The time for the spirituality lesson arrived. The afternoon sun bathed the dusty courtyard in a golden light, stretching the shadows of the assembled apprentices.
Before them stood the Priestess, her assistant, and the two impassive guards.
The Priestess spoke, her clear voice carrying in the silence:
"This week has been difficult for you.But we are reaching the end, so make one last effort. Before we begin, I will give you a potion to calm your mind."
She ordered her assistant to serve the mixture. ZE-RAK looked at the brew with suspicion before bringing it to his lips. A familiar smell tickled his nostrils - herbs he recognized but couldn't name.
After everyone had drunk, the Priestess continued:
"It will take a moment for the potion to take effect.During this time, we will go on a small hunt. Only the new apprentices. The others can stand to the side."
Then she added, pointing to a young boy: "AMEVI, you stay too!"
There were nine of them in total.
On the Priestess's order, the guards opened a cage, releasing about ten live chickens, nervous, with ruffled feathers. Their black, lively eyes shone with instinctive wariness.
"Good," announced the Priestess. "You have followed the lessons well. What you will do now is capture one chicken each. Everyone must succeed. As soon as you are finished, stand aside."
--
ZE-RAK frowned slightly. Catching a chicken seemed simple, but as soon as he felt the shiver of life running through these creatures, he understood it wasn't a game. Their movements were unpredictable: quick little steps, sudden changes of direction.
He took a deep breath. This promises to be interesting.
Around him, some classmates were already laughing, excited by the challenge.
At the signal, the boys rushed forward, hands outstretched, muffled shouts. The chickens scattered, flapping their wings, slipping between legs, escaping all attempts.
ZE-RAK chose his target: a light brown chicken, smaller, which had separated from the group. His precise steps carried him straight towards it. His arm shot out, quick... but too direct. The animal jumped sideways and fled.
Ohh, I see...
He spotted his chicken again. This time, he approached more slowly, his eyes locked on the target. The chicken backed away, flapped its wings. ZE-RAK calculated, waited... and at the crucial moment, a hesitation. His hand closed on empty air.
Wait... Th-that's it! So the whole week they were preparing us for today, huh! Okay. If that's the case, I'll speed things up a bit.
He straightened up, scanning the scene. Around him, the apprentices were bustling about in comical disorder. But he saw beyond the chaos. He distinguished the nervous rhythm of the chickens, their way of anticipating every movement.
Suddenly, an apprentice appeared right in front of him while chasing a bird. ZE-RAK didn't dodge. He activated his imaginary world and charged forward, his shoulder hitting the boy with a dull force. The latter fell heavily. The chicken he was chasing ran straight into the open arms of another classmate positioned further away.
Without a glance at the boy on the ground, ZE-RAK continued. A white chicken passed in front of his feet. With a quick movement, he thrust his hand out. The bird flew up, brushing his arm, and landed right in the chest of another who, by reflex, grabbed it.
He changed direction, cutting off the path of another apprentice. The collision was brief. The other boy stumbled. In the confusion, the chicken he was closely pursuing changed trajectory and escaped.
You, you should be able to catch another one.
ZE-RAK stopped and took a deep breath. That should do it now.
He turned towards a black rooster, nervous, pivoting on the spot like a dancer. He froze, bent his knees slightly, his body becoming a taut line. The black chicken turned in circles, looking for an escape. It beat its wings, lunged for a final flight...
ZE-RAK sprang. His hand closed sharply around the animal's body. The bird struggled furiously, but the grip was solid.
He rejoined the group, his living trophy in hand.
--
From the group, a voice rose.
"You were slow,ZE-RAK."
ZE-RAK turned towards the voice.
"Huh?!MOUSSEY? You were able to come?"
MOUSSEY wore a satisfied smile.
"I was here from the start.And I caught my chicken before you. This time, I surpassed you."
"If you say so," ZE-RAK replied, yawning. I hadn't noticed him.
Very quickly, the others finished their capture.
The Priestess stood before the group.
"Very good hunt.It's a good start for a hunter."
Her words brought a feeling of pride to the apprentices.
She continued, more gravely:
"Now that you have taken a step to become real hunters,it's best to go all the way. To take the animal's life."
The apprentices remained strangely calm. The potion was taking effect.
Immediately, the NDALA women arrived with pots of hot water and knives.
The Priestess continued:
"What you are about to do is one of the most difficult things.It is normal to have a deep conflict. This shows that you respect life."
The apprentices were beginning to gain confidence.
"But this week, you have had a taste of hunger. You and your comrades. You are not doing this out of cruelty. You are doing it for yourselves and for your comrades. It is an act of responsibility and sacrifice."
The mental burden was visible on the apprentices' faces, transforming a shameful burden into a necessary mission.
"Before you do it, take a moment to thank the animal. Acknowledge that its life will allow yours to be saved. This gratitude does not remove the difficulty, but it honors the life that is taken. And for that, you must not make this animal suffer."
She made a dramatic pause.
"So,who will be the first to honor the hunger of your brothers? If you don't do it, hunger will take your brothers. If you don't act quickly, the water will cool and it will be too late. So, who?"
The apprentices looked at each other. No one moved.
ZE-RAK looked at MOUSSEY.
"Hey,MOUSSEY, what do you think? Do you want to go?"
MOUSSEY hesitated, unable to decide.
ZE-RAK raised his hand.
"Me..."
He left the group, but threw a last look at MOUSSEY.
"Did I already tell you?MOUSSEY. You are not my opponent."
He stepped forward in front of the group, took the blade, closed his eyes for a moment as if to thank the animal. He crouched, dug a small hole with the knife. He set the knife down, grasped the animal's head and began plucking the feathers from its neck.
As his hand brushed the warm feathers, the tingling returned, stronger. This time, it wasn't filaments, but a field of energy around the creature. He perceived the bird's tiny fear, its frantic pulse.
He looked at a NDALA woman beside him. The woman stared at him, impassive. ZE-RAK took a deep breath and focused on the rhythm he had felt the first time. The outside world faded. There was only the knife, the chicken, and the pact.
His hand moved. Quick. Clean.
The blood was already flowing into the hole. No waste. No unnecessary suffering. A stunned silence greeted his gesture.
The NDALA woman nodded slowly, her piercing gaze fixed on ZE-RAK.
"Good."
That single word sealed ZE-RAK's destiny. It was the beginning of a true hunter.
--
The Priestess turned to the others.
"Look!Your comrade has just taken this step, not only for himself. But for you too. So, will you leave him alone on this path or will you join him? Will you continue to stand there until the water cools? Will you dishonor your brother's sacrifice? Will you dishonor this animal's life? The choice is yours."
The apprentices lowered their eyes, unable to decide, even more so because of ZE-RAK.
ZE-RAK fixed MOUSSEY with an intense gaze he couldn't avoid. A gaze that asked a silent question: What are you going to do? Will you water the seed I have planted?