Venhorst Castle loomed large in the silent night, its majestic towers rising against the starry sky. Within its imposing walls was one room that stood out above all others—a room fit for the highest nobility.
The bed, large enough to comfortably accommodate ten adults, was adorned with soft white cotton sheets woven with gold threads. Rare jewels dotted its frame, reflecting the soft glow of magical crystals embedded in the ceiling. These not only illuminated the room with a comforting fluorescent light, but also adjusted their intensity according to the user's will.
It wasn't just the opulence that made this room impressive. Its security was absolute. Magic arrays were interwoven throughout the structure, supported by spirit crystals and high-level beast cores. A sensory detection barrier picked up even the slightest movement, be it an intruder… or a mere mosquito. Only an advanced higher being would dare to even consider breaking through these defenses.
In the center of this luxury and protection, a loving couple lay on the large bed, absorbing each other. Ferdinand and Catherine Venhorst were engaged in an intimate conversation. With a slight movement of Catherine's delicate hand, an acoustic barrier formed around them, silencing any sound that tried to escape, although noises from outside could still be heard.
Fernando, absorbed in his attention to his wife's slender body, slid his fingers over her skin with affection. His gaze was focused on her, but his mind wandered to questions he could not ignore.
— Honey... what do you think of our son's story? — He spoke in a low but attentive tone.
Catarina, who was snuggled in his arms, sighed softly before answering.
— As hard as it is to believe, I think it's true. Either way, he's our son. We should be understanding... He spent a lot of time alone in that boundless darkness.
Fernando agreed, but did not stop his caresses. His mind, however, did not rest.
"In the Tomb of the Primal Sin," he murmured, his eyes darkening as he remembered the past, "you were infected by that egg in your soul… But now you've discovered that our son carried one as well. That doesn't make sense."
Fernando was never the type to delve into mysteries, but when it came to his family's safety, he was willing to make an exception. His tone became firmer.
— It would be plausible if F. Júnior, still on Earth, had found this egg and, because of that, was sucked by the darkness to this world... as if something wanted to reunite him with the other half that was inside you.
He paused, reflecting on his own words.
—But something still doesn't fit...
Catarina raised an eyebrow and immediately disagreed:
— He will be a formidable wizard, that's for sure.
Fernando, however, did not back down one bit. With a dignified air and a defiant glint in his eyes, he declared:
— Warrior or wizard , it will be up to him to decide. Tomorrow, I will begin his training. You should teach him the Baboan language , should he choose to become a wizard.
This time, Catarina nodded, acknowledging the validity of her husband's words.
The conversation came to an end, but the night was only just beginning. Clothes flew, and a fierce battle began—not of swords and spells, but of pure desire. Muffled moans filled the room as warrior and mage clashed with equal intensity. Despite her delicate appearance, Catarina was not easily dominated. One moment, she was pressing Fernando down; the next, she was the one succumbing to his strength. The clash continued into the early hours of the morning, for the strength of a superior being could not be underestimated.
The next morning
Venhorst Castle , a group was gathered on a vast plain covered in lush green grass. In the distance, a few trees dotted the horizon, but no animal dared to approach that place.
Catarina was looking particularly radiant that morning. Her hair, tied back in a ponytail , swayed gently in the wind. She wore a long-sleeved blue blouse with white stripes, brown leather pants, and sturdy boots. Her feline tail was wrapped around her waist, and on her hands glowed magical rings—three on the left and a ruby on the right. The staff she held brimmed with arcane energy, exuding an oppressive aura.
Fernando, beside her, was wearing his magical armor. Although it covered only his chest, kneecaps, wrists, knees, and calves , it left his bulging muscles on display, highlighting his imposing bearing. On his back he carried a heavy sword, and on his face was a confident smile.
John, on the other hand, wore simple clothes made of flexible leather, suitable for physical exercise. His boots were sturdy, and a small armored breastplate protected his torso. He couldn't help but think as he looked at himself: I look like a character from an RPG...
