to happen.

Heroclades stopped his breathing for a moment. He realized that Rey, by the way he had used his words, knew something that perhaps he did not. Too small and too naïve was his disciple to speak so confidently that he was bluffing. He, with a smile on his face, caught his breath and said, "That attitude. You remind me of the great heroes who have lived throughout history. They were guys who feared nothing. They looked death in the eye. They were used to fighting and always standing their ground without giving in. Although they all had something in common: to be what they were, they had gone through countless ordeals and odysseys that were not thought possible. If I were to say that such a miracle was impossible, I'm sure tears of woe would flow."

"It gives me more peace of mind to know that I can count on you," he replied with a smile.

"I like your motivation and I tell you that you will be an achiever like those heroes. With the color of your eyes and after the first impression you made on all of us when you fell, it makes it a real miracle that you are still alive!"

Placing one knee on the ground and his right arm on his disciple's left shoulder, he continued, "Back to the subject. Pay attention... Rey, what separates the winners from the losers is that the winner takes everything as a challenge and the loser only finds excuses to try to escape from his position. I know and trust that every time you come back from inside that forest you will have a better sense of what your path is, an additional layer of experience and more knowledge. Now it may seem like a crazy idea, but what better teachers are there in this place than the trees that make up the Ever-Changing Forest?"

Rey looked at the old man with doubtful eyes. Trees didn't talk, so how could they be the best teachers, if they couldn't teach through words, much less explain anything?

Heroclades continued, "They didn't get to that size or become what they are without first resisting the bites of time, fighting the wind, the rain, and the earth."

Pausing, he began to laugh out loud. Despite all that he had spoken and despite the fact that they were clearly meaningless ramblings, the little boy was paying attention to him. As if those white eyes were vortexes that absolved everything. After slapping his forehead and standing up, he decided to stop rambling and continued, "To be honest with you, I feel willingly, and I'll also take a little time to build the place we're going to live in. You can go away and test my theory; I'll leave it to you as your first assignment. While you reason and formulate your own conclusions, try to learn from the trees and nature, which is much wiser than me. Don't forget to take some food with you for the road and fit into your mind the latest advice of this old master of yours."

Rey nodded.

Heroclades continued, "May pain, sweat, blood, and victory keep you alive!!! Fighting is taking life and death by the hand while dancing in a field full of possibilities!!!!! If you want to learn to dance within such a tempest, don't focus on the possibilities, focus on your body and don't be afraid to improvise!!!!"

Rey took a deep breath at the energetic words of his teacher, turned around, and continued walking through the undergrowth in the direction of the forest.

The little boy walked until he was sure that Heroclades could no longer see him. He walked like a cat stealing food, ready to run and escape from any blow. But no, he was not reprimanded and walked far enough away to end up in a whole new open world. The bright sky in the distance felt as close as the grass. Yet even if he reached out his hand, he could not grasp it, unlike the grass. Rey looked up at the black trees that stood large and sovereign, the same ones he could now reach, and behind them, perhaps a distant desire smelling of freedom.

Rey knew he had to fend for himself in that place. It was good to fantasize, but reality could become incompatible with life at any moment. "I've never seen someone die. I don't know how it feels to kill either," he said to himself. He had to be strong, as strong as he could be. He had to learn, as much as experiences could teach him and keep going until nothing was beyond his reach.

Even with the Paradise guardian cub on his head, Rey noticed a huge white lump walking on all fours around the place. The animal was almost three times the size of a liger and appeared to be eating grass. It looked harmless and calm, even though a gigantic feline was watching it crouched down.

"Do you know him?" asked Rey to the little feline, who only gave him a bellow in reply. "I think that was a ‘no.’ Anyway, it'll be interesting to watch, don't you think?" asked Rey, to which this time the cub didn't respond. "By the way, maybe I should call you something - Hmmmm! I'll come up with a name for you later. Now, I don't think it's important."

...

At that same moment, but elsewhere, Maryam was manifesting her fury through a discreet smile on the verge of breaking. Even if she kept her face smiling, the mother could not understand how it was possible that she had to be separated from her children when they were literally only one day old. Wulfgang, in an attempt to calm her down, tried to explain.

"So far, we managed to confirm that Jhades is intelligent, Dante is strong, and Rey is adaptable enough for them to die on their own. Regardless of their flaws, it is not enough for them to belong to the group. We live in permanent war. We are not safe even when we sleep and at any moment we could die under the consequences of our past actions. We cannot give them love and make them vulnerable, not now."

"I know that if we give them love and security, they will become dependent on us," Maryam said, "and they will be helpless in the face of problems they can't solve because they didn't need to learn. Still, I am afraid."

"Afraid of what? They won't have lived long, but their bodies have the conditions necessary to begin the life of a fighter and form a tough character."

"It's not that I can't disguise it, but I'm still afraid."

"Maryam, they are not human," said Wulfgang. "They will not live for a hundred years, that they do not suffer, that they are with us, or grow up under a circle of love and affection, will result in mental weakness and inconvenient feelings when it comes to survival."

"I know they are not human. But that's not it..."

"What makes you feel afraid?"

"If one is so extraordinary that one were to escape... Heroclades can betray us. He is not trustworthy to me when he is away. He is famous for having the ability to ‘corrupt the youth.’ Or if Katherine manages to kill Rey behind our backs. If they end up hating each other..."

"Love, you know that before my nose there is no one who can escape, as long as I can recognize the essence of their scent. With my smell I can reveal an indeterminate amount of time in the past and know everything someone did or didn't do... They stay in separate places most of the time. They will be fighting, training, learning, sleeping, or exposed to extreme situations, like feeling pain, walking without clothes, bathing with freezing water, looking for their own food, getting shelter, learning to treat wounds, going hungry, cold, and sleep..."

Maryam tried to speak. "Yes, but it's just that—" She was interrupted by her husband as he grabbed her shoulders.

