Part 1 – Veiled Dawn
The silence was heavy.
Heavy like the dirt they poured over the bodies.
Thomas dug with a long piece of bone, curved at the edges like a makeshift shovel.
Hector used part of a broken stone slab — his hands already stained with dried blood, soil, and fatigue.
Neither of them said a word.
Two Yandus. Two dead abominations.
And around them… the memory of what they once were. Of what they caused.
The scent of scorched Ayvu still lingered in the air, even as the cave's breeze tried to carry it away.
Once the bodies — or what was left of them — were buried, Hector set a heavy stone over the mound.
Thomas simply wiped his forehead with his arm and stared at the altar for a few more seconds.
— Ready? — Hector asked in a low, hoarse voice.
Thomas nodded.
There was no reason to stay.
The way out of the cave was slow.
The sky was already in deep night — dark, silent, sprinkled with stars that somehow felt more distant than usual.
At that hour, the forest wasn't just dark — it was hostile.
Branches clawed their arms. Slippery roots tested every step.
Insects buzzed from all directions, and their breath came with effort.
They walked for hours in silence.
When they finally reached camp, a faint mist had settled between the trees.
The tent, backpacks, and canteens were still there.
Thomas fell asleep before even lying down completely.
Part 2 – Morning
Sunlight sliced through the leaves in warm beams.
The forest, as always, was alive.
Thomas woke to the sound of water being poured from a canteen.
Hector stood nearby, washing his face, expression drained.
Thomas stretched, his whole body aching.
— Did you sleep? — Hector asked without turning.
— More like blacked out. — Thomas sat up slowly. — Sleeping would've been a luxury.
Hector gave a faint smirk.
— That's how first missions always are.
Thomas looked around at the trees.
The morning silence felt denser than the night before.
— I need to go back. — he said suddenly.
Hector turned toward him, curious.
— Figured as much.
Thomas nodded.
— I thought thirty days would be enough.
— But now… it feels short.
— I'm not even sure I learned half of what I needed.
Hector sat on an exposed root, chewing a dried fruit slowly.
— You've changed. That's undeniable.
They sat quietly for a moment.
— You know… — Hector began, voice rough, eyes avoiding Thomas — there's something I can't stop thinking about since that cave.
Thomas looked up.
Hector lowered his gaze and started drawing lines in the dry soil with a stick, no rush.
— You… absorbed that Yandu. To heal yourself. Is that right?
— I don't really know. — Thomas stared off into the woods — When Thag'Zhul pierced my stomach and threw me on the altar… I landed right next to that pulsing heart. Remember? You said it was alive — intense, like the Yandus themselves.
— I remember. It was practically… breathing.
— Yeah. — Thomas swallowed hard.
— I was dying. Didn't think. Just reached out. Touched it. And the Ayvu rushed in.
— And after that? — Hector asked gently. No judgment. Just curiosity.
— I saw memories. But not of the Yandu. Of a man. A shaman. Strong. Tribal. Maybe Indigenous. He had a family… kids… — Thomas clenched his fists. — I felt his pain when he lost everything. Other shamans killed them. His wife, his sons. His scream… still echoes in my head. The rage. The hate. It was so real, it made me feel it too. And when I woke up… I was healed.
He turned slowly to Hector.
— I think the Yandu… used to be human.
Hector froze.
Eyes wide.
As if trying to process something too heavy.
— Did I say something wrong…? — Thomas asked, confused by the silence.
— No… — Hector cleared his throat. — Go on.
— That's it. After that, the thing was weaker. And I survived.
Hector tried to speak, stammered, stopped.
Ran a hand down his face. Took a breath.
— Look… I don't even know where to begin.
He stood with a soft groan, cracking his neck — like he needed space to think.
— First of all, don't worry. Humans don't turn into Yandus. That's impossible. Different species. Different biology.
What probably happened is… that shaman was so powerful, so overflowing with presence, when the Yandu fed on him, it didn't just absorb Ayvu. It took memories too. Fragments. Echoes of who he was.
— Like… it got confused? — Thomas asked.
— Exactly. — Hector nodded.
— And that heart… it wasn't symbolic. It was alive. The Yandu kept it going to drain Ayvu continuously. That was its power source.
He paused, scratching the back of his neck.
— And here's the irony… By absorbing the heart, you didn't just heal. You cut off its power. Weakened it. That's how you won.
Thomas nodded.
But Hector wasn't done.
He looked at Thomas — half smiling, half shocked.