The castle's butler was present, dressed in impeccable attire appropriate for his position. Despite his discreet posture, his presence exuded the pressure of an average being, a detail that would not go unnoticed by trained eyes.
Besides him, there were three other people in the group. One was a maid, the other a guard. However, the figure that caught the most attention was a boy who appeared to be a year or two older than John. His clothes were similar to John's, but clearly more worn by time and use.
John watched the boy curiously, not knowing that this meeting would mark the beginning of a new phase in his journey.
The boy next to the butler was Alex, son of Cetó , the loyal servant of the Venhorst family . At Fernando's request, Alex would start training with John. According to him, the competition between the two would awaken the spirit of overcoming and encourage them to grow even stronger.
Fernando smiled and called John with his characteristic tone of authority:
— F Júnior , come meet Alex, your training partner.
Only Fernando still called John F Junior . Although he had accepted the name the boy had chosen for himself, he simply liked the sound of "F Junior", perhaps because it was an extension of his own name.
John approached and, with a relaxed air, extended his hand.
— Hello, I'm John Venhorst .
If for John the introduction was casual, the same could not be said for Alex. The boy maintained the impeccable posture that had been taught to him since he was little and, with a rehearsed movement, bowed respectfully.
— It is a pleasure to meet you, young lord. This humble servant is named Alex and it will be an honor to receive training by your side.
Behind him, Ceto , the butler, discreetly gave a thumbs-up of approval. His proud look said it all: he had taught his son well.
John, on the other hand, immediately disapproved of this exaggerated formality. He walked over to Alex, placed a firm hand on his shoulder, and gave him a sly smile.
— You can just call me John. No 'young lord' stuff. We're training partners now.
The gesture seemed to demonstrate humility, but deep down, John had another reason for rejecting formal treatment. He didn't want the humiliation of being beaten during training and then hearing something like: "Young lord, are you okay?" Just imagining the scene made him feel ashamed.
Alex hesitated, stammering:
— Bu-but ... I 'm just one... and you, the young lord...
John interrupted with a firm nod.
— Don't worry. We're companions now.
Alex looked to his father for approval. When Cetó nodded, he finally relaxed and accepted the request.
With the introductions complete, Fernando gestured to the butler, the guard, and the maid, indicating that they should leave. When only the four of them remained—Fernando, Catarina, John, and Alex—Fernando smiled and, with a competitive glint in his eyes, declared:
— Very well, let's begin.
— Honey, you can prepare the training course.
Catarina nodded without hesitation. In a graceful movement, she rose into the air, floating a few meters above the ground. Fernando grabbed John and Alex and took them up with him. Now, they were all hovering above the plain.
With a short incantation in the Baboan tongue , Catarina raised her staff, and the earth around her began to respond to her call. Streams of energy flowed to the tip of the artifact , and with a slight movement of her hand, the ground beneath them shook.
Suddenly, a huge chunk of the plain was ripped away from the earth, leaving behind a colossal chasm—a hole about 120 meters in diameter and 10 meters deep. Without hesitation, Catarina pressed down on the portion of earth suspended in the air, then swung her staff in a precise arc, chanting another series of arcane words.
This time, a torrent of water emerged from the staff, falling like a raging waterfall into the newly created hole, filling it completely.
Catarina then pointed to the distant forest, and, as if nature itself responded to her command, countless trees were violently uprooted from the ground. The massive trunks and dense tops flew through the sky towards Fernando.
The warrior smiled, drawing his heavy sword. With precise, relentless blows, he tore apart each approaching log, reducing them to countless pieces. Catarina made one last gesture, and the fragments of wood fell into the makeshift pool, creating a complex obstacle course.
John and Alex watched everything, perplexed. Their wide eyes and half-open mouths revealed the mixture of admiration and disbelief they felt. Catarina, noticing the boys' expressions, smiled with satisfaction.
