In the Progonos village, there are only a few rules, but they are regarded with a certain sacredness when it comes to their enforcement. Because of this, they are called taboos.

The most fundamental taboo in the village is "do not kill." It's a rule that everyone follows, as if we all instinctively understand that harming another human being is inherently wrong, as if violence is not in our nature. However, this rule has more specific consequences when the victim is one of the chosen ones—or at least, that's how it seems when interpreted. Malia pointed out to me that some of the village's laws are sometimes vague or open to interpretation. The taboo states:

"No powerless shall inflict physical harm on their own kind."

Malia said, "If we interpret it differently from 'no one should harm anyone,' it could imply that the chosen ones might have the power to kill anyone, since this rule suggests that only those without powers must abide by it."

I had never thought of it that way, and to be honest, I didn't really know all the village's laws that well. In school, they seemed boring, and I didn't pay much attention to things I wasn't particularly interested in.

"So," Malia continued, "this taboo allows us chosen ones to fight and train, even if we end up hurting each other. Although the purpose isn't to harm each other, but to train... it's not always the case."

By the time we discussed these taboos, several months had already passed since Malia had taken me under her wing. We had become good friends, and as time went on, our dream seemed closer and closer. However, I always wondered how we would manage it. Since both she and I wanted to become leaders of the village and win the final showdown—and considering there was also that other guy with the awful name—sooner or later, we would have to fight each other. More importantly, I began to question whether I could even participate in the tournament, as I wasn't one of the chosen ones and hadn't awakened any powers.

So one day, I voiced my doubts to the teacher, hoping she would train me keeping these questions in mind.

"I have a plan," she told me, and then, for some reason, we began to talk about laws. Holding a scroll in her hand, she continued, "Another important taboo explains how the winner of the tournament is chosen by the village Elder, once they have demonstrated their worth in combat.'"

Not understanding the point of all these laws she was rattling off, I asked, "And why are all these taboos important?"

With a sly smile, she replied, "I'll explain it right away." Then she pulled out another scroll, almost like magic.

"Where did you get all these?" I asked, curious about the papers that unrolled between her hands.

"I asked my master for them. Anyway, what I want to tell you is that," she pointed to some names on the scroll, "the village Elder's name is mentioned frequently in the taboos, and it seems that she is exempt from many of them, as if she has the power to determine the justice of each law herself. For example, here it says, 'No powerless may witness the training of the chosen ones except the masters and the village Elder,' and also here, 'Those who awaken the powers granted by the Great Star must not have contact with the powerless, except for the village Elder.' She seems to be immune to the rules, or even has the power to modify or create new ones."

"So," I said, "you're telling me that we should talk to the Elder of the village to get me into the tournament?"

She quickly rolled up the scroll and tossed it into her bag."

At first, I also thought that the Elder would be the solution, but in the end, I believe that the truth about your lack of powers would be found out soon."

"So how will I participate in the tournament? Actually, the real question is, how will I win if, according to the taboos, I'm not even supposed to lay a finger on you?"

"Yet you punched me in the stomach so hard I still remember it."

I smiled awkwardly, "'At least we had fun.'"

"How do you re... never mind, you're a bastard," she scolded me, though I caught a glimpse of a smile on her face.

"Anyway," she said, "it's not my problem how you'll win. I promised to give you a chance to pursue your dream, not the key to victory. But as you've seen, there are no consequences for breaking the taboos if no one finds out."

I thought about it for a moment. Malia's words were very important. All this talk about taboos was making my head spin. In recent weeks, I'd been focused solely on improving my fighting skills, and strangely enough, I hadn't had the same thoughts I did before starting my training with the teacher. As soon as I realized this, a definite smile spread across my face.

"You're weird," she said without any warning.

"What?" I snapped back to reality.

"I mean, it's odd to stare at your teacher with that smile."

"Oh, shit!" I thought, "I had forgotten to control my facial expressions!"

"No, sorry," I smiled awkwardly. "I was just thinking about how much better I feel since we started training."

"You feel good, huh? But you're a wreck every time we finish."

Yes, that was true. All the beatings I took caused me terrible pain, but I didn't mean physically. Although lately, I'd been sleeping like a baby.

"That's not what I mean. I don't know how to explain it, but before, it was like there was a voice constantly doubting everything I did. Now that we're talking about our dream as something concrete, something possible and likely, it makes me happy."

She turned around, picked up the leather bag, and returned to our topic.

"While I'm glad you're feeling better and grateful for everything, that's not what's going to make us the leaders of the village."

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She took out the scroll she had stored in the bag earlier and showed me a passage.

"No one without powers can witness the training of the chosen ones except the masters and the village Elder."

I don't know why, but that passage triggered a fit of hysterical laughter in me.

"I remember this well!" I exclaimed, looking at Malia and seeing from her serious expression that she, too, remembered the day we met.

"Falco! Get serious for once."

I shut up, and my expression became serious as she said, "Sorry."

"If the taboos truly served a purpose, there would be consequences for breaking them. Yet here you are. Do you understand now?"

Perhaps I understood what she meant. The purpose of the taboos wasn't just to follow them and not break them. It seemed they were created to maintain order, and if no one finds out you've broken them, you can take advantage of the situation. It seems like cheating but also seemed like something a powerless person would do—exploit the taboos and be cunning because we have no powers to show off.

