Good Instincts 1.7 - ING. VERSIÓN

-You had good instincts- Kratos said as night fell. He and Viggo were sitting in front of a campfire. Five large pieces of meat were pricked on sticks and cooking in the heat of the flames. It could smell the scent of fat in the air.

-When?- asked Viggo as if coming out of his thoughts. He was somewhat groggy after the experience of killing a living being.

-When you realized that your arrow would not arrive, and you decided to approach. They were good instincts, but you lack the knowledge. Knowing how to improvise is an art that should not be used constantly. Otherwise, it becomes a bad habit-

-Discipline?-

-That's right, you lacked discipline. Discipline is the combination of knowledge and training. Knowledge comes from trying to know how your opponent thinks, where he can advance, how he can advance and anticipate his move. Training comes from the constant practice of a skill. All these things make up the ideal knowledge to know how to hunt. If you must move more than one step, it is that you lack skill (training) or are poorly positioned (knowledge)-

-I get it- said Viggo -but it's a little hard to look at an innocent animal and kill it. It would be easier if it were a fierce animal-

- Easy? You don't know anything boy. If you had been hunting a bear or a lion, shooting it in the throat would not have ripped off. It would have attacked you to death, even if it had died in the process. Nothing is easy, on the other hand, rejoice in this part of your training, it is the easiest-

After chatting for a while longer, Viggo lay on the ground and hugged his sword while remembering the big and innocent eyes of the deer.

-Master- said Viggo as the last fathoms of the bonfire emitted an igneous glow.

-What is it, child?- asked Kratos on the other side of the fathoms.

-Is it necessary to fight? Is it necessary to kill?-

-Yes- Kratos replied, he was silent for a long time and continuously -life has taught me that resources are limited and what you have, someone else must want. That other may be so needy that he would be willing to take things from you. Whether it's food, gold, women, weapons, kingdoms or even your life to get other things. So, to protect everything you love in this life, your only option is to fight. Even people who don't fight with swords, fight with their bodies, minds, or hearts. There is no difference between the struggle of a merchant, a warrior, a prostitute, or a god. Everyone is just as desperate to survive, and if there was a difference, it would only be the scale of destruction-

-I understand-

-Do you really understand?-

Viggo turned around and stared at the starry sky. He keeps silent for a long time and then he answer - no master, I don't understand. I'm sorry, I'll be better-

-As long as you remember your words it's fine. Now sleep, tomorrow we will get up early and track down that thing that left the big mark-

-Mm- replied Viggo as he hugged his sword in an effort to withstand the cold. He could only continue to endure this cold thanks to his divine energy. Otherwise, he would have died of cold hours ago.

The next day, Kratos instructed Viggo to go back to where they had found the big footprint and start tracking from there. That way, they made all the way through the forest and once they got to where they found the big footprint, Viggo followed the trail. This time, they took a northerly direction, skirting the mountain on the outside and reaching a series of gorges that overlooked a large lake in the center of a valley. The weather had become almost glacial, with strong drafts, but that didn't stop Viggo from stopping at the edge of the gorge and looking at the big lake.

-The Lake of the Nine Kingdoms- Kratos said behind his back -a troubled place, you must be tries to avoid it by all means-

-Why?- asked Viggo without looking away from the lake.

-Let's say there were many deaths and the number of draugs reaches an alarming level. Be careful if one day you want to venture-

-Are you not going to go?-

-I'm fine where I live, boy, why did I want to go to such an annoying place?-

-True, but I...-

-You lack life experience, so it would be fine-

Viggo turned his face and looked at Kratos with a big smile. The latter turned around and continued along the edge of the gorge until he found a hillside with an accessible slope. They descended following the large footprints until they reached the bottom of the gorge. A place with pastures and a small stream. It was a little paradise in the middle of all the cold of the mountains. Many rams could be seen wandering around the area, some so crazy that they climbed among the rocks of the walls of the gorge and stayed fifteen meters from the ground. Viggo had never seen a ram climbing a wall vertically, so it was a big surprise. However, when they reached the end of the gorge, they stumbled upon a large cave recessed into a large stone wall. Because of the inclination of the road, it gave the impression that it kept going down and into the mountain.