"Because of Hero you don't have to worry. He offered from the beginning to take my place in the training of my most troubled son. It is true that Rey might discover certain truths and at night perhaps try to go into the Ever-Changing Forest to escape; however, that forest is a whole gigantic world of its own. A world which is not designed for anyone to traverse once they enter, unless it is the elder or the guardians of the site.

Knowing that was the part Maryam disagreed with. The wolf understood that, if one of her children found the way out, thanks to the scent, he could do so as well and pursue the return to freedom.

"Maryam, right now I have no need to seek freedom. Not when I have you and I have problems for which I must take responsibility. As you said, ‘Because I am in a safe place does not mean my responsibilities as a parent are over. Who assures you that your future will not be in jeopardy once they are grown, and I am gone?’ I am fulfilling my purpose. Since they were not born physically deformed, the stress of rigorous training and facing adversity are the only ways they will be able to awaken and control their bodies, minds, and killer instincts. After they have a foolproof character and can fend for themselves, we will see who maintains their values of obedience, friendship, and honor. Then we will be able to see who is able to control their instincts and who will have the acceptance of the other members of the pack. But, if they are not subjected to constant stress now, in the future they will become time bombs and we will have no idea who will explode first or how to control them. Besides, there are still the bounty hunters who followed them to this site.”

Maryam was silent. She looked like the one who had no choice; she also didn't want to appear desperate to her beloved. Taking a deep breath, she looked around the house as one who looked at something missing. Her smile broke as with her eyes she looked again at Wulfgang's face.

"Tonight... I don't want to sleep," she said in tears.

Wulfgang had understood that, with her words, the vampire wanted to delay the time as long as she could. Every time he woke up, it was as if life dealt him a blow, and with each blow his grip on the rope to which, with so much effort, she clung so that she could keep him with her until he grew old and died of old age. That night there was no sex for the lycanthrope, only sadness and depression on the part of the vampire. Wulfgang hopelessly fell asleep at some point, first before she did.

…

The first night came to its conclusion.

As soon as the lights came on again, the lycanthrope awoke. Wulfgang, somewhat fond of the pleasant sensation of being wrapped in silky sheets, took a deep breath. Without opening his eyes, through the darkness, he could see a pale blue lump representing his beloved, as well as everything she had done the night before after he had fallen asleep without realizing it. She hadn't gotten out of bed, just tossed and turned like someone looking for the best sleeping position. Suddenly, traces of a white lump took place within the lycanthrope's field of perception. A small accumulation of odor that, according to his position, had stopped right in front of the bedroom door.

"Honey, what's wrong!" asked Maryam almost without being able to recognize her husband, who with a leap stood up from the bed and like a storm opened the door with a backhand of his right hand.

The lycanthrope once again sniffed, and sniffed again, at the same time walking with firm and strong steps, transforming into a beast. Ehimus, who was coming out of her room after hearing the door jerk coming from the matrimonial room, found the leader of the group in "attack mode" looking up and down at the maid who even moved from place to place and kept her head down. With his teeth out, the bestialized lycanthrope scolded Silvia while the vampire tilted her face and smiled as one who could imagine the situation.

"Good morning, my tenants!!!" said the Great Wise Wizard as he opened the main entrance with his usual amount of energy and charisma.

Once Wulfgang averted his gaze, the old man continued. "I think Silvia can return to her daily routine. She has not broken ‘the servant's rules,’ so I see no reason why she should be punished. On the other hand, Wulfgang, your behavior is not the politest. We need to talk. As quartermaster and guardian, I can explain..."

...

On the other hand, the dawn inside the Ever-Changing Forest was different. There, where the little guy with no last name was slowly opening his eyes, everything seemed to be less of a problem.

"Will it be bright, or will I continue to live inside the eternal night?" Rey couldn't help but wonder. He felt rested, full of energy, uninjured, not hungry, with a book in his arms and his companion at his side, almost as if he had been born a second time.

Not much had changed for the vision of the little one without a last name, his wide eyes scanning the all too familiar roof of the den composed of roots entwined in the giant hollow tree trunk. After blinking twice, Rey turned his head to see if what he felt was real.

Lying there was the body of the little "guardian of Paradise." His faithful companion had just woken up. She stretched her paws until she pulled her claws out, then narrowed her spine with a bow, and finally her tail until she wanted to reach almost to the ceiling. Stretching is a good way to wake up dormant muscles and improve circulation before starting routine activities.

Rey took a deep breath and, widening the corners of his mouth, showed happiness. Tossing the book he was holding aside, he threw himself into a full-force embrace of the one who was waking up and welcoming him with a warm purr.

"Sit on top of me! Let me hug you. I need to feel how much you appreciate me!" said Rey.

After carrying the little feline with his two hands, he buried his face in the black and white fur. He stayed that way for a while and then looked at him sadly and ended up asking for forgiveness in a low voice. The feline was somewhat overwhelmed. Ignoring the fact that he had been taken by surprise, he wanted to move from one side to the other to undo the grip, but he was afraid of scratching the little one. Rey lifted his face with some fondness, expressions that apologized for having put their lives in danger, and that much more sorry for the situation she had ended up in because of him:

"I'm going to do my best to learn from it and move on... As long as I'm still living, I can make amends no matter how bad... Trust me, okay?"

The little "guardian of Paradise" kitten did not understand what the young man was saying to her, but she could sense that he was suffering and had suffered for her. That did not please her at all; it was true that they had met her father the night before, but she did not remember much more than that she had been beaten by him and tirelessly cared for by the little one there. In an attempt to cheer up, she ran her tongue over the grieving little one's face, purred louder, wriggled harder, and preened her fur against Rey's face with the intention of changing his expression.

Suddenly, the scene was interrupted by the behavior of the large book that had been left on the floor. The knowledge-storing object transformed into light and disappeared into thin air. Rey gave it no importance. He understood that this was how a book was burned by receiving the fire of time or perhaps it returned to where it belonged. Identifying that the situation was hopeless, he chose to laugh and improve the expressions on his face. Showing a warm smile, he groomed his companion's head and then stood up and marched out of the den.

