The boys listened attentively to Fernando's words.
"In order for one to evolve into a different form, certain preparations must be made, according to the path one chooses. This applies to wizards, warriors, druids, sorcerers, undead, demons, holy creatures, and so many other paths of evolution."
Fernando explained the basics as if he were sharing a well-established truth. From his explanation, it became clear that the determining factor for evolution was not race. Humans, demi-humans, beastmen, and other species had, in essence, the same transformation options.
Still, there were hidden dangers in this process. The greatest of these was compatibility. If someone chose a path that was incompatible with their racial and spiritual traits, a violent internal conflict would arise. In the best-case scenario, the individual would lose control and transform into a monstrous being. Therefore, when choosing a path of evolution, certain fundamental aspects must be taken into account.
Among these aspects were racial characteristics, the superficial layer, genetic anomalies, the elemental layer, the soul layer, the connection with hell, the connection with the goddess, among other deep factors.
For example, if someone chose the path of the undead—including necromancers, vampires, dark morphs , black magicians, and demons—it would be necessary to consider the presence of elements related to darkness, a hellish connection, and having already experienced a near-death experience. In these cases, the corresponding ritual was indispensable.
These rituals, most of the time, involve massacres, bloodlust, madness and extreme mental states. That is why they chose these paths. A very high mental level was needed to maintain sanity in the face of the darkness that invaded the soul.
For those who followed the sacred path—faith warriors and magicians, shepherds and other devotees—the requirements were different. They required a high level of faith, devotion, or even fanaticism, covering themselves with the element of light, and the performance of a protective ritual.
Those who wished to follow the path of the magician needed a high elemental mastery in at least two distinct elements, a keen intelligence, depth in the use of spiritual energy and, naturally, the corresponding ritual.
Finally, for those who aspired to the warrior's path, the process was straightforward. There were few rigid requirements, just a strong body, some control over one's physique, and an unshakable will. With the right ritual, persistence was all that was needed to become a true warrior.
There were also mixed paths. However, these paths were dangerous and notoriously difficult. Few dared to follow them. As far as Fernando knew, only one or two people in every thousand chose this route.
Among the mixed paths, Fernando only knew of the warrior-mage — a path of evolution that combined the aspects of a mage with the skills of a warrior. Only lords had been allowed to choose such a path within the kingdom.
As expected, the royal family had control over the available paths of evolution. These paths were distributed among the lords and the training institutes, all of which were tied to the crown by strict contracts. Thanks to these agreements, the royal family did not fear blockades or revolts. The safety of the paths was guaranteed by strict terms.
In light of this, Ferdinand limited himself to explaining only the essentials. He refrained from mentioning any details that would violate his contract with the royal family. Apart from that, he himself did not have much information about the other paths. Although he was a lord of the paths, the most advanced developments remained tightly protected, both by secrecy and by the scarcity of resources in that world.
Although all this seems extensive, the explanation took no more than a few minutes.
Fernando made a point of emphasizing a crucial point. Each person could only choose a single path of evolution and perform the ritual once. If the ritual failed, there would be no second chance . It would also not be possible to choose another path. It was a unique, definitive choice, and it required absolute conviction.
"Just one more thing about the basics of evolution," he said finally. "Besides the formal paths, there are other ways to evolve. There are the lineage holders, the blessed, and other exceptional cases ."
During the explanation, the boys asked a few questions. Fernando answered most of them. When something escaped their understanding, Catarina or the butler stepped forward and explained. Still, some questions remained unanswered, blocked by the contractual clauses.
Alex and John's worldview broadened significantly after that little talk. John, more reflective, looked up seriously and asked a direct question.
— With everything we've heard, is there a need to sign any restrictive contract?
The adults laughed in unison. They found the boy's level of caution admirable. Catarina was the one who answered, with a gentle and serene expression.
— There is no need to review any contract. Everything that has been said so far is just the basics. No information offered puts the interests of the kingdom at risk.
John kept his expression thoughtful. In his previous life, he had learned to distrust contracts. He had always worked for himself, and to do so he had to deal with countless restrictive documents. His freedom had been limited for years. He was allowed almost nothing. Not even being with his family or meeting friends escaped the organization's monitoring. Living under that kind of control again was something he would not allow in this new life.
After Fernando's explanation, it was finally time to start the training.
"You're going to go through this obstacle course," Fernando said in a firm voice. " That's it. helps in the development of agility and body control. For us, Iron Tail , strength grows naturally as levels increase... But agility has always been a serious problem.
He paused briefly to catch his breath, then continued:
— For an Iron Tail to become a true warrior, he needs to achieve a good level of control over his own body and significantly improve his agility.
John listened carefully and raised a question:
— And what about a wizard?
Before Fernando could respond, Catarina intervened enthusiastically.
— For us, Iron Tail , becoming a wizard is relatively easy," he said, smiling with a certain pride.
He leaned back and lightly slapped his chest in a gesture of confidence.
— We have a natural affinity with the elements of water and earth. What really matters to us is to raise our intelligence and strengthen the surface layer with spiritual energy.
She continued with a lightness in her voice, as if she were telling something she loved to repeat:
— Among us Iron Tails, whether warrior or mage, one in ten rituals results in success. For other races, this rate is even lower.
Her eyes then turned to John, with a tenderness she made no effort to hide.
— My dear... if you want to be a wizard, you just need to learn the Baboan language in advance. I have already checked your elemental layer and compatibility with spiritual energy. With our family ritual, you have at least a seventy percent chance of success.
It was clear that Catherine wanted John to become a wizard. Ferdinand, on the other hand, preferred to see him as a warrior. But John had not yet decided. He wanted to think things through calmly—his own parents had been involved in a propaganda contest.
