7.2

Rey nodded with his gaze and putting aside that which he could not control, calmly added the following words:

"When will we start with the training?"

Heroclades, opening his eyes as if they wanted to pop out of his face, put a hand to his beard and began to remember. He wanted to be sure if he had warned the little one how rigorous the training would be. For someone normal, if something would be rigorous and painful, it was natural for him to try to avoid it as much as he could.

"Don't you have any questions before we start?"

"Murderous intent?" he asked somewhat confused.

Heroclades couldn't help but be surprised.

"I almost forgot! You'd better get those intentions under control before your father comes. Let me explain something to you. Pay attention because it won't be easy at all."

The master raised his fist in the air, darkened his gaze and let out a whole bloodthirsty aura, which made the little feline's hair stand on end."

"Murderous intent in someone is like the intimidating appearance of a weapon. Take for example the edge of a sword, the size or the design. These are things that make you intimidating, and say to others 'I only exist to do harm,' don't they?"

The tan-skinned gentleman returned the impression emanating from his body to normal and continued speaking.

"It's the same with murderous intent. It's the impression your body creates to let whoever sees you know that you're willing to do harm if they touch your blade. Advanced fighters read the killing intent of enemies. They can even sense if they are being watched and, as is common, prepare in advance for a possible attack."

Rey, interested in the subject, looked down at his hands:

"Like when you raised your hands with open palms. It looked more like an unintimidating melee defense posture to defuse the situation."

Heroclades, pleased by his disciple's insight, said:

"Indeed... A sword will never cease to be a sword, and even if its edge is not the best and it is all rusty, it will remain what it is. But when a sword is inside its sheath or a box it is less intimidating, and that is the secret to being able to control your murderous intentions."

"What am I supposed to do?" asked Rey in a dutiful tone.

Heroclades could tell that, although his disciple was as arrogant and haughty as he seemed, he was also someone who coveted ways to grow stronger.

"I, once stood where you now stand. I have the experience you need, but it doesn't mean I have a good way to teach it. What I do and think with my killer instinct is like moving my arm. I have already lived so much that it has become like second nature to my body. I must confess to you that it is not easy for me to explain something that I can do naturally. In order for you to understand and progress you will have to follow my instructions without question. Well, I guess with this in mind, I more or less have an idea of where we start with your training...."

The tan-skinned fellow thundered his fingers to continue:

"Your goal will be to survive, but mine will be to make you feel. Take a seat, this is a good place" Rey obeyed. "Cross your legs, keep your spine straight, close your eyes and take a deep breath".

The little boy followed to the letter what he was told.

"Sitting quietly is the best time to meditate. Meditation is the first step in becoming aware of your thoughts; once you are aware of your thoughts, you can understand your feelings; by understanding your feelings, you can control your mind; with control of the mind, you can control your body; and with control of your body, your present, your past and your future.

There was logic to the master's words, but Rey still did not see the point. Heroclades continued speaking:

"Let's start with basic questions. Who are you?"

"An assassin," Rey replied.

"What do you want?"

"To survive."

"What do you feel?" asked Heroclades.

"Guilt."

"What can you change?"

" What surrounds me, or maybe... me."

Heroclades, who had not heard any of his ward's answers, noticed something strange. His murderous intentions increased.

"Pay attention to your posture. Other questions. How fast do you breathe? How fast does your heart beat? How much do your eyes move? What place itches? What do you perceive of the environment? What do you perceive of yourself?"

Having the need to rectify himself before his pupil, Heroclades continued:

"Put your shoulders back, lift your chin. Your body affects the way you think, just as the way you think affects your body....".

Rey tried his best, but was unable to find answers to the last questions.

Heroclades raised high a log almost as thick as his hand and then, after pointing it to the sky, brought it down with all his might. The wood gave way and shattered into a thousand pieces, as soon as it struck the head of Rey.

The small body, which was sitting on the floor and concentrating on meditating, was taken off by the violent blow and fell collapsed. White, seeing such a situation, made the hairs on his skin stand on end, pulled out his claws and attacked the man who had hurt the being he cherished so much.

