《Candado (The Blue Beret)》


 THE CONSRUCTOR AND MOTHER LIBERTY

    They are and at the same time they are not human, I always thought that the light of my lamp was enough to end the darkness, but it is not so, the world is dark and dark, so much so that my light is not enough to illuminate my beloved world. They do not respect life, nor do they respect our nature, for them it is easy to abuse it as it has always been there for us, they plunder, desecrate and destroy it. As long as man exists there will always be conflict. Our parents educate us not to make mistakes, but they are stupid, they teach us a non-existent path that even they themselves do not follow, they teach us things that even they do not believe. I have had enough of adults, they think they are the center of the world, they think they can cause wars, take the lives of living beings and decide what is right and what is wrong, they are nobody, we were given this gift because we are the future of this putrid world and nothing and nobody has the right to dictate to us what to do with our gift. So I send this message to let you know that you are not alone, if you want to eradicate the darkness of this world I will need your light, because together we can make great changes for the good of our brothers. Join the Circuits and help me to help you, do not do it for me do it for you, remember that I will be there if you need me. For peace, for justice and above all, for the Circuit.


    Thanatos, the builder


    About a century ago, a rock from space impacted our world. At the time, many believed it would be just another of the thousands that fall or cross the skies. However, the reality was different, as this event would change the course of history forever. A portion of that rock was lodged inside the human being, coexisting with mankind to this day. This manifestation was called the "Second Soul" or "Magic Spirit". With the arrival of this event, most people acquired powers, and from then on, everything changed drastically. These gifts arose in children, a phenomenon unexplainable as to its origin. The world was plunged into darkness and danger, as children were easily corrupted and those who resisted were defeated by the strongest. In the midst of the chaos and destruction, he emerged, a figure who had amassed a following over the years. Although his name was a mystery, he called himself Thanatos. His persuasive eloquence inspired his followers to seek order in a world torn by constant conflict. However, all this facade was a mere sham, for his real goal was to bring us all under his dominion. Small groups of Thanatos'' followers, known as the Circuit, ravaged everything in their path. The helpless before an organized army led by Thanatos lost their freedoms and rights. In just three months, humanity was subjugated by the Circuit, the voices of opposition were extinguished one after another, leaving only the echo of Thanatos, the architect of this new reality. Little by little, the world forgot what freedom meant, under thirty months of absolute rule.


    However, a ray of hope, which had disappeared in every corner of the world, shone in the heart of Africa. A little girl longed to regain her freedom, even as she was destined for the mines where the slaves of Thanatos were sent. Her name was Ndereba Harambee. Her mother had died while giving birth to her, and her father died when she was eleven years old. The conditions in which her father lived led him to suffer from heart disease. Despite this, he struggled to provide for his only daughter. When the mine collapsed on him, no one extended a hand to help, not even the Circuistas supervisors. Harambee screamed and begged her masters for help, but they mocked her. On her knees, on the sharp, rocky ground, she begged for her father to be rescued. He was all she had in life, but the guards continued to mock. In the last moments of agony and suffering, her father mustered his last remaining strength to take his daughter''s hand and pass on his final lessons to her. "Never give up, fight for your freedom, never... never use the gift you have been given to do harm, use it for good. Please, never resort to revenge." With these words, lying on the ground dejectedly, he embraced his little girl for the last time, surrendering his last breath in the delicate arms of his beloved daughter.


    Her body was contemptuously dumped in a mass grave. Harambee could do nothing to secure a respectful burial for her father, instead receiving beatings from his oppressors. Circumstances did not improve for her, however. After her father''s death, her workload increased to eighteen hours and her rest period was reduced from four to two hours. Thus two long months passed in the midst of this torment. Slowly, his will to live was fading. The shackles on his ankles burned and caused pain night after night, day after day. There was no escape from this suffering. Crying, he cursed his existence. As he slept, he talked to his late father, expressing that he could no longer go on, that he could not stand the pain, the cold, the heat, the hunger, the thirst and the exhaustion. He was burdened with all this, no longer wishing to go on.


    Finally, one day she tried to take her own life by hanging herself. However, as she was about to carry out her sad decision, she saw through the window of her modest dwelling a girl a little younger than herself, begging for help for her mother, who was seriously ill. The mother had fainted in the middle of the street due to lack of food and the continuous forced labor she was subjected to. To make matters worse, she was being beaten on the ground, while the girl was trying to stop the abusers, even though she was also a victim of the abuse. Harambee saw herself reflected in that little girl and from the window of her house, she felt an immense indignation that ran through her entire being. It was at that moment that Harambee took a rock that she held in her left hand and, with the force of her fist, smashed it. That same rock he intended to use to tie her to his leg and hasten his own painless death.


    The girl, tired of witnessing such a horrifying scene, left her house and ran to where the tragedy was taking place. As a guard prepared to beat the girl with an iron club, intending to inflict suffering on the slaves, Harambee appeared behind him and snatched the weapon from his hands. Although the guard thought he was in control, he could not move forward as he saw Harambee destroy the iron stick with his left hand, uttering words that would mark the beginning of the end of the Circuits: "Ilikuwa ya kutosha" (Enough is enough), speaking in his language, Swahili. These simple words made the guard recoil, for they had never witnessed anything similar and were not prepared for such a reaction. Harambee made his way over to the mother of the sick girl. However, the guard, angered by the rebellious act of a "dirty slave" like her, snatched the gun of another guard present and prepared to strike her from behind. Just at that instant, the girl pushed Harambee aside, taking the blow herself instead of her savior. The impact broke her back, knocking her unconscious and also robbing her of the ability to walk again. At that moment, Harambee''s eyes widened wildly at the sight of such a gruesome scene. The girl''s back was covered with blood. It was then that Harambee understood what his mission in life was: to put an end to the oppression imposed by Thanatos and his Circuit.


    Harambee stood upright, his eyes beginning to narrow in anger. Her scream of hatred released what she had kept silent for years. The sky became covered in clouds and the girl''s hair changed color, leaving behind black to turn white. Anger gripped her being, releasing years of tyranny in a single day, all through her scream.


    The roar echoed throughout most of the area, but not only that, her rage granted her the strength to break the chains that had tormented her for nearly three years, doing so with her bare hands. The guards, terrified at what they witnessed, fled the place, leaving alone the individual who had aroused the fury of the young woman. However, he was not intimidated and decided to teach her a lesson. But the roles of teacher and student were reversed when Harambee struck the man in the chest, knocking him unconscious instantly. Rain then poured down on Harambee, the woman and the girl, as well as all those who had witnessed the act of rebellion that marked the beginning of the end of the Circuit.This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.


    The next morning, Harambee personally went to the Circuit''s military base to challenge it. Using only his powers, he unleashed fire, mayhem and destruction, leaving an indelible impression on the Circuitists. His clandestine bravery went viral. Despite his efforts to keep his revelation a secret, he couldn''t stop the rumor from spreading that a girl named Harambee had defied the Circuit. Soon, everyone wanted to be like her. However, her country was still far from free. Thanatos maintained his relentless control, as he prepared to confront the one person who had dared to defy him. Thanatos set out for Kenya with an even larger army, seeking to intimidate both Harambee and her supporters. But it was too late, Harambee had won the approval of his people and they had learned to defend themselves and control their powers.


    At that moment, Thanatos understood the threat that Harambee posed to his rule. He ordered his army to bring Harambee''s head to him, but she managed to stop the Circuit army and drive it back. Nothing and no one could break her determination to seek freedom.


    Thus, she stopped and repulsed him three more times, until on the fourth round, Thanatos himself took center stage. Before he could initiate his attack, Harambee surrounded him and launched a surprise attack. Although Thanatos was unable to react in time, he managed to stand and fight. It was at that moment that Harambee launched his attack mounted on a lion, an animal he had rescued from the clutches of the circuitists who were using it to hurt him. With his golden spear, a gift he had received from some k?k?y?y? lords as a token of gratitude for his skills and leadership, he led the offensive.


    Thanatos was dazzled as he faced his opponent, a mere girl (apparently between 16 and 18 years old, her age remained unknown). His rage turned into a smile and laughter. He couldn''t believe that someone like her was causing him trouble. In that instant, Harambee unleashed all his anger against the individual who had caused suffering to his people. The struggle between their powers intensified: the cunning and intelligence of the young woman against the strength and agility of Thanatos, spear against scythe. The fate of humanity hung in the balance in this battle. Finally, Harambee thrust his spear into the middle of Thanatos'' chest. Ndereba''s scream expressed her anger, her great enemy was pierced by the spear. Although Thanatos was immortal, he survived the attack, but was weakened. As a result of this, Thanatos fell in the midst of the battle at her feet, but she could not or did not have time to do anything to him. The circuists took their leader and fled to the icy wilderness of Antarctica, abandoning that place forever. Meanwhile, Harambee climbed to the top of Mount Kenya, raised his spear and shouted in victory. At last, Kenya was free, thanks to the battle that the whole world would remember as "The Battle of Hope," led by Ndereba Harambee.


    The shock of losing Kenya was devastating. Slowly, more countries learned of Ndereba Harambee''s courageous exploits and his fight against the Circuit empire. They all adopted his name in the name of freedom and equality. At that moment, the people took the reins and fought for their families and homelands. The Circuits, far from being able to restrain the revolutionaries, resorted to extreme measures such as threats and torture, but nothing had any effect. The desire to regain freedom had spread throughout the world and it was impossible to stop that feeling.


    Thanatos, who had not yet recovered from his wounds of the last battle, began to hate the girl who had dared to confront him. He felt helpless as he could no longer fight against his greatest enemy. The fighting continued unabated until the last country under the rule of the Circuits, England, was finally liberated by the revolutionary army known as the Highlanders. The Highlanders took Hampton Court Palace in London, the seat of Circuit power, leaving them cornered in the cold wilderness of Antarctica and with no more colonies to conquer.


    In that instant, Harambee created the guilds, small organizations charged with defending their families and homelands. The idea spread around the world so that, if the Circuit tried to return, they would face skilled and trained people, thus avoiding being oppressed again.


    Harambee remained in his homeland with his new family: his sister and mother, the same people he had saved long ago. Although his sister never walked again, they were both happy and shared joy in being together. For Harambee, this was his new family and his new purpose: to protect them.


    However, all this was not over yet. Thanatos tried again and again to return. His army camouflaged themselves as ordinary people and from the shadows tried to provoke coups d''¨¦tat in various nations, often being close to success. It was then that a young man named Ivan Crusoe realized that it was only a matter of time before the fearsome fellow would return and disturb the peace once again. Ivan shared his idea with the world, writing thousands of letters in different languages to express it. However, his idea was rejected by many major nations and politicians, as expected. Until the letters reached the hands of six children of different nationalities: Jack Barret, Rosa Velazquez, Alex Bernstein, Shen Jun Li, Chizuru Aikawa and, of course, Ndereba Harambee.


    These seven children from different countries pooled their resources to fulfill their most cherished dream: to stop Thanatos. They met in Versailles and planned the creation of a new organization, the World Organization of Attached Guilds, abbreviated as W.O.G.A. Their mission would be to help all the guilds in the world whose location was on an island emerged between South America and Africa.


    Ivan and Harambee realized that the only way to defeat an army like the Circuit was to create a skilled and trained one of their own. At that moment, Tanatos recovered from his wounds after several years and decided to attack humanity again. Harambee would not have to face him alone this time, as she would have the help of her friends. Despite fighting skillfully, Harambee found himself at a disadvantage against a Thanatos that was no longer the same, but much more powerful.


    In the year 1920, at the top of the mountains of Tibet, the last battle between the guilds and the circuits was fought. Thanatos confronted the presidents of the organization and damaged everyone. It was at that precise moment that Alex Bernstein sacrificed his life for his comrades, receiving the impact of the enemy energy, which unleashed everyone''s fury. Jack cut Thanatos''s tendons with his facon, Shen blocked his cursed energy with a blow to the chest, Rosa disarmed Thanatos with her incredible strength and abilities, Ivan protected his friends with his special combat magic, Chizuru hit him with all her strength and threw him to the sky using her wind powers. Finally, Ndereba Harambee delivered the final blow with her golden spear into Thanatos'' chest, uttering a spell in Swahili that locked him in a chest, putting an end to evil once and for all.


    The survivors returned to their homes and lived in anonymity, putting an end to injustice and, of course, Thanatos. They decided to add one more letter to the organization, which was renamed O.M.G.A.B. (World Organization of the Bernstein Attached Guilds) in honor of Alex Bernstein, who had died a heroic death.


    After Thanatos'' defeat, each went his own way. Harambee returned home and lived until her passing, honored with the greatest glory anyone could achieve. Shen returned to his homeland and contributed significantly to the formation of the Republic of China. Chizuru married Ivan Crusoe and together they left the O.M.G.A.B., leaving their positions to their children. Rosa put aside her differences with Jack and married him, proving that love could overcome hate.


    To this day, the guilds and the O.M.G.G.A.B. continue to function as important entities. Their policies were accepted worldwide, although the Circuit still continues to be at war. Despite this, its acceptance is also widespread, as its initial ideals were peace and the elimination of borders between nations. Most notably, however, Ndereba Harambee will remain an icon in the struggle against the Circuit, and her name will be remembered time and again as "Harambee, the mother of freedom."

 THE CHILD

    His name is Candado Ern¨¦st Catriel Barret, a twelve-year-old boy who attends a public school in a town called Isla del Cerrito. At first glance, he might seem like a peculiar person, but let me assure you that Candado Barret is not at all out of the ordinary. As a young boy, his curiosity about how things work led him to a transformation from an ordinary child into a responsible young man. Although the reason behind this metamorphosis is rather enigmatic, it is not ultimately relevant.


    His name finds its origin on November 12, 1915. Jack Barret, the progenitor of the family, received a very special gift from Rosa Vel¨¢zquez, a representative from Paraguay: a padlock molded with precious stones, forming a necklace. Although she lacked the resources for a more elaborate gift, that padlock was received with affection by him and that night they sealed their love with a kiss, sharing their days until the end of their lives. From this event would come their striking name, and furthermore, the word "Padlock" is related to the office of "president" in Kanghar.


    Although this relationship may be confusing, his name has its roots in this story, which Europe, his mother, cherished deeply in his childhood.


    In 2000, 85 years after the above-mentioned events, a son was born to Europe Barret and Arthur Barret. Together, they decided to name their son Candado Ern¨¦st Catriel Barret. Jack, who was still alive and together with his wife were among the last survivors of "The Age of Heroes", had the privilege of witnessing the birth of their second great-grandson. They smiled knowing that his name reflected the historical juncture. The child was born healthy and showed impressive determination, often leading his parents to question which of the two had inherited his behavior. Beyond that, he had taken from his father''s brown eyes, his ability to communicate and a medium skin tone. From his mother''s side, he inherited dark brown hair, elegance, facial features, the structure of his face (he could have easily been mistaken for a woman if he disguised himself) and his seriousness. As for his curiosity, logic and interest in the indecipherable, as well as his passion for sociological, philosophical and political understanding, he had developed these qualities on his own, with the support of his family environment. Candado was the second son, at the age of thirteen, of his sister Gabriela Esperanza, whom he admired and loved deeply. He was the only one among his sisters to have a guardian, whom the family called "Bari" and whose name was T¨ªnbari. Although his appearance was frightening, both Candado and Gabriela considered him an integral part of the family, and T¨ªnbari loved them as his own children, even committing to give his life for them. On his fourth birthday, Candado received a very special gift from his grandfather, Alfred Barret: a robot made with his own hands, which he named Clementine Version 02. This machine became his first friend and a loyal servant of the Barret family.


    A year later, Mr. Jack passed away in the fall of 2005 at the age of 105. Candado felt grief and sadness; that same grief was shared by his son Alfred, granddaughter Europe and great-granddaughter Gabriela. However, after two days, he recovered from his great-grandfather''s death and moved on, as he did not fully understand the concept of death. For him, dying was like going on a round trip; he thought his great-grandfather would return someday.


    Six months after Jack Barret''s death, Candado continued his life in kindergarten. There he met Hector, a boy with white hair, even on his eyebrows, as if he had gray hair. After Candado had a fit of anger towards a classmate who had stolen and hidden his beret, Hector intervened and stopped him, getting punched in the face by Candado, who ended up dragging him across the floor. It was the first time that Candado showed anger and aggression towards another human being.


    After that experience, Candado felt very sad and did not want to return to the garden, fearing that his anger would hurt someone else. He stayed that way for two days until, on the third day, while sitting under a tree in the plaza, playing alone with some pebbles, he received an unexpected visit from Hector, who had a bandage on his cheek. Hector begged Candado to go back to school, not to worry about what had happened and to look to the future. He took Candado''s hand and pulled him to his feet. Then he looked at him and asked him to accompany him to the garden. That same day, in the afternoon, Candado invited Hector to his home and gave him a white silk tie, since they shared a taste for formal dress. That day marked the beginning of a great friendship between Hector and Candado.


    The years passed, and Candado became a mature and responsible boy. At that time, he was nine years old. Gabriela had already turned seventeen and had a new sister who was only a few weeks old. Candado felt a great empathy and responsibility to care for his sister from then on. However, while he remained strong, healthy and cheerful, his sister began to weaken and deteriorate. At first, it didn''t seem serious, until one day she fainted at school and had to be taken to the hospital. There she was diagnosed with a disease that affected the circulatory system and the vital organs of the human body: the heart, lungs and brain. According to the doctors, there was no cure and it would have a disastrous outcome. Moreover, there was no treatment to control future symptoms. The Barret family still had hope of finding a cure someday.Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.


    Until that time, Gabriela, Clementina, Hector and some of their friends, including T¨ªnbari himself, did their best to keep Candado distracted, playing and amusing him, and encouraged him to have hope that his sister would recover. All this they did to keep the child cheerful and hopeful.


    A year after the terrible news about his sister, Candado''s tenth birthday arrived, and everyone gathered to wish him a happy birthday and give him presents. As he received the gifts from the guests one by one, his sister decided to give him a very special present. Gabriela, who was already in a wheelchair due to the progression of her illness, gave her a silver necklace with a gold sun whose face was identical to that of the flag of Argentina. Gabriela placed the necklace around his neck and kissed him on the forehead while saying "happy birthday". Candado hugged her with a smile on his face and promised her that he would protect her from any evil and that he himself would find the cure for her illness. At that moment, as she held Candado in her arms, Gabriela uttered words that would remain etched in her memory from that day on.


    "You are a sun that shines day by day over my head. You are a very cheerful and kind person. Your kindness got Clementina to have fur and go to school. Your kindness led Hector to meet his uncles who lived in Entre Rios. And not only that, your kindness caused you to have more friends than you had before. I am proud that you are my brother, that you have put into practice everything you have been taught, that you have more friends and that you share the kindness of your heart with everyone around you. I am proud that you have managed the Rooboleo guild intelligently, helping everyone around you. And most of all, I am proud that my brother has matured."


    Candado overflowed with joy and held the embrace with his sister a little longer. He was filled with happiness, and his face reflected the joy he was experiencing at that moment.


    However, that joy did not last long, since on November 15, 2010, at approximately 4:07 a.m., Gabriela Esperanza Barret died at the Perrando Hospital in Resistencia. It was raining heavily that day. Everyone mourned the loss of Gabriela, including Candado, who was crying and cursing the name of Almighty God. He wanted her to be brought back, but nothing happened. In the Roob¨®leo guild, Candado fell into a deep crisis of grief and rage. He destroyed everything within his reach while tears welled up in his eyes. Again and again he cursed the name of God and blamed himself for not having been able to do more to protect her. His cries and pleas for her to come back to life proved in vain. That day, both his family and friends witnessed that joyful and happy child slowly fade away, leaving a deep hole of pain in his sensitive heart.


    Three years after the events, Candado experienced a radical change in his personality and in his family. Candado''s parents, once very close, distanced themselves from their son. They worked more than usual, not for money or a better future, but because they wanted to spend less time in a place that constantly reminded them of their beloved daughter Gabriela. Candado, not having the latter option, had to face the pain of losing his sister alone. He went from being a cheerful and playful person to becoming someone cold, with an empty heart full of pain. But the story did not end there.


    In March 2013, in the city of Villa Angela, her grandfather, Alfred Barret, was murdered. Unlike when he lost his sister, Candado shed no tears. He just watched his grandfather''s coffin sink into the ground as an old man in a black robe recited passages from the Bible. Holding his umbrella, Candado announced that he would catch his grandfather''s killers. When his friends Hector and Pucheta asked him why he had made that decision, he replied curtly.


    "Because I''m bored."


    In that instant, Candado lost his sensitivity to the death of a loved one. His eyes became vacant and his manner of speaking became harsh, losing all gentleness.


    Candado thought he had suffered enough. He was tired of having fleeting moments of joy. His personality closed definitively to any other human contact. He became a serious, cold, reckless, irritable and annoying person. Little by little, he lost many of his friends, although he was never completely alone. People like T¨ªnbari, Clementina, H¨¦ctor, German, Anzor, Lucas, Matlotsky, Declan, ¨ªcaro, Viki, Ana Mar¨ªa Pucheta, Logan, Mauricio, Joaqu¨ªn, Diana, Pio, Luc¨ªa, Erika, Walsh, Antonela, Krauser and Frederick remained by his side. They fought every day to see the smile return to their friend''s face and they would not rest until they could make him smile again.

 THE NEW STUDENT

    Two months have passed since Candado''s grandfather was murdered in his home, and to this day the murderer is still unknown. The police are doing nothing to catch the culprit. He thought that his grandfather''s death was not like other murders that occur in the country. This time it was very different: he was killed in his house, but nothing was stolen. All the valuables were there. Whoever killed him did it for personal reasons or for some other cause.


    -Well, it''s strange... to die just like that, I don''t think so," whispered Candado.


    However, Candado tried to stop thinking about it and concentrated on the class that was about to begin. Lately, Candado was not sleeping well. He felt a discomfort on his skin, an uncomfortable sensation running through his whole body due to the uncertainty about what had happened to his grandfather. He knew that thinking about it too much wouldn''t help him, so he pulled out his book and began to read.


    But something caught his attention: class had already started twenty-four minutes ago and the teacher had not yet arrived. It was strange for a teacher to leave the class like that. Then, suddenly, the door to the right opened and in walked the teacher and the principal, accompanied by a striking-looking girl. The principal took the eraser from the blackboard and tapped the desk seven times, which brought all the kids in the room to silence. After the silence had fallen, the principal introduced the new student as follows:


    -Boys, as of today, this girl will be your classmate. However, as it is her first day, she does not want to say her name. She prefers to introduce herself and...


    -Hello everyone, I''m Hammya Saillim.


    -I''m not finished.


    -I''m sorry.


    The girl''s gaffe provoked laughter in the hall.


    -SILENCE! -shouted the principal.


    Then, the director looked for an available seat for the girl to sit down and finally set his eyes on Candado.


    -Okay, this is where she will sit from today, so DON''T SCARE HER!


    Candado paid no attention and continued reading his book. She didn''t even look up to look at him or at her.


    That girl was very strange. Her hair was a light green, including her eyebrows and eyes. Her clothes were also the same color and very flashy. However, Candado barely glanced sideways at her for nine seconds and then went back to concentrating on his reading. Meanwhile, the principal, having finished his homework, said goodbye to the teacher and the boys, leaving the classroom and heading for the direction.


    When the girl sat down next to him, she was very nervous. It was her first day at that school, and her classmate didn''t seem to be much help in relaxing. His expression wasn''t very friendly, and he seemed to be someone who didn''t smile much. She thought he would ask her about her hair as soon as she walked in, because of the way the others were looking at her, except for him. Although she stood out because of the way she dressed and her hair, the boy was another story. He dressed differently from the rest, more formally: refined black pants, dark blue dinner jacket with a red tie, dark formal shoes, white gloves with a strange symbol, a blue beret, brown eyes, a scar on his left eye that started from under his eyebrow and went all the way down to his lower eyelid, almost touching his cheek. In addition, he had dark brown hair and medium white skin tone. Yes, she was someone who could instill fear at a glance, even to her.


    Classes continued, and the teacher was teaching a language lesson, to be more precise. However, she didn''t quite know what to do. Dazed by the fear emanating from that strange boy, she stopped doing homework for a moment and began to look around. All the other students were busy doing their homework, except for the boy sitting next to her. The teacher got up from her desk and walked over to him, asking him in an irritated and angry voice:


    -SIR! Why aren''t you doing your homework? -the teacher asked.


    He looked at her with a serious expression and answered sharply:


    -I finished," he said, pulling out a sheet of paper under the table and showing it to her.


    The teacher felt furious at receiving the boy''s homework, although she tried to conceal it with an approving smile. Without another word, she returned to her brown desk and began correcting the assignments she had been given.


    -Acihn¨¢''wem¨¦k wasetaj (Old cow)," Candado whispered as he read.


    Hammya looked at him and was surprised to hear a rather complicated "tongue twister" coming from Candado.


    The recess bell rang loudly, and at that moment, all the other students ran out of the classroom like runaway horses. However, the boy in the blue beret did not get up to join them. He remained seated there, concentrating on reading a book called "Capital". Then, a boy dressed entirely in white, including his cloud-white hair, approached him and put his hand on his shoulder, saying:


    -I''m going to the kiosk. Do you want me to get you something?


    -Yes, I want a soda," answered the boy in the blue beret as he handed him five pesos that he took out of his pocket.


    The boy left the room, leaving them alone and creating an uncomfortable silence. At least, that was the case for her. Until the boy in the blue beret spoke.


    -Everyone has it and no one can lose it. What is it that always accompanies you?


    Hammya didn''t know if he was making fun or what, she didn''t understand what he was saying. Therefore, he answered her with a question.


    -What?


    -It''s a riddle. Would you mind answering?


    -I still don''t understand.


    -You don''t need to understand. Are you going to answer yes or no?


    -Ah, then, I don''t know. -I don''t know.


    -Thank you.


    The boy took a notebook out of his pocket and put his book aside to take notes. Amidst the silence of the room, the sound of writing echoed in the air. Once he finished, he put his pencil away in his notebook and it in turn in his pocket, returning to the silence and his reading.


    However, when he spoke, Hammya decided to continue the conversation and asked:


    -What is your name?


    There was no answer.


    -What is your name?


    He still did not answer.


    Hammya patted his shoulder quickly again and again.


    -Hey, what''s your name?


    He still got no answer. Instead, the boy turned the page in his book.


    Hammya changed strategy and put her hand on his shoulder, starting to move it gently, then harder, and even shook it.


    -Irritating.


    Was the word that came from her lips.


    -What?


    The boy turned the page and continued.


    -You''re irritating," then he turned and looked her in the eyes, "and quite a lot.


    -What''s your name?


    -Seriously, you give me more reason to hate you, emerald.


    -What did you say to me?


    Candado closed his book tightly, puffed out his chest and exclaimed:


    -?????????EMERALD!!!!!!!!!!


    The shout echoed throughout the school, reaching the ears of his friend Hector, who was lining up at the kiosk to buy something for him and something for Candado.


    -I hope he didn''t kill her," he said aloud, his hands in his pockets.


    Meanwhile in the classroom.


    -I hope this is enough," said Candado as he opened his book again to continue reading.


    Hammya felt a shiver run through her body, but quickly recovered and asked again.


    -What is your name?


    -I''m not interested in establishing a friendship with you. I already have enough useless people by my side, I don''t want one more, especially someone who wears a violet rose on his head.


    -It was a gift, don''t be cruel.


    -Useless.


    -Useless?


    Candado turned around and was about to close his book.


    -No, no, no, no, I get it, I get it.


    -I''m glad. So, if you want to survive, don''t take me out of my mind," he went back to his reading.


    -But tell me your name.


    Candado closed the book, brought his index and ring fingers to his eyes, he was already tired.


    -If I tell you my name, will you shut up for once? I want to read.


    -Yes.


    The boy settled back, inhaled and exhaled, then turned and looked her straight in the eyes, with a serious, cold and indifferent expression.


    -I am Candado Ernest Catriel Barret," then he returned to his reading.


    -Is that you? -Hammya whispered in surprise.


    Then she smiled.


    -Did you say something?


    -Nothing," then she cleared her throat and held out her hand.


    -I am...


    Candado shook his hand as he continued reading.


    -You''re Hammya Saillim, a.k.a. "Illusive pimp headache". It''s disgusting to meet you," he then released her.


    Hammya let out a giggle.


    -I just insulted you, girl.


    -I know, but it''s funny," said Hammya, struggling in vain to hold back a laugh.


    Candado said nothing and continued reading, plunging the room into silence again. However, she interrupted him.


    -Excuse me...


    -PLEASE! -Candado closed his eyes, frowned and continued, "If you speak again, I''m going to throw you out the window, chair and all.


    After saying that, he relaxed and continued reading.


    -But...


    -?????????BY ISIDRO VEL¨¢ZQUEZ Y GAUNA!!!!


    The shout resounded again throughout the school, making the principal''s desk shake as he signed papers.


    -That brat.


    And, of course, the noise reached Hector''s ears.


    -Two in one day? I just hope the new student is alive, or at least in one piece.


    -Next, please," said the newsagent.


    -Oh, it''s my turn," said Hector.


    While in the classroom.


    -Sorry.


    -Make silence -then he put his left hand to his forehead- -My head.


    -But...


    -Shut up, don''t ask me anything, don''t comment, don''t talk to me, just shut up.


    With those words, Candado put an end to the conversation and returned to silence. However, something arose inside Hammya that made her uncomfortable; something unwelcome. She felt like going to the bathroom. She couldn''t hold it much longer, she wanted to go, but she didn''t have the slightest idea where she was. She wanted to ask Candado, but she was afraid because of the abrupt conversation they had had, but not enough, as finally, she decided to ask him. She put her hand on Candado''s shoulder and held it there. Candado looked at her angrily; those eyes were terrifying. Hammya released him and Candado went back to his reading. Not a minute passed before she interrupted him again.


    -Excuse me.


    -AH! Ahoh ele! (Demon parrot) What do you want now?


    -Could you tell me where the bathroom is?


    Candado raised his left eyebrow and looked at him with a serious expression.


    -Yes, of course. It''s outside, where it''s always been.


    -Thank you, and one more thing.


    -What? I hope it''s important.


    -Will you come with me?


    -Why should I? -he asked irritably.


    -Please.


    Candado put his hand on his forehead and held it there for a while before giving an answer.


    -No.


    -Come on.


    -NO! I TOLD YOU NO! -Candado closed his book tightly- -I DON''T KNOW YOU, LET ME BREATHE THE FUCKING FUCKING TIME! THERE IS NOTHING MORE BURDENING THAN TO INTERRUPT MY READING, ESPECIALLY IF THAT PERSON IS A TALKING TREE!


    -But...


    -If you say "but" again, you''ll wish you hadn''t even been a fetus.


    Then he picked up his book, inhaled and exhaled repeatedly until he regularized his breathing.


    -Have you calmed down?


    -Yes," he answered calmly.


    -Well, can you come with me now?


    Candado leaned his head on the desk.


    -Okay, I will, but please stop harassing me.


    Candado stood up with his book under his arm and went to the classroom door.


    -Come, please," he said as he massaged his head.


    Hammya got up and followed him walking behind him.


    -There it is," he said as he pointed his finger at the door, which was at the front of the classroom.


    -Okay, thank you.


    Candado nodded and was about to return to his seat, but Hammya stopped him by putting her hand on his shoulder again.


    -What do you want now?


    -Will you come with me, please?


    -I want to die," Candado whispered to himself, "I don''t know if you''ve noticed, but that''s the women''s bathroom," he said without turning around.


    -I don''t want you to go into the bathroom, I just want you to wait for me outside.


    -Why the hell would I have to do that?


    -Come on, please.


    -You know, Hammya? I think I''m going to get neurasthenia because of you.


    -Come on, just come with me, that''s all, just for today, and I won''t bother you anymore.


    -I like your attitude, girl. You win, I''ll go with you," she walked to the door, only to turn around and put her index finger on her forehead, "BUT! Just this once.


    They both left the classroom. There were kids playing, running around and laughing, but that all changed when Candado came out of the classroom reading his book. All the kids stopped as if time had stopped. Whispers could be heard from the other boys like "What''s going on in there?" "Is she out for recess?" "Is that woman going to be powerful?".


    Before entering the bathroom, Hammya asked for Candado to wait for her outside. Then, she entered the bathroom.


    Candado was leaning against the wall at the entrance waiting for Hammya to come out of the bathroom. To kill time, she started reading her book. However, the annoying stares of his companions were infuriating him more and more. Those eyes on him were equivalent to tons and tons of bricks being loaded on his back. One look from him was enough for everyone to resume their activities, and Candado, of course, remained focused on his reading.


    The bell rang, signaling the end of recess, and in the blink of an eye, everyone had disappeared from the playground. Just in time, as Hammya came out of the bathroom wiping her hands on her clothes. Candado was looking at her with disgust, so he gave her a handkerchief from his pocket to wipe her hands properly.


    -Don''t be dirty," said Candado as he handed her a red handkerchief.


    She took the handkerchief and began to dry her hands slowly. When she finished, she wanted to give it back to him, but he said she could keep it.


    The two entered the living room, and as Candado was about to sit down, Lucas motioned with his hands for her to come closer. Reluctantly, Candado put the chair away under the table and walked over to Lucas.


    -I heard you went out for recess.


    -Wow, how rumors spread.


    -No, not Candado, you really went out to recess, I saw you.


    -Yeah, so what if I went out to recess? -Are they going to drag me over a rock or am I going to write a telegram?


    -You haven''t been out to recess for over two years, and this is the first time you''ve been out to recess.


    -Fuck, it''s only one recess that I go out, and it''s already raising controversy all over the school, and I''m sure in the whole town too. It''s just a break, Lucas, don''t come to puff up my balls about it.


    -You haven''t been out since she left, I don''t mean to imply that it''s bad, just weird. That''s why I''m surprised you went out today.


    Her words made him very angry. He felt like hitting Lucas, but he restrained himself and simply walked away. Before he left, however, he turned and said:


    -Tell the others that there will be a meeting at the House.


    -What time?


    Candado looked out the window and saw that it was beginning to rain heavily.


    -Tell them to meet when the rain stops.


    As he was about to return to his seat, his friend Hector signaled from his bench to hand him the soda he had asked for. Although it was on the other side of the classroom, Candado put aside his laziness and went to pick it up.The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    When he received his coke, he took the cap off and began drinking it immediately. Hector watched him as he drank the soda wildly, as if he had been in the Sahara desert.


    -Easy, don''t drown," said Hector.


    -Sorry, I couldn''t resist. I was thirsty.


    -What''s the matter? You seem to have caught a sunstroke.


    -No, nothing like that. I got a little shiver (actually, I was quite stressed from the conversation with Hammya and Lucas), nothing more than that," he said as he patted the back of his head.


    -Well, if you say so.


    After that brief chat with his friend, Candado returned to his seat.


    Classes continued and everyone went on with their homework, except for Candado, who used to finish his homework in just twelve minutes after the class started, so he spent more time reading than doing anything else. It was a hidden talent one could call it.


    The bell rang at half past twelve, marking the end of classes. The boys in the classroom ran out of the school in the pouring rain, which Candado didn''t quite understand. He said goodbye to Hector, who had an umbrella, while he waited for the rain to let up. As he waited, someone bumped into him. When he turned, he saw Hammya running very fast. Although he was intrigued he was glad to know that he wouldn''t have to deal with her anymore, he just thought he would go home and....


    -Hey Candado, come here, it''s important! -Lucas shouted.


    He stopped in the middle of the rain.


    -Damn," he muttered.


    So he went angrily and wetly back to the living room to look for Lucas. He opened both doors angrily.


    -WHAT! -he shouted.


    However, the room was empty, there were only tables and chairs.


    -I''m in the other room," Lucas shouted.


    Carefully, he closed the doors and went to the next room to repeat the same action.


    -WHAT! -he shouted.


    But again, there was no one there.


    -OH GOD! I HAVE THINGS TO DO! WHERE THE FUCK ARE YOU?! -shouted Candado, more and more enraged.


    -I''m in room 5¡ãE.


    That was the room in front, and as there was no roofed passage to get there, he knew he would get wet in the rain. Nor could he run without the risk of slipping.


    So he walked forward in the rain. Finally he arrived at room 5¡ãE, approached the door, completely soaked and furious as a cougar. He kicked the door hard, and it broke and fell to the floor. And there was Lucas, with an expression of astonishment on his face. Candado approached him with the intention of hitting him for the lost time.


    He grabbed him by the collar of his robe with both hands and pulled him close to his face.


    -Tell me, little scientist, playing with teleportation again? Speak, what was so important to make him come back? -said Candado while shaking him hard.


    -Quiet, my friend, please, you''re going to tear my robe," Lucas begged.


    Candado stopped his action for a moment.


    -It''s okay, if you don''t mind, I''m one of those who enjoy being on the floor," said Lucas with a nervous smile.


    Candado let go and Lucas fell to the ground like a meteorite. He wondered what the hell he was wearing to fall so heavily. Maybe he was wearing armor.


    Lucas is one of Candado''s friends from first grade at that school. He has gray eyes, dark hair and coal-black skin. He is passionate about science and biology, always inventing something new and asking Candado to test it to verify if it is safe. He possesses powers such as fire control, teleportation and the ability to sense vibrations at distances of up to twenty-two kilometers. He dresses in a light blue shirt, white lab coat, red shirt, blue pointy tie, light brown dress pants, and dark brown lace-up shoes. He is also somewhat meticulous in his appearance, as is Candado.


    -Well, what''s it all about? -asked Candado. Lucas stood up, adjusting the collar of his robe.


    -What''s what about? -Lucas answered, dusting off his clothes.


    -You called me! -He grabbed Lucas by the collar of his robe again and lifted him into the air.


    -Did you really? -Lucas asked in surprise.


    -You better remember and fast, because I wasted almost fifteen minutes of my valuable time talking to you," said Candado, shaking him hard.


    -Oh, I remember, now please let me go," said Lucas fearfully.


    -I hope this is not a joke," replied Candado as he put him down.


    -Well, as you can see, it''s raining hard and since your parents won''t be able to come and pick you up, I made this for you," said Lucas as he handed him an umbrella.


    However, Candado grabbed Lucas by the collar of his robe and lifted him up again.


    -ARE YOU SERIOUS?! YOU MADE ME COME ALL THE WAY OUT HERE TO HAND ME AN UMBRELLA?! I COULD HAVE QUIETLY GONE HOME LONG AGO WHILE THE RAIN WAS LIGHT! -shouted Candado, shaking Lucas hard.


    -Please stop, you''re going to tear my robe, Candado" said Lucas dizzily.


    Candado gently released him and fixed the collar of Lucas'' robe.


    -Although to tell the truth, thank you for being so thoughtful and giving me an umbrella," said Lucas accepting the gift.


    -You''re welcome, that''s what friends do, although you could have started by being nice," he then folded his arms. I''m great, aren''t I?


    -And you, how are you going home?


    -Don''t worry, I created this," said Lucas as he pulled a device out of his pocket, two inches long and two inches wide, gray in color, with two buttons, one green in the shape of a circle and the other red in the shape of a triangle.


    -What is that? -asked Candado, intrigued.


    -Look, the Umbrella of the Future," said Lucas and pressed the green button.


    Immediately, a closed, transparent, light blue sphere appeared, with Lucas inside.


    -Fascinating, isn''t it? I have created a device capable of attracting air and water molecules, which, when mixed, solidify and form this sphere of 1 meter and 30 centimeters, which acts as a shield against the outside, including rain. And the amazing thing is that, being made of air, I can''t suffocate. Besides, the green button activates it and the red button deactivates it," Lucas explained excitedly.


    -And why do the control buttons have such a strange shape? -asked Candado.


    -For color blind people," answered Lucas proudly.


    Lucas and Candado walked out of the school and, when the latter opened his umbrella, the drops falling on it resounded as if the water was hitting metal. Candado looked at Lucas, raising his left eyebrow.


    -Hey, why is it making this noise, Lucas? Do you want to kill me by giving me a metal umbrella? -he asked sarcastically.


    -You got me, I built an umbrella different from the ordinary ones, but it''s not made of metal, no sir," said Lucas nervously.


    -Oh no? Then what is it made of?


    -Platinum, so you won''t get struck by lightning," Lucas answered with some pride.


    -Platinum? And where did you get the platinum?


    -It''s a secret.


    Candado inhaled and then exhaled, opened his umbrella again while he saw Lucas walking inside his sphere with his hands in his pockets.


    -Oh yes, be careful, Candado, that your umbrella doesn''t get stolen, because it''s very difficult to make a material of that caliber open and close like an umbrella.


    -Yes, I''ll be careful.


    -What a sinister smile.


    -Get out before I kill you.


    -Don''t say it with that smile," Lucas said before stepping forward. See you this afternoon, Candado," she said as she walked away from him into the sphere.


    As the two took opposite directions, Candado began to think aloud, "Where the hell did he get platinum?".


    As he walked through the streets of the town, almost no one was out due to the rain, but some shops remained open. Candado continued on his way until he reached the square, which was completely deserted. To get home faster, he opted to take a shortcut through the forest.


    As he walked through that quiet place, he heard voices inside the forest, indicating a fight. Apparently, three boys between the ages of nineteen and twenty were involved. Candado initially planned not to pay attention to them, since if they caused trouble, Mauricio, who was in charge of the forest, would deal with them. However, a woman''s cry for help changed his decision. He closed his umbrella so he could run through the forest, using the trees as cover. He moved quickly, following the laughter and cries for help.


    When he arrived at the scene and witnessed the scene, Candado was outraged to see that the three teenagers were beating Hammya, a schoolmate and seatmate.


    -HEY! STOP! -he shouted with determination.


    -Get out, this is not your problem, kid," said one of them, pointing a six-shooter at him.


    -You''re going to regret this day, especially for pointing a goddamn gun at me.


    -Please, a brat like you is no problem for the three of us," said another as he pulled Hammya''s hair.


    -Yes, go away and we won''t hurt you," added a well-dressed boy.


    -Dirty.


    -YOU''RE WRONG, WE''RE NOT DIRTY! -replied another of the boys.


    -We just like to bother people without discriminating their sex," clarified one of them.


    -Idiots," muttered Candado, raising both eyebrows with contempt.


    At that moment, one of the aggressors pulled out a knife, which, although rusty, looked lethal.


    -Don''t mock," he warned.


    Candado became worried. He had never before been in a fight where someone was in danger. He began to devise a plan to save Hammya, knowing that one false move could make the situation worse.


    Hammya began to struggle to free himself, until at one point he managed to stomp his foot with all his might on the assailant''s foot, making him drop his weapon. The guy was already off guard, which was precisely what Candado needed. Without hesitation, he ran towards the assailant with the gun, moving as fast as he could. When he was as close as possible, he gave him a hard blow with the umbrella in his hand, sending the gun flying away. Then, he kicked the boy in the chest, throwing him backwards and causing him to collide with his companions. Then, he took Hammya''s hand and helped her to her feet.


    -Are you all right? -asked Candado with concern.


    -Yes, I''m fine," Hammya answered between sobs.


    -Okay, stay behind me," said Candado.


    Hammya stood behind Candado, adopting a defensive posture. Meanwhile, the aggressors stood up and prepared to face Candado.


    -Come on, you degenerates," said Candado with a defiant smile.


    The three boys rushed towards him, each of them armed with a knife. Candado was not intimidated and advanced towards them with his umbrella. One of the assailants launched his first attack with his knife, but Candado deftly dodged it and struck him in the back with the umbrella, knocking him down. The second assailant attempted to attack from behind, but Candado quickly spun around, opening his umbrella to successfully parry the knife. The aggressor was taken aback by the unexpected defense and Candado took the opportunity to kick him in the chest, leaving him kneeling in pain.


    Meanwhile, the third aggressor recovered and grabbed Candado by the arm, immobilizing him. However, Candado reacted quickly, throwing off his grip and countering with a strong punch. The aggressor who had initially been knocked down tried to intervene again, but Candado subdued him with a quick and accurate punch.


    Finally, the leader of the group grabbed Candado''s umbrella, trying to use it as a weapon.


    -You''re going to pay," he threatened, playing with the umbrella.


    -Wow, I didn''t expect to be cornered like this. Well, it looks like I''ll have to use my secret weapon," said Candado with a serious smile.


    He then lit his fists with a violet flame, which scared the attackers and made them let him go.


    -Let the fun begin," said Candado, preparing to face them.


    Candado defeated the two attackers who had restrained him and focused his attention on the leader of the group, his violet eyes blazing with a determined smile. Before he could act, however, the leader abandoned the fight and fled in fright, losing himself in the forest.


    -Is that all? How boring," commented Candado with disdain.


    Candado picked up his umbrella, adjusted his beret and turned to check Hammya''s condition. However, he found her passed out on the ground. He ran to her quickly to check if she was hurt, removing one of his gloves to feel her pulse.


    -Thanks to Isidro," he murmured with relief.


    Then he put his gloves back on and looked around. To his surprise, Mauricio, his friend and protector of the forest, was leaning against a tree, eating a banana.


    -Great, you did all this in just five minutes? -asked Mauricio with a smile, as he watched the scene.


    -Ah, until you showed up, Mauricio," replied Candado, lifting Hammya carefully while holding her in his arms.


    Mauricio, who had become Candado''s friend five years ago, was the guardian and protector of the forest. An orphan with a brother and sister, according to him, he had been raised by the pombero. He had black hair and blue eyes, and wore a black field shirt, blue field pants, polished brown boots, a long orange poncho with yellow that came down to his legs, and a light brown cowboy-style hat. He carried a staff as a weapon, and had the power of teleportation, which only worked in places where there were trees.


    Powers: Mauricio possesses unique abilities and supernatural powers derived from his relationship with the forest and nature. Some of these powers include the ability to talk to the dead, the ability to breathe underwater, the use of tree leaves as sharp blades, the ability to throw fire and water from his staff, and the ability to transform his body into diamond, giving him resistant protection.


    Abilities: Mauricio is able to travel between distant locations, from Chaco to Ukraine, due to the presence of trees in both places, which allows him to use his teleportation power. He has also developed a special relationship with snakes, which allows him to sleep in a viper''s nest without being attacked by them.


    -I''m busy, if you want something come another time," said Candado while holding Hammya in his arms.


    -No, for now I don''t need anything from you, I just came to help," said Mauricio as he opened the umbrella over Candado''s head to prevent him from getting wet.


    -Well, if you want to help me, carry Hammya for a moment," said Candado as he placed the girl in Mauricio''s arms.


    -What are you going to do, Candado? -asked Mauricio nervously.


    -Okay, just put Hammya on my back, so it''s easier to carry her," said Candado.


    Mauricio stood behind Candado and carefully put Hammya on his back.


    -Where do you plan to take this "fairy", comrade? -said Mauricio with a smile.


    -I plan to take her to the village police station. Damn, how I''d like to leave her lying there, but I can''t.


    -Well, be careful, buddy," said Mauricio as he disappeared in front of Candado''s eyes using his teleportation power.


    Candado raised his umbrella high, placed it over him and Hammya, and started walking east to get out of the forest and to the police station. It took him four minutes to get out of the bush. Candado had a hard time carrying Hammya; he didn''t know why he was so heavy. It seemed as if she was carrying a backpack full of rocks. Was it because she didn''t exercise? Or because she had put on weight? I really didn''t know.


    After a long walk through town, she finally arrived at the police station. Since he had his hands full holding Hammya, he decided to give the door a little kick so they would hear him. Fortunately, one of the policemen answered and opened the door for him.


    -Excuse me," said Candado as he entered the police station.


    -What happened to that girl, Candado? -asked Cacho, one of Candado''s father''s friends, as he took the umbrella from him.


    -Don''t worry, her life is not in danger, she only has some serious blows and injuries.


    -Who were they? -Cacho asked as he placed Hammya carefully on his bed.


    -Some teenagers from a private school," answered Candado while massaging the back of his neck.


    -You didn''t kill them, did you, Candado? -asked Cacho as he began to bandage Hammya''s wounds.


    -No, no one died. And why are you asking that question in the first place? Have I ever killed anyone?


    -... Thank goodness.


    -Cacho... Well, whatever. I''ve got to go.


    -Where...? -Where...?


    -I''m going to the guild, since the rain has stopped," said Candado as he closed the door behind him.


    Candado left the police station without his umbrella, as the rain had stopped. He was on his way to the cabin, but at that moment he felt hungry, so he decided to go to eat at Jos¨¦''s restaurant.


    As he peeked through one of the store''s windows, Candado saw that there were very few people inside, only five people to be more precise.


    -I''m in luck," Candado muttered under his breath.


    He entered the restaurant, wiped his feet with a piece of cardboard that was at the entrance and then went to the table next to the window that overlooked the street. Siro, one of Jos¨¦''s sons, approached to take his order.


    -I want a milanesa, nothing else.


    -Well, what about a drink? -Siro asked as he wrote down.


    -Yes, a cola soda.


    -We''ll bring it to you right away," said Siro as he left.


    As he waited, Candado looked out the window, although he wasn''t really looking at anything in particular. He always saw the same view, but he wasn''t complaining. After all, living in a town where everyone gets along is a pretty nice thing to do.


    While Candado waited for his food in the restaurant, Hammya opened his eyes. It had been an hour since she had woken up in a strange place, at least strange to her. She looked around in confusion. The room was almost deserted, with only a fan on the ceiling spinning slowly. She looked at herself in a mirror beside her and examined herself carefully. He had bandages on his forehead and elsewhere. He got out of bed and cautiously approached a metal door. He opened it and looked around. A dark corridor stretched out in front of her, with open doors and a light coming from one of them. Hammya walked towards the lighted door and entered. Inside she saw a few things: a dog lying under a chair, a TV on, and an old man playing dice.


    Hammya approached the old man and gently tugged on his arm sleeve.


    -Excuse me.


    After a while, the old man threw the dice, which stopped on the table, showing four sixes.


    -AHA! -exclaimed the old man as he banged the table. See, Yoya, twenty-four. I''m really lucky today.


    -Excuse me, where am I? -Hammya asked.


    -You are at the village police station," replied the old man with a smile.


    -How did I get here?


    -Commander brought you here. I was about to call your parents, but I got distracted by this, sorry.


    Hammya did not pay attention to the last part of his answer and repeated his question.


    -Who brought me here? Sorry.


    -Well, it was Candado.


    -How? -I don''t remember.


    -Of course, you were unconscious, baby.


    -What happened to me, sir? -Hammya asked while touching the bandage on her head.


    -Oh, just some scratches you had. You should thank that boy who saved you by the skin of your teeth," said the old man as he stroked her head.


    As the old man stroked Hammya, he looked into a corner by the exit door and saw an umbrella, the same one that Candado had used when he helped her in the forest.


    -Is that...? -Hammya asked, pointing to the umbrella with her hand.


    -Yes, it belongs to that boy.


    -Did he forget? -Hammya whispered.


    -That boy has a habit of leaving his things here, as if it were his home," said the old man, rubbing his eyes with his thumb and forefinger.


    -Where did he go?


    -He told me he was going to the cabin," said the old man as he looked at the ceiling.


    -Where is that cabin?


    -Of course, I forgot you''re new here. It''s in the forest, it''s not far from here. I''m sure you''ll find it.


    -Thank you, sir...


    -My name is Adolfo Lopez, but everyone calls me Cacho," said the old man as he walked Hammya to the door.


    -Well, see you later, Adolfo.


    -It would be better if you call me Cacho," he said with a smile as he opened the door.


    Hammya tried to follow Candado and find the cabin, but the task would not be easy, as he did not know the town well. He walked through the deserted streets of the place, looking for the house, until he passed in front of the restaurant window and thought he saw Candado. He took a few steps back and confirmed that it was him. She stared at him for a while, but when he turned around, Hammya quickly ducked out of sight, not knowing exactly why she did so. However, it seemed like a timely decision after he looked toward the window. She continued to watch him as he ate, switching from looking for him to return the umbrella to spying on him, an idea she found curious.


    When Candado finished eating and looked at his watch, he noticed the time.


    -Damn, it''s 14:38, it''s already very late.


    Candado jumped up and ran to the counter, shouting, "The check!


    -THE BILL! THE BILL! THE BILL! THE BILL, DAMMIT!


    A black-haired man came out of a doorway and approached the counter to serve him. Hammya did not understand the words they were exchanging, but he could sense that Candado was annoyed.


    -YOU''RE KIDDING ME! IT''S A BIG ROBBERY! -exclaimed Candado.


    Then, Candado took out two hundred pesos from his wallet and paid the man. He then hurried out of the restaurant. Hammya decided to follow him discreetly. He ran after him through the empty streets of the town until Candado stopped on a street where a truck was unloading goods for a greengrocer. Hammya hid behind a billboard while Candado watched the truck, blocking his vision.


    -Goddamn it, today was supposed to be Friday, for fuck''s sake," exclaimed Candado. Then he looked at the street corner. I know.


    Candado turned left and began to run with determination. Hammya followed him closely, until they entered the forest. He followed Candado for a few minutes until they finally came to a log cabin, similar in size to a family home, painted a soft shade of light blue.


    Candado reached the front door of the cabin and stopped in front of it.


    -Oh, where are my keys?


    For his part, Hammya walked around the house and reached the back door. He tried to open it, but it was locked. Then she noticed an open window with red curtains to her right. With a leap, he managed to reach the window and held onto the frame to enter. He succeeded and entered the house. It looked like he had entered a meeting room, as there was a long table covered with a black tablecloth and thirteen chairs around it. As he scanned the room, he heard voices on the other side of the only door in the room. He crept over and peeked through the keyhole. He saw Candado conversing with some boys. He heard snatches of their conversation.


    -Finally, we thought you weren''t coming.


    -There were some setbacks," said Candado.


    -Thank goodness, because me and my sister were about to leave.


    -Well, let''s get started," interrupted Candado.


    The boys headed for the door where Hammya stood. Quickly, he hid under the table. The boys'' voices were getting closer and closer, and Hammya slowly backed away. However, she bumped into someone and, turning around, found a blonde girl sitting cross-legged with a smile on her face. Hammya was startled and was about to scream, but the girl covered her mouth with her right hand and, with her left hand, brought a finger to her lips, instructing her to keep quiet.


    -Shhhh, don''t make noise," whispered Ana Maria.


    Hammya pulled her hands away from her mouth.


    -Who are you? -she asked, confused.


    -I am Ana Maria Pucheta," she answered, squeezing Hammya''s hand tightly.


    It was strange to meet her in this situation, but as the saying goes, "you never know what will happen in your life".


    -Look, if you''re planning to hide under the table, it''s not a good idea.


    Saying that, Ana Maria took Hammya''s hand and lifted it up, depositing it inside a cabinet that was next to the table.


    -Don''t worry, it has holes in it so you can breathe and see outside. So goodbye for now," he said as he closed the closet door with Hammya inside.


    Just then, Candado and his friends entered the room.


    -As I was saying, you can''t but.... -Candado started, but stopped when he noticed Ana Maria there. Ah, Ana, you were already here?


    -Of course, you know me, I''m always on time," said Ana Maria with a smile and pointing to her chest with her thumb.


    -I don''t know why you''re bragging. In case you haven''t noticed, you''re the one who''s the most late," said Candado as he looked for his seat at the end of the table.


    -Of course, I forgot," replied Ana Mar¨ªa, leaning her head forward with a sad tone.


    -Well, since we are all present, I am going to talk about a topic.....


    -Viki is missing, Candado," interrupted another boy raising his hand.


    Candado took a green rubber ball out of his pocket and threw it hard at the boy. The boy ducked quickly, and the ball flew out the window behind him.


    -Aha, you missed. Suck on that tangerine," the boy mocked with a laugh.


    -I think you''re going to eat that tangerine, my friend," replied Candado while holding a control with a lever in his hand.


    Candado moved the lever back carefully, and mysteriously the ball that had gone out of the window came back hitting the boy in the back of the head and making him fall towards the table.


    -That hurt," whispered Hammya.


    -It hurt.


    Everyone applauded Candado for this incredible feat.


    -Well, I knew this useless "made in Lucas" invention would work for me," said Candado as he put the ball and the controller in a drawer in the corner cabinet.


    -Hey, more respect for my inventions.


    -Well, now that Matlotsky''s interruption is over, I''ll continue. I called you today because I have information to give you. Esteban and his comrades are planning....


    -Oh come on, that''s boring, Canda.


    The voice belonged to an adult and came from a place Hammya could not see. He tried to move a little to get a better view, but only managed to see the legs crossed and raised on the table.


    -For God''s sake, first Matlotsky and now you, don''t fuck around, T¨ªnbari! -exclaimed Candado angrily.


    -It''s no big deal, Candado. After all, we have an unexpected visitor," said the strange man in a calm and serene voice.


    -What kind of visitor? -asked a boy with an Irish accent.


    -The "I have no idea" kind of visitor, but she''s here right now, hiding," replied the man in the same calm tone.


    Hammya was frightened, and huddled in the back of the closet with both hands over her mouth to avoid being seen or heard. However, her curiosity led her to look again, and she noticed that everyone in the room was drawing weapons except Candado.


    -Impossible, I don''t sense any magical souls in this house," said Candado.


    -Well, why don''t we ask her? -proposed the strange voice.


    -Her? -asked Hector.


    -Yes, her. Come on, don''t be shy," replied the mysterious voice.


    Suddenly, an invisible force pulled Hammya out of the cabinet and made her fall in the middle of the table. The impact caused pain in her head, so she rubbed her temple. In the blink of an eye, she found herself with two swords pointed at her neck, a nail gun on her forehead, a fireball near her abdomen and a claw on her right hip.


    -Who are you and what do you want? -asked the people pointing the guns at her.


    -Well, I... I just happened to be passing by.... -Hammya began to say nervously.


    She was in trouble, Hammya knew that if she didn''t give a convincing answer, she could be in danger. She could feel the tension in the air, and the look in the eyes of those around her.


    -That''s enough, she''s not an enemy, she''s just a fool who decided to butt in where she''s not wanted," Candado interjected without hesitation.


    -Yes, leave her alone. She is Hammya," added Ana Maria.


    The five people who had her surrounded put away their weapons once they knew her name. Hammya turned to look at the man who seemed to know of her presence, but found only an empty chair.


    -Why are you here? -asked Candado as he approached her with his hands in his pockets and a look full of fury, suspicion and darkness. It was a look she had never seen before, as if his eyes were weapons in themselves. As he approached, his companions stepped aside to make way for him.


    -I''m going to ask you again. What are you doing here? -insisted Candado.


    Hammya tried to answer his question, but to be honest, she had completely forgotten why she was there in the first place. So she simply answered:


    -I don''t know.


    Candado did not seem satisfied with that answer, and Hammya feared that he might start yelling at her at any moment.


    -I''ve never seen anyone as dumb as Matlotsky...", Candado began to say. -Hammya started to say, but Hammya stopped paying attention.


    While Candado was lecturing her, Ana Maria, the same girl who had put her in the closet, was beckoning from behind everyone. Hammya remembered why she was there and decided to interrupt Candado''s boring lecture.


    -Wait, I know why I''m here," Hammya announced.


    -Well, I''m listening," replied Candado, arching an eyebrow.


    Hammya ran over to Ana Maria and handed her the umbrella.


    -I came here to return your umbrella," she said as she handed it to him.


    Candado, upon receiving it, began to get nervous, and his nervousness increased when Lucas came up behind him.


    -Hey, isn''t that the umbrella I lent you? -Lucas asked, extending his hand.


    -I''m Lucas, Benjamin Lucas. Thanks for returning the umbrella," he added as he accepted the umbrella from Hammya.


    -Yes, no problem," Hammya replied, relieved to have clarified the situation.


    Lucas then turned and turned his gaze to Candado.


    -"Well, there are definitely two types of people in this world: those who are good and give things back, and those who receive expensive and difficult to make inventions only to abandon them somewhere else.


    -Yes, isn''t it? Who could it be? Could it have been you, Matlotsky? -said Candado, resting his right hand on his chin.


    Matlotsky looked at Candado and exclaimed:


    -HEY, I HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS!


    Then Lucas brought his forehead close to Candado''s and exclaimed in an exasperated tone:


    -I WAS TALKING ABOUT YOU!


    -Me? But I didn''t leave him lying around. He was at the police station, the "safest place there is" -Candado answered, making quotation marks in the air with his fingers.


    -You know very well what I mean," said Lucas as he pointed his index finger at Candado''s chest.


    Candado pushed Lucas'' hand away from his chest and turned to Hammya.


    -Well, now that everything is clear, you can leave," said Candado.


    -WAIT! -Since she is here, why don''t we introduce ourselves?


    Candado sighed and, crossing his arms, replied with a nod:


    -All right, you may introduce yourselves.


    The people in the room settled down a bit and began to introduce themselves one by one. Hammya listened intently as each shared their name and a few words about themselves. As she listened to them, she began to understand that she had entered a strange and unfamiliar situation, surrounded by a diverse group of individuals.

 AWAKENING THE POWER

    Hammya settled into an elegant black armchair, and the young ones approached to make their introductions. The first to speak was Hector.


    Hector had white hair, including his eyebrows, and deep brown eyes. His bangs were styled with a subtle slant to the left. He wore a formal white suit, matching with a black tie and shirt, along with a vest of the same white tone. His demeanor was serious but also exuded charisma.


    Regarding his powers, Hector handled poker cards as if they were both a sturdy shield and swift arrows. He had the ability to pass through solid objects and emit a sinister black vapor from his mouth to escape adverse situations.


    Furthermore, he stood out for his skills in mathematics, as well as mastery of computers and technologies. It was said that, if he wanted to, he could plunge China and the United States into darkness with his knowledge.


    The next to introduce himself was Lucas, although he has been discussed already. Then it was Anzor''s turn.


    Anzor, originally from Moscow, Russia, possesses a Russian accent due to his arrival in Argentina at the age of nine. His hair is light blond, and his eyes, of an intense sky-blue hue, reflect his personality. He wore a white shirt and an elegant jacket of deep dark blue. He also had a red scarf around his neck, refined black pants, and a blue trench coat that almost reached his ankles. He is known for his charisma, sparkling sense of humor, and occasional rare seriousness.


    As for his powers, Anzor wields a medieval-style sword that allows him to shatter iron doors and create tornadoes up to two meters in length. Additionally, he has the ability to fly for an hour and forty-eight minutes. His speed is astonishing; he can traverse the distance between Chaco and Uruguay in the blink of an eye.


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    Anzor also stands out for his mastery in the art of stealth. He uses the environment to his advantage to conceal himself and possesses an exceptional memory that allows him to remember everything without missing any detail. Additionally, he is extremely cautious with phone calls.


    Matlotsky: Although it may be surprising, he was born in Tierra del Fuego. His hair is black, and his eyes have a captivating green hue. He wears a long-sleeved orange shirt, rolled up to the forearm, along with a stylish black vest and a tie of the same tone. He complements his outfit with refined dark brown pants and elegant light brown sneakers featuring a green line. Furthermore, he sports a green pencil in his left ear and a worker''s glove on his right hand. A tool belt accompanies him, containing a hammer, a nail gun, and a toolbox that, despite seeming strange, has the capacity to store up to two hundred million objects. Matlotsky is known to be the somewhat comedic member of the group, but he is equally friendly and reliable. He would never betray his friends and greatly enjoys playing pranks and teasing his team.


    Unlike some of his peers, Matlotsky doesn''t possess any powers.


    However, his skill lies in an almost inhuman ability: he can build things with impressive speed in just thirteen minutes. This includes everything from houses and buildings to scaffolds, protective shields, wall stairs (exclusively for Candado''s use), and nail turrets, the latter being manually operated.


    Ana: With long, loose blonde hair and piercing green eyes, Ana Mar¨ªa has a mole just below her right eye. She wears a long-sleeved white shirt with a sky-blue bow tie adorning her neck. She carries a bracelet that says "I AM WHAT I AM," as well as a gold-plated chain hanging with a crescent moon ornament. Her outfit is completed with a blue skirt reaching her knees and white stockings that reach the same height. Shiny black shoes complement her appearance. Ana Mar¨ªa is an extremely energetic person, though she is also attributed traits of stubbornness, headstrong nature, teasing, and mischief.


    Regarding her abilities, Ana Mar¨ªa possesses incredible superhuman strength that allows her to lift a truck with a single hand. Additionally, she has the ability to breathe underwater and become stealthy when needed. She can also shoot red laser beams from her eyes.


    As for her abilities, her astonishing strength enables her to jump a hundred times higher than a human without powers. She masters the kitchen with skill, capable of preparing at least six different dishes. Her academic performance is excellent, and, to top it off, she has the ability to carry heavy objects.


    The sixth to introduce himself was Declan, who approached Hammya and, with an expression of anger on his face, uttered, "I''ll be watching you."


    Declan: Originally from Dublin, Ireland, he spent his childhood in Fingal, specifically in the village of Howth. His Irish accent persists in his speech due to his arrival in Argentina at the age of nine. With light red hair and blue eyes, he wears a light blue shirt accompanied by dress pants in black. He complements his outfit with an elegant trench coat of the same color, a blue tie, and a silver chain around his neck with a Jesus Christ cross as an ornament.


    Regarding his powers, Declan possesses a sword that allows him to triple his attack strength at an astonishing speed of 777 kilometers per hour. Like Anzor, he can generate a tornado, but in this case, it''s of fire instead of wind or sand. Additionally, he has the ability to summon swords from the ground or the air, is a competent swordsman (though not at Anzor''s level), and can see in the dark. His character is serious and distrustful, though he reserves his trust for friends and family, occasionally reflected in a smile.


    In terms of his abilities, Declan shares with Candado the skill of observation, although he relies more on intuition than deduction. While he may be somewhat slow to grasp certain situations, he shows great insight depending on the context. Additionally, he is an expert in making clothes and stuffed animals. Interestingly, he possesses the peculiar ability to perceive the content of a book simply by looking at its cover, raising the question of how he can know its contents without even reading it.


    The next to make his introduction was Germ¨¢n, who approached Hammya and spoke with a calm and reassuring voice: ¡ª"Don''t pay attention to Declan. He''s naturally distrustful, but as you''re new, he''s just being cautious. If you make an effort to earn his trust, I''m sure you''ll get along eventually."


    Germ¨¢n: With black hair and gray eyes, Germ¨¢n bears a scar in the shape of the number four on his right cheek. He wears a white shirt and a black suit, complemented by a tie of the same tone. His appearance might evoke the image of the "men in black," if not for the lack of dark glasses. Despite the initial impression, he is a kind and friendly person. While many may perceive him as tough, he is actually understanding and always carries a smile (Psychopath).


    Regarding his powers, Germ¨¢n is the seventh son of the Ben¨ªtez family, making him a werewolf. He possesses impressive strength, almost equal to that of Ana Mar¨ªa. Unlike other werewolves who only transform during the full moon and lose consciousness, Germ¨¢n can transform at will and maintain full awareness of his actions. He can speak and interact normally in this form. He is agile and swift through the forests and can climb large walls with his sharp claws. Additionally, he can cut wood and trees with his super-sharp nails. When transforming into a werewolf, his height increases by three meters, making him even faster and more agile. His clothes adapt by stretching at the moment of transformation.


    Regarding his abilities, Germ¨¢n has chosen to be Candado''s personal bodyguard, a choice he made willingly. He always follows Candado everywhere, as if he were his shadow. He possesses exceptional vision that allows him to see at a distance of thirty-five kilometers. He is a genius in mathematics and literature, able to think clearly even under great pressure. Finally, he has the ability to get along with all animals.


    A distinctive trait of Germ¨¢n is his constant joy. It''s rare to see him angry, sad, or serious, as he always wears a smile on his face, similarly to how Candado usually maintains his seriousness.


    The eighth and ninth were the sisters Erika and Luc¨ªa.


    Erika: A redhead with long hair and dark eyes, Erika usually wears formal red pants, accompanied by a black shirt with a red bow tie and a formal vest in the same tone. She stands out for being kind, intelligent, innocent, and shy. She aspires to be like Candado, showing herself equally strong and fearless against their enemies.


    Regarding her powers, Erika possesses the power of platinum, allowing her to create non-lethal liquid platinum. She has control over the temperature, being able to make it hot or cold at will. She uses this power as a shield, and her sharp scream can stun those nearby. She generates spheres of platinum and electricity that explode upon contact with someone. She wears a silver ring that, when combined with her sister''s ring, generates a gaseous sphere of gold and silver, a curious and powerful combination capable of destroying even a building.


    As for her abilities, Erika is ambidextrous and has the ability to glimpse into the future for eight hundred seconds. She can transmit knowledge through her blood, although this ability does not please Candado. She is skilled at constructing believable and logical lies, in other words, she is a good liar. Additionally, she knows how to drive a car, although this skill is not useful for Candado due to his short stature.


    Second sister.


    Luc¨ªa: She is the opposite of her sister in some aspects. She has the same eyes as her sister and dresses identically, with only one difference in her attire: she adds a red tie and wears glasses. Her hair, like her sister''s, is long. Unlike Erika, Luc¨ªa exhibits a wild and extremely competitive behavior. She enjoys teasing H¨¦ctor and Declan and is usually always close to her sister. She disapproves of H¨¦ctor and Lucas''s exaggerated way of dressing. Despite her appearance, she deeply cares about all her friends. Luc¨ªa idolizes Candado and Ana Mar¨ªa to a great extent.


    As for her power, Luc¨ªa shares the same power characteristics as Erika, but with gold. She can unleash icy winds from her nose, mouth, and ears, and her roar is more powerful than that of a lion. She does not feel physical pain, although she is vulnerable to mental and emotional pain. She has the ability to lose limbs and regenerate them quickly, except for her head, as this process is slower. She can become invisible to a person''s visual field, although to achieve this, she must undress (although this latter power was prohibited by Candado, so she rarely uses it).


    Regarding her ability, Luc¨ªa can spy on people without them noticing. She has the ability to walk or run on water. Her fast speech allows her to effectively hide messages. She maintains excellent balance in various situations. She has a great interest in biology and world history.


    When everyone had introduced themselves, H¨¦ctor proposed something to Candado:


    ¡ªWhat if "he" also introduces himself? ¡ªsaid H¨¦ctor to Candado.


    ¡ªYou''re crazy, do you remember what happened the first time you saw "him"?


    ¡ªYes, I remember, Candado, but back then, I was very young ¡ªanswered H¨¦ctor with his hands on his hips.


    ¡ªWho is "he"?


    ¡ªIt''s none of your business.


    ¡ªCome on, don''t be like that, little lock. If she''s going to join us, she should know him ¡ªsaid Ana Mar¨ªa with a teasing tone.


    ¡ªJOIN!? We barely know her. How can a stranger join us? ¡ªexclaimed Declan angrily.


    ¡ªShe''s not a stranger anymore because we''ve introduced ourselves, and she has introduced herself too ¡ªsaid Germ¨¢n with a cheerful voice.


    ¡ªI like her, her green hair really catches my attention ¡ªadded Ana, tapping her fingers on the table.


    ¡ªOH, REALLY!? JUST BECAUSE SHE HAS THAT HAIR COLOR DOESN''T MEAN SHE CAN BE TRUSTED! Amidst the shouts and arguments about whether Hammya should join them or not, Lucas, who was sitting, stood up very annoyed and slammed the table with his flaming hand.


    ¡ªSILENCE! And let Candado decide. He''s our leader, after all. Everyone quieted down and looked at Candado. He observed them all and, raising his finger, spoke.


    ¡ªWell, on one hand, it''s true that we don''t know her, and she might betray us at some point, but on the other hand, she hid her presence and power from me. Besides, T¨ªnbari told me that he doesn''t know her, which makes her very interesting.


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    ¡ªWho is T¨ªnbari? ¡ªasked Hammya. At that moment, an elegant and haughty voice echoed.


    ¡ªAll of you are boring. I don''t know about you, but I quite like the little one.


    ¡ªYou''re foolish. You should have waited for my orders ¡ªsaid Candado, looking in all directions.


    ¡ªI''m tired of watching you argue ¡ªthe voice replied mockingly.


    ¡ªYou''re a... well, it doesn''t matter anymore. You can reveal yourself ¡ªsaid Candado, bringing his right hand to his face.


    H¨¦ctor looked at Hammya and said:


    ¡ªTry not to be scared if you see him. He may seem a bit creepy and evil, but he''s not bad ¡ªadded H¨¦ctor.


    At that moment, a wave of black smoke began to appear and formed a human figure. When it finished and the smoke dispersed, the individual was on display. It could be said that he was horror personified, and he stood in front of Hammya.


    He looked at her and smiled, approaching her and extending his hand. At that moment, Hammya realized that she also had to introduce herself.


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    T¨ªnbari: His skin was red, and his eyes were black, as if he had never seen the sun, but with white dots in them. He had two short white horns and a green helmet between them. Scars in the shape of a triangle crossed his forehead, from near his horn through the center, close to the opening of his helmet, and ending at the other horn. The arrangement on the other side of his forehead was similar but inverted. Threads crossed his lips, as if his mouth had been sewn shut. In his left hand, he had three red fingers with sharp claws; in the other, a normal hand with five fingers and a tight black glove. He had no ears, only small holes in their place. He lacked a nose, presenting instead two holes. He also had no eyebrows or eyelashes. He wore a red shirt with a light green tie, a knee-length blue trench coat, black dress pants with a belt of the same color, and very well-polished black formal shoes. He was calm and outgoing, enjoying scaring people with his appearance. He is a Bari (in his language, it means "Father," in ours, it means god), the protector of Candado. He likes the food cooked by Candado''s mother. In his past, he was human, one of the disappeared during the last military dictatorship. He participated in the Falklands War. His appearance is the result of the people he killed in revenge after his death.


    Power: He is the Father of Death (God of death), a demon capable of collecting and destroying human souls. He controls earthly elements and possesses other powers. He is immortal.


    Ability: He has none (he is a ghost, demon, and god of death; his nature is already a sufficient ability).


    Hammya was not scared at all upon seeing him, nor did she show amazement, sadness, or joy; her gaze was expressionless. This caught the attention of everyone, including T¨ªnbari. Of course, it would surprise anyone that someone didn''t feel fear towards a dark and ugly god of death. This aroused suspicions, especially in Declan, about why Hammya didn''t react with fear or surprise.


    ¡ªWhat expression is that? ¡ªasked H¨¦ctor, with one hand on his chin and the other in his pocket.


    ¡ªWhat expression? ¡ªasked Hammya.


    ¡ªYes, that expression ¡ªpointed Luca, surprised.


    ¡ªYou saw T¨ªnbari in person and didn''t show any expression. Anyone would have been scared to see him, even Candado ¡ªsaid Anzor, with crossed arms.


    Hammya had no idea what was going on; she looked around, hoping someone would explain the situation.


    ¡ªHad you seen T¨ªnbari before, girl? ¡ªasked Candado, very close to Hammya.


    ¡ªNo, not at all. It''s the first time I see someone like this ¡ªsaid Hammya, looking him in the eyes with a worried expression.


    Candado turned his back to Hammya, arms crossed, and declared: ¡ªUnderstood. In that case, I''m going to test something with you.


    At that moment, Candado quickly drew his knife and positioned it over Hammya''s throat.


    ¡ªWhat are you doing? ¡ªasked Hammya, with a trembling voice, fear in her eyes and increased sweating.


    Everyone looked at Candado with concern, as he had a super-sharp weapon at the girl''s neck.


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    ¡ªWell, you''re not a robot, and no one controls you ¡ªsaid Candado as he sheathed his knife into the belt on his back.


    ¡ªWHY DID YOU DO THAT, CANDADO? TELL ME WHY! ¡ªshouted Hammya, hysterical.


    Candado put his hand on Hammya''s forehead.


    ¡ªMmm, you don''t have palpitations or pain. I think you''re fine; apparently, you''re not hiding it from yourself. Well done ¡ªsaid Candado.


    The girl Hammya had no clue what was going on. The mystery was such that she quickly sought a logical answer to the situation. However, the more she thought, the more confused she became, and new questions arose.


    ¡ªGiven the circumstances I''ve subjected you to, I apologize, and also officially, you have entered the brotherhood ¡ªsaid Candado with a cold and expressionless face, placing his right hand on Hammya''s shoulder.


    Candado''s companions looked at him and exclaimed:


    ¡ªWHAT THE HELL!?


    ¡ªWhat a more rudimentary way to apologize ¡ªcommented T¨ªnbari with a smile.


    Everyone, except Ana, who was the only one who said "yay!", reacted with surprise. Lucas approached Candado, clearly dissatisfied with the decision.


    ¡ªFriend, what caught your attention for her to join us? I mean, we don''t even know her. How will we know she''ll be on our side?


    Lucas''s words were enough for everyone to look at him as if he were crazy. (At that time, questioning Candado''s authority was equivalent to earning a tombstone and a cheap grave if you said it). But Lucas soon received an answer.


    ¡ªIt''s a hunch. Over time, you''ll understand what I mean ¡ªsaid Candado, without even looking at him.


    Those three words hardly answered Lucas''s question, not to say they didn''t answer it at all. No one understood why they had admitted Hammya into the group. The change in Candado''s attitude, from suspicion to ambition, was unclear. As Candado headed towards the exit, he turned around and said:


    ¡ªOh, and also, today''s news was that Esteban and his henchmen acquired a new combat technique that seems to be more dangerous than the previous one. Try not to confront him while I''m not present ¡ªhe said while closing the door behind him.


    ¡ªHey, wait ¡ªsaid Anzor.


    ¡ªWhat''s wrong, buddy? Did the girl get on your nerves? ¡ªT¨ªnbari asked while flying over his head.


    ¡ªShut up, idiot. I''m tired because of everything that happened today, and I don''t feel like listening to your mockery, "DEMONTO" (demon and fool). Also, why didn''t you let me ask her the question when she sat next to me in school?


    ¡ªIt could be one of my omens, but she''s not like you, humans. No, sir. That girl Hammya emanates something different that I don''t know. Besides, her power and soul are more extraordinary than you''d expect from an ordinary human. I can almost assure you she''s much stronger than she appears.


    ¡ªYou too? Well, yes, I already suspected that. But about her not being human, I already knew that ¡ªCandado responded arrogantly.


    ¡ªAh, you knew that too. Good for you. By the way, I''d like to know why you admitted her into your guild?


    ¡ªWell, just as you have your "omens," I had a gut feeling ¡ªCandado said with a twisted laugh and closed eyes.


    ¡ªDon''t tell me she reminded you of her, did she? ¡ªT¨ªnbari said in a soft tone. Upon hearing this, Candado reached for his gold-plated chain, which had a sun, and said:


    ¡ªShe was unique and irreplaceable. I could never do such a thing. I''d give anything to go back in time ¡ªhe added with a somewhat sad tone.


    ¡ªIt wouldn''t do you any good to go back in time. Besides being impossible, you couldn''t help her anyway, since she was sick.


    ¡ªI know, but I''d like to see her once more. T¨ªnbari stopped behind Candado and, in a mocking and insensitive manner, said:


    ¡ªWell, I''m tired of talking about your deceased sister. She''s where she should be anyway. In the end, all humans have that comfortable useless wooden box waiting for them. And a few worms underground, too. If you have anything else to tell me, we''ll talk later. I have work at Pensilvania. See you, buddy ¡ªT¨ªnbari said as he faded away.


    Upon hearing this, Candado didn''t get angry or upset. Instead, he began to laugh at what T¨ªnbari had said. The laughter allowed him to forget his sorrows and sadness over his sister''s death. After laughing for a while, Candado wiped the tears from his eyes with his red handkerchief.


    ¡ªThanks, T¨ªnbari. I needed that.


    After uttering these words, T¨ªnbari vanished into the air, and the gentle breeze blowing on Candado''s neck carried away a laughter that gradually faded as the wind calmed. Now, Candado was left alone in the quiet streets of the town, where the only inhabitants were birds, cats, dogs, and some annoying mosquitoes.


    He looked at his hands and shoes for a moment and then headed back home. The afternoon was progressing, and he walked for a long time, contemplating the landscapes of the town''s streets and forests. Finally, he arrived in his neighborhood. It was 3:49 p.m., and people were starting to appear everywhere: adults chatting, elders sweeping their houses, and others enjoying mate or terer¨¦. Children between 6 and 8 years old played with a ball in the mud, while young people between 18 and 20 performed antics on the walls of houses.


    Candado reached his house, which resembled a German-style chalet built mostly with bricks and cement. The facade was of a light blue color, giving it a distinctive look. On the top of the house, there was a small stable with a wooden roof. The dwelling consisted of two floors, in addition to the stable at the top.


    After observing his home for a minute and a half, Candado entered through the front door. He closed it behind him and locked it. The sunlight streaming through the windows of the dining room, kitchen, and living room illuminated the house.This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.


    He climbed the stairs located in front of the main door and reached a hallway with four doors. Three of them led to bedrooms, and the last one led only to a staircase that went up to the stable above.


    He approached the second door, a green wooden door with a yellow heart in the center, and opened it with extreme care. He found his grandmother, Andrea, sleeping in a rocking chair, with a fairy tale book in her lap. In front of her, little Karen, only two years old, played with a frog-shaped stuffed animal. Karen had green eyes, short blond hair, and usually wore a yellow overall with a pocket on the chest. She wore pink bear-patterned stockings and a bright green shirt. Although she didn''t have any special powers, Karen stood out for her calmness and cleverness despite her young age.


    Upon seeing that everything was in order, Candado closed the door gently and silently, not to awaken the baby. Karen continued playing, unaware of her brother''s presence.


    After ensuring that his sister was happy and healthy, Candado headed to his own room. The door of his room was white wood with a sign that read in Latin, "Cogito ergo sum" (I think, therefore I am). Upon entering, he found a spacious room with two windows adorned with curtains. The walls were painted in white concrete, standing out in contrast to the rest of the decor.


    The room''s furniture was varied and practical. A bed of ideal size for two people was placed under one of the windows, with a blue blanket and an orange pillow. Next to the door, there was a cherry-red wooden wardrobe with a mirror on the door. Beside the bed, about three or four inches away, was a black desk under the other window, accompanied by a wooden chair of the same color. The floor was covered with a gray carpet.


    The room had modern amenities, such as air conditioning, a ceiling fan, and a small heater in the desk drawer. The wall decoration consisted of five paintings and three photo frames. The paintings depicted historical figures such as Hip¨®lito Yrigoyen, Juan Domingo Per¨®n and Eva Duarte, Ernesto Guevara, Nicol¨¢s Avellaneda, and Roque S¨¢enz Pe?a.


    The photo frames were placed on a piece of furniture next to the wardrobe. One of the frames contained a photograph of Candado''s family, including his parents, grandparents, uncles, aunts, cousins, and his two sisters. One of his sisters was Karen, who was only six weeks old in the photo. In another photo, Candado smiled with his cousin and sister, sitting in the front. Another photo showed Candado with his friends: H¨¦ctor, Lucas, Ana Mar¨ªa, German, Matlotsky, Luc¨ªa, Erika, Anzor, Declan, Viki, and their pets S¨ªo and Clementina. There was also a photo of Candado and his cousins holding a football trophy high.


    Candado took off his beret and placed it in his wardrobe using a hanger. Then, he took a different beret and hung it on a hook on the door. He sat at his desk and took a book from his drawer. However, at that moment, he heard a barely perceptible noise, which seemed abnormal to him. The adjoining room belonged to his late sister, and no one entered there except for cleaning on weekends. Filled with suspicion and intrigue, he carefully closed the book and left it on the table. He stood up, grabbed his fac¨®n, and cautiously exited his room, heading towards the adjacent room.


    Upon arrival, he put his ear to the door and began to hear faint noises, such as the sound of a zipper and footsteps.


    ¡ªBurglars? Esteban has gone too far¡ª. Candado muttered to himself.


    Without wasting time, he grabbed the doorknob and opened the door quickly. Immediately, he lunged at the suspicious figure, immobilizing and placing his fac¨®n at her neck to prevent her from screaming. To his surprise, he found a frightened Hammya, trembling and with tears in her eyes.


    ¡ªWhat the hell? Why are you here, you piece of wild tree? ¡ªCandado asked, holding the knife to Hammya''s neck.


    ¡ªSeriously, Candado, I think you should calm down, please, ¡ªHammya said, hesitating.


    ¡ªI don''t know where you come from or what customs you have, BUT HERE PEOPLE ENTER THROUGH THE DOOR, NOT THROUGH THE WINDOW! ¡ªCandado shouted, furiously.


    ¡ªI''ll tell you everything, just take that knife off my neck, ¡ªHammya said, on the verge of tears. Candado stood up, sheathed his fac¨®n, and helped Hammya to her feet.


    ¡ªFine, what are you doing here? ¡ªCandado asked, arms crossed and an eyebrow raised. Hammya pulled a letter from her pocket and said:


    ¡ªMy father, before he died, told me to give you this letter. I was going to tell you at school, but I forgot. Then at that house, but I forgot again, ¡ªshe said, extending her hand with a letter in it. ¡ªIdiot.


    ¡ªSorry, I got distracted. Candado took the letter and opened it. It read:


    My dear friend, I know this may seem crazy and strange, but you told me you were in debt to me and that if I ever needed help, I shouldn''t hesitate to turn to you and your father. I regret to inform you that I have terminal cancer and I am suffering a lot of pain as a result. Moving and even breathing have become very difficult for me, and I have almost no strength left. Chemotherapy is no longer effective, and I have requested a dignified death to avoid further suffering.


    So, I want to ask you a favor. I want you to take care of my daughter, Hammya Saillim, because I won''t be able to do it. I don''t want her to end up in an orphanage, and since I have no family or trusted friends, I entrust her care to you. You have proven to be a person worthy of merits and trust. So, please, take care of her. I regret not being able to explain more in this letter, but Hammya will tell you everything in due time.


    Your friend, Ricardo Miranda "El Rueda."


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    Upon reading this, Candado felt a mix of sadness and sorrow for his friend "El Rueda," who couldn''t see him in his final moments. He looked at Hammya and thought that maybe she could stay if he asked his parents. However, how could he do that? It was a sudden situation, and it wasn''t about an abandoned dog or cat; no, it was a girl who had nowhere to go. Candado took a breath and, with a certain coldness, said:


    ¡ªI don''t know. Maybe if I talk to my parents, you could stay.


    Hammya smiled and was about to hug Candado, but he quickly put his hand on her forehead to keep her at a distance.


    ¡ªDon''t even think about it. Look at your clothes, they''re dirty. I''m sure you had to go through the mud in the garden. First, take a bath and change your clothes.


    ¡ªJust that?


    ¡ªI still hate you. And if you''re going to live here, don''t bother me at all. I can make your life very miserable, whether you''re Miranda''s daughter or not. The letter says to take care of you, but it never specifies how to do it.


    ¡ªWell ¡ªHammya said, visibly frightened.


    ¡ªI''m glad you understood, emerald.


    ¡ªStop mocking. I tried to dye my hair, but every time I did, the color changed.


    ¡ªYou get depressed very easily. How clumsy.


    ¡ªWell, I think that''s enough. Now, where is the bathroom?


    Candado made a gesture for her to follow. However, as they headed to the entrance, the door mysteriously swung open and hit Candado in the face, causing him to fall to the ground, groaning in pain. At that moment, a girl of about 12 years old appeared in the doorway.


    ¡ªHello. I came to inspect the strange noises in this room.


    ¡ªOuch! My nose hurts. Why didn''t you knock on the door, Clementina? ¡ªcomplained Candado, while touching his sore nose.


    ¡ªYoung master, I didn''t know you were behind the door. My sincerest apologies. Besides, why would I knock on the door in an empty room? Do you want the air to open it? ¡ªsaid Clementina, with her left hand over her chest.


    ¡ªHa, ha, ha. Don''t try to reason logically with me, you piece of Nokia. And you better be careful next time ¡ªwarned Candado, pointing his index finger at Clementina''s forehead.


    Hammya approached both of them and asked:


    ¡ªCandado, who is she?


    ¡ªAh, you barely know each other, and you already hate her. Oh, with you, girl. Her name is Clementina V02 (Version 02).


    ¡ªWhy do you carry that surname? ¡ªinquired Hammya.


    ¡ªBecause she''s a robot, manufactured by my grandfather, with surviving parts from the Clementina computer.


    ¡ªNice to meet you, Miss Extraterrestrial ¡ªgreeted Clementina with a smile.


    ¡ªOh, you too?


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    Clementina has fair skin and long hair, tied in a ponytail, black in color. Her eyes are completely dark, as if she had never seen the sunlight, but they have bright green circles in them. Her eyebrows are made of unbreakable glass, painted in a chestnut shade. On her neck, she bears a tattoo with the number 02. She wears light green formal pants, along with shoes of the same color. Her shirt is black, and she sports a green vest. Completing her outfit are gala pink gloves and a strong green tie. Her personality is extremely peculiar: she is kind and obedient to the Barret family. Occasionally, she tries to mimic Candado''s seriousness, but it rarely turns out well. Sometimes, she even teases him by calling him "young master." Instead, she tends to be energetic, with a hint of cold seriousness. She acts as a sort of sister to Candado.


    As for her abilities and powers, Clementina, being an android created by Alfred, is a defensive weapon. She has hands that can transform into machine guns or knives, and her chest has the ability to shoot fire. Additionally, her right arm features an energy cannon that can destroy an entire wall or house. Despite having a childlike appearance, Clementina acts with the maturity of an adult woman on certain occasions. She contributes to household chores and takes care of Candado''s sister and grandmother. This last aspect is peculiar, as you generally don''t see a child taking care of an older person. Clementina is extremely loyal to Candado, largely because he provided her with skin to make her appearance more human. Moreover, she is responsible for managing the house, handling doors, windows, security systems, and more. In other words, she plays a central role in the functioning of the house and Candado''s activities, including meetings.


    The beginning of the relationship between Hammya and Clementina was a bit awkward, but they eventually started getting along. However, Candado noticed something peculiar about Hammya''s hair and, with his right hand, touched his chin before approaching her.


    ¡ªYou know, I''ve been thinking, now that I have time, about your hair. What is your power, girl? ¡ªCandado asked.


    ¡ªI''m not sure, until today. I just know it happens when I''m unconscious, but I don''t know if I really have any kind of power¡ªHammya replied.


    ¡ªYou''re wrong, girl. 97% of the world has powers. I don''t think you''re the exception¡ªCandado asserted.


    ¡ªHow do you know that¡ªCandado signaled Clementina with a snap of his fingers, and she began to speak.


    ¡ª100 years ago, in Resistencia Chaco, a meteor the size of a house fell in the city''s forests. Some locals and police went to investigate what had happened. One of the witnesses approached and touched the stone that had fallen from space. Upon doing so, the meteor released violet energy into the sky, causing the sun to darken completely. This energy left the meteor and concentrated in the sky for several minutes. People who witnessed this phenomenon believed it was the end of the world and began to pray to the purple energy sphere in the sky. However, something strange happened. The sphere began to compress excessively until it finally exploded into fragments that scattered all over the world. These fragments caused various events worldwide, granting humans magic and powers whose origin is still unknown.


    ¡ªIn other words, superhumans¡ªCandado commented as he showed his left hand enveloped in violet flame. Hammya didn''t completely understand what was happening or if what Candado said was true or a trick. She decided to play along and, cleverly, hinted that she believed them.


    ¡ªWell, that explains everything. You have an incredible power ¡ªHammya said with amazement.


    Candado didn''t believe a word of what Hammya was telling him. He knew that the power he possessed was not extraordinary at all, and he also didn''t know how to control it properly. However, he couldn''t label her as a liar, as that could trigger a dangerous and deadly ambition in her to prove him wrong. If Hammya tried to showcase her power without knowing how to control it, she could jeopardize their home. Candado had already learned this lesson through experience when he underestimated an 18-year-old who had no idea how to handle his power and ended up wreaking havoc at the school. Therefore, to avoid damaging her self-esteem, Candado devised a plan.


    ¡ªAlright, how about you show me a little demonstration outside? ¡ªCandado suggested, pointing to the window of his room toward the backyard.


    ¡ªWhy outside? ¡ªHammya and Clementina asked in unison.


    ¡ªFor safety, girls, for safety, ¡ªCandado replied.


    So, in silence, Candado and his companions headed to the garden so that Hammya could showcase her "great power." Once in the backyard, Candado sat on a bench made of goat leather and wood, Hammya positioned herself under the only large tree in the garden, and Clementina stood next to Candado as if she were his bodyguard.


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    ¡ªWell, show me your power," ¡ªCandado instructed, raising his arm as if he were a general.


    ¡ªAlright ¡ªHammya replied nervously.


    She assumed a posture, but in reality, she had no idea what she should do. She searched for ways to calm herself slowly until she finally managed to do so. She raised her left hand, pointing at Candado, and closed her eyes. After a few minutes of tense anticipation, something began to happen: the wind started to blow stronger than before. The leaves of the trees, both inside and outside the house, began to fall, and instead of going to the ground, they approached Hammya and surrounded her in a pattern resembling an X, as if they were bees and she the hive, or insects guided by light in the darkness of the night. But that wasn''t all. Hammya''s green hair began to glow intensely, and her feet stopped touching the ground; she was floating.


    Candado, arms crossed and an impassive expression, observed everything that was happening. Clementina, the only one surprised in the scene, took four steps forward.


    ¡ªIt''s amazing. Her power has a strong connection with nature.


    ¡ªOn what do you base that statement? ¡ªCandado asked ironically.


    After a while, Hammya''s power began to gradually lose control, something Candado quickly noticed. He tried to warn Clementina to step back, but before he could do so, she took a step forward. Somehow, Hammya, with her eyes closed, seemed to get angry, as if she felt threatened. The roots of the tree behind her sprouted from the ground and rushed toward Clementina at a surprising speed. It seemed likely that the massive root would hit her and shatter her completely. Candado realized the situation in an instant.


    Quickly, he got up from his seat, ran, and pushed Clementina to the side, preventing the roots from reaching her. In the process, he himself received the impact of the roots on his chest. The blow was so strong that it threw him into the air, making him fly towards the entrance of the house, breaking the iron door connecting the patio to the house with his back. As Hammya opened her eyes and saw Clementina and Candado on the ground, the roots returned to their original state.


    Hammya hurriedly ran towards Candado, while Clementina, once she stood up, also rushed to help. When both reached him, they found him lying on the ground, severely injured but without an expression of pain on his face or a tear in his eyes. Instead, he maintained a serious expression with a raised eyebrow.


    ¡ªWell, let''s say I''ve had more terrible situations than this. Not every day does a tree root from the tree you''ve cared for five years brutally attack you and leave you half dead," ¡ªCandado said calmly from the ground.


    ¡ªAre you okay, young master? ¡ªClementina asked, shaking the dirt off her clothes.


    ¡ªHow you love to make me angry! ¡ªhe continued with shouts ¡ªI GOT HIT BY A DAMN TREE AND MADE MY BACK BREAK THE REINFORCED IRON DOOR WITH TITANIUM ANTI-THEFT, SO NO, I''M NOT OKAY!


    ¡ªI''m so sorry, Candado ¡ªHammya said, kneeling beside him. Of course, Candado felt it more than she did.


    Emotional damage didn''t compare to extreme physical harm; if it had been someone else, that blow would have been fatal. Changing the subject a bit, in a corner was T¨ªnbari, sitting in an armchair with a cup of coffee and his legs crossed.


    ¡ªWell, well, well, what a wonderful disaster the house has become.


    ¡ªHey, Demonto, do you think I''m going to die? I think something happened to my organs. In fact, I can''t feel my back.


    ¡ªI don''t think you''ll die. After all, you''re a ''humagant'' (a play on words between human and arrogant, improvised for the occasion), and those are the ones who are tough," ¡ªT¨ªnbari said. Hammya approached Candado, placed her hands on his back, and helped him up, but he squinted and raised an eyebrow in pain.


    ¡ªLook, I appreciate the help, but by doing that, you caused even more intense pain by touching my back. As you can see, I''m a gentleman and I won''t show all the anger and insults I have in mind, so if you''ll allow me."


    Then, Candado proceeded to pull her left ear.


    ¡ªI deserved that ¡ªHammya said with a pained expression. Just at that moment, footsteps were heard upstairs, and a voice said:


    ¡ªSon, what is all this commotion? Those words caused a bit of nervousness among those present. The garden door and the living room were completely destroyed. As for T¨ªnbari, he disappeared without a trace, as he always did with everyone he deemed impure and unworthy to see him. In reality, he hid from humans to avoid attracting attention. Descending the stairs was none other than Candado''s grandmother, Andrea Batef G¨®mez Barret (she was the late Alfred''s wife). She looked at everyone and asked.


    Grandmother Andrea: She has reddish hair, with small gray strands, short and tied in a ponytail. She has brown eyes, a mole on her upper right cheek, and almost no wrinkles on her face but has them on her hands. She has white skin.


    ¡ªWhat happened here?


    ¡ªIt''s nothing to worry about, Grandma. The door can be repaired, and the living room too, ¡ªCandado said while fixing his shirt.


    The grandmother turned her gaze to Hammya and asked.


    ¡ªWhat a lovely girl. Who is she?


    ¡ªOh, her name is Hammya. Don''t let her beauty deceive you because she''s a damn hungry jaguar," ¡ªCandado said angrily.


    ¡ªI see. So, your name is Hammya, your father was Ricardo Miranda, known as ''Rueda,'' and due to his death, you will stay in this house because Candado was friends with that sharp individual. Also, it seems you don''t know how to handle your powers, right? ¡ª"How did she know all those things?


    Does she know me? ¡ªHammya asked surprised. ¡ªCome on, it''s not to be surprised. After all, that''s her power, ¡ªCandado said.


    ¡ªWhat was all that ''It''s not to be surprised''? She knows everything about my father.


    ¡ªGirl, girl, girl, your naivety is as amusing as the color of your hair. Didn''t you hear what I just told you? On this planet, 97% of humans have powers. In this case, my grandmother is one of them.


    ¡ªExactly, it''s as my boy says. I''ve had powers since I was a child, just like you. ¡ª"What kind of powers do you have, ma''am?


    ¡ªWell, I have some, like reading minds, creating a protective barrier, healing wounds and some diseases, I can vanish like ashes, etc.


    ¡ªCool, I have a power, something different from yours. I think it''s related to nature.


    ¡ªReally? That''s great, dear.


    ¡ªWell, to be honest, what she experienced was temporary,¡ªCandado said.


    ¡ªWhy do you say that? ¡ªHammya asked.


    ¡ªWhat you did outside simply awakened your power. Nothing more than that. For now, your spirit can''t control your power.


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    ¡ªCan it be fixed?


    ¡ªYes, it can be fixed. But for that, you''ll have to train.


    The grandmother observed the conversation of the young people with desperation. It was like watching two old people talking about their childhood, in other words, boring. Tired of listening to them, she raised her hand and spoke calmly.


    ¡ªExcuse me, I wouldn''t want to interrupt, but the patio door is destroyed, and if you don''t mind, I would like it fixed.


    ¡ªOf course, don''t worry, boss, ¡ªClementina said.


    With both hands, she lifted the metal door and put it in place. Then, using her index finger as a tool, she pulled out a blowtorch and began repairing the hinges.


    ¡ªWell, now that the door is fixed, I''ll prepare lunch...


    ¡ªWait, don''t you think we should talk about this? I mean, what would my parents think if I tell them that a ''girl'' is going to stay at home because of a debt I had with a friend?


    ¡ªDon''t worry, everything will be sorted out when they arrive. In the meantime, show her to her room. Remember, the debt is also your father''s.


    ¡ªYes, I know. I just hope they arrive in time to talk.


    ¡ªWell, let''s forget all that and take her to her room.


    ¡ªWhich room?


    ¡ªHeh, how forgetful.


    ¡ªI''m sorry, but where is she going to stay?


    ¡ªHEY!" ¡ªHammya shouted.


    ¡ªWhat do you think if she stays in Gabriela''s room? After all, that room has been abandoned for over 3 years.


    ¡ª"Alright, I''ll turn a blind eye to it," ¡ªCandado said with disgust.


    While the grandmother headed to the kitchen, Candado led Hammya to the room, the same one they were in before, but now instead of being an intruder, she was a guest.


    ¡ªWell, from today, this will be your room," ¡ªCandado said, showing the room.


    ¡ªThank you," ¡ªHammya continued ¡ª"and by the way, I want to apologize for the hit and the damage I caused.


    ¡ªDon''t worry, I''ve met people who hit much harder than you.


    ¡ªAlthough your back still hurt, anyway, ¡ªHammya whispered.


    Then, Candado headed to the door and left, closing it behind him without saying anything else. As he walked away, his footsteps became increasingly silent. Hammya began to unpack her clothes and some items, carefully lay down on the bed, and looked at the ceiling, where curiously was written in blue: "You have a task to do." Intrigued by those words that seemed to have a hidden meaning, Hammya knew they wouldn''t be revealed that day.


    ¡ªSurely, tomorrow will be a good day," ¡ªHammya whispered to herself.


    But just as she was about to fall asleep, she heard light knocks on the door and a weak voice saying:


    ¡ªMiss, would you be so kind to open the door?


    Those words were enough for Hammya to get up from the bed and go to the door. With her right hand, she opened it carefully and peeked her head to see who was there, but she saw no one. Confused, she opened the door completely and stepped into the hallway. She looked both ways, but there was no one in sight. Resigned and puzzled, she went back into the room and closed the door behind her. However, when she turned around, she was startled to see T¨ªnbari lying on the bed.


    ¡ªAh, just now you get scared. You really surprise me in many ways, kiddo, ¡ªT¨ªnbari said mockingly.


    ¡ªSorry, but anyone would have been scared in that situation.


    ¡ªNo, not anyone. Candado is living proof of that. He makes everyone seem like useless fools, ¡ªT¨ªnbari said with a mocking tone.


    ¡ªAlright. What does the ''supposed demon'' want from an ''idiot''?


    ¡ªNothing in particular. I just came to draw my own conclusions about you, ''walking tree,''" ¡ªT¨ªnbari said seriously.


    ¡ªConclusions about me? Why...?


    ¡ªLook, my duty in this vast and boring world is to protect Candado from the daily battles he faces with unpleasant humans and their stupid society. But today, something unusual happened."


    ¡ªWhat happened today?"


    T¨ªnbari abruptly brought his head to Hammya''s level, coming face to face with her.


    ¡ªYour presence.


    Those words scared Hammya so much that she tried to disguise her fear with a trembling smile, albeit unsuccessfully. Her hands were shaking so quickly that she hid them behind her back.


    ¡ªWhat''s wrong with my presence? ¡ªHammya asked with a trembling voice.


    ¡ªOh, I smell your fear, girl. There''s no need to hide it from me. Although it''s strange because when you should have been afraid, you weren''t. But now you are. The truth is, I don''t understand you, girl. Anyway, that doesn''t matter. The truth is that your presence before Candado has aroused suspicions in me.


    ¡ªWhy?


    ¡ªYou don''t know what happened to that boy. You don''t smell like a human, nor do you look like one.


    ¡ªWhat do you mean? I was born in Entre R¨ªos.


    ¡ªWell, it seems that the term ''puppet'' doesn''t suit you. I think you''re more clumsy than anything. Didn''t you understand what I told you? You''re not human. I don''t care what you believe. The point is, I''ve never seen anyone like you in my life, and if someone like you is here, then Pullbarey can''t be far away.


    ¡ªWho is Pullbarey?


    ¡ªHammya, Hammya, yes, Hammya. A name I''ve never heard on Earth but have heard elsewhere."


    ¡ªYou''re confusing me.


    ¡ªI don''t care. Just stay away from Candado. I have three rules for you," ¡ªhe said while displaying his sharp and threatening fingers less than an inch from her, which scared her.


    Hammya swallowed hard and asked.


    ¡ªRules?"


    ¡ªFirst rule: don''t make Candado suffer.


    ¡ªWhat?


    ¡ª"Don''t become his friend. He already has enough friends. Your friendship will lead you to know his most intimate secrets. You can''t, no... let me correct myself, never try it.


    Hammya felt disappointed and lowered her head.


    ¡ªAnd the next?


    ¡ªDon''t ask him anything, absolutely anything, neither him nor his family. And the third, don''t make me angry under any circumstances.


    ¡ªWhy are you doing this?


    ¡ªTo protect him. He''s like a son. A son who has already been hurt by the miserable life around him. They''re all fragile.


    Hammya lifted her head and replied.


    ¡ªI''m sorry, but it seems like I''ll break some of those rules. If I''m going to live here, I want to get to know all the residents, including him.


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    T¨ªnbari smiled and let out a terrible laugh, which further confused Hammya.


    ¡ªIt''s the funniest thing I''ve seen.


    ¡ªWhat? ¡ªshe asked fearfully.


    ¡ªYour eyes ¡ªhe continued laughing.


    ¡ªI don''t understand.


    T¨ªnbari, amid laughter, said:


    ¡ª"You''re so naive. There''s nothing... nothing suspicious in your eyes. I just see a girl. A girl who is...


    ¡ªStop laughing and speak clearly.


    T¨ªnbari stopped laughing and continued.


    ¡ªYou can forget about the rules, girl. I just saw your secrets. I thought you were an infiltrated killer, or an opportunist, or a vagabond. But I still haven''t figured out your identity on this planet. For now, there''s nothing posing a threat to Candado. So forget it, for now."


    ¡ªI don''t understand. What''s happening to you?


    ¡ªIt doesn''t matter. I''ll tell you if you''re a threat or not. I thought you were going for the prize.


    ¡ªWhat? Prize? What are you talking about? Explain yourself, mocking demon, ¡ªHammya demanded.


    ¡ªWell, my naive girl, that''s something I can''t reveal. You''ll have the answer when Candado fully trusts you. Anyway, you shouldn''t stick your nose where it doesn''t belong. Because if you do, he''ll gut you with his knife, and I''ll eat your entrails in front of your eyes, ¡ªT¨ªnbari said, bringing his demonic finger close to Hammya''s nose.


    After that conversation, T¨ªnbari vanished into smoke, as he always did. After everything that happened during the day, that conversation left Hammya pale with fear. Everything T¨ªnbari had said could be true or not. According to what she had heard, it was a very serious matter, and perhaps her life was at stake.


    On the verge of exploding, Hammya inhaled and exhaled repeatedly until she calmed down. She shrugged, sat on the bed, and rubbed her eyes with her left hand due to fatigue. Then, she lay delicately on the bed and looked at the ceiling. As sleep gradually overcame her, she spoke with a soft and calm voice.


    Hammya swallowed hard and asked.


    ¡ªRules?


    ¡ªFirst rule, don''t make Candado suffer.


    ¡ªWhat?


    ¡ªDon''t become his friend. He already has enough friends. Your friendship will lead you to know his deepest secrets. You can''t, no... let me correct myself, never try it."


    Hammya felt disappointed and lowered her head.


    ¡ªAnd what else?


    ¡ªDon''t ask him anything, absolutely anything, neither him nor his family. And third, don''t make me angry under any circumstances."


    ¡ªWhy are you doing this?


    ¡ªTo protect him. He''s like a son, a son who has already been hurt by the miserable life around him. They''re all fragile.


    Hammya lifted her head and replied.


    ¡ªI''m sorry, but it seems like I''ll break some of those rules. If I''m going to live here, I want to get to know all the residents, including him.


    T¨ªnbari smiled and let out a terrible laugh, which further confused Hammya.


    ¡ªIt''s the funniest thing I''ve seen.


    ¡ªWhat? ¡ªshe asked fearfully.


    ¡ªYour eyes," ¡ªhe continued laughing.


    ¡ªI don''t understand.


    T¨ªnbari, amid laughter, said:


    ¡ªYou''re so naive. There''s nothing... nothing suspicious in your eyes. I just see a girl. A girl who is...


    ¡ªStop laughing and speak clearly."


    T¨ªnbari stopped laughing and continued.


    ¡ªYou can forget about the rules, girl. I just saw your secrets. I thought you were an infiltrated killer, or an opportunist, or a vagabond. But I still haven''t figured out your identity on this planet. For now, there''s nothing posing a threat to Candado. So forget it, for now.


    ¡ªI don''t understand, what''s happening to you?


    ¡ªDoesn''t matter, I''ll decide if you''re a threat or not. I thought you were going for the prize.


    ¡ªWhat? Prize? What are you talking about? Explain yourself, mocking demon, ¡ªHammya demanded.


    ¡ªWell, my naive girl, that''s something I can''t reveal. You''ll have the answer when Candado fully trusts you. However, you shouldn''t stick your nose into other people''s business, because if you do, he''ll gut you with his knife, and I''ll eat your entrails in front of your eyes, ¡ªT¨ªnbari said, bringing his demonic finger close to Hammya''s nose.


    After that conversation, T¨ªnbari vanished into smoke, as he always did. After everything that happened during the day, that conversation left Hammya pale with fear. Everything T¨ªnbari had said could be true or not. According to what she had heard, it was a very serious matter, and perhaps her life was at stake.


    On the verge of exploding, Hammya inhaled and exhaled repeatedly until she finally managed to calm down. She shrugged and sat on the bed, rubbing her eye with her left hand due to fatigue. Then, she lay delicately on the bed and stared at the ceiling. As sleep gradually overcame her, she spoke with a soft and calm voice.


    ¡ªIf today was a hectic day, how will tomorrow be? ¡ªThen she closed her eyes. It was 7:00 p.m. when she finally fell asleep. For her, it was the end of the day and the beginning of the next.


    Just at that moment, Candado entered the bedroom to announce that dinner was served. However, seeing that Hammya was asleep, he kept quiet. He approached her carefully, took off her shoes, and covered her with a blanket to keep her warm.


    ¡ªGirl, don''t you know that it gets cold in the afternoon in this town? ¡ªCandado said in a low voice.


    He then took Hammya''s shoes to clean and fix them, as they were quite worn out. He left the bedroom in a more serious mood than before, glancing at Hammya''s shoes and then at the door.


    ¡ªWhat kind of father was ''El Rueda'' to you, Hammya Saillim? ¡ªhe murmured while looking at the door.


    For Candado, the day had not ended but had just begun. He felt that certain situations were not mere coincidences, but rather everything happened for a reason. If this situation was not a coincidence, then it was a crucial moment to act and display his cunning.


    Candado was convinced that there was more behind what was written in his friend ''El Rueda''s'' letter. Something was not right in all this matter. For him, one thing was certain: he would solve this mystery.

 INDECISION

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    It was 4:45 in the morning when Hammya woke up. Everyone was already fast asleep. She looked out the window, surveying the dimly lit streets in the early morning. It was very cold outside, and the asphalt seemed almost frozen. The window was fogged up. Hammya removed the blanket and calmly got out of bed, then walked to the door. As she was about to open it, she glanced down at her feet for a few seconds and realized she wasn''t wearing her shoes. Something or someone had taken them off, but she didn''t worry too much because she saw them under her bed, clean and shiny.


    "Who cleaned them?" Hammya whispered.


    She was delighted to see her shoes dazzling and noticed they had been fixed and painted. Next to them, she found a letter from Candado. Hammya took it and read the message he had written.


    "To Hammya, from Candado Barret: I took the liberty of fixing your shoes. I hope you like them. Mind you, don''t let these go to your head. Also, since you were sleeping, I decided not to wake you up. I''m sure you''ll wake up hungry, so I''ve left your food in the pantry."


    Hammya folded the paper and put it in her pocket before leaving the room. She walked slowly down the hallway to avoid making noise, went downstairs, and headed for the kitchen. However, she was surprised to find T¨ªnbari holding baby Karen while sipping a cup of coffee.


    "What are you doing here?" Hammya asked quietly.


    "I''m drinking coffee, can''t you see?" replied T¨ªnbari, sarcastic and surprised.


    "No, that''s not what I mean. Why are you in this house?" said Hammya, already irritated.


    "Because I live here, longer than you, you ugly, clover-haired girl."


    T¨ªnbari''s insults infuriated Hammya, and she could no longer contain her anger or keep her voice down.


    "YOU ARE THE MOST HORRIBLE, MEAN, HORRIBLE, HORRIBLE, DISASTROUS PERSON WHO HAS EVER EXISTED IN THIS WORLD!"


    "Hey, don''t talk like that; he''s just a baby," said T¨ªnbari while playing with Karen.


    Hammya was sick and tired of being teased. Without hesitation and forgetting that people were sleeping, she clenched her fists tightly and showed her anger again.


    "I''M TALKING ABOUT YOU, YOU TAILLESS LIZARD!" shouted Hammya, pointing at T¨ªnbari.


    But to both of their surprise, before they could continue arguing, a knife shot out from the living room into the kitchen, cutting off a few strands of Hammya''s hair in the process.


    From that dark room emerged a furious Candado, eager to paint the kitchen with the blood of T¨ªnbari and Hammya due to the insolence of having woken him up so early.


    "Well, you sewer rats, it''s five in the morning, and you''re out partying. May I know what all the fuss is about?" said Candado angrily, his eyes alight with a violet flame.


    Both T¨ªnbari and Hammya did not know what to say at that moment. Candado was very angry that they had woken him up, and there was a possibility that if the excuse was not credible enough for him, they would face his wrath.


    Then, T¨ªnbari approached Candado and said:


    "You see, I was in the kitchen drinking coffee and feeding your little sister, but just then she came in and started making a fuss," added T¨ªnbari, pointing to Hammya.


    Candado looked at him and then closed his eyes, raising his eyebrows.


    "What an explanation, you''ve stumped me," said Candado sarcastically. Then he looked at Hammya and pointed his index finger at her. Now it''s your turn.


    Hammya looked at Candado with her arms crossed.


    "Nothing to declare," she said quickly and without hesitation.


    These words plunged everyone into total silence for a few minutes. Candado, who had asked the question, was completely baffled by Hammya''s answer.


    T¨ªnbari, for his part, felt a little frightened by these words, so he approached Hammya.


    "Here, take the child," said T¨ªnbari, handing baby Karen to Hammya.


    As soon as Hammya received the baby, T¨ªnbari quickly disappeared. Candado, who had been silent with a blank stare, became furious again and flashed his violet eyes.


    "So, in other words, you woke me up for nothing," said Candado angrily.


    Hammya was frightened by Candado''s expression and began to tremble. His jerky movements frightened the baby he was carrying, Karen, who began to cry loudly at the sight of her angry brother in a chilling manner. Candado, upon seeing his little sister cry, immediately calmed down and took her in his arms to try to calm her down.


    "Stop crying, Karen, please," said Candado in an attempt to comfort the baby.


    However, the baby kept crying and crying, which made Candado, in desperation, put his thumb in her mouth, and miraculously, Karen calmed down instantly. Even though he was disgusted by what he did.


    "What a disgusting thing to do as a big brother," Candado muttered as he watched his sister.


    "Well, since you''ve calmed down, I can talk now."


    Candado removed his finger from his sister''s mouth and covered her eyes with his hand, then looked at Hammya.


    "No, I am not calm, you wild and disrespectful girl," said Candado with his eyes lit again in a violet flame.


    "Please calm down. I just want to thank you," said Hammya in fright.


    Candado, hearing her, calmed down, although he was confused. What had he done to make her thank him? Not many people used to be so polite to him.


    "Unnecessary," Candado muttered as he walked away from the kitchen.


    He went to a room that was dark, turned on the light and approached a picture with the portrait of his grandfather Alfred, which had the same dimensions as a door. In the picture, his grandfather was standing with a purple cane, dressed in light blue formal clothes and wearing the same beret as Candado. He had a long white beard, neatly trimmed, brown eyes, and a perfectly firm nose.


    Candado pushed the painting aside, revealing it to be a door leading to a room where Clementina was sleeping on her feet. He approached her and touched her forehead with his thumb. As he did so, her forehead began to glow, and Clementina slowly began to open her eyes. Candado removed his hand from her forehead, and Clementina yawned.


    "Good morning, young master," said Clementina, half asleep.


    "Don''t call me that. I need you now, so wake up," said Candado as he headed for the door leading out of the house.


    Clementina left the room and approached Candado. The two left the house, and as they did so, they noticed that the sun was about to rise. It was a cool and calm morning, like any other. They walked through the empty streets of the town, seeing no one else. Only the sounds of trees and birds could be heard. Due to the early hour, the streets were deserted, and the two young people walked along the asphalt as if they were the last inhabitants of the world, at least figuratively speaking for that occasion.


    Clementina looked at her watch, and it was 5:05 in the morning. In a plaintive and tired voice, she asked:


    "Excuse me for asking, but is there a specific reason why we are up so early?"


    Candado continued walking ahead of her without stopping or turning around, and replied:


    "Yes, there is a specific reason."


    There was silence for about two minutes as they continued walking. Then Clementina asked again:


    "And what is that reason?"


    "Do you want to know?" asked Candado as he continued walking.


    "Yes, I definitely want to know."


    "Are you sure, sure?"


    "Yes, I told you."


    Well, that''s too bad because I don''t want to tell you.


    "Oh, Candado," Clementina complained.


    "You''ll find out why I called you here. In the meantime, don''t worry about it."


    "It''s okay; I''ll calm down even though I got cybernetically upset," said Clementina as she closed her eyes and massaged her forehead.


    "Well said," added Candado.


    "You could at least tell me where we''re going."


    "Of course, at the moment, we are on something called ''asphalt,'' which is the street where the cars drive..."


    "I didn''t mean ''where'' but ''where'' we''re going," Clementina raised her voice passively.


    "Ah, now I understand what you meant by ''where,''" said Candado as he looked at the sky while walking.


    "I''m glad you understood. So, can you tell me where we are going?"


    "What do you care?"


    "Stop it, lord. Spit it out."


    Saying this, Candado looked at a garbage can and spit in it. Clementina was petrified to see him do it, which made Candado move a few meters away from her.


    "Happy?" Candado asked.


    "FZZ!" Clementina scraped her lips loudly, emitting a characteristic sound.


    Hearing her scream, Candado stopped and looked back to where Clementina had her hands in her pockets.


    "If you keep doing that, you''ll wake someone up," said Candado with a calm voice and a cold expression.


    "FZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!" Clementina intensified her furious attitude and accelerated her pace with the intention of catching up with Candado.


    But as she approached him, the window of a house on the second floor opened, and a chubby, almost bald man with a thick yellow beard and a black T-shirt with a symbol of a flute broken by a clarinet threw a bucket of water at Clementina. It drenched her completely and made her stop instantly.


    "Quiet, there are people who want to sleep, demon brat," then the chubby man looked at Candado, "Hello, gaucho," said the man, and Candado greeted him with his right hand while the other remained in his pocket with a cold smile. Then the chubby man closed his window.


    Candado looked at Clementina, who was completely soaked but no longer showed anger towards him as a few seconds ago.


    "I told you so," said Candado with a cold expression on his face.


    Then, Candado and Clementina continued walking a few more meters until they reached their destination: a French chalet-style house made of fluorescent orange wood, with a single window and a door.


    "Hector''s house?" said Clementina in a weak and exhausted voice.


    "I never saw a truth better expressed."


    "Then why am I here?"


    "Nothing special, just a little revenge for hurting my nose yesterday."


    "I should have known," said Clementina, looking at the floor.


    Candado knocked on the door three times, but since it was early and he didn''t want to disturb Hector''s parents, the knocking was soft. A few seconds after knocking, the door opened, and Hector appeared, dressed in gray pajamas, dark espadrilles, and almost tousled hair.


    "Hi guys, Candado, I got your message."


    "Well, I was beginning to worry that you hadn''t read it."


    Hector looked at Clementina with surprise, especially since she was completely soaked.


    "May I know what happened to you, Clemen?" Hector asked.


    "Nothing in particular, just bad luck, that''s all," said Candado, answering for her.


    "May we come in?" asked Clementina.


    "Yes, please come in," said Hector as he stepped aside.


    When Candado and Clementina entered, they noticed a strange and striking painting almost at the entrance, which connected to the living room. The painting showed a man dressed in white with a galley and a staff, literally eating another person dressed in red, holding a sickle in one hand and a blacksmith''s hammer in the other. Behind them, there was a line of people watching the scene, but no one intervened, except for a black-haired girl who tried to help, although the crowd held her down and pulled her back hard. The landscape was covered with black clouds, a dirty river with dead fish, and a desert floor with withered and dead trees.


    Candado furrowed his eyebrows at the sight of the painting, while to Clementina, it was something that went unnoticed due to her robotic nature; she didn''t understand art very well. Hector closed the door behind them and then approached, placing his hand on Padlock''s shoulder.


    "I see the painting caught your eye. It arrived last night; Pio sent it to me from La Pampa."


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    "A dark and profound metaphor that P¨ªo painted. I must admit it had a bit of an impact on me," Candado commented.


    "Yes, it''s really disturbing. She titled it ''El Real Cumplido Capitalista'' (The Real Capitalist Fulfillment). Don''t you think it''s original?" asked Hector.


    "Can I use the bathroom?" Clementina asked.


    "Yes, of course."


    While Clementina went to the bathroom to dry herself and check if she had damaged any circuit or board due to the water that had been thrown at her, Candado and Hector sat down in a comfortable yellow armchair and began to talk about the guild.


    "Well, Candado, before we talk, I would like to know why you admitted her to the guild. Honestly, I don''t think it was just a ''hunch.'' I think there''s more behind it," said Hector, with his arms crossed.


    "Well, she''s very special."


    "Special? In what way?" Hector asked, surprised.


    "I think she has greater potential than mine. I can say she''s even stronger than me."


    "Why do you say that? We know you are strong, stronger than any of Esteban''s henchmen and himself," said Hector.


    "That''s your perspective, but I don''t think I''m the strongest in the country or the world. I am sure that at some point, someone stronger than me will appear and defeat me."


    "That''s impossible, Candado. You will never be defeated. We are here to protect you, me, Germ¨¢n, Declan, Lucas, Clementina, and all of us, your friends, will always be here to help you against anyone who wants to hurt you. That is the essence of friendship."


    "Thank you, Hector, for reminding me of my place. But I still believe that someone stronger will come along at some point. That''s why I''m here to tell you that if that happens, I want you to burn this house to the ground, along with all the research we''ve done and, of course, the secret. I want everything to disappear in the flames, not a trace to be left, everything to be consumed when something happens to me," said Candado with determination.


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    "I don''t understand; just a few days ago, you weren''t thinking this way. You were still investigating book by book, note by note. Candado, I think I''m wrong; that girl is not to be trusted. Something has happened; it seems she is playing with your mind," said Hector, annoyed and firm.


    "What are you saying?"


    "The Candado I know would never come to my house to ask me to do something like this. What happened to the Candado who never gave up? What happened to the determined boy with the beret? Where is that boy?"


    In the midst of this discussion, a figure emerging through the black smoke appeared in the conversation, and behind the smoke, T¨ªnbari revealed himself, with a smile on his face. But that was not all; Clementina came out of the bathroom while adjusting her tie, interrupting the conversation.


    "What''s going on?" Clementina asked.


    "Well, it seems you only told him part of the truth. It seems you forgot to mention the other side of the story," said T¨ªnbari.


    "What other truth?" asked Clementina and Hector.


    "Oh, come on, Candadito, tell him what you told me. He has to know too."


    "No, I have nothing to tell," said Candado with a furious look at T¨ªnbari.


    "What? What do you have to say?" asked Hector.


    "Nothing, it''s my business," answered Candado.


    "What? What are you talking about?" insisted Hector.


    "I told you, it''s a personal problem and it doesn''t concern anyone else," replied Candado.


    "What happened?" Clementina asked.


    "It''s something personal; don''t worry about it," replied Candado with frustration.


    "Oh, please, your intuition is garbage, just like your hair," said T¨ªnbari mockingly.


    "Don''t mess with me! I''m talking to Candado, not you, you idiot," said Hector.


    "Obligate me! You''re nothing but a raggedy, chatty human," replied T¨ªnbari defiantly.


    "Enough of this; I don''t want fights in my house," said Hector angrily as he took out his box of poker cards from his pocket.


    The two were on the verge of a fight, and it looked like the situation could escalate quickly. Clementina, however, stayed out of it; she didn''t want to get involved in a senseless fight and had no intention of stopping them. At that moment, when the two were about to unleash chaos in the house, Candado stood up and interposed himself between Hector and T¨ªnbari.


    "While you argue, our enemy out there is getting stronger."


    Hector put his cards away again, realizing that this was not the right time or place for a fight. T¨ªnbari lowered his hands and relaxed his shoulders; apparently, he had reconsidered his desire to fight with Hector, since he had been one of the few, besides Candado and Declan, with whom he had not had previous conflicts.


    "Maybe you''re right; this is no time to fight with the weak," said T¨ªnbari.


    "What did you say, plum brain?" said Hector angrily.


    At that moment, Hector took out his cards again. He controlled ten thousand cards that floated around him, forming a sort of orbit around his chest constantly.


    Candado, already irritated by the lack of cooperation from his subordinates, began to release negative and powerful waves in the house. Clementina, seeing what was happening, covered her ears in anticipation of what was coming next.


    "SILENCE!" shouted Candado, his voice resounding like thunder.


    At that moment, the house began to shake, as if it were experiencing an earthquake. Dishes rattled, pictures shook, and some books fell to the floor. Even Hector and T¨ªnbari''s ears hurt, especially T¨ªnbari, who was closest to Candado when he shouted.


    "There was no need for you to shout so loudly, child. This boy''s parents are sleeping," T¨ªnbari complained as he knelt on the ground.


    "We shouldn''t worry about that; something like this wouldn''t wake them up," said Hector in the same situation.This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    Candado was still full of fury. The simple act of shouting had not calmed him down at all; instead, he felt like beating them both until they lost the will to breathe. However, Clementina approached him and whispered something in his ear, and in the blink of an eye, Candado calmed down. What exactly she said to him that day was never known.


    "I''m glad they''ve kept quiet. Hector, will you accept my request?" asked Candado.


    "Can we consult with the other guild members?" Hector replied.


    Candado stared at him with a cold and gloomy attitude. It was as if he had signed his death warrant, since Hector had realized that Candado had visited him to talk about this subject, precisely so that the other members would not find out.


    "Do what you want, Hector," said Candado in a somber tone.


    "Thank you. I would like you to be present.


    "I''ll go home to rest," Candado answered, looking at Clementina, who nodded.


    "Wait, I..."


    "Look, everything will become clear in due time."


    After that conversation, Candado and Clementina left the house, leaving a confused and worried Hector on his own. I wasn''t there, but sure enough, after they left, Hector hurried to change his clothes and get ready to head to the cabin.


    Candado and Clementina, on the other hand, returned home by the quickest and most peaceful way through the forest, wondering why they hadn''t taken that path in the first place. Thanks to him, they arrived almost instantly at their home. As Candado was about to open the door, Clementina asked a question.


    "Can I ask you a question?"


    "It depends on what you ask," Candado replied.


    "Well, why did you decide to have her join us? Having her in the house is one thing, but this?"


    Candado turned and looked at her with a serious and vacant look, as if the question had upset him a little.


    "I''m surprised you want to know my decision. If you really want to know, I will tell you at the meeting."


    Clementina felt a little puzzled, thinking that perhaps she had upset Candado. Then he opened the door and motioned for her to go in first, as he usually did.


    "I''m sorry if I bothered you with my question."


    "If you apologized to me every time I got angry, I would be twice as rich as I am now," Candado commented as he placed his beret on a nearby table.


    "Well, then I apologize for those times too," replied Clementina mockingly.


    Both were alerted by a noise coming from the kitchen. They approached slowly, Candado lit his left hand with his violet flame, and Clementina transformed her right hand into a machine gun as she kept her head against the wall, waiting for orders. Candado peeked out and saw Hammya washing the dishes. Clementina moved even closer and looked at Candado.


    "What do you see there?"


    Candado extinguished his flame and breathed calmly again.


    "Nothing, just the girl washing the dishes."


    Once the mysterious noise from the kitchen cleared up, Clementina put away her "machine gun," and the two of them showed themselves to Hammya, who didn''t seem to have noticed their presence.


    "What are you doing?" asked Clementina.


    Hammya turned and smiled at the two people behind her.


    "I''m cleaning up a bit."


    "Well, I don''t doubt that, since everything is spotless around here," said Candado.


    "Thanks to the circuits, we thought there was an intruder," added Clementina.


    "What a play on words."


    "Intruder? Don''t you feel safe in your own home?" asked Hammya.


    "Maybe I didn''t mention it before, but my life has been in danger since I was born," commented Candado.


    At that moment, Grandma Andrea appeared carrying baby Karen with her blue pacifier.


    "Well, well, well, well, it seems that they have gone ahead of me."


    "Heh, something like that," said Candado looking at Hammya suspiciously.


    "Oh, I see, so, Hammya woke you up with his screams, did he?"


    "Would you mind to stop reading my mind? Supposedly, it''s mine and no one else''s, okay?"


    "Oops, sorry, I just can''t help it," said Grandma with a smile.


    "Well, if you''ve had your ''fun,'' I''m going to bed."


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    After making quotation marks in the air with his fingers, Candado left the kitchen for his room, leaving Hammya, Clementina, and his grandmother (and Karen) alone in the kitchen.


    "Well, what''s wrong with this one?"


    "I''M NOT ''THIS ONE''!" shouted Candado from his room.


    Then the loud slamming of his bedroom door was heard.


    "Well, since Candado went to sleep, do you want to help me prepare breakfast for your parents?"


    "Parents?" Hammya asked.


    "He means the owners of the house," Clementina clarified.


    "Yes, you will start living here," then Grandma Andrea approached Hammya, bent down, and put her hand on his shoulder, "so they will be your parents too, and I will be your grandmother. Is that okay with you?


    Hammya looked into Grandma''s eyes, with immense joy that almost brought tears to her eyes.


    "Well, it''s nothing to cry about. Come on, help me prepare breakfast."


    "Let''s get to work," said Clementina with a military salute.


    "Right away," replied Hammya enthusiastically.


    While Hammya and his "new family" started cooking, Candado and T¨ªnbari had a conversation in their room.


    "Do you think it was a good idea to tell all your friends?" asked T¨ªnbari.


    "Yes, it was good. Besides, I would never have told anyone, and it would still be my problem if you hadn''t opened your damn chattering mouth."


    "Oops, it slipped out."


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    "You''re a busybody, meddling devil. That''s why the military sewed your mouth shut when you were human."


    "Actually, it was for a very different reason, but whatever, don''t change the subject."


    "When did you change the subject?"


    "Don''t pretend. You know very well what I mean, Candado. Nobody fools me."


    "Look, either you express yourself better or I''ll kick you out of my room. That''s twelve minutes a drain I''ll never get back."


    "Seriously, I find it a little strange that you take it for granted that someone might beat you someday."


    Candado looked at T¨ªnbari, very angry, with narrowed eyes and furrowed brows.


    "I can''t believe you don''t get it too. And to think that you had said so. You know what? You''ll get your answer at that meeting," said Candado, angrily.


    "Of course, I understand, but I don''t think something like that would happen with someone like her."


    "Damn it."


    "It''s nothing to get angry about either."


    "How the hell am I not going to get mad, you horned-up piece of ass? Now, instead of it being my problem, it''s going to be the whole team''s problem."


    "In that case, I apologize for speaking without your authorization."


    "The last thing I want to hear is your apology; it leaves a bad taste in my mouth."


    "Well, then what do you want me to do?"


    "For now, I want you to leave my room before I take you out."


    After telling him this, T¨ªnbari vanished from the place, laughing quietly and saying, "I wish you luck." Of course, he was making fun of him. This gesture made Candado boil with anger, not only because of the gesture itself but also because T¨ªnbari had been the cause of Candado having to give explanations to his companions as to why he had entrusted H¨¦ctor with the mission of burning the investigations in case Candado lost. Originally, Candado would never have shared this concern with the other team members if T¨ªnbari had not opened his mouth. It was clear that Candado wanted to hide something, but he realized that it would not be easy to keep his motives hidden from his friends.


    Candado lay back on his bed and looked up at the ceiling as he pondered what to do. He had three hours before he had to explain himself to the guild. However, his thoughts faded as fatigue overcame him, and he fell asleep.


    While Candado slept, Clementina, Hammya, and Grandma were cooking for Candado''s parents, who would surely arrive tired and hungry after the trip they had made.


    Curiously, they would arrive that very morning, but Candado did not know at what time exactly since his parents spent little time at home. Since Gabriela''s death, the family atmosphere had become sad and somber. Candado''s parents rarely spent the night at home, as everything in the house reminded them of their daughter and caused them immense pain. Despite the sadness that overwhelmed them, they kept hoping that one day their daughter would return home, as if they were trapped in the past, in the hope that one day they would see their daughter again, smiling and playful.


    "Candado, despite his cold appearance and tough attitude, had smiled in the past. The loss of a loved one had robbed her of that smile, but she moved on. For this reason, Candado''s parents spent less and less time at home with him and Karen.


    When they finished cooking breakfast, Clementina, Hammya, and Grandma took a break in the living room and turned on the television. They sat down on the white sofa, which was near the kitchen.


    Not even five minutes had passed when someone knocked at the door.


    "Who can it be now?" asked Grandma, getting ready to open the door.


    Clementina quickly got up from her seat and stood in Grandma''s way.


    "Let me, I will open the door."


    Grandma sat back down on the couch, allowing Clementina to approach the door. Before she knew it, an elderly man with a grocery bag was in Clementina''s way.


    "How did he get in?" she asked in surprise.


    "The door was open," said the man calmly.


    "What is he doing here so early in the morning?" asked the grandmother, recognizing him.


    "Who?" asked Hammya, who was a bit confused.


    Hip¨®lito was a robot made by Candado''s grandfather when he was twelve years old. He had white hair from old age, often wore a black galley, a 1920s-era beard and mustache, and wore formal clothes of the same era in black. He wore a white handkerchief as a tie and had brown eyes. His elegant gloves were red with a yellow seven-pointed star on the counterpart of the glove.


    "Grandma and the gentleman exchanged kisses on the cheeks.


    "I came to visit Candado, he is here, isn''t he?" asked Hip¨®lito as he strolled around the living room, as if he were in his own house.


    "Yes, but he is sleeping," informed the grandmother.


    Hip¨®lito halted when he spotted the green-haired girl on the white armchair, staring at her. Clementina also observed him with curiosity.


    ''Andrea? I think I''m looking at a mamboret¨¢ on the couch.''


    ''How rude you are!''


    ''Oh, and he''s talking too.''


    ''Are you making fun of me?''


    Clementina entered the room along with the grandmother to intervene.


    "Grandfather, don''t bother the resident of the house."


    "She, resident? What did you do to make Miss Europe accept?"


    "The lady doesn''t know yet, but we''ll ask her today."


    "Well, anyway, I want to see Candado."


    "He can''t, he''s asleep," said Clementina.


    "Well, I think I''m going to wake him up"''


    "Don, you may be a robot like me, but that doesn''t mean you''re bothering everyone for no reason."


    "Robot?"


    "Yes, Hip¨®lito is another robot made by Mr. Alfred,'' Clementina explained.


    "That man must have been a genius in technology."


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    "Indeed," said Clementina.


    "Enough, I have to talk to him now."


    "I repeat that Candado is sleeping."


    "It doesn''t matter if he''s sleeping, I need to talk to him."


    Clementina didn''t appreciate Hip¨®lito''s sudden appearance at the house without prior notice, and, to make matters worse, she believed he came to disturb Candado, who was still peacefully asleep. Unfortunately, she had failed to notice the tone of voice she used when speaking to Hip¨®lito.


    While Clementina engaged in a heated discussion with Hip¨®lito, Candado, who was in his room pretending to sleep, felt the annoyance building up.


    "I''m going to quarter them," said Candado angrily.


    After uttering this threat, he rose from his bed and headed to the bathroom to freshen up. A splash of cold water on his face and a brisk teeth-brushing later, he returned to his room. With a snap of his fingers, his nightclothes vanished, leaving him only in his underwear. Simultaneously, his chosen outfit materialized from the closet: dark dress pants secured by a self-buttoning belt, a white long-sleeved shirt with self-buttoning buttons, a red tie that knotted itself, a gray vest with self-buttoning buttons, black shoes, and white gloves as the finishing touch.


    Observing his reflection in the closet''s mirror, Candado realized his hair was in disarray without his cherished blue beret. Strands of hair stuck out in every direction, as if he had been electrocuted. After a quick combing attempt, he deemed himself presentable and proceeded downstairs.


    Candado descended to the living room, rubbing his forehead as if nursing a headache¡ªlikely from the lack of sleep caused by the noise from the ongoing commotion. A hush fell over the room as everyone''s attention turned to him.


    "Are they making fun of me or what?" Candado questioned irritably. "When I''m awake and in the living room, everyone is silent. Yet, when I''m in my room trying to sleep, you all talk so loudly. You guys are like mosquitoes that buzz in the dark and fall silent when the light is on."


    "We''re sorry, we didn''t mean to disturb you," Candado grandmother apologized.


    "Mosquito?" Hammya asked curiously.


    Candado shifted his gaze to Hippolyte, raising an eyebrow.


    "What''s the matter, old man? Did you lose something?"


    "Your sense of humor leaves much to be desired, Candado, lord of the outcasts."


    "Did you come all this way just to deliver a letter to me?" Candado inquired, accepting the letter.


    "It sounds... kind of stupid if you put it that way."


    "How should it sound, then?"


    "Sometimes I wish you were a little more polite," said Hippolyte.


    Candado offered no response, focusing instead on the seal of the letter with suspicion and a brewing fury. Its emblem depicted a medusa crossed with two Mongol swords, suggesting either a warning or an insult. He felt indignant, though the reason remained unclear. After reading the letter, he promptly set it ablaze in his hand.


    "Apparently, Viki has ''earned'' a new hatred in La Pampa," Candado remarked as the letter slowly burned.


    "My God, he seems to be having a harder and harder time, son," commented Grandmother Andrea.


    "God? If you are nothing more than a man-made robot," replied Candado sarcastically.


    "Well, there was no need to remind me like that... Anyway, what are you going to do now? Anyway, what will you do now, Mr. Padlock, will you send her to another province?" asked Hippolyte.


    "No, I won''t. This is the last time I transfer her. She will stay there, in the Pampa, until she learns to control herself," said Candado with evident anger.


    "Miss Tonrrial won''t like it; I''m sure there will be a mess," added Hip¨®lito.


    "I don''t give a damn if she likes it or not. This is the tenth time I''m transferring her, and the fact that she''s there is her fault, not mine. If by any chance she makes a fool of the guild, she will be punished by Harambee''s fist," said Candado with determination.


    "Well, changing the subject, you might as well go to sleep, since the meeting is still a few days away," advised Clementina.


    "Don''t patronize me, Clementina, because it doesn''t suit you," replied Candado as he put on his beret.


    Grandmother Andrea, surprised to see her grandson putting on his beret, asked him:


    "Where are you going?"


    "To the courtyard, grandmother, to the courtyard," he answered as he disappeared into the kitchen.


    Clementina decided to follow Candado into the garden, and Hammya also joined in, following them both stealthily as she stuck to the wall to "spy" on what they were doing. Peeking through the window, Hammya could appreciate the beautiful garden, with well-trimmed lawns, flowers such as beautiful roses, and an imposing large ficus tree that provided pleasant shade.


    However, the peace of the garden was interrupted by the argument between Candado and Clementina, in which she criticized Candado for his past decisions. The discussion was continuing when Hammya decided to come out of hiding and approach them. Clementina looked at her suspiciously, while Candado, apparently tired, remained lying on the floor.


    "Hello," greeted Hammya, "What are you doing?


    "We are waiting for a satellite to fall on me," replied Candado sarcastically.


    Clementina stepped in to explain:


    "Actually, we were just chatting, that''s all."


    "What were you chatting about?" Hammya asked curiously.


    But when Hammya was about to ask another question, Candado quickly stood up and took out a watch from his vest.


    "Hell, they''re one hell of a bunch of charges."


    "What happened, young master?"


    "Don''t start now," he continued. "They changed the time of the meeting; we have to leave now," he said as he started up.


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    "How did you know that?"


    "The Candado watch is very special; it is used to communicate with others."


    When he said that, Hammya and Clementina followed after him. Candado entered the house and went to the living room to tell his grandmother that he was going out. When he found her, he said goodbye by raising his beret, without looking at her and without even stopping; he continued walking until he left the house.


    As he left, he could already see movements in the street, people going to work, and some cars. Without wasting any more time, Candado, Hammya, and Clementina ran at full speed, taking shortcuts to get to the guild faster, passing through the woods. Finally, they arrived at the house; Candado stopped for a moment, fixed his clothes before knocking on the door, and when he finished, he approached the entrance and knocked three times on the door.


    "Who is it?" asked a voice from behind the door.


    "Manuel Belgrano, asshole."


    The door opened, and behind it was Matlotsky with a smile.


    "Well, how are you?"


    "Let me through, clown," said Candado hurriedly.


    "You come in," said Matlotsky, lying on the floor.


    Candado went to the meeting room and opened the doors with his hands and an angry expression on his face.


    "Well, what does this mean? I gave an exact time to talk about this particular subject," said Candado.


    "I''m sorry, Candado. I tried to tell them, I really did, but they wanted to rush this issue," said Hector with a tone of concern.


    "Will you give us an explanation?" asked everyone (except Hector).


    "Why do I have to give an explanation, eh? If when I admitted Anzor nobody questioned me, now that I admit Hammya, I am questioned. WHY?!"


    "The difference is that Anzor was the last one, two years ago when Gabriela died, and that made you change. For two years, you didn''t go out for recess at school, and even today you gave a mission to our colleague Hector to burn all the research, not only yours, but also the research of your great-grandfather Jack Barret. Is he weakening you or manipulating you? One of two," said Lucas.


    Candado put his right hand to his forehead, covering his eyes and touching his eyebrow with his thumb and forefinger.


    "Ah, you weren''t supposed to talk about this, Hector," said Candado indignantly.


    "No, it''s not Hector''s fault, I followed you this morning."


    "I''ve told you a thousand times, Lucia, don''t use that power, especially not on me."


    "Will you give us an explanation?" asked Matlotsky from behind.


    "Well, I will, on the condition that Hammya is present here to free you from this stupid and absurd paranoia about my leadership, you stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid."


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    After saying this, Candado went to his seat at the end of the table, located under a painting of a large yellow cross. In the center of the cross, two black lines crossed it from top to bottom in red and from left to right in white. Additionally, there were three blue circles at the three points (left, right, and top), without being attached to them.


    When Candado sat down, everyone else followed suit, keeping silent, including Hammya, who took Viki''s place as the latter was absent. Candado inhaled and exhaled, then began.


    "I thought it would be up to me and no one else, but now I''ll have to tell. Turns out she''s not human," said Candado with a cold expression.


    Upon hearing this, everyone stood up and started shouting for an answer. Even those who did not understand the message began shouting and refuting. Candado, who had not even finished speaking, became angry at the audacity of his companions for raising their voices while he was speaking. He lifted his right foot and slammed it down on the table.


    "SILENCE!" he shouted, and from that shout, the room began to burn with violet fire, including his eyes. This was enough to silence his friends. When everyone was quiet, Candado looked at each of them and continued, "When I speak, everyone is silent; when I give an order, everyone follows it. That is one of the most important rules." Then he calmed down, and the flames in the room gradually died out, including those in Candado eyes.


    "Yes, as you heard, Hammya Saillim is not human," said Candado, standing up.


    Luke raised his hand with an expression of astonishment and terror and asked:


    "If she is not human, what is she then?"


    "That''s why I accepted her into the guild. It''s not every day you see someone who is not from this planet. And if she is, then she''s not the only one; there must be others around here," explained Candado.


    "That''s what Tynbari told me. Am I really from another world?" Hammya whispered.


    Lucas lowered his hand, and Hector raised his instead.


    "What about that order this morning to burn all the guild''s files?" Hector asked.


    "That order, my dear friend, was because if my assumption is correct, then it could be that they are stronger than me, and then the information we have would fall into the wrong hands," Candado explained.


    T¨ªnbari was alarmed to hear that.


    "Pullbarey."


    "Did you say something, Demonto?"


    "I just remembered an old commercial."


    "Pay attention to what Candado says, stupid."


    "I''m sorry, Irishman," T¨ªnbari apologized, then looked at Candado. "Go on."


    Hector lowered his hand, and Declan raised his instead.


    "But... How do you know they could be strong?"


    Candado took a CD out of his pocket and slid it across the table into Clementina''s hands.


    "Show them the chart."


    "Right away," said Clementina as she put the CD to the back of her neck.


    As she did so, her eyes projected a hologram-shaped graph¡ªa bar chart measuring the power of Candado and Hammya. The results were positive for Hammya; her powers exceeded Candado''s by 8.5 points.


    "IT''S IMPOSSIBLE!" They all exclaimed, including Hammya and Clementina.


    "There must be a mathematical or scientific error," said Lucas and Germ¨¢n.


    "There is no error," said Candado with his eyes closed.


    "Maybe it''s a fraud," said Anzor and Clementina.


    "There is no fraud," said Candado, still with his eyes closed.


    "It''s impossible, you have always been unbeatable," said Ana Maria and the twins were surprised.


    "That''s how it was," said Candado, still with his eyes closed.


    "If she has such power, I can''t imagine the future rivals of the circuits," said Hector.


    "Exactly," said Candado, without opening his eyes.


    "Will I make a fortune if I sell this information?" asked Matlotsky.


    "Shut up, asshole," said Candado, opening his left eye.


    Before they could continue talking, Clementina pulled the CD from the back of his neck and instantly destroyed it in his hand.


    "Why did you do that?" asked Candado disinterestedly.


    "If this information reaches the ears or eyes of the Circuits, we will be in serious trouble," said Clementina.


    "Let them come, the more the better, so I won''t be bored," said Candado nonchalantly.


    "This is not a game, boss, this is serious, very, very serious," said Germ¨¢n with concern but showing his smile.


    "Don''t call me that. Besides, it would be interesting to have all the U.F.E.T.C. chasing me and killing each one of them."


    "What are the U.F.E.T.C.?" Hammya asked.


    "Universal Formation of the Eye of Tanatos Circuits, our greatest enemies for almost a hundred years," answered Ana Maria.


    "I don''t understand."


    "It''s not your fault, most people don''t know about the U.F.E.T.C. and us, the W.O.G.A.B., World Organization of Affiliated Guilds Bernstein , or Bernstein Organization, abbreviated B.O.," said German.


    "Hey, could someone explain all this to me?" Hammya asked.


    "Sure, Canda, please," said Matlotsky.


    "Okay, I''ll do it," said Candado reluctantly, and began to tell the story.


    "As I said before, in 1912, a meteorite fell to earth, giving powers to 97% of humanity in our bodies, creating a second spirit or soul, as you like. So far so good, the problem came two years later. It turned out that the first to experience this magic were children, and these, not distinguishing between good and evil, began to be corrupted by that magic. It led them to think that by having powers they could do whatever they wanted. There were cases of children who killed their parents for capricious matters, leading the world into resounding chaos, looting, killings, and disappearances. So it was that a child of unknown nationality with the pseudonym of Thanatos took advantage of the situation and created a kind of organization called the Circuits. Basically, they gathered the strongest children capable of dominating their powers to rule all nations. These, not having the necessary means to defend themselves, were subdued by Thanatos and his Circuit. Thus it was for almost three years, the world dominated by children, until in Africa, in a place that today is called Kenya, a girl with white hair and mounted on a lion of the same color, called Ndereba Harambee, gathered and mobilized all the other children who were not in favor of the Circuits, against their conquerors, in a war in which she won and which was called ''The Battle of Hope.''