Although the forest was dark by nature, once Rey left the cave, the light coming from Heaven touched the side of his face, as if it were a light and discreet greeting. Focusing his eyes on the glow between the trees in the distance, the little boy felt a thousand thoughts come to his mind. Images of how long he kept running, feelings of advancing every last drop of energy, the smell of the water, the warmth of the fire, the cold of the snow, the stickiness of the mud, the sting of the smoke, the hardness of the floating stones. The little boy had to admit that he had not expected to be so close to the entrance, and that there was nothing that disappointed him so much after all his effort.

On the verge of having his blood boil and smashing the nearest tree with his fists, he decided to calm himself with the following words, "The forest must have changed its structure while we were sleeping." Returning his gaze to his companion, he regained his composure and acted as if there was something more important to do.

"You know what? I learned an interesting word... White. How do you like it for a name?"

The little creature stuck out her tongue and looked in the direction of the light curiously, completely ignoring what the young man was telling her. She could understand certain basic words, as well as behaviors and gestures, but her culture did not go so far as to understand the meaning or significance of a name.

"White shall be your name and path to greatness," Rey said. "It's not like I can keep having you by my side without knowing what to call you either."

Stepping forward, Rey nuzzled between the standing ears of the newly named little feline to continue walking into the light. The child's footsteps echoed through the hollow darkness, through the trees of the metallic forest. The divine light pointed the way and guarded a whole magnificent landscape with him. Rey walked in his wake, not as a vanquished one forced to return, but as a triumphant one returning in search of his family.

Once the two little ones passed the barrier of trees and entered the green pastures, they had to narrow their eyes until they could easily see into the radiant light. They were in for a big surprise to find Heroclades, folding his arms, waiting for them with a haughty smile and a haughty posture, like someone winning a bet.

"How did you know I would come out through this part of the forest?" asked Rey and then said with a sharp voice and an intimidating look, "A spell?"

Heroclades noticed in Rey movements characteristic of a nocturnal predator.

"Woo! After only spending one night, you are able to let such murderous intent slip out. You surprise me little one..."

Uncrossing his hands, the tanned-skinned fellow raised his open palms in front of his chest. Like one who didn't want a confrontation. He sincerely expected the attitude of a defeated convict; however, he got the impression of being in front of a defiant and self-confident beast, one who had lost all sense of discipline, friendship, and honor for having learned to be independent.

"The training has not yet begun, my dear disciple. And yes, you got it right the first time. On you I put a spell, but it was to find you first that your parents did. I have a warning to give you..."

Rey gave a smile and a step forward; he opened his body as one who needed to take up more space in the place.

"Hero, it's still me, Rey. Why are you acting like this, like I've turned into a beast that you must reason with?"

Heroclades put his hand to the back of his neck, like someone whose thoughts had been read.

"Well, I thought I would get nowhere if I didn't first regain your trust. And what better way to take someone's trust than by making them curious and disposing them to agree to something. I've already proven more than a hundred times that if someone is distrustful, you're not going to talk directly to their more thoughtful side, you're going to talk to the more distrustful side. I wanted to distract you and then, a little at a time, you’d get into the subject."

"What subject?" asked Rey as he approached his master.

Heroclades, bringing his hands to his waist, continued. "Before your father's nose there are no lies and no one who can escape. So, if you have done something you shouldn't have at night, you'd better think of an explanation for when he arrives. He may know everything that happened, but not what was said. That's one of your advantages against your father... however, your mother is a walking lie detector. She not only has the ability to control and provoke emotions in those around her, but she can also distinguish the slightest physiological changes in someone's body when they speak, so you will have to separate the one from the other.

Rey nodded with his gaze and putting aside that which he could not control, calmly added the following words: "When will we start with the training?"

Heroclades, opening his eyes as if they wanted to pop out of his face, put a hand to his beard and began to remember. He wanted to be sure he had warned the little one how rigorous the training would be. For someone normal, if something was rigorous and painful, it was natural for him to try to avoid it as much as he could.

"Don't you have any questions before we start?"

"Murderous intent?" he asked somewhat confused.

Heroclades couldn't help but be surprised.

"I almost forgot! You'd better get those intentions under control before your father comes. Let me explain something to you. Pay attention because it won't be easy at all.”

The master raised his fist in the air, darkened his gaze, and let out a whole bloodthirsty aura, which made the little feline's hair stand on end.

"Murderous intent in someone is like the intimidating appearance of a weapon. Take, for example, the edge of a sword, the size, or the design. These are things that make you intimidating, and say to others 'I only exist to do harm,' don't they?"

The tan-skinned gentleman returned the impression emanating from his body to normal and continued speaking. "It's the same with murderous intent. It's the impression your body creates to let whoever sees you know that you're willing to do harm if they touch your blade. Advanced fighters read the killing intent of enemies. They can even sense if they are being watched and, as is common, prepare in advance for a possible attack."

Rey, interested in the subject, looked down at his hands: "Like when you raised your hands with open palms. It looked more like an unintimidating melee defense posture to defuse the situation."

Heroclades, pleased by his disciple's insight, said, "Indeed... A sword will never cease to be a sword, and even if its edge is not the best, and it is all rusty, it will remain what it is. But when a sword is inside its sheath or a box it is less intimidating, and that is the secret to being able to control your murderous intentions."

"What am I supposed to do?" asked Rey in a dutiful tone.

Heroclades could tell that, although his disciple was as arrogant and haughty as he seemed, he was also someone who coveted ways to grow stronger.

"I once stood where you now stand. I have the experience you need, but it doesn't mean I have a good way to teach it. What I do and think with my killer instinct is like moving my arm. I have already lived so much that it has become like second nature to my body. I must confess to you that it is not easy for me to explain something that I can do naturally. In order for you to understand and progress you will have to follow my instructions without question. Well, I guess with this in mind, I more or less have an idea of where we start with your training...."

