Ilustración: Hybrid-Kira (2022)

This morning I decided not to leave anything to luck. Everything will be fine today, because today I have decided to have a great day in my training with Adara, and the Hunter recruits.

Right after I woke up and dressed in the fittest set of clothes I had in my possession, I headed to the same restaurant in the Hunter's Village where I had devoured a huge bowl of noodles the previous day. Unfortunately, today they had no noodles, today's breakfast was a thick brown broth of dubious composition that did not whet my appetite at first glance, but the smell told me it had to be a lentil and bacon soup that, although it was not pleasant to the view, it turned out to be a more than decent meal.

- You can tell when the Metropolis stops sending supplies to Cilt, boy. When Mrs. Sho cooks lentils, it's because we're screwed. -

Mrs. Sho, the portly and stern owner of the small restaurant, rolls up her knitting magazine and smacks the old lumberjack next to me for daring to make fun of her food, causing me to nearly choke on the spoonful of lentils I just put in my mouth.

While I didn't fully understand how the lentils were related to the lack of supplies, I was beginning to realize that the people here managed their food rations given by the Cilt government in a peculiar way; As a citizen, you have the option to withdraw your daily rations from the food bank and prepare your food yourself, or in the case of most citizens with at least one rank, transfer your rations directly to your favorite restaurant and eat for "free" in said restaurant.

When I asked Mrs. Sho why she never told me I had to pay for her food, she simply stroked my hair with her heavy, sturdy hand in the sweetest way a coarse woman like her can, making me understand not to worry about it.

With a cup of coffee in my hands, I decided to return to the H Tower until it was time to leave for downtown Cilt for training. Nervousness fights to take over my body, but that was easily controlled by the heat that entered my body with each sip of coffee. Questions intensely bombard my head. What would I face today? How inexperienced are the rest of the recruits? Did Adara really think I qualified for her training group? ...

Why was Marione's voice being heard from inside the H Tower?

- You're making a huge mistake, you understand that right?... You don't know who you're messing with! -

- Of course I know who you are. A troublemaker. That's what you are. -

- My name is Marione. M-A-R-I-O-N-E. If you really knew who I am you would call me by my name! -

- Don't worry, the Warriors are already on their way, they do know you by name. -

- You can't do this to me. I have influence with the Leaders! My father is Leader Darius's counselor! -

- Then, I will be pleased if Leader Darius comes and tells me that in person. -

I walk slowly into the lobby of the H Tower, and what I find in front of me almost makes me spill my coffee. Roger, the tower manager, was forcing Marione into the elevator that is supposed to be "forbidden." Marione squirms and tries with all her might to free herself from the grip of the man much more robust than her, without success. The only thing left for her was to use brute force.

Despite Marione being considerably smaller in size, Roger had a hard time overcoming her strength, so much so that some of the Hunters currently present at the reception joined the scuffle. Marione snapped at anyone who tried to push her into the elevator, until she looked up at just the right moment, making eye contact with me. I froze in place, not sure what was going on, or what I was supposed to do.

- Hey you! Uh...Tyler? Yes Tyler! My friend, please tell them it wasn't me who vandalized that wall. It was a couple of Hunters who framed me. And these idiots believed them just because it's me! ... Please... - Marione's puppy dog ​​eyes were clearly a desperate measure to gain my sympathy and help, and even though they seemed to be genuine, my experience with her tells me not to blindly trust anything she says. -

The struggle seems to stop for a moment, and Roger directs his pale eyes directly at me, without taking his hands off Marione.

- Is she a friend of yours? -

Clearly my status as "Hopper" gave my word a certain authority, and I was fully aware of it. But did I really want to waste this advantage to once again save someone who clearly doesn't deserve it?

I don't think so.

- No. I don't even know her, I'm sorry... Your name is Marione, right? – I must admit that I have always been good at feigning ignorance and innocence to avoid problems.

Marione's jaw might have dropped to the ground if it hadn't been held tightly to her face, and her eyes fill with a rage I've seen in her before.

- Hopper! You're an Idiot! They're blaming me unfairly and you let them do what they want! -

 Her strength is eventually overcome by Roger who closed the elevator doors as soon as Marione was inside. The job was done, and Roger smirks at me. Something told me that he knew the truth, that I did know Marione, but surely, he must be just as fed up with her that he simply let me get away with it. Roger preferred not to ask questions, and being satisfied with his job as a guard, he sat on the rickety wooden bench from which he watched the reception, completely ignoring Marione's kicks from inside the elevator.

This day has started in such a... interesting way.

I stealthily make my way to the elevator doors, resting my back on them, just as a hunter poses in the cage of his newly captured prey. I blow on my coffee to cool it down a bit, and do my best not to show a callous smile on my face, holding back the laughter with no more than the strength of my ribs.

- ... So... Vandalism to the H Tower, huh? This time you really exceeded my expectations. -

- Tyler Hopper! I SWEAR THAT WHEN I GET OUT OF HERE YOU WILL REGRET THIS! - The vibration of Marione's blows inside the elevator were more evident as they were now directed at me.

- Oh, now you know my name? The day we met you just called me "pretty boy." Heh, you are making good progress. - I try to take a sip of my coffee without caring about her tantrums. This was my time to enjoy not seeing her face as she spits her usual insults at me.

