In the middle of the schoolyard, excited students were getting louder and louder, talking excitedly about the big event that was about to take place in front of their eyes. Expressions of amazement and curiosity were mixed with the bustle:

"What is this? Is Ethan really going to fight Jason?!"

"Is he crazy?! He'll be totally crushed!"

"But Ethan beat Jason last time!"

"He beat James too, didn't you hear?"

From the other side, Ethan opened the school door with steady steps, his face was different than any other day. His eyes reflected the strength he had gained from his grueling training. He stood in front of Jason in the center of the courtyard, exchanging glances, the atmosphere charged with tension and excitement.

Suddenly, out of nowhere, a punch from Jason comes flying towards Ethan. At the same moment, Ethan quickly ducked down and returned the blow with his foot. The move was quick, but how did it get there?

**Three weeks ago**

Ethan fell to the ground in pain, panting heavily, then muttered as he squeezed his exhausted body:

"Ohhhh... You've broken my body again... Ouch!"

The Minotaur stood tall before him, leaning on his massive axe, and said in a mocking tone:

"You asked for it, you weak human! Come on, get up! We're not done yet."

Ethan sighed and quickly said:

"No, I apologize! But I have to take my mom to the hospital before sundown... I want you to train me well tomorrow as well."

He got up with difficulty, then commanded, "Minotaur, come back!"

The Minotaur turned into that mysterious black dust, and shrank before merging with Ethan's forehead, disappearing completely. Our hero drew hard breaths, ignoring the pain in his body, and walked lazily toward home, absent-minded, thinking of his mother.

On the road, as he walked silently, he bumped into a short man.

"Oh, I apologize! I didn't notice you, sir," Ethan said awkwardly.

The man chuckled lightly and replied: "Ho ho ho ho... Don't worry, son. You're fine, everything will be fine."

He was silent for a moment, then added in an even more awkward voice: "Hmmm... Everything will be fine, don't worry."

He was dressed in a fancy red suit, his hands glistening with gold rings, while in his hand he held a short brown club that fit his size. Ethan felt strange, and thought to himself: "Who is this guy? I've never seen him here before. Is he planning to set up a new business in the area?"

At that moment, a large, balding man in a black tuxedo stepped forward and said sternly:

"Sir, it's time for us to go."

The short man chuckled and said, "Take care of yourself, son."

Ethan didn't have time to respond, the man got into his luxury car and drove away. Our hero stood there for a moment, frozen, trying to take it all in, but he quickly shrugged it off and continued on his way.

**At Home**

Ethan entered the house very slowly, heading straight to the bathroom, intending to hide the bruises and wounds all over his body. After a long shower, he came out ready to face his mother, wearing a long shirt to hide the cuts on his arms and neck.

He cautiously opened the door, only to be greeted by his mother with a warm smile:

"Son, why are you late? Is everything okay?"

Her voice comforted him a little, but he couldn't keep the tension from showing on his face. His mother noticed his fatigue and the wounds on his body, but did not comment on it.

"How was school?" She asked in a quiet voice.

Ethan was confused for a moment, then stammered:

"Uh... School... It was good today! Hahaha."

His mother looked at him for a moment, then gently changed the subject:

"Well, aren't we going?"

Ethan laughed lightly, then pulled a wheelchair from under the bed, opened it and placed it next to his mother, then carefully took her hand and sat her down. He grabbed the chair's handles and pushed it out, heading for the hospital.

The drive was quiet, as if they didn't know each other. Neither spoke to the other, until Ethan noticed that his mother had fallen asleep, the bright lights of the shops casting shadows on the road.

He continued walking, head down, lost in his thoughts. He thought of the loneliness, the darkness, the emptiness that would fill the house after her absence.

Suddenly, his thoughts were interrupted by the bright lights reflecting in his face, the large hospital sign.

Ethan entered the hospital and pushed his mother's chair towards the reception desk.

"Hello, sir, how can I help you?" The clerk asked with a slight smile.

Without saying a word, he handed her a blue card.

The clerk scanned the card and then said:

"Go to room 15, second floor."

Ethan nodded thankfully, then headed toward the elevator. Moments later, he was in the room, helping his mother onto the bed and then sitting next to her, taking advantage of the few moments he would have with her.

There was silence between them for a moment, then Ethan got up and said:

"Well, Mom, I guess I should go now..."

She interrupted him in an unusually serious voice:

"Wait, son... There's something important I have to tell you."

Ethan sat back down next to her, his face sad, then asked quietly:

"What is it?"

His mother hesitated for a moment, then said in a low voice:

"I'm going to tell you about your father..."

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