    Harambee''s cunning and intelligence against Thanatos'' strength and agility, the girl''s golden spear against the boy''s scythe. This war, which lasted twenty-five hours, marked the beginning of the end of the Circuits, for it inspired all other children in other countries to fight for their freedom and their family. And so began a worldwide war to free their countries. The Circuits fled to Antarctica with their leader Thanatos when all that was over. All the children of the world created guilds to protect their families and their homelands. That''s how all the guilds we know today were born.


    But there was a problem. The Circuits were going to come back someday, and we needed an organization to teach us how to use our powers. That''s when a boy from France named Ivan Crusoe sent letters to every country in the world with his idea of how to stop the Circuits from returning to power. Unfortunately, only six countries accepted his proposal: Germany, Kenya, Japan, Argentina, China, and Paraguay. The names of the children who listened to him were Alexander Bernstein from Germany, Ndereba Harambee from Kenya, Rosa Velazquez Rojas from Paraguay, Li Wang Sheng from China, Chizuru Aikawa from Japan, and Jack Barret from Argentina, my great-grandfather. These four people listened to Ivan Crusoe, approved of his idea and considered it an ingenious way to confront the Circuits. A flag was created, taking the colors of the seven countries that agreed with Ivan''s request: a light blue background of Argentina, with a red stripe in the middle of the Japanese flag. In the center, there was the face of a white lion facing forward, inspired by Harambee''s mascot. Below the lion was a round shield with the colors of Germany, inspired by Alexander''s shield, which had the same colors. On the sides of the shield, there were green laurels, the same as those on the flag of Paraguay, inspired by the brooch of Rosa''s hair, and on the four points of the shield, there was a rose petal on each point in yellow, inspired by the powers of Shen. When the flag was finished, it had to be decided where the central agency was to be placed. The only country available was Japan, so that was where it was built, on a deserted island created with Harambee''s powers, which he named Kanghar Island, in memory of his father. The agency was called the World Organization of Attached Guilds, abbreviated as W.O.G.A., to fight and defend all people threatened by the Circuits, the second society in the world."


    "And the ''B''?" Hammya asked.


    "The ''B'' would be added later because, in the final battle with Thanatos, he was going to kill everyone in the organization with his powers of electricity in his body. It was at that precise moment that Alexander Bernstein decided to sacrifice his life for the others, locking Thanatos inside a silver chest, dying from exhaustion and as a hero. Ivan, who was wounded in the hospital, handed over the command to Jack Barret, and he accepted on the condition that a consonant could be added to the guild. That was why it was called the Bernstein Organization."


    When Candado finished speaking, the phone began to ring. Clementina picked it up and handed it to him.


    "Hello?"


    "Good novel boy, you seem to know the story very well," said the male voice on the phone.


    Candado hung up.


    "Anyway, that''s the story."


    The phone rang again.


    "Hello?"


    "It wasn''t nice of you to hang up on me, now why don''t we go back to...".


    Candado hung up the phone again.


    "Is anybody hungry?" Candado asked.


    (What''s wrong?) - they all thought.


    The phone rang again, and he picked it up for the third time.


    "Hello?"


    "Don''t hang up, kid, I''m not finished yet."


    "Wrong number, until then...."


    "You''re uncontrollable. Well, as Alfred said."


    "Who are you?" asked Candado.


    "My name is Nelson Torres, and I assure you I am not your enemy."


    "Oh yes, very interesting but I don''t know you, have a nice day," said Candado with the intention of hanging up again, until Nelson said:


    "I know who murdered your grandfather Alfred."


    "Who was it then?" said Candado.


    "You''ll find out when we meet at the restaurant you always go to for lunch." Candado started to shout at the man on the phone, but he had already hung up.


    "Who was it?" asked Erika.


    "Someone very interesting. Today looks like it''s going to be a hectic day," said Candado, sighing.

 THE OFFER FROM NELSON

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    Things got tense in the Roob¨®leo guild after that mysterious phone call. No one wanted Candado to meet this guy Nelson, but they didn''t dare tell him not to go. They were afraid it might sound like an order, and Candado doesn''t like orders, especially from the people giving them. That could make him angry, and that terrified the group. It was clear this could be a trap, but this was Candado, "The boy who feels no pain," at least that''s what his enemies called him, and that name said it all. Who would confront someone unafraid of being hurt? It''s downright eerie. But there was also the possibility that it could be dangerous. Candado had been in grave danger twice before with mercenaries and the Circuits. So, they gathered the courage to tell him because their friend''s life was at stake.


    "Candado, are you sure about going there with an unknown individual?" asked German.


    "Yes, I am," affirmed Candado.


    "Even if he seems like an assassin paid by the Circuits or any other agency?" inquired Hector.


    Even more so, as it would be interesting," Candado said with a hint of a smile.


    "Even if it''s dangerous?" asked Hammya.


    "Of course," Candado reassured.


    "Even if they kill you, and I end up in charge to tear you apart while dead, so I can sell your organs and make a lot of money selling them at a higher price to the Circuits for them to use as trophies?"


    "Matlotsky... shut up, because nothing intelligent ever comes out of your mouth when you talk," said Candado. He continued, "I don''t know why you all worry so much. If something goes wrong, I promise to call you. Don''t cringe or fret too much about it."


    Shortly after, he left the guild and headed to his favorite restaurant to meet the guy named Nelson, passing through the forest and pathways, looking at the cloudless sky and thinking that it had rained yesterday. That''s how strange the Chaco''s weather is. As he walked, Tinbari appeared and started asking questions.


    "Is it alright with you?"


    "Alright with what?"


    "To follow this path, remember that you don''t know it, and it''s more likely that he''ll try to kill you. It could lead to your own death or something worse."


    "Worse? Double death?"


    "I''m serious, Candado. It might be dangerous, and I''d have to help you in a prominent danger."


    "Prominent, you say? What can one person do to me? Nothing, absolutely nothing."


    Amidst the argument, Candado didn''t realize that, the more he spoke, the closer he got to the restaurant until, in the blink of an eye, he was at the door.


    "So fast, I didn''t even notice."


    "Are you sure about going ahead?"


    "I already told you, pay more attention," Candado said rudely.


    "Hah, suit yourself. Good luck... kid," Tinbari said mockingly as he disappeared.


    "Oh, shut up and leave it to me."


    When he entered the restaurant, it was empty, no customers. Candado didn''t find this noteworthy, so he went to the table where he always sat, waiting for that guy.


    Waiting there was boring for him, and no one attended to him until the waiter Luan passed by, whom Candado disliked because he had told him his way of serving customers was cretinous.


    "Service, please."


    Luan stopped and looked at Candado.


    "I''m busy; there are many customers here," Luan said irritably.


    "Listen to me, redhead, there''s no one, I''m the only one here."


    "Sorry, I''m busy."


    "With whom are you busy? There''s no one."


    "For you, there''s no one; for me, there are many people," Luan said arrogantly.


    "Oh, really? Look at that, so the mister doesn''t care about my money, but he cares about imaginary money. I didn''t know you, Luan, were schizophrenic. Is that why you dropped out of school?"


    Upon hearing this, Luan got so annoyed that he left the restaurant with the tray in hand, saying:


    "Let God attend to you, idiot."


    As Luan left, a jovial laugh approached Candado from behind.


    "You''re a bit rough with people, don''t you think?" the voice said amidst laughter.


    Candado turned around.


    "Excuse me? And who are you?" Candado asked.


    "Me? I''m the one who called you on the phone."


    "You''re Nelson?"


    "Exactly, Candado, I''m the one who summoned you to this place," he said as he sat at the same table as Candado.


    The Nelson in front of him was an elderly gentleman with blue eyes, a small scar on his chin, white hair due to old age with still brown sideburns, a white handlebar mustache, wearing a white laboratory coat similar to the one Lucas wears, a light blue shirt with a black tie, brown formal pants, and shoes of the same color. He used a wooden cane with a diamond sphere on top.


    "Hello, young man."


    "I came here to find out who killed my grandfather, not to have coffee and talk about unimportant things. Now tell me, who was it?"


    "You''re just like your grandfather, same clothing, same beret, but he didn''t wear those white gloves; they were brown."


    "Wait, did you know my grandfather?" Candado asked, surprised.


    "I was his best friend when he was your age, and I continued to be until now."


    "Then tell me, if you really are his best friend, how is it possible that I heard about you from him?"


    "Well, that''s because Alfred always used an animal pseudonym and mentioned a ''yarar¨¢'' when telling you his adventures, right?"


    At that moment, Candado began to remember all the stories his grandfather used to tell him when he was little. The story was always repetitive in terms of characters; they were always the same: the red lion, the turtle, the armadillo, the dove, the rooster, the lynx, the rhea, and the yarar¨¢. They were always the heroes in Candado''s grandfather''s tales, and they were the same animals that fought against an evil hawk. For Candado, this was very strange, as only three people in the world knew that story: Candado, Gabriela (deceased), and his mother.


    "How do you know that?" Candado asked, slowly and carefully bringing his hand to his back, gripping his fac¨®n.


    "Because I was the one who gave him that idea, although he created the animals he mentioned, not me."


    "How can I know that you are who you claim to be?" Candado asked, still with his hand on his fac¨®n.


    "If you don''t believe me, then I''ll have to give you proof. When Alfred gave you his beret, he whispered something in your ear, right?"


    "Yes, it''s true," said Candado, slowly drawing his fac¨®n from its sheath.


    "He told you, ''Happy birthday, my violet gaucho.'' Then he placed his beret on your head. I know because he told me himself over the phone," he said with a smile on his face.


    Upon hearing this, Candado sheathed his fac¨®n again and, to disguise it, pulled a piece of gum from his pocket with a fake smile and raised eyebrows.


    "Great, you are who you say you are because when he told me this, we were alone."


    Just then, the younger sister of Luan and Siro, Susana, the waitress, came by to take their orders.


    "Do you want anything to drink?" Susana asked.


    "Yes, I''d like a chacol¨ª, please."


    "Alright, and you, Candado?" Susana asked.


    "Nothing, thanks," said Candado, adjusting his beret but with a cold expression on his face.


    "I''ll be right back," Susana said with a smile.


    Afterward, the waitress went back to the kitchen.


    "Chacol¨ª? Are you Chilean by any chance?"


    "No, I''m Argentine, but I like chacol¨ª."


    "Well, you''ve shown me evidence that you truly were my grandfather''s friend, but what were you as a child?"


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    "I was part of the Roob¨®leo guild; I was vice president as a child and a member of the W.O.G.A.B. or Bernstein Organization," said Nelson as he showed his badge to Candado.


    "Well, it''s a bit faded, but it''s clear evidence. Now tell me, who killed my grandfather?"


    "Your grandfather''s death is related to this," said Nelson as he slid a silver hawk into Candado''s hands.


    "Agents," he said with disgust.


    "Do you know them? That makes this simpler."


    "Is there a connection?"


    "Yes, it''s related because this badge belongs to a man named Greg."


    "Greg? Did he kill my grandfather?"


    "Yes, I''m sure it was him, but he wasn''t alone; there were like three more people with him, one of them was underage."


    At that moment, waitress Susana came with Nelson''s chacol¨ª wine.


    "Here you go, sir," Susana said as she uncorked the bottle and then left.


    Nelson grabbed the bottle and, instead of pouring it into the glass he had on the side, he decided to drink directly from the bottle.


    "Would you mind showing a bit more manners?" said an unfamiliar voice.


    "Who said that?" Candado asked, looking in all directions.


    "It was me. Any problem?" said a very small girl, the size of a baby''s hand, emerging from Nelson''s chest pocket.


    When she said that, she began to climb with difficulty towards the table, without Nelson''s help, as he was busy with his wine. When she arrived, Candado could see her clearly. She had long, loose blonde hair, black eyes with bright blue circles in them, wore black gauchos, dark brown boots, a white long-sleeved shirt, an elegant black vest, a red scarf wrapped around her neck, and a light blue hat on her head.


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    "What are you supposed to be?" Candado asked, with his cold expression on his face.


    "I am your worst nightmare, Goliath."


    "Oh, I''d like to know, how is a gnome going to be as powerful as a nightmare?" Candado asked with the same cold expression.


    "What did you call me? Sewer rat."


    After the girl said that, Candado gently pushed her with his index finger, and she fell to the floor. When she stood up, she took a knife from her back with tremendous hatred towards Candado, then started running towards him. However, cleverly, he grabbed the salt shaker and placed it in front of her. By the time the girl realized, it was too late because she crashed into the salt shaker, causing her to fall to the ground again.


    "Well, what a frantic and long fight," Candado said sarcastically.


    "Hah, you''re very funny."


    "What is this thing?"


    "Her? She''s called Grivna, and like Clementina, she''s a robot, but mine is a smaller model and a USB drive."


    "Well, that solves the mystery of why she was a bit foolish not to stop when she saw a salt shaker," Candado said sarcastically.


    "I don''t understand."


    "No, what I don''t understand is how you know about Clementina and, even more, how you knew she''s a robot."


    "Well, because the plans to make her were created, designed, and drawn by me, but the credit isn''t mine, as Alfred sweated to make her."


    "Really?"


    "Of course, Alfred was never good at making plans or drawing them, so he threw me the ideas, and I drew exactly as he told me."


    "Well, I''m enjoying this and all, but the question I had in mind to ask you was, how do you know it was Greg?" Candado challenged.


    When Candado asked this, Nelson stopped smiling and leaned in closer to the table with a serious and ominous attitude, but not to Candado, as he never felt intimidated or scared when an adult looked at him that way.


    "Tell me, boy, what do you know about the incident in 2000?"


    "I know that place mysteriously caught fire, although I don''t think that''s it. I rather believe my grandfather was hiding something more."


    "Exactly, Alfred always told me that you didn''t believe what he told you. God knows how, but it''s true, there wasn''t a fire," he continued. "It was something much worse. I remember it well. It was during a rainy night outside. A man named Greg had a great hatred towards Alfred because he had the same goal: to travel to Cotorium."


    "I don''t understand. Are there people who know about that planet, and if so, how?"


    "Yes, boy, but they''re not many. And in response to that... Ummm, do you have a Bari?" Nelson asked.


    The question caught Candado off guard; he and only his friends knew about the Bari.


    "How do you know that?"


    "It''s simple, your grandfather had one. It was called Slonbari," Nelson said with a smile.


    "Did you happen to know that?"


    "Yes, of course. I was friends with your grandfather from a very young age."


    "Darn, that never crossed my mind. I mean, I thought they came with that meteorite," Candado said sarcastically.


    "Now, after saying all that, would you show me your Bari?" Nelson asked confidently.


    Candado was completely perplexed. He had always believed that he and his family were the only ones who knew about the existence of the Bari in the world. So, he began to distrust the old man who was telling him the whole story.


    "What guarantees do you give me that you''re not plotting something?" he thought. "I thought that had already been clarified. Am I still considered someone suspicious? Forgive me, I still don''t trust you, even though you told me something that only my grandfather and I knew. But what you''re telling me is one of the biggest secrets of the Roob¨®leo guild."


    "Well thought, we can solve all your doubts if you ask your Bari." "I will," affirmed Candado.


    Then, with his index and middle finger, he touched his forehead and whispered while looking at Nelson attentively: "That which the human fears, come forth, I command you." These were Candado''s words. After finishing his monologue, T¨ªnbari appeared in a puff of smoke that only he could see.


    "Why have you summoned me?" T¨ªnbari asked. Candado, without taking his eyes off Nelson, began to speak telepathically with T¨ªnbari.


    "I''ve called you because this man claims to know or be familiar with the Bari." T¨ªnbari looked the old man up and down with a smile on his face. It could almost be said that T¨ªnbari was very interested in figuring out how the heck he did it.


    "Don''t worry, Candado, he''s trustworthy. I didn''t see any signs of hatred, revenge, or an attempt to harm you," T¨ªnbari said.


    Candado doubted a bit, but he decided, took off one of his white gloves, and extended his hand toward Nelson. Nelson placed one of his fingers in Candado''s palm, and immediately, he could see T¨ªnbari. To Candado''s surprise, Nelson wasn''t scared or astonished; instead, he saw him with a victorious smile, like a child on Christmas or his birthday.


    "Interesting," exclaimed Nelson.


    After saying that, the old man looked at his watch.


    "Well, friends, it''s time for me to go," he said as he grabbed the still unconscious Grivna.


    "What the hell? Was that it? I show you my Bari, and it''s over?" "No, nothing is over; this is just the beginning, boy, keep that in mind," Nelson said as he handed Candado a card.


    "And what is this?" Candado asked as he looked at the card.


    "That''s a contract. If you''re interested, call me, and if not, don''t call me, obviously," Nelson said with a smile as he left the restaurant.


    "Ha, those are my three wasted minutes," T¨ªnbari said as he watched the old man walking away.


    Candado stood up and walked toward the exit of the restaurant, immersed in the intrigue emanating from that card. It was the first time he was in a situation like this, not knowing what decision to make since he was more than sure it could be harmful to him and the guild. So, to think a bit more about the situation, he decided to go home to rest his brain. He thought it would be a good idea not to tell his friends what happened in the restaurant, but that wouldn''t last long as his friends would take matters into their own hands for Candado''s sake, and they would be the ones making the decision for him.


    While thinking about all this, he hadn''t realized he had reached Diana''s forest. That meant only one thing: trouble. Every time he set foot in that place, he ended up fighting with her, and he, at that moment, didn''t want to talk or fight with her. So he turned around and slowly headed back the way he came. But as T¨ªnbari wanted to have some fun, and Candado hadn''t spoken the Roob¨®leo language to disappear or not be organic, he took a twig and bent it until it broke, causing a loud echo throughout the forest. Candado looked at T¨ªnbari with colossal fury, and he just laughed and said:


    "Oops, I broke it."


    Then he vanished, just when a strange figure jumped from the trees and attacked Candado with a scythe, knocking him to the ground while he used his fac¨®n as a defense. The curious thing is that Candado showed no expression of fear or surprise; he had the same cold expression on his face.Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.


    "Oh, wow, I didn''t think you''d defend yourself so soon," Diana said.


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    "Because if I don''t, it''s more likely that you''ll kill me," Candado said with his cold expression.


    "You weren''t supposed to block it," criticized Diana.


    "Diana, you''re out of your mind if you think I''m going to let myself be killed," Candado said as he stood up.


    "Hey, you''re in my area, so I attacked you since no one passes through here these days," Diana said as she polished her scythe.


    Diana: She is Mauricio''s sister and also claims to be the daughter of the Pombero. She is an extremist in matters of combat, to the point of killing her opponent, making her have few rivals and practice partners. She is cheerful, mocking, sadistic, and psychopathic. She wears dark bombachas with yellow leather boots, a poncho in orange with light blue identical to Mauricio''s, a red glove on one hand, and a white hat. She has long, blond hair with black-dyed tips, and green eyes that glow in the dark. She also has pointed ears. She plays and trains with Candado and loves preparing new meals for her friends, especially for Logan and Mauricio. Unlike the latter, instead of a staff, she uses a scythe and can make it grow to a very large size.


    Power: She has powers similar to Mauricio''s, except those emanating from his staff. She is so fast that she can stop time, take the form of various animals (cat, dog, owl, frog, and hamster), transform into sand, and stretch her limbs up to a thousand meters in height.


    Abilities: She uses her laughter as an intimidating weapon, has a very venomous pet scorpion that she can grow to the size of a dog and can bite someone to paralyze them.


    "And how''s that going?"


    "What thing?"


    "You know, Viki''s thing. Has she learned to control her thirst yet?" Diana asked disinterestedly.


    "No, and the worst part is that I received a summons from the Rech¨¦p guild in La Pampa, saying that my ''guest'' has been killing livestock belonging to the farmers," Candado said, looking up with concern.


    "And what will you do?"


    "Nothing, and I won''t transfer her to another province, as it''s a huge cost for my family and me."


    "I hope your decision causes problems for the people in La Pampa."


    "Haha, nothing''s going to happen. She didn''t steal a bite from the humble peasants; instead, she took ONE COW from those damn ranchers. They can recover that and more of that ''endangered Ferrari cow'' at a dirt-cheap price.


    "Well, if I knew you were so hysterical, I wouldn''t have mentioned it," Diana said as she pulled her scythe from the ground.


    "It''s just stupid; they just want to take my money, these ''overthrow governments'' pieces of crap," Candado said, even more annoyed.


    "Oh, that''s interesting, but I would also report you or just straight-up kill you if you stole, or more precisely, killed something on my property," Diana said as she walked with Candado in the forest.


    "That''s the point. Viki kills and eats a cow to, obviously, feed herself, but it''s just one, and they want me to pay thirty-five million pesos for that cow. They''re crazy."


    "Well, it''s not much for someone who has quadrillions of pesos every minute."


    "Yes, that''s true, but that doesn''t mean I''ll throw away thirty-five million pesos." "Haha, if you can because you can recover double that in just six seconds," Diana said, playing with Candado''s beret.


    "You''re unbearable, Diana. I don''t understand how Logan and Mauricio put up with you," Candado said, taking back his beret.


    "Well, actually, I''m superficial when it comes to talking to them."


    "I''m already tired of hearing your ''well,'' improvise," Candado retorted.


    "No, because I talk how I want. If I want to add a ''well'' to the sentence, I do, and that''s it." "Fine, do whatever you want."


    They were arguing about pointless things for over thirty minutes until they finally reached Candado''s house. Well, almost, because they had reached the backyard (since he has two, plus one on the rooftop and another in front).


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    "Well, here''s where we part ways."


    Candado didn''t say anything, just nodded. But as he was about to enter the garden, Diana, who was already walking away, turned around and attacked Candado with her scythe. However, Candado, without turning, blocked the blow with his fac¨®n.


    "Seriously, you have to stop attacking everyone," Candado advised.


    "I''ll try," Diana said, withdrawing her scythe with a smile.


    When the psychopath moved away to a considerable distance, Candado headed towards the six-meter wall of his garden and jumped to the other side, using his powers, as an ordinary child couldn''t jump that height. Upon reaching the yard, Clementina and Hammya were waiting for him with crossed arms and angry expressions, and Candado didn''t understand why they were upset, but he knew it would ruin his day.


    "Well, I don''t want to know what happened, but something very deep in my ''curious nature'' pushes me to find out why you''re looking at me with those bulldog faces."


    "Looks like you''re in a good mood this afternoon," an angry Clementina said.


    "Oh, no, it''s not afternoon yet; it''s 11:36 a.m."


    "Well, cut it out with the jokes," Clementina replied.


    "What?"


    "Did you call Hammya an ''alien'' in that meeting? And did you leave your post to meet with a stranger, knowing that your life could be in danger?"


    "Well, regarding Hammya, it''s true that you''re not human, as the structure of your organs is different from a human''s, your cells are different, not to mention you have a heart rate of 180 to 200," he continued, "And to answer your question, Clementina, it''s because I don''t give a damn about what might happen to me; I''m used to my life being in danger."


    After answering the questions in his own way, Candado headed to the door that connected the garden to the house, regardless of Clementina being dissatisfied with the response. But Candado didn''t care because Clementina wasn''t programmed to give him orders. However, that didn''t stop her from using tricks in her operating system to keep him under control because, even though she was a robot, she knew what it was like to be angry.


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    "Well, I wonder what you''ll do with the citation from the W.O.G.A.B.," Clementina said, smiling.


    When she said that, Candado stiffened for a brief moment, with a kind of "amazement," so to speak. Lately, Candado hadn''t had time to comply with the citations. In the past, he had brutally beaten a kid representing the United States because he had insulted his family and Per¨®n, resulting in a serious mistake by messing with the Barret family icon. This incident infuriated Candado thoroughly, and, carried away by anger, he attacked the boy. This made a mockery of the W.O.G.A.B., as it implied that in the guild, one couldn''t think differently. This led to other affiliated nations requesting Candado''s expulsion from the organization. However, since he was the representative of Argentina, one of the pioneer countries in the founding of the W.O.G.A.B. and a valuable member for the other eight countries (China, Kenya, Japan, Paraguay, France, Iran, Germany, Venezuela, and Cuba), they did everything possible to avoid his expulsion. They advised Candado not to return to the organization for a while and that to resolve his assault on the touchy boy, he would have to perform a "special service" each time he received one of the citations. This incident was known as Candado''s first error in life, and that''s why every time they remind him of it, he gets upset.


    "And will you do anything about it?" Clementina asked, mocking and pulling out a red card with a seal of a white lion.


    "Girl, one of these days I''m going to reformat your memory," Candado said with a fake laugh as he took the letter.


    Hammya interrupted.


    "Wait, tell me how you know all that information about me, that I''m an alien, and those things."


    "I see it''s not the first time someone has told you."


    "In fact, no," Hammya said, remembering what T¨ªnbari had told her.


    "It''s simple, I studied you while you were asleep. If you don''t believe me, look at your stomach," Candado said, turning around.


    Upon hearing this, Hammya lifted her nightshirt, exposing her abdomen. To her surprise, there was a tiny line drawn with a black marker, as if it were a pre-incision.


    "Why did you do this to me?" Hammya asked, distressed and terrified at the sight of her abdomen.


    "Don''t think someone as distrustful as me would let someone sleep under my roof without studying her first."


    "There was no reason to open my abdomen with a knife."


    "Don''t worry about the incision. I made sure to disinfect the tools," he said, still not turning around.


    "Why?" Hammya shouted.


    "Because I''m diabolical," Candado said, turning around with a cold expression on his face.


    Saying this, Hammya, already annoyed, was about to hit him in the face, but Candado stopped the blow with his counter palm, maintaining his empty expression.


    "Girl, it was a joke. Of course, I didn''t open your abdomen with a knife. But I used tools that you can get at any pharmacy, like X-rays, a microscope, alcohol, a heart monitor, and defibrillators."


    "Defibrillators? Heart monitor? What kind of pharmacy sells that?" Hammya asked, astonished.


    "I only got them if something unexpected happened."


    "What led you to think I''m not human just with those gadgets?" Hammya asked, now reassured.


    "Ah, the rest is a secret, no, actually, it''s not because no matter how much I explain it to you, you won''t understand it even with drawings from a first-grader."


    "Don''t make fun of me," Hammya reproached.


    Candado didn''t say anything else, just turned around and entered the house while opening the envelope with his fac¨®n, as knowing what was written in the letter was more important to him than what Hammya was saying. It seemed like he just wanted to get out of that argument with the girl since discussing "the operation" Candado did on her was exasperating. However, for Clementina, it was confusing to see Candado walk away without arguing, but for Hammya, it didn''t mean anything; rather, it was an internal anger at his jokes.


    Candado took a seat in his favorite chair to read the letter sent by the organization.


    "Just one more, and I''ll be done with my punishment," Candado celebrated.


    "I''m happy for you," Clementina said as she sat in front of him.


    "I know it''s not a compliment, but thanks," Candado said while reading the letter.


    After almost three minutes, Candado folded the letter and placed it on the bookshelf next to him, remaining still in his seat with his arms crossed for ten minutes.


    "What happens now? You''re not going to tell me that the mission is to sit there doing nothing."


    "Actually, the mission given to me is a very distasteful joke, so much so that I don''t plan on going to fulfill it. Instead, I''ll think about what to tell those."


    "And what''s the mission that put you in such a bad mood?"


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    "Getting a damn photo of Esteban kissing Tarah to expose the leader of the Circuits and to lower the morale of his boss by kissing a woman from the E.O.T.G.E. guild (Emerging Organization of Tile Guild Equality).


    "It seems like you don''t have an option since it''s your last mission to be exempt from your punishment. After all, what does it cost you to take a picture of them kissing? They''re always kissing all day long in the square."


    "I won''t do it. Maybe we''re mortal enemies, but expos¨¦s are not my thing. I have principles," Candado said proudly.


    "Haha, for the last six months, you''ve been completing difficult missions. You never had an easy one like this, so I advise you to do it if you want to return to the Bernstein Organization."


    "Since when do you give me bad advice?"


    "Advice isn''t good or bad; it''s just an opinion. The advised one decides whether to follow it or not."


    "I don''t remember you having a profound concept about advice."


    "Right at that moment, Hip¨®lito interrupted.


    "Why so aggressive with the lady, Mr. Barret? Honestly, I couldn''t sleep well last night because of some jerks."


    "Well, that''s in the past. You know what they say, let bygones be bygones," said Hip¨®lito with a smile.


    "Haha, I also have a nice saying," argued Candado.


    Shortly after, he stood up from the couch, took off his trench coat, placed it on the back of the chair, and headed towards the exit without saying anything more. Then, he closed the door behind him. When Candado did that, Clementina and Hammya stood up, intending to follow him, but at that moment, Hip¨®lito put his hands on the girls'' shoulders.


    "Let''s leave Candado alone for a while; he''ll need to clear his mind," advised Hip¨®lito.


    The girls looked at Hip¨®lito with confusion. What exactly did he mean? And why? Perhaps Candado was worried about the "strange" guild mission. If he completed this mission, he could return to the Bernstein Organization. But would it be worth it? Candado had issues with some of the board members, but not with the leaders who saved him, as they, due to life circumstances, had always been in favor of the Barret family, including his great-grandfather Jack Barret, his grandfather Alfred Barret, and his mother Europa Barret. But Candado knew that with the help of those countries, it wouldn''t serve him well in the future, as he was viewed unfavorably by most of the other nations in the Bernstein Organization. This was because they still hadn''t forgiven him for the simple fact that his mother, when she was the leader of the Roob¨®leo Brotherhood, had fraternized with the Circuits. For that reason, Candado had been labeled a traitor to Harambee''s principles and the Bernstein Organization. However, for him, the U.F.E.T.C. had been formidable allies, as they had helped the Roob¨®leo Brotherhood when no one else did. So, Candado wondered if it would be right to tarnish his morals with those who had helped him in the past just to please the W.O.G.A.B. Is it worth it? The hatred between the Guilds and the Circuits is genuine, as they had ruled the world for almost three entire years with terror and violence, not to mention leaving a third of the world''s population orphaned and seeking revenge against those who had taken everything from them. But that was almost 100 years ago, and the people who suffered it died years ago. Moreover, the terror rule of the Circuits had never been repeated since T¨¢natos was locked in the golden chest. Nowadays, both the Circuits and the Guilds hardly engage in direct conflict, but the essence of a cold war between these two large organizations still lingers, and once again, he found himself in a difficult position. His decision could be fatal."


    While Candado strolled through the streets of the town, contemplating the decision he had to make, he decided to go to the square in the hope of clearing his mind a bit. He lay down under a tree that strangely had leaves as red as blood; apparently, this tree was also affected by the meteorite of 1912. When Candado approached the square, he stopped; apparently, someone was following him. He looked back, but only saw people walking along the streets. Without wasting more time, he continued walking until he reached his destination. When he arrived, he saw Lucas sitting in the lotus position with his eyes closed and flames in his hands. Candado approached and lay down at the other end of the tree to avoid disturbing Lucas in his concentration. However, as he began to relax...


    "I know very well that you''re there, Candado," said Lucas without opening his eyes.


    Instead of answering, Candado began to whistle to imitate a bird.


    "That doesn''t work with me, Candado, maybe with Matlotsky, but not with me."


    "Well, I didn''t want to talk, but it seems it didn''t work."


    "Don''t worry, H¨¦ctor took care of reassuring the others when you left."


    "Alright, thank him for me."


    "Well," Lucas continued, "Candado, there''s no need to hide it, right?"


    "No, not at all."


    "Boss, don''t lie."


    "Anyway, how do you know that I''m worried?"


    "Because you always come to the same square, to the same tree when you have a problem, to talk alone about your annoyances and problems, and boom, like magic, you already have the clearest answer. You''re very predictable."


    Candado, upon hearing the word "predictable," lightly tapped the tree, and a pinecone fell on Lucas''s head.


    "Was that predictable?" Candado asked in a mocking tone.


    "Well, sorry," Lucas continued. "And by the way, who are you talking to when you''re here?" Lucas asked.


    Candado''s face changed instantly, going from somewhat happy to depressed.


    "With my sister."


    "I''m sorry, I shouldn''t have asked," Lucas apologized.


    "It''s okay, she''s always with me when I need her."


    "You say it as if you''re to blame for her death."


    "I already know what you''re going to say, ''It wasn''t your fault.'' You know, I''m getting tired of hearing that."


    "Well, if you say so, that''s fine."


    Candado didn''t say anything more; he remained silent, lying down, looking at the exceptional tree''s red leaves. Strangely, one of the tree''s leaves detached from a branch and began to fall slowly where Candado was. He raised his left hand with an open palm, and the leaf settled gently on it. He watched it attentively, turning the small leaf around and around. After a while, Candado let it go, and it began to drift away from him due to the wind. He smiled as he watched the leaf dance aimlessly from side to side until he could no longer see it. After that, Candado lay down next to the tree and closed his eyes. He was happy for some reason seeing such a scene, and his happiness relaxed him, eventually leading him to fall asleep.


    Lucas, on the other hand, hadn''t realized that Candado had fallen asleep and, unaware, began talking about inconsequential things to pass the time. Until a girl named Tarah greeted him.


    "Good afternoon, Lucas."


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    Tarah, a young woman with short ash-white hair and brown eyes, was dressed in a light green polo shirt with a small bow-shaped cockade on the heart side. She completed her outfit with long white pants held by a belt and walked barefoot. She wore a necklace in the form of a distorted blue cross. Like Candado, Tarah was the leader of the O.N.I.G.A. guild, known as The Azulejos. She was a kind and intelligent person but didn''t get along well with Luc¨ªa or Viki. Additionally, she was Esteban''s girlfriend, the leader of the Circuits, and the daughter of the town''s mayor. She was considered responsible for keeping the town clean and had a passion for reading and painting.


    Tarah possessed a power considered weak: she could create portals. Additionally, she had skills that allowed her to climb trees, walk on house roofs without falling or cutting herself, disassemble a car, and she could perfectly imitate other people''s signatures.


    "Good afternoon? There are still ten minutes until twelve."


    "Okay, good morning," Tarah said confused.


    "Good Miss Tarah, what has brought the leader of the Azulejos and the mayor''s daughter to this square?"


    "I just came for a walk, as Dad is busy managing the town."


    "Alone? What happened to Xend¨ª?" Lucas asked.


    "Oh, he''s doing the shopping; he won''t take long to return."


    "Ha, he''s always busy, isn''t he?" Lucas continued. "Hey, what''s Candado up to?"


    "Oh, nothing, he''s just ignoring me."


    She walked towards where Candado was.


    "To me, it seems like he''s sleeping."


    "What?" Lucas asked surprised, as he stood up and walked towards Tarah.


    "Do you see? I told you," Tarah pointed out.


    "It''s true, he''s sleeping."


    Tarah approached and began tapping his cheek to wake him up. But he wouldn''t wake; apparently, he was very tired as he hadn''t slept, so Lucas gave him such a strong slap that the noise made the nearby pigeons flutter away. He managed to wake Candado, but, as a consequence, it made him angry. Even before, the simple act of waking him annoyed him, let alone if they hit him to do so. So, as soon as he woke up, he revealed his violet flaming eyes, grabbed Lucas by his robe, and violently pulled him towards him until their foreheads were pressed together.


    "You have ten seconds to give an excuse I believe, before I break your neck."


    "Akflskfhsdflidskfhieoshfloisd.gusadgfas.dhgaw?d.ashufesigfsdflhjdsgfyegsfligsd."


    "SHUT UP!" Candado shouted and continued, "I didn''t understand a damn thing."


    Lucas somehow managed to free himself and started running, saying, "I''m sorry, it wasn''t my intention," as he ran to avoid being "killed" by Candado.


    "You fought countless times with our enemies, and countless times you put your life in danger, and now you run away, COWARD!" Candado retorted.


    "Well, I didn''t mean to make you angry, but what can you do?" Tarah commented.


    "Ah, it''s you, Lady Azulejo," Candado said as he adjusted his beret.


    "The same goes for you, Lord Beret," Tarah said in a reverent tone.


    "What are you doing here?"


    "Nothing, just taking a walk."


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    "Ah, well, continue with your walk," Candado said as he walked away.


    "Is that it? You''re not going to argue or something?" Tarah asked.


    "I''m a very busy person, so see you."


    After that, he left the place, leaving Tarah very confused. Coincidentally, Candado always argues with her, just because, but today he didn''t. "Who knows why," she thought.


    While Tarah was pondering all this, Candado, without even clearing his mind due to Lucas and Tarah, decided to go to the guild without any other option. He thought he would find a clearer answer there. But as he returned, someone started asking for help. Candado, upon hearing this, ran guided by the cries for help until he reached a supermarket. Apparently, it was the Circuits causing trouble again in the town. Candado peeked inside and saw the scene: an elderly man was tied to a chair, and three kids were wreaking havoc.


    "Darn it, and I thought there were no more problems," he muttered disappointingly.


    As Candado was about to enter, he heard that someone or something had violently opened the emergency exit door. In it, Candado could see Esteban.


    Esteban: He has blond hair with a vertical white line, blue eyes, wears a white long-sleeved shirt, dark brown gala gloves with a blue tie, a red gala vest, dark refined pants, and light brown triangular-toed shoes with laces. His personality is similar to Candado''s. It bothers him profoundly when someone doesn''t listen to his ideology. He is Tarah''s boyfriend, likes solving mysteries, and has a rivalry with Candado (no one knows why; the most accurate theory is ideological, but it''s a rumor). He has an obsession with defeating Candado, although neither of them has won.


    Power: Can manipulate or absorb electricity at his convenience, as well as create it. He can also use his blood to heal wounds and diseases.


    Ability: Knows how to speak all languages in the world, is the only one who can pacify the powers of others (except for Candado), and is very good at school.


    Esteban ran to where they were and struck one of them. The other two, using their respective powers, attacked him from behind, but he turned around and hit both of them. The first one he had hit got up and grabbed his arm, but Esteban reacted quickly and threw him through the metal door. Then, the remaining two jumped at him. Esteban shot a lightning bolt at one of them, making him crash into a wall, while the other one, he dodged. However, the latter reacted quickly and tried to punch Esteban in the chest with his hand turned into metal, but Esteban stopped him with his hand and even threw him towards him, delivering a punch to his face, knocking him out.


    "You are a disgrace to the Circuit," Esteban said, looking at all of them.


    Then, he approached the man, untied him, and helped him to his feet. After that, he approached the three with the same rope they had used on the store owner, tied each of them up, and told the owner:


    "The situation is under control. You can call the police now; I''ll make sure this doesn''t happen to you or anyone else again."


    The man thanked him and gave him some sodas. Esteban accepted the gift humbly and left the store through the same door he had entered. Candado, who was watching everything, smiled and murmured.


    "It seems he wasn''t as bad as I thought. I''m glad to witness this event."


    Afterward, Candado left the place with a twisted smile of satisfaction. It was as if he had won the lottery. But then he started smiling, smiling, and smiling (a bitter smile). He always knew that beneath that tough and crusty exterior, there was goodness with a huge heart. As he walked away from the store, a strong wind blew, so strong that his beret flew off to where he came from. Quickly, he turned and managed to grab his cherished hat. But when he was shaking it off, he saw the leaf from the tree stuck to the sign of the store that Esteban had saved. It was the same leaf that Candado had picked up in the park. This fact changed his smile from genuine to a cold, calculated one.


    "I understand what you wanted to tell me," Candado said, looking at the leaf stuck to the sign.


    And with that, Candado left, but this time, he headed home. He no longer needed to go to the guild to clear his mind; he had made a decision; he just needed one more thing.


    Candado arrived at his home without any issues, entered, and, hiding his smile, found the others in the living room. Hip¨®lito, Clementina, Hammya, and his grandmother were all there. Although the latter would find out anyway since she could read minds, Candado didn''t care at all. He approached Clementina and asked:


    "Where''s the phone? I need to make a call."


    Clementina took a cellphone from her chest and handed it to him.


    "Thanks," said Candado, taking the cellphone.


    He dialed and called the W.O.G.A.B. He had a firm and irrevocable decision. When someone picked up the phone, Candado introduced himself, gave his information, and said:


    "I''ve made a decision. I won''t fulfill your mission, even if it''s the last one. I won''t do it; it''s not my job to smear people. Thank you, and have a good night."


    Then he hung up.


    But on the other end of the line were the nine child leaders of the W.O.G.A.B., listening to Candado''s phone conversation. They were Jacqueline Crusoe (France), Yuuta Aikawa (Japan), Ra¨²l Rojas (Paraguay), Banu Fereshteh (Iran), Shen Shaoran (China), Kirinyaga Harambee (Kenya), Armando Castro (Cuba), Aurora Solari (Venezuela), and Alejandra Bernstein (Germany). They were discussing among themselves.


    "Well, it seems I''ve won the bet," said Jacqueline.


    "You''ve won, but I don''t intend to pay you," said Shen.


    "It seems the Argentine has morals and principles after all," said Alejandra.


    "Well, gentlemen? I won. Now, I want Candado reinstated in the guild," demanded Jacqueline.


    "It''s true, Candado has fulfilled all his orders, and besides, he passed Shen''s test, so keep your word now," ordered Kirinyaga.


    "Indeed, do it," said Ra¨²l.


    "Ha, I hope he comes back. I miss the boinudo Candado," said Aurora.


    "The leader is coming back, great!" celebrated Armando.


    "I hope you keep your word," said Jacqueline.


    "I''ve lost, and I accept it. As a warrior, I''ll keep my word," said Yuuta.


    "That''s good; Candado is coming back. I''m happy," expressed Banu.


    Yuuta sat at his desk, took a wooden gavel, like those in movie courtrooms, and said:


    "I decree that Mr. Candado Barret, better known as ''El Gaucho,'' has been exonerated from his penalty for fulfilling the orders given to him in the last thirteen months, and that in approximately thirteen days, he may return to the World Organization of Adjacent Guilds Bernstein. I have spoken."


    Yuuta struck the table three times with the hammer and left. Meanwhile, 92% of the boardroom rose and applauded. Not only did the organization''s leaders applaud, but most of the board members also clapped and whistled. While the 8% of children representing the other countries felt revulsion, indignation, and hatred for the decree.


    Candado, on the other hand, still hadn''t learned what Yuuta had decreed. Therefore, as soon as he hung up, he told everyone in the room that he was going to make another call in his room. So Candado headed to his room, took out the card from his pocket, and dialed again.


    "Hello? It''s me, Candado, and I accept the contract," said Candado with a smile.


    "I knew you would," said Nelson.


    Now Candado was about to confront those who had killed his grandfather. For him, revenge was within reach, and he feared nothing and no one. Nothing would stop him. Finally, he could avenge himself. For two months, the police had found nothing, and now his grandfather''s childhood friend appeared with a lead that he followed and believed blindly. Greg, the killer, would pay dearly for daring to take Alfred Barret''s life. The eye-for-an-eye and blood-for-blood operation was beginning, indeed.

 THE HISTORY OF COTORIUM

    The afternoon arrived, and Candado was getting ready for Nelson to pick him up. Since he had accepted the contract proposed by the old man, he told him to get ready because he would come to pick him up. Of course, Clementina and Hammya were unaware of this encounter. Their curiosity was so great that they spied on his every move. However, as Candado was very observant and perceptive, he knew they were spying on him, so he gave them false clues, like staring at the ceiling for more than ten minutes, walking in circles, looking at his watch for almost two minutes, or speaking nonsense. Even T¨ªnbari, who was watching him, couldn''t understand what he was doing.


    "Hey, it seems like you''re alone on the field," said T¨ªnbari. Candado was annoyed by this comment, so much that he decided to clarify it. But for the two meddlers to hear him, he began to speak mentally with T¨ªnbari.


    "Don''t bother, you piece of garbage. Can''t you see I''m trying to mislead those two?"


    T¨ªnbari turned around and saw the two hidden behind the door.


    "Ah, now I understand. Humans are indeed gossipers."


    "That would be great if they were humans."


    "True, one is a robot, and the other is of an unknown race. How silly."


    "Shut up, Demonto. You were once a human too."


    "Yes, I was once a disgusting and weak human, but that''s in the past," clarified T¨ªnbari.


    "Don''t insult the human race, idiot."


    "Ah well, whatever you say."


    "You and I will have a lot to talk about once the meeting with Nelson is over," said Candado as he adjusted his tie.


    "Yes, yes, yes, whatever you say, Candado," said T¨ªnbari casually. Candado was annoyed that T¨ªnbari spoke to him in that way, as if he were mocking him. But when Candado was about to reproach him, he saw a light blue Justicialist car from the time of Juan Domingo Per¨®n through his window.


    "It must be a joke; they don''t make those cars in this country anymore," Candado muttered.


    "Haha, I had one when I was human," argued T¨ªnbari.


    "Wait, those two aren''t at my door anymore, are they?" Candado asked.


    T¨ªnbari peeked to see if the girls were still spying on him, but it turned out they had grown tired of watching him do meaningless things and had left.


    "No, they''re gone," T¨ªnbari said, raising his right hand.


    "Good, it''s time," Candado said as he opened the window.


    "What are you doing?" T¨ªnbari asked.


    "I''ll go down this way," Candado replied.


    "Are you crazy? If I do that, it will look like you''re floating since you''re the only one who can see me, except for your friends, of course."


    "I don''t care. Can''t you transport me or something?"


    "Ah, you''re right, I can do that. But why did you open the window?"


    "To show you, you piece of idiot, where I want you to take me," Candado said, pointing at the car.


    "Well, your wish is my command," T¨ªnbari said. The demon approached Candado and took his hand with a smile.


    "Close your eyes because this might blind you."


    Candado didn''t ask any questions but closed his eyes as T¨ªnbari had requested, and in the blink of an eye (metaphorically), he appeared inside the car. When he was inside, he slowly opened his eyes and saw Nelson looking at him in surprise. Then, he looked at the back seat, where T¨ªnbari was lying down and waving at him.


    "I''ll be here if you need me, okay?"


    Then Candado looked at Nelson for the second time.


    "Kid, normal people leave through the front gate of their houses and get into the car by opening the door on your side," said Nelson.


    "Well, but it was the most feasible way to leave without being noticed."


    Nelson didn''t say anything else and started the car. Candado looked around in amazement. A justicialista car¡ªhardly anyone has one of those, and if they do, it''s in museums. So Candado gathered his courage and asked.


    "Where did you get the car?"


    Nelson smiled and said.


    "I''ve had this car for over fifty years, son," said Nelson.


    "How''s that? The justicialista stopped being manufactured in 1955 with Per¨®n''s overthrow; they even changed its name, color, and structure."


    Nelson started laughing out loud and replied.


    "It seems you know your history."


    He then explained that apparently, his father bought the car in 1952 and gave it to him when he turned seventeen. Since then, he has used it. His father worked as a teacher in a school in Buenos Aires when the general was overthrown, got fired for being a Peronist, and went from having a good job to working as a cashier in the supermarkets of that time, earning a pittance. Nelson never met his mother, and he always blamed himself for not preventing her death. For that reason, Nelson was always attentive, buying him everything he asked for, even the car. When he was ten, he told him that when he grew up, he would buy a car, but his father said no and promised him that he would buy it when he turned seventeen. And so he did, he kept his promise, gave him his car, which made it difficult for him since his job was far away, and he needed the car to go to work. Several years later, he kept it because his father gave him this when he had nothing. He will never forget his smile when he gave it to him.


    "Wow, it''s incredible that you''ve kept your father''s gift for over fifty years."


    "Yes, a son never forgets his father, no matter how old he is."


    "Well, enough chit-chat. Where are we supposed to go?"


    "We''re going to a house that you might know."


    "Where?"


    "To the Pe?alosa mansion."


    "What? That house has been abandoned for almost forty years; no one lives there."


    "That''s true, no one does, but that property belongs to the company C.I.C.E.T.A. In 1989, around the end of Ra¨²l Alfons¨ªn''s government."


    "What is C.I.C.E.T.A.?"


    "Centro de Investigaci¨®n Cient¨ªfica Especialista en Tecnolog¨ªa Avanzada, or to make it shorter, Laboratorio Ciencia Blanca, L.C.B."


    "Ah, and what is that?"


    "That''s where your grandfather worked, or rather, the founder of C.I.C.E.T.A. Laboratories."


    "But what is that place?"


    "Heh, you''ll see."


    He didn''t say anything more; Nelson remained silent throughout the journey with a smile on his face. This turned out to be somewhat uncomfortable for Candado, but for T¨ªnbari, it was amusing. In fact, he didn''t care about the consequences, as long as Candado''s life wasn''t at risk, everything would be fine.


    It took approximately forty-five minutes to reach the Pe?alosa mansion. Interestingly, this enormous house was on the outskirts of the town. The car parked in front of the iron gates of the house. Nelson got out of the car and entered a booth that was near the gate. Once inside, the gate opened; it almost gave the impression that it had opened on its own. Nelson came out of that place smiling and returned to the car without saying anything.


    The car drove through what could be called a garden, as it was overrun by nature. Vines covered almost the majority of the wall, including the house. They parked in front of the huge doors. It was as if it were the Casa Rosada, but this one was red, well, or so it seemed, as no one had painted it for a long time.


    Candado and Nelson got out of the car and headed towards the entrance of the house. Nelson stopped and knocked on the door. Candado looked at him as if he were crazy. The house was battered, dirty, and full of cobwebs. It seemed like no one had lived there. Who would answer? However, the door opened slowly, and from inside emerged the face of an old man. He looked at Candado and said:


    "You''re just in time, Torres."


    "Great, you see, I''m not unpunctual," Nelson said.


    The old man looked at Candado.


    "Is this young man Alfred''s grandson?"


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    ¡ªYes, he is," Nelson replied.


    The gentleman opened the door and invited them in. Candado continued to follow Nelson with his guard up, as he didn''t trust the potential residents of the house. With his hand behind his back, he held onto his fac¨®n. Nelson, aware that Candado was uneasy, said:


    "Don''t worry, they won''t harm you."


    Those words calmed Candado a bit, and the old man managed to get him to lower his hand from his fac¨®n.


    They walked for a few more seconds down the dimly lit hallway until they reached a room with ample lighting. In it, there was a group of six people, all of them elderly.


    Candado stood in the center of these people, looking at each of them, with T¨ªnbari watching him from the air, ready in case any of them intended to attack Candado.


    "All right, folks, this person is Alfred''s son," Nelson said.


    "Grandson, Nelson, grandson," Candado clarified.


    "It''s a figure of speech."


    The people looked at each other and began to draw their conclusions. Nelson put his hand on Candado''s shoulder and pointed to a seat. Candado went to that spot and sat down.


    "Ladies and gentlemen, I think it''s time to introduce ourselves," Nelson suggested.


    One of the individuals stood up and introduced himself.


    "Hello, my name is Bruno G¨®mez. I''m 76 years old, representing El Gallo."


    Bruno has black hair with white streaks from his forehead backward, light green eyes, a perfectly trimmed dark horseshoe mustache, and he wears military general green clothing with medals on his chest.


    Power: Can lift someone with his mind and create diamonds as a shield.


    Ability: None, but he excels in everything.


    ¡ªHello, I''m Miguel de Casas, 54 years old, representing El ?and¨².


    Miguel: Despite his age, he still has blond hair. His eyes are brown, and he wears an eye patch with a scar protruding from the injury. He dresses in white formal pants with dark boots, a black trench coat that reaches his knees, and a gray shirt with a red tie.


    Power: Control over white fire, shape-shifting ability, flight, superhuman speed (even surpassing the speed of light), and invisibility.


    Ability: Unknown abilities.


    The third person introduced herself.


    "I''m Elsa Butt¨®n, 70 years old, representing El Lince."


    Elsa: She has white hair, and her age is not evident in her appearance. Her eyes are of strange colors, one is green, and the other is blue. She wears a pink pearl necklace and is dressed in dark brown pants, stiletto heels, and a short-sleeved sky-blue shirt.


    Power: Has the unique ability to mimic or copy the powers and abilities of her enemies and friends.


    Ability: Ability to mimic others.


    The fourth person presented himself.


    "Hello, everyone knows me, but I wouldn''t mind introducing myself again as when I was young. I''m Sim¨®n Garmendia, 65 years old, representing El Le¨®n Rojo."


    Sim¨®n: Originally from Canada, his hair is red without any graying. His eyes are dark, and he wears reading glasses. He dresses in a stylish gray suit from head to toe with a blue tie and has a large red beard that makes him resemble the philosopher Karl Marx. He is always happy, which is due to a traumatic event from his childhood when his parents were brutally murdered in front of his eyes. This unleashed an uncontrollable internal power related to his emotions, such as sadness, anger, fear, and others.


    Power: Triggers an uncontrollable bloodlust when experiencing intense emotions such as sadness, anger, or fear. No one knows exactly what his power is based on, except Nelson.


    Ability: Ability to repair any technological object.


    The fifth person introduced herself.


    "Hello, I''m Aldana Serpiente, 70 years old, representing La Tortuga."


    Aldana: Despite her age, she appears to be in her twenties or thirties. Her hair is long and black, her eyes are dark, her skin is tan, and she wears a red crystal in the shape of a diamond on her forehead. She wears black glasses and dresses formally in light green-toned men''s clothing, accompanied by a pink tie.


    Power: Her ability is related to life and death. She is long-lived and can extract a human''s soul with her hands. She can also create branches and roots from her hands.


    Ability: She is an expert in surprise attacks, traps, and other strategic skills.


    The sixth and last person introduced herself.


    "Well, it''s my turn. My name is Rosa Pastur¨²ti, 50 years old, representing La Paloma."Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    Rosa: She wears a dark suit from head to toe, with a cloak that looks more like gas. She is surrounded by black smoke, and her face remains hidden, appearing young.


    Powers: Unknown.


    Ability: Unknown.


    When everyone had introduced themselves, Nelson took a step forward and said.


    "Well, ladies and gentlemen, today Candado is joining us in the capture of Greg."


    "Wait, the armadillo is missing here," said Candado.


    "That''s because the armadillo was your grandfather, and as you can see, he is dead," Bruno replied.


    "Thanks, changing the subject, who are you, and what relationship did you have with my grandfather?"


    "We are, or rather, were friends of Alfred," Miguel replied.


    "I was his clandestine lover," Aldana added.


    "Shut up," Bruno ordered.


    "You see, we also used to work here; we were and still are scientists," said Nelson.


    "Except for us, we were just security guards," added Bruno and Sim¨®n.


    "Well, as you can see, some didn''t have the aptitude for science," Nelson said mockingly.


    "Why am I here?" asked Candado.


    "So that you know the history of Cotorium and why humans have powers," Miguel explained.


    "Well, now this got very interesting, and I''d like to know about this topic."


    "Alright, you can manifest yourself now, Slonbari, the god of life," said Nelson, hitting the ground with his staff.


    At that moment, the windows and doors closed on their own, and in the middle of the assembly, white vapor emerged from the ground, slowly growing until an inhuman but beautiful figure appeared in front of Candado.


    "Good afternoon, I am Slonbari, the Bari of life."


    Slonbari: He had very pale skin and lacked eyes; instead, he wore dark sunglasses. He had a perfect nose, and his hair changed color continuously, apparently according to his mood, but it could be said that his original hair color was white. He had no legs; a constant gray vapor emanated from his waist down. He wore a black cassock with a white ribbon around his neck and had wooden hands. Two beautiful white wings sprouted from his back.


    "Well, what were you supposed to be before?" asked Candado.


    "I was a priest in the church of Spain, more than eight hundred and thirty years ago. For trying to help others by preparing medicines, I was condemned to the stake by my own brothers, but a divine light transformed my body, and I fled from that place."


    "What was your name?" Candado inquired.


    "Name? I forgot it a long time ago."


    "Well, how did you lose your eyes, sir?" Candado asked again.


    "I lost them at the hands of my stepfather before they burned me, accusing me of raping women."


    "Sorry if I offended you."


    "Offend me? Hahaha, you didn''t. In fact, you are the first person to ask me these things, besides Alfred. But enough about me; I sense the presence of a friend behind you."


    Candado looked behind him defensively, even pulling out his fac¨®n.


    "Hahaha, no, son, it''s not an enemy," Slonbari laughed.


    At that moment, T¨ªnbari manifested, releasing black smoke in the front of the room, making himself visible to everyone present.


    "Are you talking about my crow?" T¨ªnbari asked.


    "In fact, I was. How have you been all this time, father of death?" Slonbari inquired.


    "You flatter me. It''s incredible that someone like you would ask about my well-being."


    "I don''t know, but it seems like you''re exchanging indirect jabs," Nelson commented.


    "Shut up, old man," T¨ªnbari continued. "There''s still something pending between us, Slonbari," he said, showing his claws.


    "Hold on, T¨ªnbari, I order you to stop. We''re not here to fight."


    "Heh, whatever you say, Candado."


    The demon ceased his dispute and returned behind Candado.


    "Well, I think you have something to tell me, so go ahead," said Candado.


    Slonbari cleared his throat and began to narrate.


    Cotorium, the origin of all life in the universe, was a planet where a unique entity called Keplant once existed. It was the only living being in the ¨²zergluk (Void, in the language of the Bari), as the universe was called before. Keplant described it as a place without color, silent, eerie, and lifeless. He always wondered, "Why do I exist? What is my purpose?" and many other things. However, once, while playing with his medallion, he accidentally created a structure resembling a stone. This caught his attention so much that throughout his life, he tried to control it, creating things. Eventually, he created a planet that, at that moment, had no name. Keplant stood on it, explored it entirely, but it was empty, devoid of life. He continued searching for answers to his curiosity, biting it, kicking it, and hitting it. Until he created a sun, gave it another hit, and created water, three hits for vegetation, four hits for a river. When he was about to give a fifth hit, his medallion shattered and turned into a kind of violet dust, which he accidentally inhaled. The dust entered his body, and after he did that, a violet flame emerged from his hand, with which he created the sky and clouds. Keplant was so excited that he started to traverse the planet he had created, flying through the air using his power and creating mountains, rivers, and seas. Until he focused on the center of the planet, where he concentrated all his energy and created a massive tree, the first time he created life. The tree grew to touch the clouds, and when its branches reached the sky, it began to rain. Keplant was delighted and cried at the sight of this moving scene.


    When he was an adult, he noticed that nine strange fruits fell from the tree. Babies emerged from their insides¡ªfive females and four males. Keplant raised them and named them: Sedbil, Pander, Roob¨®leo, Benst, Ar¨²s, L¨ªcata, Venezy, Hammya, and Sagarina.


    "Wait, Hammya? Are you sure?" Candado asked.


    "Yes, Hammya is the goddess of the planet Coleriam. Why?"


    ¡ªNothing special. Could you fast forward a few years, please? I don''t have all day," Candado said.


    "Alright, I will. It turns out that Cotorium, at this moment, is at war. The Roob¨®leo resistance is against the Zodian alliance," Slonbari said.


    "And what does that have to do with me?" Candado asked.


    "My child, it has a lot to do because you have the powers of the god Keplant, or in other words, the blood of Keplant, and Pullbarey, the leader of the Zodian, is on this planet seeking the power you possess. If Pullbarey were to kill you and take Keplant''s powers, he would use them to win the war and become unstoppable. The world... no, the entire universe will be under the rule of one person, him."


    "He is here, right? Tell me where he is, and let''s end this," Candado said, showing his flaming fist.


    "Your bravery is commendable, but it won''t be easy. Pullbarey is very dangerous for any human," Slonbari said.


    "I am not just anyone; I have a name and a last name, you know? And it''s Candado Ern¨¦st Barret."


    "He is looking for you. Try not to die; for now, you are weak against Pullbarey," Slonbari said.


    "I trained in T¨ªnbari''s death box and survived. I fear nothing, not even death," Candado said with a cold expression.


    Candado''s gaze was starting to unsettle Slonbari. Even though he couldn''t see, he could feel the shiver from the boy''s gaze running through his entire body. It was the first time a Bari was scared of a human.


    "Frightening, isn''t it, Slonbari?" T¨ªnbari asked arrogantly.


    "Well, where is he?" Candado demanded.


    "I... don''t know for sure, but I know he is already in this country," Slonbari said.


    "Fine, once I find him, I''ll kill him," Candado said.


    "Listen well to what I''m going to tell you, Candado. You won''t be able to kill Pullbarey yet because he has possessed a mortal. You can''t kill him, but you can weaken him since his original body is in Cotorium, and with human technology, it would take you seven hundred million years to reach that planet."


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    "Alright, so how do I do it?" Candado asked, extinguishing his flame.


    "Teleportation," said Miguel.


    "Eh? That''s impossible. There is no device that can do that," Candado said.


    "Of course, there is," Nelson said, placing his hand on Candado''s shoulder.


    At that moment, Aldana pulled a large emerald from her pocket and said:


    "This is the key for us to take you to that planet, but it will take some time to glow."


    "How much time?" Candado asked.


    "Well, today is March 10, 2013, right? So, about 3650 days," Aldana said.


    "Ten damn years?" exclaimed Candado.


    "Yes, it could be," said Aldana.


    "You still have time. While you wait for those ten years, you can prepare yourself," Slonbari said as he faded away.


    "Ha, looks like the meeting is over," T¨ªnbari said.


    "I thought someone would be a bit ''sympathetic'' with me, but it seems not," Candado said.


    "Why do you say that?" Nelson asked.


    "It''s simple, my life is somewhat challenging. As if being in the eye of the storm with two major superpowers, both the guilds and the circuits, weren''t enough. Now, I not only have to deal with the U.F.E.T.C., but I also have to fight someone on the other end of the galaxy. Come on! I know how you think: ''Oh, look, I have an almost suicidal mission. What are we going to do? I know, let''s give it to Candado; he''ll surely accomplish it. After all, he''s just a kid without a social life. Let''s ruin him because, in the end, he won''t care.''"


    "Well, Candado, you won''t do it all alone; you''ll have our help," Bruno said.


    "Sure, not because I''m arrogant or anything like that. But aren''t you guys a bit ''old'' to be doing these things?" Candado asked.


    "We may be old, but not useless, kid," Bruno continued. "Well, comrades, it''s time for all of us to leave; after all, the meeting is over."


    When everyone heard that, they got up and headed to the exit. Not without saying goodbye to Candado with a handshake and praising his grandfather. When Nelson was the last to leave, he looked at Candado and asked:


    "Is everything okay, Candado? Everyone has already left."


    "You go ahead; I''ll stay for a while, alright? After all, I''d like to admire the house a bit," Candado said.


    "Alright," Nelson affirmed.


    Nelson did as he had said, left, but left the door open for Candado to leave. Meanwhile, he began to speak to the air.


    "I see you haven''t completely left, Slonbari," Candado said.


    At that moment, the Bari of life emerged from the ground with a white vapor enveloping him.


    "What gave me away?" Slonbari asked.


    "Nothing, I just spoke for the sake of it. I had no idea you were here," Candado said.


    "Well, it worked. What do you want from me then?" Slonbari asked.


    "I want you to finish telling me the story of that planet, please," Candado said.


    "Well, it seems you were intrigued to know more about my world. Alright, I''ll do it."


    "Thank you, Slonbari," Candado expressed his gratitude.


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    Then he continued.


    After Keplant raised those children as his own, a small spaceship fell from the sky. People emerged from it. Keplant hid the children and approached the people who were coming out of that small ship. The people began to talk among themselves, and this helped Keplant learn their language perfectly. He approached the people, disguising himself as one of them, and this strategy led him to meet the leaders of that crowd. Their names were Cot, Orux, and Orium; these three individuals were the leaders of those people. He saw how the leaders helped their people, providing them with food, water, and protection. He understood that if they helped their own, why not help them as well. So he decided to approach the leaders, not as an infiltrator, but as himself. At first, they thought he was a threat, but when he spoke to the leaders, they stopped believing that. Keplant told them that the best place where they could stock up was under the largest tree on the planet. The leaders listened and accepted, giving him a white gem as a symbol of friendship. Keplant guided them through the forests with his violet flame, and the journey was long, but they had finally arrived at the place promised by Keplant. They were delighted with him for giving them a home in his home, and he said he felt happy to meet others besides his children. Of course, they also played with the other children of those people.


    There was peace and prosperity on the planet for several years. I don''t know exactly how many, but I estimate about three or four thousand years based on the data he tells. But that peace began to fade slowly. The younger brother, Orux, had realized that the tree where he was was powerful and emanated immense magic from its interior. One day he met with his brothers and proposed cutting down the tree, but they refused. They said that this tree belonged to Keplant and that it was he who gave them a place to create their city and also gave them permission to cut down the forests if they needed them, but under no circumstances could they cut down that tree. Orux felt offended, so much so that he abandoned his people to roam the planet, and that was the last time they saw him.


    Things had improved. Keplant''s children had grown up and become adults. However, Keplant had not changed at all; he had only let his beard grow. Moreover, he continued to create planets throughout the galaxy. In addition, he had created three more planets, whose names today are: Elerk, Coleriam, and Naturian. While Keplant was busy creating planets, his children spread their knowledge throughout the city.


    One night, after a hundred years, Orux returned, but not alone. He was accompanied by an army of stone-bodied monsters, with the intention of taking the tree by force, regardless of innocent people dying in the process. Orux attacked the city, killing his own people and destroying everything in his path. It was a massacre until, at the top of the tree, Orux and his brothers fought for who would acquire the tree.


    At that precise moment, Keplant had returned from his journey and saw something he had never seen before: war. Driven by his instincts to protect the people, he destroyed all the monsters with his powers and saved the citizens. But while he was doing that, at the top of the tree, Orux destroyed an important part of the tree, causing severe damage to Keplant. Already injured, he told all the citizens to evacuate, to take their belongings and leave, without criticism and without choice. They packed up all their things and moved away from the city.


    Meanwhile, at the top, the brothers fought bravely against Orux. Until the latter delivered a mortal blow to the tree, causing it to release all its energy brutally and rapidly. Orux, who was very close to the tree, was expelled by this energy into the sky and ended up dying from the fall. The two brothers, pained by this loss, knew that the tree would kill all their people if they didn''t do something. So they used what little magic they had left to compress the great power, which they succeeded in doing. Keplant saw how the brothers held hands, looking at him, thanking him for saving their people. Just at that moment, they were absorbed by the energy, causing a huge explosion that destroyed the entire city and killed them. The tree had disappeared, and as a consequence of this, it had harmed Keplant and his children. But not everything was pain; the tree spread its magic throughout the planet, creating and empowering all the citizens and even Keplant''s children.


    Keplant, raising his staff, baptized the planet with the names of the fallen, "Cotorium," in honor of Cot and Orium. Hence comes the name of that planet.


    "Interesting. What happened to Keplant, the citizens, and his children?" asked Candado.


    After all that happened, Keplant wrote down the entire story in a book. Later, he transferred his powers to the gem that the three brothers had given him and concealed it in the core of the planet. Shortly after, he disappeared and was never seen again. For us, he is considered a god. His children dispersed in nine directions, explained Slonbari.


    Slonbari continued with the story:


    Roob¨®leo took some of the people and decided to travel north, creating a city now known as ""The Roob¨®leo Language.""


    Hammya took some people to the planet Coleriam with the intention that they could live in peace and free from wars.


    L¨ªcata took a large part of the population westward, establishing themselves and creating three nations: The Acretios, The Zarrtes, and The Ayokiz.


    Sedbil and Pander traveled together, taking a group of people with them, establishing a border and creating two nations: "The tribe Sedbil" and "The tribe Panders."


    Ar¨²s led his people to live underwater, creating "The Lodge of the Three Moons."


    Venezi took her people to the mountains, creating "The Tech" and "The Telf."


    Sagarina decided to stay and rebuild the city, creating "The Sacred City" which is now "The New Zodian Land"


    Benst took the remaining people to the planet''s plains, establishing a great school named "Benst" after its great commander and right hand, Mit''rell.


    Slonbari had finished his tale about Keplant''s children and the history of Cotorium.


    ¡ªThank you for the report.


    ¡ªThis is the story I shared with everyone at the time, and now I share it with you.


    ¡ªWhy?


    Slonbari smiled.


    ¡ªWhy not? I''m sure it will be of use to you.


    ¡ª...


    Slonbari smiled and vanished without saying more. When he finished telling the story of the planet Cotorium, the sunset had already settled, and Candado began to run out of the mansion. Upon reaching the house''s exit, he saw Nelson leaning on his car, signaling him to approach. Candado smiled and went over, getting ready to return home.


    When Candado entered, he found his grandmother, Hip¨®lito, and Clementina, all waiting for him at the door. They reproached him for his unannounced absence, and Candado apologized for the scare he had given them.


    Finally, he headed to the kitchen, where he found his parents, his mother Europa, and his father Arturo, along with Hammya, who was sitting in front of them. His parents wanted to talk to him.


    Europa and Arturo expressed their concern about Hammya''s decision to stay in the city and asked Candado to explain why all of this had happened in a single day. They were eager to get answers.


    ¡ªOh, no.


    He sighed with disappointment.


    Candado''s mother, Europa Barret, is a beautiful woman with long, black hair with violet tones at the tips. Her skin is white, and she has clear and intimidating eyes. She wears a long, white smock with a salmon-colored bow, black pants, and stiletto heels. In the past, she had the same powers as her son.


    "Take a seat, son; we need to talk," Mr. Barret said in a serious tone.


    Candado''s father is named Arturo. Unlike his wife, he has blonde hair with some graying on the sideburns, dark eyes, and medium-toned skin. He has a scar on his forehead in the shape of a vertical ''I''. He wears a short-sleeved light blue shirt, gray jeans, and doesn''t possess any powers, but he is skilled in punches and kicks.


    Candado sat next to Hammya as his parents asked him about the situation.


    "Well, I''d like to know, how is it possible that all this happened in one day?" Mrs. Barret asked.


    "I don''t understand; what happened in one day?" Candado asked.


    "Your mother refers to her; both of us are wondering, ''why is she going to stay here?'' I''d like you to answer us," Mr. Barret said.


    "Well, you see, I made a promise to a friend of mine and yours, Ricardo, or better known as ''el Rueda,'' some time ago. I just didn''t think he''d take it seriously," Candado explained.


    "Ricardo? And what does he have to do with all this?" Mr. Barret asked.


    "She''s his daughter; I couldn''t refuse. You know what ''el Rueda'' did for our family," Candado said.


    Candado''s father looked at Hammya and, with his hands on the table, said, "I see you''re a fan of the color green, but I''d like to talk to your dad, dear," Mr. Barret said in a gentle tone.


    "No, I''m sorry, you won''t be able to," Hammya said, still looking down.


    "Why?" Mrs. Barret asked.


    "''El Rueda'' died; he had advanced cancer," Candado answered for Hammya.


    "Cancer? He was supposed to have cured himself a long time ago," Mr. Barret said, surprised.


    "Well, I read in his letter that..."


    "Letter? Show me, please," Mr. Barret said.


    Candado took the crumpled letter from his pocket and handed it to his father. He took it and read it. After a few seconds of silence, Candado''s father put the letter on the table and began to feel saddened after a few moments.


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    "It''s his handwriting; yes, it''s his handwriting," Mr. Barret said, tears in his eyes.


    His wife held his hands to soothe his pain. Candado, on the other hand, just looked at his parents, while Hammya continued staring at the floor, now beginning to cry.


    Meanwhile, Hip¨®lito and Clementina were spying from the kitchen.


    "Looks like they''re watching Titanic," said Hip¨®lito.


    "Shut up, insensitive old man," said Clementina.


    After Candado''s father calmed down, he stood up, walked over to Hammya, and when he was close to her, he bent down, stroked the girl''s head, and said:


    "You can stay for as long as you want."


    "Well, that takes a huge weight off my shoulders," Candado said.


    "What do you mean?" Mrs. Barret asked.


    "Oh, nothing interesting; just talking to myself," Candado replied.


    After Candado''s father calmed down, he stood up and walked toward Hammya. When he was close to her, he bent down, stroked the girl''s head, and said:


    "You can stay for as long as you want."


    Hammya looked up, surprised, and then nodded shyly.


    "Well, that takes a huge weight off my shoulders," Candado said.


    "What do you mean?" Mrs. Barret asked.


    "Oh, nothing interesting; just talking to myself," Candado replied.

 LOOKING AT THE PAST

    After he responded, he went to a room and took out a small bag of carrots.


    "What are you going to do with that?" Mr. Barret asked.


    "Nothing, I''m just going to feed Uzoori, that''s all," Candado said as he left the kitchen with the sack.


    "Who is Uzoori?"


    "That''s Candado''s horse," Mrs. Barret answered.


    "Horse? You have a horse?"


    "Of course, we have one; otherwise, why the hell would we have a stable upstairs?" Mr. Barret said.


    "Wow, I''d love to see it, if it''s not too much trouble."


    "Oh, of course, dear, you can see him," Mrs. Barret said.


    Hammya stood up and then headed to the second floor, following Candado without him noticing. When he opened the door, Hammya hurried and entered behind him. Interestingly, despite being a stable, it didn''t smell like one, but rather like perfume with a hint of roses. Hammya hid behind a mound of straw. Candado still hadn''t noticed her presence. The girl approached a bit more and could see him giving carrots to a beautiful white horse with a black mane. Hammya decided to get even closer, hiding behind a nearby wall. When she was at a good distance, Candado began talking to his horse.


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    "I''m sorry, Uzoori, I was very busy today. I promise I''ll take you out for some fresh air tomorrow."


    Candado took off his white gloves and began to pet the horse''s head. Playfully, the horse took off his beret with its teeth. Candado tried to retrieve his beret, but he couldn''t due to the speed of the horse, which had him moving from side to side. Finally, Candado stumbled and sat down on the ground. At that moment, Uzoori placed the beret on his head, but upside down. Candado adjusted the beret and then hugged the horse. When he finished hugging him, he started to smile. Hammya, on the other hand, decided to make her presence known.


    "Wow, I think it''s the first time I''ve seen you laugh."


    "No, I didn''t," Candado denied with a cold expression.


    "Yes, you did," Hammya asserted.


    "No, it wasn''t like that," Candado denied again.


    "Of course you did," Hammya insisted.


    At that moment, Candado unsheathed his dagger and put it to Hammya''s neck.


    "No, I didn''t," Candado said with the dagger at the girl''s neck.


    "Yes, you''re right, you didn''t laugh or smile," Hammya said, scared.


    Candado withdrew his dagger from Hammya''s neck and put it back in its sheath. Then, he took a brush and began to delicately clean the horse''s back. Hammya just watched as Candado "cleaned" Uzoori.


    "You have a beautiful horse, Candado."


    "Beautiful? It''s not beautiful, it''s handsome," Candado clarified.


    "How did you get him?"


    Candado stopped brushing the horse for a moment, looked at Hammya squinting his eyes, then lowered his gaze and continued brushing.


    "I got him from my grandfather; he gave it to me when I turned six," Candado said.


    "Your grandfather had a horse?"


    "No, when he was wandering through the impenetrable Chaco, he found a dead mare with her foal injured. He healed and raised him."


    "Why is he named Uzoori?"


    "My sister named him that, even though I didn''t like it. When she passed away, I decided to leave it that way."


    "Why did your sister die?"


    At that moment, Candado stopped and remembered his sister in the hospital, how she slowly faded away due to that illness. Candado placed the brush on the floor and looked at Hammya. She could only say:


    "I''m sorry; I shouldn''t have asked."


    Candado stood up and left without saying anything more, while Hammya stayed for a few brief minutes feeling guilty for asking something so painful. Then, she headed to the stable and closed the door behind her.


    She went to her room with her head down, full of guilt. She sat on the bed and looked around the room. After a few seconds, her gaze landed on a book on the shelf that caught her attention because it stood out from the others being poorly arranged. Hammya got up and took the book. Then, she sat back on the bed. The book had the shape of a notebook, was green with white polka dots, and had a label that said "LA INSPECTORA" (THE INSPECTOR). Hammya wasn''t very interested, as she also used nicknames or aliases when she was a child. When she flipped through the first three pages, she got the impression that the notebook was empty until she saw the fourth page. On it, she saw a photo that occupied the entire page. In the photo were a baby Candado and his family, including Mrs. Barret holding a baby wrapped in an orange towel. Mr. Barret was also seen sitting beside his wife, with a long and neatly groomed horseshoe mustache. On the floor, a girl Hammya didn''t know was sitting, with long blond hair and blue eyes. Behind the armchair stood six people: Candado''s grandmother and grandfather, Mr. Hip¨®lito, the police officer Adolfo she had seen at the police station in his uniform, and Candado''s other two grandparents.


    After looking at that photo for a few minutes, she turned the page and found another picture of the same girl who was sitting on the floor next to Clementina. This time, the girl was carrying a sleeping baby and kissing him on the forehead. The photo had the title "Mi Candadito Hermoso" (My Beautiful Candado). The title and the photo filled Hammya with grace and tenderness.


    "Her name was Gabriela; she loved doing these kinds of things," Clementina said, leaning on his shoulder next to the door.


    Hammya, surprised and relieved at the same time, said:


    "Gabriela? Nice name."


    She continued:


    "What happened to her? How did she die?"


    Clementina closed the door behind her, approached, and sat next to Hammya. Then, she turned back to the previous page.


    "This photo was the first one Miss Gabriela showed me when I moved here. When I saw it for the first time, I felt joyful. Joyful to see what Candado looked like as a baby. Now it seems that''s the only time he looked so peaceful."


    "Ah, well," Hammya said, confused.


    "You see, Miss Gabriela was very ill; we never knew exactly what, or why, unfortunately, it happened."


    "What was she like when she lived?"


    Clementina smiled for a while, but then she lowered her head, and her smile disappeared. Apparently, it hurt her to remember, so much that she began to feel a sharp pain in her throat.


    "The best human being that ever existed," Clementina said with a sad smile.


    "I didn''t know you had feelings," Hammya said as she hugged Clementina.


    "It''s not like that; I''ve always had feelings since Mr. Alfred assembled me, that''s why I''m unique," Clementina said as she wiped tears from her eyes.


    "Tell me, how was Candado before Gabriela''s passing?"


    "He was different, a cheerful, charismatic, and sociable boy. He always admired his sister, just like me, but when she died, that cheerful boy died with her, turning him into what he is now."


    "You described Gabriela as ''The best human being that ever existed,'' in what sense?"


    "In every sense, she was kind, gentle, intelligent, and affectionate. You didn''t see me, but I was somewhat ''Creepy'' before; I didn''t have skin like you, not like now, I had a white face, looked like a robot from those movies, had no hair, just wires on my head, my eyes were black with red dots, but she never feared me, even tried to get along with me. She was always kind, always. She was incapable of mocking or doing harm to another being. I remember once, we were walking through Resistencia, and we saw a couple of teenagers shooting slingshots at a bird''s nest, and Gabriela jumped to hit them both. I remember seeing those brats run away from her. At that moment, I didn''t understand, ''Why is she so kind, when she gains nothing in return?'' The kids were afraid of her for being serious, when in reality, she never was; she was only like that at school."


    Hammya turned the page again and saw two photos. One was titled "The Birthday," showing Candado in his father''s arms blowing out a cake candle with his relatives. Gabriela was not there. The other was titled "Inspector''s 8th Birthday," meaning her. In this photo, Gabriela was blowing out the birthday candle, but with Candado in her lap.


    "This is very curious, the same photo, but with one difference, the birthday person," Hammya said.


    "Yes, because the young master and Miss Gabriela were born on the same day, but in different years. Gabriela was born on November 12, 1992, and Candado on November 12, 2000. Strange coincidences like that only happen in the Barret family."


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    "I don''t find it curious, rather it''s something... strange."


    Hammya quickly skimmed through the notebook. The following pages only had small photos of her and others with her family and friends until she reached the last page. It had a large photo, almost covering the entire sheet. In it, Candado was already grown, as was his sister. In that photo, the family and their friends were in the garden of the house. Gabriela was a teenager, Candado, Clementina (now with skin), baby Karen in Mrs. Barret''s arms, a shaven Mr. Barret, their four grandparents, Police Officer Adolfo, Hip¨®lito, cousins, and friends.


    "This photo has no title."


    "Yes, Gabriela said there was no need to give it a title because what''s in it is so beautiful that it doesn''t need one."Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.


    Hammya stared at that photo. She was moved to see Candado''s entire family with smiles on their faces, including him.


    At that moment, outside the room, footsteps were heard approaching. Clementina quickly grabbed the notebook and hid it under the pillow. Just then, Candado entered.


    "I was coming to tell you that... Oh, Clementina is with you too."


    "Yes, young master, I''m talking with Hammya."


    "Clementina, one of these days, I''m going to tear your gears out."


    "I don''t doubt it, but it would be funny if you tried."


    "Well, I just came to say that dinner is ready. As for you, Clementina, I want you to get your damn plushies out of the shed NOW!"


    "Well, I''ll go right away."


    Clementina left the room, covering her mouth due to the laughter. Meanwhile, Hammya stood up and hurried to the kitchen, not because she was very hungry, but because Candado frightened her a lot. He didn''t understand what was going on because he never realized that his anger caused fear. Before Candado descended, he looked at the room and the bed for a moment. For him, it was very strange that the pillow was wrinkled in a small part. But before he could inspect what it was about, he heard his mother''s voice calling him. So, he turned off the light and decided to go downstairs.


    Candado descended and sat in the center, next to his mother and Hammya. The dish was baked chicken with vegetable salad. Since the table was rectangular, everyone could fit around it.


    "Shall we begin?" asked Hip¨®lito.


    "No, we still have to wait for Clementina," said Candado.


    "Then why did you send Clementina to...?"


    As Hammya was about to finish her sentence, Candado pinched her thigh, making her scream in pain.


    "Hammya, are you okay?" Mrs. Barret asked.


    "Yes, no problem, it was just a mosquito, nothing more," said Hammya panting.


    "So, where did Clementina go?" asked Hip¨®lito.


    "I sent her to wash her hands, that''s all," answered Candado.


    "Yes, that''s right," added Hammya.


    "Why are you still here, Hip¨®lito?" Candado asked.


    "Oh, how silly of me, I forgot to tell you that starting today, I''m going to live here," replied Hip¨®lito.


    "That''s fine, that''s fine," said Candado.


    "Really?" inquired Hip¨®lito.


    "No."


    "Son, don''t be rude," Mr. Barret said.


    "Well, sorry."


    Just at that moment, Clementina arrived, shaking her hands and with a smile on her face. She sat at the corner of the table, next to Mr. Barret.


    "Well, you took your time," Mrs. Barret remarked.


    "Heh, something like that," chuckled Clementina.


    "Okay, now that everyone is here, we can start eating," said the grandmother.


    "I''m with you, Mom," said Mrs. Barret.


    Thus, everyone began to eat in peace, but unfortunately, that only lasted a few minutes because his mother said something she shouldn''t have.


    "I heard that you hit Mr. Andr¨¦s'' son," Mrs. Barret said.


    Candado, who had the fork near his mouth, slowly lowered it and placed it on the plate.


    "What exactly did you hear?" Candado asked.


    "What you heard," replied Mrs. Barret.


    "Yes, but who did it?" Candado asked again.


    "Why? Why hit him for telling on you?"


    Candado closed his eyes and said with a smile, "Yes, I did. He was bothering the girl."


    "What you did is fine, but you know very well that Andr¨¦s is the sheriff of the town," Mrs. Barret said.


    "Sure, it was better to let them bother her just because he''s the supposed ''sheriff''s son.''"


    "Don''t get like this, Candado," Mrs. Barret said.


    "Always the same, ''don''t get like this.'' What do you know about how I feel?"


    "Son..."


    "Son?" he shouted, "NOW I''M YOUR SON! NOW I''M YOUR SON!?"


    "DON''T RAISE YOUR VOICE AT ME!" Mrs. Barret shouted.


    "YOU''RE NEVER HOME, AND WHEN YOU ARE, YOU JUST COOK AND GO TO BED! YOU ONLY TOOK EXTRA HOURS BECAUSE YOU DON''T WANT TO FACE THE FACT THAT GABRIELA HAS DIED! YOU ONLY WANT TO SPEND AS LITTLE TIME AS POSSIBLE IN THIS HOUSE BECAUSE EVERYTHING REMINDS YOU OF HER, EVERYTHING!"


    At that moment, Mrs. Barret threw water in his face.


    "Go on, yes, just run away."


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    Candado didn''t say anything more; he just withdrew and went to his room. Clementina was about to go with him, but Mr. Barret signaled her not to. Instead, he went himself. It was time to act like a father.


    Mr. Barret went to the door of the room, knocked, and asked, "Son, it''s me, can I come in?"


    "Go ahead," Candado replied.


    Then, Mr. Barret entered the room, saw Candado lying on his bed, staring at the ceiling.


    "Can I sit down?" Mr. Barret asked.


    Candado didn''t say anything; he just nodded. When he did, Mr. Barret sat on the bed.


    "Dad, sometimes I feel like she never wanted us to be born, Karen and me, she just thinks about Gabriela."


    "No, that''s not true; she loves both of you."


    "I would like to believe that, but she makes it very difficult."


    "Candado, your mother loves you; never doubt that."


    "Sorry, but I still don''t believe those words."


    "Son, do you remember when you were sick?"


    "Yes, I remember, it was the first and last time."


    "Who was the one who stayed by your side all day to bring down your fever? Your mother. Who was the person who bought you those luxurious clothes you wear? Your mother. Who was the person who taught you how to cook? Your mother."


    "The last one wasn''t necessary."


    "Sorry, but you know she loves you. Never think otherwise because only your parents will be there for you through thick and thin."


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    Candado stood up and then embraced his father. Understanding his son''s pain, Mr. Barret hugged him, soothing his distress and consoling him. Candado looked at his father with sincere and sad eyes but without tears.


    "Dad, I want you to spend more time at home. Please, I''m asking you."


    "Son, it won''t be easy, but I promise I''ll do everything I can."


    Candado tilted his head in disappointment, then stood up and approached the door. Not without looking at his father, he spoke in a soft and calm voice.


    "Sometimes, I wish you''d say ''Yes, I promise'' instead of telling me ''I''ll do everything I can.''"


    Afterward, Candado left his room without saying anything else, leaving his father alone. His face reflected the guilt of not being able to do more for his son. He was right; since she died, they had only been escaping reality and hiding behind work. Feeling sad and without any reason to get up, he picked up a book from under the bed and opened it. Inside were photos of the family. Arturo nostalgically looked at the moments they spent with their beloved children.


    Candado descended the stairs and headed to the garden through another door. When he stepped outside, it was dark; only the light from the kitchen and the stars provided considerable illumination. With his hands in his pockets, Candado sat under the tree, his favorite tree, although it was the only one. Once seated, he gazed at the stars in peace. But as he was enjoying the tranquility, T¨ªnbari manifested himself next to Candado, sitting and looking at the sky.


    "Ahhhhhh, it''s incredible that humans feel calm just by looking at those stupid lights," T¨ªnbari said.


    Candado gestured upward with his eyes and said, "You stopped being human a long time ago, and I understand your hatred for humanity, but would you mind stopping being insensitive?"


    "I''ll do my best, but I make no promises."


    "Heh, ''best''... ''best.'' Ahhhhhh, how I hate that word. Sometimes, I wish I could unleash all my fury and incinerate the whole world."


    T¨ªnbari looked at Candado with confusion and bewilderment.


    "Well, whatever you say," T¨ªnbari said as he pulled a bag of grapes from his pocket.


    "T¨ªnbari, where did you get that?"


    "I bought this at a greengrocer''s."


    "What? That''s impossible."


    "Heh, nothing is impossible for me."


    Before Candado could continue arguing, he fell silent and reclined.


    "T¨ªnbari, have you ever fought with your father?"


    "I never knew my parents; I was raised by my uncles," T¨ªnbari replied.


    "But, putting that aside, have you ever fought with your uncles?" Candado asked.


    "Yes, but it was only once, when I was sixteen. I had to go to a party with one of my classmates, but my uncle didn''t want me to; he said it was dangerous. So, when my uncle lost sight of me, I sneaked out the window. I went to the party, had fun, and then returned when the sun was rising. When I came back through the window, my uncle was waiting for me, furious. We started an argument that lasted more than three hours."


    "But, did you ever regret it?" Candado asked.


    "Yes, but despite apologizing to him, I still feel guilty," T¨ªnbari replied.


    "Mmm, I understand. Some things aren''t healed with apologies. That much, even I know."


    "Anyway, why am I talking about this with you?"


    "Nothing, forget it; I''m just rambling, that''s all."


    "Great, another one of your woes," T¨ªnbari complained.


    Candado looked at T¨ªnbari discontentedly. It seemed that comment bothered him, although with Candado, everything annoys him down to the smallest detail.


    "I don''t know why I put up with you; I could easily fire you."


    "But you can''t, because you need me, and besides, you would never quit me, because humans always seek power."


    "Stop talking as if humans were trash; you were one of us."


    "That''s in the past; thank heaven I''m no longer one of you."


    "How can you hate the human race?" Candado asked.


    T¨ªnbari looked at him seriously and said, "The human race had no problem taking away my parents and uncles. They also had no problem sending me to a war they had started, and they didn''t hesitate to take away my son and wife. The same humans I went to fight for in their war, and to top it off, it was also those same humans who kidnapped, tortured, and murdered me. Yes, it was that cockroach race that made me go through all those troubles."


    "Yes, it''s true, but to say that all humans treated you that way is simplistic for a narcissist rhyming with nihilist."


    "What?"


    "I mean that the human race didn''t do that to you. No, it was a bunch of idiots who harmed you because of the government system of that time. Make it clear, T¨ªnbari, not all of us are the same, not all of us commit murder, not all of us think alike, and not all of us are heartless."


    When Candado said that, T¨ªnbari burst into laughter and gave him a playful smack on the head. According to him, he did it affectionately, but being smacked by a demon was painful.


    "Kid, your way of seeing the world makes me laugh and proud."


    "Yeah, well, let me go already."


    T¨ªnbari released him but left Candado all disheveled, and in a comical gesture, he put Candado''s beret on backward.


    "You''re an adult, for the love of Isidro Vel¨¢zquez, behave."


    "Fine, whatever you say."


    While Candado and T¨ªnbari were talking, Clementina appeared with two glasses in hand.


    "Hello, Clementina," greeted Candado.


    "Wow, you two are inseparable, like peas in a pod. Oh, and don''t worry, it''s soda," said Clementina as she handed over the glasses.


    "Screws is right," T¨ªnbari said while drinking.


    "Don''t call me that; I have a name, and it''s Clementina."


    "Do you see, Clemen? Do you see how I feel when you call me young master?"


    "He''s right, young master."


    "SHUT UP!" Candado shouted, annoyed.


    "Haha, this is fun, a kid who thinks he''s an adult and a girl who thinks she''s human."


    "Quiet, idiot," both Clementina and Candado said.


    "Well, kiddos, I have to go. Thanks for the drink, Clementina, although it would have been better if you gave me beer instead of soda," said T¨ªnbari as he disappeared.


    "Well, now that T¨ªnbari is gone, would you mind coming in, sir?"


    "Sir? Mmm, I like that," said Candado.


    "Of course, maybe someday I''ll start calling you that, or not."


    Candado entered the house with Clementina, but instead of going through the same way he had left, he decided to enter through the kitchen since his parents were no longer there.


    "It looks like mealtime is over," said Candado.


    "The bosses have gone to sleep; tomorrow they have to work."


    "Who works on damn Sundays?" Candado asked.


    "Oh, well, their parents do."


    "It was rhetorical, Clementina, re-tor-i-cal."


    "Well, sorry, I don''t read minds."


    "Clementina, I don''t want you to say anything else, don''t make me angrier than I am," Candado said, gritting his teeth.


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    Clementina didn''t say anything more; she just smiled and left the kitchen, not without taking a loaf of bread from the table. When Clementina left, Candado used his powers to wash the dishes. He lifted the silverware, glasses, and plates. With his left hand, he began to rinse the dishes with a sponge. Once he finished that, he lowered the sponge and the detergent in the same place. When he was done, he used his power to turn on the tap without getting close to it, and water began to flow. Candado started to pass the plates in a row, putting each washed one in a drawer, and so on until he washed them all. When he stored the last plate, his magic subsided. But out of nowhere, he started coughing blood. Candado put his hand over his mouth to muffle the sound; after a few seconds, he took his hand away from his mouth and looked at it, seeing the palm of his white glove stained with drops of blood.


    "Haha, it''s been two days since this happened; I''m rotting slowly," Candado murmured.


    He took off the glove and threw it into the trash next to the refrigerator, then turned off the light and left the kitchen. He headed to his room with his hands in his pockets, but Candado didn''t realize that Hammya had seen everything. When he locked himself in his room, Hammya took the blood-stained glove from the trash. It was worrying for her, but for Candado, it seemed normal. Hammya was petrified at the sight of that bloodstained glove.


    "What''s happening to you, Candado?" Hammya asked while looking at the glove.


    Hammya went to her room with the glove in her hands, lost in thoughts about the incident she had witnessed. Would that be the reason Candado is always in a bad mood? Or would it be something else? Apparently, she was trying to find an answer to Candado''s behavior, trying to understand why he spat blood.


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    Hammya sat on the bed, staring fixedly at the bloodstained glove, until Clementina interrupted.


    "Hello, Hammya, I just wanted to wish you good night."


    "Good night, Clementina," Hammya said as she put away the glove.


    "Rest well, miss," Clementina said as she closed the door.


    When Clementina closed the door, Hammya kept looking at Candado''s bloodstained glove. It seemed like he had another being within him.

 DANGEROUS SECRET

    The next day, Candado woke up at 7:15 in the morning. By that time, the sun was already shining in the sky, and the noise of motorcycles and cars circulating on the street could be heard. Candado stood up, still sleepy and unwilling, and headed to the bathroom next to his room. His room looked more like a hotel room. He splashed his face with ice-cold water in an attempt to shake off his laziness, but it had no effect. He grabbed his pink toothbrush, applied toothpaste, and then put it in his mouth, starting to brush his teeth for about five minutes. However, instead of spitting out the toothpaste when he finished, he swallowed it.


    "Delightful," Candado said, looking at himself in the mirror with a cold expression.


    Then, he returned to the adjoining room and looked out the window. From there, he could see his favorite tree in the garden, where he always sat to read or sleep.


    "Good morning, guy," Candado said, looking at the tree with a half-smile.


    After that, Candado positioned himself next to his bed, raised his left hand, and snapped his fingers. Suddenly, he began to undress without moving, ending up in his underwear. Then, the clothes in the wardrobe started flying toward him and went through the same process: first the dark pants and white socks, then the white shirt, followed by the red tie and brown gala vest, and finally, the shoes and white gloves. But something was still missing. His right hand lacked the glove. He went to his green dresser with nine drawers and opened one of the top ones. In that drawer, there were many gloves with the same design, symbol, and color. Candado took one of the thousands he had and put it on. Then, he closed it delicately and headed towards his cherished beret. He placed it on his head with finesse, opened the door, and went to the stable.


    When he arrived there, Candado saw Uzoori sleeping in the hay. He approached him slowly, but when he was close enough, Uzoori stood up and looked at Candado. He quickly took off his beret and hid it behind his back, so Uzoori wouldn''t do the same thing he had done last night.


    ¡ªForget it, Uzoori.


    He saddled his horse and then led it to a kind of elevator that was there. In that place, there was a valve, and Candado approached it and turned it to the right. The elevator started descending at a moderate speed. The lift descended to the garage of the house, but as his parents had gone to work, the car wasn''t there, making it easier to exit. Candado approached the huge metal garage door and pressed a button on the side of the door. It began to open at a somewhat slow speed. When the door opened completely, Candado mounted his horse and left the garage. Before leaving, he used his powers to close the door since he didn''t feel like getting off the horse to close it. When the door closed, Candado galloped away from the house, crossing the nearly empty streets of the town. Finally, he ventured into the forest, on the outskirts of the village.


    When he arrived there, Candado began patting the horse''s neck to slow it down, and Uzoori began to walk through the forest. They reached a beautiful meadow where Candado checked his watch, and it was 8:36 in the morning. The sun was already rising in the sky. Candado patted Uzoori''s head, and it stopped when its owner did. Candado dismounted and lay down on the soft grass on the ground.


    "Do you see, Uzoori? I told you I''d take you for a walk. It''s a beautiful place."


    Uzoori lay down on the ground to eat the grass there. Candado was also lying on the ground, enjoying the beautiful grass and the fresh morning air. However, from one of the tall grasses, a small black snake with red spots was slowly approaching Candado. The reptile began to climb his leg unnoticed, advancing until it reached his chest. The snake raised its head and showed its teeth with the intention of biting him, but Candado still hadn''t noticed its presence. When the snake was close to his face, it began to lick his nose. This made Candado burst into laughter due to the tickling sensations caused by the licks on his nose, until finally, he couldn''t take it anymore and stood up. However, in doing so, the snake fell to the ground, hurting itself. Candado bent down to its level and apologized, saying:


    "I''m sorry for standing up so abruptly."


    The snake inclined its head and began to emit white smoke. From inside that reptile that was starting to envelop her, and after a few seconds, the smoke dissipated, revealing in its place a beautiful five-year-old girl who seemed annoyed. Candado knew her well; her name was Yara, which comes from the diminutive of Yarar¨¢.


    Yara: She is a small girl of four and a half years with long reddish hair and yellow snake eyes. She wears a long black nightgown and white little shoes. She was raised by Candado and Mauricio when she was an egg, after losing her authentic mother in a forest fire. Despite her shyness, she is playful and only feels comfortable with Candado and Mauricio. She considers Candado her father and Mauricio her uncle.


    Power: Despite being a snake, she is not poisonous because Candado shared part of his power with her to survive, which made her lose her venom. She can transform into a human, although as she is young, it often goes wrong. In addition, she can shed her skin to camouflage herself and use sand and dirt as a weapon.


    Abilities: She is an expert at scaring her enemies due to her snake color.


    After transforming into a human, Yara looked at Candado angrily and said:


    "You''re mean, dad, very mean. I was just playing."


    "Forgive me, Yara. I didn''t mean to hurt you," Candado said, feeling very sorry.


    "I''ll forgive you if you give me a piggyback ride."


    Candado approached the little girl and lifted her in his arms, just as he does with his little sister Karen. Then, he looked at her and said:


    "Are you happy now, Yara?"


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    "Yes, I am. You''re forgiven.


    "I''m glad. I don''t like it when kids are mad at me."


    "I could never be mad at dad," Yara said, hugging him.


    "Hey, what do you want for your birthday? Look, it''s only two days away."


    "I don''t know. I''d like to spend more time with you, dad."


    "Alright, it''s settled. I''ll spend more time with the universe''s sweetest girl."


    "Who is that?"


    "Who else could it be?" he continued, "You, of course. With whom do you think I''ll spend your birthday?"


    "Ah, sorry then!"


    "You don''t have to apologize. Honestly, I''m the one who should apologize."


    "Apologize? Why would you have to apologize?" Yara asked.


    "For making a joke with someone underage."


    When Yara heard that, she looked at him, and he looked at her. After a few seconds, they both burst into laughter. But while they laughed, Candado began to feel tickling in his legs. This made his laughter disappear instantly, and in its place, his cold expression with the raised left eyebrow appeared.


    "Dear, haven''t you learned to control your transformation yet?"


    "Yes, what gave me away?"


    "I think... your tail was tickling me."


    "I''m sorry," Yara said, blushing.


    Candado gave her a kiss on the cheek and then hugged her.


    "You''re so sweet. I can''t imagine how you''ll be when you grow up."


    "What was dad like when you were my age?"


    "You''ll probably be very beautiful. I love your little eyes."


    Candado lay on the soft grass, holding Yara in the air, and any trace of seriousness or coldness disappeared completely.


    "Fly, Yara!" Candado said as he swung her in the air from side to side. Yara extended her arms while laughing. Candado couldn''t stop smiling, as if all his happiness was in the girl who called him dad.


    "I''m flying, daddy! I''m flying!"


    Then, Candado sat down and placed Yara on his lap so they could enjoy the morning landscape together.


    "You know, I''m surprised you''re awake at this hour."


    "The truth is, I escaped from Uncle Mauricio''s lessons." Candado couldn''t help but laugh.


    "Really? Don''t you like his classes?"


    "They''re very boring. It''s better to be outside and play with you."


    "Mauricio wants to educate you so you can be a great lady."


    Yara turned around and began reaching for Candado''s beret with her small arms. He understood what she wanted, took off the beret, and placed it on her head. Since the beret was designed for Candado''s head, it was too big for her. He couldn''t help but chuckle seeing her like that.


    "I can''t see anything," Yara said as she extended her hands in all directions to feel her way around. Candado adjusted the beret so she could see. Then, he wrapped his arms around her.


    I remember the first time I saw you; you were very small and cute. When I shared some of my powers with you..." Yara touched her chin with her hands.


    "I would like to see where you live one day."


    "Really?"


    "Yes, I want to."


    "Well."


    Candado lifted her and took her to his horse, which was lying down eating grass. When they approached, he lifted her onto Uzoori''s back, who quickly stood up, startling Yara. She held onto the horse tightly as it moved from side to side rapidly. Candado approached him and put his hand on his neck to calm him. When Uzoori felt his owner''s hands on his neck, he calmed down and stood still, while Yara continued to cling to him with her eyes closed and puffed-up cheeks. Candado got on his horse and placed his left hand on Yara''s head.


    "You can let go now; there''s no problem."


    "No, if I do, he''s going to throw me, far, far away, to the stars," Yara said, frightened.


    Candado showed a smile on his serious face and put his hands on Yara''s soft little hands. He approached her head and whispered.


    "Nothing is going to happen; you can let go." When Candado said that, Yara calmed down and slowly began to release the horse. She also opened her eyes and exhaled all the air she had, causing her cheeks to return to their original state.


    "I''m glad; nothing happened." But when she said that, Uzoori sneezed, making Yara scared again, and she hugged Candado tightly.


    "Heavens, he wants to throw me!" Yara said frightened. Candado started laughing and responded with a hug and kisses on her head.


    "Yara, it was just a sneeze; there''s nothing to worry about," Candado said, trying not to laugh.


    Yara continued hugging Candado, but this time, she was calm. Candado took the reins of the horse and sped up. During the journey, Yara began to admire the landscape of the trees in the area and was amazed. However, when they arrived in the town, Yara hid her face in Candado''s vest because she was afraid of other humans, which made him feel tender due to the girl''s shyness and reminded him of his own past. While he was distracted, watching how Yara was hugging him tightly, his horse stopped in front of his house. Candado checked his watch, and it was 9:50 in the morning.


    "Wow, ten minutes to ten. Looks like you had fun, Uzoori," Candado said while petting the horse''s neck.


    "Where are we, Dad?" Yara asked with her face buried in Candado''s chest.


    "Well, we''re at my home, the place where I live," Candado said. Yara slowly moved her face to see her father''s house, but she was too afraid to keep moving her neck until Candado picked her up before getting off his horse. When they touched the ground, he lowered her in front of his feet. But as soon as Yara touched the ground, she hid behind Candado''s legs.


    "You''re adorable, little one. It''s okay."


    Yara took a cautious step forward, but Candado lifted her and walked towards the entrance of the house. When they were there, he knocked on the door with difficulty. After a few seconds of waiting, the door opened, and Clementina, who was still sleepy, came out.


    "Young master? When did you leave the house?"


    "What the heck happened to you? You''re not supposed to be capable of getting tired," Candado said.


    "The truth is, the house doesn''t have power due to the heat today, so I used a bit of my reserve energy. So, today, I won''t be useful in my current state."


    "Well, don''t worry. I''ll manage for now. Rest."


    Clementina stepped aside so Candado could enter. She still hadn''t noticed Yara''s presence.


    "Yes, forgive me, I''ll be resting until the light returns," said Clementina as she left the place.


    When she left, Candado took Yara''s hand and quickly led her to his room. He sat her on his bed and told her to stay there until he returned because he had to take Uzoori to the stable.


    But when Candado hurriedly left his room, Hammya, who had just woken up, came out of her room in green pajamas and headed to Candado''s room. However, upon opening the door, she found a little girl sitting on Candado''s bed playing with a stuffed animal. Hammya was filled with curiosity, wondering why there was a girl in the room of the guy with the worst temper in the country. She approached the girl playing, but as soon as she got close enough, the girl turned and was surprised, freezing in fear. Hammya, still curious, extended her hand to pat the girl''s head, but the girl started crying, and seeing this, Hammya felt emotionally overwhelmed. The pain she felt was so intense that she knelt on the floor. The girl went from being sad and scared to being concerned and sorry for making Hammya feel bad. When Hammya felt the tiny hands of the girl on her back, she calmed down and smiled at the little girl who stopped crying.


    At that very moment, Candado entered, shaking his hands, and seeing Hammya kneeling on the floor being comforted by a little girl, he found it amusing. "Well, I think this is something not to forget."


    The girl, upon hearing Candado''s voice, ran to him and hid behind his legs, while Hammya stood up and said, "Well, I''d like you to tell me about the girl hiding behind your legs."


    "Her name is Yara, and she''s a snake, don''t worry, she''s not venomous, just shy," explained Candado.


    "Snake? Is this some kind of joke of yours?" asked Hammya.


    "Girl, when did I make a joke?"


    "Well, I thought you were funny."


    "Well, you''re mistaken, girl."


    "Fine, let''s assume I believe what you''re saying. What is she doing here?"


    "She is someone... important, yes, very important."


    "Alright, but she''s a bit scary. Look at her eyes, they''re not normal."


    "Neither are Clementina''s, and I don''t see you horrified by looking at them."


    "But it''s scary."


    "I didn''t see that a few minutes ago when you were kneeling on the floor being comforted by a little girl."


    "Well, I didn''t pay much attention to that, but now that she''s looking at me, it scares me."


    At that moment, Yara tugged at Candado''s pants delicately. He looked at her and saw that she was signaling to talk to him. Candado leaned in, and when he was very close, Yara whispered something in his ear. Hammya, on the other hand, didn''t understand what was happening. At one point, Candado started laughing, and Hammya got upset.


    "What are you laughing about?" Hammya asked, annoyed.


    "Nothing, she just says your hair is beautiful, and she apologizes for making you feel uncomfortable."


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    Hammya looked at the girl, and sensing her gaze, the girl hid behind Candado''s legs. Hammya, not understanding why she hid, said, "If what he told me is true, then why doesn''t she tell me directly?"


    "Because Yara doesn''t know you and thinks you might harm her. She''s very sensitive."


    "I''m not sensitive," Yara said annoyed.


    "SHE SPOKE!" Hammya exclaimed in surprise.


    "Well, that''s obvious since she whispered in my ear."


    When he said that, he carried Yara and placed her on his bed, then headed to the door.If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    "What are you going to do?" Hammya asked.


    "I''m going to get some food for Yara, I won''t be long. In the meantime, break the ice between you two."


    When Candado left, the room fell silent, but with an uncomfortable silence. Until Hammya decided to ask something.


    "How did you meet Candado?"


    Yara didn''t say anything, but her face showed a desire to answer that seemingly easy question.


    "Alright, I''ll change the question. What is Candado to you?"


    "He''s my father," Yara said without looking at her.


    Hammya smiled and stroked her head, obviously not believing her. Instead, she saw a cute little girl saying cute things.


    "Who is your mother, then?"


    "I didn''t meet her; she died when I was an egg."


    When Hammya heard this, she was moved and sat next to the girl.


    "I didn''t meet my mother either. In fact, I didn''t even meet my real parents."


    Yara, upon hearing that, looked into Hammya''s eyes.


    "Really? Then who raised you?" Yara asked.


    "A very kind man, who is now in heaven. He''s like a father to me, so that''s why I''m living here," said Hammya.


    "Living with my dad?" Yara asked.


    "Yes, you could say that."


    At that moment, Candado entered with a plate containing two glasses of milk with dulce de leche cookies in his hand.


    "Oh, I think you''re getting along well. It''s the first time Yara has spoken to someone other than Mauricio or me," said Candado.


    "Mauricio?" Hammya asked.


    "He''s a friend of mine," said Candado as he handed the glasses to Hammya and Yara.


    "What about you?" Hammya asked.


    When she said that, Candado snapped his fingers, and instantly, a mate and a thermos flew from the kitchen to his hand.


    "I am more refined," Candado said sarcastically as he sat in his chair. Hammya took a sip from the glass and set it aside.


    Then, she stood up and approached Candado.


    "Can I talk to you outside?"


    "Sure, why not?" Candado said as he placed what he had in his hand on his desk.


    Yara continued to enjoy her milk and cookies while Candado and Hammya left the room. Once they were outside, Candado closed the door.


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    "Well, what is so important that Yara shouldn''t hear?" Candado asked.


    "Candado, are you sick?" At that moment, he squinted his eyes and asked.


    "What do you want to know exactly?" Candado asked.


    "I''ll get straight to the point. I saw you last night in the kitchen coughing up blood," Hammya said.


    At that moment, Candado hid his eyes behind his eyelids. For a brief moment, when he opened them, he closed his bedroom door tightly to ensure Yara wouldn''t overhear.


    "Well, now you know. What do you want, then?"


    "I want to know why you coughed up blood."


    "And what if I don''t tell you?" Candado challenged.


    "If you don''t, I''ll make sure your guildmates find out. I know very well that you dislike discussing your personal problems with the guild."


    "Are you blackmailing me?" Candado asked with a cold expression.


    "It''s not blackmail; it''s the truth," Hammya said, trembling at his expression.


    "You can say whatever you want; no one will believe you. You know, you''re new to the guild, and they don''t fully trust you. They might think you''re from the Circuit, infiltrated into the brotherhood to weaken me and undermine my leadership."


    "I don''t think they would think that."


    "Maybe not, but if I give them a little push, yes, they will."


    "Like this? How will you do it then?"


    "By lying," he continued. "They trust me blindly. If I say jump into a well, they do it. If I say the cow is red, it''s red. And if I say you''re a spy, they''ll believe it. That''s how wretched I am."


    "You wouldn''t dare."


    "No? Try me. If you do it, I''ll tell them you''re a spy. Maybe it doesn''t mean much to you, but for guilds, it''s a very serious offense. Let me put it in other words: if the guild finds out you''re a spy, they''ll kick you out," Candado said with a smile on his face.


    "Are you threatening me?"


    "It''s not a threat; it''s the truth."


    At that moment, Hammya changed; she stopped being afraid of him and turned furious. So much so that she confronted him.


    "Listen carefully to what I''m going to tell you, Candado. I''m not afraid of you. Maybe you''re used to people doing everything you say out of fear, but not me. I''ll persist until you tell me what I want to know. Maybe if I tell them that, they won''t believe me, but my words will linger in their minds, causing suspicion. I know your friend Hector will be the first to suspect. And when I''m dead for being a spy, as you say, they''ll follow you twenty-four hours a day, and you won''t be able to hide the simple fact that you coughed up blood. When they find out you lied to get me killed, your absurd name will be tarnished, just like the honor of the guild and your family. That''s how wretched I am."


    Candado stared at Hammya, realizing that her words were beautiful but empty since in some points, it wasn''t true that she wasn''t afraid. Although others might not have noticed, Hammya was terrified; her sweat increased, her hands trembled so much that she hid them behind her back. But it was true that she didn''t care about Candado''s threat to kill her since she saw in his eyes that Hammya was willing to tell the truth, no matter what, for Candado to tell her about his problem.


    Then, he turned his back to Hammya and said.


    "You''ve won, girl; I''ll tell you."


    "Well, thank God," Hammya said, relieved.


    "But I''ll tell you if you promise me two things."


    "Okay, what are they?"


    "The first is that you don''t tell anyone. I don''t want anyone else to know, so this will stay between us, just us two."


    "I promise. And the second?"


    "The second is that you answer this question: Why do you want to know?" Hammya blushed upon hearing Candado''s second question, but she calmed herself and said.


    "It''s because you''re my friend, and I''m worried about you," blushed Hammya.


    "You have the courage to confront me, but it embarrasses you to say that. You''re a very strange girl." ¡ªSo, will you tell me?


    "Yes, but not here." At that moment, Candado touched Hammya''s shoulder, looked at his watch, and it was 10:20. Then he crouched down and touched the ground. After a few minutes, the house was dismantled until it was empty, leaving a white space, like a mental institution room but without the mattresses.


    "What is this place?" Hammya asked.


    "Don''t worry, you''re in my mind. It''s very difficult and exhausting to bring you here. Nothing happens. Time doesn''t matter when you''re here. No one enters or leaves without my permission."


    "But there''s nothing here."


    "There''s nothing because you can''t see my memories. But if this," Candado said as he snapped his fingers.


    At that moment, the white room disappeared and transformed into a beautiful meadow. A red armchair also appeared in which Candado was sitting.


    "Please, have a seat."


    Hammya sat beside him, awaiting his response. Candado inhaled and then exhaled before starting.


    "A while ago, I had a fight with a guy, I don''t know his name, or his identity, as he wore a metal mask on his face, but I do know one thing: he was very strong. It was the most intense fight I''ve ever had in my life. When I was winning, the coward cast a spell on a kid passing by so that the boy wouldn''t get hurt. I stepped in between the kid and the spell, thus absorbing the spell heading towards that boy. When that happened, the bastard laughed and told me that the spell was a poison that would slowly kill me."


    "What happened to the guy?


    "The bastard escaped that day. He told me he would kill me when I could no longer defend myself," said Candado.


    "Haven''t you tried to cure yourself in some way?"


    "I tried everything, but there was no result."


    "And will this kill you?"


    "Indeed, unless I find the guy and force him to lift the spell."


    "Is there another way to cure yourself or not?"


    "Yes, there is, but for that to happen, I would have to find a very powerful healing method. But such power doesn''t exist. There''s no way a human has acquired that power."


    "But there might be someone, there''s always someone."


    "Yes, it might be, but there isn''t. It doesn''t exist. It''s fictional."


    "Maybe over time, you''ll heal. If I recall correctly, you''re very strong. You can do it."


    "Girl, I''m not getting better at all. The blood you saw on my glove is just the beginning. I can''t destroy it, only... stop it as much as I can. Within a certain time, not only will I start spitting blood, but there will also be new symptoms."


    "Symptoms? What kind of symptoms?"


    "I won''t be able to move my hands, arms, and legs. I''ll also have partial blindness, nosebleeds, and ear bleeding. And, finally, I''ll go into a coma. By that point, I won''t be able to defend myself against the disease or my enemies. Then, there are two possible outcomes."


    "


    What are they?


    "The first is that the damn disease kills me, or someone who hates me kills me once I''m in a coma."


    "Well, I''ll help you find the guy who did this to you."


    "I''m thrilled by your solidarity, but it''ll be impossible for you."


    "Nothing is impossible for me."


    "Stop using my lines, girl," criticized Candado.


    "Sorry. Now I''d like to know, how are you going to keep that horned guy from finding out?"


    "T¨ªnbari? He already knows. It''s impossible to hide my personal life from someone who''s obsessively attached to me."


    "Wow, really? How do you know that?"


    "Because he''s listening to our conversation right now."


    "Where is he?" asked Hammya, alarmed.


    At that moment, T¨ªnbari manifested with the same black smoke in the beautiful landscape.


    "Well, well, well, it seems impossible to hide from someone who reads people very well. Although, truth be told, I didn''t know you were sick, and you don''t even appear on my life clock."


    "It''s supposed to be your mind, Candado, and no one can enter," criticized Hammya.


    "Yes, no one can enter without my permission, but T¨ªnbari is my Bari, and unfortunately, he doesn''t need permission to enter my mind because he is my owner, and I am his owner."


    "What Candado said."


    "Shut up, idiot," ordered Candado.


    "If that''s the case, why did you talk if you knew he was listening?"


    "Because it was necessary for T¨ªnbari to find out what''s happening to me. Besides, it''s very amusing to humiliate death. He didn''t know that I have a spell slowly killing me. I evaded his damn death clock. As the song in tribute to Maradona says, ''If he knows how to dribble to scare away death.'' In your face, Demonto."


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    "For this time, I bow to you for deceiving me," said T¨ªnbari, kneeling.


    "Why did you tell him that? Did you elude death?"


    "What''s the use of being eternal if you''re going to spend the rest of your eternity as a vegetable? To no one, absolutely no one."


    "If you put it that way, then it''s okay."


    "Well, of course. Remember that¡­"


    "Candado, I wouldn''t want to interrupt, but you can''t have another person here for more than twenty-eight minutes."


    "By Isidro Vel¨¢zquez, you''re right. I''m sorry, Hammya. Time''s up."


    Candado stood up and clapped twice. As soon as he did that, the beautiful meadow disappeared, and they were back in the room. When they were back, Candado knelt on the floor, exhausted.


    "Candado, what''s happening? Is it the illness?" asked Hammya, concerned.


    "No, it''s not that. This is what happens when I have another person for more than twenty-eight minutes," said Candado, panting from fatigue.


    "Ha, stupid kid," T¨ªnbari mocked.


    At that precise moment, Yara opened the door and saw Candado lying on the floor. She ran towards him to help, even trying to lift him, but being small, she achieved nothing. She could only lift Candado''s right arm. While Yara did that, Hammya assisted and placed Candado''s left arm over her shoulder, allowing them to lift him off the floor. When Candado could finally stand up again, he said:


    "Thanks for helping, but it wasn''t necessary."


    "I expected nothing less from you, Candado," said T¨ªnbari.


    "Don''t you have a job to do?" Candado asked.


    "Yes, you''re right, I do have a job. See you, Candado," said T¨ªnbari as he disappeared.


    After the troublesome demon vanished, Candado picked up Yara and then descended to the living room with her in his arms, with Hammya following behind. When they were there, Candado saw Clementina lying on the couch with a terrible look on her face. This surprised him a lot; she was very devastated, and it was because she had used her reserve energy to power the house. Candado handed Yara over to Hammya. Since they had had a friendly conversation for a few minutes, Yara didn''t cry or feel upset. Instead, she seemed to enjoy being with Hammya, even resting her head on her shoulder with a smile. Candado, on the other hand, went to the drawer next to the room where Clementina slept. From there, he took out a silver key. With it, he opened a small yellow door. Inside was a phosphorescent blue silicon jar, and next to it were three black buttons, which were the fuses that powered the house. Candado took the phosphorescent jar, but the energy still persisted in the house, indicating that the power had returned to normal. When he saw that everything was functioning, he closed the door, locked it, and put the key back in the same drawer. After that, Candado went to where Clementina was, sat beside her, lifted her body, and unbuttoned her shirt to reveal her belly.


    "What are you doing, Candado?" whispered Hammya.


    "I''m going to give her energy, my dear. Don''t blush; I''m not going to do anything inappropriate."


    Having said that, Candado ran his index finger across Clementina''s belly in the shape of an X, and out of nowhere, her belly opened like a door. Once the abdomen was open, Candado inserted the phosphorescent jar into the opening and then closed it gently. After a few minutes, Clementina opened her eyes and started making strange noises. Her corneas turned blue with tiny white letters, almost unintelligible, and after a few minutes, her eyes returned to their original color.


    "Well, it seems that no operating system has been damaged or lost. Everything appears to be in order," said Clementina.


    "Why did you remove the reserve battery, knowing very well that without it, you couldn''t stay on your feet?" asked Candado.


    "Mr. Hip¨®lito placed groceries in the refrigerator, groceries that cannot withstand today''s heat," replied Clementina.


    "I didn''t know it was hot," said Hammya.


    "Exactly, miss, you didn''t feel the heat because the house has twelve air conditioners to cool it down and prevent the gentlemen and the young master from feeling hot," said Clementina.


    "SILENCE!" shouted Candado.


    Clementina directed her gaze to the little girl in Hammya''s arms.


    "Who is that little person in Hammya''s arms?"


    "She is Yara, like a little sister to Candado," said Hammya.


    "No, it''s not true, she''s my dad," said Yara, looking at Clementina.


    "Young master, I believe she''s not a human."


    "Don''t tell me, what made you notice?" Candado asked sarcastically.


    "Wow, her eyes are terrifying, but she''s beautiful," said Clementina.


    "Why do they always tell me that?" asked Yara.


    "It''s strange. Who gave the girl that name?" asked Clementina.


    "Mauricio, why?"


    "Well, who would have thought, it''s the first time I''ve seen a non-venomous Yarar¨¢," said Clementina.


    "When I gave her some of my magic to survive, I accidentally took away her venom," said Candado.


    "Wow, you''re already a dad, that''s very interesting," said Clementina.


    "Don''t make fun of me, Clementina," said Candado.


    After she said that, Clementina stood up and said:


    "Well, thank you very much for giving me energy, but I have to go. There are many things to do in the house."


    When Clementina left the room, there were knocks on the door of the house. Candado went to see who was knocking, looked through the peephole in the door, and saw Mauricio with crossed arms. Without making him wait any longer, Candado opened the door and let him in.


    "Good morning, Candado. I came to see if Yara was here."


    "Yes, she''s here, no problem," said Candado.


    "Thank goodness, I need to take her back to my village. I''m going to teach her to read today," said Mauricio.


    At that moment, Hammya burst in with Yara in her arms. Mauricio was surprised to see Yara in someone else''s arms, as she feared everything except Candado and him.


    "Well, this is strange. Yara would be crying if she were in someone else''s arms besides ours," said Mauricio.


    "Yes, it''s surprising at first, but then you get used to it," said Candado.


    At that moment, Hammya put Yara down, and when she was on the floor, she ran joyfully towards Mauricio, as all children do when they see their father coming home from work. Yara ended up hugging his leg. Mauricio touched his hat and said goodbye to Candado. Yara turned around and also said goodbye to both of them. Right at that moment, Mauricio and Yara vanished, turning into dry leaves.


    "Wow, that was strange," said Hammya.


    "You''ll get used to it over time," said Candado as he closed the door.


    When Candado closed the entrance, he turned around and stood still for a few minutes, looking Hammya up and down. This made her very uncomfortable, so much so that she asked:


    "Why are you staring at me so much?"


    "Now that I see you properly, it seems like you''re a fan of the color green."


    "Yes, any problem?"


    "No, not at all. It just catches my attention."


    "If that''s the case, I''m also intrigued by the fact that you always dress formally."


    "Whatever you say, emerald," said Candado as he took off his beret and placed it on the door''s coat rack.


    Hammya went upstairs and headed to her room, while Candado also went to his room. But when he was about to enter his room, he heard his sister crying, prompting Candado to go to Karen''s room. When he entered, he saw his little sister crying. Although she was crying, it didn''t catch his attention much when he saw her pacifier on the floor. Candado picked it up, snapped his fingers, and a bottle of water appeared out of nowhere. Candado used his flames and destroyed it, but mysteriously the water didn''t fall; instead, it was floating. He took advantage of this, washed Karen''s pacifier with that water, and when he finished, he opened the window and used his powers to remove the water from the room. Then, he closed it, went over to his sister, put her pacifier back, covered her with a little blanket, and finally kissed her on the forehead.


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    After that, he left his sister''s room and, this time, headed to his own. He entered and lay down on his bed. By then, he had forgotten about what he had heard yesterday. Candado hadn''t been thinking about everything that Bari had told him in that house. Initially, he thought it was all a joke, but that idea was disqualified when Slonbari showed up. What he had told him was majestic. He couldn''t believe that the place where his grandfather longed to go was in total chaos, with wars, destruction, and death. Candado thought that going there wouldn''t make a difference. That''s when he realized that there are conflicts throughout the entire universe. It''s incredible that Earth, with all its problems, hasn''t entered into a catastrophic war of superhumans. Candado knew very well that as long as there is a balance between the guild members and the circuitists, nothing would happen, especially if he was present, as he is feared by the majority of the circuits. But, would it be a good idea to leave his planet to fight with other beings? Since if he abandoned Earth to fight with other fools, the U.F.E.T.C. would take advantage and invade the W.O.G.A.B., even though he himself had thought that the circuits and the guilds hardly ever fought. But if he didn''t go to that planet, Earth would be threatened, and everyone would be in trouble. All this thinking was causing Candado a great deal of stress. He imagined his friends and family being killed and enslaved by both sides, Cotorium and the circuit. This made Candado have a very severe coughing fit, and as a result, he spit blood on the floor. While he was cleaning his lips with a handkerchief, a voice was heard.


    "If you continue like this, soon the clock of your life will reach zero."


    Candado turned around and saw T¨ªnbari lying on his bookshelf.


    "You''re very annoying. Don''t you have anything else to think about other than death?" Candado asked angrily.


    "Calm down, gauchito. I didn''t come to bother, just came to see how you were. I also care about my users," T¨ªnbari said in a mocking tone.


    "Don''t lie to me. I know very well that you''re not here to see if I''m okay."


    "Yes, it''s true. I only came to bother, but seeing how you are, I think I better leave."


    "STOP! I know that''s also a lie. Now tell me, why are you here?" Candado asked.


    "I''m here because something interesting has happened that might interest you."


    "What could be interesting now?"


    "A bus has arrived in town with new passengers."


    "And why should I care about that?"


    "Wait, I haven''t finished, Candado. The thing is, a guy from circuit number 666 has arrived on that bus."


    "Circuit 666? It must be a joke, right?"


    "Heh, it''s a coincidence, nothing more. It''s not diabolical or anything like that," T¨ªnbari said.


    "I don''t give a damn if it''s diabolical or not. Today is hot, and I don''t want to go out to fight some idiot just because he wants to know a secret that he doesn''t even know will benefit him."


    "Oh, Candado, always finding excuses not to fight," T¨ªnbari said.


    "I just don''t want to go look for him. Let him come to me, and that''s it, makes my life easier. Candado, I suggest you go see him."


    "No, I won''t go, damn it, because it''s hot."


    "But you didn''t complain when you went out to see Yara."


    "Because it was 8:00 in the morning, and by that time, it''s cool. But at 10:00, you can already feel the sun on your skin," Candado said.


    "Then change into summer clothes and be done with it," T¨ªnbari suggested.


    "No, I won''t change clothes and put on that crap. It''s not my style. I''ll stick with formal wear."


    "Well, if that''s the case, I can imagine seeing you lost in the Sahara or Gobi Desert, carrying a blanket and a stove in the hottest places on Earth."


    "Shut up, I''ll go when the sun goes down."


    "But that''s a long way off, kid. I think you should..."


    "No way, I''m not leaving my room with the heat today."


    "ENOUGH!"


    At that moment, T¨ªnbari''s face changed and became more sinister than it already was.


    "You''re going out there, you''ll fight that guy, and you''ll win."


    Candado didn''t say anything, but his response was clear when he pulled out his knife and threw it at T¨ªnbari''s face, embedding it in the middle of his forehead. T¨ªnbari had thought that showing a terrifying face would make him obey, but he was wrong. He didn''t know that Candado would throw his knife in his face.


    "You''re more than trash. Do you think I''ll be afraid just because you disfigure your face? T¨ªnbari, you of all people know that after that training, I don''t feel anything."


    "I forgot, but it doesn''t change the fact. You''re going to go and fight," T¨ªnbari said defiantly as he removed the knife from his forehead and left it on the desk.


    Candado grabbed a small stool from under his desk, placed it in front of T¨ªnbari, then stood on it and pressed his forehead against his.


    "I won''t go out there until the sun goes down."


    "As you wish," T¨ªnbari replied as he disappeared in a puff of black smoke.


    When T¨ªnbari left, Candado got off his stool and put it back under his desk. Then, he lay back on his bed to sleep. But as he was falling asleep, he started to feel heat out of nowhere. When he opened his eyes, he realized that, somehow, he was outside under scorching sun. At that moment, T¨ªnbari appeared with a smile.


    "Well, you''re outside now. Now we just have to wait for that opponent."


    "What do you think you''re doing? I told you I didn''t want to go out."


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    "I thought if I couldn''t bring you out voluntarily, then I''d force you out."


    "You''re a..."


    "Oh, just in time, here he comes."


    At that moment, a boy in winter clothing was slowly approaching the place where Candado was.


    "Don''t mess with me, how can he wear those clothes with this heat?" said Candado, surprised.


    When the boy stopped in front of Candado, T¨ªnbari disappeared with a laugh that only Candado could hear. While he glared at the boy, irritated by the heat, Faustino introduced himself and said:


    "Greetings, I''m Hern¨¢n Faustino from Circuit No. 666 in Tierra del Fuego. Nice to meet you."


    "Very well, Fausto, I''ve noticed that every time you speak, you release vapor from your mouth, not to mention you''re wearing winter clothes."


    "Yes, my power is based on ice and water, but unfortunately, to fight without harming the innocent, I have to wear this so my powers don''t freeze others," said Faustino.


    "Ah, good for you," said Candado.


    "If it''s okay with you, then let''s fight."


    "Not today, it''s too hot. Another day."


    As Candado was leaving, Faustino froze Candado''s feet, incapacitating him from escaping. Then he turned around and said:


    "I hate violence, but once I get angry, nothing can stop me."


    "I''d like to see that," Faustino said with a smile.

 EXTERNAL CONFLICT

    Candado, compelled to fight, prepared for the battle, knowing that his powers were related to the cold, and it was likely that they would weaken in the heat. He just had to wait for the first strike.


    "Listen to me, I don''t want to fight you," said Candado.


    "But I do."


    At that moment, Faustino launched an ice sphere towards Candado, but he destroyed it with his flaming fists. Faustino was pleased to see that Candado was the one he was looking for. Candado ignited his eyes with violet flame, and tattoos of the same color appeared on his face.


    "It seems I won''t be able to reason with you anymore," said Candado.


    He then lunged at Faustino, delivering blows all over his body. However, at one point, Faustino grabbed Candado''s right arm, threw him into the air, and, once in the sky, created a very large ice sphere with his hands and threw it. Candado quickly dodged it and landed on his feet. Once on the ground, Candado unleashed violet fire from his hands, and as Faustino had heavy clothes, he couldn''t dodge them. This caused his garments to burn and tear. When all his clothes turned to ashes, his skin began to transform into blue ice.


    "Darn it, I think I can''t contain my power anymore," said Faustino.


    Candado ran towards him and hit him with his flaming fists all over the body, but it did no harm, as each time he melted, he regenerated. Until at one point, Faustino tried to strike, but as Candado was experienced, he stopped him with his counterpalm.


    "It''s not worth it," said Candado.


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    Faustino, furious, threw hail at Candado with his other hand, but as soon as it approached his face, it began to melt in the air. Candado continued to show his cold expression. Faustino began to feel fear seeing him like that, so he backed away until, at a certain point, he threw very large blocks of ice at Candado, the size of a house. Candado walked towards him without any concern. Faustino, who was trembling in fear, threw the blocks at him, but Candado destroyed them with his head. Faustino kept throwing hail, but Candado continued to dodge it. Until, at a certain point, Candado ran at an impressive speed and hit him in the chest with his fist. The impact sent Faustino flying through the air and crashing into a statue that was there. One might think that with that blow, he would stop bothering, but it wasn''t so. Faustino could still stand, and when he did, he transformed his body into a kind of diamond, and his eyes changed from green to a white tone, as if he were dead.


    "It''s time to finish you off," said Faustino.


    Candado responded with a knee to the abdomen, a blow to the neck, a kick to the back, and a club that sent him flying again.


    "Now you want to talk? Fight, idiot, and don''t talk."


    Faustino stood up and sent a freezing wind towards Candado''s legs, preventing him from moving. Taking advantage of this situation, Faustino returned all the blows, but Candado still managed to defend himself. He stopped all the blows with his arms and even threw his attacks with his violet flames at Faustino, injuring him in every way. However, Faustino didn''t give up and continued attacking Candado fiercely.


    Candado, tired of being frozen, managed to hit Faustino in the head with his frozen feet, breaking the ice that had him trapped and injuring his opponent at the same time. But it didn''t end there. Candado grabbed Faustino''s arm and threw him with all his strength to the ground. When he was about to knock him out, Faustino freed himself and kicked him in the chest. Candado, showing no sign of pain on his face, raised his head and looking at Faustino said:


    "Is that all? It didn''t even hurt, kid."


    Faustino got scared again and went all out: punches, kicks, clubbing, and headbutts, leaving his clothes dirty and wet because his body transformed into ice. Candado, with blood on his forehead, looked at Faustino again with his cold expression and said:


    "Your punches are downright garbage. I''ll show you what real punches are, piece of palette."


    At that moment, Candado grabbed Faustino by the neck and hit him with all his strength, breaking his ice-diamond armor. Definitely, Faustino felt more pain, and he knelt down in agony. But Candado wasn''t satisfied. He lifted him and threw him into the air. Once there, he said:


    "HEY! HERN¨¢N FAUSTINO!"


    After saying that, he threw a sphere of violet fire with a single hand towards Faustino. The energy hit his body and ended up completely destroying his ice-diamond armor and weakening him completely.


    As Faustino was about to fall to the ground, Candado moved a bunch of leaves from the trees into one sector to cushion the fall. Faustino fell into the pile of leaves, totally injured and with almost no clothes. Candado approached him and helped him to his feet, as he couldn''t do it alone.


    "I thought I would win, but I was wrong," said Faustino.


    "Don''t worry, you''re not the only one who thought the same."


    "Well, at least it was fun and frightening at the same time. I hope to fight you again on another occasion," said Faustino.


    "I just hope there won''t be another occasion," said Candado.


    "Well, it''s time for me to go back to my province..."


    "Wait, what about your clothes? Are you going back home without clothes and those pants?"


    At that moment, Faustino applauded, and his body was covered by a new set of clothes made of ice.


    "This will be enough for me until I get to my hotel," he continued with a handshake. "It was a pleasure, Mr. Candado. I learned about my strengths and weaknesses by fighting with you."


    After saying that, Faustino left the place, and Candado walked back home with his clothes in a mess. The curious thing about that situation is that the town wasn''t surprised since Candado had fought countless times with a new guy, and sometimes, after each fight, his clothes were either clean or dirty.


    While Candado was heading home, he encountered someone unexpected again, but it wasn''t a bad thing. Rather, it was someone who wouldn''t harm him. It was Tarah, with her friend and bodyguard Xend¨ª.


    "Buenas, Lord Beret," said Tarah.


    "Not now, I''m all dirty, and the last thing I want is to receive your mockery."


    When he said that, Xend¨ª positioned himself between them.


    Xend¨ª: A robot created by Tarah''s mother when she was a baby. Xend¨ª has neat, ash-gray short hair and blue eyes similar to Clementina''s. He wears stylish dark pants, a black tailcoat, formal white gloves, and formal white shoes. Xend¨ª is very overprotective of Tarah, showing kindness and prudence. He always seeks to avoid violence, enjoys collecting stones, and feels empathy for Clementina. Additionally, Xend¨ª hates cats.


    Power: Despite appearances, Xend¨ª is much stronger than Clementina, as well as his weaponry, but he doesn''t know how to use it. He can also transform his arm into any type of weapon.


    Abilities: All related to cleanliness.


    "How dare you speak to the lady like that? You''re very rude," said Xend¨ª.


    "Don''t tell me. What exactly would you do to me? Nothing, absolutely nothing."


    "You are discourteous and a..."


    "Calm down, Xend¨ª, don''t bother Candado. It''s understandable that he''s in a bad mood. Look at his clothes; they''re all... neglected."


    "Well, if you''re done, I''d like to get back to my house as soon as possible."


    "Yes, you have free passage, but before that, let Xend¨ª fix you up."


    "But, miss..."


    "No ''buts.'' Help Lord Beret, please."


    "Right away, miss," said Xend¨ª, disappointed.


    At that moment, Xend¨ª set the shopping bags on the ground and raised his arm to Candado''s chest. A kind of light blue scanner emanated from it, moving up and down repeatedly until Candado''s clothes gradually repaired themselves.


    When finished, Xend¨ª lowered his arm and took the shopping bags. As for Candado, he thanked Tarah and Xend¨ª, although the latter felt somewhat disgusted to receive a "thank you" from him. But it didn''t matter; as long as Candado felt good thanking them, nothing else mattered.


    Once that unexpected encounter ended, Candado continued down the avenue towards his house. Along the way, Candado felt a bit tired. He felt like the sun was following him closely, very closely. It was likely to explode at any moment. It was like a balloon you inflate until it bursts. He was in a bad mood, and who wouldn''t be with the horrible heat? Not to mention the bruises on his body. But Candado managed. Just knowing that he would get home and take a shower was the only thing keeping him in some kind of balance between his happiness and his horrible fury.


    When Candado awakens his fury, it can be fatal and deadly, as when he''s like that, nothing can stop him, except one person: his mother. There''s nothing scarier than a mother''s anger.


    Candado arrived home without problems, except for the large bag of "fury" he carried on his back, which was about to explode. As he was about to touch the door, it opened, and a rather irritated Clementina emerged, another object to carry on his back.


    "Where were you? Look at your face and hands. Don''t tell me you were in another fight?"


    "Look, I had a horrible morning. All I want is to take a bath."


    "It''s very intriguing that your clothes aren''t in the same condition as your face and hands."


    "Yes, I''m so cool that I only messed up my face and hands. Are you going to let me in, or are you going to leave me here in hell?"


    "Weren''t you the one who got used to the heat, young master?" Clementina asked as she stepped aside.


    "Look at how I''m dressed. With this on, I can''t tolerate the heat."


    "You worried Hammya and Mrs. Andrea a lot. Please, don''t do it again," said Candado.


    "Sorry, I won''t do it again," Candado replied as he headed to his room.


    When he entered his room, Clementina, without saying anything more, grabbed a broom and started sweeping. As she did, baby Karen, crawling on the floor, imitated her in everything she did: sweeping, cleaning, washing, and organizing. Until Karen grabbed onto Clementina''s leg while she was washing the dishes. Clementina immediately stopped washing and lifted Karen. It was the first time she had her in her arms. At first, she didn''t know how to act or what to feel when holding her. The baby, on the other hand, was fascinated with Clementina''s crystal eyebrows and eyes. So much so that she even touched them. Clementina showed no reaction, didn''t blink or stop her; she just let her do all that. Then, she took her to a crib in the living room, sat her down there, but the baby clung to Clementina''s back, leaving her immobile. Carefully, Clementina moved her inhuman hands to her back, took her by the sides, and placed her back in the crib before quickly moving away.


    Twenty minutes later, someone knocked on the door, and Clementina went to open it. It was H¨¦ctor, exhausted and with a newspaper in hand.


    "Is Candado here?"


    "Yes, but he''s taking a shower. He won''t be long. But what brings you here in that state?"


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    "It''s urgent; I need to show him something."


    "What is so important that you act like this?"


    At that moment, Candado came down with wet hair and approached H¨¦ctor, asking, "What''s going on? Why are you like this?"


    H¨¦ctor handed over the newspaper and showed him the headline from the second column. Candado took the newspaper and began to read.


    REVENGE?


    Yesterday, at 10:54 p.m., the Triple C.C.C. guild (Cooperative Community Cascabel), better known in Resistencia as the Rattlesnakes, caught fire. According to local police reports, 13 children died, and only one survived. The forensic examiner determined that the bodies of the children were already dead when the house caught fire. The witness and survivor, Juan, said the following: "They entered as if nothing, dressed in black with a silver eagle on their chests, then they shot us. Our president, Eli¨¢n, fought with those strangers but was shot in the forehead and fell lifeless at my feet. One of them approached me and pointed a gun at me with the intention of killing me, but my friend Mariela pulled me out of the window with a blow to the chest. Then I heard the shots over her; it was horrible (¡­)." The Resistencia police are looking for the criminals responsible for this heinous act. Governor Jorge Milton Capitanich and Mayor Aida Ayala expressed their condolences to the affected families and promised to bring the culprits to justice.


    "What does this mean?" Candado asked.


    "They are hunting us, Candado. The Circuit is behind all of this," said a disturbed H¨¦ctor.


    Something very strange was happening. A guild had been burned, and its members had been murdered. Candado was shocked to read this terrible news. H¨¦ctor wanted to talk more, so the three moved to the living room. Candado and Clementina sat together, while H¨¦ctor took the seat next to Candado.


    "I can''t believe it; it''s simply impossible," said Candado.


    "Believe it; it''s the truth. The Circuit is behind all of this."


    "Let''s not rush into conclusions. Maybe it''s not them; perhaps it''s others," Candado expressed his opinion.


    "If it''s not them, then who could it be?" H¨¦ctor asked.


    "I don''t know, but I''m sure it wasn''t them."


    "Listen to me, I know the Circuit helped your family in the past, and I understand. If it weren''t for them, our guild''s name would never have been cleared. But now it''s different; those people no longer exist. Everything has changed."


    "Think, H¨¦ctor. Why would the Circuits and the U.F.E.T.C. want to make a small guild like the Rattlesnakes disappear?"


    "Maybe to give us a warning, I don''t know. That doesn''t matter now. What matters is that they killed our brothers; we won''t tolerate this aggression; we have to act."


    Candado brought his left hand to his chin and said, "I know you''re furious because lives were lost, but I want you to think for a moment. Remember that Esteban is the leader of the Circuits."


    "And what about it?"


    "Esteban is dating Tarah, you know her, she leads the Tiles. And what are the Tiles? A guild. Now, here''s the interesting part: Esteban has done nothing but stop any potential war with the W.O.G.A.B. It''s highly unlikely that he would do such a thing, not to mention that his only goal is to defeat me. So far, neither of us has won, but he wants to be the first to defeat me, nothing more."


    "Yes, maybe you''re right, but it could also be a play by the Circuit," said H¨¦ctor.


    "What do you mean?" Candado asked.


    "Oh, please, remember what happened when Esteban became the leader."


    "How could I forget? There was destruction all over the world; they were very upset about such a choice. They couldn''t tolerate a pacifist who has a love bond with a guild leader being their leader."


    "Exactly. Maybe they want to start a war to oust Esteban from power," said Clementina.


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    "It''s improbable. It would be impossible for that to happen since Esteban has gained popularity among them. Removing him would be the end of the Circuit as a global entity. They wouldn''t tolerate that because it would go against the principles of Tanatos. They, if they wanted, would tolerate a fool, an incompetent, even a murderer, as long as they don''t leave the F.U.C.O.T. leaderless."


    "So, what do you think is really happening?" H¨¦ctor asked.


    "I think it''s a ruse by someone. They want us to believe it''s the Circuit''s fault so that we go to war with them."


    "But why would they want us to believe such a thing?" H¨¦ctor asked again.


    "I have no idea, but I know it''s true."


    "How do you know?"


    "It''s obvious. The Rattlesnake guild is weak, no matter how you look at it. Eli¨¢n only manipulated the composition of matter, a power that is quite poor compared to someone like you or Matlotsky."


    "Matlotsky doesn''t have powers," H¨¦ctor said.


    "I already know that. Do I look like a fool or what?" Candado asked irritably.


    "Well, well, well, don''t get upset... uh... How do you know what the intentions of this person X are?"


    "If the Circuit really wanted a war, they would have attacked settlements in Athens, Chubut, Berlin, Brasilia, Madrid, and Moscow to weaken the O.M.G.A.B. But they only attacked one settlement in Chaco. If the Circuit had started a war, they would seek to destroy their enemy by surprise, not warn or alert them. Why spend resources on a guild that is minimal to them? It doesn''t make sense. One seeks to win the war, not lose it. It would make sense for them to destroy our guild, but they didn''t. Someone wants to incriminate the Circuit in all this."


    "So, what should we do?"


    "We need to warn our comrades throughout the province, no... throughout the world. We''ll be on high alert 24 hours a day. They won''t drag us into a new war," Candado said, standing up.


    "Yes, I''ll inform everyone to be careful with those who wear an eagle on their chest."


    His friend''s statement surprised Candado, who asked in astonishment, "What did you say?"


    "I said I''ll inform everyone to be careful with those who wear..."


    "THE SILVER EAGLE ON THEIR CHEST!" Candado shouted in surprise.


    "What''s wrong with you?" H¨¦ctor and Clementina asked.


    "Clementina, give me your phone. This is an emergency," Candado ordered.


    "What do you need it for?"Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.


    "JUST DO IT!" Candado shouted.


    At that moment, Clementina took out her phone and handed it to him. Candado took a card from his pocket, the one Nelson had given him at that restaurant, and dialed the number. After a few minutes, they answered.


    "Hello, it''s me, Candado. Can you tell me where you live?"


    "I didn''t think you''d call so early, but okay, I live at 180 San Mart¨ªn Avenue," Nelson said.


    Candado hung up and said, "It''s close by. H¨¦ctor, I want you to inform everyone else. I want them at my house in one hour."


    "Right away," he said as he rushed out of the house.


    As H¨¦ctor went to inform his comrades, Candado sat back in his chair, crossed his arms and legs, and a thoughtful expression took over his face.


    "What''s happening, Candado?" Clementina asked.


    "The silver eagle... They were the ones who killed my grandfather. I feel like my revenge is near."


    "They killed Mr. Alfred? How do you know?" Clementina asked.


    "That person I spoke to on the phone is the one who knows about them and also about their origin," Candado replied.


    At that moment, Hammya came down the stairs. Clementina greeted her, and Candado just made a gesture with his hand. When she approached Candado, she asked him:


    "Where were you?"


    "In the North Pole. It''s cold there, so I decided to spend some time in that place," Candado said sarcastically.


    "Seriously, you have to drop that attitude. It won''t get you anywhere."


    "I don''t give a damn. I don''t have any right or law to tell you where I was," Candado said, covering his eyes with his beret.


    Hammya took that as an offense, and to make him pay for what he said, she threw a pillow that was next to him.


    "It didn''t hurt."


    "Because you should try being kind, just like you are when you''re with Yara."


    "Ohhhh, so Candado is sweet and kind when he''s with children, huh?" Clementina said with her hand over her mouth to muffle her laughter.


    "One more word, and I''ll shut you up," Candado said, annoyed.


    "Why are you cold and fearsome with others, but not with children?" Hammya asked.


    "Because I''m diabolical," Candado replied.


    "Now seriously, behave," Hammya said.


    "Would you mind not meddling in my life? I already have enough with Clementina. Now I have to put up with you. I''m somewhat tired of people getting involved in my life."


    "Well, I won''t do it anymore until you show more respect for those around you, starting with me."


    "And with that, will you stop bothering me?"


    "Of course."


    "Fine, what do you want then?"


    "I want you to apologize for threatening me three times with your damn knife," Hammya said.


    "I''m sorry, I promise to try not to do that to you again," Candado apologized, although he did so insincerely.


    "Also, I want you to change your attitude toward me and Clementina."


    "In what sense?"


    "You shouldn''t react with violence towards us. You shouldn''t be sarcastic or authoritarian."


    "If I don''t comply, what would someone who gets scared so easily do to me?"


    "I trust my instinct that you''re very proud of yourself, almost vain. If you don''t, you''ll be a coward who didn''t want to accept the easiest demands you''ve had."


    "You''re good at this, Hammya," Clementina congratulated.


    "All for you to leave me alone. I accept your absurd and childish requests," Candado said, adjusting his beret.


    "Good, that''s settled then," Hammya said.


    At that moment, there was another knock on the door, but this time Candado went to open it, and behind it was H¨¦ctor with the other comrades. Candado looked at his watch and said.


    "Great, you arrived twenty minutes early."


    "I was as fast as I could be," H¨¦ctor said.


    "What''s happening, Candado, is there an emergency?" Declan asked.


    "No, nothing like that. I want you to come with me," Candado said.


    "Wherever you go, I''ll go," German said.


    When Candado was about to close the door behind him, Clementina stopped it with her hand, and he said irritably.


    "If you wanted to close the door, you could have told me. There was no need to stop it like that."


    "I''m sorry, young master, but we''ll go with you."


    "We''ll go?"


    "Yes, Hammya will also come."


    Candado, biting his lips, said.


    "Fine, but don''t break anything."


