Zeno is face to face with a dark magic user. Since he decided not to flee, he took the risk of confronting this man.
After sheathing his sword, the man asks:
— Are you okay? Don't worry, there's no other bear, and there are no dangerous animals nearby.
Even with those words, Zeno doesn't feel calm and shows his anxiety. He asks:
— What are you going to do to me?
— What do you mean, "do to you"? I saved you; I did this for your own good.
— But you're an Epírio, with black hair. You must be looking to enslave us.
— Us? The man asks.
— Yes, we Nibiras.
— So you really are a Nibira. I was confused by the color of your hair. Don't worry, I'm an Epírio, but a different kind. I don't wish you harm.
— Really?! Zeno tries to calm himself.
— I saw that tribe judging you for something, I assume? What happened for them to leave you for dead in this forest?
— It was because I used dark magic.
— Really? Well, that makes sense. That's how they are. And light magic—can you use it?
— Not yet.
— That's very interesting. I never imagined that a Nibira could produce someone who uses dark magic.
The man becomes thoughtful and then says to Zeno:
— I haven't introduced myself yet, but my name is Alex. If you allow me, I can raise you until you're old enough to live on your own—if you don't mind.
— I don't know if I can accept… "Everything is new to me in this new life. I don't know what awaits me." Negativity takes hold of Zeno. "I should accept. It's better to have somewhere to live than to be lost in this forest." He concludes in thought, deciding to accept the man's help.
— Alright, I accept your kindness.
— The color of your hair… gray, like silver… interesting. But you shouldn't walk around showing it; you'll surely be enslaved. I'll dye it black to avoid problems.
Then the man shows some vials that appear to be dye and says:
— With this and magic, I'll change your hair color. An Epírio won't be able to reveal its true color, but a Nibira will.
Alex continues:
— This intrigues me—your hair color, being born from a Nibira, and casting dark magic. Such a curious combination. Are you really born from a Nibira?
— Until they expelled me, yes, I was. No one denied it.
— Hahahaha! What a strange thing.
— I assume your name comes from the Nibiras, right?
— My name is Zeno.
— Then, besides your hair color, we can't go to the cities using this name. We'll have to change it.
Alex, with his hand on his chin, says:
— Gray hair could indicate… Hmm! I got it. We'll call you Zuri.
In his thoughts, Zeno tries to accept the name change.
"I was Theodoro. In this world, I was born as Zeno, and now I have to change it to Zuri… This is exhausting."
Without being able to argue and seeing the kindness of the man willing to take care of him, Zeno nods and confirms:
— Alright! From now on, I will be Zuri.
— Let's go to my cabin. There, I can change your hair color, and we can talk better.
The two set out to leave the forest.
As they walked, Alex had to kill some monsters that appeared. Now, with the name Zuri, the boy kept a short distance, observing everything. Just Alex's agility, precision, and strength were enough for him to be in an army squad. More than that, combined with magic, he must be an extraordinary soldier. Zuri watches, admiring Alex's qualities.
They arrived at the cabin, made of wood, with a door and a window. Inside, there was only a bed. The sun was already setting, and Alex prepared a fire and put some meat from the cabin to roast.
Zuri sat with his knees held close to his chest, staring at the fire. His spirits hadn't improved after everything, and a few tears rolled down his face.
— I don't know what goes through a child's mind after being expelled from his home and family, but you are calmer than you should be. Alex comforts the poor boy.
Wiping his tears with his arm, Zuri says:
— It just hasn't sunk in yet. Everything happened so fast.
— I understand. You can stay in the cabin—there's a bed inside. After sleeping, I think your mood will improve. Don't worry, I'll stand guard outside. Just focus on resting. Alex offers Zuri a more comfortable place to sleep.
The next day, Zuri leaves the cabin and sees Alex eating some fruit. He offers some to Zuri, and they share a meal.
After finishing, Alex uses dark magic combined with a chemical product that changes hair color, dyeing Zuri's hair black. This magic is secret and forbidden because, in some cities, it would be considered identity fraud.
Alex calls Zuri for a talk. They sit around the fire, and Alex asks:
— How much do you know about dark magic?
— I can only use Fireball, "Ignis Pila."
— I see. Just the basics. Could you show me?
Alex asks him to use the spell against a small rock. Zuri warns:
— That rock is very small.
Alex:
— There's no way a simple fireball could cause too much damage. Go ahead.
Zuri then places his hand forward and casts the spell:
— "Ignis Pila."
A powerful fireball destroys the rock and hits the surrounding trees.
Startled, Alex yells:
— What was that?! The trees—I didn't expect them to be hit!
— I warned you.
— Help me put out the flames! Let's get water from the river!
At that moment, Zuri laments not knowing water magic. They grab wooden buckets from the cabin and put out the fire.
