The silence in Salda’s house was different now—charged with a new energy, an ancestral whisper that seemed to come from within the very walls. Mateo felt something inside him that was once confused and chaotic now beginning to take shape: the flow of Ki, pulsing strongly like a flame about to explode.

It was a new beginning. A phase where brute force or a thirst for vengeance were no longer enough—it was time to master the essence that the Ancestral Gods granted to those capable of understanding its true power.

Nai, in turn, watched with bright eyes. She saw in her friend a transformation that wasn't just physical, but spiritual. She knew their path would be arduous, full of trials, but together, they could defy even the heavens themselves.

And so, between training that burned the body and meditations that freed the mind, Mateo and Nai embarked on a journey that would change not only their destiny, but the destiny of Ducathen.

Because when Ki awakens, the whole world feels it.

The days in Salda’s house followed a relentless rhythm. The sun had barely risen over the horizon when Mateo was already on his feet, muscles sore but mind sharp. Salda watched him with a critical eye as he tried to control the flow of Ki, channeling the energy of his death blessing. At first, the energy seemed rebellious—a fire threatening to consume everything around it—but with patience and effort, Mateo began to tame it, feeling his body and mind align.

Nai trained beside him, but her focus was different. Her exercises were aimed at the gentle manipulation of the Ki of life—healing small wounds, strengthening the body, and even attempting protection techniques that created a faint aura around her. Salda stressed that she needed to use her power with wisdom and compassion, but that she also had to learn to be firm and resolute when battle demanded it.

Mornings were dedicated to physical training—running, sword fighting, dodging, agility. Afternoons, to meditation and Ki channeling practices. Salda also taught combat techniques combining magic and weapons, showing how to use their blessings strategically.

One particularly exhausting afternoon, Mateo fell to his knees on the wooden floor of the training room, his body trembling, but his eyes shining with determination.

— I know there's something more — he said, panting. — Something I still can't reach. But I won't give up.

Nai approached, wiping sweat from her brow.

— We're in this together, Mateo. I also feel like I'm getting stronger, but it's still not enough compared to what I want to protect.

Salda smiled, even with her fingers bandaged.

— That flame inside you is what will make the difference. But remember: controlling power is as important as using it.

Between training sessions, the mission invitations arrived. The first one was a reconnaissance mission in a nearby village, where rumors of suspicious activities and disappearances were beginning to grow. Mateo and Nai were sent to investigate discreetly.

They walked through the village at dusk, attentive to details. The people were apprehensive, eyeing strangers suspiciously, and hushed conversations spoke of a dark presence lurking in the alleys. Mateo felt the weight of responsibility, but also the urgency to protect the innocent.

During the mission, they found clues linking the gang they had attacked previously to an even larger network, with branches in other cities and even within the police forces themselves. The corruption ran deeper than they had imagined.

One night, during a silent patrol, they were surprised by a group of thugs who tried to ambush them. The fight was quick and brutal. Mateo, with his dagger, delivered precise blows, his scarlet aura enveloping the battlefield, while Nai used her sword with grace and agility, protecting and counter-attacking.

After overcoming the ambush, they realized this was just the tip of the iceberg. Something much larger and more dangerous was at play.

Back at Salda’s house after each mission, they discussed strategies, learned from their mistakes, and planned their next moves. With each challenge, Mateo felt his thirst for power grow, but he also learned to control his dark side, encouraged by Nai and Salda, who were always by his side, offering balance and support.

Night fell over Salda’s house like a silent veil, and despite his exhaustion, Mateo couldn't sleep. The recent fight still echoed in his mind—the enemies' eyes, the blood, the weight of the dagger in his hand. But, more than anything, the strange feeling that he had been watched. As if something—or someone—had been testing his limits.

The next day, as Salda prepared a new round of training, a letter was delivered to the house by a black crow with a metal bracelet attached to its leg. Salda recognized the seal: it was from the Order of the Veil Watchers, a neutral and highly selective group of hunters and informants spread throughout Ducathen. The message was short, but clear:

"Suspicious movements in the Vharken mountains. Reports of disappearances and nightly rituals. Codes used by former members of the Shattered Veil Gang. Vigilance recommended. May be linked to 'Project Umbra.'"

Salda read it silently, then looked at Mateo and Nai.

— It's time for you to face something bigger. A mission beyond the borders. But don't think it will be like the others. From here on, you will no longer be just apprentices... you will have to act like soldiers. — Her voice carried a grave weight, but also confidence.

The preparation lasted two days. Salda reinforced teachings on camouflage, reading others' Ki, deep breathing techniques to conceal spiritual presence. Nai adjusted her light armor and sharpened her sword with almost ceremonial precision. Mateo, in silence, spent hours meditating at the edge of the house, his dagger stuck in the ground. The dark aura around him seemed to pulse in sync with his breathing.

On the third morning, they departed mounted on a carriage hidden in the outskirts of the city, using false identities. They carried supplies, mission scrolls, and a communication crystal with Salda, in case something went wrong.

The Vharken Mountains were isolated, cut through by cold forests and abandoned trails. As they climbed, the air grew thinner and denser, and the silence seemed deeper than it should. Mateo and Nai remained alert. There were recent footprints in the damp soil, remains of extinguished campfires, and signs of struggle—scratches on the rocks, drops of dried blood. Everything indicated that something was hiding there.

It was on the third night of exploration that they saw it.

A ritual circle had been drawn on the ground, marked with ancient runes that glowed faintly under the moonlight. In the center, there was a distorted symbol: an eye covered by a black flame. Nai shuddered. Mateo approached and, upon touching the ground, felt a sharp pain pierce his mind. A strange memory—or perhaps a vision—invaded him. A man in a dark cloak, holding a bloodied scroll, said:

"Project Umbra will bring balance. But balance requires sacrifice."

Mateo fell to his knees, gasping.

— They're trying to use death... as if it were a key. A door.

Nai approached, holding his arm.

— A door to what?

He didn't answer immediately. His eyes were red, pulsing with Ki.

— To what comes after death.

They destroyed the ritual circle, but knew it wasn't the only one. When they returned to Salda’s house, they brought with them a new urgency. Something was happening—something big. And it involved much more than revenge or a gang.

Salda received them with a somber expression upon hearing their reports. She opened an old hidden compartment under her floorboards and brought out a forgotten map, with locations marked by symbols similar to the one they had seen in the mountains.

— Project Umbra... — she murmured. — It's not just a conspiracy. It's an attempt to alter the very structure between the realms of the living and the dead. Ancient kingdoms have tried this before... and all were destroyed.

Mateo stood up, his eyes fixed on the map.

— Then let's destroy it before it destroys everything else.

Nai nodded. For the first time, she wasn't just mourning her dead parents—she was avenging them with action. With purpose.

That night, before they slept, Salda left them with a warning:

— You are becoming stronger. But be careful what you wish for. The power of death is not like the other blessings. It whispers... and it doesn't always tell the truth.

Mateo looked at his hands. The dark Ki danced subtly on his fingers. For the first time, he understood that what was inside him wasn't just strength.

It was hunger.

And he needed to learn to feed it the right way—or it would consume him.