    Hammya and Clementina exited. Once outside, Candado closed the door behind them. Without further interruptions, Candado and his comrades headed to Nelson''s house. Most of his friends didn''t know where they were going, walking for a few minutes, turning a few corners until they reached a fairly large white house with two windows. Candado approached and knocked on the door while answering Lucas, who wanted to know why they were there.


    "What are we doing here?"


    Candado, without turning around, replied, "You''ll know very soon, and all of you too."


    At that moment, the door opened, and behind it was an elderly man in shorts, espadrilles, and a scientist''s robe.


    "I thought it was something... decent," Candado said.


    Nelson burst into laughter and said, "And you are very decent for such a hot morning."


    "Why are you wearing that robe?"


    "Well, you see, I''m a scientist, little piece of coal."


    When he said that, Anzor unsheathed his sword and placed it at the old man''s throat, but the old man didn''t stop smiling.


    "How dare you talk to Lucas like that?"


    "Vladimir, lower your sword, we didn''t come to fight," Candado ordered.


    "But this old man..."


    "I TOLD YOU TO LOWER IT! We didn''t come to fight," Candado repeated.


    After he said that, Anzor sheathed his sword and apologized to his leader and to the old man.


    "Wow, you really have them under control," Nelson said, arms crossed.


    "I don''t want your praise; I want you to respect my friends. I don''t care if you''re racist; you''re going to call them by their name and not by nicknames."


    "You''re just like your grandfather. Don''t worry, I''m not racist. We also had a dark-skinned friend, but he was indigenous. What are you doing here with your battalion at my door?"


    "I came here because I saw a news article in the newspaper this morning. Interestingly, it''s related to this," Candado said, pulling out a silver eagle from his pocket.


    "Ah, who would have thought. It seems you''re very interested now. It gives me great pride," Nelson said.


    "Well, I''m glad you feel that way. Now I want to know about this," Candado said, shaking the silver eagle.


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    Nelson nodded and allowed them to enter his house, stepping aside. Candado and his companions walked in.


    The place was large and clean. The walls had white tiles with red flowers, and the floor was wooden. Several pictures of communist heroes adorned the entrance wall and the living room, where they sat down. It wasn''t a problem for Candado''s friends, as it was very spacious with about ten armchairs arranged in a square shape, each able to accommodate four people, all in the same green color. In the center, there was a table with a television with eight faces, a rather peculiar TV but not so surprising for an old man who had a Peronist in such good condition.


    "This guy is quite strange. Look at the television he has," Lucas commented.


    "Surely it''s from Europe or one of those first-world places, not like in this land of death," Matlotsky said.


    When he said that, Candado kicked him in the leg, specifically in the femur, causing him pain and making him bend to hold his leg. Candado seized the opportunity and punched him in the head, causing Matlotsky to recline in the chair, holding his head.


    "As long as I''m present, you won''t speak ill of this wonderful country, you damn idiot," Candado said.


    "Whatever you say, boss," Matlotsky said.


    "Do you want to get punched again?" Candado asked.


    "No, not at all," Matlotsky replied.


    "Then don''t call me that. I already have enough with Clementina calling me that; I don''t want another person to address me like that."


    "Relax, Candado. Right now, we''re in someone else''s house; it wouldn''t be a good idea to kill him here," H¨¦ctor said.


    "Thanks, friend," Matlotsky said.


    "If you want, you can kill him outside; I''ll help you," H¨¦ctor joked.


    "Hey, are you defending me, or are you speeding up my death?" Matlotsky asked.


    "A bit of both. It''s not bad to have two jobs," H¨¦ctor replied with a smile.


    Everyone burst into laughter when he said that, everyone except Candado, who only showed a smile on his cold and expressionless face. But while everyone was laughing, Nelson appeared from the kitchen with a bag of cookies and soda.


    "This brings back so many memories," Nelson said with an attempt at nostalgia.


    "What memories? What memories?" Clementina asked.


    At that moment, Grivna emerged from Nelson''s pocket.


    "Memories from Mr. Nelson Torres''s childhood," Grivna announced.


    But when little Grivna introduced herself, everyone became agitated and drew their weapons, except for Candado, Clementina, and Hammya, the latter hiding behind him. Meanwhile, Grivna climbed up to Nelson''s shoulder, drew her knife, and assumed a combat stance.


    "You guys are funny. I can''t believe you''re on the defensive over something as harmless as that little thing there," Candado said.


    "WHAT THING!?" Grivna shouted.


    "But sir, you yourself said not to underestimate people who seem inferior," Anzor said.


    "ME, INFERIOR!?" Grivna shouted again.


    "This seems like a soap opera," Luc¨ªa commented.


    "Yeah, it does," Erika agreed.


    "QUIET, ALL OF YOU!" Grivna shouted for the third time.


    "Please don''t shout; they are my guests," Nelson said.


    "Ha, whatever you say," Grivna said as she climbed down from Nelson''s shoulder.


    "Alright, that''s settled. It''s time to talk," Candado said.


    "Alright, whatever you want," as he sat down, Nelson continued, "What do you want to know now?"


    "I would like you to tell me about the mercenaries you mentioned in that restaurant."


    "Why do you want to know?" Nelson asked.


    "Thirteen members of the Cascabel guild died today, and I know for a fact that they are involved."


    "Yes, I already figured. What do you think about this matter?"


    "I think they are trying to instigate a war between the guilds and the circuits."


    "Well, you guessed right. Unfortunately, there aren''t many people like you who think that way. Another war is more likely to start."


    "That''s why I''m here. You know a lot about this. I want to know who those guys are and why they want to start a war."


    "Because Greg knows about the emerald we showed you, and he''s trying everything to take it from us. What you read in the newspaper is just the beginning; there will be more attacks."


    "Then why don''t you stop him?" Clementina asked.


    "Unfortunately, we don''t know where he''s hiding. He''s been attacking other guilds and fleeing to find you, Candado, but now he''s very close to finding you."


    "Let him come. When he faces the mighty Roob¨®leo guild, he will be destroyed. Right, boss?" Ana Mar¨ªa said.


    "Your enthusiasm and bravery are admirable, but these people are very different from the Circuit," Nelson replied.


    "What do you mean exactly?" Luc¨ªa and Erika asked.


    Nelson leaned forward and changed his demeanor; he stopped being charismatic and became serious. At that moment, everyone realized the gravity of the situation.


    "Greg not only hires mercenaries to do the job, but he also uses innocent children to do it. For years, he''s been kidnapping children from their homes and taking them to an unknown place. In that same place, he uses a type of magic to control them..."


    "Rucrenian magic," H¨¦ctor interrupted.


    "What''s that?" Nelson asked.


    "Rucrenia was a woman who had the ability to control other people with that magic. At that time, she was the only person who could do that. But if there''s someone who can do something like that, then they could be very powerful against us," H¨¦ctor said.


    "Why would it be strong?" Candado asked.


    "It''s hard to explain with that attitude. How many children has Greg kidnapped?" H¨¦ctor asked.


    "Like... twelve hundred," Nelson said.


    "Then it''s a problem, Candado. It takes a lot of soul magic to control a thousand two hundred human beings. Not even T¨¢natos had that kind of power. But if this guy can do something like that, we''re in trouble," H¨¦ctor said with concern.


    "You don''t have to worry like that, Alvino. Greg doesn''t have powers."


    "In these years, have you saved anyone from that individual?" Declan asked.


    "Yes, we have, and we continue to do so," Nelson said.


    "How many people have you saved all these years?" Lucas asked.


    "We''ve saved three hundred and eighty-six," Nelson replied.


    "Well, I expected more, but what can you do?" Matlotsky said.


    "But these people are nothing compared to the ones this guy kidnaps every day," Nelson said.


    "But the people you rescue, Greg doesn''t kidnap them again?" Anzor asked.


    "No, Rucrenian magic can only be used once. If the individual uses that spell again, they can harm themselves, as if their previous victim was controlled, their body and mind can defend against it. It''s like chickenpox, you only get it once," H¨¦ctor explained.


    "What the kid said," Nelson added.


    "Something is wrong. If Greg doesn''t have powers, then who is controlling them?" Candado asked.


    "We don''t know, we''ve never met him," Nelson said.


    "This looks interesting. I think if I follow this path, I''ll find the mastermind behind my grandfather''s murder," Candado said.


    "It could be, but for that, you would have to know where he hides," Nelson said.


    "Don''t worry, there''s no one who can hide from me," Candado said.


    "I don''t doubt that, but you''ll need our help," Nelson said.


    "Excuse me, I don''t want to insult you or anything, but aren''t you a bit old for this?" Ana Mar¨ªa asked.


    When she said that, Nelson stood up, approached Ana, and with a cheerful yet eerie attitude, said:


    "Hit me."


    "Are you crazy? No," Ana said.


    "Come on, do it. I give you permission to hit me wherever you want and however you want," Nelson said.


    "But with my strength, I could kill you," Ana explained.


    At that moment, Nelson slapped her and replied with a smile.


    "Do it, or I''ll hit you."


    When he did that, Germ¨¢n was about to stand up to hit him, but he couldn''t because Candado grabbed his arm to stop him. This annoyed him so much that he bit his tongue and sat back down, like a faithful dog to his master. Once he sat back down, Candado let him go and told him not to do it anymore. But it didn''t end there; Nelson kept insisting that Ana hit him over and over again, but she didn''t want to, convinced that her punch could be fatal. So Ana looked at Candado, waiting for him to tell her what to do since he was the one witnessing everything. He nodded, giving her permission to hit him.


    Ana, still hesitating, stood up and threw a direct punch, with her eyes closed, towards Nelson. And as a result of that... the room shook. After that deadly punch, Ana opened her eyes, and to her surprise, the old man had stopped it with his palm. Everyone was stunned, including Candado. An ordinary human would have died from that punch, but Nelson, with a smile on his face, sarcastically asked,


    "Do I look like a veteran now?" Nelson asked.


    Ana, who was catatonic, could only nod in agreement.


    But Candado, who didn''t understand what he had seen, asked him,


    "I thought you weren''t supposed to have powers?"


    "I didn''t lie to you; I don''t have powers. I''m more normal than all of you," Nelson said.


    "Then, how could you stop that punch?" Candado asked.


    "It''s simple; the experience I have in science led me to strengthen my bones and muscles with a serum I invented over thirty years ago," Nelson replied.


    "In other words, your body is more resistant to blows, right?" Lucas asked.


    "It''s more interesting than it seems. What other things are you hiding from us, old man?" Declan asked with a smile.


    "Heh, many things, young man, that I''ll tell you another time, of course," Nelson said as he sat down.


    "You''re very strange," Clementina said.


    "That''s true... Anyway, now that you''re here, I''m going to make you a "job offer." I hope you don''t mind," Nelson said as he took a sheet of paper from his pocket and handed it to Candado.


    "Job?" Candado asked.


    "Yes, as you heard. I''m aware that you''re very skilled in all of this, as well as strong. But I promised your grandfather that I would take care of you. The offer in your hand details what you can do and what you can''t," Nelson said.


    "I don''t like what you''re trying to do with me and the guild. Maybe you were a friend of my grandfather, but I won''t tolerate being your servant," Candado said.


    "Relax, I''m not going to make you sign agreements you don''t like. Keep in mind this: What''s the point of making a contract if I know you won''t sign it? It makes no sense," Nelson said.


    Candado carefully read the contract. It detailed everything he and his guild could do: listen to Nelson''s phone calls, be punctual at meetings, obey Nelson and his members, etc. It also stated what they couldn''t do: disobey direct orders from Nelson, not be late to meetings, not disclose or involve anyone outside the Roob¨®leo guild, etc. Everything in the contract had to be fulfilled without complaints or objections.


    Apparently, everything was in order in that contract, and there was nothing that could bother Candado. However, in Candado''s nature, he didn''t like being given orders. So, respectfully, he said,


    "I''m sorry, I won''t sign this. My guild and I are dedicated to helping others, yes, but this kind of work is not for me, mainly because I hate always being stuck to orders. If this decision hinders the way to reach my grandfather''s killer, then I''ll look for him on my own."


    "


    Everyone was impressed by the way he spoke. Normally, Candado would burn the contract and tell it to go to hell, but that day he was very friendly and prudent. Those words that came out of his mouth and reached Nelson''s ears made him applaud and say,


    "No need to apologize. That''s your decision, and I won''t judge you for it. Besides, it doesn''t affect our goal of reaching Greg, so don''t worry, son. It''s okay."


    "So, what now?" Candado asked.


    "You and your guild will help me with certain things, just as I will help you," Nelson said.


    "What does that entail?" H¨¦ctor asked.


    "It''s very easy. When I need your help, I''ll call you, you''ll come, help me, and that''s it," Nelson explained.


    "That sounds... interesting. Don''t you think, Candado? Surely, if we follow you, I can take down a few strong rivals," Declan said.


    "As enthusiastic as ever," Anzor commented.


    "What do you say? Do you accept?" Nelson asked.


    When the old man made his proposal, everyone began to talk among themselves about what decision to make, but that was very short-lived, as Candado called for silence in a brusque and authoritative manner, simply placing his hand on the table to his right. Then, Candado stood up, approached Nelson, and, very confidently, extended his hand, saying,


    "The Roob¨®leo guild and I accept your request."


    The deal was sealed with a handshake.


    As they closed the agreement, Clementina, in a clever manner, took a photo to remember that moment with a camera she had stored in her pockets. Although it seemed funny to see a robot using such a simple device as a camera, Clementina had forgotten to turn off the flash, which did not go unnoticed by Candado. However, this time, he decided to let it slide, mainly because he found it amusing that Clementina was so clumsy in that regard.


    Once the deal was sealed, Candado and his companions prepared to leave Nelson''s house. Before departing, Nelson touched Candado''s shoulder and handed him a small vial.


    "This will be useful for you," Nelson whispered in his ear. "I hope you use it wisely."


    Then, Nelson closed the door behind them, and Candado examined the vial carefully. It was transparent, with a light green liquid and a black metal cap. The object caught his attention, but he didn''t have much time to investigate because H¨¦ctor approached and asked,


    "Is something wrong?"


    "No, I''m fine," Candado replied.


    As he was about to rejoin his friends, he began to cough violently and knelt on the ground. This worried H¨¦ctor and his friends, but Candado quickly stowed the vial in his pocket.


    "Bloody?" H¨¦ctor exclaimed, surprised.


    Candado stood up and started running quickly to get away from the place, leaving everyone astonished. Hammya, on the other hand, knew very well why Candado had coughed up blood, so, with no other option, she grabbed Clementina''s shoulders and said,


    "Please, don''t let them go after him. Please."


    "Yes, I''ll do that, no problem," Clementina said, confused.


    Then, Hammya ran towards where Candado had fled, surprising H¨¦ctor even more. He wanted to follow her, but Clementina stepped in and prevented him or any of them from going after Candado or Hammya, just as she had promised.


    "Clementina, what''s happening?" Declan asked.


    "I have no idea," Clementina said, looking at Hammya as she ran after Candado. "For now, I''ll leave this in Miss Saillim''s hands."


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    Candado ran along the sidewalk with a handkerchief covering his mouth, colliding with pedestrians in his way. Behind him, Hammya pursued, skillfully dodging people. Candado ran and ran until he reached the entrance of his house, exhausted and coughing violently, spitting blood on the ground. Due to his condition, he couldn''t enter his house and fell to the ground just in front of the door. At that moment, Hammya arrived, completely exhausted, but she didn''t stop to help Candado, who was on the ground without strength. Hammya approached him and helped him stand up, placing her left arm behind his shoulder. However, Candado didn''t want her help and didn''t like being touched.


    "Let go, I can handle it alone," Candado said, panting.


    "No, it''s not true. If that were the case, you wouldn''t be on the ground," Hammya replied.


    "This is humiliating."


    "It''s not humiliating if your friends help you."


    "It''s still humiliating."


    Hammya opened the door and started to take Candado to his room with difficulty, while he complained and gave her orders to leave him alone, but she didn''t. She continued carrying her friend until she reached his bedroom. Only when Hammya arrived at her destination did she leave Candado on his bed.


    "I''ve told you I don''t need your help."


    "You''re welcome, honestly, I don''t care. Candado, I''ll never leave someone stranded when they need me."


    "Listen to me, I''m tougher than you. I don''t need the help of a girl who faints when there''s a conflict," Candado snapped.


    "That''s not true. It''s never happened to me."


    "What? Are you not going to tell me that you got sleepy when I saved you from those degenerates?"


    "That... was an accident."


    "Yes, one that could have ended badly. So, I don''t need you," Candado clarified.


    "Sometimes I wish you were more considerate with me," Hammya said.


    "IT''S NOT TRUE. GET OUT OF MY BEDROOM! NOW!" Candado shouted, very angry.


    With what had happened, Hammya quickly left the room, angry, not to mention that she had closed the door with great force.


    "Who does he think he is to treat me like that?" Hammya muttered as she walked away from his bedroom.


    Things hadn''t ended well between them, especially because Candado had made a considerable effort to hide his poisoning. Now Hammya knew, and H¨¦ctor was beginning to suspect. He couldn''t tolerate being under anyone''s control, especially not from a woman who couldn''t handle her powers. Now he had to swallow his pride to prevent everyone from finding out about the illness he suffered. He deeply hated those who meddled in his personal life. It was the first time he had been so close to Candado. He thought about all of this while he delved deeper and grew angrier. It was like pouring kerosene on a fire. On top of everything, he had fainted when he tried to open the door and had to receive help from a girl like Hammya, whom he considered a gossip.


    In the midst of this annoying situation, T¨ªnbari appeared out of nowhere, as always, just to mock Candado.


    "I heard that ''the powerful boy'' is being extorted by a girl."


    "You''re unbearable. One of these days, you''ll pay for all your mockery."


    "Don''t get mad, Little Lock. Remember that you were the one who accepted her into the guild, so the problem is yours, not mine."


    Candado remained silent for a brief moment because T¨ªnbari was right. He had accepted Hammya into the guild, so he had to deal with the consequences.


    "I see it''s the first time you''re left speechless. Heh, I think I''m getting better."


    "No, you haven''t improved at all. You''re just an idiot who becomes more of an idiot as the seconds tick on my watch."


    "And your life gets shorter as the seconds tick on my watch," T¨ªnbari said, showing a wooden sphere of some kind.


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    "No, that stupid ball isn''t going to predict whether I''m going to die or not."


    "Heh, let''s hope not, because it would be total boredom if something happened to you," T¨ªnbari said as he stored the sphere away. "But remember, you have a curse running through your veins."


    After saying that, T¨ªnbari disappeared without a trace, as always, leaving Candado even angrier than he already was. It was likely that he would explode at any moment, and when that happened, there was no one in the world who could reason with him. But just as he was about to explode, Clementina arrived carrying baby Karen. The mere presence of his sister made Candado quickly calm down, not wanting to make his little sister cry. Apparently, there was something that kept him at peace, and that something was Karen.


    "What''s going on?" Candado asked with a feigned smile.


    "Nothing, I just came to find out what was happening."


    "Hmm, and for that, you had to bring my sister?"


    "Don''t get confused; when I was coming here, I found Karen crawling around."


    "Well, if it''s nothing, you can leave."


    "In reality, there is something. Why did you run off like that?" Clementina asked imposingly.


    Candado looked her in the eyes and replied, "That''s not your concern. Let me tell you something, Clementina? You''re no one to raise your voice at me like that. Make it clear. Now, get out of my room," Candado said, pointing to the door.


    Clementina headed for the door.


    "Listen, I was worried when you ran off like that. I''m sorry if my attitude bothered you. If you need anything, let me know," she said before closing the door behind her.


    "Heh, she thinks she''s something... Ahhh, I just hope the group hasn''t found out about my condition," Candado said as he sat on the bed.


    Just at that moment, he took out the strange vial that Nelson had given him and began examining it from top to bottom, trying to decipher the meaning of what Nelson had said: "I hope you use it wisely." With no success in understanding, he removed the lid of the vial, and a sweet aroma emanated from the container. Overwhelmed by curiosity, he decided to taste a drop of it.


    "I can''t believe what I''m about to do," Candado said as he brought a bit of the liquid to his mouth. He touched it with his tongue, but nothing happened. It was somewhat disappointing for him, but it also reassured him.


    "It tastes strange, I can almost distinguish banana, strawberry, and other things," Candado said as he closed the vial. "I don''t understand why Nelson would give me this."


    Without fully understanding what he had consumed, he decided to put it back in his pants pocket and went downstairs to watch TV.

 ITS NAME IS BLOCKADE

    Candado spent the next four hours sitting on the couch, watching television. Everything seemed quiet and peaceful in the house. Clementina moved around, performing seemingly unnecessary activities, such as meticulously cleaning each blade of grass or dusting every page of a book, among other things. The grandmother was sleeping in her room, Hip¨®lito was playing with little Karen, and Hammya was sitting on the couch next to Candado, combing her hair and humming a chamam¨¦ melody. The atmosphere in the house was extremely calm during those four hours.


    Finally, Candado turned off the TV and prepared to leave the room. However, just as he was about to leave, the white telephone started ringing, stopping him in his tracks. With a serious expression, he answered the call.


    "Hello?" Candado asked.


    From the other end, a female voice responded:


    "I know who you are, I know your entire family. If you don''t want them to get hurt, come see me in the forest where you usually meet your friend Mauricio."


    Candado maintained his cold expression and replied:


    "I''m sorry to tell you that you have the wrong number. Goodbye."


    He hung up the phone and walked away with his hands in his pockets. However, the phone rang again. Candado returned and answered it.


    "Hello?"


    The voice on the other end continued:


    "Do you think...?"


    Without letting the person finish, Candado hung up the phone again and disconnected it. Then, he adjusted his tie and vest and left. This time, he headed to the living room and picked up a book that was on his left. He began reading, but suddenly, Clementina arrived with a broom in one hand and a cellphone in the other.


    "Incoming call for the young boss."


    Candado, still reading his book, took the cellphone and held it to his ear.


    "Thanks, Clementina," he said while continuing to read.


    "You''re welcome," she replied as she continued with her tasks.


    "Hello?"


    The voice on the other end continued:


    "Do you think I''m playing? If you don''t come within an hour, you''ll regret it."


    "You again? Don''t you have a social life or something?" Candado asked as he turned a page.


    "You''ve already annoyed me. If you don''t come within an hour, I''ll kill your family."


    The words angered Candado. He closed the book and responded firmly:


    "Listen carefully to what I''m going to tell you. Nobody threatens me, not even a girl like you."


    The voice on the phone continued laughing and defiant:


    "I don''t care. I hope you''re very punctual."


    Candado hung up decisively and, with a cold expression on his face, adjusted his beret. In the same spot, he announced:


    "Hip¨®lito, Clementina, I''m going out for a while to deal with some problems."


    "Alright, but I think it would be a bad idea to leave without your companion," Hip¨®lito commented.


    "No ser¨¢ necesario, puedo manejarme solo (It won''t be necessary; I can handle it on my own)" Candado responded.


    "Hehehe, no, you''ll go with a companion or I won''t let you go," Hip¨®lito asserted.


    "Do you think I''m joking with you? Where I''m going, it will be very dangerous for someone who can''t even defend themselves."


    "That''s precisely why you''ll take her; she needs to learn everything she can to defend herself in the future."


    "Alright, then she''ll come, but I won''t be responsible if something happens to her."


    "That''s why you''ll also take Clementina; I need her to keep an eye on you."


    "Hip¨®lito, do you want me to add someone else just in case? Should I bring the mayor, the governor, the police, the army, even the one who gave birth to you?"


    "Haha, that''s enough for now," Hip¨®lito said, laughing.


    "I''m glad to hear it. Now, if you''ll excuse me..."


    "Wait, don''t forget to take the ladies with you."


    After this conversation with Hip¨®lito, Candado reluctantly agreed to take Hammya and Clementina with him to the meeting with the mysterious person who had challenged him. Although Clementina understood perfectly why she was there, Hammya had no idea why she was being accompanied; she thought it was a fun day out with her friends, something she had never done before.


    "What''s the plan, then?" Clementina asked.


    "It''s very simple, I go there, give them a lesson, scare them a little, hurt them, and maybe gouge their eyes out," Candado responded with a sinister smile.


    "Isn''t that a bit exaggerated, Candado?" Clementina asked.


    "Maybe you''re right; I might as well rip out their entrails."


    "That''s still quite brutal. Why not try something more peaceful?"


    "Yes, you''re right, I don''t like getting my hands dirty. Clementina, you''ll rip out their entrails."


    "No! I won''t do that," Clementina quickly replied.


    Hammya enters the conversation.


    "Where are we going?"


    "To hell, girl, to hell," Candado responded without looking at her.


    "Don''t mind him; we''re just going to a meeting, nothing more," Clementina clarified for Candado.


    "Oh, are they your friends?" Hammya asked for the second time.


    Candado didn''t answer the question and continued walking, keeping a certain distance from the two girls. Hammya thought she might have asked something inappropriate and chose to stay silent not to offend Candado. Clementina didn''t say more, not because she didn''t know what to say or because Candado seemed uncomfortable, but because there were no more questions she could answer at that moment.


    Minutes passed in silence, only interrupted by the noise of cars and the conversations of other people. Each of them was immersed in their own thoughts. Candado focused on the mysterious person who had challenged him, Hammya tried to find a way to start a conversation without bothering Candado, and Clementina simply enjoyed the moment.


    Finally, after a few minutes, they arrived at the agreed meeting place. However, there were no signs of anyone. Candado gestured with his left hand for Clementina to go ahead and explore the area for clues. Hammya, confused, stayed by Candado''s side. But after a brief moment, Candado took a step forward and asked:


    "Clementina, did you find anything?"


    "Nothing, I don''t see anyone around here."


    "It''s strange; this doesn''t seem to be the forest where I used to meet Mauricio. Did I get the wrong place?"


    Just then, the trees began to shake violently, the leaves on the ground started to fly, and the wind became fierce. These sudden changes put both of them on high alert. Candado drew his fac¨®n with his right hand and ignited his left hand, while Clementina transformed her right arm into a cannon of white energy, and Hammya took cover behind them.


    "Do you feel it, Clementina?" Candado asked.


    "My sensors detect the approach of two individuals," Clementina replied.


    "Great,"aid Candado with little enthusiasm.


    "Who is approaching?" a concerned Hammya asked.


    "No one in particular, just assassins," Candado answered coldly.


    "WHAT?!" Hammya exclaimed in fear.


    "Don''t worry, Miss Hammya, nothing will happen to you," Clementina tried to reassure her.


    Just then, two figures emerged from the depths of the forest. They were two young individuals, one dressed like a gaucho and the other in dark and blue tones, similar to Candado''s school uniform but inverted.


    "Wow, I didn''t think you''d walk right into the trap," the young woman said.


    "I''m flattered. Who are you?" Candado asked.


    "My name is Jane, and he''s my brother Joel," the woman replied.


    "It seems you have no problem coming all the way here to annoy me. Who sent you?" Candado inquired.


    " What makes you think I''ll tell you?" Jane replied arrogantly.


    "From what I see, Candado, they''re not Circuistas or Borradores. They seem to be mercenaries," Clementina whispered.


    "I had already noticed," Candado whispered. Then, looking at Jane, he said, "Very well, it seems you just want to kill me. But I want you to promise me one thing."


    "What thing?" Jane asked.


    "If I manage to defeat you, I want you to tell me everything about your leader."


    "Hahaha, you won''t be able to beat us, but we accept your proposal," Jane said.


    At that moment, Jane drew a Mongolian sword from her back and swiftly lunged at Candado. However, he managed to dodge her attack, while Clementina took Hammya and moved her away from the confrontation to fight against Joel. Candado was intrigued by the fight and decided to face Jane with his fac¨®n. Jane demonstrated astonishing confidence and skillfully dodged Candado''s blows. However, Candado was also agile and daring, seeking opportunities to attack and reach a vital artery. Jane moved with speed and dexterity, avoiding being touched by Candado''s fac¨®n.


    At one point, Jane tried to end the fight by decapitating Candado, but he managed to dodge her attack, and Jane''s sword got stuck in a nearby tree. Candado seized this opportunity and kicked her in the chest, making her step back and move away from her weapon. Candado decided to put aside his fac¨®n and thrust it into the same tree where Jane''s sword was stuck. Then, he prepared to fight with his fists.


    Hammya was terrified, watching as Clementina fired point-blank at Joel, but he skillfully dodged the bullets. Meanwhile, Candado and Jane were engaged in a hand-to-hand combat. Hammya felt powerless and could only watch, praying that no one would be hurt. The tension in the forest was palpable as Candado and Jane exchanged punches and kicks in a duel of skills and speed.


    On the other hand, Clementina and Joel were facing each other differently. She was shooting directly, while Joel occasionally threw seventeen-centimeter needles. Both were dodging each other''s attacks. Meanwhile, Hammya still took no action.


    The fight between Jane and Candado became increasingly intense and dangerous. Despite the two wounds Jane had, one in the stomach and another in the arm, she showed no signs of fatigue and exuded great confidence. Candado, on the other hand, maintained his cold expression and had not revealed his true power.


    "You''re tough. It''s the first time someone has confronted me like this," Jane said with a smile.


    "Save your words. In a few seconds, I''ll finish this, and Clementina will take care of your brother," Candado replied.


    "Kill my brother? ¡ªshe mocked."


    At that moment, Jane raised her right hand.


    "Rose, now!" she commanded.


    "I saw it coming, but I can''t do anything," Clementina whispered, concerned.


    A figure emerged from the tall grass and struck Candado in the back, forcing him to kneel on the ground. Jane seized the opportunity and snapped her fingers. Chains emerged from the ground, coiling around Candado''s hands, completely immobilizing him.


    Meanwhile, Joel took advantage of Clementina''s distraction and kicked her in the back, causing her to fall to the ground. He then tied her hands behind her back and brought her over to where Candado was.


    When they placed Clementina next to Candado, Rose, the girl who had hit Candado, manifested in front of them. She was a ten-year-old girl with blonde hair dressed like a gaucho, wearing a black hat, white shirt, red scarf, dark brown vest, baggy pants, and black espadrilles.


    "Wow, it''s the first time I find myself in these conditions," Rose commented.


    Candado sighed resignedly.


    "I can''t hit a little girl. I guess this is the best option."


    "I''m sorry, sir, I got distracted," Clementina apologized.


    Meanwhile, Hammya, who had been observing, decided to intervene. She grabbed a stone and threw it at Jane, but the latter caught it in the air without even looking.


    "Rose, Joel, go and bring me that girl, please," Jane ordered.


    Candado shook his head in disapproval.


    "How clumsy. She did it without thinking," Clementina whispered.


    At that moment, Rose and Joel brought Hammya, who struggled, and placed her in front of Candado.


    "Why would Mr. Hip¨®lito tell me to bring you with me? He knew this would happen," Candado muttered in frustration.


    "What are you muttering?" Rose asked.


    "I said I''m going to gouge your eyes out! I''m sorry, it wasn''t my intention!" Candado exclaimed, realizing his outburst.


    The shout scared Rose, who hid behind Jane, and Candado felt embarrassed.


    "Listen to me, piece of trash," Jane said, placing her needles at Candado''s neck. "No one yells at my sister."


    "What are you going to do with those pins? Are you going to knit me a sweater or sew my boxers?" Candado responded sarcastically.


    "Talk all you want, as my sister rips that filthy head of yours from your filthy body," Joel warned.


    "We''ll see about that," Candado replied with determination.


    As Joel was about to say something more, Hammya headbutted him in the chest and delivered a kick to Jane''s stomach. Rose pulled out a knife and ran to stab Hammya, but Clementina tripped her, causing Rose to lose the knife. Hammya managed to shred the ropes that bound her and engaged in a fistfight with Jane, who had no chance of defending herself. Hammya delivered kicks and punches relentlessly.


    At one point, Jane managed to get back on her feet and hit Hammya in the chest, making her step back. Seizing the opportunity, Jane snapped her fingers again, and four chains emerged from the ground, binding Hammya''s arms and legs. These chains stretched her cruelly as Jane sought revenge. She had never been hit like that before.


    "Joel, my sword, quickly!" Jane exclaimed.


    Joel pulled the sword from the tree and handed it to his sister. Jane grabbed the sword without even looking at it, her eyes sparkling with fury. Her nose was bleeding, clothes dirty, and her face covered in bruises.


    "I''m going to enjoy gutting you for what you''ve done, idiot," Jane threatened.


    Hammya, aware of her sad fate, closed her eyes, and Jane, furious, lunged at her with a deadly thrust. But to everyone''s surprise, Hammya felt nothing, so she slowly opened her eyes to discover what had happened. What she saw left her astonished: Candado, bound by the chains, had stopped Jane''s sword with his teeth. This event left everyone, including Jane, dumbfounded. Candado maintained the same cold expression on his face, terrifying the siblings even more when he destroyed the sword''s tip with his teeth, causing Jane to recoil and fall to the ground.


    "The chains are tough, the ground isn''t," Candado said, spitting out pieces of the sword.


    "This is impossible," Jane murmured, looking at her broken sword.


    "And besides, this isn''t Mauricio''s forest. That''s why this place felt familiar to me. This is Diana''s forest."


    "And why does that matter?" Joel asked.


    "Because unlike Mauricio, Diana doesn''t like intruders."


    "I don''t believe you," Jane said.


    At that moment, laughter echoed like an echo, and out of nowhere, Diana appeared, armed with her scythe, fiercely attacking Jane. She could barely defend herself, and after a few minutes of fighting, Jane ordered a retreat, and they escaped from the forest, shouting that it wasn''t over.


    "Hahaha, and don''t come back," Diana said, then looked at Candado and his companions. "I see you''re okay."


    "Don''t be sarcastic and help me with this," Candado said.


    "Right away," Diana approached and cut the chains binding Candado with her scythe. "Wow, that was quite extreme, stopping a sword with your teeth, that was amazing."


    "Wait, were you watching all this time?" Candado asked.


    "Yes, but since you act so arrogantly, I happily let you take care of the intruders in my forest."


    "I''M NOT ARROGANT!"


    "Well, pretentious."


    "NOT THAT EITHER!"


    "It''s not that serious, just a joke. Did you lose the passion for laughter?"


    "I''ll laugh when something strikes me as funny, not when you decide."


    "Whatever you say," Diana said as she disappeared into the tall grass.


    When the eccentric Diana disappeared, Candado proceeded to untie Clementina and Hammya, who had fainted due to the intensity of the day''s events.


    "It seems Miss Hammya is unconscious," commented Clementina as she stood up.


    "Noooooo, really? How did you notice that?" Candado said sarcastically.


    "Young... I mean, sir, don''t you think logic is getting to your head?"


    "The only thing getting to my head is blood, so no."


    "Well, I hope she doesn''t die from a blood overdose in the brain."


    "You... oh, forget it." Candado adjusted his tie and continued. "Take the girl back."


    "I will, but what will you do?"


    "I have another commitment. I never thought I would face these mercenaries. It''s better if you take her. It will be very dangerous for someone as weak as her. After you''ve dropped her off, come to the square to see me. I still have to ''talk'' to someone."


    "I think you''ll meet Esteban, right?" the mysterious figure asked.


    Candado didn''t answer, just looked at her and signaled for her to take Hammya back home. Clementina didn''t want to speak to him since mentioning Esteban changed his expression from serious to angry. So, she carried Hammya like a soccer ball and walked away from the place without looking back, leaving Candado alone in the forest.


    "You can show yourself now; everyone is gone."


    As he said that, a strange white smoke materialized in front of him. The smoke tried to shape into a child, but it was an unusual figure: it had no hands or head; instead, there was white smoke continuously and consistently flowing. Only red eyes and a metal-toothed smile were discernible. It wore dark pants, black laceless shoes, a knee-length trench coat, and a brown scarf around its neck.


    "It was expected from the excellent Candado Barret, the great-grandson of the legendary Jack Barret."


    "Who are you, and what do you want?" Candado asked.


    "Who am I? Well, tell me, Candado, what do you see in me?" the strange figure responded.


    "I only see a stranger. Judging by the patch on your shoulder, I see that you are a Borrador from the Circuits, as you always use the face of a white wolf. From the way you stand, I can assure that you are one of the few who doesn''t show superiority when facing me, but I don''t know your name."


    "My name is not important now. The truth is, you are very bright. Now tell me, what gave me away?"


    "You don''t know how to conceal your magic. I felt a restless soul nearby, so I deduce that you''re not strong."


    "Why not?"


    "Because only the strongest individuals can hide their magic, as they have a very extensive soul, giving them the opportunity to conceal it."


    "Interesting. You can do that."


    "Are you going to make me talk all the time, or will you tell me why you''re here?"


    "I''m here because strange things have been happening in recent days, like the massacre at the Cascabel guild and the Circuit 42 massacre."


    "Why are you saying all this so openly?"


    "Because I know that you think someone from the shadows is playing this... chessboard."


    "And so what?"


    "Candado, you and I both know that getting back into a war would be a serious mistake, with the blood of my compatriots wasted. That''s why Esteban sent me to investigate this matter, to prevent a conflict."


    "Esteban sent you?"


    "Yes, to find out if someone is disobeying or using our name in vain."


    "And why were you spying on me?"


    "I wasn''t spying on you; I was spying on the people you were fighting, and in the process, get you to make them talk. There was no success, but you gave me a clue: ''MERCENARIES.'' If that''s the case, I''d like to know who sends them and why they want to start a conflict between W.O.G.A.B. and U.F.E.T.C."Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.


    "I would like to know why you don''t have a face."


    "It''s simple, those who master the power of coal perfectly become one, that''s why, my friend."


    "That would make sense if your face were black and not white. Besides, I''m not your friend."


    "I am white because I am pure. I never used my powers to harm others. If you''ll excuse me, I have to go. I still have to investigate. I hope we meet again, Candado Barret."


    Without saying anything more, the mysterious boy disappeared in the same way he had arrived. The laughter of that strange person could still be heard. He hadn''t mentioned his name, but he had shown Candado his interest in keeping fights in check, something that hadn''t been seen for over fifty years.


    "That kid... he''s just as crazy as Diana. I hope we meet again."


    After saying that to himself, Candado set out on his journey to the square, where he had agreed to meet with Clementina. Fortunately, he hadn''t encountered any complications getting to the square. In fact, it was the first time he had finished a fight without leaving his enemies unconscious, excluding the case of Faustino, as he could hardly move and almost passed out.


    As Candado walked peacefully through the town, he touched his teeth with his hand. It was the first time Candado had stopped a deadly blow from a sword with his mouth. As he reflected on this matter, he ran into T¨ªnbari.


    "Wow, wow, you''re tougher than I thought. I''m glad I chose you as my usufructuary."


    "A bit more, and you''d forget how to call me. Usufructuary? Where the hell did you hear that?"


    "I was a lawyer once, and I know more words than you, my boy."


    "Damn, I wish you''d help me when I''m in trouble."


    "Oh, Candado, you know very well that would hurt your pride. But when your life is truly in danger, I''ll come to save you."


    "You''re a pain in the soul for me."


    "Putting that aside, how''s the girl?" T¨ªnbari asked mockingly.


    "What girl?"


    "You know, Hammya, the girl living under your roof."


    "Oh, her. What''s going on?"


    "Oh, nothing. I''ve felt her heart beating when she''s in front of you."


    "Look, for someone like you, who doesn''t breathe and doesn''t have internal organs, it''s obvious that would catch your attention, as you have no idea that if our hearts don''t beat, we don''t live, idiot."


    "I didn''t mean that... Oh, Clementina is right, you need to stop using logic every second."


    "Sure. For someone who''s bound to me and has no power over me, it''s useless."


    "Be careful, Candado. Remember, I have two university degrees."


    "Yes, in janitorial work and dishwashing."


    "Ugh! What I mean is that Hammya gets too nervous when she''s in front of you."


    "And so what? The same happened with Erika and Luc¨ªa, and even Anzor, when they saw me for the first time."


    "You''re too slow to understand things."


    "I don''t care."


    After a few minutes, Candado and T¨ªnbari had arrived at the meeting place, but Clementina wasn''t there, so they decided to wait sitting under the strange tree in the town square, the same one where Candado and Lucas had been talking. They were waiting for Clementina to show up.


    "Can I ask why you want Clementina to come here, Candado?"


    "It''s necessary, and that''s it."


    "You''re too boring," T¨ªnbari said with a tone of exhaustion in his voice.


    "Are you tired already? You''re really weak. I should be the one feeling like this."


    "But you''re not. Ugh... every day, I wonder if it was a good idea to let you train in my sphere."


    "Whether it was good or not, I''ve made that decision, and here we are. Forget about that event, please."


    "You were a sweet and charismatic child before that. I remember you used to call me ''T¨ªnbi.'' Those were good times."


    "Yes, they were... but they aren''t anymore."


    At that moment, Candado began to reminisce about his past with nostalgia. He remembered his sister playing with him all the time, always cheerful like Candado, until that painful memory of his sister lying in a hospital bed, slowly dying.


    In that instant, Candado shook his head from side to side, showing signs of nervousness and agitation.


    "Is something wrong?" asked T¨ªnbari.


    "No, nothing... just had a momentary lapse."


    "Well, sleep more," T¨ªnbari said imposingly.


    As Candado was about to reply, Clementina arrived with a dove on her head.


    "I see you''ve arrived," said T¨ªnbari.


    "Yes, I have, for my young master."


    "I''m not in the mood to scold you today, so say ''young master'' until your tongue falls off. Oh, and why on earth do you have a dove on your head?"


    "I can''t help it; it won''t come down," said Clementina as she tried to shoo the dove away with her hand.


    "Well, let me help you." Candado picked up the dove with both hands and placed it on the ground.


    "Well, you''ve done it; give this man a Mart¨ªn Fierro."


    "Shut up, Demonto." Candado adjusted his beret and continued. "Alright, now that you''re here, I''ll have to assume that Hammya is at home, right?"


    "Of course, I did exactly what you asked me to."


    "Great, now we can start without interruptions." Candado looked at T¨ªnbari. "Start what?"


    "Shhhh, no one has to find out about our mission, clear?"


    "Yes, sir," said Clementina and T¨ªnbari simultaneously.


    "Bunch of clowns," Candado muttered and continued. "Now follow me; there''s work to be done."


    So, Candado and company began a new mission, although this one was a total mystery, not to mention that it was already dusk.


    At first, Clementina and T¨ªnbari didn''t ask anything, but curiosity was starting to gnaw at their souls in more than one sense. Twenty minutes had passed since they had set off, and the sun was slowly setting. T¨ªnbari, who didn''t care about the situation, decided to ask.


    "Well, it''s been like twenty minutes, Candado, and you haven''t said a single word. I think it''s time you told us where we''re headed."


    "Don''t worry, we''re close to our target."


    "I hope so. If we don''t get there before eight, the Barret gentlemen will worry."


    "Don''t worry, Clementina, we''ll make it on time."


    At that precise moment, Candado and the others arrived at an almost impenetrable forest.


    "All right, we''ve arrived."


    "I''m glad, but where to?" Clementina asked.


    "Where our ''friend'' Ruccim¨¦nkagri Gabriel Teacher is hiding, someone who always supports me by giving me what I need."


    "What kind of name is that? It''s almost a tongue twister. I''m surprised you can say it just like that," T¨ªnbari said, amazed.


    "What are we doing here?" Clementina asked.


    "Looking for answers, Clementina, looking for answers," Candado said as he walked deep into the tall grass.


    After a few seconds, Clementina followed, though not in the right way. She entered by cutting the grass with her arm transformed into a machete, clearing a path to follow Candado. While she did this, Candado turned around and said:


    "If you continue to disrespect the forest, Ruccim¨¦nkagri will come and tear you to pieces."


    Upon hearing this, Clementina sheathed her machete and returned her arm to normal.


    "What is this place? It''s so narrow and awful, not to mention that this damn grass is cutting off any chance of me moving properly."


    "Stop complaining, T¨ªnbari. This is the Chaco. If you wanted to find a forest with pine or ficus trees, you''d have to go south."


    "When are we going to get there?" Clementina asked.


    "We''re almost there. The tall grass protects Ruccim¨¦nkagri''s house from his enemies, so not just anyone comes through here."


    "Now I see why."


    After a few minutes, Candado and the others arrived at a kind of house made with the roots of a tree, including the walls. It had glass windows and a door made of wood and leaves, which seemed quite fragile. Candado approached and knocked on the door.


    "How is it possible that I''ve never known about this?" T¨ªnbari asked.


    "Because it''s the first time you''ve come. It''s pure logic," Candado replied.


    "And there we go again, Candado using his logic," Clementina said.


    This annoyed Candado, but before he could respond, the door opened, and from inside came a rather strange, dark-skinned girl. Her hair was made of green leaves, her arms and legs were made of wood, and her eyes were as blue as the sea. Her clothes were made of vines and leaves, partially covering her body. Personally, she resembled a tree more than Hammya.


    "I see it''s you, Yara is with me."


    "Wait, Ruccim¨¦nkagri is a woman?" Clementina asked.


    "Oh, yes? I guess I forgot to mention that."


    "I see you brought guests. Come in, Candado''s friends are also my friends," Ruccim¨¦nkagri said, stepping aside.


    Candado entered, taking off his beret as a gentlemanly gesture. T¨ªnbari and Clementina followed him. Once inside, Ruccim¨¦nkagri delicately closed the door behind them.


    "Please, come in," Ruccim¨¦nkagri said, inviting them to sit.


    The house was filled with flowers, the floor was made of stones, and it was quite spacious. It had no electric light, and instead, they used a kind of lantern with fire. There were several rooms without doors.


    Everyone sat on a sand-made sofa, quite comfortable for the kids. When Candado was about to sit down, Yara ran to him and hugged him, causing Candado to lose his balance and sit forcibly on the stone couch to the left.


    "Sorry, Candado, that girl saw me, and she''s not afraid of me," T¨ªnbari said.


    "That''s because..."


    "Because I''m not human," Ruccim¨¦nkagri concluded.


    "What she said," Candado said as he placed Yara on his lap.


    "Got it."


    "Well, this is unusual, but I brought them. I hope it doesn''t bother you?" Candado said.


    "Oh no, not at all, just let me know a bit earlier next time so I can prepare more food," Ruccim¨¦nkagri replied.


    Clementina cleared her throat and addressed Ruccim¨¦nkagri.


    "Hello, I''m Clementina V02."


    "Nice to meet you, Clementina. My name is Ruccim¨¦nkagri, but if my name is a mouthful, you can call me ''Rucci.''"


    Clementina nodded.


    Then, Ruccim¨¦nkagri looked at the demon next to Clementina.


    "And who are you?"


    "I am death incarnate, I am what man fears the most, I am the god of human souls, I am..."


    "Cut the monologue and introduce yourself already," Candado interrupted.


    "I am T¨ªnbari, the god of death and the owner of all human souls."


    "Oh, quite the title. I''m just a gardener, but alright."


    "Are you mocking me?" T¨ªnbari asked.


    "Well, enough, I didn''t bring you here to fight," Candado intervened.


    "What''s going on, Candado? How can I help you?" Ruccim¨¦nkagri asked.


    "I want to know this," Candado said as he pulled out a kind of medal shaped like an eye with red pupils and a symbol of a triangle with a sword inside, both in yellow, and handed it to Ruccim¨¦nkagri.


    She examined it carefully.


    "It''s a badge worn by the assassins of the Circuit. They are the outcasts of the U.F.E.T.C., in other words, people who were expelled from the Circuit. Where did you get this?"


    "I stole it from a girl I had a fight with a few hours ago. Why?"


    "It''s not normal for this to exist. I thought they had hunted them all down."


    "Wait, who are they?" Clementina asked.


    "They call themselves the Witnesses, although they claim to be the will of peace and order, in reality, they are indiscriminate killers. It doesn''t matter if they are impure or pure, if they are humans or specials, they kill in the name of Thanatos."


    "How do you know all this?" T¨ªnbari asked.


    Candado intervened before Ruccim¨¦nkagri could respond.


    "Let this stay between us. Ruccim¨¦nkagri was once part of the Circuits, but from the upper classes. They have hunted her as much as the U.F.E.T.C. and the W.O.G.A.B."


    "Excuse me, Candado, but being an accomplice to a mercenary warrants being ousted forever or, worse yet, death."


    "As long as no one finds out, nothing will happen. Besides, no one knows her anymore."


    "Is that why you wanted me to take Hammya to the house?" Clementina asked.


    "Yes, she''s new, and I don''t fully trust her, but I trust both of you."


    "And your friends?" T¨ªnbari asked.


    "In them too, but I''m waiting for the ideal moment to introduce her, although I think they won''t like it."


    "I can wait. I have all the time, after all, I''m over a hundred years old," Ruccim¨¦nkagri said.


    "What?" T¨ªnbari and Clementina exclaimed, surprised.


    "Yes, another day, I''ll gladly tell you about my life."


    "Damn, yes," they both said again.


    "As I said, I have all the time in the world." Ruccim¨¦nkagri smiled, showing her patience in matters that required time and explanation.


    "Forgive me, I don''t want to be rude or anything, but how did you meet Rucci?" Clementina asked.


    "Well, I''ve known her for over a year. At first, I thought she came to Isla del Cerrito to cause trouble, but I was wrong. So we became friends, and I brought her here, where no one can bother her or find her. Not only that, we exchanged information. She wanted to know about the guild and the W.O.G.A.B. and I wanted to know about the Circuit and the U.F.E.T.C."


    "What a story, but how do you protect her?" T¨ªnbari asked.


    "Not necessarily do I have to be by her side all day to protect her. In fact, Mauricio, Logan, and Diana protect her, roaming the forests day and night, making sure no one harms her or the forest."


    "A sweet deal, huh?" Yara said.


    "Yes, something like that," Candado said, smiling, but then he changed his demeanor and continued, "Well, who was hunting the Witnesses?"


    "The Circuits and the Guilds. I thought they would have gone extinct by now. They''re easy to recognize. Those who become Witnesses abandon their entire soul and adopt a new one, causing their bodies to change, leaving a mark on them that the Circuit calls ''Spiritual Poison.'' It makes them three times stronger than they were before."


    "What is spiritual poison exactly?" Clementina asked.


    "It''s a spell that replaces the soul with another, destroying the old one so the new one can take its place. It''s one of the seven forbidden spells in history. We don''t know who or what has such power to extract something so essential from the human body."


    "Does this make them slaves to that person?" Candado asked.


    "No, they are free and independent. They know very well the harm they do, but without their previous soul, they have lost their conscience about right and wrong. They feel no remorse or pity. For them, it is necessary to murder anything that does not align with Tanatos''s ideology."


    "It''s strange."


    "What''s strange, Candado?" T¨ªnbari asked.


    "The person I stole this from seemed to be aware of what they were doing, and even their sister was scared of me when I raised my voice."


    "No, it''s not strange."


    "Why isn''t it strange, Ruccim¨¦nkagri?"


    "Because those people still have their soul inside, sharing with the one implanted. In other words, they are hybrids. And I think I forgot to mention that not just anyone has the right to have their soul changed."


    "Wait, wait, not just anyone?"


    "Exactly, Clementina. Not just anyone has that right. Those who do are elite warriors. They cover their faces so they can''t be identified with a dark cloak."


    "Hide? What are they hiding?" Yara asked.


    "They hide the tattoo of the spell."


    "Do you know who is or was their leader?" Candado asked.


    "No, no one knows. Only the members of the Witnesses can know. If you want to find out, try kidnapping one."


    "That will be difficult, but I''ll achieve it."


    "Wow, you really have an excess of confidence in yourself, Candado. You''re not the kind of person who says ''I''ll try.'' How arrogant!"


    Candado proceeded to cover Yara''s ears.


    "LISTEN TO ME, PIECE OF SHIT WITH HORNS, MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS! I''M SICK OF YOU CALLING ME ARROGANT WHEN THERE''S NO ONE, NO ATTEMPT AT A PERSON MORE ARROGANT THAN YOU. ENGRAVE IT IN YOUR HEAD, YOU''RE THE MOST DAMN ARROGANT PIECE OF SHIT WITH MARBLE EYES I''VE EVER MET IN MY DAMN LIFE, YOU PIECE OF SHIT!"


    The house resonated and shook with Candado''s screams. Clementina covered her ears, Ruccim¨¦nkagri simply watched as he challenged T¨ªnbari, who was quite heavy that day, and Yara just stayed still, playing with the stuffed animal she had taken from her father''s house. On the other hand, T¨ªnbari remained silent, doing nothing, just showing a smile on that terrifying face. It amused him that a human like Candado would raise his tone that way without being afraid.


    When everything was over, Candado removed his hands from Yara''s ears and inhaled and exhaled repeatedly to calm himself down. After he calmed down, he looked at Ruccim¨¦nkagri.


    "I apologize for shouting in your house; I had a lot of pent-up nerves in my head that I needed to release immediately."


    "There''s no need to worry or apologize; sometimes, I do that too."


    "Well, there''s no kinder person than you," said Candado, bowing his head.


    "Oh, thank you."


    "Well, it''s time for me to go home. Thanks for telling me everything I needed to know."


    "No problem; you and your friends are welcome anytime."


    "Thank you; you''re very kind, and I appreciate it."


    When he said that, Candado picked up Yara and sat her on the couch, petted her head, and said goodbye, telling her they would see each other again tomorrow. Then he headed to the door with T¨ªnbari and Clementina following. Ruccim¨¦nkagri opened the door, shook hands with each of them, and closed the door.


    Candado and the others went back the same way, only this time it was easier for them because Ruccim¨¦nkagri cleared a path, making the tall grass part, akin to Moses parting the seas for the Jews to escape the Egyptians. Candado tipped his beret as a gesture of gratitude and walked through with the others following. By the time they had exited, the grass returned to its original position.


    "That... was chilling," said Clementina.


    "You? Scared?" Candado teased.


    "Don''t... say it," Clementina replied, attempting not to get angry.


    "Let''s go home, Clementina. I need to shower, eat, and go to sleep."


    "Haha, whatever you say, young master."


    "DON''T CALL ME THAT!"


    When Candado shouted, he quickened his pace to get home as soon as possible, with Clementina and T¨ªnbari following, laughing behind him.


    It was completely dark when they returned to the village, with almost no movement or cars on the move. Strangely, lights turned on as Candado moved in the direction of his house, causing amusement for the few people present. T¨ªnbari, who was invisible to human eyes, took advantage of the situation and started playing pranks, like taking glasses off some people, tripping up a couple of chatting policemen, and messing with a guy parked in a spot for disabled persons, among other things.


    When Candado arrived home, his grandmother was cooking Candado''s favorite dish, noodle stew. So, he walked in.


    "Hello, Grandma."


    "Hello, dear. I see you were outside the whole time."


    "Yes, needed some fresh air."


    "Well, you don''t need to tell me where you were; I already know what you were up to."


    "I guess it''s impossible to hide anything from you."


    "Yes, it is."


    "Well, I think I''ll let you handle the cooking."


    Grandma nodded and continued cooking. Meanwhile, Candado walked away from the kitchen to go to his room to shower and rest.


    But when he entered his room, he saw that Hammya was snooping through his things, looking at pictures from his childhood and books he reads.


    "What the hell are you doing in my room?"


    "Well, you were very cute when you were little."


    "Your head''s going to be the cute little thing if you don''t get out of my room right now."


    "Sorry, I was just curious."


    "Look," Candado approached, snatched the photos from her hand, and continued, "If we''re going to live together from now on, I''d appreciate it if you kept your damn nosiness out of my private life. I''ve already told you about my living situation, what more do you want? Huh? Let me make it clear: if you get in my way, I''ll run you over."


    "I just wanted to know about your attitude towards me and others."


    "It''s none of your business, you hear me? None of your business. I want you away from my things. If possible, away from me too. I''m already fed up with the people I deal with day in and day out. Here''s a damn piece of advice, engrave it in that coconut you call a head: we''re not siblings, we''re not family. Don''t interfere in my life."


    "Okay, I won''t do it anymore."


    Then, Hammya stood up and headed towards the door. When she was about to leave, she stopped and, without turning around, said:


    "I wanted to thank you for saving me for the second time."


    "Don''t thank me, I don''t need it. If you want to survive, get stronger, girl."


    With that, Hammya left and closed the door gently, while Candado prepared his clothes to take a shower.


    When Hammya left Candado''s room, she went to the living room to watch TV. She went down the stairs and sat on the couch next to Clementina, who wasn''t even watching TV; she was just reading a book by Hugo Mitori.


    "Did you fight with Candado again?"


    "How do you know?"


    "Your heart is sad, so I deduce that you were the one who started it."


    "I think I shouldn''t have touched his things."


    "You should never have. He''s very strict; not even I can touch his belongings."


    "I just wanted to know what his life was like before he became like this."


    "I''ve already told you."


    "Hey, when I was looking for pictures of Candado smiling, I found this," said Hammya as she showed a photograph.


    Clementina saw it and quickly took it from her hand. In the photo, there was a white-faced Clementina sitting under a tree next to Candado, both smiling.


    "It''s very personal; that face made me so embarrassed that I didn''t leave the house for over a year."


    "Well, if you say so."


    "Truth be told, I thought I had thrown away this photo years ago, as this was the last time he showed that smile."


    "Why would he throw away this photo?"


    "Because he thought people would mock him for smiling like that."


    "I thought he was one of those people who didn''t care what others thought."


    "Not at that time, but now, as you see him, he''s someone tough and stubborn."


    With that, Clementina took a glass of soda and drank it elegantly, then placed it back in the same spot. For anyone else, that would be normal, but for a robot like her, it''s quite strange, so much so that it left Hammya gaping.


    "Hey, do you have a heart or a stomach?"


    "No, 100% machine, although I drink and have computerized organs to digest food and provide me with certain abilities. Unfortunately, none of that gives me energy, so I depend on a special battery that only Candado can make."


    "Then, do you have a stomach?"


    "Of course, what good would it do me to drink from this glass of soda?"


    "Fair point, I suppose."


    "You''ll get used to this environment, of course, if your mind can handle it."


    "What do you mean?"


    "Oh, nothing at all, but cybernetically speaking, I think you''ll adapt faster than most."


    "Hey, changing the subject, Candado mentioned in the forest something about ''drafts.'' What are they?"


    "Drafts are like a kind of police for the Circuits. They stand out from the others with their white and red attire, responsible for enforcing F.U.C.O.T. laws. Those who violate these laws are severely punished, nothing more than that."


    "Do you have something like that?"


    "Yes, they''re called Semaphores, but there was an attempt to change it. In 1960, Alfred Barret wanted to create a kind of robot police for the Semaphores. These would be manufactured with the help of a young genius named Bernard Howard."


    "What happened?"


    "It went on for ten years. Howard had built 208 robots, but there was a fire and everything was lost. When they were about to resume the project, Mr. Howard was threatened with death, I don''t know why, but he asked Alfred for help to hide him and his parents."


    "Where is he?"


    "I don''t know, only Candado knows."


    "Does Candado have a connection with that family?"


    "Yes, especially with Howard''s grandson, Wolltra Howard. He and Candado have a rivalry of intellect and science."


    "Does that Howard guy still live?"


    "Bernard? Of course, he''s alive, but his location is unknown. Candado even had an encounter with him four days ago."


    "Wow, Candado really acts like an adult."


    "And what did you expect, girl?" said Candado as he descended the stairs with Karen in his arms.


    Clementina and Hammya, upon hearing his voice, quickly turned around.


    "Being the leader of a guild and a minister of W.O.G.A.B. requires a very large responsibility. That''s why not many become representatives of the Bernstein Organization."


    "So you''re like a president of a country," said Hammya.


    "Something like that, but this is more complex: going from place to place to negotiate peace, making sure they are respected as they should be, a bunch of papers I have to sign, many things," said Candado.


    "By the way, young..."


    "No! Don''t say it, Clementina."


    "Well, Candado, why are you carrying your sister in your arms?"


    "I''m going to feed her; my parents are too busy to feed their daughter," Candado said sarcastically.


    "Grandma is almost done cooking, so don''t give her anything yet."


    "I hope she hurries; I don''t want Karen to cry."


    "Don''t worry, that won''t happen as long as you''re holding her."


    "I hope so; it breaks my heart to see my little sister cry."


    "That was something very unusual coming from you, of course," Clementina said in a mocking tone.


    "Do you want me to rip off your circuit board, you bucket of nuts?"


    "No, not for anything in the world."


    "Then shut your mouth and don''t bother; I''m quite tired of your teasing."


    "I''ll try, no promises."


    "You''re unbearable; I don''t understand why I put up with you so much."


    "Because..."


    "Don''t say it; I don''t want to know."


    At that moment, the grandmother appeared with an apron and a wooden spoon, saying that dinner was served. Everyone headed to the kitchen, and Candado also went there with his sister in his arms, acting like a father.


    The grandmother served the food, a rice stew, to each person. However, Candado, who had Karen in his arms, carefully seated her in her chair, and the grandmother placed a small plate of rice stew on the chair''s tray. From there, Candado began to feed her with a small spoon. As she was a baby, she couldn''t stay still and did her best to get her mouth open until, at a certain point, she began to calm down. When the spoon with food approached her, she started opening her mouth, and Candado gave her the food. The grandmother and Hammya were the only ones watching as Candado let out a smile here and there while feeding Karen. It was incredible. Candado decided to feed his sister first before touching his own food.


    Hammya nudged Clementina to watch Candado for a while; he was smiling at his sister. Taking advantage of the situation, she took a photo with her eyes, just as she had done at Nelson''s house. While she did all that, Candado remained unaware that he was being watched because he was quite busy feeding Karen. When the plate was empty, Candado grabbed a napkin and gently wiped her mouth. Then he took away the plate and gave her a bottle for her milk. It was only then that Candado realized his grandmother, Clementina, and Hammya had been watching everything.


    "Wow, I thought I wouldn''t see that smile on that cold face of yours again," the grandmother said.


    "Me neither, incredible," said Clementina and Hammya simultaneously.


    Candado responded by igniting his utensils with his violet flame, all the while shielding his sister''s eyes.


    "Anything else you''d like to add?" Candado asked with his serious and terrifying expression.


    They said nothing, only shook their heads. That was enough for Candado to stop the fire on his utensils. To his surprise, they weren''t hot or melted.


    The dinner continued peacefully for a few more minutes, discussing things of little or no interest to Candado. He ate his food without paying attention to the conversation, not because it was boring, but because the food was delicious, and he focused on emptying his plate of that exquisite rice stew. When he finished, he levitated the plate to the dishwasher and cleaned it without even getting up. For Clementina and the grandmother, it was no big deal; they didn''t bother paying attention to what Candado was doing; they just chatted with each other. However, Hammya was completely surprised to witness such a thing. As soon as he finished cleaning his plate, he stood up, thanked for the meal, took his sister, and went upstairs.


    While everyone continued eating, Candado took his sister to his room and carefully placed her in her crib. As he was about to leave, Karen grabbed Candado''s thumb while laughing. Like any baby, this somehow touched Candado''s cold heart. It wasn''t the first time it happened, but when little Karen did that, Candado approached the crib and sang her a lullaby to help her fall asleep. To not frighten her, he displayed a smile on that cold face of his.


    "You will go with the stars, breaking the world in two.


    You will come with the storm on loveless nights.


    You will come with the storm on loveless nights.


    You will tread on a dream without the kisses of a goodbye.


    The moon''s sign serves as a cradle for the song.


    The moon''s sign serves as a cradle for the song.


    Today, I feel that life is giving you a day


    From the heart, seeds to plant your wound.


    Nevertheless, you are a sun, you are life in a flower,


    You are a new day, free, that you bring for both of us.


    You are a new day, free, that you bring for both of us.


    You will always run to the door that knocks without reason,


    The miracle bell has turned into a prayer.


    The miracle bell has turned into a prayer.


    You are a seed of this poor heart


    That one day saw up close all that bled,


    That one day saw up close all that bled."


    When he finished singing, Karen was completely asleep, so Candado tucked her in, kissed her on the forehead, and left the room. Unfortunately for him, Clementina and Hammya were waiting for him outside.


    "Well, after all, you do have a heart," Clementina said mockingly.


    When she said that, Candado got annoyed, approached, and placed his thumb on Clementina''s forehead, and out of nowhere, she fainted. Then he looked at Hammya with total nonchalance and asked her.


    "Anything you''d like to add?"


    "No, not at all," Hammya quickly denied.


    After saying that, Candado entered his room, leaving Clementina on the floor.


    "Wait, are you going to leave Clementina like this?" Hammya asked, pounding on the door.


    Candado opened the door and said.


    "Don''t worry, she''ll wake up in five minutes," he continued while closing the door. "NOW GET LOST!"


    "Oh God, he''s so harsh," she whispered as she lifted Clementina onto her shoulders.


    When Candado couldn''t hear them anymore, he turned around, and to his surprise, Hector was sitting on Candado''s bed, reading a red book.


    "Did you lose something?" Candado asked sarcastically.


    "No, I just came to confirm my suspicions."


    "Suspicions? How did you get in here?"


    "I came through the window; after all, you never lock it."


    "I''ll lock onto your coffin. What the heck are you doing in my room?"


    "Calm down. You spat blood this morning, rushed out of the place, and didn''t call to tell us why you did that."


    "You know me well; you know I do what I want. You also know that if I do that, there''s a reason."


    "I understand that very well, Candado, but what I don''t understand is why run away from us. Are you hiding something from the guild?"


    "Mind your own business, Hector. What I did is my business and no one else''s."


    "But it''s quite strange. As soon as you ran off, Hammya followed you. But when we were about to follow you, Clementina got in our way. It''s like... she wants to prevent us from seeing or finding out something."


    "What Hammya and Clementina did is their problem. If you want to know something, talk to them, not me. Hector, I remind you that this isn''t the first time you''ve disobeyed my orders. You questioned my decision yesterday to burn the guild''s research, you told Lucia to follow me when I met Nelson, and now you''re in my room at this hour of the night telling me all this. I''m starting to think that you''re questioning my leadership."


    "No, it''s not true. Why do you take everything as if we''re against you?" Hector stood up and pointed his index finger at Candado''s chest. "Candado, I and everyone in the guild have been loyal to you, even when the Bernstein Organization sanctioned you, we were always on your side."


    "Don''t touch me; you always care. Again and again, you''ve been stepping into my territory to know or try to find out what my problem is. I''m fed up, fed up with them meddling in my life, fed up with them following me, fed up with everything."


    "We are your friends..."


    "Yes, they are, but they are more like my lackeys than friends. Now get out of my room."


    Hector closed his eyes, inhaled slowly, and exhaled.


    "As you wish." Hector opened the window and left. As he was about to leave, he turned around and continued, "Candado, I don''t know what''s happening, but I know you''re not telling us anything to protect us. No matter what you say, we''ll always be by your side."


    "Go away, or I''ll push you."


    Hector said nothing more, just showed a smile and left. As soon as he was gone, Candado locked the window and closed the curtains.


    "Don''t you think you were too harsh on the albino?" Tinbari asked from behind.


    "You''re a terrible headache."


    "I think you should tell the guild about your condition."


    "You think? Since when do you use your brain?"


    "I''m serious. Don''t you think you should tell your group of friends? You could end that horrible curse you have if you let them find the person who poisoned you."


    "And send them to certain death? No, that''s definitely not happening."


    "After all, you do care about them."


    "Of course, unlike you, I do care about all my family and friends. That''s why I have to be tough so they don''t get into dangerous territory. At least that way, the one who''s going to die will be me and not them."


    "Well, you are very..."


    As T¨ªnbari was about to finish the sentence, Candado threw his dagger at his face, but T¨ªnbari turned into smoke to avoid getting hit by the knife.


    "Don''t say that stupid word."


    "That was close. One more second, and I would have another scar on my face."


    "If you had stayed still, it surely wouldn''t make you attractive, but it would make you less ugly than you are now."


    "Heh, probably, but not by much. Well, I''ll go; I have to patrol the area to prevent someone from assassinating you while you sleep."


    After saying that, T¨ªnbari disappeared in the same way he always did, leaving Candado alone in his room.


    Candado took off his beret and placed it on his coat rack. Then, he removed the glove from his left hand, snapped his fingers, and his clothes neatly flew into his wardrobe. From one of the drawers in the wardrobe, he took out his sleepwear, turned off the light, lay down on his bed, and fell asleep.


    Many things had happened that day outside the place: fights with strangers, a cryptic faceless child... all sorts of things occurred.

 THE RETURN OF THE VAMPIRE

    The next morning, Clementina woke up on the living room sofa. Since it was off, she didn''t use any energy. She got up and checked her phone''s clock, which read 5:50 in the morning, with thirty minutes left before heading to school. So, she headed to the kitchen to prepare breakfast, but to her surprise, Hip¨®lito was already preparing the milk. This, for some reason, annoyed Clementina to the point that she said:


    "In heaven''s name, what are you doing? That''s supposed to be my job."


    "Oh, Clementina, good morning. Since you were sleeping, I decided to prepare breakfast for Candado, Hammya, and you."


    "I do that, and I''ve been doing it for almost six years."


    "Well, don''t get upset, it''s just this once. Tomorrow you can do it. Now go wake up Candado and Miss Hammya."


    Without further ado, Clementina went to wake up the two of them, so she left the kitchen so that Hip¨®lito could cook in peace. She went to the second floor to wake up Hammya and Candado. Carefully climbing the stairs, she first went to Hammya''s room. She opened the door gently, approached Hammya, and delicately put her hand on her shoulder, applying some pressure to wake her up.


    "It''s time to go to school, Hammya. So, good morning."


    "Good morning, Clemen... I''ll be right down."


    Having succeeded, Clementina left Hammya''s room and entered Candado''s.


    When she entered his room, she was struck by the way he slept. This time he resembled a turtle; he was wrapped in several blankets that formed a Gal¨¢pagos turtle shell. There was a small opening for him to breathe, so it was easy for Clementina to talk to him. However, as soon as she began to touch his hair to wake him up, Candado pushed her hand away and closed the opening.


    "Visiting hours are over," Candado declared.


    So, with no other option, Clementina transformed her right hand into an electric shock device, inserted it inside the blanket shell, and... well, the response was quite obvious in every sense. Candado screamed and tumbled out of bed with all his blankets on top of him, while Clementina let out a few mocking laughs. The blankets and quilts covering him made it practically impossible for him to get out, so he decided to use more force to free himself from that mountain of blankets. When Candado managed to emerge, he was completely furious, with his hair standing on end (thanks to the shock) and his eyes literally blazing.


    "HOW DARE YOU WAKE ME UP IN THE MOST INHUMANE WAY POSSIBLE!?" Candado yelled.


    "Oh, I call it revenge with a side of sauce, as compensation for what you did to me last night."


    Candado stood up and said,


    "This won''t go unpunished, trinket. I''ll give you a punishment later," Candado declared as he entered the bathroom.


    "Oops, sorry," Clementina whispered, imitating Candado''s cold expression.


    <div>


    Later, she left the room naturally, without even feeling remorse for what she had done to Candado. So, once she fulfilled her duty of waking up the others, she headed to the kitchen to pour herself some milk.


    Right at that moment, Hip¨®lito was pouring milk into two glasses. Clementina sat at the end of the table, and Hammya sat beside her. At that instant, Candado arrived, adjusting his tie, with all his hair tousled and standing on end due to the electric shock Clementina had given him.


    "What happened to your head?" Hammya asked.


    "A satellite fell on me while I was sleeping."


    "Do you want milk?" Hip¨®lito asked.


    "No, thanks. I''ll have mate; my head hurts a lot."


    When he said that, he sat alone at the southern end of the table, as he wanted nothing more to do with Clementina. He snapped his fingers, and the thermos and mate flew to his hand. Candado loaded his mate and took a sip.


    "It''s cold," he looked at Clementina and extended his hand holding the thermos, "heat this up."


    "Do I look like a kitchen or a microwave?"


    "Heat it up or I''ll reformat you."


    "You wouldn''t dare; you need me a lot."


    "Are you trying to test me, tin can?"


    Clementina said nothing more because she was frightened; those psycho-killer eyes indicated that his patience was running thin. So, she took the thermos and instantly began overheating the water, and in a moment, the water was hot.


    "Thanks, junk."


    "You''re welcome, licebmi nevoj n¨®trap."


    "I''ll rip out your vocal cords if you insult me like that again."


    Clementina said nothing more; she remained silent and continued sipping her milk, just like Hammya, who had finished before everyone else and decided to nibble on some cookies on the table. Meanwhile, Clementina began processing data to check the weather, temperature, and season. Candado had installed this data so that he could anticipate unexpected weather changes since in the Chaco, one is never sure if it will be sunny, rainy, hot, or cold. For these reasons, he had that information. As for the season, Candado thought that if the Chaco''s weather was quite peculiar, the season might be, too. It wouldn''t be surprising if they were in autumn, and for some mysterious reason, winter arrived. While Clementina finished analyzing the day''s conditions, she looked at Candado and said,


    "My forecast says we''ll have 24 degrees Celsius with a minimum of 19 by noon, clear skies, 9% humidity, and the interest rate will be very high next week."


    "The last one was totally unnecessary, although truth be told, where the heck have you seen it hot in the morning and cold at noon? We might as well be upside down."


    "Well, it seems this province has its ups and downs, Candado," commented Hammya.


    "Young... I mean, sir, I think it would be prudent to head to school."


    "Why? It''s only 6:23; it''s a long way to 7:30."


    "I''m receiving some information on my radar; Lucas is coming at an incredible speed."


    When Candado heard that, he quickly stood up, grabbed his beret, and rushed to the second floor.


    "What''s happening to him?" Hammya asked.


    Candado and Lucas always have races to see who is the fastest and most cunning. So far, Candado hasn''t lost a single time."


    "Races? How did you know Lucas was coming this way?"


    "It''s simple; in my brain, I have a radar that detects movement within a hundred kilometers. When someone or something uses their power or magic, my radar informs me of the individual, helping me prevent threats to my young master."


    As Clementina was explaining the situation, Candado opened the door and said,


    "Well, Uzoori is already downstairs; it''s time to go."


    Clementina looked at Hammya and said,


    "You go, Miss Hammya; I haven''t finished my breakfast."


    "Am I going to ride Uzoori?"


    "In a way, yes, but hurry up, or I''ll lose the race."


    Hammya stood up and ran with Candado outside, where Candado''s white steed was waiting for them. Candado jumped and settled in the saddle, then approached Hammya, took her arm, and with a swift motion, seated her on the horse.


    "You''ll want to hold onto something because we''re going very fast. LET''S GO!"


    With that shout, Uzoori started galloping, racing through the deserted streets of the town. Candado passed by some houses of his friends, waving to Hector, Anzor, the twins Lucia and Erika accompanied by Declan, Ana Maria, and German as he ran. As they advanced, they encountered parked cars on the road. Hammya, who was holding onto Candado''s shoulders, didn''t stop screaming in panic since they left the house. Candado didn''t stop and pulled out a whistle from one of the horse''s saddlebags, starting to blow it repeatedly. One of the car owners stuck their head out of the window and shouted,


    "HERE COMES THE GAUCHO, GENTLEMEN! HERE COMES THE GAUCHO, GET YOUR LICENSE PLATES AND PUT THEM ON YOUR ROOFS!"


    Quickly, everyone grabbed some hard plates and placed them on the roofs of the cars. Candado jumped over the car roofs, running one by one until he reached the asphalt.


    "That was insane, Candado."


    "You''re alive, aren''t you?"


    "Yes, but what does that have to do with it?"


    "Then don''t complain."


    Candado continued running on the asphalt, dodging motorcycles, cars, and people. All these feats lengthened his path. At one point, Candado felt Lucas''s aura and turned his head to the left, seeing Lucas running on the roofs, teleporting from one place to another while smiling. Candado wasn''t willing to lose, but with people and objects in his way, he decided to take a shortcut through the forest. The curious thing was that as he advanced, the branches, thorns, burrs, and leaves mysteriously parted, as if the forest itself made way for him. Hammya noticed this as she followed him.


    When they emerged from the forest, Candado could see the school very close, but Lucas was also close to catching up. Candado whispered something in Uzoori''s ear, and they started to go faster. Lucas, exhausted, could no longer use teleportation, but he was still fast. Both were neck and neck, rapidly approaching the finish line, which was the school gate. The gatekeeper was just opening the gate, unaware that the two runners were dangerously approaching him. When he finally noticed, they were right in front of him. Candado jumped over the gatekeeper, while Lucas passed between his legs, causing the gatekeeper to faint from the fright.


    The result of the race was clear; Candado won "by a head," while Lucas couldn''t catch up, even stretching his arms. Right at that moment, Kapanga''s "Desesperados" had finished playing. When the race ended, Hammya got off the horse, embracing the ground in fear, while Candado dismounted to approach Lucas, who was panting, bent over from exhaustion.


    "God, I lost for the seventh time; I assure you I''ll win tomorrow."


    "I don''t doubt it," said Candado as he handed him a bottle of soda.


    "Thanks, idol."


    At that moment, the vice principal appeared, a fat, bald man with a very bad temper. He was one of those teachers you wouldn''t want to have, but as Candado is who he is, he doesn''t care at all.


    "How many times have I told you not to enter the school with this beast?"


    "Mr. Luke, I recommend that you don''t speak about Uzoori like that while I''m present."


    "I don''t care; there are rules here, and they must be respected, Candado. That''s something that distinguishes us from animals."


    "It''s a pity that you''re in the education field, saying something so stupid."


    "What did you say? Didn''t your parents teach you to respect your elders?"


    "And didn''t they teach you how to teach people? Instead of telling me something as stupid as that."


    "If I were in charge, I would have expelled you a long time ago."


    "But you''re not. Frankly, I''m glad that Rodolfo is our director, despite our differences. The guy is good at his job, something I''ve never seen in any case of someone in education, not even in you."


    "I am the best..."


    "Someone like you will never be better at education."


    With those words, Luke left the place indignantly, upset that a kid like Candado would treat him in that way, something he couldn''t tolerate. So, he locked himself in his office.


    At that moment, Candado''s other friends arrived, entering through the gate. Anzor was the first to approach Candado and put a hand on his shoulder.


    "How''s it going, Candado?"


    "I''m good, thanks."


    "Please, could you tell me the time, boss?" asked Ana Maria.


    Candado took out his watch from the pocket of his vest and said,


    "It''s 6:34. The school still has time to open."


    "Then why are you here so early?" Declan asked.


    "Because Lucas started a race I couldn''t refuse."


    "Well, why don''t we go inside?" suggested German.


    "You''re right. You guys go in; I''ll take my horse behind the school so he can graze."


    "Whatever you say," said Hector.


    Having said that, Candado took his horse to the designated area, but instead of tying him to a tree branch, he left him free since he trusted Uzoori. If he told him to stay, he stayed without moving. When he finished doing so, he signaled Uzoori not to leave the spot, and the horse responded by lying down on the ground. Then, Candado left the place and entered his classroom, where his classmates were sitting at the back of the room, talking among themselves. When Candado approached, they decided to invite him into the conversation, but instead of discussing the previous topic, they started debating something more important.


    Candado, yesterday afternoon I was in Resistencia and passed by where the Cascabel guild massacre occurred."


    "And?"


    "And I found this," Lucas said, showing a badge of a Silver Falcon.


    Candado took the badge and remembered what Nelson had told him at that restaurant.


    "Whoever it is, it seems like they''re trying to provoke W.O.G.A.B.," Lucas said.


    "Have you found out anything else?" Candado asked.


    "Yes, I also found out that Circuit 42 was destroyed, but there were no injuries or deaths."


    With those words, Candado also recalled what the strange man in the forest had told him: "Someone wants to start a conflict between W.O.G.A.B. and U.F.E.T.C." It was completely strange that the Silver Falcon badge appeared at the crime scene, especially considering that the same person had caused his grandfather''s death. Was he involved in this matter, or did he want to imply that? While considering the numerous possibilities, he looked at his classmates and said,


    "Something is wrong. I think this is a provocation."


    "Yes, but from whom?" Luc¨ªa asked.


    "That''s what I''d like to know."


    "I''m sure this was done by the Circuit," Matlotsky asserted.


    "No, it wasn''t them," Candado replied.


    <div>


    "Candado is right. Someone in the shadows wants to start a war," added Hector.


    "On what basis do you make these conjectures?" Lucas asked.


    "It''s simple... well, it could be that... let me think."


    "You don''t remember, do you, Hector?" Candado said.


    "I''m sorry, it was so detailed that I forgot."


    "I stick to my idea because if they were really the Circuit, they would have attacked us first instead of others. It makes no sense for them to destroy a small guild. Besides, as I told Hector, if they were really seeking a war, they would have attacked the most important settlements of the Bernstein Organization."


    "Come on, Candado, do you really think those people are as smart as you? No, they''re stupid, undesirable, and heartless," Declan opined.


    These words struck Candado''s mind, making him realize that his plan to avoid a conflict between the guild members and the circuitists could be in jeopardy. He had noticed that, like Declan, many people could be swayed by hatred and emotions, and they might be pressuring W.O.G.A.B. to start a war in response to this incident. He realized that the attack on a small guild aimed to sow hatred between the two major organizations.


    "Wait, Declan, do you really believe they started this?" Candado asked.


    "Yes, they hate us. For years, they have tried time and time again to derail us in their quest to dominate the world. Let''s be objective, Candado. There''s no such evil as the Circuit''s. If they want to eliminate us, I don''t see why we shouldn''t do the same."


    That''s not being objective; it''s prejudiced. You''re saying that all of them want to finish us. Think a bit, don''t let anger take over. Remember, you have intuition for these matters. Don''t rush to conclusions so quickly. It''s true that they went too far once, but now it''s different times. Esteban leads them, someone who has a guild girlfriend."


    "My apologies, Candado. I''ll try to do better next time."


    "Continuing with the topic, how did you come to the conclusion that someone wants to provoke a war?" Germ¨¢n asked.


    "I thought that was happening, but I confirmed it yesterday."


    "By whom?" Erika asked.


    "I have no idea, he didn''t tell me his name, but I know he was sent by Esteban to try to find out who is behind all this."


    "Well, what was the person who told you like?" Lucas asked.


    "His way of dressing was very formal, but he didn''t have a face."


    "Alright... that''s really strange," Matlotsky commented.


    "But his face emitted white smoke, and..."


    "CARBORAPOR! IT''S CARBORAPOR!" H¨¦ctor shouted. (wordplay in coal/carb¨®n and steam/vapor in spanish)


    "What''s that?" Candado asked.


    <div>


    "They are those who handle coal and steam; only masters in that art can hide their faces with that steam mixed with coal. But it''s strange, usually only adults can do it since it''s expensive, but if this individual achieved it, then they must be very powerful."


    "Oh, I didn''t know that," Candado said.


    "The truth is, very few cases exist where a person like that can emit white smoke from their head because to achieve it, they must use their powers for protection and not for selfish purposes."


    "Great, but who could be orchestrating things from the shadows?" Ana Maria asked.


    At that moment, Candado remembered what Ruccim¨¦nkagri had told him about the matter: the Witnesses. However, he had to find a way to mention it without compromising his friend. After a few minutes pretending to think about it, Candado said,


    "I heard it from one of the people I had an unwanted encounter with. They mentioned something about the ''Witnesses.'' Maybe they are the ones behind all this."


    "Witnesses? That''s impossible; they have been extinct for a long time," Lucas said.


    "Wait, do you know the Witnesses, H¨¦ctor?" Candado asked.


    "Of course, my mother fought against them when I was your age. That was a month before she became friends with your mother."


    "What do you know about them?" Clementina and Candado asked at the same time.


    "Well, according to the writings and the information my mother provided me, the Witnesses were followers of Thanatos. Some say they were his siblings; others believe they were children who abandoned their humanity to learn spells. But, in my opinion, they don''t fit into any of those categories."


    "Well, we already knew that, but why do you say they have become extinct?" Candado asked.


    "The reason they became extinct is that a while ago, their leader tried to bring back Thanatos with a very dangerous spell called ''The Black Hole.'' This spell had the power to nullify or destroy any type of power in the world, and it was obtained through the blood of the Bailak. The Witnesses tried to resurrect Thanatos, but that spell was extremely powerful and absorbed them, leading to their own destruction. It caused an explosion that covered thirty-five kilometers around, killing everyone present and destroying everything in its path. The few who survived were hunted down one by one, both by the guild members and the circuitists."


    "Wow, it seems that despite being hunted, I think very few survived and are starting to recruit new people."


    "What leads you to think that?" Anzor asked.


    "Candado refers to the people he and I fought with yesterday," Clementina said.


    "What she said, we had some trouble in the forest yesterday afternoon."


    "Wow, we didn''t know. Did you have any issues?" H¨¦ctor asked.


    "No, nothing I can''t handle."


    "Humble as always, huh?"


    "Matlotsky, please, say another stupid thing and I''ll knock you out with a punch."


    "Well, it wasn''t that serious."


    "Well, what was I saying? Oh, yes, the fight. Well, I was saying that I had problems with these people, and while I remember, I snatched this from them." Candado showed the badge he had shown to Ruccim¨¦nkagri and continued, "I''m sure you know this."


    H¨¦ctor stood up and took the badge in surprise, as if he had seen a ghost.


    "This is impossible; they were supposed to no longer exist."


    "It seems you''ve made a mistake, H¨¦ctor, because this is worth more than a thousand words," Candado said, pointing to the badge.


    "If you took this from one of them, it means there are more."


    "I thought that too, maybe they are preparing to start a war."


    "You''re not entirely wrong, Candado."


    "What do you mean, Lucas?" Candado asked.


    "Don''t forget what H¨¦ctor said; they were trying to bring Thanatos back. If they exist, it means they are still trying to achieve that."


    "That would be a problem. Imagine the guy who dominated the world for three whole years... free. That would be terrible chaos."


    "Where have you seen chaos that is cute?" Candado asked.


    "Seriously, you need to stop being so logical," Clementina and Hammya said.


    "It shouldn''t be that terrible. They tried once and failed; there can''t be much difference now," Anzor said.


    "Maybe you''re right. If they couldn''t bring him back then, it''s unlikely they''ll succeed now," Declan commented.


    "In other words, there won''t be anything to worry about," Ana Mar¨ªa added.


    At that moment, Esteban appeared, hands in his pockets, entered the classroom, and the first thing he did was stare intently at Candado, who returned the gaze. It felt like a big fight was about to break out any moment, but Esteban looked away and sat at his desk. Apparently, that day, he had no intention of fighting.


    "Is he sick?" Germ¨¢n asked.


    "No, I think he wants to challenge me after class," Candado replied.


    As he had predicted, Esteban stood up and walked towards Candado. Esteban''s steps put Candado''s friends on high alert, but being on guard did nothing to help him. As Esteban approached, they took a step back, except for Hammya. When Esteban stopped, he looked at Candado, and Candado looked back at him. Both were about to unleash all the hatred they had harbored against each other.


    "Tell me, where do you find these defects?" Esteban asked.


    "Where I find them is my problem and no one else''s."


    "So, you''re... numb to all this, glad to know you''re too cowardly for certain things."


    "Do you think I care about the speeches that come out of that hole you call a mouth? After all, only shit and garbage come out of there."


    Esteban raised his hand to chest height and started releasing an electric sphere, continuously shooting some kind of threads from that energy sphere, while Candado ignited his hand with the same violet flame.


    "Do you know? My biggest dream is to defeat you and prove that I am much better than you," Esteban declared.


    "You defeating me? That''s a completely impossible dream," Candado said as he stood up, pressing his forehead against Esteban''s.


    The situation briefly became terrifying, with the possibility that either of them would unleash all their energy on the other, but it all ended when the bell rang.


    "You got lucky, for now," Esteban said.


    "No, you got lucky."


    At that moment, Anzor and Declan grabbed Candado by the shoulders and dragged him outside while he made provocative gestures at Esteban. He was more focused on insulting Esteban than on what Anzor and Declan were doing to him.


    Everyone lined up, saluted the flag, sang the Argentine anthem, and entered their classrooms, except Candado, who approached the flagpole and knelt before it for two minutes, as if venerating a god. No one had noticed it before, except the school principal. Until that moment, absolutely no one had any idea that Candado did that every day. When he finished the reverence, he stood up and entered the classroom. The teacher hadn''t noticed that Candado had just come in, as he didn''t care.


    I''d like to say that Candado was the favorite of the class or the teachers, but that wasn''t the case. In reality, the entire school, except for his friends, feared him, and the teachers hated him. Candado had put the teachers in their place more than once. An anecdote tells that teachers used to ask students for money for infrastructure projects that were never carried out. One day, a teacher raised the fee and requested a donation of two hundred and fifty pesos from each student to install an air conditioner, the same one they had promised more than three times. On the day the donation was due, the teacher stopped the class and asked for money from the students. Candado was the first on the list, but instead of giving money, he and Clementina brought in a brand new air conditioner and placed it on the teacher''s desk. The students were fascinated with the gift, but the teacher was not. Despite hiding his disgust with a smile, his displeasure was evident. From that day on, the teachers realized that getting money from Candado Barret would be completely impossible, and every time they asked for donations for something, Candado handed them the object they supposedly would buy, ruining their little scheme. There were many anecdotes about Candado, as numerous as the stars in space, countless.


    <div>


    Forgetting a bit about his exploits with the teachers, Candado sat at his desk, which was next to Hammya, when the class came to a halt. No one knew why until the principal walked in, stood in front of everyone, and said:


    "I know this is somewhat unusual, but today we have another student, although most of you already know him, so there''s no need for introductions. Come, step in."


    When the principal announced the arrival of a new student and the door opened, a girl with short black hair entered, carrying a sports backpack on her back, similar to the ones tennis players or footballers use. She was dressed in men''s clothing, with dark pants, black shoes, a black frock coat, and a white scarf elegantly wrapped around her neck. She also wore a light blue and white hat on her head, and unusually, a yellow chick rested on her head.


    Most of the students were surprised to see her, as some were new to the school. However, Candado, upon seeing her, covered his eyes, showing his displeasure. The girl looked at everyone and said:


    "Hello, Viki Tonrrial Cortez Ar¨ªn has returned once again to her beloved town."


    Candado muttered as he held his temples with both hands:


    "Well, I''m done for today, go and take a seat, miss."


    After that, Viki took a seat next to H¨¦ctor and began to pay attention to the class as the teacher gave his lesson. During the class, Hammya approached Candado and asked:


    "Candado, who is she?"


    Candado looked up from his book and turned to Hammya.


    "Are you deaf or what? She said her name five minutes ago."


    "I didn''t mean that, but who is she to you?," Hammya clarified.


    Candado turned around and continued reading but answered Hammya''s question.


    "She is one of us."


    "From the Roob¨®leo guild?"


    "Of course, she is part of our guild."


    "Wow, does she have powers like you guys?"


    "Sure, if you look closely, she''s a vampire."


    "A vampire? But it''s daytime."


    "That''s from movies. If you want to know more about her, you''ll have to ask her during recess."


    After the conversation, Candado returned to his reading without interruptions, while Hammya looked at Viki with curiosity. Viki, in a friendly manner, greeted her classmates with a smile.


    When the recess bell finally rang, all students went out to the courtyard, except Candado and his friends, who approached Viki. They gave her hugs and congratulations, as after a year and two months, their guild friend had returned. While everyone was talking to her, Candado and Hammya approached.


    "Oh, Candado, it''s been so long."


    "Yes, so long," he said sarcastically. "Why are you back? You were supposed to be away for three more months."


    "Heh, the truth is, I got bored."


    "You got bored?"


    "Yes, Candado, I got bored. I got bored of feasting on cattle."


    Anger ignited in Candado''s eyes.


    "You''re a... I sent you away so you could control yourself, and it seems you didn''t. What the hell have you been doing for a year?"


    "Sleeping, playing, and eating."


    Candado made a frustrated noise, but Declan placed his hand on his shoulder to calm him.


    "I sent Pio with you to prevent you from doing that, and speaking of that, where the hell is Pio?"


    "She''s at home, said she wouldn''t come to school today. Could we visit her if you''d like?"


    "Yes, I''m going to visit her, so I can scold her with my own hands. I sent her with you to keep you in check, and you bring her back the same. Without any CHANGE!"


    Viki laughed at Candado''s provocations, enjoying making him angry. But after he calmed down, she turned to Hammya and started a friendly conversation:


    "Who are you? I''ve never seen you around here before, but I like your hair color."


    Hammya replied:


    "Oh, thank you. You''re the first person to say that without calling it weird."


    Viki stood up and shook her hand:


    "I''m Victoria Tonrrial, but everyone calls me Viki. You can call me Viki too."


    "Pleasure, Viki."


    "What''s your name?"


    "I''m Hammya, Hammya Saillim. Nice to meet you."


    "Wow, what a beautiful name."


    "Thank you. Is it true that you''re a vampire?"


    "Yes, I am. That''s why my eyes are red, but don''t worry, I won''t bite you. I don''t bite my friends."


    "Doesn''t the sun harm you?"


    "No, although blood has water."


    "Oh, does silver harm you, or the cross?"


    At that moment, Viki pulled a crucifix from her scarf and said:


    "I''m Christian, and this is silver. There''s nothing more blessed than the cross of Almighty Jesus."


    "The stake through the heart?"


    "Tell me, Hammya, do you know anyone in this world who wouldn''t die from a stake through the heart? No one. Who wouldn''t that kill?"


    "But you drink blood."


    "Yes, because it''s my food. Without it, I can''t live."


    "So, have you killed to get it?"


    "No, because nowadays you can go to a hospital and ask for blood, that''s all."


    "You''re very strange."


    "Look who''s talking."


    "And that chick?"


    "She''s S¨ªo, she''s my pet. I''ve had her since I was three."


    "But she hasn''t grown."


    "Because I cast a spell on her to prevent her from growing."


    "Something that almost cost you your place in the guild," added H¨¦ctor.


    "Well, at least nothing serious happened."


    The conversation continued, and everyone was happy that their friend had returned after a year, except Candado. Although deep down in his bitter shell, he was also glad she had come back, or so he thought.


    <div>


    Shifting to another topic, after recess, while Candado leaned against a classroom window reading his book, Erika, his friend, returned from break and warned him:


    "Candado, get down now!"


    Without hesitation, Candado dropped to the floor as Erika had instructed, and at that moment, tentacles emerged from the ground, shattering the window. Not only that, but they also knocked down benches and chairs, spreading panic among the frightened students. The tentacles seemed to be looking for someone, and Candado signaled to his friends to help those trapped in the chairs and tables. Anzor and Declan unsheathed their swords and began cutting the tentacles, while H¨¦ctor, Germ¨¢n, and Lucas assisted the children. However, a tentacle struck Germ¨¢n in the chest, sending him flying toward the exit door. Fortunately, Germ¨¢n quickly got up and transformed into a werewolf before returning to the classroom to confront the tentacles. Candado, on the other hand, remained on the ground, out of reach of the tentacles, and shouted:


    "ERIKA, LUC¨ªA, GET EVERYONE OUT OF THE SCHOOL NOW!" Candado yelled as he fought against the tentacles emerging from all directions.


    At that moment, Ana Mar¨ªa entered the classroom and punched the tentacle blocking Candado''s path. This allowed him to stand up and use his flames to burn the tentacles in his way. However, the tentacles kept emerging from the windows and the ground. At that moment, T¨ªnbari appeared and joined the fight.


    "T¨ªnbari, I''m blind, I don''t sense any magical power, I need your help NOW!" Candado exclaimed.


    T¨ªnbari''s eyes glowed yellow as he responded:


    "It''s behind you, approximately eighty meters away."


    Candado looked behind him and saw a window, but more tentacles emerged, preventing his escape. Armed with his fac¨®n, Candado gave the order to his friends:


    "The enemy is out there; I need your help to break through and catch it."


    All his friends responded in unison:


    "AT YOUR COMMAND, CANDADO!"


    Declan and Anzor cut tentacles, Clementina shot others, Germ¨¢n uprooted them with his strength, Lucas set them on fire, the twins petrified them, Viki cut them with her sharp nails, Matlotsky struck them with his hammer and shot them with his nail gun, and H¨¦ctor used his cards to stop the tentacle attacks on his friends. They worked together until they finally managed to create an opening in the window.


    "NOW, CANDADO, JUMP!" Declan shouted.


    H¨¦ctor wrapped Candado in a sphere of cards and jumped through the window, taking Candado outside the school. T¨ªnbari stayed behind to help Candado''s friends in the fight against the tentacles.


    Candado, outside the school, faced the individual causing the chaos. The person raised their hands and moved them strangely. Candado threw his fac¨®n at him, but the person dodged it, causing the tentacles emerging from the ground to deactivate. Candado confronted him and punched him in the chest, causing his hood to fall off, revealing a wooden mask. Candado was surprised to see that the individual seemed to be his age, dressed in a light green tunic and a wooden mask concealing his face.If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    "Who the hell are you?" Candado asked, keeping his gaze cold on the mysterious individual.


    The person didn''t respond and remained silent, staring fixedly at Candado.


    "I''ll ask you one more time: Who the hell are you, and what do you want?" Candado insisted, approaching the individual and pulling out his fac¨®n, which was embedded in a tree.


    "You don''t want to talk, do you? Judging by that mask, I can assure it''s not to hide your identity, but rather a mark on your face, isn''t it? Witness." Candado provoked a reaction from the mysterious individual, who opened his eyes in surprise. Candado seized the opportunity and lunged at him, landing punches while the person could barely defend himself. The individual seemed perplexed upon hearing the word "Witness," indicating a connection to the matter.


    "You''re one of those who stay silent when they discover their dark secret, aren''t you?" Candado continued while continuing to attack the individual.


    Finally, the mysterious person prepared to fight Candado, and both of them remained on guard, waiting for one of them to make the first move. Candado decided to take the initiative and lunged at the individual, who summoned three tentacles from the ground to pursue him. However, Candado acted cleverly and ran toward the person. As he was about to strike, Candado jumped to the side, causing one of the tentacles to fall onto the person, injuring him.


    "I thought you were smarter, man of few words," Candado mocked.


    "Do you believe that, don''t you?" a voice was heard behind Candado.


    <div>


    Candado turned around and saw the individual with the mask partially broken, revealing part of his face.


    "You spoke. Not bad for a newcomer like you," observed Candado.


    "I must admit it''s the first time I''ve been attacked and hurt," replied the mysterious individual.


    "Who are you?" Candado asked again.


    "You''re not my target for now." The person didn''t reveal his name but shared his alias. "I''m Guz, and I represent the Witnesses. Soon, this world will be ours."


    After saying this, Guz ran into the forest, leaping from tree to tree like a monkey.


    At that moment, the gaseous figure that Candado had encountered yesterday appeared.


    "You, what are you doing here?" Candado asked.


    "I was having breakfast when I heard a commotion at the school. I peeked and saw you entering the forest, so I followed you here. But I must be grateful; that guy gave me a clue. They want to kill Esteban, and I won''t allow that."


    With that, the gaseous figure launched in pursuit of Guz, while Candado remained in place without taking any action.


    When Candado finally returned to school, he found his friends removing the tentacles they had cut and Matlotsky repairing the damaged windows, chairs, and tables. His friends rushed to him, concerned about what had happened. H¨¦ctor was the first to ask.


    "What happened? Did you encounter the person who started all this?"


    <div>


    Candado looked at H¨¦ctor seriously and responded:


    "Yes, I found him, but he wasn''t interested in me. His target was Esteban."


    "Esteban?" all his friends expressed their surprise.


    "It can''t be, was he a mercenary?" Anzor asked.


    "No, he was a... a Witness."


    Everyone was stunned upon hearing the dreadful word "Witness." If a Witness had tried to kill Esteban, that meant their assumptions were correct: someone was trying to start a war. The events of that day and the day before had reached Candado''s brain, fitting the last piece of the puzzle.


    The day before, three individuals had attacked him with a clear goal: to end his life. It wasn''t because Candado was strong and fearsome, but because he held the position of president of the W.G.A.B. (World Guilds Adjacent Bernstein). By killing him, the attackers would try to blame the Circuit, and vice versa, triggering a conflict. However, what the three individuals didn''t know was that Candado had been previously sanctioned for hitting a fellow guild member in the convent. This action had led him to lose the presidency, replaced by the representative from Japan, Yuuta Aikawa. Candado had kept this information secret, not to protect himself, but to protect Yuuta and the organization''s morality.


    Candado''s theory was confirmed, and the shadow of war loomed over the world. He knew that another conflict would lead the planet into chaos, regardless of who won; the result would be total destruction. However, Candado changed the subject to avoid worrying his friends.


    "Hey, are you going to keep standing there or are you going into the school?" Candado asked.


    "Sorry, Candado, but the principal gave us the day off. Three teachers were injured, but their injuries are not serious," Hammya replied.


    "Seriously?" Candado asked.


    "No, Candado, they''re just superficial wounds. They''ll be fine," H¨¦ctor said.


    "I have an idea. Why don''t we celebrate Viki''s return in the Roob¨®leo brotherhood?" Matlotsky suggested.


    Lucas looked at Matlotsky disgusted, but surprisingly, Candado agreed.


    "I think it''s a good idea," Candado said.


    "But, sir...? Well, as you wish," Lucas conceded.


    "Are you going to organize a party?" Matlotsky asked excitedly.


    "No, just celebrate," Candado clarified.


    "You''re so boring, Candado," Matlotsky commented.


    "And you''re an avocado, so don''t complain," Candado replied.


    Then, Candado and his friends headed to the guild to celebrate their friend Viki''s return. It was the first time Candado had organized something like this for one of his friends. Along the way, some of them noticed a slight change in Candado''s attitude, especially H¨¦ctor, Viki, Ana Mar¨ªa, Clementina, and Lucas. Since Hammya arrived, Candado had been acting differently, but they preferred not to draw conclusions about his change in personality.


    Finally, they arrived at the guild. Anzor opened the door, and everyone entered. Candado closed the door, turned on the lights, and they scattered around the place. Matlotsky turned on the music system and mentioned that it was the first time they had a day off to use the house. Hammya took the opportunity to ask about what exactly they did.


    Candado was about to answer, but his Irish friend replied.


    "The Roob¨®leo guild, like any other guild, is dedicated to solving problems for other people, such as stolen items, murders, mysteries, escapes, and more," Declan said.


    "Wow, I had no idea."


    "Of course not, because you''re nothing more than a dreamer," Declan added.


    "Listen to me, now I''m part of this guild, and I would appreciate it if you stopped being so unpleasant."


    Declan stomped his right foot hard and stared at Hammya.


    "Don''t raise your voice at me; you''re nobody to speak to me that way. Maybe you''re part of this guild, but I''ve been in it longer than you, so be very clear about that. If you plan something strange in this guild that harms us, or I suspect you''re betraying us," he unsheathed his saber at that moment, placed it at Hammya''s neck, and continued, "your head will roll at my feet."


    "Declan, lower your weapon, you know what the rules are, right?"


    "Yes, Candado, I know."


    At that moment, Anzor and German came and took Declan away to prevent further problems between the two of them.


    "Apologize to Declan; he doesn''t trust you, but he will someday. For now, give him time," Viki said as she handed her a glass of soda.


    "What''s wrong with him?" Hammya asked.


    "He still hasn''t gotten over Ocho''s betrayal to the guild."


    "Ocho?"


    "Yes, she was like you, one..."


    "Viki, wait, did you say she? Is she a woman?"


    "Yes, she was one of us, but she betrayed us and tried to assassinate Candado. It hurt us a lot when she betrayed us, but it hurt Declan even more since she was his girlfriend. He always felt guilty about that, and he always thought that because of him, his friends almost died. That''s why he''s so distrustful."


    "Wow, I''m sorry."


    "He''s tough and stubborn, but he''s a good friend. He''s the kind of person who would vouch for you if you''re in trouble."


    When Viki said that, Hammya headed towards where Declan was.


    "What are you doing?"


    "If I''m going to be part of the guild, it''s better that I start working on gaining the trust of the others."


    These words were etched into Viki and Candado''s minds. Candado, who had his back turned, heard them. When he did, he showed a small, momentary smile, visible to H¨¦ctor''s eyes.


    Hammya approached a semi-closed bedroom, peeked inside, and opened the door. Inside, she found Declan sitting in a chair, back turned, cleaning his sword. Hammya walked towards him slowly. When she was close enough, Declan, without turning around, said:


    "My intentions are clear; I won''t talk to you. No matter what you do, I''m not interested in your friendship."


    "Look, I don''t want problems with you. All I want is for you to treat me with respect."


    "Respect? That''s not something easily obtained. In fact, I highly doubt someone like you can earn my respect."


    "If Matlotsky could do it, then I can too."


    "Haha, that guy is tough, but he would never think of betraying the guild."


    "Well, over time, we''ll be friends."


    Declan said nothing more and continued cleaning his sword. Hammya, on her part, stepped away from the room and joined Candado, who was sitting in the middle of the table, reading a book.


    "Hello, Candado."


    "Hello, Esmeralda."


    "What are you doing?"


    Candado looked up.


    "Girl, what the hell do you think I''m doing? Am I fishing? I''m reading, girl, reading."


    "Sorry, Mr. Fancy, it was just a question."


    "Yes, a very stupid and pointless one."


    "Why are you so mean? I don''t understand why people respect you so much."


    "One, because I''m devilish, and second, why do you care?"


    "You''re a jerk."


    "I don''t care, as long as I do what is right, my attitude doesn''t matter."


    "Changing the subject, tell me, how many countries does the World Organization of Gremial Adjuncts Bernstein govern?"


    "Today, there are ten countries, including Argentina, Paraguay, France, Germany, Kenya, China, Cuba, Japan, Iran, and Venezuela."


    "Wow, it used to be seven before. Why are there ten now?"


    "Because those three countries achieved incredible things. Cuba entered because Fernando ¨¢lvarez started a revolution against the Circuists. At that time, the cradle of the United Front of Circuits and Technomancers was Cuba, but Fernando expelled them with just eighteen guilds throughout the island, so he earned a space in our hall. Nowadays, the best guilds are in Cuba. In Iran, Alli Fereshteh reached a peace agreement with the circuits of the East. It was the first country to have a treaty with them after sixty-five years, inspiring other nations worldwide to have dialogue treaties to achieve peace. For that reason, it earned a place in our hall. Venezuela was a country heavily affected by foreign imperialism, to the point that there were no guilds in that country for more than sixty years. Then, a guy named Ramiro Solari created a guild dedicated solely to combat hunger and poverty. It earned a place in the W.O.G.A.B. because it was the only country that supported my mother in the GreenBlood case. When she was expelled, she sought help in that country and was warmly welcomed. When the case ended, my mother was elected president, and as a token of gratitude, she opened the doors to Ramiro, earning that seat in our hall."


    "Wow, how is it possible I''ve never heard of that?"


    "Because businessmen and imperialists took care of silencing us, talking about unimportant issues. Nowadays, the United Nations knows about our existence, but they don''t know why we exist; they''ve never touched on the subject. Only a few countries are aware of our existence."


    "It''s a bit sad."


    "Sad? It''s not sad. In my opinion, I think it''s better this way. If our name were known worldwide, they would use the organization for their own benefit¡ªthings like war, political and religious conflicts, promotion of imperialism, and a bunch of things that would damage Harambee''s ideals. I''d rather die than allow them to tarnish its name."


    "Heh, it seems like you admire an African a lot."


    Candado closed the book and brought it down forcefully on Hammya''s head.


    "Don''t you dare use her name like that. For your information, thanks to her, people like you don''t go through life as slaves."


    "That hurts, and a lot."


    "So you don''t forget, ever," said Candado, pointing at her with a book.


    "Okay, okay, I won''t forget."


    "That''s better."


    "By the way, why would your mother be well-received in Venezuela? Was she hated?"


    At that moment, Candado''s expression changed; he became somber and calm, and his gaze weakened.


    <div>


    "At that time, yes. My grandfather had defeated a strange being called ''P.'' He had a friend named Mike Thompson, representing the U.S. guild called GreenBlood. But in that battle, Mike lost his life saving my grandfather. When ''P'' was defeated, he said that Mike was the true hero, elevating GreenBlood to martyrdom and the pinnacle of the W.O.G.A.B. But years later, my mother sought help from that guild but was betrayed; the help never came. It was then that the question arose: ''How is it possible that a fearless guild like that, which had fought for its brothers, did not come to the aid of one of its sisters?'' At that moment, she began to investigate the matter. The closer she got to the truth, GreenBlood, using its influence, ordered the expulsion of the Roob¨®leo guild from the organization. Even with the help of France, Kenya, Cuba, and Paraguay, they couldn''t stop Argentina from being expelled from the W.O.G.A.B., but she never gave up and kept seeking the truth. The path was difficult, and everything was against her, but she was never alone; she had my father, who always supported her in everything."


    "How did all this end?"


    "My mother sought help from the U.F.E.T.C. Since she was underground, she no longer cared about what people thought of her or her guild, so she forged an alliance with them. That''s how the Circuits helped her, and together they exposed GreenBlood. She returned to the guild, and they were compensated with millions of gold bars."


    <div>


    "Gold?"


    "Yes, my family doesn''t use dollars. All our fortune is in gold bars. We don''t trust a piece of paper that claims to be very valuable."


    "Well, that''s quite unique. Are you a millionaire?"


    "Millionaire? No, of course not. Trillionaire."


    "Wow, that''s quite a fortune, despite having an ordinary house."


    "Yes, my family and I don''t like showing off with big houses and other things."


    "Where is all that fortune stored?"


    "In our personal vault."


    "Vault? Don''t you keep it in banks?"


    "No, banks exist because society trusts them. In contrast, my family and I don''t trust them, and we''re not foolish enough to put our entire fortune in the hands of strangers."


    "Ah, I see, you apply a lot of logic and sociology in your family."


    "Uh... thanks."


    "I have another question, is the Circuit similar to you?"


    "No, it''s completely different. They only have one leader elected by popular vote, but to be the leader of the U.F.E.T.C., you have to be respected by both chambers of the institute."


    "Are there representatives from the countries in general?"


    "No, the idea of Thanatos was for a world without borders connected to other societies. If you''re a Circuist, you won''t represent any country but the ideology of Thanatos."


    "And is that wrong for you?"


    Candado closed his book and placed it aside on the table.


    "Well, it''s not wrong to think differently or expand your thoughts. What''s wrong with them is taking that ideology to the extreme, killing and threatening. That''s what''s wrong with the Circuits. I don''t share the idea of imposing my thoughts by force."


    "What do you really want?"


    Candado stared into Hammya''s eyes, then looked at his hands. He opened and closed them until he clenched his fists and said.


    "I just want peace, no more cold war among us, no more bloodshed."


    "Relax, Candado, relax. I have faith that you''ll achieve peace."


    "Well, I''m glad you have faith. After all, that''s the only thing that doesn''t get lost, even in the worst moments."


    "Um..."


    "Don''t say more. I like always having the last word, not because I''m arrogant."


    At that moment, Hector approached with a green folder in hand.


    "Candado, can I talk to you privately for a moment?"


    "Sure."


    Candado stood up and followed Hector to the meeting room.


    "Well, can I know what''s going on?"


    "It''s about this folder, it was delivered a few minutes ago."


    <div>


    "Who sends it?" Candado asked as he received the folder.


    "It''s a delivery from the W.O.G.A.B. Do you think it would be an expulsion note?"


    "No, I don''t think so. If that were the case, the folder would be black, not green."


    Candado opened it, and inside there was a letter with the official seal of the organization, the lion. Candado took the letter and examined it from top to bottom. After a few seconds of observation, Candado handed the letter to Hector and said,


    "Here, read it to me. I don''t know Japanese."


    "Oh, you know French, German, Wichi, English, and Persian, a bunch of European languages, who knows how you learned them, but you can''t read Japanese."


    "Do I look like a world translator? Do me a favor and read me the letter."


    "Fine. ''Dear Nankinjo...


    "That idiot..."


    "...,''Dear Nankinjo.. on March 10th, your exemption from your missions was decreed, and within thirteen days, you will be able to return to your duties at the Harambee Board. I hope this has served you as a choice. Remember, be careful when unleashing your wrath. I look forward to your return to Kanghar for your services as Candado/President. Sincerely, your boss, Yuuta Aikawa.''


    Hector made a face looking upward.


    "Isidro..."


    "''It''s great, Candado, you''ll be able to return to the organization.''"


    "Well, at least he was kind enough to give me permission to return on March 23rd. I''m going to kill that suspicious-faced guy."


    "Well, remember that you hurt a board member."


    "Yes, and I accept my punishment, but I won''t tolerate him writing ''Your boss'' in a damn letter. I''m going to break his nose."


    "Come on, Candado, no more fights with your supe... I mean, I mean; comrades. It''s been enough."


    "Are you giving me orders?"


    "Yes, I''m doing it for your own good. You must let go of that anger; in the future, it could bring problems."


    For the first time, Candado felt that Hector was right. If he hadn''t let anger take over, he would never have fought with the one who cast a terrible spell on him, and he wouldn''t be spitting blood. If he wanted to live, he would have to trust the requests of others. As his grandfather used to say, "You can never have all the answers and solutions at your disposal. You will always have to trust others, especially your friends." His grandfather was a very wise man, and Candado always tried to listen to others. So Candado looked at Hector differently; in his eyes, there was a bit of compassion.


    "You''re right, I don''t want to make mistakes. Now I understand why he gave me thirteen days; it was for me to start being more tolerant. We''re all supposed to be brothers in the W.O.G.A.B., seeking the best for our families. I made a mistake by hitting that boy. I had a bad day, and I guess I wanted to take it out on him. When I return, I''ll apologize to him. We''re all supposed to be the heralds of Harambee."


    Hector was fascinated by what Candado said. It was the first and only time Candado made a mistake and acknowledged it, so much so that he unconsciously started applauding.


    "Bravo, that''s a very big step."


    "About what?"


    "About your attitude. Keep it up."


    "Ah, sure, I''ll be sure not to let it go to my head."


    "Heh, well, it''s time for me to go. I have to help Lucas back there with his experiments."


    After saying that, Hector left and left Candado alone in the room. He had been lately very thoughtful, about his health and what Ruccim¨¦nkagri told him yesterday. So he grabbed a blank sheet, a pen, and wrote about the situation that the W.O.G.A.B. was going through. Slowly, the guilds and the Circuits walked on a tightrope. It was necessary to stop the war at all costs. Candado took notes on the matter, wrote down the most important points: the organization of the Witnesses, the attacks, the murders of guilds and Circuits alike, etc. If the path is conflict, then it must be stopped. We shouldn''t be dragged into a war. The world shouldn''t see war again.


    <div>


    Once he finished writing, Candado opened the door and called Clementina. She immediately went to him. Candado handed the letter to her and said, "I want you to take this letter to the post office, please."


    With those simple words, Clementina ran off to deliver that letter. Candado, even if it didn''t show, was under a lot of stress. His perspiration started to become dry, his heart was beating rapidly. All of this caused Candado to lose balance and fall to the floor. His friends, seeing him on the ground, rushed to assist him. Hector and Mar¨ªa helped him stand up.


    "Are you okay, Boss?" asked Ana Mar¨ªa.


    "FOR SOME REASON, I FELL!"


    "I''ll call the doctor..."


    "No, you''re not calling anyone without my authorization."


    "But you fell, that''s not..."


    "I repeat, you''re not calling anyone without my authorization."


    Hector and Ana Mar¨ªa took him to the rest room and sat him in an armchair, but when everything seemed to be improving, Candado started coughing. Hammya, who was nearby and knew what would come after the cough, took a handkerchief from his pocket, covered Candado''s mouth, and patted him on the back. Candado had spat up blood again, but this time, his friends hadn''t noticed. So, to distract his friends from the blood on the handkerchief, Hammya asked for water, and as soon as they took their eyes off him, Candado wrapped the handkerchief and hid it in his pocket. Hammya handed him a glass of water, and everything remained a secret again.


    <div>


    "Alright, what happened to you?" asked Germ¨¢n.


    "Nothing, it was just exhaustion, that''s all. I just need to rest."


    "True, you''ve worked a lot this past month. I think you should hand over control to Hector for a week," said Declan.


    "No, the craphead is messing things up, and with everything that''s happened, I can''t afford to take a break. I''m the president of the Oilthief Brotherhood, and my responsibilities come first."


    "Yes, everything you said is true, but if you don''t take care of yourself, it''s all going to be worthless because you''re going to die. Take a week off and don''t be stubborn. That''s all we ask of you. It''s not a month, not a year, not a century, just a week. After resting, you can go back to being the same cold, bossy, and arrogant guy you always are."


    "Arrogant? Seriously?"


    "What Matlotsky means is that you need to take a break. You need it, after all..."


    "Lucas, I''ve rested for two days. I''m fine. I don''t need anything."


    "


    What if we vote?" Anzor suggested.


    "You wouldn''t dare, considering I haven''t given any authorization," Candado replied.


    "Sorry, Candado. You yourself said this is a democracy. It''s in Article 5-K of our little law: ''In case the board members disagree with the president, a vote shall proceed.''"


    "Damn it, Ana Mar¨ªa, shut up!" Candado interrupted. "See, that''s all you''re good for."


    "Good idea, Mari. Let''s vote. Those in favor of Candado taking a break, raise your hand."


    H¨¦ctor and everyone else, including Hammya, raised their hands.


    "Wait, we''re missing Clementina," Candado said.


    At that moment, the phone rang, and H¨¦ctor went to answer it.


    "Hello... ah... wait, let me put you on speaker."


    "I, Clementina V02, vote in favor of Candado taking a break."


    "IS THIS SERIOUS!? HOW THE HELL DID YOU KNOW WHAT WE''RE TALKING ABOUT!?"


    "Remember, sir, that the house and I are one. Now I bid farewell. I''ll see you at home. Bye!"


    "Let''s not talk about it anymore. Ernest will have a well-deserved vacation," H¨¦ctor said.


    "Who is Ernest?" asked Hammya.


    "That''s my name, young lady. I''m called Ernest."


    "I thought your name was Candado?"


    "Yes, it is. Any problem?"


    "No, not at all."


    "The discussion is over, and the vote is in. Candado will take a break for a week," Matlotsky declared.


    "OBJECTION!"


    "Denied," said H¨¦ctor.


    "Come on, it''s just seven days; afterward, you can go back to being the boss," Ana Mar¨ªa said.


    "What''s the damn difference? You always call me boss."


    "It doesn''t matter, please accept," Lucas said.


    "All right, I accept, one week, just one week. I hope the guild doesn''t catch fire while I''m away."


    "Your trust in me is very touching."


    "Shut up, H¨¦ctor."


    "Fine, as the temporary president, I decree your break. This means you can go back home."


    "Okay, I''m leaving."


    Candado grabbed his backpack, exited the room, walked to the guild''s exit, mounted Uzoori, and galloped home. Meanwhile, his friends stayed behind, watching their ex-boss leave.


    "Shouldn''t I go after him?"


    "No need, Hammya. We need you here," Viki said.


    "Not really," Declan said while fixing a bookshelf.


    "Ignore him, he''s a durubu."


    "It''s pronounced d¨²r, Viki, and that''s not it."


    "Whatever, you''re a funny-talking idiot."


    "And you''re an t¨¢ t¨² le muc an-horrendous."


    At that moment, while Viki was getting nervous about what Declan had said, as he was speaking Irish to her, Hammya''s eyes sparkled, and she said.


    "You''re a very horrendous pig."


    "Me? What? I''m defending you, and this is what I get?"


    "No, it''s not what you think. What he said is what it means in English."


    "Oh really? So, I''m a horrendous pig, then you''re a toad," he said as he left, taking Hammya by the hand.


    As the two girls left, Declan began to distrust Hammya. Only Candado knew Irish; it''s practically impossible for anyone else to know his language.


    On the other hand, after Hammya and Viki distanced themselves from Declan, they headed to the break room. In that place, everyone was taking a break in their own way. Lucas and H¨¦ctor were playing chess, Anzor was meditating on the floor with his sword in his lap, Ana Mar¨ªa was leaning against a wall while using her phone, the twins along with Germ¨¢n and Matlotsky were playing cards. Hammya and Viki sat on the couch and started a friendly conversation.


    "You did well back there. Candado was the only one who understood that language, but since when do you know Irish?"


    "I have no idea, but it felt like I already knew or had heard that language."


    "You''re too reserved, Hammya. Now I understand why you''re with us. You caught Candado''s attention."


    "Do you think so? Because I have no clue."


    "I also had no idea why my request was accepted until one day I understood. I''m sure you''ll understand it too."


    "What about you? Why weren''t you around these last few days?"


    "Well, I suffered from a massive blood addiction. I couldn''t control myself and even attacked my comrades. I bit H¨¦ctor and almost sucked all his blood. It''s my fault he''s anemic."


    "Anemic? He doesn''t seem like it."


    "Believe me, he is, just not visibly."


    "And what happened next?"


    "I asked... I begged, pleaded with Candado to send me far away from Isla del Cerrito to avoid harming my comrades."


    "So it''s settled?"


    "Yes, it was difficult at first, but now I''m fine, all thanks to Candado and Pio."


    "Pio? Oh, yes, you mentioned her, but where is she now?"


    "She''s just like me, a slacker. She''s at home, probably painting a picture. I forgot to get her vote."


    "She must be good. What''s her full name exactly?"


    "Her name is Natalia Ballester Pio, but everyone, except Candado, calls her Pio."


    "I''d like to meet her."


    "You''ll meet her, you''ll see, I guarantee it."


    <div>


    "Candado had arrived home peacefully. He had no problems on the way, as usual. This time, everything was calm yet somewhat chaotic. At home, his parents weren''t around; Hip¨®lito was in the living room playing with baby Karen, Clementina was in the basement doing her morning check-up since the post office was nearby. Candado was in his room reading a book by Iv¨¢n Crusoe titled ''The Golden Spear.'' In it, he recounted all the exploits of Harambee, the heroine of O.M.G.A.B. Every time Candado read that book, he felt proud of his great-grandfather Jack Barret. Despite only showing a small smile, he felt very happy inside. Until T¨ªnbari arrived just to annoy him.


    "A bit more, and your friends would have noticed that something''s wrong with you."


    "I don''t know what you''re talking about."


    "Your collapse in the guild. Luckily, your comrades are stupid and only believed that you were..."


    "It was! Due to nerves. I''ve never been in this position before."


    "Come on, I know when it''s exhaustion. What you have is a powerful spell eating you from the inside."


    "Shut up. I still have ten years of life."


    "Yes, if you rest and avoid physical and mental overexertion. This is a symptom of what you have."


    "It''s a lie!"


    "A lie? Candado, you''ve been using the violet flame a lot these past few days. You''ve been fighting more than necessary. It''s obvious that your spirit is weak."


    "Stop saying nonsense. Once I find the bastard who did this to me, I''ll force him to remove this damn spell."


    "There''s no time. The clock of your life is ticking. You have to remove it, and fast."


    "These predictions are never accurate. They''re more fake than Nostradamus'' prophecies."


    "I''m sorry to tell you that it''s not the case. You''ll never be able to defeat death. It''s something inescapable."


    "There''s always a first time, T¨ªnbari. I don''t plan on dying in a hospital connected to a respirator. I plan to live a long time. I''ll live a pathetic and old life."


    "It''s very admirable to challenge me, but it won''t help you."


    "Tell me, cuckold..."


    "Cuckold? I don''t even have a woman."


    "Not because of that... forget it."


    "What do you want to tell me?"


    "Nothing, I forgot."


    "Well, but remember it. I have all day."


    "I''m happy for you."


    Candado headed to the door, opened it, then looked at T¨ªnbari.


    "Because I don''t, idiot."


    After closing the door forcefully, T¨ªnbari appeared right in front of him.


    "I''m not leaving."


    "Oh, well, I do, so move."


    T¨ªnbari grabbed him by the waist and lifted him up.


    "What will you do now, kid? It''s not easy to break free from me."


    Candado, amid struggles and kicks in the air, said:


    "Let me go, vermin."


    T¨ªnbari began shaking him up and down like a soda can.


    "I''M GOING TO RIP YOUR HORNS OFF!"


    After a few minutes, T¨ªnbari teleported to the backyard and threw him up into the tree, causing Candado to get caught among the branches.


    "Now, what will you do, kid? I hope you can rip off my horns," T¨ªnbari said with a smile.


    "I swear to you... I swear that when I come down, I''m going to rip your eyes out."


    "I hope so," T¨ªnbari said as he laughed. When Candado was teetering on the branches of the tree, Clementina appeared in a short T-shirt, long dark pants, and the same shoes.


    "Oh, how did he get up there, ma''am?"


    "Does it matter how I got up here? I need to come down, bring me the ladder." As soon as Candado said that, the branch broke, and he began to fall. However, thanks to Clementina''s reflexes and speed, she reached him before Candado hit the ground. Nevertheless, as Clementina had just completed her morning checkup a few minutes ago, she had completely forgotten to secure, meaning bolt, her arms. As a result, Candado fell into her arms. Since Clementina had no bolts, Candado''s body detached her metallic arms, causing him to fall to the ground anyway. Not only did he have to endure the fall with his back against the ground, but he also had to endure the strong impact of Clementina''s metallic arms, making the blow harder and more painful.


    "Oops, I forgot to weld them, but I''m fine."


    "Really? Look at that, miss, she''s fine, we should give her an award."


    "It''s not a big deal, seriously."


    "You know something, Clem?" Candado asked with a sly smile.


    "What is it, sir?"


    "I''M GOING TO SKIN YOU ALIVE WHEN I STAND UP! I BROKE MY BACK AGAIN BECAUSE OF YOU!"


    "I''m sorry; I tried to help."


    "I DON''T GIVE A DAMN! I TOLD YOU, I TOLD YOU TO BRING ME THE DAMN LADDER!" With all due respect, but there was no time.


    "THEN YOU SHOULDN''T HAVE HELPED ME!"


    "Does it hurt?" When T¨ªnbari asked that, Candado climbed onto his back and, with great anger, began pulling with all his might at T¨ªnbari''s horns.


    "YOU, RED VERMIN, IT''S YOUR FAULT TOO! AS I SAID, I''M GOING TO RIP YOUR HORNS OFF!"


    "I got it, let me go, it hurts a lot." Candado pulled back with all his strength; however, T¨ªnbari''s horns were slippery, causing Candado to fall back onto the ground. But this time, he wasn''t furious as he was just a moment ago; instead, he relaxed, stood up, took Clementina''s arms, and reattached them.


    "Sir, are you no longer angry?"


    "No, I''m not angry anymore. It may sound strange, but for some strange reason, I accept both of your apologies," said Candado with the same cold expression on his face.


    Candado snapped his fingers, as he always does, and the bolts flew into his hand. With his knife, he delicately screwed the loose bolts, careful not to scratch Clementina''s skin. Once he finished fixing her arms, Candado stood up, took the wooden ladder beside him, leaned it against the tree, and climbed it until he reached one of its branches. Candado extended his hand and said.


    "Please, come out. I won''t get mad at you."


    At that moment, a snake coiled around his arm and climbed up to his head. Once there, it transformed into a girl.


    "That''s... is... who is she?" asked T¨ªnbari.


    "Her name is Yara; she''s Candado''s ''adopted daughter.''"


    "Oh, she was the same girl I saw... somewhere."


    Candado descended from the ladder with Yara in his arms, and together they entered the house. Once inside, Candado sat her on his lap and began talking to her in a gentle tone, like a father to his child, or daughter in this case.


    "Yara, why were you in that tree?"


    "Because I was going to give you a scare."


    "A scare?"


    At that moment, Hip¨®lito appeared, carrying baby Karen, just to find out what all the commotion was about.


    "Mauricio says he never saw you scared; he wanted to check if that was true."


    "It''s ''check'' and no, it''s not true. I do get scared sometimes."


    "So, you''re not afraid?"


    "Not now, I''m not afraid. But if my life or even the lives of those around me were in danger, then yes."


    "Well, then you do have fear."


    "Changing the subject, I have a surprise." Candado took a small bag from his pocket and handed it to Yara. "I bought it on my way back from the guild. I hope you like it. I know it''s not your birthday yet, but it''s a gift from me."


    Yara opened it, revealing a beautiful blue flower brooch inside. Candado took it and placed it in Yara''s hair.


    "It looks good on you, do you like it?"


    "Yes, I love it; it''s very pretty. Thank you, Dad."


    "You''re welcome, Yara."


    "Tomorrow, I want you to take me for a walk around the place. I want to learn more about where you live."


    "Alright, but remember, when we walk, don''t let go of my hand at any moment, and don''t wander off."


    "Got it, don''t let go, don''t wander off, I got it."


    "Well, that''s how I like it."


    "Dad?"


    "Tell me, sweetheart."


    "That baby over there, is she your daughter?"


    "No, she''s my sister. I''m sure that when she''s your age, you two will be good friends."


    "Will it take long?"


    "Um... about three years or so."


    "Why so long?"


    "She''s a baby; she still needs to learn the basics to be like you."


    "Well, I can wait. After all, I''m not going anywhere."


    Candado started to laugh, and Yara joined in, while Clementina, T¨ªnbari, and Hip¨®lito were watching the heartwarming scene with joy. It was the first time the trio saw Candado so happy.


    On the other hand, Hammya and Viki had left the guild more than fifteen minutes ago, strolling together through the town. Viki was showing Hammya around since she was new to the town, and as they didn''t have classes that day, many schoolmates were around, some of whom greeted them. Among them was Esteeman, passing by with some new sneakers.


    "Hello, Viki and Hammya, how are you doing?"


    "Good, Double E, good."


    Gregorio Maximiliano Esteeman had short, dark hair and black eyes. He wore blue gym clothes, including a short shirt and shorts. Despite not being part of a guild, either independently or affiliated, he always showed loyalty to guild members in general. More than once, he accidentally broke one of Candado''s windows. He was Candado''s friend and loved playing rugby.


    Powers: He can fly and stay airborne, has very high speed, surpassing even Anzor and Declan, thanks to his physical effort. His skin is as tough as armor, and his punches can be lethal to a human without powers.


    Abilities: He excels in rugby and made a promise to himself not to use his powers to win a match. Almost entirely, as he once tried to tackle someone, and, since he had steel-like skin, the tackle was like crashing into a wall, causing harm to the other player. He is also good at providing useful information to Candado; he and H¨¦ctor are the only ones who call him Ern¨¦st instead of Candado.


    "Did you hear? There were no classes today due to an underground tentacle attack."


    "How do you know? You weren''t there."


    "Viki, Viki, Viki," he said, shaking his head, "I''m an expert, and I''m very observant."


    "Daria told you, didn''t she?"


    "Yes, but it doesn''t matter. The point is, while I was looking for my ball, I saw Esteban facing off against the guy who caused it. I know because he summoned the same tentacles Daria described."


    "Don''t tell me."


    <div>


    "I swear I saw it with my own eyes. Esteban was fiercely fighting against the strange guy, a lightning bolt here, another there, until the guy covered himself in some kind of slime and fled, and Esteban followed him."


    "What happened?" asked Hammya.


    "I followed him a bit and saw Esteban shooting lightning wildly through the forest, but the guy dodged them. The weird thing is that Esteban wasn''t alone; someone else was helping him."


    "Who was it?"


    "I don''t know; his face was literally white smoke, like a well-dressed ghost."


    "Hmm, that''s curious. It''s exactly the person Candado encountered yesterday."


    "It doesn''t seem curious to me, Hammya. Candado said he was a Draft and Drafts not only do their job but also protect their leader."


    "I see, then forget it."


    "Ahem, never mind, the point is that the confrontation ended in a draw, no one won; it was very strange."


    "What happened next?" Hammya asked.


    "The guy fled, and Esteban and his accomplices went after him. What I''m getting at is, keep your eyes wide open. You never know what the hell might happen. And I say this so that you take care of Candado."


    <div>


    "Why take care of him? He''s fine without..."


    "Thanks, Maxi, for the advice. We''ll take good care of Candado."


    "Alright, I''m leaving because I''m running late. See you tomorrow, girls."


    After Maxi bid farewell to them, the two continued their stroll. But after a few minutes, Hammya looked at Viki strangely and asked.


    "Why did you interrupt me?"


    "Hammya, we''re friends of Candado, and it''s our duty to help him. He might be grumpy, stubborn, bossy, and cold, but he''s actually wounded. He had to endure the death of his sister two years ago, and now he had to go through the same thing two months ago."


    "It''s not an excuse to treat me like trash."


    "He has never done that; since I arrived, I haven''t seen him treat you that way."


    "Hasn''t he? He hit me with a book this morning."


    "What were you talking about?"


    "Uh, we talked about what the guild was, what the circuit was, those things."


    "Well, you must have said something stupid for him to hit you."


    "Yeah, he''s a jerk, couldn''t take a joke."


    "Well, maybe you shouldn''t have made that joke, especially if it''s an important topic."


    "Still, I think he should tone down that attitude of his."


    "Calm down, Candado isn''t bad, he''s just like that."


    "Changing the subject, where are we going?"


    "Well, you told me you wanted to meet Pio, that''s where we''re heading."


    "Oh, great, I''d like to meet her."


    "You''ll like her, she''s a good girl, a bit stubborn but good."


    <div>


    "No worries. Is she part of the guild?"


    "Yes, of course. She, along with H¨¦ctor, Lucas, and Erika, are the intellectual force of the guild."


    "What does that mean?"


    "Didn''t Candado tell you? All guilds have their own strengths: strength, intelligence, cunning, saboteurs, thieves, infantry, cavalry, etc. We have two strengths: intelligence and cavalry."


    "Can you have more than two?"


    "Sure, but we don''t have much personnel."


    "Why is that?"


    "Because Candado decides who enters and who doesn''t. In fact, only people who catch his attention can join the guild."


    "What catches his attention?"


    "Yes, for example, I joined because the first time I saw him, I tried to kill him. However, during the last minutes of the fight, Candado let me hit him, and he even wanted me to deliver the finishing blow."


    "And what did you do?"


    "I didn''t do it, I don''t know why. I just knelt down and started crying. At that moment, I realized I was about to take a human life for food, as my parents didn''t have money."


    "But... you''re a vampire."


    "Yes, I am, but not my parents. They do need to feed. Anyway, when I stopped the fight, Candado reached out to me, even though I had tried to kill him a few seconds ago. He helped me up and asked, ''Why are you doing this if you don''t like it?''"


    "What did you answer?"


    "I told him about my problems, that we were poor, and I told him that the Circuit promised to pay me if I assassinated him. When I finished telling him everything, Candado took fifty thousand pesos in one-hundred-peso bills from his pocket and told me that my family and I should move to this town."


    "What happened next?"


    "After that, I moved. My father got a job with H¨¦ctor''s father, and I was officially accepted into the Roob¨®leo guild."


    "How did Declan take it?"


    "He wasn''t there yet. Only the Russian was."


    "Well, from everything you''ve told me, what''s the conclusion of why you ended up in the guild?"


    "Candado was intrigued that someone like me didn''t dare to kill him when I had the chance, even though he gave me a significant advantage."


    At that moment, Hammya began to remember what Candado said when he accepted her into the guild: "I accepted her because she''s not human." Those were Candado''s words. Lately, she hadn''t thought much about it, but just as she was about to, Viki interrupted her.


    "Look, Hammya, here''s Pio''s house."


    The house was nice, resembling a medium-sized chalet but built with concrete. Viki approached and knocked on the door.


    "Pio, it''s me."


    From the other side of the door, Pio replied, "I don''t know any ''me.''"


    "It''s me, Victoria."


    "I don''t know any Victoria."


    "Don''t be like Candado and open up."


    After a few seconds, the door opened, and Pio came out to welcome them.


    Pio had long, black hair and dark eyes. She was dressed quite uniquely, resembling a bartender without an apron; the only giveaway that she was a woman was her long hair.


    Power: She has the ability to levitate things, can fly, can dematerialize anything made of water, has immense strength, and, like Lucas and Candado, can control fire, which, in her case, is light blue.


    Ability: She is an expert at getting on anyone''s nerves, even Candado''s. She enjoys painting and solving puzzles, is very bossy when in trouble, and is very cautious in combat.


    "Hello, Viki, I didn''t know it was you."


    "Heh, don''t pretend; I know very well that you did it on purpose."


    "It''s not true."


    "It is, and don''t deny it."


    "Okay, I won''t deny it, but it''s a lie."


    Viki made a face and looked up.


    "Doesn''t matter," she stepped aside and introduced her friend, "The one next to me is Hammya Sandia."


    "Saillim," Hammya corrected.


    <div>


    "I''m sorry, I was mistaken."


    "Greetings, Hammya Saillim," Pio approached and shook her hand. "I''m Pio Ballester, delighted to meet you."


    Hammya nodded. Then, Pio invited them inside, and once there, Hammya and Viki took seats on the sofas, while Pio sat, quite literally, in the air. For Viki, it was normal, but for Hammya, it was something extraordinary.


    "Well, I don''t want to be rude, but what exactly are you doing here?"


    "Well, Viki spoke about you, and I asked if I could meet you."


    "Well, thanks. Where are you from that you have that hair color?"


    "I''m from Entre R¨ªos."


    "Does the color of your hair have anything to do with your power, or do you just dye it that way?"


    "No, it''s my natural color, and that''s it. As for my power, I''m not clear on how it works. Once, when I was five years old, I tripped and fell, but before hitting the ground, a tree root stopped me, and to this day, I don''t know what happened or why."


    "Wow, but have you done it again?"


    "A few days ago, I hurt Candado with my power," Hammya said, looking very embarrassed.


    Viki and Pio were left open-mouthed when they heard that someone as submissive as her had hurt Candado.


    "Are you joking, right?" Viki asked.


    "I wish it were true."


    "Impossible, it''s practically impossible."


    "I''m sorry, Pio, but unfortunately, it''s true."


    "Damn, it''s unbelievable, I basically can''t believe it."


    "It wasn''t my intention; he wanted me to give him a sample of my power, but I never thought it would be so disastrous."


    "Well, at least it wasn''t serious," Viki said.


    "Actually, I found it strange that Candado didn''t get upset with me for what happened."


    "No, it''s not strange. Candado is a very respectful person. If he asked you to use your powers, then Candado knows very well the consequences."


    "How profound, Viki, how profound."


    "Shut up, Pio."


    "Anyway, tell me something about your life."


    Just as Hammya was about to respond, someone knocked on the door.


    "Oh my God, now who could it be?" Pio complained.


    She approached the door and asked, "Who is it?"


    And from the other side of the door came the response, "Is this, by any chance, the house where Miss Natalia Ballester lives?"


    "Who are you?"


    "We are her friends."


    "Oh, really? I''m her sister. How do you know her?"


    "We know her from the guild. I''m Germ¨¢n, Lucas, and Candado."


    Pio smiled and said, "Get out, you lying trio. I''m not interested in anything if you want to see me."


    When Pio said that, a hand punched through the door and opened the door latch. Two guys and two teenagers with porcelain masks, each with the face of an animal, entered behind it. Pio stepped back and kicked the first one who entered, then ran to the living room to warn Viki and Hammya. But as she was about to tell them, one of the guys pulled her hair and pulled out a machete. Pio reacted quickly and grabbed his arm, but as she was in a bad position, it was harder for her to stop the machete that was slowly approaching her neck. When all seemed lost, Viki jumped out of nowhere and kicked him in the face, making him drop the machete. At that moment, the others entered. The teenagers had weapons and started shooting. This made Pio and Viki hide in the living room. Hammya was completely scared and couldn''t move from the couch. Viki kept the door closed with her body, also blocking the bullets, as she was immortal being a vampire.


    "PIO, CALL THE GUILD, WE NEED THEIR HELP URGENTLY!"


    "RIGHT AWAY!"


    So Pio quickly ran to the kitchen and dialed the number. Hammya stayed crouched, covering her head.


    "If Candado gave me permission, they would already be dead," Viki whispered as she bared her fangs.


    Unfortunately, after the gunfire ceased, the door broke, and Viki was sent flying through the air with her chicken S¨ªo. Then the four intruders entered and began attacking Hammya, but Viki leaped off the bookshelf and hit one in the face. She then looked at the ones with weapons and, with a smile, started growing her nails in a terrifying manner. They, unafraid, began shooting, but the bullets did nothing to her. When she reached them, she cut the weapons into three parts as if they were butter. However, the two of them grabbed her arms and threw her against the wall. In a synchronized manner, they started beating her.


    At that moment, Pio arrived and tried to save her, but the two kids got in the way: one armed with a machete and the other with lava hands that dripped onto the floor, leaving a hole in it. Pio, showing a smile, quickly launched herself at them. The guy with the machete began swinging it through the air with the intent to kill her, but she was very fast and easily dodged it. The other one shot lava from his hands, and Pio landed punches and dodged them.


    Meanwhile, Viki fought against the other two. Fed up with being beaten, she lifted her feet and kicked them in the stomach, making them release her. Once she was free, she plunged back into the fight. She embedded her nails in the chest of one and threw him out of the window, which was open for some reason. She pummeled the other with punches and kicks all over his body, leaving him very weakened. Once he was in that condition, Viki took a leap and kicked him in the chest, sending him flying out of the window, which broke this time.


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    Once Viki finished with those two, she went to help Pio with the other two. However, these two were more skilled than the teenagers, faster, stronger, and smarter. They were challenging to attack as they dodged the blows from Viki and Pio. In contrast, they managed to land blows, many of them lethal. However, since Viki was a vampire, they didn''t harm her at all. She fought alongside her companion Pio, and they had something the intruders lacked: teamwork and synchronization in combat. They had learned these elements from Candado. While Viki blocked all the hits, Pio attacked them in vulnerable areas.


    However, at one point, the machete-wielding kid struck Pio in the abdomen, leaving her on the ground. Viki tried to assist her, but she couldn''t since every time she approached Pio, she was attacked by the boy with the lava. Meanwhile, the machete guy slowly approached, dragging his weapon on the floor. When he reached Pio, he raised his machete in the air.


    At that moment, when all seemed lost, Hammya emerged from her hiding spot and threw a glass at his face. The guy bent down and rushed toward Hammya with his machete to kill her, but she barely dodged as she had left a wound on his arm, causing the weapon to get stuck in the kitchen shelf. When he managed to free his machete, he approached her again, and Hammya, terrified, was paralyzed and closed her eyes.


    At that moment, Candado entered through the kitchen window, brandishing his fac¨®n, and began to duel with the intruder. In this fight, Candado managed to disarm the guy and began to attack him with all he had. The intruder, desperate, tried to fight back, but his efforts were entirely futile. In a desperate attempt, he threw a punch at Candado, but he stopped it with his counterpalm, and cleverly, Candado grabbed him with the same hand he used to block the punch. Then he threw him toward himself, to the point of dislocating his shoulder. He struck him three times in the ribs. When he finished, Candado lifted him and knocked him out with a headbutt to the face, but it didn''t do much good as he escaped through the window, the same way Candado had entered. Afterward, he approached Hammya, slapped her, and said:


    "Don''t be stupid, girl. Never hesitate or close your eyes again when you''re in a fight like the one you just witnessed."


    Hammya, with her hand on her cheek, looked at Candado and nodded. Once Candado saved her, he walked calmly to the living room. There, he saw H¨¦ctor and Viki sitting on a couch, he was trying to treat some gunshot wounds with bandages and wiping the bruises from his face with a handkerchief. He also saw the assailant lying on the floor being stepped on the head by Declan while polishing his sword and Pio, who was tying up the guy.


    "Good job, team."


    "What are you doing here, Candado?


    "Well, if you haven''t noticed, H¨¦ctor, Pio was the one who called me, and I was the one who passed the call to the guild.


    "True that Pio doesn''t know about your break.


    "What? You on a break? That''s new.


    "Shut up, Pio.


    "That means H¨¦ctor is in charge.


    "Don''t let it go to your head. I''ll be back in a week.


    "Alright, that''s enough, Candado. Have you taken care of the other one?


    "No, he slipped away. At that moment, Clementina appeared, carrying a bag of money.


    "Clementina, well, I didn''t see you come in. And what''s with the bag? "said Declan.


    "It''s obvious why I came in through the window. As for the money, it''s for the repairs.


    "I told you to stay and take care of Yara.


    "And I am taking care of her. Right now she is talking to Miss Hammya. If I were you, I would go and see the lady. She''s been a little scared, after all, she was almost killed.


    "Did you bring her here? "exclaimed Candado as he was leaving.


    "Sir, what do we do with them? Candado paused for a moment and then looked at the two guys.


    "Send them directly to the northern stadium. There they will be sentenced. As soon as he said that, Candado entered the kitchen and there he saw Hammya sitting on the floor very excited, breathing wildly, while Yara was next to her fanning her with a piece of cardboard.


    Candado walked over, knelt down and put both his hands on her cheek.


    "Hey, hey, take it easy, it''s all over now," he said coolly.


    Hammya was still excited, so Candado had no better idea than to slap her again.


    "That''s it? Are you all right now? "he asked again, still with his expression. Hammya calmed down, looked at Candado and gave him a hug. This made Candado lose his balance and fall down sitting up.


    "Hammya, don''t exaggerate, please let me go," said Candado while trying to free himself. But after a while, Hammya started to cry on Candado''s shoulder.


    "Wait, don''t, if this is because I hit you, I''m sorry for hitting you," he said while trying to get her off him.


    "No, you are right for hitting me. Thank you for saving my life. Thank you.


    "Well, please let me go," he said wearily. However, Hammya was still clinging to him and would not let go for anything in the world.


    Somehow, Yara was not very comfortable to see him being hugged by someone else who was not her, as well as confused to see him. But after a while, Yara also decided to hug Candado for no apparent reason, leaving him totally immobile.


    "Now you too? Candado had remained inert for a few minutes, until Hammya and Yara released him.


    Candado didn''t know why they had hugged him like that, but he did know about Yara, since she is a girl and emotes everyone, but not Hammya, even though she slapped him twice.


    "Well, I don''t want to know about the hug. Now I want you to go home, is that clear, Hammya?


    "Yes, all right.


    "As for you, young lady, go home. I''ll be back as soon as I finish my work. "No, sir, you''re on vacation. Yara''s not going anywhere.


    "Of course you are.


    "I''m not.


    "Yes.


    "No.


    "Yes.


    "No.


    "Yes, it is.


    "Yes.


    "No.


    "Well, you said it. He goes back to the house.


    "Hey, you cheated, that''s not fair, that''s not fair.


    "I''m sorry, life isn''t fair. "I''m sorry, life isn''t fair. Now go back home.


    "I refuse to go back.


    "You don''t say "Russian", you say "I refuse".


    "Well, that, I don''t want to go back, I want to be with you. -Well, that, I don''t want to go back, I want to be with you.


    "We''ll talk later, We''ll talk later. Go back home.


    "I DON''T WANT TO GO BACK!


    "I''ll charge you with the lord of terror if you disobey me. At that instant, Yara began to tremble and wag her tail wildly.


    "I''m not afraid, really, I''m not afraid, let him come, I''m going to punch him.


    "It''s called "trompada". Are you going back home?


    "NO! Candado, already out of options and without any patience, with a grimace and a stomp, let Yara stay with him, since he was tired of arguing with a five year old girl.


    At that age, that''s when a child is as stubborn as a mule. So Candado lifted Yara up and said.


    "Okay, you win, but next time you will listen to me.


    Candado went over to Hammya and helped her to her feet, then took her by the hand and led her to the living room where the others were. Once there, Candado began to talk to his companions.


    "Have you seen it? It''s totally out of the ordinary that they tried to kill Pio.


    "You are absolutely right, Candado. I can''t believe the Circuit tried to kill our friend," said Viki.


    "Where are Declan and Pio? "asked Candado.


    "They went to take the culprits to the north side.


    "Did you see the faces behind the masks?