The tan-skinned fellow thundered his fingers to continue. "Your goal will be to survive, but mine will be to make you feel. Take a seat, this is a good place." Rey obeyed. "Cross your legs, keep your spine straight, close your eyes, and take a deep breath."

The little boy followed to the letter what he was told.

"Sitting quietly is the best time to meditate. Meditation is the first step in becoming aware of your thoughts; once you are aware of your thoughts, you can understand your feelings, and by understanding your feelings, you can control your mind. With control of the mind, you can control your body, and with control of your body, your present, your past and your future.

There was logic to the master's words, but Rey still did not see the point. Heroclades continued speaking.

"Let's start with basic questions. Who are you?"

"An assassin," Rey replied.

"What do you want?"

"To survive."

"What do you feel?" asked Heroclades.

"Guilt."

"What can you change?"

"What surrounds me, or maybe... me."

Heroclades, who had not heard any of his ward's answers, noticed something strange. His murderous intentions increased.

"Pay attention to your posture. Other questions. How fast do you breathe? How fast does your heart beat? How much do your eyes move? What place itches? What do you perceive of the environment? What do you perceive of yourself?"

Having the need to rectify himself before his pupil, Heroclades continued. "Put your shoulders back, lift your chin. Your body affects the way you think, just as the way you think affects your body...."

Rey tried his best but was unable to find answers to the last questions.

Heroclades raised high a log almost as thick as his hand and then, after pointing it to the sky, brought it down with all his might. The wood gave way and shattered into a thousand pieces as soon as it struck the head of Rey.

The small body, which was sitting on the floor and concentrating on meditating, was taken off by the violent blow and collapsed. White, seeing such a situation, made the hairs on his skin stand on end, pulled out his claws and attacked the man who had hurt the being he cherished so much.

Rey raised his hand and with the same hand stopped the actions of his furry companion. He shakily began to collect himself on the floor while breathing as deeply as he could. Slowly he proceeded to sit up with his feet crossed, his back erect, and his eyes closed, though a trickle of blood ran down his face and ended up as drops that collected on his chin to fall to the ground.

Heroclades, understanding that his disciple understood how the training would proceed continued. "The killer instinct can be fed and even "educated." After receiving a blow from someone you trust without expecting it, how strong are your emotions? Can you be aware of them and control them?

"My emotions get really strong. I'm getting angry..."

This time it was a kick from the trainer. Rey shot out and bounced several times against the ground. Still, as soon as he was able to recover, he returned to his position.

Heroclades, denoting surprise, added, "Your body is quite tough; I had intended to break your arm. Let's continue..." he spoke until he got close enough. "To train your killer instincts, you need to listen to your own feelings and ignore those triggered by external factors. This is a good time. Pain is your best friend and anger your ally. Analyze what kind of event causes you other feelings. Remember when you were little, think how you want to be. Through the awareness of your emotions you will be master of your instincts. Rey, open your eyes and look at me."

Rey opened his eyes and looked at the master, but this time he received a kick in the face that sent him flying backwards. The procedure took another thirty blows by the tan-skinned guy to his disciple. Heroclades, as one who was already losing his temper, said, "Get up. Do not think of surrendering with the intention of freeing yourself from pain. Before me you will be unable to die without my permission, even if you wish it. Until there is no trace of that murderous intent in your eyes, you will not pass the test. Open your eyes and look at me."

He kicked his disciple again, who was already bleeding all over.

"You will ask yourself, ‘Why do I have to perform these tests and go through so much pain instead of simply doing what I believe is right?’ Let me tell you." Rey wiped the blood from his garments. "Being born into this family makes you a warrior. Being a warrior is a lifestyle that demands intense dedication, responsibility, precision, and focus during the early years so as to forge unwavering values and be capable of anything. Warriors are as responsible for saving lives as they are for taking them, so they have to be the best of the best to survive. You may be motivated now because you feel threatened, but discipline can take you even further than the motivation you have now. This combination of torture, martyrdom, beatings, and mistreatment will bring out the best in you. Like hammering, fire, and temperature change create a sword. To be able to shine in the shortest amount of time possible, your life must be at risk for you to feel the need to save yourself. Open your eyes..."

"Maybe I deserve this, doing something wrong requires some kind of punishment," the little boy said to himself. "My hands are contaminated."

Rey, whose body was trembling and could barely stand, understood what his master was saying. Every time he was about to lose his life, his body adapted to create an opposite result. He opened one of his eyes and looked at the tan-skinned lord, who kicked him again violently.

"You're getting better," said Heroclades. "However, it's still not enough! Why?! Rey, unlike the other skills you need to be a warrior, control of your murderous intentions as well as control of your fighting spirit are the fundamental basis. You cannot fight or seek solutions if you are not in control of the processing going on in your head. You need to condition your brain to think about what you are doing. What's so hard?!"

For a moment he realized they were being very dramatic; trying to regain his composure he continued, "A self-respecting teacher should not blame his students... Maybe it's me who still doesn't realize it. Mmm."

He bent down and put his face in front of his disciple's, like someone who wanted to look from someone else's point of view.

"I see. It was my mistake. It took me time to realize it. Rey, you have such a grudge embedded so deep inside... We don't progress because maybe you blame yourself for something and are taking my blows as a punishment. You wouldn't have those eyes if you hadn't killed, or am I wrong? To control your killer instincts, in part, is to stop feeling like one. What better hint than that could you get? Open your eyes and look at me..."

Rey, remembering the fateful night in which he had extinguished a beating heart, the moment when he killed a flying beast and when he ate the chicks of a nest, opened his eyes with the same sharpness he used to have since the beginning of the training and received another violent blow from his master. The pain and swelling was so great that he almost could not sit down again. Rey just rolled over on his back to be able to at least breathe more comfortably.

Heroclades with a heavy and tired tone said, "Come on, if you can get on your back, you can sit down. Sit down or I'll give you a reason why you can't do it for the rest of the day."

