4.

When the lions left, Virindia was frightened. He wasn't a fearful child, but everyone would be disappointed if the future guide were killed in a dispute over who was king of the jungle. The young envoy wished he could tell Sicutis to keep the title, that he didn't want it at all, that he wasn't interested in recognition, renown, or glory; or at least not as much as his own life.

So he ran as fast as he could to find Quinihil. He needed his help. Quinihil was like a father to him and always protected his own. Together they could find a peaceful solution in which Sicutis would be happy and Virindia would be alive.

When he arrived and told Quinihil about his problem, he was utterly disappointed when the elder told him that nothing could be done, that in the face of such shameless provocation, the only option was to try to win the fight in an intelligent way, but that he could think of nothing the boy could use to win, that his chances were reduced to begging Mother Earth for mercy.

Virindia left the place, with a glimmer of hope that his mother would offer him some help, then approached the great lake of life, a rich and dangerous flow of water, where he knelt before the current and pleaded with his mother.

"I beg you, you who have given me life with faith that my mission will be carried out effectively, I must have the audacity to beg you for a lethal device, an element that will allow my limited experience in using the gifts for which I am so grateful to you not to be fatal in my encounter tonight, against the incomparable sadism of the great Sicutis, I stand before you, setting aside all haughty pride to request your wise help," Virindia murmured to the lake, and it replied kindly but offended.

"My dear son, I see in your words that my efforts and teachings have been useless, for your expressions show the same sadism from which your complaints originate. You are not asking me for a solution, you are begging me for a deadly weapon for your quarrel. Perhaps your creator has trained you in the art of war, perhaps the good Quinihil has taught you to show so little mercy to your neighbor. How dare you stand before me, your mother, your creator, your savior, to ask me to end your brother's life? What is the great circumstance that should cause me to intervene in such a dispute, and why do you believe yourselves to be in a position to make such a request? The help you request will be given when it has been earned with clear and worthy intentions, when your maturity is greater than your own interests in good and evil, but under no circumstances when your heart is clouded by the repugnant shadows of selfishness. You have been honored with the mission of creating the future, not murdering it. That destiny does not belong to you. Do not dare to take it," Mother Earth concluded resentfully, so that everything would return to normal. The sound of the river continued to echo loudly in his ears, but it could not silence the child's racing heartbeat.

Virindia swallowed with difficulty. Perhaps this really was a test, and if so, he had failed miserably. The sunset tinged the horizon, so he deigned to approach the favorite area, which was near where the lions lived. No deer had come to support him; none would be so careless, not even the great Quinihil. to be there was to willingly walk into the lion's mouth, literally and figuratively. The boy stood in the center among the great beasts, as upright as he could, on top of a rock that formed a small cave that must have been a home for them. Sicutis appeared with a roar that sounded like laughter.

“You have impressed me. You have already gone further than all those who have suffered the same fate of trying to overshadow me. I am happy, even though I speak on behalf of my brothers when I declare that the best part of murder is the chase,” he sighed as he descended to stand in front of Virindia, accompanied by the sound of his pack's roaring laughter. “I almost wish I didn't have to kill him, but only almost,” he finished before pouncing.

Virindia rolled to the side, although the animal's claws grazed his arm. Despite this, the boy managed to land a decisive blow to the animal's side, grateful for his supernatural strength. The lion groaned in pain but quickly lunged at him again, this time faster. Virindia tried to escape but it was impossible, and he only managed to turn around, so the animal's claws struck his back.

Sicutis backed away when he saw the boy lying helpless on the ground, but just as he was about to finish him off, the boy stood up and tried to remain standing, albeit with difficulty. Sicutis withdrew his claws from his victim and paced nervously from side to side.

"I could call you my most honorable opponent. You came knowing you were at a disadvantage. I am humiliated by my actions. I should not have made you come here at such a young age. You have earned my respect with your courage and honor, but this duel must be carried out when you are at your best," concluded the lion with pity, and everyone quickly cleared the area.