    "Yes, but I don''t know them. Declan seemed to know them and even gave their names. -What were their names?


    "Fernandez Trillozo, disciple of Desza Blastimania, and Colman Cervantes," said Hector.


    "It''s impossible. I thought I was wrong.


    "What''s wrong? "Clementina asked.


    "Fernandez was once part of the Guild, but he was expelled because he was a psychotic madman.


    "What does that mean? "asked Viki.


    "I was wrong. Not only do the Witnesses recruit opponents of the Circuit, but also outlaws of the O.M.G.A.B.


    "What does that mean, Candado?


    "It seems that our enemy wants to learn from us in order to destroy us.


    "It''s quite strange. Why gather these people together to destroy us?


    "Don''t be like that, Viki. Remember that you need to calm down.


    "Our enemies want to meet us?


    The truth had become quite strange. It was not possible to think that there were guild members who had been dismissed for aggressive and treasonous behavior. The Witnesses were becoming quite strange, going against their ideologies to wipe out the guilds. They wanted to go to great lengths to destroy their enemies. The explanation was far away for everyone, but for Candado, the answer didn''t matter. If these madmen wanted to wipe them out, then he would be the one to destroy them first. The world had already seen one war, a dark war. Harambee fought and defended the freedom that many people died for. The guilds represented the guarantee of that peace, and they had to demonstrate that responsibility that was given to them.

 ELEGANT IMPERTINENCE

    The Candado team was completely bewildered. Not only were opponents from the Circuit involved in this game, but also banned union members who had once sworn allegiance to Harambee. However, they had violated the nine laws of the W.O.G.A.B, laws created by the seven leaders of the organization. Violating any of these laws meant immediate expulsion. Candado tirelessly sought a clear and understandable answer. He couldn''t fathom why union members would be used in an attack, considering that Witnesses were supposed to despise the W.O.G.A.B. and those who supported it. Even their own leader, Thanatos, used to say, "Unions are a poison to humanity; they only want senseless wars and the separation of our brothers. If I had to rely on one of those scoundrels, I''d rather cut my veins a thousand times than betray my ideals."


    This made no sense to those who called themselves Thanatos'' voice. The situation was worrisome, and even the attempted murder of one of their comrades had no clear explanation.


    As they pondered the multiple possibilities, Candado headed towards the door, with Yara in his arms and Hammya closely following. However, before he could reach the door, Pio stopped him.


    "Where are you going?"


    "I''m going to see someone. Is there a problem?"


    "Well, actually, yes. My house is a complete mess: my window is broken, my door destroyed, my walls riddled with bullets. Not to mention that my parents will be home in an hour."


    "Don''t worry, I''ll send Matlotsky with you to fix everything."


    "Seriously, Matlotsky can fix it all? That wouldn''t be a bad idea," said Hector.


    "Oh, yes, he can. Alright then."


    "Great, now I''m off." He then looked at Clementina and continued, "I want you to stay here until Matlotsky arrives, then you can go home."


    Having said that, Candado left the house, walking with Yara sitting on his shoulders and Hammya trailing behind. But on the way, Yara and Candado began to converse.


    "Who are we going to see?"


    "A friend of mine."


    "Your friend? I know, Mauricio."


    "No, it''s not him."


    "Then who?"


    "It''s someone you don''t know, but it would be good for you to meet him."


    "Is he good?"


    "Yes, of course. If he wasn''t, I wouldn''t take you or Hammya with me."


    "If he''s good, then I wouldn''t mind meeting him."


    "That will be the case, Yara, that will be the case."


    After a long walk, they finally reached the house of the "friend" Candado had met at a restaurant. He approached and knocked on the door three times. After a few seconds, the door opened, and a well-dressed Nelson welcomed them.


    "Oh, dear gauchito, I was just thinking of you at this moment."


    "How funny, Nelson, how funny," Candado said sarcastically.


    Nelson looked at the girl on Candado''s shoulders.


    "Who is this cutie?"


    "She''s Yara, and she''s..."


    "Your sister," Nelson answered.


    "No, she''s..."


    "His daughter," Yara replied.


    "WHAT THE HELL!?" he exclaimed, surprised.


    "Did you have to say it, girl, did you have to say it?"


    "I... honestly, I didn''t know that you... well, that you were a father."


    "I think you''re getting things confused. Some time ago, there was a fire in the forest, so my friend and I went to help the animals and insects in that area. She was a snake egg at that time, so my friend and I took care of her, and she hatched."


    "You said she''s a snake, but apart from her eyes, she looks quite normal."


    "When she was an egg, her life expectancy was pretty low, so I gave her a little push so she could survive."


    "And by a little push, you mean...?"


    "Magic, that''s why she''s half-human and half-snake."


    "Well, a story to tell the grandchildren. Come on, come in, you too, Hammya, come in."


    Nelson stepped aside, and they entered the house with total ease and calm. Candado sat on a couch and placed Yara on his lap, while Hammya sat on the other side of him. Then, Nelson closed the door, approached them, and took a seat. With a smile, he said:


    "Seeing you brings back old memories of my childhood."


    "How long ago, about a thousand years."


    "You''re just like your grandfather, a sarcastic troublemaker."


    "Well, changing the subject, I came personally to talk to you about a very important matter."


    "Oh? About what?"


    "About an organization called the Witnesses, do you know them?"


    "Witnesses? Yes, of course, they were some crazies who wanted to bring back their leader."


    "But?"


    "But they couldn''t. Their spells led to their own extinction. Nowadays, in the place where they used to gather, only a beautiful crater remains. A great ending for them since they wanted to create a hole in society."


    "Was that a joke?"


    "Yes, but I see you have no sense of humor."


    "Actually, he laughs when he''s with me," Yara said.


    "Yes, it''s true," confirmed Hammya.


    "Both of you, be quiet."


    "Well, you''re affectionate in secret."


    "Shut up, I didn''t come here to talk about that."


    "Well, what do you want to talk about?"


    "Today, just a few minutes ago, one of my comrades was attacked."


    "Well, what do you want me to do? I''m not a cop or a commissioner, wouldn''t be of much help."


    "I didn''t come for that; I came because I want to know about the Witnesses."


    "What exactly do you want me to say?"


    "Do you know if the Witnesses had, under their ranks, obviously, union members?"


    When Candado said that, Nelson stopped being happy and became serious. The question seemed like an insult.


    "What do you mean?"


    "What you heard. Are there or aren''t there union members among the Witnesses?"


    "Son, I don''t know what you''re thinking, but what you''re telling me is serious."


    "I know, and I would never have had the courage to say it if I hadn''t seen it with my own eyes."


    "Kid, what you''re saying is completely insane."


    "Are you going to stick to that? I know, old man, I know it''s insane, crazy, or whatever you want to call it. The thing is, I saw a union member with them."


    "You saw it?"


    "No, but I was told."


    "And you''re going by hearsay?"


    "It''s not true. I stopped a fight; Hammya almost got hurt, and when I went to see if my comrades had taken care of them, they told me that one of them was named Fernandez, and he was part of the hunter''s union."


    "But it was just one, it doesn''t mean anything."


    "Where there''s smoke, there''s fire, don''t you understand?"


    "It''s hard to believe that unions are against the World Order of the Great Alliance Bernstein."


    "It''s not the first time it''s happened, or have you forgotten the GreenBlood case?"


    "It''s different; your mother was unfairly expelled from the W.O.G.A.B., and besides, she didn''t operate against them, only against that particular union. Not to mention that her allies were Circuits, not Witnesses."


    "YOU''RE BLIND! REALIZE, PLEASE!"


    "Don''t shout at me; you''re not old enough to make me shut up."


    Candado glared angrily at Nelson. He was completely out of control, but there was nothing he could do. He had already yelled, and that had scared Yara. Tears were already evident in her eyes, and Candado noticed that. So, he hugged Yara and apologized for the harshness. Then, he looked at Nelson sternly and continued.


    "Look, I''m sorry for shouting at you, but you must understand that this is the truth."


    "Candado, you shouldn''t let yourself be swayed by just one outcome. You should have an open mind and consider all possibilities."


    Candado looked at the ceiling and said,


    "Nelson, I always think about that. I never let anything slip by me. I always consider all the damn possibilities. Some are good, and some are bad, but I always try to find the best outcome to prevent negative results from affecting the others I care about."


    "Wise words, kid, wise words," Nelson raised his feet onto the desk and continued, "You remind me of your grandfather. He always knew what to do in situations like this."


    "I envy him. I can''t find any answers for this situation. In fact, I don''t know what to do in this maze of possibilities."


    "What do you fear the most?"


    Candado looked into Nelson''s eyes with immense coldness, almost like an emotionless empty puppet. He closed his eyes for a moment and then opened them slowly. With serious words, he said,


    "Many times I''ve told myself that I fear nothing, but in reality, yes, there is something I fear a lot, and that thing is war."


    "War?"


    "War... A war where the blood of innocents will be spilled, a war that could involve my loved ones, a war in which I feel incapable of protecting those I cherish the most."


    "I see. That''s why you want to piece together the puzzle, to find the problem, destroy it, and prevent it from dragging your friends and family into a war. But listen to me carefully, many times, in trying to find a rushed answer, you cause an incorrect response."


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    Candado loosened his shoulders, exhaled, and looked away, but then he regained focus.


    "Tell me, old man, have you ever been in my position?"


    "Yes, and it wasn''t the first time, but always remember this, when you come to believe that all is lost and that nothing and no one is near to help you, relax." Nelson then brought his index finger to his right temple and continued, "And think, because when you panic, everything will be over, and you will sink into the problem. Trust me, sinking into despair is worse than death."


    "I''ll keep that in mind."


    Then, Candado stood up and handed Yara to Hammya. He gestured with his fingers for them to go outside for a while, and Hammya, without saying anything, obeyed and left the house. Nelson looked at Candado and asked,


    "What is it that you want to tell me, to make you ask the girls to leave?"


    "What was that vial you gave me that time?" asked Candado, turning his back.


    "Oh, that. Of course, those contacts told me you''re poisoned with a deadly toxin."


    Candado was surprised, turned around, and looked at Nelson with a bewildered expression.


    "How on earth do you know that?"


    Nelson reached into his chest pocket with his left hand and took out a sleeping Grivna without a hat.


    "Thanks to her."


    When Candado saw her, he quickly regained his composure, raised his left eyebrow at the sight of the small robot he had underestimated and mocked. Then, he looked up and stared at Nelson.


    "That thing told you?"


    The old man laughed at his words and his cold expression upon seeing the little robot sleeping in his hand, then he put Grivna back in his pocket again.


    "She has been my eyes and ears for the past twelve years and has been following you for a long time in secret. Your fights, your school days, your days off, your days working in the union, your debate days, even the day when you were secretly expelled from the Bernstein Organization, when you saved and raised that little snake, when you talk to your Bari, and even the day that cursed spell fell upon you."


    Candado was left speechless, but as he had a cold demeanor, it was unclear if he was genuinely surprised or being sarcastic. However, being someone who is hardly surprised by anything, given that his Bari, despite supposedly going to fulfill his duties as the father of death, is not entirely truthful. More than a thousand times, Tinbari has lied to him and spied on him, disappearing from Candado''s radar of presence and power, so someone else spying doesn''t make much difference. In a sarcastic tone, Candado said,


    "Hey, grandpa, don''t you have a wife, kids, grandkids, or a dog to worry about? What''s this business of keeping an eye on me?"


    "My wife, Teresa Flores, died over six months ago. I have two children, Alejandro and Susana, but both live in Santa Fe and don''t need me. As for grandchildren, I only have one, named Rosario, and she''s two years older than you."


    "How old are your kids?"


    "Susana is 35, and Alejandro is 28."


    "Well, why bother stalking me?"


    "Because my family is far away. Occasionally, they come to visit me, but most of the time, I''m alone and bored. In fact, those friends you met at the Pe?alosa mansion, it was the first time we gathered in almost thirty years."


    "When did you start following me?"


    "Well, actually, I lived in Resistencia when the incident happened. I remember I was enjoying some delicious choripanes while watching TV. When your grandfather called me from the hospital, I remember I got up, dressed, and rushed to see how he was. He told me everything about those who had done that to him ¡ªNelson tilted his head, showed a smile, and continued¡ª. ''Take care of my gaucho.'' Those were his last words."


    Candado, in a serious manner, changed the subject and asked again about the main topic.


    "Tell me, what was in that vial you gave me?" asked Candado as he showed the vial.


    "A kind of medication that partially stops the spell you carry inside."


    "What is it made of?"


    "Slonbari''s blood."


    "That''s impossible. If I drink another Bari''s blood, I would lose the bond with my current Bari."


    "That doesn''t apply to a Bari of life, as the contract with these types of Bari is too deep. Their duty is to save lives regardless of whether the person has a Bari or not."


    "I... didn''t know that."The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    "Well, now you know. It''s always good to learn new things in this wonderful world."


    "Alright, I have nothing to say to that."


    "Changing the subject, every time you feel weakened or start coughing up blood, drink it. It will soothe you, but what you have inside will begin to spread, as what you have inside is a spell from a dark Bari."


    "Dark Bari? That''s new."


    "Didn''t he tell you or mention that?"


    "Not that I know of."


    "Well, when you''re at home, you can talk to him about it."


    "Indeed, I will. Anyway, thanks for... this little bottle with a tropical fruit flavor."


    "Tropical fruit?"


    "Yes, it had a varied fruit flavor. Why?"


    "According to what Slonbari told me, the taste of his blood is different in each person, depending on their personality."


    "What does that exactly mean?"


    "I''ll give you an example. If you''re a bad person who has caused harm, stolen, killed, etcetera, its taste will be very disgusting. According to him, those who experience that taste, most of the time, change from bad to good."


    "And am I going to change from good to bad or what?"


    "No, if you say it tasted like fruits, it means you''re tough on the outside but soft on the inside, like orange, pineapple, and coconut."


    "How profound is this Slonbari to add flavoring to his blood," Candado said sarcastically.


    Without saying anything more, Candado bid farewell to Nelson and left the house. Once outside, Hammya and Yara were waiting for him on a bench in front of Nelson''s house, playing clapping hands to pass the time. But they hadn''t noticed that he had come out of the house. Candado saw them and showed a smile. Seeing Yara having fun without fear or shyness with Hammya, Candado was proud to see his little girl growing up.


    Candado walked with his hands in his pockets, crossed the street, and headed towards them. When he was close enough, Hammya was surprised and fell backward on the ground since the seat had no backrest. Yara, unaware of Candado''s presence, saw Hammya crashing to the ground.


    "What the heck is wrong with you?"


    Yara turned and hugged Candado.


    "You''re back; I was starting to miss you."


    "I''m back, princess."


    Hammya stood up and, in a military manner, saluted Candado.


    "Hello, Mr. Candado."


    "You''re acting strange today, well, stranger than usual."


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    When Candado said that, his personality changed from being cordial to becoming a fierce and sarcastic beast.


    "Well, sorry about that; today someone tried to kill me. I saw you hitting the attacker without blinking an eye and with that same cold and fearsome expression."


    "I''ll take it as a compliment, thanks."


    "Well, it''s not; it''s a criticism."


    "I regret to inform you that you''re not in a position to judge me," Candado said as he adjusted the bow on Yara''s head.


    "You... AH! Forget it; I just want to go home."


    "Well, now we''ll go."


    Candado walked ahead and took Yara''s hands, leaving Hammya totally confused behind. After a few minutes, Hammya ran towards where he was and stood in his way, blocking his path.


    "Really? Is it that easy?"


    Candado looked at his watch and answered.


    "It''s 2:39 in the afternoon." He then took a notebook from his vest pocket and announced, "Hammya suffers from a human understanding disorder," then he put away his notebook and walked around her.


    "What does that mean?"


    What you heard."


    "But what do you mean by that?"


    "That you speak without thinking."


    "But... Can you stop being a jerk?"


    "I''m not a jerk; you''re the one being a complete fool. I told you yes the first time; why the hell do I have to repeat it?"


    "Watch your language; there''s a girl present."


    "She''s a snake; she already knows how to hunt her prey without needing anyone to teach her."


    "What are you trying to say with that?"


    "That she''s aware of the insults that come out of both my mouth and yours, she just doesn''t want to use them to harm others." He then whispered to himself, "Although, she''s right; I can''t insult with her around. Luckily, she got distracted when I said that word."


    "She''s a good girl."


    "She is."


    "Wait, are you trying to make me forget the issue?"


    "No, if you fell for something as crude as that and came to believe that I did that to you, then you''re quite stup..." he then looked at Yara, who was looking into his eyes, but then he glanced at Hammya and continued, "Quite distracted."


    Hammya didn''t say anything because what he said was true; she alone believed in it without even thinking.


    "There''s a certain point where a child must think about what they''re going to say; otherwise, they can never be free and independent from those around them. They''ll always live attached to those who decide for them."


    "Did you learn that?"


    "Yes, I learned it from my parents. Now, we''re estranged; the days with them came to an end, unfortunately."


    "That''s why you''re sad."


    "Just stop looking for an explanation for my attitude. I am who I am, and that''s final. No m¨¢s tonterias."


    "But..."


    "No m¨¢s."


    "And..."


    "No m¨¢s."


    After that, he said nothing more, and neither did Hammya. If she said anything, Candado would quickly cut her off, as he was one of those atypical people in society. Of course, Candado was very hard to decipher; one never knew what he was thinking. He always tried his best to prevent people from analyzing him deeply, which is why he wasn''t bothered by Nelson spying on him. The old man was like Candado, a person different from society. That''s why he dressed differently and was very rebellious against authority. He feared no one. Even if the world were against him, he would never surrender or give up his ideologies and principles to that collective of people like zombies. Because if that were to happen, society wouldn''t be at war with Candado; Candado would be at war with society. But the reason he doesn''t do that is that so far, society hasn''t bothered him or his family at all.


    Moving to the side a bit, Candado continued to ponder what Nelson had mentioned, "Dark Bari." T¨ªnbari hadn''t said anything about that, and if it existed, why hadn''t he mentioned it before? He had already spoken to him about the 43 Bari in the world. Why wouldn''t he have mentioned a Dark Bari?


    There were certain things that T¨ªnbari was hiding from Candado. He might be a charismatic demon, funny, and a headache (at least for Candado and Hector), but he was a very reserved and mysterious being. Candado thought about all the situations they had been through together, as User and God. In every dangerous situation, T¨ªnbari had put his Bari Title on the line more than once to save Candado. So it was doubtful that he was a traitor. Right at that moment, Candado had shaken his head more than three times, questioning himself over and over about the topic. "What am I thinking? T¨ªnbari and I have been through many difficult situations, one more than the other. His loyalty is already more than proven. I''m stupid, stupid, stupid. T¨ªnbari can be anything, but a traitor, NEVER."


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    All that tension running through his mind unconsciously made his face angry. Since his mind didn''t go beyond the countless possibilities of why Candado had that aggressive German Shepherd face, he thought it was her fault. This caused her to start crying, and among those sobs, pleas and apologies were heard for no apparent reason to Candado. He didn''t understand what was happening; he tried to calm her. He lifted her and hugged her, but she kept crying. Hammya, on the other hand, did nothing and had no intentions of doing anything to improve the situation. All she did was look around to see if there were people watching them with suspicious eyes, while Candado desperately tried to calm the girl.


    "Calm down, it''s over, it''s over, there''s no need to cry, everything is fine."


    "No, it''s not okay, I''m sorry, I didn''t mean to make you angry, forgive me, please, I didn''t mean to bother you," Yara said, rubbing her eyes.


    "No, it''s not true; you didn''t bother me. I was just thinking about... other things."


    "You''re lying; you only say that because you''re kind. I''m a problem; I made you upset."


    "No... let me see, I''m not mad at you. It''s impossible for me to get mad at someone like you."


    Yara stopped crying and looked at Candado while wiping away her tears. He hugged her and stroked her hair to calm her completely, while saying sweet words.


    "Calm down, I would never be upset with you."


    "Forgive me, forgive me," Yara said, hugging Candado tightly.


    "Don''t apologize; I''m the one who should apologize. I shouldn''t have done that."


    Once he said that, he lifted Yara and put her on his shoulders, while Hammya sighed in relief. The trio continued their way, as Nelson''s house is four blocks away from Candado''s house, so they didn''t take long to arrive. When they got there, Candado opened the door and with a gesture of chivalry stepped aside for Hammya to enter first. She accepted graciously and entered; then Candado followed and closed the door behind him.


    The house was almost empty, as the only ones there were Hip¨®lito and Karen, who were watching TV. The grandmother had left, as she did every Monday, working as a private tutor in Biology, Language, and Mathematics. Candado was a bit tired, so he lifted Yara off his shoulders and sat her next to Hip¨®lito. He looked at Candado and asked.


    "Has Clementina arrived?"


    "No, not yet, why?"


    "Just checking, take care of Clementina for me, please."


    "Don''t worry, she won''t go anywhere."


    Candado looked at Yara, poked her nose with his index finger, and said.


    "I''ll be back, don''t move, okay?"


    "Yara won''t go anywhere; I''ll wait here."


    "Where are you going?" asked Hammya.


    "I''m going to my room to talk to someone," Candado said without turning around.


    Once he said that, he went upstairs and headed to his room. Once there, Candado entered his room, turned on the light, closed the door, hung his beret on the coat rack, and called T¨ªnbari in a low voice.


    "Idiot, I know you''re close, so stop playing games and show yourself. I have some things I need to ask you."


    The response didn''t take long to arrive; black smoke manifested out of nowhere and took shape.


    "At your service, Captain Boredom," T¨ªnbari said in a mocking tone.


    "I''m a bit lost on a topic," Candado said as he sat on his bed and continued. "I''d like you to answer me."


    "Alright, what do you want me to tell you?"


    "First and foremost, what the hell is a Dark Bari?"


    "A Dark Bari is a Bari that violates the laws for its own benefit."


    "How many are there?"


    "Only one."


    "Do you know who it is?"


    "Yes, indeed, it''s called Pullbarey."


    "Wait a minute, didn''t Slonbari say he possessed a human?"


    "And?"


    "How can he be a Bari?"


    "That has nothing to do with each other. I can do that too. In fact, when the user is in imminent danger, it''s our duty to save our beneficiaries by possessing their bodies and giving them immense strength."


    "Why is that guy a Dark Bari?"


    "Because he''s the one who murdered our leader, Truenbari, the Thunder Bari, and he''s the one who has violated the five laws."


    "What are they?"


    "1) A Bari cannot possess a human without making a contract with them first, as well as having two Bar¨ª, at least if the human possesses the Bari parchment. 2) Using spells is strictly prohibited. 3) A Bari cannot use their Beneficiary to murder another Beneficiary. 4) A Bari cannot go against Keplant ideals. 5) One cannot take a human''s life."


    "And I suppose this Pullbarey guy has violated all five."


    "Exactly."


    "Wait, what does it mean to have a Bari parchment?"


    "If you manage to defeat seven Baris in a fair fight, they will give you a part of their magical artifacts. These artifacts, no matter whom or what you defeat, when you gather them, you''ll obtain a parchment with which you can control the 43 Baris in the world."


    "Wow, just like that?"


    "No, once you have the parchment, you''ll have to fight and win against the remaining 36."


    "What happens if I have them all?"


    "You''ll become a ''Guide'' for Cotorium, in addition to gaining immense magical power."


    "Wow, that''s incredible."


    "Is that something you like?"


    "I''m not interested."


    "WHAT?!"


    "What you heard. I''m already fed up with fighting against circuitists, and now I''ll have to fight seven Baris to get a lousy piece of paper. Stop bothering me."


    "Since when do you use those terms?"


    "Always."


    "Well, never mind."


    "By the way, do you think I can survive with that poison inside me?"


    "If not, then I''ll have to destroy my sphere to prevent your death. Of course, by doing that, you would live, and I would die."


    "Aren''t you supposed to be immortal?"


    "Of course, I am, but what a Bari cannot do is interfere in the death of their user. Being a Bari of Death, my duty is to carry souls to my sphere, and by destroying it, I would cause my immediate death by altering the fate of my user."


    "Wow, I didn''t know that, but now that I do, I''m giving you a new rule."


    "Alright, what is it?"


    "You''re totally forbidden from breaking that sphere when my death is near."


    "Haha, don''t worry, that''s never going to happen."


    "I hope not, T¨ªnbari, I hope not."


    The demon chuckled and disappeared again, but this time, T¨ªnbari bid a polite farewell to Candado. This didn''t catch much of his attention, but he returned the farewell by nodding his head.


    When the conversation concluded, Candado started coughing violently again and couldn''t help but spit blood on the floor. He then took a handkerchief from his pocket, wiped the blood from his mouth, placed it on his desk, and pulled out the vial Nelson had given him to soothe his throat from his right pocket. As soon as he drank it, he quickly stowed it away to avoid anyone seeing it. He then straightened up, took a deep breath, and left his room. He headed to the stable to feed Uzoori, but when he entered, he saw the guy he had encountered twice in the forest, crouched down and staring fixedly at the horse.


    "What the hell are you doing here, smoke ball?"


    The guy turned calmly and replied, "Nothing, just investigating."


    "How the hell did you get in?"


    "The window was open, it wasn''t a problem getting in since my body is made 100% of smoke," the guy said as he stood up.


    "The last time I saw you, you were following a Witness who had attacked Esteban."


    "In fact, he escaped, and I couldn''t interrogate him."


    "We?""Yes, Esteban and I followed him. Apparently, he was intrigued by the noise coming from the forest and decided to investigate. Then he ran into me, and together we followed him and even ended up fighting with him."


    "Smoke, what the hell are you doing in my house?"


    "Smoke? Is that what you call me?"


    "You haven''t told me your name, so that''s your nickname from now on."


    "My name is Harry Addel¨¢ndromechkrin Schr?dinger, but everyone calls me Addel. It''s better than having bad nicknames."


    "Your parents were geniuses with tongue-twisters."


    "Before you ask, I''m Argentine. Only my parents are foreigners. My dad is from Poland, and my mom is from Germany. I was born here, but in Chubut."


    "Well, I''m thrilled," Candado said sarcastically and continued, "now tell me, what the hell are you doing here?"


    "As I said before, I''m investigating. My investigations led me to your house."


    "What kind of investigations?"


    "Well, when I was chasing that damn bastard, he got away. But since he''s a complete idiot, he left traces all over the place. These traces extend from the forest to your house," Addel said as he walked around the stable.


    "They could be my footprints. I was also in the forest."


    "It can''t be possible because I was fighting with him more than thirty minutes ago. He might be hiding here."


    "It''s impossible; I don''t sense his presence here."


    "You couldn''t sense his presence when they attacked the school; you won''t hear him now."


    "How do you know that?"


    "An informant must always have other informants."


    "Another one spying on my life," Candado whispered.


    "Did you say something?"


    "No, nothing, kid."


    "I''d appreciate it if you didn''t call me that. After all, I''m older than you."


    "Oh? How old are you?"


    "I''m fourteen."


    "You don''t look much older. You''re my height."


    "Candado, at first glance, you look like you''re my age. Haven''t you noticed?"


    "Well, the thing is, there''s nothing here, and I don''t like the idea of a Scrubber in my house."


    "Don''t worry; I won''t be here for long. Once I find the guy, I can leave."


    "You''re rude, coming into my house without permission and looking for someone who might have already left."


    At that moment, Addel stopped and turned around.


    "Great, he''s here," he said calmly.


    "How? That''s..."


    "Silence, pay attention, and you''ll feel it."


    Candado stood still and silent for a moment, trying to get a clearer picture of who was in his house. He closed his eyes for a while, clearing his mind. Being in that state brought him a total calm and silence. He could hear everything happening in the house, but after a while, Candado felt it. He opened his eyes and said in surprise.


    "He''s in the shed."


    As soon as he said that, Candado drew his fac¨®n, opened the door, but when he did, Addel turned into white smoke and exited the room first. Being an inorganic body, he could pass through the ceiling and reach the hangar. Candado had a bit more difficulty getting there quickly; he ran down the hallway, reached a door, and kicked it open. On the wall was a ladder attached to it, leading to a round wooden door that opened from the inside of the shed. He started climbing it with his fac¨®n in his mouth, and with a punch, he opened the door. Candado gave a small jump and reached the place. Unfortunately, there wasn''t one person, but three, and two of them were familiar. One was Jane herself, who had attacked him two days ago, and the other was the Witness who had attacked him at school. Both were with a strange guy resembling a medieval soldier, wearing armor and a helmet that concealed his face, rummaging through the things there.


    "BASTARDS!" Candado shouted.


    Jane, who was very angry with him, launched her attack with her Mongolian sword, which was already repaired. Candado stopped it with his fac¨®n and struck her in the neck, but Jane didn''t weaken and launched her attack again with her sword. On the other hand, the masked Witness, who wanted to help Jane, raised his arm and was about to summon a tentacle from the ground, but at that precise moment, Addel passed through the wall and said,


    "No sir, you won''t do it again," and punched him in the face. The force made the guy crash and destroy the window next to him.


    Candado, who was fighting with Jane, said to him,


    "BE CAREFUL, YOU IDIOT, THIS IS MY HOUSE!"


    Addel, taking advantage of the hole in the wall, kicked the man in the armor in the chest and threw him outside. Meanwhile, Candado, with no other option, also decided to throw Jane through the hole, but not alone. As soon as he threw her, Candado jumped and landed on his feet with his fac¨®n in hand in the backyard of the house. When this happened, Hip¨®lito, Hammya, and Yara quickly went to the garden to see what was happening. Seeing Candado fighting with three strange individuals, Hammya and Yara took a step back and hid behind the garden door, while Hip¨®lito ran and stood next to Candado to protect him, just like Addel. The latter was temporarily joining forces with Candado to face the guy they were chasing.


    "Elder, I think you shouldn''t get involved in this; it will be tough for your bones."


    "It would be if I had any, Addel. Hip¨®lito is an android and is very helpful for this occasion."


    "I hope you don''t hurt yourself, smoky brat," Hip¨®lito said mockingly.


    Addel pretended not to hear and continued, "Alright, this is the plan. I''ll go for the masked idiot; the old man will go for that armored guy, and you''ll go against the crazy one with the sword."


    Candado and Hip¨®lito nodded. After making the plans, the trio rushed towards the enemy, each with the person they had been assigned. Candado was the first to reach the enemy, as he already knew Jane and knew where to attack. Jane, on the other hand, was very furious about what the kid with the beret had put her through. She attacked him fiercely with her Mongolian sword, but her strikes were not very precise, as most of them were easy for Candado to dodge. This made Jane even angrier, and she unleashed all her power.


    Noticing that, Candado also decided to unleash the minimum of his power but didn''t part with his fac¨®n. While Candado fought them, Addel quickly knocked out the Witness he was fighting and threw him against Candado''s favorite tree.


    "Be careful, idiot," he said while fighting Jane.


    "Sorry."


    On the other hand, Hip¨®lito was battling the armored guy. He used his fists as weapons, but the old man wielded two scimitars. Unlike Clementina, who could only transform one arm into a saber, Hip¨®lito could do it with both arms. This made him more agile and proficient, attacking the man with caution. However, the armored man used his fists. At one point, the guy landed a punch to Hip¨®lito''s chest, making him stagger. Nevertheless, Hip¨®lito stood up and delivered a lethal strike with his left scimitar. The man prepared to block the blow, but when the scimitar was about to hit, Hip¨®lito transformed it back into his arm, grabbing the man''s wrist and throwing him to the ground. As he fell, the man''s helmet came off, revealing his face. He had blond hair, green eyes, and a crystal fragment on his chin.


    "This has gotten out of hand," he said. Then, he climbed the tree, jumped onto the roof of the house, and shouted, "RETREAT!"


    Jane disarmed Candado, grabbed him by his tie, headbutted him, and then ran towards her companion. She pulled a plastic bag from her pocket and tossed it to Addel. He didn''t bother dodging it, and that was his mistake. His white smoke turned black, and he began to cough. Then, he grabbed his companion by the waist, and with a leap, they landed on Candado''s roof.


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    "This is not over, Candado. I''ll be back for your head!" Jane shouted.


    Then, she and her companion fled. Candado didn''t try to follow her and decided to help Addel, who was still coughing.


    "Are you okay?" Candado asked.


    Addel reached into his body, pulled out the used bag, and tossed it aside. Then, he struggled to his feet, took a step forward, but lost his balance and fell. Before hitting the ground, Hip¨®lito ran over to him and knelt beside his body.


    "Darn it... I underestimated them."


    Shortly after, Addel lost consciousness and passed out. Hip¨®lito picked up Addel and carried him home, while Candado went to retrieve his fac¨®n, which had fallen due to the headbutt. Once he found it, he sheathed it and placed it at his back. Then, he headed to the house, but as he was approaching, he stepped on something. He stopped, looked down, lifted his foot, and saw a plaque. Candado bent down, picked it up, and examined it closely. This badge looked quite strange; it was identical to the one Nelson had shown him in that restaurant, except for the color, as this one was made of gold. Candado stored the plaque and entered the house.


    Inside the house, Hammya and Yara were watching Addel, who was lying on the couch, asleep, while Hip¨®lito examined him. The smoke covering his face slowly dissipated until his features became visible. His skin was tan, he had red hair, a perfect nose, and a small scar on his right cheek that looked like a cut "S." Candado approached and observed him intently.


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    "Well, it seems like he''s not looking too good."


    "He has a harmful toxin in his body." Hip¨®lito stood up and continued, "I''ll prepare a vaccine; I''ll be right back."


    Then, Hip¨®lito headed to a room next to the kitchen, while Candado stayed with Addel. As Addel was about to get up, he suddenly woke up, grabbing Candado''s wrist, startling Hammya and Yara, who took a step back. Candado, on the other hand, wasn''t frightened and stared into Addel''s dark eyes.


    "Call... call Martina G¨®mez, please." Then he passed out.


    Candado didn''t say anything; he just looked at him and reflected on what he had said. After thinking for a while, he decided to find the phone and call Esteban because he, at least, might know what Addel meant.


    "Hello?" a female voice answered.


    "Hello, I want to talk to Esteban, please."


    "Wait a moment."


    It turned out the female voice belonged to his mother, who was cooking. She stopped her tasks and carried the phone to Esteban''s bedroom, where he was sitting at his desk, reading a book titled "The Knight in Rusty Armor." His mother walked in and handed him the phone. Esteban took it without looking at her but thanked her.


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    "Hi?"


    "Esteban, is that you?"


    "Yeah, it''s me. Who''s this?"


    "I''m Candado Barret."


    Esteban stopped reading the book and looked up. Then, he closed the book, set it aside, and leaned his left shoulder against his desk.


    "What the hell do you want?"


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    "I''ll repeat it, what the hell do you want?"


    "Relax, I just want you to know that your Eraser is at my house."


    "Do you want me to pay a ransom or what?"


    "Don''t talk to me in that tone, you piece of trash. I want you to know that some scumbags attacked me and your friend."


    "What friend?"


    "Your friend Addel Schr?dinger."


    "Harry? Oh my God, is he okay? Has anything happened to him?"


    "Actually, yes. A woman threw a plastic bag on his face. It made him feel sick and he lost his ''smoke'' mask."


    "Darn it, I told him not to go after his capture. I told him, but he didn''t listen. I knew this would happen, I knew it very well," Esteban said, pounding his desk.


    "Stop making such a fuss. Hip¨®lito is creating a vaccine for him to get better. It''s nothing."


    "You just don''t understand. Only a Bailak can cure someone like him. His body is different from ours, so he''s immune to our diseases and well-being drugs. But that doesn''t mean they don''t have their own diseases. I''m sure that bitch threw carbonic substance at him."


    "Wait a moment, the Bailak no longer exist. How is it possible to cure him then?"


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    "Do you, a representative of the W.O.G.A.B., have no idea that there are still two Bailak alive? It gives me tremendous sorrow that their leader is ignorant about certain historical matters."


    Candado became angry and his eyes glowed violet.


    "I''m going to flay you and toss your damn parts into the Pilcomayo River."


    "We''ll have a moment and a place to fight later, but right now, one of my comrades is in critical condition, so I''m going to ask you a favor, man to man. I want you to find Martina G¨®mez."


    "Who is she?" Candado asked as he calmed down.


    "She''s a Bailak, as I mentioned before. She''s the only one who can cure him. Unfortunately, I don''t know her location, but you could ask him."


    "Alright, I''ll find a way to wake him up."


    "Be careful with what you''re going to do to him because if anything happens to him, I''ll be the one to flay you."


    "I''d like to see you try." Candado then hung up the phone, not knowing much about what he had been told.


    He decided to consult with his best friend, H¨¦ctor. After all, he''s the only one who studies these things, even down to the color of the tie Iv¨¢n Crusoe wore for the opening of the nations in 1920. He picked up the phone and dialed his mobile number.


    On the other hand, H¨¦ctor was in the guild, signing documents for the repair of Pio''s house. His face reflected satisfaction as he carefully read each document. When his cell phone rang, H¨¦ctor picked it up without stopping his reading.


    "Hello?"


    "It''s me, H¨¦ctor."


    "Ernest Barret, how are your vacations going?"


    "Why are you calling me by my name?"


    "Well, you know, even though your name is Candado, it''s still a leadership title in this guild. But you''re not the leader anymore, so I can call you by your name, your first name, if you want?"


    "I''ve been called by that name so much that I ended up accepting it."


    "Well, what do you need from me?"


    "I would like you to tell me a bit about the Bailak."


    "Wait a moment."


    H¨¦ctor stood up and went to a bookshelf, ran his index finger over each spine of the books until he reached one that was black, took it out, and read the title, "Archaic Lineage." H¨¦ctor nodded and brought it back to the desk, then began to flip through it, turning each page of the book. Each of those pages spoke about the powers of each being in the universe, the spirit of each human, the proper handling of magic, etc. But what mattered was what Candado had asked H¨¦ctor, and he found it.


    "Here it is."


    "Finally, I was starting to get bored."


    "According to this writing, it says that the word ''Bailak'' comes from the word ''Balkans,'' as this rare type of people was found there. These individuals were characterized by handling all kinds of power. In fact, they shared their teachings on how to manage their power in 1918. Iv¨¢n Crusoe, the representative of the W.O.G.A.B., personally went to seek their help. It is estimated that there were more than 8,000,000 Bailak worldwide, but over the years, they were hunted down by everyone due to their magnificent gift. Despite being immortal, their spirits were stripped from them to obtain their powers, leaving a cold and painful shell, which usually led to death the following year. The last surviving Bailak committed suicide in 2002, marking the end of their kind."


    "I see."


    "There you have it. The Bailak became extinct ten years ago; I highly doubt anyone is alive today." Candado looked around to make sure no one was listening and said.


    "I think there''s a survivor."


    "WHAT!?"


    "Believe me, there is. Esteban told me."


    "And you believe what a Circuist tells you? Rather, do you believe what your enemy tells you?"


    "I don''t think he would lie to me, especially if one of his colleagues is in great danger," said Candado, looking at Addel.


    "I think you''re right, beyond being our enemies, he would never leave his comrades behind."


    "That''s why I need your help."


    "What do you want exactly?"


    "They attacked my house, one of Esteban''s subordinates helped me fight against them, but he got distracted and is now poisoned. According to what Esteban told me, a Bailak can cure him. But how can I distinguish a Bailak from a regular person?"


    "It''s simple, Bailaks have a tattooed mark of a half-moon on their foreheads."


    "I could start from there then."


    "I hope you succeed. Tell me the whole story later, okay?"


    After saying that, H¨¦ctor hung up, and Candado went to the living room to try to wake Addel. He watched as Hip¨®lito tried to cure him, but it didn''t work. Every time he injected the vaccine, the syringe either destroyed itself or simply didn''t penetrate his skin. It was as if he had some kind of protection outside his body.


    "I don''t understand, nothing is working."


    "Calm down, Hip¨®lito. I know how to cure him."


    "For my sake, I hope you''re right."


    "I will be, but could you take the girls out of here, please?"


    "Yes, okay."


    Hip¨®lito took Hammya and Yara by the hands, leaving Candado alone.


    When everyone had left, he took the vial Nelson had given him from his pocket and gave Addel a bit of the liquid. If he was a good person, the taste would be exquisite, and if not, then it would be awful. Not only would it partially cure Addel, but it would also help him determine if this individual was good or evil.


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    When Addel took a sip, he opened his eyes and unexpectedly stood up. Then his face began to be covered with black smoke, hiding his face again.


    "It tastes like vanilla."


    "Well, at least it tastes good to you. Now tell me, who is this Martina?"


    "Why do you want to know? I''m already cured."


    "No, it''s not true, you''re not well. What I did was partially cure you; it''s like anesthesia. Right now, this poison is dormant, and I don''t know for how long it will stay that way. If you value your life, you better tell me who Martina is."


    "Martina is a Bailak, and she''s not far from here. I can''t tell you where, but she came with me a few days ago, so she must be staying at the luxury hotel in this town."


    Candado stood up, adjusted his tie, and said,


    "All right, I''ll go find her. You stay calm and rest; I''ll take care of this."


    "Wait, why are you helping me?"


    "Because you helped me, and I''m going to help you."


    "You haven''t helped me at any point."


    "Of course you did. If you hadn''t warned me that someone was in my house, my family would have been hurt. Whether it was an accident or not, you helped me, and I appreciate it a lot."


    "It seems like a joke if you tell me with that expressionless face."


    "Get used to it."


    Then Candado headed to the front door and opened it. But as he was about to leave, Yara came running down the stairs with his beret in her hands. When she reached him, she signaled him to lean down, and Candado gladly complied. Yara carefully placed the beret on his head and hugged him.


    "Take care a lot."


    "I will, little one."


    Candado tapped her nose, gave her a smile, and then stood up. He walked to the door, opened it, and stepped out onto the street. After closing it behind him without turning, he took three steps forward and stopped. He looked at the sky and smiled.


    "It seems like today is going to be an interesting evening."


    Then he began to walk along the sidewalk. Along the way, he encountered familiar faces, many of them were his friends, as well as students from the school. Every time he bumped into someone, they showed him great respect as many had sought his help in previous guild-related matters, such as small errands, mail, tasks related to pacifying school harassment or bullying, and many more.


    Generally, the town is very small as it is an island, bordered by Paraguay. Many people come from there. It''s not unusual to have a hotel when tourists from other countries visit. However, the situation was quite curious, just as thinking that a Bailak from the Balkans would be in Argentina, knowing that there had been, as in all countries, a witch hunt. Anyone who was a Bailak was seized, and all their powers were taken away, including their lives.


    But what else could he think about? If Addel is an Eraser, then surely this Martina is one too. Because when the Bailak began to be hunted one by one, they became distrustful, a grave mistake as it was used against them. A person who distrusts everyone will eventually start to distrust their own people, and indeed, they did. This caused a social fracture in their community, giving a significant advantage to the others.


    Surely, they wondered: Why were they hunted? That''s because, unlike others who can handle a maximum of six powers, the Bailak could control absolutely everything. They were the strongest people on the planet. It is presumed that T¨¢natos was one of them and that he might have been born in the Balkans, but it was discovered that it wasn''t true since his immortality and power came from death. At some point in his life, he died and returned, but with immense power. In contrast, the Bailak were entirely different; they wielded all powers imaginable, even those that wouldn''t be discovered for several years. Not only did they possess that incredible gift, but they also had immortality.


    Many thought that being immortal would make them invincible against their enemies, but history chose not to favor them because of Moneck, the Judas of the Bailak. He had betrayed his brothers, teaching their enemies how to attack them. The most effective method was to strip them of the spirit where every living being stores their magic and power, with a spell. For this, a special glove manufactured by Moneck was needed, which he called the "Poison Hand," a glove that nullified all magic of a Bailak. Unfortunately, this method was successful, and that''s why they all perished.


    The other question is: What did they do with their powers? It is believed that they were used to bring back their leader, Tanatos, but as we all know, that was a total failure, causing the death of many people, including those who knew how to kill a Bailak.


    All this information disgusted Candado profoundly. Every time he read the history of the Bailak, he felt a mix of anger and pity for these people. The W.O.G.A.B. couldn''t do anything to help them. He felt some responsibility for what had been done to that culture.


    What expression would he make if he met Martina? Or what would he feel if he saw a guild member who did absolutely nothing to help his people?


    Most likely, he would be kicked out or eliminated on the spot, although the latter didn''t concern him much; in fact, it wasn''t relevant at all. Anyway, Candado arrived at the hotel that Addel had mentioned. It was huge, with many glass windows all around and a large door in the middle. There was no one at the door, so Candado entered without any problem, approached the front desk, and asked the elegant young man there.


    "Excuse me, do you know someone named Martina G¨®mez?" The young man looked up, trying to locate the name.


    "I think so, she''s in room 21 on the second floor."


    "Thank you, sir," said Candado, lifting his beret courteously.


    He then took a few steps forward, turned, took a few to the left, and climbed the stairs. Candado walked door by door, looking for Martina''s room until he found it. He looked at the number at the entrance, and with his right hand on his chin, he said,


    "I hope this is the right room and the right person."


    Candado knocked on the door three times, but there was no answer. He knocked for a second time, and still nothing, until he carefully grabbed the door handle and turned it to the left, thus opening the door. Candado pushed it and entered cautiously.


    In the room, everything was tidy; there was nothing out of the ordinary. It had three beds: one of them was a box spring, and the other was a bunk bed, one above the other. Not satisfied, he decided to continue searching in the bathroom, but no one was there. However, the mirror in the place was fogged up. Candado ran his index and middle fingers over the glass and examined it.


    "How strange," he said, looking at the mirror.


    Then he turned and exited the bathroom. When he turned around to close the door, a hand covered his mouth and grabbed his arms. Candado, calmly, grabbed the arm and threw it in front of his feet. Then he stomped on the abdomen, but to his surprise, a figure kicked him from behind and sent him flying into the bathroom, destroying the hotel''s delicate bathtub.


    "I thought it would be a peaceful evening," Candado said with a cold expression as he adjusted his beret.


    The individual, who wore an anonymous mask and was lying on the floor, got up and attacked Candado, but he struck the person''s left hand with his foot, then hit him in the chest, causing him to bend over. Candado seized the opportunity and struck him in the face, pushing him backward. Then he stood up and went all out against the individual, grabbing him around the waist and slamming him with all his strength onto the floor.


    However, a second person kicked him in the back of the head, causing Candado to fall to the ground. Then this same person put their hands on the ground and quickly got up to continue the fight.


    Candado stood up and began to fight with both of them at the same time, dodging and blocking their movements. One of them threw a punch, and Candado grabbed his wrist and pulled him towards him, giving him a knee to the chest. But he had stopped it with his other hand. Smartly, Candado grabbed his mask and pulled it towards him. As it had flexible plastic, Candado let it go, and the mask snapped back with force, hurting the person''s face. As he was in a suitable position, he could partially see his face and a tattoo of a half-moon on his forehead.


    "What the hell?" Candado exclaimed in surprise, and as soon as he got distracted, the second person threw him to the ground. Then, this same person made a hand gesture, and chains emerged from the ground, wrapping around Candado''s body, immobilizing him.


    "What do we do with him?" the female voice asked.


    "He knows my identity, we have to erase his memory."


    "Dream on, you bunch of funny clowns," Candado said with his cold expression.


    "I still think we should kill him."


    "I''d like to see that, shorty."


    "How did you call me?"


    "Calm down, he''s just saying it to provoke you."


    "Hey, you, yes, you, why don''t you bow a bit so I can hear what you''re saying, Bigfoot?"


    "How did you call me?"


    "Relax, you told me yourself that he''s just saying it to provoke us."


    "You''re absolutely right."


    "Hey, you pair of apes, I''m in a hurry. A colleague is slowly dying, and you''re delaying me."


    "Why did you enter our room?" asked the girl with a porcelain mask.


    "I made a mistake; I was just looking for someone named Martina G¨®mez."


    At that moment, the two individuals looked at each other for a few seconds and then turned their gaze to Candado.


    "Who are you, and how do you know her?"


    "I''m Candado Ern¨¦st Barret, but everyone calls me Candado, and no, I don''t know her. I just came to find her so she can help Harry Schr?dinger, alias Addel."


    The girl took a step forward, knelt down, and removed her mask.


    "I am Martina."


    "Oh, is that how you greet people with punches and kicks?"


    "You entered without permission."


    "Can you take off the mask and introduce yourself?"


    The individual removed the mask and placed it on a desk.


    "I''m Kevin Galarza de Baltazar."


    "Very well, now that everything is clear, could you release me?"


    "How do we know if what you''re saying is true?"


    "Elementary, my dear friends. Essentially, you were the ones who attacked me; I just defended myself."


    "Enough with these jokes, besides, your explanation isn''t believable."


    "What else do you want, KGB?"


    "KGB?"


    "It''s to shorten your name and surname."


    "You two sound like kindergarteners," Martina said.


    "Look who''s talking."


    "That''s enough, it''s sufficient. Now, tell me something so I can believe what you''re saying."


    "Alright, I''ll do it."


    Candado stood up and broke the chains by exerting force with his arms.


    "Impossible," exclaimed Martina.


    "Now comes the test," Candado adjusted his tie and continued, "I could free myself the whole time. You may be a Bailak, you may be good in combat, but when it comes to tying up your prisoners with this total farce, I see you have a big problem in restraining your captives."


    "What are you trying to prove with that?" Kevin asked defensively.


    "As I said, I could free myself the whole time, but I didn''t out of respect, and now that you''re annoying me a bit, I''ve let go."


    "I think what he''s saying is true."


    "Martina..."


    "No, really, if he wanted to kill us, he would have done it by now."


    "Maybe he hasn''t done anything to us because he needs us alive. He''s just like the others, only looking for us to eliminate us."


    "Calm down, I haven''t come to kill, much less to kidnap. I am a loyal servant of the W.O.G.A.B."


    "A gremialist? What the hell does a Gremialist want with us?"


    "From you? Nothing, I just need her," Candado said, pointing to Martina.


    Kevin stood between her and Candado.


    "She won''t go anywhere; she''ll stay by my side."


    "I don''t see the problem with you not being able to come with me."


    "What makes you think I''ll go with a stranger just like that?"


    "Look, you''re already annoying me. The life of an innocent is in serious danger, and I need your help."


    "It''s not our problem. Martina won''t go anywhere."


    "Don''t speak for me. He is my friend, and if he is in danger, I have to help him."


    "I told you a long time ago, don''t trust anyone, or have you forgotten what these worms did to our people?"


    "Are you going to start that again? Yes, it''s wrong and painful, but we can''t live blaming everyone, and you know it, right?"


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    "Silence, Martina, you will stay here, and that''s final."


    "If she doesn''t go, Addel will die. Can you bear the death of a human being on your conscience, Kevin?"


    "Did your people feel remorse when they hunted us one by one?"


    "The W.O.G.A.B. had nothing to do with it."


    "What do you mean? Where were the ''Defenders of the Weak'' when the Circuits destroyed our culture? Where were you when we asked for your help? Where were you when they started hunting us and taking our lives for their own purposes? Where were you? Why didn''t you help us? Why? WHY?!"


    Candado lowered his head with deep disappointment on his face. They were right; the organization didn''t care to help those people.


    "Do you see? Even you were left speechless. Maybe they didn''t harm us, but that doesn''t absolve them of what happened to us. You stayed silent and, from your fancy seats, watched as we slowly died until only two of us were left."


    "It''s not like that; we tried to rectify our mistake and went to find them."


    "Do you think you own life? For a long time, I believed in you, I was proud of your heroine Ndereba Harambee, but it was all fiction. You used that lady''s name to hide what you truly were, monsters who deceive young people like you and me," Kevin said as he put on his mask.


    Candado looked up and, with indignation, said:


    "Don''t you dare speak ill of the guild like that. They are not like that. It''s true we made mistakes, but unlike others, we strive every day to help those who need us."


    "Keeping silent is the same as killing us, except you knew it very well. You''re no different from the Circuits."


    Candado leaped towards Kevin and slammed him against the wall, putting his arm around his neck.


    "SHUT UP! WE DIDN''T CAUSE YOUR MISERY. STOP INSULTING ME. THINK YOU''RE THE ONLY ONE WHO LOST LOVED ONES BECAUSE OF THE CIRCUITS. WHILE I''M WASTING MY TIME WITH YOU, A COLLEAGUE IS DYING."


    "You too?" Martina asked.


    Candado evaded the girl''s question; instead, he said:


    "Listen carefully to what I''m going to tell you. Heal this person, and I promise you''ll never see me again."


    "Kevin, please, just let me help my friend. We owe it to him, after all."


    Kevin looked at Martina for a moment, then locked eyes with Candado.


    "Fine, you win, but I''m coming with you," he said, removing his mask.


    Candado released him and extended his hand. Kevin accepted and shook hands.


    "Alright, let''s go to my house," Candado said with his cold expression.


    Once their differences were set aside, Candado, Martina, and Kevin followed Candado to cure Addel. Thanks to the abilities of the two Bailak, they quickly arrived at the house, leaping from roof to roof. Candado walked with his hands in his pockets through the pedestrian street, as the hotel was about five blocks from his house. They didn''t take long to arrive, although the sun was already beginning to set. For him, it was another day wasted. When they arrived, Candado knocked on the door. At that moment, Martina and Kevin descended from the neighbor''s roof and quickly put on their masks.


    "What the heck are you doing?"


    "We''ve exposed ourselves by showing our faces to you. We''re not risking being seen by other strangers," Kevin said as he adjusted his mask.


    At that moment, the door opened, and the one who opened it was none other than Clementina in her usual attire. Her face reflected a multitude of sermons that would come out of her mouth, sermons that Candado had no desire to hear.


    "Could you tell me where the gentleman is?"


    "First of all, are my parents at home?"


    "No, but I received a call from them ten minutes ago. They''ll be here in an hour."


    "Great." Candado pushed Clementina aside and entered the house. "He''s in the left living room, so please come in."


    Martina and Kevin entered the house and said, "Good afternoon, miss."


    Clementina pulled on Candado''s sleeve.


    "Who are these people?"


    "They''re acquaintances who can save another acquaintance''s life. Now, let go of me."


    Candado walked with Kevin and Martina behind him. As soon as they entered the living room, they saw Hip¨®lito trying to stabilize Addel. Hammya was standing next to the old man with a bucket of water in her hands, Karen and Yara were sleeping on grandma''s lap.


    "So, you''re quite a large family," Kevin remarked.


    "Who are you?" Hammya asked.


    "I''m Martina, and he''s Kevin. We''ve come to cure our friend."


    "I hope you have more success than I did; his fever isn''t going down."


    "How long has he been like this?" Candado asked.


    "About thirty minutes, more or less," replied Hip¨®lito.


    Martina approached Addel. "Move, please, sir." Hip¨®lito stood up and stepped aside. At that precise moment, Kevin was about to pull Martina away, but Candado stepped forward and put his hand on Kevin''s shoulder, signaling him to stay where he was and let Martina do her job. She knelt down and placed her hands on Addel''s chest. The young man was breathing faster and faster, almost as if he were dying. After a few seconds, Martina''s hands began to glow with a white light. Not only her hands, but the glow started to move across Addel''s entire body. Martina''s eyes were shining with the same color, and as she wore a mask, that was what stood out the most. But after a few minutes of that brilliance, it began to fade slowly. It started from the soles of Addel''s feet and continued to his hands until the bright light from his body disappeared, as did the glow in Martina''s eyes. When everything was over, Addel''s head began to be covered in white smoke very slowly, until his face could no longer be distinguished. As soon as that happened, Addel woke up and, upon seeing Martina''s mask, got scared and fell to the floor.The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    "Who are you?"


    "It''s me, Martina," she said as she removed the mask.


    "What a scare, my God!"


    "Calm down, everything''s fine. Nothing happened."


    Addel looked at Candado.


    "Thank you so much, my friend. If it weren''t for you, I''d already be dead."


    "I''m glad you''re okay. Now tell me, what did those rats want in my house?"


    "Apparently, they were looking for what you have around your neck."


    "My necklace? Why?"


    "I have no idea, but I do know that after attacking Esteban, they came for you, talking about someone called Sol Dorado."


    "Why would they want my necklace?"


    "I don''t know, maybe as something valuable."


    "I don''t think that''s all they were after."


    "Well, I suppose they wanted something more, I don''t know. The point is, take care of it, whatever it is; that was their objective today."


    "I hope not."


    "Believe me, if they wanted to steal that from you, it must be very important."


    "It''s just... a gift from my sister," Candado said with a sad voice.


    "I see, a family gift. My mistake, in any case, take good care of it."


    "I don''t want to interrupt this nostalgic moment, but we have to go."


    Hip¨®lito stood up and joined the conversation.


    "Wait, please, stay a little longer."


    "That''s very kind of you, but we have to leave, right, Martina?"


    "No, actually, I''d like to make sure Addel is okay, and for that, he needs to rest."


    "You''re very insistent; we have to..."


    "No, we don''t have to, I''m going to stay here. That''s my final word."


    <div>


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    Kevin tilted his head and said,


    "Well, you win; we''ll stay for a while."


    "You''re awesome, Kevin."


    "Yeah, I know, I''m too cool."


    "How humble," Candado said sarcastically.


    "Shut up and don''t comment."


    "What will we do with the Barret couple? They''ll be here in an hour."


    "Don''t worry, Clementina; the Barret couple will believe they are Candado''s friends," said Hip¨®lito as he put on his bowler hat.


    "I have no problem with others thinking that because he is my friend."


    "What are you saying, Martina? We barely know him."


    "Yes, that''s true, but he came to find us to help Addel; with just that act of kindness, it''s more than enough for me to consider him a friend."


    Kevin didn''t say anything; instead, Clementina added,


    "I''m very moved; Candado has many friends."


    "Close your mouth or I''ll weld it shut."


    Everyone laughed, including Kevin, but not Candado. He adjusted his gloves and went to his grandmother, gave her a kiss on the cheek, and one to Yara. Meanwhile, baby Karen stayed in her grandmother''s arms as she was awake. Candado picked up Yara, gently rested her head on his shoulder, went up the stairs, and entered his room. He carefully laid Yara on her bed, tucked her in with the sheets, and gave her another kiss, this time on the forehead. As he was about to leave, Yara grabbed his hand.


    "Your sister is very nice. I played with her, and she never cried. The lady with the wrinkled skin told me she''s always happy with everyone," Yara said with half-open eyes.


    Candado sat on the bed.


    "She''s my grandmother; I''d prefer if you don''t call her that way."


    "Then, can I call her Grandma?"


    "Yes, you can. After all, she''s a good person."


    "Like you?" Yara asked as she nestled into his lap.


    "No, she''s much better than me. She''s incapable of getting angry or hurting anyone."


    "You''re like that."


    "I''m not good at turning the other cheek, not to mention that my attitude made you cry this afternoon."


    "Did I make you feel bad?"


    "A lot. I had scared you. I always try not to show the deepest part of me in front of you."


    "I thought it was my fault."


    "It wasn''t. I''ve just been thinking about so many things for so long that I somehow ended up getting angry. I''m very bad at being good."


    "No, it''s not true. You are good, there''s no doubt about that."


    "You are my heart and soul."


    "Oh, what does that mean?"


    "It means you are my ray of happiness in this life."


    "And also my daddy?"


    "Yes, I''m also your daddy."


    Yara stood up and hugged Candado. At that moment, they were being spied on by Kevin, who showed a regretful expression for how he had judged him. So, as soon as Yara stopped hugging Candado and lay down on the bed, Kevin left the place without them noticing.


    "Goodnight, Dad."


    "Goodnight, princess." Candado took a colorful clown plushie from a chest and, with a smile, tucked in Yara and gave her the stuffed animal.


    "This plushie was mine. I used it a lot when going to sleep, and now it''s yours."


    "Did you use it?"


    "I was scared of the dark, but when I had it by my side, those nights became safer for me."


    Yara looked at the plushie for a long while, as if expecting something to happen. But after a moment, Yara hugged it and closed her eyes. Candado kissed her forehead, turned off the light, and left the room. Candado went downstairs and saw everyone sitting on the couches, talking like old friends, including Hammya, who had recently feared social interactions. She became very close to Martina since they were the ones who talked the most. Hip¨®lito held baby Karen, who had fallen asleep again. Addel was talking to Clementina; apparently, she was trying to imitate Candado in the way of being serious, just as he did every time he spoke with someone. The grandmother was in the kitchen with Kevin, helping with dinner. When he saw that everyone got along, he felt a kind of happiness inside. Of course, that wasn''t apparent at first glance. When one is happy, they show it with a smile, but Candado demonstrated it by simply raising his eyebrows and closing his eyes. Candado went out to the garden to take a break since Yara was sleeping in her bed. "I''m tired," thought Candado when he sat under the tree. That wasn''t apparent either. On that afternoon, Candado was relaxed under that big and unique tree in the garden. But that moment lasted shortly, as an unexpected and unwanted "friend" had appeared sitting next to him.


    "How beautiful the sunset is," said T¨ªnbari.


    Candado didn''t say anything, just covered his eyes with his beret.


    "You''re very boring. I can''t believe you''re such a jerk to me."


    Candado lifted his beret and looked at T¨ªnbari without turning his head.


    "Where do you get these terms?"


    "I don''t know," he shrugged¡ª "I actually heard them a lot from the young people in the cities."


    "Don''t hang out with them," he said while covering his eyes again with his beret¡ª "they teach you how to be more irritating."


    "That''s the idea."


    "You''re undesirable."


    It had been more than two hours since Candado had called Esteban to inform him about the condition of his companion, Harry Schr?dinger. So he prepared to pay "a visit" to his enemy and find out in what state his comrade was. But just the thought of stepping into that guy''s home made his stomach turn, and he really wanted to hit him. However, he couldn''t do that since it would be him making the visit, out of respect. So he would bite his lips.


    Esteban dressed, left the house, and walked down the sidewalk. Unlike Candado, who was somewhat reserved, Esteban was the complete opposite, except when it came to seriousness¡ªa trait that distinguished them from others and made them unique. But that didn''t mean he wasn''t charismatic, something only Esteban possessed.


    On his way, Esteban stopped a lot, as he always chatted with his colleagues, both circuitists and gremialists. In the end, he arrived as it was getting dark, knocked on the door, and waited. Upon opening the door, he encountered someone he didn''t expect to see: Hammya.


    "I didn''t expect Candado to invite someone he barely knows."


    "I live here," clarified Hammya.


    Esteban raised his eyebrows and widened his eyes.


    "Are you a relative of his?"


    "No."


    "Do you know something? I don''t want to know. I just came to see how Harry is."


    "Who is Harry?"


    "The guy they were healing."


    "Who?"


    "Harry, who else?"


    "No, there''s no Harry in this house."


    "Well, it''s true that we were healing someone, but not a Harry."


    "So, what''s the name of the person they were healing?"


    "Addel, I think."


    "Well, that''s him."


    "But didn''t you say you were looking for someone named Harry?"


    Esteban scratched his head angrily while showing his teeth.


    "That''s the one I''m looking for."


    "But his name isn''t Harry."


    "It''s HARRY!" Esteban shouted.


    At that moment, Clementina appeared.


    "What''s happening, Hammya? What was that shout?"


    "This guy is looking for someone named Harry."


    "Oh, Esteban, what do you want from this house?"


    "Nothing, I came to see Addel."


    "But Hammya told me you''re looking for someone named Harry."


    Esteban, with his patience exhausted, said, "Listen up, both of you. Addel''s full name is Harry Addel¨¢ndromechkrrin Schr?dinger, but since his second name is long, they call him Addel."


    "Now we understand," said Clementina and Hammya.


    "I''m glad you''ve figured it out. Now, could you please step aside?"


    Hammya and Clementina cleared the way for Esteban to pass. He nodded in gratitude to them as the door closed behind him, walking into the living room where he saw Addel lying on the couch, playing with his hand, making it appear and disappear. Esteban rolled his eyes and muttered, "He''s such a child." Then he approached him. When he was close enough to Addel, Esteban looked around as if searching for something, and found it: he picked up a magazine from the coffee table, rolled it up, and hit Addel on the head, causing him to fall off the couch.


    "Who''s the idiot?"


    "It was me. Any problem?" Addel stood up in a military posture, as if he were a corporal saluting his general.


    "Sir, of course not. I''m honored that you hit me."


    "Don''t exaggerate. You did well, and you couldn''t even manage to contact me."


    "You''re a..." Esteban swung the rolled-up magazine for another hit on Addel''s head, but just as he was about to deliver the second blow, he hit the ceiling.


    "Please, boss, I was planning to do it, I swear."


    "It didn''t seem like you were."


    "I was just thinking about what to tell you."


    "Come down." Esteban tossed the rolled-up magazine aside and urged Addel to continue. "Inform me about what you found."


    Addel descended from the ceiling, adjusted his clothes, and proceeded.


    "I chased the Witness that came here, but they escaped with two others."


    "Two more?"


    "Yes, sir, two more."


    "Could you identify them?"


    "Yes, one was a woman, I believe her name is Jane, and the other one, I don''t know."


    "You don''t know?"


    "Yes, I don''t know, I''m sorry."


    "Well, it doesn''t matter. Do you know anything else about the woman?"


    "I don''t know, sir, but they were looking for something in this house, maybe the key to our doubts."


    "I don''t think so. No one would dare to attack Candado in his house. Everyone knows he''s stronger here than anywhere else on this planet."


    "Maybe that''s why they hid when he was around."


    "Doesn''t matter. We''ll worry about that later. For now, I''m glad you''re okay."


    "Thank you, Esteban, I mean, sir."


    "Thank you very much. Now, where is the Bailak who helped you? I''d like to express my gratitude."


    "She''s in the garden, with Candado."


    "Such bad luck, but well, expressing gratitude is an obligation."


    Esteban and Addel made their way to the garden through the kitchen. It was clear that dinner had already taken place, as the dirty dishes were still there. Esteban looked at the scene with disgust, but Addel didn''t seem bothered and found some amusement in the situation. It was funny to see those cardboard plates, as they were there to be thrown away the next morning. Why eat on cardboard plates? Simple, Candado knew very well that Esteban was coming to his house, and being a very tidy person, he decided to annoy him with this, knowing he couldn''t stand seeing something dirty as he would either vomit or faint.


    When Esteban stepped into the garden, the first thing he saw was Candado chatting with two people, Kevin and Martina (T¨ªnbari was also there, but Esteban couldn''t see him). This caught his attention. Candado chatting with Martina, that was quite unusual for Esteban.


    "Greetings, comrades and non-comrades."


    "Esteban, I didn''t think you''d come to visit us," said Candado sarcastically.


    "Greetings to you too, friend," said Martina.


    "It''s very strange to see you here," said Kevin.


    "I just came to see how Addel was doing, and, by the way, to thank you, Martina."


    "Ah, thank you very much."


    "Well, I''m glad you deigned to come to my house to find out if your subordinate was okay."


    "I''ll get back at you sooner or later."


    "I''ll be waiting, Esteban, I''ll be waiting."


    "Please, don''t fight, we''re just chatting." Esteban signaled Addel to follow him when he was near the door.


    "Candado. Thanks for helping Harry," said Esteban with his back turned.


    "You''re welcome," said Candado, briefly touching his forehead with his index and middle fingers.


    After the duo left the garden and the house...


    When Esteban and Addel had departed, Martina and Kevin, who had become more charismatic since he had spied on him and little Yara. Apparently, that had deeply moved him, just like the way Candado took care of Martina.


    "Well, I really enjoyed the evening, just like your parents did," said Kevin.


    "I''m glad you had fun, but it seems like my parents didn''t even notice you existed."


    "Don''t be a buzzkill, Candado. Your parents saw us; it''s just that the marks on our foreheads caught their attention."


    "I don''t think it was just that, KGB."


    "I think you should drop those habits, Candado."


    The truth is, I''m very curious about why your mood changed so suddenly.


    "He''s like that," Martina said.


    "I would like to apologize for the way I treated you; it''s just that I had a bad day today. I''m not usually grumpy."


    "Bad day?"


    "Yeah, the truth is that Martina and I had some trouble when we arrived in this town; we were discovered by three adults."


    "Really? Wow, were they from the Circuit or the Witnesses?"


    "I don''t know, they had an eagle emblem on their chests." When Candado heard the word eagle, his eyes widened in surprise.


    "Eagle? Did you say eagle?"


    ¡ªYes, I said it. Why? In that moment, Candado pulled two emblems out of his pocket, a golden eagle and a silver eagle.


    "Which one of these did those guys have?" Candado asked while showing them to Kevin.


    "That one," Kevin said, pointing to the silver one. "How do you have it?"


    "One of those bastards murdered my grandfather. I''m sure that if I can locate them, I can bring justice."


    "Bring justice... I like that." Kevin stood up, extended his hand to Candado. "With me by your side, I can get a close look at those damn scoundrels who messed with my people."


    Candado stood up as well, along with Martina. He accepted the handshake and said, "I''d like to have you, a Bailak, who can fight in battles that might be a hindrance to me."


    "Great," Kevin said with a smile.


    "Hey, I want to join too," Martina said.


    "Two Bailaks are the best," Candado said, giving Kevin and Martina a handshake.


    ...


    ...


    ...


    "Alright, you can let go now," Candado said.


    Kevin and Martina released their grips and stepped aside. Candado headed towards the house, and the two followed him. Thanks to Kevin''s help, Candado was one step closer to the killer of his grandfather. Soon, he would be able to seek revenge, and that thought filled him with a great sense of peace. Tomorrow, he could investigate further, but for now, he needed a break, both physically and mentally.


    When he entered the kitchen, with Kevin and Martina following him, the kitchen was clean, with a nameless note that read, "Next time you try to humiliate someone for showing dirty dishes, do it in another house." Candado smiled and tossed the letter into the trash, then went to the living room and sat on the couch to watch TV. Kevin and Martina bid him farewell and left the house, promising to return tomorrow. Once Candado relaxed in his chair, he took off his beret and placed it on a nearby table. Then, he snapped his fingers, and his usual formal attire transformed into a light blue pajama, white sweatpants, and a red T-shirt, along with black socks.


    After finishing changing, he laid down on the sofa and turned on the television. He had no intention of moving from that spot for a long time. However, when he was fully relaxed, someone knocked on the door, and Candado, reluctantly, got up, adjusted his pajamas, and opened the door. Outside stood his friend Mauricio.


    "Oops, sorry if I bothered you."


    "Save the jokes for later and tell me why you''re here."


    "I came to pick up Yara."


    "She''s sleeping in my bed. Come in if you want..."


    "No, no, it''s fine. If she''s asleep, I''ll come back tomorrow. You could call on the phone instead of making this trip."


    "Nah, it''s better to do it this way. That way, you can get some exercise." Candado scratched his forehead with his pinky finger and looked at the ground.


    "And look, I''d appreciate it if you didn''t do that because it really irritates me to be bothered in that way."


    "Alright, I won''t do it anymore." Mauricio took off his hat and bowed. "See you tomorrow, Candado."


    Later, a bunch of leaves enveloped him, and he disappeared.


    "Arrogant," said Candado as he closed the door.


    Once the conversation with Mauricio was over, he locked the door and sat back on his sofa. He started watching the news on TV, but soon got bored and turned it off. He reclined in the chair and began reading a book titled "Operaci¨®n Masacre" by Rodolfo Walsh.


    While Candado enjoyed his reading, Hammya, who was dressed in comfortable home attire¡ªshorts and a yellow blouse¡ªdescended the stairs slowly with the intention of scaring him. However, when she was very close to him, Candado noticed her.


    "I know you''re there, Esmeralda. I felt a little breeze on my back when you stood there," said Candado as he turned the page.


    Hammya jumped over the back of the chair and sat next to him.


    "How do you do that?"


    "When you concentrate, you can feel even a bacterium''s sneeze," he then looked at Hammya with his cold demeanor, "Never do that again."


    "Do what?"


    Then, Candado looked back at his book.


    "Jump like that on the sofa; you''ll break it, little emerald."


    "Little? Emerald? Where do you come up with these nicknames?"


    "I invent them based on the situation," said Candado as he turned another page.


    "Are you like this with everyone?"


    "With everyone, without exception, so don''t feel special or singled out.


    "What if I call you ''Boinudo''? Would you like that?"


    "You wouldn''t dare."


    "Why not?"


    "Because you fear me enough not to call me that," he said while crossing his legs.


    "That''s not true," said Hammya, annoyed.


    "It is true," said Candado without taking his eyes off the book.


    "It''s not true."


    "It is true. You got scared the first time we met, you got scared when we talked about my sister, and you got scared when you dared to blackmail me." Hammya raised her index finger and stood there with her mouth open. Candado was right; in those mentioned situations, she had felt fear.


    "See? Scared to death."


    "Shut up."


    Hammya lifted her feet and crossed them.


    "Little girl?"


    "Now what do you want?"


    "If I bother you so much, why do you sit next to me?"


    "I can''t leave you alone, my father told me."


    Candado looked up and stared at her.


    "What did he exactly say?"


    "He always talked to me about you, saying that you were somewhat cold and calculating. He also told me about how you are with people, that despite being very stern, you are someone trustworthy. Someone like that in the world is very rare."


    "You flatter me, girl," said Candado sarcastically as he resumed reading his book.


    "Now I want to ask you a question. How did you meet Yara or come across her?"


    "When I was eight years old, the forest caught fire. I don''t know how or why it happened, but with Mauricio''s help, who was ten at the time, and other comrades, we managed to stop the fire before it reached the town. When all that was over, Mauricio and I did a reconnaissance in the forest to find out if there were any injuries or not. In that stretch, we came across a snake''s nest, there was only one egg. At first, I didn''t want to take care of it, but Mauricio convinced me to do it. However, after a few days, we found out that the egg wouldn''t survive because our care was not enough. That''s when I decided to save it by giving a little bit of my power. When I did that, the shell broke, and a Yarar¨¢ came out of it. You can''t imagine the scare I got from seeing a venomous snake. I backed away from it or him; I didn''t know the gender very well, but not Mauricio. He not only stayed close to the snake but also lifted it onto his lap. When I approached, its colors changed, and it turned dark with small red circles all over its back. When I decided to pet its head, BAM! It transformed into a baby, and I got scared again. I remember falling backward to the ground, and she came towards me, and... well, the rest is known. I raised her along with Mauricio for five years, and she became what she is now. As you can see, she still can''t transform well into a human, but I like her, and indeed, even though it may be strange for others, I love her like a daughter."


    "That''s... the craziest thing I''ve heard."


    "It won''t be the only thing you find."


    "Truthfully, it''s very strange to see that you''re a father at such a young age."


    "It''s not that difficult."


    "Even if you say that, it''s still strange."


    "It''s not strange, girl. Yara sees me as a father, and I love her like a daughter. It''s normal. I took care of her along with Mauricio."


    "Do you know something?"


    Candado didn''t respond and continued reading his book.


    "You''re very difficult to categorize. You''re cold and yet kind, serious and yet cheerful, one day you''re a jerk, and the next day a gentleman. Honestly, I don''t know who you are."


    "That''s nothing. You should meet Joaqu¨ªn Barreto. He''s worse than me."


    "Who is he?"


    "A friend of mine. He''s just like H¨¦ctor. I must admit he helped me a lot, although I always wonder if his friendship with me was accidental or already written."


    "I didn''t see him at school."


    "Naturally, he lives in Resistencia."


    "It''s also strange that you have many friends despite your gloomy exterior."


    Candado closed the book and looked into Hammya''s eyes.


    "Tell me, girl, do I scare you?"


    "I... I don''t know."


    "Then stop saying that I''m gloomy because I''m not. That you''re afraid of me is different."


    "But, you really are scary."


    "And you denied it earlier."


    "Hey, seriously, you''re scary."


    "A while ago, you said you didn''t know why you were afraid of me."


    "Candado, the other day, you confronted those three people in the forest, and then the same thing happened in the garden."


    Candado opened his book again and continued reading on the page where he left off, doing it so seamlessly that it seemed as if he had already read it.


    "Candado, I don''t know how you don''t realize, you fought with them without even showing a trace of emotion."


    "Did you want me to laugh, cry, or what?"


    "No, but it''s too gloomy. I''m surprised you don''t realize it. It''s as if you were a machine built only for fighting."


    "I think you should stop watching TV; you''re getting weird."


    "Me? Weird? I''m more normal than you."


    Candado turned and looked her up and down.


    "Oh yes, you''re very normal. I envy you. How I wish I had green hair," Candado said sarcastically.


    "You''re very mean; I told you I was born this way."


    "And I was talking and reading three seconds after being born."


    "I''m serious."


    "So am I."


    Hammya closed her eyes and sighed.


    "Hey, sometimes I wonder if there''s any kindness in that shell of yours."


    "If I didn''t have it, I wouldn''t be in this house, and I wouldn''t be listening to your nonsense right now, so take that as a yes."


    "You said you would treat me with more respect."


    "That was before you knew I''m sick," Candado said while reading his book.


    "That changes nothing; remember you have to treat me as such."


    "No, I won''t until you prove it''s worth doing so."


    "Aren''t you polite?"


    "I am, but those who extort me deserve all my anger."


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    "Wouldn''t that be the other way around?"


    "No, because if you open your mouth, I''ll personally take care of opening your stomach side by side, taking out your organs and feeding my Bari."


    Hammya grimaced, as T¨ªnbari had said something similar.


    "On the other hand, if you hadn''t told me, you would treat me well, right?"


    "It depends, but now you''re in this situation, so forget it."


    "If you kill me, you would be breaking a promise with my father."


    "I don''t necessarily need to kill you; I can make your life impossible."


    "I don''t think you''re that way, after all, you''re kind."


    "Prove it."


    "Nah, I''ll pass."


    "That''s better."


    "Actually... I''m surprised you can read and talk at the same time."


    "When you go through a damn Bari''s sphere, it can keep your mind in good condition, to the point where you can think about more than ten things. I think about thirty-seven things at once."


    "Is that... normal?"


    "According to T¨ªnbari, I''m the first human to achieve such a thing."


    "What is that sphere you mentioned?"


    "When you possess a Bari, they give you five kinds of challenges, which you can either complete or not. Among them are the sphere of a thousand terrors, poisonous blood, the tongue of knowledge, the eyes of condemnation, and the hands of fear."


    Hammya was petrified upon hearing that harsh challenge, and Candado''s explanation only heightened her fear.


    The dialogue continued:


    "What do those five things do?" asked Hammya curiously.


    Candado took a moment to respond.


    "Well, the sphere makes you strong, both physically and mentally, but in terms of years that pass like minutes, and it''s filled with pain, hunger, thirst, madness, and other deadly threats. You can stay there for years if you wish, but that''s why most people don''t dare to complete the five challenges."


    "Did you do all five?" inquired Hammya, impressed.


    Candado nodded solemnly.


    "Yes, all five."


    "It must have been extremely difficult."


    "It certainly was," replied Candado, recalling his own experiences.


    Hammya, with a mix of admiration and astonishment, continued with her questions:


    "How do these challenges benefit you?"


    Candado grinned mockingly.


    "You''re very curious today, aren''t you?"


    "Excuse me, but the world is very different from what I believed," Hammya justified.


    Candado nodded and began to explain:


    "Well, then I''ll tell you the good and the bad things that come with these five challenges."


    Hammya was eager to hear more.


    "I find it fantastic, I suppose," she said.


    Candado continued:


    "In the Sphere of Terror, you spend a thousand days inside, while only a minute passes out here. If you pass this first challenge, you won''t feel pain, won''t experience physical fatigue, and can keep your mind occupied with more than ten thoughts at once. Only I can think of thirty-seven things. The downside is that if you let yourself go, you might die of hunger, thirst, or exhaustion, not to mention that in a fight, you''ll bleed to death if you suffer severe injuries."


    "And what is that ''poisonous blood'' you mentioned earlier?" asked Hammya, intrigued.


    Candado lowered his gaze before responding.


    "Poisonous blood is drinking the blood of your Bari, at least a liter of it; otherwise, the challenge fails, and you die. It''s called poisonous because it consumes your soul and your blood for three minutes. If you can''t endure it during that time, you''ll die. Even the training in the sphere can''t alleviate that intense pain when you drink it. The good part is that you can feel your body more flexible, become immune to poisons and diseases, gain superior power, and become a thousand times stronger than anyone else. The downside, however, is that you might lose a bit of sanity in the process."


    Hammya''s curiosity prompted her to ask more questions.


    "What is the Tongue of Knowledge?" inquired Hammya with interest.


    Candado, with an enigmatic expression, began to explain:


    "It''s the Roob¨®leo language, nearly impossible to understand, and the only way to learn it is by having a near-death experience since only Death Baris comprehend it. The advantage is that it grants you greater self-confidence and the ability to harness my magic to the fullest. It also teaches you to communicate with other Baris. The downside is that once mastered, you no longer fear death or anything similar."


    "I see. And what about the Eyes of Condemnation, what are they?" asked Hammya, intrigued by the perspective of a Bari.


    Candado revealed:


    "With the Eyes of Condemnation, you can see everything from a Bari''s perspective. It helps you identify a hidden Bari or a nearby enemy. However, the challenge is to face your worst fears and overcome them."


    Hammya continued her inquiry:


    "And the Hands of Fear?"


    Candado hesitated before responding.


    "Well, I can''t tell you that."


    "Why?" asked Hammya, puzzled.


    "It''s too raw for you."


    "What?" Hammya was even more intrigued.


    "I''ll tell you when the time is right.


    "That''s quite strange," said Candado, changing the subject.


    "For you, everything is strange. I''m surprised your father never explained everything to you before coming here."


    "I think... he was afraid I''d know about his past," confessed Hammya.


    Candado looked up and asked without looking at Hammya:


    "His past?"


    "Yes, once, while playing in the garden under the rain, I entered the house and found an open room. My curiosity led me to explore, and at the back of the room, I discovered an old wooden chest. I opened it and found numerous medals and a title whose meaning I didn''t know. However, I could understand a phrase that intrigued me deeply: ''Monsters are humans, and humans are monsters.''"


    Candado''s gaze brightened upon hearing this, although Hammya didn''t notice and continued with her story.


    "Inside the title, I found this," Hammya searched her pocket and handed a badge, or rather a pin, to Candado.


    Candado was completely stunned by the object: a symbol resembling a storm''s lightning bolt. The mere sight of it filled him with emotion, causing him to fall off the couch, moving away from Hammya. She, concerned, tried to help him.


    "NO! Don''t touch me, don''t come near, Hammya," said Candado on the floor.


    "What''s happening? What did I do wrong?" asked Hammya, confused.


    "Nothing, it''s just..." Candado struggled to find the words. "Please, stay away and leave me alone."


    Hammya didn''t understand what was happening and approached despite the warning. But every time she tried, Candado created a circle of violet fire around him to keep her at bay.


    "Go away, Hammya. I don''t want your help," said Candado sadly.


    At that precise moment, Clementina appeared and jumped from the stairs, landing in the center of Candado''s fire circle.


    "What a mess," she thought deep in her mind.


    Clementina tried to help Candado to his feet while expressing concern for his condition.


    "What''s happening, sir?" she asked with worry.


    But before Candado could complete his response, he began to cough up blood, this time unable to hide it. Drops of blood spilled onto the floor as he continued to cough, holding his mouth with his hand. Finally, he knelt and fell to the ground, continuing to convulse with coughing spasms.


    The scene left Clementina and Hammya momentarily paralyzed until Hammya gave an urgent command:


    "Call Hip¨®lito, now."


    "NO!" shouted Candado, still spitting blood.


    "Don''t mind him, go now," insisted Hammya.


    Clementina rushed to Candado''s room, but he grabbed her leg forcefully, causing her to fall to the ground. Then, Candado quickly stood up and pulled out a vial from his pocket, the same one Nelson had given him. He uncorked it and drank almost half of its contents. After a moment, Candado stabilized, but before he could say a word, he fainted. However, as he was about to fall to the ground, Clementina held him with her hands on his back, as if lifting a heavy object.


    "Help me, miss," requested Clementina.


    Hammya ran towards them and helped support her friend. At that moment, T¨ªnbari appeared and carried Candado''s body.


    "Wait, where were you?" asked Hammya, surprised.


    "Nowhere, bolts, nowhere," T¨ªnbari responded enigmatically.


    T¨ªnbari carried Candado''s body to Hammya''s room, with Clementina and Hammya following him. One of them opened the door, and T¨ªnbari carefully placed Candado on the bed. Blood could still be seen on his mouth and glove, so T¨ªnbari took a handkerchief from his pocket and began to clean the blood clot on his lip.


    When he finished, T¨ªnbari put away the handkerchief and removed the blood-stained white gloves. He searched through them until he found a yellow circle on Candado''s right palm.


    "It''s progressing; it seems he won''t make it to a year if it continues like this," informed T¨ªnbari.


    "What does he have?" asked Hammya, concerned.


    T¨ªnbari looked at Clementina before responding.


    "I think there''s no need to hide it from you anymore."


    "What are they hiding from me?" inquired Hammya, confused.


    "Candado has a spell running through his veins; he has a year left to live."


    Hammya was left speechless, trying to understand why Candado had kept this information from her for so long.


    "I think he did it so you wouldn''t worry. After all, even if he doesn''t seem like it, he is very kind," Clementina tried to console her.


    "I think... you''re very right. It''s not the first time he''s hidden something from me," admitted Hammya.


    Clementina''s words momentarily eased Hammya''s confusion. However, this situation raised more questions than answers.


    While everyone tried to assimilate the situation, T¨ªnbari posed a difficult question:


    "What did you do to make him like this?"


    Hammya was surprised to hear T¨ªnbari mention that Candado had asked her to stay away from him.


    "How do you know that? You weren''t there," said Hammya in astonishment.


    T¨ªnbari smiled maliciously as he replied:


    "My mind and Candado''s mind are one. If he''s in danger, I feel it and find out why. This time, I felt your name being mentioned as he faded away."


    The demon''s words resonated in Hammya''s mind, filling her with unease. She didn''t know whether to reveal the object that had brought Candado to the brink of madness or come up with an excuse. However, the second option was too risky; she feared that if they discovered her lying, they would expel her from the house. So she decided to be honest. She pulled out the same lightning bolt symbol from her pocket with her right hand.


    When T¨ªnbari saw it, his eyes widened in amazement. It seemed as if he had seen a ghost.


    "The mother who bore him, the damn lightning pin. Where did you get that?" exclaimed T¨ªnbari in surprise.


    "I''ll tell you if you tell me what this means," replied Hammya, holding the symbol.


    "It''s identical to the pin Miss Europa gave Gabriela for her birthday," declared Clementina in surprise.


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    "The shirt... from that night was identical... Oh no," T¨ªnbari whispered to himself.


    He remembered that the pin had fallen in front of Candado on that stormy night, which had led him to panic. He looked at the unconscious Candado and then at Hamada.


    She was shocked by the revelation, not fully understanding what was happening.


    "I knew it, I knew you couldn''t be trusted. You''re a damn traitor, and you''re going to die," growled T¨ªnbari with anger, fear, and confusion.


    "What did I do?" asked Hammya, confused and scared.


    T¨ªnbari lunged at her, but before he could reach her, Clementina stood between them.


    "Wait, there might be a resolution to this problem without resorting to violence," suggested Clementina courageously.


    "Get out of the way, tin can," ordered T¨ªnbari, trying to push her aside.


    "No, sir, I won''t move. My job is to take care of the Barret family."


    "She''s not part of this family. If you don''t move, then I will, and I assure you, you won''t like it," threatened T¨ªnbari.


    "You are forbidden from attacking the beings in this house," intervened Clementina with determination.


    Clementina transformed her hands into weapons and aimed at T¨ªnbari, ready to defend Hammya.


    "You''re not going to touch Miss Hammya while I''m here," warned Clementina.


    T¨ªnbari, fed up with the situation, grabbed Clementina by the neck and tossed her aside brutally. Then, with a cruel gesture, he ripped off her arms and threw them to the floor from Candado''s wardrobe. Once Clementina was neutralized, he turned again towards Hammya.


    Hammya, with no other options, closed her eyes and started crying, expecting the worst. However, for the second time, nothing happened. When she opened her eyes, she saw Candado standing, holding T¨ªnbari''s claws as the latter looked at him in surprise.


    Candado, with impressive strength, pushed T¨ªnbari''s arm backward and kneed him in the chest, followed by a blow to his face. This made T¨ªnbari stagger back abruptly.


    "Not only do you destroy Clementina''s arms, but you also try to harm Hammya," said Candado as he took Hammya''s hand and helped her to her feet.


    "It''s... it''s for your own good," argued T¨ªnbari.


    "No, it''s not. If you want to contradict me, I''ll rip off those horns of yours," threatened Candado. Then, he looked at Clementina, who was sitting on the floor without arms. "Are you okay?"


    "Yes, sir, I''m... I''m... I''m fine," replied Clementina as she struggled to articulate the words.


    Candado turned his furious gaze back to T¨ªnbari.


    "I can tolerate your insults, your mockery, and your damn obligations to fight with other subjects, but I won''t allow you to harm my comrades or the people I care about the most."


    "But..."


    Candado interrupted T¨ªnbari firmly:


    "I''M TALKING! You won''t draw conclusions when I''m not present or unconscious. Is that clear?"


    "Yes, Candado. I apologize for being so harsh with the ladies," T¨ªnbari responded with fear and concern on his face, not for his own well-being but for Candado''s.


    "Now, go. I don''t want to see your face for at least two hours."


    "At your command, Candado," T¨ªnbari said before vanishing.


    Once everything returned to relative normalcy, Candado went in search of Clementina''s arms. Then, he retrieved a green toolbox with a white lid from under his bed.


    "Where did you get that, sir?" Hammya asked.


    "Matlotsky gave it to me," he replied as he opened the box and took out a screwdriver. "Don''t worry; it won''t take me long."


    "Why is it here?" Hammya asked again.


    "It''s... confidential."


    "Is it true that you''re sick?" Hammya insisted.


    "One could say," he replied as he screwed Clementina''s arms back in place. "Oh, your shirt is torn. I''ll have to give you a new one."


    "That''s okay; I can fix it," Hammya said. Then, she looked at Candado, though he wasn''t looking at her, she could feel his eyes on her. "Why didn''t you tell me?"


    "Tell you what?" Candado asked incredulously as he worked on the other arm.


    "That I''m in this condition."


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    Candado paused momentarily, locking eyes with her for a brief few seconds before resuming the arm repair.


    "It wasn''t my idea. I let my guard down and thought no one was watching when all that happened. I hoped you wouldn''t mention it to anyone, and..."


    "It was my fault," Hammya interrupted.


    "Sorry?" Candado seemed surprised.


    "I forced him to tell me. I told him if he didn''t, I''d confess it to all his friends, including you."


    Candado closed his eyes and furrowed his brow, not in displeasure but in embarrassment. He was ashamed of being extorted by a girl like Hammya.


    "Well, I can''t believe the young lad..."


    Candado pulled on Clementina''s arm, causing her head to hit the bedside table.


    "Oops, my mistake," he mumbled as Clementina rubbed her forehead.


    "You don''t have to apologize to me, Miss Hammya. You are very kind, and I know you didn''t do it with ill intentions. I''m sure you tried to help the young man... I mean, Mr. Candado."


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    "But I would like to know what all this means," Hammya said with curiosity.


    "What you gave me is a rather painful symbol. I must admit you caught me off guard," Candado showed a sinister smile. "What was it?"


    "It''s a symbol of death, and also... the same symbol my sister had on her back before... she died. I''m incompetent," Candado brought his right hand to his forehead. "I always believed or wanted to make myself believe she died of an illness. But seeing it, I realize my guesses were true."


    "So, it means she was murdered?" Clementina asked.


    "Exactly," confirmed Candado as he helped Clementina to her feet.


    Hammya felt completely remorseful hearing that. She didn''t say anything; she simply looked at the floor, as if contemplating being swallowed by the earth or figuring out what to do next.


    "It''s okay, it wasn''t your fault, Esmeralda. I shouldn''t have reacted like that. It was too shocking for me, so I apologize for treating you that way."


    "I think..."


    "Don''t say anything more, it''s fine as it is."


    "But..."


    "Silence, I don''t want to hear you."


    "If you''ll excuse me, I''ll go fix my sleeves," Clementina said as she withdrew.


    Candado didn''t say anything, he just nodded and headed to the door. He opened it, and as he was about to leave, he spoke without turning around.


    "Rest well; tomorrow is a new day, and I''m sorry."


    Then, he closed the door behind him without looking back. Although he didn''t see it, Hammya showed a relieved smile on her face knowing he had apologized to her. She felt somewhat guilty for making him feel bad, and even though it was insignificant, it was progress in his behavior.


    Candado took a deep breath, exhaled, and headed to his room. When he entered his room, he closed the door behind him and began talking to himself.


    "What the hell am I doing? Why did I react like that?" Then, he brought his left hand to his forehead and continued, "What was that I saw, rain, screams, and that... that stupid pin? And that stupid phrase, I heard it a thousand times, why did it affect me so much? What does that exaggerated reaction mean?"


    Candado exhaled the air that was driving him crazy, inhaled deeply, and managed to calm down. Then, he saw his little Yara sleeping peacefully while hugging her plush toy. Candado approached, took off his shoes, and reclined on the back of his bed, right next to Yara. In a way, he felt moved seeing her sleep. He even smiled as he stroked her soft, long, red hair. While doing that, he glanced at the circle in the palm of his hand, but this time, he paid it no mind and placed his hands on his daughter''s tiny hands. Unaware, he fell completely asleep. For the first time in a long while, a satisfied smile reflected on his cold and threatening face as he drifted into sleep.


    Then T¨ªnbari appeared again, placing his hand on the forehead of the peacefully sleeping man, emitting a faint glow.


    "You don''t have to remember; this will calm you down... just rest and don''t worry about anything. They are just forgotten memories that should remain forgotten. Sleep well."

 AFTER THE STORM

    The next morning, Candado awoke with a sharp pain throughout his body due to the uncomfortable position in which he had slept. The sound of his bones cracking as he moved echoed in the room. The sun penetrated through the curtains, bathing his face in its radiant brightness. As he observed his palm, he noticed that the mysterious circle that had tormented him had disappeared. However, his mind remained haunted, far from finding the peace he longed for.


    Just the day before, Candado had discovered that his sister, Gabriela, had been murdered. A profound sense of guilt engulfed him. His eyes, once vibrant with life, were now dull and contained immense hatred, but he felt helpless. He had vented his anger and frustration on Hammya, who was entirely innocent. Candado felt guilty and wanted to apologize properly to her. If it weren''t for her sensitivity to noises while sleeping, Hammya would have been killed by T¨ªnbari without hesitation, as the latter didn''t hesitate to confront Candado''s enemies.


    It was at that moment that he decided to control his anger and focus on finding the person responsible for the death of his sister and grandfather. He was astonished to discover that Gabriela had not died from an illness but rather from a powerful and deadly spell, a spell that also flowed through his veins. Although death did not scare him, he did not wish to die at that moment. He needed to uncover the truth and catch the culprits, even if it meant killing them. His goal was twofold, but he strongly suspected that both were somehow connected.


    As he tried to move, he realized that Yara, his daughter, was still asleep in his lap with closed eyes. Seeing her like that evoked a feeling of tenderness and nostalgia. He knew he had time to reflect on the matter, but today was a special day, both for him and Yara; it was her birthday.


    Gently, Candado stroked Yara''s cheek with his palm. She was so peacefully sleeping that he hesitated to wake her up, but he didn''t want to spend his day sleeping. So, he lifted her and made her laugh with tickles on her abdomen. Yara laughed and jumped out of bed in a desperate attempt to escape.


    "What''s happening?" asked Candado.


    "It''s time to wake up, Sleeping Beauty."


    "Where am I?" Yara asked as she picked up the little clown lying on the floor.


    "You''re in my house."


    But Yara didn''t pay attention to his words. Instead, she got off the bed and hugged the plush toy.


    "Painted Face, what are you doing on the floor?"


    "Painted Face?"


    "Yes, I just named my new little friend that."


    Candado made a face and lifted Yara.


    "Well, you and Painted Face need to wash your hands," he said with a smile as he led her to the bathroom.


    In the bathroom, he placed her on a small stool so she could reach the sink. Candado turned on the faucet and wet a small towel hanging nearby. Then, he gently wiped Yara''s face, removing the traces of sleep from her eyes and upper lip. Afterward, he took a brush and began to comb her hair as she looked at him through the mirror. Yara noticed a smile on Candado''s face.


    "Today, you seem happier."


    Candado looked at Yara through the mirror as he continued brushing her hair. His daughter''s sweet voice filled the room.


    "Today, you turn five. I''m so proud to see you grow. Five years ago, on a day like today, you came into my life, and that''s something I''m grateful for."


    "I''m also happy to be with you, Uncle Mauricio, Logan, Diana, Clemi, and Hammya."


    Candado raised an eyebrow, intrigued.


    "Who is Hamaya?"


    "Hamaya, Hamaya, the girl with green hair."


    "Oh, you mean Hammya."


    "Yes, her. She''s a good person."


    Candado smiled, although his words didn''t quite match his smile.


    "Yes, I know, although she can be a bit silly, weak, and impertinent at times. But, I guess she also has her good side."


    "She''s very beautiful, very beautiful."


    Candado nodded, contemplating his daughter''s words.


    "Yes, she''s pretty, I can''t deny that."


    After brushing their teeth together, Candado reminded Yara not to swallow the toothpaste. While Candado swallowed the toothpaste, Yara tried to spit it out, but the sink was too high for her. However, Candado lifted her and helped her spit it out properly. Then, he gave her a glass of water to rinse her mouth.


    "Spit it out."


    Yara took the water and, without tilting her head back as she should, ended up soaking herself and Candado. However, instead of getting angry, Candado laughed at Yara''s expression. He took one of the towels from the nearby drawer and helped her clean her face and neck area. Afterward, he dried himself.


    Candado left his toothbrush in its place, and Yara did the same, with her father''s assistance, as she couldn''t reach the countertop on her own.


    "All set, time to get dressed," announced Yara with a smile.


    "Yes, of course."


    Candado and Yara left the bathroom, but before moving forward, Candado took a tie from the hanger and used it to blindfold Yara.


    "What''s going on?" Yara asked, confused.


    "It''s a surprise," replied Candado with a mysterious smile.


    "Surprise! I love surprises."


    Candado went to his wardrobe, opened a green box, and carefully took out a fitted and low-cut violet dress with white details on the collar and sleeves.


    Yara was full of excitement, jumping and clapping in anticipation.


    Candado approached his daughter, bent down to her height, and said:


    "Now I''m going to take off the blindfold, and you, young lady, will keep your eyes closed. Don''t open them until I say so."


    "Alright, I''ll do it!"


    Carefully, Candado removed the tie covering Yara''s eyes. The girl had her eyes tightly closed and furrowed her forehead with intensity.


    "Now you can open them."


    Yara opened her eyes, and upon seeing the dress Candado was holding, she jumped with joy. She grabbed the dress and hugged it tightly, with a radiant doll-like smile on her face.


    "Happy birthday, princess!"


    "I love it, it''s very beautiful. Thank you, Dad, thank you so much," said Yara excitedly as she approached Candado and gave him a tight hug.


    Later, Yara parted from him and ran to the bathroom with the dress in her hands to try it on. Seizing the moment while she was busy, Candado snapped his fingers, and his formal attire appeared in the wardrobe, but this time with some variations: a white double-cuffed shirt with an orange handkerchief instead of a tie, a light red vest, dress pants, and dark shoes.


    Once dressed, he snapped his fingers again, and a comb flew into his hands. He looked at himself in the mirror and combed his hair back, reminiscent of Gardel''s style. Then, he took two white gloves from his drawer and put them on. He grabbed his beret and placed it with elegance, then smiled at his reflection in the mirror.


    Yara came out of the bathroom wearing the dress Candado had given her and a playful smile on her face.


    "How do I look?" she asked, twirling to showcase the dress.


    "It suits you very well, you look very beautiful," replied Candado with a smile.


    "Wow, it suits you well too."


    "Thank you."


    Candado took a mirror and placed it in front of Yara so she could see better.


    "It''s very pretty."


    Candado, hands behind his back, closed his eyes and placed a white hat with a violet ribbon on her head.


    "With this on, you look even prettier."


    Yara was amazed by the new gift, but then she gave an even wider smile.


    "How pretty, it matches my dress!"


    "It''s called ''matches,'' and yes, it goes well with that dress."


    Yara smiled, ran to the bed, and took out her dark patent leather shoes to put them on.


    "Now I''m even prettier than before."


    "Yes, but you''ll always be beautiful," Candado bent down and kissed her forehead. "Now, let''s go."


    Candado stood up and headed towards the door, but just as he was about to reach it, it swung open forcefully, hitting his nose and making him fall to the ground, holding his nose with both hands.


    "SON OF A¡ª!" he yelled on the floor with closed eyes.


    He felt delicate fingers on his shoulder and chest helping him to his feet. When he finally opened his eyes, he saw Hammya looking at him with concern.


    "I thought it would be Clementina breaking my nose this morning," Candado joked as he put a hand on Hammya''s shoulder. "Don''t worry, am I okay?"


    "That''s strange; I thought you''d be in a very bad mood."


    "Not today, it''s a very special day."


    "Alright, little one, let''s go..."


    Candado stopped when he felt a tug on the sleeves of his shirt. He bent down to hear what Yara had to say and then looked at Hammya with a surprised smile.


    "Really? Are you sure?" Yara nodded.


    "What''s going on?" Hammya asked, confused by the sudden invitation.


    "Yara wants to know if you want to come with us."


    The question caught Hammya off guard, and her response was hesitant and fumbling.


    "I... uh... don''t... know... what... I..."


    "Are you coming or not?" Candado asked, showing signs of irritation.


    "Sure," Hammya said, hesitating.


    "Alright, I''ll go get Clementina, and we''ll meet you shortly," Candado continued. "But with that look, you''re not going. Go and change out of those rags."


    "Alright, see you."


    Hammya rushed to her room while Candado and Yara left the room.


    "She''s... very strange," commented Candado, smiling.


    Then, Candado took Yara''s hand, and they headed to the living room. They found Clementina sitting, sewing a doll, with a smile on her face.


    "Clementina, I''ve come to invite you to..."


    "To go with you to the meadow," Clementina interrupted while cutting the thread with her hand turned into scissors.


    "Oh... yes, can you?"


    "Of course, I have nothing to do. Don Hip¨®lito made breakfast while I finished sewing."


    "Sewing? What are you sewing?"


    Clementina stood up and walked towards them. Then, she looked at Yara and bent down to her height, causing the girl to take a step back. Clementina took her delicate right hand and handed her the doll she had been sewing moments ago.


    "Happy birthday, little miss."


    Yara looked at the doll and hugged Clementina.


    "Thank you, Clemi, thank you so much."


    "It''s been a pleasure," replied Clementina as she reciprocated the hug.


    Candado was moved to see the scene between Clementina and his girl, although he didn''t show it on his face.


    "Alright, let''s wait," said Candado as he sat on the couch.Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.


    "Wait for what?" asked Clementina.


    "Wait for Hammya to finish getting dressed."


    "Is she coming with us?"


    "Yes, it wasn''t my idea, but Yara wanted her to be there."


    "Oh, why doesn''t it surprise me?"


    "What are you insinuating, girl?"


    "Nothing."


    Yara approached Candado and sat on his lap.


    "It''s going to be so much fun if she comes too."


    Clementina joined them.


    "By the way, where did you buy her that dress?"


    "You don''t think you''re the only one who can sew, do you?"


    "Are you telling me you made it with your own hands?"


    "My mom taught me to be a tailor when she had time for me."


    "A tailor? I don''t have that information in my data. Would you mind explaining?"


    "A tailor is a person who professionally cuts and sews suits, especially for gentlemen, although I had to research how to make a dress."


    Clementina''s eyes shimmered orange for a moment before returning to normal.


    "New knowledge acquired."


    "Ha, where have I heard that before?"


    "Hey, let''s play a bit," said Yara as she tugged on her scarf.


    Candado smiled and snapped his fingers. As he did, objects in the house, like books, ornaments, pencils, and other things in the room, began to float and take various forms: a car, a bear, a star, a cloud, a crescent moon, a sun, a mustache with a monocle and top hat. All this was done by his index finger, rotating on its axis, changing the shapes over and over again. This brought more than one smile to little Yara, and not just to her, but also to him. Candado loved to see Yara smile and be amazed, as he was one of those people who felt happy when they saw others happy. Clementina, who was watching, noticed the unusual sight of Candado being content instead of his usual angry or serious expression.


    When Candado finished his little demonstration, he put all the objects back in their places. Hammya came down the stairs wearing a green blouse that reached her knees.


    "I see you like to match when dressing," said Candado, maintaining his unchanging expression.


    "Why do you say that?" asked Hammya.


    "For nothing."


    "Alright, are we going now?" asked Yara as she tugged on her scarf.


    "Yes, yes, let''s go now."


    Candado lifted Yara from his lap and stood up, took the girl''s hand, and they left the house.


    On the way, Yara stayed hidden behind Candado, never taking a step beyond his legs. This brought a certain tenderness to Hammya, while Candado made sure to protect Yara from any danger, as the only things that betrayed her as non-human were her snake eyes and her tail.


    Finally, they arrived at the meadow they were talking about. To everyone''s surprise, they found Mauricio lying under a tree, playing with his staff. Yara let go of Candado''s hand and ran towards Mauricio. When she was close enough, Yara jumped and hugged him. This surprised Mauricio, who fell to the ground. When Yara looked up, she saw two hooded figures, prompting her to scream for help.


    Upon hearing the scream, Candado ran along with Clementina and Hammya to find out what was happening. When they arrived, the three prepared to fight until one of the figures spoke.


    "Well, I didn''t know you would be here, Candado."


    "Who are you, and how do you know my name?" asked Candado, pointing with his dagger.


    The two dark figures removed their hoods and turned out to be Kevin and Martina.


    "It''s us, Candado."


    "I thought you had left."


    "I thought so too, but we decided to stay a few more days here. After all, there are no circuists in this area."


    "Area? This area?"


    Mauricio, who was on the ground, got up and looked at Candado.


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    "I''m showing them around since they said they wanted to live around here."


    "But... this area," Candado looked around and continued, "this area belongs to Logan."


    "And so what?"


    "Did you consult with him before letting them stay?"


    "Do you think I''m stupid, Candado?"


    "No, but it wouldn''t be the first time you''ve pulled this prank."


    Mauricio burst into laughter and said.


    "But that day was because I was bored and wanted to do something fun, but since you showed up, I wanted to mess with you a bit."


    "You''re a..."


    "Don''t worry, Logan approves of this, it''s all good."


    Kevin and Martina interrupted.


    "Excuse us, but what the hell are you talking about?"


    "Nothing, Kevin, nothing."


    "Wow, I didn''t know you two already knew each other."


    "We had the pleasure of meeting, yes."


    "Uh-huh, then it was surely in a fight."


    "How did you know that?" Kevin asked.


    "Ha, because all of Candado''s friends fought with him the first time they met him."


    "Did you have to say it?" Candado said with his hands on his eyes.


    Mauricio smiled, lifted Yara onto his shoulders, and said.


    "Don''t be like that, after all, it''s our little princess''s birthday."


    "Yes, let''s have fun," Yara said.


    "How beautiful your little sister is, Candado," Martina said.


    "Oh no, no, no, he''s my dad."


    "I knew that face belonged to an adult who experienced ''certain physiological things.''"


    "I don''t know what you''re saying, Kevin, but I adopted her."


    "Ahrre, it was a joke."


    Mauricio applauded and said.


    "Well, then, let''s have some fun."


    That was how it went; Candado and the others played various games, not only with Yara and the other two but also invited Mauricio and the two Bailak. It was entertaining, Candado showed himself happy and content that day, something that caught the attention of Hammya and Clementina.


    Yara was like a storm in motion, nothing could stop her. She was very happy to spend the day with her father and the others, even though she encountered two unexpected people, she got along well with them. They didn''t bother or make her uncomfortable at any moment; on the contrary, she got along better with them. But the person she liked the most was Martina, God knows why. She spent more time playing with Martina, Candado, Hammya, Clementina, Mauricio, and Kevin. They participated in various games like hide and seek, soccer (with Mauricio''s ball), and tag.


    In many cases, Candado would lift Yara by the waist and raise her in the air, both smiling. Yara moved her tiny arms up and down, as if she were flapping to fly through the air like a bird. She smiled while in the sky, often reaching out her hands to try to touch the clouds. Obviously, that was impossible, but she kept trying to touch the fluffy clouds. Candado ran around with his little one in the air, but at one point, Candado stumbled and fell to the ground. However, to prevent her from getting hurt, he raised his arms high and ended up chest down on the ground, hurting himself but not Yara.


    When Candado ended up on the ground, Yara got down and went to see his face to check if he was injured. When she was in front of him, Candado lifted his face and laughed heartily, hugging Yara.


    "Don''t worry, princess, I''m fine."


    "I thought you got hurt because of me."


    "Oh no, of course not."


    Candado stood up, fixed himself a bit, and sat under a nearby tree. From that spot, he watched his little one having fun with the others. After a few minutes, Kevin walked over with his hands in his pants'' pockets and sat next to Candado.


    "You know, I think I owe you an apology."


    "Why?" Candado asked, still watching Yara.


    "For the ''greeting'' I gave you yesterday."


    "Don''t worry, it''s my fault. I should have hit or warned about my presence before entering."


    Kevin leaned against the trunk and said.


    "It''s the first time I''m interacting with other people. It seems like it was centuries ago."


    "Tell me, what is Martina to you?"


    Kevin looked at him curiously and replied.


    "She''s my sister; I take care of her from the great dangers that threaten us every day."


    Candado tilted his head.


    "Do you know? I also need to apologize, on behalf of the W.O.G.A.B. and all the guilds worldwide following Harambee." He looked at Kevin, took off his beret, and nodded his head again. "I apologize on behalf of the international institution for the shame of remaining silent for years about the massacre of the Bailak."


    "Lift those killer dog eyes of yours," Kevin said without looking at him and continued, "The Bailak handle all kinds of powers, natural and artificial, but we can''t change history. My father always said it''s wrong to generalize things. My mistake was blaming the entire organization. I want to believe that someone in that institution tried to help us, that not everyone is bad, but every time I try to think about it, it just makes me angrier. Angry that if they had at least done something, my mother, my father, and who knows how many more lives could have been saved. Martina is all I have left; I can''t leave her alone." He looked at the ground and then glanced towards Martina. "It''s funny; it''s the first time I see her having fun with other people."


    "I know how it feels," Candado said with a nostalgic voice. "I lost family too."


    Kevin looked at Candado again with the same curious expression.


    "What happened to you?"


    "Well, I lost my sister due to a spell they cast on her. For years, I thought she had died from an illness, but it wasn''t until yesterday... that I learned the truth about my sister. I''m sure that if she were still alive, she would befriend Martina, and she would be proud to see Yara growing up day by day."


    "I''m sorry..."


    "We are all the same, Kevin. We encounter suffering, no matter what kind of life you have, whether you are rich, poor, mortal, immortal, you will always find sadness. It''s something inescapable, like death."


    "You''re very strange when you talk, as well as your view of the world."


    "I''m often told that, and I always say the same thing: ''You''ll get used to it.'' I hope someone in this vast world tells me something that isn''t always the same."


    "Well, it''s not normal to see a child your age thinking so deeply."


    "I wonder when the world became so insensitive."


    "What do you mean?"


    "Well, it''s stranger for a child like me to think so deeply, but it''s not strange for a child to have magic. Society is so contradictory."


    "Ahrre."


    "I think I''m starting to get irritated with that catchphrase."


    "Ahrre?"


    Candado acted as if he didn''t hear, lay down on the grass, and looked with relaxation at the beautiful leaves of the tree. The gentle morning breeze could be heard delighting in the trees around them.


    "I wish this would never end."


    "Unfortunately, all beautiful things have an end."


    "Yes, I know; it''s a shame that life is like this. You Bailak are lucky; you''re immortal."


    "No, it''s not."


    "Why?"


    "Maybe Martina and I are eternal, but it will be painful to see our friends die from old age, unable to hold onto them even."


    Candado covered his eyes with his beret and said, "Yesterday is the past, the future is a mystery, but today is a gift, that''s why it''s called the present."


    Kevin didn''t say anything else; he just kept silent and thought about what Candado had said. He was right, even though they didn''t know each other much, Kevin saw great kindness in the young man despite his outward appearance. He noticed it when he personally went to see them to save Addel, who was terribly ill, even though these two didn''t know each other, and also when he had spied on him with Yara; that peace and kindness cannot be faked, at least not for him.


    While Candado had his beret on his face, Kevin carefully observed the people around Candado. He could tell that they, no matter what happens, would stand by him in the worst moments, something he didn''t understand. Candado was an enigma to everyone around him; he is hard to figure out.


    As Kevin tried to decipher the indiscernible nature of Candado, Mauricio arrived and sat next to Candado.


    "Heavens, how Yara runs," he looked at Kevin, "How are you, friend?"


    "Good, thank you."


    Mauricio looked at Candado and said, "I better not ask you."


    "Well, don''t, and that''s it," Candado said with the beret over his eyes.


    "Ha, I thought you were asleep."


    "No, I never was; I just love feeling in harmony."


    At that moment, the others approached where Candado, Kevin, and Mauricio were. Yara ran towards him and jumped onto his chest, causing him to stand up quickly.


    "Don''t do that anymore, please."


    "Okay, I won''t do it anymore," Yara said with a smile.


    "Wow, I''m exhausted," Hammya said as she wiped sweat from her forehead and sat in front of Candado.


    "And you can say that again," Martina said as she lay down on the ground next to Kevin.


    "By the way, sir, why didn''t you go to Mauricio''s forest to celebrate Miss Yara''s birthday?" Clementina asked as she sat next to Candado.


    "Because this son of a bitch refused to pull out the poisonous weeds," Candado said while covering Yara''s ears.


    "I told you I''m not going to pull out anything in my forest."


    "And I told you that Yara won''t go there until you remove those damn weeds; they do a lot of harm to the girl. You don''t know how I was the last time she got sick."


    "What did you do?" Hammya asked.


    "Nothing, I did nothing."


    "He stayed by her side day and night, lowering her fever, acting as both a father and a mother at the same time."


    "What... what a big mouth you have," Candado said indignantly while showing his clenched teeth.


    "But it''s not bad; your daughter got sick, and you stayed with her all day, didn''t you?" Hammya looked at Mauricio and continued, "When did that happen?"


    "A year ago, you should have seen that look of desperation when her fever wouldn''t go down."


    "It''s not for jokes, kid. It was one of the most desperate moments of my life; I was very worried to see my little one in that situation," he said while resting his cheek on Yara''s head.


    "Well, it would be hypocritical to say I wasn''t worried; I was scared too. I was the one responsible for making medicines with medicinal herbs for the Tobas."


    "And you know why that happened? Because the young gentleman didn''t remove the poisonous weeds."


    "I must admit that was my fault," Mauricio said, scratching his head.


    "Hey, everyone gave me a gift, but you didn''t give me anything."


    "It''s ''you all,'' Yara," Candado said, still with his cheek on the girl''s head.


    At that moment, Mauricio took a tiny box from his poncho and took out a gold chain with a snake-shaped "S," placing it around Yara''s neck. Meanwhile, the siblings gave her teddy bears shaped like bears.


    "How did you get something so expensive?" Candado asked, pointing at the necklace.


    "I had help from your other daughters."


    "Other daughters?" Hammya asked, surprised.


    "I''m talking about Erika and Lucy, the twins you met a few days ago."


    "Yes, but daughters? Daughters?"


    Candado sighed and said:


    "They never knew their father because he was a real son of a bitch. He impregnated a twenty-three-year-old woman and ran away to avoid taking responsibility for his daughters. Before they met me, they hated men intensely because of what this nature''s mistake had done to them, not to mention that their mother instilled her hatred for men too much in her daughters. When they moved here and started going to school, they found me and Hector having breakfast in the classroom."


    "What happened?" Yara asked.


    "Hector wanted to be their friend."


    "Oh, how sweet."


    "It would be, but they slapped Hector so hard that he fell off his chair. And when they came towards me to do the same, I put my textbook on my cheek, and they hurt their hand."


    "Who exactly did that to you?" Hammya asked.


    "It was Lucy. While Erika also suffered from misandry, she would never dare to raise her hand against someone."


    "How did you get along with them?"


    "Well, thanks to Isidro, I didn''t have to fight them. First, we started talking civilly, and slowly we started getting along."


    "How long ago was that?" Hammya asked again.


    "More than three years ago."


    "Changing the subject, why the term ''daughters''?"


    "Because the sisters see Candado as a father figure. You don''t need to be an expert in observation to see the formality and naturalness in how the three of them talk to each other. The only difference between Yara and the sisters is that none of them calls him dad, at least I never heard them."


    "Sister Lucy scares me," Yara said while playing with her doll.


    "I think you''re more different than I thought," Kevin said.


    "It''s true, it''s strange to see you experiencing parenthood at an early age," Martina said.


    Mauricio crossed his arms, leaned against the tree, and said:


    "That''s what makes him a wonderful being."


    Candado closed his eyes and said:


    "Never call me that again, Mauricio. It leaves a bad taste in my mouth when people call me that way."


    "Heh, his attitude is very funny, young boss," Clementina said mockingly.


    Candado, with the orbit of his eyes looking up and showing his teeth, said:


    "Be thankful that it''s Yara''s birthday, and on top of everything, she''s a minor, because I assure you, I would have ripped out your speakers."


    Everyone laughed at what Candado said, including Hammya. They all laughed at what he had said, even though he said it seriously, but Candado had noticed at that moment that it was very beautiful, and he didn''t want to spoil it. Deep down in his heart, he loved seeing his friends happy and carefree. But in his mind, there was a little voice telling him that all beautiful things have an end, sometimes an abrupt one. If he wanted this moment to last as long as possible, he had to protect it. That doesn''t mean he''s entirely pessimistic; unfortunately, his logical nature always seeks an explanation even in places where no relevant information is needed, despite trying all the time to separate that thought from his everyday life, he never succeeds. Every day he wonders when, how, and why he started thinking that way.


    But today was his daughter''s birthday, and he didn''t like the idea of having to think about his problems. Just for today, for the first time, he wanted to forget about the important issues that knock on his door every day of the week. He just wanted to see her laugh, wanted to see her play, and most importantly, he wanted to be with her. He had been so busy in the last few days that he didn''t have time to be by her side, and today he wanted to make up for lost time. Candado smiled, turned Yara around, and looked into her eyes.


    "What else do you want to do today, my little snake?"


    Yara nestled on his chest and said.


    "I want to stay a little longer here; it''s so nice to spend a day with my dad."


    "Oh, I''m jealous," Mauricio said sarcastically.


    "Shut up..."


    "I''m so sleepy," Yara said suddenly as she rubbed her left eye.


    Candado remained motionless upon hearing that.


    "Clementina, what time is it?" Mauricio asked with crossed arms.


    "It''s 11:06 in the morning."


    "It''s early; what time did you wake up?" Mauricio asked.


    "Well, we woke up at 9:23 in the morning."


    "No surprise; with me, they wake up at 11:00 in the morning or at 1:00 in the afternoon. I''m not one of those people who wake up as early as you, except on those occasions when we study."


    Candado watched his little Yara sleep so peacefully on his chest. On her face, a certain tenderness and relaxation were visible. Candado stroked Yara''s head and placed his hand on her forehead with a rather cold expression, but after a few seconds, a faint and calm smile appeared. When Mauricio was about to put his hand on Candado''s shoulder, Hammya instinctively stopped him. It was as if she wanted to keep that smile that very rarely showed. It seemed as if his true "self" was well buried in that hard and cold shell. It was surprising that a five-year-old girl could awaken that side of Candado. But he would be lying if he said she was the only one who could do it, as her sister Karen could do the same with him. It was as if the only thing in the world that brought more than one smile to his face was these two.


    Hammya gestured to Clementina to take a picture to remember that moment, and she gladly took out the camera again. But she made sure to turn off the flash so he wouldn''t notice. As soon as she finished doing that, she took a picture of a happy Candado.


    "It will be a memory for this day," Hammya whispered.

 HEIRS OF THE DESECRATOR

    The clock struck twelve, and the Candado group remained motionless in their place. It was the perfect opportunity to attack, but without Dockly''s eyes and Jane''s command, they couldn''t do anything. Among the trio was Isabel, a spoiled girl to the core who did nothing but complain repeatedly. Then there was Guz, or at least that was his pseudonym, sitting in meditation, and finally, Joel, whose needles seemed to be his only concern.


    "I''m getting tired of waiting. Where the hell are those two?" Isabel exclaimed.


    "Relax, Isabel. You don''t want to anger Desza," Joel said while playing with his needles.


    "No, I''m tired of being in this damn forest. All we''ve done is watch how Candado plays with his companions."


    "What do you suggest we do?" Guz asked.


    "Let''s attack since they''re too busy to do anything. Come on, we kill Candado and go back."


    "And then what?"


    "What do you mean, ''and then what''? We go back and report to the house about our success."


    "It''s a stupid plan. If we want to kill Candado, we have to do it at the opportune moment and from a distance."


    "What''s wrong with you, mask-wearer? Are you scared?" Isabel mocked.


    "No, I had the inconvenience of fighting against him and lost. He knocked me out."


    "You''re weak. He wouldn''t have even touched a single hair on me."


    "Then why don''t you go alone if you''re better than us?" Joel asked while polishing his needles.


    Isabel didn''t answer and changed the subject.


    "When are those two coming?"


    "They should have arrived more than ten minutes ago," Joel said, checking the time on his phone.


    Guz looked up and said, "They''re here."


    At that moment, two figures emerged from the depths of the forest: one was Jane, and the other was Dockly.


    "They''ve finally arrived when the polar ice caps have already melted, and here I am suffering," Isabel complained.


    "Don''t be so melodramatic, Isabel. We had some issues getting here. Addel, one of the Drafters, was following us, and we had to shake him off. It took a lot, but we did it," Jane explained.


    "Damn, it''s my fault. I should have been more careful."


    "Don''t worry, Jane. We all make mistakes," Guz reassured.


    "It''s time. Candado is over there distracted. It''s time we end this now."


    "Isabel is right. We should finish this now," Jane said, crouching down. "Come closer. This is the plan: we are ten meters away from Candado. What we''re going to do is this: we all go from one end forming a star. Once positioned, you attack. Candado will focus on you, and when he''s distracted," she pulled out her sword and thrust it with all her strength into the ground, "I''ll pierce his back and destroy his heart."


    "I like your thirst for revenge," Guz said.


    "Alright, let''s begin," Jane ordered.


    The team split according to the plan. Jane positioned herself behind Candado, about ten meters away. Due to his skill, Candado didn''t sense her presence. Using the cover of tall grass and trees, Jane began to approach stealthily, taking step after step until reaching an optimal point, neither too close nor too far. She observed the trunk blocking her line of sight and calculated the exact spot where she would launch her deadly attack. Slowly, she stood up, with a smile on her face and unwavering determination, ready to carry out her lethal strike. But then, something changed.


    As she was about to run towards her target, she saw a sweet girl running right to where she planned to execute her attack. For a moment, this didn''t bother her; she planned to wait for the girl to move away before striking. However, something unexpected happened: Candado headed towards the girl instead of advancing towards Jane. Observing this puzzled Jane, who, although momentarily scared that Candado had discovered her, remained firm with her sword raised.


    But Candado didn''t approach Jane; instead, he headed towards the girl and, to Jane''s surprise, embraced her tenderly. A torrent of emotions flooded Jane at that moment. Her feet trembled, sweat soaked her forehead and face, her breathing became forced and erratic, as if she were on the verge of an asthma attack. Her hands and sword trembled uncontrollably, and her anger and rage mixed with a strange and bewildering sensation.


    Jane didn''t understand what was happening to her. She couldn''t attack in this state. Seeing the girl embracing Candado paralyzed her. While desperately trying to regain control of her body, a memory flooded her mind: an image of herself hugging her father in the same way she now watched the girl. Jane shook her head to try to shake off those thoughts, but the feeling persisted. Furious with herself, she tried to focus on her goal, but her attempts were in vain.


    Finally, she sheathed her sword and fled the scene at full speed, tears streaming down her cheeks. She wondered what was happening to her and why she was running away from the mission she had planned herself.


    "What''s happening to me? Why am I running away?" Jane questioned herself as she distanced herself.


    Upon realizing that her companion''s spirit was retreating, Joel informed the others that the plan had failed. With great disappointment, the remaining team members withdrew from the area, disillusioned by the operation''s failure.


    Meanwhile, Candado did feel her and did discover her; in fact, he had his hands on his fac¨®n while hugging Yara and discreetly watching the mountain. When he felt the threat had retreated, he calmed his instincts.


    Joel ran with all his might following his sister''s spirit. He was worried about her. After a while of frantic searching, he finally found Jane lying next to a tree, looking at her sword with tears in her eyes. He quickly approached her, placing a hand on her shoulder and concern in his voice.


    "Jane? What happened to you?" Joel asked as he crouched in front of his sister.


    "I... I... I saw..."


    "Whom did you see?" Joel asked, filled with frustration and concern.


    "I saw Dad."


    After those words, Jane broke down. Tears streamed down her cheeks, and her mind was engulfed in a storm of uncontrollable emotions.


    "What are you saying? Dad is dead; you, I, and Rose saw them being killed."


    "I saw his face in my mind, Joel. I couldn''t believe it; this has never happened to me before."


    Joel opened his mouth to say something but didn''t utter a word. Instead, he embraced his sister tightly.


    "I know what you''re feeling; I miss them too." He then pulled away from her and, with his hands on her shoulders, looked into her eyes. "That''s why I promised to take care of you two, no matter what happens, no matter what occurs, I will always be by your side."


    At that moment, the other team members arrived, most of them with angry expressions towards Jane for her inability to carry out the plan.


    "Can you explain what that was, Jane?" Isabel demanded authoritatively.


    "Nothing, Candado noticed our presence," Joel lied.


    "You weren''t asked," Dockly replied.


    "Jane is in a very delicate situation; please, leave her alone for now," Guz intervened.


    "Delicate?" Dockly said skeptically. "Just because she saw Candado, she''s crying."Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.


    "She didn''t explain it to me, but please, leave her alone until she recovers," Joel insisted.


    "I think she''d better tell us what happened," Dockly added as he approached Jane.


    Joel stood between his sister and Dockly.


    "I said she''s very delicate, so stay away," Joel warned, visibly angry.


    "Are you threatening me, Joel? You have no chance against me."


    "ENOUGH!" Guz intervened. "It''s clear that we''ve lost, and it has left a bad taste in all of our mouths. But I understand her because I was the one who fought Candado and lost. You, on the other hand, have never faced him, Dockly."


    "Seems like everyone is an expert on Candado. Which one of you ''experts'' will inform Desza that we have failed? Because I''m not going to take the fall for you." Dockly added.


    "I''ll do it." Joel volunteered.


    "Fine, tell her, and we''ll see how she takes it," Dockly said, walking away from them towards an uncertain destination outside the forest.


    "Joel, forgive me, I..."


    "Don''t say anything. I''ll take care of this."


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    "Are you sure? Desza has been very impatient to kill Candado in these last days, and saying that the plan has failed will be enough to make him explode in anger towards you," Guz warned.


    "I know, Guz. I know, but I''m not afraid of him," Joel replied.


    "You should be, as he possesses the Monstrous Power," added Isabel.


    Joel helped his sister to her feet, and both began to walk, accompanied by Isabel and Guz. During the journey, an overwhelming silence took over the group, and Jane remained in a state of shock due to the recent events.


    Joel was deeply concerned for his sister, but Guz, on the other hand, couldn''t stop looking at his watch. Guz was an enigma to his comrades. No one had seen his face, and he never spoke about his past. He had no family or parents, and when they were not on a mission, he disappeared without a trace, locking himself in his room to rest. He always wore the same clothes and a wooden mask that hid his face. Despite all the mysteries surrounding Guz, his hatred for the guild was monumental, although the reasons for this hatred were a mystery.


    In contrast to Guz was Isabel, an unbearable, arrogant, and bossy girl. She always dressed in elegant clothing: black leggings, red boots, a green tailcoat over her black shirt, and her short dark hair was held with a diamond rose-shaped clip. Beyond her difficult personality, Isabel had an uncommon power called "Bloody Fury." This power made a person lose control of their body and succumb to hatred and rage, turning them into a formidable force. Isabel was known for her unpleasant attitude and her willingness to confront any enemy, whether circuitists or guild members. Even Candado himself was not someone to be taken lightly.


    Then there were the Wandering siblings, a nickname they had earned on some missions. Despite joining the group recently, they had gained the respect of the other members, although some still doubted their abilities.


    All of them were under the leadership of a man named Desza, known as "The Profaner." It was said that Desza had been a fervent follower of Harambee, but his radicalism and thirst for blood had led him to be expelled from the World Organization of Guilds and Brigadier Alliances (W.O.G.A.B). His whereabouts had been unknown for days. Desza believed that world peace could only be achieved by eliminating anything that opposed it, even if it meant killing innocents. This belief became a bloody reality in the city of Cecilia, where Desza was involved in the death of seventy-two people. Upon learning of these horrors, Candado summoned Desza to answer to the leaders of the organization, and his poor defense was not enough to save him from being ousted and expelled from the guilds.


    His trial began at nine in the morning and lasted until five in the afternoon, taking a total of nine hours. During this process, the accused repeated over and over that the deaths he had caused were necessary for peace. Candado, with an encyclopedic knowledge of the regulations, consisting of officially ten thousand laws, remained steadfast in his stance. At no point did Desza show remorse; he was convinced that those lives had to be sacrificed for the sake of peace.


    Candado was exhausted from hearing the same argument over and over. However, the situation took an unexpected turn when Desza used Harambee''s name to justify his actions. This act sparked fierce anger in both Candado and everyone present. Candado stood up from his seat and pronounced an immediate sentence of expulsion and imprisonment for Desza. Feeling betrayed, Desza freed himself from his shackles, eliminated his guards, and set out to kill Candado. However, he turned out to be inferior in skills and lost not only the fight but also his powers. Candado made sure that Desza would never pose a threat again, depriving him of his abilities.


    That day, Desza lost two crucial things: his powers and his sanity. Since then, he vowed to destroy Kanghar, determined not to leave anyone alive and not to leave a single structure standing.


    The doors opened with a deafening noise as the team returned from their mission to assassinate Candado. Desza was sitting on a broken armchair, cleaning his machete, which still dripped blood, while the decapitated body of a black-clad teenager lay at his feet. The victim''s severed head reflected the horror of his death. How much fear had that poor boy suffered?


    As the team observed the scene, they were petrified, except for Guz, who remained impassive throughout.


    Desza, with his back turned, was next to a nightstand with a mask on it. Upon hearing the door open, Desza took his mask and put it on before turning to face his followers. His appearance was both imposing and terrifying: a mask that covered his entire face except the chin, a shiny chest armor, black pants, and a black tunic that partially hid his body.


    "Tell me, did you succeed?" Desza asked with a smile.


    Joel, visibly frightened, took a step forward and answered hesitantly.


    "No, the mission failed."


    Desza showed a sinister smile to the group and then looked down at the lifeless body at his feet with indifference. He displayed no remorse or guilt. With a cold and threatening voice, Desza commented on the corpse:


    "This piece of meat you see here was utterly useless."


    Guz, defiant, spoke without flinching:


    "If you keep killing our comrades, eventually, they will abandon you, and take that off; we already know what you''re like."


    Desza removed the mask and looked at Guz with a mocking smile, seemingly enjoying doing so.


    "You''ve been showing a lot of rebellion lately, Guz. I wonder if that rebellion benefits our cause or if you''re just doing it to irritate me."


    "Think what you want, but I''ll tell you something: What good does it do us to kill our comrades? These days, being a Witness is dangerous, and almost no one comes to our aid. Besides, you''re eliminating the few hands we have."


    "Those who cannot meet the necessary requirements must be eliminated. Weakness is not welcome here."


    "If you don''t want your followers to be weak, why not train them instead of beheading them?"


    Without changing his expression, Desza looked at a group of people to his right and ordered:


    "Take this useless one away and throw him into the fire."


    Three individuals approached, carried the decapitated body, and left the room, leaving Desza alone with the group.


    "Well, I''ll be merciful. I must admit it was a challenge for the newcomers. Rest, comrades; tomorrow is a new day."


    With these words, the group nodded and left the room, leaving Desza alone with his thoughts.


    They walked through a dimly lit corridor. Isabel separated from them and headed to her room. Guz and the siblings entered their respective rooms. Rose, worried, was sitting on her bed. When she heard the door open, she ran towards her brothers and hugged them. Guz lay on his bed and expressed his frustration:


    "What a damn day."


    Joel headed to Guz''s bed after thanking him for what he did in the confrontation with Desza. Guz, looking at the ceiling, responded with some indifference:


    "I didn''t do anything, just said what I think."


    Joel, however, was determined to better understand his companion and asked about his hidden identity:


    "Tell me, why do you hide your face?"


    Guz looked him directly in the eyes and replied firmly:


    "What are you talking about? This is my face; there''s nothing beneath this mask."


    Joel continued his interrogation:


    "You never told us your name."


    Guz again averted his gaze to the ceiling and sighed:


    "Name? I forgot that years ago."


    Joel could sense the melancholy in Guz''s words and expressed his concern:


    "That sounds sad."


    Guz, dismissing it, advised Joel:


    "You worry too much, Joel. Don''t get entangled in those feelings; they are poison to oneself."


    With this, Guz hinted that he didn''t wish to delve into his past or reveal more about himself. He turned away and sank into sleep. Joel, understanding the hint, stepped back and lay on his bed. From his position, he observed Jane playing with Rose. Initially, he smiled at seeing his sisters enjoying themselves, but that smile quickly faded. Joel knew that as long as Candado was alive, no one would be safe. Uncertainty and danger were constant in their lives.


    Meanwhile, Desza experienced a sinister joy as he cleaned the blood off his machete, a weapon that had claimed countless lives. To him, each death was necessary in his quest to eliminate those he deemed corrupt and harmful to world peace. Desza was convinced that his cause justified any sacrifice, and he cared not at all for each life he took.


    While Desza was immersed in his thoughts and madness, J?rgen, one of his soldiers, appeared with a suitcase in hand. Desza greeted him and stood up from his seat. J?rgen noticed the blood on Desza''s machete and joked about it:


    "The air is somewhat dirty, just like your machete. Have you killed someone?"


    Desza responded with indifference:


    "Yes, garbage, nothing more."


    J?rgen revealed that they had buried the body in the mountains of Tibet, although they still lacked a key for their purpose. However, J?rgen had good news:


    "We know what the key is to bring Thanatos back to our world."


    Desza showed interest and threw him a bottle of sugary water, listening attentively as J?rgen revealed the key:


    "Harambee''s spear."


    Desza laughed and sat back in his chair. He drank his sugary water enthusiastically before speaking:


    "The cages have opened, wolves howl, eagles hunt, tigers attack, and the lion is devoured. The Witnesses have risen from their ashes to avenge the heirs of infamy. Thanatos will return."


    Then, Desza stood up and raised his machete in the air, proclaiming his determination:


    "GET READY, GUILD MEMBERS, IT''S TIME FOR YOU TO SEE TERROR IN PERSON! THE WAR HAS BEGUN, AND YOUR BLOOD WILL BE MY NOURISHMENT!"


    J?rgen applauded excitedly. However, at that moment, two unexpected individuals appeared behind J?rgen, a child and an elderly man. Desza and J?rgen eyed them cautiously.


    "Who are you?" Desza asked.


    The elderly man, identified as Pullbarey, spoke calmly:


    "Well, I just want to help you."


    J?rgen, still wary, asked:


    "Why?"


    Pullbarey explained that he had bewitched a young man named Candado years ago and wanted to reclaim something he considered rightfully his. He offered his services and proposed a deal:


    "Believe me, Desza the defiler, it''s more than interesting."


    Desza, intrigued, asked how he could trust them. Pullbarey offered a gift and revealed a condition:


    "I''ve noticed it''s challenging for you to move underground, so I''ll give you a gift."


    Desza inquired more about the gift, and Pullbarey gave a hint:


    "It''s a machine, very powerful."


    Desza showed his willingness to accept, but Pullbarey had one last request:


    "Would you give me a clue?"


    Desza, smiling sinisterly, responded with determination:


    "What do you prefer, his head or heart?"

 THE CIRCUIT LEADER

    Thursday, March 14, 2013, around 8:54 in the morning, Guillermo Junco passed away in the hospital at the age of thirteen. He succumbed to a surprise attack, allegedly orchestrated by the unions in the city of Buenos Aires. His family mourned him in the city of Resistencia, with friends and comrades from the Circuit present. Even Esteban himself was there, his solemn expression reflecting the displeasure he felt towards those who had murdered the young boy. Though one witness at the event explicitly stated that they had seen the unionists kill Guillermo, Esteban doubted it was them. He recently realized that someone else was playing this game; their name was clear - the "Witnesses." The last time he heard that name was when his father recounted his adventures when he was a child. Since then, he had never heard that name again.


    Esteban walked up to his friend''s open casket, touched his cold and rigid hand, feeling as if he were touching a plastic mannequin. He then saluted the Circuit, essentially passing his index finger across his forehead in an "X" shape, doing the same on his friend''s forehead.


    "Rest in peace, my friend," Esteban said with a sorrowful voice. He took a notebook from his pocket and placed it in Guillermo''s hands. "I hope you can continue with your notes with this."


    Esteban closed his eyes, bowed his head, and tears started streaming down his cheeks. His crying was silent, only the tears visible on his face. Esteban let go of his friend''s hand and proceeded to give a speech, as he was the last one who would speak on behalf of his friend.


    "Guillermo was a great friend, always kind and resolute in his stance. I''m glad to have known him; he was a great comrade, someone with a big heart and mind, someone who loved his parents and friends. Someone... Someone that every time I had to make a decision, I looked to Guille, hoping it was the right one," he whispered to himself, then added with determination, "I promise to find the inhuman responsible and strip the disgusting skin off their vile body."


    Esteban''s words fell empty on Guillermo''s family; they were too hurt to consider what he had said. Only his cousin, sitting at the back, clearly expressed anger and fury. It seemed as if he would be willing to help Esteban avenge his friend''s death. As soon as he finished speaking, Esteban left the wake, accompanied by his five friends: Ester, a red-haired and curly-haired woman who dressed like a man; Tarah, his girlfriend who, for the first time, wore shoes; Freud, a boy born in England who swore to protect Esteban, dressed in very formal black clothes with a red scarf around his neck; Addel, with his characteristic white smoke covering his face; and Xend¨ª, Tarah''s robot bodyguard.


    That day was overcast, as if the sky were shedding tears for the loss of a child. As Esteban walked along the sidewalk, accompanied by his friends and girlfriend, he crossed paths with Candado in the middle of the street, accompanied by Hammya, Clementina, H¨¦ctor, Declan, Anzor, Lucas, Erika, Viki, Lucia, German, P¨ªo, and Matlotsky. They were all heading to the funeral, but they had to face each other. Esteban took a step forward and said,


    "I didn''t think your horrendous face would be here on a day like today."


    "Don''t look for trouble, Esteban. Guillermo was my friend as well as my ideological rival. It would be an insult if I weren''t present."


    "No one wants to see your face here, Candado. There''s a report that your ''class'' was the one who killed him."


    "That''s unheard of. My comrades would never dare to murder your comrades."


    "We''ll see how your damn face is torn apart by your idiocy."


    "HOW DARE YOU INSULT CANDADO!" shouted Declan as he drew his saber and placed it at Candado''s throat. In response, Freud transformed his arm into a drill and placed it at Declan''s neck, causing Anzor to unsheathe his sword and point it at Declan''s chest.


    "ENOUGH!" Candado shouted.


    "Freud, cease the attack, please," ordered Esteban.


    "Yes, sir."


    "Look, I know you hate me, but I''m going, whether you like it or not."


    As soon as Candado said that, he left the scene with his companions following him. Declan glared at Freud and said,


    "No one threatens me like that. I''ll come for you later, idiot."


    "I''d like to see that, Irishman. Show me that strength."


    "Freud, let''s go," Esteban said without looking at him.


    Obeying those words, Freud stuck out his tongue and left with his boss.


    "That was very childish."


    "I apologize, sir."


    Esteban headed to his Circuit, a house painted blue, obviously serving as their meeting place. Unlike Candado''s guild, Esteban''s was built inside the town and not outside, allowing him more information about the happenings in the area. Also, he despised any proximity to Candado; coincidences with his enemy were something he couldn''t stand.


    When Esteban entered the house, the atmosphere was sad and somber. No one had spoken a word since they arrived. Tarah, who actually belonged to a guild, didn''t enter the house but decided to give Esteban a farewell kiss on the cheek, saying she would return. He understood and bid her goodbye with a hug. Tarah then left the place with Xend¨ª carrying an umbrella over the girl''s head. When he saw her moving away, he closed the door and walked to where his comrades were sitting around a round table, heads bowed. They had lost an important comrade and friend today. Esteban walked to his seat and sat with closed eyes. When he opened them, he looked around; there was almost no light, and the only illumination came from a window that lit up Guillermo''s empty seat. Esteban gazed at the place with nostalgia, reminiscing about the moments they shared. He remembered how Guillermo always noted everything Esteban said and contributed ideas to improve their status in the eyes of others. Whatever the reason, Guillermo was no longer with them, leaving behind a painful void.


    After tapping the table with his fingers, Esteban stood up, walked to the shelf in front of him, and looked at the individual photo frames of his friends. However, he decided to focus more on Guillermo''s photo. With a tremor in his body, he took his friend''s picture, unhooked it from the wall, and headed to an adjacent room. His friends said nothing; they just watched as Esteban removed the photo from the wall with sadness. Once the frame was off, Esteban placed it in a nearby room.


    "Are you sure about this, boss?" Freud asked.


    "Yes... absolutely," he replied with sadness in his voice, avoiding eye contact.


    Esteban stored the frame, covered it with a black blanket, and closed the door behind him. Knowing they would never see their friend''s face again, both in the Circuit and the guilds, one must set aside their feelings, such as anger, pain, love, etc. If one is a leader, they must make their stance clear; there should never be an imbalance because that would lead to chaos. While the guilds have many stories and anecdotes about Harambee, in the Circuit, there are also tales of Thanatos. Beyond being a heartless murderer, it''s essential not to forget that he was a human with feelings. Many people believed in him blindly. One of the most told stories about Thanatos is when he was in Belgium giving a speech to his followers. In that talk, one of his followers, personally considered his brother, was stabbed right in the middle of Thanatos'' speech. His friend and lifelong brother fell dead in his arms. It''s said that Thanatos broke into tears and also, that he didn''t move from the spot for an entire day. It was then that he uttered words that would remain in the memories of those present that day, and they would ensure to pass his words down to those who came after: "Losing a loved one is sad, I know, but if you carry a great responsibility on your shoulders, never let your emotions dominate you because that way you''re useless. There will be a time and a place to cry." These words became law for the Circuit, and, for the first time in many years, Esteban, the boy who always tried to change others'' ways of thinking, ended up accepting one of those many speeches given by that individual, whom he classified as an ideological murderer.


    It hurt Esteban to concede to Thanatos, always having a different perspective. According to Candado, he has a "Cocktail" mindset, as he takes words from both Harambee and Thanatos, which the U.F.E.T.C. in Esteban repudiates. They consider Thanatos'' words as law. Despite all these disagreements within the Circuit towards Esteban, he won the election for Marshal (a very high position in the Circuits, similar to the president, though the power lies with the General Grand Council or the G.G.C). He still faced issues with his superiors, but despite all that, he continued to have the support of his constituents. Guillermo always said that Esteban was the future of a possible peace between the Guilds and Circuits. However, that future remains distant because there is still hatred between these two entities.


    Esteban sat back in his place and began discussing the documents on the table regarding the "Witnesses." Who the hell are they, and what do they plan? He knew it wasn''t the best time, but as a leader, he couldn''t succumb to sadness; he needed to act.


    "Addel, tell me everything you know about the Witnesses."


    "Yes, I''ve discovered that these aren''t the same Witnesses from several years ago."


    "Explain. What do you mean by that?"


    "These guys don''t do the same things they did years ago."


    "Things, what things? Explain because I don''t understand."


    Addel adjusted his scarf and continued, "The individuals I faced didn''t have the dark tattoo on their faces that used to characterize them. They are just a cheap imitation of what they used to be. They used to try to change the souls of their victims with others, so they could control their slaves at will. But they don''t do that anymore. It''s just as I suspected; the teaching of snatching the soul and replacing it with another has been forgotten. The only thing that keeps them using that name is the masks, the language, the incantations, and the same mission: to free Tanatos."


    "But... hadn''t Tanatos died?" Ester asked.


    "No, Tanatos didn''t die. He was simply imprisoned by Harambee in a box; his location is entirely unknown," Esteban said with his fingers crossed at his chin.


    "I don''t understand. Why didn''t Harambee try to kill him?" Freud asked.


    "What makes you think he didn''t? Tanatos is immortal; killing him wasn''t an option. No one knows when, how, or why, but one of his closest friends said he had seen Death in person."


    "So, how did he do that?"


    "Don''t be naive, Freud. Killing oneself is the easiest thing in this world. He could have shot himself, jumped off a cliff, poisoned himself¡ª I don''t know. Any of these options could have been used. After all, you just have to be foolish enough to take your own life."


    "It''s... very speculative from that standpoint."


    "What''s your opinion, Guille?"


    That question caught everyone''s attention and reminded them once again that he was no longer with them. The room fell into a sad silence, the joy and enthusiasm that this young man brought were now a thing of the past. When Esteban himself realized this, he closed his eyes and put his hands on his forehead. Despite the conversation starting to distract from his friend, his subconscious and habit betrayed him. He couldn''t forget that Guillermo had once occupied that seat.


    "Sir, are you okay?"


    "Yes, Ester, I''m fine. It''s just..."


    "Just what?"


    "Nothing, forget it, and let''s continue with the reports. Addel!"


    "Yes?"


    "Please continue."


    "Alright, I don''t know for sure what they specifically want, but I think they''re targeting Candado. At least, the last two times I came face to face with them were in situations related to him."


    "Why would they go after that guy''s life?"


    "I don''t know, sir, but they wanted to kill him, just like they wanted to kill you."


    Esteban stared at the table thoughtfully for a while, trying to process what Addel had told him, with a somewhat reasonable explanation.


    "And if... and if they really want to kill him, it would mean war," Esteban narrowed his eyes, "I don''t like that. I dislike the idea of getting into another conflict, especially if the Circuit''s standards get tarnished."


    "I think I understand what you''re saying. Nowadays, very few people on this planet have forgotten what the Circuit did. We are not worthy; in the eyes of others, we''ll always be the same, murderers," Addel said.


    Esteban slammed the table with a punch.


    "That''s why I decided to take charge. My parents were Circuit members, my grandparents too, but they never did harm to anyone. They helped others. That''s why I decided to be a leader, to improve our politics and undo all the customs linked to Tanatos," he then looked at his friend''s empty seat, "Guillermo trusted me. I won''t let him down," he then looked at each of his comrades, "The question is, ARE YOU WITH ME!?"


    All his comrades stood up and shouted "Yes," wherever he went, they would go with him.


    After this speech, Esteban raised his fist and said, "I promise not to rest until every man, woman, and child sees the Circuits in a positive light. Candado betrayed my trust a long time ago, and I will make sure he pays dearly for that betrayal at a very high cost."


