Stuttering a bit, the old namekian couldn't find the words to describe what he saw. It was too much, too fast ! Generally, those initiatory trips were a lot more symbolic and focused... Not at all like this ! The impression he had from it was that it was hisstory, or a saga deserving to be told next to the Grand Exodus ! Except that these drugs shouldn't show the future or the past...

Usually, the namekian would have to search through the landscapes of his vision, in order to find his animal-totem. And his actions in the meantime would serve to show how his mind worked... If he could learn magic or be a fighter... And if he could, clues as to his own talents in it. Here however, he and Avo were on the same standing : bystanders on a drug-induced vision. Avo didn't act, so he couldn't judge his character, nor could he know how to guide him.

From the vision's informations though, he saw “future” Avo use a variety of magic... Some he knew, some he never heard of or even seen ! The feeling he got from this was : Avo could learn any magic as long as it interested him, and he could use it to defend himself in some way.

Later, he would learn that one of his apprentices had used his mortar to experiment on a powder supposed to induce an oracle. The apprentice never really managed to perfect it, but maybe the old master did by mixing it with his own powder...

He explained a bit of what he saw, trying to preserve the illusion of the unshakable and mysterious magician, avoiding to answer specific questions, being cryptic as to the vision's meaning. However, inside, he couldn't help but feel both frightened and excited to teach this young namekian, this stranger from another planet where he was the only representative of his people... At least, he wanted to look at him that way.

“My teachings aren't easy. You will not simply work hard... You will have the impression to kill yourself little by little from overwork ! You will not just learn... You will expand your mind until you have a constant splitting headache ! And most importantly, you will not practice magic... You will soak in it until your eyeballs, hoping to catch a breath of fresh air only to inhale liquid magic !”

The old namekian didn't know what he hoped to accomplish with this pep-talk... Maybe test his resolve ? But words were words, nothing more ! He intended to act on those words to see if it was all really meant to be.

So the nightmare started... For real this time !

First of it all, and even though Avo couldn't figure out why this was part of a mage's training, but Carnail (the magician's name he learned afterwards) had him train with the senior warriors. Rather than train, they were (playfullyaccording to said-magician) doing a game of catch... Only he was alone and the intended target, and they were equipped with weapons and/or a good amount of Energy ! The murderous grins they were sporting didn't help either !

And so, he ran for all he was worth. Through the forest, across the sky, under water, jumping from the tops of cliff into canyons... Anything he could think of to shake them off he did. And although they weren't abusing him – much – they still beat him up a bit every time they caught him ! When it happened, Carnail would pop out of nowhere, and with a gloating smile – from his point of view – explain a little bit about the purpose of this training.

“You should use this opportunity to improve on your petty magics. Especially your healing one. Most of our race... At least, the magic-inclined ones, can use it like you do. But it takes a special and often gruesome training to bring out its true potential ! Now, get on with it and start running !”

Then, he would just zap him with some kind of magic that felt like a unpleasant jolt. This training wasn't the only one. This was just the first of the Eight Circles of Hellas he thought of it in his mind. The second wasn't any better, although less physically punishing : he was to grow crops for the farmers... One thing he didn't understand, and no one would answer him. Namekians didn't eat. Therefore, crops or livestock was essentially useless for them. Only a source of pure water was needed and yet, they had both in this village.

The question puzzled him a little, however soon it wasn't important, much like anything else for that matter. His constant use of Nature Magic and the earlier physical and mental exertions running through the wilderness left him spent, and very much suffering from a headache : the first thing Carnail had promised him !

The fact that he never pushed himself this hard motivated him that whatever the old mage had in mind should be effective, even if it still left him completely spent... When he heard the evil voice of his new master telling him it wasn't time to rest though, he prayed it was all a nightmare !

Fortunately, or not, the two following courses were theoretical classes about shamanism and mental magic. Still, it was a concentrated of everything a novice mage should know about it on this planet, which made him only suffer further. His head swam in pain and fog, as if his brain was in a pan full of hot water or something like that. His first day, he couldn't recall at the end of it what he did during the rest of the eight classes.... Probably just more abuse in the guise of training he mused.

Actually, the second day, he envied this blissful ignorance : stress test on his body so that he could learn how to transform more naturally was one of the classes. Needless to say, it was nothing less than torture ! They attached him to a table, wrists and ankles securely tied to ropes... Said-ropes attached themselves to a wheel the namekian kids turned. Supposedly, it would teach him how to stretch under any circumstance. That said, the gleeful smile on their faces seemed to tell a different story... He didn't know if it was all just a game or something, but he had a hard time believing this was training.

The following training was about mental magic. How to protect himself in case of a telepathic attack, erect his mind's defenses (whatever they were!) and counterattack. And for that, he sparred with Carnail's apprentice, everyone of his partners seemingly very proficient with these kinds of techniques... He was subjected to awful visions, felt his mind getting poked and probed before one of them tore off a part of his thoughts at the moment. Even a casual telepathic conversation had the effect of sending him to his knees, surprised at the loudnessand impacton his brain. The worst... They didn't let up ! Every time Carnail had them switching partners, the new one would attack without a second thought.