- You think you're so smart right? You think that because you're Marcus' son you can do whatever you want and get away with it. Well, let me inform you, useless, that luck will not last you forever. People are going to get bored of you sooner or later, and it won't matter that you're Daddy Marcus's son, you'll just be an ordinary citizen.-

- I'm already an ordinary citizen, Marione. The difference is that I don't use my father's honor to cause trouble and get away with it... Not like you. If people still trust me, it's because I at least try to follow the rules. -

- I told you I'm innocent! How can you be so sure it was me who vandalized that wall? You have no proof! -

- It is not necessary; I have known too many people like you throughout my life... They are all the same. - I still had a smile glued to my face, but the corners of my mouth fought to change to a bitter expression when remembering all those people who made my life impossible in the Metropolis; classmates, teachers, neighbors, strangers on the street... my own mother -... So, you better start thinking of a good excuse for Ciro, because I won't lie to save you and your rank once more. -

- Save. You call that saving? I don't need anyone's help to save my own ass...much less coming from a spoiled kid like you. -

- Spoiled kid? Ha! But I'm two years older than you. You should learn to respect your elders. - I was beginning to enjoy this, in a very guilty way, but I enjoyed it - And it is evident that you do not need help. It would be a big mistake for someone to want to help you, you would only get them into trouble. Yes, you are right about that. -

- ...Idiot...- Marione kicks the elevator doors one last time, and judging by the noise, I could bet she's slumped to the floor, resigned to staying there as long as Roger deems necessary. There was a long silence, which my ears deeply appreciated, but it seemed that Marione would not give up so easily seeing that it was not easy to make me angry - ... And speaking of saviors, how is your boyfriend? -

I arched an eyebrow, as I tried to drink from the coffee, which was still boiling.

- ... What? ... Who are you talking about? -

- Do not play the fool! I'm clearly talking about Iker. -

- Oh... - I cling to the cup tightly, unable to formulate an answer that didn't involve my feeling of concern towards him - I don't know... I really don't know. -

- HA! So you confirm it! I knew there was something between you two... Ooohhh everyone has to know this. -

There it was again, her oh so disgustingly manipulative tone, which was starting to make me anxious, as I had a feeling this would be a recurring theme between us. It's all part of her strategy; it makes me feel uncomfortable to the point of forcing me to leave the conversation. But this time Marione was not going to achieve her goal. I must resist her advances until she is speechless, or until she gets tired.

- First of all, I haven't confirmed anything. You refer to Iker in that way and I simply answered you. And second, there's nothing between us, we're just friends... Well, it's really complicated. -

- Of course, it's complicated, if you haven't noticed he's twenty times bigger than you. Clearly things are not going to fit perfectly between the two of you. -

- No...! - I was one step away from losing my sanity. Marione has a talent for hiding dirty innuendos - ...I mean he was also raised by my father after all, and I really don't know what position that puts us in. - It was impossible for me to disguise my desperate tone of voice, completely unaware that I was only giving her more weapons to continue.

- Damn Tyler! You are not only gay, but you want a relationship with your own adoptive brother. What a scandal! - Marione's screams had become intolerably loud, making everyone present at the hotel reception turn to look at me out of the corner of their eyes, carried away by the morbidity of the conversation.

- ... You know what? I'm just wasting my time trying to talk to you. Now I see why no one trusts you. I don't understand how Ciro tolerates you. -

- Oh please, but if you were the one who put me in this cage in the first place, and the one who felt with enough guts to come and rub it in my face. You are the one who wanted to talk to me in the first place. Am I wrong? - I can almost feel Marione's breath sneak through the gap between both metal doors of the elevator, she wanted me to be the only one to hear her words now, - But you and I know one thing, Tyler... and it's that you're only here because your daddy asked the Leaders to do it, not because Cilt really needs you. At least I'm a Hunter and I serve Cilt... What are you doing here? -

I tried to stay calm... heck, I tried so bad. But as much as I tried to pretend that I didn't care, to pretend that all those years in the Metropolis of psychological abuse and persecution towards me had given me a thick skin for insults... the truth is that they had only managed to open a deep and sensitive gap in my mind, it made my jaw tremble, clenching my teeth in anxiety, my throat closes, and a fine curtain of water slowly accumulates on my eyelids. When people create flaws in me the way Marione did, it was something I never learned to handle. I only have to feign control, and take advantage of the fact that Marione couldn't see my face. I will not give her victory again, not as easy as the day I met her. I'll show her that I know how to defend myself against her too. I'll show her...

- Boy, weren't you supposed to go to the Stone Podium at 9? You're five minutes late. - Roger interrupts our discussion, not caring about the awkward interaction that was going on.

- God damn, the training! -

An involuntary spasm of my hand caused me to spill the coffee on my hoodie, inevitably staining it. With a muffled groan from the scalding liquid, I put the cup down and took off running, listening to Marione's guffaws fading away as I made my way toward downtown Cilt. I couldn't be late, not on my first day of training.