For Alex, unfortunately, his options were more limited. Unlike John, he could only follow the path of the warrior. His elemental tier was too low for anything else. The choice was not just personal—it was also social. Seeking another path of evolution was nearly impossible for someone in his position. The line between noble and commoner, rich and poor, was often drawn precisely by these opportunities.
Fernando looked at the two seriously and said:
— Now that you know your options... it's time to make choices that define who you want to become.
— Observe.
Fernando took a swift leap and landed on a narrow platform above the pool. Suddenly, his presence seemed ordinary—he had suppressed his evolutionary base, taking on the appearance of an ordinary human. The piranhas, who had previously been hesitant to attack him, now saw him as prey.
One by one, they began to leap ferociously towards him, trying to sink their teeth into wherever they could reach.
Fernando dodged them with ease. His movements were graceful, almost dancing, as he ran from plank to plank across the surface of the water. As he passed the fifty-meter mark, the piranhas became more numerous and aggressive. The water was teeming with fins—and their speed increased in proportion to the threat.
When we passed a hundred meters, things got serious.
The piranhas no longer jumped just to bite: they flew up to two meters above the surface in a fury of hunger. Now, simply jumping was not enough. Fernando's agility began to be tested to the extreme. It was then that his tail, discreetly wrapped around his waist, unfolded with a sudden snap. His body gained an explosion of speed and almost superhuman lightness.
John and Alex were open-mouthed. They tried to follow every step, every feint, every twist of Fernando's body... but as his speed increased even more, the boys' eyes could no longer follow him clearly.
In less than a minute, Fernando crossed the entire pool and returned to the starting edge — without a single scratch.
On the way back, his speed reached such an absurd point that not even the piranhas could react. It was as if he disappeared and reappeared between the obstacles.
In a smooth leap, he landed right in front of the two, with a victorious smile on his face.
— Impressive, isn't it?
The boys nodded vigorously, their eyes still wide. And they answered at the same time:
— That was awesome, Dad!
— Very impressive, my lord!
Each one, in their own way, expressed genuine admiration.
But Catarina... felt a slight chill. Not from fear—but from intuition. There was a silent danger there: the possibility that John might want to follow the warrior's path after Fernando's display.
Without saying a word, she approached. With the staff in her hands, she raised it in front of the pool.
A gust of freezing wind blew, and in an instant the entire surface of the water froze. The piranhas were trapped in the ice like statues. The temperature plummeted. Catarina walked calmly to the other side and back, as if she were on a casual stroll.
Her magical mastery was clear—she had effortlessly frozen an entire pool. This wasn't just a demonstration… it was a silent declaration.
Fernando frowned in feigned irritation and exclaimed:
— You're cheating! Now, how are the boys going to train?
Catarina snorted. With a simple swing of her staff and a few whispered words in the ancient Baboan language , the entire pool thawed in a sudden snap, as if nothing had happened.
The butler, discreetly positioned in the background, came to the same conclusion as the boys: it didn't matter whether it was Ferdinand or Catherine — they both had their moments of blatant childishness .
Soon after, under the watchful eye of their father, Alex and John jumped onto the pool platform. Fernando, before letting them go, gave each of them a wooden sword.
"You're going to need this," he said with a mischievous smile on his lips.
The two advanced, stepping onto the floating planks one by one. With each leap, the waters became more agitated. The piranhas, initially restrained, began to react to the movement with increasing hostility.
At the twenty-meter mark, John began to fall behind. He jumped from side to side, trying to avoid the furious bites. One of the piranhas lunged at his left shoulder—instinctively, he jumped to the right, but he had barely landed when another creature appeared with its jaws wide open. With a shout, John struck with his wooden sword, hitting the beast squarely in the mouth.
Ahead, Alex also faced difficulties. The further he advanced, the more his speed decreased. The piranhas gave him no respite. He had to constantly dodge and strike with his sword, advancing meter by meter, as if he were facing a living wall of teeth.
When John saw Alex reach the sixty-meter mark, his eyes gleamed with determination. He gritted his teeth and accelerated. Two piranhas jumped at the same time. John spun and struck with little force—but one of them got stuck in his sword, increasing the weight of his jump. The slippery platform didn't forgive him: he lost his balance and fell straight into the water.
The piranhas greeted him with their mouths wide open.
Catarina didn't hesitate. With a firm gesture of her staff, she summoned a spell that sent John flying out of the water like an arrow blowing toward her. His body was covered in purple marks and bloody bites. Although the piranhas' venom was harmless, it caused excruciating pain. John was shaking from head to toe.
In the pool, Alex was already approaching the seventy-meter mark when he lost his balance and also fell into the water. The piranhas surrounded him in seconds, but Catarina rescued him just as quickly.
With a heavy heart, she summoned two maids dressed in white robes—adept at healing magic. They were the same ones who had once been carefully tended to by Catarina herself. Once he knelt down next to John, another began to treat Alex.
Not long after, the two were completely healed... only to hear a cold and determined voice break through the air:
- Again.
It was Fernando.
The boys looked at each other. Still panting, still in pain, but without arguing, they jumped back onto the platform.
Once again, I faced the deadly dance with the piranhas. Alex leads, John close behind, both more aware of their movements and timing. They fought, dodged, jumped... until they reached their new limits.
Alex fell at the eighty-meter mark. João, at seventy.
But Fernando did not stop. Under his orders, a session was requested. The two jumped into the pool repeatedly, and with each fall, Catarina pulled them out with magic and the maids healed their wounds. It was a constant cycle of overcoming, pain, resistance.
The training lasted the whole day . There was only a break for rest and lunch.