After learning about my Soul Mirror, Ari asked me if I had any idea how it might work, and particularly how to activate it. However, unlike before, I didn't get any deep intuition.
For this reason, she proposed trying to activate it in combat, to see if, in a situation of necessity, my ability would activate to protect me. She suggested training with her at the Nightjars family training ground, which was located at the back of the building.
At first, I wasn't very convinced. To persuade me, Ari explained a very important concept:
Every individual can be simply divided into three foundations: soul, body, and mind.
A person can usually survive even if they are only slightly aware of their body and mind, but to become a user of Ka and skills, one must also learn about their own soul.
The soul of an individual, when in a difficult situation, and even more so if in a desperate condition, obviously wants to survive. Since the soul is closely connected to Ka and abilities, it will try to help the individual survive by using these two. However, for an individual to use these powers, their soul must form a stronger bond with their mind and body.
At the same time, in difficult situations, the body and mind will desperately seek ways to survive. The mind tends to free itself from unnecessary thoughts, while the body tries to overcome its own limits.
This desperate drive for survival among the three foundations brings them closer together and strengthens their bond.
Therefore, it is common for a person to become more aware of all three foundations in desperate situations, and along with that, become more aware of their Ka and skills.
After hearing this, I was somewhat more convinced by her proposal, even though the words "desperate situation" still intimidated me a little.
"What do you mean by training?"I asked after her explanation.
She replied with a sly smile that sent shivers through my whole body.
Although I wasn't able to use my innate ability yet, I had a faint idea of how Ari intended to help me uncover my Soul Mirror, and what I anticipated wasn't exactly reassuring.
However, I was also aware it was better to learn how to use my ability as soon as possible, after all, my future in the Colosseum depended on it.
So, in the end, I accepted her proposal and followed her to the training ground out back.
.
.
.
The training ground Ari mentioned was nothing special: just a modest circular patch of reddish packed earth.
When we arrived, it was occupied by Iwe and Rui, who were engaged in a bare-handed duel that was nothing short of incredible.
Rui moved agilely like a feline, leaping lightly from one spot to another without stirring the dirt, as if weighing nothing more than a feather. He tried to strike Iwe with well-planned blows aimed where she wasn't looking or where her guard was down.
Iwe was slower than Rui, but her titanic physique made his strikes seem like mere annoying buzzing of a fly.
Watching the duel, Rui seemed to have the upper hand considering how many hits he was landing on Iwe. Yet, at the same time, Iwe seemed ready to end the fight at any moment if she could just land a punch on Rui.
Still, considering their movements, their duel seemed to defy human limits. Not even a match between two UFC champions could come close to what I was witnessing.
Watching them, I remembered something from my past.
'I… I think I liked martial arts… actually, I'm sure I practiced some martial arts before…'
"Usually they train in the gym in the mornings, rather than dueling…" Ari explained. "But it's good for you to see two Diamond-ranked gladiators sparring amicably without using any abilities or Ka."
Her words made me frown in confusion.
"You mean they're fighting using only their physical skills?"
"Exactly…" she answered.
"Unbelievable." The word slipped out of my mouth.
Ari chuckled at my comment.
"And to think they aren't even the highest rank in the Colosseum," she added.
Her words made my eyes widen.
"There are people stronger than them!?" I exclaimed, perplexed. The friendly duel between Iwe and Rui already seemed beyond logic.
"Don't get discouraged too much; they're actually only one rank below the highest… while we wait for them to finish, I'll take the chance to explain the ranking system to you…" she said.
I listened to Ari's explanation with interest.
A gladiator's rank was based on their ranking points, also called RP, earned by winning games in the arenas.
At the base was the Iron rank. It was discouraged for a gladiator to stay long in this rank, not only because the rewards were the smallest, but also because if a gladiator stayed more than three months in total at this rank, they were "removed" from the Colosseum.
A gladiator was Iron rank if they had between 0 and 300 ranking points.
From 300 to 600 RP was the Bronze rank. Above 600 RP was Silver, above 900 RP Gold, above 1200 RP Platinum, above 1500 RP Diamond, and finally, above 1800 RP, a gladiator reached the Champion rank.
The top 100 gladiators in the Champion rank were also called Numbers.
The higher a gladiator's rank, the more benefits they and their family had.
The example Ari gave me to explain this last point was her own family. The Nightjars had only two gladiators before my arrival, yet they owned a large building of their own, which was due precisely to the high ranking of its two members.
As she finished her explanation, the duel between Iwe and Rui seemed to reach a stalemate, so much so that, after one last series of rapid blows from Rui and a missed hook from Iwe, they distanced themselves, positioning at opposite edges of the field.
The two, sweaty and breathless, smiled at each other, then relaxed their muscles and approached each other while walking.
"We always end in a draw lately." Rui commented, already catching his breath.
"I finally reached your level." Iwe replied.
"You're actually on the verge of surpassing me…" Rui sighed, looking at her with a proud gaze.
Iwe burst out laughing.
I widened my eyes. Her laughter was nothing short of… loud.
"You're always too humble, Rui!" she said, showing all her bright, shining teeth in an amused smile.
"OH!" Iwe seemed to only just notice Ari and me.
"Elías! Ari!" she exclaimed loudly, waving her hand exaggeratedly.
I returned the greeting somewhat shyly.
"How long have you been here?" she asked, approaching us. Rui followed.
"Long enough to enjoy a bit of your duel." Ari explained.
Iwe then turned to me.
"Was this your first time seeing two gladiators duel?" she asked, looking me straight in the eyes.
Actually, the day before, I had caught a glimpse at the SkyView Theater, but since my mind was in turmoil then, I don't have vivid memories of it. So, I nodded in response to her question.
Her presence made me feel tiny, making me more shy than usual.
"What did you think?" Rui asked calmly.
"It was nothing short of incredible." I answered honestly.
Iwe chuckled proudly. Rui, while keeping serious and calm eyes, also seemed proud to hear my comment.
"What did you come here to do?" Rui asked, genuinely curious.
"We came to test his Soul Mirror." Ari explained, pointing at me.
"Oh really? Then I'll stay and watch." Iwe decided without asking anyone… Well, she didn't have to ask anyone, anyway… Although, honestly, the idea of being watched while I was presumably beaten up by Ari — because that's what I felt was going to happen — didn't exactly make me feel at ease.
"I'm curious to see my new little brother's innate ability!" she added.
At her words, Rui nodded repeatedly, also intrigued.
I didn't have the strength to ask them to leave, so I silently accepted being watched while I was… "presumably"… beaten.
I sighed resignedly, looking down.
'Anyway…' I looked in Iwe's direction, 'she keeps calling me little brother… but are we really that far apart in age? And besides… I don't think I'm that young…'
Actually, the idea of having an older sister didn't bother me much. On the contrary, maybe I even liked it a little.
'I've always wanted siblings…' I thought unconsciously, then my eyes lit up while my lips curved into a faint bittersweet smile.
'In the past, I didn't have brothers or sisters…' I recalled, for the first time remembering something about my family.
Unfortunately, still no memories, even vague ones, about my parents. It was as if their existence in my memories were veiled.