Season 2, Chapter 5 - "Know yourself"
Mountains of Shiva.
The wind is icy. The clouds cover the sky. Juan trembles as he rubs his hands.
Juan: "Master... is this cold really necessary?"
PAM!
A dry stick crosses the back of his neck.
Sheeva: "First lesson of the Great Master Shiva: stop complaining! Second: concentrate!"
Juan (massaging his head): "What, the third is to hospitalize the disciple?"
Sheeva (with a half smile): "No, the third is to know your adversary... and that includes knowing yourself, boy."
He stops, with his cane resting on the ground, looking at the horizon.
Sheeva: "Who are you, Juan? And don't tell me 'the ruler'. Don't talk to me about the bi-universe or motherboards. Who are you, without titles?"
Juan (more serious): "I don't know. I feel that... that I'm changing. Since that battle... since I lost control. Sometimes I think I'm not the same. I'm afraid of having so much power. I don't want to... harm those I love."
Sheeva (silent, then mocking): "That was nice. But you didn't ask me for a therapy session, did you?"
Juan laughs lightly.
Sheeva: "You see that mountain over there, don't you?"
In the distance, a gigantic mass of rock rises as if it were the loin of a sleeping titan.
Sheeva: "Destroy her. But with air. No blows. No 'Hamehameha!' Just... do it."
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Juan: "What?"
Sheeva: "Do it!"
Juan closes his eyes. Tense his body. Extend your hand.
Nothing.
Sheeva (arching an eyebrow): "Was that a sneeze?"
Juan (annoyed): "It's very far away!"
Sheeva (serious voice): "Imagine that behind that mountain are your friends... and that if you don't destroy it, they will die."
Silence.
Juan lowers his head. His breathing becomes deep.
Remember.
The scream. The blood. Impotence.
Open your eyes.
They shine.
Juan (low): "Not this time..."
Extend your arm.
And just exhale.
BOOOOOM!
An invisible wave crosses the valley.
The mountain... disappears.
It doesn't explode. It doesn't fall.
It's extinct.
There is no trace of rock, no dust, no shadow.
Just a monumental void.
The surrounding terrain is fragmented as if the universe itself had retreated in fear. Trees, clouds, stones... everything was destroyed.
Sheeva (with narrowed eyes, trembling slightly):
"He did it... with air..."
Silence covers everything.
Sheeva squeezes her cane. His eyebrows furrow...
But smile.
Sheeva:
"Wow, boy...
You're beyond what I expected.
This is just beginning..."
?
Mansion of the Ruler.
Lightning, lying on a sofa, yawning.
Lightning: "It's been three days and no news?"
Scarlet (training in silence): "He will come back. And he will do it differently.”
Trisha: "I hope he's not suffering..."
Mimi (drinking tea): "He's Juan. It will be fine. Or so I hope..."
Sheeva (the maid): "Girls, don't let your guard down. Juan is not trained with affection. They mold it with sticks.”
Suddenly, the door opens.
Valterion enters with firm steps.
Valterion: "I will go back to withdraw."
Trisha: "Where are you going?"
Valterion (firm voice): "To train."
Everyone looks at him, confused.
Valterion: "Juan chose to strengthen himself. And what do we do? Wait?"
Scarlet (serene): "Valterion..."
Valterion: "I know I don't do it out of annoyance. I do it out of respect. He gave everything for us. It's time for us to answer him."
He makes a slight bow.
And disappears into the shadows.
Lightning (looking at the floor): "He's right..."
Everyone is silent.
Until Trisha raises her voice.
Trisha: "Well, it has been said to train!"
Everyone smiles, with renewed determination.
?
Mountains.
Juan walks to the small cabin that Sheeva lent him.
He doesn't say anything.
Just breathe.
Sheeva (in a low voice, without Juan hearing him):
“Bi-universe...
Now I understand why you chose him."
Look at the horizon.
There is no more mountain.
Just empty.
And for the first time in a long time...
Sheeva feels a chill.
