Good Instincts 1.2 - ING. VERSIÓN

Late at night, Viggo woke up looking at a wooden ceiling. It was cold, he was only covered by a thick wolf skin while sleeping on the logs stacked in the shed. Viggo shiver thinking about how cruel his alleged master was. Then he shook his head and covered his eyes with the back of his hand. He couldn't even do anything right when he was overwhelmed by the difference in strength. All the technique and training his father gave him since he was a child was useless. Maybe he was sleeping in the shed as a punishment for mediocre and tomorrow he would be asked to leave. Viggo shed a few tears and thought about what his parents would say after returning defeated. Not even a month had passed and he was already defeated, like the big fool he is.

-Why is the child crying?- asked a childish voice

-It's... tired- replied a feminine and affable voice

Viggo immediately sat down and looked to the front, to where the corner of the hut facing the door was. Two silhouettes were seen, one adult and one small, illuminated by an orange light. Then Viggo noticed that a part of the adult's hair was copper like that of the woman he saw when he arrived at the hut. Next to him was a boy who, because of his figure, Viggo threw him about 5 years old.

The woman walked with a bowl in her hands from which emanated a cloud of steam. They walked in his direction and turned into two dark shadows. Viggo always watch them and once they got close enough, he notices how the little guy's eyes were shining pure and innocent, while the woman's expression was kind. Very different from a certain person's harsh expression.

-Take, eat something- said the woman -it is soft on your stomach, it will help you regain your strength-

Viggo wiped his eyes with the back of his hand and gestured a smile. Then I stretch out his hands and take the bowl that the woman was bringing. It was warm and exuded an air of spices, meat and potatoes. The woman stared at him as the boy took her hand. Viggo passed his hand over the edge of the bowl and noticed a stick sticking out of the right edge. Then he picks it up and bring it closer to his eyes to see that it was a spoon. Then he takes the spoon to the bowl and take out some food. The woman and child looked at him all the time. Viggo tasted the food without waiting long, but when he tasted it, he felt comforted. The small pieces of meat were tasty and the potato melted in his mouth.

-Thank you- said Viggo.

-You're welcome- replied to the woman and the child.

-Dad was a little you- said the boy.

-it´s Okay- Viggo said -it was because I wasn't good. Tomorrow I will leave-

-Go where?- the woman asked.

-Well, I failed- Viggo said in a low voice and without energy.

-My husband hasn't said that- replied to the woman, Viggo raised his face in an expression of amazement and the woman continued to -say sleep as best you can, tomorrow will be a day to train-

Viggo made a big smile and said -thank you-

The woman laughed harmoniously and I ask -Why do you thank me?-

-No, nothing, it's just, it's just that I thought I had failed-

-The battle is not over until you are in the underworld, child- said a hoarse voice. Viggo looked at the corner of the hut and noticed the edge of thick arms. It was as if Kratos was leaning on his back on the wall. He continues -only once you have reached the depths of the abyss, can you say that he has been defeated. And even at that moment, if you occupy your mind, discipline yourself and persevere no matter the circumstances, you can move on-

-I'll keep that in mind- said Viggo.

-Mm- replied Kratos hidden behind the corner of the house -eat and sleep, tomorrow will be a long day-

-Yes-

Then the woman turned around and took the child by the hand.

At the same time, Viggo saw them moving forward and asked -Madam, what is your name?-

The silhouette of the woman turned her face and said -Faye And yours?-

-Viggo, madam, much pleasure-

-My name is Atreus- said the smallest shadow.

-Much pleasure also Atreus, I hope we are friends-

-Really?- asked the excited child.

-Yes, of course-

-Then- said the little shadow, intending to let go of his mother's hand and walk back to where Viggo was, but the woman held him back.

The little shadow looked at the woman's and she said -no, tomorrow. Viggo must rest-

-Okay- replied to the little shadow and nodded several times. Then he looked in the direction of Viggo and said -good night-

-Oh, good night- replied Viggo.

