Squad

"This art was created based on principles, they must be followed but they can also be modified as you go along." The old man pretended not to see Ralph's regretful expression and continued to speak.

"Life and death are illusory things, created by us humans to separate the unknown from the known."

"Even those who die continue to exist, those who live in truth have always been dead."

"Life is made up of dead things, maybe that's why the world has changed so much."

"The universe lives through us all, a pile of dead things."

"What is alive is transformed."

"And we are the ones to decide what we want, or rather, what the universe wants for us, nothing more. Never forget that, young man."

"All of these principles serve as a basis for you to let go of prejudices and distracting thoughts. You are what you decide, you do what you want, you decide what is right and what is wrong, but don't forget that your actions has consequences! " The old man looked tired and stood up.

"If you give up without even starting, there's not much I can do, just sit down and start meditating!" The old man started walking towards the porch, leaving Ralph alone in the temple.

Ralph wondered if he should waste time there, but as the old man said, if he didn't try ...

Ralph blew out a light breath and sat on the cold floor.

Since there was nothing in the temple, and even the walls, floor and ceiling were white, he easily went into a trance.

Ralph didn't think that reciting a 'sutra' would solve his problems, so he just focused on understanding the old man's words.

At first glance, the words sound nonsense, but after examining with a little care, Ralph began to find errors in the old man's words.

Without realizing it, he started to concentrate more and more and lost track of time.

After spending a long time analyzing the words, Ralph's expression became strange, he realized that the errors he had found did not really exist. It was as if the words were right and wrong at the same time. Someone could speak one of the phrases and no one could completely refute, it was as if ...

"You are the one who decides." Old Jin spoke suddenly, startling Ralph who didn't see him coming.

"You decide whether words are right or wrong. The same goes for your problems boy, distractions are real, but you are the only one who decides what they are." The old man spoke slowly.

At that moment, Ralph began to understand a little the meaning of the art of thinking.

"You may have noticed, these principles cannot be completely refuted, as we are the only ones to decide their value." The old man smiled slightly.

"... It's like a faith." Ralph commented.

The old man nodded and said:

"It is a faith, it is what you want it to be."

Ralph frowned slightly and said:

"Are you saying that I must accept my distractions? My problem?"

The old man smiled slightly and said nothing, it seemed that he wanted Ralph to decide for himself.

"Isn't that the same as going crazy?" Ralph asked with a strange expression.

"Is that? I don't know what your concept of madness is." The old man spoke slowly.

Ralph frowned again, it all seemed nonsense and crazy at the same time, but it also made a little sense.

All human beings are born as a blank sheet, it is history and the world around them that shape a person from birth.

So what is good and bad, what is madness and sanity, are illusory things like death and life.

"If I'm the one to decide, isn't it the same as denying my past?" Ralph asked.

"No. Your past is yours, you decide if you continue to follow concepts that were taught to you. It is not wrong to follow prejudices or your history." The old man shook his head.

"Because I decide, right?" Ralph suddenly understood.

"Exactly, it is not because you understand something, that you must change all your roots. Your past, what you have been taught, is not wrong or right. We live to seek our own satisfaction, so we are the only ones to decide these things, but most people don't realize it. " The old man nodded.

Ralph increasingly understood the essence of the "art of thinking", and asked more and more questions, which the old man answered vaguely, but sufficiently for Ralph to understand.

Time passed, Ralph forgot the discomfort he was feeling by sitting on the cold floor, forgot his own problems and duties and just concentrated on the teachings of old master Jin.

When night came, however, the old man no longer answered Ralph's questions and said:

"It's late, you should go home and rest. Don't be thinking too much about what you've learned, it can overwhelm you. But remember, your thoughts don't necessarily reflect your actions, this is the threshold of lack of control."

Ralph nodded and stood up. His knees cracked and his back was also sore, but Ralph smiled slightly, his head, despite the slightly tiring afternoon, was lighter than ever. Ralph's outlook has changed a lot, both for the world and for himself.

"I have one last question, old man. Are you the one who created this 'art'?" Ralph asked.

"I just gave it a name, it has always existed, and many before me used it to achieve enlightenment." The old man answered.

"Like Buddha?" Ralph narrowed his eyes.

The old man nodded and said:

"Buddhism follows principles very similar to this art, but time has distorted many things and Buddhism today is not as free as it should be."

Ralph was surprised to hear this, it seemed that the old man knew of a hidden history of Buddhism, or was speaking nonsense.

"Go away, I'm tired too." The old man started pushing Ralph out of the temple.

The temple guard laughed secretly when he saw this, and he also had a kind of nostalgic look.

"I'll send you something by e-mail. Don't come tomorrow, I have other things to do." The old man spoke and entered the temple.

Ralph smiled bitterly and nodded to the guard, who returned with a smile.

After arriving home, Ralph decided not to worry too much and be distracted by something interesting, so after eating he went to play on the computer.

His parents noticed a change in Ralph's expression, he seemed lighter, without the same dark complexion as before.

Ralph had been carrying negative feelings for a long time, but it seems that talking to the old man put all the feelings to sleep.

Ralph for the first time in a long time felt peace.

However, this peace was destined not to last long, as he needed to perform at the squad ceremony.

Soon, he would be working and would not have much time for peace. So Ralph decided to make the best of the next few days.

The next day, Ralph stayed at home playing games and talking with friends on his cell phone, he also teased Torvi a few times.

The other day, Ralph went to the temple early.