Miraculously I managed to get down the stairs of the hotel entrance without falling, but my luck ran out when I tripped over my clumsy legs trying to run, launching myself straight into a couple of Hunters on the street. I apologized to them, but they both just smiled in excitement as they recognized me; something in their faces seemed that being pushed by Marcus's son had been something akin to a stroke of luck. They helped me up and wished me luck on my first day of training, and with a pat on the back, I decided to slow down my running to avoid further accidents. As I walked away, I couldn't help but overhear their conversation.

- Yes, as I was saying, you should have seen Marione's face when Roger caught her instead of us. Boy she was so distracted that she didn't realize we were painting the wall, and when she finally saw Roger, it was too late. No one believes that poor bastard anymore. -

I stop in my tracks as I put together the words I had just overheard. That Hunter had just said... that he was actually the one who vandalized the wall of the H Tower... and framed Marione instead of him, since it wouldn't surprise anyone if she had done another of her usual misdeeds.

... Was Marione really innocent?

...

And I had just caused her to be arrested for something she didn't do.

There was nothing I could do to fix it anyway, and I didn't have the heart to do her a favor either, not after what she told me. The only thing left for me is to take care of my own business and nothing else. Marione brought it on herself by no longer being worthy of anyone's trust.

- ... She deserves it. -

I told myself, in a failed attempt to make me feel less guilty.

____________________________________________

- Thank God you finally arrived! I was about to go looking for you. -

- I... I'm sorry, Adara... I was a little late... i-it won't happen again. - Breathing hard, I felt the fresh air cut into my lungs with every breath. I felt as ridiculous as a fish out of water, gasping for survival. My legs muscles threatened to cramp at any moment, and my coffee-stained hoodie only made it worse-

- I think next time I'll make sure to kidnap you again, so you'll be on time and ready for training. -Adara looked in a renewed mood, she approached the edge of the podium and offered me a hand to climb and recover from my bumpy race. -

I wouldn't refuse her help now. Once on top of the podium I have the opportunity to take a look at the people who accompanied us. They were the recruits, all of them humans, and it was easy to deduce that we were all in the same age range.

- Tyler, please join the group and choose a partner. We're going into the woods in a few moments, and I need everyone to have a partner.

Without objection on my part, I approached the group of boys and girls who looked surprised at me, it seemed that none of them expected me to join them today. They all seemed a little short on words to greet me... All except one.

- Tyler! Hey Tyler! It's me Evan! You remember me, right?

- Evan? -My dusty library of names does its best not to look bad to the boy in front of me, until finally his name seems to synapse inside my mind. He was the hyperactive rookie I met at the Warriors den. Close friend of Zenda's second-in-command; Maverick. He was the youngest apprentice Warrior I've met so far, being little more than a teenager- Evan! But what a surprise to see you here... Isn't this supposed to be training only for rookies? -I remembered that he had shown me his Hunter rank, which no longer qualified him precisely as a "rookie." -

- Oh! Well, actually I shouldn't be here, I know that... but I asked Captain Adara to let me come along. I want to make sure you'll be safe! I like you, Tyler, all the Warriors love you very much. And we felt really bad when the thing with Dheera happened... -Evan spoke at an abnormally fast pace, making strange hand movements from time to time, being unable to fix his gaze. -

Dheera. The name alone was able to squeeze the air out of my lungs. I thought that five days from that horrible day would be enough to get over it, but that memory seemed to have found a permanent home in my mind. Adara has rushed to my side, and she was clearly doing her best to fix young Evan's offhand comment.

- Eh... What Evan really wants to say is that he wanted to accompany you today. He insisted all morning until I said yes. It seems you have an admirer, he he... - Adara tries to correct the impulsive comment of the young Hunter, who was rubbing his hands nervously. Apparently Adara wanted to prevent Evan from mentioning what happened with Dheera at all costs, since she knew firsthand that this was still a sensitive topic for me. After all, she was the one who took care of me during my recovery-

- Oh no... I said something that made you feel bad, right? -Evan looked worried, making eye contact with me for the first time-

- N-no, it's fine Evan, you didn't say anything bad, seriously. - The last thing I wanted was to cause discomfort to others, and seeing Evan's remorse made me feel guilty. The boy shouldn't apologize for things that only concern me.

- Gosh... excuse me for that. What happens is that... I'm not very good at talking, you know? -Evan extends both hands, opens and closes them several times at the same time as he takes deep and conscious breaths, and that seems to help him manage his nervousness- ... It's difficult for me to talk to people, and that's why I usually don't do it, and when I do speak, I tend to say a lot...maybe too much. - He had his eyes lowered, until he managed to calm down enough, and gather the necessary words to look me in the eyes again, - But Tyler... I like you, and I don't mind having to talk, if I have to talk to you. Doesn't that bother you?

Evan could be a 16-year-old teenager, but his words overflowed with the tenderness and innocence of a child. His desire to have a friend patient enough to listen to everything he has to say without judging him for it strikes a chord within me, for I knew more than anyone what it was like to have no one to listen to me. A deep protective instinct makes me put my problems aside and attend to what Evan needed at that moment.

- Why would it bother me? You are my friend, and friends always listen to each other.

- A... Friend? Do you want to be my friend...for real?