— And that's not even the craziest part…
He drew a long breath.
— Your Vekatu… it's like nothing I've ever seen.
Thomas frowned.
— Vekatus are inherited, right?
— Yes. But hear me out.
A Hekato is born from the fusion of your Ipo and Ayvu. It evolves. It grows. Each one is unique.
But a Vekatu? It doesn't change. It doesn't grow. It's fixed. Set in stone.
— And?
— And your Vekatu… even if it only healed you, it would already be unusual.
But it also steals abilities. And now you're telling me it accesses memories?
Thomas looked down, thoughtful.
— My Vekatu does all three…
— Exactly. — Hector's fists met softly, sealing a truth.
— That's not just rare. That's unheard of.
A pause.
Hector slowly walked to a fallen trunk and sat with his arms resting on his knees, spinning the stick between his fingers.
Thomas watched. There was more.
— There's something else, isn't there? — he asked directly.
Hector didn't reply immediately. He stared at the ground, exhaled through his nose — tired — and gave in.
— Yeah. There is.
Something I should've told you a while ago.
I was just… waiting for the right time.
— And now is the right time?
— Now's the inevitable time.
Thomas raised a brow.
— You were sent to monitor me, weren't you?
Hector gave a humorless smile.
— I'm an agent of the Order of the Moon. Freelancer. Mercenary, if you like. I handle missions. Intel. Recruit contact. Threat elimination.
And right now… my mission is you.
Thomas didn't flinch. No anger. No disappointment. Just quiet attention.
— When Calil died… — Hector hesitated, then pushed through — …you showed up in the reports. No one knew what had really happened.
Just that a young civilian had survived. And something changed in you.
— You tracked me?
— No. I was already there. I found your body. I wrote the report. I had to.
— And then I offered to follow up. Get close. Evaluate.
At first, I thought that was it — just observe.
But you're not just a survivor.
Thomas kept his gaze steady.
— You absorbed Calil's Hekato. Post-mortem. That alone would get any organization's attention.
But now? — Hector shook his head, almost laughing —
Now you heal. Steal powers. Access memories.
And apparently… you retain all of it.
A moment of silence.
Then Hector's voice turned serious — dead serious.
— I'm telling you this because there's no turning back now. After what happened in that cave, it's only a matter of time before the Order comes for you. Your training's pushed you to D-rank, at least.
— They'll try to recruit you.
— And you think I should join?
— I think… if you stay solo, you'll draw too much attention. And when a shaman is powerful but unaffiliated… He becomes a target. Not just for the Order. There are others. And not all play nice.
Thomas crossed his arms.
— So if I stay neutral… I'll be hunted?
— Not exactly. But watched.And eventually… Someone will try to force you to pick a side.
— And if you don't have one… you'll be labeled a threat.
Thomas stayed quiet.
Then, softly:
— Thanks for telling me.
— That's it?
— I'm not gonna punch you, if that's what you expected.
Hector chuckled, finally relaxing a bit.
— Thought you'd call me a traitor.
— Maybe later. When the adrenaline wears off.
They laughed. Brief. Dry. But real.
Thomas stared at the horizon. Quiet. Mind racing.
Then asked:
— The Order of the Moon… what's it like?
Hector exhaled.
— Can't say much. There's a contract. Break it… you die. Literally.
— For real?
— For real.
— Not even a hint?
Hector thought for a second. Shrugged.
— Think of it as a paramilitary force.
— Structured. Armed. Divided into units. Missions. Ranks. Goals.
— Some try to protect the world… others just profit from it.
Thomas gave a slight nod.
— That says a lot already.
— Thought it would.
They stood up together.
There was nothing more to say.
Part 3 – End of Training
Later that day, Thomas had packed everything for his return.
It was time.
His heart ached to see Olivia and Gabriele again.
Hector was meditating beneath a tree. Thomas approached.
— Take care of yourself, Hector.
— You too, kid.
— Keep in touch. And if you need me… you know where to find me.
— Same goes for you.
No more words.
Thomas turned toward the trail — dirt and fallen leaves.
He walked down into the forest.
His steps faded quickly into the branches and wind.
Hector remained behind. Watching.
Thomas had changed.
Broader shoulders. Leaner frame. Taller somehow.
His posture. His gait. Even the way he breathed.
He had arrived with above-average strength, raw intelligence, and insane drive.
But Hector had never expected him to evolve so much… so fast.
He gave Thomas one last look before he vanished from view.
They exchanged a wave.
And then he was gone.