    After saying that, Esteban concluded the session, his comrades approached and hugged him, as that speech motivated them to keep fighting for a cause: peace. That was all he could think about, ending these differences between them and showing that he was stronger than Candado, so the W.O.G.A.B. would respect him more.


    When everyone left, Esteban sat in an armchair, grabbed a glass, poured himself soda, and started to gaze at his deceased friend''s empty seat. But he hadn''t noticed that Addel hadn''t gone anywhere; he had only hidden to see what his friend was doing. When Esteban went for his third glass of soda, he brought it to his mouth, but before he could take a sip, he lowered the glass and placed it on the armrest of the chair. After all, it seemed like a little table. Then, he loosened his tie knot and crossed his legs.


    "Well, you always had the final say in everything. You always sought... no, you tried to dig into my mind and extract what I was thinking," he tilted his head and started to let out small laughs, "I should never... I should never have let you go alone there. I was stupid, a complete idiot. I should have gone in your place. If only I hadn''t listened to you and had gone with you, we would be here, toasting and laughing together. What was I thinking? WHAT THE HELL WAS I THINKING!?"


    That shout startled Addel, making him step back a bit, though not too far. When Esteban regained his composure, he approached a bit more, and Addel continued listening.


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    "When you told me I had been called to see a certain emissary, you immediately offered to go in my place, Guillermo. You knew it was a trap, knew that I could lose my life. Why did you do it?" Esteban grabbed his glass and drank his soda, then looked at the ceiling with a disheartened and pessimistic expression.If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    "I''m sorry I wasn''t there to fight by your side. I''m pathetic, giving false hope to others, looking like a damn rat crawling day by day, searching for food," he squeezed the glass forcefully, causing a small fracture in the glass. "I''m a lousy leader. If I couldn''t even protect you, how am I going to carry out my decisions as a leader."


    Addel, upon hearing these words, inclined his head. Though his face wasn''t visible due to the white smoke emanating from him, a sense of sadness could be felt, but he continued listening to Esteban drowned in his pain. Bringing the fractured glass to his temple, Esteban said, "It''s strange. I never thought I''d have to live with this wound. Guillermo, I laughed lightly and continued, "What would Candado do in my situation? I feel stupid for asking this question, but I know you used many phrases from Candado and implemented them here, even though I forbade it. But that didn''t stop you from continuing with it." Esteban stood up, walked to the seat of his friend, stopped, and continued, "To your health, Guille." Esteban took the last sip of his soda and placed the glass on the front of the chair''s table. When Addel heard the glass land on the wooden table, he disappeared without a trace.


    Esteban walked to the exit, stopped, adjusted his tie again, and left the house. Tears streamed down his cheeks, and to add to things, it was raining. The water ran down his body, but he wasn''t bothered at all. In his mind, this was the punishment he had to endure for not being able to protect his friend and for not assuming his role as the leader of the Circuit. Guillermo was a very kind person and incapable of harming anyone. Since that day, Esteban always wears a black ribbon wrapped around his right arm.


    The streets of the town were empty; everyone had gone to Guillermo''s funeral. Esteban was the only one not at his friend''s burial. Not because he didn''t want to, or feared shedding tears again, but he felt he no longer had the right to be there. He thought that he should be in that coffin instead of Guillermo. What expression would he put on his face again? He should have died in his place, but life chose to take someone else. His heart felt sad and weak; his mind harbored rage and vengeance. He wanted to find the person who took his friend''s life and kill him, not silently and quickly like he, but loudly and disgustingly. Hell will be paradise after what he will have done.


    While Esteban was contemplating how he would deal with Guillermo''s killer, he encountered someone he didn''t want to see, someone who filled him with disgust and hatred ¨C Candado Ern¨¦st Catriel Barret, a traitor on his blacklist. That day, he lacked the patience to endure him. It was likely that if Candado approached, Esteban would unleash all his hatred and bitterness against him. Nevertheless, the desire to defeat him ultimately led him to Candado, sitting in the rain with an umbrella, staring into space. Esteban ran towards him and leaped to deliver a sparking kick. Candado sensed him and cunningly tilted his umbrella onto his back. Esteban thought it would be useless, a grave mistake, for as soon as his foot collided with the umbrella, a faint sound echoed ¨C both in the umbrella and his foot, accompanied by intense pain. Esteban fell to the ground, writhing in pain, clutching his leg and rolling from side to side.


    "You''re a cannon-fodder idiot. Attacking me from behind wasn''t a good choice."


    Esteban stood up and threw an electric punch at his face, but Candado leaned his body, countered with a punch to his chest, causing Esteban to fall to the ground again.


    "What do you think you''re doing? You never used to throw such predictable and childish punches."


    "Shut up, I''ve had enough, draw, draw, draw, draw, draw, always a draw. It''s time for there to be a winner," Esteban said with fury in his eyes.


    "Are you going to fight me just to rid yourself of the sadness over the loss of your friend Guillermo? Pathetic. I never thought someone like you would use the irrational in the rational."


    "SILENCE!"


    Esteban transformed his arms into pure electricity and jumped at Candado. However, with utmost calmness, Candado stopped him with his hands, as he wore latex white gloves ¨C electricity had no effect on him. This fueled Esteban''s hatred even more, as it seemed like Candado was mocking him. But Candado refrained from attacking him; after all, he sought to be punished by Esteban. In other words, he wanted Candado to hurt him, and he wouldn''t give him the pleasure. So, he decided to dodge or block each of his punches with just one hand.


    "What are you doing? Why won''t you fight?"


    Candado remained silent, only stopping his punches with his hand. Esteban had no precision; he only focused on the same spots ¨C his chest, his head, his legs, and his waist. These four places were repetitive when delivering a blow; it was enough to remember and prevent the change, which wasn''t a challenge for Candado. The angrier Esteban became, the more he erred. He distanced himself and threw lightning and rays, but Candado blocked them with his umbrella made of platinum. Esteban was covered in mud, filth, and tremendous hatred, while Candado remained clean and composed, never displaying emotion on his face and maintaining that cold expression. Fed up with being unable to scratch his opponent, Esteban decided to create a highly charged energy sphere and launch it.


    But Candado, who knew what was about to happen, decided to stop it, but this time, he attacked. Candado struck him everywhere¡ªhis legs, his arms, his chest, and delivered a slight kick to his waist. This caused Esteban to fly and collide with a tree, getting even dirtier. Candado lowered his leg, adjusted his black tie, and approached the dying Esteban step by step, slowly, as if time didn''t matter.


    When he reached him, he crouched, took off his beret, and closed his eyes. Seizing this opportunity, Esteban delivered a powerful punch to his face. His expression reflected immense anger and, at the same time, gratifying satisfaction. As it concluded, Candado put on his beret, opened his eyes, and looked at Esteban coldly.


    "Is it done? Happy? Did you make all this fuss just to hit me?"


    "Yes, it''s a very nice feeling," Esteban said with a smile.


    "Does this beatify you?"


    "Of course, I..."


    "You''re an idiot."


    "What? You..."


    "You attacked me so that I would take note. You feel guilty because you lost a friend, you think you should have been the one, not him, you think this will make you feel better, you think you''ll find forgiveness if someone like me punishes you. You''re an idiot. We both knew Guillermo, and we both know he wouldn''t be pleased to see you like this. Look at yourself, idiot, dirty, filthy, wet, sad, dejected, furious. What the hell happened to you?"


    "Shut up!"


    "No, I won''t shut up." Candado grabbed Esteban by the collar, lifted him, and slammed him against the tree. "You''re Esteban Bonaparte Everett, leader of the F.U.C.O.T. and my enemy. Do you think I, with all the times we''ve drawn, would defeat you like this?"


    Esteban got angry and pushed Candado but couldn''t free himself.


    "Don''t touch me! You''re a traitor. I trusted you, and you stabbed me in the back. Who are you to speak to me like this? NOBODY! You''re nobody, just a traitor. You may deceive others, but not me." He tilted his head and looked into Candado''s eyes again. "You''re a horrible person. I won''t stop until I see you completely shattered. Guillermo always thought there was a reason for your betrayal, always thought that. However, I, and only I, knew why you did it¡ªbecause you were a coward, just that."


    "If that''s what you believe, you have every right to think what you want. No matter how many times I repeat it, the answer will always be the same." Candado let go of Esteban and walked away from him.


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    "That''s it, run, run, coward. You''re nothing more than a damned Judas. One day, you''ll repent for what you''ve done."


    Esteban kicked the tree hard, leaving even his mark on the trunk due to the anger he felt. When he managed to recover a bit, Esteban left the place, releasing electrical energy. His body emitted sparks from time to time, resembling a broken cable. His rage and anguish had intensified; now, it wasn''t just his fault but also Candado''s. Fury led him to think the worst of Candado. This time, his desires changed; he no longer wanted to defeat him, but now he wanted to kill him. On his way, it was evident that the rain had managed to remove some mud stains from his suit, but he still looked in bad shape. His face reflected pure anger, and his body seemed like a sparking utility pole.


    Somehow, Esteban didn''t know where he was heading. His path was vague, not to mention that all along the way, he was only looking at the ground. However, despite not seeing where he was walking and not having an exact sense of where he needed to go, his legs knew where they were going. Unconsciously, he had arrived at his Circuit.


    "What am I doing here?" Esteban wondered.


    "What you did out there was very stupid," said a strange voice.


    Without saying anything, Esteban shot a lightning bolt at the wall next to his Circuit. However, the figure dodged it and stood behind him.


    "You''re not practical at all."


    Esteban quickly turned with the intention of attacking, but when he could see the person well, he stopped and calmed down upon realizing it was someone he knew.


    "I didn''t know it was you, Sebastian Maldonado."


    The individual had certain differences in his appearance. His face gave the impression that it wasn''t made for smiling, with dark eyes, black hair with some yellow streaks at the front, and a slight mark on his chin from an old rival. Despite being two years older than Esteban, they had the same height. He wore dark sweatpants, black sneakers, an unbuttoned white shirt, and a dark blue hoodie with a band wrapped around his left arm, bearing the insignia of a black wolf with a white face looking straight ahead. Below his face, two swords were wrapped with a thorn-covered vine.


    "You''re even dumber than I thought. I vouch for you every damn day of the year, and you decide to fight in the park, knowing well that it''s a non-aggression zone."


    "You''re not the one to raise your voice at me."


    "I am Maldonado Sebasti¨¢n, leader of the Erasers, badge 957-R. Use your head a bit. Today you were lucky because there were no witnesses, but the next time you do something stupid, I''ll have to penalize you."


    "Look, Maldonado, today is not the day. I don''t know if you''ve noticed, but a friend of mine died today, so please, go bother someone else."


    Maldonado sighed and placed his hand on Esteban''s shoulder.


    "Listen, I need to talk about something important." Maldonado looked around to make sure no one was watching and showed a blue folder. "I have relevant information for the cause."


    Esteban raised both eyebrows and said, "Come in, please."


    Esteban opened the door, and both entered the house, making sure no one was spying on them. When the door closed behind them, Esteban asked, "What''s in that folder?"


    "It''s the report I obtained. It was tough to distract Joaqu¨ªn to make several copies."


    "Joaqu¨ªn? Joaqu¨ªn Barreto? The president of the traffic lights in Argentina?"


    "The same. I had some issues, but I managed to get them in the end."


    Esteban said nothing and kept his comments to himself. Instead, he decided to ask, "What is this?"


    "It''s information about some agents who are dangerous, both for us and the guilds."


    Maldonado opened the folder, revealing writings and images of unknown individuals.


    "Who are they?"


    "They are members of the Witnesses, apparently ten, plus their leader."


    "Who are these?"


    "They only had these reports when I stole them. But once I got them, I dug a little deeper into these people, especially these three masked individuals."


    "Alright, who the hell are they?"


    Maldonado told the story of each person as soon as he showed their photo. First, he chose a photo of a well-dressed boy with a triple scarf around his neck. He had dark circles under his serious green eyes, with his dark hair combed backward, leaving a "C" shaped strand on his forehead.


    "His name is J?rgen Czacki, born in Buenos Aires in a convent orphanage. Information about what happened afterward is unknown. The convent where he was raised caught fire, and the reason is unknown. He was seen in the city of Resistencia, beating guild members, leaving them almost dead. He has never faced Candado and has no record of taking someone''s life. His powers involve speed and metal."


    "J?rgen, where have I heard that name?"


    Maldonado ignored what he said and moved on to another photo, this time of a girl with strange reddish skin, white hair, including her eyes, as if she were dead. She wore a black dress and a kind of crown.


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    "That''s a clear proof that if you go to the beach, you should always use sunscreen; otherwise, you''d end up like this."


    "No, Esteban, her name is Andrea R?sse?s. The inexplicable tone of her skin has given rise to numerous hypotheses about why it''s like that. The most accepted one is that her skin is much tougher and thicker than that of any ordinary human. Therefore, her blood has become a substance that has replaced her flesh. Her whereabouts and origin are unknown, as is her hatred towards the two entities. Like J?rgen, she has no records of killing anyone. Apparently, her powers are related to levitation and lava, according to this personal report from a certain¡ª Maldonado frowned and squinted his eyes¡ª. From a certain... Will-sa-ru-ti... no, Will-sa... no, no, um, Will..."


    Esteban took the paper from Maldonado''s hands and read it aloud. "William Sarcozitt, come on, was it that hard to say that name? And you said two tongue twisters a moment ago."


    "Heh, sorry, I can''t understand the handwriting."


    "Are you sure her skin is more attention-grabbing than her eyes?"


    "Absolutely. Well, let''s continue."


    Then Maldonado took out three photos at once and placed them on the table. "These are the three Wandering siblings. Their real surname is La Valle, but according to this document, they changed it. Their names are Jane La Valle, Rose La Valle, and Joel La Valle. Their parents were killed by the guilds, and the reason is still unknown. It was a happy marriage, and they thought their children had died. But it seems they were wrong. Only Jane and Joel have powers. Jane can summon iron from the depths, things like spikes, chains, spears, etc. She also possesses superhuman strength. On the other hand, her brother Joel handles precision because his eye is ten times better than a normal one. He can manipulate inanimate objects with his cables and needles, but he always uses his needles as weapons. As for Rose, there is no record of her, and it''s also unclear whether they committed crimes or not."


    "I feel sorry for them. Losing someone is sad."


    "Well, let''s move on to the sixth photo."


    Maldonado took out another image, a boy dressed in 17th-century clothes, with a red bow and a serious smile.


    "His name is Dockly Fernando. He was born in San Juan but has direct Dutch descent. His relatives live in that province, and it''s known that he lives with his uncle, the adopted brother of his father. He has been seen talking to guild members, but his hatred for Candado has led him to want to eliminate him. Hmmm, how curious. Where had I seen someone else like this?" Maldonado said, looking at Esteban with a smile.


    "Yes, who could it be?"


    "Don''t play dumb; you know very well that this individual and you resemble each other a lot."


    Esteban didn''t say anything but gestured with his right hand for Maldonado to continue with his discovery. Then Maldonado pulled out three photos again, but this time of the three masked individuals.


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    "Unfortunately, we only know their names; there is no record of who they are. Their names are Guz, Amasai Chesulloth, wearing a red mask with a smile, clearly a woman, and Azricam Betah, who had a white knight''s armor."


    "These guys, where do they get those costumes?"


    "I have no idea, but it would be very interesting to catch one, don''t you think?"


    "Yes, you''re right, but who among these individuals is the leader?"


    "Unfortunately, I have no idea who their leader is. In the Witnesses, everything I told you is information I''ve gathered because the fragments that were written didn''t help much."


    Esteban took one of the photos and observed it closely. "Where have I seen that face? Joel? It must be my imagination, but why do I feel like I''ve seen that face before?"


    "Do you want the Erasers to take care of it?"


    "No, it won''t be necessary, but I would like them to watch them closely. I would also like to know where they are hiding."


    "I understand. This way, we can destroy them."


    "No, this way, I can destroy them with my own hands."


    "Why?"


    "It''s personal. I would like to destroy them with my own hands."


    "Well, if you say so, then it''s fine."


    "By the way, who is the leader of those here?"


    "None of them. It''s still a mystery."


    "I see. So far, there''s only this. Well, better something than nothing. I''d like them to follow one of them."


    "As you command, I''ll take care of following him myself."


    "Alright, but be careful. I don''t want to see another comrade dead."


    "You worry too much, boss. Remember, I possess all the martial arts in the world; I''m incredibly unstoppable, better than Joaqu¨ªn."


    "You''re also incredibly egocentric. Be careful not to get killed."


    "That won''t happen."


    Maldonado ran to the door and left, jumping from roof to roof. Esteban, on the other hand, glanced at the photos in his hands once more, memorizing each of their names¡ªJ?rgen, Dockly, Jane, Rose, Joel, Andrea, Guz, Chesulloth, and Azricam.


    "Oh, didn''t he say there were ten?"


    Esteban grabbed the folder and lifted it, and from inside, something fell onto the table¡ªa sheet of paper. Esteban picked it up and turned it over; it was the photo of a girl with short dark hair.


    "How strange. Maldonado didn''t mention this girl." Then he looked at the folder and opened it. "Who the hell is this? She must be in these records," said Esteban as he flipped through the papers inside one by one until he found a name, "Isabel Castillo," and unlike the others, this one had a rather long report.


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    "William Sarcozitt''s Report:


    Greetings, Mr. Joaqu¨ªn. I have found information about the girl you asked me for. Her name is Isabel Castillo, daughter of Alfredo Castillo and Ada Castillo. She was born in the city of Chubut; her exact location is unknown, but I know she lived for a time in Rio Senguer. She comes from a family with significant financial power. She suffered a lot in the school environment¡ªstrange, isn''t it? Basically, she was hated because of her kind and fragile nature. Despite having many opportunities to change her situation, she never did. I don''t know the reason, but thanks to some informants from the area, mostly Circuists, they mentioned that she was beaten by a particular girl for getting better grades than her. Quite stupid, isn''t it? But I know that this girl, whose name is unknown because she wanted to protect her, triggered a hidden power in Isabel. This power led to the death of this girl, not only that, but it also eradicated everything that did nothing to help her. One of those present was your "friend," in whose massacre she was injured beneath the skin of her eyes. I''m surprised that you have me looking for this particular person because you want to know what led her to attack, right? Anyway, it is said that she fled the province accompanied by an individual. Her connection with the Witnesses remains a mystery to me, but I would like to continue investigating this matter. I hope this report has helped you a lot. I plan to return to Chaco once I have gathered enough information about this young lady. If I succeed, I will send another report.


    P.S.: Today, I was informed that Candado''s sanction has been lifted, and in eight days, he will be able to return to the Bernstein Organization. Since I am currently in Chubut, I would appreciate it if you personally informed Candado of the good news.


    Thank you very much.


    "This is quite strange. What does this have to do with Joaqu¨ªn, and what is this about a sanction? Whatever it is, it seems that W.O.G.A.B. also has its secrets. Isabel, from a wealthy family, transformed from a victim to a killer. The Witnesses are gathering some interesting individuals."

 HEARTFELT

    On March 19th, after five days without classes, the school opened its doors once again. Among the returning students were Candado and his friends. However, they weren''t the only ones embarking on the new educational cycle.


    Martina and Kevin managed to get into school thanks to fake identities, a fictional home, and a tutor who only existed on paper. All of this was made possible by Candado''s financial generosity. Initially, Kevin was reluctant about attending school, but with some pleading from Martina and a small bribery of sweets, he finally relented. However, his consent came with a condition: Martina had to attend school with him. Candado, as clever as he was, included Kevin''s name on the school roster, even though, due to his age, he should have been in high school. The teachers overlooked this discrepancy and accepted Kevin''s presence.


    Initially, Esteban couldn''t believe the good rapport the Bailak siblings had with Candado. It was an unusual situation, especially concerning Addel, who had previously distrusted Kevin but now considered him a friend.


    The day at school passed pleasantly. The twins copied language exercises, Hector and Lucas exchanged notes on scientific ideas, German, Matlotsky, Anzor, and Declan chatted about various topics, from soccer to cards, jokes, and plans for the future. Viki, Ana Mar¨ªa, and Pio engaged in lively conversations among themselves, while Hammya struggled to catch up on accumulated homework. Clementina was attentive to everything that happened, even observing her young boss, Candado, who simply occupied a chair and copied notes from the teaching program into his notebook. Occasionally, Hammya urged him to help her with certain topics, but beyond that, Candado didn''t do much else.


    Kevin, who had gotten along well with Candado in the previous days, devoted himself to copying homework using his powers. He made his pen levitate, and it automatically wrote down everything he needed. His only task was to move his index finger to guide the pen as it completed the assignments.


    Occasionally, Kevin paused what he was doing to observe Martina. Although it had been her idea to attend school, Martina didn''t feel entirely comfortable due to the presence of two youngsters who wouldn''t stop whispering behind her back. You didn''t need to be a genius like Einstein or a scientist like Hawkins to guess what they were talking about; they mocked Martina for her height and the curious tattoo on her forehead.


    This deeply irritated Kevin, so he devised a plan to teach those annoying individuals a lesson. He took out four pencils, sharpened them meticulously with a sharpener, and placed them neatly on the floor. With a smile, he made the pencils roll to the feet of the two brats. Then, he borrowed a mirror from his benchmate, Tarah, and continued with his task.


    Kevin positioned the mirror near the end of his desk and aimed it at the targets. Once everything was ready, he moved his index finger, and the pencils began to levitate in the air. They separated, and two of them headed towards one brat''s bench, while the other two went to the other''s table. Once in position, Kevin moved his hands, and the pencils began to poke his victims. Initially, he did it slowly to sow intrigue in the boys, but then he increased the speed and skill of the pencils, carefully avoiding being detected by his targets.


    The stabs were precise and aimed at uncomfortable places: elbows, arms, legs, hands, buttocks, and parts of the neck. As he continued his act, the two bullying boys began to panic and moved frantically in search of the source of their discomfort. However, this only worsened the situation as they offered new targets for Kevin''s pencils. Although it was difficult for him to contain his laughter while observing the situation, Kevin struggled to keep control over the pencils as his victims fell into his trap.


    "Imbeciles," he said, trying not to burst into laughter.


    Amid the struggle to figure out who the hell was poking them, they miscalculated one of their movements and toppled the table with them. The teacher, who was writing on the board, turned around, and upon seeing these two on the ground, she walked up to them. Kevin took advantage and brought his pencils back cautiously and quickly. He put his left arm behind his back, opened his hand, and his four pencils, green, pink, red, and orange, came flying.


    As for the two brats, they were taken to the principal''s office by the teacher to receive a few boring sermons. When everything was over, Kevin began to laugh quietly for successfully executing his plan, but as soon as he laughed, he felt a hard book hit on his head. Kevin looked up and saw Candado with a cold expression.


    "It''s forbidden to use magic to harm or bother others."


    "Relax, they were bothering Martina, and they got what they deserved."


    "That''s not reason enough; don''t do it in class, period."


    "Fine, I won''t do it again, happy?"


    "No." Candado hit Kevin on the head again with his book and continued. "Now, yes, I''m better."


    As soon as he did that, Candado went back to his desk, and Kevin continued writing with his flying pen, arms crossed. But as soon as he sat down, Matlotsky and Lucia raised their hands and signaled to him.


    "Great, what now?"


    Candado left his book on the table and walked over to where they were, hands in his pockets.


    "Hey Candado, beautiful day, isn''t it?"


    "Cut to the chase, Matlotsky, what do you need?"


    "We want you to help us study history. You know, we have a history exam on Friday, related to March 24th."


    "Well, I''m surprised you''re asking me for help," then Candado looked up as if searching for something. "Where''s your sister?"


    "She''s in the bathroom, she''ll be back."


    "Come on, Candado, spill it and tell us already, will you?"


    Candado gave Matlotsky a penetrating look.


    "Please, don''t make me hit you."


    "Fine, what do you want to know?"


    "Okay, according to this questionnaire, the question will be: What is commemorated on March 24th?" Lucia said.


    "The coup d''¨¦tat by Isabel Mart¨ªnez de Per¨®n and the assumption of power by the military."


    Matlotsky and Lucia began jotting down what Candado said.


    "Right, what happened during the dictatorship?" Matlotsky asked.


    "Well, the military junta''s de facto government focused on kidnapping and murdering all those who were against or had different thoughts, causing a massacre and disappearance of more than thirty thousand people."


    The duo took notes while paying full attention to what Candado recounted.


    "Next question, how long did it last, and how many presidents were there?"


    "It lasted seven years, and there were four presidents: Jorge Rafael Videla, Eduardo Viola, Leopoldo Galtieri, and Reynaldo Bignone."


    "Okay, okay," the duo said as they wrote.


    "And the last one, in what year did democracy return, and who was the president?" Lucia asked.


    "Democracy returned in 1983 with President Ra¨²l Alfons¨ªn, the father of democracy, so to speak."


    When they finished jotting down everything he had said, they looked at him and thanked him.


    "Thank you very much, Candado, for the information."


    "When you do that, it''s creepy; leave the synchronization, please."


    "Okay," they both said simultaneously.


    Candado said nothing, just gestured with his beret and went back to his seat. He knew saying anything else would mean getting teased again. He walked calmly to his chair; everyone else was busy doing their things as the teacher hadn''t returned from the principal''s office yet; she was still giving a lecture to the kids.


    So while she''s away, the others do all sorts of things except homework. However, they have a certain freedom because there''s an unwritten rule to obey Candado. They can''t bother others, and they can''t use their powers to harm others at school. The last one who defied this ended up in the hospital, or so they say. This guy tried to use his powers to bother students and teachers, and Candado, the unionist who doesn''t tolerate disorder and the whimsical, told him not to do it anymore; he had no right to bother others. This guy, trying to be the center of attention, attempted to attack Candado and become popular, but it backfired; Candado knocked him out with just three punches, which weren''t severe, but it''s clear he couldn''t bear the humiliation and decided to move away from town.


    Since then, many kids and some teachers are grateful to have a boy who indirectly imposes fear. Many at school call him "Rattlesnake." He warns his enemies not to approach him, only he warns them with five-minute speeches and not with a rattle. Also, if you''re not careful, you''ll expect a deadly bite or a punch.


    As Candado continued with his reading, Hammya, who was busy with all the topics that had been covered, nudged Candado.


    "It''s not that I''m sensitive, but it seems like everyone''s turned against me today; I can''t read in peace," Candado said, keeping his gaze on his book, then he turned and looked at Hammya. "What do you need?"


    "I''d like you to tell me the meaning of the word ''receptacle''; I don''t understand what it means."


    "A cavity in which any substance can be contained, happy?"


    "Yes, but¡­"


    "Glad to hear it," Candado turned his head and looked at his book. "Now leave me alone."


    Hammya said nothing and just wrote down what Candado had told her in her notebook.


    "Great, I''m done," she then put her pen in the pencil case and leaned back on the table with a satisfied smile.


    "Candado."


    "..."


    "Candado."


    "..."


    "Candado."


    "..."


    "Candado."


    "¡­!"


    "Candado."


    "What do you want?" Candado snapped.


    "What are you reading?" Hammya asked with a smile, as if she had already gotten used to Candado''s attitude.


    "What?" Candado inhaled and continued. "I''m reading ''The Attempt of the Infinite Man'' by Pablo Neruda."


    "So where do you get all those books from?"


    "From my house, where else?"


    "I see you really like those writers; it surprises me that someone like you cares about adult topics."


    "First and foremost, what the hell is it to you? And secondly, what I read is my business and no one else''s, got it? Just like you like that green hair, I like reading."


    "Well, a few days ago, you said you''d be kinder; now it seems like you''re not living up to your word."


    Candado made a face and rolled his eyes 180 degrees.


    "And there you go again, yes, I''ve said it, but so far you haven''t given me a reason to keep my word."


    Hammya yawned and said, "Please, it''s too early; don''t be like this today."


    Candado clenched his fists tightly and crumpled a page of his book, showing his teeth together, top with bottom, and turned his head to look at Hammya, his face ominous with immense anger, which Hammya didn''t see as she was totally and absolutely asleep on her desk. He raised his arm with his book in hand, and just as he was about to strike, the door opened, and the teacher and the two brats entered. In that split second, Candado calmed down and acted as if nothing had happened. In contrast, as soon as the teacher saw Hammya sleeping, she approached and asked if she was okay, to which she responded.


    "I''m fine, just sleepy."


    "Go to the bathroom and wash your face."


    "And also tell me how deep the Kermadec Trench is," Candado whispered.


    "Did you say something?" Hammya asked.


    "Nothing, I said nothing."


    Hammya got up and left the classroom; the teacher didn''t even bother to look at Candado, so he just sat at his desk and continued with his work. Candado, on the other hand, closed his book and looked at his watch.


    "Today is the day," Candado sighed and continued. "I hope nothing goes wrong in the inspection. Life goes on, huh? It''s as if Guillermo were still alive. Well, I think it''s better to remember him with smiles than with tears."


    Just at that moment, someone knocked on the door. The teacher said to come in, and the principal entered, then fixed his eyes on Candado.


    "Gather all your things; they''re looking for you."


    Candado packed his folder and pencil case, took his backpack, and said goodbye to his classmates and friends. After that, guided by him, he left the classroom and walked with the principal to the school''s exit.


    "This stays between you and me, okay?"


    "Yeah, sure."


    The principal patted Candado on the shoulder, then turned around and went back into the school, closing the door behind him. Candado didn''t look back at any moment; he just continued until he could see the school''s gated entrance, where there were three figures: two boys and one girl. One was facing him, with black hair and dark eyes, dressed in dark pants, black shoes, a white shirt, and a blue tie. The second had dark hair and a $1 coin embedded in his right eye, wearing a black shirt with a white tuxedo vest and a white tie, black pants, and dark brown shoes. The third was a woman, not very tall, reaching Candado''s shoulder, with red hair and eyes that matched her hair. She wore a white t-shirt with a light blue pullover that had two horizontal yellow stripes on the chest. At first glance, they looked like thugs, especially the boy with the coin instead of an eye. Candado didn''t pay attention and approached them. As he got closer, he could make out one of them, as the boy in the blue shirt and tie was his friend.


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    "I never thought the president of the Traffic Lights of Argentina would come to see me in person, Joaqu¨ªn."


    "And I never thought I''d have to inspect a friend."


    "Don''t lie," he said, smiling.


    Candado and Joaqu¨ªn shook hands.


    "You know? Today I had classes; I''d like to know why you couldn''t schedule another day."


    "Candado, I understand the situation, I know the school was attacked and you were without classes for a while, but unfortunately, your situation in the O.M.G.A.B. has changed."


    "What do you mean?"


    "The padlock (a position of leaders of the state of the unions, similar to the president of a country) of the World Organization of Adjacent Guilds Bernstein, Yuuta Aikawa, signed your exoneration, and within six days, you can return, if you pass the inspection."


    "I already knew that, Yuuta sent me a letter, and damn him, he wrote it in Japanese to mock me, you have to be a real son of a... bitch to do that to me."


    "Well, thank goodness he''s not here."


    "Yes, thank goodness," Candado glanced at the people who were accompanied by his friend and continued. "By the way, who are they?"


    "Right," Joaqu¨ªn stepped aside and pointed to his friend. "Candado, this is Mark Aurelio, but his nickname is Coin."


    "Pleasure, glad to meet the most wanted boy in the world," Coin greeted with a hoarse and ominous voice.


    "Heh, pleased to meet you."


    "And she is Ruth Van Grace."


    Candado approached to shake her hand, but she didn''t intend to, so Joaqu¨ªn took her wrist and guided it to Candado''s hand.


    "It''s okay, she''s just a friend."


    Ruth accepted and shook his hand, but didn''t say a word.


    "She''s strange."


    Joaqu¨ªn ignored what Candado had said and continued.


    "Alright, fancy a walk with us for a while?"


    "Yes, that''s why I''m with you."


    Candado walked alongside his "inspectors"; apparently, they had the power to say whether he was ready or not. Along the way, Candado began to worry about the matter, so he decided to break the silence by talking about uncommon things for him.


    "Tell me, where are Krauser and Glinka?"


    Joaqu¨ªn laughed at the question and said.


    "You know, Krauser goes here and there, basically likes to do good and spread it all over the country. Glinka remains herself, she didn''t want to follow me today because she had to go to school, so I decided to bring them along to meet you."


    "Wow, how considerate of you."


    "It''s nothing. But, you know, right?"


    "What thing?"


    "About what the Circuit has been doing lately to our comrades."


    "Between us, that seems like someone''s incitement to start a war."


    "I thought the same, but there are rumors within the agency that a war is going to start any moment. I don''t know when, but if things continue this way, blood will be shed."


    Candado looked at the ground with concern and said.


    "You''re right."


    "Well, I didn''t take you out of school to talk about that. There will be a time and a place to talk, so don''t worry."


    "Great."


    "I don''t need to remind you how things work, right? If you fail the inspection, you''ll have to hand over your badge, standard, and flag. The W.O.G.A.B. has no power over the decisions made by the inspector, as we are an independent body from the organization. If you believe the decision is reckless or unjust, you''ll have to appeal to the supreme president of the Traffic Lights, who is Julekha Chandra."


    "I already know that, I don''t know why you''re explaining it to me. I made the laws."


    "I did it so you wouldn''t forget."


    Candado looked up while grimacing.


    "Alright, what''s the purpose of this walk?"


    "Nothing in particular, I just wanted to talk to you."


    "Really? I don''t believe you."


    "Partly yes and partly no."


    "What do you mean?"


    "Well, when your name came up at the department, no one, absolutely no one wanted to take your case for inspection. I thought it would be a good idea to take your records so I could meet with you."


    "Do I scare people that much?"


    "Yeah, at least others, because I, nor my group, fear you, we just hold respect for you, not to mention we''ve known each other for a long time."


    "Well, I guess I should thank you then."


    "Don''t mention it, after all, I wanted to chat with my friend," Joaqu¨ªn said as he put his hand on Candado''s head.


    "As if I were your dog."


    "My apologies."


    "Tell me, do you know someone named Addel Schr?dinger?"


    "Yes, I know him, he''s Krauser''s nemesis. It''s not common to see them fight."


    "Besides all that, have you ever fought against him?"


    "No, I never indulged in those pleasures. You know, I just focus on enforcing the law, nothing more."


    "Joaqu¨ªn is very peaceful about these matters. Usually, Ruth and I defend him when the situation gets out of hand."


    "That''s true, Coin is like that with everyone who''s somewhat powerful to me."


    "If it weren''t for us, Joaqu¨ªn would never have come this far."


    "Don''t be so egotistical, because I could take you down with my eyes closed."


    "Oh, be careful, Joaqu¨ªn is going to kill me with a pen."


    "Ruth, please."


    At that moment, she nodded in affirmation and punched him on the cheek.


    "Thank you very much."


    Candado smiled and looked up at the sky.


    "This brings back so many memories with my team."


    "Candado, I think it''s the first time in a long time I''ve seen you smile."


    "And that determination reminds me of my new partner."


    "New partner? Do you have a new member?"


    "Yes, her name is Hammya Saillim, and she''s the daughter of an old friend of my father."


    "Wow, a friend of your old man."


    At that moment, Candado''s eyes sparkled, he looked at his left hand and then at his friend''s back.


    "Joaqu¨ªn, can you do me a small favor?"


    "Yes, what is it?"


    "I want you to go to Entre R¨ªos and bring me information about a friend, his name is Ricardo Miranda, nicknamed the Wheel."


    Joaqu¨ªn wrote down the province name and the individual''s name.


    "I''ve got it. Once I have it, I''ll send you a letter with all the information I''ve gathered."


    "Great, it would be nice to have some information from time to time. I''ve had so many doubts that it would be good to know something, right?"


    "What are you talking about?"


    "Nothing, I was just talking to myself."


    "By the way, did you see Ruccim¨¦nkagri? They say she passed through this area a few years ago."


    "No, I haven''t seen her, why?"


    "Yuuta has been going crazy looking for her, so much so that he''s put a reward of three thousand gold coins, there are still certain things she needs to answer for."


    "Darn, is she that dangerous?"


    "Her affiliation is with the Circuit, Candado. They''re inherently dangerous; she''s betrayed her former comrades, she''s a criminal being hunted everywhere, whatever it is, the information she has is crucial for both groups."


    "Well, I hope you''re lucky."


    "Thanks, it''s very exhausting to keep track of her search."


    "Ah, what a situation."


    Joaqu¨ªn took out a planner from his pants pocket and flipped through a few pages.If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    "Tell me, who''s the old man you''ve been meeting with lately?"


    Candado stopped, causing Joaqu¨ªn to walk ahead, he raised his head and looked at his friend''s back, but this time, his gaze was suspicious.


    "How did you get that information?"


    "Maybe you don''t know, Candado, but you''re an important member of the W.O.G.A.B. We can''t afford to leave you unattended. When you were detained and penalized, Yuuta called me and told me not to take my eyes off you. I called four people to take turns watching over you, the first was Arce Catherine Lourdes, Reinhold Krauser, Xundaringel ¨¢ngela."


    "That''s three, who''s the fourth?"


    "Ha, me. I must say, when you went to the park that afternoon, you looked very pale, as if you had fought with someone."


    "I don''t like being followed, let alone being spied on."


    "I wasn''t spying on you, just watching over you just in case."


    "Just in case of what?"


    "Just in case something happened to you, remember that your life is crucial for us Semaphores."


    "So? The feeling I had that day, that someone was following me, was that you?"


    "No, that was someone else, I don''t remember their name right now, but I call them the overseer, a person capable of doing the most difficult tasks in the agency."


    "She''s your teacher, right?"


    "Let''s say yes, but that doesn''t change the fact that she''s not bad at her job."


    "To be honest, what did you do to convince your overseer Mariela to follow me?"


    "(It''s incredible that he knows her name) Truthfully, she always seeks to prevent her little ones from going astray in life."


    "You lied to her."


    "A little, I just told her you were very depressed and would surely do something stupid."


    "I can''t believe it, so, is she good?"


    "Of course she is."


    "As an overseer, not as a spy."


    "If she wasn''t, she wouldn''t have cared if I told her your situation, but as you can see, she followed you, so think about your answer."


    "I see, you''re very skilled at this."


    "Yes, of course. Now tell me, who is it?"


    Candado closed his eyes for a moment and then opened them.


    "His name is Nelson Torres, he was my grandfather''s friend, that''s all."


    "I see, it seems my suspicions were off."


    "Suspicions?"


    "Oh, nothing, it''s just my issue."


    By the time the conversation had ended, the group was standing in front of the guild.


    "It hasn''t changed at all, although the last time I was here the paint was eaten away by dampness, now I see it''s shiny again."


    "Pio and Matlotsky were always masters at painting."


    "Well, I could give you points for seeing that you take care of your group''s hygiene," Joaqu¨ªn said as he wrote in the planner.


    "Great."


    "Well, can we come in?"


    "Oh, of course."


    Candado walked alone to the door. He opened it and gestured with his hand for them to enter. The group entered and looked around, everything was clean and tidy, every shelf and bookcase was gleaming.


    "It''s as if you knew we were coming," Moneda said.


    "Not at all, the place is always like this; I always make sure my group keeps it that way, that''s why it''s always gleaming."


    "Great, it seems everything is in order. Now I want you to show me the guild documents, please."


    "For what?"


    "Organization''s regulations, it''s to know if you haven''t been defrauding the mission reports you do day by day or at least if you''ve complied with every rule the W.O.G.A.B. has asked of you."


    "Do you really think I''d be capable of such a thing?"


    "It''s not about mistrust, but as an inspector, it''s necessary to fill out your form to show that you''ve always been loyal to the organization and to Harambee, not to mention that those who hate you need written proof."


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    "Seems fair, follow me please."


    Candado walked to a yellow door, inserted a key, and opened it.


    "This is the room where we keep the documents," Candado said as he turned on the light.


    The room was a mess, with tons of documents detailing the guild''s activities for approximately a hundred years, stacks and stacks of papers.


    "It''s insane!" exclaimed Moneda, astonished.


    "It''ll take us a thousand years to read all those notes."


    "Ah, not those, since those are from my great-grandfather, grandfather, and mother. The ones you''re going to inspect are these," said Candado, pointing to a smaller stack of papers.


    "Never make those jokes again," said Moneda, with his hand over his chest, relieved.


    "Alright, Ruth, Candado, and Moneda, help me carry these documents, please."


    The three agreed, each taking a more or less considerable stack of folders, while Joaqu¨ªn carried a huge pile.


    "What are you doing?" asked Candado.


    "Helping, after all, they''re just papers, they weigh nothing," he said, dropping the stack of documents on a desk.


    When Joaqu¨ªn placed the notes on the table, Candado and the others placed the papers next to Joaqu¨ªn''s pile, while Candado brushed the dust off the papers from his clothes, he heard a cleaning noise with strange sounds behind him. Candado turned and saw Ruth with a brush held by her hair, cleaning the documents on the table one by one, while she had her hands in her pockets.


    "Wow, I never thought you had that kind of power."


    Ruth looked at Candado and gave him a thumbs up, but with a cold attitude.


    "You''re strange."


    "That''s her, if she''s given you the thumbs up, it means she likes you."


    "That''s still scary."


    "Why?"


    "It''s as if she were a person who forgets to express herself."


    "Yes, do you have a problem with people who lack emotions?"


    "Yes, any problem?"


    "No, not at all," then he looked at Ruth and continued, "Hey, thanks, but that''s enough, now do me a favor and rest and watch outside, please."


    Ruth nodded and left the house while putting her brush back in her pocket. And once she left, Joaqu¨ªn approached Candado and put his hand on his shoulder.


    "I have to confess something, please close the door."


    Candado walked to the door and gestured to Moneda to leave the room, and once he was gone, Candado closed the door.


    "Alright, what do you want to tell me?"


    "It''s about Ruth, as we''re friends, I think I should tell you."


    "Alright, what is it?"


    "She suffers from a disorder. Five months ago, Ruth was abused by her family; her parents weren''t the best, and as a result, she suffered a lot in that environment. I''d like you to help her a little too, please."


    "What happened to them?"


    "One morning her parents beat her to the point where they were about to kill her; she defended herself and used her powers to kill them. From that day on, she lost her voice when she saw her parents dismembered in front of her eyes. When the police found her, they took her to an orphanage, where she lived for two weeks until an aunt adopted her, but her stay didn''t improve. So she decided to put her niece in the Semaphores agency before sending her to school, and as you know, the Semaphores are not only an agency but also a school."


    "And how did she end up under your care?" asked Candado.


    "Let''s say her papers came into my hands, Chaco is a small province, news travels fast."


    "Wow, smells like mafia."


    "It''s nothing illegal."


    "Barreto, you''re a horrible person hiding behind that smile."


    "Don''t jump to conclusions; anyway, I''d like this to stay between us, not to mention that I''ll need your help in this matter."


    "Alright, I accept."


    "Thank you very much. Now, without further ado, I''ll start writing down everything you''ve done in the last few years."


    "Do you want me to do something?"


    "No, I don''t need anything. You can go for a walk around, but not too far, as I''m still supervising you."


    Candado left the room and saw Moneda chatting with Ruth outside, while she listened attentively. Candado made a mocking face and headed to his office. When he opened it, he saw Clementina lying on his desk asleep with a book on her face.


    "What?!," he lowered his voice quickly, then looked behind him to see if anyone had heard him. "What are you doing here?"


    Clementina turned her head and looked at Candado.


    "Who are you?"


    "Don''t play dumb and tell me what the hell you''re doing here."


    "I was told that some people took you from school, to be more precise, the Semaphores. I realized it would be your inspection, so I left school and took the shortcut to get here and clean up the mess Matlotsky had made, and after finishing cleaning, I fell asleep."


    "So it was you, I suspected it was weird that the room smelled like strawberry fragrance."


    "I used a little, yes."


    "Well, thanks for the help, although I didn''t know this place was a dump."


    "Believe me, it was, it seems Matlotsky woke up here inside."


    "When my vacation is over, I''ll go get him."


    Candado took an orange candy from his pocket and threw it to her hands.


    "And this?"


    "You earned it, it''s a token of my appreciation."


    "Well, thank you."


    "Of course."


    Candado left his office and closed the door behind him, but he hadn''t noticed Clementina was standing next to him.


    "Hey, when did you get here?"


    "I''m fast."


    At that moment, Joaqu¨ªn emerged from the room.


    "Oh, Clementina, it''s been a while since I last saw you."


    "Same here."


    "Well, I''ve reviewed all the documents, now tell me."


    "What?"


    "Since I arrived, that bookshelf has piqued my curiosity."


    "Curiosity?" asked Clementina.


    "Exactly, I never dared to ask, but now I will. What''s behind the bookshelf?"


    "Nothing, just a wall."


    "Just a wall? If that''s true, why the hell is the floor so worn out on that side? I don''t think someone like you would move the bookshelf countless times just to see a wall."


    "That''s not¡ª"


    "Listen to me, I''ve been to every guild in this country; I''ve seen many secret passages."


    "It''s just a regular wall."


    Joaqu¨ªn tapped the bookshelf with his index finger.


    "It seems like you''ve been moving it a lot, huh? Enough to wear out the floor."


    Candado kept his gaze on Joaqu¨ªn.


    "Is it something illegal?"


    "No."


    "Would you mind if I ''move'' it?"


    "I''m afraid I wouldn''t, I wouldn''t like you moving the bookshelf; I like it where it is."


    Joaqu¨ªn stepped away from him, but he didn''t give up on the topic.


    "Candado, it''s no use lying to me, especially in your position; you have a handwritten document by the Candados of the O.M.G.A.B. If you want to clear yourself of this stain, you have to talk, and by talk, I mean the truth."


    "You win, it''s a secret room, and what."


    "Okay, would you let me pass?"


    "No, I won''t."


    "Why?"


    "You said it yourself; it''s secret."


    "That''s true, but I want to get in."


    "What if I refuse?"


    "I''ll consider it contempt, expel you, and still enter by force; how about that?"


    "I could sue you for that."


    "Maybe, but given your status of having been punished by the O.M.G.A.B. and just knowing that your enemies within the organization won''t listen to you anyway."


    "I have rights, believe it or not, they can''t refuse my request for help."


    "That''s true, but when the report reaches Chandra or the O.M.G.A.B., they''ll ask you about the secret passage, they''ll search the documents, read them one by one; if they''re not harmful, they''ll sanction me for a year or more depending on the offense, but the documents won''t be secret anymore."


    "What if we silence you?" asked Clementina, pointing her arm like a machine gun.


    "Stop, I don''t want you to do that, we''ve known each other for a long time, Clem, don''t be mean."


    Just then, Ruth and Moneda appeared behind Clementina, intending to attack her.


    "Don''t resist, robot, because if he gets hurt, I''ll make sure to destroy you."


    "Moneda, that''s enough, I forbid you to move, the same goes for you, Ruth."


    "Clementina, lower the weapon."


    "If I do. All our work will be revealed; you said it yourself, we must protect the writings with our lives."


    Joaqu¨ªn looked Candado in the eyes and said, "This is getting too serious, Candado, do you give me your word that there''s no illicit material or fraudulent writings behind that bookshelf?"


    "I swear, there''s nothing behind that wall that could be corrupt for my colleagues and me."


    "Alright, I believe you," then he tore a blank sheet from his notebook and handed it to Candado, then looked at his companions, "Ruth, Moneda, rest."


    "But¡ª"


    "Rest, we won''t discuss this matter."


    "What''s this?" asked Candado, holding the paper in his hand.


    "It''s a ghost certificate with my signature; if anyone besides me comes and wants to enter by force, you''ll show them this paper."


    "I don''t understand."


    "Simple, ghost certificates are used to protect your assets, so accept it."


    "Moneda, Ruth, let''s go, we''re done here."


    Joaqu¨ªn headed to the door, accompanied by his companions, but as he was about to leave, Candado stopped him.


    "Wait, why are you leaving so easily?"


    "You said it was personal, right? Then I don''t have to meddle, not to mention you said there''s nothing illicit behind that wall, so as your friend, I''ll believe your word."


    "Barreto, you''re too negligent."


    "Maybe, but it doesn''t hurt you."


    Joaqu¨ªn smiled and left the house with his companions behind him.


    It was a totally and absolutely strange situation; Candado thought he wouldn''t see another day if what was inside was revealed, but he never thought Joaqu¨ªn would turn a blind eye and just leave like that.


    But as soon as Joaqu¨ªn and his friends'' figures were out of sight, Candado took one of the books from the shelf and gave Clementina a strong blow on the head.


    "Never do that again."


    "Yes¡­ sir."


    Then he put the book back in its place.


    "I can''t believe it; knowing Joaqu¨ªn, I was almost sure he would fight me to extract the necessary information, but it seems I was wrong. A little more, and a calamity would have unfolded."


    "At least nothing happened."


    "Then why don''t you confess to your friends about your situation?"


    "I don''t want to; if staying in bed for a week means not telling them anything, then I''ll endure it, period."


    "You''re too stubborn."


    "And you''re insolent, so we''re even."


    "Oh, come on, you know it''s very difficult to hide a secret from H¨¦ctor, especially if it''s very dangerous."


    "I''ve been doing well these five months; I can carry on."


    "Candado, you don''t have much time, from what Hammya told me, that disease will progress and end up eliminating you."


    "I''ll cut that girl''s tongue."


    "Don''t lash out at her; I asked her to tell me every last detail."


    Candado covered his eyes with his beret and said, "That girl¡­"


    "Reminds you of yourself?"


    Candado remained silent for a while, reflecting on what Clementina had said.


    "In fact, yes, she reminds me of myself, but she''s too naive, too kind. Somehow, I feel... envious. She lost her father, and yet she responded to life with a smile," Candado exhaled and continued, "That girl must be strong because she won''t always find kindness in things or people."


    "That''s why you''re like that with her."


    "Partly yes and partly no, her situation is too fragile. Despite my attempts to keep her away from me, she keeps talking to me, and that annoys me."


    "Why?"


    "Because she''s the only one who wants to know more about me, not to mention she''s given others too much courage to try to figure me out. I hate that, I hate that they try to get close to me."


    "Sir..."


    "Why? Why does she want to get close to me? Why did she want to know about my situation? It frustrates me immensely not to have a definite answer."


    Clementina walked over to the sofa in front of Candado and sat down.


    "Human understanding has always been a mystery to me, although over time I''ve come to understand it, because you and Gabriela gave me everything. You gave me a family, you gave me an education, you gave me happy moments and sad moments. I appreciate it all from the bottom of my heart. I believe that if you opened your doors to her, then surely she wants to repay you for everything you''ve given her."


    "What evidence do you have for that rather soft and sentimental argument?"


    "Well, do you remember that day when we were coming back from H¨¦ctor''s house?"


    "Yes, I do."


    "That day, Hammya, the great lady Barret, and I asked her to help us prepare the food. She agreed, but the great lady Barret told her to call her grandmother. She responded with tears and joy. It was at that moment that I realized she had regained what she had once lost, and all of that was thanks to you."


    "I''m glad to know that at least she''s happy in her new environment."


    "Were you worried?"


    "A bit, but I still think she''s a burden."


    "And you''re back to your old self."


    "Shut up."


    Clementina smiled; at that moment, she had noticed a slight change in his attitude. She knew that the sensitive, cheerful, and playful Candado who had died two years ago was returning with that girl; just knowing that he was coming back filled her heart with great happiness.


    After a relaxing thirty minutes without Candado''s presence, the teachers could pick up the chalk and send a message to the kids to contribute thirty pesos for the repair of an air conditioner, and with that detail of legal mafia, they ended the classes five minutes early. All the kids were leaving the school in a crowd, and in that throng of people, Hammya was leaving the school last with the happiness of going home and taking a nap, but first, she had to go through one place. Her friends said goodbye to her and left, even Declan said goodbye to her because despite his distrust, he was still a gentleman. Since Hammya harbored no grudge within her, she returned the greeting. Since H¨¦ctor didn''t say anything that day, everyone headed home, but Hammya wanted to stop by the guild before going home since Viki had given her a spare key; she basically pickpocketed Candado without him realizing it, with it, she could come and go from the guild as she pleased.


    As she walked, she remembered the time she had arrived in town. Even though it had been almost a week, for her, it felt like years or centuries had passed. Although she also remembered her father, that man who had raised her for twelve years. She never thought she would have to go from one place to another to live. After almost a month of walking from Entre R¨ªos to Chaco, she was able to rest at the Barret''s house. It also never crossed her mind that Candado would accept her like that, according to Clementina''s words, Candado had a snake''s tongue, as well as a radical thought about strangers. But who cares about that; she already had a roof over her head, she had hot food, a bathroom, and a place to sleep. What needed to be done was to maintain her stay.


    While Hammya reflected on all this, she had no awareness of the time or her location. When she finally realized it, she found herself venturing into the forest, but fortunately, she spotted the guild on the horizon. She repeated the same process as before: she arrived at the back and circled the house from there. She climbed the stairs, inserted the key into the lock, and turned it to the left, opening the door.


    Upon entering, she noticed that the house seemed empty. There was no sound. Hammya decided to explore every hallway and room of the place until she reached the lounge. To her surprise, she found Candado sleeping on the sofa while Clementina read the newspaper.


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    "Hi," whispered Hammya as she entered.


    "Shhhh," Clementina responded with a silent gesture.


    Hammya apologized in a low voice and placed her backpack on a nearby table. Then, she approached Clementina.


    "What happened?" she asked, concerned.


    "Nothing, he just fell asleep. He had a very long night last night."


    "He didn''t sleep?"


    "Exactly. He was awake last night taking notes on certain O.M.G.A.B. records and doing research."


    "That''s demanding."


    "Heh, that''s nothing. Once Candado stayed awake for a whole week. The next day, I gave him a small electric shock to make him fall asleep, and he slept all day until the next morning."


    "Could you please make less noise?" Candado ordered as he stirred in the armchair.


    "I''m sorry," murmured Hammya, then she looked at Clementina. "Come on, we better talk somewhere else."


    Clementina rolled up the newspaper and took Hammya''s hand. Together they left the room and headed to an adjoining room. Once there, Clementina sat down on a wooden chair and resumed reading the newspaper, while Hammya sat opposite her in an identical chair.


    "He won''t hear us here," Clementina assured her.


    "Are you sure?" Hammya doubted.


    "Well, I''m not completely sure, but at least he''ll be able to sleep peacefully."


    "How is that possible?"


    "As long as he''s sleeping, there''s no problem."


    "I still don''t understand."


    "I don''t fully understand it either."


    "What''s all this about?"


    "Nothing in particular. I just wanted to talk to you; I didn''t know what else to do since Candado was sleeping."


    "Okay, that''s fine. But I''d like to ask you some questions."


    "Sure, go ahead."


    "Alright, has Candado ever killed anyone?"


    "No, he''s never done that."


    "Thank goodness. I thought he had."


    "Come on, why would you think that? What made you think Candado would be capable of something like that?"


    "He talks as if he lacks sensitivity, that''s why I wanted to know."


    "The truth is, that has nothing to do with Candado''s attitude."


    "Yes, you''re right. I was silly to think that. Forget what I said."


    "Okay. Do you have any other questions?"


    "Yes, does Candado treat more people as if they were his children?"


    "In reality, most of the people here are treated as if they were his children."


    "For example?"


    "Well, people like Yara, Erika, Lucia, Adrian... Who else? Oh yes, Amadeo."


    "And why? Why does he consider them that way?"


    "Candado, despite being tough, grumpy, and often cantankerous, is not a bad person. He''s someone wounded by life, and society did nothing for him or his family. Doctors didn''t do enough to help Gabriela; to them, she was just another patient, and her life didn''t matter to them. Then there''s the police, who to this day have not managed to catch the people who killed his grandfather. However, he feels more guilty. He had promised to protect her and take care of her, but one day she left this world unexpectedly. His heart was filled with guilt and self-hatred."


    "It''s a shame to think like that," sighed Clementina.


    "But despite everything, Candado always ends up helping someone else. Among the people I mentioned, most of them are minors, except for Erika and Lucia. Thanks to him, they stopped suffering from misogyny. It''s amazing how Candado takes care of them as if they were his family. Humans are truly complex creatures, and often even I am surprised."


    "All of us, in fact, seek the best for him. We do everything possible to see him happy and content," Clementina explained.


    "What if I lend a hand too?" proposed Hammya.


    "Any help is welcome. That way, Candado will never be alone. We''ll always be by his side and we''ll never betray him, so yes, you can help us," Clementina affirmed.


    "Great. Who else is inside?"


    "Well, inside the guild we have Hector, Lucas, Mauricio, Diana, Logan, Erika, Lucia, Anzor, Viki, Pio, Declan, ¨ªcaro, German, Matlotsky, Ana Mar¨ªa, Antonela, Frederick, Joaqu¨ªn, T¨ªnbari, me, and now you."


    "Wow, that''s a lot. But who is Antonela?"


    "Antonela is a friend of ours. Although she''s not part of our guild, Candado made a special deal with her and gave her access. She comes by occasionally and is friends with all of us. You''ll love meeting her when she comes."


    "I see. And Logan?"


    "Logan is Mauricio''s brother, the guy he was playing with. He''s a very serious person, never laughs or jokes. Actually, he can be a bit intimidating, but he''s a good person."


    "Another Candado, it seems there''s another one like him. And Diana?"


    "Diana is the girl who helped us the other day against that psychotic girl with the sword."


    "Oh, I remember that. The scythe girl."


    "Exactly. And now, who is ¨ªcaro?"


    "¨ªcaro is Candado''s cousin. To be honest, he''s a serial troublemaker, but deep down he has a good heart," Clementina continued. "Then there''s Joaqu¨ªn, the regional president of the traffic lights. He''s quite rough; to be honest, I don''t like him much, but Candado trusts him, so it''s okay."


    "Wow, and Frederick, who is he?"


    "Frederick Fliipoff, although everyone speaks to him with respect and only calls him Frederick. He''s a football lover and personally, he''s Matlotsky''s best friend."


    "That''s great. It''s impressive to see how all of you help Candado to keep going."


    At that moment, Hammya realized that Candado had been wounded by the circumstances of life, but despite his pain, he was never alone. There was always someone willing to help him, and the evidence was that his friends had done more for him than his own family, especially after the death of his daughter. He wasn''t a bad person; he was just wounded and suffering. All of that had made him tough and cold as a way to protect himself psychologically. Deep down, Hammya felt envious that Candado had such loyal and committed friends, friends who would never abandon him. Hammya had spent very little time at school, and when she finally had the chance to make friends or at least acquaintances, her life took an unexpected turn due to her father''s illness, which led her to spend a lot of time at home, studying with a private tutor and missing out on the opportunity to socialize.


    "You know, I feel a little envious," confessed Hammya.


    Clementina, who was reading the newspaper after finishing the conversation, looked up and observed Hammya with curiosity.


    "What? Envy?" Clementina asked.


    "Yes, Candado is lucky to have you all. I, on the other hand, have nothing. My father died, I never met my mom, and I never had friends. When he died, I was left with nothing. Then I realized that I had regained what I had lost and what I never had: a family."


    Clementina gave a slight smile.


    "Deja vu, I suppose."


    "Sorry?"


    "Nothing, I was just talking to myself."


    At that moment, Candado entered the room, without his beret and struggling to stand, wobbling every time he took or tried to take a step.


    "Is something wrong, sir?" asked Hammya, concerned.


    "I think I relaxed too much and I can''t stand up properly," Candado responded with a slight laugh.


    "Do you need anything?" inquired Hammya.


    "Yes, a coffee to wake me up."


    Clementina folded the newspaper, placed it on the table, and stood up.


    "Where are you going?" asked Hammya.


    "To bring him a coffee," Clementina responded as she left the room.


    Meanwhile, Candado managed to sit at the table.


    "Wow, you seem pretty beat," remarked Hammya.


    "Don''t make me laugh, girl. I''m just a little tired."


    "Then why not keep sleeping?"


    "Because I can''t stand it. I can''t stand doing nothing."


    Then, Candado literally collapsed onto the table.


    "Ah, I''m tired. I need sugar or caffeine to reactivate my brain."


    But as soon as he finished speaking, Candado fell asleep the next minute. He seemed really exhausted.


    Hammya watched Candado, and from that perspective, he seemed like a harmless and relaxed person, like a baby. The way he slept was tender, and it was possibly the first time Hammya had seen him in that way. She felt a strange sensation of tenderness filling her heart slowly.


    However, after a few seconds, Hammya placed her hand on Candado''s head and began to stroke him, as if she were a mother soothing her child. But suddenly, something strange began to happen. Hammya felt odd, and when she stopped the caress, her eyes shimmered again with a light green color, and she could see fragments of Candado''s memories, as if she were a specter.


    She saw a field full of flowers and Candado''s parents. She observed a memory of Candado crying because he had hurt his knee and his mother was tending to it. She saw Candado playing with his sister, being lifted in the air, similar to how Candado did with Yara. In her mind, Clementina had unnaturally pale skin and lacked emotions, simply mirroring Candado''s facial expression. Then, she saw Candado hugging his parents and his sister.


    Each image brought a smile to Hammya''s face. However, these happy memories gradually began to change, and Hammya started to see fragments of conversations from those memories.


    "Happy ninth birthday, Candado. You''re on your way to becoming a man," said Gabriela as she clapped.


    "I don''t think it''s that big of a deal," commented T¨ªnbari.


    "Shut up and don''t bother my brother."


    Then, Clementina appeared with skin and emotions, holding a bottle of soda.


    "A toast to Master Candado Barret on his ninth birthday," she declared as she poured soda for everyone.


    Everyone stood up and raised their glasses.


    Afterward, Gabriela hugged Candado and stroked his head while he sat on her lap.


    Hammya smiled at seeing this tender scene. However, her smile faded when she saw the next memory. It was a rainy night, Candado was drenched, his friends were dressed in black, and they looked at him with concern. He was leaning against a wall, and the place was the guild. Candado knelt down, tears reflected in his eyes, and an expression of deep pain on his face.


    "Candado, do you need anything?" asked H¨¦ctor.


    "Get lost," Candado responded firmly.


    "Excuse me?"


    "GET LOST! ALL OF YOU!"


    Candado knelt down and began to cry, but his anger was even greater than the pain he was feeling. His eyes turned violet, but they weren''t fiery as they used to be, but a pure violet. On his face, the characteristic tattoo of the same color began to appear, and his hands were enveloped in flames.


    "Why? Why did you take her? Why did you snatch her life away?"


    His friends said nothing; they just watched as he began to release all his pain with his words. Tears welled up in their eyes from their friend''s suffering, and a sense of helplessness overwhelmed them as they couldn''t do anything to ease his pain.


    "She... She did everything, everything a human being should have. So tell me, why the hell did you take her? She believed in you, I believed in you, and we always kept our word. We didn''t kill, we didn''t murder, we didn''t even swear allegiance to other gods."


    Candado struggled to find the right words as tears prevented him from speaking fluently.


    "I... I should have gone in her place, she... No," Candado frowned and looked at the ceiling with anger. "You had no right to claim her life, you had no right. Who do you think you are to take my sister away? Bastard, son of a bitch, son of a thousand whores," he exclaimed as he stood up and clenched his fists. "Why do you just take the kind-hearted people and leave us bastards? No, you''re not fair, I deny your existence. You''re a murderer."


    Candado, overwhelmed by pain and anger, began to vent physically, hitting the walls with his fists, destroying tables and chairs, overturning bookshelves and books, and releasing his power in the form of flames. All the while, he cried and screamed in pain, expressing his grief for the loss of his sister. His friends watched helplessly as their friend suffered.


    "I hate you, I hate you, I hate you, I hate you, I hate you, I hate you, I hate you, I hate you, I hate you, I hate you, I HATE YOU! I HATE YOU! MURDERER! WHY DON''T YOU DIE!?"


    Candado destroyed everything within his reach, his anger toward God was overwhelming, and he wished to somehow seek revenge in the realm of paradise. Meanwhile, Hammya watched the scene in astonishment, feeling Candado''s pain in her own chest as he continued his destruction.


    "BRING HER BACK! SHE ALWAYS BELIEVED IN YOU, YOU''RE A MURDERER!"


    Finally, Candado became exhausted and knelt in the midst of the chaos he had created. All the anger had left his body, leaving behind a broken heart filled with pain.


    "I promised I would always take care of you, protect you. Why aren''t you here? You told me you would marry the boy you liked and have children. Please, come back and fulfill your dreams," Candado pleaded before collapsing on the ground. "I''m sorry, I shouldn''t have gotten so angry. I don''t want to make you feel bad. Please, come home to dad and mom, to grandma and grandpa, to Clementina, my friends, and me. Come back home, don''t leave me. I want to see your smile again, I want us to play again, I want to see that magic trick with the coin you used to do when I was sad. I want you back, I want you to hug me when I''m sad. I need you."


    Candado closed his eyes and tears streamed down his face, soaking the ground around him. His friends rushed to him and embraced him, trying to console him as he cried. Hammya, on the other hand, also shed some tears as she watched this emotional scene unfold.


    Then, the scene disappeared in the blink of an eye, and Hammya found herself back in the room. She was surrounded by an overwhelming silence. Candado lifted his head and looked into her eyes.


    "Why was your hand on my head?" Candado asked with curiosity, breaking the silence that had settled in the room.


    Hammya, still confused by the experience of seeing Candado''s memories, stuttered as she responded, "I, um..."


    Candado noticed that Hammya was also crying and asked with concern, "And why are you crying?"


    Hammya, touching her cheeks and feeling the dampness of the tears, tried to wipe them away with the sleeves of her sweater. Then, she felt someone grab her wrist. She lowered her gaze and saw that Candado had stopped her with his left hand while offering her a white handkerchief with his right hand.


    "It''s so your eyes don''t get irritated," Candado explained with compassion.


    Hammya took the handkerchief and then looked up to Candado, noticing that he too was crying, although he was trying to hide it.


    "Thank you," Hammya replied sincerely.


    However, Candado, trying to deny his tears, stood up and turned away quickly, hiding his face from Hammya.


    "No, it''s not true," he said with a choked voice as he tried to wipe away his tears with his white glove.


    Hammya noticed Candado''s distress and tried to understand what had happened. Candado quickly excused himself, "I... um, I''ll go see why Clementina is taking so long."


    He turned his back and hurried down the hallway, disappearing from Hammya''s view. She was left alone and wondered what she had seen in Candado''s memories and how she had managed to see them. It seemed she had witnessed happy and sad moments of his life, but what had affected her the most was the death of his sister, Gabriela. Hammya lowered her gaze and sighed worriedly, wondering if that had been the reason why Candado hadn''t slept the night before.


    As Hammya reflected on what had happened, Candado hastily left the room, closely followed by Clementina.


    "Wait, Candado, let''s talk about this," Clementina urged.


    "There''s nothing to talk about," Candado replied as he grabbed his beret and backpack.


    Clementina tried to stop him, but Candado slammed the door shut behind him. Then, Clementina turned to Hammya with a concerned expression on her face.


    "What happened?" Clementina asked, seeking answers in Hammya''s expression.


    Hammya held the handkerchief in her hands and responded to Clementina with sincerity,


    "I think I saw his memories."


    Clementina showed surprise and curiosity on her face.


    "Oh, it seems that temporarily uprooting wasn''t just your power."


    "You think so?"


    "Yes, I would believe so. But tell me, what did you see?"


    "I saw some things, like his birthday and the day his sister died."


    Clementina''s expression became even more astonished.


    "I see, so you saw how he took it?"


    "Yes, I saw how he suffered the loss of his sister. I also saw how emotionally shattered he was, I saw the fury and rage he felt towards God and towards himself."


    Clementina sat in the chair where Candado had been before and looked at Hammya.


    "Well, what you saw there was the death of that cheerful and playful Candado, and the birth of the cold and serious Candado he is now."


    Hammya nodded, beginning to better understand Candado.


    "I think I understand him better now. I feel some of Candado''s pain. He thinks he doesn''t deserve to be happy because he feels guilty for not being able to protect his sister. That''s why he wants to push away anyone who gets close to him so he never feels hurt again."


    Clementina nodded in agreement.


    "Yes, you''ve come to the same conclusion. Candado has a sensitive heart and seeks to protect all those around him."


    "But he contradicts himself, as Yara approaches him and he accepts her."


    "Well, in that case, it''s the opposite. She needs Candado, and he can''t turn his back on her because he''s the only one who understands her and knows how to care for her. The proof is that Mauricio didn''t know what to do when she was sick. Candado, on the other hand, knew how to cure her and spent days and nights taking care of her until her fever subsided."


    Hammya reflected on these words and then looked at Clementina with determination.


    "I want to help him."


    Clementina nodded with a smile.


    "I don''t mean to question you, but why?"


    "Candado has carried this burden alone for so long. He has managed to hide his pain from all of us, but by delving into his memories and dreams, I feel it''s time for him to have a hand to carry that heavy burden. He shouldn''t have to do it alone. I want to help rebuild the broken person that this Candado is and turn him back into what he was before, a cheerful and charismatic being. When I arrived here, Candado accepted me without any problem, and I want to return the favor."


    Clementina nodded in approval.


    "Great answer, Miss Hammya, great answer."


    Hammya had made a decision, and she was determined to help Candado heal and find the happiness he deserved after so long carrying his painful past.

 THE TRICOLOR AGENCY: GREEN, YELLOW AND RED

    Candado had stormed out of the house, frustrated. With every step he took, his indignation grew upon realizing that the tears had returned. What he had considered lost and forgotten had now resurfaced, and it irked him terribly. He couldn''t tolerate his old self, the one he had struggled to eliminate to make way for his new self, reasserting control. Everything he had worked for seemed to be going down the drain. In the midst of the looming threat of an imminent war shaking the world, there was no room for sensitivity and fragility. This was the moment when men had to set aside their feelings and be strong and steadfast in decision-making.


    He couldn''t afford to awaken his former self if he wanted to protect those around him. There was a grave threat of war between two powerful entities: the OMGAB and the FUCOT. It was time to find the poison that threatened to unleash this conflict and eradicate it. Candado understood that he needed to speak to as many people as possible to avert a war with his ideological enemy. What had happened years ago was not a fond memory, and now, with the fear of its repetition, it was time to act.


    The most feasible way to do so was to head to the Semaphore and seek an audience with Julekha Chandra, the leader of the Semaphores and the only person who could advance his sentence, as she had been the one to impose it.


    Candado made his way to Nelson''s house and knocked on the door forcefully. In the blink of an eye, the door swung open, revealing a very neat and tidy Nelson.


    "Hello, how can I help you?"


    "I need you to take me to the city of Resistance, please."


    "This is getting interesting. Wait a moment," replied Nelson as he closed the door.


    At that moment, Tinbari appeared behind Nelson with a pitcher of beer in hand.


    "Long time, seems like you''re in the middle of some trouble."


    "Oh, Tinbari, I never thought you''d come back after that shouting match I gave you," said Candado as he checked his watch.


    "I''ve been reflecting on what you said, and you were right. I acted without thinking, and I regret that."


    "It seems like everything you told me was a lie, but I''ll make the effort and believe you."


    "Thank you, after all, I had nothing to worry about."


    "Stop doing that. It gives me chills every time you say it like that."


    "Why?"


    "You''re not like that, and the mere fact that you''ve changed a bit leaves a bad taste in my mouth, so don''t try to change."


    "Hey, if you say so then... Alright, I won''t do it anymore, for now."


    "I like that."


    A few minutes later, the garage opened, and out rolled the Justicialist car, clean and shiny.


    "Wow, looks like you gave it a good wash, Nelson. I almost got blinded by all that shine."


    Nelson, who was inside the car, rolled down the window and stuck his head out. With a slightly arrogant tone, he replied:


    "Ready to go, kid?"


    "I asked for your help for a reason, mate."


    Candado approached the car, placed his backpack on the back seat, and then settled into the front seat.


    "Easy with the door, pal."


    "Sorry, not used to traveling by car."


    "How long has it been since you''ve done it?"


    "Two years."


    Nelson raised his eyebrows and gave a slight smile.


    Then, he took out the keys and started the engine. Looking back, he reversed slowly and, once on the asphalt, he accelerated as if he were in a race, causing Candado to sink into the leather seat without any possibility of movement.


    "Relax a little, man!"


    "I can''t hear you," Nelson said mockingly as he kept his foot on the accelerator.


    They sped through the streets of the town at full speed, surprisingly without finding any police nearby to stop them.


    "You''re going to cause an accident, crazy old man," exclaimed Candado with an exalted voice but without altering his cold expression.


    "Relax, nothing bad will happen."


    "How do you expect me to relax? You''re driving like a cheap imitation of Manuel Fangio."


    "Relax, at this speed, we''ll get to Resistencia faster."


    Once they left the island, Nelson slowed down and continued the journey more calmly.


    "A little more and you''ll tear up the asphalt," Candado commented as he adjusted his tie.


    Nelson chuckled.


    "Tear up the asphalt? That would be an exaggeration, Chapuza. Heh."


    "I hope it''s just an exaggeration and not a law."


    "Law? You''re quite peculiar, kid."


    Candado lowered the window and rested his arm on it.


    "Tell me, Nelson, what were you guys doing when you were my age?"


    Nelson pondered for a moment before responding.


    "Well, kid, your grandfather and I were the best in Resistencia, although the headquarters has always been there."


    "Is it still there?"


    "Of course, but nobody gathers there anymore. The documents were just moved to where you are now. But that doesn''t answer your question. Unlike you, we had more conflicts with the Circuit than with anything else. All day it was war, war, war, war, war, and more war."


    "But, what was my grandfather like? There were many things he didn''t tell me, like the incident of ninety-nine, and his childhood."


    "Your grandfather was an extremely reserved person. He never talked about his private life and never mentioned his family. The reason for this, who knows."


    "Wow, sounds like me."


    "Yes, in a way, but your grandfather was never a bad person. He simply hid important information to protect his family. One reason was that he was the son of the great Jack Barret, one of the heroes of the Tibetan Mountains. That''s why he moved to Chaco and kept his true identity a secret. Although that didn''t last long, as you can see, everyone knows you."


    "I wonder why."


    "That''s because of an incident with a strange guy named Pullbarey. He confronted your grandfather when he was your age. It was the first time I heard the word ''Cotorium''. I thought it was the name of some agency, but when Alfred told me the whole story, I was perplexed. I remember when he confessed it to me, I laughed, I laughed like a crazy man entering a madhouse for the first time, while your grandmother looked at a weirdo like me laughing at your grandfather."


    "Well, it would be strange if you hadn''t laughed."


    "Why do you say that?"


    "Because my grandfather probably would have thought you were the strange one in that situation, not him. Knowing him, he probably expected a different reaction, instead of the calm with which you took it."


    "And why do you think that?"


    "Because in my family, we don''t tolerate hypocrisy. We''ve dealt with people like that for so many years that we''ve almost become hypocrite detectors. I''m sure if you had said or done something hypocritical, my grandfather would have kicked you out."


    "Wow, you''re quite observant."


    "I''d rather say it''s a hobby."


    "Interesting. Also, I find it admirable how you dress. Your grandfather had a great sense of elegance, although he wasn''t always up to date on the latest fashion trends. I see that you don''t care much about it either."


    "Actually, I''m not interested. People tend to focus too much on appearances rather than getting to know the person behind the clothes. I''m sure if I were black and dressed like this in the United States, people would think I''ve stolen something and they''d send me straight to the electric chair or something like that. It''s the land of freedom without freedom and a democracy that isn''t really democratic."


    "Not many people think about that. It seems you enjoy engaging in quite deep topics for your age."


    "You know, you''re not one of those who believe in using only 5% of our brain, are you?"


    "No, of course not. After all, I''m a scientist."


    "So that explains the lab coat, doesn''t it? You wouldn''t wear it for anything else."


    "Well, I''m retired now, but my brain is still functioning. I''ll keep going until, as the saying goes, God says, ''Brother, here ends your journey in that world full of crap and sin, and it''s time to join this other world equally full of crap and overpopulation.''"


    "Your hobby is deciphering people, right? So why don''t you try to decipher me?"


    "No thanks, I think I''ll leave you the benefit of the doubt."


    Nelson burst into laughter as Candado observed him and wondered, "Is it really worth trying to understand this?" The old man was extremely charismatic, and his role as a scientist seemed to not fit at all. What had he contributed in the laboratory of C.I.C.E.T.A. or Center of Specialized Scientific Research in Advanced Technology? Candado wasn''t someone who judged others without knowing them, but Nelson seemed more interested in showing his appearance than revealing his true self. Although he saw him as an older man living in the moment, Candado knew he was actually a very intelligent person. Not everyone designed a three-sided television or maintained an old justicialist car while also making spare parts for a car practically extinct and forgotten in Argentine society.


    After thirty minutes of conversation about past topics, Nelson touched on the subject of the situation and the reason for Candado''s visit.


    "Tell me, what''s your business with the Semaphores?"


    "I want an audience with President Chandra to reconsider my sentence."


    "Sentence? What did you do?"


    "I hit a union colleague due to an ideological difference."


    "Ideological? In what sense?"


    Candado sighed and replied:


    "For calling Per¨®n a dictator."


    "Seriously, did he say that?"


    "Yes, and he deserved it. Speaking ill of General Per¨®n, who does he think he is?"


    "I understand, but unfortunately, my reaction wasn''t appropriate and I was suspended. However, I argued that if they wanted me to continue on the board, they had to respect my ideals. So not only was I punished, but also the fool who messed with General Per¨®n and Miss Eva Per¨®n."


    "Actually, I would have liked to know what happened to the kid."


    "He, well, his punishment was much harsher than mine. He was sentenced to carry a stone on his back and take it to Mount Fuji."


    "Did he really manage to do it?"


    "Yes, but it took him two months to do it on foot."


    "Wow, it seems like the punishments from the W.O.G.A.B. are pretty severe."


    "But those are just the minor punishments."


    Nelson smiled upon hearing the tale of the blue beret-wearing youth''s cunning and tenacity, but then his expression changed, and he became serious.


    "Candado, tell me something."


    "What?"


    "Are you aware of what''s going on, right?"


    "Of course, just knowing that something isn''t right keeps me on edge."


    "Wow, I didn''t mean so much about the situation itself, but rather about the illness you''re experiencing."


    "Well, truth be told, it bothers me initially when they bring up my illness, especially when they imply that I''m useless."


    "I didn''t mean that, I was just interested in knowing about your health."


    "There''s nothing new to report, although I''ll need more of that vial," Candado reached into his pants pocket and pulled out a half-empty vial. "Mine is running out."


    Nelson took the vial and examined it closely as he drove.


    "Son, I gave you this to last for two weeks, not for five days."


    "Well, old man, you see, I''m not exactly someone who could be described as ''calm.'' I''m quite anxious and nervous by nature."


    "Alright, I''ll see what I can do," Nelson handed Candado the vial and pulled out another identical one from his lab coat pocket, but this one was more full. "Here you go, this should last you longer. But be careful, don''t drink it all at once, you could become too impulsive. Use it wisely and only in dangerous situations when you need extra energy to defend yourself."


    "Ah, I see."


    "Now, will you talk to me about this Hammya?"


    "The girl, of course, I have no secrets about that."


    "Wow, it seems like you''re not hiding anything."


    "That''s right, as I said a moment ago."


    "Alright, tell me, what kind of powers does she have?"


    "Truthfully, I have no idea."


    "How is that possible? Hasn''t she shown any abilities?" the old man asked, surprised.


    "To be honest, I have no idea why she has green hair or why she''s stronger than me."


    "Yet, she''s living with you."


    "And what does that matter?"


    "She''s a pretty girl, I''m surprised you don''t feel anything for her."


    "You remind me of someone I know, a real fool. No, she lives with me because Miranda''s last wish was for her daughter not to end up in an orphanage."


    "You''re quite boring, honestly. You''re a lot like your mother."


    "Where are you going with this conversation?"


    "Oh, nowhere in particular, I was just prolonging the conversation a bit, that''s all."


    After that incident, Candado and Nelson remained silent until they reached the city of Resistencia. However, they made a stop at a gas station to refuel, as Nelson had spent a lot in the town, both to demonstrate his car''s power and to annoy Candado a bit. Nelson parked the car and allowed Candado to get out to stretch his legs and breathe some fresh air, as the old man had been smoking throughout the journey, something Candado detested. While Nelson went to buy some food, Candado sat on a bench and observed the street. In Resistencia, there was more traffic than in his town.


    "The city is quite bustling, very different from where I live," he commented ironically.


    Candado leaned back in the seat and looked up at the sky.


    "Although things here remain the same," he added quietly.


    Then he closed his eyes to rest a bit. He hadn''t been able to sleep well lately, and whenever he had the chance, he always dreamed of her. Every memory was painful, but he felt numb, unable to shed a single tear. He felt ashamed for not shedding a single tear at his grandfather''s funeral. What had he become? These were the questions that haunted him day and night. Candado was aware that he had changed, and a lot, but he had never wished to be that person. However, circumstances had led him to forge a strong and insensitive mind to protect himself from emotional hurt. The past could destroy a man if he didn''t know how to deal with it, but the future was the hope to change his past and be a better person. Therefore, Candado lived in the present and focused on his goals, not thinking too much about the future, only on how to achieve his ambitions.


    While Candado was lost in his thoughts, he heard crying. He slowly opened his eyes and saw a child being mistreated by a man in a food stall across the street. The child, about eight years old, was being insulted and beaten by the man, who apparently was his stepfather.


    "Looks like this city has its share of heartless people," Candado muttered as he stood up.


    Candado crossed the street and began to walk slowly towards the scene of the incident, with his hands in his pockets and his characteristic cold attitude. Cars swerved around him, and some drivers insulted him, but he didn''t care. He knew none of those cars posed a real threat, especially when they noticed his presence.


    When he finally arrived at the scene, the man, a fat and unkempt individual with a face that only a mother could love, was about to hit the child again. Candado stopped him by grabbing his wrist with two fingers, the thumb and index finger.


    "A man your age raising a hand to a child is a disgrace to humanity."


    The man tried to free himself by shaking his arm and then turned to Candado.


    "Is this damn kid your relative? Tell him to pay me what he owes me, he has stolen from me."


    Candado leaned to the left to look at the child, who was only holding a bag of bread.


    "You are exaggerating more than my grandmother. I doubt this young man has stolen anything."


    "If you don''t know him, better stay out of it, or I''ll call the police."


    In whispers, Candado spoke confidentially, "Between us, if the ''cops'' were to show up and see the child with bruises, I''m sure you would end up in prison instead of him."


    The enraged man, with a tone full of anger, snapped, "Filthy rat, do you know who I am?!"


    Candado calmly replied, "Yes, a failed experiment of your mother."


    The man, now overflowing with fury, shouted, "You damn son of a bitch! I''m friends with the police, I can make you and this dirty, lazy kid shit yourselves, who only knows how to steal."


    Candado inhaled and exhaled deeply, trying to keep his composure. "You are just one more of the thousands of arrogant people in this vast world, only you don''t have the face to tell me that in that way."


    With a determined gesture, Candado tucked his hands into his pockets and entered the premises barefoot, responding to the curious glances of those present, "I would be ashamed if my fine shoes touched that filthy and rotten floor, which you call a ''premises''."


    Once inside the premises, Candado took a basket and began to browse the shelves, selecting various items, including water, soda, meat, oil, rice, sausage, apples, oranges, potatoes, cookies, and some treats for himself. Then, he exited the premises, put on his shoes, and approached the child, taking the bread from the boy and placing it in his basket. He then put the basket on the ground in front of the child and walked towards the man.


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    "How much is the total purchase?" he asked, maintaining his cold demeanor.


    The man examined the basket and counted the items one by one before replying, "It''s 864 pesos with 57 cents."


    Candado took nine hundred pesos out of his pocket and handed them to the man.


    "I''ll also take the basket," he added.


    The man pocketed the money and went into the shop. Then, he turned to the boy and asked, "Where do you live?" while maintaining his cold and impassive attitude.


    "Nearby," the boy timidly replied.


    Candado continued, "By the way, what''s your name?"


    The boy introduced himself, "My name is Thomas, Thomas Domingo."


    Candado bent down to the boy''s height and shook his right hand.


    "Pleasure to meet you, Thomas Domingo. My name is Candado Barret."


    The boy asked with curiosity, "Like the ones used to lock doors?"


    Candado nodded and stood up, taking the basket full of groceries again. However, he hadn''t realized that Nelson was watching him from the car while eating a pastry and muttering, "Damn, that kindness doesn''t match his appearance."


    Candado walked with the boy for almost ten minutes until they finally reached Thomas''s house. It was a normal house, but its conditions were not good; the boy wore a worn-out shirt, had no shoes, and his pants were torn at the knees, deducing these traits. Candado could sense that he had a frustrated mother with concentration problems, perhaps because they were poor; he could tell since under the boy''s shirt there was a poorly cut thread with a tiny drop of blood, so the mother must have sewn it because there were no wounds on the boy''s hands. He could also notice that the boy was extremely innocent and that their poverty was recent; this was because the boy didn''t run away when he was hit and had manners, such as giving his full name properly. Candado couldn''t smell the child''s bad odor, which meant he still bathed. The reason for the worn-out clothes, they must have been for sale to be able to eat; Candado could perceive that he had a father and two brothers, due to how the house was structured; he could notice three extra rooms.


    After standing there for a moment, looking at the house and sensing its atmosphere, the boy gently tugged his hand.


    "I think I should have brought more supplies."


    "What?"This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    "Oh, nothing, just talking to myself."


    Candado walked to the entrance and knocked on the door.


    "I hope my family will welcome you."


    Candado showed a faint smile in response and continued to look at the door. After a few seconds, it opened, and a man, very well-dressed with a suitcase and glasses, rushed out, knocking over the boy. And Candado, who wanted to show his manners, tripped him, causing him to fall face-first to the ground.


    "You little piece of shit, I''m glad to know you''ll be homeless very soon," the man said as he left the place.


    "Heh, it''s strange to see these morons here."


    Then Candado put his hand behind the boy''s head, and they entered the house together. Once inside, Candado could appreciate what their home was like. They had almost nothing; they had a sofa, a table, and two chairs, no television, the windows were dirty, the ceiling had mold, among many other things.


    "Oh, for fuck''s sake..." muttered Candado as he rushed to stop the cabinet with his back. In the position he was in, he caused certain items to fall to the ground, and more than one was about to hit the girl. However, with Candado''s agility and skill, he managed to stop and, in other cases, push away the blunt objects with his left leg, while using the other to leverage and prevent the cabinet from falling.


    "That was close," said Candado as he got rid of the last object, which seemed to be a ceramic jar, and set it aside. He then began to inhale and exhale normally, as he had to hold his breath to prevent the objects from falling on his head. After a while of doing the same exercises several times, the girl approached him and offered him a small box of apple juice.


    "Juice?"


    "No, thanks. Could you move?"


    "Juice?"


    "No, I already told you no. Now, could you please move aside?"


    "Juice?"


    "Sweetheart, could you go away, please?"


    "Juice?"


    "No... okay, fine! Give me a sip of that juice."


    The girl lifted the juice box, and Candado leaned his head to reach the straw and drink. When he finally managed to reach it, he felt a crunch in his back and an expression of pain mixed with his cold demeanor.


    "This is going to hurt tomorrow."


    Candado took a sip of the girl''s juice and then raised his head to look at her.


    "Now, please, move aside."


    The girl took six steps to the left when he said that, then looked at him and started drinking her juice. With the obstacle removed, Candado stomped heavily on the floor and applied all his strength to put the cabinet back in place.


    "Oh, for God''s sake..."


    Candado muttered as he struggled backwards, puffing his cheeks and squinting his eyes. Finally, he managed to put the cabinet back in place. When he completed his task, he slid drawer by drawer until he reached the floor, sitting and panting exhausted. He looked at the girl with a faint smile on his face, although he still maintained his cold attitude.


    "What''s your name, little one?"


    "My name is Ver¨®nica."


    "Ver¨®nica? Nice name."


    "And what''s your name?" Ver¨®nica asked as she approached him.


    "I''m Candado Ern¨¦st Catriel Barret."


    "Wow, that''s a long name!"


    "It''s my first and last name, although people commonly call me Candado. You can too, if you want."


    "Okay, Candado."


    At that moment, a strange person ran at full speed from the hallway to the living room. It was a strange girl with hair made of snakes, resembling some kind of Medusa from Greek mythology, although these snakes were red and had nine heads.


    "Oh, damn, didn''t think I''d see another demon," Candado said in a mocking tone.


    "And who are you and what are you doing in my house?" the girl demanded.


    Candado stood up, dusted off his clothes, and replied, "Relax, I''m just wandering around until the food is ready."


    "Food?"


    "Hey, step back a bit. I don''t want your friends to bite me."


    "Who do you think you are? You''re not welcome here, stranger."


    "Wow, what poor vocabulary."


    As Candado said that, the snakes in the girl''s hair began to prepare for an attack while sticking out their tongues.


    "Now I see it, you inherited your mother''s temper."


    "My mother? What''s she doing here?"


    "Silly girl, it was your mother who invited me to eat here."


    "You''re lying."


    Candado leaned in and touched his forehead to the girl''s.


    "Do you think I''m lying?" he asked with a cold attitude and a great intention to hit her.


    In that instant, during the heated argument, one of the snakes wrapped around Candado''s neck twice and showed its teeth wide open, preparing to bite his cheek. Meanwhile, the other snakes prepared to attack, showing their large, sharp fangs, dripping venom.


    "Is this supposed to intimidate me?" Candado said disdainfully.


    "If it doesn''t, then I''ll have to take you down," the girl responded with determination.


    "You don''t scare me. I''ve faced countless dangers, each one more perilous than the last. Do you still think these snakes can do anything? I''m sorry to say, but you''re mistaken," Candado affirmed, maintaining his cold demeanor.


    "We''ll see about that."


    As Candado prepared to unleash his flaming strike at her chest, Ver¨®nica, who had been observing the entire confrontation, decided to intervene. She positioned herself between the two, so small that she had gone unnoticed until that moment, and placed her hands on each of their legs.


    "Stop, please, Candado is my friend."


    "Candado?" the girl said in surprise.


    "Yes, that''s my name. Any problem?"


    "Oh, my goodness, forgive me," the girl responded as she withdrew the snakes from Candado''s face and neck.


    "What''s going on? I don''t understand," Candado said, confused.


    Ver¨®nica placed her left hand on her chest and raised her chin.


    "Forgive me, Your Excellency. It was not my intention to treat you in that manner."


    Confused, Candado decided to play along and assume the role of someone important.


    "Give me your name and surname."


    "Yes, sir. My name is Carolina Coatlicue, and I am part of the Tricolor agency, the Traffic Lights."


    "Rank?"


    "Red rank, sir."


    "I see, you''re a rookie. Who is your department head?"


    "Caba?a Nicol¨¢s, sir."


    "I see. At ease, soldier."


    "Yes, sir," Carolina replied as she relaxed her arms.


    "Alright, miss. What''s with the hostile behavior towards me?"


    "It was an accident. I thought you were someone else."


    "Someone else?"


    "Yes, sir. Lately, we''ve had Circuists lurking around my house, so I thought you were part of... you know, the Erasers."


    "Alright, alright. I like people who suspect everything, as they have more chances of survival."


    "I''m flattered, sir. It will be a privilege for me to have you eat with us."


    "By the way, why are you in these conditions?"


    "The truth is, my parents are unemployed, and a company wants to demolish our house to build a supermarket. We''ve tried everything, but it seems like we won''t last long."


    "Did you ask for help from the guild or the Traffic Lights?"


    "Yes, but they couldn''t do anything, as my mom signed a contract with the company when we needed money. Now they want to evict us, and we only have five days before ending up on the street."


    "Debt?" Candado inquired in surprise.


    "Yes, 953,993 pesos, plus interest, amounting to 3,597,202 million pesos."


    "Wow, that debt is exorbitant," commented Candado.


    Then, Carolina tilted her head and looked at her sister, who was hugging her leg. With tenderness, Carolina lifted her and then looked at Candado.


    "We don''t have money to pay those debts. It seems like we have no choice but to leave here," she began to shed tears, although she tried to contain them. "I''m sorry, I''m a Traffic Light, I''m not supposed to be in this state."


    Candado, with his insensitive attitude, took a deep breath and then exhaled everything he had inside. He then reached into his pocket and pulled out a wallet that seemed small at first glance, but upon opening it, revealed a stack of hundred-peso bills. He took out a roll of bills of the same value, considerably large. Then, he took Carolina''s hand and handed her the money.


    "Here''s over twenty million pesos."


    "What!?" exclaimed Carolina in surprise.


    "You see, for me, money is nothing more than a simple piece of paper that serves a purpose and nothing more. This time, I''ve used it to help you."


    "But..."


    "Don''t say anything, the money is yours and your family''s. Pay off your debts, buy furniture, and..." Candado looked at her intently and continued, "...and also some decent clothes."


    "I can''t find the right words for this."


    "Don''t say anything, and that''s final."


    "But I know what I want. I''m going to defend your name in the OMGAB and in the Traffic Lights."


    "Alright, thank you. After what Joaqu¨ªn told me, it would be nice to have more allies in the Traffic Lights, so I''ll accept your help."


    "It will be an honor to follow you."


    "Speaking of which, I''m hungry. I wonder if the food is ready?" Candado remarked.


    "I didn''t know Mom was cooking, well, not at this exact moment. Shall we?" Carolina replied.


    "Yes, let''s go," Candado said, then looked at little Ver¨®nica and continued, "Are you coming too, little one?"


    "Yes, of course."


    Candado, Carolina, and Ver¨®nica descended to the kitchen, only to behold the masterpiece their mother had created: a rice stew. Judging by everyone''s reactions, it seemed like it had been a long time since they had eaten in such a manner; even the cook was surprised by her own culinary art. But they were even more astonished when they tasted the stew; everyone expressed their joy through their taste buds. Everyone, except Candado, who always wore the same expression on his face, making it difficult for others to guess his mood. Despite that, Candado was very grateful, praising the food and the cook several times. As he sat at the table, watching Carolina, Ver¨®nica, and Thomas sitting with their parents, he felt a twinge of envy for the unity of that family, despite not having money and being on the brink of total bankruptcy. However, they remained united both at the table and in the family. Candado watched the reunited family eating together, something he hadn''t experienced in years in his own home.


    "Is something wrong?" the man asked.


    "Why do you ask?" Candado replied.


    "You''ve been like that for a long time and barely touched your food."


    "Oh, I''m sorry," Candado bowed his head, looked at his plate, and began to eat. "Just seeing you all brought back memories."


    "Memories?" Carolina asked.


    "Yes, painful and beautiful... memories."


    After those words, Candado continued eating and said nothing more. He didn''t praise or comment further. Not because he didn''t know what to say, but because he didn''t want to show his sentimental side, as it seemed to deeply affect him.


    When they finished their meal, Candado stood up, thanked the family for inviting him to their table, and headed towards the door. However, everyone got up and accompanied him. Upon hearing that everyone was behind him, Candado turned around and looked at them attentively, then showed a smile, this time with a little more enthusiasm.


    "Thank you very much for the meal."


    "Come back whenever you want," said the woman.


    "You will always be welcome in this house," added the man.


    "I hope we meet again," concluded the three siblings.


    Candado waved goodbye and left the house. He didn''t leave alone with his usual coldness, but accompanied by joy and excitement. Knowing that he had helped a family gave him hope of repairing his own.


    When he stepped outside, he noticed Nelson waiting for him in front of the car. Candado made a grimace and walked towards him, hands in his pockets, feeling the afternoon breeze caressing his bangs and body. As he approached the car, he showed a slight smile because he felt a great satisfaction in his heart. Candado got into the car with a smile on his face.


    "Are you alright?" Nelson asked, surprised.


    "I think so. I don''t know how to explain it, but somehow I feel happy."


    Nelson blinked repeatedly in amazement, raised his eyebrows, and looked at the steering wheel.


    "You''re scary, kid," Nelson said as he started the car.


    From that moment on, Nelson knew which path Candado had chosen, and all that was left to do was to watch.


    After helping the family in Resistencia, Candado headed back to the Tricolor agency, the Traffic Lights. The goal was clear: to secure an audience with Chandra and obtain her forgiveness in order to enter the OMGAB and report the situation that was unfolding. Candado believed he could reach an agreement with her, as Chandra was an easy person to talk to.


    They continued by car for another fifteen minutes until they reached the Traffic Lights headquarters.


    "Wow, they''ve renovated this place, it looks new," observed Nelson as he got out of the car.


    "That''s how they are," commented Candado as he closed the car door.


    The agency was located in an almost desolate place, with no houses around, just a few trees. It was like a fortress, with concrete walls between nine and eleven meters high surrounding almost five blocks of land. There was only one metal door as an entrance. On the outskirts of the agency, security cameras could be seen all over the place, and at the entrance, two guards: one adult and one teenager, the latter seeming to be on his first day of work. Since the wall was very high, the structure of the building could barely be seen, except for some towers and the roof.


    Candado and Nelson got out of the car and approached the entrance, where they were stopped by a veteran police officer, an older, burly, bearded man wearing glasses.


    "Who are you guys?" the guard asked.


    "I am Candado Barret, and this gentleman beside me is Nelson Torres. We want to have an audience with the representatives here."


    "I''m sorry to say the president is not present."


    "But is his vice president?"


    "Yes, but..."


    "Alright. Will you let us in?" Candado interrupted.


    "Alright, after all, you''re a representative of Argentina in the Bernstein Organization, so please come in."


    The guard entered a booth, pressed some buttons, and the door opened slowly with an annoying noise. Candado''s hands could be seen trembling behind his back due to the irritating noise, while Nelson covered his ears. When the door opened fully, Candado raised his beret in a greeting gesture to the guards and entered the compound, accompanied by his friend Nelson.


    Inside the building, everything was impressive. There were many people, mainly children and teenagers. There was an area that looked like an airport and a rest area with a white statue of Harambee holding hands with Alfons¨ªn D¨¢ydalo, the creator of the Traffic Lights. It was said that D¨¢ydalo, being a very poor boy, had reached the top of the guilds due to his desire to help others. One of the deadly problems he noticed was the lack of a patrol for guild maintenance activities. They needed someone to report, draft, and solve problems that might arise in other sister guilds. If corruption and mismanagement in a guild increased, it could become a serious problem for the Circuits. Thus, the Traffic Lights were born, an entity that served as the eyes and ears of the W.O.G.A.B., ensuring that the work of the guilds was carried out correctly. They also acted as reinforcements for their siblings in case of attacks. Today, this agency had a presence worldwide.


    Alfons¨ªn was president of the Traffic Lights for three years, fighting off Circuit attacks, until he died in battle at the age of fifteen. His younger brother, Ricardo D¨¢ydalo, honored him every day, becoming a legendary figure for both the guilds and the Circuits. For the guilds, he was a loyal and brave warrior, while for the Circuits, he was a lying tyrant and a source of trouble. However, for the tricolor agency, he remained the father of the ideals of equality, fraternity, and freedom.


    Since then, the Traffic Lights had been dedicated to helping and defending all guilds. They had a completely independent justice administration system from the W.O.G.A.B. to ensure that fair decisions were always made in cases of impunity, punishment, and expulsion. Candado Barret, Arce Catherine Lourdes, and Cesar Chrome were the only three people capable of administering punishment to the accused, leaving them completely defenseless in their daily lives. This system had been established by Alfons¨ªn himself to administer justice, as it had previously been carried out by a Bailak who had passed on his knowledge to these three individuals.


    Candado strolled through the agency''s gardens to pass the time, as he hadn''t visited the place in a long time. Meanwhile, Nelson was completely fascinated by what he was seeing; he had never witnessed so many changes in the agency before.


    "Would you mind if I take a look around?" Nelson asked.


    "Not at all, feel free to go," Candado replied.


    Nelson parted ways with Candado and disappeared around the corner of the building, where there were many people. Candado walked to the plaza where everyone gathered, each wearing a band on their left arm of different colors to indicate their rank, such as white (Student), red (Corporal), yellow (Infantry or Captain), and green (The highest rank of the Semaphores and the most difficult to achieve). On his way, he encountered familiar faces and greeted them, sometimes with nods and other times with a handshake, until he decided to rest on a bench nearby. As he sat, he observed everyone bustling around; some were chatting, while others remained still.


    At that moment, a familiar voice surprised him.


    "I never thought you''d come today."


    Candado turned and saw a familiar figure, Reinhold Krauser.


    Krauser was a peculiar figure, with no eyes, ears, nose, or mouth visible at first glance. His appearance resembled that of a white mannequin, half-human and half-monster. He dressed elegantly, wearing brown trousers with white stripes, shiny black shoes, a light blue long-sleeved shirt, a matching vest and pants, a black tie, and a hat to complement his ensemble, all without white lines. Though he seemed calm, he could be sarcastic and mocking at times, though mostly reserved. Despite his strange appearance, he had the ability to see, hear, and eat through a mouth that opened in its original place. Sometimes, he used his terrifying appearance to intimidate his enemies by unfolding his mouth and covering his head, revealing a long, rough black tongue and sharp white teeth. On other occasions, he used his mouth to communicate, as it was all he had. Krauser sometimes wore a sturdy brown or red trench coat, a black scarf around his neck, black pants with black leather boots, and dark brown leather gloves, along with his characteristic green band on his left arm.


    As for his abilities, Krauser possessed a violin with which he could immobilize his enemies if he were to play out of tune, but he could also manipulate both friends and enemies like puppets when he played a melody. Additionally, he had the ability to create tentacles from his back and control them as if they were additional arms. His powerful jaw allowed him to devour large objects like cars or tanks, and he had the ability to regenerate lost limbs. He was also surprisingly skilled in cooking and cleaning.


    "Krauser, the walking mannequin, how''s life treating you?" Candado joked.


    "Very funny, Candado. Truth be told, life treats me much better than it does you," Krauser retorted.


    "I figured as much."


    "Mind if I sit?" Krauser asked.


    "Not at all, please do," Candado replied.


    "Thanks," Krauser responded before sitting down next to Candado.


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    "Tell me, how was the inspection?" asked Candado.


    "Well, it went very well, truth be told. I never thought it would finish so quickly."


    "Well, Joaqu¨ªn holds you in high regard, wouldn''t surprise me if he expedited it."


    "You think so?"


    "Of course, after all, he''s your friend, isn''t he?"


    "Well, I suppose so, but he''s too soft. By the way, do you know that mute girl who''s with Joaqu¨ªn? She reminds me of Clementina."


    "Ruth? Well, I haven''t spoken much with her, but I think she''s a good person."


    "And Moneda?"


    "He''s a wild card, a war lunatic, but his madness seems to be his strength, as he fears nothing, and that''s quite useful to us, truth be told."


    "Have you heard if Joaqu¨ªn has arrived?"


    "No, he hasn''t returned yet, but Rozkiewicz is here."


    Candado covered his face and said, "Honestly, I don''t want to talk to him. He''s too loud, and that kind of people makes me nervous."


    "Well, truth be told, he loves doing that, but don''t worry, he''ll get you everything you need."


    "If you put it like that, then..."


    "Then what?"


    "Well, I''ve decided, I''m going to see Rozkiewicz."


    "Pray he doesn''t yell."


    "And you''ll come with me."


    "Oh no sir, I have no intentions of going."


    "What if I give you a cookie?"


    "Two."


    "Deal, now come."


    Candado and Krauser stood up from their seats and headed towards the building, walking side by side like comrades, although Krauser only decided to go out of convenience. When they entered, the atmosphere was very clean, and the air had a fresh fragrance. They had air conditioning, and there were receptionists at the entrance with a sign of the Sem¨¢foros logo, which was a medieval-style shield with the three colors. Fortunately, they were too distracted to notice both of their presence. Candado and Krauser took the elevator and went up to the top floor of the building. Though it formally had twelve floors, they got out of the elevator and took the only straight path on that floor. A very large door awaited them, and Candado didn''t touch it delicately, but punched it so that his call could be heard.


    "Easy, Candado, you''re going to break the door," Krauser said with concern.


    Before Candado could reply, the door opened, revealing a large room with five people. Two of them were women, one was sitting at the front in a white armchair, well-dressed and with dark sunglasses. The other four were sitting, but they all looked towards Candado, suggesting they were in an important meeting.


    "CANDADO! How are you?" exclaimed Rozkiewicz as he removed his dark sunglasses.


    "Good morning, Mr. President."


    "MANNEQUIN! Welcome."


    "Am I interrupting something?"


    "Uh, no, actually, we were just talking about you."


    Candado walked towards the front to see the faces of the people Rozkiewicz was speaking with.


    "Let me introduce you, he''s Candado Barret, representative of the W.O.G.A.B. and our champion in all the... ARGENTINA DAMMIT!" exclaimed Rozkiewicz as he leaned on Candado''s shoulder.


    "Greetings," they all responded simultaneously.


    Candado decided to start with the first seat, a young woman with a staff in her hand, a bird on her head, and dressed in green and red robes.


    "Hello, I''m Sof¨ªa Ibarra Zapir¨®n, pleased to meet you."


    "Well, I''ve heard of you, the dryad from Argentina, one of the best in nature control."


    "I prefer to call it mutual cooperation."


    Candado took Sof¨ªa''s hand and kissed the back of it.


    "My respects to your people, you''re the only ones who have always helped us, the guilds."


    "Don''t mention it."


    Then Candado released Sof¨ªa''s hand and turned to the one next to her, a young boy in jeans, a black leather jacket, and strange shoulder pads with sharp spikes. On his chest, he wore a badge of a red cactus.


    "Good afternoon, sir, my name is Walter Dussek."


    "Well, Walter, the boy who controls cacti at will. He''s very famous in the north due to his powers with sand and Rekla''darica magic. It''s an honor for me to have you in the Sem¨¢foros."


    "Heh, yes, although it''s the first time. The credit is not only mine."


    Candado shook Walter Dussek''s hand.


    "Welcome to Chaco."


    "Thanks. Cactus?"


    "Uh, no."


    He then continued and met the third seat, where there was a man with a stylish and very pale appearance. It seemed like his first time in a place like Chaco. He was dressed in white from head to toe, had a light blue handkerchief wrapped around his neck, and medals partially covering his chest. He wore a hat with a red feather on it.


    "Greetings, Mr. Candado, my name is Johan M. You must be flattered by my presence."


    "And who is this jerk?" asked Candado as he looked around.


    "Mr. Johan is a bounty hunter, he''s neutral," explained Rozkiewicz.


    "I''m too valuable to get my hands dirty with crumbs. It''s just the fact of being here that gives brightness to this dump."


    Candado was having a severe nervous twitch in his right eye. He had never seen such egocentrism in one person before, to the point that just listening to his words caused him terrible ear pain. He couldn''t believe he was about to punch an important guest. Not even that, Candado couldn''t say the words "important guest." He would sooner die than say that. However, Candado showed a fake expression of pleasure and respectfully shook his hand.


    "It''s a¡ª" Candado closed his left eye and looked up, as if he were thinking about what to say, then continued, "pleasure to have you here."


    "Pleasure? No, I give more than that, I give prestige to this shabby establishment."


    Candado squeezed Johan''s hand hard enough to cause him pain.


    "Same here."


    "It didn''t hurt me, I exercise."


    Candado closed his eyes, held his breath, and then exhaled deeply.


    He then moved to the last seat, where there was a quite formal girl, with a noble attitude, dressed in celestial, red, and yellow clothes in a design that Candado had never seen before. She wore a tiara with a green diamond ornament in the center of her head, had short hair and white gloves, and her face reflected the innocence of a noble child.


    "Good afternoon, Mr. Candado, my name is Cantero Amana Agostina."


    "Well, forgive me, but I don''t know you."


    "No problem, it''s very common for that to happen. Truth is, I don''t care to be famous."


    "What''s that humility?"


    "Actually, I''m not humble, I''m just a regular person doing my job to help others. Isn''t that what guilds do?"


    Candado was utterly bewildered by what he had just heard. He couldn''t believe that someone like her didn''t consider herself humble, but simply a normal guild worker dedicated to helping others.


    "Well, I think two things, either you''re naive or you''re truly a humanitarian."


    "No, not at all. It''s true, I just dedicate myself to helping others on behalf of Harambee and the guilds."


    "I''ll take the initiative to be a kind being." Candado shook her hand and continued, "Pleased to meet you, I hope we get along well."


    "Just so you know, Candado, she belongs to the oligarchy of Buenos Aires and is a friend of a friend of yours."


    "Who?"


    "Sara from Holy Truth."


    "I can''t believe it, it seems you''ve made a friend after all. To top it off, she''s the daughter of a high-class family with a heart of gold, or should I say, platinum."


    Johan raised his hand and interrupted the conversation.


    "Excuse me, but I''m also humble."


    "You?" Candado asked disgustedly.


    "Yes, I''m the humblest in the entire universe. I''m the best at being humble."


    "You must be incredible at being good at helping others, right?" Cantero asked.


    "Hah, you recognize my greatness, little one. Those who follow me are always rewarded."


    "This is getting off track," Walter said.


    "ORDER! Please, we need to talk about these issues, so please listen to me. I''ve called you because there''s a war looming with the Circuits."


    "War? With the Circuits?"


    "Exactly, Miss Sofia, a war is coming, and it''s our duty to stop it, so..."


    Candado slammed his fist on the table.


    "NO!"


    "What''s gotten into you?" Johan asked.


    "You don''t understand, the Circuits are innocent, they have nothing to do with this."


    "That''s funny, the Circuits innocent? Impossible," Rozkiewicz said.


    "Wait a moment, it''s always good to hear others'' opinions."


    "Sofia is right, we should listen to him," Cantero recommended.


    "Explain yourself, please," Krauser said as he placed his hand on Candado''s shoulder.


    "Well, this is what I know."


    Candado began recounting everything that had happened in the past few days. He told them about the Witnesses and the people who had attacked him, mentioning their names: Guz, Jane, Joel, and Rose. He also explained the purpose of their existence and their possible tactic to trigger a war between the guilds and the Circuits. He spoke of the mission to bring back their leader, Thanatos, to Earth. He detailed every step and every relevant piece of information. The others listened attentively to every word that came out of his mouth.


    When Candado finished his explanation, everyone began to reflect on what he had recounted. However, it wasn''t enough to convince some of them.


    "It''s madness," Rozkiewicz worried.


    "I can''t believe it," Cantero exclaimed.


    "I think they''d be the highest bidder," Johan expressed disinterestedly.


    "There must be a mistake, it can''t be..."


    "No mistake."


    Said a mysterious voice, and everyone turned to see who was speaking. It was Joaqu¨ªn, accompanied by Moneda, Ruth, Clementina, Hammya, and H¨¦ctor.


    "BARRETO! HOW''S IT GOING?" Rozkiewicz shouted.


    "What mental retardation, my God," Johan said.


    "What are you three doing here?"


    "We came to make sure you wouldn''t get into trouble, Ern¨¦st," H¨¦ctor said.


    "Ern¨¦st? Oh, I see, you got demoted, didn''t you?" Joaqu¨ªn mocked.


    "No, he''s just on vacation, he''ll be back in a few days," Clementina clarified.


    "Well, well, putting that aside, how do you know what Candado is saying is true?"


    "My dear friend, I have the evidence with me, Ruth, would you do me the honor?"


    Joaqu¨ªn extended his right hand, and Ruth handed him some documents.


    "Well, ladies and gentlemen."


    "Here is the evidence," said Joaqu¨ªn as he took out a few papers from the folder and slid them across the table.


    "Who are they?" Sof¨ªa asked.


    "Good question, my lady. They are the Witnesses."


    "J?rgen Czacki, R?sse?s Andrea, Guz, Joel la Valle, Rose la Valle, Jane la Valle, Amasai Chesulloth, Azricam Betah, Dockly Fernando, and Isabel Castillo, who the hell are these? They''re strangers," Rozkiewicz said.


    "Those are the ones currently making up the Witnesses."


    "How did you get this?" Candado asked as he held one of the pages.


    "It was thanks to William."


    "I should''ve guessed. Where is he now? That scoundrel owes me money."


    "I regret to inform you, Candado, that he''s in the south now, and won''t be coming for a few days."


    "This place is amazing," Hammya said.


    "Why is she here? She''ll only cause trouble," Candado said, but no one listened.


    "Wow, what beautiful hair," Cantero said.


    "Do you cooperate with nature?" Sof¨ªa asked.


    "Wow, she looks like a cactus," Walter remarked.


    "She''s beautiful," Johan said.


    "Well, I..."


    "Can we focus?"


    "Listen to Candado, then you can talk to the newcomer."


    Everyone agreed with Krauser''s proposal and paid attention.


    "All right, is that all, Joaqu¨ªn?"


    "No, we still need to find out who their leader is, I haven''t succeeded, but I know they call their leader the desecrator."


    "Does anyone else have this information?" Rozkiewicz asked.


    "Yes, actually, Maldonado stole my reports."


    "WHAT!?" they all exclaimed.


    "What you heard, Maldonado stole my reports."


    "Are you stupid or what? How could you leave these documents unprotected?"


    "H¨¦ctor Ram¨ªrez Bonamico Mateo, a genius in everything related to computers and mathematics. I know what I did and I''m aware of the situation, but this was necessary for the cause."


    "Why give that information to our enemies?" H¨¦ctor asked.


    At that moment, Johan raised his legs on the table and interrupted.


    "What he did is smart."


    "What are you talking about?"


    "I suppose he left the writings alone on a table and in a locked office, so they would be stolen the next day."


    "Did you do it knowingly?" asked Moneda.


    "Of course I did, it was my plan after all."


    "I don''t understand, why did you do it?"


    Candado remained pensive from the moment he admitted to knowingly neglecting his duty, but after much thought, he found a precise answer to his friend''s actions and the situation at hand.


    "Did you indirectly share information with the Circuits?" asked Candado.


    "What?" everyone exclaimed at once, except Johan.


    "Oh, Candado has figured it out. You''re good, though not as much as me," remarked Johan.


    "Shut up, Johan," said Sof¨ªa.


    "Why would you do that? You know very well they are our age-old enemies," demanded Rozkiewicz.


    "Think for a moment, what good does it do us to hide information from those who are enemies of our enemies? I believe it''s time to share information about the Witnesses if we want to defeat them, or else we''ll be divided and all perish."


    "That was very clever of you, Joaqu¨ªn."


    "The credit isn''t mine, Miss Cantero, the idea was indirectly given to me by Sof¨ªa."


    "How?"


    "In one of her speeches, you said, ''The pain of those who are immortal has brought war and death to countless innocents, to justify the unjustifiable, the Circuits ruled for three whole years because we couldn''t stay united.''"


    "That''s the speech I gave on Remembrance Day, over a year ago."


    "Exactly, that speech taught me something important. In times of war, we must stand united, and in this case, our enemies are the Witnesses, not the Circuits."


    "But what you did is illegal."


    "I know, Rozkiewicz, that''s why this will stay between us."


    "What makes you think I''ll keep quiet?" Johan questioned.


    At that moment, everyone, except Cantero, drew their weapons and aimed them at Johan''s neck.


    "Alright, I''ll keep my mouth shut."


    "Good, that settles this matter," said Clementina.


    Everyone laughed, except Candado, who remained silent as he gazed out of the large window in the room. Joaqu¨ªn followed behind him and placed his hand on his shoulder.


    "Tell me, what do you need? When I arrived here, the guards told me you were looking for me."


    "I need you to do me a favor."


    "Another one? Alright."


    "I need you to arrange an interview with Chandra."


    "The president? And what do you want with her?"


    "It''s about my situation."


    "That''ll be tough, but I''ll see what I can do."


    "Thank you, Joaqu¨ªn, you''re a friend."


    After saying that, Joaqu¨ªn noticed something outside the window.


    "Look at that blond boy over there, where have I seen him? It looks like he''s coming this way."


    From the window, Candado tried to place him. He was a boy of about fourteen walking with his hands behind his back, dressed in black, and slowly approaching the walls'' gate.


    "He''s... I think he is..." Joaqu¨ªn slowly widened his eyes in amazement, as if he had seen a ghost.


    Candado frowned and opened his mouth. It was clear he was very surprised.


    "He''s... DESZA!"

 WITNESSES OF CHAOS

    He stood in front, walking as calmly as ever. Candado was the only one who could identify him.


    "Are you sure?" Hector asked.


    "No doubt," Candado affirmed.


    "Wait, what is he doing?"


    Candado and Joaquin watched as Desza drew a machete and plunged it into the body of the old, fat policeman.


    "MARIO!" Joaquin yelled.


    His cry alerted everyone present.


    "What''s happening, chief?" Krauser asked.


    Joaquin turned and said, "EVERYONE, QUICK! WE HAVE TO¡ª"


    "BE CAREFUL!" Candado shouted.


    At that precise moment, a large stone smashed through the window and fell onto Joaquin and Candado.


    "WHAT IS THIS!?" Hammya exclaimed.


    Krauser and Hector rushed to the shattered window. Both could see the perpetrator of the attack, a figure in medieval armor, raising his hand toward their position.


    "Azricam," Hector said, surprised.


    The stone swept through the entire place, destroying not only the window but the entire room. Fortunately, thanks to Cantero''s shield, they emerged unharmed. However, Joaquin and Candado were trapped under the stone.


    "CANDADO!" Clementina cried out.


    Hector and Krauser were alerted and turned their concern towards them.


    Johan ran towards the stone and kicked it, shattering it. Underneath the debris were Candado and his friend, who had used his flame as a shield to protect himself and Candado.


    Hammya ran to Candado and helped him up, while Moneda and Ruth assisted Joaquin, who had a bleeding wound on his forehead.


    "Quick, we have to stop them."


    Then, Joaquin fainted.


    Candado quickly regained his composure and ran towards the huge hole that rock had caused, with the others following him. There they saw Desza, unhinged, atop the wall, laughing as he raised his bloodied machete and shouted.


    "IT''S TIME FOR YOU TO PAY, CANDADO!" he yelled, fixing his gaze on Candado, with his dirty clothes and immense happiness. Then he lowered his machete like a general, and his subordinates leaped over the walls while others knocked down the large door.


    "Scoundrels," Candado turned and saw his comrades. "Moneda, Ruth, and Cantero, stay and watch over Joaquin. The rest, come with me. Clementina, call our compatriots."


    "What are you going to do, Candado?" asked Clementina.


    "Cantero Agostina, I trust in your shield powers. I want you to bring us down there," Candado said, pointing at the hole.


    "But it''s like thirteen floors down, it''s madness."


    "Do it now, please."


    "Alright, I''ll do it."


    "It''s been spoken."


    Cantero extended her hands towards them and began to create a yellow sphere around them, lifting them into the air.


    "Are you sure this will work?" asked Rozkiewicz.


    "I have no idea, but I trust it will," replied Cantero.


    Cantero''s words worried the others, and their faces reflected regret for listening to Candado. However, Cantero continued to concentrate, trusting that she could do it. Once she lifted them into the air, she began to descend rapidly, as if they were falling.


    "WE''RE GOING TO DIE!" Rozkiewicz and Hector screamed.


    But to their surprise, they did not. They didn''t die, and the operation was a success; Candado and the others reached the ground.


    "Alright, spread out and neutralize them."


    "I won''t separate from you," said Clementina.


    "Nor will I," added Hector.


    "Alright, let''s go get them."


    Everyone (except Johan) nodded and shouted:


    "FOR HARAMBEE!"


    After that cry, they all took different paths and headed towards the enemy.


    The place turned into a battlefield, with children fighting against armed and masked adults. They couldn''t believe it; the agency was under attack, there was fire and gunfire. Each did what they could to hold them back and protect their comrades.


    Sofia ran towards a crowd of armed individuals with machine guns firing indiscriminately. The curious thing was that they wore an eagle on their chests. Using her powers of nature, she used the terrain as a weapon. With her staff, she struck the ground forcefully, causing roots to emerge and trap the armed individuals, throwing them to the ground. Then, with gestures of her fingers, she manipulated each tree root at will as if it were an extension of her body.


    Sofia noticed she was being shot in the back and quickly stomped on the ground, causing immense trees to grow and surround her, shielding her from the bullets. Once safe, she buried her hands in the earth, and her skin slowly began to turn into a strange mineral that covered her completely.


    "Feel the wrath of nature, mangy dogs."


    The trees descended, revealing Sofia covered in a strange blue mineral. She was more agile, running and landing clean punches. Occasionally, she used her magic and staff to summon roots and attack enemies. Finally, she encountered a girl with red skin and completely white eyes, wearing a black cloak and a crown.


    "Who the hell are you?" Sofia asked, pointing her staff at the girl.


    The girl smiled and raised her hand, from which lava flowed. Sofia managed to dodge it, but she also saw a pool of lava consuming the earth.


    "I understand now, you''re Andrea Russeus."


    "It''s time for you to melt, unionist," Andrea said with a seemingly soft and sweet voice.


    Meanwhile, Walter Dussek ran through the area, helping the wounded and thwarting the Witnesses'' attack as everyone entered the bunkers. The students with red and white ranks, not all experienced in combat, sought refuge. Walter traversed the area in search of people needing help until he found himself caught in crossfire, with those of the green rank fighting against the enemy. Walter crouched down and began reciting words in Greven, the language of the Zilido of the desert mountain villages of Salta and Jujuy. As he spoke in a strange dialect, a kind of cactus armor sprouted from his body, concealing his entire body and head, leaving only his face visible.


    "It''s time to play," Walter said as he stood up and stretched in an inhuman manner, as if he were made of rubber. His arms stretched out and struck anyone who was armed. His spikes severely injured his enemies, and his arms continued to elongate, punching those who fired. He began using his palm to launch spikes as if they were weapons, although they weren''t strong enough to kill anyone. Then, he noticed snipers standing on the walls. Walter grabbed onto one of the columns and launched himself at lightning speed towards one of the shooters. Before the sniper could react, Walter reached him and delivered a blow to his chest that made him fall to the ground, killing him instantly. He continued running along the wall, knocking off everyone carrying rifles; some died from the fall, and others remained alive but no longer posed a threat. He reached a boy armed with needles.


    "I won''t allow you to stand in our way," said the boy.


    "Is your mission to liquidate mere children?" Walter retorted.


    "No, but..."


    "Don''t speak; I don''t want to hear from scum like you. My brothers will hear the melody of victory once I''ve taken you out, monster."


    "That''s not going to happen," Walter said as he drew his needles.


    Both engaged in battle, Joel''s needles and cunning against Walter Dussek''s powerful spikes.


    On the other hand, Johan advanced relentlessly, eliminating everyone carrying weapons with his sword. He showed no mercy; if they had tried to kill him, he didn''t forgive them. He ran at an incredible speed, slashing his enemies'' throats without giving them a chance to defend themselves and without staining his fine white clothes with blood. Occasionally, Johan helped others in need, using his power to duplicate objects to clone weapons and hand them to his comrades so they could defend themselves.


    Then, in the distance, Johan spotted a young man dressed with bags under his eyes, fighting against a crowd of green-ranked Semaphores. The scene surprised him greatly.


    Johan propelled himself with his right leg, gearing up to dart at his adversary at breakneck speed, like a bullet fired from a revolver. His target: to deliver a fatal blow. However, just as his sword was about to reach his opponent''s nape, the opponent swiftly turned and halted the attack with his left hand, using his thumb and forefinger, maintaining an impassive expression on his face.


    The young man''s ability to counter Johan''s speed and tactics surprised him, but the enigmatic youth responded with an ironic smile.


    "Heh, seems like you''re different from those idiots. Now that I look at you closely, ah, I see, you''re J?rgen Czacki, aren''t you?"


    J?rgen narrowed his eyes, intrigued.


    "How do you know my name?"


    "I''ll tell you if you manage to defeat me, although it''s obvious that I never lose."


    J?rgen responded with a kick to the chest that sent Johan flying several meters away.


    "You''re one of those who talk a lot, aren''t you? I''ll make sure to silence you."


    Johan lunged at J?rgen again with his sword, while the latter waited for him with undisturbed calmness.


    Meanwhile, Krauser struggled to protect his group amidst the chaos. Using his tentacles, he struck down any enemy that approached his side. Though he had lost his hat in the fray, it was not the time to worry about formality. The bullets that hit him did no harm; even the holes that pierced his clothes quickly closed up as he expelled the projectiles. Empty cartridges fell to the ground as he continued his frenzied advance, disposing of the killers who crossed his path.


    However, a chill ran down his spine when he witnessed a scene that tore at his soul: a hooded man riddled a child who lay on the ground, pleading for mercy. Krauser, driven by rage and helplessness in the face of such cruelty, unleashed his darkest side. There was no reason to spare the perpetrators of such an atrocity. Abandoning his injured comrade in the shelters, he headed straight for the killer.


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    When the individual realized the imminent threat, he frantically fired his weapon. However, Krauser, with his tentacles, intercepted the bullets before they could reach him. This confounded the attacker, who redoubled his efforts to defend himself, but in vain. Krauser leaped towards him, knocked him down, and pinned him to the ground.


    "You killed a child, you''re a monster deserving of death," Krauser declared.


    With that said, he used the force of his tentacle to tear off the man''s leg, inflicting unbearable pain. The man screamed and begged, but Krauser, driven by his rage, showed no mercy. Swiftly, he plunged his left hand into the killer''s chest, extracting his heart with immense force. Blood splattered over them, but at that moment, the man''s fate was sealed. Despite his agonizing screams, tears, and pleas, there was no salvation. His eyes were wide with horror, and his face bore the indescribable suffering he had endured. The victim had endured unimaginable torment. With the heart in his hand, Krauser didn''t hesitate and devoured it in one gulp.


    Having said that, he proceeded to tear off a leg with the force of his tentacle, causing the man even more agony. But then, desperate to see him die, Krauser plunged his left hand into the killer''s chest with tremendous force, ripping his heart from his vile body. Blood splattered over him and the man, though the latter no longer mattered. Despite the agonized screams, tears streamed down the man''s face, and his eyes were wide with horror. The victim had suffered immensely. Krauser, holding the heart in his hand, didn''t hesitate to devour it in one gulp.


    As Krauser continued his macabre task, a child approached him with his hands behind his back.


    "Curious, isn''t it? I said this would happen if we sent these people to shoot at these poor children. It''s a real shame you took out Rock, he was a sadistic madman, but I would''ve liked to have eliminated him myself."


    Krauser turned and saw the individual speaking to him, a child in a red tunic with a wooden mask with two holes for seeing, although his eyes couldn''t be seen as they were covered by black fabric.


    "You have made the grave mistake of attacking us, and you will be liquidated."


    "I know, it was stupid, but I don''t make the rules, my boss does."


    Krauser stood up, wiped the blood from his face, covered his mouth again, and prepared to attack.


    "You will receive the divine punishment of Harambee, and you, Guz, will receive my punishment."


    "I hope so, I hope so."


    As Krauser was about to start fighting with Guz, Rozkiewicz was fortunate enough not to face a formidable opponent. His fighting skills were destined to defend his friends. He traversed the field and led his brethren into battle, playing the role of a general commanding his soldiers in the fray. Thanks to his leadership, they managed to organize themselves and fight valiantly, without fear. The morale of his group had grown significantly.


    In the midst of the crowd, however, was a special person: Chesulloth, a girl with a white mask that displayed a macabre smile. She wore a cloak that partially covered her body and, realizing she couldn''t defeat such a motivated army, decided to devise a plan. She began running through the crowd and shouted at the top of her lungs:


    "ROZKIEWICZ IS DEAD! PRESIDENT ROZKIEWICZ IS DEAD!"


    These words began to scare the troops, sowing confusion and fear among their ranks. Many soldiers began to demoralize and flee. This wasn''t what Rozkiewicz had planned, as the disorganization would only give the enemy an advantage and could cause more casualties among his comrades. Chesulloth''s tactic seemed to be working perfectly.


    However, in the midst of the chaos and confusion, Rozkiewicz executed a stunning transformation. He turned his torso into a giant serpent three meters tall and rose into the air. He removed his helmet and raised it, shouting to his comrades with determination:


    "I''M STILL ALIVE AND FIGHTING, DAMN IT! RETURN TO YOUR RANKS, COMRADES, AND LET''S BE READY TO DRIVE THESE SCUMBAGS OUT OF OUR GARDEN! COME ON, COME ON, VICTORY IS WITHIN OUR GRASP!"


    Later, Rozkiewicz fixed his gaze on Chesulloth and lunged towards her with fury in his eyes.


    "COME, DAMN YOU, AND SAY IT TO MY FACE! SAY THAT I''M DEAD, YOU STUPID!"


    The field grew increasingly dangerous. Desza advanced with his machete, cutting down anything in his path. His bodyguards fired incessantly, eliminating any threat that moved. For him, satisfaction came from hearing the agonizing screams of his victims and watching his machete slice through flesh like butter. He had spent nights sharpening his weapon, and now, his skill allowed him to revel in its lethality. Yet, what pleased him the most was the sight of Candado running towards him, accompanied by his friends, H¨¦ctor and Clementina. Knowing that his enemies were approaching for a final showdown was the reason for his happiness, especially if it was Candado, whom he deeply despised.


    Candado advanced with determination, carving through enemies with precise strikes and avoiding being hit. Clementina had his back, shooting anyone targeting Candado, while H¨¦ctor used his cards as a shield to protect the group''s rear.


    "Cursed wretches," Desza muttered, smiling maliciously.


    As Candado drew closer, Desza leaped towards him, ready to deliver a fatal blow with his fac¨®n.


    "AZRICAM, DOCKLY, NEUTRALIZE THEIR COMPANIONS!" Desza ordered.


    In response, two of Desza''s followers, Azricam and Dockly, rushed towards H¨¦ctor and Clementina, pulling them out from the area protected by the walls. Azricam struck Clementina in the face and threw her aside. Then, he fired at a column of the door, causing it to collapse.


    "CANDADO!" H¨¦ctor cried out in anguish.


    "We must not allow them to interfere with Lord Desza," Dockly warned.


    "They''ll be our opponents," concluded Azricam.


    Clementina stood up beside H¨¦ctor.


    "Do you think Candado is alright, Clementina?"


    "Never doubt the young master, H¨¦ctor. Never question that."


    Meanwhile, inside the wall, Candado and Desza faced off with their respective weapons. The rage on the young man''s face contrasted with the profaner''s expression of glee.


    "Tell me, bastard, what are you doing here?" demanded Candado.


    "Me? Let''s just say I came only to retrieve something that belongs to me," replied Desza with an enigmatic smile.


    Desza and Candado parted, their blades clashing with sparks illuminating the tense confrontation. Then, they lunged at each other ferociously. Candado remained vigilant, aware that Desza''s machete was longer and more dangerous. The fight was fast and precise, with barely any openings to attack. It seemed that Desza had trained enough to evade any attempt to strike.


    "Why don''t you attack, Candado?" mocked Desza, while continuing to dodge his opponent''s blows.


    Candado dodged Desza''s attacks and occasionally blocked the fierce machete strikes. Finally, Desza made a mistake in his movement while attempting a neck strike on Candado, who skillfully leaned back and kicked him in the chest, sending him backwards.


    "What happened to the Desza who used to believe in justice?" interrogated Candado with a tense voice. "What has happened to your faith?"


    Desza began to laugh, with a sinister smile on his face, as he held his bloodied machete.


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    "Do you think I''ve lost my faith in justice?" Desza retorted, staring into Candado''s eyes. "I continue to dispense justice to everyone."


    "Killing without trial? Is that justice?" Candado questioned.


    "No, but to achieve justice, sacrifices are sometimes necessary," Desza replied coldly.If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    Candado looked at him incredulously and asked, "Why do you behave so psychotically?"


    Without giving time for a response, Desza rushed towards Candado and leaped with his machete in hand, clashing once again with Candado''s fac¨®n. The collision sparked, and Desza let out a diabolical laugh.


    "You did this to me, I''ve never felt such terror as when you stripped me of my powers. I despise you, Candado, every cell of my body hates you," Desza spat with hatred in his voice.


    Desza quickly disengaged his machete and lunged at Candado again. However, Candado was not in a position to stop him once more. At that moment, Candado used his violet flames to propel himself backward, creating a curtain of fire that temporarily blinded Desza. Despite the momentary blindness, Desza quickly recovered and rushed towards Candado once more.


    Meanwhile, Candado devised a strategy to confront his enemy and noticed a crack in Desza''s defense. However, to exploit that weakness, he would have to create an opening, and that didn''t sit well with him.


    Candado ran towards Desza with determination. Desza, seeing him approaching, raised his machete and brought it down forcefully. Candado put his arm to protect his head, but the machete embedded itself in his flesh and bone, splattering blood and eliciting a satisfied expression from Desza. Finally, he had wounded Candado.


    However, the fight was not over. Desza''s machete remained stuck in Candado''s bone. Aware of the situation, Candado moved his arm upwards forcefully, creating an opening in his own flesh to allow his fac¨®n to pierce through Desza''s clavicle. Desza was horrified to see that he had no escape from such a fatal blow. However, as Candado approached, Desza shifted slightly, causing the fac¨®n to hit Desza''s clavicle instead of his chest, while the latter showed a smirk.


    Candado frowned and separated from Desza, freeing himself from the machete and stepping back before he bent over. The wound in his clavicle was bleeding profusely, but Candado maintained a cold expression, showing no signs of pain or sadness as he observed his wound.


    Desza, perplexed, gazed at the wound inflicted upon him. It was the first time one of his enemies had caused him such damage. After a few seconds, he began to laugh, laughing heartily.


    "Is this what other people feel when I mutilate them? God, what a splendid sensation. How can they fear this?" he wondered aloud, reveling in his own madness.


    Candado stood up and examined his wound. Although it was a deep wound, the bleeding had stopped, leaving only stains where the wound had been. Despite his calm appearance, Candado regarded the wound with a cold gaze.


    After a few seconds, Candado turned his attention back to Desza and calmly remarked, "Hey, I knew you were disturbed, but this is ridiculous."


    Upon hearing this, Desza snapped out of his world of madness and lunged at Candado once again. Candado, seeing the attack, tried to defend himself to avoid the crazed Desza''s machete blow. However, he noticed that his right arm was not responding.


    "Damn, a nerve has been affected," Candado thought.


    With no other options, Candado ran towards Desza with his only functional arm, prepared to attack him with his fac¨®n. But just as Desza was about to reach him, he felt a presence to his right. This prompted him to place his machete at his side, blocking a stone that had been thrown at him. Candado quickly turned and saw Hammya with her arm relaxed, indicating that she had been the one responsible for throwing the rock.


    Desza smirked and prepared to pursue Hammya, completely forgetting about Candado.


    "Hello, little one. It seems I''m going to enjoy flaying you. I wonder if your organs are the same color as your hair," Desza growled with a sinister voice.


    "Desza! This is between you and me! She has nothing to do with it!" Candado shouted, trying to protect Hammya.


    "Of course, she has something to do with it. You took something from me that belonged to me, now it''s my turn," Desza replied, showing no compassion whatsoever.


    Candado ran towards Desza, with his still functional arm, determined to stop him. However, Desza proved to be faster and chose to continue chasing Hammya, ignoring Candado for the moment.


    "Run, Hammya! Run!" Candado urged the girl to escape.


    Hammya reacted, but instead of fleeing, she ran towards Desza with determination.


    "What are you doing, stupid girl!? Run!" Desza shouted furiously at her while raising his machete, ready to attack the girl.


    However, Hammya ignored him and kept advancing. In a surprising move, her hair and eyes began to glow in a fluorescent green hue, and her teeth were bared in a look of disgust. As this happened, the ground shook, and two enormous tree trunks emerged from the earth, striking Desza in the chest and sending him flying against the wall.


    Desza got up, spitting blood and displaying a sinister smile on his face, leaving Candado astonished by the power Hammya had unleashed. It seemed that the girl had attacked someone much stronger than her.


    Just as Desza prepared to counterattack, he stopped his movement and looked around in astonishment. The wall was being assaulted by the guildsmen, and help had arrived. But it wasn''t just the guildsmen; the Circus performers and Esteban''s Erasers were joining the fight, although the reasons for their presence were a mystery. They poured in from the other side of the wall, forming a diverse and determined army.


    Among them were German, Frederick, Esteban, Freud, Mauricio, Diana, Logan, Anzor, Declan, the twins Erika and Lucia, Matlotsky, Addel, Esteeman, Kevin, Martina, Pio, Viki, Ana Mar¨ªa, Carolina, Lucas, Glinka, Antonela, Xend¨ª, Ester, and other individuals unknown to Candado. They were all under the leadership of a prominent figure, Rodrigo Almir¨®n Gilemberg, who held aloft a red flag with a golden shield inside and two crossed cannons.


    The situation became even more intense as the battle raged on in its full splendor.


    Amidst the chaos of battle, each of Candado''s allies displayed their astonishing powers with skill.


    German, transformed into a werewolf, pounced on the assassins, ripping their lives away with ferocious bites and brutal blows.


    Lucas, the fire master, used his gift to burn his adversaries, inflicting pain but avoiding direct death.


    Kevin and Martina, endowed with the powers of Bailak, unleashed a variety of elements and energies, killing some enemies and leaving others wounded in their wake.


    The twins, with their platinum and gold powers, petrified their opponents, turning them into statues before ruthlessly shattering them.


    Lucia, bravely, took the bullets meant for her sister, using her abilities to petrify the attackers and annihilate them instantly, while Erika shielded her.


    Anzor and Declan, with their sharp swords, severed limbs without killing their enemies, causing suffering but leaving them alive.


    Mauricio, controlling tree leaves, pierced the abdomens of the assassins, inflicting lethal wounds.


    Logan, a skilled swordsman, played his part with finesse, beheading enemies and defending his brothers from enemy bullets.


    Diana, on the other hand, dealt with those fighting on the walls, cutting them in half with her enormous scythe and cursing them every time she saw a child of her age killed by these assassins.


    Frederick, surrounded by his animals, directed his loyal companions to attack the enemies, while Esteban electrocuted them with his lethal electric power.


    Freud, with his playful spirit, made sarcastic comments while assisting Declan and Anzor with his lethal strength.


    Tarah, with her portal abilities, took the wounded to safe havens, protecting the fallen.


    Xend¨ª, with his arms turned into machine guns, fiercely protected his mistress, Tarah.


    Antonela, with powerful psychic powers, destroyed the enemies'' weapons and, in some cases, burst their hearts, annihilating them.


    Esteeman, enraged by the attack on his brothers, used his metallic body to repel bullets and charged the assassins with brutal and precise blows.


    Ester, with her diamond powers, struck the enemies and occasionally launched sharp hail projectiles at them.


    Addel, with his coal abilities, temporarily possessed the bodies of the assassins and used them to attack others before freeing himself and fighting with his fists and kicks.


    Pio and Viki formed a lethal duo: Viki tore enemies apart with her sharp claws and absorbed their blood to gain strength, while Pio used his thread powers to freeze adversaries before Viki destroyed them.


    In the midst of the conflict, each of these allies contributed with their extraordinary gifts to confront the assassins and change the course of the battle.


    Carolina unleashed her astonishing close combat attacks, combining her abilities with her snakes'' poison. She strangled her opponents and bit them, injecting venom and ending their lives instantly.


    Ana Mar¨ªa Pucheta, concerned for her friend in the agency, exerted herself to the fullest to repel those trying to access the bunkers. Her deadly punches left lethal holes in her enemies'' bodies, causing instant death.


    Glinka, dressed in white and hiding his face behind a rabbit mask, employed his powers over matter, turning his arms into gigantic metal blades. He attacked with deadly precision, using metal as a weapon to decimate the assassins.


    Matlotsky, an exceptional shooter, demonstrated his brilliance in the accuracy of his shots. Using a nail gun, he directed his projectiles with mastery, disarming or injuring his enemies in critical points.


    And finally, Almir¨®n led his army fervently towards victory, using his voice as a weapon. His passionate speeches inspired his guildmates to keep fighting, while he waved the flag symbolizing the union of five guilds under his command. But Almir¨®n was not a leader without powers; he had control over water and the ability to dematerialize himself to become liquid. Using this tactic, he drowned his enemies or kept them at bay, thwarting attempts to attack him from behind.


    Amidst the fierce battle, these brave allies displayed their extraordinary powers and abilities to confront the assassins and fight for victory.


    Among the fighters in the heat of battle were Johan, Walter, Krauser, Rozkiewicz, Sof¨ªa, H¨¦ctor, and Clementina.


    Walter had faced challenges with Joel, but the situation changed when he devised a cunning strategy. He leaped from the wall and, using his elastic arms, clung to the structure as he moved to the right. As he moved, he dislodged blocks one after another, generating a tremor that forced Joel to descend. Joel, forced to come down, hurled his needles towards one of the columns and swung to reach the ground. From there, he planned to use his needles to entangle Walter when he approached the center, where he had anticipated his attack. However, Walter shed his protective suit and rushed towards Joel at supernatural speed, delivering a blow to his elbow and chest. The impact sent Joel flying through the air, crashing into one of the assassins'' vehicles. As Walter prepared to finish him off, two women, Jane and Rose, appeared and rescued their unconscious brother before quickly retreating. Walter watched suspiciously as they intervened with determination to save Joel from him.


    In contrast, Johan and J?rgen maintained an evenly matched battle, with no casualties or signs of fatigue, their skills perfectly balanced. Johan swung powerful sword blows at J?rgen, who blocked them and even returned them with double the force. However, J?rgen noticed that Joel was out of commission and understood that he needed to aid his comrades.


    "Forgive me, but this is where this combat ends," J?rgen said.


    Then, J?rgen tripled his speed and began to deliver blow after blow until he managed to destroy Johan''s sword. Johan was surprised, but J?rgen wasn''t seeking his death. In a matter of seconds, he landed thirty blows to Johan''s chest due to his dizzying speed, sending him flying but leaving him alive, while using his speed to move away from the combat.


    J?rgen climbed onto the roof of the Sem¨¢foros agency and encountered Isabel, who held a stack of documents in her hands.


    "Are these it?" Isabel asked.


    "Yes, now we must go."


    J?rgen headed to the edge of the roof and established telepathic communication with Desza.


    "(Sir, we''ve retrieved them, it''s time to retreat)," J?rgen transmitted.


    "(Excellent, good job, team)," Desza responded.


    J?rgen took Isabel in his arms, making her feel a bit embarrassed, and leaped off the roof, suspending them in the air. Addressing through telepathic communication, he said:


    "(Team, it''s time to retreat. We''ve obtained what we wanted)."


    R?sse?s smiled and looked at Sof¨ªa, who was exhausted after the battle.


    "It''s time for me to go, darling. I hope you won''t bore me next time. Goodbye."


    R?sse?s delivered a kick to Sof¨ªa''s chest, causing her to fall wounded to the ground. She cursed herself for not even managing to scratch him.


    Chesulloth, on the other hand, wasn''t as lucky. She was struck hard by Rozkiewicz, left severely injured. However, upon hearing her companion''s voice, she found the strength to escape him as she sank into the earth, as if plunging into water, bewildering Rozkiewicz.


    Then there was Guz, engaged in a close combat with Krauser. Neither of them managed to inflict any damage on each other, despite the hatred Krauser felt upon witnessing the brutal death of one of his comrades before his eyes.


    "I''m sorry, but I must leave. I regret the lives lost today," Guz said.


    "Wait, what was your objective? Why did you attack us?" Krauser inquired.


    "I would like to know that too."


    With these words, Guz withdrew, using his tentacles that emerged from his back and creating new ones on the ground to keep those who approached him at bay. He left Krauser alone amidst piles of rubble caused by the fight. Curiously, Krauser managed to find his hat under the stones, picked it up, shook it, and put it back on his head. As he watched all the enemies leave the scene, his desire to follow Guz completely faded. Now all he cared about was saving his people.


    Meanwhile, Desza, satisfied with what J?rgen had told him, glanced at Candado for a moment and then pulled out a vial of pink liquid from his pocket, drinking it entirely.


    "I think we should postpone this encounter, Candado. I''ve lost too many men today. So, goodbye," Desza declared.


    Desza sped away at an incredible speed, making any attempt to follow him impossible. Once he was gone, all his companions followed suit, including the assassins, who boarded their cars and drove away. Almir¨®n and his comrades set off in pursuit of the assassins, leaving half of their companions to aid the needy.


    The conflict had come to an end, but it had left a large number of dead and wounded in the Sem¨¢foros gardens. It was the first time something like this had happened. Victory had turned into bitterness; they had lost many comrades, friends, and even family in some cases. The grass was dyed red that afternoon, with numerous casualties on the enemy side. However, there was no reason to celebrate, as many of them had never taken a life before and were in a state of shock over what they had done.


    Candado, who had understood all this, sat exhausted on a rock in the middle of the battlefield. Hammya approached to see how he was.


    "Candado, are you okay?"


    Candado, with an empty gaze, replied:


    "I, as always, emerge unscathed from these situations. But those around me do not."


    He looked at the corpse of an unknown boy who was part of the Sem¨¢foros.


    "Well, I..."


    Hammya noticed Candado''s bruised arm.


    "OH MY GOODNESS! WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU!?"


    Candado observed his arm, as if it were unimportant, and said:


    "Oh, that. It''s just another medal from my battles, one that will remind me of this fateful day."


    Hammya knelt down and tore the sleeve of his arm, exposing the wound.


    "THIS IS TERRIBLE!"


    "And what did you expect from a wound? I don''t think these things are attractive," Candado responded in the most insensitive manner possible.


    Candado''s arm had a hole where blood barely trickled out. Hammya, desperate, took out a water bottle she had with her and sprayed it on the wound to clean it. Then she took Candado''s torn sleeve and began to pass it through the wound. Despite the process, Candado still showed no sign of pain, simply observing around him as his comrades were tended to by Almir¨®n''s guild members.


    "Why would Desza attack the Sem¨¢foros?" Candado asked again.


    Hammya paid no attention and continued cleaning the wound. When she finished, she took a handkerchief from her pocket that Candado had given her to wipe her tears, which she had forgotten to reclaim. She shook it three times and used it to wrap the wound.


    "There, now you''ll be fine."


    "I''m always fine. That''s an eternal curse I have," Candado replied.


    Candado got up and began to walk around the area.


    "I hope Nelson is okay."


    At that moment, Candado spotted in the distance a dusty old man dragging a burly security guard who was wounded in the abdomen. Seeing him, Candado shouted:


    "OLD FOOL!"


    The old man turned out to be Nelson. He was dusty but had no scratches on his body. Candado ran towards him, accompanied by Hammya.


    "Hello, little ones, I''m glad you''re both okay," Nelson greeted them.


    Candado looked at the wounded man.


    "Is this Mario?"


    "I don''t know his name, but I saw him stabbed by a boy with a machete. If it weren''t for me, he would be dead. I used some bandages I had in my car along with some saline solution, and I managed to stop the bleeding. Now he''s just unconscious, but don''t worry, his life is no longer in danger," Nelson explained.


    "Are you a doctor?" Hammya asked.


    "Of course I am, girl," Nelson replied.


    "Then, can you help him?" Hammya pointed at Candado''s arm.


    Nelson released the legs of the injured guard as if he were a mere sack and approached Candado. He removed the bandage that Hammya had placed and examined the wound carefully.


    "It''s a pretty nasty cut," Nelson remarked.


    "Don''t tell me," Candado replied.


    Nelson chuckled lightly and then looked at Hammya.


    "Bring me the suitcase that''s on that fat guy''s belly, please."


    Hammya ran to where the guard was and retrieved the small suitcase. She then returned to Nelson and handed it over. Nelson opened it and took out cotton, alcohol, and bandages.