-Stop, now- Kratos said as they reached thirty meters from the cave. This looked imposing, formed by an elaborate arch of chiseled surface. 5 meters high and 4 meters wide.

-Yes, I think it's the best, I have goosebumps- replied Viggo, taking his hands to his opposite forearms and rubbing over his t-shirt, in an effort to get rid of that bad feeling.

-Let's go back, it was a bad idea- Kratos said. He brings his hand to his waist, behind his back and take the knob of the axe. He took her off the ring in his shoulder pad and began to retreat on his back without ever looking away from the cave. At the same time, he notices that the goats began to blead harder and steadily.

-Boy- Kratos said insistently -I said start backing down-

Viggo turned around, turning his back to the cave, and hurriedly walked in its direction. However, shortly after advancing four steps, he hears a beastly roar coming from the cave, which reverberates throughout the bottom of the gorge.

-Run!- shouted Kratos and Viggo began to move, holding his sword with his left hand and his bow hanging on his right shoulder, with his right hand. Kratos also started running, trying to maintain the same speed as Viggo. They both made it to the hillside and climbed it as fast as they could. So, once they reached the upper edges of the gorge, they looked down. From the big cave, about a hundred meters away, a large figure came out, like an ape. His arms were as thick as Kratos' torso and from his appearance at this distance, he must have been about three meters tall.

-Can't you beat him?- asked Viggo looking at the dark creature.

-An ogre is no problem- Kratos replied -but a whole group would be difficult. Plus, I doubt you're helpful. On the other hand, if the alpha of the group that must be inside that cave went out to fight, it would be a big problem-

-Yes, it's true- replied Viggo, imagining an ogre much bigger than that ogre.

Behind the first ogre came another ogre and together they began to chase the goats grazing at the bottom of the gorge. They only killed four and between the two, they carried one in each hand. Then they walked back to the cave and disappeared into the darkness.

-Come on, boy, you still must hunt to make clothes- Kratos said, turning around and on his way back where they came. Viggo took one last look at the cave and wondered why did those monsters live in that place? It was rare for Viggo, as the entrance to the cave was so well worked. It was clear that someone had carved the solid rock and excavated it. Maybe one day he's coming to find out what's inside.

After two days of intense hunting, where Viggo managed to hunt two small deer and a large deer of huge antlers and returned to the barrier made by the magical trees. Viggo never knew where they appeared from or how they did it, but it was clear that they were special. Each was positioned a hundred meters from the other and together they formed a large circle of protection. Viggo calculates about a thousand meters from Kratos' house as the point of origin.

Once Viggo entered the barrier he could tell the difference with the "wild areas". It felt like being inside a fortress, sheltered from all the dangers that might be on the outside.

-Stop smiling like a fool, take and help, they are your things- Kratos said and threw a large set of skins rolled up with a rope made of deer guts. Viggo already carried his sword, the quiver, the bow and now had to carry the skins on his right shoulder.

-How do you make clothes with this?- asked Viggo.

-I'll teach you, but don't make ideas, you'll do it on your own from beginning to end- Kratos replied, moving forward.

-What else are you going to teach me?-

-Your skill with the bow sucks, you practically must be touching the beast to be able to hit it. Your swordsmanship is at a basic level. Your hand-to-hand combat is decent, but your blows lack intention. You always try to incapacitate your opponent, but never to really harm them. Need to stop feeling compassion for your enemies because they will have no compassion on you-

Viggo exasperated and stressed how weak he was, he said in an annoying tone - yes, yes, well, well, the useless Viggo will put all his effort into training and closing his heart-

Kratos stopped and Viggo passed by. Kratos slapped his head and said - I'm serious, boy-

Viggo stopped, let out a sigh and replied –me too, master. I will put my effort to improve and not embarrass you-

Kratos moved forward and said - it's not about shame, boy- Viggo followed him to the tail and Kratos continued -you can die if you fight with a real opponent. The lack of determination, discipline and motivation make you weak. You need more training-

-Then I'm counting on you- replied Viggo with a big smile.

-Don't smile like an idiot, it will be difficult-

- Oh! I didn't expect less from my master-

Viggo laughed and Kratos shook his head wondering, what kind of disciple had he gotten?