With everything prepared, Fernando, Catarina and the two boys returned to the ground, landing on the edge of the pool.
Shortly afterwards, Cetó , the butler, and the guard who had previously left returned accompanied by more men. This time, the maid was not present. Each of the newcomers carried an imposing barrel, about a meter high and a few centimeters wide. Silently, they placed the containers along the bank and, with a respectful bow, withdrew.
— Very well, you can leave now — Fernando ordered.
The servants obeyed without question, leaving behind only Fernando, Catarina, John, Alex and Cetó .
Curious, John and Alex approached one of the barrels. Their eyes narrowed as they glimpsed the contents. They both frowned at the same time.
Inside the barrels, a disturbing sight awaited them: dozens of piranhas, agitated and hungry, were struggling in the dark water.
They looked at Fernando, expecting some kind of explanation. Without saying a word, the warrior raised his hands and plunged them directly into one of the barrels.
John and Alex shuddered, expecting to see blood gush out. However, something completely unexpected happened.
The piranhas, which had previously been swimming frantically, immediately moved away from Fernando's hands. Wherever he moved his fingers, the fish retreated to the opposite side, as if they were fleeing from something much more terrifying.
When Fernando finally caught a piranha, the creature shook violently and suddenly became still.
—She... died of fright? — Alex murmured in disbelief.
John watched closely. The bitch really did seem to have passed out—or was playing dead.
Fernando burst out laughing.
"Now it's your turn," he said, amused.
The boys swallowed hard.
John and Alex looked at each other, and there was a trace of hesitation on both their faces. The fear in each other's eyes was reflected in the other's, but neither of them wanted to show cowardice.
Taking a deep breath, they reached out their hands over the barrels and, gathering courage, dipped their fingers into the water.
At the same moment, a frenzy took hold of the piranhas. As if an invisible signal had been given, they all swam violently towards the exposed hands, their mouths wide open, revealing rows of sharp teeth.
John and Alex jerked their hands back, their hearts racing.
— Fuck ! — John exclaimed instinctively.
Fernando, upon witnessing the scene, burst out laughing.
— HAHAHAHAHA! Hahahaha ! — He doubled over in laughter, his shoulders shaking with uncontrollable amusement.
Catarina sighed, putting her hand to her forehead, visibly exasperated.
"Is this man really a lord of the kingdom? A higher being? And yet he acts like a child playing childish pranks..."
No longer impatient for her husband's jokes, Catarina raised her staff and made a precise gesture in the air. At the same moment, a flow of mana manifested itself, and all the piranhas were magically removed from the barrels, thrown directly into the pool.
Fernando caught his breath and looked at the two boys, his smile still plastered on his face.
"Very well," he said, finally taking on a more serious tone. "Your training is about to begin. But first, there are things you need to understand about the path of a warrior and a mage."
John and Alex, still recovering from the shock, nodded and turned their attention to Fernando.
The man then began to explain, in detail, the fundamental principles of the two classes. His voice was firm and full of experience, and the two boys, despite the adrenaline still pumping through their bodies, listened attentively to every word.
The training was about to begin.
Fernando continued his explanation, detailing the essential differences between warriors and mages. He spoke about the cultivation of the body and mana, about the paths each could follow and the challenges that would come along with these choices.
John and Alex listened intently, absorbing every word. The weight of the decision hung over them, but they both knew that no matter which path they chose, the real challenge would begin now.
When Fernando finished his explanation, he stepped forward and looked at the two of them.
— Now that you understand the basics, it's time to put it into practice.
The wind blew gently across the plain, stirring the surface of the piranha-filled pool. The water reflected the sunlight, creating a treacherous sheen.
John felt a chill run down his spine, but he didn't look away.
Beside him, Alex took a deep breath, clenching his fists.
Fernando smiled.
— Welcome to real training.
And so, with hearts racing and eyes fixed on the challenge ahead, John and Alex took their first step into the unknown.
End of Chapter 5