    "You know, I''m surprised this wound was caused by a weapon that looks like a sword," Nelson commented.


    "You guessed wrong, it was a machete," Candado corrected him.


    "Even worse."


    Nelson dampened the cotton with alcohol and passed it over the wound. Despite the stinging sensation, Candado didn''t react or show pain; he kept talking.


    "Why would the Testigos attack the Sem¨¢foros?" Candado asked again.


    "I have no idea. I thought they would just try to incriminate one of the two powers, but it seems both you and I were wrong," Nelson replied.


    After Nelson finished cleaning the wound, he wrapped it carefully.


    "Good thing I brought a shirt," Candado said as he took off his sweatshirt and tied the red tie around his neck.


    At that moment, H¨¦ctor and Clementina came running from afar.


    "CANDADO!" they shouted.


    "Boys, I''m glad you''re okay," Candado said, showing a faint smile.


    "Sorry, sir, for not coming sooner. I had to assess the casualties," Clementina apologized.


    "How many are there then, Clementina?" Candado inquired.


    "There are approximately 2500 Sem¨¢foros staff. Around 127 people have died, including 30 security personnel. There are 543 injured and 9 missing."


    "Who were the ones who attacked us?" Candado questioned.


    "That''s the interesting part, sir. The enemies were almost 500, but 40 of them were humans with criminal backgrounds," Clementina revealed.


    Clementina''s words surprised everyone.


    "And who were the others?"


    "Undead, sir."


    "Any madness," Nelson commented.


    "Are you telling me that most of them were dead?" Candado asked incredulously.


    "Yes. Upon careful analysis, I detected that their hearts weren''t beating, but emitting small discharges."


    "But who could have such immense power?"


    "That power could only be the work of a corrupted Bari."


    All eyes turned to a concerned T¨ªnbari.


    "Oh, where were you while we were fighting?" Candado asked.


    "I apologize for that, Candado."


    "Wait, is it a good idea to talk about this here?" Hammya interjected.


    "Don''t worry, everyone is busy helping each other," Candado reassured her.


    "Well, what about this corrupted Bari?" Candado inquired.


    "You see, Candado, I believe Pullbarey is behind this," T¨ªnbari revealed.


    "Why would he agree to attack us? What would he gain by attacking the Sem¨¢foros?"


    "I don''t know."


    "It''s a pity. It would be good to have information from time to time," Candado remarked.


    "I''m sorry I couldn''t be of more help, Candado. Please forgive me," T¨ªnbari apologized.


    "It''s rare for you to apologize to me," Candado observed.


    Candado stood up, thanked Nelson for his help, and gave Hammya a pat on the head in gratitude for saving his life. Then he walked away from them to look around and make sure everyone was okay or at least to offer his help. However, he didn''t realize that his friends were closely following him and had no intention of leaving him alone.


    "We won''t leave your side until you get home safe and sound," Hammya declared.


    "Always being a headache, aren''t you?" Candado teased.


    "I''m with Miss Hammya, we won''t leave you alone just yet," H¨¦ctor added.


    T¨ªnbari and Nelson nodded in agreement and followed him.


    Candado saw Rozkiewicz talking with Walter and someone he didn''t know, so he approached to see if they needed help.


    "Hello."


    "Oh, hello, Candado!" Rozkiewicz greeted him energetically.


    "Hello, sir."


    "Excuse me, who are you?" Candado asked the unfamiliar person.


    "I''m Valeria Ayesha Escanciano."


    "Star in Latin, right?"


    "Oh, I see you know a lot."


    "Of course."


    "Walter was talking about someone interesting. Do you want to listen?" Rozkiewicz offered.


    "Like this?"


    "He was talking about Soledad Ortiz Wanda Candrabetra."


    "Who is she?"


    "She''s a strong person. Her feats are the best I''ve seen in my life," Valeria explained.


    "She was one of the people I invited to our talk, but unfortunately couldn''t attend. Our friend Valeria was explaining the reasons," Rozkiewicz added.


    "Soledad was quite busy. Her trip here was canceled. I came to represent her and apologize. When I saw this... massacre, I helped with what I could," Valeria added.


    "I understand," Candado replied, noticing a particular calmness in Valeria. Her eyes seemed dull behind her glasses, leading him to believe she had seen similar scenarios before. "See you," Valeria bid farewell.


    "Wow, she''s intimidating. I wouldn''t want to be in a room with her, especially not with that polearm of hers," Walter commented.


    "Soledad, I think I know her. The warrior with the mace, right? They say she was able to stop Karinto B¨¢rcena and his companion Alan. But... why did you call her?" Candado inquired.


    "Her name was on the desk. I thought Joaqu¨ªn wanted to talk to her."


    "Joaqu¨ªn always thought unpredictably."


    "Perhaps... she caught his attention amid the conflict between B¨¢rcena and Sol."


    "I don''t know. Well, I''ll leave you now, I have to keep helping."


    "Good luck, friend."


    "Take care, Candado. This scene shouldn''t affect you."


    "Don''t worry, these deaths don''t affect me at all."


    "That sounds sad."


    "Walter Dussek, don''t make me laugh."


    With that, Candado walked away from his friends and continued down the path. Along the way, he encountered some of his comrades. The first he came across was Johan, who was sitting in a chair, legs crossed, manipulating the fragments of his sword with levitation as if it were a puzzle, while holding the sword hilt in his left hand.


    "Hello, how are you?" Candado greeted.


    Johan looked up, but didn''t stop concentrating on what he was doing. "Hello, Candado. Looks like you''re still alive."


    "Same goes for you."


    "Come on, I always survive. I hope Lilith isn''t mad at me for not showing up to our date."


    "Lilith?"


    "She''s my girlfriend, but as you can see, she''s not here," Johan explained, then glanced at the bandage on Candado''s arm. "I see someone has hurt you."


    "You''ve got your own marks too."


    Johan looked at his chest, where there was a spot of dirt and creases in a perfect circle. "You''re right, looks like I defied a god and won. You can laugh at that victory, but I''ll settle the score with him later. I hope they don''t kill him."


    "Do you need anything?"


    "No, I''m fine. Look around you, Candado. There are many people helping each other. I can take care of myself."


    Candado looked around and saw that Johan was right. Sof¨ªa was injured but using her powers to heal the wounded, putting on a smile so as not to worry the patients. Krauser was covering the body of a fourteen-year-old girl with a blanket and then hugging another girl to comfort her. Walter was helping the wounded who couldn''t move, while Rozkiewicz was cracking jokes to ease tension and bring smiles to his comrades. Ana Mar¨ªa was embracing a strange girl, apparently her friend, while Viki was applying a bandage to her head. Pio was repairing doors and parts of the walls with the help of German and Addel, who were sealing the cracks. Anzor, Freud, and Declan were helping rescue people trapped under the rubble. The rest were busy tending to the wounded.


    "You see, they''re the ones who need help, not me," Johan remarked.


    "I understand. I''m glad you''re okay."


    "Same here."


    Candado bid farewell to Johan and continued on his way until he encountered Esteban, who was putting a dislocated child''s arm back in place.


    "Hello, Circuista," Candado greeted.


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    Esteban, who was facing away, grimaced and turned to look at Candado.


    "Look, I only came because I had to apologize for how I treated you at Guillermo''s wake, but tomorrow we''ll still be enemies," Esteban said.


    "I won''t forget it, but try not to be a jerk," Candado replied with a cold smile.


    "Now go, I''m very busy."


    Candado noticed that Esteban was injured, so he hurried to the building, accompanied by his friends. They climbed the stairs until they reached the top floor, where the main office was located. Candado burst into the room and saw Joaqu¨ªn sitting at his secretary''s desk, leaning forward, holding his temples with both hands, and showing a worried expression. In addition to Joaqu¨ªn, there were four people in the room: Ruth, Moneda, Cantero, and a boy with his face covered by a red bandana, a cowboy hat, and a trench coat, known as the upright inspector Gabriel Joaqu¨ªn.


    "Are you sure, Gabriel?" Joaqu¨ªn asked.


    "I''m afraid so."


    "Have you checked it again?"


    "Six times, sir."


    "No," Joaqu¨ªn covered his eyes and continued, "We''re in serious trouble."


    "What''s happening?" Hammya asked.


    "Harambee is the dialect Harambee used for the magic that sealed Thanatos long ago. If they manage to read and decipher it, they will go in search of the Harambee spear, because to release Thanatos, they must recite the magic words while holding the spear."


    "That sounds serious."


    "It is. If Thanatos is freed, we''ll all be lost. I knew we shouldn''t have kept him here. I said it would be better to hide him in Russia, and now that they''ve gotten him..."


    "They still need the Harambee spear. All is not lost, Joaqu¨ªn," Cantero interjected.


    "You''re right, but if they attacked us here, they''ll do the same at the O.M.G.A.B., and all will be lost."


    "There must be another solution."


    "There is, Clementina, there is," Joaqu¨ªn responded, then looked at Ruth. "Give me one of those sheets from the shelves, please."


    Ruth hurried, took some sheets, a pen, and handed them to Joaqu¨ªn.


    "What are you doing?" Moneda asked.


    "In situations like this, I throw all laws and bureaucratic procedures out the window. These are tough times and there''s no time to listen to bureaucrats," Joaqu¨ªn said as he wrote on the paper. When he finished, he handed the paper to Candado, who was still confused. Joaqu¨ªn continued, "You wanted a pass? Well, here it is, signed and sealed by me, as president and as inspector."


    "But by doing this, without following the chamber procedure, you''d risk being removed and expelled for malpractice. Plus, you''d earn the hatred of President Chandra," Moneda pointed out.


    "I voted for Arce, so I don''t care what you think. This is serious and there''s no time to follow protocol. Go to the O.M.G.A.B. and report what just happened."


    "Thank you, Joaqu¨ªn. I''ll leave in two days."


    "Why so long?"


    "I need to sort some things out."


    "What you''re about to do is contempt of orders," Gabriel remarked.


    "Rozkiewicz will take command, and you''ll still be the champion of the Sem¨¢foros, Gabriel."

 THE BRAND OF THE DESECRATORS

    After the events, Desza and her band of followers found refuge in a forest far from Resistance, in an abandoned house. There they waited until night fell, having managed to elude Almir¨®n''s capture squad after an afternoon filled with attempts. Luck was on their side, as they lost thirty-eight of the forty men sent to eliminate them. It was easy to reward the survivors with ten million dollars each, who left with a suitcase full of money. Desza was euphoric for having obtained the secret documents of the Guilds, which they had sought for a long time to bring back Tanatos and purify the corrupt world.


    As night fell upon them, R?sse?s provided the necessary light for them to see, the group having dwindled from a thousand to just eleven members. Desza settled into a chair, the wood worn by dampness.


    "Who would have imagined that this house would be our refuge?" Dockly commented as he cleaned his rifle.


    "Did you live here before, Desza?" J?rgen asked as he looked out the window.


    "Of course I did, here I starved."


    "Sounds sad," J?rgen remarked.


    "Ja, it would be if it mattered, wouldn''t it?" Desza replied before bursting into a wild laugh that left everyone puzzled. J?rgen, curious, turned to see what made him laugh in such a way.


    "Life can be a box of surprises; it just depends on how we give it meaning, whether good or bad."


    Everyone paid attention to Desza''s words until she decided to end the conversation.


    "Enough talk. Today we will celebrate the achievement of our comrades J?rgen and Isabel. I ask for applause for them, please."


    Desza plunged her machete into the ground and everyone began to applaud with joy on their faces. Isabel felt flattered by the adoration she received, while J?rgen, despite his sad and empty expression, lifted his head and stared straight at Desza.


    "Sir, would you mind if I take the first watch?"


    "No, of course not," Desza responded, confused by the request.


    Once permission was granted, J?rgen opened the door and stepped out of the house. As he walked away, the sounds of celebration grew fainter. Transforming his arms into metal, he began to cut through the tall weeds surrounding him before sitting under the light of the full moon, which provided enough illumination. For the first time in a long time, J?rgen showed a smile as he gazed at the night sky.


    Isabel suddenly stepped out of the house and decided to follow J?rgen. She walked scanning the area until she finally spotted his back. She immediately noticed that J?rgen was at peace, which was a rarity. Every time she had seen him before, he was always on high alert. Plus, she remembered the nights they shared the same sleeping space; he spent hours staring out the window at the night sky, never closing his eyes to rest. He was an enigma when it came to sleep.


    Isabel approached cautiously, trying not to startle him, until she decided to touch his shoulder. J?rgen didn''t react abruptly, he simply turned to meet Isabel''s gaze. Despite the deep circles under his eyes, he managed to offer a faint and calm smile.


    "Good evening, Isabel."


    "Good evening, J?rgen. Do you mind if I sit beside you?"


    "No, of course not."


    Isabel adjusted her dress and sat on the log, making sure to place a handkerchief on the spot to avoid getting dirty.


    "Why aren''t you inside with the others?" she asked.


    "I could ask you the same, Isabel. Why are you out here?"


    He looked into her eyes for a moment and then returned his gaze to the night sky.


    "As I mentioned before, I''m on watch."


    "J?rgen, in all meetings and celebrations, you always keep yourself apart or simply ignore our presence. Why? Today is a special day; we''ve dealt a deadly blow to the Guilds. Please, celebrate with us."


    "...,"


    "Please, answer me," Isabel insisted.


    J?rgen lowered his gaze but kept his head held high.


    "Celebrate, you say?"


    "Yes, celebrate."


    "What is there to celebrate? Celebrate the fact that we slaughtered children?"


    "If you think like that, why did you come with us?"


    "I seek a fairer world; I don''t want to destroy it to rebuild it. Those creatures, they were surely ordinary people like you and me, with a close-knit family, and we took everything from them. Is that what you want to celebrate?"


    Isabel pondered his words but then decided to ask again.


    "If you think that way, why do you stay with us?"


    "Because you are my family," J?rgen replied. "I lost everyone I cared about four years ago when I was ten years old. Fire appeared and ravaged everything, my brothers, my parents, and my mothers, all of them, killed in the night by a stranger. It was then that I met Desza; he took my hand when no one else would. He gave me a home and gave me to you. That''s why I decided to keep silent and not reflect on what I do or what he does. However, every time I go with Desza to cause trouble or to beat up guildsmen I''ve never had dealings with, I feel Sister Rosa in my head telling me that I am a disgrace to the things she taught me. But I can''t do anything because I don''t want to lose you."


    Isabel was stunned by everything she was hearing. It was the first time she had seen J?rgen in this way, regretful for the path he had taken. She decided to ask him more about himself.


    "Does all this have to do with the fact that you don''t sleep?"


    J?rgen looked at Isabel, surprised by the question, but decided to confess. After all, it wasn''t a secret.


    "You see, I lost my loved ones while I slept, and to this day, I blame myself for that. If only I had been awake, they would still be alive, and I wouldn''t have become what I am now. But when I met you all, I felt like a door opened before me, giving me another chance to protect what I couldn''t protect. And since that day, when I shook hands with Desza, I made a promise to myself never to indulge in sleep, to be alert to any danger that could harm you."


    "But you must have rested at some point, right?"


    "I haven''t slept in over three years."


    "How do you manage to stay standing?"


    "My blood has metal, so it doesn''t matter. My powers renew my cells, although they don''t remove my fatigue. But one gets used to it over time."


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    "I think you should rest."


    "I can''t. My actions have harmed so many people that they could come after you. No, sir, I''ll be awake and alert. I don''t want to lose you."


    "But at least you''ll be able to celebrate with us next time."


    "Okay, I will."


    Isabel stood up and took J?rgen''s arm.


    "What are you doing?"


    "Let''s go inside and celebrate."


    "What?"


    "It''s a long way until next time."


    With those words, Isabel led J?rgen, pulling him into the house. When they entered, they saw everyone having fun. Playing music and dancing. Dockly blew the flute, Guz played the guitar, and Jane played a violin, which belonged to Isabel. Then there were those who danced. Desza danced with R?sse?s, Joel danced with his Rose, Azricam danced with Chesulloth, who had taken off her mask, revealing a beautiful ash-white hair and striking green eyes.


    "Hey, J?rgen, I didn''t think you''d come back. Come, brother, and leave the guard duty for later," Desza said as she danced with R?sse?s.


    "I''m sorry, I think I..."


    Isabel dragged him onto the dance floor, and they both danced.


    "Look at J?rgen dancing. Pinch me, it seems like the moon is going to fall," said Azricam.


    Everyone laughed, including Guz and Joel.


    "Isabel, I don''t know how to dance."


    "Neither do I, but since we''re here, let''s dance."


    Desza, who was laughing out loud, pointed to the musicians.


    "Comrades, play something more lively."


    Dockly winked at Guz and Jane.


    "Let''s do what the boss asked for."


    Dockly stretched his flute, Guz spun his guitar around, and Jane simply switched shoulders with the violin. And once they finished doing everything they were doing, they started playing a music they had invented for special occasions, more lively and dynamic.


    "There it is, I like it," Desza said as she danced with R?sse?s.Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    Joel got tired and sat in a chair with a white sheet, while placing Rose on his lap.


    "Everyone is happy today," Rose said.


    "Yes, really. Today we''ve dealt a hard blow to the guildsmen."


    Rose didn''t answer; she just felt disappointed for a while, but then showed a cynical smile.


    As they continued dancing, J?rgen began to feel uncomfortable. He had never danced in his life, but despite his lack of experience, he wasn''t doing badly. In fact, he was doing very well, but he was so worried about making a mistake that he didn''t notice he was dancing well. His insecurity was so evident that it was funny for the group.


    "It''s like watching Van Gogh trying to imitate Mart¨ªn Quinquela," Guz said.


    "What?" Jane asked.


    "Oh, nothing."


    "Come on, J?rgen, you''re not doing that bad!"


    "Uh, thanks, Dockly."


    "Don''t worry, just follow my lead."


    "Which one?"


    Isabel let out a giggle, but quickly recovered and guided J?rgen in the steps to make him feel more comfortable, and indeed, she succeeded.


    "YOU''RE NAILED IT!" Azricam shouted.


    Isabel guided the step towards where he was and gave him a strong stomp. So strong that Azricam let out a muted scream, feeling like his armor was sinking.


    "That''s what you get for messing with the iron lady," R?sse?s said.


    "Ha, that''s what happens when you mess with strong women, baby," Desza said as she quickened the pace.


    But then, Isabel leaned into J?rgen, and this time nobody paid attention to them and they kept doing their thing.


    "I don''t know this step."


    "Relax, I''ll guide you."


    Isabel, nestled against J?rgen, their dance began to slow amidst the movement around them.


    "Are you okay?"


    "I don''t know, are you okay?"


    "Me? Of course."


    "I''m glad," she then let out a slight smile, "Thank you for bringing me here."


    Isabel buried her face in J?rgen''s chest and said, "There''s nothing to thank for."


    The party went on and on. It was one in the morning when it all ended, and an hour later, everyone was asleep, everyone except J?rgen, who was sitting on a wooden chair with a mate in his hands, looking at the night sky with a cold gaze. With each sip he took from his mate, he never stopped seeing the moon and the stars. He felt at peace. Using his senses, he could determine what was around him. Then he turned and saw Isabel asleep on a chair beside him. Due to the proximity he had to the chair, J?rgen placed his hand on her forehead, brushing away a few strands of hair and exposing her forehead. J?rgen stroked Isabel''s forehead with his right hand; his black leather gloves were very thin, but he could feel Isabel''s forehead with the tips of his fingers. Then he withdrew his hand and looked at the sky again. Afterward, a door opened behind him. J?rgen didn''t turn, he only moved his eyes to the left as if trying to sharpen the sound and guess who it was. When the first foot touched the room, he closed his eyes, showed a smile, and whispered softly.


    "Is it you? Joel?"


    "Oh, seems like your senses are sharp," Joel whispered.


    J?rgen stood up and brought his chair to the table, which was at least two meters away from Isabel, so as not to wake her. Joel followed and sat at the other end of the table, while J?rgen sat on the opposite side.


    "Trouble sleeping, huh?"


    "Ha, something like that. Rose was having nightmares, so I took her to her sister to calm down a bit. When I returned to my bed, sleep had vanished, so I thought of taking a stroll outside, but then I ran into you."


    "Well," J?rgen refilled the mate with water and offered it to Joel. Joel accepted and took a sip.


    "Thanks, now I won''t be sleepy anymore."


    J?rgen released a smile and took another sip from the mate.


    "Where did you get this from?"


    "I brought it with me. Why?"


    "Oh, nothing, just find it strange that you drink this."


    "Why?"


    "Well... Your name is J?rgen Czacki, right?"


    "Of course, but in the place where I lived, mate was always consumed."


    "Ha, I guess so, it was more plausible to believe that," Joel said sarcastically.


    Then, J?rgen lowered his gaze.


    "Tomorrow morning, we''ll have to deliver those documents to Pullbarey."


    "Yeah, I hope after what we did today, it was worth it. Believe me, I had a really tough time with that strange guy; he hit me hard in the chest, nearly killed me."


    "Ha, it''s amazing that you''re skilled with needles, but not with powers."


    "Very funny. I hope you have that confidence when you have to fight Candado."


    J?rgen wiped the smile off his face and showed his serious demeanor again.


    "I''m sure Candado will come after us. After what we did, it''s more plausible to believe he won''t stay idle."


    "You talk as if you fear him."


    "I should fear him. After all, Candado was capable of stripping Desza of his powers. If he were to catch me, he''d strip me of mine too."


    "Thank God I don''t possess powers like you guys, only my sight is powerful."


    "That''s not enough for you not to fear him. It''s foolish to say so."


    At that moment, Guz interrupted the conversation; he was leaning against a wall, watching them attentively. His mask in the darkness was eerie, and his clear eyes gleamed in the darkness like those of a cat.


    "Guz, I thought you were asleep."


    "J?rgen, J?rgen, J?rgen, I always wake up at this hour, it''s just that you don''t notice it, since you and I don''t share rooms."


    "Sorry, I''ve never noticed."


    Guz walked up to them and took a chair, sitting at the head of the table, resembling a director in a boardroom.


    "Hello, early birds."


    "Hello, I see you love getting up at this hour."


    "My body''s parasites need it. I sleep four hours, five at most, so it''s very common for me to wake up at this hour."


    "Wow, you''re an enigma for our group, always so reserved."


    "Don''t talk like that, J?rgen, because there''s no one more mysterious than you here. You don''t sleep, you don''t talk much, and you don''t even attend the meetings Desza holds."


    "Better keep my mouth shut then."


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    "Exactly, better shut it. And what were you talking about?"


    "We were talking about Candado and his danger to you," Joel said sarcastically.


    "You should fear him too," J?rgen said.


    "I have no reason to fear him, he can''t take anything from me, I don''t have powers, although they think I do."


    "And what about your sisters? What about Jane?" Guz asked.


    "I wouldn''t let someone like him lay their damn hands on them."


    "Now that I think about it, I never saw Rose''s powers," J?rgen commented.


    "Ah, her, only Jane has powers in our family," then he changed his demeanor and became nostalgic, "After our parents."


    When J?rgen heard that, he stopped drinking his mate and set it aside.


    "Sorry for asking."


    "No, it''s okay."


    "Once, when I was cleaning the house, I overheard Desza talking about you guys with Azricam, a year ago. I remember he mentioned you as ''mercenaries'' and called yourselves ''The Wandering Brothers''. That got me thinking, why do you call yourselves that?"


    Joel pulled an old watch from his pocket and slid it across the table. J?rgen picked it up and examined it closely.


    "That belonged to my father. He gave it to me when I turned nine."


    "It''s a very nice gesture on his part, also old and expensive," Guz praised.


    "He was a Circuista and my mother a guild member, however, that union wasn''t compatible. Three years after he gave me that watch, while I was on my way to school, some guild thugs killed my parents. I remember I took Rose and Jane, we ran and ran, until we jumped into the river to survive."


    "What happened next?"


    "We became mercenaries. Jane and I took jobs from anyone: kidnapping, stealing, and above all, making life impossible whenever we could for the O.M.G.A.B."


    "At no point did I hear the word ''kill'' from you."


    "That''s because we only focused on that, it never crossed our minds to murder. But Jane and I had the experience."


    "Murder? Whom?" J?rgen asked.


    "To anyone who bothered us: kidnappers, murderers, and rapists."


    "Did Rose ever kill?" Guz asked.


    "No, I never allowed her to. In fact, we were the ones who did the job," Joel replied.


    "Where did the surname ''Wandering'' come from?"


    "One afternoon, a businessman from the United States came to us, on a rainy afternoon. He wanted us to kill a family to make his employee suffer for winning a lawsuit against him. We refused, but he wasn''t satisfied. He came back the next morning with our sister in his arms, threatening to kill her if we didn''t accept the mission."


    "And what happened?"


    "The response didn''t take long. We went to where the kidnappers were and took them out, each one of them. We reached where Rose was, chained up, dirty, and beaten. Seeing her like that was enough for us to end his life, but not before torturing the man. His screams and insults didn''t reach us, as we didn''t understand anything he said. We had killed his translator, so there was no way to understand him. But we did pick up one word he kept repeating: ''Wandering''. He said it the first time we saw him. So from that day on, we called ourselves ''The Wanderers'' or ''Wandering''."


    "It was too chilling, I can almost say it scared me," J?rgen said as he drank his mate, with his serious demeanor.


    "I think you''d better keep those comments to yourself."


    Guz adjusted his mask and looked out the window.


    "I wish I could know what will happen tomorrow."


    "You can find out. It''s fun to know things than to predict them. It would be boring to know in advance what might happen," J?rgen said as he drank his mate.


    "In my case, it would serve me well because I would like to know how long this will last."


    "It will last as long as it has to," J?rgen said.


    Guz leaned forward and looked at Joel.


    "It will last as long as it has to? Sure, I guess you have enough tricks up your sleeve to say that."


    "What do you mean?"


    "Joel, don''t be naive. How long are you going to fight to secure a future for your sisters?"


    "I''ll fight until my body says enough."


    "Nice words, but..."


    "Guz, silence," J?rgen said as he watched Isabel move on the couch. Guz fell silent and reclined in his chair, while Joel looked at him trying to figure out what he was going to say.


    "Wow, smitten, staying silent for a brat like her," Guz whispered.


    When Isabel quieted down, J?rgen turned around and continued drinking his mate, completely ignoring what Guz had said.


    At that moment, a door opened and Rose came out, half asleep and wearing her teddy bear pajamas.


    "Joel, I need to go to the bathroom."


    "I''m coming."


    Joel stood up and headed towards her, took her hand, and they walked down a hallway to their right, disappearing from view.


    "Ha, that boy. How long is he going to be her babysitter? A girl who can''t even go to the bathroom on her own will be an easy target."


    J?rgen poured the mate and slid it into Guz''s hands.


    "Drink it, you''ll feel better if you give it a try."


    Guz lifted his mask a bit, partially showing his chin, took the mate, and took a sip.


    "It''s been a long time since I had mate."


    "Then it''s your lucky day," J?rgen said with a crooked smile on his face.


    "I think I should make a hole in the mouth area so I can drink. It''s too annoying to drink like this, I can''t see."


    After saying that, Guz lowered the mate and slid it back into J?rgen''s hands.


    "Thanks," Guz said as he adjusted his mask.


    "You''re welcome."


    At that moment, J?rgen took out a book and started reading it.


    "You know, I think this is the first time the three of us have talked together."


    "I thought so too, Guz."


    "I think we should do it more often, don''t you think?"


    J?rgen looked up and showed relaxation on his face once again.


    "That would be great, yes."


    Guz was surprised to see that expression on J?rgen''s face, so much so that he was about to make a comment, but at that moment Joel appeared with his sleepy sister Rose and a smile.


    "Good night, everyone," he said in a very low voice that was almost incomprehensible.


    He nodded in acknowledgment, while Guz just waved his hand. Rose smiled but wobbled; she couldn''t stay still for a moment.


    "I think you should send her to bed, Joel; she can''t even stand up," Guz said.


    Joel lifted his sister and carried her to her bed, opened the door, and placed her beside it. She quickly hugged her sister and fell asleep instantly. Joel smiled, stroked both their heads, and kissed them on the forehead. Then he left the room and sat back down with his companions.


    "You know, I think you should teach that little one how to fight."


    "What makes you think she can''t defend herself?" Joel asked as he sat down in the chair.


    "Lower your voice, please."


    "Sorry about that."


    J?rgen slid the watch into Joel''s hands and said, "Take care of it. It''s a gift from you and your family, and I imagine it''s the only one, so take good care of it."


    "In fact, it''s not the only memento from my parents," Joel smiled and pointed his thumb behind him, continuing, "They are also a memory of my parents. I think you should think about that, always."


    "Wow, how profound."


    "We all have something we want to protect, that''s how we Testigos are, right?" Joel asked.


    "That''s true, I protect my identity."


    "How subjective," Joel said with a smirk.


    "Now that you mention it, it''s true, everyone protects something," Guz said.


    "R?sse?s protects his cat, Dockly protects his family, you protect your identity, Chesulloth protects his uncle, Azricam his parakeet, my sisters protect each other, and I protect them, Isabel protects her jewels, I suppose, Desza seeks to protect us."


    "Wow, you seem to be bored," Guz said.


    "What you call being bored, I call passing the time."


    "Wow, you really are bored," Guz repeated.


    Joel just laughed at the comment, then looked at J?rgen, who had stopped drinking mate to read a book the size of his palm.


    "And you, J?rgen? Don''t you have something to protect or someone you consider valuable?"


    At that moment, the first lights of dawn graced the windows; the night had ended, but the sunlight passed through one of the house''s windows and landed on Isabel''s sleeping face, causing her to open her eyes with difficulty. She got up and looked around the room, her clean and blue dress shimmering in the early morning sunlight. But after surveying her surroundings, her eyes rested on J?rgen''s back, while the sunlight continued to bathe her.


    "Protect someone important?" J?rgen asked as he closed his book and gazed aimlessly around the room.

 OPEN WOUND

    After the recent events, Candado no longer had the intention of speaking to Chandra; instead, he wanted to head to the headquarters of W.O.G.A.B. and expose what had happened so that action could be taken. The effects of the incident were immediate and had repercussions on both the Guilds and the Traffic Lights. The families of the victims demanded answers, including from those responsible. However, unfortunately, only a partial version of the truth had to be given, concealing certain details from the grieving families.


    The story spread that it was a group of robbers who had escaped from the Guilds and were seeking to provoke the anger of the Traffic Lights. But nobody believed this version; the families knew or believed they knew that the real culprits were the Circuits. Despite this, Candado decided to tell the whole truth and reveal the identity of the Witnesses, hoping that not all the blame would fall on the Circuits. He laid out all the details related to the incident, but the results were not encouraging. Only a handful of people listened to and believed his version, while the majority, including those who fought that day, blamed the Circuits, despite Esteban''s presence to help.


    Candado found himself powerless to prove his innocence in these events, and the widespread sentiment pointed towards the Circuits. The relatives of the victims fanned the flames of misunderstanding, exacerbating hostility towards the Circuits. Unfortunately, signs of a new war in Argentina began to emerge. Esteban was unable to clear the name of the Circuits, and his superiors began to distrust his leadership in the U.F.E.T.C. Furthermore, serious consideration was given to removing him from his position, with the idea of ??calling for elections to choose a new Honest Marshal.


    All candidates for the position firmly held T¨¢natos''s ideas, which consisted of destroying the Guilds and avoiding any possible dialogue with their enemies. The orthodox faction of the Circuit party had a high probability of winning the elections. Esteban''s favorite, Morfeo Cristopher, known as Poker, was someone Esteban deeply despised, as he couldn''t stand the idea of ??someone with such a closed mind assuming leadership of the U.F.E.T.C.


    Things did not improve as expected. In the Traffic Lights, a climate of fear gripped the population. On the day of the tragedy, the victims were people who were just beginning to discover their powers, which significantly weakened the effectiveness of the local guard. The ranks of the Red, Yellow, and Green guard were reinforced, composed of experienced and highly specialized individuals who remained on high alert twenty-four hours a day.


    Rozkiewicz ensured that his comrades received intensive combat training, hoping to be prepared for a possible second attack. Joaqu¨ªn, on the other hand, was forced to travel to Nepal to explain the exoneration of the investigation without consulting Julekha Chandra. Walter Dussek returned to his hometown and provided all the details of what happened, constantly repeating the word "Witnesses."


    Sof¨ªa did the same and returned to her hometown, avoiding talking about the events in the Traffic Lights and focusing on her confrontation with the woman who had humiliated her, R?sse?s. Johan dedicated himself to traveling the world in search of information about the individuals who had attempted to assassinate them. Finally, Cantero, an individual who refused to harm any human being, remained in Resistance, seeking solutions to prevent another possible attack.


    On the other hand, Candado also faced his own problems. A day after the events, the demands of the Guilds of Argentina directed at W.O.G.A.B. began to multiply alarmingly. In just twenty-eight hours after the incident, the entire nation was clamoring for action from Candado. However, he was unaware of this growing pressure, as he lived in a small town where there were only two guilds, one of which was led by him, and the other by Tarah. Additionally, a Circuist, obviously under Esteban''s command, was also present in the town.


    Meanwhile, the presidents of W.O.G.A.B. were plunged into despair as they tried to find an adequate response. Candado had previously been sanctioned for his violent behavior towards a guild representative, and to prevent Yuuta, who had temporarily assumed the presidency, from becoming the target of the people''s anger, the appearance was maintained that Candado was still in power, although he had actually been temporarily removed. Although letters and requests for meetings with Candado arrived at W.O.G.A.B. headquarters, nothing could be done about it. Yuuta offered no coherent explanations and only rehearsed unconvincing answers.


    The situation continued unchanged for two days until Candado received a call from Jacqueline Crusoe, urging him to come immediately to prevent a confrontation. Candado accepted the invitation and, as promised, headed to the World Organization of Adjacent Guilds Bernstein that same day. The call came at 5:42 in the afternoon, and Candado hastily prepared himself, intending to identify the true perpetrators of the attack and find a solution to the problem. Adjusting his red tie, he left his house towards the guild, where he would meet with H¨¦ctor to fulfill his duties as Candado or president of the Roob¨®leo Guild.


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    When Candado arrived at the entrance of the house, he adjusted his black vest and opened the door. Inside, he found Anzor and Lucas playing truco, so engrossed in their game that they didn''t notice his arrival. Candado took a one-peso coin from his pocket and tossed it onto a nearby table to get their attention. It was then that both stood up and greeted him, crossing their arms over their chests.


    "Rest easy," Candado said to them. "Do you know if Hector''s here?"


    "Yeah, he''s in the office," Anzor replied.


    "Thanks, carry on," Candado responded.


    With that, he left the two players to their game of truco and headed towards Hector''s office. He knocked on the door and waited.


    "Come in," Hector''s voice came from inside.


    Candado opened the door and entered the room with his hands in his pockets. To his surprise, he found Viki lying on the ceiling, absorbed in her cell phone, while Hector read the newspaper. Despite being involved in the recent fight and witnessing the fall of many of his comrades, Hector acted as if nothing had happened. This attitude of forgetting deeply bothered Candado, but he wasn''t there to argue, but to discuss an important matter.


    "How''s it going?" Candado greeted.


    Hector lowered the newspaper and looked at Candado. "Greetings, Ernest. Nice day, isn''t it?"


    "Yeah, a nice day for the living," Candado replied, looking at the ceiling with irony.


    Hector seemed confused by Candado''s response and cleared his throat before asking, "What are you doing here so late?"


    "How curious, I was about to ask the same thing," Candado retorted. "I''m here because I wanted to ask you an important question."


    "Important?" Hector questioned.


    "Are you going to accompany me to the Organization?" Candado asked directly.


    "Oh, right. Today''s the day you''re heading to W.O.G.A.B., isn''t it?" Hector remembered.


    "Yes, exactly. So, are you coming or not?" Candado insisted.


    "I''m sorry, but I''m busy," Hector replied.


    "You''ll have to attend the blood meeting," Viki interjected.


    "I didn''t know there was still blood running through your veins," Candado commented sarcastically.


    "What?" Hector asked, confused.


    "I mean I didn''t know you were still on that regime," Candado clarified.


    "Oh, it was nothing. I just needed a transfusion," explained Viki.


    "But, Hector, you''re my secretary and I need to take someone with me to W.O.G.A.B. Especially considering you''ve been there in the last few months. Why don''t you come?" Candado insisted.


    "Unfortunately, I''m busy," Hector reiterated.


    Candado tilted his head, took off his beret, scratched his head, and looked back at Hector.


    "Fine, I''ll take Declan with me," he announced.


    "He''s busy with a mission I assigned him in Villa ¨¢ngela," Hector replied.


    "The twins?" Candado asked.


    "They''re in Corrientes, doing something only they can do," explained Hector.


    "Matlotsky," Candado continued.


    "He''s in the Traffic Lights, repairing the damage," Hector informed.


    "Ana Mar¨ªa?" Candado inquired.


    "She went with Germ¨¢n to Resistencia to help an injured friend after the assault," Hector replied.


    "And those two playing truco?" Candado asked.


    "I''ll need them later," Hector answered.


    Candado looked up at the ceiling, lost in thought.


    "Viki..." he began.


    "No, I''m not going to Japan," Viki replied categorically.


    "Why don''t you take Hammya?" Candado suggested.


    Candado looked at the ground, somewhat disillusioned.


    "Seriously? The kid?" he expressed incredulously.


    "Come on, Candado," Hector intervened. "As far as I know, she saved your life."


    "Yes, but... she''s too... naive," Candado argued.


    "Oh, come on, Candado," Hector insisted as he closed the newspaper and placed it on the table. "You''ve been depending on a secretary since Ocho betrayed us. When will be the day you choose a vice?"


    Candado said nothing, simply looking at the ground, seeming still affected by the fact that Hammya had been his friend in the past.


    "I won''t make the same mistake twice," Candado asserted. "I don''t think she has what it takes to be my vice."


    "Candado, do you think giving her a position like that will corrupt her like it did with Ocho?" Hector questioned.


    "Truth is, I think it''s more likely to happen," Candado admitted.


    "Come on, Candado," Viki urged.


    "You shut up and keep playing your little games," Candado sarcastically retorted.


    "Let''s make a deal," Hector proposed. "Take her, don''t tell her why, and then we''ll see if she''s really fit to take command."


    "Seriously? A few days ago, you distrusted her, and now you''re proposing this to me," Candado pointed out.


    "I know, and I was wrong," Hector admitted. "I think you also think the same, you''re just a little afraid of being wrong."


    "Keep those deductions to yourself. And what do I get out of this?" Candado asked.


    "If you take her and you like her, so much that you want to appoint her as vice, then you''ll do what I say," explained Hector. "But if you take her and you don''t like her, I''ll acknowledge my mistake and do whatever you ask, anything."


    "Fine, I accept," Candado agreed.


    Candado stood up, put on his beret, and shook Hector''s hand.


    "I accept. Now we''ll see who was right," Candado concluded.


    Then, he turned around and left the room, leaving Hector and Viki alone. As soon as Candado left the room, Hector lay down on the table, as if exhausted, while Viki watched him lie there, holding his head.


    "What have I done?" Hector wondered aloud.


    "Are you okay, Hector?" Viki asked.


    "No, I made a bet with Candado, and we all know he always wins. My God, what am I going to do now?" Hector replied, visibly worried.


    Viki burst into laughter.


    "Don''t laugh, Viki, I''m finished," Hector said as he held his head.


    After Candado tried to convince Hector to accompany him to the organization and he refused, Candado had no choice but to invite Hammya to accompany him on his trip to W.O.G.A.B. He needed Hector and Clementina as companions, but Hector was unavailable and he couldn''t go alone, so he decided to take a chance on Hammya, without mentioning that he had made a bet with Hector.


    Candado entered his house, and as usual, his parents weren''t home. Grandma had gone on a trip to Buenos Aires to visit her son Clemente, and the only ones at home were Hammya, along with Clementina, Hip¨®lito, and little Karen, who for some reason was in Hammya''s arms. For the first time, Candado held back his comments and approached Hammya to propose something. He hung his beret on the coat rack near the door and walked towards her as she played and made faces at the baby, who seemed to be enjoying Hammya''s antics.


    "Good afternoon," Candado greeted.


    Hammya looked up at Candado and smiled.


    "Good afternoon. It seems like you''ve started to improve your attitude."


    Candado clenched his fists tightly at the comment, and the creaking of his gloves could be heard.


    "Heh, yeah, seems like I''ve improved."


    Hammya lowered her head and continued playing with the baby, but when she did, Candado began making faces, and his left eye started to twitch nervously. However, he soon calmed down, adjusted his tie, and cleared his throat.


    "I would like you to come with me to the W.O.G.A.B. organization."


    Hammya looked up again and looked at him.


    "What? Where?"


    Candado made an effort not to pinch her cheeks for not paying attention the first time.


    "Well, I''ll repeat it for you. Would you like to come with me to W.O.G.A.B.?"


    "Eh? I don''t understand," Hammya replied confusedly.


    Candado relaxed his shoulders and looked at the ceiling.


    "What part don''t you understand?" Candado said, losing patience.


    "Why are you inviting me?" Hammya asked.


    Candado lowered his head, closed his eyes, and scratched his left eyebrow with the index finger of his left hand.


    "Because my staff is busy. So, once again, are you going to come with me to W.O.G.A.B., yes or no?"


    Hammya thought for a moment about Candado''s proposal, and after a minute, she replied.


    "Sure, I''d like to see that place."


    Candado took a deep breath and then exhaled, displaying a sarcastic smile.


    "Perfect, now get dressed."


    "Well, get dressed," Candado ordered.


    "What? Now?" Hammya asked, surprised.


    "Yes, now," Candado replied firmly.


    "Yes, but..."


    At that moment, Candado changed his expression and showed his anger. His eyes lit up with a violet flame, and he covered baby Karen''s eyes with his right hand.


    "Go and get dressed now," he said with a chilling voice.


    Hammya immediately got up, handed the baby to Candado, and rushed to her room. At that moment, Hip¨®lito appeared, without his bowler hat, and was sweeping the floor with a broom.


    "Well, what did the little ''mamboret¨¢'' do to make you take her with you?" Hip¨®lito asked with a mischievous smile.


    "Well, here I am complaining about Clementina being scrap."


    "What did you want to tell me?"


    "Nothing, I''ll leave it to your robotic imagination," Candado replied as he sat down on the couch and put his sleeping sister in the crib beside him.


    Hip¨®lito showed a mischievous smile and continued cleaning the floor.Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.


    "This brings back memories."


    "When did you not have that gray mustache?" Candado joked.


    "Hah, no, I mean when I served Alfred''s parents," Hip¨®lito explained.


    "I''m surprised there were automatons like you in their time."


    Actually, it was him who made me and gave me the name Hip¨®lito, in honor of Hip¨®lito Yrigoyen."


    "It could be said that my family comes from radical descendants."


    "Yes, in his time, boss Jack Barret was a Yrigoyenist militant. But after what happened in Patagonia, he became disillusioned, although he continued to support him."


    "Now, apparently, that branch didn''t continue, since my family and I are Peronists, right?"


    "Hah, yes, how things change."


    At that moment, a clock in the kitchen rang.


    "Oh, by my terabytes, dessert is ready," announced Hip¨®lito as he headed to the kitchen.


    Candado turned his eyes one hundred and eighty degrees and picked up a red book titled "Leviathan" by Thomas Hobbes. He began to read it to pass the time. However, he hadn''t even finished the first page when Hip¨®lito returned, accompanied by Clementina, carrying pastries on a metal tray.


    "Behold, humans, the exquisiteness in person," exclaimed Hip¨®lito excitedly.


    "Hip¨®lito, do you have to do that every time you cook desserts?" Clementina asked.


    "Of course, man, this is a revolution for the motherland," Hip¨®lito replied humorously.


    "Now you''re speaking Galician?" Clementina questioned.


    "Alright, enough fooling around, let''s try them, damn it," said Hip¨®lito as he placed the tray on the table. Then he stood up and continued, "Phew, it''s hot. I''m going to take a shower, kids, in the meantime, enjoy it."


    As Hip¨®lito left the room, Candado closed his book, picked up one of the pastries with a paper towel, and took a bite.


    "Oh, these are delicious, especially the sweet potato filling," commented Candado as he savored the pastry.


    "I swear, Mr. Hip¨®lito knows how to bake them."


    "I remember mom used to make them for me and Gabriela," Candado said with a smile.


    At that moment, Hammya arrived, wearing the same green dress she had on the first time they met. However, it was now clean and without the black stains it had after being rolled in the mud when she was beaten up by those boys. Additionally, she wore a white ribbon around her neck and a violet flower-shaped buckle.


    "You look beautiful, Miss Hammya," commented Clementina.


    Candado merely observed the shoes he had repaired a few days ago. He was about to make a comment, and not a particularly positive one, but he decided to keep quiet and offered a pastry to Hammya for her to try. She gladly accepted and took a bite, showing pleasure on her face as she savored the pastry.


    "It''s delicious, Hip¨®lito put in a lot of effort," praised Hammya.


    "Hip¨®lito? Putting in effort? Don''t make me laugh," responded Candado with a smile.


    "I didn''t."


    "Oops, sorry, I think I made a little mistake."


    "You''re such a goof!" exclaimed Hammya, laughing.


    Candado playfully squeezed her cheek while holding his pastry in the other hand.


    "Ouch, that hurts."


    "Well, don''t say silly things," said Candado as he let go.


    "You''re aggressive, and on top of that, I''m going with you, and you''re like this with me."


    Candado looked up for a moment, puffed out his cheeks, and then exhaled all the air before looking at her again.


    "I apologize for being like that."


    Hammya was stunned by Candado''s apology.


    "Apology?"


    "Yes, exactly, an apology," affirmed Candado as he enjoyed his pastry with closed eyes.


    After that moment, no one else spoke. The three of them stayed there, eating the pastries Hip¨®lito had made, until they were satisfied. Clementina leaned back on the couch and patted her belly.


    "I''m full, I can''t eat anything else."


    "I hate to be insensitive, but we must catch a plane," announced Candado.


    "What?" exclaimed Hammya, surprised.


    "What you heard, Hammya. We have to catch a plane."


    "But weren''t we going to the W.O.G.A.B.?"


    "And where do you think that is?" asked Candado with slight irritation.


    "I don''t know, is it far?"


    "Hammya, I told you several days ago, where the organization is, did you forget already?"


    "I''m sorry to say that I did, I forgot," she replied with a smile, trying to lighten the mood.


    However, Candado didn''t seem to take it lightly and pinched her cheeks again.


    "I hate having to repeat lengthy topics."


    After saying that, he let go and began to calm down.


    "Well, the organization is on a deserted island near Japan."


    "Ah, now I understand, then I think it''s okay."


    "Good, shall we go?"


    "Yes," they both responded.


    Candado headed to the door, put on his beret, and left the house, leaving a note in Karen''s crib to keep Hip¨®lito informed of their absence. Although Hip¨®lito probably already knew where they were going, Candado considered him too senile to remember, so he left the note more as a joke than as useful information.


    Candado, accompanied by Clementina and Hammya, headed back to Nelson''s house to request his free taxi services. That afternoon, the town was quieter than usual, with most people in their homes. When they arrived at Nelson''s house, the lights were on, but they weren''t the usual lights, they were a bright red color.


    "I have a bad feeling about this," commented Hammya.


    Candado ignored this comment or warning and knocked on the door. Before he could reach the entrance, the door swung open, and a well-dressed Nelson emerged, wearing a suit and a purple tie, but still sporting his lab coat, which Candado wasn''t sure if it was a lab coat or an apron, which really didn''t matter. What caught the attention was Nelson''s remarkable elegance, his hair slicked back, and his lemony fragrance.


    "Damn, Nelson, after the few days I''ve known you, your style remains a mystery," commented Candado.


    "Ha, ha, ha, what brings you here, you three, sorry?"


    "Why are you speaking like that?"


    "Ha, you see, my young Padlock, I''ve received a visit from an important executive who will help me rebuild the C.I.C.E.T.A. laboratories, and he said yes."


    "And that''s why you''re speaking and dressing like that?"


    "Of course, my lord, I''ve received the help of an important executive today."


    The trio was dumbfounded by Nelson''s words.


    "But let''s not talk about me and my success. Let''s talk about you. What do you want, Candado, your girlfriend and your maid?"


    "I''m not his girlfriend," clarified Hammya, blushing.


    Clementina, upon seeing this, secretly laughed. However, Candado was not affected or embarrassed by Nelson''s joke.


    "Tell me, old man, are you free today?"


    "A date? I''m too old for that, it would be a crime, they''d lock me up like Father Grassi."


    "You''re getting on my nerves, old man. Are you free or not?"


    "If I''m free? Ha, ha, ha, ha, of course I''m free," he replied arrogantly.


    "How the hell did you become friends with my grandfather? Anyway, I want you to do me another favor."


    "Well, what do you want me to do for you?"


    "I want you to help us go to Resistencia again."


    "Resistencia? You''re a magnet for trouble, kid, and I love trouble. I accept."


    "What the hell are you telling me?"


    At that moment, Nelson closed the door behind him without turning around and pulled a device with a green button from his pants pocket. He pressed it, and suddenly the garage door opened, and his car rolled out onto the pavement, leaving everyone surprised, except for Candado.


    "You seem to have too much free time," commented Nelson. "Ha, I''m retired, I don''t work anymore, so I have nothing to do."


    Nelson walked towards his car and got in. Then, he opened the passenger door.


    "Get in, I''ll take you."


    "That old man is a little crazy," whispered Clementina in Candado''s ear.


    "Yeah, he''s nuts, but he''s reliable, at least for me."


    Candado moved to sit in the front seat, but Clementina beat him to it and closed the door, saying:


    "Sorry, but you can''t sit in the front, it''s too dangerous for you, young boss."


    Candado pinched Clementina''s forehead and said:


    "Fine, I''ll sit in the back, but if you bother me again, I''ll make you walk, got it?"


    "Yes, of course."


    As Candado turned around, Clementina said loudly:


    "Just for today."


    Candado stopped and rushed towards her, but Clementina closed the window and locked the door as he pounded on the glass and yelled:


    "I''ll gouge your eyes out!"


    "Shorty, you''re going to break my car! Stop it, Nazi!"


    With those words, Candado stopped and got into the car, sitting in the back seat next to Hammya.


    "Never again, never call me that again."


    "Ha, Alfred was right, it really gets to you when you''re called that, huh?"


    "Yes, same as you, right? Rojas supporter."


    "Never say that damn word again in this car!"


    "Start the car, old crazy man, please," said Candado with a calm smile.


    "Never!" shouted Nelson as he started the engine. "Never again!"


    As they drove along the road, Candado observed the sunset landscape. The sun was setting, and the first stars were starting to appear. By the time the car reached the Sem¨¢foros agency, it was already night, and the half moon illuminated the night sky.


    Nelson stopped the car a few meters from the agency''s gate. Due to the recent assault, the walls and guards were on high alert. When the guards noticed the car, they pulled out their rifles and aimed them to prevent any conflict.


    "Identify yourselves!"


    "I can''t believe I''m doing this," said Candado as he rolled down the window and displayed a shield-shaped badge with a white lion, surrounded by the tiny letters of the W.O.G.A.B. and laurels.


    "EXCUSE US, YOUR EXCELLENCE! YOU MAY PASS!"


    "I think I should change agents, that guy shouts too loud."


    The gates opened, and Nelson drove in with the car, stopping in the middle of the courtyard. Candado was the first to step out of the car, followed by Nelson. Hammya and Clementina got out at the same time.


    "Wow, what massive fortifications," remarked Nelson.


    At that moment, three people appeared, each with a differently colored ribbon wrapped around their arm. One of them was Rozkiewicz, with a green band on his left arm. The second was Nicol¨¢s Caba?a Ragnarok, with the red band on his right arm, and the third was Maidana Leandro Wolfgang, with the yellow band on his right arm.


    "CERROJO! How''s it going, mate?"


    "Good to see you too, Ruso."


    "Oh, thanks."


    "What are you doing here?" asked Nicol¨¢s.


    "I''m here to catch a plane. Are they available?"


    "Available? Joaqu¨ªn had to increase their pay to keep them running."


    "Alright, I want to catch one headed to the W.O.G.A.B."


    "Ticket?" asked Maidana.


    "Of course, four please."


    Maidana pulled out four tickets from his pocket and handed them over to each.


    "Alright, you can board one now. Get in."


    "Traveling back to the W.O.G.A.B. again? It''s been so long since I was there. I wonder if they''ve removed those annoying orange curtains with green polka dots?"


    "Better go there to find out, old man. LET''S GO!"


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    Candado, Hammya, Clementina y Nelson boarded one of the planes. These planes were very different from common ones; they had only two wheels and were propelled like rockets, faster and less dangerous. Inside, they seemed more luxurious, akin to those of a successful businessman. You only had to request a ticket and show your identification. However, as Candado was the president of the organization, he had certain rights that allowed him to protect himself.


    Once everyone was on board, Nelson, who detested others touching his car, decided to get off the plane and park it himself. Candado watched him impatiently, though it was barely noticeable on his cold face. It was evident that Nelson would take forever to move his car due to the uncut and damp grass. Just a few days ago, there had been an assault, so the agency''s gardeners hadn''t had time to work, and they had taken a leave until the place was safe, for three months. The grass and moisture were high enough to trap the car''s thin wheels.


    The car didn''t budge; only the engine''s painful howl could be heard, and the exhaust pipe began to emit smoke into the faces of those present. After two minutes of agony, Nelson stuck his head out of the window and looked at Candado.


    "WAIT FOR ME, MY BOY! I''M JUST PARKING THE CAR AND I''LL BE RIGHT THERE!"


    "Fine, but hurry up," said Candado as he glanced at his watch and whispered, "When we''re nine thousand meters high, I''ll make sure your fall is quick and painless."


    It took eight minutes before the car could finally move with the help of some guards. Nelson finally managed to park it near the plane''s door, and after two minutes of running, he boarded the plane. He sat in one of the seats and began fanning himself with the safety protocol, while Candado raised an eyebrow and impatiently checked his watch.


    "I''m the laughingstock of the Record Ginnes, how ironic, LET''S GO!"


    With those words, the plane''s doors closed, and Candado took his seat, choosing the one farthest from the others, close to the window and the restroom, in case of an emergency. Hammya and Clementina, noticing that Candado was sitting alone, decided to keep him company, excluding Nelson, who was too tired after getting up from his comfortable chair.


    As they approached Candado, they saw him engrossed in reading a magazine promoting the W.O.G.A.B. His face was hidden behind the magazine, which was the size of a color newspaper. On the back cover of the magazine, there was a photo of Candado raising his fist to his left cheek with the phrase in large white letters in quotes: "I serve Harambee. Do you?"


    "It''s funny, this should be outside and not inside the agency. What''s the point of this promotion among affiliates? It''s... stupid."


    Then, Candado closed the magazine and saw Hammya and Clementina sitting in front of him.


    "Hey, the plane is quite big, isn''t it?"


    "Of course, it''s obvious, sir."


    "Why on earth are you here?"


    "Because it''s fun, it''s close to the bathroom, and it''s ideal for us."


    "Bathroom? Clementina, you don''t have a bladder."


    "Of course, I do, sir. You installed it for me."


    "When?"


    "A long time ago."


    "Ha, very funny."


    Then he lifted the magazine to his face.


    "Ignore them, Candado. The less attention you give them, the quicker they''ll leave," whispered Candado.


    While reading the magazine, Candado listened to the two chatting about inconsequential matters. However, mysteriously, he stopped hearing them. Candado lowered his magazine and saw that the seats were empty.


    "That''s better," said Candado as he resumed his reading. He continued until his watch struck 8:00 p.m. Candado closed the magazine and placed it next to the companion seat, then yawned and covered his mouth with his right hand. He then unfastened his seatbelt and got up from his seat to walk down the plane aisle. He passed Nelson''s seat, who was playing a crossword puzzle with Grivna.


    "I don''t remember including her in the trip," Candado said to himself.


    Out of courtesy, Candado said nothing and left the aisle, finding himself in another narrower one with some doors. Candado opened one of the doors and saw Hammya and Clementina playing with pillows, jumping on the bed, shouting, and laughing. Clementina seemed more human than she had years ago.


    Candado closed the door without Hammya and Clementina noticing his presence. Then, he headed to the next room and pushed the door with his hand, as it was open, probably due to the two girls while exploring the plane. Upon turning on the lights, the room brightened up and looked like a hotel, with beds, a bathroom, a TV, and a total of ten rooms. In the room he was in, there were two beds. Candado took off his vest and hung it on a coat rack, then removed his beret and tie and placed them on a nightstand. He turned off the light and headed towards one of the beds.


    When he was about to lie down, he saw T¨ªnbari sitting on the plane''s wing eating a hamburger and waving at him. Candado showed no surprise and closed the curtains. Then he lay on the bed face up. Due to the hallway light, the room was slightly illuminated. Candado reached into his collar and pulled out his necklace. He stroked the sun pendant with his thumb several times, his face showing a slight sadness but no tears.


    "Gabriela..."


    Candado clenched his fists and placed the necklace on his chest. Every time he held that chain, he could feel his sister''s spirit by his side, which didn''t make him happy but relaxed him knowing that she was there, helping him, encouraging him, and above all, protecting him. Now, his grandfather was also with her, and they both watched over him. Slowly, Candado began to close his eyes until he fell deeply asleep, still holding his necklace. However, he was far from sleeping well; the nightmares had returned, especially the one involving the symbol Hammya had shown him and the truth about his sister''s death. This caused recurrent nightmares and a deep hatred towards the person who had killed her.


    His nightmares continued to disturb his sleep, and Candado couldn''t rest well. When he woke up, he realized that the dark circles had returned, but he hid them using his mother''s makeup. Only twenty minutes had passed since he fell asleep, and he was already sweating and panting. On more than one occasion, he ignited his hands with the violet flame, but this time it didn''t affect the sheets. His brow furrowed more and more as the nightmare intensified.


    In his nightmare, Candado found himself in a dead and desolate wasteland, battling against himself, but this version of him was dressed in black and had red eyes. Despite his efforts, Candado couldn''t harm his other self, who mimicked the voices of his sister, his grandfather, and his friends while laughing. Candado grew angrier and spent all his energy in the fight, but his other self had the same defensive skills as him, so his efforts were futile.


    At the end of the struggle, the ground vanished beneath his feet, and Candado fell into a place filled with skeletons carrying flags from all countries around the world. He looked around and saw kilometers and kilometers of human bones. Desperately, he searched for his other self and took a step forward, but stepped on something organic. He lowered his gaze and saw Yara dead, with open eyes, a dirty dress, and coagulated blood on her face. Candado picked her up in his arms, but before he could lift her, her body turned into dust and vanished with the wind.


    Then, he saw his enemy, now unrecognizable, completely dark with red eyes, waving the W.O.G.A.B. flag back and forth. Candado ran towards him with the intention of killing him, but the skeletons rose and trapped him. The skeletons began to regain their flesh, and Candado was horrified to see the faces of his family and friends on them. Just behind him, his enemy appeared with a scythe and swung it down with all his might towards his neck.


    Before the blow reached him, Candado abruptly woke up and returned to reality. He was drenched in sweat, but he regained his composure and got up. It was evident that his nightmares persisted. He took out his pocket watch and saw that it was 1:00 a.m., Argentine time. He calculated that they would reach their destination in about thirty-five minutes due to the speed of the plane. Candado put on his vest, tied his tie, and wore his beret. Then, he walked to the door and opened it. The hallway was almost illuminated by the sunlight from outside, indicating they were close to their destination.


    Candado headed to the neighboring door and opened it, but found no one there, just a beautiful mess. He closed it and walked down the hallway, where he met Nelson, who was alone looking out the window. Candado sat next to him and cleared his throat to start a conversation.


    "Hello, kid."


    "Hello, Nelson. Where''s your little companion?"


    "She''s with the others. Why...?"


    "No, never mind," then Candado inhaled and exhaled deeply. "Nelson, I have a question."


    "What is it?"


    "Why did my grandfather leave the town? Why did he go to live far away from us?"


    Nelson leaned back in his seat and looked at Candado.


    "Boy, your grandfather loved you very much. He did it to protect you."


    "I don''t understand."


    Nelson put his hand on Candado''s head and continued.


    "When the C.I.C.E.T.A. incident happened, your grandfather took refuge on Cerrito Island with his entire family. But he knew that Greg would come, not only for him but for his whole family. When his granddaughter Gabriela died, he immediately knew it wasn''t from an illness but that she was killed."


    "Did you know?"


    "Yes, but I didn''t want you to know," Nelson said, very saddened, then continued. "He knew his family wouldn''t be safe if he stayed there. That''s when he decided to distance himself from his daughter and grandson, intending to protect them. He knew they would come for his life, but the love he felt for his family wouldn''t let him stay away. That''s when he asked me to get him a house in Villa ¨¢ngela. From there, he began to talk on the phone with his family, including you, so they would never know where his family was. That''s why he rejected all your invitations, not because he hated you, but because he wanted to protect you."


    Then, Nelson looked at Candado, but this time, Candado began to shed tears, while maintaining his composure.


    "I''m stupid, for two years I thought my grandfather distanced himself from me because he didn''t love me anymore," Candado said with a trembling voice.


    Unlike previous times when he only wiped his eyes and moved on, this time Candado couldn''t stop the tears. The tears flowed more and more intensely, and despite trying to use a handkerchief or his hands, he couldn''t contain them. Finally, in a moment of despair, he covered his eyes with both hands and began to cry. The pain he hadn''t experienced when his grandfather died at the funeral had appeared, and he could no longer hide it. Nelson embraced the boy who was suffering so much, and Candado accepted his embrace without resistance. Although he continued to cover his eyes, his sadness and pain were palpable and had surfaced.


    At that precise moment, Hammya and Clementina returned from a room that housed the entertainment area. When they saw Candado being hugged by Nelson while crying, Clementina covered Hammya''s mouth, and they hid behind some chairs nearby. Then, Clementina peeked out and saw Candado, this time, embracing Nelson.


    "Poor my lord."


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    Then, Clementina felt Hammya kicking. Her hand was covering her mouth and, at the same time, her nose, she was suffocating her. Clementina, upon seeing her, let go, and Hammya began to inhale air wildly.


    "What the heck is wrong with you? You almost killed me," said Hammya as she breathed in and out wildly.


    "I''m sorry," then Clementina took Hammya''s arm and pulled her closer to her. "Look there, it''s Mr. Candado," whispered Clementina.


    "Is he crying? Yes, he''s crying, but why?"


    "I have no idea, but it''s better that Nelson takes care of this matter."


    After saying that, Hammya and Clementina watched the touching scene. Hammya patted Candado on the head and back as he shed all the tears he had held back for two months. But after a few long minutes, Candado broke away from Nelson and wiped the remaining tears from his eyes with his hands. The fabric of his glove was a better option since he had run out of handkerchiefs.


    "Feeling better now?"


    "Yes, sorry for making a scene."


    "No, it''s okay. Crying is a common thing in a man''s life," said Hammya.


    Candado quickly turned around, and Hammya was behind him, just inches away. Candado looked at her, but his expression wasn''t as hostile as it used to be. Instead, his demeanor softened, and instead of responding aggressively, he said:


    "Well, obviously, but I almost forgot what it felt like to feel sad."


    Candado''s response surprised Hammya. She expected a more negative reaction from him, but instead, he seemed to be reflecting on his emotional state.


    Candado got up from his seat and approached Clementina.


    "Yes? Do you need something?" she asked.


    "Do you have Grivna with you?" Candado asked.


    "Yes, of course," Clementina reached into the pocket of her vest and took out the tiny Grivna, then placed it in Candado''s hands.


    "Oh, it''s Goliat. How''s my great enemy?" Candado asked, with a somewhat sarcastic tone.


    "I''m not your enemy. I just want you to tell me one thing, just that," said Candado.


    "Well, I don''t think it''ll hurt. After all, it''s just a question."


    "Then tell me. How much longer until this plane lands?" Hammya asked.


    "What bad luck," Candado replied.


    "Why?" Hammya asked.


    "I was planning on throwing you out of the plane," Candado said, completely calmly.


    Candado''s response left Hammya horrified.


    "What!?"


    "It''s your lucky day. What a nuisance," Candado said as he placed Grivna back into Clementina''s hand.


    "Was that a joke, right?" asked a concerned Hammya.


    Candado completely ignored the question and instead turned around and said while clapping:


    "All right, ladies and gentlemen, get ready to land."

 WELCOME TO KANGHAR

    The plane landed promptly according to Grivna''s calculations. A radiant sun illuminated the exterior, and Hammya felt relieved knowing they had touched ground. The plane''s door opened, and as it did, Hammya was astonished to see the imposing gates of W.O.G.A.B. They were solid iron, with the image of a lion on each gate, their profiles symmetrically repeated. Two enormous pillars flanked the entrance, and tall walls surrounded the area, with only a few scattered trees nearby.


    "This is strange. There are guards at the gates. It seems like the administration has changed a lot during my absence in the last few months," Hammya commented, observing the guards.


    "Shall we disembark or not?" she asked impatiently.


    "Yes, Emerald," Candado responded with determination, addressing everyone. "GET OFF THE SHIP!"


    Once Candado gave the order, everyone descended from the plane and approached the majestic gates.


    "Look, my dear Emerald, behold ''the pillars of victory.'' It''s the most glorious and respected symbol among all the guild members," Candado explained, addressing Hammya.


    Candado approached the gate and knocked twice. In response, two cameras emerged from the ground, focusing on the attendees before hiding again.


    "Mole cameras instead of human security? Seems like a joke," Candado frowned. "I believe W.O.G.A.B. has changed a lot."


    After a few minutes of expectant waiting, the huge gates slowly opened, and the grandeur of the W.O.G.A.B. headquarters was revealed to the newcomers. It was a building of imposing whiteness, with the organization''s flags waving on every balcony, all bearing the characteristic emblem of the white lion. At its main entrance, an immense sculpture of Harambee, carved in white marble, gazed at the horizon in traditional attire, holding a spear over fifteen meters high. The statue was surrounded by a lush garden of red flowers that enhanced the grandeur of the ensemble.


    The main building housed a spacious balcony, where leaders gathered to deliver their speeches. There, the flags of the countries composing the organization, including Germany, France, Kenya, Paraguay, Iran, China, Argentina, Cuba, Venezuela, and Japan, fluttered. The gardens and lawns were impeccably maintained, surrounded by towering trees. An elegant stone-paved walkway led to seats and tables of the same material, while European-style fountains added a touch of serenity and elegance to the atmosphere.


    The surroundings were teeming with people from all over the world, dressed in everything from formal attire to traditional and modern clothing. In this vast territory, spanning over two hundred kilometers in length, all languages were spoken, making it a place of unique cultural diversity. To distinguish themselves from the rest of the world, the Semaphore wore distinctive uniforms: they dressed in white with a red stripe crossing from their left shoulder to their right hip, and they wore a band on their right arm with the three colors surrounded by a snake. On some occasions, they wore hats of the same style.


    The islanders moved tranquilly through the place, many of them carrying books under their arms. In a red-painted building known as the Red School, people were taught to control and perfect their powers, both those who possessed them and those who did not. Personal defense and combat techniques were also taught. Additionally, a wide range of people could be found, from elderly individuals to young adults, serving roles such as teachers, guards, engineers, councilors, representatives, and former representatives of the organization. Throughout the area, individuals could be seen showcasing their supernatural abilities for entertainment or practicing combat techniques in outdoor training sessions. It was common to see people walking with their pets, whether dogs, cats, or birds of all kinds. Numerous squares adorned the landscape, many of them with fountains at their center, but the most prominent was the "Plaza of the Big Brothers," which housed huge trees, beautiful fountains, and resting areas.


    Hammya, overwhelmed by the spectacle around her, couldn''t help but be impressed.


    "Look, my dear Emerald, welcome to the United Federation of Enclosed Trade Communities," Candado said proudly.


    "Wow, it''s truly beautiful!" exclaimed Hammya, marveling at the sight.


    "And you haven''t seen the rest of the town yet," Clementina remarked, adding to Hammya''s excitement.


    "All right, let''s continue. I still have pending matters to attend to."


    Candado strode to the central plaza of the place, where the imposing sculpture in honor of Harambee stood tall. He approached the fountain, where thousands of coins rested in its depths. Retrieving a one peso coin from his pocket, he closed his eyes and murmured reverently.


    "Lady Harambee, I have returned to fulfill my duty as a guild member."


    With a swift motion, he tossed the coin into the water. As he turned around, he noticed a fist approaching at great speed. With his superhuman reflexes and speed, Candado stopped the punch with his open hand.


    "What are you doing, Jacqueline?" Candado inquired with his usual cold expression.


    "Oh, Cadenas, comment tu vas? ?a faisait longtemps," Jacqueline replied with her distinctive French accent and a mischievous smile on her face.


    Jacqueline: with long, blonde hair, wore white leggings with black boots, a white shirt under a red waistcoat, a blue tailcoat, a white scarf knotted at the neck, a black beret, and fine white gloves. She struggled to speak in Spanish, and her French accent was unmistakable. She was known for her carefree attitude and ability to surprise people, except for Candado, whom she welcomed in her own way. She affectionately called her friend "Cadena" (a translation of Candado into French).


    Power: Jacqueline had control over water and ice, and her vocal cords were resilient, capable of emitting a scream that could decompose anything or stun her enemies. Additionally, she had the ability to fly and transform into an owl.


    Skill: She was a master at getting on people''s nerves.


    "Yes, I''m fine. And I''d be even better if you withdrew that cursed hand," Candado responded, his expression cold and unperturbed.


    Jacqueline immediately complied and lowered her fist with a playful smile on her face.


    "I see your reflexes have improved, Cadenas."


    "I see your Spanish has improved, although my name is Candado, not Cadenas."


    "That''s how it''s said in French," Jacqueline replied with a playful smile.


    "I don''t care, I prefer you to call me by my name in Spanish, not in your language," Candado asserted.


    "Whatever you say, Candado," Jacqueline accepted, albeit with some difficulty in pronunciation.


    "All right, Jacqueline, let me introduce you to my friends, Hammya and Nelson."


    "Oh, it seems Hector couldn''t come, right? Since you brought a fairy with you," Jacqueline commented with some surprise.


    "Yes, for now," Candado replied.


    Hammya extended her hand and greeted warmly:


    "Greetings and nice to meet you."


    "And the old man?" Jacqueline asked.


    "He''s a tourist. After all, he was also vice president of the W.O.G.A.B. years ago," Candado explained.


    "Oh, welcome to our organization," Jacqueline greeted.


    Nelson commented appreciatively:


    "Wow, it''s been a long time since I''ve been here. This place has changed a lot."


    "Yes, it''s an honor to have a veteran like you in our organization," Jacqueline said.


    "I like that young people nowadays are interested in this kind of thing," Nelson added.


    At that moment, someone shouted:


    "WOW! LOOKS LIKE THEY''VE ARRIVED!"


    Candado turned to see a familiar face approaching.


    "Oh, look, here comes Alejandra, the Nazi."


    "Ich werde den Sch?del zerst?ren," declared Alejandra as she pressed her forehead against Candado''s.


    Alejandra: had long, curly red hair, wore black pants, a long-sleeved red shirt, a white wool coat, and a black vest with a yellow ribbon. She was known for her bad temper, and few people tolerated her behavior because they feared her, but Candado was never intimidated by someone like her. Occasionally, they argued with each other. Like Jacqueline, when she spoke Spanish, her German accent was noticeable.


    Power: Brute strength and lightning.


    Skill: Instilling fear in her enemies.


    "Ich will sehen, wie du es versuchst, Idiot," replied Candado with a cold expression.


    "All right, enough from both of you, please," Jacqueline intervened, separating them with her hands in between.


    "Alejandra, good to see you," greeted Clementina.


    "I''m glad to see you too, although it would have been amazing if only you had come and not him," Alejandra replied with some sarcasm.


    "You wish, girl."


    "I''m going to destroy you and that ridiculous beret you''re wearing."


    "Come on, I''m right here waiting for you."


    Candado ignited both fists with his violet flame and lunged towards Alejandra, but Jacqueline intervened, grabbing him by the chest, and Clementina held Alejandra back to prevent her from getting closer to Candado.


    "Please, stop it, you''ll be sanctioned again, Cadenas," Jacqueline urged while trying to restrain Candado.


    "Filthy rat," Alejandra insulted.


    "Please, don''t provoke," pleaded Clementina.


    "Damn..."


    "ENOUGH!" shouted Nelson.


    At that moment, they both ceased the fight and stopped. The old man commanded respect from Alejandra, and Candado knew that if he didn''t stop, he would be sanctioned again and wouldn''t have his help.


    Jacqueline released Candado, and as she wiped the sweat from her forehead, she said:


    "Apologize to the lady, Cadenas."


    Candado didn''t refuse to obey Jacqueline and adjusted his beret and tie before apologizing sincerely:


    "My apologies for saying that. As I was the one who started it, I humbly ask for your forgiveness."


    "Ah, then I''ll accept them," replied Alejandra.


    "How about we start over?" proposed Candado, extending his hand. "Hello, Alejandra, it''s been a long time."


    "Hallo, sch?n dich wieder zu sehen," replied Alejandra.


    "Yeah, uh, nice to see you too."


    "Shall we talk inside? After all, Yuuta has wanted to talk to you," suggested Jacqueline.


    "Is that so? Then let''s go, wouldn''t want to keep a suspicious face waiting."


    With those words, Candado and his companions decided to enter the building. The interior was extremely spacious, with wide corridors and over ten stories high. An immense silence pervaded the place, and all conversations were carried out in hushed tones. At the entrance of the building, majestic sculptures of the first seven presidents of the W.O.G.A.B. stood tall: Jack Barret, Rosa Vel¨¢zquez, Alex Bernstein, Shen Jun-Li, Iv¨¢n Crusoe, Chizuru Aikawa, and, in the center, Ndereba Harambee holding his spear. Candado approached the sculpture of his great-grandfather and touched the plaque bearing his name and life dates: "Jack Gervasio del coraz¨®n de Le¨®n Barret (1902¡ª2005)." With reverence, Candado removed his beret and bowed his head.


    "I''m here to honor our family and our homeland. I hope you''re proud of me."


    He then replaced the beret and headed towards the stairs, catching up with his friends, who hadn''t even noticed him when he stopped in front of the statue. However, Candado paid it no mind, and they continued towards a hallway leading to a huge door. Candado opened the door with a punch from his right fist, which caused a loud noise, drawing the attention of those inside, as they knew he was the only one capable of opening that door in that way. In the room were seven people, clearly the presidents of the organization. The room was spacious, with large windows and a glass door leading to the balcony from where speeches were made. On one of the walls hung portraits of all the presidents who had preceded them.


    "Candado, your loyal comrade, has returned."


    Candado''s words prompted his companions to rush to embrace him (except for Yuuta). They hadn''t seen each other for months, and although he allowed the hugs, Candado showed no happiness or nostalgia on his face, maintaining his impassive expression.


    "I''m glad to see you all too."


    After a while, they all stepped back. Candado straightened his clothes and looked at Yuuta, who was sitting with his arms crossed, smiling.


    "Nankinjo, welcome to the W.O.G.A.B."


    "Save me that welcome, Yuuta."


    Then, Candado proceeded to shake hands with his comrades. First, he approached Armando Castro.


    Armando was a man with black hair, brown skin, and brown eyes. He wore military clothing from his country, with a green cap, and rarely rolled up his military shirt sleeves. He had a deep admiration for Che Guevara and Fidel Castro, which was reflected in his choice of attire. He was the only one wearing the leader''s insignia on his waist. Armando considered Candado as a brother.


    Powers: No record, Candado never saw him fight.


    Abilities: He is skilled in the art of healing, curing his friends with elements he carries in his backpack.


    "Welcome, friend."


    "Thank you, Armando."


    Next, Candado greeted Aurora Solari, whom he shook hands with. Aurora had short black hair, tan skin, and beautiful gray eyes. She wore a dark blue skirt that reached her knees, white stockings, black shoes, a white shirt with a blue ribbon, and a dark blue wool vest. She was a kind person who rarely showed anger towards others, being generally understanding. However, when it came to defending her country and her president, Hugo Ch¨¢vez, she transformed into a fierce warrior. Aurora got along very well with Candado.


    Power: She can transform her arms into swords and can throw minerals as projectiles from her hands.


    Abilities: She is very good at deciphering codes.


    "Hello, comrade."


    Solari gave him a hug and said:


    "I missed you, beret boy."


    Candado pulled away and patted her head. Then he headed towards the third member, Ra¨²l Rojas, who turned out to be a distant cousin of Candado.


    Ra¨²l had short black hair, always well-groomed, a mole on his left cheek, green eyes, and tan skin. He dressed very formally, like a 15th-century businessman, and wore glasses due to his poor eyesight. He was an orderly person and extremely cultured; his colleagues often turned to him for solutions to difficult problems. Many times, even Candado sought his help.


    Power: Armed with a notebook and a pencil, he can draw and bring them into the physical world, using a power identical to Candado''s, which is white fire and white tattoos.


    Ability: None in particular, he is good at everything.


    "Candado, it''s good to have you back in the work laurels."


    "I''m glad to be back, Ra¨²l."


    Candado shook hands with his left hand, while igniting his hand with violet flame, and Ra¨²l did the same with his right hand, but his flame was white. When their hands collided, the flames separated from each other.


    "Welcome, Candado."


    "Thank you."


    Then, Candado looked and greeted the fourth member of the group, who happened to be the direct descendant of Ndereba Harambee: Morani Kirinyaga Harambee. Candado approached him and extended a hand.


    "Hello, it''s an honor to work with you again."


    Kirinyaga: He had short, white, well-groomed hair, a descendant of Harambee, and wore traditional clothes from his village. He was a very good person, trying to carry everything he could with his title of leader and representative. He was the most understanding and affectionate person in the group.


    Power: He handles the ancient magic of his ancestors.


    Ability: He is very good at the Bauk¨²ru language (a language used to elaborate attacks).


    "The same here, Mr. Kufuli."


    "It would be nice if you speak by my name in Spanish, if it''s not too much trouble."


    "I like to call you that, it''s an honor to call you Kufuli."


    Candado then turned and saw Banu Fereshteh, a nervous young woman who couldn''t stay still for a moment. She was constantly moving, like a bottle that had been shaken several times. It wasn''t clear whether her nervousness was due to stress or excitement. Candado approached her, took off his beret, and extended his hand.


    "Long time, friend."


    Banu, called by everyone (except Candado and Jacqueline) by her last name Fereshteh, was treated like a princess by everyone despite coming from a humble family and without any noble title. She wore her hijab, partially concealing her face and leaving her light gray eyes and nose visible. She wore modern clothes, although she still used her traditional clothes. Candado and Jacqueline were the only ones who could see her true face, with black hair and tan skin. She was a person who had no interest in harming others with her power, even those who were evil, as it was not in her nature. She often got nervous in meetings or when interacting with other people in general, and to avoid stuttering due to her shyness, she sat next to Candado and played with a yellow ball.


    "Hello, it''s a pleasure to have you back."


    Banu placed her hand on Candado''s palm, who bowed and kissed the girl''s palm.


    "I''ve come back, Banu. I hope to play with you again, madame," he said tenderly.


    Despite her nervousness, Banu responded in Persian:


    "?? ???????? ???????? ?????? ???? ???? ???" (I''m glad, I want to play again, lock).


    Candado smiled and gently patted her head, responding in Persian:


    "???? ??? ??? ??? ????? ???" (Yes, it will be enjoyable.)


    Banu, relieved, showed a timid smile and said:


    "Really?"


    "Of course, we''ll play this afternoon," said Candado, trying to show a friendly smile. "It will be fun to bring back those memories from the past."


    Then, Candado put on his beret and approached the fifth person he was going to greet, Yen Shaoran. Shaoran had black hair tied up with a small bell as a bun. He wore a red shirt with tight black pants and white shoes. He was known for his maturity and intelligence in matters related to the W.O.G.A.B., to the extent that many thought he was in charge of the organization.


    As for his abilities, Shaoran had the ability to create illusions of any kind, control fire, and deliver powerful blows. His specific abilities were unknown.


    Candado welcomed him with a warm smile.


    "Hello, Shaoran, it''s a pleasure to see you again."


    Shaoran nodded, indicating that Candado''s words were appreciated.


    "Thank you, Candado. If you ever need anything, don''t hesitate to tell me."


    Candado nodded gratefully.


    "Of course, it would be an honor."


    Then, Candado turned his attention to Yuuta, the person with whom he didn''t maintain a good relationship. Despite their enmity, both concealed their mutual disdain. No one knew why they didn''t get along well, although it was a well-known fact in the W.O.G.A.B. Candado adjusted his beret and approached the table where Yuuta was sitting without getting up. Yuuta looked him in the eyes while holding a cup with a cross of Jesus Christ. Candado ignored the symbol and focused on Yuuta. He extended his hand towards him.


    Yuuta had black hair and wore traditional clothes due to his upbringing in a temple. His eyes were an unusual red color, inherited from his family. Despite the differences with Candado, Yuuta respected him, and vice versa. Yuuta was one year older than the others present and was the same height as Candado. He was considered a sage in the W.O.G.A.B., and although his differences with Candado were notable, they respected each other.


    As for his abilities, Yuuta had control over the air and was an expert in logic games.


    Candado extended his hand towards Yuuta with a serious expression, ready to talk.


    "Well, well, I never thought I''d see you again, Nankinjo."


    "Ha, you''re lying, otherwise I wouldn''t be here."


    "Well, now that you''re back, I need your help."


    "I''ll need your help too," he looked around, "everyone''s help."


    "What do you need from us, brother?" Armando asked.


    "Please, sit down in your seats, and I''ll tell you everything."


    Everyone took their seats. Clementina, Hammya, and Nelson sat on benches in the room, while Candado remained standing to recount everything he had lived and seen in recent months. He spoke about the murder cases, both among the guilds and in the circuits. He told them about the Witnesses and their attack on the Traffic Lights, and he recounted about the deranged Desza and his revenge against the guilds.


    "That''s my story." Everyone fell silent, trying to process what they had just heard.


    They couldn''t believe it.


    After almost fifty years of his disappearance, he had returned.


    "Impossible," Armando murmured aloud.


    "That''s my story."


    Everyone fell silent, trying to assimilate what they had heard. What Candado was narrating seemed like something out of a nightmare, and the gravity of the situation was evident. Decades had passed since Candado had joined the organization, and they knew he wouldn''t return just to tell an invented story.


    "Impossible," Armando muttered aloud.


    "Well?" Candado asked. "Will you help me?"This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    Yuuta stood up and looked Candado in the eyes before responding.


    "I''m afraid not."


    Candado''s pupils dilated, briefly showing a violet hue.


    "How? Didn''t you hear what I just said?"


    "I''ve done it, and I''m sorry, but I''m not going to help you," Yuuta said.


    "Yuuta, why?" Armando asked. "This is serious."


    "Yes, it is, but only for Argentina. It''s not a global problem."


    "What are you saying!?" Candado shouted.


    "I''m saying it''s just a minor issue."


    "Minor? Are those victims a minor problem?"


    "Nankinjo, I know you''re angry, and you have every right to be, but the answer is no."


    "Why?" Jacqueline asked.


    "You see, the Witnesses are a plague that has been eradicated, along with their knowledge, so they are just usurpers, nothing more."


    "Usurpers or not, they have attacked the Traffic Lights, and they need to be captured before they harm more people, or worse."


    Candado was completely outraged by what Yuuta had said. His teeth clenched in anger, and unleashing all his fury, he said, "How dare you? Didn''t you hear me? They took the scroll containing Harambee''s dialect. If they were to decipher it..."


    "They still need the spear, so it doesn''t matter. They will never make it here."


    "What makes you think they won''t do the same with the W.O.G.A.B.?"


    "It''s pure logic. It''s the culmination of our efforts. Something like that will never happen here."


    "Our problem is no longer just the circuits, but now it''s the Witnesses. Realize, Yuuta, this is no longer about them."


    "Candado, your ideas of making peace with them led you to lie to us like this."


    Candado''s anger was palpable, but before he could respond, an unexpected shout resonated in the room, leaving everyone surprised. Hammya, with a furrowed brow and clenched fists, had risen from her chair.


    "CANDADO IS NOT A LIAR!"


    The surprise was evident on everyone''s face, including Candado''s. Clementina and Nelson also stood up, backing Hammya. Tension filled the meeting room.


    The discussion between Candado and Yuuta was reaching a critical point, and the group seemed to be divided on the best way to address the threat of the Witnesses. Candado was determined to protect the organization and Harambee''s spear, and he was not willing to let anyone jeopardize his legacy.


    "It''s true, the kid would never do that," Nelson said.


    "He would never lie about something like this," Clementina concluded.


    But Hammya walked up to Candado and continued.


    "We were there, me, Clementina, Nelson, and Candado. We saw what those lunatics did to those people. We know because we lived it and fought by their side. I saw Candado himself fighting against that crazy man who started it all, so it''s not a lie."


    "Regardless of whether it''s true or not, it''s a problem for Argentina only."


    "Listen to me, Candado is trying to prevent more innocent people from dying, while you complain from that comfortable seat. Aren''t you ashamed? Candado is just trying to get you to lend your help, and you refuse to give it."


    "I don''t know who you are or what you are, but I''m in charge here."


    "That''s not true. Candado explained everything to me. You''re not the only one in charge; there are ten others with the same power. You''re just an employee of the nine who nominated you. The other countries are starting to vote for who should be the supreme president, and it''s not you. You''re only temporary until Candado could return."


    "You, miss, are a commoner. Candado, where did that respect go?"


    "Commoner? You are the common one, and don''t involve him. Candado only asked for your help, from what I saw, he never came off as arrogant and demanded your position from you. Quite the opposite, he only asked for your assistance, and you are rejecting it."


    "You don''t have to meddle in this."


    "If they mess with Candado, they mess with me. I won''t allow someone like you to call him a liar."


    "I refuse to accept being treated like this by you, after all, it''s only your problem."


    "They plan to bring back Thanatos. I think that''s a serious problem," Ra¨²l said.


    "No, it''s not, because they need Harambee''s spear, and they will never have it."


    "Yuuta, I suggest listening to Candado and mobilizing all the guilds to catch these people."


    "Jacqueline, you always defend Candado. I think it''s time for you to think for yourself."


    "I do. Candado is always right about everything. Just because a mistake was made and someone got hurt doesn''t make him someone to be distrusted."


    "I don''t think that''s reason enough for someone like him."


    "What are you implying?" Shaoran asked.


    "Nothing, I just don''t think a group of eleven people can be a threat to us. They won''t last long; sooner or later, they will be captured."


    "Harambee once said, ''Never underestimate your enemy, even if they are small.'' Does that ring a bell?" Alejandra asked.


    "Yes, but there are always exceptions."


    "This has gone too far. Candado would never dare to ask for our help if it were a minor problem," Solari said.


    "No, because it''s not our problem. Think for a moment. Mobilizing all the guilds in the world to catch a small group of Witnesses is quite foolish. Our problem is the Circuit."


    "If it''s a problem for Argentina, it''s a problem for everyone. We are part of the W.O.G.A.B., and we don''t deny help to a brother. We always help, even if it''s a minor problem. Let''s not forget that Candado has helped us a lot when he was in charge. I, in particular, feel indebted to Candado, and if I had the chance to help him, I would do so without hesitation. If you are not going to lend him your help, then my country and I will," Banu Fereshteh said, surprising everyone with her clear defense of a position.


    "Banu is right. I still owe him a debt, and you have Venezuela on your side."


    "France will have your back, and the great Jacqueline will cover for her friend."


    "Cuba and the revolution deserve to share their help with you, Candado Barret. You will have my support."


    "China will capture anyone who tries to harm you or your homeland."


    "Kenya will defend its allies. You have my support. You''re my cousin, Candado. I would never allow harm to come to my family. My guilds and I will help you."


    "I don''t like you, but if I let you fall, I won''t be a guild member anymore. Enemy or not, you are part of the guilds. Germany is on your side, and so am I, of course".


    Everyone stood up and placed their hands on their chest badges. Yuuta looked frustrated; he couldn''t believe Candado still had such strong support at that moment. Honestly, he thought he would be the new leader everyone wanted and respected. With no other options, Yuuta stood up and looked Candado in the eyes.


    "You win, Nankinjo. I''ll lend you my help, but I still think it''s madness to mobilize the guilds for the capture of these people we don''t even know."


    Candado smiled and reached behind him.


    "Clementina, please give me the form."


    She took out some documents with a clip from a backpack and handed them to Candado. He opened them and took out the photos of the Testigos members, then slid them into the hands of his comrades.


    "These are the enemies we need to hunt down. I''m sure it won''t be a challenge for you, right, Yuuta?"


    Yuuta, taking one of the photos, said, "Of course not. It will be child''s play," he added with a smile.


    Candado smiled and reached his hands behind him.


    "Clementina, please give me the form."


    She took out some documents with a clip from a backpack and handed them to Candado. He opened them and took out the photos of the Testigos members, then slid them into the hands of his comrades.


    "These are the enemies we need to hunt down. I''m sure it won''t be a challenge for you, right, Yuuta?"


    Yuuta, taking one of the photos, said:


    "Of course not. It will be child''s play," he added with a smile.


    "Consider it done, Candado. My team will cover all of Argentina and be on high alert. I won''t rest until we catch them."


    "Thank you, Jacqueline. Anyway, I''m glad you''ve accepted my request."


    "I have a question for you, Candado."


    "Yes, what is it?"


    "Who is that devilish lady with green hair?"


    Candado put his hand on Hammya''s shoulder and said:


    "Her name is Hammya Saillim, and she''s my vice president."


    Hammya was surprised by what she had just heard, so much so that she couldn''t contradict him. Clementina and Jacqueline exchanged mischievous smiles at Candado''s words.


    "Wow, you sure picked the right person, Candado. You finally made your choice," Armando said.


    "You''re amazing, Hammya. Very few people can speak like you did," Banu expressed.


    "Well, I hope you''re okay, Candado," Solari said ironically.


    "Okay, please, keep quiet."


    Yuuta stood up, took a judge''s gavel, and said:


    "From now on, the assistance to catch the Testigos in Argentina has been declared legal for one year."


    Having said these words, Yuuta was about to hit the table with the gavel, but just before touching the table, Ra¨²l put his hand in place, preventing Yuuta from doing so.


    "Anything you''d like to add, fellow Ra¨²l?"


    "Yes, I suggest that the hunt be indefinite, please."


    "Does anyone agree with fellow Ra¨²l?"


    Everyone raised their hands, and with an indifferent gesture, Yuuta struck the table twice.


    "Done, legalized. You can now spread the word to others."


    After saying that, everyone stood up to congratulate the brave Hammya. Never before, apart from Candado, had she been confronted in that way. While everyone surrounded her to bombard her with questions about the issue and about herself, Yuuta scratched his cheek and left the room for the balcony to get some fresh air. Candado, noticing this, broke away from Hammya and decided to follow him. He opened the door and closed it behind him.


    "What do you want, Nankinjo?"


    "Nothing, I just came to talk."


    "Talk?"


    "Yes, talk," Candado adjusted his tie and continued, "I want to apologize for the way I acted."


    "No, I should apologize. I''m not good at being a leader, even if half the world treats me like the son of a traitor."


    "You''re different from your father. I know you can clear the dishonor you''ve been carrying in your family."


    "Ah, don''t remind me. I wish I could be the direct descendant of my great-grandmother. Instead, Ivan Crusoe decided to marry her, and because of that, Chizuru''s brother took her place," he sighed and continued, "I''m known as the mestizo, and worst of all, the son of a traitor. I don''t even have the power you have as a leader. I can''t achieve it, and it seems I never will."


    "Well, Yuuta, I think you should change that way of thinking. You''re not your father. You''re a person with a unique perspective."


    "Ah, I wonder how it would be if someone like you were in my situation."


    Candado leaned on the balcony railing and said:


    "Yuuta, your father expelled my mother from the W.O.G.A.B. because she wanted to investigate the truth about the GreenBlood. As a result, she was expelled by her own friends and the people she had sworn to protect."


    "I..."


    "However, she didn''t give up and continued investigating from the shadows, with the help of France, Paraguay, Venezuela, and Cuba. Thanks to them, my mother knew the truth, and the corrupt guild was expelled once and for all. I believe you should keep fighting too, but not to clear your past, but to secure a future. The past helps us not to make the same mistakes. That''s my advice from me to you," then Candado straightened up, walked to the door, and continued, "It''s your decision to change your threads of destiny, so be wise in the answer," Candado said as he left the place.


    Yuuta was very pensive after hearing what Candado had told him. He thought about what he could do, and inside he felt grateful that Candado had helped him out of his confusion. When Candado left, Yuuta looked at the sky and let out a smile.


    "He''s quite good at this. I think Candado would be good in the role of leader."


    When Candado left the balcony, he saw that Hammya was praised and loved for her green hair. Candado couldn''t help but release a satisfied smile at seeing how quickly she had been accepted. He felt happy with himself knowing that Hammya had started to make new friends. Candado decided to leave the office without his friends noticing his absence. In the room, they were so busy talking to Hammya that they hadn''t noticed his absence. Nelson and Clementina were chatting about topics that weren''t important to Candado, so he decided to leave the agency and explore the place. After all, he wanted to visit the places he hadn''t seen in months.


    First, he decided to go to the main square, where the grand sculpture of Harambee stood. The trees were tall, and the flowers were beautiful; it was a clean and beautiful place, with fresh air. Candado felt nostalgic with every step he took. Until he noticed a small sky-blue stone. Surprised, he took his hands out of his pockets and ran to the spot with all his strength. He reached the stone and knelt down to move it. Underneath it, he found a small hole covered in sand. Candado took out his hunting knife and began to dig until he hit something hard. He put his knife aside and continued digging with his hands until he could see the object: a small wooden chest painted and adorned with gemstones. Fortunately, Candado was able to open it easily without having to break it. Inside were two letters, written under the pseudonyms "El gaucho" and "La inspectora." One letter was from him, and the other was from her. It was at that moment that Candado remembered the day they both wrote them.


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    Back then, Candado was nine years old, and his sister was eighteen. He remembered that she had told him that those who wrote their greatest wishes and buried them under that tree with a sky-blue stone saw those wishes come true. Candado first took his letter, opened it, and read it.


    Candado Ernest Barret, June 5th, 2010:


    My deepest dream is for Gabriela to recover from her terrible illness. She''s a good person, and I pray that God helps me save her. When she''s recovered, I''d like to take a trip to Misiones to see the waterfalls again with her, like we used to.


    Candado crumpled the letter in immense anger.


    "It wasn''t true, just a fantasy. Not even something like this could save her."


    Then he calmed down a bit and focused his attention on the next letter. He took it carefully, opened it, and read it.


    Gabriela Esperanza Barret, June 5th, 2010:


    My wish is for my brother, Candado Barret, to be happy, as well as my family and friends, and never have to suffer again. Although I know this illness will end up killing me, I know that Candado will end up hating himself because of me. Maybe this is my last letter, but I want him to always be happy and joyful, never to suffer because of me. I''m proud of him, and I want one last wish: I want to see my brother''s 10th birthday. I just want you to give me enough strength to survive five more months to say goodbye to him properly and wish him happiness. Candado, I love you very much, you''re the best brother I''ve ever had.


    The words of the letter began to hurt him. It was a great pain. However, like that time on the plane, he couldn''t bear the pain anymore. She knew she would die, and yet she only asked for him to be happy and joyful, never to feel responsible for her death. She really was a good person. Candado couldn''t tolerate the emotion; once again, she showed kindness toward someone like him. Then the tears appeared in his eyes again.


    Then Hammya arrived, who had been looking for him around the place, and among a small crowd that was walking, she managed to see Candado from the side, sitting under a tree and holding a letter, which she could visualize but not read. Still, she ran to meet him. As she approached, she could see that, on the visible part of his face, a tear was falling from that cold and serious face he had while holding the letter with such force that he ended up crumpling the paper. However, Hammya decided to approach and put her hand on his shoulder.


    "Are you okay?"


    Candado didn''t respond; he just stayed still as he looked at the letter he held, not feeling Hammya''s hand on his rigid shoulder, while tears continued to fall.


    "Candado? Answer," Hammya said as she shook his shoulder.


    "Hello, emerald. I see you''ve made new friends around here," Candado said disinterestedly.


    "Candado, why are you crying?"


    "I remembered something I did a long time ago," he then showed his usual expression, "a wish capsule," Candado said as he composed himself.


    "She must have been a very good person," Hammya said as she sat next to Candado.


    "Yes, she was a person with a great heart, even with that terrible curse cast upon her, and I couldn''t protect her. I''m a lousy person. Not even my parents care about me. Sometimes I think they never wanted a son like me. She must have had the powers of the violet blood, not me. She should have been the leader of the W.O.G.A.B., not me. My existence in this world is..."


    Hammya hugged Candado, preventing him from saying anything else bad about himself.


    "Hey, calm down, don''t keep saying those things about yourself," she said, then she let go of him and took him by the shoulders. "I didn''t know your sister, but I know she wouldn''t be happy if she heard you say something like that."


    "I know, but my parents don''t show their love for me. When she left, I was alone and I hated my parents that day, but I forgave them and moved on on my own, alone and without help."


    "Candado, your friends were always by your side, Clementina told me. You were never alone."


    "But I would have liked my parents to be with me."


    Hammya hugged Candado again and managed to calm the bitterness he was suffering.


    "Why do you do this? A while ago I wanted to kick you off the plane and now you''re here, why?"


    "Candado, I''m your friend and your vice president, so I would never leave you alone."


    "I appreciate your help."


    Candado put his sister''s letter in his pocket, put the other one in the chest, buried it, and stood up. Then he extended his hand and helped Hammya to her feet.


    "Well, it''s time to go in, right?"


    "Of course."


    "Too bad, it''s nice to be outside."


    "Hammya."


    "Yes? What''s up?"


    "Thanks for helping me, Hammya."


    "Don''t worry about it, you can always count on me."


    Candado softened his expression and said,


    "I also want to thank you for helping me that day when Desza was going to kill me. You showed up and helped me. Then you worried about my wound and healed it. Now you''ve helped me, and all that without me asking for help. You''ve always helped me, thank you."


    With these words, Candado hugged Hammya, and for the first time showed a genuine smile to her, without cynicism or deceit. Although Hammya was very embarrassed that he had hugged her, she was able to relax when she saw that Candado had smiled for her.


    "Well, it''s time to go back inside with the others."


    "Why? If we''re outside, Nankinjo."


    At that moment, they both turned and saw their teammates: Yuuta, Jacqueline, Alejandra, Ra¨²l, Armando, Kirinyaga, Banu, Solari, Shaoran, Clementina, and Nelson.


    "Hey guys, what are you doing here?"


    "You see, Chains, when we saw that Hammya went to look for her love, we decided to follow her."


    "It''s not my love," said Hammya, blushing.


    "I see your tongue is still sharp, Jacqueline."


    "Do you think so? The truth is, I hadn''t noticed."


    "I hope you haven''t made Miss Hammya cry."


    "Do I look like a chauvinist, Clementina?"


    "No, of course not."


    "Then?"


    "Just to remind him, nothing else."


    "Candado, I think you made a promise to a lady, am I wrong?"


    "What are you implying, Armando?"


    "Kid, you made a promise to Fereshteh, you said you were going to play with her."


    "Right." Candado walked over to Banu and took her hand. "Come on, it''s time to have some fun."


    Candado led Banu to a red field, with pillars at the four corners near the square where the statue of Harambee stood, and let out a very loud whistle. Then, he looked at Yuuta and raised his hand. Understanding what he meant, Yuuta took out two rattles from his pockets and tossed them to Candado. He caught them in the air and tied one to his left arm, and with the second one, he tied it to Banu, but on her right shoulder.


    "Ready?"


    "Yes, you''ll see I''ve been practicing a lot."


    Candado patted Banu''s head and gave a crooked smile. Then, they both separated twenty paces from each other.


    As they moved away, the others approached and took their seats to enjoy the show.


    "All right, who are you betting on?" Yuuta asked.


    "Me? Let''s see... I got it, Candado," said Armando.


    "Then I support Fereshteh," said Solari.


    "I bet on both," said Ra¨²l as he read a book.


    "Interesting, I bet on Chains."


    "What are we betting?" asked Hammya.


    "Nothing, it''s just a saying, we don''t have coins," said Alejandra.


    "What?"


    "It''s simple, the root of all human crises is money, but if this nation doesn''t have that, then there''s no crisis, inflation, devaluation, etc.," said Jacqueline.


    "So we pay with material goods," said Shaoran.


    "Wow," Hammya was surprised.


    "I''m rooting for Fereshteh," said Kirinyaga.


    "I think I''ll bet on my young patron," said Clementina.


    "I heard you!" Candado shouted.


    Nelson and Hammya looked at each other for what she had said. As they bet on their favorites, more and more people approached to see what was going on, and before they knew it, it was already a large crowd. Candado and Banu, who were in the field, looked around, and the crowd began to cheer and celebrate.


    "Oh, my, we sure are flashy."


    Banu smiled at Candado''s remark.


    "I''m sorry, Banu, I dragged you into this unintentionally."


    "No, it''s fine, it will help me lose my fear of the public."


    "Anyway," Candado got into position, "Let''s put on a show."


    After saying this, they both remained silent and still, reading each other''s situation and waiting for the moment to begin the fight. The crowd, on the other hand, was only shouting and murmuring among themselves.


    Candado and Banu stared at each other for a brief moment. He watched her closely, looking for any false move on her part. Although Banu was very intelligent, she covered all the possible vulnerabilities that could help Candado. However, Candado rushed towards her, running with his fac¨®n in hand. Banu was about to attack him with her powers when suddenly Candado disappeared from the sight of the public, leaving everyone surprised except Banu, who quickly turned around and threw sand from her hands.


    Candado reappeared and avoided the sand, then he approached Banu''s rattle. In response, Banu turned into sand and disintegrated. Candado stopped and jumped into the air, avoiding touching the sand on the ground. Then, Banu emerged from the ground and took shape again, while her eyes began to glow blue.


    "Not bad, girl," said Candado as he sheathed his fac¨®n.


    "Thanks, you''re not bad yourself."


    Candado smiled and lunged again towards Banu. When he was close to her, the sand on the ground violently approached him to stop him, but Candado jumped and propelled himself with his left hand to fly towards her. Banu threw her sand at him in the air, but Candado ignited his hands with violet flame and struck the sand forcefully. Then he landed on the ground and tried to grab Banu''s rattle, but she didn''t allow it and grabbed Candado''s hand, which was ablaze with flame, and threw him away from her. Candado landed on his feet and prepared for the next attack.


    When he looked up, Banu was no longer there. Calmly, Candado began to search around until he felt someone behind him. Instinctively, he threw a violet-colored sphere backwards, but Banu intercepted it with her shield of sand, completely nullifying Candado''s attack. Although he was surprised by Banu''s quick reaction, Candado approached her. Before he could reach her, Banu raised a wall of sand in front of her, and Candado found himself on the other side.


    He punched with his violet flame, his hand pierced the wall, but he couldn''t reach where Banu was. However, feeling that Candado had buried his fist in the wall, Banu hardened the sand, and Candado was trapped in the girl''s defense.


    "You shouldn''t have done that," Candado said with a smile and continued, "Is¨ª'' tumby! (violet light)."


    His hands ignited with more power, and a faint violet color could be seen in the cracks of the sand wall that trapped him. The wall exploded, and the sand scattered through the air and the ground. The battle continued. Up to that moment, Banu had only been defending herself, and now it was time to attack, something Candado knew. The audience was thrilled by Banu''s intelligence and Candado''s strength.


    "Well, it looks like we''ll be at it for a while."


    "Are you having fun, Banu?"


    "Yes, a lot. And you?"


    "Of course, but I think it''s time to get serious," said Candado as he adjusted his tie.


    "Yeah, I think that would be best," said Banu as she brushed the black strand of hair falling on her forehead.


    Meanwhile, in the stands, Clementina''s eyes made a noise that caught Hammya''s attention.


    "Oh, it seems Candado is going to fight seriously."


    "What?"


    "You''ll see, as Candado releases 18.6% of his power."


    "But those times, weren''t they serious?"


    "No, Miss Hammya, Candado didn''t even use 5% of his power."


    "That means he''s going to fight seriously," Nelson concluded.


    "But what about Banu?"


    "Banu is also smart, she only fought with 4.9% of her power, while Candado released, for this fight, 3% of his power."


    "There''s hardly any difference."


    "In battle, calculations are entirely random; many times, the one with the advantage ends up losing. I only give theoretical calculations," then she smiled, "This is going to be interesting."


    "I just hope they don''t get hurt."


    "Oh no, Hammya, I assure you that Candado and Banu won''t get hurt; both are trying to remove the rattle, not eliminate each other," then she smiled and looked at the rattle in her hand, "It reminds me of me; I''m eager to fight him again."


    Candado emitted a glow from his eyes, and their color changed from dark to completely violet. They weren''t fiery or anything, just pure violet. In addition, tattoos of the same color appeared on his face and his white gloves, which bore those strange symbols, also shone in that characteristic color.


    "You''re radiant, Candado."


    "Heh, I hope you''ll also show me your radiant attacks."


    "There''s no doubt about that."


    Candado''s flame extinguished, and in its place, he displayed an electric energy of the same color. He crossed his arms and ran towards her at an incredible speed; he could barely be seen. Banu, aware of his power, took refuge in her sand while Candado appeared and disappeared. However, he wasn''t landing any blows; he just kept appearing and disappearing in different locations. Banu was hidden behind a wall of sand and had to think about how to get out of there. She looked around through small holes that allowed her to see where Candado might be. The tension was very high for her, and she kept searching for a way out, even though he wasn''t striking her, and her physical performance was still up to par, it was very difficult for her to use the sand as a wall, especially if she had to harden it against possible blows from him.


    However, from desperation came the solution. Banu realized that while Candado''s movements were unpredictable, there was always one that wasn''t. Taking advantage of this, Banu released a kind of sandy arm and struck in the air. Candado stopped it with both hands and stretched it forcefully. Banu did her best to hold it back until it pierced the sand and lunged towards him. But Candado, knowing very well what was about to happen, snapped his fingers and said.


    "Asin¨®h (Dog)."


    Out of nowhere, two dogs appeared; they were as large as wolves and of a different color, organic. Their fur was violet, their eyes were solidly green, with sharp pointed teeth that constantly emitted a violet flame from their bodies. They were terrifying to the sight of any human. The crowd in the stands was horrified and surprised to see those fearsome creatures. Banu didn''t know what to do, the appearance of those beasts scared her so much that she stopped halfway. When she reacted, the dogs jumped on Banu, and she, trying to avoid them, transformed into sand and disappeared again. Candado leaned down and struck the ground very hard, creating a small crater and a moment of tremor in the stands.


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    "What tremendous strength!" exclaimed Hammya.


    The battle continued, and it seemed that Candado''s tactic had paid off. Banu emerged from the ground and transformed back into her normal form. However, she was also ready to show her potential. She created a sandstorm to obscure Candado''s vision and summoned earth dolls, dressed in Persian empire attire, to fight against the beasts. But Candado surprised everyone with his reaction. He adjusted his beret and charged into the sandstorm with his eyes closed, using his ears to track Banu. Finally, he reached her and grabbed her arms, preventing her from using more power with the sand covering her. Candado was completely dirty and full of sand, but he couldn''t hold on much longer.


    The audience couldn''t see what was happening as the sand blocked their view. The energy Banu generated kept growing, and Candado perceived it clearly.


    "I think I''ll call an end to this game," said Candado.


    "Oh no, not yet, I still have plenty to give," Banu replied.


    Banu tried to remove the rattle from Candado''s arm, taking advantage of his immobility and blindness. Every time she heard the noise of Banu''s rattle, Candado knew where she was going to strike. He attempted to get closer to her time and time again, but Candado was cunning. When he felt his earth dolls approaching, he called his dogs with a whistle only they could hear.


    And as the dogs pounced on Banu, distracting her, Candado seized the opportunity to free himself from the quicksand and prepare to take Banu by surprise. The dogs leaped onto her and disappeared into the air. At that moment, a loud noise erupted, but the raised sand obscured the audience''s view, and no one could see what was happening.


    The people in the stands were anxious to know who had won, and Jacqueline expressed her frustration by shouting, "DAMN! WHO COULD HAVE WON!?"


    When the sand finally dispersed, it revealed Candado kneeling, covered in mud, with his violet tattoos and flames gone. On the other hand, Banu was sitting, her hijab nearly destroyed, revealing part of her left cheek and lip.


    Candado had something in his fist; he opened it and revealed Banu''s rattle in his possession. Then he turned and showed it to Banu with a cold expression. Banu slowly opened her eyes, smiled, and displayed Candado''s rattle held between her index finger and thumb.


    Candado was astonished and wondered when he had lost it. He found the answer when he remembered when Banu struck him in the chest with her palm, although at that moment he thought she was trying to push him, she was actually momentarily stopping him and waiting for the opportunity to snatch the rattle.


    "Banu, you''re good," admitted Candado. "You waited for me to get close to take my rattle. How cunning!"


    "TIE! How boring!" said Armando.


    Banu smiled and collapsed, but before hitting the ground, Candado caught her. The last thing she could see before losing consciousness was the proud face of her master and friend, Candado.


    The stands erupted in cheers, applauding their presidents. Their friends hurried to help Candado to his feet while carrying Banu on a stretcher. Candado held her hand and, with a smile, said:


    "Congratulations, you''re very good."


    Banu, exhausted, could barely speak:


    "You... are the best... Candado."


    Nelson lifted Candado up and held him high in the air, celebrating. The crowd chanted the names of Candado and Banu. Candado, in his characteristic cool style, raised his hands and exclaimed:


    "My brothers and sisters, this victory belongs to both countries!"


    After the fight, Banu recovered and changed her hijab, switching from black to white. Candado was cleaned up with Clementina''s fan hands and perfumed with cologne borrowed from Jacqueline. Hammya simply gave him water. Everyone else returned to their activities, leaving the presidents alone, as it was time for Candado to go home.


    Shaoran commented:


    "So, are you leaving already?"


    Candado replied:


    "Yes, Shaoran, but I''ll be back, don''t worry."


    Banu added:


    "It was fun playing with you again, Candado."


    Candado stroked Banu''s head and said:


    "Likewise, Banu. You''ve made great progress, girl."


    Banu asked hopefully:


    "You won''t stop teaching me, will you?"


    Candado assured her:


    "Of course not, I''ll keep teaching you."


    Shaoran added:


    "Come back soon, Cadenas."


    Candado replied:


    "Yes, I will. Goodbye, comrades."


    Everyone bid farewell to Candado, and the airplane door closed behind him. Once inside, Candado borrowed Nelson''s cell phone and called Hector. After about five minutes, Hector answered:


    "Hello?"


    Candado conveyed:


    "Hello, Hector. I just wanted to tell you two things, okay?"


    Hector replied:


    "Sure, what are they?"


    Candado said:


    "The first is that they agreed to help me."


    Hector asked excitedly:


    "Really? That''s awesome! And the second?"


    Candado responded with a somewhat annoyed tone:


    "You win. Hammya will be my new vice president. She has shown me that she has what it takes for the position."


    Hector exclaimed excitedly:


    "Really? GREAT! I mean, I''m really happy. I knew you''d choose her."


    When he hung up the phone, Candado handed the device to Nelson. On the other end of the line, Hector was jumping for joy while holding Viki in his arms.


    "What''s going on? Why are you so happy?"


    "I won the bet, thank goodness, never betting again in my life, I swear."


    While Hector celebrated his victory, Candado sat down in one of the chairs and leaned back, feeling relaxed, then Hammya came and sat beside him.


    "Oh, it''s you, kid."


    "I see you''re still the same as always."


    "Of course, but I''ve decided to make a small change."


    "What change will you make?"


    "I''ll keep my promise to you; I''m going to stop treating you like vermin."


    "Did you?"


    "You''re a fool."


    "But you said that..."


    "Starting tomorrow."


    "Ah, you always play dirty."


    "Ha, that''s what I call, Gaucha cleverness."


    The conversations between Hammya and Candado stretched on for about an hour. Often, the girl would talk about topics that didn''t interest him, and on more than one occasion, Candado would drop hints in the form of jokes. It was entertaining to watch how Hammya tried to decipher what he was saying. Finally, when the conversations ceased, both fell asleep.


    Clementina, who was absorbed in her reading, looked up and noticed that the two had fallen asleep. However, there was an unusual scene between them: Hammya leaned on Candado''s shoulder, and their hands touched indirectly. During sleep, Candado''s face reflected seriousness, while Hammya''s showed a smile and relaxation.


    Clementina drew Nelson''s attention, who was absorbed in reading a newspaper.


    "What do you think, sir?"


    "Oh, it seems she''s in love with him, her behavior is identical to Andrea''s."


    Clementina commented:


    "Wow, I''d like to play a prank on them, but just seeing them asleep like that, I''m overwhelmed by a sense of tenderness."


    "We should take a picture of them, my dear," Nelson suggested.


    Clementina pulled out her camera from her backpack and captured that endearing moment.


    "The young master, or rather Mr. Candado, carries a wound in his heart. However, I''m sure Miss Hammya will heal it with the love she feels for him."


    The old man smiled and remembered his childhood with Alfred and with Andrea, recalling a very similar situation, two young people holding hands sleeping in a seat.

 PAIN

    Hammya awoke in a strange room, where she saw Tinbari watching a girl sitting on a bed in a gown, watching TV. The girl turned and smiled, it was Gabriela. Hammya thought that smile was for her, but quickly realized it wasn''t; behind her, someone walked through her, it was Candado and her parents.


    "Gabi, how are you?" Europa asked as she opened the door.


    "Sitting, XD," Gabriela replied.


    Candado was the first to reach her, not only that, but he also climbed onto the bed and hugged Gabriela.


    "Oh, Candadito," she began to console him.


    He started to cry. "Hey, hey, it''s okay."


    Europa and Arturo approached. "We were worried when we heard you suddenly passed out."


    Gabriela began to rub Candado''s back as she hugged him. "It''s okay, I''m fine, I''m fine."


    "You''re in a hospital, how can you be fine?" Europa commented.


    Gabriela smiled. "You''re very clever."


    "We talked to your doctor, he said you were very ill and now you''re stable, but what caused it?"


    "Mom, please, not now," then she extended her free arm, "I just want a hug now."


    Arturo and Europa proceeded to hug her. "Ahhhhh, so delightful," Gabriela enjoyed. Arturo laughed. "How''s my Karen?"


    "With the grandparents," Europa replied.


    Hammya smiled. "I see, I did it again."


    Then she looked at Tinbari, who was still leaning against the wall. "That''s right."


    "!!?"


    "I noticed this time it was you; no wonder I felt something strange all day."


    "Why am I here?"


    "Shouldn''t you know that? You''re the one here, darling."


    "And you, what are you doing here?"


    "Just reminiscing, I come here when I''m somewhat bored," then she looked at Hammya and gave a creepy smile, "After all, I''m a demon satyr."


    Hammya felt disgusted. "Why is this happening?"


    "The reason Candado hates planes is that he has nightmares on them, as well as painful memories."


    "Is this a nightmare?"


    "Worse, a memory."


    "Memory?"


    "And a very painful one."


    The room suddenly changed and became dark, with only the dim illumination of a lamp beside the bed. The family, Europa, and Arturo, fell asleep in their seats. While Gabriela and Candado, being on the bed, chatted.


    "Today, what did you do at school?"


    "Oh, many things. Matlotsky kept bothering Declan until he hit him with his pencil case. The teacher gave me an outstanding grade in mathematics, incredible, isn''t it? And also..."


    Gabriela smiled as she caressed Candado''s back.


    "...I think there was also a moment at recess when Anzor mispronounced the word ''gun,'' and everyone laughed, but I told them to apologize to him. And also, in the third recess, Esteban apologized to me for misinterpreting the ''bullying'' from others that he had caused."


    Candado looked at Gabriela.


    "What''s wrong? Are you sleeping?"


    "No, I''m listening to you. Tell me, what else?"


    Candado smiled and continued speaking.


    "Also..."


    Hammya approached the bed and looked at Gabriela; suddenly, the clock in the room began to accelerate until it stopped at 4:00 a.m. Candado had fallen asleep.


    "Seven minutes," Tinbari said aloud.


    Hammya turned and looked at him, but he gestured for her to look at them and not at him.


    "Candado, are you sleeping?"


    "..."


    "Candadito."


    Gabriela made an effort to try to move, but she couldn''t, she just looked at her parents.


    "I love you," she said trembling.


    Then she hugged Candado, who was deeply asleep, and began to stroke both his back and head.


    "Your sister loves you very much, you... don''t know how much she adores you, but it wasn''t always like that. I envied you before you were born; mom didn''t pay attention to me anymore, and I even threw a tantrum at my dad. It was then that Grandpa talked to me about the role I had been given, that of an older sister."


    Then she kissed him on the head.


    "When you were born, I hated you, because because of you someone left forever, someone I loved, not only did they distance themselves from me and others, but they also took their memories with them, and only a few who still remembered remained."This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    Gabriela began to cry, and her hand trembled.


    "But when mommy placed you in my arms, and you looked at me, ''how cute!'' was the first word I said. How could I hate this little thing? Your tiny hands touched my face, I cried when a beautiful little creature smiled at me."


    Gabriela contained her tears.


    "I''m afraid, I''m afraid of dying, I''m afraid of disappearing and nobody remembering me, I don''t want to die."


    Tears started to well up in Hammya''s eyes.


    "Forgive me, Canda, I''m not strong or brave, you are. Not only that, but you''re also my strength."


    "Four minutes," Tinbari said.


    As Hammya was about to turn.


    "Don''t look at me."


    Hammya obeyed and continued watching.


    "But I''m not alone, I''m with you and with mom and dad."


    Gabriela smiled with tears in her eyes.


    "Even if I die, I''ll be with you. I know that when you wake up, it will hurt, it will hurt a lot for you and for our parents, but you have to be strong."


    Gabriela''s eyes felt heavy, she could barely keep them open, and she was even struggling not to fall asleep.


    "But you have to be strong. Even if they say the world is crap and it''s always been that way, it''s not. We can change it."


    Gabriela''s breathing started to slow alarmingly.


    "Now... you''re going to be... a big brother, you''ll have to take care of... Karen, you''re a man... I''m sure you''ll be a ladies'' man."


    Gabriela kissed Candado''s forehead and pulled him close to her chest.


    "I''m very tired... dad... mom, be strong for me... and for my Candado."


    "One minute."


    Hammya, with tears in her eyes, got angry and looked at Tinbari, but her anger quickly faded when she saw him; he had his hand covering his eyes, while a sea of tears overflowed from his eyes.


    "I told you not to look at me."


    Hammya turned and looked at Gabriela.


    "When you''re old and your time... comes... I want you to tell me... more stories, I still have a lot to say... I want to see you grow... I want to see you laugh... I want to see you cry... I don''t want to miss that."


    Gabriela''s eyes were closing.


    "I''m sorry I can''t be by your side..."


    "Gabi."


    "!"


    Suddenly, Candado spoke; surely she had woken him up when she was talking, but that wasn''t the case. Candado was talking in his sleep, he was probably dreaming about her.


    "I love you so much," then she laughed, "to infinity and beyond."


    Then, unconsciously, he hugged Gabriela. This caused her to smile and cry even more.


    "I too... hic... I too... hic... I love you too."


    Gabriela hugged Candado and slowly stopped moving, breathing, and above all, living.


    Hammya covered her mouth as she cried. However, the clock started moving again until it was 6:01 a.m.


    Candado woke up and felt something cold in his hands, it was his sister''s hands.


    "Gabi," then he yawned, "Gabi, wake up, it''s time to go home."


    Hammya looked at the innocent and cheerful Candado.


    "Come on, up... are you cold? But you have a blanket. By Isidro, they should have turned off that air conditioning, you''re too cold."


    Candado tried to move her.


    "What''s wrong?"


    Hammya started crying.


    "Gabi? Are you sleeping?"


    Candado started shaking his sister.


    "Tell me you''re sleeping, yes, that''s it, you must be sleeping, please, wake up. Holding your breath for too long is not good."


    Tears welled up in Candado''s face.


    "Dad!"


    Candado''s parents woke up.


    "Gabi wake up, Dad, Mom! Gabi won''t wake up."


    Europa jumped out of her chair and ran to Gabriela.


    "I''ll call the doctor," Arturo said as he ran down the hallway shouting for a doctor.


    "Daughter, daughter, wake up," Europa said.


    "Gabi wake up," Candado said, crying.


    Suddenly, everything changed, the room changed to a funeral home.


    "What? Tinbari?"


    Hammya was alone in that room, figuratively speaking, as there were many people around Gabriela''s open casket. Everyone was devastated.


    Suddenly, footsteps were heard behind her, it was Tinbari and Candado, both from the same time as Hammya. This caused her to quickly hide when she saw the "older Candado" enter to meet his other self, two years younger.


    "Gabi, open your eyes, please wake up," cried the 10-year-old Candado.


    "I see, it''s happening again."


    "This must show some of your extinct humanity," Tinbari said mockingly.


    Candado sighed.


    "Speak quickly, why am I seeing this? After all, when I wake up, I''ll forget all of this."


    "Oh, how cruel."


    "I''m going to kick you."


    Hammya hid behind some curtains and observed.


    "Well, the fact that I''m here annoys me, but since I''m going to forget it anyway, it wouldn''t matter to praise you or be your servant," he said with a twisted smile.


    "Heh, wouldn''t be bad."


    "But why a wake?"


    "It''s a memory of yours, not mine. Figure that out for yourself."


    "It was rhetorical."


    Candado sighed.


    "What do you want?"


    "I want to know, what did you feel when you saw a dead person for the first time?"


    Candado opened his mouth.


    "By first time, I mean experiencing death and being aware of it."


    Candado closed his mouth.


    "Clever, huh?" Tinbari mocked.


    Candado looked at his sister''s coffin being hugged by his ten-year-old self.


    "Pain."


    "I see, what else?"


    "Do I have to say it?"


    "It''s necessary not to repress certain emotions like anger and sadness, especially in your current condition. Once you release them here, you''ll feel much better when you wake up. Crying is a feeling that must be released in order to move forward."


    Candado scratched his neck and continued.


    "It''s true that it wasn''t the first time I saw a dead person. When my great-grandfather died, I went to see him, but I felt nothing when I saw him. I felt somewhat guilty for not crying that day; I wasn''t close enough to him to release a bond of grief with him, compared to what my grandparents Alfred and Andrea, as well as my parents, felt."


    "I understand."


    "I knew that death is the end of the life of any living being, but I never worried about it. Because I felt that I and those around me would live forever, but it wasn''t like that. When I received the news that my sister wouldn''t live long and that the ''professionals'' said we had to pray for her, I wanted to laugh at a doctor asking me to pray. How foolish, it''s as if science acknowledges religion."


    "What else?"


    "Mom and dad were very worried. In contrast, I was escaping from reality. I didn''t want to face that side, because in my head, I fooled myself into thinking that everything would be fine, that there was nothing to worry about, that this would just be a bad memory."


    Candado paused; it was obvious he was about to cry.


    "But it wasn''t like that. It was much worse. Reality hit me hard. When I saw Gabriela on that bed, lifeless, I had hope that she would open her eyes again and come back home."


    Candado opened his mouth to take a breath and relax.


    "But when I saw my loved one in that coffin, I immediately understood that I was wrong. My hopes were shattered by reality, as if saying ''Hey, look, this is how it is and nothing will change it.'' Tears came when I saw her with her eyes closed. She looked like she was sleeping, she was made up, dressed in her best clothes. She was flirtatious, as if she were going somewhere."


    Candado''s voice broke.


    "Even if I kicked and screamed, she wouldn''t move. And when her coffin closed, I knew immediately: I would never see her again, I would never hear her voice again, I would never see her smile, get angry, or cry again. It was goodbye, it was the end. Never again, I would never hear her again."


    "There''s no one here, just me. You can let it out now. I won''t say anything or mock them. You''ll forget all of this once you wake up. Now, let it out."


    Candado''s shoulders started to shake. He looked at the coffin and began to cry silently. Hammya couldn''t see Candado''s crying, she only saw his large and firm back, but she shared his pain. Tinbari approached and placed his hand around Candado''s waist.


    "Cry, cry, let it all out."


    Candado woke up from the dream. He was still on the plane. The lights were off, his window was open, and he could see the stars, and even his eyes were teary.


    "Damn," he whispered, "what happened?"


    Then he looked ahead and saw Nelson snoring and Clementina''s seat empty.


    "Ouch, my neck," Candado complained.


    He tried to move his hand, but something was preventing him. He looked to his right and saw Hammya holding his hand while crying. Candado sighed, took a tissue from his pocket, and carefully began to wipe his eyes.


    "Wow, you must be going through a hard time, huh?"


    Then he withdrew his hand from hers.


    "Great, that''s better."


    But as soon as he did that, Hammya started to toss and turn, gasping for air, and even crying. This led Candado to take her hands back, which eventually calmed Hammya down. And not only that, Hammya grabbed his hand again as before.


    "Just for today," then he looked out the window, "I really hate airplanes."

 FUGITIVES

    After Candado enlisted the help of his comrades from the W.O.G.A.B., the presidents called for a meeting of nations to address the issue of Witnesses or Fugitives. Fortunately, 90% of the Bernstein organization''s representatives agreed to collaborate in capturing the killers, while the remaining 10% refused to assist someone like Candado. From that day on, all countries in Latin America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Oceania mobilized worldwide in search of the fugitives, whose faces and names appeared on Wanted posters.


    Candado''s companions tirelessly searched the outskirts of the town. He felt they were very close and that perhaps more than once they had crossed paths right in front of their noses, like ordinary people. The search continued, but there were no traces of those individuals until, on April 10, they attacked a guild in the city of Villa ¨¢ngela, specifically the guild of the Yacar¨¦. Fortunately, there were no injuries or deaths.


    Upon learning that the fugitives were responsible for this attack, Candado issued an order to the Semaphores to control the borders of Chaco. However, every time Candado made a decision, initiated a measure, or followed a lead on their whereabouts, everything disappeared without a trace. It was as if Desza was playing with Candado, seeking the pleasure of punishing him instead of pursuing fortune.


    Nearly three months after the events at the tricolor agency, Desza and his team found refuge in their secret underground headquarters, a peculiar vehicle that moved through the depths of cities, a gift from their benefactors Greg and Pullbarey. This time, their transport was parked under an abandoned house, now for rent, and for the first time, they decided to go out to enjoy some fresh air. To achieve this, they dug a hole in the freshly cleaned garden.


    However, Desza ordered them to bring gasoline for the transport, which was running out of fuel. Joel and Dockly ventured into the darkness of the night to obtain the necessary fuel. Meanwhile, the others anxiously awaited their return to continue their journey.


    Surveillance was in charge of J?rgen and Desza, who occupied a large and comfortable room with a big fluffy red armchair, as well as a grand piano. J?rgen sat down and began to play one of Mozart''s melodies, while Desza reclined casually in the armchair.


    As the hours passed, the team decided to take a break in the house: exploring the place, resting, eating, whatever was necessary. While everyone engaged in their activities, Desza, observing the functional clock on the wall, noticed that both hands pointed to midnight. Upon realizing this, a smile spread across his face, and he said:


    "J?rgen, tell me, do you know what day it is today?"


    "No, sir, I don''t," he responded, playing the piano.


    Desza chuckled.


    "Today is the anniversary of our escape from those incompetent guild members."


    J?rgen paused and continued.


    "Wow, time flies, sir. We would throw a party for this anniversary if we weren''t being hunted halfway around the world. It would be a very good party."


    "Relax, we''ll have a moment and a place to celebrate."


    "Sir, do you think it''s a good idea to work for those two? I don''t trust them."


    "Don''t worry. Pullbarey and the old man Greg have helped us, so there''s nothing to worry about."


    J?rgen turned to him and looked.


    "How can you trust a complete stranger?" Desza got up from the armchair and looked at J?rgen.


    "My friend, anyone who hates Candado is a brother."


    "Sir, maybe they''re double agents."


    "Perhaps, but as long as I don''t suspect them, everything will be fine. Don''t worry, I would never do anything to harm them, J?rgen."


    "I feel doubt creeping in about you."


    "Don''t worry, my friend."


    "However, we are the most wanted people on the planet. How will we proceed? We hardly have any allies."


    "That, my dear friend, was already planned, and everything that''s happening is part of the plan."


    "What could that plan be?"


    Desza chuckled and approached J?rgen.


    "The overthrow of Esteban Bonaparte Everett."


    "That? It would be impossible."


    "Do you think so?"


    "Sir, unlike the guild members, the Circuitists have a tough stance. They won''t rest until they catch us, and moreover, they''re so resentful that they might even forge an alliance with the guilds to apprehend us."


    "Relax, it seems like not sleeping for three long years is affecting you."


    "What will we do when they come after us?"


    "That''s not going to happen. Esteban is hated by the Circuits because of his fraternization with the guilds; it''s morally frowned upon."


    "What will we gain from this?"


    "My brother, once we''ve overthrown Esteban, the Circuit will be under our feet, and we will be the leaders. With that power, we can finally put an end to the Guilds once and for all."


    "Will it work?"


    "Of course. If we manage to remove him from power, I''ll become their leader and command their forces to victory." Desza started to laugh wildly.


    "Do you doubt me so much?"


    "No."


    "Then leave it to me."


    Desza took his machete, cloaked himself in a black cape covering his head and mask.


    "Where are you heading, sir?"


    "I''m going to see Pullbarey and his servile old man."


    "I''ll accompany you."


    "Good, remember to conceal your face."


    J?rgen stood up and took a cloak identical to Desza''s and a classic mask of a sad golden face. Both of them left the house and walked through the dark streets of Resistencia. The presence of the guilds was noticeable in the streets, among them Krauser, dressed in a dark brown trench coat, dark gala trousers, black leather boots, and his hat hiding his featureless face. He roamed the streets with two of his companions, hands in pockets. Desza and J?rgen dodged them and took another path, attempting to advance through the rooftops of the houses, but Moneda, accompanied by Ruth and Carolina, was walking there. Not only them; the rooftops were littered with Semaphores with lanterns.


    "Why is there so much commotion?" J?rgen asked.


    Desza chuckled.


    "This is fun, I''d like to take them out," he said, pulling out his machete.


    As he did so, J?rgen placed his hand on his shoulder.


    "Hold on, sir, we still have important matters to attend to first."


    Desza showed disappointment on his face and sheathed his machete.


    "What a shame, maybe next time."


    At that moment, they heard hurried footsteps of several people. Desza and J?rgen hid behind a building under construction and watched as Krauser stormed past.


    "WHERE ARE THEY?!"


    "My brothers saw them near a gas station," Maidana said. Krauser grabbed him by the shoulders and yelled at him while partially revealing his sinister grin.


    "Where? Spit it out, Maidana."


    "They saw them at the YPF gas station nearby." Krauser let him go and turned around. "Leen, alert those patrolling in that area, I want the whole block searched." After saying that, Krauser and the others ran off in different directions.


    Once they were gone, Desza and J?rgen emerged from their hiding spot.


    "It seems our team is in danger."


    "What do we do, sir?"


    "We''ll go save their asses. I lost many recruits in that assault. I won''t let them be eliminated. I need Dockly''s keen eyes and Joel''s thieving skills."


    "Very well, let''s cut through and find them."


    Desza and J?rgen took a back alley and ran through it, keeping a distance from their captors. Along their route, they had to destroy the large light poles to distract the enemies. Once they headed towards the damaged lights to investigate what was happening, Desza and J?rgen took the opportunity to get further away.


    "What happened?" Krauser asked.


    "It looks like someone or something cut these poles," David said.


    Krauser ran his fingers over the cut area, then looked at his comrades.


    "Search this entire area, they''re close."


    Desza laughed at the situation. Despite almost being caught for such behavior, his machete could cut through anything, including steel. In these past few months, Desza was more hysterical than ever. Never in his life had his machete been stopped by anything, and since the last showdown with Candado, he had seen his machete get stuck in his rival''s bone. Since then, he sharpened it more often and used it to cut the toughest things he could find. This way, he would prove capable of beheading Candado.


    They wandered through all the streets of dark Resistencia and couldn''t find Dockly and Joel. But when all seemed lost, they could hear the sounds of a nearby fight.


    "Sir..."


    "Yes, I know," he interrupted.


    Desza drew his machete and gestured for J?rgen to follow him. Just around the corner, they could see Joel and Dockly fighting with five men (Maldonado, Caba?a, Frederick Fliipoff, Rozkiewicz, and Addel) who seemed to have them cornered. Joel was throwing his needles at Frederick and Caba?a, but they were very cunning and quick.


    "Vermin, losers," Frederick said as he vanished before their eyes.


    "Caba?a, attack them head-on, and I''ll cover their defense."


    "At your command." Caba?a ran towards him at an incredible speed and jumped towards Joel. Joel noticed and threw needles at him, but Caba?a skillfully ran through the air and caught his threads.


    "Neutralized." Addel and Frederick appeared behind him and attacked, but before they could reach Joel, Dockly covered his back and shot them with his golden Winchester rifle, causing them to dodge.


    "Thanks, old man."


    "Don''t mention it," Dockly said as he reloaded.


    "It''s playtime." Maldonado managed to disarm him with a kick.


    "Stop! You''re under arrest for being loyal to a forbidden organization of the Circuits."


    "I don''t give a damn."


    Then, Dockly drew a pistol from his belt and fired, but fortunately, Maldonado emerged unscathed. At that moment, J?rgen and Desza jumped into the scene to help their comrades.


    "You!" Rozkiewicz shouted.


    "I am Desza, the desecrator, and I salute your bravery in confronting me and my subordinates."


    At that moment, filled with anger and bitterness upon seeing again the face that was present at the massacre of his brothers, Rozkiewicz clenched his hands tightly and struck the Semaphore badge on his shoulder, letting out a yell.


    "ATTENTION ALL UNITS! DESZA IS HERE! DESZA IS HERE! COME QUICK!"


    The message reached all those patrolling the area, children, teenagers, and adults. Even Krauser heard it.


    "Desza, you bastard, I''ll make sure you never worry about tomorrow, because for you, there won''t be a tomorrow."


    With these words, Krauser ran to where his comrades were fighting. Meanwhile, Desza and his team sensed they would be cornered if they didn''t act soon.


    "What do we do, boss?" Dockly asked.


    "What? What do we do? Easy, I''m going to have a little fun with them. Being idle for the past three months was hell. You guys run and go meet up with Pullbarey."


    "No, sir, we''ll fight alongside you," J?rgen said.


    "Fine, do as you wish."


    Once the team decided to fight alongside their boss, they waited.


    Frederick was the first to attack; his strength was incredible, however, he couldn''t match Dockly''s quick fingers. Perched on the walls with special equipment, he attacked them with his weapons, shooting and reloading like a pro.


    "I''ll handle the big guy, you guys take care of them," Frederick said.


    Everyone nodded and went after the three at their feet. Caba?a charged at Joel, but he wasn''t going to fool him twice. He approached him, and they exchanged clean punches. Joel''s defense was magnificent; he blocked and returned blows, while Caba?a used his wit and speed to wear him down. However, speed was enough to severely injure him, leaving him almost out of the fight, but he kept on fighting.


    Addel went to attack J?rgen, who patiently waited for him to come alone. But as Addel appeared and disappeared from the spot, it made it impossible to attack someone like him. J?rgen used his speed to attack him, enclosing him within his swift whirlwind and striking.


    Rozkiewicz and Maldonado wanted Desza''s head, so they decided to cooperate to defeat him. Rozkiewicz had to reserve the use of his metamorphosis since the area wasn''t suitable, so he had to use his normal powers like quantum energy (things like portals and such). He would go through a wall and appear on the other side. Maldonado attacked him with his martial arts skills, defense, and attack. But it was futile; Desza was an expert. While swinging that dangerous machete, Rozkiewicz fought from afar and limited himself to attack him from close range, while Maldonado kicked and punched. Desza stopped him with his machete and his arms.


    Frederick, using his speed, attacked Dockly while he fired with a large Eagle that came out of his sleeve. He shot and shot, but Frederick zigzagged the bullets from the pistol. When he got close, he drew a sword and prepared to cut him in half. Dockly leaned and rolled quickly forward, then stood up and drew his Winchester again and started shooting at him, again. But Frederick jumped off the building and whistled, and from the darkness, stray dogs came and helped him to his feet. At that moment, Dockly ran towards him and saw some lights heading towards them.


    "No, it can''t be, they''re already here."


    Then, he turned and saw his comrades still fighting. While Rozkiewicz battled with his opponent, he could feel the energy of his reinforcements nearby and, with a smile, he struck Desza. Though they didn''t affect him, it caused him to move far enough away. Then, when he was far from him, he pulled a flare from his clothing and shot it into the sky. Dockly didn''t manage to shoot him to prevent him from doing so. Once the light illuminated the night sky, Krauser and the others hurried to arrive, especially him, who, using his tentacles, arrived faster due to the buildings and houses there. When he could visualize the person who had harmed him, he went with all his might and launched himself at him with indescribable rage. Though he had no face, fury marked the bones of his face, the eye sockets, and nose, which were almost visible.


    He landed in the middle of the field, interrupting the fight between Maldonado and Rozkiewicz against Desza. Then, he stood up and looked at that blond and well-groomed man.You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.


    "You''re going to pay for the deaths you caused with your life, you disgusting and repugnant human cockroach."


    Desza laughed at the insult from Krauser.


    "Well, Reinhold Krauser, I see you''re very formal for tonight. Do you have a date today?"


    "Yes, I have a date with your funeral."


    At that moment, he took a violin out of his back. Desza was totally surprised. He went at full speed towards him, but couldn''t. Krauser began to play his violin, paralyzing him and everyone around, including his friends.


    "Feel the anger of the fallen, damned bastards."


    "I think I underestimated these stupid creatures too much," Desza said as he tried to break free from that paralysis.


    Krauser took earmuffs from his pockets thanks to his tentacles and placed them on each of his friends. Once they had them on, they could move. And, with a prominent microphone, he said:


    "Listen, I want you to noqueen them, so we can take them away."


    Everyone agreed and decided to go after him, and when they were close enough, Desza smiled and reached, with difficulty, into his pocket. Then, he looked at them all and said.


    "It was very fun, but I have to go."


    Then, he took out a vial with a pink liquid and drank it. Afterward, for strange reasons, he could move ten times faster than before. He went to Krauser and embedded his machete in his chest, spitting blood onto Desza''s face as he maintained a smile. Then, he pushed him towards his companions and gave an order with his raised fist for them to follow him, while he ran and moved away from the place, with his lackeys following them, except for J?rgen, who was still fighting with Addel.


    Krauser lay on the ground spitting blood, while the others tried to stop the bleeding. Krauser stood up, pushing Rozkiewicz and Frederick.


    "Get out of my way, Desza is escaping."


    Then, he removed his trench coat, hat, and threw it to Caba?a.


    "You won''t escape so easily."


    Krauser''s wound closed as he emitted red smoke; not only that, his clothes also repaired themselves.


    "What do you plan to do?" Caba?a asked surprised.


    Krauser responded by showing his tentacles from his back, and without looking at him, he said.


    "I''ll go and do justice."


    After saying those words, Krauser began to go after him, rising into the sky with his tentacles and running, leaving holes in the ground.


    "What do we do now?" Maldonado asked.


    "I also have unfinished business with Desza, and I don''t intend to lose to him."


    "What about me?" Caba?a asked.


    "Call for reinforcements and tell them to search the entire city. If they''re here, it means their hideout is nearby."


    "At your command."


    Then, Caba?a went at full speed with his power to inform the others to patrol and search for their hideout, leaving Rozkiewicz and Maldonado alone.


    "What are you doing here, Borrador?" Maldonado rolled up his sleeves and said.


    "Desza joined the Circuits for a while, but then he abandoned us and rebuilt something that is forbidden. The issues he has with you are your problem. Desza has to pay for violating one of our laws."


    "What about the smoky one?"


    "He''ll be fine, he can take care of himself. I, on the other hand, have to catch him."


    After saying that, Maldonado took off running, following Krauser''s footsteps.


    "Then it will be a race," he said as he chased after him.


    When everyone left, on the roof of a building, J?rgen and Addel were fighting. Despite the latter having everything in his favor to win, his enemy was making it difficult for him. He couldn''t grab hold of him; J?rgen''s Metal powers somehow nullified his grip on him. But not only that, J?rgen was the first person who could hit him. It was the first time he had an opponent who made things difficult at every moment.


    "You''re good, for a Witness," Addel remarked.


    J?rgen, with a serious and cold expression, replied.


    "You''re the person Jane fought. She told me those powders would kill you; I see she was wrong."


    "Oh, I see you have a connection with them."


    "They''re my family," he said, then lunged at him and punched him in the face, while Addel covered himself with his arms.


    When it got tough, he lowered himself onto his chest and finished with a kick to the waist, pushing him to the right. Then, he transformed his left hand into a sword and ran towards him. Addel stood up, grabbed him by the neck, and slammed him into the ground, cracking it. J?rgen struck back with a kick to Addel''s chest, pushing him away. Then, he leaped and delivered thirty punches to Addel''s chest in just two seconds. He then grabbed Addel''s foot and spun him around, sending him crashing to the ground. However, his body evaporated as soon as it touched the ground. J?rgen landed on the ground and continued the fight. In the distance, he could see a group of people with flashlights moving away. J?rgen cut a lamppost with his left hand turned into a sword, picked it up, and hit Addel, but he didn''t manage to hurt him. Then, he jumped and cut the high-tension cables above his head, leaving the entire block in darkness. Taking advantage of the darkness, J?rgen gave it his all against Addel, but he could still fight. Not only that, he could see in the darkness.


    "Is that all you''ve got?" Addel asked as he stopped his blows.


    "No, not yet." In that moment, J?rgen''s eyes glowed blue, and not only that, small root-like fragments from his arms began to glow.


    J?rgen then began to give it his all. With his expressionless face, he started a whirlwind of punches. Addel, taking advantage of the situation, turned into a lump and flew through the air, only to become a kind of cloud that ended up enclosing and trapping him. J?rgen drilled into the ground and came out the other end. Then he turned around and kicked him in the face, causing him to fall to the ground.


    "I would like to finish this encounter, but I have to help my lord." Then, J?rgen started running through the air, leaving Addel lying on the ground, looking at his dirty hat beside him.


    "Wow, that''s strong, J?rgen Czacki," he smiled. "What a tough character."


    Then he started laughing as he stood up, took his hat, dusted it off, put it on his smokey white head, and said. "He''s strong, but I won''t give up." Then he jumped up and started following him.


    Meanwhile, Desza and the others were running and escaping from Krauser, who was hot on their heels.


    "We left J?rgen behind," said Joel.


    "Don''t worry, Czacki can take care of himself," said Dockly as he loaded his rifle.


    "He''s right, he''ll be fine," said Desza.


    Then, the lights began to go out, the path was invaded by total darkness. The streets were empty; there was not a soul in that place, other than them and their pursuers.


    "DESZAAAAAA!" Krauser shouted.


    "Oh no, that damn guy didn''t die."


    "Nothing kills him, my dear Joel," Desza said with a smile.


    "What do we do?" asked Dockly as he fired at their backs.


    "We have to lose them somehow and regroup with Pullbarey."


    Krauser''s footsteps felt closer and closer, to the point of being able to see his malevolent figure in the darkness. Dockly loaded his w¨ªnchester again and began to shoot at him, but the bullets didn''t harm him.


    After saying that, Maldonado took off running, following Krauser''s footsteps.


    "Then it will be a race," he said as he chased after him.


    When everyone left, on the roof of a building, J?rgen and Addel were fighting. Despite the latter having everything in his favor to win, his enemy was making it difficult for him. He couldn''t grab hold of him; J?rgen''s Metal powers somehow nullified his grip on him. But not only that, J?rgen was the first person who could hit him. It was the first time he had an opponent who made things difficult at every moment.


    "You''re good, for a Witness," Addel remarked.


    J?rgen, with a serious and cold expression, replied.


    "You''re the person Jane fought. She told me those powders would kill you; I see she was wrong."


    "Oh, I see you have a connection with them."


    "They''re my family," he said, then lunged at him and punched him in the face, while Addel covered himself with his arms.


    When it got tough, he lowered himself onto his chest and finished with a kick to the waist, pushing him to the right. Then, he transformed his left hand into a sword and ran towards him. Addel stood up, grabbed him by the neck, and slammed him into the ground, cracking it. J?rgen struck back with a kick to Addel''s chest, pushing him away. Then, he leaped and delivered thirty punches to Addel''s chest in just two seconds. He then grabbed Addel''s foot and spun him around, sending him crashing to the ground. However, his body evaporated as soon as it touched the ground. J?rgen landed on the ground and continued the fight. In the distance, he could see a group of people with flashlights moving away. J?rgen cut a lamppost with his left hand turned into a sword, picked it up, and hit Addel, but he didn''t manage to hurt him. Then, he jumped and cut the high-tension cables above his head, leaving the entire block in darkness. Taking advantage of the darkness, J?rgen gave it his all against Addel, but he could still fight. Not only that, he could see in the darkness.


    "Is that all you''ve got?" Addel asked as he stopped his blows.


    "No, not yet." In that moment, J?rgen''s eyes glowed blue, and not only that, small root-like fragments from his arms began to glow.


    J?rgen then began to give it his all. With his expressionless face, he started a whirlwind of punches. Addel, taking advantage of the situation, turned into a lump and flew through the air, only to become a kind of cloud that ended up enclosing and trapping him. J?rgen drilled into the ground and came out the other end. Then he turned around and kicked him in the face, causing him to fall to the ground.


    "I would like to finish this encounter, but I have to help my lord." Then, J?rgen started running through the air, leaving Addel lying on the ground, looking at his dirty hat beside him.


    "Wow, that''s strong, J?rgen Czacki," he smiled. "What a tough character."


    Then he started laughing as he stood up, took his hat, dusted it off, put it on his smokey white head, and said. "He''s strong, but I won''t give up." Then he jumped up and started following him.


    Meanwhile, Desza and the others were running and escaping from Krauser, who was hot on their heels.


    "We left J?rgen behind," said Joel.


    "Don''t worry, Czacki can take care of himself," said Dockly as he loaded his rifle.


    "He''s right, he''ll be fine," said Desza.


    Then, the lights began to go out, the path was invaded by total darkness. The streets were empty; there was not a soul in that place, other than them and their pursuers.


    "DESZAAAAAA!" Krauser shouted.


    "Oh no, that damn guy didn''t die."


    "Nothing kills him, my dear Joel," Desza said with a smile.


    "What do we do?" asked Dockly as he fired at their backs.


    "We have to lose them somehow and regroup with Pullbarey."


    Krauser''s footsteps felt closer and closer, to the point of being able to see his malevolent figure in the darkness. Dockly loaded his w¨ªnchester again and began to shoot at him, but the bullets didn''t harm him.


    "DESZA! IT''S TIME FOR YOU TO DIE!" Krauser shouted.


    Desza, laughing, retorted, "SORRY, BUT I PLAN TO LIVE A LONG TIME!"