- Of course! Come, we need to be together if we want to enter the forest. I need someone brave like you to protect me from that stinky Dheera. -I extend my hand in a friendly way, smiling at him genuinely-

It didn't take Evan a second to jump up to where I was, and instead of shaking my hand like anyone else would, he wrapped his arms around my entire arm in a firm grip. His overflowing affection was a little overwhelming to me, but it was clear that he wasn't faking it, nor was he doing it on purpose. He was genuine, and that made him likable in his very special way. It was like being in the company of a hyperactive younger brother on our way to a trip to the zoo.

The other recruits seemed to laugh fondly at us as they likewise arranged themselves into pairs. Once the groups were already recognizable, Adara gave the good-to-go to start our journey.

Finally taking her role as captain (and instructor), Adara posed firmly in front of the group of recruits who didn't seem to take the formation seriously enough. Adara frowned, and slammed the base of her spear into the hard concrete floor of the Stone Podium, causing a thunderous noise that everyone instantly attended to.

- Attention! We are about to enter the forest, and I need you to listen to my instructions very seriously. Any disobedience can put you and your colleagues at risk. -There is a deathly silence. The podium has never sounded so quiet- Many of you have not ventured beyond the main gates of the city, so it can be an intimidating experience for some. We will stay in the inner ring of hunting territory belonging to Cilt, this is a highly guarded area, and we will be escorted by Warriors at all times. Still, it's my duty to remind you that your safety outside the city barriers is never guaranteed, and once we're out, we can't return until the tour is over. If there is someone who does not feel ready and prefers to stay, this is the only opportunity you will have to do so.

I'm sure I wasn't the only one who gulped at this exact moment, we all turned to each other, waiting to see who would be the first to leave, but we all refused to do so. Evan was still holding on to my hand, and I subconsciously clench my fist. Noticing my nervousness, Evan moved my arm slightly to get my attention, and for me to see in his face that everything was going to be alright. The security in his smile forced me to take another breath, and plant myself in my place. Without a doubt, without fear. I was ready to face the forest one more time.

Adara was silent for a full minute, patiently waiting for the thoughts of her rookie recruits to settle, like sediment in the water of a raging river. At the end, two recruits appear to regret their decisions, respectfully stepping back. Adara gives a sympathetic look to those who weren't ready to proceed, but she doesn't leave her position. She takes one last look at the faces of those of us who decide to stay, and she especially focuses her eyes at me. I nod confidently, and Adara responds as well, keeping her serious profile.

- Alright. - Adara carries a bundle of long and heavy wooden sticks on her back, firmly tied together with a rope. Once she manages to balance her weight again, she holds her spear in one hand, and turns around until her back is to us-

"Let's go"

We marched as a unit through the main streets of downtown Cilt. The city center was vastly different from the Hunters' Village; the houses were perfectly rebuilt, the roads were clean and organized, the hybrids took turns traveling the lanes assigned only for them, and there was no trace of small businesses that interrupted the passage on the sidewalk. It's as if time had spared this one section of the abandoned city where Cilt sat, as there was no trace of any ruins, or buildings that could come crashing down at any moment, not like the H Tower.

Our first stop was the North gate 2, which is the gate that one must take if you want to travel to the Metropolis. I soon recognized the place, as this was the same door through which I had entered Cilt for the first time, being escorted by Adara's squad. We waited patiently for a few minutes, appreciating the gigantic metal gates, walled with concrete towers that served as a lookout point to the outside. The Warrior guarding that entrance signals to both towers, and the heavy doors slowly begin to open, just enough for us to file out. Once we were outside, the doors slammed shut again.

We were officially outside Cilt's city limits.

In front of us, the great plain dressed in green and small white flowers welcomed us to the neutral lands with a gust of warm air, bringing with it the scent of the forest we would enter. The group advanced in single file, with the wall to our left, and with our captain in the lead, who had ordered us to proceed quietly until we had reached our final destination. The forest was so dense that it was hard to imagine that a large and bustling city was just a few meters away from us. It was clear why many people in the Metropolis continue to think that Cilt is a myth, as the city seems to have a secret pact with the forest, in order to keep itself hidden from the sight of those who search, but do not know what they must find.

Little by little, the rhythm of the walk becomes pleasant once we manage to get used to the sounds of the deep forest. The terrain had been very little traveled by people and hybrids, and there was no path that made the trip easier for us. Following in Adara's cautious footsteps, we traversed what seemed like miles of uncharted forest. My companions whispered among themselves from time to time, being careful not to be overheard by Adara, while Evan walked with the security with which someone walks in his own house. We all seemed comfortable with the stroll, myself included, though I never let my guard down around me. As much confidence as I had in Adara and Evan... I had a feeling that someone was following us, but strangely, that didn't make me feel in danger.

Shortly after, I was able to realize what was causing this feeling.

It was difficult to see with the naked eye, but a hybrid escorted us almost ten meters away, walking parallel to our direction. He was a Medic and Warrior of Cilt, as the tattoos on his doors gave him away. His battered gray skin and green eyes made him disappear into the brush at will. His lean, streamlined body from a McLaren 720s allowed him to move gracefully and easily through the trees. He must be one of the Warriors that Adara mentioned would be guarding us on our way.