Rey frowned, looked up at the sky, and nodded at his master's threat. "What will he be able to do to me?" he asked himself to answer himself with another question, "Break my feet? He is capable, that I do know," he thought as he lifted the torso of his aching body.

"Try as I might, I don't know how I'm supposed to control my murderous intent. After all, it's not something I do because I want to. If I'm not conscious, how can I take control? Of course, Heroclades makes a good point: ever since I killed White's father, I feel like a killer. A weapon ready to do harm if anyone comes up against my edge..." Realizing something... "An assassin and not a warrior. Both are weapons. And why do harm if I can avoid it or even go so far as to protect? It's already something I've noticed. However, until now, to survive in the animal world, I had to make use of that overflowing bloodlust. They don't talk or reason... they bully... they behave like what they are and I... I behave like them." The little boy pulled himself upright as best he could and breathed softly. In a way, he had found the answer.

Heroclades, already as one who didn't expect to get anywhere, spoke disappointed. "A good excuse for not feeling bad about killing is to think about how many others benefit from you having the chance to go on living because of them. Let's face it, what's the point of all the sentiment, if your opponent was hopelessly doomed to failure, anyway. And if you die now, you will make the sacrifice your friend's father made in vain. Rey, you must give priority to your feelings before the dead. This is the last chance I will give you... Open your eyes."

The little boy opened his eyes. Heroclades raised his hand in the air and closed his fist and then raised his thumb and gave a smile.

"You made it. You have control of your killer instinct. As you can understand, no one would trust someone who emanates uncontrolled murderous instincts from his body, as a wild animal does. Why? Because, even if such a person feels guilty about having killed, or perhaps having to kill again, no one will be able to reason with them and end a conflict with a not-so-violent conclusion. Taking responsibility for your actions is the best solution and is the way of a warrior; but the best option is not to start something that you can previously avoid."

"How did you know?" asked Rey confused, referring to his master knowing that the "guardian of Paradise" he had faced was the father of the little cub that accompanied him everywhere.

"I am not an elf; however, my level for interpreting energy is sharp enough to recognize that, in you, you have part of the body, flesh, and blood of the beast your father once let go. The same beast that shares ties with the little one at your side. You are half vampire, my disciple. If you acquired any ability from your mother, perhaps there is a chance to bring him back to life, just as you make him part of you..."

Rey, impressed to know something he didn't know about vampires, nodded his head and, though he wanted to know how to perform such a feat, he had to restrain himself from asking. "Heroclades is not a vampire. Hence, he cannot teach a unique lineage trait." Although, on the other hand, Energy Interpretation was a term related to the second main foundation of a warrior, fighting spirit and willpower. Rey had read about them and felt more interested in learning them for the time being, but since reading was nothing like the actual experience, he hadn't had a chance to be able to get a grip on it.

Patting the worried White's head, Rey spoke aloud. "I promised your father that I would take responsibility for my actions, and it would be the right thing to be able to revive him if I can, but..." Changing the direction of his face, Rey looked in the direction of his master. "For now it's best if I continue the basics of energy. How can I control the fighting spirit?

Heroclades took a step back and shook his head.

"For today your training is concluded. Controlling the fighting spirit is not as easy as controlling the killer instinct."

"And when is the training over?" he asked with trembling hands, the blood draining from his mouth.

"Precisely when you control your fighting spirit and defeat me in combat."

"Combat? Is that fair?" he said as he let out a breath of air.

"More than combat, it is a test in which you will be pitted against reality and what your brain perceives. The first step in being able to control the fighting spirit is to ignite the willpower that resides in you."

"I feel my body has recovered enough. Let me try as long as I remain conscious," he said aloud, continuing to think. "From what I read in the fighting books, overcoming pain by using willpower is the first step. Pain, is a precious friend to this body. But I'm still one step ahead; unlike the previous test, I have an idea of what to do in this one. The key is fragmentation. Breaking a large task into small parts is the only way I can go on indefinitely until I find the answer."

"Still even the day begins. I had planned to enjoy the house and a morning stroll, but I guess it won't take me long to please your demands. When you fall unconscious, we'll finish with the training."

The little boy nodded his head. The tan-skinned gentleman pulled out his book and began flipping through a few pages.

"What are we doing now? Where are you? What are boundaries? What is sensation? What is perception? In what ways can we change our perception of reality? Could your mind change its structure when it experiences new things? These are the questions that will help you..."

"Why do you ask so many questions?" asked Rey intrigued.

"Don't pay too much attention to the questions; they are a system of teaching that I found efficient both in my apprenticeship in sorcery and in my path as a philosopher."

Dismissing his disciple's curiosity, he continued as he found the perfect spell. After reciting letter by letter, Heroclades asked, "Are you ready?"

Rey, before he could even answer, felt his body being bathed by a liquid that fell from the air. Immediately, he opened his eyes as wide as he could. Making his throat bleed, he screamed with all his might and, from side to side, writhed on the floor while the little feline looked at him without understanding what was happening.

"This is fire, my skin burns in flames! But I neither see it, nor does it burn me... it is an unbearable pain! Think, Rey, think!" he said to himself. "Fire. It is fire. I'm engulfed in flames, I'm burning... No! Fragment, this is pain. I have to resist, I want to resist, I can resist. Just a little more," he said to himself again and again between tremors and spasms.

"The mind can change. When we process something that makes sense or needs to be there, we can make it real. As well as we can eliminate it or ignore it so we can go on our way. Your reality is not the only reality and, as rational beings, we make the mistake of believing it is. Even so, the mind feeds on the willpower within you; to be efficient in terms of willpower, do not face the impossible without first increasing your security by accepting small achievements. You still don't lose consciousness, that's a small achievement..."

Beginning to wander between various things, he continued, "Oh, willpower is a flame that dwells within the eyes. Ignoring your father's contradictory case, this flame must be burning. Think of those small accomplishments as branches. Small achievements, my disciple, small branches that will feed the flame that will give you the energy to move your fighting spirit."

