The apprentice took in those words as he looked at the Jade Box.
— Do we have an agreement? — asked the master, and there was in his voice the serenity of one who contemplates destiny.
— Yes, master. We have an agreement.
— Do we have a promise?
— Yes, master. We have a promise.
The master smiled, satisfied.
— The Jade Box is the symbol of our commitment. Protect it as thou wouldst protect thyself: do not open it, do not lose it, do not sell it, do not allow it to be taken from thee.
The apprentice bowed, holding the Jade Box with reverence.
— I will, master.
— Define thy objective, live for it and, if need be, die for it. And remember: whenever thou art lost, call for me. I will be with thee, wherever thy steps may take thee.
The wind changed direction when the master uttered something that sounded like an ancient seal, heavy and mysterious:
— Arnakabe.
A shiver ran through the apprentice's body.
— Arnakabe?
— Kill thy dreams — the master repeated, his voice grave.
He put on his straw hat, stood up and went down the trail lit by the moonlight. The Jade Box pulsed in his calloused hands. It was no longer fear he felt, but determination — a silent certainty that his life had already changed.
“Soon I will be in the Land of Gold,” he thought. “And, for the first time, it won't be just a dream.”
From Kill Your Dreams by Gustavo Lorenzoni
