Chapter 5: The Price of Power
Time didn’t stop. A month passed like a fleeting breath, but for Juan, each day felt like an eternity.
Since that night when he spoke with The Mother, something inside him had changed. At first, his training was moderate: running long distances, practicing basic exercises, and strengthening his body. But soon, he felt he could push further… and he couldn’t stop.
It started with simple weights. Then heavy boxes… and when that wasn’t enough, he began to move things he never imagined his body could handle: furniture, motorcycles, and even small cars. Each day, he pushed himself harder, driving his limits as if pain no longer existed for him.
What started as determination… soon became obsession.
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Yessy’s Perspective…
From a distance, Yessy watched him. At first, she felt proud. Seeing her son so motivated gave her hope. She saw in Juan someone determined to improve himself, someone who wouldn’t let anything stop him.
But as the days passed… that feeling turned into worry.
Every time she saw Juan training, something inside him seemed to dim. His smile — that warm, spontaneous grin that once defined him — was fading. He no longer joked, no longer took breaks… he just kept pushing forward.
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Whenever they crossed paths at home, Juan would greet her briefly, as if his mind was somewhere else. His gaze, once full of life and warmth, had become cold, calculating… determined.
One afternoon, Yessy sat alone at the dining table, feeling as if her son was slipping away.
—Don’t lose yourself, Juan… —she whispered to herself.
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The Grandmother’s Perspective…
The one who suffered most in silence was the grandmother. Since Juan had started training so intensely, something inside him was changing… and she could see it clearly.
One afternoon, after seeing Juan lift a car as if it weighed nothing, she couldn’t stay quiet any longer.
—“Juan!” —she called out from the house’s doorway.
Juan, drenched in sweat, let the car drop with a dull thud and turned to look at her.
—“What is it, Grandma?”
The old woman slowly walked up to him. Her gaze was firm, but her eyes held something else: pain.
—“What are you doing to yourself?” —she asked in a shaky voice. “Every time I see you, I feel like you’re losing yourself…”
—“I’m not losing myself,” Juan replied dryly. “I just… I just want to be prepared.”
—“Prepared for what?” —she raised her voice. “To become someone who no longer smiles? To become so hardened that you forget who you are?”
Juan clenched his fists, feeling those words sting more than he expected.
—“I’m not turning into a machine…” —he muttered—. “I’m just being strong… because I need to be.”
His grandmother stepped closer, placing her hands on his face — just like she used to when he was a child.
—“Listen to me carefully, Juan… No matter how strong you become, if you lose who you are along the way… you will have gained nothing.”
Juan closed his eyes for a moment.
—“But… what if I’m not enough?” —he whispered.
His grandmother took a breath, gently squeezing his cheeks.
—“You’re already enough.” Because you’re not just strong… you’re kind, you’re good… and that’s what makes you special.”
Her voice trembled slightly.
—“You are everything, Juan… and I don’t want you to lose that. Because if one day you manage to save the world but lose yourself in the process… you won’t have saved anything at all.”
Juan felt his throat tighten. The hardness he had built within himself started to crack. Finally, he nodded.
—“I understand…” —he murmured—. “I understand.”
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That Night…
Juan returned to his room feeling different. For the first time in weeks, he felt at peace.
But far away, in that vast void covered in stars, The Mother watched with a faint smile on her face.
—“The moment is approaching…” —she whispered softly.
The galaxies swirling across her body glowed brighter. Destiny had begun to move… and Juan, without knowing it, had just taken the first step toward the man he was destined to become