"Maybe you're saying that my real power isn't adaptability or immense strength, but rather breaking the taboos without getting caught? Like, simpley lying?"

"Your mom always told you not to lie, right, Falco? That lying is wrong so you never lie?."

"No, that's not what I mean. It just seems a bit reductive. What am I supposed to do with this advice of yours?"

She seemed to lose patience. "I've tried to make you think, but maybe it's better if I just tell you the plan directly." Her words were a bit sharp, like most things she said about me. I've said from day one that she's not good with compliments, but I've gotten used to it by now.

"We have two elements we can exploit: lies and the Elder. Listen carefully because I've spent countless nights thinking about this. Imagine that you've awakened your powers late."

"I don't know, is something like that even possible?"

"Rule number one: lie. You're a special case, perhaps the first instance of a delayed awakening granted by the Great Star."

"Is that a veiled insult? But anyway, if I went to the camp and said, 'Hello, I've awakened my powers late,' do you think they would belie—" I stopped mid-sentence. "Oooooh..."

Everything started to become clearer. Rule number one: lie. I was a boy who had awakened his powers later than the others, so I went to the camp of the chosen ones and reported it. No one would believe me, so someone would want proof that my powers were authentic.

"When they ask you to prove your abilities, I'll step in. I'll say you were spying on us and that since you broke one of the taboos, I have to teach you a lesson."

"Wait, wait, but if I really am one of the chosen ones, I wouldn't have broken any taboos. You showed me earlier." I pointed to the line in the taboo: 'No one without powers can witness the training of the chosen ones except the masters and the village Elder."

"I wouldn't have suggested it if it weren't designed specifically to get you into the ranks of the chosen ones. That's just an excuse for me to fight you and put on a little show to make the master believe you're an adapter like me. If the master doesn't want to send me, we also have Robby, who will go easy on you."

Feeling slightly offended, I said, "There's no need for him to go easy. You're training me, aren't you?"

"That's true. With my teachings and techniques, I might be able to get you to beat Robby." She looked me up and down. "But it's better not to take any chances."

"Okay... but how can you be sure the master will choose you or Robby?"

"Finally, you're starting to get on the same wavelength. I've thought a lot about this too, and we'll bet everything on one factor: the master's mental state at that moment. The master is a man who gets excited over little things. After all, not much happens at the camp, so the possibility of a new chosen one in the village will definitely make him lose his mind. That way, he'll be more easily manipulated, and my offer to punish you will be the icing on the cake for him."

"Damn, you're really diabolical..." I said with a hint of admiration.

"Thank you," she said with a smile. "Once your powers are proven, you'll be part of the chosen ones and can participate in the tournament (legally)."

"That way, I'll also be able to touch you without breaking any taboos."

"Well, you've broken a couple before, but this is the right mindset. As long as you're not caught, you're fine."

"Wow, teacher... you're a fucking genius."

She turned away again and murmured a very faint "I know."

"So the first thing I have to do is make my abilities equal to those of a chosen one."

"Don't say it like it's the easiest thing in the world! And wipe that smile off your face."

I was incredibly happy. I felt deep inside that I could finally, truly achieve my dream—or at least the new one—of fighting at the same level of a chosen one. Even if it meant lying, I didn't care. There was a feeling in my chest that made me want to cry with emotion.

"Calm down, kid."

"Hey, I'm older than you."

"Becoming one of the chosen ones will just be the first step of a bigger journey. Once you're in, it's not certain you'll only fight me or Robby. The master will eventually want to test your skills for himself. He'll put you to the test, and your abilities will need to seem at least half as good as mine."

Thinking about it rationally, the plan was unlikely to work. There were too many variables, too many things that couldn't be calculated or predicted. Even if the plan to become a chosen one succeeded, I would still have to pretend to be one - a person with fucking supernatural powers!

Yeah, it was crazy. And yet, I kept telling myself, "What do I have to lose?" And it was true. In the end, even if they exiled or killed me, I'd have done what I wanted, what I loved: fighting for my dream, together with Malia, maybe a little sad for my mom that cared so much about me. But that feeling filled my heart enough to leave no room for regrets.

"Well, we've talked enough for today."

The sun was setting, as it did every evening, and it was time for Malia to go. She always arrived and left at a similar time, saying it was the "master's nap time" and that no one should wake him because he'd stay up all night watching over them. So, in those few hours, she managed to sneak out from the camp and come train me at the village's outskirts.

That day, when she left, I did, again, something I didn't know I was capable of doing. I stole. I stole Malia's scroll. That night, I took home that scroll. I'd realized that these scrolls were crucial for understanding how to move in the village, and by studying them, I could learn the most effective ways to bypass the taboos and increase my chances of not getting caught. If I wanted to pretend to be a chosen one, I had to know as much as possible about their weaknesses and the weak points of the taboo system. Once I did, I thought I might even pretend to be the village chief.

It was late at night. The sound of birds had grown fainter, and the breeze was cool and pleasant. I kept looking at the scroll in my hands, and the more I read, the more I realized there was much more that Malia had kept hidden from me. I hoped with all my heart that she had done so to protect me from myself.