The Warrior also sensed being watched, and as soon as he looked back at us, he smiled warmly at me, as I was the only one aware of his presence. Not even Adara seemed to notice that a hybrid was following us. I smiled back covertly, not wanting to ruin his covert alibi. We kept each other company at a distance for a few more moments, until the Warrior paid attention to his own path again, looked up to see the treetops above him, clearly seeing something I couldn't make out, and stopped. Strange that I couldn't see him anymore with my peripheral vision, I turned my head to see him once more, and he smiled one last time, before leaving him behind in the dense forest.

The rocks in this area had an unusual white color, and their shapes were not natural. In front of us, the ruins of a great marble mansion rest in the heart of the forest, sheltered by the moss that has lodged in the rubble. The only thing left standing are some of the luxurious hand-carved columns, which have gradually been invaded by climbing plants; everything else has succumbed to the force of nature. The trees above us only let in enough light to create a mystical atmosphere around us, and I am amazed at the unusual beauty of this place.

We enter the circle of rubble that once seemed to be an elegant foyer, and Adara finally stops, stretches out her arms to rest from carrying the heavy wooden sticks, and jabs her spear into the first piece of bare earth she finds.

We didn't get a minute's rest before Adara called for formation. We all obey her instructions to sit in a semicircle around her. Adara waited patiently. She took a firm stance, both hands behind her back and opening the compass of her legs.

- Welcome, recruits. Today you have taken your first big step to become future Hunters. Look around you for a moment, I want you to watch and listen. Keep your mind in the present. - Adara closes her eyes for a few moments, sighing deeply, enough to see the chest plates of her armor expand, and contract again.

I listened to the birds sing their melodies, completely unfazed by our presence. I felt the wind brushing my cheeks, reddened from the heat of the walk. The air blows listlessly over us; it is not hostile to us, nor does it welcome us... it simply reminds us that we are just visitors, in this place too wild to call home. The ruins held a distinct musty smell, and the few pieces of furniture still standing have found a new use as a shelter for wildflowers.

Everything here seems to have rejected its human origin, in order to belong to the unity of the forest.

- Adara...? - I call her as gently as possible, in order not to disturb the meditation of my other companions-

- It's Captain Adara, Hopper. - Adara answers without even opening her eyes,

- I-I'm sorry... Captain. - My mind had embarked so much on experiencing the forest with all the senses that I didn't know how to control my mouth when calling her -... What is this place? ... I mean... What is an abandoned mansion doing in the middle of nowhere?-

Adara sighs heavily, inevitably opening her eyes halfway. It was clear that we wouldn't let her continue her meditation exercise without first getting answers, and I wasn't the only one who seemed eager to hear from her.

- ... Ok. - Adara takes a seat in the same place she was standing, resigned to having to give explanations to her impatient recruits- Right now we are in The Sanctuary, this is the ceremonial site of the Squad 15 of Hunters, squad of which I am the Captain. This is a restricted area, and very few people are allowed to approach it. Consider yourselves lucky, because this is the only time you will be able to visit this place, maybe in a long time.

- T-The Sanctuary?... Do you mean that right now we are in the lair of... "her"? - A girl next to me questions Adara nervously, whispering the end of her question under her breath. This girl had deep scars on the right side of her face, making her worried expression hard to ignore-

- "Her"? - I ask towards the same girl, who was beginning to look a little impatient-

- The wolf girl... a Cilt legend that tells of a wild girl who lives with a pack of wolves and that, according to what people say... The Sanctuary is her lair, and no one is allowed to enter because the pack only feeds on poachers... including the girl... And there is a risk that she will mistake Cilt Hunters for her favorite prey...

- There is no such thing as a wild girl here. That legend is nothing more than fantasy, a simple tale created to sow terror in naive recruits who believe everything they are told. And I really hope you guys aren't that kind of recruit... Or am I wrong, Miss Raylee? - Adara had been quite patient throughout the journey, but this topic specifically seemed to overwhelm her a bit. Either because she was really irritated by those children's stories, or because she felt a responsibility that people not spread rumors about this place that was so important to her and her squad.

- N-no! Not at all, Captain Adara...everyone knows she's just a silly legend...he he. -The recruit shrugs and giggles to dispel the sudden tension that had built up in the conversation. It was clear that nobody wanted to look bad with our instructor, much less on this, the first day of training-

- Good, because here you will have your first lesson, and it would be a shame if someone is distracted trying to find something that doesn't even exist. Has my message been clear? -We all nodded in silence, genuinely intimidated by Adara's extremely dominant attitude. It's become clear to all of us why she's Captain of her own squad—Now, get up. I want everybody to take one of those sticks. Quick. -

She didn't need to tell me twice. I quickly got up from my spot, and with the help of a couple of other recruits we began untying the large bundle of sticks that Adara had carried on her own since we left Cilt. It seems incredible to me that Adara, being of average height, was able to carry such a dead weight on her shoulders for so long, since I can barely lift one end of it, and the muscles of my arms begin to burn inside within a few seconds. The sticks were lashed together so tightly that we decided it would be better to just pull one at a time from one of the ends.

While the recruits organized themselves to distribute the sticks among all, Adara takes her time to pick up her long curly hair with which she had to fight for a few minutes to tame it, transforming it into a thick braid. It was funny how much her head seemed to shrink in size with her hair pulled back. I could even tell that she looked a lot less intimidating like this, but that I clearly wasn't going to tell her.

