Over the next few days, I tried to stabilize the runes of thought manifestation during the meditation technique. I started attending the Full Moon School more often to learn the subjects I would need to master.
I enrolled in the studies of Botany, Mathematics, Geometry and Drawing. I realized that in order to better understand runes, I needed to have precise control and incredible drawing skills.
The runes were the manifestation of a thought, a way of expressing the intention and ideas of the apprentice. In order for the rune to convey the impression correctly, I needed to fully master the art of drawing.
I became known in school for my status as a combat master and my academic record. I also got very close to Mestre Felipe, who became an important reference for me.
Still, I led a life isolated from public events. Despite invitations to parties and study groups, I was almost always seen alone in the hallways and in the library. Life definitely wasn't fun, but at least I felt like I wasn't wasting my time.
As the days went by, I began to get close to my physical limit. I didn't feel my body getting stronger; detected only a change in its consistency. I was confused by the light of life and its mechanism, because while I was working on the movements of concealment, my figure seemed to decrease in size.
The changes were small, but they happened every day. After my body reached the realm of a combat master, I realized that something in me had changed substantially. Still, I had no information or idea how this happened—I just felt that the light of life was being held back and absorbed by my bones.
My skills — Marksmanship, Accelerated Coordination, Destructive Strike, and Concealment—began to improve significantly over time. I was able to switch between them without losing precision, as if something inside me had finally awakened.
But that's when I noticed: that growth spurt had misaligned me. The light of life was not yet stable in my body, and this led to me being consumed by emotions during the fight against Dagen.
I began to record everything I experienced, carefully noting how the light of life was focused on me. Gradually, I developed a theory: perhaps the light of life derived from some kind of special material produced by the organism itself. And cultivating this light would be, in practice, stimulating the body to produce more of this material.
From what I could see, because the light of life was able to affect my entire body—not just specific parts—I began to believe that the material in my bones could, in time, be transformed into any component of the body.
Despite all this progress, I was unable to make progress in mastering my fifth combat skill. In fact, I wasn't even sure how to activate it properly. But even so, I gathered valuable information. And that was a start.
***
"Interesting notes" Felipe commented in a low voice, frowning.
Before him rested the record I had made based on my research on warriors. The book contained data on the frequency of the light of life and the impact it had on the human body. It was still a superficial work, I admit, but it brought a point of view that he seemed to find intriguing.
"You gathered the data impartially and didn't let your feelings interfere," he continued, carefully handing me the notebook. "I understand your suspicions... and I agree with them. Much of the ancient knowledge has been lost. We are no longer at the peak of our civilization. So it's very likely that there are more than four skills, yes"
Seeing the sparkle in Felipe's eyes as he said that made me satisfied.
After his words, I decided to consolidate everything into a more general analysis of the changes in the development of warriors.
The real difference between an ordinary peasant and someone at the level of a warrior—going from preparatory to the rank of commander—is not exactly in brute physical strength. If we compare an average adult with a warrior at the preparatory level, for example, the difference in strength is minimal. It is not impressive.
But as the hierarchy rises, the changes become more evident.
The key is in vigor. An average adult may be able to lift 200 kg for a few moments. A beginner warrior, however, can sustain this weight for hours. And this limit is gradually expanded, step by step. A commander, for example, can carry up to 500 kg with stability.
Already as a combat master, I noticed a qualitative leap in my vigor and in the resistance of my strength. My senses were elevated to the maximum, as was the control I came to have over the light of life. With it, I was able to take my body beyond human limits.
However, the greatest characteristic of a combat master is in recovery. My body doesn't retain scars—it's always adjusting to reach an optimal state for survival. It is as if it were naturally adaptive, but always returned to the same point of balance: the so-called ground zero.
Ground zero is the natural and stable state of the body, with original measurements, as if it were the standard form defined by the biological instinct itself.
I remember well a year when my body returned to ground zero. I was now exactly 190 centimeters tall. I was still thin but strong—and in that state, I felt more balanced than ever, even though I had lost some of the body mass I had accumulated before.
Another difference, subtle but interesting, was in the teeth.
While ordinary humans and even warriors of the commanding rank only change teeth once in their lives, for me, losing a tooth no longer meant a permanent loss.
This did not apply to us masters of combat. In a matter of two to five months, a new tooth would grow in place of the last one that had been lost. It was a subtle change, but when you stopped to think about it... It was unbelievable. The material was, in some way, being recreated. This, in itself, already opened the door to numerous theories.
"So you think there's source material? Something inside our body capable of transforming itself into skin, teeth, hair, flesh...?" Felipe asked.
"Yes. I believe that this material is located in the pelvic bone in ordinary humans. But in our case, it is present in all bones. That's why we can store the light of life directly," I replied firmly.
"Interesting," he muttered, rubbing his chin. You could see that he was genuinely curious.
"What's the next step?" he wanted to know.
"I haven't thought about it yet. To be honest, I barely understand the situation I find myself in. I'm more focused on meditation now... This is just a hobby," I admitted, reclining at the table. I had only shared these ideas with him because... well, I felt alone.