    After that, he stopped, turned, and ran towards where Krauser was coming from, leaving Dockly and Joel confused. Desza, with his psychopathic laughter and his bloodied machete (a product of the wound he had inflicted on Krauser), dangerously sharp, ran towards Krauser''s tentacles, while Krauser disfigured his white face and turned it into a hideous, inhumanly large mouth, covering the entire face, showing sharp teeth with a long, black tongue, holes in the eye area, exposing dark eye sockets, peeling off the skin like when you stretch a fabric until it breaks, and with a horrifying scream. Dockly and Joel were terrified to see such a monster, but Desza showed no fear or hesitation as he approached that abominable creature. And when he was close enough, he began to cut Krauser''s tentacles, and noticing his plan, Krauser lowered and showed his monstrous face, starting the second battle between these two, Krauser''s rage against Desza''s psychopathic mind. Fighting until one of them lost their life.


    "What''s the matter, Krauser? Having a tantrum?" Desza taunted.


    "I''LL TEAR OFF YOUR SKIN AND EAT ALL YOUR ORGANS!" Krauser shouted with a terribly deformed and monstrous voice.


    Desza smiled and began to swing towards him with his machete. Krauser just dodged; the wound Desza had inflicted still hurt him, but that didn''t stop him from fighting, while Desza cut the tentacles that came close to him. Krauser was too furious to feel pain for the loss of his limbs. Until at one point, Desza jumped onto a parked car there and jumped towards him. But this time, he cut his head from side to side, as if it were a flower opening. This didn''t end his life; he was still alive, and as he hit Desza, he regenerated himself until both parts of his head were joined together again.


    "Do you think something like that will kill me?"


    "No, but I want to see how far you can regenerate."


    Krauser wrapped Desza with one of his tentacles around his waist and slammed him against a wall. His friends, horrified to see their powerful leader defeated, ran to help him. Dockly reloaded his weapon and shot him in the head, while Joel jumped throwing his needles at him.


    "FOOLS!" Krauser shouted.


    But before he could do anything against them, Desza shot out of the debris, bloodied and with a smile, he jumped towards him.


    "HE''S MINE!" Desza shouted.


    Then he began to make terrible cuts on his body, until he ended up cutting off one of his legs.


    "JOEL, DOCKLY! NOW!"


    When both heard their leader''s order, they ran with all their might. Then they flew through the air, to later attack him separately. Dockly shot him in the head with his rifle, while Joel tied him with his threads to the lamp posts nearby. But even so, Krauser, headless and tied up, continued fighting. He kicked Dockly in the chest, causing him to collide with a car and set off the alarm.


    Then, from the shadows, Rozkiewicz and Maldonado emerged.


    "The help has arrived," Maldonado said.


    Dockly aimed his rifle at them and started shooting. Desza took Joel''s hand and threw him onto the roof, and once there, he threw his threads to his companions. They grabbed them and began to climb the walls.


    "They''re escaping."


    "Forget about them, Maldonado, we have to help Krauser."


    Maldonado hesitated and looked both ways, but he decided to help Krauser. He cut the threads he was tied to, and fell into Rozkiewicz''s arms.


    "Mannequin, that was stupid, fighting without our help."


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    "Let me go, he''s getting away, go after him," Krauser said as his face recovered. You could see where he spoke, it looked as if he had two mouths, one to speak and the other to intimidate.


    "Damn, this hurts a lot," Krauser said as he returned his voice and face to normal.


    "Holy God, they''re probably already far away," he said as he put Krauser''s arm behind his neck.


    "What are you doing?"


    "We''re enemies, but I''m not one of those people who would abandon the enemy in their misery. The night is young, we still collaborate."


    "Imbeciles," Krauser said before losing consciousness.


    "Alright, alright, mannequin," he said as he patted him on the back. "We have to take him back to the agency. Thank goodness Joaqu¨ªn isn''t here, he''d probably rip my lungs out."


    "Where''s J?rgen?"


    "Relax, Dockly, he''ll be fine. He''s probably coming behind us at this moment, or maybe he''s already reunited with Pullbarey."


    "Does he know where it is?" Joel asked.


    "Oh, I forgot, better dismiss that last part."


    "I hope nothing happened to him," Joel said worriedly.


    At that moment, a strange figure was running through the air, with Joel being the only one who could see it since he was looking at the sky; Dockly and Desza hadn''t noticed yet.


    "THERE! LOOK!"


    Both looked up as they ran.


    "J?rgen Czacki''s triumphant entrance," Desza said with a proud smile.


    "SIR!" J?rgen shouted when he saw his comrades.


    And once he could distinguish them, he descended from the air to run alongside his comrades.


    "Where have you been?" Joel asked.


    "Worried?" he asked in a serious tone.


    "Come on, who''s going to worry about you?" Dockly made a face and laughed at what Joel said.


    "What? Do you have something to say?"


    "Turn off your engines already, we still have to get to the meeting place so save your disputes for later."


    "Sir, what''s the reason for going to that place?"


    "It''s simple, I want to gather some more information. The last time I saw him was when we handed over the Harambee documents."


    "I''d like to know what they''re up to."


    "Everything will be revealed in due time, J?rgen, so be patient."


    "I hope so, sir, I hope so."


    Although everything remained doubtful for J?rgen, he remained faithful to his friend. In fact, he was the only one he considered a friend, but he always had his doubts about how to continue on the path he had chosen; he already had blood on his hands, there was no turning back. He was aware that Desza was not a good person; in fact, his mental sanity was at an all-time low, however, he never abandoned him.


    The hours of the night passed, and every time they tried to escape from their captors, they ran into another line of Traffic Lights. With each step and each second, the numbers of their enemies grew, and so did the level of alertness in the streets. There was almost nowhere to run or hide. The activities of the Traffic Lights were scattered everywhere, but with their agility and impetuous silence, it made it much easier for them to evade them each time, although they had difficulties with one of them more than once, as some were too observant to fool. But things ended when they reached the outskirts of Resistance. In the depths of the forest, they found a mansion. Desza, armed with his machete, began to cut and cut until he found the entrance to the house. J?rgen knocked on the door, and it immediately opened, but there was no one inside, or so they thought, as they heard a voice identical to Desza''s, only deeper and more grating.


    "Please, come in, don''t be shy," said the mysterious voice. J?rgen and Dockly suspected about entering that house, but Desza and Joel decided to go in as if it were their own home.


    "Come on, don''t stay outside just because of your paranoia, come in." J?rgen and Dockly looked at each other; the latter shrugged and entered, while J?rgen followed him, still looking back. However, when his whole body entered the house, the door slammed shut with a loud noise.


    "I don''t like this place," J?rgen said as he looked at the door.


    "Stop complaining," Desza said mockingly.


    J?rgen moved away from the door and decided to follow the others. At first, they didn''t exactly know where to go. The place was so big that it was difficult to locate them. They opted to follow the only light coming from a room, heading towards it.


    Upon entering, they discovered a huge room with a large window, thousands and thousands of books around, a black carpeted floor, and a wooden ceiling. However, their attention was drawn to a boy with a metal mask, sitting in an elegant armchair, reading a book. He was accompanied by a well-dressed old man, in a suit and tie, a neatly trimmed mustache covering his lips, a scar on his forehead, and a stylish hairstyle.


    "Good evening, gentlemen," Pullbarey said without looking at them.


    Desza walked towards him, knelt down, closed his eyes, and with a smile said, "Greetings, sir."


    "Why are you in my house at this hour?"


    "Well, sir, I would like to know something. I couldn''t send you a letter or an email; I wanted to hear it from your own lips," then he opened his left eye, "if you have one."


    Pullbarey looked away from the book and stared at him.


    "Oh, you''re a very interesting human being."


    "And you''re a very interesting host," Desza said as he stood up.


    "What do you want to know?" Pullbarey asked as he closed his book.


    "You previously mentioned that you had enchanted Candado, correct?"


    "Correct, I did."


    "What is your specific hatred towards Candado?"


    Pullbarey brought his index finger to the mouth of the mask.


    "Interesting, I never thought you''d ask me this question. However, I want you to tell me yours first."


    "My hatred towards him is a result of him taking something very important from me, my powers."


    "Great, honestly, I didn''t know Candado had that ability, but as promised, I''ll tell you."


    Pullbarey gestured to Greg with his hand; understanding what he meant, Greg walked to the window and closed the curtains, then returned to his side.


    "Well, I''m not from this planet."


    "Are you kidding, right?" Dockly asked.


    "Silence, brat."


    Pullbarey looked at Greg and said, "Relax, it''s normal for beings like you to think that way," then he looked at Desza. "Have you never wondered? Why do you have powers? Or why are you capable of doing everything you do?"


    "Actually, everyone says it was because of that meteorite," J?rgen said.


    "But who brought it? Everyone fell silent upon hearing the question; there was no way to answer something like that."


    "Exactly, all living beings on this planet stuck with the idea that this stone gave them all the powers you have now."


    "Why did it come to Earth? Why us?" Dockly asked.


    "You?" Pullbarey laughed at the question, as if it were silly, and then continued. "No, it was an accident, in fact, that event should never have happened. You see, humans, I killed the leader of my planet and planned to end a resistance called Roob¨®leo, but luck was not on my side, and when they found out what was coming, they took the powers of the god Keplant and stored them in a ship, which they launched into space, to keep them away from me."


    "Why?" Joel asked.


    "I wanted to end the damn war on my planet, not to mention I wanted to avenge the Baris for what they did, but I was betrayed by the people I loved the most. So, I took care of them one by one. At this moment, while I''m talking, there''s a fierce war raging on my planet, I''m in my palace sleeping, but my mind is here, so if I die, my mind will be safe and can return to my original body."


    "Why did you come to this planet?" J?rgen asked.


    "I came here to reclaim what''s rightfully mine, but by the time I arrived, it was too late; the machine was destroyed, and the powers of the god Keplant fell into the hands of you. However, only one of the millions of humans inhabiting this small rock has the powers of the god Keplant. And that''s Candado. I came here to claim what''s rightfully mine."


    "Why do you want it?" Desza asked.


    "To eliminate my enemies from my planet and be the true master of my home; only I can help my people."


    Desza stood up and applauded. "Bravo, I love that kind of commitment, and I promise to help you get rid of that damn obstacle."


    "You''re a very peculiar human."


    "Tell me, you mentioned a Bari a while ago, what is that?" J?rgen asked.


    "They''re like me, only they''re harder to attack and pin down."


    "How many are there?" Joel asked.


    "Well, on my planet they are my greatest enemies, but here, there are only 43."


    "Wow, I thought there would be more," Desza said, disappointed.


    "Remember, they''re just spies, nothing more. They monitor human life and compare it to ours, although I''m sure many are allies of the humans."


    "Does Candado have one?" Desza asked.


    "Of course, his name is T¨ªnbari. He and I are great enemies. I would love to end his life for daring to interrupt me; I was so close at that moment." He looked at his hands for a moment, then glanced at everyone. "Anyway, that''s all, thank you for visiting."


    "It has been an honor," he then looked at his companions and continued. "Well, comrades, it''s time to go home."


    As Desza and everyone prepared to leave the room, J?rgen stopped halfway. Then he turned and looked at Pullbarey.


    "What are you doing?" Desza asked.


    J?rgen didn''t listen and kept his gaze on Pullbarey.


    "I have one last question."


    "Go ahead, tell me."


    "What''s the name of your planet?"


    "It''s strange that you ask that, why do you want to know?"


    "Curiosity," J?rgen said coldly.


    Pullbarey let out a laugh and said:


    "Cotorium."

 UNDER THE BERET

    After the events in the city of Resistencia, where Krauser was seriously injured, Candado received news about his condition thanks to Moneda. Though he was out of danger, Candado chose to visit the hospital to personally verify his condition. However, unfortunately, he couldn''t go alone as he was forced to bring Clementina and Hammya along due to their whims. Despite Clementina''s constant hints about the closeness between Candado and Hammya in recent months, he chose to ignore them as always.


    Upon arriving at the Sem¨¢foros agency hospital, he headed to see his injured partner. According to Doctor Bautista Aguirre, Krauser had suffered potentially fatal injuries for any living being, including a deep cut in his abdomen, the amputation of his left leg, and, on two occasions, temporary loss of his head. All this had led to an extreme concentration of his body to heal, considerably draining him. An additional wound could prove fatal. Despite his regeneration, Krauser still felt fatigued due to the enormous energy used in his healing process.


    Understanding the situation, Candado decided to visit his friend''s room. Krauser lay in bed, chained by his feet and arms on Rozkiewicz''s orders, who was still obsessed with pursuing Desza. Since Krauser strictly adhered to the Sem¨¢foros'' laws (which were close to 3897 in total), specifically the one prohibiting damage to agency property, he was limited in his actions, meaning he couldn''t break his "prison" to escape.


    "Hello, I see you''re alright," greeted Candado as he closed the door behind him.


    "Alright my ass. Rozkiewicz has tied me up like an animal and forbade me from moving until I''m recovered," Krauser replied, annoyed.


    "How do you manage to go to the bathroom?"


    "These chains are long-range. I can move around in the room, but I can''t leave it," explained Krauser.


    "I see," said Candado as he sat beside the bed.


    "Good morning," Clementina and Hammya greeted as they entered the room.


    "I see you two are still dazzling," commented Candado.


    "Oh, what a gentleman," responded Clementina.


    "Are we the first or has anyone else been here?" asked Hammya.


    "No, there were people here before you," Krauser replied.


    "Really? Who?" asked Candado.


    Krauser settled back in bed and leaned against the headboard.


    "Well, Moneda, Rozkiewicz, Caba?a, Maidana, Joaqu¨ªn, Ruth, and Glinka came."


    "I''m surprised Joaqu¨ªn came," commented Candado.


    "Of course he did. When he found out, he suspended his meeting and came back here to see how I was doing."


    "Now he''s really gonna get chewed out," said Clementina.


    "I told him not to come over the phone, but what can you do; sometimes I wonder what the hell goes through his mind."


    "Well, I didn''t understand it either, but now I guess you do too," said Hammya.


    "Before you continue," Hammya lifted a basket and brought sweets, fruits, and drinks, "this is to help you recover soon."


    "Thanks, girl. I wouldn''t be surprised why nobody has a problem with you."


    Candado directed his cold, penetrating gaze towards Hammya.


    "Yeah, indeed."


    "You''re also kind, Candado. If it weren''t for your wallet, those gifts would have never reached the recipient," Clementina teased.


    Krauser burst into laughter.


    "So, the lady made you loosen up with the money."


    "Yeah, mock all you want," said Candado seriously as he crossed his arms.


    "For someone as stingy as you, I see you''ve got a big heart in that rotten shell of yours."


    "What book or movie does everyone watch to come up with such poetic things?"


    "Truth is, I got it from a cookbook."


    "Oh, I see, poems come decoded in ordinary things," Candado pulled out a planner from his pocket, "June 4th, 2013, poems come from the little things."


    "You''re a clown. Who writes down such things?"


    "I do," then he stood up and took Krauser''s hand, "I''m glad you''re alright, well tied up, and also very, very healthy," then he let go, "Alright, let''s go."


    "Wait!"


    Candado stopped and turned.


    "What do you want?"


    "A gift."


    "A gift?"


    Krauser reached under his bed and pulled out a bag.


    "It''s not for my birthday yet."


    "Take it and spare the comments," said Krauser as he put the bag into his hands.


    Candado reached into the bag and pulled out a box with red wrapping. He grimaced and tore off the covering, then opened the box.


    "What?" asked Candado as he took out a cellphone.


    "Your gift."


    Candado, looking over the gift, said,


    "Krauser, why do you gift me these gadgets? They ring and ring, vibrate and vibrate, and worst of all, they won''t let you sleep."


    "Come on, Candado, you need to catch up."


    "Me? Catch up? What the hell are you talking about? I barely get along with the landline and Clementina''s phone."


    "Think, Candado, they won''t be writing letters forever."


    "With just light and television, I''m more than satisfied."


    "And the internet," Clementina chuckled.


    "Just... accept it as a gift from one friend to another."


    Candado wondered how the doctors hadn''t confiscated it. However, he just closed his eyes momentarily and said,


    "Alright, you win, I''ll accept this cellphone. I wish this thing had buttons and wasn''t touch."


    "Never satisfied, huh?" said Clementina.


    "Alright, now I''m leaving. Thanks for the gift."


    Candado turned around and before he could reach the door.


    "STOP!"


    Candado halted and looked back at Krauser again.


    "And now what the hell is it?"


    "I received a message from an uncle of mine here in Resistencia. Seems he had a little ''misdelivery''."


    "And?"


    "Well, the thing is, my uncle has some visitors who demand to see you. They''ve been at his place for three days. He couldn''t contact you, so he reached out to me."


    "Visitors?" Candado brought his right hand to his chin. "How odd. Did he say anything else?"


    "Yes, he said these visitors don''t speak Spanish, so he doesn''t know their names or where they''re from."


    "This is quite strange," then he looked at Krauser with his typical expression. "I''ll take the case. Where does he live?"


    "On Castelli, it''s where we went to celebrate my birthday."


    "Ugh, that place. Alright, I''ll head there immediately."


    Candado bid farewell to his friend and left the room. Now he had to go to a place that didn''t evoke good memories to meet with unknown people, so as soon as they left the hospital, he looked at Hammya and Clementina.


    "Listen, there''s a taxi service here. Take one and go home," Candado said as he handed two hundred pesos to Clementina.


    "What''s this for?"


    "It means you go home. This is my job and no one else''s, so you''re free."


    "Oh no, sir, we''ll go with you," said Hammya.


    "Of course not, go home now."


    "But..."


    "Leave it, miss. Let Candado handle it alone. After all, he''s grown up and knows how to take care of himself."


    "That''s the spirit, Clementina. Well, bye, see you at home later."


    After saying that, Candado left the place with his hands in his pockets. When he was far enough, Clementina put her hand on his shoulder and whispered.


    "I have a plan, come with me."


    "Alright."


    While Clementina explained her plan, Candado headed to a booth, showed his identification, and requested transportation. At first, they didn''t want to give him an agency vehicle since it was used in emergency cases, but Candado didn''t want to spend his money on a taxi. He showed his special W.O.G.A.B. pass to be assigned a car and a driver. Candado got into one of the agency-colored cars.


    He only gave the address, and the driver just set off. As the car left the agency, Candado leaned against the door and looked out the window. However, the driver glanced at the rearview mirror more than once.


    "You''re the boy who fought that day of the tragedy, with that blond kid."


    "I fought, yeah."


    "I knew it was you."


    "Sorry, who are you?"


    "Ricardo Juliano, I''m a security guard at that agency. I was one of the thousands of guards who helped the injured children."


    "Wow, you really risked your life to help those people."


    "Of course, I''m thirty-six years old, married with two daughters. How could I not help those people who could be my children?"


    "Wow, that''s impressive. Did you have any trouble while helping others?"


    The driver shook his head slightly and said.


    "Not much. I had cover from one of my daughters while I helped as many wounded as I could, but I did have a problem with a girl with green hair."


    Candado frowned and raised his left eyebrow.


    "Green hair?"


    "Yes, I found her dragging the body of a girl about your age under the rain of bullets. When I reached her, I lifted the unconscious girl''s body and wanted to take her with me. The place wasn''t safe, so I wanted to take her with me."


    "What happened?"


    "She didn''t want to follow me, so I grabbed her arm and tried to force her to come with me. I don''t like mistreating children, especially girls, but in that situation, it wasn''t appropriate to think about my values. I tried and tried, but she kept struggling until she stopped, and she saw you fighting with that machete-wielding gringo. That''s when she started struggling more and more until she gave me a strong kick on my foot. Then she apologized and dashed towards where you were. She grabbed a rock that was there and threw it at the guy. After that, I don''t know what happened because I passed out, but I remember she started running towards you. They were shooting at her, but she dodged them. It seemed like you were giving her strength, a lot of strength."


    Candado was stunned by what he was hearing. He never thought someone as timid and scared as her would do something like that. He didn''t understand; he was tough on her, yet she responded by helping him.


    Unable to understand it very well, he decided to look out the car window and try to analyze why she acted like that. It was very strange, and as Candado had said before, he was frustrated not to find an answer to his questions.


    "Sir, do you mind if I ask you something?"


    Candado shook his head as he looked out the window, biting his thumb with the glove on.


    "Why did you decide to join the guilds?"


    "It''s a family thing," said Candado without looking at him.


    "Oh, but why be part of it. I don''t mean to be rude, but I have the particularity of seeing an intelligent, educated, and capable person sitting in my car. I honestly don''t believe you''re on this path just because it''s a family thing."


    Candado glanced at the car''s rearview mirror with a suspicious expression. Although it was very difficult to know exactly what he was thinking, his expressions were very different from his actions. However, Candado took off his beret, turned it over, and inside was a kind of small pocket. Candado put his right hand in and pulled out a paper with golden letters, then leaned forward a bit and handed the paper to the driver. He took it while looking at the road, and when there was a red light, the car stopped. He looked at the paper Candado had handed him and read it.


    "Oh my God, I can''t believe it."


    The piece of paper was actually a diploma, but not just any. It was a diploma from the Circuits, and on it, there were honorary words and the promotion to a higher position within the Formation; it was the position of Chief Marshal of the G.C.G. (A position that ceased to exist, but at that time meant being the president of the G.C.G. chambers).


    "You? A Circuist?"


    "I used to think that paths didn''t exist, how ignorant I was. Long before I held the position I have now, I was part of the Circuits."


    "Why?"


    "I thought the world was unjust to Thanatos, just as it is to Cuba. My parents spoke to me about the greatness of the Guilds, yet I never heard about the good deeds of the Circuits, but..." Candado drew his fac¨®n and observed the wolf emblem on the handle. "I was wrong. Unlike Cuba, the Circuists had carried out massacres all over the world. I wanted to know why people would follow a murderer, what they were told to drive such a massive slaughter. I realized that the answer couldn''t be found by asking those around me. If I wanted to know a little more, I had to be part of them."


    "Was that how you joined them?"


    "Yes and no, I just wanted to understand how they thought, but as I read the history writings of the Circuit, I realized that there were many leaders who tried to change their past and create a future, but none of them succeeded; I wanted to create peace between both groups, but..."


    "But?"


    "People weren''t ready for peace," Candado looked out the window. "It was then that I met someone who shared my ideas."


    "What was his name?"


    "Esteban Napoleon Everett, a guy with a mind better than mine, my speech had caught his attention, he supported me in everything, and little by little, I gained supporters. I ran for elections and won for Chief Marshal, I carried out my ideas to improve relations with the W.O.G.A.B., and slowly my ideas were accepted. However, my actions were repudiated by those who were once my friends, the Guilds, but my sister was always there to defend me and support me."


    "I know her, Gabriela Esperanza Barret, she was an incredible leader."


    Candado showed a smile, but then his expression changed.


    "I failed."


    "What do you mean you failed?"


    "I realized that everything I had done, everything I had built had been destroyed by the people who had voted for me, so I gave up. I didn''t want to sink, so I had to make a gesture that would harm someone, forever."


    "What happened?"


    "The Circuists attacked a settlement, leaving many wounded. Not only that, they burned down a school and a hospital. They did all that while I was ascending to that position, Brigadier. It was all a deception, they just wanted to get me out of there in the worst possible way, they used my name and my words to harm the guilds. I decided to end the project. I didn''t want to build a future for those people, so I made a decision. I resigned from my position, and to obtain forgiveness from the Guilds, I gave information about the Circuits: important documents, espionage, weak areas of the Formation, Thanatos files, everything, absolutely everything I provided. I wanted to get back at them for what they had done to me, but I ended up not only being hated by the Circuists but by my friend too. I did something horrible that I''m not proud of, a traitor."


    "I didn''t know..."


    "That I was friends with Esteban, yes, very few know." Candado exhaled and looked again at the rearview mirror. "I never knew if what I did was right or not. And his actions didn''t help to gain support from the Circuits and mine to gain favor from the Guilds. And as a consequence of that, Esteban ended up hating me, and I ended up hating him."


    "Do you think peace will come between these two entities?"


    Candado gave a cynical laugh.


    "Sir, it doesn''t matter what I believe or not. The real question is, will we be alive to see that?"


    The driver started laughing, then took a deep breath and said.


    "I''m sure that peace will come, I don''t know when, but I know it will come."


    Candado, skeptically, said.


    "Yes, it''s also certain that the United States will become communist."


    The driver laughed again. But at that moment something crossed Candado''s mind, actions are what make the future, and he wanted that, a future, for himself and his people.


    The car stopped in front of the house where Candado wanted to arrive, he got out of the car, showed a smile, and paid him three hundred pesos for his trouble of taking him there. At first, he didn''t want to accept it, but Candado threw the money in his face and closed the window with a snap. When he was about to leave, he heard some noises in the back of the car, to be more precise, the trunk. Candado gestured to the driver, who was counting the money since they were ten-dollar bills. He unlocked the trunk, approached, and opened the door completely. But what he saw didn''t surprise him or alarm him, he just maintained that cold and indifferent expression of his, seeing Hammya inside the trunk.


    "Hello," Hammya said discreetly.


    " I know you like to see the faces of your victims when they see you. Come on, do your job."


    The man was completely terrified by what he was seeing; he wanted to scream, to call for help, but nothing came out of his mouth. He was too frightened seeing that creature.


    "Help... Help me... Anyone, whoever, help," the man said as he looked at the wrecked van with the corpses of his companions.


    Candado, looking in the same direction as the man, said, "Forget it, I don''t think they''re going to move," then he looked at the man, "Their souls belong to T¨ªnbari, as well as yours."


    The man was completely frightened; he couldn''t move. Then it happened: T¨ªnbari walked up to the man, and the closer he got, the more his heart felt like it was in his throat. Candado stepped aside, and T¨ªnbari sat on top of him.


    "Well, this is the nicest part of my job. Hello, I''m T¨ªnbari, a friend of yours."


    "You''re the devil," the man said with the little strength he had.


    "Hurry up, T¨ªnbari, I want to leave before the police come here," Candado said as he looked around.


    "I''m coming, I''m coming, just give me a moment," then he looked at the man, "Tell me, who hired you? If you tell me, I won''t take your soul, but if you don''t, I''ll make sure you suffer a lot."


    "Greg, Greg, it was Greg."


    Candado was astonished to hear that name, the name of a damned murderer, the same one who killed his grandfather.


    "Where is he?" Candado asked without turning.


    "I don''t know, all the information we received was over the phone. We were guaranteed a large sum of money if we took out the porcelain children."


    "T¨ªnbari, let him go, we''re done here. They''ll be safe for sure," then he looked at the man, "I''ll let you live, but if you pick up a weapon again and point it at me or my siblings, I won''t forgive you, and I''ll make sure your death is slow and painful."


    Then he put on his gloves and walked away from the scene without looking back, while the man was left totally insane by what he had seen.


    The police sirens could be heard in the distance. Candado chuckled to himself, because it was funny that they arrived twenty minutes late; usually, they take longer, but today was different. Although the fight ended quickly, Candado was left without transportation to get back home; however, he didn''t mind, as he was thinking about other things. Greg, the man who took his grandfather from him, once again, was far from being an assassin. But what caught his attention the most was why they would attack the children under his care. He tried to come up with a precise answer, but couldn''t manage it, and as he tried to piece together what had happened, more pieces appeared, many of which didn''t fit together perfectly or simply couldn''t be connected. As he had told Clementina, not being able to have a definite answer made it quite clear that they wanted to kill Candado. But why them. It was at that moment that he drew two conclusions: either they stole and kept something or they were collateral damage. Whatever it was, it put his friends and family in danger.


    As he walked down the crowded street, it occurred to him to stop thinking for a moment, as stress would only lead him to spit blood on the ground. Then it occurred to him to visit some friends he had there, the family he had helped.


    "Candado," T¨ªnbari interrupted.


    "What do you want?" Candado asked.


    "Wow, you''re talking in public."


    "I''m too tired to bother if they see me as crazy. Let them call the psychiatrist if I''m not from here."


    T¨ªnbari was surprised by the response.


    "Okay, if you say so," then he cleared his throat, lowered to the ground, and walked alongside Candado, "Where are we headed?"


    "I don''t have transportation, so while I''m here, I''d like to visit some friends."


    "Friends?"


    "Yes, friends, F-R-I-E-N-D-S, friends."


    "Yes, I know how to spell it, but I''m surprised you''re making friends with others."


    "I''m friends with you and no one says anything, so..."


    "Yes, that''s true, but no one says anything because no one sees me, in fact, you look like a crazy person talking alone on the street."


    "What are you doing here?" asked Candado, maintaining his expression.


    Hammya, trying to improvise an answer, had no better idea than to reply.


    "I got lost."


    "Oh, well, then keep looking," he said, then closed the trunk slightly.


    "WAIT!"


    Hammya started kicking the door until it fell at Candado''s feet. He looked at the driver and gestured for him to leave; apparently, he was unaware of what was happening.


    The car drove away, leaving Candado and a rather dazed Hammya with trouble getting up.


    "You''re an idiot, I told you to stay home."


    "No, I wanted to know what you were going to do."


    "You''re worse than Clementina," said Candado as he helped her up. "Speaking of which, where did she go?"


    "She actually went home, said it would be a better idea to hide in the trunk."


    "And you believed her? You were lucky the ground was level or that we weren''t in a chase."


    "Yeah, I was really lucky," Hammya admitted.


    Candado pinched her cheeks with both hands.


    "Next time I tell you something, you''ll obey without pulling these stupid stunts. Is that clear?"


    Hammya nodded, though it was hardly discernible since Candado was stretching her cheeks.


    "Good, that''s how I like it."


    Candado patted her cheeks and headed towards the house, a rather strange one that stood out among the others with its white color and a roof that was too slanted to the right.


    "The architect must have been drunk when he built this house, there''s no doubt about it," said Hammya as she rubbed her red cheeks with both hands.


    "Judgmental," said Candado as he knocked on the door.


    "Who is it? What do you want?" asked a voice behind the door.


    "I''m Candado Barret, sent by your nephew, Reinhold Krauser."


    "How do you know this is my house?"


    "Sir, don''t talk nonsense. What do you mean it''s not your house? Is it occupied by a kidnapper? A tax collector trapped in a house?"


    "The house says Reinho...basfdasdr."


    Candado covered Hammya''s mouth.


    "Sir," he sighed, "I''m the guy from the bathroom incident."


    Then there was silence.


    "Hello, are you there?"


    ...


    "Hello?"


    ...


    "HELLO!" then he started banging on the door. "HELLO, ANSWER!"


    "Wait, wait, please, I was just reminiscing, I''ll open now."


    When he said that, Candado stopped covering Hammya''s mouth and put his hands in his pockets, stepping two centimeters away from the door. Then, it opened, and out came a man around fifty years old, red-haired with graying strands, a horseshoe mustache, and reading glasses. He was wearing a short-sleeved green shirt, black pants, and red sneakers.


    "Hello, sorry for the delay, I was just reminiscing and remembered."


    "You remembered?"


    "Yes, you see..." then he looked at Hammya. "I knew it, I''m crazy."


    Candado turned to look at her, making her feel uncomfortable under their gazes. Candado stared at the ground for a moment, as if contemplating what to say, until he came up with something.


    "Oh, her, she''s just a girl who loves green, nothing more," Candado replied.


    "Oh, I see," the man said, relaxing his shoulders.


    "What happened, my good man?"


    "Come in, please," he said, then looked at Hammya. "And you too, come in."


    Both entered the house, which was very tidy; there was no dirt or mess anywhere. Everything was neat and clean, as if the owner suffered from Mysophobia (fear of dirt). There were no signs of dirt or dust. Furthermore, when Candado entered the house, the man closed the door while grabbing a white handkerchief. Candado felt offended by the man''s action, but he bit his lip when Hammya took his arm. She knew very well what he was about to do.


    "I''m sorry you had to return the cake like that; I didn''t know a toad had jumped on it," the man said.


    Candado grimaced in disgust when he was reminded of that.


    "It''s water under the bridge."


    "So¡ª" Hammya smiled, "I''d like¡ª"


    Candado turned to her with a degree of hostility that made his eyes start to turn slightly violet.


    "Okay, I''ll be quiet."


    "All right, this way, gentlemen," the man said as he cleaned his hands with hand sanitizer.


    He led them to a room with a white door.


    "I warn you, you won''t understand anything. I asked you to come because they mentioned your name and surname in every sentence that came out of their mouths."


    "Do they speak Japanese?"


    "No."


    "Then it''s not a problem for me."


    The man nodded and proceeded to open the door. Inside, there were three children, one of them a girl. The other was the eldest of them all, lying on a couch with a damp cloth on his head, while the others played with their dolls. And when they saw Candado at the door, they dropped everything and ran to hug him. They were very small, about Yara''s height. Candado didn''t understand why these two little innocent ones were hugging his legs.


    "Uh, hello, what are your names?"


    The children showed warm smiles as they hugged Candado. But when he said the first words, the boy lying down opened his eyes and looked at Candado.


    "Pojkar, r?r inte."


    Candado was somewhat surprised to hear what the boy said.


    "Do you see, Candado? I don''t understand a single word they''re saying."


    "Swedish," said Candado as he looked at the boy lying on the couch.


    "What did he say?" asked Hammya.


    "He said to stop hugging me."


    "Do you speak Swedish?"


    "Yes, any problem, girl?"


    "No, none."


    "Pojkar!" he said again, then started coughing.


    Seeing their brother getting worse, the children ran to him.


    "What''s happening?" asked Candado as he approached him, took the boy''s hand, and indicated to Hammya to open the window, as the room had very little light. The children were barely distinguishable due to the dim lighting in the room. When Hammya pulled back the curtains and opened the window, she and Candado were surprised to see that the children didn''t have skin like a normal human; instead, they were made of porcelain from head to toe. Their skin was very smooth.


    "Oh my God," exclaimed Hammya, surprised.


    "Wow, they look like porcelain dolls," commented Candado skeptically.


    The two small ones were twins, and like their brother, they had very white and solid skin. The sunlight made their bodies shine. The girl, like her brothers, had completely black eyes with a circle, presumably their iris, small and white in color. She had long, blonde hair and wore a long black nightgown with a diamond emblem on the chest. The other brother had the same characteristics as the girl, except he had short hair and wore black pants with suspenders, and a blue shirt. The eldest brother had black hair and looked sicker than exhausted.


    "Who are you, and how do you know me?" asked Candado as he held his hand.


    The boy spoke in Swedish, a language that Hammya and the man couldn''t understand, but Candado could.


    "My name is Andersson Ljungqvist."


    "Your name is Andersson Ljungqvist."


    "Yes."


    "How do you know me?"


    The boy began to speak in his language.


    "Vi tr?ffades f?r en tid sedan, jag s?ker... hj?lp... din hj?lp."


    Candado was the only one who could understand what Andersson was saying. The others watched attentively as Andersson spoke in Swedish, and then Candado replied to him in the same language.


    "Jag minns ingen Andersson, s?kert ?r det mig du letar efter?" Candado responded.


    "Sj?lvklart, jag beklagar att vi har en s?dan h?r tr?ff. Tycker du inte att det ?r romantiskt?" Andersson said.


    Candado felt disgusted.


    "It seems like he said something wrong," the man remarked.


    "It''s very likely," Candado replied.


    This continued for a few minutes until the boy lost consciousness. Candado put his hand on the boy''s forehead, closed his eyes, and uttered a few words.


    "Rest, buddy. I''ll take care of everything," Candado said.


    "What''s happening?" the man asked.


    Candado stood up and looked at the children, who were quite concerned about what was happening. He approached them, hugged them, and without looking back, he asked, "Do the kids have a place to sleep?"


    "Yes, their room is next door."


    "Good, would you please take them from here?" Candado requested.


    "Of course, I will," the man replied.


    Candado took the children''s hands and said.


    "Lyda herrn, er bror ?r i goda h?nder."


    Then he handed them over to the man. The man took their hands with a latex glove. Candado sighed as he observed his behavior.


    "Have positive thoughts," Candado said to himself.


    Hammya, who was unaware of what was going on, decided to ask directly, "What''s going on?"


    "I''ll tell you when the gentleman returns; I think he should know too. After all, they sought refuge in his house."


    "You''re right," she replied as she glanced at the boy.


    Candado sat in a chair as large as the one the boy was lying on, crossed his legs and arms, waiting for the man to return. Meanwhile, Hammya, the only one standing in the room, started feeling a bit nervous about the silence that prevailed in the room; she even gripped her dress with both hands.The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.


    "So... What do we do?" she asked.


    "I wait," Candado replied with a distant gaze.


    "And me? What do I do?"


    "I don''t know, dear. If standing there helps you think faster, then stay there."


    Hammya sighed disappointedly and decided to sit next to Candado.


    "You know, I think you haven''t worsened in your condition lately," she commented.


    "Nor improved," Candado added.


    "Well, but it''s progress."


    Candado gave a sarcastic laugh as he uncrossed his arms.


    "I think you don''t understand, girl. I''m not improving at all. Nothing''s happening to me because I haven''t used my power in the last few days, and also because I''ve been on edge, and I appreciate that you didn''t provoke me."


    "Well, I think it''s a compliment."


    "Maybe it is," he replied, then put his hand on his forehead, "or maybe it isn''t."


    "You''ve changed lately, Candado," Hammya remarked.


    "NO!" Candado closed his eyes and took a deep breath while placing his hand between her and him. "Don''t start with that. I think I''m a bit, What am I saying? A bit, I''m sick of people meddling in my personality."


    Before Hammya could say anything, the man arrived, wiping his hands with alcohol gel.


    "Well, the kids are in their room eating some treats I gave them."


    "Make sure it''s not too much; they could get sick."


    "I know, Candado. I gave them a small bag each."


    "I''m glad."


    "Alright, now tell me, who are they and where do they come from?" the man asked.


    "Well, their names are Andersson Ljungqvist, his siblings are Gerald Ljungqvist and Ros¨ªo J?nk?ping Ljungqvist. They''re from Sweden," Candado explained.


    "How do they know you?" Hammya inquired.


    "Two months ago, I wandered around Stockholm. I had been informed about certain violations by a corrupt Guild. The Traffic Lights couldn''t do anything due to their high purchasing power and influence with the state, so they couldn''t resist the euros. Thanks to a few of them, they wrote me a letter. It was odd, but I decided to investigate a bit and went there without prior notice."


    "But that''s illegal," Hammya interjected.


    Candado raised his left eyebrow at Hammya. "And how do you know it''s illegal?"


    "Because I read it in the W.O.G.A.B. code that Jacqueline gave me, ''Every representative from a judge to a president must notify the congress of a visit to a guild outside of their nation.''"


    "Well, I see you don''t waste any time."


    "You chose me as vice president. I''m supposed to carry a responsibility."


    "Please, continue with what you were saying earlier," the man urged.


    Candado cleared his throat and continued. (*Clarification, what he did is illegal).


    "Well, I arrived in Stockholm, headed to the location, and caught them breaking many laws of the W.O.G.A.B. and Harambee''s own. I closed the place and took care of sanctioning and expelling them. And yes, I made my presence two hours earlier, so technically it''s not illegal. After that, while I was returning to catch my flight, I was hit in the back of the head with a stick. Although I didn''t feel the blow itself, the force was such that I was temporarily unconscious and weak. I couldn''t speak or shout; in fact, I couldn''t even call T¨ªnbari. I was very dazed, my whole body was motionless on the ground. It was my mistake to underestimate them; however, I saw a silhouette that appeared out of nowhere and fought with them. I tried to move, fought against the sleep that was overcoming me. All I could see was their face covered by a ski mask. Then I passed out. When I woke up, I was in a police station there with two policemen helping me, while the boy who had helped me was leaving the station. I stood up with the little strength I had and ran to where he was and shouted, ''I''m Candado Barret, from the Argentine Republic. I''m very grateful for your help. When you''re in trouble, come find me. I''d be happy to repay my debt to you.'' Of course, I said all this in Swedish."


    "Incredible," the man remarked.


    "Wow, what did he say to you?" Hammya asked.


    "He told me he was the person who had saved me, and that he and his siblings are coveted by everyone, including in their country, since they are the last Korslin."


    "What?" they both asked.


    "That''s how porcelain children are. I thought they no longer existed, but after seeing that there are still two living Bailaks, I''m not surprised."


    "Why are they coveted?" the man inquired.


    "They, unlike the Bailaks, are the ones punished by the power of the asteroid, as their skins are too weak. A blow, a wound, or even a scratch is a death sentence, but they had created a way to rebuild themselves. Which caught the attention of everyone. They had discovered the secret of immortality, so they began to be kidnapped to be told the way to become immortal. They replied that it is not possible for their magic to work with normal humans like us, only those who possess the heart of their race can create that magic. Grave mistake, those words triggered a massive hunt for their kind, ripping out their hearts and using them to become immortal."


    "What a tragedy. Why is man like this? Why does he have to destroy beautiful things?" Hammya lamented.


    "That will always be a mystery, but not all is lost. That kind of thinking from that era no longer exists, so they''ll be safe," Candado replied.


    "But why flee from your country?" the man inquired.


    "I don''t know, but I do know this. Andersson has been pursued by someone from Sweden to this country, and with his condition, he won''t be able to defend his siblings. That''s why he came to me. I owe him," Candado explained.


    "Do they have a place to live?" the man asked.


    "Of course, I''m going to take them to my village; they''ll be safe there," Candado assured.


    "Well, thank God," the man said.


    "Please don''t do that, sir," Candado interjected.


    "Oh, alright, my apologies?" the man responded.


    "Candado, lend me your cellphone," Hammya requested.


    "What do you need it for?" Candado inquired.


    "I''m going to call Nelson to take us to the village, where they can get treated," Hammya explained.


    Candado pondered for a moment, thinking, "Perhaps, if I bring this person before Ruccim¨¦nkagri, they could heal him."


    "Finally, you say something useful," Candado remarked, handing over his cellphone. "Do you know Nelson''s number just in case?"


    Hammya''s eyes widened at the question, realizing she had forgotten the most basic thing.


    Candado rolled his eyes and took the cellphone back from her. "Silly," he muttered as he dialed Nelson''s number.


    After a brief conversation, Candado handed the phone to Hammya. "He''s on the line."


    "Hello, Nelson," Hammya greeted.


    "Yeah, who''s this?" Nelson asked.


    "It''s me, Hammya."


    "Oh, Candado''s girlfriend, how''s it going, mate?"


    "I''m fine, thank you... NO!" Hammya shouted, embarrassed.


    Candado put his hand on Hammya''s head and applied some pressure. "Don''t shout like that again," he warned, pointing out that Andersson was sleeping.


    "Hello, hello, are you still there, girl?" Nelson''s voice came from the phone.


    "Yes, I''m still here, sorry, it''s just... I''m new to this," Hammya apologized.


    "Well, what do you need?"


    "We have some people we need to take with us."


    "We?"


    "Yes, us. Candado is with me, so please, we need your help."


    "Sure, I was starting to get bored these past few days, I''ll come right away."


    "Great, thank you."


    "What''s the address?"


    "Oh, well, it''s¡ª" Candado showed his notebook to Hammya "¡ªon Castelli Avenue, at that moment Candado showed his little notebook to Hammya¡ª"


    "I got it, I''ll be there soon."


    Nelson hung up and handed the phone back to Candado.


    "Since when does anyone make a plan without having one?" Candado asked.


    "I''m sorry, I just wanted to be helpful," Hammya said, smiling.


    Candado sighed, pocketing his cellphone and notebook. "Anyway, thanks for the idea."


    Hammya smiled back.


    Then Candado headed to the children''s room.


    "Where are you going, sir?" the man asked.


    "To check on the kids. I wouldn''t want to worry them about their brother''s health, so I''m going to keep them company," Candado replied.


    "And what do I do?"


    "Count the ants."


    "What?"


    Then Candado closed the door behind him.


    "Oh, that girl is driving me crazy with her questions," Candado said, leaning against the door.


    Later, Candado got up and went straight to the children''s room. He knocked on the door and then opened it. To his surprise, the children were playing, jumping on the same bed. Suddenly, he saw the boy fall to the floor and break his arm. Candado was alarmed, but he quickly calmed down when he saw the pieces of his arm reattach and return to their place. The girl, still jumping on the bed, wanted to do the same and threw herself to the floor. Candado reacted quickly and also threw himself to cushion the girl''s fall, landing on his chest. Being made of porcelain, they were quite heavy, and he ended up breathless.


    "Isidro, I hope you give me strength," Candado muttered, enduring the pain.


    The girl got off his chest and hid under the bed, thinking he would be angry with her. Meanwhile, the boy remained seated, watching his arm reconstruct itself. Candado sat down and looked around for the girl, eventually finding her hiding under the bed, covering her mouth; her eyes gleaming in the darkness. He took a candy out of his pocket and offered it to her. The girl took it, unwrapped it, and ate it. Then, Candado took the girl''s hand and slowly pulled her out from under the bed while she chewed the candy he had given her. Candado sat down again and took another candy out of his pocket, but this time, he gave it to the boy. Then he spoke in Swedish to ask them certain things, and the fundamental question was:


    "Do you speak Spanish?"


    The children nodded, and the girl was the first to speak.


    "Hello, I''m Ros¨ªo."


    "And I''m Gerald."


    "Does your brother also speak Spanish?"


    "No, only us. While we were on the plane, we bought a Spanish dictionary, studied it, and memorized it. Thanks to that, and to the people speaking around us, we were able to learn it well."


    "Wow, little one," Candado said as he stroked her head; then he continued, "Although you still have a bit of an accent."


    "Of course, we''re still trying to speak it perfectly," Ros¨ªo said.


    "It was difficult at first, but then we were able to speak it well," added Gerald.


    "By the way, what happened to your brother?"


    "While we were coming to this state, we encountered a strange being that attacked a bus. Our brother confronted that strange woman and ended up injured; unfortunately, that made him sick," Gerald explained.


    "Woman?" Candado''s eyes lit up at the description.


    "Eight?" Candado whispered.


    "Did you say something, sir?" the children asked.


    "No, just that I''m glad you and your brother are safe. After all, I have a debt to repay to him."


    "Andersson told us that he saved a boy with a blue beret and took him to the police," Ros¨ªo said.


    "Yes, Ros¨ªo, that was me. I told him that if we ever met again, I would repay my debt to him. The heralds of Harambee always keep their word."


    Then the children began to feel sad.


    "What''s wrong?" Candado asked, concerned.


    "Will Andersson be okay?" Gerald asked, suppressing his tears.


    Candado hugged them both as they began to slowly release their sadness.


    "He will be fine, I assure you. I won''t allow you to suffer the loss of a loved one."


    As Candado hugged the children, Hammya, who had been observing everything, was moved by the scene. She quietly closed the door, cleared her throat, and knocked on the door. Hearing the knocks, Candado stood up and took the children''s hands.


    "Yes?"


    "Nelson is waiting outside."


    "So soon?"


    Candado led the children out of the room and then went to the living room, where he saw the man carrying the boy.


    "What''s going on?" Gerald asked.


    "We''ll take you to my village, where you''ll be safe."


    "Will Andersson come with us?" Ros¨ªo asked.


    Candado put his hands on the girl''s shoulders and said without hesitation.


    "Yes, I''ll keep you safe. Trust me."


    Candado took the children''s hands again and led them outside the house, where Nelson''s shiny car was parked, with him leaning against the car like a teenager waiting for his girlfriend.


    "Wow, I didn''t think you''d bring dolls," Nelson teased.


    When Candado stepped outside the house, he felt a chill run from his spine to his neck, then he heard T¨ªnbari''s whisper.


    "You''ve been followed, Candado."


    T¨ªnbari''s words alarmed him; he couldn''t grasp what his guardian had told him.


    "Who?"


    "Agents."


    Candado felt disgust, repulsion, and indignation at hearing that. He was worried, especially because he had innocent people under his care. He stopped halfway between the house and the car, discreetly looked to the left, and saw a red car parked, observing him. Then, he turned to the right and saw two motorcycles and a van, obviously trying to blend in. The bikers pretended to talk among themselves, and the van driver pretended to read a newspaper, which was obvious because the newspaper was upside down, and the man was busy watching them.


    "Is something wrong, Candado?" Ros¨ªo asked.


    He didn''t respond and continued looking around until he felt the girl tug at his sleeve. Candado quickly snapped back to reality and forced a cynical smile, then approached the car and opened the door. To his surprise, Clementina was there.


    "Hello, sir." Candado didn''t have time to react and sat the children on Clementina''s lap.


    "Sir, wha¡ª"


    "Danger," Candado whispered.


    Clementina was about to scan the area, but he took her hand and looked her in the eyes.


    "Take care of these children and don''t let them go, please."


    Clementina didn''t ask anything and simply accepted what he had ordered. Whatever it was, it was serious enough for him to put his "young patron" in that way.


    Then, the man placed the boy in the back seat; he was still asleep. Candado fastened his seatbelt and Clementina''s since her hands were occupied. At that moment, Hammya came out of the house and was about to sit in the front seat. Candado closed the door and stood in the middle.


    "Hammya, you sit in the back."


    "No, I want to sit in the front."


    "Hammya, I don''t have time to argue with you. Sit in the back, period."


    She didn''t listen and put her hand on the door handle. Candado took her hand and looked her in the eyes, but he wasn''t angry; rather, those eyes showed a plea on that cold face.


    "Please... Sit in the back."


    Hammya understood and nodded.


    When everyone got into the car, Candado said goodbye to the man and told Nelson to drive fast; the old man said nothing and started the engine. As the car began to move, Nelson, somewhat worried about what Candado was doing, constantly glanced at the car''s mirrors and decided to break the silence.


    "You''ve been a bit distracted since we left the place. Is something wrong?"


    "People are following us. I think they''re after me and them."


    "HOW?!" Hammya shouted.


    "I don''t like the sound of that, Candado. I think it would be better if I tracked them and¡ª"


    "No, you won''t. I entrusted you with a task, and you''ll fulfill it."


    "Candado, maybe you''re a bit agitated. Relax, you''ll scare the children."


    "Yes, I''m agitated because you''re in danger, but that doesn''t mean I''m crazy. The bad thing about me is that something always happens to the people around me." At that moment, Candado looked at Nelson and was a bit surprised to see Nelson holding a magnum gun with one hand.


    "What are you doing, old man?"


    "I hadn''t noticed, kid. But it must be that red car that''s following us. It''s most likely that these people are Greg''s mercenaries or agents."


    "That means that¡ª"


    At that precise moment, Candado saw through the reflection of a shop window a guy with a sniper aiming at the car.


    When Candado saw this, he shouted.


    "GET DOWN!"


    Everyone did, except for Hammya, who didn''t have time, until the shot was heard.


    Candado stretched out his arm, shielding Hammya''s head from the window, taking the bullet himself.


    "CANDADO!" Hammya cried worriedly.


    "Shit, oh shit," Nelson muttered as he accelerated.


    "YOU''RE BLEEDING!" Clementina exclaimed alarmed.


    "SHUT UP AND STAY DOWN!" Candado shouted as he pulled out the bullet and threw it out the window.


    The car sped up, Clementina remained bent over while covering the heads of the frightened children with her hands.


    "This is not good, not good at all," Clementina said.


    Candado hadn''t been injured this time; he had focused all his powers on his arm area, only receiving a strong blow to the forearm. Hammya, who didn''t know anything, started crying, thinking that her friend had been hurt because of her. But Candado called T¨ªnbari and requested cover to prevent them from shooting at the car. Nelson, who was at the wheel, rolled down the window and stuck out his arm to then shoot at the cars following them.


    "?DON''T DO THAT, OLD MAN! I NEED YOU TO FOCUS ON THE ROAD!" Candado shouted as he took the wheel.


    Nelson started laughing.


    "BOY! THE GUN UNDER YOUR SEAT, PLEASE!"


    Without hesitation, Candado ducked and pulled out a lightweight assault rifle, handing it to Nelson.


    "WHERE THE HELL DO YOU GET THESE WEAPONS!?"


    "THEY''RE AN OLD GIFT FROM THE FALKLANDS WAR!" he yelled as he started shooting.


    "THAT''S A BLATANT LIE!"


    Candado glanced back to check on his companions.


    "Are you okay?"


    "Affirmative, sir, we''re fine."


    "I''m sorry, Candado, I''m sorry."


    "Stop apologizing, I''m fine," then he looked up, "T¨ªnbari won''t last long in this situation."


    Then, he returned to the front, unbuckled his seatbelt, and opened the door.


    "What are you doing?" Ros¨ªo asked.


    "I''m going to keep my word," then he turned to Nelson, "take them home, they''ll be safe there, I''ll see you later."


    Before Nelson could say anything or stop him, Candado jumped out of the car and landed on his feet on the street.


    Then, he summoned two flaming dogs to merge and form a huge dog. Candado mounted its back and ran towards the oncoming cars. As they saw their target approaching, they drew their weapons and started shooting, but as T¨ªnbari was ahead, he stopped the bullets before they could hit Candado, grabbing them with his hands. Since the individuals couldn''t see him, they thought Candado was the one stopping them. Then, two motorcycles emerged from behind the van and sped towards Candado. They pulled out their guns and started shooting. Candado ignited his hands with the characteristic violet flame and when he was close enough, he punched the front wheels of the motorcycle, causing them to fly through the air. Without blinking and without showing a single expression on his face, he stood up and jumped in front of the car, making his dog disappear and leaving Candado and T¨ªnbari alone. Then, he stood on the roof and with tremendous force, ripped the car''s roof off. Then, he got inside the car and started hitting them. T¨ªnbari pulled out the passenger and threw him out, causing him to roll down the street and be run over by a speeding truck. Meanwhile, Candado disarmed the other one, grabbed him by the nape, and slammed him against the steering wheel, knocking him unconscious instantly. Then, he stepped on the brake and the car stopped in front of the van that was also chasing them. Candado opened the passenger door, took the unconscious man, and jumped out of the car, using the man''s body to cushion his landing. When he hit the ground, the van rammed into the car, causing a huge crash.


    Candado stood up and got off the man''s back. Then, he brushed off the dust from his clothes and walked to the van, which was stuck against the car. Although the occupants were all dead, only the driver survived, resulting in an irony that amused T¨ªnbari. Candado opened the car door, which ended up falling off its hinges and onto the ground. Then, he proceeded to pull the agonizing and sore man out of the van and threw him on the ground while putting his foot on his neck.


    "Tell me, filthy rat, who sent you?"


    The man spat at Candado, but in his position, the spit landed on his face instead of the boy''s. Candado simply showed a faint and calm smile.


    "You''re a fool; even in the direst circumstances, you''ll defend your boss," then he leaned down to the man''s face level, "I''d love to see how you spend your mercenary reward in heaven," then he took off the white glove from his left hand and touched his forehead.


    When he did that, the hideous figure to the human eye known as T¨ªnbari appeared.


    "I see you used that again. You know very well that those gloves prevent contact with another person, as it could manifest my presence to others, not to mention that you''ve done this more than once to fulfill your damn childish whims."


    " And what about those who see you?"


    "They also don''t say anything because they''re afraid of me."


    "Liar."


    "Well, some of them."


    "Anyway, what I decide to do with my life is your problem, not mine, so I suggest you don''t meddle in other people''s affairs."


    "Candado, your threats don''t work with me."


    "Who said it was a threat?"


    "What?"


    "Oh, nothing, forget it."


    "You know, you''re a pretty strange and closed-off human."


    "Haha, if I got five cents every time I''m told that, I''d be rich."


    "I''m sure if you had met Hitler as a child, he would have shot himself long ago because of your damn personality."


    "I know that if Hitler had met me, he would never have become a murderer. Instead, I would guide him towards a better path, and I''m sure his name would never be a curse."


    "Oh, how profound, Candado the good Samaritan," he said ironically.


    "T¨ªnbari, no one is born evil. Surely something happened to him, like what happened to T¨¢natos when he was a child, for him to do something so heinous. Surely that''s what happened."


    "What are you trying to say with that?"


    "It''s sad to see someone turn bad. If we want the world to improve, we have to start improving ourselves. The day when the world does good without looking at who they''re helping, society and humanity will have changed forever."


    "Candado, you''re scaring me. You''re never like this. I know you apply logic to everything, but this..."


    He didn''t respond, he just left him with the doubt. It was clear that Candado had spoken too much, and it was time to keep his point of view to himself, just to annoy T¨ªnbari a little.


    Candado turned the corner and found the house of his new friends.


    "Wow, it has changed a lot since the last time I was here. I wonder if the Fern¨¢ndez family still lives here."


    In fact, he was right. The house was no longer a poor rat hole; its paint was new, although it was still the same color. The windows were repaired, shiny, and new, with curtains and everything a normal window could have. The door was repaired and well painted, the garden was tidy, and they had a decent trash can.


    "If it looks like this from the outside, how will it be inside?"


    Candado approached the door and knocked lightly three times. Then it opened, and behind it stood a man with a mustache and glasses, wearing a light blue polo shirt, black pants, and brown shoes, a person Candado had never seen before.


    "Excuse me, I think I''m mistaken..."


    "Candado?"


    "Huh? Do I know you?" he asked, furrowing his brow.


    Then, he received an unexpected hug from the man, feeling the tears and the man''s sobbing in his ear. Behind his back were his wife and daughter, both in house clothes; the lady in a light yellow nightgown and his daughter in a short-sleeved green shirt with the face of a white rabbit, black shorts, and barefoot, familiar faces to him.


    "I see you didn''t move."


    When Candado said that, the two people standing behind the man ran towards him and hugged him.


    "You''re the angel who gave us all this, thank you, thank you very much," the lady said with tears.


    "Thank you for coming back, sir," Carolina said as she tried not to cry.


    "I see you''re very affectionate," T¨ªnbari said as he laughed.


    Candado couldn''t say anything because he wanted to keep T¨ªnbari a secret. He was quite calm knowing that no part of his body was exposed, except for his face. If he had physical contact with another human being, they could see T¨ªnbari. The only part of his body that was exempt from these laws was his face. The reason for this is that this is the area where every human being''s identity to their Bari is, therefore, they cannot usurp these identities. So nothing will happen if they touch his face.


    "Yes, I''m also happy to see you," Candado said.


    "It''s incredible, you''ve come back," the man said as he let go of him, "welcome to the family, we''ve been waiting for your return."


    "I see you''ve improved a lot, I almost didn''t recognize you, sir," Candado said as he straightened his clothes and tie.


    "Thank you for helping us, thank you for that sum of money, we''re really indebted to you," Mrs. Fern¨¢ndez said.


    "Oh, well, I''m glad you''re okay, but let''s not beat around the bush."


    "It''s to beat around the bush, you helped us a lot, we could spend eternity thanking you and it wouldn''t be enough," Carolina said.


    "Well, I''m happy to see that you''re well too, I''m glad you don''t have to beg from those domesticated-hearted people anymore."


    "It''s a privilege to have you here with my family, Mr. Candado," Mr. Fern¨¢ndez said.


    "Yes, it''s very nice, but could you stop calling me with honorifics? I''m not a prince, king, or one of the many egocentrics of the nobility."


    "We can''t help it, you helped us a lot, we could live forever saying thank you, and it wouldn''t be enough," Carolina said.


    "Carolina, I think it would be good if you started telling me how you''ve been all this time, starting with..." After several minutes of moving his finger around his axis, he pointed at Mr. Fern¨¢ndez.


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    "Me?"


    "Yes, tell me, what has become of your life?"


    "Well, after you gave us that money, we paid off our debts, repaired the house, bought furniture, clothes, and appliances, then I looked for a job at a private school in Resistencia."


    "Why am I not surprised?" Then he looked at the lady. "And you?"


    "A man called me and asked for my help at a private bank."


    "QUIT!"


    "But why?"


    "Go to the provincial or state bank, not a private one, remember that you mortgaged the house and because of that you almost lost your home. Why go back to those crooks who take your money?"


    While Candado said all that, the lady took notes with a notebook and a pencil.


    "I see, interesting."


    "Ah, well," then he looked at Carolina, "I see you''re going to school now, right?"


    "Yes, but not to regular ones, but to a union school."


    "Nowadays, many kids prefer to attend special schools."


    "Like you?"


    "No, I go to a regular school, where few share circumstances similar to ours."


    "Wow, I think I should do the same."


    "No, if you feel good at that school, then stay there."


    "Okay," I took out a notebook and wrote down, "interesting."


    "Is everyone okay with that? No?"


    "No, of course not, it''s just a coincidence."


    "It would be a coincidence if you didn''t do the same as them."


    "Oh, coincidence?"


    Candado took off his beret and scratched his head, then he started spinning his beret with his index finger.


    "Well, I had some setbacks on the way back home, I lost my transportation, so I decided to take advantage, since I''m here, to know how you''re doing or how life is treating you."


    "Thank you for your consideration, we''re very well, and all thanks to you; we''ve started a new life."


    Candado almost felt embarrassed when he heard that the person who said that was Ver¨®nica, apparently already six years old, in a dress.


    "Wow, you look a lot like my daughter," then I covered my mouth, "oh, I slipped," I said pretending to be embarrassed.


    Although I said it on purpose, I didn''t expect that comment to leave them speechless; their faces showed tremendous surprise.


    "Did I say something wrong?"


    "HOW IS IT POSSIBLE FOR SOMEONE YOUR AGE TO HAVE A CHILD?!" Mr. Fern¨¢ndez shouted.


    "Actually, it''s a daughter, not a son," clarified Candado.


    "IT DOESN''T MAKE A DIFFERENCE, SIR!" Carolina shouted with her exalted snakes.


    "Keep those bugs away from me, dear."


    "But how is it possible that you have a daughter?" Mrs. Fern¨¢ndez asked, with a great effort not to scream.


    "Well, I..."


    "Don''t tell me you''ve already experienced relationships..."


    "Is she crazy or what, lady? Obviously, that''s impossible."


    "How old are you?" Carolina asked.


    "Five."


    "I''m still the oldest, yes," said Ver¨®nica.


    "Doesn''t matter, the point is she looks a lot like Yara, end of story."


    "Could she play with her one day?"


    "Of course, my dear," said Candado as he stroked her head.


    "But how..."


    "Well, well, I think we''re going to put those questions aside, we don''t want to make the boy uncomfortable, right?"


    "Yes, you''re right, dad."


    "Come in, come and eat with us."


    "I''m sorry to decline your offer again, ma''am, but I have to go back home before they worry, maybe next time."


    "Oh, it''s a shame, I guess there''s no way to convince you."


    "Exactly, but before that, I''d like to see Thomas, I''d like to know how well he''s doing in life."


    "Well, about that, I think you won''t recognize him when you see him anymore, or maybe you''ll recognize him, but remember ''another'' person."


    "Really?"


    "Yes, in fact, he''s in his room, why don''t you go and check for yourself?"


    Candado put on his beret and headed upstairs, accompanied by Carolina. Although the boy''s room was relatively close to the stairs, Carolina opened the door slightly so that it wouldn''t be noticeable that they were spying on him and peeked inside. But what Candado saw left him completely calm, he wasn''t surprised or astonished at all. Because to his eyes, it was a well-dressed boy. Although Candado had noticed that the boy had perfectly imitated his way of dressing, but with one difference: the beret was black instead of blue, he was standing in front of the mirror fixing his clothes.


    "Oh, I see you love to dress well."


    Then he proceeded to open the door, causing little Thomas to be surprised to see his friend and his biggest admiration.


    "Hello there, young man, I see you like to wear these types of clothes," then he looked at his chest, "although you still don''t know how to wear a tie properly."


    The boy was totally surprised, he didn''t move and was dumbfounded. Candado bent down and straightened his red tie, the knot was too sloppy, Candado untied it and fixed it again. When he finished, he received a hug from the little boy and the child''s happiness turned into tears.


    "As if it had been years," said Candado as he accepted the boy''s hug.


    "It''s you, the person who helped me when I had nothing."


    Carolina shed a tear or two behind him.


    "Okay, okay, it''s over now," said Candado while patting Thomas''s back.


    Then he moved him away from him and looked him in the eyes.


    "Come on, don''t cry, Thomas doesn''t cry, right?"


    Candado lifted the little boy and brought them in front of the mirror where he had been posing a while ago. And standing in front of that beautiful mirror, Candado looked at himself and at the boy.


    "We look the same," said Candado without taking his eyes off the mirror.


    "Yes, it''s true."


    Then Candado smiled.


    "It''s okay that you try to be like me, I did the same when I was your age, but you don''t have to be perfectly like me, you just have to be better than me."


    "I don''t understand."


    Candado put his hand on his head and lowered the beret, covering his eyes.


    "You''ll understand someday," then he put his hand in his pocket and took out a candy, "this is my gift to you," he said as he handed the candy to him.


    Then he lowered the boy and put his hand on his shoulder.


    "Behave well, you''re the boy of the family, so you have to take care of your family."


    Then he stood up, turned around, and walked to Carolina, who was standing there doing nothing but looking. When he approached her, Candado put his hand on her head and said.


    "And you, take care of the boy," then he closed his eyes and continued, "you''re the eldest in this family, right? Take good care of your brother."


    Then he felt a small tug on his pants, Candado looked down and saw a curious-eyed Ver¨®nica.


    "And what about me?"


    Candado lifted her up and gave her a kiss on the forehead.


    "You never grow up," then he gave her another kiss on the cheek, "you''re a charm, my dear," then he gave her a candy and put his hand on her head, "stay away from the closets, okay?" (He did all this with his sour and serious attitude)


    "Okay."


    Then he stood up and extended his hand, Carolina did the same, but when she was about to shake hands, Candado took her hand with both hands.


    "See you, miss," said Candado with no emotion.


    Then he left the room, leaving her petrified with such a strange farewell. When she reacted, she felt something in her hand, she opened it and saw that it was a medal with a sun, and with golden letters, C.I.P. (Institutional Councilor of Parliament, a position that can only be ascended with the approval of a supreme power). Carolina was surprised to see what she had in her hands. That meant she had been promoted to a higher position, and she could be in the Chamber of Traffic Lights, but when she tried to say something, he was already gone.


    Candado went downstairs and said goodbye to the family, saying he would come back another time, but before he could leave, Mr. Fern¨¢ndez stopped him.


    "You said you were going home, right?"


    "Of course, why?"


    "And you say you live far away from here, right?"


    "Indeed."


    "Why don''t I give you a ride home? That way, you''ll get there faster."


    "Uh, no, I''d like to do it on my own, thank you."


    "But from Resistencia to your house, you''d arrive late, almost at dusk."


    "Maybe, but..."


    "I insist, I''ll take you home, it''s the least I can do for you."


    Candado scratched his neck and looked at his feet.


    "Alright," then he looked up, "why not, it would be good to get there faster."


    "Good, I''ll bring the car right away, wait for me."


    After saying that, he disappeared behind a door that was behind him, leaving only Candado and Mrs. Fern¨¢ndez.


    "Tell me, Candado, how can I find another job?"


    Candado stroked his chin for a while and then looked at her.


    "What is your desire in life?"


    "I want to help other people, just like you do."


    "Well, you can be a police officer, lawyer, politician, nurse, prosecutor, or teacher."


    "Alright, alright, and alright," she said as she wrote in a little notebook.


    "I think I''m starting to hate those notes."


    "Did you say something?"


    "No, I didn''t say anything."


    At that moment, Mr. Fern¨¢ndez burst into the room.


    "It''s ready."


    "That was quick," said Candado as he headed for the door, then he turned around, "goodbye, Mrs. Fern¨¢ndez, I promise to visit you again."


    "The house will always be open for you."


    Candado smiled and replied, "Yes, for sure."


    Then Candado left the house. Outside, an eye-catching orange car was waiting for him, it looked like a Peugeot, but it wasn''t a Peugeot.


    "What is this?"


    "It''s a car, Candado, a beautiful and shiny car."


    "I''ve never seen one like it before."


    "Well, my little company made it, behold the Fangiomovil."


    "Wow, honestly, wow."


    Candado''s eyes lit up at the sight of a car made in Argentina.


    "What do you think?"


    "How did you build it?" asked Candado as he ran his hand over the hood.


    "After you gave us that generous amount of money, I went looking for land in Buenos Aires, bought an old factory, and hired a group of workers to do the job."


    "But how did you get them to build it in such a short time?"


    "Company secrets."


    Then both got into the car.


    "Tell me, sir, will your employees be paid well?"


    "Of course, after I received your help, I got a new life, I''m sure this is the work of Almighty God."


    "Heh, yeah, sure," Candado said sarcastically as he fastened his seatbelt.


    "Alright, here we go."


    The man started the engine and the car started moving; the sound was muted, it was almost comforting for the man, although it wasn''t for Candado. Somehow, it reminded him of his father, and just feeling those good moments he had spent with him, it brought him some nostalgia in his heart, but also a joyful memory of his past.


    "I won''t give up."


    Mr. Fern¨¢ndez was somewhat surprised to hear that, but he didn''t do anything, just smiled and replied with a slight smile.


    Candado had fallen asleep halfway through the journey, so there was hardly any conversation with Mr. Fern¨¢ndez. Although he suspected that Candado was involved in something big and dangerous, they remained just suspicions, as he didn''t have time to ask him, and it was a shame. But he wasn''t going to interrupt his sleep.


    When they arrived in the town of Isla del Cerrito, the man gently woke Candado and told him they had arrived.


    Candado woke up, covered his mouth, and yawned.


    "Gosh, how long did I sleep?"


    "An hour."


    "Wow, we''re already here, alright, thanks."


    "Wait, don''t you want me to take you home?"


    "No, I don''t want to bother you," then he extended his hand, and the man quickly shook it, "thanks for taking the trouble to bring me here, I appreciate it."


    "You sound like a robot when you say that with that face."


    "Get used to it."


    Then he got out of the car and closed the door behind him, then made a gesture for the man to leave, showing an attempt at a smile. The man touched his temple three times while smiling, then reversed and drove away from the boy; the man looked at Candado''s figure through the rearview mirror as he smiled.


    "Whatever it is, he''s a good person," the man said aloud.


    When the car was out of sight, Candado put his hands in his pockets and decided to walk a bit. Just when he thought he wouldn''t have a headache, bam, T¨ªnbari appeared out of nowhere just to bother him.


    "Ah, back to this pigsty."


    "Excuse me for not having skyscrapers."


    "What you''re saying is complete nonsense."


    "I didn''t say anything. Besides, where have you been?"


    "Uh, here and there."


    "Then go back there and stay there."


    T¨ªnbari started laughing.


    "Come on, Candado, it''s just a joke, don''t take it to heart."


    "I think I''ve said it before, but never mind, I''ll say it again."


    "What?"


    "You''re a pain."


    "And you..."


    "Don''t push it, scoundrel."


    "Well, I''m going to think of something clever, be right back."


    After saying that, he disappeared again.


    "Please, don''t come back," Candado said as he scratched his chin.


    After having such a brief conversation with T¨ªnbari, Candado headed to his favorite plaza. The sun was still high in the sky. Then he took out his watch and looked at the time: it was 1:01 in the afternoon. He exhaled and looked at the sky again. His eyes started to feel heavy, and with each passing minute, his blinking slowed down. Candado touched his eyes with his index finger and thumb.


    "I need an energy boost, it''s not time to sleep yet," he said as he tapped his cheeks a few times.


    Then he headed home, hoping someone would be there. After all, he was starting to get tired. As he turned the corner, he could see his house, and not only that, he could see those who had accompanied him outside his house. All his friends were outside his door waiting. Nelson was leaning against the car door, beaten; Clementina was on the roof of the car surveying the area, probably to see if he was nearby. Anderson, already cured for mysterious reasons, seemed to be just a passenger; he was sitting in front of the door of his house with Hip¨®lito keeping him company, while both watched the two porcelain dolls playing with Yara. Hammya was the most worried of all, she was pacing back and forth looking at the ground with her hands behind her back.


    "What''s this?" he wondered to himself as he watched the scene.


    Candado inhaled and then exhaled; then he put one foot forward and walked straight towards them, taking his hands out of his pockets and waving at them while his eyes were closed.


    "Here comes the scolding," Candado muttered.


    Then he opened his eyes and was surprised to see everyone running towards him.


    "Oh gosh, this is going to hurt," Candado said as he took his hands out of his pockets and stood still in the middle of the sidewalk.


    Nelson was the first to arrive, he took Candado by the waist and lifted him into the air, while Candado maintained his cool demeanor.


    "I already knew it, you''re okay."


    "YOU DON''T HAVE THE WOUND!" Hammya exclaimed, surprised.


    Candado looked at his arm, although the bullet had sunk in a bit at the impact site.


    "Oh, that, I''ve already told you before, I always come out unscathed from situations."


    "I said it once and I''ll say it again, you''re fine," Nelson said as he held him in the air still.


    Candado didn''t respond, he just kept his gaze on the old man''s eyes, while he kept spinning and spinning him in the air.


    "Could you put me down? Please?"


    Nelson stopped and gently set him down on the ground.


    "Thanks, now..."


    Before he could say anything else, Hammya hugged him tightly, followed by Clementina, Hip¨®lito, Nelson, Andersson, Roc¨ªo, Gerald, and Yara.


    "Good Heavens, I think I''m going to break my back."


    "Shut up, party pooper," Clementina said.


    "Yeah, I''m glad to see you all too, but it''s not worth exaggerating."


    Then Candado felt his shoulder wet, he looked down and saw Hammya.


    "Hey, are you crying?"


    "No," she said in a shaky voice.


    "Yeah, right," Candado replied sarcastically.


    He took Hammya by the shoulders and separated her from him to look her in the eyes. Indeed, she was crying.


    "What are you going to tell me now? That you''re sweating from your eyes?"


    "Yes."


    Candado was about to laugh at her response, but instead, he discreetly bit his lips, looked at everyone, and gestured for them to give him some space. Everyone moved away from him, and then he said.


    "Well, I''m glad that you all..."


    "Really? Because you don''t seem very excited," Clementina interrupted.


    "You''re going to drive me crazy."


    Hip¨®lito gently lowered his fist on Clementina''s head.


    "Silence, child."


    "Fine... Well, you know what... You can go back to what you were doing before."


    As soon as he said that, everyone hugged Candado again.


    "What are you doing?"


    "You said we should go back to what we were doing, right?"


    "I didn''t mean that, Clementina, I didn''t mean that."


    "Once more, please?" Yara pleaded.


    "Oh, my Isidro, alright, alright."


    Everyone cheered and continued hugging Candado for over ten minutes until he finally felt free once they all could step away from him. Candado explained why he was delayed and how he got here. While Nelson could understand where he had stayed, the others didn''t understand anything. And once he finished telling everything that had happened, hiding certain things, everyone went back to their chores. Hip¨®lito went back to the house to prepare the kitchen while the grandmother was away, and his parents were also absent. Nelson returned home with his shot-up car, taking the forest path to avoid attracting attention, difficult to drive, but easy to avoid the eyes of other people. Candado had tried to send Yara home, but she refused to leave, wanting to play a little more with her new friends, so she stayed by her father''s side.


    On the other hand, Candado wanted to talk a bit with Andersson, which was quite easy since Candado knew Swedish and speaking it wasn''t difficult, although Andersson struggled a bit to speak Spanish, but it wasn''t a problem. Now that they had all the time in the world, Candado took Andersson and the others to the meadow where he and Yara played that time, while they sat under the tree to chat a bit about the situation. Hammya and Clementina took the little ones to play. Andersson felt comfortable seeing his little siblings having fun.


    Bra, jag hoppas att den h?r platsen passar dig." (Good, I hope this place suits you.)


    Andersson nodded his head, accepting what Candado had said.


    "Tack f?r hj?lpen." (Thanks for the help.)


    Inget att (No problem).


    "Bra, vad ville du prata om?" (Well, what did you want to talk about?).


    "Jag vill att du ber?ttar f?r mig om ditt liv och dina syskon." (I want you to tell me about your life and your siblings).


    "Bra."


    Andersson began by explaining the basics, about what he had to go through, like there were people looking for them, clashes against agents. About how he confronted a woman in a bus with a number eight on her forehead.


    "I understand, jag beklagar att jag f?r dig att ber?tta det h?r." (I understand, I''m sorry I''m making you tell this).


    "Nej, inga problem (No, no problem)¡ªThen he looked at his siblings, who were playing with Yara''s hair.¡ªDet ?r fantastiskt att vi har kommit s? h?r l?ngt, ?rligt talat, jag trodde aldrig att jag skulle leva h?r (It''s amazing that we''ve come this far, honestly, I never thought I would survive here).


    "Men h?r ?r du." (But here you are).


    "Ja, det var mycket absurd." (Yes, it was very absurd)¡ªThen he lowered his gaze and continued¡ªsanningen, aldrig visste jag om vi har oss, jag och mina br?der, ?r en g?va eller ett straff (The truth is, I never knew if what we have, me and my brothers, is a gift or a punishment).


    "Vad menar du?" (What do you mean?).


    "Veras v?n, det gjorde jag inte be om detta, gjorde ingen, men vi ?r h?r, jag f?rlorade mina f?r?ldrar p? grund av kretsen, vad h?nde med mig var dumt, hela mitt liv har jag l?rt mig att misstro m?nniskor, men din hj?lp (You see, friend, I didn''t ask for this, no one did, but here we are, I lost my parents because of the circuit, what happened to me was stupid, my whole life I''ve learned to mistrust people, but your help).


    "Andersson, f?r du inte t?nka p? det, jag vet att ditt liv var sv?rt, men beh?ver inte straffa dig sj?lv (Andersson, you shouldn''t think about that, I know your life was hard, but you don''t need to punish yourself)¡ªThen he briefly moved his eyes to the left.¡ªTitta, n?r var sista g?ngen du s?g dem skratta s?d?r? (Look, when was the last time you saw them laugh like that?).


    "Bra, Jag f?rst?r inte vad du betyder f?r mig." (Well, I don''t understand what you mean to me).


    "Livet ?r alltid sv?rt, men nej, vi kommer inte att ge upp. Att vilja ta ditt liv var en feg handling, f?r om du g?r det, skulle du l?mna dina br?der ensamma i denna v?rld och tvinga dem att ?verleva p? egen hand, l?ngs d?liga v?gar." (Life is always hard, but no, we won''t give up. Wanting to take your life was a cowardly act, because if you did, you would leave your brothers alone in this world and force them to survive on their own, through bad paths).


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    "Andersson sighed."


    "Bra." (Good)


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    Then he placed his hand on his shoulder and continued.


    "Jag vet inte om jag hittade dig av en slump, men jag m?ste s?ga att det var en l?ttnad att hitta dig den h?r g?ngen." (I don''t know if I found you by chance, but I must say it was a relief to find you this time).


    "Gud, ja du ?r v?rd ber?m." (God, yes you deserve praise).


    "Du ?r v?lkommen." (You''re welcome).


    "Jag skulle vilja g?ra n?got f?r dig." (I would like to do something for you).


    "F?rst, l?r dig att tala mitt spr?k, och sedan, stanna kvar i denna stad. Det skulle vara trevligt om min lilla lekte med dina br?der." (First, learn to speak my language, and then, stay in this town. It would be nice if my little one played with your brothers).


    "Det ?r okej." (It''s okay).


    At that moment, Yara came running and took Candado''s hands.


    "Come play with us," she said, her eyes shining.


    "I''m coming, princess," Candado replied with a smile.


    He then stood up and scooped her into his arms, eliciting a joyful scream from her.


    "I''m a monster that will eat little Yara," Candado declared playfully as he lifted her into the air.


    But as soon as he did that, the two porcelain brothers grabbed Candado''s legs and pulled him back with force, causing him to fall, his chest hitting the ground.


    "The monster has fallen," Gerald proclaimed as he stood on Candado''s back.


    "Good," applauded Roc¨ªo, "you''ve been punished for kidnapping a damsel."


    "Indeed, the monster has fallen," Candado said, releasing Yara and turning around to lie on his back, looking up at the sky and sticking out his tongue as if he were dead. "I''m dead, dah."


    Then Clementina approached him and poked him with a twig.


    "What are you doing?" Yara asked.


    "Just making sure he''s dead," Clementina replied mischievously.


    She then poked him in the stomach.


    "I''m not ticklish, so stop that," Candado said, keeping his eyes closed.


    But just as he said that, Yara jumped on his stomach, causing him to wake up and sit up.


    "I told you not to do that."


    He then hugged Yara, wrapping his arms around her neck, while she laughed. He was also joined by hugs from Gerald and Roc¨ªo, while Clementina and Hammya laughed at the scene. Andersson felt calmer seeing his siblings having fun. Yara transformed into a snake and slithered up his body to his head, where she coiled herself up and relaxed.


    "I want to do that too," Roc¨ªo said.


    Candado tried to contain his laughter at the little girl''s antics. But Hammya lifted her up and placed her on Candado''s shoulders.


    "What do you think you''re doing?" Candado asked, amused.


    He smiled and stood up, then looked at Gerald, and in a strange way, Candado gave a small stomp on the ground, and out of nowhere, two dogs appeared, only this time they were puppies, no longer with their characteristic flames, just their purple fur. Although it initially startled Gerald, these little puppies jumped on him and started licking his face.


    "Impressive," Clementina congratulated. "It''s the same trick he used in the fight with Miss Fereshteh."


    "Heh, it''s a very old magic, created by my grandfather a long time ago."


    "But... they''re very small."


    "It''s easy to make them like this, as long as I use minimal magic. The puppies were just like the adults, only a little smaller and with beautiful faces. They had few teeth, their barks were very high-pitched, they were very playful, and they couldn''t stay still, spinning and spinning, playing with little Gerald."


    "Oh, puppies," she said tenderly. Candado leaned down and the girl got off, accompanied by Yara, who had turned back into a human.


    "When it comes to children, you''re very kind," Hammya remarked.


    Candado looked at Hammya, with an indifferent attitude, as he always does, slightly unsettling her, but then he smiled.


    "Keep those comments to yourself, will you?"


    Hammya and Clementina were puzzled by this unusual expression from Candado.


    "Who are you?" they both said.


    "Don''t make me angry," Candado said, his cold demeanor returning.


    He then walked with his hands in his pockets to the children, who were happily playing with the puppies. Candado leaned down and placed both hands on Yara''s and Gerald''s heads.


    "What are you doing?" he asked with a smile.


    "We''re playing with the puppies," Roc¨ªo said.


    "Wow, it''s very relaxing, isn''t it?" Candado observed.


    "Why don''t you join us?" Gerald suggested.


    Candado shook his head. "No, I think I''ll just watch."


    He then sat down as the kids moved away from him, chasing after the puppies. Candado felt content watching them play, especially Yara, who had begun to open up to others. He had never seen her so cheerful with other people; in the past, she would be crying and screaming for her father or Mauricio. Candado brought his hand to his chin and pondered. Now that he had made the observation about his little one, it all started because Hammya appeared. It was quite strange; she still had no knowledge of her powers, despite having used them twice, three times with that time Declan spoke in her language to annoy Viki. It was too quick to draw conclusions yet, but Candado suspected that Hammya might have a split personality.


    Candado removed his hand and then looked at Hammya; she was playing with Yara, lifting her into the air, imitating Candado. It was strange, both times she used her powers, her eyes and personality changed. But after thinking about them, he lay back, picked up a small flower next to him, and examined it closely.


    "You''re too intriguing, Hammya Saillim," he said softly, then let go of the flower and the wind carried it away. "Too intriguing," he added before closing his eyes.


    When they realized that Candado was too far away from them, they quickly returned to where he was lying down. When they arrived, Candado had fallen asleep, completely exhausted. Yara rested her head on Candado''s chest to feel the beating of his heart.


    "He''s still alive."


    "It''s obvious he''s still alive, girl, he''s just sleeping," Clementina said.


    "Okay, what do we do now?" Roc¨ªo asked.


    "I think it''s best for Candado to rest for a while," Andersson said as he approached behind them with his hands behind his back. "We''ll wake him up later."


    "Andersson, you''ve learned to speak, well done."


    "Thank you, Lady Clementina."


    "But... Candado is the one who organizes us, if he''s sleeping, then what do we do?" Clementina asked.


    "Why don''t we do the same?"


    After saying that, Andersson lay down on the ground on his back, then looked at the others.


    "Come on, join us."


    "I don''t think..."


    "It''s relaxing," Gerald interrupted.


    Clementina turned around and saw the three children lying behind her.


    "You''re going to get your clothes dirty," she scratched her head. "Well, after all, he''s relaxed too," she added before lying down on the ground.


    The two brothers were stroking the puppies they had, each on their belly, while looking at the sky. Yara, on the other hand, was lying on her right side while holding Candado''s hand. It was at that moment that Yara realized Candado''s hand was large. Andersson was looking up and chattering about the clouds, saying things like some looked like a car, plane, or a duck, while Clementina listened to what he said with less or no importance at all, focusing only on the noise around her, so she could warn Candado of an imminent danger.


    Hammya, on the other hand, lay on the left side of Candado. Looking up at the sky with her right hand on her abdomen, she smiled, feeling peace around her. Lost in the beautiful things she imagined when looking at the celestial sky, she decided to lower her gaze and saw Candado, who was sleeping so peacefully. His breathing was slow, his eyes were tightly closed, and his face was cool and expressionless as the wind moved some strands of hair on his forehead. Hammya couldn''t help but feel moved; she smiled and moved her hand to his, her fingers intertwining with his. Candado still didn''t wake up, in fact, he didn''t even notice Hammya''s hand, but even so, she felt happy, happy to be with him.

 TOWARDS THE RUBBLE

    The door''s shutter collapsed to the ground with a loud crash; the bars echoed, the sound stretching throughout the area and its surroundings. That stormy night in Buenos Aires left the streets deserted. Rain fell relentlessly on Esteban''s shoulders and his faithful comrade, Addel, who followed him under Maldonado''s orders. The knight''s anger manifested in the brutal force of a kick. Like Candado, Esteban had not closed his eyes since he learned of his companion''s tragic death. Since the funeral, his sole purpose had been to seek out the killer, without rest or respite.


    In the months following the events with the Traffic Lights, Esteban faced the overwhelming onslaught of criticism and praise. He would not allow himself to be dismissed without a response. He took charge of directing his teams to every corner of the world, seeking to clear U.F.E.T.C.''s name. Anger and despair began to overflow in his mind; every step and every second resonated with the repetitive idea of humiliating Candado. Though many hinted that his leadership was decaying, he turned a deaf ear and continued his tireless pursuit.


    Just a few days ago, Esteban received a message from an acquaintance. He was at the place where his comrade and friend, Guillermo, had been murdered. His mental state deteriorated minute by minute; even his girlfriend couldn''t reason with Esteban. He wouldn''t give up until he found his friend''s killer.


    The address led him to an abandoned house in the Buenos Aires suburbs. He had no intention of being friendly with the witness residing in such a desolate place. The first step was the easiest for him: venturing into the house. Once he destroyed the door and the shutter with a strong kick, it was time to inspect the area where they had found him. The smell of decay permeated the place; it was dirty, with noticeable leaks, no light, furniture, or people inhabiting it. The floor was shattered, the tiles peeling off the walls, and they were eaten away by moisture. It was more than evident that the house was abandoned.


    "I can''t see anything," Addel said.


    Esteban observed one of the walls and found a switch. He approached and punched it so hard it went through the wall, then gave it an electric shock that provided a dim light, although there were barely any bulbs.


    "Now I can see," he commented.


    Esteban didn''t respond; he simply set out to explore the house in search of something useful for the investigation. Fortunately, the house didn''t have many rooms; it looked like an apartment, but bigger and with a little more space. Addel walked through the living room, and as he stepped on the rubble, he felt something. He bent down, began to move pieces of wood and rocks one by one until he found something. It was a strange coin with Harambee''s face.


    "What''s this doing here?" he asked.


    Addel stood up, brushed the dirt off the coin to get a better look.


    "ESTEBAN!" Then he blew on the coin. "I think I found a W.O.G.A.B. coin."


    Esteban turned and walked over to him.


    "Look," he said as he handed him the coin, "this is one of those things you never thought you''d see."


    "It''s a fake coin," he said as he handed it back to him. "It''s no use to me."


    "A fake coin?"


    "It''s a method used by the guilds to access W.O.G.A.B.''s secret television channels, things like news, reports," then he approached a sort of bookshelf made of bricks and ran his fingers there, "and guild-related stuff," then he looked at his fingers black as soot, "Ugh, disgusting, apparently no one cleans here anymore."


    "Interesting, I could use this to analyze the enemy and..."


    "You''re wasting your time."


    "Excuse me?"


    "Those coins are only used once; after being used, their layer or chip gets destroyed, and they''re no good anymore."


    "Oh, what a shame."


    "Although it seems quite striking. What''s a coin like this doing in such a rundown place?"


    "Surely this was one of their houses."


    Esteban narrowed his eyes and then looked at Addel.


    "Better keep it, I think it''ll be useful for us, for now."


    Esteban headed to a room that, by intuition, he identified as the kitchen. There was no floor in that place, just rubble, with a large hole in the ceiling where the rain penetrated.


    "There''s nothing useful here," he thought aloud.


    Then he crossed to the other end, where he found a completely destroyed room.


    "I never thought I''d see such a deteriorated place like this."


    He stopped when he saw an unusual crack in a wall that wasn''t rotten or invaded by fungi. It had a slight cracked dent extending from its origin. Intrigued, he placed his index finger in the crack and followed it to its origin, tapping three times with the same finger.


    "ADDEL!" he shouted as he looked at the crack in the strange wall.


    Addel appeared at that moment, still holding the coin.


    "Is something wrong, sir?"


    "Look at this, the crack in this wall doesn''t match this dent; they''re quite uneven, not to mention that this wall looks quite new."


    "What do you suggest, sir?"


    Esteban reached into the small hole and pulled out a piece of debris that crumbled in his hand. Then he brought the same hand to his nose and smelled each finger.


    "How curious, it''s damp."


    "It must be because of the rain."


    "I don''t think so. This area isn''t damp, especially if there''s too much rubble to prevent water from reaching this particular area. It''s impossible for it to reach here."


    Then he stood up and, without looking at Addel, said:


    "I want you to tell me what''s behind it."


    "Piece of cake," he said as he tucked the coin into his pocket.


    He stood in the middle of the wall, took five steps back, and ran with all his strength toward the wall, but he didn''t break through or pass it. Instead, he collided with it and fell to the ground in great pain.


    "I thought I told you to go through it, not to stamp yourself on it."


    "I tried," he said as he tried to stand up. "It''s just that something strange is happening here; the wall nullified my powers."


    Esteban walked up to the wall and placed his left hand on it, then closed his eyes.


    "What are you doing?"


    "Shhhh, I''m concentrating my powers in one area. We''ll find out one way or another what''s hidden behind this wall."


    But the moment he put his hand on it, the wall fragmented again and began making strange noises.


    "Was that supposed to happen?"


    "That wasn''t me," said Esteban as he cautiously withdrew his hand. "Something like this shouldn''t happen," then he looked at the crack; it kept growing and growing, its roots fragmenting as it spread.


    "What''s happening?"


    Esteban didn''t answer; he simply backed away from that wall.


    "Whatever it is, seems like I ''opened'' it."


    When the wall had cracked completely, it began to slowly fall, revealing a door.


    "Wow, that''s odd," then he shook his shoulder and walked over to it.


    "Sir, wait."


    Esteban turned around and looked at him.


    "Is something wrong?" he asked skeptically.


    "Let me go in first. I think it''d be better if I check the place."


    Esteban didn''t respond; he just grimaced and proceeded to kick the door open.


    "Thanks for the compliment, but no," he said as he shook his hands. "Come on, I don''t want heroes," he added as he took out his personal flashlight, which was basically a sphere of electricity emanating from his right palm.


    The room was dark, there was nothing, just a step leading into the depths, disappearing from view. Each step was difficult to see as they descended.


    "Geez, this is what I call a ''Secret Room'', a horrible and eerie secret room," said Addel.Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.


    Esteban took four steps, stopped, turned, and said:


    "Keep your eyes open," then he paused for a moment to reflect and continued, "This place is too dangerous; you''ll have to be very careful. If your powers failed to pass through a harmless wall, I can''t imagine what we might encounter down there."


    "Yes, sir, I''ll be cautious."


    Once Esteban gave his warning, they began to descend the stairs. Although it didn''t seem like it, Addel was very nervous, so much so that his white face began to turn orange.


    "Calm down a bit, nothing''s going to happen," said Esteban without looking at him.


    "Sorry, sir, I''m claustrophobic, I hate small and narrow places."


    "You, a person who appears and disappears in moments of danger, how is it possible that you''re afraid?"


    "When I get nervous, my powers fail, and I can''t dematerialize."


    "Relax, because dead you''re no good to me."


    "Thanks, now I''ll be calm."


    "Come on, mate, relax..."


    A sour, harsh noise, resembling a howl, came from the depths of the place. Although Addel was terrified, Esteban wasn''t. In fact, he lit his other hand and ran until he reached the end of the stairs, where there was another door, but tougher and more resistant. He arrived like a madman making his triumphant entrance, breaking down the door and getting ready in an attack position. Although it was exaggerated and reckless, because he could have died if there was someone really dangerous. But deep in Addel''s trembling heart, he felt comfortable knowing that Esteban had such a big and, most of the time, dangerous mind, like his. It gave quite the character and enough reason to feel protected with someone like that by his side.


    "Is there no one?" asked a paralyzed-with-fear Addel.


    "Negative."


    "What does that mean?"


    "It means there''s no one, idiot. So come down."


    Addel hurried and descended the stairs quickly, until he reached his companion.


    "Check this out, it''s strange," said Esteban as he pulled a lever on his side.


    "Oh, my God."


    The place was an experiment room, it looked like a morgue. Everything was bloody, and the moment Esteban pulled the lever, the light came on, but there were some flickering bulbs. The floor had dry, black blood; there were two stretchers, a flipped desk, and several shelves on the floor.


    "What is this place?" asked Addel as he brought his right hand to his head. "We shouldn''t be here," he concluded.


    Esteban was far from surprised; he didn''t even react to such disorder. But after a few minutes, he scratched his cheek and walked over to one of the shelves on the floor. Then he crouched down and inspected everything at his feet.


    "I''d like you to look around, please," said Esteban as he analyzed a piece of broken glass.


    Addel lowered his head and followed Esteban''s order. He walked to a sort of hallway, relieved to find it was just a bathroom, but then he kept walking in circles, observing without touching anything, until he saw a door in the direction where Esteban was, who was still crouched down analyzing the remnants at his feet.


    "There was a dispute here."


    "Sir?"


    "Yes, the glass on this shelf was shattered by someone''s body," he said as he ran his thumb over the brittle glass.


    "What do you suggest?"


    "I have no idea, I just know that someone fought here. I don''t know who or why, but that''s what the scene tells me."


    "Could we analyze that blood?"


    "It''s no use, that blood is already dead. From what I see, we''re too late," then he looked at Addel, "and by quite a bit."


    "What do we do?" asked Addel as he looked around.


    "Let''s look a bit more. It''s a lab, right? There should be a journal, file, notes, or recordings, I don''t know, something, anything to enlighten us a bit more about this mess," then he reached into his coat and pulled out some gum. He took one and offered the other to Addel.


    "Thanks, I need these."


    When Esteban was unwrapping the gum, he saw something at his feet that he hadn''t noticed before. He squinted, put the gum in his mouth, and leaned down to pick up what was on the floor. Then he stood up and examined it closely.


    "What is this?" Esteban murmured.


    Then he realized it had dirt on it. He took a handkerchief from one of his pockets and wiped the grimy object. When it was completely clean.


    "My goodness."


    "What''s happening, sir?" asked Addel.


    "This is a brooch from his handkerchief."


    "But what is that doing here? It''s impossible for that to be here if the door was closed."


    "There must be another way out here. Surely, when he went up the stairs and encountered the bricks, he went back the way he came," then his eyes lit up, "Quick! Search!"


    Addel hurried and headed to the door he had seen in front of Esteban. While he did that, Esteban was stunned to see his friend''s favorite brooch. It was at that moment that he remembered the first day they gave it to him.


    At that moment, Esteban was sitting at his desk reading a book titled "Tale of a Lie," written by Lorenzo Pierre, a famous writer for the Circuits. Esteban was underlining the main ideas, just to pass the time. When suddenly Guillermo burst in.


    "Hey, boss," he greeted as he lowered a box beside a shelf.


    "Oh, hi," then he flipped a page, "Do you need anything?"


    "As euphoric as ever," he then reclined in a chair in front, "Truthfully, nah, just came to rearrange my stuff."


    "Good luck," then he looked up and saw something peculiar on his handkerchief''s collar, "Hey, wait," Esteban interrupted.


    "What''s up?"


    "I noticed you''re wearing something quite expensive."


    "Envious?"


    "No, just find it strange you''d wear something like that, nothing more."


    "This is a gift from Lisa," he said, pointing to the brooch and continued, "It was a very nice gesture."


    "Where did she get the money?"


    "Is everything somehow related to that or is it just your investigation?"


    "I find it strange that such a carefree girl like her had that amount of money."


    "You''re... You''re being prejudiced?"


    "Me? No, of course not."


    "Thank goodness," he said as he put his hand to his chest, "I''d have broken your mouth."


    "What?"


    "Oh, nothing, just my thoughts," then he caressed the brooch and continued, "it''s an angel and also very beautiful. She said my handkerchief would look much better with a brooch like this."


    "...?"


    "What? Aren''t you going to say anything?"


    Esteban closed the book and looked him in the eyes.


    "I fear saying something that would harm your teeth."


    "My teeth? Your teeth."


    "No, your teeth. Do you think I''d let you hit me without doing something about it?"


    "Fair point... Wait, NO!"


    "Good, I''m glad you''re clear on that."


    "Ugh, Esteban, you''re always like this."


    "But on the other hand, I do like the brooch."


    "Thank you, brother. I plan to keep it with me until death."


    "Avoid saying that when others are present; I wouldn''t want the G.C.G. on my back."


    "Nothing will happen. As I said before, I plan to keep it until death."


    "Don''t exaggerate, it''s a long way from dying."


    Guillermo laughed heartily at what Esteban had said.


    Who would have thought that six months after that conversation, his greatest friend would die.


    At one point, Esteban was interrupted. It wasn''t the place or the time, as they were in an unknown area and in an unknown house. He quickly felt Addel''s hand on his shoulder; the simple touch of his companion made him focus on the matter again.


    "Sir, I think I found a way out."


    "Good, show me."


    Addel stepped forward, and Esteban followed him, pocketing the brooch.


    In the end, the door Addel had found was closed, they couldn''t open it, until Esteban used brute force again. With a strong blow, the door fell to the ground, revealing a vast, narrow, and dark corridor.


    "I don''t like that path."


    "Well, endure it," said Esteban, direct and annoyed.


    Then both followed that eerie path for Addel and approached another door, only this one was destroyed and totally splintered. Apparently, Guillermo had caused that, as he was somewhat similar to Esteban.


    Upon entering the place where the broken door was, they saw it was an old machinery depot, the same place where they had found Guillermo''s lifeless body.


    "Oh great, nothing, the trip was a waste of time."


    "No, Addel, it wasn''t."


    "Why do you say that?"


    Then they heard a noise behind them. They quickly turned and noticed that the door they had exited from was no longer there; instead, there was a strange wall that suddenly closed.


    "Whatever Guillermo saw caused him to flee from there. Something or someone scared him."


    "What? How?"


    "The laboratory was destroyed, yes, but it was due to a fight. Apparently, Guillermo found something and wanted to warn us, but they found out and attacked him, and as we know, he died."


    "How do you know that?"


    Esteban paced in circles as he took a die out of his vest pocket and began to play with it in his hand.


    "Time for a hypothesis," he threw the die into the air and caught it in his hand with the number one, and continued, "We know we discovered something, but what? The scene Guillermo saw is not the same as what we saw, but at least we''ve gotten closer to something. I know Guillermo took this path," then he crouched down and began to crawl, following a possible path where Guillermo could have walked, "He found something, but what? He knew that if I went to that meeting, they wouldn''t kill me but do something much worse; however, he went anyway. That leads me to believe he left clues, clues that you and I would follow."


    "I don''t understand what you''re telling me."


    Esteban stood up, tossed the die into the air again, and caught it in his hand once more, but this time with the number five.


    "''The order of things.'' Guillermo encountered someone, and I believe it was more than one person, as the wound he had was in his back. Someone treacherously killed him while he was focusing his attention on something or someone."


    "By whom?"


    "That''s the question, by whom? My hypotheses and the evidence tell me it wasn''t a guild member, and whoever said that was deceived or rather, was bought," then he took out his friend''s brooch and examined it closely. "Comrades never leave without leaving traces; he knew something could go wrong, so he prepared a path for us to follow."


    He tossed the die into the air again, and as it was about to fall, Esteban caught it mid-air, showing the number one.


    "''Conclusion.'' Guillermo set up a game, in which he didn''t leave players, but elements, only blind clues, the same ones that are here."


    "What does that mean?"


    "Guillermo saved us a place to start playing," then he pocketed both objects (die and brooch).


    He crouched again and saw some almost blurry marks on the floor "De + Po." Esteban ran his fingers over that mark.


    "And what will we do?"


    Esteban stood up, turned around, and with a smile answered.


    "We''re going to play this game."


    But in the same area, someone was secretly watching him, hooded, with metal hands, and a smile.


    Unfortunately, Esteban didn''t notice his presence and disappeared without him knowing.


    And as he ran in the rain, he bumped into someone, a very dangerous person for any living being.


    "Desza, I followed him."


    "Good, he''ll surely want to get close to the truth enough to expose his status."


    "What do you suggest?"


    "Tomorrow, a president will come to visit, while he looks for who killed his friend, you''ll follow him, while we wreak havoc in this city. I think it''s time for the world to see our mark."


    "Great strategy, sir."


    "Don''t disappoint me, P¨®ker. If you want to be a leader, you''ll have to kill him in a way that makes it seem like the guilds were involved."


    "I will do as you say, sir."


    Then, both disappeared that night. The plan was in motion, something very big was approaching and threatening the world as we know it.


    The next morning, a black limousine cruised the streets of Buenos Aires. President Julekha Chandra greeted her constituents, and there were laughs and praise from the crowd, both adults and children. She was a very friendly and understanding person. By her side was her vice president, Rem Koirala, who was also cheerful to greet their constituents.


    But among the laughter were the troublemakers, who wore the emblems of a Borrador. Among them was J?rgen, who wore a hat to cover his face.


    "I''m in position, sir."


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    "Excellent," said Desza, who was observing everything from the third floor of a hotel. "Now, do it. Let the world know of our mark."


    "At your command, sir."


    J?rgen picked up a stone from the ground and tossed it into the air. Then, it fell onto a boy, who cried out and made a scene.


    "Oh, help me, brothers, I''m being attacked."


    A Borrador, who was applauding, saw his "comrade" being beaten by a guild member. Anger erupted from within him, and he delivered a strong blow to the face.


    "HOW DARE YOU MESS WITH MY BROTHERS!?"


    The boy got up with the help of two others.


    "You''re scum, if you mess with a guild member, you mess with us."


    Then the madness began; as they fought, J?rgen took advantage and escaped from there. As he ran through the crowd, he removed all the clothing that identified him as a Borrador.


    As chaos rapidly spread, a young man who was watching everything ran to a nearby hotel and informed Rozkiewicz, who was having breakfast.


    "Sir, there''s trouble in the square."


    "HOW?!"


    "Yes, sir."


    "Don''t just stand there, call for reinforcements. We need to protect the president."


    Then he stood up and ran to the top floor of the hotel, from where he could see with horror what was happening.


    "This... Can''t be happening."

 EMERGENCY

    The streets echoed once again, but it wasn''t the sound of outlaws fleeing the Semaphores, but rather the eruption of a conflict between them and the Erasers. Julekha Chandra, president of the tricolor agency, strolled through the streets of Buenos Aires in preparation for her upcoming candidacy. However, harmony shattered when an Eraser was attacked by a unionist, unleashing chaos in the streets.


    Rozkiewicz, the interim president due to the suspension of the current leader for inappropriate behavior, declared a state of defense to end the conflict and protect the president. For this critical mission, Rozkiewicz handpicked the best agents: Maxi Esteeman, Nicol¨¢s Caba?a, Leandro Maidana, Reinhold Krauser, Moneda, Ruth, Catherine Arce, Isaurralde Fiore, and Mar¨ªa Celeste Pe¨®n.


    These individuals became essential for the president''s protection. Maxi was the brute force, his metal casing making him invulnerable. Nicol¨¢s represented agility, moving swiftly and precisely to avoid any harm. Leandro specialized in deception, morphing into anyone and acting as an undercover agent. Krauser embodied fear and terror, with his unique strength and regeneration. Moneda acted as the inspector, alert to any danger in the environment. Ruth was the infantry, with her strength and endurance, ready for escape in critical situations. Arce played the role of medical assistance, capable of saving lives in any situation. Fiore, an explosives expert, handled sabotage. Lastly, Celeste, with her hawk eye and sniper rifle skills, added her unique touch to the team.


    This group would be the main support for the president, observing everything from the balcony of a building. Krauser was the first to express his discontent.


    "Is this the plan? To wait here and watch as our comrades are in danger?" he exclaimed.


    "Calm down, Krauser. The idea is to wait until Desza makes his move," replied Rozkiewicz, his tone cold.


    "Must be a joke," Fiore interjected.


    Rozkiewicz turned coldly and replied, "No, it''s not," before returning his gaze to the chaos in the streets. "The president is not in danger. Trust me."


    "How much longer are we going to be sitting here?" Caba?a questioned.


    "As long as necessary. Now sit down and observe," Rozkiewicz commanded.


    "No, I won''t. We could do something right now instead of just watching. We''re here, observing the chaos," Caba?a retorted.


    Celeste stomped her foot forcefully, the sound reverberating from her diamond boots. "Caba?a, relax. I won''t tolerate disputes among friends. I believe in him, so I suggest you do the same."


    Before Nicol¨¢s could say anything, Rozkiewicz lifted his chin, blades emerging from his sleeves. "The scoundrel is here," he announced.


    From the rooftop descended Moneda, sniffing the air. "That scent is unmistakable. It''s the smell of a creature already rotting."


    Krauser clenched his fists. "Bastard," he growled, his white face displaying his dangerous teeth and eyes. "I won''t rest until I gut you."


    "Now, we need to move. And remember, don''t you dare stray from the area," Rozkiewicz ordered.


    "Understood," they all responded.


    "Alright, it''s time for their punishment. FOR HARAMBEE!"


    After the battle cry, they all leaped from the balcony, which was about ten stories high. Upon hitting the ground, they scattered in different directions. Although they had no qualms about attacking the Erasers, they were still searching for Desza in the area. As Rozkiewicz had anticipated, he wouldn''t be alone; his lackeys would also be present. That''s why he enlisted the help of five important individuals: Sofia Ibarra de Zapir¨®n, Frederick Fliipoff, Walter Dussek, Agostina Cantero Amana, and Natalia Anastasia. These people were the reason Rozkiewicz didn''t dare defend Chandra. Disguised as bodyguards, they managed to extract the president without the Erasers realizing, leaving the impression that she was still there, wounded.


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    As the group sprinted, attacking any possible Erasers, Celeste ascended one of the many buildings in the city of Buenos Aires to identify the Witnesses. It was obvious they would target the area where Julekha Chandra supposedly was. As a sniper, she possessed a special gift: she could pinpoint her target amidst the crowd. Her body triggered a chemical reaction, filling her eyes with various hues, constantly shifting and enabling her to identify her prey. While scanning for her target, she caught a noise from behind. Celeste swiftly turned and spotted a person dangerously close with a knife. She drew her second weapon, a dagger, and hurled it. However, her attacker''s reflexes were remarkable, almost as good as hers. The abrupt movement caused their hood to fall, revealing their face. Indeed, it was Dockly.


    "Who are you, idiot?" she demanded.


    Dockly opted to introduce himself with two Eagle guns he had retrieved from his clothes and began firing. Yet, Celeste dodged the bullets and took refuge behind a nearby wall.


    "There''s nowhere to run, miss. You better surrender now," Dockly taunted.


    "NEVER!" she yelled, drawing her other weapons.


    While Celeste''s path was blocked by her foe, Rozkiewicz, indirectly accompanied by Krauser and Nicol¨¢s, discovered Desza''s whereabouts. He stood amidst the crowd, his diabolical smile on display with his unsheathed machete.


    "Son of a bitch," Krauser muttered as he headed toward him.


    "WAIT, YOU IDIOT!" Rozkiewicz shouted.


    But his cries didn''t halt the eager Krauser.


    "You damn fool," he then glanced at Nico, "Go ahead and follow him. It''s probably a trap."


    "As you say, Rozki."


    Nico darted after him.


    "When this is over, I''m going to kill him."


    Running after him, Rozkiewicz realized he was right; it was a trap. In the distance, he could sense other people, at least two of them. Amidst the crowd, he could make out Joel and J?rgen.


    "Fools, I knew it. It''s a trap."


    While Rozkiewicz attempted to approach his comrades, Krauser transformed into the same thing as that night.


    "Oh, I''m glad you''ve recovered from your mortal wounds," Desza remarked.


    "DESZA!" Krauser roared.


    "Come to daddy."


    As Krauser drew near, Desza fled, sparking Krauser''s fury and his determined pursuit.


    "COME BACK!"


    Amidst the crowd, Desza''s psychotic laughter echoed.


    "CATCH ME IF YOU CAN!" he taunted while laughing.


    At that moment, Nicol¨¢s appeared to stop his friend, who was blinded by rage. Suddenly, Johan emerged and thrust his sword into Nicol¨¢s'' abdomen.


    "You... traitor," Nicol¨¢s gasped.


    "I''m not a traitor, I''m a mercenary, and I work for those who pay me enough," Johan retorted, withdrawing his sword. "It''s nothing personal, just business."


    Nicol¨¢s knelt on the asphalt, his hands covering the bleeding from his mortal wound.


    "Why? They tried to kill you. You had a contract with us."


    "The contract expired, Caba?a. They paid me much more than you could ever afford."


    "You filthy traitor. I knew it wasn''t a good idea to deal with people like you," Nicol¨¢s spat, blood staining his lips.


    Johan approached, his sword at Nicol¨¢s'' throat. "I''m sorry, I quite liked you, but that''s life," he said with a smirk.


    "Rot in hell," Nicol¨¢s whispered.


    Johan laughed, and as he was about to slit his throat, Maxi appeared and struck him in the waist, pulling him away from Nicol¨¢s, who smiled and passed out. Amidst the throng of people, Krauser and Rozkiewicz emerged.This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


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    "CABA?A!" President Rozkiewicz yelled as he carried his unconscious friend''s body.


    "We need to get him to healer Escanciano quickly," Krauser decreed.


    "Get the dwarf out of here, I''ll deal with the traitor," Johan announced, rising and sheathing his sword, then pressing a button on his wrist to produce two axes from his forearm.


    "We''ll desecrate filthy blacks, just like your precious Harambee," he declared.


    Rozkiewicz placed Caba?a''s body in Krauser''s arms and stepped forward.


    "Take back what you''ve said this instant," he demanded.


    "I won''t," Johan retorted.


    "Remember, Johan, it was a black woman who saved us from the tyranny of the Circuits. Her name was Ndereba Harambee, the same person you dared to betray."


    Johan struggled to maintain his smile in the face of such a crude speech from a dark-skinned individual.


    "Blacks don''t deserve to be part of humanity," he insisted.


    "Esteeman..."


    "Go, Krauser, you have an injured comrade in your arms," he glanced back at him, "You''re not one to leave a wounded teammate to pursue your goal, are you?"


    "No," Krauser replied, then he covered Caba?a''s wound with his tentacles, "Alright, I''ll be back. Until then, I temporarily withdraw from the mission."


    "That''s the spirit," Maxi said proudly.


    "What about you, Rozkiewicz?" Krauser inquired.


    "The mission stands. I won''t let Desza achieve his goal. I''ll go after him, even if it means risking my life. That''s what Barreto would do."


    "Sure, but Barreto wouldn''t chase after a madman with a machete alone."


    "But I will," Rozkiewicz smiled.


    With that said, he surged into the crowd, while Krauser raced back at full speed to save his comrade.


    "I won''t allow it," Johan declared to Rozkiewicz, drawing his sword and advancing. But Maxi, transforming his skin into steel, struck Johan again.


    "Black and the re..."


    "Will you keep saying that or fight?" Maxi interrupted.


    "THANKS, BLACK!" Rozkiewicz shouted as he retreated and disappeared into the crowd.


    "Alright, now it''s just you and me," Johan stated.


    "We''ll fight fast," Maxi replied.


    "Why?"


    "I don''t want it to get dark; it''ll be tough to fight a shadow."


    "How amusing."


    While Johan engaged in combat with Maxi, Leandro played his role as an infiltrator well, neutralizing the Erasers, assuming their appearances after knocking them unconscious with a blow to the neck. Fortunately, he didn''t encounter anyone special, only facing off against inconsequential Erasers.


    Arce focused on saving the wounded, aided by Cantero, who defied Rozkiewicz''s orders to inflict harm and instead assisted both Semaphores and Erasers. Due to the respect she had earned through her powers, no one dared to bother her.


    As chaos rapidly spread throughout the city, police officers and gendarmes began to arrive, but they didn''t dare to intervene in the fight with powered individuals. It was clear they didn''t want to get hurt, so they merely observed behind their shields. Their rifles were ready in case anyone approached to attack them, but there''s always an idiot who acts without thinking. One of the officers fired a tear gas grenade into the fighting crowd. Unfortunately for him, the majority of the adults in the crowd rushed toward the police and gendarmerie. Even with their shields, they were ineffective against the powers of the crowd.


    Rozkiewicz, who had lost track of Desza, felt the police and gendarmes joining the fray. He ran toward where his reinforcements were stationed, in a nearby hotel. They were on the roof, watching the chaos unfold.


    Rozkiewicz leaped onto the roof but landed awkwardly, stumbling and falling in front of them.


    "Nice way to land," Frederick remarked.


    "Your girlfriend taught me," Rozkiewicz retorted.


    "Enough! Don''t argue. There are too many problems down there for us to fight among ourselves," Sof¨ªa intervened.


    "Sorry, Sof¨ª," Frederick apologized.


    "Alright, what''s the plan?" Sof¨ªa asked.


    Rozkiewicz stood up and declared, "The Witnesses want to steal the Alfons¨ªn key, a necklace that can open the sanctuary where Thanatos is imprisoned. We can''t let it fall into their hands."


    "Alright, the plan is to stop them, so let''s do it," Frederick responded.


    "I like your attitude, Sof¨ª," Rozkiewicz complimented.


    "It''s time to end this," Sof¨ªa affirmed.


    "Let''s go!" Rozkiewicz urged.


    As they dispersed into the streets, Desza, disguised as a Semaphore, who had overheard the conversation, grinned and muttered, "Fools."


    He discarded his disguise and charged into the crowd, brandishing his machete, an object that caught the attention of all his followers, who ceased their activities and began to follow him. Everyone except Dockly, who was still locked in combat with a formidable opponent.


    "How long are you going to keep fighting?" Dockly asked as he loaded his Winchester.


    "Until one of us dies or we run out of bullets," his opponent replied.


    "Great words," Dockly commented before emerging from cover and firing with precision.


    This prompted Celeste to emerge from hiding and shoot at him with a red Magnum. The bullets tore huge holes in the walls as if a small meteor had crashed into them.


    Dockly rolled on the ground and returned fire. He stood up, stowed his Winchester, and drew a sword. Celeste tried to shoot, but she was out of bullets. She tossed the gun aside and ran toward him. When she got close enough, Dockly swung his sword intending to decapitate her, but she sidestepped, causing his sword to hit the ground. Seizing the opportunity, Celeste stomped on the blade, pinning it to the ground and rendering it immovable. Then, she grabbed him by the waist and slammed him to the ground. As she stood over him, he grabbed her leg and threw her aside. Then he noticed his arm was glowing, a sign that Desza was summoning him.


    "Sorry, princess, but it seems we''ll have to leave this for later," Dockly said.


    He then ran to the edge of the roof and jumped, deploying a small parachute to land safely.


    Celeste stood up and aimed her rifle at him, firing at the parachute, but Dockly detached himself and landed on his feet, unharmed, before disappearing behind a building.


    "Son of a...! I''ll come after you later!" Celeste swore.


    Meanwhile, on the other side of the conflict, Maxi easily overpowered Johan; his sword skills were no match for Maxi''s hardened body.


    "I''ll come for your head," Johan threatened.


    "I''ll be waiting, Johan," Maxi replied calmly.


    In a desperate attempt to strike him, Maxi grabbed Johan''s arm, tossed him into the air, and hurled him against a building, which was three hundred meters away.


    "SCORE! AND THE CROWD GOES WILD!"


    Then, Maxi spotted a prominent machete amidst the crowd and sprinted toward it.


    Slowly, a great storm was brewing; all signs pointed toward the key to Julekha Chandra. The danger weighed heavy in the hearts of the team; they were terrified. Desza had raided the tricolor agency and stolen the papers of magic to release Thanatos. Everyone raced to stop him. The more fear the guild members felt, the more satisfaction Desza experienced; the fear in their faces fueled his excitement, his machete claiming more and more lives. No one would be safe as long as Desza drew breath.


    The path grew narrower as they approached, facing Julekha Chandra''s refuge. And as he leaped from the crowd, the president''s bodyguards quickly leaped to her defense. Among them were Frederick, Sof¨ªa, Walter, Krauser, Rozkiewicz, and Fiore. These were the only people available to help her; the rest were busy fighting.


    When Desza arrived, all his minions followed suit. Many of them had scores to settle, evident in the confrontations between Walter and Joel or R?sse?s and Sof¨ªa.


    "Damned corpse, you shall not pass," Krauser growled.


    "We all know that''s not going to happen, Krauser. The outcome will be the same," Desza retorted.


    "Curse you, scoundrel! Stop him!" Krauser ordered.


    With those words, the team launched into action. R?sse?s took it upon himself to keep Sof¨ªa away from the scene, while Walter and Joel resumed their unfinished fight. Meanwhile, Desza confronted his two insignificant nemeses, Krauser and Rozkiewicz, and the battle commenced.


    Charges and bravado were two sides of the same coin. Fiore used explosives to fight Isabel, Frederick engaged in a second round with Dockly. His intelligence and invisibility aided him greatly in this bout.


    Krauser attacked Desza ferociously, but to no avail. Desza''s machete prowess made him formidable, cutting through his tentacles and striking him with the hilt or his fists, making him a champion. Rozkiewicz focused on defense. Though eager to kill him, he couldn''t let rage consume him, or he''d surely die, losing his chance to catch him.


    Desza swung his machete back and forth, but none of his thrusts connected with his enemies. Although Rozkiewicz knew that if that machete touched him, it would be the end, Krauser, on the other hand, let himself be cut by the tentacles as if it didn''t matter, knowing they would regenerate. This continued for almost ten minutes until Maxi intervened and joined the fray. He leaped and delivered a blow to Desza''s back; Desza stood and struck with his machete, but it did nothing; his machete broke, but didn''t shatter. Then, Rozkiewicz kicked him in the chest, sending him flying. Once in the air, Krauser grabbed him with his tentacles and slammed him repeatedly to the ground.


    All of his minions witnessed this brutal scene. J?rgen knocked out Frederick and charged toward his boss, cutting Krauser''s tentacles and hoisting his unconscious boss''s body. Using his feet, he overcame Rozkiewicz and Krauser. When he went for Maxi, he saw Desza spitting blood, and upon seeing this, he fled the scene, carrying Desza''s body, and telepathically communicated with his friends on the way; the plan had failed.


    R?sse?s lost to Sof¨ªa''s skill. She used tree roots and caught him off guard. As a consequence, his body endured painful blows against the asphalt, walls, and cars. Using his lava powers, he managed to break free and escape. Dockly had fled to assist Joel, jumping into the crowd and saving his life. He shot at Walter, but he suffered no damage due to the cactus, although he had to flee as he wouldn''t withstand much more of those bullets.


    When everyone gathered on the roof of a bus, they looked at all present.


    "THIS ISN''T OVER! WE''LL BE BACK, AND THEN YOU''LL TREMBLE!" J?rgen shouted, full of rage.


    And before anyone could react, they disappeared without a trace. Rozkiewicz raised his hand and ordered the area to be cleared; they had won, they had managed to stop Desza, but it wasn''t time to celebrate. There were still problems in the streets.


    Rozkiewicz transformed into a great serpent, visible to both sides, and raising his hand, he spoke with a sinister voice.


    "It is enough. For now, we shall forgive your audacity to attack Julekha Chandra. Now, cease the fighting and depart."


    As Rozkiewicz had said, everyone stopped and helped each other. They had forgotten why they had started fighting in the first place. The wounded were taken to the infirmary, and Chandra left dressed differently to avoid drawing attention. The rest stayed behind to rebuild the streets and apologize to the local police and gendarmes. Many accepted and returned to their duties (It was out of fear more than anything else; what could a few sticks, shields, and pellet guns do against an army of individuals with powers?).


    Caba?a was saved from death thanks to Cantero''s healing hands. Johan had disappeared, and Rozkiewicz had declared him a fugitive from Sem¨¢foros'' justice for daring to violate the contract he had signed.


    Sof¨ªa, Walter, and Cantero had officially joined the cause of capturing the Witnesses. Rozkiewicz''s team swore to be part of the agency he had created himself, called the Cromg¨²la, an entity that would be the assembly of champions.


    Rozkiewicz asked Candado Barret for help over the phone. He could now only count on him, and Candado gladly accepted. Not only that, but also his guild members (Anzor, Declan, Hammya, Clementina, Ana Mar¨ªa Pucheta, Matlotsky, Lucia, Erika, Lucas, German, T¨ªnbari, Viki, Pio, and H¨¦ctor), his friends, the Bailak (Kevin and Martina), the porcelain child (Andersson), and his follower to death (Carolina). It was time to rely on the heavy hitters for a heavy mission.

 UNAWARE OF THE CONSEQUENCES

    The phone rang at 5:00 in the morning, an unwelcome intrusion in the dimly lit room, jolting him abruptly from his slumber and exposing his eagerness to face the day with his notably haggard face. Candado, amidst yawns, picked up the phone and answered the call from one of the followers of the tricolor agency, El¨ªas Vergara, known as the pine.


    "What''s up? It''s five in the morning, I have to go to school in an hour."


    "We''re short-handed, we need you," came the urgent voice.


    Annoyed, Candado switched on the light, rubbed his face, eyes, and mouth, and then inquired, "What happened?"


    "President Julekha Chandra has been attacked; it''s time for you to come here."


    "But I''ve already spoken to Rozkiewicz about this matter."


    "There''s been a change of plans; come as soon as possible."


    "It''s early."


    "It''s early here too. But do you see me complaining? Stop clowning around and come."


    "That''s why you only clean up the messes the Drafters make, you''ll never rise up."


    Silence ensued.


    "Are you there?"


    "Sorry, I fell asleep listening to your rants."


    "Hello?"


    Silence persisted.


    "Candado, are you there?"


    Then, inflating his cheeks with air, he said, "I''LL BE THERE IN A MOMENT!"


    At that moment, several thuds were heard on the other end of the line, noises like a chair falling and the lad cursing as he got back up.


    "Alright, now..."


    Candado promptly hung up the phone, maintaining his cool demeanor. After ten seconds, he remarked, "Ha, what a klutz," then flashed a grin. "Time to get to work."


    He got out of bed, headed to the bathroom, turned on the light, and twisted the faucet, but to his surprise, no water came out.


    "Oh come on, I don''t have time for this," he muttered, then tapped his index finger on the tap three times until it made a strange noise. Candado ignited his finger and placed it on the faucet. But it started to vibrate and make strange noises, and just as Candado was about to touch the tap, it exploded, water gushing out onto his face in an endless torrent. When it finally stopped, Candado grabbed a towel and wiped his face.


    "Dammit... I''ll murder Clementina."


    He then hung the towel back up and exited the bathroom. He walked over to his bed and paused, raising his left arm and snapping his fingers, and as always, his clothes flew from the wardrobe onto his body, wearing exactly what he always wore. Except instead of his hoodie, he opted for his stylish red vest with white buttons. Then he topped it off with his beret as a final accessory.


    "Right, I''m ready for work."


    Candado stepped out of his room and made his way towards where Hammya lay. He opened the door gently and approached her. She slept peacefully, her face tranquil and serene on the pillow, hugging a teddy bear and covered in blankets, clad in green pajamas.


    Candado sat on the bed and placed his hand on Hammya''s shoulder.


    "Girl, wake up, it''s time to work," he whispered.


    Hammya made faces with her face, but she didn''t wake up. She turned over and grabbed Candado''s arm.


    "Girl, wake up, it''s time to work."


    Hammya briefly opened her eyes, saw his blurry face, smiled, and closed them again.


    Candado, already desperate, opened and closed his hands repeatedly, a clear sign he was losing his cool. Then he raised his left hand, with the mechanism in progress, rubbed his neck, inhaled and exhaled the air within, and began again.


    "Girl," he cleared his throat and continued, "wake up, we need to¡ª"


    "No, Candado, I don''t want to eat blood sausage."


    "OH...!" He covered his mouth and let out a silent scream. It was clear he was about to explode, but he quickly calmed down, removed his hands from his mouth, adjusted his tie, and continued. "Girl, I want you to open those stupid eyes of yours, move your two inept legs, and get out of this room, before I drag you out my way."


    Hammya turned over and opened her eyes.


    "Good morning, Candado," she said with a sleepy smile.


    "Good morning. Now, do me the damn favor of getting up."


    "Why are you angry?"


    "I''m not," he got up from the bed and walked to the door. "Get dressed now; we''ll have a long and bitter morning."


    Candado slammed the door shut and headed towards where Clementina slept. He approached the room, moved aside a painting, and there she was, asleep in the pose of an Egyptian pharaoh. Candado placed his index finger on her forehead, and Clementina slowly woke up, making strange noises. She opened her eyes and offered a prognosis.


    "Battery at 100%, upgrades are functioning," she then turned her attention to Candado. "Good morning, sir. Do you need something?"


    "Yes, actually."


    "Great, I smell danger."


    "I was thinking of dismembering you."


    "Why?"


    "Because you were messing with the pipes."


    "Me?"


    "Yes, you played with the damn pipes."


    "It was an accident."


    Candado brought his hand to his forehead.


    "Forget it, I don''t have time for this."


    "Do you happen to have a job?"


    "Exactly," he then raised his hand. "Follow me."


    Candado and Clementina left the room and headed to the living room. He sat on a couch and looked at Clementina.


    "I want you to patch this call through to all my colleagues," he then raised his index finger. "No exceptions."


    "Do you mean those who aren''t unionized too?"


    "Exactly."


    "Okay, then..."


    Candado raised his hand.


    "I misspoke, I want one of them not to come."


    "Who, sir?"


    "Mauricio."


    "May I ask why?"


    "I don''t want him to leave Yara alone with those strange people for her. I can''t stand to see her cry; it breaks my heart."


    "Alright, removing Mauricio from the contacts and... done," then she started making squeaking noises and continued, "located, where do you want them to meet?"


    "At the Tricolor agency."


    "Sent. We just have to wait for their communicators to ring."


    "Brilliant, now I''ll wait."


    "You didn''t specify a time, sir."


    "No need, everything will be fine," said Candado as he snapped his fingers, and a thermos and a mate appeared from the kitchen.


    "Life is short, for me, it''s better to enjoy it while I still have time."


    "Sir, you shouldn''t be so negative."


    "I''m not, I''m just stating possible endings for me in life. I could walk out of the house and get hit by a car, or I could die by choking the moment I take a sip of my mate. Life is a continuous struggle, the fact that we''re alive makes us victorious in the war."


    "Sir..." Don''t make that face, Clem. I''m still alive, and so are you."


    Clementina looked down, disappointed by what she was hearing from Candado. Clearly, he was resigning himself to the fight against what was killing him, which led her to believe he was waiting for death (T¨ªnbari) sitting down. Still, Clementina lifted her head and looked him in the eyes, the same eyes she feared to see when she asked him about something that bothered or unsettled him.


    "Sir, you don''t have to say that. You have to rid yourself of what''s killing you." Candado lowered his mate and looked her in the eyes, and as expected, Clementina was terrified.


    "I don''t know what you think, but I don''t care. Let me make something clear to you: I never surrender to anyone, not even to death."


    "But you..."


    "SHHH! SILENCE! Never treat me again like a poor old man who can''t cross the street, because I''m not that kind of person. If I wanted to rid myself of this damn poison, I would have done it. But there''s no way, other than finding the damn person who did this to me."


    "I don''t see you making an effort to find them."


    Candado slammed the table hard with his hand.


    "DON''T MOCK ME!" Then he walked up to Clementina, face to face. "Let me tell you something, piece of scrap. You don''t know anything about me, nothing. You think I''m the same submissive boy who cried and begged for help from mom. No."


    "To me, you will always be the same kind and caring boy I had the greatest honor of taking care of."


    "Well, you did a good job, but not anymore. You''re not stuck to my back twenty-four hours a day. Do you think I''m not trying to find the person who did this to me? YOU''RE WRONG!"


    Suddenly, baby Karen started crying, and Candado looked up at the ceiling, stood up, and walked over to her.


    "Don''t you dare," then he closed his eyes, "no, never interfere in my affairs again."


    Then he stepped away from her and headed to his little sister''s room. As he left, Clementina lost her balance and fell; her sensors were overheating. Never before was she as terrified as she was now, but to her relief, Hammya had heard part of the conversation and was hiding behind the wall separating the kitchen from the living room. Hammya decided to reveal herself to help Clementina get back on her feet.


    "Miss Hammya, I didn''t detect you on my radars."


    "It must be because of the fear you were experiencing with Candado."


    "I''m such a fool. I never doubted him, and now I did. I''m stupid, how could I do that?"


    "I think everyone blindly follows Candado."


    "I shouldn''t have meddled in his affairs. How stupid of me."


    "No, you did the right thing. You intervened in his affairs because you''re worried about him. You''re part of this family enough to care that way. You''re like Candado''s sister."


    Clementina didn''t answer; she just processed what had just been said to her.


    "I don''t think I''m that close to Candado to consider myself that way."


    "You''re his sister, and that''s it."


    "Yes, but..."


    "It''s over and done with."


    Clementina was confused by her anxiousness to be desperately seen as a sister.


    "Well, I don''t oppose that. I am, indirectly, his sister."


    "Good, now that everything''s settled, let me help you. By the way, what happened to that attitude?"


    Clementina didn''t want to respond to that, although it would be stupid to say no, as she would ask again. So she decided to bother her in the most intimate way possible.


    "Do you like Candado?"


    "No, of course not," she stuttered.


    "Then why do you focus on helping him all the time?"


    "You do it too."


    "Yes, but I don''t do it out of romantic interest, but out of personal interest."


    "What?"


    "Humans have motives; I, on the other hand, have a protocol. While I''m independent to take orders as I please, I feel morally bound by the family that treated me as an equal, and my duty is to help all those who are part of the Barrett family."


    "I just lost my mind."


    "You''ll understand someday; here, in this house, we learn new things day by day. I don''t know why, but it''s how it is."


    "Will that make me smart?"


    "No, it will just help you concentrate better."


    "Well, I..."


    "But don''t change the subject, I asked you a question."


    "Question? What question?"


    "For all the bytes," exclaimed Clementina excitedly, and continued, "if you harbor romantic feelings towards Candado?"


    "Well, I..."


    At that moment, Candado came down and interrupted.


    "Did I hear my name?"


    "Yes, it was me, but I wasn''t calling you, I was asking a question."


    Candado approached them and asked.


    "And... What kind of question?"


    "Just girl stuff."


    "Then I''m not interested."


    Clementina cleared her throat and asked.


    "Shall we go now, sir?"


    "Yes, we''ll go by taxi."


    "I''ll guess, Nelson."


    "No, his car is somewhat damaged, and he won''t be able to have it ready today."


    "Then to Uzoori?" asked Hammya.


    "Exactly."


    "But sir, Uzoori can''t make it home on his own."


    "It''s okay, he''ll be fine eating the abundant grass at the agency until I return, of course."


    "But there''s space for three."


    "Yes, Uzoori is big, he could fit up to four people."


    "Well, why not, let''s do it."


    Candado went up to the stable, while the others left the house to wait for him to bring the horse down. It was very cold in the morning; there was hardly any sun. The barking of dogs, the chirping of birds, and the occasional crowing of a nearby rooster could be heard. The asphalt was damp, and so were the streets; it looked as if it had snowed.


    Clementina and Hammya stood aside, not to get in Candado''s way. When the garage opened, he came out with his horse at a slow pace; he still looked asleep. Every step he took was clumsy, but despite that, the horse kept going.


    "Get on."


    Candado took Clementina''s hand and helped her up behind him; then she took Hammya''s hand and sat behind her.


    "Hold on, please; we''ll need to get there as quickly as possible."


    "At your command."


    Candado tapped the horse''s neck, and it started to accelerate.


    The three of them were accompanied by solitude and silence in the streets.


    After the group left the town, they ended up reaching the city of Resistencia, where the movement of people could be noticed, people heading to work. Candado was taking shortcuts to get there faster. Until finally, they could see the walls of the agency, now with more security personnel. As they got closer, Candado raised his hand with his badge, letting them through and opening the door.


    Inside were some of his few colleagues; some were still to come. Those missing were Kevin, Martina, Anzor, German, and Viki; the rest were there, chatting among themselves, but when they saw Candado, they stopped and looked at him.


    Candado got off his horse and helped the girls get off his steed. At that moment, Mario, the guard Nelson had saved, greeted Candado with a handshake, took the horse''s reins, and led him to an area where he wouldn''t be in the way. Then, Candado composed himself a bit, cleared his throat, and approached his friends.


    "Greetings, brothers."


    "Can you tell us why you woke us up at this hour?"


    "Pucheta," then he rubbed his eyes with his hand and continued, "quiet, I haven''t finished speaking."


    "Well, okay."


    "As I was saying, I''m glad you woke up at this hour. Surely many of you wonder why I called you here and..."


    "Yes, I want to know why I''m here," Pucheta interrupted.


    Candado momentarily widened his eyes as he clasped his hands, but after a few seconds, he calmed down, straightened his tie, and continued.


    "I continue, I''ve called you here because there are problems in the city of Buenos Aires, and you''ll probably need our help, but I know very well that this isn''t like the other situations we''ve had with poor enemies. It can be dangerous, and..."


    "Candado," Pucheta interrupted again.


    "BUT DAMMIT! WHAT DO YOU WANT NOW?!"


    Pucheta, between laughter and choking back laughter, said.


    "We already know that, what we want to know is how dangerous the mission is?"


    "THEN WHY DON''T YOU WAIT?"


    "Because it''s boring; once you start talking, there''s no stopping you."


    "STOP?! YOU''RE GOING TO GIVE ME A HEART ATTACK WITH YOUR INSOLENCE!"


    The others laughed at the situation, except for Declan, who was listening attentively to Candado.


    "Well, I think it''s time to..."


    "Hold on," said Clementina.


    "SHIIIIIT!"


    "I''m sensing the approach of five people," Clementina continued.


    Candado loosened his shoulders and adjusted his beret.


    "I hope they don''t interrupt my words," he said.


    After Candado''s brief words, the front door made a loud sound as it opened, and from outside the walls appeared five people, known to most of those present. And when the doors were fully opened, they decided to enter, with Anzor leading the way. On his left side was Kevin, hooded, and German, and on his right side were Martina, also hooded, and Viki. They approached Candado and the group.


    "Sorry for the delay."


    "No problem," then he looked at the others and continued, "well, now that we''re all gathered, I''ll proceed..."


    "Wait," interrupted Ana Mar¨ªa Pucheta.


    "I''M GOING TO STICK MY TONGUE OUT AT YOU!"


    "I forgot to say it, good morning, Candado."


    His left eye started to twitch nervously, obviously she had done it on purpose just to annoy him. Candado was about to lose his temper, unsure whether to cut her tongue out or remove her vocal cords, but a hand touched his shoulder just before he did it. It was Glinka, who was accompanied by Antonela.


    "Greetings, is there room for us?"


    Glinka: Lara Talavera Glinka with red eyes (God knows why), ash white hair, straight and firm nose, fair skin, she has an honorable and airy disposition, Joaqu¨ªn''s companion, kind-hearted and with an enormous heart, her clothes consist of long white pants with large cuffs that cover her heels (for some reason, they don''t get dirty), violet shoes, a red shirt with a white ribbon.


    Powers: Matter composition and everything related to metals.


    Ability: Unknown to Candado, but known to Ruth, therefore there are no records.


    Antonela: Black hair and bright blue eyes, very formal attire as if she were a student at a private school in blue, white knee-high socks, and black shoes. Due to her seriousness, many fear her, but she has a big heart, she''s a friend of Candado''s and often ensures he stays out of trouble outside his town. She doesn''t like being treated as inferior.


    Powers: Psychic


    Abilities: She''s good at everything.


    "Oh, it''s you two."


    "Always with that cheerfulness, Candado," Glinka said sarcastically.


    "What do you want?"


    "What you heard, Candado, we''re going with you."


    "No way."


    "Why?" asked Antonela.


    "Because it''s dangerous."


    "If you want, I can give up my seat for you," Matlotsky said, raising his hand.


    "Put your hand down, idiot," Candado said without looking at him.


    "Okay," he said, shrinking under Candado''s gaze.


    "Come on, our friends are here."


    "No means no, don''t you understand?"


    "No, because you don''t give me orders, so we''re going whether you like it or not."


    "I see," Clementina interrupted.


    "What''s that?" Glinka asked.


    "You don''t want them to come because they''re unbearable."


    "No, that''s not it, it''s just that..."


    "It''s just what, Candado?"


    "Oh, who am I kidding, both of them are very good at fighting, and they always get into trouble, which costs me; every time I go somewhere with you, I end up increasing my problems."


    "But... Why didn''t you tell us before?" Glinka asked.


    "I''ve done it more than seven times, but you never listen to me."


    "Isn''t the moon beautiful, Antonela?"


    "Yes, it is."


    Then, Glinka looked at Candado.


    "Sorry, did you say something?"


    "For heaven''s sake, get on the damn plane before I shoot myself."


    "You seem to have great desires to kill," Kevin whispered to Martina.


    "Do you think so?"


    "It doesn''t matter anymore," Glinka said, then looked at Antonela and continued, "Come on, let''s board the plane."


    With that said, Glinka took Antonela''s hand and they ran to Candado''s plane, leaving the group alone and confused.If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    Candado made a face and raised his arm.


    "You heard Candado, let''s all get on the damn plane," said Clementina as they applauded.


    "Let''s go, crazy, let''s go to the plane."


    "Matlotsky, shut up," then he took him by the neck, "I''ll help you get on."


    And with incredible strength, he lifted Matlotsky and took him inside the plane, while everyone watched.


    "What was that?" Kevin asked Hector.


    "Oh, they''re always like that, come on, let''s get on the plane."


    Kevin looked at Martina and shrugged, indifferent to the situation, and entered the plane with the others.


    Once everyone was inside, Viki pressed a button and the door closed, while the others sat in their seats; of course, there were more. Hector was sitting in the game room talking to Andersson and the Bailak brothers. Pucheta ran around the plane, playing with Glinka and Pio; Anzor and Declan meditated in their seats, speaking in their own language; the twins also talked to Andersson, German read the various O.M.G.A.B. magazines where each one had the face of the presidents. Candado''s showed his left fist raised to the level of his right cheek, with his serious attitude and looking at the audience with a different phrase than before: "Unity is strength, and you make our strength." Then there was another one of Yuuta, Kirinyaga, Shaoran, Banu, Jacqueline, Alejandra, Ra¨²l, Armando, and Aurora. Yuuta''s showed him with his hand over his heart while looking at the sky and with a phrase that said: "Our hearts changed the world, help us keep them beating." Kirinyaga''s showed him with both hands raised while looking at the audience and with a phrase that said: "Harambee changed our world, you can do it too." Shaoran''s showed him with crossed arms while he was in profile, with a phrase that said: "You''re not soldiers, you''re our brothers." Jacqueline''s showed her with crossed arms while looking at the audience: "Don''t just sit there, stand up and fight alongside us." Alejandra''s showed her pointing with her right hand while her left hand was on her waist; her phrase was: "Fight for your rights, don''t let anyone trample you." Armando''s showed him sitting in a chair, with his beret on his leg while looking at the audience with a phrase like this: "We are defenders of your homelands, but you are even more." Ra¨²l''s showed him with a fist on his chest while looking at the audience: "We stand up for you, would you stand up for us?" Banu''s showed her sitting in a chair with both hands on her lap, with a phrase that said: "Harambee fought for us and we fight for Harambee." And finally, Aurora''s phrase, who was in the same position as Candado, but with her right hand and a different phrase: "Help us change the world."


    Of course, he wasn''t reading them all at once; he only read Candado''s, while his companion, Lucas, read Banu''s.


    "This is incredible," Lucas said.


    German lowered the magazine and looked at him.


    "What''s incredible?"


    "Banu Fereshteh has an approval rating of 79% of the votes on the island of Kanghar."


    "It''s because her attitude is adorable!" Candado shouted from his seat, which was far away from them.


    Antonela was watching TV with Viki and Carolina. Meanwhile, Candado was sitting, sharing a seat with Hammya, who was playing with a console belonging to Ana Mar¨ªa, and Clementina, who was reading a book, just like last time, except Nelson''s seat was empty this time. Candado was reclined on his armrests, resting his head on his fist, with a weary expression.


    "I hate the noise."


    "Then go to another room," Clementina said without looking at him.


    "Do you want me to ask for silence?" Hammya asked.


    "No, it''s not necessary."


    "Why don''t you go to sleep for a while?" Clementina suggested.


    "No, that''s not necessary either."


    Hammya took Candado''s hand and looked at him, although it took him a moment to look back at her.


    "Go to sleep, you need it."


    "Listen to the ladies, Candado," T¨ªnbari said, standing in the middle of the aisle as Pucheta passed by.


    Candado stroked his head and stood up. With his hands in his pockets, he left the aisle to go to one of the rooms and rest a little, as he was a bit exhausted, or rather, very much so. He opened the door, walked to the bed, and lay down on it, but this time, he didn''t take off his beret like before, and looked at the ceiling.


    "I hate this bed, I always have nightmares when I lie down here."


    "Enough with the preambles, why don''t you just sleep already? I''m interested in what I might see now."


    "I hope this is the last time I sleep in a bed at this altitude, that''s why I hate planes, they awaken my fears."


    "And because of that, you have nightmares, yes, I know that already, now sleep already and entertain me."


    "I''m just saying it could be dangerous."


    "Why don''t you sleep already?"


    "Because I''m talking to you."


    "Right, and it seems like I''m the culprit, right?"


    "Well, yes, so shut up, I need to sleep a bit, if you really want me to."


    "Fine, then I''ll be sitting around."


    "For me, you can go far away, really far away."


    "That''s not going to happen, and you know it very well."


    Candado didn''t respond, he just stared at the ceiling, with a somewhat sly smile, but in the end, he fell asleep. The sounds of the wind and the engines slowly faded away in Candado''s mind, leaving him in peace and serenity.


    However, that didn''t stop the nightmares. After an hour, they began to grow more and more. Darkness started to spread once again in his deepest thoughts, but each nightmare was different from the last. They occasionally appeared, but they were always frequent when he slept on the plane. It was as if that bed worked in that way.


    Sweat ran down his body, he struggled in bed. Again and again, he repeated the names Desza and Pullbarey. His hands lit up and extinguished, and more than once he burned the sheets. This time, he couldn''t control himself. The impulses of that tormenting dream were driving him crazy, his sanity was slowly fading away. T¨ªnbari watched attentively, with great anxiety and concern.


    "Come on, you can do it, resist a little."


    In Candado''s dream, he found himself in a gloomy landscape, everything around him was dead. There was fire, blood, and decay. Candado stood on a pile of corpses, watching as the sky was consumed by thunder and by a strange whirlwind that traversed the clouds, swallowing everything in its path, houses, bodies, and buildings.


    But after a few seconds, Candado began to feel someone''s presence. He looked around, and he received an arrow in the back, but he felt no pain. Candado turned around and saw himself, only with darker tones, dead hair, a black beret, blood-drenched red eyes, inhumanly white skin, like a dead person, and his clothes were the same, only slightly darker.


    Once again, Candado was going to fight himself. He pulled out the arrow and ran towards his enemy without hesitation, running through the rubble of what once was a neighborhood, until he reached his enemy. But when he arrived, he disappeared before his eyes, and not only that, but the gloomy landscape disappeared with him, leaving him in a dark room.


    Armed with his fac¨®n and his powerful flame, Candado began to explore the area, walking towards no apparent destination. But after a few long steps, he began to hear laughter, and he knew that laughter already. At that moment, he began to burn everything around him, but nothing happened, and the mockery continued. Until the mysterious person appeared behind Candado and whispered to him.


    "You failed, my friend."


    Candado turned and unleashed a powerful blaze. However, Desza continued to mock him. With each wasted step, Candado''s body deteriorated. He began to spit blood and lose balance until he knelt down and let everything out, coughing and spitting blood.


    "What''s wrong with you, Candado? Are you sick?"


    He stood up and looked around, hoping to find that other voice, but it was impossible for him. Everything was black and dark; he couldn''t see them, and every moment he heard their mockery made him sick. He couldn''t take it anymore, and he began to fight blindly, throwing punches in vain.


    Meanwhile, in reality, Candado was out of control. He had broken a vase and an alarm clock, and amidst the noises and wreckage he caused, the others heard him. His companions entered his room; everyone watched as Candado screamed in agony, moving back and forth, releasing all his pain, suffering, and bitterness.


    It was at that moment that Kevin took Candado''s shoulders, while Andersson held his legs. Everyone shouted his name over and over. T¨ªnbari was not in his chair; instead, he was holding onto Candado''s forehead.


    "HANG ON! WE''RE ALMOST THERE!" T¨ªnbari shouted.


    Hammya, with both hands on his cheek, shouted his name, but Candado remained asleep, and his suffering increased more and more.


    In his dream, those physical contacts gave Candado a false impression. In it, Candado was being cornered by people who were his greatest enemies: J?rgen, Desza, Ocho, Chesulloth, Azricam, Joel, Jane, Rose, R?sse?s, Guz, Dockly, and Isabel, grabbing him from all sides, making it impossible for him to escape.


    "LET ME GO! I''LL FINISH YOU ALL!"


    "Try it," Desza said.


    Candado ignited his fist and punched him in the jaw, thinking he had hit Desza, when in reality, Kevin took the blow, staggering back and ending up on the floor with blood between his nose and lips.


    "KEVIN!" Martina screamed.


    "Viki, get her out of here, it''s dangerous," Kevin said as he stood up and tried to stop Candado again.


    "Okay," Viki let go of Candado and took Martina''s hands, pulling her away.


    As she watched in horror at the scene.


    "What''s happening?" Andersson asked.


    "He''s having a nightmare, we have to wake him up before he does something crazy," H¨¦ctor replied while trying to do something to wake him up.


    "Crazy?" Carolina asked.


    "If this keeps up, he could destroy the plane," Declan replied as he grabbed Candado''s arms.


    "Just a little longer," T¨ªnbari whispered.


    Declan focused his attention on the demon.


    "YOU!" Declan let go of Candado and ran up to T¨ªnbari, slamming him against the wall, causing him to sit down, and once on the floor, Declan put his sword to his neck.


    "You did this to him, you know very well that Candado can''t sleep in aerial spaces, you know they give him nightmares, which are very harmful."


    "Come on, do you really think a toothpick will harm me?"