We rushed to get ready before our Captain looked back at us. Her stern silence would be the closest thing to a "Well done" that we would get from her, but that was enough for us, as long as we didn't make her angry again everything would be fine. Adara seems to approve of the fact that we're not playing with sticks like swords, and instead we're standing in expectant silence, giving her a chance to begin her teachings.

I already felt that Adara would make us all fight each other with sticks at any moment, and if that happened, I had no doubt that everyone here would forget my name and treat me the same as anyone else. Here my last name would not save me from a beating. That makes me grip my weapon tighter, already tensing my body to resist whatever comes in training...

But the beatings never came.

On the contrary, Adara herself looks a little lost in thought, looking at the forest around us, bringing peace to her eyes as a couple of butterflies flew past her, listening to the melody that the leaves of the trees sang with the wind. The captain in her went to rest for a moment to make way for the Huntress, completely amazed by nature.

- Many believe that being a Hunter only means killing animals, and bringing their carcasses to feed the hungry city. In essence, that's what we do. But that's just a small part of what it takes to be a true Cilt Hunter. - Adara watches the tops of the trees just behind us, and then begins to walk around us, caressing the plants she finds on her way, as if greeting them, - The Hunters are in charge of maintaining the balance between civilization and nature. We are the voice of everything that cannot speak. We are the ones who, with our actions, allow our city to prosper without risking the future of the following generations. It is our responsibility to do everything in our power to ensure the survival of both Cilt and the forest that provides us with protection and sustenance. And we do this to avoid... that. -

Adara points towards the ruined mansion, devoured by the relentless force of the forest; an imaginary window into the future of what can happen to Cilt if it gives in to the greed that ended up consuming the Metropolis, a reminder of how fragile life itself is, as well as a society. The advance and expansion of the city, as well as the exploitation of forest resources, is essential for our survival, but if we can maintain a healthy balance between both parties; civilization and nature, Cilt may prosper for much longer.

She picks up her spear and starts drawing lines on the ground for us to see, which was a little hard to tell with so little light and so many shadows above us. For a moment, I thought I saw a strange shadow moving right over mine, which fled as soon as I could notice it. Without even thinking about it, I looked up to make sure that it was simply a coincidence... a hallucination perhaps, since there was nothing up in the tree that would have been able to cast a shadow like that. I shake my head to return my attention to Adara's explanation.

- To aspire to be a good Hunter, it is necessary to develop certain virtues. –

Finally, the lines are more distinguishable, and the silhouette of a thin half-moon jumps out. "Respect for life; A Hunter never kills except out of necessity or self-defense, and appreciates life in all its forms..."

A second crescent, this time smaller, is housed to the right of the previous one. "Service; The Hunter is always ready for action, and takes orders from their superiors effectively..."

The third crescent, the smallest of the three. I was already beginning to understand what was being drawn. "Observation; Hunters are always aware of their surroundings, and use their knowledge of the field to make decisions..."

This time, I could swear I've seen something I'm not supposed to be seeing. The same shadow that I had seen pass over my head now had legs, and it walked through the ruins without making a single sound. An electric current in my body makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up, unable to decide between listening to my senses, or trusting that Adara has told us the truth about the legend of the wolf girl, and that I was just hallucinating.

The sound of Adara's sharp spear making one last line on the ground is enough for me to draw attention back to our class, this last one was a thin diagonal that crossed the three crescents in half, creating a familiar symbol.

-Union; A Hunter alone isn't much, but like a pack of wolves, the strength of our rank lies in our teamwork. We are a family, and we protect each other.

After theory, practice always follows.

Adara asked us to make ourselves "comfortable", and that meant getting rid of everything that we didn't want to rip or get dirty, or that got in the way of our movement. I took off the only thing that could get in my way, and that was my coffee-soaked hoodie.

Being now ready for action, we form in lines and distance from each other by at least two meters on each side. Adara did not take off her armor at any time, she replaced her stylized metal spear with a simple wooden stick like the one I had in my hands right now, and inspected it for a few moments.

- The fact of being a Hunter does not mean that our life is only peace, harmony and nature... No. Life in the neutral lands is hard when one is not prepared. The risk of being attacked by a Vortex, a poacher, or a neutral hybrid is imminent. Once you graduate as Hunters, it's only a matter of time before you're attacked for the first time... some of you may even have already been attacked without even leaving the borders of Cilt. -I thought the comment had been directed only at me, but turning to see the rest of my companions and realizing that some of them showed clear marks of combat, it made me feel less alone. Apparently, I wasn't the only one unlucky enough to be attacked within the city limits - But I can't let you graduate without first knowing how to defend yourselves. That is why I trained with the Warriors, even when I had no intention of joining their rank. I trained to teach my Hunters to defend themselves against any threat and thus avoid tragedies like those of the first Cilt squads. The Leaders insist that it is not necessary for Hunters to learn such advanced combat techniques, but I humbly reject their opinion. -

Adara grabs the stick with both hands, and with her eyes closed, she begins to spin it around and do coordinated pirouettes with it, displaying complex defense and attack positions, using the stick as an extension of her body, causing everyone to exclaim in admiration towards her martial arts prowess. Once her demonstration is over, she grabs the stick again with both hands, showing it to all of us who saw it at that moment.