Rey, with trembling eyes wide open, watched as the skin and nails on his hands fell off. His flesh shrank and twisted until it too fell away and exposed bones, held together by small pieces of white flesh, also on the verge of giving way. He felt the pain of being burned alive, but for some reason, the bones in his hands did not fall and his eyes could still see. Looking from side to side, he saw himself reflected inside White's worried eyes. "How could I possibly look normal?" he wondered.

Stopping squirming and clenching as tightly as he could his fists, Rey also noticed that his furry companion was looking at him with a face like one who didn't understand what was happening. "Ahhh! I can, this is nothing, this is not stopping me... This is something my mind is creating," he thought as he closed his eyes tightly. "In a book I read that flesh has no nerve endings... my bones have no reason to feel this excruciating pain. But, although the letters in a book show abundant knowledge, they are not experiences. This is experience!"

"What you experience now is based mostly on your perception," he spoke as he paced back and forth. "Of course, perhaps if you did not know what fire is, at this moment you would not understand what is happening to you. Rey, your mind is not basing itself on what is truly happening, but anchoring itself on what you choose to perceive. You are letting your thoughts choose to receive specific information and leaving the other out. Another question for you, what is sensation?"

Rey clenched his fists even tighter, gritted his teeth as hard as he could, and stopped moving. He still had trouble controlling his breathing, but he was trying to ignore the pain he felt with his whole being. "If I can still see, if I can still touch, if I can still feel, it's because this feeling isn't real!" he said to himself.

"No, you still don't understand. Resisting is not enough," he said to with a snap of his fingers to intensify the sensation the little boy was feeling. "Heed my words. Willpower, your mind, what you think you feel, what you truly feel. Sensation is nothing more than a process in which we receive stimulation from our surroundings. And if I told you that the liquid I poured on you was cold, very cold, capable of freezing the trunk of a tree... What is perception?"

Rey opened his eyes again, but this time he saw his hands differently. They were frozen to the point of breaking. Believing he was frozen was more in line with him being on fire. But between hot and cold inside his mind a paradoxical contradiction was created. He now felt so hot that at the same time he saw as if he was freezing, or he felt so cold that at the same time he felt as if he was burning. "A little more... just a little more. I must stay conscious; I know I can. This is my only chance, and I must not waste it."

"Perception is when your mind tries to understand the stimulation you are receiving and wants to give it meaning in order to understand it. The last point is selective attention. With this, you can use willpower to trick your mind into seeing what you want to see, and not necessarily what is there to see. Rey, the pain is not real. Stand up, open your eyes, and act normal. A fight is about receiving information from your surroundings and then giving it a definition so you can act on it.” Rey took a deep breath, got up from the ground and acted as if nothing was hurting.

The master raised his fist in the air and left his thumb up.

"You passed this test, my disciple. We can move on to the next level. Don't take this the wrong way, but I really want to knock you unconscious. Only then I can rest easy and know that I really did my best as your master. See that tree?" As soon as Rey nodded, Heroclades continued. "We will fight until you fall unconscious or touch the trunk. It is not superfluous to tell you that by touching the trunk you will pass my training.”

      The master put up his fighting stance and waited for Rey to do the same.

Rey with a gesture of his gaze gave the little fellow to understand that he could leave, and then reevaluated the situation before his master. "The grass around his feet is acting weird. It's not like it's moving in the wind like the other one is either." On the ground around Heroclades, nothing was moving. "He's waiting for me to make my move. Considering Hero is at least 'God' rank, the barrier around him is indestructible. He plans to fight with his strongest moves, yet he's also giving me an immense advantage by giving me a chance to win the test just by touching the tree... Hmmm! I remember he said that as long as there is someone inside his perimeter, or he moves from place to place, he can't use the barrier. The best thing to do is to pretend I don't know anything and attack to buy time..."

Rey crouched down, opened his hands as if they were claws and jumped as hard as he could against his master to hit the barrier that his master had created and protected him.

Heroclades, bringing his hand to his face, expressed, "I was always left in doubt as to whether you would go after me first or the tree. Now it is clear to me that you will try to distract or incapacitate me before going to where your exit is," he said as he looked into the eyes of his disciple, who was stopped by the barrier.

Making an expression of someone who was noticing, he decided to take advantage of the moment to make an educational point.

"Your movements make it clear that you adopted the style with which the beasts fight, just as you had adopted the murderous intentions of them. You move as if you have claws, though you do not have them nor do you know how to transform them at all. But that's not the problem, the problem is that your body is badly programmed. It's not a good idea that every time you are attacked you defend yourself, or attack every time your enemy defends himself...."

Rey as soon as he returned to the ground, he threw another claw with which he shattered his nails, but since he could already control his perception of pain, he pretended nothing had happened. "He's a sorcerer, so the only way to defeat him is to force him to use his weak point. If I can move him from place, he will no longer be able to use his barrier. He will have to block my blows even if he doesn't know that I have knowledge in martial arts. That is my chance. With just one second to make him move I will have enough time to beat him and touch the tree."

Heroclades, seeing how concentrated his disciple was, continued speaking, "In the night you repeated those moves countless times, didn't you?" Rey looked at him and continued attacking. "Let me tell you that you cannot afford to let any enemy have control over your moves. The opponents around you can act a certain way and the question is how are you going to respond?"

The master dropped the barrier. Rey stopped dead in his tracks and with speed ran sideways with the intention of approaching the tree, while still facing the tanned-skinned subject. Heroclades, meanwhile, opened the book to a specific page and added:

"See, now that I'm going to attack, you think about defending yourself. It's not good for you to be programmed because you become predictable. Sometimes the best defense is offense, and the best offense is defense. We can agree that what they do is problematic and inconvenient, but in the future make sure you don't get the reaction your enemy wants from you. If you let yourself be controlled by emotions, they will basically have you on their hands..."

From the book rose a whole symbol composed of figures, letters, and strokes.

