The subsequent morning, or whatever they called morning, Tsuki woke her up sitting on her face and barely allowing her to breath. Ruhee put the cat on the ground and faced her, surprised. "How did you enter?", she asked and recounted how many times she checked the door. Tsuki didn't pay attention and left with her elegant cat-walk. An eloquent Tradicional music permeated the house, and Khali danced while she prepared the breakfast, chanting in a language she didn't recognize.

"Saravá!", she shouted in acclamation. Her long skirt spinning, Ruhee wondered how she didn't fall. "Let's sing!"

"Sorry, but it's too early to sing".

"Shout your feelings, let them become music, and your music becomes energy. It won't seem so early".

Khali served her french toast with fruits and coconut milk.

"Do you have bacon?". Ruhee asked, "I feel like eating something with more substance".

"No meat in this house", she didn't stop even to answer. Khali approached her and looked her in the eyes. "Among the rules that we need to follow is that we shall never eat meat or anything that causes harm to any living being. Some insist on drinking milk, but I recommend you don't".

"Hence... You don't make books of human skin?".

"Obviously. I can't answer for all necromancers, but none that I meet will ever dare to do it. And if a Deathlifter does it, they will be severely punished".

"What about potions, blood transfusion, and all that stuff?"

"We can't do anything to harm, but, if it's crucial we not only can, we should do it. Imagine us like a doctor, or a firefighter. We must guarantee the safety and well being of others. Now, if you've finished your questions, eat your food". Khali was enthusiastic, almost euphoric dancing and twisting as if she had no care in the world, much less her mentee.

They finished breakfast, and, again, they met in the garden to study the Shadows Embrace. Ruhee should now learn how to walk through the shadows without losing concentration, make it her second nature. Khali was even austerer. "Again", she kept repeating, but Ruhee didn't seem to advance much. When it was 17h (5 p.m.), Khali called off the training. "I'm going to prepare dinner, use this time to take a bath and advance your studies. Focus on anatomy and basic biology. It's a good way to commence".

They ate vegan Japchae for dinner. Tsuki didn't accompany them.

"Where is your cat?"

"She left to hunt".

"Is it okay with you?"

"What?"

"For her to eat other animals".

"We, humans, can make a choice. Different animals have different necessities, and we need to understand that. Everything in the world is about choice. You make yours, and I make mine. Every living being is responsible for the choices they make in life. But sometimes there's almost no choice to be made. Have you ever read Les Misérables?"

"I watched the movie".

"If you remember, Jean Valjean was arrested for five years for stealing bread to feed his sister's children. He spent nineteen years in jail, in total, for attempting to escape. When you are hungry, the thought is about survival, and it's instinctive to survive. The fewer possibilities of future life present you, the harder it is to choose - you might know it's the wrong decision, but you will take it anyway. I don't mean that as a justification, but an explanation".

"That's about what you said yesterday, right? That we can't be judges, deciding who live or die".

"I'm pleased to see you are a quick learner".

"Thanks".

They finished dinner, talking more about choices and perspectives, possibilities and consequences. Tsuki arrived as Ruhee helped Khali cleaning the dishes. Khali followed Ruhee to the bedroom's door again and, before saying goodbye, she said: "Use the extra time you have before heading to bed to try and memorize the organs of the human body and its functions, it will be serviceable tomorrow".

She didn't care about locking the door, but she still didn't felt 100% safe.

***

The next day, Tsuki left a letter in her bed and mewed to wake her up. Khali wrote for her to meet her directly in the garden with warm clothes and an anatomy book. She looked in her watch. It was 2h15. She got up, tied her hair, got into her sweatpants and left. Khali awaited her with a great basket full of food covered by a delicately designed table cloth.

"Let's go! We can't lose time!".

"Where are we going?"

"Into the woods!".

They walked for fifteen minutes until they reached a clearing. Khali put the table cloth on the ground and arranged the dishes and food over it. They sat one in front of another, and Khali reached her hand.

"Today we start another spell. Its name is Earth Calling. It's an energy feeling spell, used to connect us with Mother Earth and all living beings".

The spell was similar to the last one, involving concentration, relaxation and emotion. It demanded that its user were in control of themselves and their feelings, and opened for nature's demands.

"Everything in the Universe, living or not emanates energy on its distinct frequency, that being, even if you can't see, you can know what's around you".

They hold hands, one in front of the other, left-hand side up, receiving, right-hand side down, giving - a complete cycle between the two of them, letting the energy flow. Eyes closed, breathing 4x4 (four inspirations, holding four, four expirations, holding four), body staying still. Ruhee felt a huge oscillation, like a tsunami coming for her. "No need to be discouraged, there is no evil nor danger". She took a deep breath and felt a gentle warm dominating her. Never seen colours fluctuated around her - how was it possible? With her eyes closed, the forest around her gained more life. Khali let go of her hand, despite that, Ruhee stayed in a trance. While Khali ate, animals approached her, looking for food. Ruhee, distracted, heard the music of the Woods, composed of the sounds of animals, wind, water, and much more. Her voice joined the harmony, sounds she never made, but that sound so correct. A gigantic tarantula climbed her arm and rested in her head, enjoying the song. At that moment, Ruhee lost her concentration and felt the arachnid in her head, scaring her.