Rey raised his hand and with the same hand stopped the actions of his furry companion. He shakily began to collect himself on the floor while breathing as deeply as he could. Slowly he proceeded to sit up with his feet crossed, his back erect and his eyes closed, though a trickle of blood ran down his face and ended up as drops that collected on his chin to fall to the ground.

Heroclades, understanding that his disciple understood how the training would proceed continued:

"The killer instinct can be fed and even "educated". After receiving a blow from someone you trust without expecting it. how strong are your emotions? Can you be aware of them and control them?

"My emotions get really strong, I'm getting angry...."

This time it was a kick from the trainer. Rey shot out and bounced several times against the ground; still, as soon as he was able to recover, he returned to his position.

Heroclades, denoting surprise, added:

"Your body is quite tough, I had intended to break your arm. Let's continue..." he spoke until he got close enough. "To train your killer instincts, you need to listen to your own feelings and ignore those triggered by external factors. This is a good time. Pain is your best friend and anger your ally. Analyze what kind of event causes you other feelings, remember when you were little, think how you want to be. Through the awareness of your emotions you will be master of your instincts. Dale, Rey, open your eyes and look at me."

Rey opened his eyes and looked at the master, but this time he received a kick in the face that sent him flying backwards. The procedure took another thirty blows by the tan-skinned guy to his disciple. Heroclades, as one who was already losing his temper, said:

"Get up. Do not think of surrendering with the intention of freeing yourself from pain. Before me you will be unable to die without my permission, even if you wish it. Until there is no trace of that murderous intent in your eyes, you will not pass the test. Open your eyes and look at me."

He kicked his disciple again, who was already bleeding all over.

"You will ask yourself "why do I have to perform these tests and go through so much pain instead of simply doing what I believe is right?" Let me and I'll tell you" Rey wiped the blood from his garments. "Being born into this family makes you a warrior. Being a warrior is a lifestyle that demands intense dedication, responsibility, precision and focus during the early years so as to forge unwavering values and be capable of anything. Warriors are as responsible for saving lives as they are for taking them, so they have to be the best of the best to survive. You may be motivated now because you feel threatened, but discipline can take you even further than the motivation you have now. This combination of torture, martyrdom, beatings and mistreatment will bring out the best in you. Like hammering, fire and temperature change create a sword. To be able to shine in the shortest amount of time possible, your life must be at risk for you to feel the need to save yourself. Open your eyes..."

"Maybe I deserve this, doing something wrong requires some kind of punishment," the little boy said to himself. "My hands are contaminated."

Rey, whose body was trembling and could barely stand, understood what his master was saying. Every time he was about to lose his life, his body adapted to create an opposite result. He opened one of his eyes and looked at the tan-skinned lord, who kicked him again violently.

"You're getting better," said Heroclades. "However, it's still not enough! Why?! Rey, unlike the other skills you need to be a warrior, control of your murderous intentions as well as control of your fighting spirit are the fundamental basis. You cannot fight or seek solutions if you are not in control of the processing going on in your head. You need to condition your brain to think about what you are doing. What's so hard?!"

For a moment he realized they were being very dramatic; trying to regain his composure he continued:

"A self-respecting teacher should not blame his students... Maybe it's me who still doesn't realize it. Mnnn."

He bent down and put his face in front of his disciple's, like someone who wanted to look from someone else's point of view.

"I see. It was my mistake. It took me time to realize it. Rey, you have such a grudge embedded so deep inside... We don't progress because maybe you blame yourself for something and are taking my blows as a punishment. You wouldn't have those eyes if you hadn't killed, or am I wrong? To control your killer instincts, in part, is to stop feeling like one. What better hint than that could you get? Open your eyes and look at me..."

Rey remembering the fateful night in which he had extinguished a beating heart, the moment when he killed a flying beast and when he ate the chicks of a nest, opened his eyes with the same sharpness he used to have since the beginning of the training and received another violent blow from his master. The pain and swelling was so great that he almost could not sit down again, Rey just rolled over on his back to be able to at least breathe more comfortably.

Heroclades with a heavy and tired tone said:

"Come on, if you can get on your back, you can sit down. Sit down or I'll give you a reason why you can't do it for the rest of the day."