Gael slowly opened his eyes, and immediately, the breathtaking sight of the surroundings enveloped him. He noted with surprise that he had been transported to a vast, lush, and green field that extended in all directions. The vibrant green of the grass harmoniously blended with the intense blue of the sky, creating a color palette reminiscent of an impressionist painting.

The field was expansive, with no signs of trees or structures around. It was as if Gael had been transported to an untouched land, a paradisiacal refuge amid the urban chaos he had left behind. The pure, fresh air carried the fragrance of nature, awakening his senses to a new and unknown world.

The cloudless and clear sky was a vast blue expanse that seemed to stretch into eternity, inviting the boy to contemplate the vastness of the universe. The radiant sun, in all its splendor, cast rays of light that illuminated the entire field, creating a play of shadows and reflections on the undulating grass.

A gentle breeze blew, as if nature itself whispered secrets to Gael. This breeze caressed his skin, bringing a sense of calm and tranquility. It was as if nature itself was welcoming him to this enchanted world.

Every detail seemed meticulously cared for, as if the scene had been created especially to surprise and delight the young guardian. The vibrant colors and the beauty of the landscape seemed to transcend the reality he knew, as if everything there was imbued with a touch of magic.

"Am I dead?"

Raising his head from the grass, the boy questioned himself, confronting the strangeness of the place he found himself in.

"No, you are not dead."

Replied the figure beside him.

"AHHHHH!"

Gael screamed in surprise as he finally encountered the being that had roared when he broke the axis—the fire lion.

The lion made of fire emerged from the depths of the fiery landscape, a majestic and imposing creature that seemed to have been sculpted by dancing flames. Its fur was a mix of orange, golden, and reddish tones, shimmering like glowing embers with each movement. Each strand was like a living flame, crackling with heat and intensity.

Its eyes, deep and penetrating, shone like two spheres of burning fire, reflecting the ancestral wisdom and power within. Its pupils resembled glowing embers, and its expression was an intriguing combination of nobility and serenity.

The mane of the fire lion was a cascade of flickering flames that rose majestically on its back. Each strand waved gently, emanating warmth and radiance like a crown of light around its imposing head.

Its paws were strong and vigorous, like pillars of fire supporting the creature's entire splendor. As it walked, the marks of its pawprints left small trails of flames on the ground, a reminder of its fiery and enigmatic nature.

The tail of the fire lion was a spectacle in itself, sinuous and elegant like a fire snake dancing in harmony with its movements. Each sway of the tail left a trail of sparks in the air, as if the fire itself was leaving a bright path wherever it went.

"What place is this?"

Gael asked, examining the surroundings for clues about how he had been transported so extraordinarily.

"You are inside your axis. Everything you see right now is a part of yourself."

The lion emphasized as it walked around Gael, whose mind struggled between the disbelief of conversing with a fire animal and the wonder of the place he was in.

"But who are you, after all?"

The boy questioned, seeking to understand the identity of the mysterious feline creature.

"Who I am?"

The animal inquired, scratching the grassy ground with its right paw, as if pondering the question.

"I have many names, for each one who encounters me, I have one. I am what I am, but it is you who defines how you should call me."

Gael drew his legs close, feeling inexplicably comfortable in that place, as if he belonged to that extraordinary world. Before he could express what he was feeling, the lion interrupted with its majestic voice:

"I understand your frustration, your helplessness, and the desire to be stronger and not being able to. However, there is a way for you to overcome this momentary weakness, and the only way for you to become strong is to know me and proceed to know me.

"But how can I do that when I don't even know your name?"

Asked Gael, confused by the information the lion was conveying to him.

"Stand up, son of man, you will begin to know me from today."

The lion turned to Gael, staring into his eyes.

The boy immediately stood up, even though he knew it wasn't his physical body that was there. However, what intrigued him the most was the way the animal spoke to him, much like Miguel had done. Before he could reflect further on this, the lion's next command caught his attention.

"Unsheath your sword and show me."

Said the lion, making a request to the boy.

Gael nodded and uttered:

"Ignis."

The sword appeared in his right hand, with its simple blade and the usual hilt. Everything seemed normal since the weapon had appeared.

"Battle stance."

Said the animal, its voice strong like a commander's command. Gael assumed the position taught by Karumo, ready for the test.

In the blink of an eye, the lion was in front of him, attacking his sword with a powerful swipe that broke it in a single blow.

"But what did you do?"

Gael questioned, shocked at how his sword had been destroyed with that blow.

"How am I supposed

to go back to the fight now if you broke my sword?"

"Your sword is not in its true form."

The animal said, drawing the boy's attention to a great discovery.

"It is as fragile as a piece of glass because you still don't know me, and so I will teach you my name."

It was the first time Gael had heard something like that. Teach the name? How could something so simple be a powerful lesson? How could a reference to something that represented people be taught like a mathematical formula or a physics equation? However, for that lion, its name was a teaching in itself.

"It may not be a mathematical formula or a physics equation, but my name is not like the others, and you will know why."

Said the lion and then roared to the side.

"I and you are one; as long as you remain within the axis, everything you think or feel, I will also think or feel."

Gael then understood what was happening at that moment. If he wanted to get stronger and fulfill his promise to be the strongest among the guardians, he would need to learn the name of that animal.

"I am your bestoj; I am the source of your powers, and the more you know me, the stronger you will become."

Said the lion, turning to Gael.

"The cornerstone for this kind of situation is trust, both in yourself towards me and from me to you. That's why I broke your sword; your confidence was not strong enough, and neither your weapon nor your elemental energy were able to defeat the cyclops. That's why I brought you here before you died.

When the lion said that, three wooden doors appeared in front of Gael. Each one had a different color: the first, from left to right, was red; the center one, blue; and the third, white.

"As I told you, due to your lack of trust in me, you manifested the wrong form of your sword, affecting the size of your elemental power."

The lion emphasized, explaining the meaning of the three doors.

"As Karumo told you, there are three stages of your sword, and they are hidden behind these three doors. However, the blue and white doors are still locked. Remember that Karumo said he couldn't teach you how to use them?"

"Yes."

Replied the boy, admiring the three doors in front of him.

"This happens because our powers still have no connection, but the red door is already unlocked. If you enter through that door, you will discover my name, and your sword will assume its true form."

Said the lion, pointing with its head to the door he should choose.

Gael approached the red door and noticed that it had no doorknob, unlike the other two. He approached and pushed it forward, finding absolute darkness.

"I think I understand what you mean."

Said Gael, understanding the situation he was in.

"This is your first trust test. If you want to conquer my name and my power, you'll have to step into places that cannot be seen."

Said the lion, looking at him.

"Walking where your feet never thought to be, exploring completely unknown places."

Gael looked again at the lion, who nodded, giving him the courage he needed for the action he had to take. The boy took the first step into the darkness, but it was only when he took the second step that he regretted what he had done. However, it was already too late, and Silva fell into the infinite darkness.