After a fortnight of training for spiritual synchronization, Akachi and Fenyang had a synergy that had never been seen before. The maculelê movements were made as if Akachi were a reflection of his Ori Guardian. His reflexes and locomotor intelligence had exceeded the spirit's expectations.

Yasini was pleased with his apprentice's progress. It was the first time he had taught about ancestor worship and mediumship. During the training sessions, he recalled his own difficulties and how his master encouraged him to overcome barriers in an unorthodox way. He tried not to show his nostalgia.

Zuber knew what he was feeling inside. The past was becoming vivid for Yasini. The medium had never come to terms with the current situation of his peers' banishment. The Ori Guardian, like an ancestor, knew that the past and the present are separated only by the merest mistake.

Zuber tried to bring Yasini back to reality. The latter's excitement was too great for his words to have any effect. He kept insisting that they should get the key for themselves, but Yasini kept stalling. He seemed to be in a bad mood.

During the hydration break, Yasini asked Akachi to sit down. He had something important to say.

"Akachi, you were my first disciple. It's very likely that you'll be my last. The development of the Axé force and the deepening of mediumship require years of training. Unless you're a genius, one of those born every century, you wouldn't be able to accomplish this in a month. But there is something in you that can change everything."

Yasini pointed at Akachi's chest. The young man put both hands around his chest.

"What is this strange key on my chest, master?"

"That's one of the Seven Keys of the Spirit. It can be recognized by the shape of a five-pointed star at its base. The star has been forged with its insides hollowed out to highlight its characteristic shape. It is the Key of Faith, whose power opens one of the Seven Portals, what the elders called the Throne of Faith. Located at the top of the head. This is where the energy is first established. Through it the Axé of the Ori Guardian descends, hence the origin of the name, 'He who guards my head'."

"I understand, but you also talked about the vibration of the internal portals or thrones."

"Axé first passes through the thrones, each of which has its own generating portal. The portals close and open to circulate the individual's natural and spiritual force throughout the body. This generates the vibration. The compatibility of the medium and the Ori Guardian depends very much on matching the vibrations. Not too fast, not too slow, equal. It's like modulating the frequency of sound. This takes time, it takes years of a lifetime for the amplitude of the Axé frequency to be constant to the point of perfect spiritual synchronization. There is an abrupt and even risky way of doing this. But I won't do it without explaining the risks, and it's up to you whether or not you accept, Akachi."

Stolen novel; please report.

Zuber gasped at that. He thought Yasini was using a tactic to kill the amnesiac boy without arousing suspicion. He had never imagined that Yasini would be so sordid.

Fenyang listened to the proposal with concern. After all, Akachi had no ancestral ties. Training maculelê required physical effort and skill, but mediumship was a spiritual matter. It was nothing to do with luck or chance. The ancestors didn't allow themselves to be toyed with. The fighter felt like he was in on something.

"What's the risk of Akachi getting hurt in this? I don't want to see my bro get into a mess. He doesn't even know the extent of his powers."

"Your doubts are correct, Fenyang. It's wise for the medium to have a restrained Ori Guardian. However, at his current stage, there won't be another opportunity for him to learn how to incorporate spirits. If he doesn't develop this skill, other mediums or more powerful people will come after him. Akachi is a walking Axé plant. As soon as he arrived here, I could feel him emitting from a distance. If he doesn't learn to control the vibrations of his thrones, he will die of spiritual exhaustion."

"Even so, it's too risky, bro."

"I believe that the Spiritual Key of the Throne of Faith will prevent you from suffering serious damage. It seems to be connected to you on a deeper level than other users. The Divine Power that flows from it and your Axé share the same path of energetic circulation. Her Axé is stronger than mine, on the same level as an elder. If you wish, kneel in front of me and I will awaken you to mediumship once and for all. But remember, if you don't control your Axé, you'll be like a broken dam."

"All right, do it."

Yasini explained how she would proceed. She was going to perform the oldest and most dangerous technique for developing the emission and control of Axé. He would break into the internal portals. She would share some of her own Axé in Akachi's Portal of Faith. This would induce a new rhythm in the vibration of the portals.

If the medium was weak and couldn't control the continuous flow, the Axé would leak out of every orifice in the body, even through the pores. If he stood firm, he would have total control of his Axé. This would take Akachi's abilities to the next level. He would no longer be just a martial artist, but a medium.

Yasini concentrated his Axé in the palm of his hand. He placed it on Akachi's head and caused the energy to flow into the boy's skull. The young man felt a warmth in his soft underbelly. It was as if he had fallen under a shower head into the hot water. The heat ran down his body.

Akachi shivered from top to bottom. Fenyang tried to touch his shoulder, but Yasini pushed him away. He made a silent gesture with his fingers. The amnesiac's eyes rolled back in their sockets. Skimmed from his mouth. He fell to the floor on his stomach. The process could no longer be interrupted. All that remained was to hope that he would survive.

Akachi wiped the lenses of his glasses on his white shirt. He was serious. It was the first time that the risk of death had become a real alternative in training. He put his glasses back on his face. He exhaled the air from his lungs and said:

"I want to try. I feel that this Spiritual Key is more than just a mystical artifact. It's an inheritance that my father left me. It represents my faith in something greater than myself. I can't explain it, but I feel as if my own father had told me."