To teach him shamanism, they would once again, throw him in the wilderness, this time alone to face the beasts. His objective being to attempt to communicate with their spirits and make them listen to him... Needless to say, he was running away almost the whole time !

And finally, the last one... Perhaps the worst ! Carnail explained on the second day, as he was asking why he was subjected to such a torture :

“Do you know how namekians reproduce, Avo ?”

Weary and a little angry, he glared, replying :

“We... lay eggs... ?”

“Precisely. Did you ever wonder how it all worked given the fact that contrary to most species in the universe, we don't need partners ?” Opposed to his silent and fuming gaze, he continued : “The fact is, we don't really need time for our eggs to gestate inside us, or partners. All we need is willandlife-force. In exchange for a new namekian to be born into this world, we sacrifice a few decades of our lives. Thankfully, we're a long-lived race, but still !” Silence, then he said, raising his index finger : “Another thing to note is... The form of the child is decided by its genitor. They could look like feral beasts, or an alien race but they would still be namekians...” He waited to see a reaction on his new apprentice, which raised an eyebrow : “One of the original settlers here discovered that... It wasn't just the will of the genitor that made the namekian this way : they were pushed into that form. So if they were pushed...”

“They could also revert to a more namekian look... ?” Avo finished in wonder.

“Yes ! Now this training is supposed to teach you what it feels to be pushed into a transformation, so that you can learn to do it yourself !”

“You want to teach me how to shape-shift ?” Avo asked, visibly a little excited.

Seeing this, Carnail chuckled and amended what the apprentice said :

“I already started yesterday, you know ? A wonder what the mind will do to protect itself...” That last sentence was added in a lower tone, but... not enough for Avo, or for that matter, every other namekians around, to miss it. His excitement was quickly replaced by dread.

The old magician brought him to a wooden hut. Inside, there was... a tub-like thing in the center of the room. When Avo looked at its contents, the weird purple liquid caused him to tremble uncontrollably. He didn't know why... He only knew he felt deeply afraid of the thing !

“Ahem... W-What... happened yesterday ?” He managed to stutter.

“I really shouldn't tell you...” The wrinkly old namekian seemed to think about it for a second, before he nodded : “Yep, really shouldn't tell you ! Guys ! Put him in the tub ! Avo...” Seeing the look on the young namekian which spoke of his obvious wish to be elsewhere, he said seriously : “ You asked me teach you magic. Will you do what it takes to learn ? Or will you back out like a coward ?”

Avo considered his master's serious face. Then, he remembered the reason he was here... And what it would mean if he succeeded ! I can't be afraid of a little pain... After all, if I have to fight someone like Buu, I won't be able to avoid it !He thought. Finally resigned, he moved towards the tub before entering.

“You should have gone in naked. This fluid's a bitch to clean !” he heard Carnail say with a chuckle.

You couldn't say that earlier ?Avo thought, pissed. Above the tub, there was what looked like another one, only upside down. Imagining it a bit, it'd probably look like an egg... or something. Maybe it was symbolic for their time spent in one ? Soon, they lowered the upside down part, and Avo found himself in darkness. Outside, he could hear Carnail muffled voice speaking to him :

“Immerse yourself completely in the fluid. We don't want to mess up the transformation and it'll help both your body and mind.”

Then... the final circle of hell ! Pain and torment like he never felt before (or at least, couldn't remember). His skin felt as if he was both burning inside and inside freezing waters. That, and he felt millions of bugs or things crawling underneath his skin, and they were feasting on his insides ! He howled, shouted and cursed. Time stretched to eternity, each moment more painful than the next. When it finally ended, Avo was on the brink of unconsciousness, sobbing weakly inside the tub. Carnail's voice, tone serious even if slightly apologetic, came next to his ear :

“I know you want to fall asleep and forget about this experience... But, if you don't want to come back here tomorrow, you need to stay awake and imprint all the sensations into your memory. From now on, we'll work on getting you back to your original form.”

“... W-wait ! What ? You... shape-shifted me ? Do... Do I have to go through this again ?”

“Well, it depends. We'll work step by step so the change won't be so painful, and with practice, you'll start to feel it less. But, if you can't understand the inner workings of your change... We'll have to put you through another change.” He paused a long moment before saying this last part.

Avo sighed, reminding himself that this was what he wanted ! Power never came cheap. Although, he lived most of his life alone in the mountain, at least he understood this. Sala's face flashed in his mind, followed closely by his recent vision of kid Buu. Gritting his teeth, he almost jumped out of the tub when it opened.

He tried looking at his new form... but couldn't. His face felt different. A hand with three claws where his finger should have been were brought gently to his face, trying to look for his eyes... Only they weren't there.

“Yes, Avo Cado, you don't have eyes anymore. Consider it another training on top of all the others. You'll have to get used to seethings differently. Every warriors has their own way, and magic practitioners are no different. Anyway, our sight and hearing are susceptible to illusions. Some senses however are not. You just have to find out which ones.”

Avo heard a noise, like cloths brushing against cloths, and Carnail's voice coming from farther than earlier :

“Not go get some rest, Apprentice. Tomorrow's not gonna be easier !”