- This is your first defense tool. It is commonly called "Bo", it is a wooden staff used in martial arts. It takes years to perfect its technique, and many would rather wield a sword or shoot a bow than attempt to learn the discipline required to use one of these. I cannot teach you in one day what I have learned in fourteen years, but I can teach you how to disarm a human enemy, and that is what we will do today. -

Breathing, posture, how to hold the Bo correctly, and resistance exercises. Those were the forms of physical torture that Adara put all of us who weren't exactly athletic through. The repetition of movements makes me feel rusty and stiff, like a dusty, forgotten bicycle that hasn't been ridden in years. My legs feel too long and clumsy to move with the grace of the shorter recruits, and my scrawny arms can't hold in one position for long. I was beginning to feel inadequate and extremely frustrated with myself. This was supposed to be a big day for me, kind of an initiation, but it just makes me and my teammates feel sorry for me. Even if I didn't consider the option of becoming a Hunter right now and was only in this training for not turning down Adara's invitation... I was hoping that this would give me a sense of purpose in Cilt. I wanted to integrate into this society. Hell, if that's what I want most. But apparently, I'm just another misfit. Not worthy of a rank.

- Don't think about it too much. Let your movements flow naturally, trust that your body will know what to do. - Adara moves with the grace of a dancer and the strength of the river, flowing without anything stopping her.

In the midst of my mental storm and conflict with my own body, I've gotten distracted enough to trip with my own Bo by jabbing it in front of the foot I would switch positions with. I lose my balance completely and land on my front, sticking both arms in before I fall, saving my face from a more than certain blow. Fortunately, I was at the back of the formation and no one saw me fall, but the impact of my body on the dry leaves made everyone turn back. Evan throws the Bo away from him and runs frantically to my aid, while I have covered my face with both hands, as sheer embarrassment has made me cry silently in anxiety.

- Tyler! Are you alright? You are injured? Uhh... Do you need me to call a Medic? I can take you back to Cilt if you want! - Evan starts to clean my shirt from the dirt that raised my fall, while he tries to inspect me for scratches.

- Evan! - I shout in desperation towards the poor boy who was only trying to help me, causing him to take his hands off me immediately. I've never felt more miserable yelling at someone like that. I immediately regretted what I had done, and tried to repair the damage at any cost, - Sorry... I didn't mean to yell at you, it's just that... - Adara approached us, a clear expression of concern towards me made me feel tiny, vulnerable and ridiculous, even though I was aware that everyone around me just wanted to help me -... I hurt myself right where you touched me... that's why I screamed. But I'm fine, you don't have to worry about me. Thank you, my friend. -

After giving Evan a couple of pats on the shoulder to make him see that everything was okay, I get up as quickly as possible, turn my back to everyone so I can shake my clothes calmly, and surreptitiously wipe the stupid tears from my face. All I wanted was to be alone, to be eaten by the earth if necessary, all to not cause others concern.

- ... Let's take a break. You have ten minutes to drink water and sit down. - Realizing that I couldn't return to training immediately, Adara disperses the recruits giving them some time to regain strength. Everyone walks away from the training area except for Evan, who was still worried about me. I was still shaking my shirt when Adara's delicate hand landed on my shoulder - Are you okay Tyler? -

- Hmm? Oh yes, everything is fine. I just stumbled, that's all. - I fake a smile at her, although my reddened eyes weren't fooling anyone, and I knew it perfectly well. But it wasn't time for them to worry about me anymore, - I just need to...walk a little, that's all.

Without further explanation, I walked away from the training site towards the ruins, which were as lonely as when we arrived. Adara stopped Evan from following me, as she understood that I needed a moment alone. I walk without looking at any of the recruits who had their eyes fixed on me, I follow a narrow path that would take me just behind one of the walls of the decaying mansion, and once I know that no one sees me, I press my back against the wall, and little by little I let my body fall until I sat on the floor.

What is happening?

I keep asking myself over and over again. I am unable to enjoy moments like these, and I become so insensitive and selfish when I feel vulnerable... that I just don't seem like myself.

- ... I'm ridiculous. - I raise my hands to my face again, squeezing from my face the last tears my eyes had so involuntarily produced. I fall silent, catching my breath as I stroke my hair, my only source of comfort at the moment. Then, the shadow that has been following me since I got here has materialized in front of me, staring at me a few meters away

I am speechless with panic, it is difficult to breathe, and my muscles tense until I forget the pain that the exercise had caused me. But the shadow did not seem threatening. Seeing the terror in my eyes, it pulled a dirty pale human hand out from under her tattered robes, and simply held it out in front of her. A human hand, a clear symbol that the shadow belongs to the same species as me, and that it does not wish to harm me. That simple gesture stopped me from letting everyone know that an intruder had broken into our meeting, and she seemed to appreciate it.

- The wolf girl...-

I had no doubt that it was her. Even after Adara has told us that the wolf girl is nothing more than a Cilt legend created to scare young recruits, it would be foolish to deny her existence by having her right in front of me. She inched closer, stepping out into the light with each cautious barefoot step she took. The thick deerskin coat poorly cured and cracked by the inclemencies of the forest covered her entire body, only revealing a part of her arms and her feet, pale ashy skin and highly scarified and stained with dirt. Her face was protected by a helmet made from a deer skull with its antlers missing. The cryptic creature in front of me was inhuman, but somehow, the little humanity in it ended up convincing me that everything was, and would be fine.