Everyone went and left him alone, eating while sitting on the logs of the shed. Once Viggo ate all the food, he felt at ease and less cold. Then I look up a little beyond the roof of the shed and notice that the sky was clear. He took off the wolf skin with which he was covered and walked out of the shed. He looked at the sky and saw the sky covered by a river of stars. Then he looked to the left and noticed that ten meters away, Kratos was sitting on a log in front of a bonfire. At his sides sat his wife and son. The woman had copper and curly hair, while the boy had short hair. Viggo smiled and wondered how a guy with such a scary appearance could have a family. Kratos, illuminated by the light of the bonfire, looked thoughtful, with a cold look and a hard expression. His beard concealed his age, but Viggo might have easily thought he was in his sixties or seventies.

It doesn't matter, he thought, he's going to teach me, you have to give your best, he thought. Then he looked once again at the wonderful river of stars illuminating the night sky. Then he turned around and walked back to the shed. He lay on the logs and covered himself with the wolf skin. Then in the midst of the darkness, he began to think about what he would do tomorrow.

-o-

-Get Up Boy- roared a thick, powerful voice

Viggo gave a sniff and looked everywhere, noticing that it was still dark. However, out of his numbness, he notices how someone took off his wolf skin that kept him warm and felt the cold.

-I said to get up- the thick and powerful voice roared once again.

-I'm going, I'm going, I'm going- said Viggo, sitting on his bed of logs -by god, it's not even daytime-

-What are you talking about, child?- asked the thick and powerful voice -it's early morning, it's the moment where the warriors are formed-

Viggo got off the logs and after scratching his eyes with his back, he noticed that it was true. The light was dim thanks to the roof of the shed, but it was natural light. Then he looked a little beyond the shed and noticed how in the distance, the first rays of the sun were just rising. On the other hand, a gust of cold air took away all his sleep and made him tremble. His teeth were chestnut-browning in an expression of helplessness against the weather. Then he looked forward and noticed yesterday's bald guy, Kratos, dressed only in pants and a breastplate that covered his right chest. Viggo felt cold just looking at him.

-What do you do?- asked Kratos, took him by the arm and began dragging him into the backyard. In that place Viggo would be unprotected and vulnerable against the gusts of cold, which he dislikes. Then he began to struggle to get away, but it was impossible, that hand surrounded his scrawny arm with ease and was like a pincer made of steel.

Once they reached the center of the backyard, covered by a thin layer of snow just like yesterday, Kratos released Viggo. The latter looked up and could see moody eyes. From his stern expression, the words of encouragement he said to him last night, seemed to have been said by someone else.

-Now it starts to go around the entire circumference of the courtyard! - roared Kratos.

Viggo looked at the surroundings and realized that the entire courtyard formed a rectangle fifty meters long by twenty meters wide. The edges were delimited with large walls of natural stone. Viggo looked at Kratos, who looked at him with his arms folded and hoped that he would start moving. Viggo frowned, but he started jogging anyway.

-I said run, boy- Kratos roared.

-I'm coming, I'm coming- replied Viggo, hurrying his way, feeling his whole body clumsy and sore. Most likely it will be because of yesterday's beating.

-When I say you run, you run. And from now on you will answer loud and clear "yes, sir" -

"Yes, sir," Viggo shouted and began to run harder. The snow was only a small layer on the ground, so the effort was minimal. On the other hand, he advanced along the edge of the courtyard and as a game, he passed touching the trunks of the trees. Viggo looked at Kratos and noticed that he looked at him with the same grumpy face as yesterday. Those cold eyes, frown, and that tattoo that crossed the left side of his face made him look fierce. Viggo concentrated on running and wondered Why was this guy's skin so pale?

-Focus on what you do- Roared Kratos -your only goal right now is to run. That's your goal, that's what your life depends on. Focus on disciplining yourself, that's the only way to get the most out of your power. You are your breath, how is your breath? Are you thinking about something else? Well, focus on breathing and how you move your body. Where are you stepping on, who is around you and what could harm you? You are your worst enemy, only you can deconcentrate and make yourself fail-

Viggo kept listening to him for hours until those words rumbled in his mind. At about noon it was time for lunch, but even as he was spooning his bowl of soup he could hear Kratos roaring in his mind. "Don't do this, put more effort, keep your pace. Concentrate, you have to concentrate, losing your concentration will kill you. You're punished, make a hundred lizards" and things like that. Viggo felt that he was going crazy.