Two years had passed since Salda began training the two youths. Now, at eight years old, Mateo was stronger, faster, and much more... ominous. Nai, on the other hand, remained kind, determined — but stuck. Her control over Ki was still weak.

The time had come for the Formation Trial, the first major challenge from their mentor. A secret tradition among serious mages and warriors: hunt three wild beasts without outside help, using only your own skills.

Salda led them to a living, cruel forest near the Yalma Ravine.

— It's not about killing. It's about surviving. And learning what you're capable of... when you're alone.

Mateo vanished into the trees like a shadow. Each step was precise, each movement fluid. He ambushed his first prey — a Tark-beast, something like an armored boar — and plunged his dagger into its blind spot. It was quick.

In just a few hours, he had already defeated the three required monsters. Each kill left something inside him... satisfied.

Meanwhile, Nai wandered through twisted branches, sweating, hands trembling. She still couldn’t control Ki. She tried to feel it, mold it, as Salda had taught, but it all seemed unstable. She was vulnerable. And yet, she tried. Alone.

That’s when the forest found her first.

She heard the growl before she saw it. A Cursed Two-Headed Wolf, fur black like scorched ash, its eyes glowing with hunger.

Nai tried to hold her stance. She drew her thin sword, raised her guard. Tried to channel Ki... and nothing.

— Stay calm, breathe... focus... — she muttered to herself.

She struck with everything she had — but failed. The sword barely scratched the creature's thick hide.

One of the heads struck her with a paw, slamming her into a tree. The impact was brutal. Nai screamed. Her shoulder bled. Her vision began to darken.

Mateo heard the scream and ran instinctively, dagger already in hand. When he saw Nai, bloodied and broken on the ground... something boiled inside him.

— Get away from her! — he shouted, charging at the beast.

But the wolf was colossal, too fast. Mateo was thrown against the rocks, the air knocked from his lungs.

Then, like lightning, Salda arrived. She appeared wreathed in flames, conjuring pure fire from the blessing in her blood.

A fire shield tried to block the wolf’s twin bite — but failed. The fangs pierced the flames. Salda screamed.

Two of her fingers fell to the ground like burnt wood.

Mateo rose with difficulty. His body was scratched all over, his breathing ragged.

But when he looked at the wolf... his eyes widened. Not in fear.

In admiration.

— So strong... — he whispered, lips slightly parted.

His body vibrated. The pain vanished. The fear evaporated. All that remained was hunger.

Hunger to fight. To feel that kind of power. To overcome.

The Ki around him began to flow like a dark mist. It was dense. Hot. Almost alive. It seeped from his pores like a shadowy serpent — and the boy smiled.

A twisted smile. Strange. A smile that didn’t match his age.

He took a step forward, knowing full well the monster could tear him apart in seconds.

The wolf felt it. Its instinct, forged through years of hunting, screamed: “Kill the boy.”

But the Ki...

That dark, ravenous energy wrapped around Mateo like a hidden predator.

The beast froze. Both heads snarled, but its paws wouldn’t move. That aura... was unnatural.

For a moment, the hunter hesitated.

Salda saw the opening. With her missing fingers and blurred vision, she raised her good arm and conjured a thick, hot smoke screen — a byproduct of pure flame.

— Run! — she ordered, even though neither of them could barely move.

She pulled them, nearly dragging.

They found a narrow cave between dark rocks. The wolf tried to follow, but its massive body slammed into stone. It growled, clawed, but couldn’t get in.

Inside the cramped, suffocating cave, the three collapsed.

Salda leaned against the wall and bit her lip to avoid screaming. Blood trickled from her mutilated hand.

For hours, the sound of the wolf prowling outside was all they heard.

Nai trembled, clinging to Mateo, who tried to calm her.

Salda was nearly unconscious, breathing faintly.

Mateo... was silent. Staring at nothing with wide eyes. He still felt the heat of battle. Still heard the roars. His heart beat in an odd rhythm.

The taste of death danced on his tongue like honey.

When they finally left the cave, night had already fallen. The forest was silent, as if hiding what had happened.

They returned to Nai’s house in Huwofin. The porch light was still on.

As soon as they entered, Salda collapsed like a broken doll.

The sound of her body hitting the floor echoed through the room.

Nai ran to her, crying, trying to stop the blood from the fingers that were no longer there.

Mateo stood. He looked at his hands.

He saw no blood.
But he felt it.

Felt something new inside him.
Something that wouldn’t fade with time.