"The master is waiting for you on the porch." The guard received Ralph and spoke with a smile.

The next few days consisted of going to the temple whenever he could. Ralph felt that he always learned something new by talking to Master Jin, as if his knowledge was limitless, although Ralph knew that this was not true.

On the day that he would have to travel, Ralph told old Jin that he would not go to the temple for a temple.

"... I see, watch out there." The old man spoke with a smile, he had heard Ralph talk about working in the military.

Ralph hesitated for a moment and asked:

"Master Jin, is it possible to maintain peace even in stressful situations?"

"Of course it is possible, you just have to understand for yourself how to fully understand your feelings, but I already warn you that it is impossible to do it the way you think." The old man laughed suddenly.

"So ... What?" Ralph was confused this time.

"Boy, why don't you like stress? Think about it." The old man spoke and motioned for Ralph to leave.

Ralph left the temple with that question in his head, but he didn't have much time to think about how the phone rang.

"Ralph, you better hurry up so you don't miss the plane!" Ingrid spoke on the other end of the line.

Ralph sighed slightly and called an Taxi.

When he got home, he packed his own things and Ingrid drove to the airport.

"Good luck there, and watch out!" Ingrid hugged Ralph and said.

Ralph nodded and waved a hand at Ingrid as he walked away.

After checking in and going through metal detectors, Ralph boarded the plane.

He couldn't help but think about the crow that day ... It was impossible for him to forget.

-I hope they have already put an end to that beast ...

Ralph thought.

Ralph put on his headphones and started listening to music, these were Ralph's last moments of peace, when he arrived at the military base that peace would give way to "obligations".

Ralph closed his eyes to try to sleep, but someone suddenly put his hand on his shoulder, as if to wake him up.

"Excuse me, I need to sit in my chair." It was a woman who appeared to be the same age as Ralph.

Ralph was surprised for a moment, but he cleared the way for the woman to move to the armchair at his side.

Ralph couldn't help but swallow, the woman's beauty enchanted him at first sight!

-10/10

Ralph thought and felt an urge to look at the woman's face, but he controlled himself.

-Calm down, calm down! You don't want to be sued for harassment! The world changed!

Cold sweat was running on Ralph's forehead.

After secretly letting out a breath, Ralph closed his eyes and tried to sleep again.

After a while, the plane took off.

- Meditate, Meditate ...

Ralph tried to stop the distractions, but he couldn't stop thinking about the woman next to him.

-Shit... You already have Ana, Ralph!

Ralph cursed internally.

After struggling with himself for a while, Ralph finally calmed down and started to fall asleep.

-What's wrong with me? It feels like I'm in puberty...

Ralph thought bitterly.

The excitement of earlier began to subside, and peace began to return to Ralph's heart.

However, before Ralph could fall asleep, the woman next to him said:

"... Excuse me, are you awake?"

Ralph opened his eyes roughly, they were red.

"... Sorry if I woke you up." The woman noticed and apologized in a guilty tone.

"..." Ralph couldn't help himself and faced the woman again, it was as he thought, 10/10 on his personal beauty meter.

"I need to go to the bathroom, can you make your way?" The woman asked Ralph.

Ralph sighed, the trip was long and he wanted peace of mind.

After a few hours of flight, the plane landed in Manaus. The city was as humid as ever.

Ralph got off the plane and looked for the place where there would be someone waiting after going to the bathroom.

Some military personnel were outside the airport with a few jeeps, as if waiting for someone. They were waiting for the Walkers who were going to the new squad engagement ceremony.

Ralph arrived first and greeted them, boarding the next military Jeep.

He had changed his clothes and dressed in his uniform in an airport bathroom, he knew it was a norm to enter a military base in uniform.

The uniform had green patterns changing from dark to lighter shades, typical for camouflage. His name was on his chest and the patent's symbol was on his shoulders.

As Ralph's physique evolved a lot during training, he now looked like a real tough man.

There were signs of ripening on Ralph's face, which is normal given what he has been through lately. Before he looked just like an ordinary young man, now he looked more like a real veteran soldier, both in composure and visual.

His face it is not as thin as before, and the facial features are sharper.

Another Walker arrived, and Ralph recognized him as a roommate.

Both exchanged a greeting and were silent.

Soon, another Walker arrived, this time it was a woman and Ralph did not remember her.

Likewise, everyone exchanged a greeting and sat in silence.

-I wonder if there will be any acquaintances in that squad.

Ralph thought.

Suddenly Ralph heard a familiar voice.

"Excuse me, you are in charge of ..." A female voice spoke to the soldiers outside the Jeep.

-Wait a minute...

Ralph looked out and frowned. The owner of the voice was the woman who had sat next to him on the plane.

"You can choose one of the Jeeps and sit down." The soldier replied.

The woman thanked and looked at the Jeeps, for a moment, however, Ralph eyes and hers met.

Ralph didn't blink or look away, he was quite surprised. The woman also looked surprised and blinked a few times. In the end, she chose an empty Jeep and climbed into it.

-I don't remember her from training, how is that possible? With such beauty I certainly would not forget her ...

Ralph thought in astonishment.

Over time, more and more Walkers arrived, and when Ralph thought that no acquaintances would be part of the squad:

"And to think that I would find you here." Someone outside the Jeep put his hand on Ralph's shoulder and spoke, the voice was familiar to Ralph.

"And to think she would call you, Victor." Ralph laughed despite not wanting to.