Chapter 8

I have a wonderful and brief dream in which I find myself in my city park as a child, a place where I loved to go to play soccer with my father.

And there he is as if nothing had happen, with his big smile as we play and he pass me the ball.

What happiness, I think I have never felt like this again ...

My mother accompanies him and gives him a kiss and then he carries me on his shoulders proud of me .., "That's my champion." His voice resounds in my ears, but it becomes an echo that disappears.

Everything turns black and I appear in the hospital where I observe with tear-filled eyes my father lying on that bed, with very pale skin, his body that had always been strong, so thin that his bones can be clearly appreciated on top of his skin, he has lost almost all of his shiny black hair and the saddest thing is that the radiant will to live that he always had in his eyes and face, have been changed by a dull expression of agony and suffering, he is connected to a serum in the vein of his arm.

My mother cuddles me and strokes my head to calm my crying, "Don't worry, your dad is going to recover soon. He will be fine in no time and then you will be able to go play together in the park." She says with tears in her eyes and sobbing.

I take my father's gaunt hand with incessant crying, "Daddy please come home soon."

He turns his head and with a very dull look he tells me with a lot of effort, "Take good care of your mom ... While I'm not at home, my champion ..."

... ... ...

So so so..

The ringing of the bell is heard.

I wake up with my friend Alfred shaking me by the shoulders.

"Let's go Iran, they are already calling us for the test!" Then he asks concerned when he sees that tears come out of my eyes, "Man, you're crying. Is something wrong with you?"

"Nothing, it was just a dream from my childhood," I answer while wiping myself with my arm.

"You know, I think that wasn't just a dream. Boy ... I can see by your expression that there are wounds within you that have not yet healed."

I think a bit about what he tells me and I respond, "I'll tell you later, I promise."

"I hope that's the way it is my friend, sometimes it's better to talk about problems to help yourself get over it."

"Don't worry, I'll do it, I promise you that if we get out of this alive and go to Helment I'll tell you everything." For now I only have time for the tests that we are going to do now and the following ones, I cannot allow myself sentimental distractions.

"It is a promise friend and I assure you that I am going to make you fulfill it, besides that I know from my own experience how you feel"

I look at him a little in amazement for a second, the I take my sword and mention to him as I start walking towards the exit, "Apparently I'm not the only one injured."

I'd also like to hear your story Alfred.

"I'll tell it to you right after you tell me yours." He ends up showing me his fist so I can greet him, which I do very satisfied.

We gather again around the instructor who is patiently waiting for the arrival of all the players.

He looks closely at everyone, "37… All are well." He begins to give us the information about the second test, "First of all I'm going to ask you a very simple but very important question to take into account for a hero." He sighs, "What's the bottom line in ensuring survival and achieving victory in your adventure as a hero?" He pauses, "Come on, who's answering me?"

The one who does it correctly will win this tungsten armor as a reward, that there is no weapon that is capable of penetrating its armor in addition to having a protection against fire spell, "Shows the gleaming equipment finely worked with carved lines forming exotic patterns on the shoulders and neck with his hand held high"

Immediately everyone begins to give responses in unison very excited about the reward, to which Luther responds angrily at such disorder.

"Be quiet! Were none of you taught manners?! Raise your hand and I will tell you to respond one at a time!"

The chaos situation ends immediately and I can assure you that there is not a single person who does not have their arm raised and some even reach out as far as they can to try to reach higher and possibly attract the instructor's attention.

Luther begins to select who to allow to answer one after another, "You, tell me what do you think is paramount?"

"Be well prepared in combat sir." He responds very determined.

"That's important but not essential. And you?"

"Have a lot of courage and determination." That can not be missing.

"It is true but it is not essential either.

Now you."

"Always work as a team with your colleagues."

"Working as a team is important but you will not always be accompanied, there are times when you will not be able to count on anyone and you will have to manage alone. So no. You."

"Be very careful."

The instructor shakes his head and changes people again.

After several incorrect answers, Luther orders something disappointed that they lower their hands with a sign, "Everyone has answered well these are all very important aspects to a hero, but none are unpredictable in nature." He pauses and continues, "So I have no choice but to answer."

And at the same time that he opens his mouth to speak he is interrupted by the dyed green haired boy who answers from the end of the crowd, "Know when it is not possible to defeat an enemy and withdraw in time to face him better prepared later. It is better to flee to fight another day than to die uselessly"

> Pat ... Pat ... Pat ...

The instructor begins to clap calmly as he nods in satisfaction, "Splendid, that's the correct answer."

Then one of the players says both confused and irritated, "What do you mean retreat?! Doesn't a hero never cower ?! Then why did the Administrator kill those who did it in the previous test ?!"

"First calm down so you can understand clearly" He speaks in a very serious and intimidating tone.

The young man shrugs his shoulders in shame and then remains silent, waiting for the answer.

"Two points, boy. First, we are never going to give you a challenge that, although difficult, does not mean that it is impossible to overcome. And second, cowering and knowing when to assume the withdrawal, are things that although they seem the same, they are not. And I am sure that after this test those who pass it will be able to easily identify the difference." Then he raises his arms and speaks excitedly, "Because that's what this test is about! There is no choice but to escape!"