We shared glances for a few more seconds, until footsteps approaching us diverted my attention completely, hoping that whoever was approaching would be able to see what I was seeing.

- Tyler? You shouldn't stray so far from the group, remember that we must always keep in sight of- -

- Adara come quickly! You have to see the...-

And just when I looked back, she had already vanished without a single noise to reveal her escape, she had simply ceased to exist. The only thing she left behind her was a necklace crudely made with small pieces of wood and stone, having as its main jewel the fang of a carnivorous animal. I could risk a guess that it was the fang of a wolf. Deeply intrigued, I sit on the ground, holding the necklace in my hands, trying to come up with a logical explanation for what just happened.

- See what? - Adara finally makes her way to my side, surprised to see me so lost in my thoughts-

- Adara... you're not going to believe me, but I saw her. The wolf girl, I saw her with my own eyes! - I looked up towards the forest in a last hope of seeing her again, but all that was left was the necklace that I had in my hands- She left this when she left... I swear I'm telling the truth; she was a wild girl.

- Oh, Tyler, don't try to play with me, the wolf girl doesn't exist, she's just a myth and everyone knows it. - I turned up to see her face, ready to debate her and defend my sighting but she just smiled at me, reached into the collar of her armor, and carefully pulled out a necklace identical to the one I had on, only this one had a pair of incisor teeth instead of the fang. At that moment I understood. Not only was the wolf girl real, but Adara knew about it and she had been purposely hiding it from the recruits, whatever the reason behind it was. She touches her lips with her index finger, making me understand that I shouldn't say a single word about it. Being accomplices now, she offers me a hand to lift me off the ground and take me back to training, not before putting the necklace around my neck, hiding it as best as possible inside my shirt.

The training continues.

Now that we know the basic moves with the Bo, Adara says we're ready to put them into practice, but she still wouldn't let us beat each other up. Instead, each and every recruit will come forward one by one, attempting to land a hit anywhere on our instructor's body, if we can even get close enough before she hits us.

To the surprise of absolutely no one, not a single one of the recruits who have gone on to fight has managed to outwit Captain Adara's skill. At first a young men contained the force of his blows in order to avoid hurting Adara, but realizing that this would not be necessary, the real blows began, to the point where the unlucky apprentice broke his own Bo, result of his poor skills handling the enormous force he achieved with that two-handed movement. Eventually it was my turn to face the very Hunter who brought me to Cilt by force, and whom I have grown to care of as a close friend despite being so hermetic with me, but now I knew one of her secrets, and that gave me the freedom to look at her with a somewhat cheeky smile.

- What's that on your face, Hopper? You look too confident. - After fighting with six recruits before me, there was not a single drop of sweat on Adara's face, who showed no remorse in returning the same smile, knowing perfectly well the source of my daring.

- Oh, it's nothing. I simply smile because it is an honor for me to face you... Captain. - I make a small courtesy bow towards her, which she responds in the same way.

- So, what are you waiting for? Rookie. - Adara gets into position, indicating the start of the fight- Whenever you want.

This would not be my first fight in my life, but it was the first time that my opponent did not wish for my suffering or irrationally hate me, that made my blood run free with adrenaline, like I had never experienced before. Breaking the safety distance between us, Adara throws the first defensive blow, and my first reaction was to block the blow with my own weapon. The impact of both sticks with such force makes my skeleton vibrate, and it makes the muscles of my arms tense so as not to give in to each blow that I blocked. I couldn't keep blocking forever and Adara seemed to tell me that with each impact, stronger and more insistent than the last. A window between her attacks opens and I try to attack her legs, which she sees coming and deftly jumps to avoid it, giving her a chance to do a spin and build up for a diagonal attack, straight at my ribs. Whether it was because I was aware of her Bo's trajectory at all times, or by simple magic, I miraculously managed to dodge the blow by leaping back, almost tripping back in the process. Evan yelled in excitement, and the recruits exclaimed in surprise.

- Good reflexes. What other skills have you been hiding during training, huh? - Adara lowers her guard and gives me a break, seeing that I was beginning to pant from the effort, and the sudden evasive maneuver,

- Me? ... heh, I have nothing to hide. - Still trying to catch my breath, I take my Bo by one end and place it on her shoulder, making her react in the same way, giving me a warning of my audacity by touching my throat with the point of her weapon, to which I simply laughed. - ... And you, Adara? Are you hiding something?

She didn't even take the time to answer, and she decided to end the fight once and for all. She advanced inquisitively as if it were a genuine combat. I was not ready for such techniques, she rotated the staff endlessly around her body, and in a movement that I could not even perceive with my eyes, she hit my Bo until it flew into the air, leaving me completely unarmed and vulnerable. End of the fight.

The recruits applauded and Evan cheered me as if I were the new champion of the Zeingen, and although my defeat was more than anticipated, for me the simple fact that I had fought was more than enough to consider it a victory. I just shrink in my shoulders, which makes Adara laugh, then forces me to sit down to give the next recruit the chance to fight.

Hybrid-Kira (2022)