"It's easy to talk when you have the power, isn't it?" Rey thought as he stepped back and watched his master pretend to attack with a spell. "I didn't think it so complicated when I read it in a book, but predicting a wizard's movements is even harder than I expected. If I could describe it, it's like walking in the darkness of the Ever-Changing Forest without being able to see. It takes time to get used to knowing where you're going." The incantation circle lifted, the wind changed direction, and the green grass stirred. "I must get out of my thoughts. I can't let them distract me in the middle of a fight. I already have the plan; I just lack the opportunity... My body aches, my eyes blur, still, I feel better than usual. Will is power...". With determination, Rey focused his gaze as much as he could until he saw the exact patterns and symbols rising in the air. "Good spellcasters always have to use the fairest and most necessary clamor they consider in the situation to avoid dying if they don't meet the conditions. The spell cast in the air has solid properties and will be fired... it can be a 'Stone Bullet.' It is enough to pierce my body from side to side. Perfect, I will walk in the dark...". Already with this in mind, the little guy took a distance while zigzagging and beating his arms.

At his disciple's new behavior, Heroclades tilted his head suspiciously. He was no longer so sure of the effectiveness of his attack. Since it was solid, his disciple could use it to his advantage and go flying against the tree that represented the culmination of the training. Formulating a second spell with which he would attack from above, the master closed the book and ran away with a smile on his face.

Rey did not have to evade the boulders, but he was forced forward by the impact of a powerful lightning bolt behind him. "Hmmm, you're adapting, Hero. It's time for you to start being wary. As a sorcerer, I know you are quite cautious, you make sure to use the most basic and necessary to be able to defeat the opponent. You're going to increase the difficulty of the training with a more complicated clamor. Ahhh, but if I tell myself that this could be much more difficult, I won't change what's going on. If I tell myself that I can, maybe I can make a difference. I have to give it my all, even if I'm at a disadvantage. It's not a problem, it's an opportunity. It's not a problem, it's a challenge... running in the dark."

Heroclades, with his open fist, tried to grab his disciple by one of his limbs, but could not. Then he tried several more times. Each attempt was more aggressive and violent.

"I almost can't believe it, with what can you predict the element with which you are going to be attacked?"

The little boy flashed a proud smile.

"One of the pieces of advice I was going to give you was to be careful with first impressions. But I don't consider that it applies to you. Your movements look more refined and solid, you control your killer instincts to perfection, and you have an unwavering fighting spirit... Something tells me you haven't given your best yet!" he shouted with a grin on his face.

Heroclades planted a solid step forward and from within his garments took a few papers, which he tossed sideways. From among the drawn sheets that exploded into a thousand pieces, five black wolves appeared and attacked the little one. As they did not differ much in size and the little one already knew how to deal with the beasts, Rey did not have much trouble incapacitating the five animals while, at the same time, escaping from his master.

Heroclades, not holding back his desire to corrupt, said, "Hmm, while everyone slept, you made productive decisions. You learned to accept yourself. You sought and achieved. You understood stress. You created good habits. You followed an ambition that had meaning. But don't you think that ambition is what makes you miserable?"

Rey had no time to answer, he could only think and escape from his master without taking his eyes off him. Knowledge was his ambition. He was already aware that he might not be the smartest in the herd, but he could become the most dedicated.

Heroclades, after analyzing his disciple's expressions, took away an answer and continued, "Rey. You are wrong. Hard work is not everything, neither is talent. And if I am right, if you change your way of seeing the world, tell me... What's left?"

"Power," he answered with wide eyes, moving from side to side without even blinking.

Heroclades flashed a Machiavellian smile. "Indeed. If there is absolute strength, unmatched speed, or unlimited knowledge, there is no room left for technique. Techniques were created in order to compensate for weaknesses. Now, what's the point of having so much power, so much strength, speed, or knowledge if you can't control it and don't know how to use it? The lack of control of what you already have becomes a weakness in itself. Let's take an example: among thousands of arts, there is the art of ‘fighting spirit,’ a method to compensate for our weaknesses. Our bodies are vulnerable. We are prone to give up in the face of difficulties, and our mind prefers to be in the most comfortable place. But if we convert will into energy, we surpass the limits of the body and deceive our mind. We can harness the magical power that resides within us and explosively increase the physical limits."

"Another example is bodily reinforcement: despite having smashed your fingers, you still attack with the same power. If you manage to envelop every part of your body with the magical power that willpower creates, they will harden like steel and ignore the pain! Regardless of whether he bathed in the fountain of Arkadia, the invulnerability of your father's body is that it can be hardened with this method... You can learn from the other arts, but they are almost infinite and tell me: can you really be good at one thing if you learn a little bit of everything and never perfect anything? Don't misunderstand me and don't think that you should focus all your efforts on perfecting something in particular to increase your level in combat. The first thing you must do is to have control of your power, of everything you can do and what you can't do. The way to be the best warrior is to be adaptable, never depend on your best power and always learn from your enemy without underestimating. Listen to my words, solving a complicated situation with simple methods is much more ingenious than solving it using complicated methods, like now."

Right off the bat, the little boy, who almost only had to reach out his hand to touch the tree, was caught by a kick from his master, who was not very skilled in hand-to-hand combat, but it could be seen that he made good use of his strength and size. Rey was sent hurtling across the field until his feet and hands were able to slow the momentum.

Heroclades gave a few guffaws into the air. "So like me, your body doesn't help you much. It doesn't match your talent or ambitions. After enduring much pain and being on the brink of death, I can deduce that you have immense willpower. As long as you don't have strength, speed, or knowledge, control, ability, and charge will be the three alternative factors that can help you become more powerful. You can have all the energy in the world, but if you don't know how to control it, you will be nothing. Perfecting the art of killing and living is no easy task..." Running his hand over his forehead, feeling his human nape and forearms, he continued. "You've made me sweat in this fight, but in the condition you're in, I doubt you can make it to the end."

