The three days had passed since the second challenge. It was a Friday morning, clear, sunny, and bright. I was contemplating the horizon on this morning when the strange woman approached.
"Are you ready? Look for an unusual event in the forest and act according to your principles. This is your second test.
"All right, for three days I've been waiting for this moment. I think that I am prepared.
Hurriedly, I head to the nearest trail that gives access to the forest. My steps followed in an almost musical cadence. What actually was this second challenge? Anxiety took hold of me and my steps accelerated searching for an unknown objective. Right in front emerged a clearing in the trail where it diverged and separated. But when I got there, to my surprise, the bifurcation was gone, and I was instead viewing the following scene: a boy, being dragged by an adult, weeping out loud. Emotion took control of me in the presence of injustice, and therefore I exclaimed:
"Let the boy go! He is smaller than you and cannot defend him.
"I will not! I am treating him this way because he wants to avoid working.
"You monster! Little boys should not have to work. They should study and be well-educated. Release him!
"Who will make me, you?
I am completely against violence but at this moment my heart asked me to react before this piece of garbage. The child should be released.
Gently, I pushed the boy away from the brute and then began to beat the man. The bastard reacted and dealt me a few blows. One of them hit me point-blank. The world spun and a strong, penetrating wind invaded my entire being: White and blue clouds along with swift birds invaded my mind. In a moment, it seemed like my whole body was floating through the sky. A faint voice called me from afar. In another moment, it was as if I'm going through doors, one after the other as obstacles. The doors were well locked, and it took a considerable amount of effort to open them. Each door gave access to either lounges or sanctuaries, alternately. In the first lounge I found young people dressed in white, gathered around a table, on which, in the center, was an open bible. These were the virgins chosen to reign in the future world. A force pushed me out of the room and when I opened the second door I ended up at the first sanctuary. At the edge of the altar, incense sticks with the requests of Brazil's poor were being burned. On the right-hand side, a priest prayed aloud and suddenly began to repeat: Seer! Seer! Seer! Beside him were two women with white shirts. On them was written: Possible dream. Everything began to darken, and when I got my bearings I was dragged violently out and with such speed that it left me a little dizzy. I opened the third door and this time found a meeting of people: A pastor, a priest, a Buddhist, a Muslim, a Spiritualist, a Jew, and a representative of African religions. They were arranged in a circle and at the center was a fire and its flames outlined the name, "Union of peoples and paths to God." In the end, they embraced and called me to the group. The fire moved from the center, landed on my hand and drew the word "apprenticeship." The fire was pure light and did not burn. The group broke up, the fire went out, and again I was pushed out of the room where I opened the fourth door. The second sanctuary was empty, and I approached the altar. I knelt in reverence for the Blessed Sacrament, picked up a paper that was on the floor, and I wrote my request. I folded the paper and put it at the feet of the image. The voice that was far away gradually became more clear and sharp. I left the sanctuary, opened the door and finally woke up. At my side was the guardian of the mountain.
"So, you are awake. Congratulations! You won the challenge. The second challenge aimed to explore your capacity of self and action. The two paths that represented the "Opposing Forces" have become one, and this means that you must travel the right side without forgetting the knowledge that you will have upon meeting the left. Your attitude saved the child, although he didn't need it. That whole scene was my own mental projection to evaluate you. You took the right approach. The majority of people when faced with scenes of injustice prefer not to interfere. Omission is a serious sin and the person becomes an accomplice of the offender. You gave of yourself, as Jesus Christ did for us. This is a lesson that you will take with you your whole life.
"Thank you for congratulating me. I would always act in favor of those who have been excluded. What puzzles me is the spiritual experience I had earlier. What does it mean? Could you explain to me, please?
"We all have the ability to penetrate other worlds through thought. This is what is called astral travel. There are some experts relates to this matter. What you saw must be related to your or another person's future, you never know.
"I understand. I climbed the mountain, completed the first two challenges, and I must be growing spiritually. I think that soon I will be ready to face the cave of despair. The cave that performs miracles and makes dreams more profound.
"You must perform the third, and I will tell you what it is tomorrow. Wait for instructions.
"Yes, General. I'll be waiting anxiously. This Child of God, as you called me, is famished and will prepare a soup for later. You are invited, ma'am.
"Wonderful. I love soup. I will use this to my advantage to get to know you better.
The strange lady departed and left me alone with my thoughts. I went looking in the forest for the ingredients for the soup.