"What the f...".

"Language", said Khali, laughing and taking the tarantula on her hand. "I didn't think of you as the one who gets scared easily".

"I don't".

"Sure. Eat some. You haven't had breakfast yet".

"I've forgotten it", her stomach growled.

After they finished eating, some of the animals decided to leave, as there objective there was complete. Some stayed, laying down and enjoying the sun that started to shine and the aurora's dew.

"What do we do now?". Ruhee asked.

"I helped you get connected with Earth, but we need, let's say, to minimize it. Instead of feeling the whole forest, which could be overbearing and hinder our work, we need to focus. For example, if Tsuki got hurt and I needed to help her fast, and could not get distracted with anything else. That's what we'll train today", Tsuki mewed and stretched, piercing Ruhee with her obsidian eyes. "And Tsuki will help you".

"How?".

"Well, you will focus on passing your energy to her. Remember: it's different them feeling others. Last time, you invited them. Now, they are the ones that need to permit you. Understood?".

"I guess".

"I wish you could do better than I guess. But let's try".

Tsuki sat in front of her and Ruhee touched her forehead, attempting to remember how she did it last time. However, it didn't work, and she felt the cat rejecting her, her spirit ricochet electrocuting her hand.

"It seems 'I guess' wasn't enough. You should be accurate, or you will get harmed. Or harm someone. It's different now than last time - I'm not guiding you. Each body has it's own protections, to avoid any interference. You didn't think the job would always be that easy, did you?"

"Kinda..."

"There wouldn't be any fun that way, would it?"

"Maybe..."

"No more 'maybe', or 'could', or 'guess', alright? It's a real job, and so are the people we save. If you don't take it seriously, you might as well walk away. So, you better do some Mulan style change and start to act. It might seem harsh, but it's my duty". Khali held her hand. "The magical police really hunt us that part is not fiction. If we make mistakes and they find us, they kill us".

Ruhee took her hand back, scared if she decided correctly.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to terrify you. Do you want to continue?"

"I guess...", Ruhee stopped, "I mean, yes".

"Good", Khali said, smiling.

They stayed most of the day training, Ruhee's hands tingling and lightly burned. But, as the sky turned purple before the twilight, Ruhee became anxious and angry, believing that she would never be able to do what she should. 'Better give up", a voice in heard shrieked, "You're a pathetic and useless witch". She closed her eyes, her inspiration strong and irregular.

"I'm not useless", she yelled and her energy stroke the cat like a lightening stopping her heart. When she realized what she had done, she picked up the cat in her lap and cried, wetting its fur. "No, no, no. I'm worst than useless. I should not be here. I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I didn't want to do it".

Khali wiped her tears with her finger and calmly smiled at her.

"It's okay. Everything is okay".

"No, no, I killed your familiar. I'm a horrible witch".

"No, you're a good witch. You just made a mistake". Khali caressed Tsuki's head. "Fortunately, a reparable one".

The cat moved, rose and looked at Ruhee with disapprobation.

"She will forgive you, she always does". Khali smiled. "However, I think you should rest before trying again".

Ruhee was still chocked and unable to rise. Khali offered her hand, and they went back to the house, Tsuki walking a few meters ahead, ignoring them.

"Here we are". As the night fell, the house appeared, a pulchritudinous mansion, unusual and strange, yet amazingly beautiful. Now that she was used to the Shadows, she could feel her: the flowers that bloomed at the Darkness (sweet Chocolate Daisies, the superb Queen of the Night, white and purple Daturas, colourful Primroses, magnificent Gardenias Augustas); the mélange of the Victorian and Turf Icelandic House, what could have been a terrible choice, but worked seraphically; and the gentle light of the moon that, defying the laws of physics, scintillated through every window, showing the stained glasses. "Welcome home".

They entered, and Ruhee went to her room. Khali advised her to take a bath to relax. However, she should be expeditious for that night she would help her making dinner. When Ruhee returned, Khali had already asunder the ingredients.

"What are we going to do?"

"Do you like Chana Masala? It's an Indian dish made of chickpeas and curry. I have already some naan prepared to eat with it".

"Seems good".

Khali cooked with exactitude. Every little thing she told Ruhee to do was detailed. It didn't seem like the recipe for a meal, but a complicated potion. When they finished and sat to eat, Ruhee questioned her.

"Most of the time, we cook guided by heart, sensation and taste. But I need to teach you about self-control, following rules and paying attention to detail. One amount heals; less doesn't have any effect; more kills. That's how many potions and herbs work, and to do a good job, you need to be a perfectionist". Khali laughed and looked at her. "Have you ever heard the joke that all of the greatest chefs have some OCD?" Ruhee laughed too, but, remembering the cook witches she lived with, that made a lot of sense.

***

She went to sleep early that night, knowing they would wake her early too, but her nightmares were full of people dying and coming back from the dead, seeking vendetta against the one that killed them: her.