After the shock, Alex approaches Zuri, places his hands on his shoulders, and says in admiration:
— Your magic is powerful. If a fireball causes that much damage, imagine Infernal Fire or even an advanced spell like Meteor.
Alex pats his chest and makes an offer to Zuri:
— Zuri, would you be willing to be my apprentice? Of course, you'll need to undergo a magic initiation before that. So, do you accept?
— If it's to be your apprentice, I accept. I didn't know my magic was that strong.
— Alright, then. First, you'll have to become a citizen of a city. Let me think about the best one… Hmm… I got it! It'll be Demitris. I'll arrange for you to be considered a relative of the Atlas family.
— Alright! I accept. Demitris is one of the twelve cities, right?
— Yes. Didn't I tell you about them? The twelve cities are: Epaimir, Etram, Kírias, Kirthalas, Demitris, Deokrasis, Theotílio, Éfero, Arcadis, Erósia, Kynigari, and Aktína.
—And which city are you from? Zuri asked.
—I'm from the worst city, Epaimir. Its ruler, Adon, is extremely cruel. He excludes anyone who lacks skills or good abilities to survive in his city.
—I see now why you are so strong.
—I had to work hard to become who I am today. But you must work hard too; I know you can achieve great things. Now that I think about it, everything is falling into place.
Zuri looked at Alex.
—Falling into place?
—No, it's nothing. Just an idea that crossed my mind, but it's probably nonsense.
—I don't understand. If you want to be a citizen of Epíria, why become so strong?
—That's a sharp question. I'll tell you what I'm planning when the time is right. For now, let's just focus on leaving here and heading to Demitris.
Before going to Demitris, Alex told Zuri that they would pass through Epaimir, as Demitris was far from where they were, and he needed to buy supplies for the journey.
A long half-day walk began between master and apprentice.
As they distanced themselves from the forest, an open field stretched as far as the eye could see. Birds flitted from side to side, and medium-sized birds cut through the sky, leaving Zuri in awe of what he saw. Some wild dogs tried to approach to attack Zuri, but Alex quickly scared them off. Truly, Zuri thought, rejecting Alex's help would have been foolish. He realized he wouldn't have lasted a single day alone in this strange world.
They arrived in Epaimir, the first city Zuri had ever visited. From a distance, he could see a walled city shaped like a hexagon. They passed through vast fields used for agriculture and livestock. On one side, there were plantations; on the other, pastures for cattle. One thing caught Zuri's attention—the men working in the fields wore chains and had skin burned by the sun.
Crossing the fields, they reached the western gate of Epaimir. Entering the city was a bit complicated, but since Alex was with him, the guards allowed the boy to pass. The issue was identifying Zuri, as he needed official documents. However, Alex insisted, and since he was recognized throughout the entire continent, Zuri was allowed entry—but only for a short stay, as the guards warned him.
Listening to the conversation between the guards and Alex, Zuri discovered that his would-be master was, in fact, a Master of Dark Magic. Impressed, Zuri realized that if he trained under Alex, he could become truly powerful.
Looking around, Zuri observed the city's architecture—its streets were uniform, with houses of similar height, symmetrical corners, and perfectly aligned roads. The city itself was a geometrical masterpiece, with six towers at each edge and one in the center.
The people of this city seemed apathetic. The soldiers were intimidating and highly organized. There were no slaves wandering the streets. Either they were locked inside their masters' houses or laboring in the outer fields, producing grains, vegetables, and livestock for food.
Alex explained the city's details to Zuri, warning him to be extremely careful within its walls, as punishments often resulted in capital sentences.
Spying in the city was also nearly impossible, Alex explained. Everyone who lived there acted as Adon's eyes. If anything suspicious happened, the guards would be alerted immediately.
—So if, one day, let's say, a city hires you to spy on Epaimir, don't accept the job. Alex warned.
—I don't know if I mentioned this to you—Alex added—but we are in the northwest of Epíria. The closest cities are Kírias and Deokrasis. If you'd like, I can show them to you someday.
—You must be able to enter cities easily since you're a master of dark magic—Zuri deduced.
—To be honest, yes. All the city rulers know me. I train soldiers for them.
—I'll work hard to be as good as you. Zuri affirmed.
—Judging by your magic, you might even surpass me as a dark magic user.
They walked through the marketplaces. The people of this city showed no expressions of happiness or joy. Even selling their goods seemed to bring them no satisfaction, as if everyone there were slaves. The soldiers were also emotionless and extremely strict regarding posture and discipline.
Alex bought a full bag of supplies, including various fruits, proteins, and some chemicals for their journey.
He then informed Zuri that they would spend the night in the city before continuing their two-week journey to Demitris.
They headed to an inn near the eastern gates. Once again, Zuri marveled at how perfectly structured the city was. The buildings and streets were incredibly well-constructed, a stark contrast to the rough, simple cabins of the Níbiras, where he had once lived.