Chapter 55 – The Dream That Burns Brighter
The crisp morning air of Penedono was filled with the faint sound of roosters echoing across the hills. Jota tied the laces of his worn boots tightly, breathing deeply as if each inhale carried a promise of persistence. His body was ten years old, fragile compared to the man he once was, but his heart—the fire of a champion—remained unchanged.
"Are you leaving already?" Ana's sleepy voice called from the doorway. She rubbed her eyes, clutching her small doll with one hand.
Jota turned, smiling gently. "Yes. Training doesn't wait, Ana. Dreams don't wait either."
Ana pouted, her little face wrinkled in annoyance. "But you trained yesterday. And the day before. And the day before that."
"Exactly," Jota replied with a wink. "That's how dreams are built. Step by step, day by day. If you stop, they fade."