Rey straightened his posture, lifted his chin, and dusted off his body.

"Acting arrogant because you managed to get a little closer to the tree?"

He returned to his attack stance and after flipping through the pages of the book made a humanoid shaped creature appear on the field between him and his disciple.

"That is one of the many creatures in this book. It's about your size, and its strength I suppose is more or less comparable to yours. Now, why don't you do your part and try to survive?"

The little, white-eyed boy took a step back at the sight of the strange being. It had four limbs, but no head. It didn't act normal, either. Its arms were shaking and its legs were almost falling off. "A creature with a consciousness of its own that does not need to be controlled by the wizard. Now Heroclades has time to summon another, as well as his barrier. On the other hand, even if that being has the ability to reason, it is not a good idea to engage directly against something I do not know. The time is near..." Rey said to himself as he closed his claws.

"Oh, you doubt. Never doubt or stop believing in the strength of your will. Once you have passed the limits, it is she who prevents your soul, body, and blood from giving up. That can be a weak point. If you abandon her, she may end up abandoning you. On the other hand, if you are a hunter, you would be grateful that what you face runs and tries to escape from you. It makes your blood boil; it makes you want it even more. As you run, you become prey."

The master's words were right, Rey was forced to pull out from the only garment that covered him the unicorn horn he had so jealously guarded as a weapon to defend himself.

Heroclades, arching his eyebrows as if it were a very serious situation, said, "You seem not to have learned about the first lesson. The law of advantage dwells in the minds of those with murderous intent. A sharp weapon in a fist fight... is not very honorable. Your actions bring consequences, and pulling out an instrument like that gives me the option to respond with an attack of equal or greater lethality. One that can kill you... no regrets. From the moment you crossed the line, I hope you were prepared to give up your life."

Rey, availing himself of his right hand, tossed the horn into the air. "Am I not someone honorable?" he asked himself as he ran as fast as he could, and employing a fine set of movements dodged the headless being's attacks. "I haven't had time to stop and think about it... maybe this is my last chance. But, if life were to be taken from me, what would be left?" He attacked, counterattacked, and superimposed himself over the creature. "I do not know the answer. For that reason, if, in order to find the path of knowledge, I must sacrifice my honor and fight against the light of a god, I cannot hesitate to become a torch of flesh and blood." At the precise moment when Heroclades was about to cast an incantation, Rey kicked the falling horn to the ground. "It is done. There goes my honor along with that horn. There's no turning back... Now I feel like something dies on this field... A rather hollow victory. No, I don't know why, but I'm not willing to regret it. I'm not made to let myself be defeated. Even if I have to walk with honor in tow, I will carry it on my back and carry it to the end."

Heroclades had his barrier deactivated and his eyes on the book. As soon as he was ready to cast the spell, he felt how his disciple's murderous intentions disappeared, something that gave him a bad feeling and the presentiment that he had kept his guard down for too long. Something was coming, and he had to dodge it. The air did not lie when it sounded the way it did when something was approaching at high speed. Indeed, as soon as the tan-skinned lord focused his gaze back on his disciple, he was forced to tilt his head to the side.

Rey kept running with all his might, causing the grass and the ground to split in two. Heroclades closed the book and quickly used his other arm to grab his disciple by the neck and prevent him from getting any closer to the tree.

"What a face that," holding the little boy, Heroclades thought. "The face of someone who has the upper hand. If he has the advantage, it means I'm about to lose. In fact, it's amazing that you made it this far..." Heroclades, valuing a bitter grimace, waited a second and added aloud, "You won. You won without honor, but a victory is a victory." Rey vanished into thin air. "I underestimated you from the beginning. You have surpassed all my expectations. You must be advanced degree in the arts of 'close combat' to be able to defeat my clamor. I congratulate you for having the ability to control ‘Aura.’ Managing to disappear your presence and create copies of yourself is something you could not achieve on your own. Maybe Silvia had something to do with it. On the other hand, if you use your vampire lineage, you would have the affinity to hide in the dark without having to learn Aura.’ Well, there are different ways to do the same thing, not that I have anything else to teach you..."

Stepping out from behind the tree, Rey walked calmly. "You can teach me sorcery...."

Heroclades' eyes sparkled, but as if he was holding back joy, he put his hand to his head.

"Hmmm! Sorcery is a very long process, complicated to learn, difficult to master, and almost impossible to begin. An incomplete art and replete with negative consequences for the user. One day would not be enough to explain the consequences if you fail, much less go over the terms you will need if you want to awaken the first energy vortex. Sorcery, in terms of development, is like an unborn child, even though it has been studied for so long; unveiling new secrets without consequences has become impossible and all developers of the art, if they don't end up dead, are cursed.”

Changing the saddened tone of his words, he continued, "Besides, if I teach you what I know, I would end up being the one who knows nothing. You have to understand that, as I'm the oldest of the group, I have to reserve my courage... but I can show you the techniques and spells in my book that I'm not able to use so that you can add them to yours. Without anyone else knowing, of course."

Given the attention the white eyes were giving him, Hero got a little carried away.

"For now, if you want to get stronger, take advantage of the light and meet with the Elder of the Forest or the Elder of the Lake. In the eternal night they might guide you to more opportunities. Put to work what you know and pay even more attention to what you don't. That will be my second task."

"Where can I find them?"

"As when I first set foot in The Heavens, today I also came to be able to feel in the Ever-Changing Forest the presence of countless souls. In this same place I can feel countless presences that we cannot see, nor can they see us. Among these presences are the two old women. Something tells me that in the same space there are two different planes and the way to access the other is in the forest?"

Rey kept silent. He did not believe his master's words. "That in the forest there is an entrance to another place which is this same one, but in another plane? I spent a whole night touring such a place from top to bottom and encountered nothing but Paradise guardians and flying beings. If I couldn't even find the exit, how can I find another entrance? Although, on the other hand, Heroclades need not be wrong. Maybe the forest is much bigger than I imagined."