    "You are evil incarnate."


    "ENOUGH, DECLAN!" Andersson shouted.


    "Don''t interfere," he said without looking at him.


    "Listen to your friend," T¨ªnbari said mockingly.


    "You do more harm to Candado than protect him; you disgust me."


    At that moment, Candado let out a scream of agony. Upon hearing this, Declan dropped his sword and ran to where his friend was.


    "He has to wake up; he''s harming himself, he could die."


    Upon hearing this, Hammya tried to wake him up in every possible way.


    "Candado, it''s me, Hammya, your friend."


    "LET ME GO!" he screamed in his sleep.


    "Come on, wake up, please, we need you back," Clementina said.


    Candado began to ignite both of his fists, and it was becoming difficult to hold him.


    "We won''t be able to restrain him much longer," Declan said.


    "HOLD ON!" Kevin shouted.


    Hammya began to get scared, but she kept trying.


    "Candado, wake up, we''re all waiting for you, you mustn''t let that consume you; it''s a dream, it''s not real," Anzor said.


    And slowly Candado began to hear the voices of his companions, but the one that stood out most in that situation was the sweet voice of Hammya, who pleaded for him to open his eyes. But as he fought his nightmare, it caused him more pain. Until his body collapsed, his chest rose into the air, and he let out a gut-wrenching scream, his eyes turned violet, his voice became deeper as his scream continued, the morning sky changed color, from blue to violet, causing terror to everyone present.


    From outside the plane, Pullbarey, who was sitting in an armchair with a biology book in his lap, lifted his eyes and looked at the sky. Although he was located in a hotel in Buenos Aires, he could see some of that energy and even feel it. He closed the book, set it aside, and walked to the hotel''s huge window, placing his right hand on the glass while the other was on his back.


    "So, you''ve returned," he then turned and shouted, "GREG! PREPARE THE CAR! We''re going to hunt down a certain person."


    It was at that moment that he would have a face-to-face encounter with Candado, and slowly, the situation was changing in his favor.


    Meanwhile, in the air, Candado continued to suffer his discomforts. After his convulsions ceased, Kevin turned his palm into a strange white energy, which ended up hitting his chest with all his strength, causing Candado to wake up violently. When he was awake, everyone relaxed; Kevin lay down on the floor and leaned against a piece of furniture there.


    "Why didn''t you do that from the beginning?" Matlotsky asked as he breathed heavily.


    "Because he wouldn''t stay still."


    Then everyone stood up and approached Candado, who was awake and sitting on the bed, staring at the ceiling. Although he had woken up, his eyes were still violet. No one approached; everyone was a little afraid, until T¨ªnbari was the first to step forward. Behind him were Hammya, Declan, Kevin, and Clementina, who walked behind T¨ªnbari. He placed his normal hand on Candado''s right shoulder, but he didn''t react and kept staring at the ceiling. When T¨ªnbari shook his shoulder to make him react, Candado began to speak in a strange language, a language unknown to everyone but known to Kevin. He, very alarmed and surprised, stood up and walked over to him.


    "He''s speaking Belelayko, our language. How is this possible? Only Martina and I speak that language."


    "What is he saying? Translate it, quickly."


    "Right away."


    And then, he continued; everything Candado spoke, he translated.


    "The bells have already rung, the ten great ones must return to their destinies, the flowers that fall into the streams will be the warning to the present, the skies will begin to tear apart, and the moon will be stained with the blood of the unbelievers. Darkness will go hand in hand with suffering. There will be no other word than his. The earth and the rain will be the food of the losers. The feasts of the dark alliance will be your downfall. No one will come out, and no one will enter. All of you are the children of one of the thousands of paths in the world. Don''t give up, and don''t kneel. Let all life rise and fight for the terror that will come."


    "It was worth it," T¨ªnbari said.


    After Candado finished speaking in that language, his eyes dimmed, and he faded into T¨ªnbari''s arms, although the only ones who didn''t know T¨ªnbari were the Bailak brothers, who believed he was floating.


    "Hammya, I didn''t know you had those abilities," Martina said as a compliment.


    She said this because Candado was in that position in front of Hammya.


    "Uh, no, no, no, it''s not me; it''s him."


    "And who is he?" Kevin asked.


    "Well, him, you won''t be able to see him, because you didn''t touch Candado," H¨¦ctor said.


    "What do you think I did when Candado was convulsing? I grabbed him by the shoulders, because I assure you I didn''t use my mental powers to stop him."


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    "Yes, but did you touch his skin?"


    "Well, no. Do I look like a man fond of touching men?"


    "I''m not referring to that."


    "Then what?" At that moment, Candado woke up.


    "Please, both of you, just shut up, you''re unbearable."


    At that instant, T¨ªnbari let go of him, and he fell to the floor.


    "You''re a..."


    "Calm down," Clementina said as she helped him up. And when he stood up, he adjusted his tie, his beret, and asked, "What happened?"


    "Don''t you remember?" Lucas asked.


    "If I did, then I wouldn''t be asking."


    "You had a nightmare," Declan said.


    "Ah, I see," then he cleared his throat and made a gesture with his hands, "well, there''s nothing to see, so, out."


    "No, I don''t think so, you just spoke my language."


    "What? I''m sorry, but I don''t speak Belelayko, Kevin, it would be impossible."


    "Of course it''s possible," Martina said.


    "No, it''s unlikely, first and foremost because their culture was lost along with their language, therefore, it''s impossible for me to speak it."


    "I think there are things you don''t know about your body, Candado," T¨ªnbari said mockingly.


    "Shut up," he then turned and looked at him, "I know my body better than anyone."


    "Doesn''t seem like it."


    "QUIET!"


    "Who are you shouting at?"


    "T¨ªnbari, can''t you tell, numbskull?"


    "WELL, I''M SORRY! BUT NOT EVERYONE CAN SEE THAT PERSON!"


    "DON''T RAISE YOUR VOICE AT ME!"


    "You broke my face when I was helping you, you idiot."


    "When did I do that? I didn''t do anything to you."


    "Yes, you did."


    "Then where''s the injury?"


    "I''m a Bailak, so I heal on my own."


    "AND WHAT ARE YOU COMPLAINING ABOUT?! IDIOT!"


    "I think you both need to calm down," T¨ªnbari said.


    "ENOUGH!" he then looked at Candado, "sir, you must calm down, I''ll explain everything to you."


    Declan took Candado out of the room, and they sat in the next room, where they talked about what happened while he was asleep. He told him everything, his nightmares, Kevin''s physical aggression, the words he spoke in Belelayko, and his scream of pain. Candado listened point by point; he couldn''t believe what he was hearing. Declan would never lie; that''s why Candado was surprised. But after he finished telling everything, Candado looked at him, with his usual expression.


    "Well, I guess I owe Kevin an apology."


    "If there''s one thing I learned, it''s that we all make mistakes, but very few admit it." "Who told you that?"


    "It was you."


    "Oh, well, I didn''t remember."


    "You can apologize to him now; after all, he''s your friend."


    "Thank you, Declan."


    "No problem, sir."


    Then he stood up and left the room, to sit in the seats in the hallway, to finish reading the O.M.G.A.B. advertising magazine.


    Meanwhile, on the other hand, Candado also stood up and headed to the room where Kevin and Martina were. At first, he didn''t want to open the door and just rested his hand on the doorknob, but after meditating for a few seconds, he decided to open it and enter. Kevin and Martina were chatting with Hammya and Andersson; the rest of the group was gone. When Candado''s presence was noticeable, he approached and looked him up and down, took a deep breath, and said.


    "I''m sorry," then he took off his beret, "I got a bit carried away with you."


    "Just a bit?"


    "Well, yeah, I got really carried away, but the thing is, I want to apologize."


    "It''s okay, no worries, I shouldn''t have raised my voice either."


    "Oh, how cute," Hammya said.


    "Do you want me to throw you out of the plane?" Candado asked coldly.


    "No."


    "Then shut up."


    Then a robotic voice was heard in the room.


    "Attention please, we will be landing at the Semaphores Station in the city of Buenos Aires in a few minutes."


    "I dodged a bullet," Hammya whispered.


    "Darn it, I''m late again," cursed Candado.


    "Well, I guess work time is approaching," Andersson said with a smile.


    The plane ended up landing at the agreed-upon area, where Rozkiewicz, Sof¨ªa, and Celeste were waiting for him along with reinforcements. When the craft landed about twenty meters in front of them, the door opened, and the first to step out was Candado with his hands in his pockets. When he could distinguish him, he raised his hand to the sky in greeting. Then he descended the stairs and headed towards him to shake hands.


    "Hey, buddy."


    "Hi Candado, I''m glad you''re here."


    "Now that I see your face, would you mind telling me a bit about what''s going on? You didn''t give me much information that day we talked on the phone."


    "Yeah, sure," he then put his hand on Candado''s back and guided him through the area, "this way, please."


    While the two of them roamed the area, their friends got off the plane and stretched their legs. Kevin and Martina had hidden their faces when they disembarked; they still didn''t trust the rest of the guild members, let alone the Semaphores. At that moment, about three figures appeared, who turned out to be Ramiro Zicman, the president of the Semaphores of Buenos Aires, then to his right was Franco P¨¦rez Lauren, the master of the red band, and Alejandro Fischer, the master of the yellow band. They were there to greet the reinforcements.


    "Greetings," said Ramiro as he shook hands with Kevin.


    "Hello."


    "My name is Ramiro; I''m the president of this section. I''m glad to meet you, sir..."


    "I''m Baltazar."


    "Alright, Balta, these are my colleagues."


    "Franco."


    "It''s an honor."


    "And Alejandro."


    "Hello, nice to meet you," he said with a refined voice.


    "I see you''re supporters of Barreto."


    "I fought him in the presidential elections, which I won," Alejandro said.


    "However, it didn''t serve you well since Julekha won," Alejandro added.


    "Yes, Ramiro, you''re a loser."


    "Who is the president of the agency in Buenos Aires? Huh?"


    "Well, you are, but..."


    "So shut up."


    "Shall we do the same?" Alejandro asked.


    "Anyway, I''m glad to have you here; I had a conversation with Barreto a few hours ago, he told me he''s up to his neck in a violation."


    "Yes, it''s true, he broke an agency rule," said H¨¦ctor.


    "It''s not common to see a president breaking a rule," said Ramiro.


    "I knew he was corrupt," said Franco.


    "For you, everyone is corrupt," said Alejandro.


    "In reality, it''s not like that."


    "Well, there''s still a lot to do to catch the enemies, so let''s eat and drink."


    "That''s very kind of you, Mr. Ramiro," Martina said.


    "Thank you, I always have been."


    On the other hand, Rozkiewicz was talking to his friend about the recent troubles they had, for example; the rebellion of the Drafters, the extremist group of the Circuits felt indignant to see the president of the Semaphores walking through their areas, but he also mentioned Desza the desecrator. And just by hearing the name of that murderer, his eyes lit up.


    "Desza is involved in this?"


    "As you''ve heard, that bastard is involved in this matter."


    Candado put his hand to his chin and thought for a moment before saying.


    "Maybe it''s not as it seems."


    "What do you imply? I saw it."


    "I don''t doubt you saw it, my friend, but you told me you saw Desza among the crowd," then he put his hands behind his back and started playing with his fingers, "but did you see that crowd helping him?"


    "No, but..."


    "Exactly, it''s not like that," then his thumb began to tap his index finger, "if you think about it, I can say that Desza incited violence for his benefit, using chaos, they would be too busy fighting to pay attention to them," then his finger stopped at the index, "but, knowing you, I''m quite sure someone like you could notice them in the crowd."


    At that moment, Rozkiewicz began to remember what happened. Now that Candado said it, yes, he could observe Joel and J?rgen in that brawl. At the time, he thought they would set a trap for Krauser, but he was wrong. And now that he thought about it, they hadn''t moved from their spots at any moment; they just observed. It was as if they were waiting for the right moment to act.


    "You''re right, I noticed them, but... they didn''t attack me."


    "You weren''t their target," then he put his hands in his pockets.


    Then Rozkiewicz''s eyes drifted down to the floor.


    "What''s wrong?"


    "There''s something I didn''t tell you over the phone."


    "And what is it?"


    Rozkiewicz turned around and put his hands behind his back.


    "Come with me," he said in a voice so sad it was barely noticeable.


    Then he walked ahead, and Candado followed. Both walked to a house nearby the agency, and Rozkiewicz didn''t speak at any point; he just walked until they reached the house. He entered without asking for permission; it was as if it were his own. The place was clean and well-kept, no mess, but it had few furniture. Rozkiewicz walked to a room with a curtain in it; he stopped in front of it, then looked at Candado, placed his hand on the curtain, and pulled it aside with all his might.


    Inside, there was something that left Candado almost speechless, but his demeanor remained the same. His friend and colleague, Nicol¨¢s Caba?a, was connected to a respirator, partially naked, bandages covering his chest, and connected to machines. Next to him were Leandro, who was facing away and didn''t turn to see who had entered, Krauser, who was leaning against a wall sitting with a red band in his hands belonging to Nico, Esteeman, who was inspecting the machines, and a female person Candado didn''t know.


    Candado could hardly believe what he was seeing, but after a while, he looked at Rozkiewicz and asked, in an indifferent and barely understandable manner.


    "What happened?"


    "Johan betrayed us," said Esteeman.


    Candado looked at his fingers and said.


    "It was obvious, after all, he was a mercenary. It''s a real shame he decided to work for those who tried to kill him."


    Krauser tightened his grip on the band.


    "Son of a bitch," he cursed angrily.


    Candado glanced at him for a moment, but then his attention focused on the mysterious woman who didn''t look at him, despite being in a position to notice him.


    "Excuse me, who are you?"


    "You''re wasting your time," said Leandro, then he turned and continued, "She hasn''t said a word since we arrived."


    "I thought she was a relative or a friend of his, so I allowed her to pass," said Rozkiewicz.


    "I don''t like that girl," said T¨ªnbari, showing a slight suspicion.


    Candado put his hands in his pockets and left the room, murmuring something that no one heard except T¨ªnbari.


    "I don''t like her either."


    But before he could walk away, Rozkiewicz came out of the house and approached him.


    "What do you want now?" asked Candado as he took a vial with the Bari liquid.


    "I forgot to tell you something else."


    "What?"


    "Julekha Chandra wants to see you."


    "Well, it will be interesting to know what she wants to tell me now," then he looked at him, "take me there then."


    Rozkiewicz led Candado to Chandra, the president of the Semaphores. Although the place where they met was far from humble, Candado decided to have a conversation with her. While Candado knew her as a nagging and stubborn person, he knew that if she called him that way, it was very serious.


    Candado entered the house, which, from every angle, was for wealthy people. He decided not to pay attention and headed to the room where she was. Candado opened the door gently, peeked in, and fortunately, she was there, sitting while reading some reports of what was going on. Her worried expression was present in every step she read the reports. She was so preoccupied that she didn''t even notice Candado, who was in front of her. And when he had the opportunity, he cleared his throat and said.


    "I see the situation has worn you down, hasn''t it?"


    Julekha raised her head.


    "You''ve arrived," she said with her Nepali accent.


    Julekha: A sixteen-year-old teenager, with blue hair and black eyes, her skin is tan. She wears traditional clothing from that nation (Nepal) in light colors. She has a very optimistic attitude towards the situation, as well as being too imperious, mocking, and with a character that only God can endure.


    Powers: Lightning.


    Ability: Fortunately, none.


    "Yes, I had to come after all." "Thank God you''ve come." "Yes, I''m glad to be here too."


    "Thank God."


    "Just shut up."


    "Yes, sorry, I think I got a little carried away," Candado grimaced and continued. "Tell me, what do you need me for?"


    "It''s terrible, Candado, they kidnapped my friend and vice president of the Semaphores."


    "Huh? Rem Koirala?"


    "Yes, him. During the attack, they took him. They said they wanted him to hand over the key," she became agitated, "he''s in danger, and all because of me. If I don''t do something soon, they''ll kill him, and..." Candado put his hands on her shoulders and reassured her.


    "Calm down, for heaven''s sake. You''re a president. I''ll go save him and bring him back, but with one condition."


    "What?"


    "That you put Joaqu¨ªn back on his duties."


    "What Joaqu¨ªn? I have thousands of Joaqu¨ªns."


    "Don''t make fun of me, you know him very well, little girl."


    "Alright, alright, I''ll do it, but save him."


    "Done."


    Then he turned around and left the way he came, and when he was halfway there, he stopped and said.


    "Chandra, don''t worry, everything will be fine, so relax."


    "Alright, I''ll try."


    Candado smiled and kept walking. As he exited, Rozkiewicz was waiting for him outside.


    "So? What did she say?"


    "They''ve kidnapped her boyfriend. I think it''s time to go save him."


    "Knowing you, I''d say you made a deal, right?"


    "Yes," he then put his hand in his pocket and took out a candy, "you could say that," then he ate it.


    "And? What is it?"


    "Well, in a few days, you won''t be president again."


    "I''VE BEEN DEPOSED?! HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE?!"


    "Oh no, of course not, it''s just that I managed to get Joaqu¨ªn back to his position."


    "Phew, thank goodness. I thought I''d been fired."


    "Believe me, it''s very difficult to get rid of pests."


    Then he put his hands in his pockets and left.


    "DID YOU JUST CALL ME A PEST?!"


    After Candado met with Chandra, he dedicated himself to investigate a bit where they could be hiding until he received a call from Desza requesting what they had ordered. Candado tracked the call with Clementina and immediately got the coordinates of that call. By the time he knew the location where they were hiding, Candado met with his team, plus Rozkiewicz''s, in a large hall of the Semaphores building.


    "Is everyone here?" Candado asked Rozkiewicz.


    "Yes, of course."


    "Good, we can start." At that moment, Pucheta raised his hand.


    "Candado, I have a question." Candado covered his face, as if he had a headache, and dared to ask.


    "What do you want?"


    "Why are we here?"


    "To be able to talk without interruptions, alright?"


    "Yes, I understand."


    "Good, I think it''s time to talk about our mission."


    "But..."


    "IF YOU SPEAK AGAIN, I''LL RIP YOUR TONGUE OUT!"


    Pucheta fell silent and sat down.


    "Thank you," he adjusted his tie and continued, "alright, we have a crisis. Vice President Rem Koirala has been kidnapped, and it''s our mission to save him."


    "


    Question.


    "What''s your question, Lucas?"


    "Will the Witnesses be present?"


    "Of course they will, after all, they were the ones who kidnapped him."


    "That will be magnificent," Leandro said as he played with his knife.


    "Yes, of course," Candado cleared his throat and continued, "the objectives are clear: save Rem and get out, end of discussion. I know many of you want revenge for the Resistance incident, but it''s neither the time nor the place. Killing them won''t bring the dead back to life. We must capture them and make them talk."


    "Isn''t it unfair? Are you suggesting we should let them live after what they did to us?" Krauser interjected.


    "No, Krauser, you''re mistaken. I''m not Jean Valjean or St. Francis of Assisi. If they''re killed, then I won''t be able to gather information that concerns me. It''s not about morality, it''s self-interest."


    "Why do you say that? You''re the kindest person I''ve seen," Carolina said.


    "Because you deserved it, but I''m one of those people who loves to make those who have committed atrocities suffer."


    "And if they repent?" Anzor asked.


    "In that case, I would forgive them."


    "And if...?"


    "Alright now, shall we focus or shall we talk about my personal life?"


    "The latter," Ana Mar¨ªa said.


    "I never thought that of you. I already have a headache named Matlotsky, I don''t need another one."


    "I resign myself to keep quiet."


    "You better. Anyway," Candado rubbed his temples with his eyes closed, then opened them, "alright, I think everyone understands the idea."


    ...


    Candado, irritated, continued, "Alright, if you didn''t understand, raise your hand."


    At that moment, Matlotsky raised his hand. Candado closed his eyes and dared to ask, "What didn''t you understand?"


    "Are we going to carry out the mission or talk about your personal life?"


    Candado kept his eyes wide open at such a question, but after a few seconds, he started laughing sarcastically, then displayed his cold and malevolent demeanor.


    "Someone punch him."


    Kevin and Declan punched/beat up Matlotsky.


    "Thanks, your actions will be rewarded later," he adjusted his beret and looked at everyone again, "alright, it''s time to carry out the mission, for Harambee."


    "FOR HARAMBEE!"


    After Candado delivered that moving speech (sarcasm), they decided to follow Clementina''s coordinates. First, they visited the house, Leandro and Frederick, to inspect the area, the entrance, and the possible exit in case everything went wrong. Then, they sent Clementina and Hammya (more out of whim than anything else, as she was giving him a terrible headache) to visualize the area and tell them how the house was structured from the inside. Lastly, Celeste and Arce would stand guard and keep track of everything happening, without mentioning that if the targets were still there, so Clementina was also sent.


    The operation was carried out until sunset. Since the house was in the middle of nowhere, under a bridge and almost without civilization around, it was easy to carry out the operation. When the sun went down, Candado and the others prepared to assault the house. It wouldn''t be easy, but neither would it be for the Witnesses. With the specialized team, they were cornered; it was time for the hunt.


    Candado gathered everyone present and explained the strategy. Everyone understood it perfectly, except Matlotsky, whom he had to explain to more than three times. But beyond that, everything went perfectly. The plan was as follows:


    Given the size of the house, the operation would be a surprise. Thanks to the technology and skills of H¨¦ctor, Andersson, and Lucas, they were able to create a sort of protective cloak. With it, the Witnesses wouldn''t be able to sense the magical forces emanating from them. Clementina, Candado, and Matlotsky didn''t wear said cloaks, as Clementina and Matlotsky had no powers, one was a robot and the other a common human. Candado, on the other hand, had a Bari that perfectly concealed his magic, making him untraceable.


    When night fell, Candado led the team. They would take out Desza and his team once and for all. The group surrounded the house, awaiting Candado''s orders, who knew the exact location of the main door. Drawing his machete, Candado gave the awaited order to attack, and his teammates stormed into the house like cops, smashing everything in their path.


    Toppling bookshelves, furniture, and anything else in their way, they searched for the Witnesses. Meanwhile, Candado roamed the house with his hands behind his back, walking calmly, searching in his own way for the miscreants. Suddenly, a person hiding behind a wall leaped out and shot at Candado with a large gun and thick bullets, embedding them in his chest and sending him flying against a wall. When Esteeman tried to deal with the situation, Candado drew a second pistol and shot him in the chest, sending him out of the house. He then reloaded the guns and shouted.


    "IT''S TIME TO ATTACK, SIR!"


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    Then he went out the window to continue shooting at the rest of the people outside. Declan managed to cut the bullets heading towards him or any of his friends, including Hammya, who felt disgusted and reproached him.


    "Be more careful, stupid."


    To which she nodded. Then she ran at full speed towards the person who was shooting, Dockly. Before she could reach him, a second person interrupted the fight. Declan could clearly see who it was: J?rgen Czacki. He stopped his thrust with his right arm as he prepared to stab Declan in the chest with the other, but Declan, specialized in combat, managed to stop him in time. Before J?rgen could do anything, Anzor appeared and, with his sword, stopped a potential deadly attack towards Declan. J?rgen used his speed and attacked them both, grabbing Anzor''s arms and lifting him into the air, crashing him onto the ground, but he had forgotten about Declan, who was at a critical distance behind him. His speed wouldn''t save him, until Isabel appeared, who, using her earth powers, restrained Declan and moved him away from J?rgen.


    "Thanks for that," J?rgen said as he leaned his back against hers.


    "You''re welcome, that''s what I''m here for."


    "SURRENDER! YOU''RE SURROUNDED!" Rozkiewicz shouted.


    And at that moment, a bullet grazed his cheek.


    "Does that answer your question?" Dockly asked as he reloaded his weapon.


    "Dirty bastards, tear them apart!"


    Orders became clear again, and they launched themselves at them once more. But just when they thought they had won the battle, reinforcements from the Earth Witnesses arrived. Everyone focused on Desza, whose mentally unstable laughter echoed throughout the place, emerging from the rubble with a megaphone in hand.


    "Ladies and gentlemen, I thank you for appearing in this new chapter of Argentine national history. Witness and behold the destruction," he then burst into laughter and continued, "of this city," before laughing again.


    At that moment, they launched themselves at Krauser and Rozkiewicz, but their lackeys didn''t allow it. R?sse?s burned the ground so that no one could get close to them, Sofia, upon seeing the woman who had humiliated her, was the first to go after her, Frederick went after Dockly, and Walter went after Joel.


    "There are too many, sir," J?rgen said as he fought with Anzor, H¨¦ctor, Declan, and Ana Mar¨ªa Pucheta.


    "Don''t worry, I''ve already thought of this," he laughed again.


    Then he applauded loudly, and as he did, Clementina felt something in her sensors, warning her of a huge danger. She then looked at the structure of the house.


    "Bombs? When did this happen?" she ran towards him, "CANDADO, GET OUT OF THERE NOW!"


    But the house exploded before she could reach him. Everyone near the house was thrown by the shockwave, allowing Desza and his team to escape the scene, while he let out a sinister smile. Leaving the group battered and hopeless to continue fighting, as Candado had died. But just when all seemed lost, a figure emerged from the flames heading towards them. Fortunately, nothing happened to him, but he was disgusted.


    "They''ve destroyed all the information they had, damn it."


    "What do we do?" Walter asked.


    "We''ll hunt them down, IT''S TIME FOR THEM TO PAY!"


    With those words spoken, Candado and the rest pursued them; it was time for them to pay for their crimes.


    On the way, Desza had given the order to split up, and each went their separate ways. It was clear that there would be a big mess. Since the city was large, where they had fled seemed like a village. It was easier for them to hide, but thanks to Clementina, they could track each of them. The team split up to capture them, but Candado, Krauser, and Rozkiewicz wanted the biggest prize: Desza.


    The streets were well-lit. Everyone knew the impending chaos, but they were unable to stop it, only to try to fix what he did.


    "THEY''RE TOO SLOW!" Desza shouted as he ran across the rooftops of the buildings.


    Candado and the duo followed him, each with their own objective: justice, revenge, and hatred. These three feelings would be a torment for each of them, as they would never give up until they caught him.


    But as Desza ran, he realized that all of this would be too boring for him. He decided to press a button he had hidden among his belt, causing a wave of explosions throughout the area. The whole team witnessed the catastrophe unfolding before their eyes. The explosions rose and massacred many people in the area; the fire began to grow stronger and claim the unfortunate civilians, fueling the anger of everyone present and further feeding their objectives. Rage awakened once again in the team. The chaos had begun.

 REASONS AND OBJECTIVES

    The streets were overrun by chaos and suffering; there were dead and wounded everywhere. Fire and destruction spread to every corner of the city, as if it had been bombed by military planes, reminiscent of the coup d''¨¦tat of 1955. The city''s sound grew increasingly dreadful; screams of agony echoed throughout, as if no one could stop them. Desza''s laughter grew louder, and so did the hatred of those pursuing him; now it was clear that Desza didn''t need a prison but to be eliminated with a painful and revolting death. There was no longer a reason to turn the other cheek.


    Candado and the duo managed to track down Desza in an old textile factory. Their faces were injected with rage, except for Candado''s, who seemed like a tragic hero. Everything seemed so normal and painful that it wasn''t worth showing guilt for it.


    "BASTARD!" shouted Rozkiewicz, filled with rage.


    "YOU''RE A CANCER TO SOCIETY!" yelled Krauser, partially revealing his eye sockets.


    "You''ve caused too much harm, Desza. It''s time for you to pay for it."


    Desza exploded into laughter, but it was a sick and deranged laugh.


    "The world is cruel, dirty, evil, and hypocritical. It doesn''t need heroes like you; it needs to be punished by the same evil," he said, then looked at Candado. "I know you agree with me. Your eyes are dead and tell me you''ve seen too many injustices. Why fight with me when your enemies are yourselves?"


    Candado drew his fac¨®n and, with a cold and emotionless attitude, said, "I would never join a mentally deranged person."


    On the other side of the situation, J?rgen was locked in a fierce battle with Declan and Anzor. Their swords were no match for their steel arms.


    "Surrender, you''ll never best me," said Anzor.


    "We''ll see about that."


    J?rgen rushed towards him and grabbed his arm, but Anzor punched him in the face. Still, J?rgen didn''t let go and responded with a knee to the chest. Then, Declan intervened with his fencing; his speed was magnificent. However, J?rgen used his quickness and grabbed him by the neck, starting to deliver punches at an incredible speed. Declan did his best to fend off the blows. In that moment, Anzor charged towards him with his sword, and J?rgen, sensing him approach, threw Declan''s body at him.


    "You''re weaklings."


    As he helped his friend to his feet, Anzor said, "Never underestimate a Russian; you never know the extent of their power."


    Then, their eyes glowed, Anzor''s turning red, while Declan''s shone green.


    "Ready, brother?"


    "Anytime," Declan replied with a smile.


    Both stood up and prepared their swords. Suddenly, creatures emerged from their backs, from the waist upwards. Anzor''s was red, muscular, with four arms, each holding a sword. It had a third eye on its forehead, a black mustache, white eyes, and gave the impression of being an old man. Declan''s was green, muscular, with two arms, bald, and with bull-like horns. Its eyes were blue, it wore gold bracelets on its wrists, and held two katana swords with chains connected to its weapon.


    "Heavens, this will be difficult."


    "You''ll see the true power of the Russian Confederation."


    "I doubt it," J?rgen said as he extended the blade of his right arm.


    Both rushed towards him at an incredible speed, making it difficult for J?rgen to see them. Anzor appeared behind him, and the four-sword creature descended with all its might. J?rgen barely managed to defend himself and stop it with his two arms turned into blades. Then, Declan attacked from J?rgen''s back. J?rgen noticed and kicked him, but the creature dropped its weapons and grabbed his leg. It then lifted him into the air and threw him to the ground. Anzor tried to chain him, but J?rgen recovered quickly and jumped high enough to be above their heads. He decided to attack the one that would make his life easier, choosing Anzor. He descended with all his might, hitting the creature on the head and neck with his legs. Anzor thrust his sword into J?rgen''s thigh, who, far from feeling pain, broke free and with the same injured foot, delivered a tremendous blow to Anzor''s back.


    Later, Declan attacked with impressive speed, making it difficult for J?rgen to dodge. Rips appeared in his clothes, but at one point, J?rgen took Declan''s arm and fractured it with a strong blow to the elbow, causing a cry of pain. With that suffering, his creature reacted and attacked him twice as fast, but J?rgen kicked him in the chin and then punched him in the chest. Declan, far from giving up and still in pain, drew his second sword and tried to thrust it into J?rgen''s chest. J?rgen realized and kicked his arm, making him drop the sword. Then, he grabbed him by the neck, punched him, and pushed him away.


    "You said you''d give me what I deserved?" J?rgen asked with his cold demeanor.


    "DECLAN! IT''S TIME TO PLAY!"


    Both stood up, and their bodies shone again. Their creatures began to heal their owners; Declan''s arm healed, and Anzor''s wounds did too.


    "It''s time for punishment," Declan said as he prepared his fencing stance.


    Anzor was the first to attack; his speed allowed him to tear J?rgen''s back. Then, he attempted to strike a fatal blow with his blades, but Declan stopped him with his fencing and delivered a strong blow with his head. His creature grabbed Anzor by the neck and slammed him to the ground, causing J?rgen to spit out blood.


    "SUFFER THE WRATH OF HARAMBEE!" Declan shouted as he continued to strike on the ground.


    As the fight between these three continued, Walter, Sofia, and Frederick engaged in a fierce battle with R?sse?s, Azricam, and Guz.


    "You cursed bitch," Sofia said to R?sse?s.


    "Accept it, your flowers and little animals won''t stand a chance against my lava and fire."


    "R?sse?s, don''t behave like a child, fight seriously."


    "Sourpuss."


    "LISTEN! Surrender, there''s no reason to fight. We have nothing against you. Just leave and never fight with us again," Guz said.


    "NEVER!" Walter shouted. "Do you think we''ll just pack up and leave like that? You''re mistaken. We''re not cowards. And what''s with not fighting because you don''t know us? You didn''t know anyone who attacked that day. You''re damn murderers and hypocrites, and I won''t stop until I finish each one of you."


    "You''re so closed-minded and stupid, you believe so much in Harambee, someone who hasn''t done anything for you, but you''ve done for her," Azricam retorted.


    "You''re wrong about that, beauty. Harambee freed us from people like you, and if there was a way to bring her back to life, then I would give anything, even my life," Frederick said.


    "Just because she''s beautiful," Sofia added.


    "Well, that would be 80% of my objective, but the rest is out of conviction (liar)," he said.


    "Shut up, I think diplomacy didn''t work, Guz," said Walter.


    "It''s a shame things have come to this point. It''s sad to spill magical blood," Guz replied.


    "Hypocrite," Walter muttered.


    Words didn''t work; both sides were steadfast in their ideologies. Things only worsened. In the midst of the destroyed streets, these three fronts unleashed their greatest hatred.


    R?sse?s was the first to attack, clearly targeting Sofia. The concentrations of her vengeance grew stronger; each of them wanted to destroy the other.


    Walter took the initiative to drive Azricam forward through the buildings, slamming him against any structure he found, keeping him away from his comrades.


    Frederick decided to confront Guz, who had no better idea than to provide assistance to Sofia by fighting alongside her.


    "It''s time to end this trash," Frederick declared.


    Guz, with his hand behind his back, signaled for him to come. Frederick took it as a challenge and accepted, running towards him. And Guz, with his hands behind his back, summoned one of his tentacles, but Frederick turned invisible, causing them to miss and allowing his enemy to punch him from behind. However, Guz caught him with his left hand, while the other remained behind his back.


    "Not bad."


    "Well, let me show you more."


    Frederick freed himself from Guz''s grip and disappeared again. To protect himself from such an elusive fighter as Frederick, Guz summoned a small circle of strange shadows in the shape of arms, with himself in the middle.


    "Brilliant, but it won''t do you any good."


    Then, Frederick appeared above his head, and before he could do anything to defend himself, Frederick called his dogs and they attacked him. Then, he fell into the middle of the circle and kicked him in the chest. Afterward, he clapped, and his animals dispersed.


    Guz, who was slammed against the wall of a store, stood up and adjusted his mask.


    "I see you''re quite skilled, despite your demeanor saying otherwise."


    "Feel the might of Frederick Fliipoff."


    Guz drew two green tentacles from his back and used them as additional limbs to fight.


    "Here it comes," Frederick joked.


    Then, he disappeared again and repeated his tactic. But Guz was smart; he made sure he wouldn''t fall for the same trick twice. So, using his powerful tentacles from his back, he soared into the air, keeping both hands behind his back as if he were a professional.


    "Let''s see how far your specialty goes."


    Frederick reappeared, sporting a mischievous grin.


    "Too easy."


    Then, he hopped onto a car nearby, punched where the keys went, and the car started. Afterward, he drove at an incredible speed towards Guz''s tentacles. Guz, realizing too late what he was about to do, couldn''t prevent Frederick from crashing into his means of standing in the air, causing him to fall onto a nearby building.


    Since Frederick didn''t know how to stop the car, he abandoned it and jumped to the side of the road. Then, he watched as the car headed towards Guz, who was recovering from the fall, and ultimately crashed into him.


    "I''M A CHAMPION!" Frederick yelled.


    On the other hand, Sofia was fighting R?sse?s. Although it seemed like she suffered from mental imbalance, it was only her mocking nature.


    Fire and lava were everywhere, so R?sse?s had all the advantage. Sofia was in an area where nothing favored her; there were hardly any trees, grass, or herbs, so she found it very difficult. She had to get creative, but even without nature, she realized she had the same abilities as R?sse?s, as she controlled fire and lava, surprising her rival. R?sse?s showed her power by throwing all the lava she had around her.


    "It''s impossible, you''re supposed to control nature."


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    "No, I didn''t lie; I control nature. Fire and lava are part of nature, they''re just natural disasters," Sofia replied.


    Sofia smiled and used lava as armor. Her staff had become more than just branches; it had transformed into diamond.


    "It''s time for revenge."


    Sofia ran towards her and took care of returning all the blows she had received that day in Resistencia. Her powers and abilities had improved greatly that day. R?sse?s had transformed her fists into limestone and proceeded to strike with them, but Sofia dodged them. Finally, R?sse?s grabbed her by the right arm and threw her aside with all her might. However, being a professional, R?sse?s burned the ground with lava coming from the soles of her feet. She submerged herself in them and emerged from the other end. Sofia distanced herself from her and struck her in the chest, but R?sse?s stopped it and, with a smile, tossed her into the air. After spinning her around for a while, she sent her flying towards one of the nearby houses. Sofia extinguished the lava from her body and transformed into stone, and her staff changed shape, no longer diamond but now metal.


    "You''ve improved a lot, girl," R?sse?s said as she created a dripping sphere of lava.


    In response, Sofia threw her staff at her, but R?sse?s dodged it. When she turned around, Sofia was no longer there. Then, she heard a faint whisper in her left ear.


    "Behind you."


    Startled by the message, R?sse?s turned around and blindly unleashed her powers, burning everything in her path. She stopped upon colliding with a truck nearby, completely wrecking it. R?sse?s''s breathing was rapid; she had never experienced something like that before. Then, she turned and received a surprise blow from Sofia with the staff that had flown earlier.


    "Surprise."


    R?sse?s was outraged, and her body began to harden; her eyes turned black, and a white substance akin to blood oozed from her sockets.


    "It''s time to end this nonsense."


    Sofia pushed her and distanced herself from her as much as possible. Then, she assumed a stance while striking the ground with her staff more than three times.


    "The song of nature will fall upon you."


    Things were getting very dangerous between the two of them. Frederick realized it wouldn''t be a safe place if they unleashed all their powers and, like Guz, who had emerged from the rubble, they fled from there to fight elsewhere.


    On the other hand, Walter and Azricam were venting their hatred with blows, Azricam''s bizarre white armor against Walter''s "armor" made of a cactus.


    "Beast, animal, killer, you don''t deserve that armor."


    "Then take it off," he said, drawing a sword from his waist and pointing it at him. "Come closer and take it off my body."


    Walter grimaced in disgust and shot him with thorns from the palms of his hands. But it was useless; his thorns couldn''t penetrate the tough shell of that armor.


    "Cry, little rabbit," Azricam taunted.


    "You''re bad with witty remarks."


    "That''s because I''m not made for that."


    "Neither am I."


    Then, he stretched out his arms and struck him in the chest. Azricam managed to partially stop that lethal attack, but he could still fight. He stood up, drew a second sword from his back, and began spinning on his own axis at an incredible speed that not even Walter Dussek himself could see.


    "Oh, damn," Walter said as he reinforced his armor with spikes everywhere, but these were stronger, larger, and harder.


    "DIE!"


    "No."


    Walter ran towards the threatening storm. Then he jumped and landed on the other side, turned around, and showed his fists, sharp with thorns, and threw them from his knuckles. However, these were very tough and heavy; they served to stop that deadly whirlwind by hitting him in the chest and thigh. This caused it to explode and fly through the air, crashing onto the asphalt. The friction of the methane emitted by the whirlwind, along with the metal spikes, caused a chemical reaction that ended with an imminent explosion, but not strong enough to kill Azricam.Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.


    "Did I do that?" Walter wondered as he looked at his hand.


    Then, he jumped from the burning building to where his enemy lay on the ground, unconscious.


    "I think it''s all over."


    Azricam opened his eyes and grabbed Walter''s feet. Then, he thrust his sword into Walter''s chest, but to his surprise, he stopped it with both hands, his palms bleeding.


    "That was close, little one."


    Walter emerged from his armor the same way he did with Joel and approached him. Then, he took him by the hands and delivered a deadly headbutt. His head took a hard blow indeed, but not as much as his opponent suffered.


    "Do you have a head of stone or what?" he asked as he held his helmet.


    Seeing that Walter had a titanium strip on his forehead, Azricam was surprised and fell silent.


    "Not only cactus is my forte."


    Azricam stood up and looked at him closely.


    "Who are you?"


    "Find out."


    There was a secret that the boy known as Walter Dussek hid, but it wouldn''t be revealed that day.


    But not all were fighting outside. Leandro, Celeste, and Fiore found themselves battling within an abandoned hotel due to the recent explosive attacks. The trio was pursuing Dockly, who had been spotted on the rooftop attempting to shoot Candado in the head. His rifle was obliterated by a precise shot from Celeste''s magnum, without the aid of a telescopic sight, from over thirty meters away.


    Upon being discovered, Dockly sought refuge inside the building to regroup, as three individuals were hot on his trail, one of whom he particularly wished to avoid: Leandro Maidana from P?chcl¨¢mak, with whom he had numerous conflicts and disagreements. The reason for his flight remained a mystery.


    The trio entered an area resembling a dining room, large and disheveled from the explosions outside. Leandro began to scan the surroundings, aware that they were being watched.


    "Oh, darn," exclaimed Walter as he reinforced his armor with spikes, which were now stronger, larger, and tougher.


    "Die!" shouted his adversary.


    "Not today."


    Walter charged towards the whirlwind threatening to engulf him, leaped across, and landed on the other side. He then displayed his fists, sharpened with spikes, and hurled them from his knuckles. Though the spikes were tough and heavy, they succeeded in halting the deadly whirlwind by striking it in the chest and thigh, causing it to explode and fly through the air before crashing onto the asphalt. The friction from the methane emitted by the whirlwind, coupled with the metal spikes, triggered a chemical reaction that resulted in an imminent explosion, yet not potent enough to kill Azricam.


    "Did I do that?" Walter wondered aloud, inspecting his hand.


    He then leaped from the flaming building, landing near his unconscious foe.


    "I think it''s over," he said.


    Azricam opened his eyes and seized Walter''s feet, attempting to impale him with his sword. To his surprise, Walter halted the blade with both hands, preventing it from piercing his chest, albeit at the cost of bleeding palms.


    "That was close, little man," Walter remarked.


    He emerged from his armor, much like he had done with Joel, and approached Azricam, seizing his hands and delivering a fatal headbutt. While Azricam''s head received a harsh blow, it was not as severe as the one his opponent suffered.


    "Do you have a head of stone or something?" Walter quipped, holding his helmet.


    Upon noticing the titanium strip on Walter''s forehead, Azricam was taken aback and fell silent.


    "It''s not just the cactus that''s my strength," Walter declared.


    Azricam rose to his feet and regarded him intently.


    "Who are you?" he inquired.


    "Find out," Walter replied cryptically.


    There was a secret hidden within the young man known as Walter Dussek, but it would not be revealed on that day.


    But not everyone was fighting outside. Leandro, Celeste, and Fiore found themselves engaged in battle inside an abandoned hotel, owing to the recent explosive attacks. The trio was in pursuit of Dockly, who had been spotted on the rooftop attempting to shoot Candado in the head. His rifle was destroyed by a precise shot from Celeste''s magnum, without the use of a telescopic sight, hitting him from over thirty meters away.


    Upon being discovered, Dockly sought refuge inside the nearest building to regroup, as three individuals were chasing him, one of whom he particularly wished to avoid: Leandro Maidana from P?chcl¨¢mak, with whom he had many differences and conflicts. The reason for his flight remained a mystery.


    The trio reached an area that appeared to be the dining hall, quite spacious and disordered from the explosions outside. Leandro began to search his surroundings, realizing they were being observed.


    "Cele."


    "Yes, I know," she said as she drew her weapons.


    "What do they know?" Fiore inquired.


    "The enemy is close, and I''d prefer you didn''t use your explosive skills for this occasion," Leandro said.


    "Why?"


    "The building would collapse on us," Celeste concluded.


    And from the darkness, standing on a chandelier, he aimed his Winchester shotgun. His skill was incredibly remarkable; he moved so cautiously that the chandelier remained still and made no noise. He was quite professional, but his luck didn''t last long. When he released the safety of his gun, it made a small and insignificant noise, but it reached Leandro''s ears.


    "Up!" Celeste turned around and fired into the air, albeit not paying attention to her target, not to mention it was dark, but the bullets startled Dockly, causing him to lose his balance and fall from where he was standing, ending up on the floor.


    "It''s time to kill," he said as he aimed his Winchester at them.


    "Dockly, my friend, I think you''ve changed quite a bit since the last time we met."


    "Yes, the mission at the subjugated house. Do you remember?"


    "How could I forget?"


    "You saw what the guild members were doing."


    "They weren''t guild members."


    "I trusted Harambee, and she betrayed me."


    "... "


    "You''re a filthy corrupt man." Leandro raised his hands and threw his knife. "Come on, I don''t want to hurt you; we''ve been friends for a long time."


    "We''re not anymore," he replied, releasing the gun''s safety again. And just as he was about to shoot, Leandro turned invisible and shouted.


    "Now!" Dockly aimed at Celeste and fired, but she ducked behind a table. Then Fiore, armed with a pickaxe, ran towards him and disarmed him. Leandro then reappeared behind Dockly and grabbed his arms.


    "You''re under arrest."


    "I think you should take off that crappy ski mask, you''re not fooling anyone."


    "Come on, I think it''s time for you to surrender." Dockly chuckled.


    "I''ll never do that." Then he broke free and tried to strike, but Leandro blocked all his attacks with his left hand.


    "You always sucked at hand-to-hand combat." Celeste emerged and began shooting, but Dockly grabbed his Winchester and started firing back, but none of the bullets hit her.


    Fiore was also skilled in hand-to-hand combat, making it difficult for Dockly to keep him at bay. However, everything changed when Dockly pulled out two grenades from his pocket and threw them into the air, then ran and hid in another room.


    "DOWN!" Celeste shouted.


    But Fiore reacted quickly, intercepting both grenades in the air and throwing them out of a nearby window, thus averting the deadly explosion and potential damage. When the grenades exploded, only a few glass fragments shattered.


    "SEARCH FOR HIM!" Leandro ordered.


    Although Dockly had momentarily escaped, he still longed to fight his former friend.


    As conflicts erupted everywhere, Candado''s team, led by H¨¦ctor, tended to the wounded and faced strange stone lackeys of unknown origin. Carolina was engaged in hand-to-hand combat with Chesulloth. With the help of Clementina, the android''s deadly machine gun, the situation became complicated. Carolina, accustomed to training with Candado in recent months, showed outstanding combat skills and was doing quite well so far.


    Meanwhile, Kevin, Martina, Andersson, and Hammya encountered the Wandering siblings and Isabel. One of them seemed quite pleased to see Hammya.


    "I see we meet again, green-haired girl."


    "YOU''RE THAT CRAZY WOMAN!" she shouted while hiding behind Martina.


    "Do you two already know each other?"


    "She tried to kill me a few months ago, she''s insane."


    "I see you''ve shown your true nature, haven''t you, Jane?"


    "Shut up, Isabel, remember the enemy is ahead."


    "I don''t know how they know each other, but to me, this will be brilliant," commented Andersson.


    "Whatever the Russian said."


    "For the last time, Kevin, I''m Swedish."


    "Attack!" he said, ignoring Andersson.


    Kevin went after Joel, while Andersson stayed to protect Hammya, who wasn''t very skilled in these situations. Martina approached Jane, who, in the eyes of others, seemed quite reckless.


    "Don''t stray too far from me, Miss Hammya."


    "I can handle this on my own."


    "No, seriously, don''t stray too far from me because Candado explicitly ordered me to protect you."


    "He did that for me?"


    "Yes, so don''t wander off."


    Despite feeling touched, Hammya understood that it wasn''t the time or place to let those feelings take over. She remained on high alert as Andersson fought against Isabel.


    "You''re good, for someone from Cer¨¢mico."


    "I''m made of porcelain," he adjusted his scarf and ran towards her.


    Isabel, armed with a small axe, began to attack Andersson. Although not apparent, Andersson was skilled in that type of combat. He allowed her to cut his left arm, then he crouched, kicked her in the abdomen, and pushed her away from him and Hammya.


    "Was it worth it?" Isabel asked mockingly.


    But she was surprised to see Andersson''s arm returning to its place, the pieces reconnecting and healing his wound.


    "Yes," he then opened and closed the hand he had lost, "it was worth it."


    In the distance, Gabriel watched the fight from a building, stepping on the back of a dead individual. Behind him, thousands of corpses and blood stretched out everywhere.


    "Clear," Gabriel said, removing his hat.


    One of the bodies moved, still alive. He pulled out a weapon from his pocket and aimed it. Gabriel, entertained and with his back turned, commented:


    "That''s rude," he whispered into the individual''s ear, just before plunging his hand into his back and ripping out his heart.


    Gabriel observed it and then threw it away.


    "My job is done," Gabriela said as she left the building with her hands in her pockets.


    Kevin and Martina faced off against Jane and Joel.


    "They''re weak," Jane said.


    To which Kevin responded by grabbing Jane by the neck and throwing her into the air.


    "Oops, sorry for being weak."


    Then Joel appeared and wrapped Kevin with some kind of metal thread all over his body, piercing needles into his arm, chest, and legs. Martina intervened, cutting the threads and driving Joel away.


    "Damn rat," Kevin said as he pulled out the needles.


    Then, Jane appeared with her unsheathed sword and ran towards Kevin, who made cuts all over her body. Kevin grabbed the sword and squeezed it tightly until it shattered.


    "I think I broke your toy, heh."


    Jane summoned chains from her back and the ground, attacking Kevin. However, he grabbed the chains coming from her back and pulled them strongly towards him. Then he lifted her into the air, spun her around for more than six seconds, and let her go. Jane crashed into a wall, which didn''t break, but her back did.


    "Who are you?" Jane asked as she got up.


    Kevin stood firm, bringing his arm across his chest in a squared position, while the other one was behind his back.


    "I''m a unionist," he said proudly.


    Suddenly, a chain wrapped around his feet.


    "Well, I didn''t see that coming."


    Then Jane gestured with her hand and tossed him high into the air.


    "Kevin!" Martina yelled as she fought Joel.


    "Don''t worry, I''ll go after him," Jane said. Then she pulled out four chains from her back and followed him.


    Kevin''s body fell into a zoo, in an empty cage, but with water indeed.


    "God, that bitch really packs a punch."


    Then he stood up and began to walk around until he found an exit. Kevin gave it a push and opened the door, then he explored the area. It was an empty zoo, no animals in sight, or so he thought. He noticed there were at least three animals: a dolphin, a red Madagascar owl with blue eyes, and a baby panda bear, seemingly frightened.


    "But what..."


    Then he felt something under his foot; he stepped aside and saw a small turtle that hid inside its shell.


    "Oops, sorry."


    Then he bent down and picked up the turtle, removing the dirt from its shell and peering through the hole where its head was hidden.


    "I''m glad you''re okay and your shell is tough."


    When he said that, the turtle stuck its head and four limbs out to walk on his palm. Kevin smiled.


    But that joy didn''t last, as Jane appeared and destroyed the entrance door.


    "Here you are, beast."


    Kevin put the turtle in his pocket and prepared for the attack.


    "I see you''re a grudge holder, GET READY!"


    Jane ran towards him, and with her brute chains emerging from her back, like additional arms, they grabbed Kevin by his legs, but he freed himself by stomping on them. Then, he fled and hid in one of the cages there, where a baby panda was hidden.


    Jane searched everywhere for him since she had lost sight of him when Kevin had turned around to hide.


    "Come out, friend, or I''ll destroy this whole place," she threatened.


    The panda growled as she passed by, causing her to turn around and return to where she had heard the sound.


    Kevin covered its mouth with both hands and looked around, searching for a way out until he found one of the cage bars out of place. He took the panda under his arm and ran to the other end of the cage, making Jane spot him.


    "There you are," she said, then began shooting strange metal bullets from the palms of her hands.


    But Kevin dodged them all, continuing to do so until he reached the other end of the bear''s cage. He punched it and got out of there, then let go of the panda and gestured for it to move away. At first, it worked, but when he turned around, the panda was hugging him.


    "No, no, no, no, let go."


    Then he started shaking his leg.


    "Let go of me, I''m telling you, leave my leg alone."


    But the bear kept holding onto him.


    "Black and white furball, let go."


    But the more he wasted time trying to get the panda off him, Jane appeared in front of him, destroying a brick wall that separated them.


    "Great, problems just keep multiplying."


    Kevin grabbed the panda once again and fled the scene.


    "What''s wrong? Are you scared?" Jane asked as she caressed her chains.


    "Hammya was right about saying she''s unhinged."


    Kevin turned a corner and saw a tree, and upon seeing it, he got an idea and climbed it, then placed the bear on one of the many sturdy branches.


    "Now, be a good panda bear and leave me alone."


    Kevin climbed down, adjusted his mask, and went after her, and when she saw him, she prepared her chains to strike him.


    "It''s time for you to die."


    But as Kevin ran towards Jane, his fists began to create a sphere of blue and white energy with both hands, and as he approached, the sphere grew and grew, slowly but steadily.


    Jane, noticing this, began to laugh and stored her chains back into her back, summoning new ones from the ground to attack him.


    "If that''s how you want to play, then fine, I won''t let you get close to me," she declared.


    The chains kept coming, and each of them attacked Kevin, but he audaciously dodged each one of them, getting closer with every move. Then, Jane pulled a chain from her chest and directed it towards him. Kevin panicked and dodged to the side, causing the chain to cut through one of the folds of his mask, which fell to the ground.


    Jane laughed at the near miss, believing he was as good as dead and that his magic had vanished, probably due to the fall.


    "What do you think now?" she taunted.


    Kevin stood up and turned to look her in the eyes, wiping the smile off her face.


    "What? A Bailak?"


    Before she could react, Kevin ran towards her and struck her with the energy he had been creating moments ago, hitting her squarely in the chest. This caused her to fly through the air and crash into one of the cages, breaking the bars and the wall.


    At that moment, Joel, who was fighting Martina on the rooftop of a building, felt a bad omen running from his waist to his head.


    "Jane," he said as he struggled with Martina, then looked over his shoulder, "sister."


    Then he refocused, pushed her away with all his might, and looked towards the zoo, sensing that his sister was in danger. He then pulled out from his pocket some large needles attached to metal threads and leaped from the building. Armed with these needles, he threw many of them like monkeys swinging on vines.


    "JOEL!" shouted Isabel, watching him flee from the battle.


    Then she looked at Andersson, who hadn''t broken a sweat or dirtied his clothes during the fight.


    "I''m sorry I can''t keep up with this, a coward just ran away, and I can''t handle it alone," she lamented.


    "What?"


    Isabel slammed her fist on the ground, and strange green smoke emerged out of nowhere.


    "She''s getting away, follow her," Hammya said.


    Andersson, fanning away the smoke with his hand, said, "It seems Kevin is in trouble, we need to follow her," he adjusted his scarf and looked at Martina, "HEY! Your brother is in danger, we need to follow her."


    While Andersson and the others followed the Witnesses, something significant was happening in the zoo, perhaps the most important of all.


    Kevin picked up his mask and the torn piece, placed it back together, welding it with his finger turned torch, then put it on and walked over to where Jane lay, crossing the cage that had been destroyed by the impact of her body, jumping over the wall, or what was left of it, and reached a dying Jane.


    "You... There weren''t supposed to be any of you left," said Jane.


    "Well, the world isn''t what it seems," Kevin replied.


    "Why would a race as strong and pure as yours be on the side of the Guilds? They were supposed to have turned their backs on you when they were exterminating you."


    "I don''t follow the guild."


    "But you said..."


    "I said I was a guild member, but not one of the W.O.G.A.B., but one of Candado."


    "How can you follow him?"


    "Because he showed me something I never saw in the guild members, trust."


    "You chose the wrong side."


    "Time will tell, something you won''t see anymore."


    "...?"


    "You''ve seen me, as you said, the Bailaks no longer exist, therefore, you must continue to believe that."


    "The world is so intriguing."


    Kevin transformed his right arm into a sword but, as he was about to kill her, Joel appeared behind him and cut his arm with his threads.


    Unfazed by the pain, Kevin turned and tried to kill the person coming after him, but Joel appeared to his right side and beheaded him.


    He took his unconscious sister and left. Seconds later, Martina, Andersson, and Hammya arrived, seeing Kevin lying on the ground with his head severed and a huge pool of blood. Hammya and Andersson shed tears at the sight of their dead friend.


    "Why are you crying?" Martina asked.


    "Aren''t you sad? Your brother is gone," Hammya said.


    At that moment, Martina picked up Kevin''s head and reattached it to his body.


    "What are you doing?" Andersson asked.


    "Kevin, brother, you were very careless," she said as she reattached the head as if it were a bottle cap.


    "Damn, that hurt," Kevin said as he coughed.


    "You''re alive," Andersson said, overjoyed.


    "Yes, I am," Kevin said, then stood up with Martina''s help and looked at the duo. "What''s up?"


    Andersson was surprised, and Hammya fainted, but before she hit the ground, Andersson caught her.


    "It seems the girl isn''t used to all of this," he remarked.


    "Give her time," Andersson said as he tried to help her stand.


    At that moment, his arm grew back, and his clothes repaired themselves.


    "All right, time to go."


    But when Kevin took a step, he felt his leg heavier, then looked down and saw it, the panda bear clinging to his leg.


    "You again, don''t you have anything else to do?"


    At that moment, a red owl perched on Andersson''s shoulder.


    "What? And who are you?" he asked.


    The owl chirped and nestled.


    "Well, what can you do? I''ll call you Redy," he said, then stroked its head. "I''m happy for you, now help me get this off."


    "Why don''t you adopt it? Mom said that Bailaks choose their animals, and they choose the Bailaks," Martina suggested.


    "Yeah, but I''m not ready," Andersson replied, then began pulling on the bear''s hind legs. "Let go of me already."


    "Come on, you''ll like it," Martina insisted.


    Kevin relented, crouched down, and stared at the bear intently. It yawned, but still kept its eyes on him. After a few seconds, the panda''s eyes turned sky blue and glowed.


    "What did you do?" Martina asked.


    "I adopted it."


    "With a staring contest?"


    "No, what I used is called L¨ªnguro, which in our language means friend. It''s a magic where we exchange souls and hearts, keeping us united forever."


    "Wow," Andersson said, trying to keep Hammya from falling, but after a few taps, she stood up.


    "What''s happening?" she asked.


    "I see you''ve woken up," Andersson said.


    "Kevin, you''re alive."


    "Of course I''m alive, I''m a Bailak," Kevin said, then turned around. "Right, Martina?... Oh, where did she go?"


    At that moment, a noise came from the aquatic area followed by a joyful shout.


    "YAY!"


    Then Martina appeared with a glowing fish tank and a tiny dolphin.


    "Isn''t it cute?" she asked.


    "What did you do to that dolphin?" Andersson inquired.


    "I adopted it, and with my L¨ªnguro magic, I made it small enough to fit in here."


    "God, everyone has a pet except me," Hammya lamented.


    At that moment, Kevin reached into his pocket and pulled out a turtle, then placed it in Hammya''s hands.


    "Well, now you do," he said.


    "HURRAY! I''ll call you Lentejuela," she exclaimed.


    "Why?" Kevin asked.


    "Because it''s slow."


    "Oh, then I''ll name mine Masha," Martina said to her dolphin.


    "Great, I''m glad. Can we go now?" Kevin asked.


    "What will you name your friend?" Martina asked.


    Kevin looked at the panda and said.


    "I have no idea."


    "Think of a name."


    "Alright, I will." He said, then he placed his hand on his head, and after a few minutes, he said, "I''ll call him Pochongi."


    Everyone laughed at the amusing name he chose.


    "What''s going on?"


    "Pochongi, the panda."


    They all burst into laughter once again.


    In a moment of tension, they relieved it with laughter and continued laughing as they exited the zoo.

 REVENGE

    Everyone maintained a standoff: Frederick against Guz, Sofia against R¨¹sse¨¹s, Anzor and Declan against J?rgen, Clementina and Carolina against Chesulloth, Leandro, Fiore, and Celeste against Dockly, and now, Krauser, Rozkiewicz, and Candado against Desza, the most loathed individual of all. He incited rage with just a glance. At the rooftop''s summit, Candado and the others clashed against Desza, yet none could land a blow; their attacks seemed futile against his adept defensive maneuvers.


    "Where''s that thirst for blood? Your eyes tell me one thing, but your fists, another," Krauser remarked.


    "You want to see my power? Well, I''ll show it to you," Krauser said.


    Then, his body contorted: his hands took on a sinister form, fingers morphed into dangerous blades, legs melded into swathes of black tendrils, his chest split open to reveal sharp teeth. His visage changed once more; dark sockets emerged, red circles within, and from his mouth protruded jagged teeth and a long, black tongue. When he finished, he stood as a fifteen-meter-tall monster.


    "I''ll show you what death is," Krauser growled in a distorted voice.


    "Great," Desza replied.


    Rozkiewicz and Candado stepped back, allowing Krauser to engage in battle undisturbed.


    "Round two, then? Let''s go," Desza said.


    Desza charged at the abominable creature with his trademark insanity, cutting through everything in his path. Given Krauser''s size, he was sluggish in movement; Desza exploited this, slicing through tentacles and part of his torso.


    "Don''t mock me!" Krauser bellowed.


    He then assumed a smaller form and began attacking with all his might: tentacles lashed out at Desza, but he deftly cut through everything that came his way. Switching his weapon from hand to hand, Desza countered each tentacle as they moved independently towards him.


    Taking advantage of Desza being preoccupied with cutting tentacles, Candado and Rozkiewicz each grabbed one of his arms, rendering him unable to retaliate. For a moment, Desza felt fear, but it vanished when he kicked Rozkiewicz''s chin with his right leg, sending him flying. He then struck Candado''s arm with his machete, but the latter, experienced from their first encounter, released his grip, then grabbed Desza by the neck and threw him against a wall, severely injuring him.


    "I don''t intend to leave this encounter with a wound," Candado said, adjusting his tie.


    Desza grinned and charged at him. Candado, arms crossed, grabbed Desza''s machete arm and struck his collarbone with a palm strike, somehow causing his arm to go numb. Swiftly, he seized Desza by the neck again and slammed him onto the ground, placing a foot on his chest.


    "You''re pathetic. Surrender," Candado demanded.


    "Do you think so?" Desza retorted.


    In that moment, Candado felt a foreboding and swiftly stepped aside. Indeed, he made the right move, for from Desza''s belt emerged a massive knife.


    "Oh, I see you still have some tricks up your sleeve," Candado said coolly.


    At that moment, Rozkiewicz and Krauser appeared, now in their original forms, surrounding him.


    "It''s time for you to pay for what you did to the tricolor agency," Rozkiewicz declared.


    "I''m innocent in that matter," Desza retorted.


    "Do you dare lie to our faces?" Rozkiewicz questioned.


    "No, because I''ll make sure that never happened," Desza replied calmly.


    Then, he reached into his pocket and pressed a button.


    Out of nowhere, the building began to sway and tremble, as if an earthquake were imminent. Krauser was the first to realize what was happening as he ran to the railing and looked down. It turned out the building was collapsing.


    "T-The... The... THE BUILDING IS COLLAPSING!" Krauser yelled.


    Desza erupted into laughter.


    "DIE!" he shouted, then leaped onto an iron column.


    Everything started to shake and become unsteady. Rozkiewicz clung to one of the railings, Krauser used his tentacles to grip onto some lampposts, while Candado wasn''t as fortunate; he fell and rolled to one of the destroyed railings, Krauser''s tentacles unable to save him.


    "CANDADO!" they both screamed.


    "DEATH IS A ONE-WAY TICKET! DON''T WORRY! I''VE GOT A TICKET!" Candado yelled as he fell from the building.


    And just when all seemed lost, and their friend had plummeted to his death, Candado responded.


    "I''M OKAY!"


    "CANDADO!?" they both shouted again.


    Then, out of nowhere, Candado rose into the air, aided by a person with gray wings sprouting from their back.


    "Without me, you''re nothing, idiots," Candado taunted.


    "Esteeman?" Rozkiewicz questioned.


    "At your service, you pair of fools," Esteeman replied.


    Then, he helped Candado reach the rooftop.


    "You won''t be able to do anything, and poor Rem will die like in the twin towers," Candado shouted.


    "Rozkiewicz, DO IT NOW!" he commanded.


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    Rozkiewicz let go and dove downwards. Then, he leaped and, in mid-air, transformed into a massive creature the size of the building, resembling a snake with arms, resembling a naga, one of the mythological creatures.


    Once transformed, he held the building with his back.


    "Everything all right?" Rozkiewicz asked in a distorted voice.


    "Well done, big guy. We''ll take care of the rest," Esteeman replied.


    "Good." And once the building was upright again, Candado headed inside to save Rem.


    "I won''t allow it," Desza said as he descended with his potent machete. Krauser shielded him with his deformed right arm and threw him against a wall.


    "Go, friend, Rem needs your help," Krauser said.


    "We''ll take care of the rest," Esteeman added as he rolled up his sleeves.


    "Don''t die, okay?" Candado said as he opened the door and left.


    "Such little faith you have in us," Krauser remarked.


    Candado ran through the building, still damaged from the explosion, holding onto anything he could reach to avoid falling. As he ran, he shouted Rem''s name, though explosions could still be heard from within.


    "Darn it, if I don''t hurry, this whole place will collapse, or worse, Rem might die," Candado thought, pausing to adjust himself. "That wouldn''t look good on my record, though I couldn''t care less."


    "Hurry up, do you?" T¨ªnbari chimed in.


    "Shut up, T¨ªnbari, I''m on it."


    "No, you don''t seem to be."


    "THEN HELP ME!"


    T¨ªnbari separated from him and quickly scanned the area. After a few seconds, he said, "He''s on the 70th floor of the building."


    "And what floor am I on?"


    "You''re on the 90th floor, just twenty floors below."


    "I hate architects, but I hate Desza more." Candado adjusted his tie and began to run with all his might, jumping over desks, beds, anything that obstructed his path.


    When there was something in his way, he destroyed it; when there was fire, he extinguished it with his violet flame, continuing until he reached his target. But that''s where things started to go downhill. Candado encountered a fire he couldn''t extinguish with his powers, for two reasons: one, if he did, it would explode the building, and two, his powers would only fuel the fire further.


    "Great, I''ll ask for a raise next time," Candado muttered.


    "What will you do? I can''t control fire," T¨ªnbari said.


    "You?" Candado then took off his beret and handed it to T¨ªnbari. "Hold this for me." He loosened his tie, rolled up his sleeves, and ran towards the fire.


    "YOU''RE INSANE!" T¨ªnbari exclaimed.


    "OF COURSE NOT! I''M A GENIUS!" Candado shouted as he plunged into the flames.This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it


    Inside, it was scorching hot, and he could barely see through the roaring flames. He relied solely on instinct, avoiding standing still, as the fire would consume him, and he couldn''t use his flame powers as they would only fuel the inferno. So he kept moving constantly, smashing bookshelves or anything else with his fists. After a few seconds, Candado found the way out and leaped into the room where Rem was, tied up and unconscious, likely from the smoke.


    Candado drew his dagger, cut the ropes, and lifted Rem''s limp body. Then, he kicked a huge window, shattering the glass and fueling the fire even more.


    "Isidro, please help me," Candado called out.


    He cleared his throat and jumped into the void with Rem''s body in his arms. At that precise moment, Declan, who was battling J?rgen, their fight still evenly matched, saw Candado fall from a building.


    "Sir," Declan said, sheathing his sword and rushing to Candado''s location.


    "What are you doing?" Candado questioned.


    "Covering you, Anzor," Declan replied.


    "As you say, brother."


    Declan then stored his demon back into his spine, leaped into the void, drew his rapier, and tied a rope to it. When he was close to Candado, he threw his rapier at the building''s column and swung on it until reaching Candado.


    "Declan, how¡ª" Candado began.


    "At your service, sir," Declan interrupted.


    But before they could reach the other end, J?rgen threw a knife, cutting the rope, causing Candado and Declan to plummet.


    "Checkmate," J?rgen said coldly.


    But just before they hit the ground, they stopped a few inches above it.


    "Is this your doing?" Candado asked.


    "No, sir, it''s not," Declan replied.


    And from the shadows emerged Cantero.


    "Oh, you''re the humanist spirit," Candado remarked.


    "Yes, I saw you falling and decided to lend a hand."


    "Thank you, but how do we get down to the ground?"


    Cantero tapped the ground once with his staff, and both Candado and Declan landed on their feet.


    "I''m glad you''re here. We have an injured man among us; I''d like you to provide medical attention," Candado said.


    "Right away, Candado," Cantero replied, levitating Rem''s body and swiftly departing.


    "Okay, Declan, I have some business to attend to with Desza."


    "And I need to go back for Anzor."


    "Thanks for the help."


    "Don''t mention it."


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    Then they parted ways, each going their own route. Declan sprinted across the buildings until he reached his target, while Candado, now unburdened, unleashed all the power and rage within him, ascending the building at an incredible speed. He confronted Desza and struck him in the chest with his violet flame; the force of the impact sent him flying, leaving the others astonished by such a blow. At that moment, T¨ªnbari appeared and placed the beret on Candado''s head, giving a smile before disappearing once more.


    "It''s time for vengeance," Candado declared as he adjusted the sleeves of his shirt and his tie.


    Candado ignited his eyes with violet flame and flew towards Desza. As Desza was getting up, he received a knee to his chest.


    "FEEL THE WRATH OF HARAMBEE!"


    Then Candado grabbed his leg and threw him into the air, following up with bursts of his violet fire. It damaged Desza, but he still wore a grin. Descending with all his might with his machete, but Candado halted him in mid-air. Nevertheless, Desza kicked him in the face, the blow doing nothing but showcasing Candado''s serious demeanor, his eyes reflecting the violet fire.


    "That''s the look I wanted to see."


    Candado seized him by the neck and slammed him onto the ground. Desza quickly got to his feet and began attacking, from top to bottom, left to right, but Candado stopped all his strikes. He didn''t even give him a chance to defend himself, landing blows to his stomach, face, and neck.


    Desza, in a treacherous move, pulled a knife from his boot and stabbed Candado in the waist. Surprisingly, Candado felt no pain, delivering a punch to Desza''s face, grabbing him by the neck again, and hurling him against a wall. Then, he removed the dagger and destroyed it with his fire; the wound closed and healed on its own.


    "You''re a rat and a fool, you''ll never kill me with your sharp toys," Candado taunted.


    Desza laughed and got to his feet.


    "This is very amusing."


    "Your sanity is plummeting; you''re no longer the same Desza who once showed commitment to the guilds," Candado remarked.


    "Surprise, God opened my eyes and showed me what I needed to see. The world is evil, and evil must be punished," Desza retorted.


    "I don''t share your viewpoint."


    "I''m the person who will save you from yourselves."


    "It''s foolish to think that. One doesn''t change the world by killing but with good deeds. You have to lead people down the right path, not scare and kill them. You''re not a savior; you''re a murderer with a twisted mindset."


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    Desza burst into laughter.


    "Look at you, you''re nothing but a person who has fallen very low. You''re not a god, you''re not a hero, not even a savior. You''re just a poor idiot who thinks doing this will make him feel better. You''re just a crazy egotist."


    Desza laughed again, but this laughter was wilder than before.


    "God gave me a purpose to leap for, and that''s you. So all I have to do is kill you," he declared, raising his machete in the air and pointing it at Candado. "You''re a demon, you''re evil incarnate."


    "I''m not, I would never even think of killing innocent people," Candado retorted.


    "But you do think about it," Desza insisted.


    "No, apparently you don''t know me."


    "Pullbarey, I think you''ve heard of him."


    And out of nowhere, a person appeared beside him, a black mist.


    "What?"


    "Good evening, Candado Ernest Barret."


    "You''re the one who cursed me, who killed my grandfather."


    "Candado, Candado, I think you don''t understand. You stole something from me that belongs to me."


    "What was it?"


    "The powers you possess are rightfully mine."


    "No, they''re not."


    "I''m going to kill¡ª"


    "You can''t, my physical body is hidden. What you''re seeing is a product of my power. I was waiting for Desza to utter my name to appear."


    "Damned, only¡ª"


    Candado unleashed his powerful flame while manifesting his hatred, burning Pullbarey''s entire body, but as he said, it did him no harm, only cutting off the conversation.


    "How? You bastard."


    "You''ll never understand, Candado, never."


    "I don''t care if I understand or not, I just want to kill you."


    Desza broke into laughter again.


    "Candado, you and I know, on this path there are no innocents, we are all guilty, I am, but God gave me a chance to cleanse my soul."


    "You''re deranged, Desza."


    "No, we''re all deranged, I know you understand me."


    "Well, what a twisted mind," Candado remarked, then he raised his fist. "You''re nothing but a poor puppet of Pullbarey."


    Desza laughed again and said, "Me? Of course not, I''m just the right hand of God."


    "Oyik, Harry Joaqu¨ªn Desza."


    Then, from his fist, a violet energy emerged out of nowhere and was about to be launched at him, but before this could happen, Desza jumped into the void and fled. Candado shrugged, extinguished the energy sphere, put his hands in his pockets, and walked to where Desza had jumped. There he could see him, fleeing with his comrades, who had been defeated by Candado''s and Rozkiewicz''s team. Candado noticed the psychopathic smile that had caused all this havoc; he had underestimated his intelligence. Powerless, he remained dangerous to everyone. Candado turned his back and went to help his teammates; after all, the building was collapsing, so he rescued his friends and brought them to the ground, while Rozkiewicz worked on stopping the building, at least temporarily, so he could release it. At that moment, Hammya spotted Candado and ran to greet him and, incidentally, to see if he was okay. When she was close enough to him, Candado passed by, hands in his pockets, with T¨ªnbari following to his left; he turned and flashed a smile, inexplicably giving the girl some reassurance. But as she looked at Candado''s back again, her concern for him returned.


    It was never known why Candado didn''t pursue Desza that night, nor did he disclose the conversation he had with him. There are a few rumors; some say Candado wanted to see how far Desza would go with his madness and thus gave him another chance; others say Candado felt sorry for Desza, as they were once friends, and those in the inner circle say Candado wanted him to destroy himself. But whatever the answer, Candado didn''t chase him that night and never spoke of the matter; the reason remains a mystery to all, but not to one, or in this case, one of those present at their massacre.


    That same night, amidst the debris of the city of Buenos Aires, a female figure walked among the remnants of the cabin where Candado and the others fought with Desza hours before the city''s destruction. The mysterious figure advanced over bricks and rocks, bending to move some stones aside and uncover a book wrapped in an old cloth.


    "They''re not very smart."


    The woman removed her hood, revealing herself to be the same girl who had been in Nicol¨¢s''s room. Then, she removed a patch matching her skin tone, revealing the tattoo of the number eight glowing in green. She opened the book, tore out a page, and smiled at the sight of the yellow full moon.


    "I''m getting closer to achieving my goal."


    Just as Eight achieved her goal, Caba?a, wounded and lying in bed, opened his eyes in a dark room. The only light came from the machine he was connected to, until he felt the presence of another person. Nicol¨¢s turned his head and saw Ramiro sitting there, using his cell phone.


    "Hello, I see you''ve woken up."


    Nico grabbed the respirator and removed it.


    "Where am I?"


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    "You''re at the agency''s hospital. You were lucky. Not many people survive a wound like that. If it weren''t for Krauser''s speed and the healing powers of Cantero and Aldana, you wouldn''t have made it."


    Caba?a became agitated.


    "And the others? What happened? How...?"


    "Relax, you''re still recovering. The others are fine, and everything is under control. You''ll be back on your feet in three days."


    Then he lay back on the bed.


    "What is the agency''s president doing here?"


    "Keeping watch. In a few hours, your friend will come, the well-dressed guy with a balaclava on his head."


    "Leandro."


    "Exactly."


    Nico looked out the window again.


    "What could have happened outside?"


    The next morning, after the police and gendarmerie arrived, Candado had ordered to assist the injured people in the city. As a display of his wealth, he compensated the entire city of Buenos Aires and every family that suffered losses, both physical and material. With the help of the Sem¨¢foros, Borradores, and some guilds, the city was rebuilt in just four days. During this time, Candado neither ate nor slept, affected by what happened that night. His friends worried to see him not moving from the hotel. He spent the four days on the balcony, seemingly staring into nothing. Hammya watched him every night, not understanding what was happening. Candado had paid for a private plane for his team, but they refused to leave without him, thus prolonging their stay. One night, as Hammya was falling asleep, Candado uttered, for the first time, a word: "We''re all deranged, I don''t understand. Why do you know that?" These words remained stored in her memory just before she fell asleep.


    But on the fifth day, as Hammya got up, she saw Candado lying on the floor. Terrified, she ran to him and, using her powers discovered a few months ago, which allowed her to delve into memories (which she was trying to learn to understand Candado better), she could fully review the actions of that night. She also glimpsed fragments of her dream, where he was sitting amidst corpses, slowly going insane, giving the impression that he had caused it himself.


    This discovery was overwhelming for her. She decided to abandon her dream and try to wake him up. When Candado opened his eyes, the sadness of his soul was evident. While others perceived him as a cold and emotionless person, she saw him as someone broken and wounded.


    So Hammya, while waiting for Candado to recover from fatigue, sought advice from Walter about Candado''s abrupt personality. Walter, an expert in human behavior analysis on Cantero''s advice, suggested she talk to a person named Agustina Oviedo, assuring that she would be of great help in that situation. Hammya followed his advice and sought Agustina''s help.


    She recounted all the details of the night Candado experienced, point by point, until Agustina responded.


    "The problem with Candado is that he feels completely abandoned. By giving him an enigma like that, he tries to extract a meaning that, although insignificant to us, becomes personal to someone with a broader mind like his. Typically, people like him take a phrase like that and analyze it in relation to their family environment or something related to their past. Surely, when he found the answer, he felt completely hurt. Being someone who seeks answers at all costs, it''s obvious he would want to find one. But he wasn''t prepared to receive an answer like that, which led his mind to defend itself by fainting."


    "Sounds complicated."


    "You remind me a lot of a friend named Alan. Don''t worry, you''re the only one who can help him. We need him now more than ever, Hammya Saillim."


    These words, somehow, gave her an idea. Although Candado felt insecure about his family, and finding that answer made it worse, she decided to open his eyes and show him that he was completely wrong. At that moment, an idea emerged, and it was time to act.

 RESONANCE

    After Desza fled that night and the group had been there for over six days, Candado rescued Rem Koirala. He delivered him safe and sound before President Chandra, who fulfilled her promise to forgive Joaqu¨ªn of his charges and allow him to return to his command. Rozkiewicz was pleased to have him back and continued in his role as vice president.


    All the people who accompanied Rozkiewicz that day returned to their homes in Resistance. Candado took his companions back home, the Bailak brothers left accompanied by their pets. Only God knows how they managed to convince Candado to bring a panda, an owl, a tiny dolphin, and a turtle on the plane, but they did. Hammya, who had made some calls, maintained a smile throughout the journey. A smile that caused a certain discomfort to Candado, but he tried to look elsewhere other than her happy face, and upon arrival, Hammya got off the plane and got on the horse Uzoori, urging Candado to take her home, so she could plan her objective. Candado wasn''t interested in knowing the slightest detail of what she was planning.


    The next day, Candado was enjoying, relatively, his life. It was Saturday again, the glorious Saturday for the students. Although for Candado, it wasn''t just another day out of the 365 days of the year; he considered it a sacred day of rest, and he planned to spend the whole day in his house, alone and without company in his room, lying on his bed reading a book. When suddenly he felt three light knocks on his door.


    "Go away," he said as he turned the page.


    Despite Candado''s brusque response, the door opened anyway, and Hammya peeked through it.


    "Hey, do you have a minute?"


    "No."


    "Come on, please."


    Candado gave her a disapproving look and got up from the bed.


    "Make it quick," he said as he left the book open on his desk.


    "Well, I would like you to accompany me."


    "No."


    "Why not?"


    "Because it''s Saturday, which means today is my day off."


    "And?"


    "How about ''And''?"


    "I''m not going, period."


    Then she approached him and sat on his bed, causing Candado to step back and his back to hit the wall.


    "Hey, don''t come closer."


    "Come on, when was the last time we did something together?"


    "We did something together?"


    "Yes, you took me to faraway places like O.M.G.A.B., Buenos Aires, and Resistance."


    "You sneaked into the last one."


    "Whatever, the point is you can''t spend the whole Saturday here."


    "Oh no?" He then got off the bed and stood in front of her with his arms crossed. "Try to get me out of here."


    "What about Uzoori?"


    "He''ll be fine, I took him out yesterday, so nothing''s wrong."


    "Stop making excuses, it''s not healthy for you to be here."


    "And you stop looking for an excuse to get me out of here. I''m happy in my room, and that''s it."


    "Aren''t you going to check on the porcelain brothers?"


    "They''re fine, I sheltered them in the restaurant, the owner owed me a favor. Now that all his children have grown up, it wouldn''t hurt for him to feel like a father again."


    "And the duo?"


    "They''re happy living in the woods, so it''s fine."


    "And Yara?"


    "She''s with Mauricio in his other world."


    "What thing?"


    "A world I''ll tell you about another time, or better yet, when I feel like it."


    "Are you going out?"


    "You''re very insistent, aren''t you?" He then placed his index finger on her forehead and flicked it. "I''m not leaving my comfy bed."


    "Come on."


    "No."


    "Come on."


    "No."


    "Come on."


    "No."


    "What is this? Preschool? No and no, the story''s over."


    Hammya tilted her head, clearly upset by what he said, but shortly after, she lifted her head and said, "Let''s go."


    "I SAID NO!"


    "Come on, don''t be like this."


    Candado rubbed his forehead and looked at her intently. "I''m not moving from here, get that into your head."


    "Let''s go."


    "Do you not know any other word or what?!"


    "Yes, come on, please come with me."


    "I don''t know who''s more stubborn, you or T¨ªnbari."


    "Maybe I wouldn''t be stubborn if you accepted to come instead of refusing me."


    "Refusing me? Wow, using such a complicated word must have given you a headache."


    "Are you insulting me?"


    "Yes, what are you going to do about it?"


    "Why are you doing this?"


    "Because I''m an asshole, you wouldn''t want one by your side."


    "Nice try, you know I won''t leave unless it''s with you by my side."


    Candado clenched his fists, and his left eyebrow started to twitch, but then he relaxed, adjusted his scarf, and took off his beret.


    "Alright, the princess wins."


    "Really?"


    "Yes, so..." He then extended his hand. "Will you join me?"


    Hammya took Candado''s hand and helped her to her feet.


    "I knew I could convince you."


    "Yes, of course."


    Then they both walked to the door, and Candado, courteously, opened it, bowed, and gestured for her to lead the way.


    "Ladies first."


    "Oh, thank you."


    As soon as Hammya left the room, Candado closed the door with all his might and locked it.


    "I''ll leave," he said, then put on his beret, "when I want to."


    Meanwhile, on the other side, Hammya was banging on the door.


    "Open up, it''s not fair."


    "Life isn''t fair," Candado said as he sat at his desk and flipped through some notes.


    "Open up, or I''ll break it down."


    "I''d like to see you try," he then took a sheet of paper from the thousands he had there, folded it, and placed it inside a book, "it would be amusing to watch you break an arm or your head."


    "CANDADO!"


    "Scream all you want, I''m not opening." He then took a glass and a bottle of soda from his drawer. "It''s my day off, I saved your refined hair on more than one occasion, I was an interpreter for some strangers who saved me, I was chased by damn Witnesses, and here I am. I think I deserve this." He took a sip.


    "That''s why, come with me, and you''ll be more relaxed."


    "With what? All I want is for you to stop banging on the door and let me enjoy my fifteen free hours." He then glanced at the clock; it was already ten o''clock. "Or should I say my fourteen hours."


    Then there was silence, no more banging or Hammya''s voice.


    "Girl?"


    ...


    "Girl? Are you there?"


    ...


    "Well, I guess she got tired of standing there."


    Candado finished his soda, went to the bathroom, washed his glass, and then put it away in the drawer. Then he walked back to his bed and lay down to continue reading. When suddenly he saw Hammya in his room again.Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.


    "Didn''t you think I''d just leave you like that?"


    Candado hid his face behind his book.


    "I told you to scram, girl."


    "You should close the window, so no one breaks in to steal from you."


    "I hate people like you."


    "You can explain later why you hate them. For now, let''s have some fun."


    "No."


    "There''s no use denying it."


    "I think I''m losing my patience."


    "Come on."


    "No."


    "Well, if you leave me no choice, I''ll up the ante."


    Candado lowered his book and looked her in the eyes, raising an eyebrow.


    "An ante?"


    "Yes, though I''m not sure if I''ll regret it, but well, I wanted this."


    "Get to the point, you''ll regret it later."


    "Alright, if you come out, I''ll do anything you ask."


    "No," he then went back to reading his book.


    "What? But why?"


    "Because I don''t need anything from you, except for you to leave me alone. But since you don''t give a damn and don''t listen to me, it''s useless."


    "Oh, come on, not even with that? What can I do to get you out of your room?"


    "Nothing."


    "Come on, anything."


    "No, nothing from you is useful to me."


    As soon as she said that, Hammya was about to give up when suddenly she noticed the book Candado was reading, "What Is to Be Done?" by Vladimir Lenin. It was at that moment that an idea struck her.


    "Wait for me here, I''ll be right back."


    Hammya unlocked the door and left the room. Candado paid no attention and continued with his reading, but after a few fleeting minutes, Hammya returned, but with her hands behind her back, hiding something.


    "That was quick."


    "I see you like reading, especially those kinds of books."


    Candado glanced at the cover of his book and then at her.


    "Yes, so what?"


    "That''s why I want to make a deal."


    "I''m not interested," he said, burying his face in the book again.


    "No?" She then brought her hands from behind her back and revealed a book, and continued, "Not even for this?"


    Candado closed his book, a sign that he''d had enough.


    "I told you that... OH MY ISIDRO!" Candado exclaimed in surprise.


    "I see you like it," Hammya said smugly.


    "IT''S A BOOK BY ARTURO JAURETCHE!" He cleared his throat and continued, "Where did you get it?"


    "My dad liked a lot of books on topics like these, his library was full of these books."


    "What kind of person was he?"


    "It doesn''t matter, the point is... Do you like the book?"


    "If I like it? I love it! It''s very difficult to find a book by Jauretche."


    "I''ll give it to you if you leave here."


    Candado tightened his eyelids and lips, and in a disinterested manner said, "Fine, I accept, all for that book."


    As soon as he said those words, Hammya placed the book in his hand and smiled.


    "All right, you''ve earned it. Now get dressed, I''ll be waiting downstairs."


    With these words, Hammya left the room, leaving Candado alone with his new book. He turned it over and read the title, "Ej¨¦rcito y Pol¨ªtica."


    "Damn, my grandfather would have loved to read one of these books," Candado said aloud.


    And, as promised, he got out of bed, placed the book on his shelf, and snapped his fingers. The procedure was the same, but the clothes were different; a long-sleeved black shirt, dark trousers, a tie, and a refined white waistcoat, dark shoes, and his characteristic gloves in the same white color.


    Then he walked over to his mirror and looked himself up and down, lifted his chin and turned it to the right and left.


    "I hope this will do," he said as he adjusted his tie.


    At that moment, Clementina, who happened to be passing by, saw Candado looking at himself in the mirror and walked past. Then, upon seeing this, she took a few steps back, mimicking the sound of a reversing truck, and stopped in front of Candado''s open door. She put her index finger and thumb to her mouth and whistled.


    "What a Casanova by a thousand censors," she whistled again, but without her fingers in her mouth, and continued, "he''s a charmer, a Romeo, a Gardel, a Luis Miguel, a Sandro, a Frank Sinatra, an Elvis Presley, a Brad Pitt, a Belgrano, a..."


    "Shut up."


    Candado relaxed his shoulders and, looking at her through the mirror and with his hand still on his tie, said.


    "Don''t you have anything better to do?"


    "Now that you mention it, yes, I have something to do, go with you, with Miss Hammya, and with the Barret gentlemen on a trip."


    Candado''s eyes lit up when she said that, so much so that he almost choked himself with his tie. Then he turned around and with an excited and poor voice said.


    "Really? Impossible."


    "Oh yes, I didn''t know Hammya would be successful."


    "But... She didn''t tell me anything about..." Candado brought his left hand to his forehead, then continued, "Ah, it''s nothing." Then he showed a smile that Clementina couldn''t look at and whispered, "that girl is very spooky."


    "Young man? Is everything alright?"


    Candado, concealing his joy just from knowing he was going to spend time with his parents again, like in the past, said, but with a calm and gentle voice, "It''s unbelievable. When was the last time?" He then smiled, and a few tears welled up in his eyes. "Dad, mom, is it true?"


    Clementina felt a bit uncomfortable seeing such a sentimental Candado, so she decided to close the door without saying anything.


    As that happened, and the door closed completely, Candado covered his eyes with his hand and cried tears of joy.


    "It''s incredible, it''s incredible, they haven''t abandoned me."


    At that moment, T¨ªnbari appeared behind his back, with his characteristic smoke, approached him, and gave him a hug. Candado, feeling T¨ªnbari''s arms, asked, "How long have you been hiding?"


    "Since Hammya barged in. I thought of teasing you for a while, but when I saw you crying, I didn''t dare."


    T¨ªnbari placed both hands on his shoulder, turned Candado around to face him, then knelt down, and with his human hand, snapped his fingers. From the wardrobe, a red handkerchief flew into his hand. T¨ªnbari grabbed it and wiped away Candado''s tears.


    "Come on, Candado, your parents wouldn''t want to see you like this."


    "Thank you."


    "Don''t mention it. I may be annoying sometimes, but truly, you''re like a son to me." He then smiled. "Candado doesn''t cry, Candado smiles."


    Candado then hugged T¨ªnbari.


    "Thank you very much," he said as he tried to stop his tears.


    "You''re welcome," T¨ªnbari patted his back and continued, "you''re my ward."


    Then he stood up, took off Candado''s beret, and ruffled his hair affectionately.


    "See you later."


    Then he put the beret back on and left, leaving Candado smiling.


    He walked over to his mirror and combed his hair again. And by the time he finished, Hammya burst in, dressed exactly the same, except this time, her green dress had white cuffs and collar, she wore dark green pants, barely distinguishable under her dress, and the black shoes he had fixed for her.


    "Are you ready now?" she asked.


    Candado put on his beret elegantly and looked at her with a smile.


    "Yes, I am."


    "Good, then, let''s go," she then smiled. "I''m glad to see you happy again."


    Before Candado could say anything, Hammya closed the door, leaving Candado with his index finger in the air. But then he calmed down and lowered his arm. He adjusted his tie and armed with great happiness, he left his room.


    He ran down the hallway, slid down the staircase railing, and landed on the floor in the most spectacular way possible, raising his hands like an Olympic athlete. To his surprise, what Clementina said was true. Candado''s parents were getting ready, and when they saw their son appear out of nowhere, as they didn''t see Candado sliding down the railing, they were surprised. Due to the short time they spent together, they felt somewhat uncomfortable seeing their son, especially his mother. The last time they saw each other, they had argued, and since then, neither of them had spoken nor exchanged greetings or looks. When they met their son, she felt uncomfortable and nervous. Words didn''t flow clearly until her husband placed his hand on her trembling shoulder.


    "Hello, son," he then cleared his throat. "How are you?"


    Candado responded with a hug. Though she felt uncomfortable, she gladly accepted her son''s embrace. For the first time in several years, she felt her son''s warm body in her arms. Mrs. Barret couldn''t help but shed tears.


    "I''m sorry, I''m sorry, I shouldn''t have spoken like that. I was upset, angry," Candado said as his grip tightened.


    "No, I''m the one to blame. I shouldn''t have treated you like that, my love, never," she then placed her hand on his head. "There, there, calm down, I''m here."


    "Mom," Candado said before losing his voice in tears.


    Because his face wasn''t visible, as it was buried in his chest, his expressions couldn''t be seen.


    The pain and hatred were fading away. The drastic change from a frustrated and loveless personality had turned into that, a deeply hurt person, but with the love of his parents, he could feel again what he had forgotten. The affection of his father and mother had returned. After the scene, Hammya shed a few tears. She was deeply moved by what she was witnessing.


    Candado, buried in his mother''s chest, his voice trembling as he apologized over and over again, and with each apology, his pain became more evident. His mother did nothing but hold him, trying to soothe his pain. Again and again, she repeated the same words, her soul ached to see her son sad and to lack the strength to calm him, yet she tried.


    "What did I do to you? Forgive me," she said as she held her son in her arms.


    Hammya''s plan had succeeded; she had removed that stain from Candado''s heart. Now he could feel that, even though it hurt, he was expelling all the pain he had held for almost three years.


    "I''m not Gabriela, but I want you to love me as you did her, that''s all I ask."


    At that moment, Mr. Barret hugged them both.


    "We always loved you, we were just afraid, afraid to move forward, and afraid that one day, we would no longer remember the face and name of our angel. We were so foolish; we wanted to protect someone who was no longer with us, neglecting you and your sister for no reason," he broke into tears. "I''m sorry, sorry for being a terrible father."


    "Dad..."


    "I swear... I swear I''ll never leave you alone again, I swear to be there when you''re sad, I swear to be there when you''re happy, I swear."


    Amidst the tears of the three, Candado was able to show a smile, a genuine smile, one he had never shown, not even to his friends. Clementina, Hip¨®lito, and Hammya felt victorious seeing Candado truly happy again.


    The hug lasted a little while longer, until Mr. Barret decided to end it and asked his son to get ready, that they were going on a trip. Candado agreed and went to the bathroom to wash his face, still wearing his smile.


    Then the whole family got into the car and set off on their journey to a remote and tranquil area, full of trees and neatly trimmed grass. There, the family decided to take their rest and have some fun.


    Curiously, it was where the Bailak brothers lived, who were talking to Mauricio accompanied by Yara, and also the area where Ruccim¨¦nkagri lived, sitting on a hollow log and drinking mate.


    "I see the knight without armor found what he had lost," she said tenderly as she watched the scene.


    Mauricio, Yara, and the Bailak brothers, upon seeing Candado here, decided to welcome him. When Candado noticed their presence, he surprised them with a smile that made them stop just inches away from him, except for Yara, who hugged his leg.


    "Hello, princess."


    "What did you do with Candado?"


    "Come on, Kevin, it''s me," he said with a smile.


    "What did you do with that grumpy Candado?"


    "Grumpy?" he asked, confused.


    "Guys, it''s Candado, he''s just happy now, that''s all," Clementina clarified.


    "You scared us," said Mauricio.


    Candado lifted Yara and then looked at them.


    "What are you doing here?"


    "We live here," Martina said.


    "I see."


    "But what are you doing here?" Kevin asked.


    "I''m just spending the day with my parents. Will you join us?"


    "Well, it wouldn''t hurt to meet your parents," said Kevin.


    When he said that, they stepped forward and went to greet the Barret couple. Candado made an ironic grimace and walked, accompanied by Clementina and Yara, to see how they introduced themselves.


    After they greeted Candado''s parents, they joined the feast prepared by Mrs. Barret. Candado sat down, with Yara on his lap and Hammya on his left and his friend Mauricio on his right.


    "Candado, I''m glad to see you laughing again," said Mauricio as he ate some sweet biscuits.


    Candado didn''t respond; he just nodded, which didn''t mean much, but then he smiled again as he watched his parents talking to his friends, Martina, Kevin, and Yara, who for some strange reason stopped sitting on his lap and wanted to sit in the middle of the tablecloth. You could see how Yara spoke with them without fear, which made him even prouder of his little one.


    "Hammya, thank you for doing this," he said as he took off his beret and placed it on his lap. "I''m very grateful to you."


    Hammya, who had been taking pictures of the whole family, set aside the camera, approached Candado, and kissed him on the cheek.


    Candado felt puzzled by such an action, but fortunately, no one noticed this, only Candado and Mauricio, who remained silent out of respect.


    "Why was that?" Candado asked, once again showing his cold demeanor.


    "It''s another gift from me, for letting me live with you," she replied, smiling, "after all, I won the bet."


    Candado didn''t react to her gesture, he simply smiled back and looked at his family with joy and happiness; he had found what he had lost years ago. He had regained his family, and that day, that Saturday of that year, Candado would always remember it. Although he had many things to do, including dealing with the Witnesses and curing himself of that curse that was killing him, he was able to forget his worries, at least for a day. Meeting his family and feeling happy to be with them.


    "I wish this could last forever," Candado said with his eyes closed.


    "We can do it another day," Hammya replied.


    "Yes, you''re right. Thank you."


    "Don''t make that face."


    "Thank you, Hammya, thank you for giving me this moment."


    Hammya took his hand, causing him to open his eyes and focus all his attention on her, then she said:


    "After all, you deserve it, you''re a wonderful person, and I want to help you."


    "You''ve already helped me."


    May 5, 1916, Ndereba Harambee.


    The mornings are cool for me, there''s never a moment when I don''t feel happy, happy to be alive. All the time they ask me, what drove me to carry out this struggle, and I told them, family, yes, family, there''s nothing more important than family, nothing, without family there''s no love, and without love there''s no life, wars break this bond, and we become the living dead. That''s why we fight, to defend family, home, and life, that''s why guilds exist.


    TO BE CONTINUED...

 NEPOPHOBIA

    It was Sunday, to be precise, July 1, 2013, which meant that winter break was just around the corner. That day, Candado was sitting under a tree, sipping mate and reading a book by Arturo Jauretche, the same one Hammya had given him. Above him stretched a beautiful blue sky, dotted with a few clouds. Candado was relaxed, feeling the cold winter wind on the few parts of his body that were lightly covered. His white scarf, tied around his neck, fluttered back and forth with the soft and calm breeze. On his lap, Yara slept, well-wrapped in a black leather jacket, white leather boots, and without a hat, though she wore a scarf around her small neck. She was curled up on his lap like a puppy.


    Sitting there, Candado felt at peace, though his face still displayed that cold and expressionless look as he attentively read the book, a true treasure for anyone who had heard of that author. With his left hand, he held the book, while with his right, he stroked Yara''s head, softly humming a lullaby, the same one he used to put his sister to sleep.


    Curiously, the place where he was resting wasn''t his usual spot. Normally, he would go to a meadow, the park, or most often, stay home. However, this time he had chosen a place far from town. The reason was that Candado wanted to explore new places to relax, a pastime he had recently taken up after his parents started spending more time with him, which caused a sudden change in his routine and personality overnight. Though he was still grumpy, there was a slight improvement in his closed and sad heart. On that particular day, his parents would be home late as they were adjusting their schedules to spend more time with him.


    Much had happened over the last four months, deserving a brief summary. In March, he met Hammya, a girl who was sometimes shy and other times stubborn and annoying (according to Candado), but with a big heart and determination that earned the boy¡¯s respect. Then he met Nelson Torres, an eccentric old man with a great affection for firearms, whom Candado saw as a second grandfather. However, he never saw Nelson¡¯s team again after they told him the story of Cotorium. Later, he met the Bailak siblings. Kevin, a person prone to getting violent and turning the absurd into something logical, though his cheerful and overprotective attitude caught Candado¡¯s attention. Martina, Kevin''s sister, always stayed in her brother''s shadow. Despite feeling self-conscious about her short stature, as even Hammya surpassed her, she was someone who didn¡¯t let the criticism about her height affect her. Candado considered her dangerous in combat, more in need of controlling her anger than needing a protector. Then there were the Pojkar, as Candado had dubbed them: Gerald, Ros¨ªo, and Andersson, his best friends. Lastly, the Fern¨¢ndez family, who used to visit him until recently. Ver¨®nica played with Yara and Thomas, while Candado taught Carolina how to fight. The Fern¨¢ndez parents spent time talking with Candado¡¯s parents, who told them how their son had helped them. This led the Fern¨¢ndez family to investigate Candado¡¯s life over the past three years, but thanks to Erika''s elaborate lies, rehearsed for everyone except Candado, the truth was only partially told.


    In the following months, there were countless losses of lives in Buenos Aires and at the traffic lights of Resistencia. Every Friday, Candado visited the graves of the fallen from the tricolor agency. He also had unpleasant encounters with Desza and her minions. True to his fiery nature, Candado never forgot, which led to many fits of rage with disastrous outcomes. His illness or poison continued to eat away at him; he no longer just coughed up blood, but had started vomiting it, so Clementina and Hammya tried to keep him calm at all times. That¡¯s why Candado had started this new hobby¡ªto relax from everything.


    As he read his book for the second time, a chill ran down his spine. Something was off. He looked up and glanced to his right, where there was a road. At that moment, a bus stopped there. Candado brought the mate to his mouth as he stared intently. He saw the feet of someone stepping off the bus, the mechanical door closed, and the vehicle continued on its way, leaving behind the sight of a girl with a suitcase. Candado gave a slight glance with his eyes, set the mate down, and kept reading. She hadn¡¯t caught his attention, not in the least.


    That girl was dressed in a peculiar way. She wore shiny gray armor covering her torso, black gloves, a large blue skirt that reached her ankles, and boots made of the same material as her armor. Her long hair was tied up, and a sword was visible on her back. She looked around and saw Candado. Picking up her suitcase, she walked toward him. With each step, the creaking of her armor could be heard clearly. She crossed the street and stopped a few inches away from him.


    ¡°Excuse me.¡±


    Candado lowered his book and looked at her.


    ¡°Tell me.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m looking for Candado Ernest Barret. Do you know him?¡±


    ¡°And why do you want to know?¡±


    ¡°I want to eliminate him.¡±


    ¡°Wow, can I ask why?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t you know? Candado possesses information that gives anyone who reads it incredible power. I want to get it to make myself stronger.¡±


    ¡°Oh, well, good luck with that,¡± he said nonchalantly, returning to his reading.


    ¡°Well? Do you know where he is?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s on vacation, so better luck next time.¡±


    ¡°What a pity,¡± she said, relaxing her shoulders but quickly sitting down next to him. ¡°I guess I¡¯ll wait for him to come back.¡±


    ¡°Fine, go ahead.¡±


    They both sat in silence. Candado, engrossed in his book, forgot about her presence, even that she wanted to kill him. After almost an hour, she decided to speak.


    ¡°Tell me, is she your sister?¡± she asked, pointing to Yara, who was still sleeping.


    ¡°No, she¡¯s my daughter.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I see. You treat her like she is.¡±


    ¡°No, she really is my daughter.¡±


    ¡°As if that were possible.¡±


    At that moment, Yara turned over and, still asleep, murmured, ¡°Daddy, I¡¯m cold.¡±


    Candado took a poncho-like garment from his bag beside him and wrapped Yara in it. Then he smiled and stroked her head.


    ¡°Are you kidding?¡±


    ¡°No, I¡¯m not,¡± he said, not taking his eyes off her.


    ¡°Well, I don¡¯t want to know how that¡¯s possible. I¡¯m very perceptive.¡±


    ¡°Good.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t think I like you.¡±


    ¡°Alright.¡±


    ¡°But¡­¡±


    ¡°By the way, what¡¯s your name?¡±


    ¡°Liv, Liv de Milagros Bord¨®n.¡±


    ¡°What a name.¡±


    ¡°And yours?¡±


    ¡°Candado Ernest Catriel Barret,¡± he said, continuing to read.


    ¡°Nice to meet you,¡± she said, extending her hand.


    They remained silent for a while until Liv processed what he had said.


    ¡°What did you say your name was?¡±


    ¡°Candado Ernest Catriel Barret. Are you deaf?¡±


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you say he was on vacation?¡±


    ¡°I am. And didn¡¯t you say you were very perceptive?¡±


    ¡°Well, yes, but¡­¡±


    ¡°And?¡±


    ¡°Well, yes, but not with things like that.¡±


    ¡°So, there are classifications of perception?¡±


    ¡°Whatever,¡± she said, standing up. She drew her sword and pointed it at the back cover of the book. ¡°I came for you, so surrender.¡±


    Candado lowered his book and moved Liv¡¯s sword aside with his index finger, then resumed reading.


    ¡°Go bother someone else.¡±


    Taking his words as a mockery, Liv swung her sword with all her strength toward Candado¡¯s head. But before she could strike, Candado blocked it with his dagger, holding it near her cheek as he looked her directly in the eyes.


    ¡°Look, I don¡¯t want you bothering me, especially with my girl sleeping in my lap.¡±


    ¡°Then put her aside and fight.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not going to. I¡¯m not moving from this spot just to satisfy your whim,¡± he said, raising his gaze to meet hers. ¡°If you don¡¯t, I¡¯ll have to break more than just your sword.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯d like to see that,¡± Liv replied with a grin.


    ¡°Don¡¯t provoke me, girl.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re the same age, stop calling me a girl.¡±


    ¡°No, you¡¯re a girl.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re about to feel what this girl can do.¡±


    Liv raised her sword to the sky but accidentally cut a few branches from a tree, which fell on top of her.


    ¡°I was wrong. You¡¯re not a girl, you¡¯re an idiot.¡±


    Liv stepped back and prepared for another attempt, making sure there was nothing above her head. But when she looked up at the sky, she fainted, leaving Candado thoroughly confused.


    ¡°Oh, I see.¡±


    Candado calmly stood up, packed his book and mate into his bag, then picked Yara up in his arms and left. He walked leisurely, as if he were just taking a stroll. Along the way, he greeted friends and acquaintances he encountered. He saw Andersson working as a waiter at a restaurant, who nodded back since his hands were full. He also saw Germ¨¢n and Lucas helping Nelson with his car, but they were too busy to notice him.


    Finally, he turned a corner and arrived at his house. He knocked on the door softly, careful not to wake Yara. Hip¨®lito was the one who answered.


    ¡°Candaaduuu!¡±


    ¡°Shh, quiet.¡±


    ¡°Oops,¡± he continued in a whisper, ¡°Candaaduuu.¡±


    ¡°Let me in, old man,¡± said Candado, stepping aside.


    He entered, and as Hip¨®lito went to the kitchen, Candado climbed the stairs to his bedroom. He opened the door carefully and laid Yara down on the bed. He removed the poncho and left it on the desk.


    He entered, and while Hip¨®lito went to the kitchen, Candado climbed the stairs to his bedroom. He carefully opened the door and laid Yara down on the bed. He removed the poncho and placed it on the desk. Then he covered her with a light blanket, took a stuffed animal, a camel with a hump, and placed it beside her. He closed the curtains on both windows and left quietly. Before leaving, he turned, looked at her once more, smiled, and carefully closed the door.


    As he turned around, he bumped into Clementina, injuring his nose, while she did not react at all.


    "Damn it!" he muttered, holding his nose with both hands. "Damn it!"


    "Are you okay?" Clementina asked.


    Candado covered her mouth with one hand while still holding his nose with the other.


    "Be quiet, Yara is sleeping and I don''t want you making noise," he whispered.


    Clementina removed Candado¡¯s hand and replied, "Alright, let¡¯s talk downstairs."


    She went down the stairs, followed by Candado, who looked back at his bedroom one more time before following her. Once downstairs, Clementina was the first to speak.


    "There¡¯s something important I need to talk about."


    "About what?" Candado asked.


    "Well, young..."


    "If you end that sentence with ''patron,'' I will disconnect you."


    "Ahem, I mean, sir. I would like to know if the guild duties are finished."


    "Yes, why?"


    "Joaqu¨ªn called. He said he had information about a certain individual in Entre R¨ªos."


    "Alright, I¡¯ll see it tomorrow, not today."


    "But it seems important."


    "It¡¯s not, because if it were, he would have given me concrete details. Also, if it were urgent, he would have found a way to contact me. It¡¯s just curiosity, nothing more."


    "If you say so, then it¡¯s not important."


    "Is that all?"


    "No," she replied, pulling out a letter from her pocket. "Mr. H¨¦ctor asked me to give you this."


    Candado looked at the letter from top to bottom.


    "But this... it¡¯s open."


    "I did it for security. I wasn¡¯t sure if it was really from H¨¦ctor."


    "You¡¯re a gossip."


    "Of course not, it¡¯s for security reasons."


    "Again with this. I don¡¯t want you interfering with my mail."


    "I¡¯ll do it when necessary. Your life is more important than a letter."


    Candado grimaced, opened the letter, and read it.


    "I¡¯m sorry to bother you, my friend, but in a few days my sister will be playing the violin in front of everyone, and she is very nervous. Since I am out of the country, on the island of Kanghar, due to certain matters with the Paraguayan president, I ask you to do her a favor: listen to the melody she¡¯s practicing. It will give her the courage to play in front of everyone. Thank you.


    Your good friend, H¨¦ctor Bonamico Mateo"


    "Oh, damn."


    "What¡¯s wrong?"


    "Why are you asking me if you¡¯ve already read it?"


    "Actually, no. I only analyzed the letters to verify authenticity, but I didn¡¯t read it out of respect."


    At that moment, Hammya appeared, coming out of the bathroom in a black robe with wet hair.


    "I see you took a bath. And, once again, dyed your hair."


    "It¡¯s the season¡¯s fault," she replied with a smile.


    "Did you enjoy the bath?" Clementina asked.


    "Yes, it was spectacular. Very relaxing."


    Candado ignored the comment and turned to Clementina.


    "Well, here¡¯s the situation: I need to go see Bel¨¦n. She has a concert coming up and, according to H¨¦ctor, she¡¯s been scared."


    "Do it."


    "Of course. Do you think I need to ask for your permission?"


    "Where are you going?" Hammya interrupted.


    "Nowhere. I¡¯m just going to see a friend."


    "I don¡¯t like the sound of that. Can I come?"


    "No."


    "Why?"


    "For three reasons," Candado said, raising three fingers. "First: she doesn¡¯t know you, and the letter says I should go because I¡¯m the one she gets along with best. Second: Bel¨¦n is a very shy girl, she¡¯s afraid even of birds. I can¡¯t imagine how she would feel with your presence. And third: you¡¯re very capricious. So, no, you¡¯re not going, until you understand that you can¡¯t get everything you want."


    "Sir, I think it would be a good idea to take her. After all, she will be playing in front of hundreds of people."


    "Are you suggesting that Bel¨¦n would feel more comfortable with someone like Hammya with her?" Candado asked, skeptical.


    "Well, I wouldn¡¯t use the word ''comfortable.'' She¡¯s a girl, and from what I understand, she gets along well with those of her own gender."


    "No, she gets along with those who are ''shy,'' not necessarily with those of her gender."


    "How did she manage to get along with someone as cold as you?"


    "It¡¯s a long story."


    "Well, what if she leaves?"


    "Now?"


    "Yes, why not?"


    "Clementina, it¡¯s 9:00 in the morning. Not everyone is an early riser; she¡¯s probably still asleep."


    "Given her habits, I don¡¯t think so."


    "What are you insinuating?"


    "Nothing, just saying that she¡¯s awake."


    Candado rubbed his forehead and thought for a moment.


    "Alright, I¡¯ll go. After all, I have nothing to do. But later, you¡¯ll tell me how you know if she¡¯s awake or not."


    Clementina smiled and nodded.


    "That¡¯s the spirit. Can I come?"


    "Of course, but¡ª"


    "Yes, get dressed quickly."


    "What?" Candado asked, looking at her in confusion.


    "Yes, hurry up, miss," Clementina said without looking at him.


    "You¡¯re the best. I¡¯ll be back soon."


    Hammya dashed up the stairs to her room, leaving Clementina and Candado alone. He gently took Clementina by the ear and drew her closer.


    "I think I¡¯m old enough to make my own decisions."


    Then he let her go.


    "You are," she replied, looking him in the eyes, "but it¡¯s better if I make them for you."


    Candado closed his eyes, biting his lips; it was evident that Clementina was mocking his attitude.


    "Fine," he said finally, opening his eyes, "but you stay here."


    "Why?"


    "Yara is sleeping in my bed, and I don¡¯t want her to wake up and find no one. It would upset her."


    "Parenthood suits you well. Alright, I¡¯ll stay and take care of her like I do with little Karen."


    "You¡¯d better."


    "Don¡¯t worry," she replied nonchalantly, "I know that both Yara and Karen mean a lot to you. Nothing will happen, I promise."


    "Yes, let¡¯s hope nothing happens."


    "Candado, you worry too much, like that time Yara got lost in town and you went crazy searching for her house by house, avenue by avenue, until you found her near the river. I¡¯d say you even ended up crying."


    "You..."


    "ALRIGHT, I¡¯M READY!" Hammya shouted as she came down the stairs.


    "LOWER YOUR VOICE! YARA IS SLEEPING IN MY BED!" Candado hissed quietly.


    "Oops, sorry, Candado."


    As Hammya came down, her green outfit caught attention: a long coat, corduroy pants, and black boots. She also wore a green ribbon that matched her hair.


    Candado squinted at her dressed like that.


    "Wow, it seems Candado is very strict with Yara."


    "Sorry, I didn¡¯t know. I¡¯ll be more careful."


    Candado took off his beret and scratched his head.


    "Don¡¯t raise your voice again. Respect the little ones."


    "Alright, I¡¯m sorry for doing it. It won¡¯t happen again."


    "Good, let¡¯s go before something else happens and I regret taking you."


    Candado stuffed his hands into his pockets and headed for the door. He then pulled out his left hand to open it, feeling the cold outside and seeing a girl in armor looking for him. Candado closed the door and, without looking back, said:


    "Clementina, give me the white beret, please."


    She snapped her fingers, and from his room, a black trench coat flew to him, fitting perfectly as he extended his arms. He buttoned it up, covering his entire body except for his knees and hands, and then tied the belt in a knot identical to those in taekwondo.


    "What are you doing?"


    "Precautions, Esmeralda, precautions."


    At that moment, Clementina returned with the white beret.


    "Here you go, sir, the white beret you requested," she said, handing it to him.


    Candado took off the beret he was wearing and put on the new one.


    "Do you have the device?"


    "What device?"


    "The star, Clementina, the star."


    Clementina pulled out a five-pointed star from her vest. Candado took it and placed it on his right temple. When he pressed a button, his eyes changed to a light blue.


    "What happened to you?" Hammya asked, surprised.


    "Another invention of Lucas," he replied, tucking the device under his beret.


    "Is there someone outside, right?"


    "Yes, Clementina. And unfortunately, it¡¯s someone who wants to see me dead."


    "Do you want me to handle it?"


    "No, you¡¯d make too much noise. You might wake Yara or Karen, so don¡¯t do anything stupid."


    Candado raised the collar of his trench coat, covering himself almost completely. Then he opened the door and stepped out. He signaled Clementina to close it, which she understood and locked the door.


    "Canda..."


    "Shh, don¡¯t speak or say my name."


    Candado put his right hand in his pocket and, with his left hand, took Hammya¡¯s hand, causing her to blush.


    "What¡¯s wrong?"


    "Silence."


    Candado adjusted his beret as he walked hand in hand with Hammya. She felt happy, but he, anxious, continued to sense Liv¡¯s presence nearby.


    "I can¡¯t see her, but I can feel she¡¯s close."


    Hammya said nothing and let herself be carried away by the scenery, enjoying the moment despite the palpable tension in Candado.


    ¡ªWhat is this? I¡¯m not supposed to feel her behind me, but she still seems closer.


    Candado felt that something was wrong. He couldn¡¯t see her physically, but he could sense her presence. After they had been walking for a few minutes, Candado felt her again, but this time dangerously closer. At that moment, a leaf from a dead tree, a product of winter, detached from one of its branches and flew towards Candado. However, the leaf hovered over his shoulder and stopped as if it had hit something, like an invisible wall. Candado reacted quickly, slipped his hand into his clothes, turned around rapidly, and threw his knife backward. To his surprise, the knife was deflected by an object invisible to his sight. Since his knife was tied to his wrist, Candado pulled on it and the weapon returned to his hand. He then ran towards the unknown and invisible presence, bent his right arm, and ended up hitting something with his elbow. The thing that received the blow started to flicker, first visible then not, until it finally became fully visible: it was Liv.Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.


    Candado saw that his sword was on the ground and, by intuition, knew he should approach carefully to stab her in the back.


    ¡ªGirl, run ¡ªhe said without looking at her and with a cold expression.


    ¡ªI¡¯m not going anywhere.


    ¡ªDon¡¯t challenge me and run now.


    ¡ªI¡¯m not going to run.


    Candado let go of Hammya¡¯s hand and assumed a defensive stance.


    ¡ªThis isn¡¯t a game. You¡¯re not good at fighting, so run now.


    However, Hammya was the one who stepped forward, moving in front of Candado.


    ¡ªYou¡¯re a headache. Fine, you want to fight? Then fight.


    Candado ran towards Liv with his fists blazing. She smiled as her face was covered by the helmet of a medieval knight. She stood up, grabbed her sword, and lunged at him. Candado blocked her with his knife and deflected her, only to elbow her in the chest. But before Candado could deliver a second blow, Liv grabbed him by the neck with her right hand and with her left, she held onto his wrist where he was holding his knife.


    Feeling imminent danger, Candado used an old move he had learned a long time ago. With both feet, he wrapped around Liv¡¯s neck, using his weight to bring her down.


    ¡ªIf you thought I was weak, you were wrong ¡ªCandado said coldly and seriously.


    Liv lost her balance and yielded to Candado¡¯s strength. However, Liv did not give up; she used all her stored strength and got back up. Candado raised an eyebrow at such resistance but decided to let her go and step back. He stood next to Hammya, who had no time to react or help in the midst of the frantic battle.


    ¡ªYou¡¯re resilient ¡ªhe said while adjusting his beret¡ª. I think this will be interesting.


    Hammya stood frozen, unable to respond to Candado.


    Liv put away her sword and prepared to use her fists.


    ¡ªThis time, there won¡¯t be any need for a sword.


    ¡ªFine ¡ªCandado took out his knife and handed it to Hammya, who treated it like a coaster rather than a servant¡ª. I¡¯m ready.


    Candado went back on the attack. Liv threw a punch that Candado dodged by ducking, then landed an uppercut, which Liv blocked with her palm, gripping tightly. Candado, with his other hand, struck her on the neck, causing her to release her grip. Candado then prepared to knee her in the chest, which she stopped with her leg. After that, Liv headbutted Candado. His forehead bled, but he showed no pain. He then grabbed her by the neck and lifted her into the air.


    ¡ªOyik, Liv Milagros de Bord¨®n.


    Candado ignited his right fist with a violet flame, ready to break her face. But before he could even raise his hand, Liv accidentally looked up and fainted upon seeing the sky. Candado, who was about to hit her, was completely confused and let her go. He then turned around and put his hands in his pockets.


    ¡ªWell, I didn¡¯t expect this ¡ªhe said, looking at Hammya¡ª. Let¡¯s go, I still have something to do.


    ¡ªAre you going to leave her here?


    Candado took a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped his forehead. Then he turned and replied:


    ¡ªYes, it¡¯s not my problem.


    ¡ªbut¡­


    ¡ªShut up and follow me.


    Hammya fell silent and followed him, leaving behind Liv¡¯s inexplicable unconsciousness.


    From that encounter, Candado and Hammya arrived at Hector¡¯s house.


    ¡ªWell, this is it.


    ¡ªI think this is the first time I¡¯m here.


    ¡ªBelieve me, Hammya, it¡¯s the first time ¡ªthen he whispered to himself¡ª. Silly girl.


    Candado approached the door and knocked four times. While waiting, he took out the device that changed the color of his eyes and started looking at his watch calmly. When someone opened the door, Candado closed his eyes, took off his beret, and bowed to the person who had opened it.


    ¡ªGood morning, miss.


    Suddenly, tentacles shot out from inside to attack him, but Candado dodged them without opening his eyes, jumping and moving from side to side calmly and fearlessly.


    When the tentacles stopped attacking, Candado straightened up, put on his beret, and opened his eyes.


    ¡ªI should have guessed you¡¯d be here, Grenia O¡¯P?hner.


    The mysterious person stepped out of the shadows to reveal herself.


    Grenia: Krauser¡¯s twin sister, she is exactly like him. She has no visible face, eyes, nose, or ears, but she has long black hair. She dresses in formal black clothing: a white shirt, dark pants, a dark formal vest, and a red tie. She has a highly competitive attitude, making it dangerous to be near her for any activity. Everyone, except Candado, who addresses her by her surname or sometimes by her name, affectionately calls her ¡°Mannequin.¡±


    Power: She possesses the same qualities as her brother but uses a harp instead of a violin, and with it, she uses her melody to heal the ailments of her companions.


    Skill: She is very skilled with any musical instrument.


    ¡ªWell, one could say I didn¡¯t expect you to come around here, by the way.


    ¡ªI don¡¯t care what you thought or didn¡¯t think ¡ªCandado said as he approached her and pushed her aside¡ª. I have an appointment. By the way, it¡¯s all dark in here. Open a window, at least.


    Hammya followed him, not before shaking Grenia¡¯s hand.


    ¡ªSorry for Candado¡¯s rudeness. I¡¯m Hammya Saillim, nice to meet you.


    ¡ªLikewise. You know, if I had a normal face like other people, I¡¯d probably tell you that you¡¯re strange because of your hair color. But since I don¡¯t have one, I¡¯ll say you¡¯re very pretty.


    ¡ªOh, wow, thanks then.


    ¡ªAre you coming in or what?


    ¡ªI¡¯m coming, Candado ¡ªshe replied, letting go of her hand to pat him on the shoulder¡ª. Nice suit.


    After saying that, Hammya hurried to catch up with Candado, who was in the living room, while Grenia looked at her suit, pleased with the compliment and humming.


    The girl moved in front of the boy in the beret and sat down in the armchair. Candado, standing next to her, snapped his fingers and gestured for her to stand up.


    ¡ªGet up, let¡¯s go.


    Hammya stood up without protest.


    ¡ªWhat did I do?


    ¡ªGirl ¡ªhe whispered as he moved forward¡ª.


    Candado removed his beret and walked toward a room with a white door. As he approached, he put his ear to the door for a few seconds, then stepped back and spoke.


    ¡ªBel¨¦n, are you in there?


    ¡ªWho is it? ¡ªa voice asked from inside the room.


    ¡ªIt¡¯s me, Candado.


    Footsteps could be heard approaching the door. Candado stepped back and the door slowly opened. Out came a girl with white hair, looking about seven years old, dressed in a long purple nightgown. Her eyes were empty, the color was indistinguishable, and she had no special powers; she was just a blind person.


    Bel¨¦n walked with her left hand raised to an intermediate height, moving it slowly from side to side. Candado gently bent down, took her hand, and guided it to his face.


    One could feel how Bel¨¦n explored every part of his face: cheek, nose, forehead, chin, and temple.


    ¡ªIs it you? Yes, it¡¯s you ¡ªBel¨¦n said with joy.


    Candado smiled and, as he took off his beret, replied:


    ¡ªIt¡¯s me, of course.


    Then he positioned himself behind her and placed his hands on her shoulders.


    ¡ªNow relax and let me guide you.


    Candado began to gently push her towards the living room. He guided her to sit in the armchair, the same one Hammya had taken. Bel¨¦n, who had been smiling the whole time, showed a curious attitude as she sat down.


    ¡ªIs there anyone else here by chance?


    ¡ªYes, I am ¡ªsaid Grenia, as she sat next to her.


    ¡ªNo, not you ¡ªBel¨¦n said with a smile.


    ¡ªActually, yes, there is someone else.


    ¡ªWho?


    ¡ªI¡¯m Hammya Saillim. Nice to meet you.


    Bel¨¦n looked up towards the ceiling, trying to follow Hammya¡¯s voice.


    ¡ªI don¡¯t know who you are, but you have a sweet voice.


    ¡ªYou¡¯re making me blush.


    But Hammya¡¯s comment had the opposite effect and ended up making her blush.


    Grenia embraced Bel¨¦n.


    ¡ªYou¡¯re so beautiful when you do that.


    ¡ªAlright ¡ªCandado said, placing his hand on his head¡ª. I heard you¡¯ll be playing the violin for school.


    ¡ªHow did you know that?


    ¡ªLet¡¯s just say a little bird told me.


    ¡ªLittle bird?


    ¡ªYes, a white one ¡ªhe said, gently pinching her nose¡ª. Just like you, cutie.


    ¡ªWell, it¡¯s true. It¡¯s next month, but I¡¯m not sure if I¡¯ll play.


    ¡ªWhy? ¡ªasked Grenia.


    ¡ªIt¡¯s just that I¡¯m still afraid of people.


    ¡ªBut¡­ you¡¯re blind ¡ªsaid Hammya.


    Candado frowned, took off one of his shoes, and threw it with all his strength, causing Hammya to fall to the ground.


    ¡ªWhat was that noise? ¡ªasked Bel¨¦n.


    ¡ªNothing, princess, it was just Hammya falling ¡ªCandado said, looking at her while igniting his eyes with violet flame¡ª. Right?


    ¡ªYes, it was my mistake.


    Candado approached her and took her shoe, looking at her for a few brief seconds with his cold, expressionless face. Then he turned and changed his attitude towards Bel¨¦n.


    ¡ªAlright ¡ªhe said, clapping his hands¡ª. Why don¡¯t you play for me?


    ¡ªI don¡¯t know, maybe¡­


    ¡ªCome on, do it, after all, you¡¯re very good with the violin ¡ªinterrupted Grenia.


    Bel¨¦n tapped her fingers on her knees and said:


    ¡ªOkay, I¡¯ll do it.


    As she said this, she tried to stand up to fetch her violin, but Candado beat her to it and went to bring her instrument, so she remained under Grenia¡¯s restraining arms.


    ¡ªYou can let me go now.


    ¡ªNo, I won¡¯t let you escape.


    At that moment, Candado returned with Bel¨¦n¡¯s violin and handed it to her. She opened it and began to explore the instrument with her hands. Then she took it out and started tuning the violin strings, knowing how to do it despite being blind. After that, she took the bow and ran her index finger across the hair.


    ¡ªWhat¡¯s with all this ritual? ¡ªwhispered Hammya, so softly that Bel¨¦n couldn¡¯t hear.


    Candado looked at her with his eyes glowing, as he heard her. He pulled out his hand from behind his back, raised his thumb, and gestured it near his throat. It was clear that it was a threat.


    However, Bel¨¦n continued with her task, completely ignoring what was happening around her. She stood up, raised the violin and bow, placed them on her shoulder, and began to play. Her music was soft and calming. The moment the bow touched the violin strings, she forgot everything around her. Her eyes were closed, and with each second she played, she felt more calm and at peace. Candado, Grenia, and Hammya watched silently as Bel¨¦n¡¯s music played. Except for Grenia, whose face Candado had asked to draw a smile to show her joy, or at least for the two of them to notice.


    The music continued, and as she moved the bow with finesse, she became more absorbed in her art. Her eyes softened, and she began to lose her fear. Her face grew increasingly happy, and all her fear vanished. Finally, she showed a tender smile. Candado was delighted to see Bel¨¦n playing without any fear.


    Bel¨¦n¡¯s movements started to become slower and softer. Candado even let a tear fall, took off his beret, and placed his thumb and index finger over his closed eyes.


    Bel¨¦n stopped when she heard Candado¡¯s forced inhalation.


    ¡ªAre you okay? ¡ªasked Grenia, placing her hand on his shoulder.


    ¡ªIt¡¯s nothing ¡ªCandado said with a voice that was rigid yet tender¡ª. It¡¯s just that your song was so beautiful, it made me remember something very painful yet happy.


    Hammya felt a bit sad seeing Candado like this, but she remained silent.


    ¡ªSo, how did you feel when you played for us? ¡ªCandado asked.


    ¡ªI don¡¯t know, happy? I guess.


    ¡ªExactly. It made me happy too, and Grenia and Hammya as well. So imagine how the rest of the people will feel when they hear your music.


    ¡ªI don¡¯t know, I¡¯m still afraid to play in front of others.


    Candado knelt down and placed his hands on her shoulders.


    ¡ªI know you¡¯re scared, and I¡¯m no one to force you to do it¡­


    ¡ªBut you would if you were by my side.


    ¡ªThen I¡­ wait, what?


    ¡ªYes, I want you to be by my side when I play, so I¡¯ll feel more secure. H¨¦ctor did the same. Now that he¡¯s not here, you could do it.


    Candado found the girl¡¯s reasoning logical, so he accepted what she had offered.


    ¡ªAlright, I have nothing to lose. After all, it¡¯s very simple.


    ¡ªGreat, I like it.


    ¡ªCandado, are you sure? You¡¯ll just be standing in front of the audience doing nothing.


    ¡ªI¡¯ll figure something out, Grenia. I¡¯ll figure something out.


    ¡ªGood, I¡¯m glad you like it. This way you can polish your kindness a bit more.


    ¡ªI didn¡¯t like what you¡¯re implying, Hammya. I suggest you keep quiet.


    ¡ªI¡¯ll keep that in mind.


    Candado adjusted his tie and walked to an armchair that was there. He took a pillow from it, threw it on the floor, and pushed Bel¨¦n so she would fall onto the pillow. Then he lifted her, with Bel¨¦n sitting on it, and made a gesture with his left hand.


    ¡ªThis is how I¡¯ll carry her in the act. She¡¯ll be sitting on a cushion that I¡¯ll have ready for you that night.


    ¡ªGreat, I don¡¯t know why, but great.


    Then he bent down and lowered her.


    ¡ªWell, it looks like you¡¯ll be showing off with the girl ¡ªsaid Hammya.


    ¡ªAre you calling me Marcelo Tinelli?


    ¡ªNo, no, of course not.


    ¡ªGood, because you would¡¯ve eaten my fist.


    ¡ªAre you aggressive with Hammya? ¡ªasked Bel¨¦n.


    ¡ªWell, I...


    ¡ªNo, he isn¡¯t. I just sometimes make him angry. Most of the time he¡¯s kind.


    ¡ªKiss-ass ¡ªsaid Grenia with her arms crossed.


    Candado was completely surprised by what Hammya said. He felt an enormous guilt in his heart, so much pain that he instinctively touched his chest with his right hand.


    ¡ªCandado is a good person. It¡¯s just that I make him angry with my childish comments and...


    Candado covered Hammya¡¯s mouth and hugged her.


    ¡ªGirl, don¡¯t do that, you make me hurt.


    ¡ªOh ¡ªHammya softened and hugged him¡ª. You¡¯re an angel with glass wings, very transparent.


    ¡ªWhat?


    ¡ªNothing, Candado, it¡¯s just a compliment.


    ¡ªIt sounded like something disguised.


    ¡ªNever mind, the point is...


    ¡ªForget it, I¡¯d rather not regret what I said, please ¡ªthen he adjusted his tie and looked at Bel¨¦n¡ª. I¡¯ll be there that day, I mean, night.


    ¡ªGreat, thanks.


    ¡ªOh, I see that...


    ¡ªSay any nonsense. I know what I am and how I am, my dear friend Grenia.


    At that moment, someone knocked on the door.


    ¡ªI¡¯ll go open it ¡ªsaid Grenia.


    ¡ªYes, do it ¡ªCandado said, signaling with his eyes.


    Grenia opened the door, and behind it was Liv, with immense anger and her sword, trembling from the nerves of her rage.


    ¡ªWhere? Where is he?


    ¡ªOh God, what happened?


    Liv grabbed her by the collar and angrily brought her face close.


    ¡ªDon¡¯t play games with me, I know he¡¯s here.


    At that moment, Candado interrupted, holding a glass of water.


    ¡ªOh, I see you don¡¯t like fainting anymore.


    Liv pushed Grenia aside.


    ¡ªOnce I¡¯m done with your existence, I won¡¯t faint again.


    ¡ªYou¡¯re absolutely right. Take a lock and destroy it. Good luck.


    He then turned around, brought the glass of water to his mouth, which angered Liv. Liv held her sword firmly and ran towards him. Candado, without turning, stepped aside, causing Liv to advance further. He then struck her on the head with the glass.


    ¡ªGet out of here before I get angry.


    Liv clenched her teeth until they made a noise, turned, and tried to thrust, which Candado dodged. However, Candado grabbed her sword, threw it at her, and pushed her out of the house. He then walked over to where Liv was, drank the last of the water as he walked, and left the glass on a nearby table. He adjusted his tie, gloves, and beret. Then he closed the door behind him, just as Hammya appeared, running down the hallway to help Grenia.


    Candado walked over to where Liv was lying on the ground with some wounds from the pavement.


    ¡ªI don¡¯t care who or what hired you ¡ªhe said while adjusting his left glove.


    ¡ªYOU...!


    He then grabbed her by the neck.


    ¡ªI¡¯m not finished.


    ¡ªYou¡¯ll be... trash ¡ªshe said while trying to breathe.


    ¡ªI can endure you wanting to kill me, I can endure you hitting me, but I won¡¯t tolerate you using your strength and damn objectives in front of some children.


    He then released her, took her by the chin, and made her look up.


    ¡ªSuffer the attack of the heavens.


    When Liv looked up, her eyes dilated, and then she fainted. Losing her strength, Candado threw her far from him.


    Candado took Liv¡¯s sword and examined it from top to bottom. As he was about to destroy it, he noticed marks on the blade that read ¡°For my dear daughter.¡± Candado stopped and looked at Liv, who was more than fifteen meters away. He squinted and approached her, sticking the sword beside her feet.


    This act managed to awaken Liv, and upon seeing the sword in Candado¡¯s hand, she knew she was going to die, so she had no problem saying everything she had kept inside.


    ¡ªCome on, do it and kill me.


    Candado looked her straight in the eyes. There was no clarity in them, no reflection; it was the gaze of a dead person.


    ¡ªNo, I¡¯m not going to do it.


    ¡ªWhat? YOU¡¯RE A COWARD!


    ¡ªShout all you want, insult me, curse me, but I¡¯m not going to kill you ¡ªhe then looked at the words on the sword¡ª. Unless someone is expecting your return.


    ¡ªWhat?


    ¡ªLook, no matter how many times you try, you¡¯ll never be able to kill me.


    He then turned his back and walked away, going back into the house, making it clear that he wasn¡¯t going to fight Liv.


    Once inside the house, Candado didn¡¯t look back, closed the door, and walked to the living room, where Hammya, armed with a plastic tray, and Grenia, who had manifested her tentacles, were both protecting Bel¨¦n.


    ¡ªEverything is under control, there¡¯s nothing to worry about.


    ¡ªDid you kill her?


    ¡ªNo, Grenia, I didn¡¯t kill anyone.


    ¡ªThen it is a problem.


    ¡ªP?HNER! Relax, it¡¯s nothing, everything is in order.


    ¡ªI¡¯m confused. Are we okay or not?


    ¡ªBel¨¦n, are you still alive?


    ¡ªYes, of course.


    ¡ªThen you¡¯re fine.


    ¡ªYour logic is something else, Candado.


    ¡ªDon¡¯t bother me, Hammya.


    Then his watch rang. Candado put his hand in his vest pocket, took it out, and checked the time.


    ¡ªAlright, it¡¯s 10:00 in the morning.


    ¡ªWhat does that mean, Candado?


    ¡ªThat I¡¯m going home ¡ªhe then looked at Grenia and Bel¨¦n¡ª. I really appreciate having been in this house. See you that day...


    ¡ªNight ¡ªcorrected Grenia.


    ¡ªWhatever. The point is, in the meantime, practice, my girl.


    ¡ªI will, Candado. I will.


    Candado signaled Hammya to follow him. She, distracted and dazed as always, said goodbye to Grenia with a handshake and to Bel¨¦n by petting her head.


    ¡ªSee you.


    Then she ran to where Candado was, moving ahead and leaving him behind, confused.


    ¡ªWhat¡¯s wrong with her?


    ¡ªNothing, Grenia. She¡¯s just a bit scattered.


    Then they both left the house. Candado stopped when he noticed Liv was no longer in the place where he had left her.


    Hammya, noticing Candado¡¯s pause, turned.


    ¡ªIs something wrong? ¡ªthen she looked around in terror¡ª. Is she still here?


    ¡ªNo, she¡¯s not.


    Candado reached into his pocket and pulled out a candy. He unwrapped it and put it in his mouth.


    He continued on his way, hands in his trench coat pockets, moving ahead and leaving Hammya behind. The girl, somewhat worried, stayed close to Candado.


    ¡ªWhere are we going now?


    ¡ªTo the guild. I have something to do.


    "Do I have to accompany you?"


    "No," Candado replied coldly.


    "Then, can I go back home?"


    "That you can, can¡¯t you?"


    As she said this, Hammya looked back in fear but then approached Candado.


    "On second thought, I¡¯ll better accompany you."


    "You can go home, I give you permission," Candado said sarcastically.


    "No, thanks. I¡¯m fine this way, really."


    "Alright," he said, looking her in the face. "You can let go of me now; I don¡¯t like being touched."


    "Women?"


    "No, anyone in general."


    At that moment, a twig snapped, causing Hammya to let go and hide behind him. Candado did not react, simply looking towards the source of the noise.


    "It¡¯s just a cat," he said skeptically.


    Hammya did not move away from him.


    "I¡¯m starting to get annoyed. What¡¯s wrong now?"


    Hammya stepped aside and stayed still for a few seconds until the sound of birds chirping was heard.


    "Alright, do whatever you want," he said, already resigned.


    Candado brushed off his right shoulder and continued walking, with Hammya scaredly following or sticking close to him. During the journey, Candado focused on the surroundings, attentive to any noise that might be harmful to him or Hammya. However, he was clear that at that time in the morning, there was no one around, so he knew there was nothing to worry about.


    The day was cloudy and windy. At that moment, Candado decided to head to the guild.


    "Girl."


    "WHAT?!" Hammya shouted, surprised.


    Candado took his left hand out of his pocket, raised his pinky finger, then put it to his ear, scratched it, and, without removing the finger from his ear, looked at her.


    "Are you still going to keep bothering?"


    "Sorry, but I feel like someone is very, very close to me."


    Candado removed his finger from his ear, looked at her, and then put it back in his pocket. He raised his gaze and looked her in the eyes.


    "Wow, for the first time you¡¯re right; someone is very, very close to you."


    "Who?" Hammya asked, looking around in all directions.


    "Me, silly girl. Who else could it be?"


    "Did you just insult me?"


    "Damn," he said, pulling out a hundred-peso bill from his wallet, rolling it up, and tossing it to her. "And to think your idea started with five pesos."


    Hammya put the money away with a smile and then looked at Candado.


    "I know you said you¡¯d be more polite with me, and I know you¡¯re trying, but you can¡¯t help yourself. That¡¯s why you¡¯ll pay me a hundred pesos every time you insult me."


    Candado crossed his arms and approached her threateningly.


    "I can¡¯t stand people like you."


    Hammya stepped back and patted his head.


    "If we keep this up, we¡¯ll make you a good person."


    Candado took her hand and pushed it away.


    "I¡¯m not interested in having someone like you turn me into something I already am."


    "You might be good at certain things, but your character is quite horrible."


    Candado said nothing, just looked at her for a while before turning away and walking off.


    "Where are you going?"


    "To the guild. I have things to do."


    "Are you going to leave me like this?"


    "Yes."


    Hammya stayed silent for a moment until she realized he was walking away quickly.


    "WAIT!"


    Then she ran to catch up with him at full speed.


    When they arrived at the guild, they noticed the windows were open from the outside. They also saw Anzor and Erika carrying a stack of books back and forth. They exchanged glances; she, confused, and he, coldly, then turned their attention back to the window.


    "What are you doing?"


    Candado did not answer. Instead, he went to the door, climbed the stairs, and knocked three times with his index and middle fingers.


    "Who¡¯s there? For example: if you¡¯re Candado, knock once on the door; if you¡¯re Inspector Joaqu¨ªn from the A.T.S. (Tricolor Agency of Traffic Lights), knock twice; if you¡¯re a Bailak, knock three times; if you¡¯re someone other than those mentioned, knock four times. If you¡¯re a circuit, please come back before we liquidate you on the spot. Finally, go away and don¡¯t bother."


    Hammya giggled to herself, while Candado rolled his eyes, clearly intolerant of such jokes.


    "That stupid."


    And making a great effort not to kill him, he gave a light knock on the door.


    "You¡¯ve claimed to be Candado, but unfortunately, there¡¯s no one here at the guild today. Please turn around and leave. We¡¯re busy attending to more important people than you."


    Candado frowned and smashed through the door with his left fist, while his other hand stayed in his pocket. He grabbed the collar of the man¡¯s shirt and dragged him violently against the door, slamming him and pinning him under the hand of an enraged Candado. Once in his grasp, he said in a soft, sarcastic voice:


    "Hello, operator. I want you to open the door before I break your neck."


    On the other side of the door, Matlotsky, who had made that tasteless joke to Candado, decided to continue with the game, though he wasn¡¯t so sure of himself this time.


    "If you¡¯re a compulsive killer, it doesn¡¯t matter when you tell me; no one will listen to you."


    Candado loosened his grip, pulled him away from the door, and then dragged him violently more than four times, leaving him unconscious and delirious.


    "I think the shooting stars are in front of me."


    After saying this, Matlotsky passed out on the floor. Candado bent his arm to the right, removed the door¡¯s lock, opened it, adjusted his tie, and removed some splinters from his elegant suit.


    "Fucking idiot."


    "Candado, I think you¡¯ve gone too far," Hammya said worriedly.


    "Do you think? I think I made him look more handsome."


    Then he adjusted his beret and headed to the meeting room, leaving Hammya alone with an unconscious Matlotsky. Candado passed through the boardroom and saw everyone sorting a lot of papers and folders.


    "Fucking idiot."


    "Candado, I think you¡¯ve gone too far," Hammya said, worried.


    "Do you think? I believe I made him look more handsome."


    Then, he adjusted his beret and headed to the meeting room, leaving Hammya alone with an unconscious Matlotsky. Candado passed by the boardroom and saw everyone sorting papers and folders.


    "What¡¯s going on?" Candado asked, looking around.


    "What¡¯s the question, boss? We¡¯re organizing," Pucheta replied.


    Candado turned and saw someone hidden in the darkness.


    "Who are you?"


    "I¡¯m an enigma."


    A light then illuminated their body.


    "ERIKA! You ruined my presentation."


    Candado turned and saw the girl with a flashlight and a mischievous smile on her face.


    "You deserve it for being lazy," she said, letting out her devilish giggle.


    Candado made a face and took the flashlight from her hands. He then approached the room and shone the light on her face.


    "I never thought you¡¯d set foot in this place again, Barreto Kruger."


    Kruger: With black hair styled like Candado¡¯s (Gardel), red-painted eyelids, a white shirt, blue tie, gray dress pants, gray formal vest, black formal shoes with neatly tied laces, and black gloves. He has a high self-esteem, is very serious, and a bit psychotic. Although he is indirectly part of the Roob¨®leo guild, he was expelled for not attending meetings. He lives in Resistencia but spends most of his time with his uncle on the island. He is Joaqu¨ªn Barreto¡¯s twin brother.


    Power: Electricity and lightning.


    Skill: Excellent at stealthy and macabre attacks and handles his military knife very well.


    "Now, take that damn flashlight out of my face."


    "I¡¯m surprised your brother puts up with you," Kruger said, turning off the flashlight and tossing it, without looking back, into Erika¡¯s hands. "Tell me, what are you doing here?"


    "Heh, I wasn¡¯t planning on coming; I just accompanied my friend."


    "Friend? You have a friend?"


    "That was unnecessary, Sektur."


    "Fucking..."


    "Anyway, I think it¡¯s time you see him."


    "Who?"


    "Good morning, Candado."


    A voice came from behind, causing Candado to turn and see who it was.


    "Walsh?"


    Walsh: With red, curly hair and green eyes. He dresses similarly to Kruger but in green and purple tones. He wears red gloves with the face of a white lion on the palm. He has a cheerful, sincere, and friendly demeanor, and is very playful.


    Power: Celestial fire.


    Skill: Cleaning.


    "It¡¯s been years since I last saw you."


    "Walsh, it¡¯s only been seven months and nine weeks."


    "I¡¯ve been very busy in Tierra del Fuego. I thought about calling you, but after that incident, I didn¡¯t know how to face you again."


    "You resigned."


    "Yes, I did. It was my fault that it happened."


    "I told you there were no injuries."


    "I know, but there could have been due to my ineptitude."


    At that moment, Matlotsky burst in, clutching his forehead.


    "It looks like a soap opera from Ho..."


    Candado''s knife grazed Matlotsky''s cheek, preventing him from finishing his sentence, and embedded itself in the wall.


    "Shut¡ªup," Candado said without looking at him.


    Matlotsky fainted again.


    Declan then walked over to the wall, removed the knife, and handed it to Candado.


    "Thanks," Candado said, still not looking at him.


    "I hope he¡¯ll be okay," Walsh said with concern.


    "Don¡¯t worry, he¡¯ll be fine," Candado said as he put away his knife, then continued, "And well, I¡¯m glad you¡¯ve returned to our guild." He walked over to Walsh and extended his hand. "Welcome."


    Walsh, seeing Candado¡¯s hand, felt a bit unsure, but after thinking for a moment, he lifted his hand and accepted the handshake.


    "I¡¯m glad to be back."


    "Fags," Kruger said mockingly.


    "I¡¯ll rip your tongue out."


    Kruger shrugged, grabbed some boxes that were there, and left.


    "Well, with that, your stay in the guild has been renewed."


    "Thanks."


    At that moment, there were knocks at the door.


    "THEY¡¯RE KNOCKING!" Viki shouted from the other room, sitting and flipping through some notes.


    Candado made a face and headed to the door, accompanied by Anzor and Declan.


    "What are you doing?"


    "We¡¯re your bodyguards," they both said.


    "Don¡¯t mess with me."


    Candado reached the door, which had a large hole in it, put his hand on the handle, and opened it.


    "Sorry about the door, it¡¯s¡­ By Isidro."


    Behind the door was Liv, looking him in the eye with a blank expression.


    "Did you come back to kill me?"


    As soon as she said that, Anzor and Declan drew their swords and pointed them at Liv¡¯s chest, hoping to scare her, but failed.


    "I came here for you to help me."


    "Stop."


    Anzor and Declan sheathed their swords and stood at attention.


    "Now tell me, what do you need?"


    "I want to join this guild."


    "Forget it."


    "Why?"


    "You don¡¯t interest me. Only those who spark my curiosity get in."


    "I know you¡¯re angry because I tried to kill you, but please, what can I do to get in?"


    "Nothing."


    "There must be something."


    Candado remembered the fainting spells he¡¯d witnessed while fighting her, so he was somewhat intrigued by her in that regard. He was also very interested in the armor she wore and wanted to know what had changed in their conversation.


    Candado scratched his left temple and thought for a few minutes. Then he looked her up and down.


    "You can join if you defeat these two."


    "Pardon?" both asked.


    "Alright, I¡¯ll do it."


    "But before you start, can I ask why you want to join?"


    "Because I suffer from neophobia, fear of clouds. That¡¯s why I want you to help me overcome my fear of them. That¡¯s my personal goal."


    Candado¡¯s eyes widened at what she had said, though his expression did not change.


    "Oh, ouch, sorry. It must be awful to fear something completely normal."


    Then he looked at Anzor and Declan.


    "Fight, please, in the lower room."


    Anzor bowed and offered his hand to Liv.


    "Please, miss, come with me."


    "Don¡¯t do anything foolish and don¡¯t let yourself lose," Declan said grumpily.


    Anzor invited Liv to enter the house and led her to the room, while Candado called the others. Declan was in charge of securing all the entrances and exits of the guild.


    Declan walked to a red door, approached it, opened it, and inside was a staircase leading to a deep, dark place. Declan pressed a button to his right and turned on all the lights inside, causing Liv to step back.


    "Are you afraid of the dark?"


    "No, it looks like they¡¯re going to do something to me."


    "Don¡¯t be like that. If you¡¯re going to join us, you¡¯ll have to trust us," Anzor said.


    "Alright," Liv replied, then walked down the stairs on her own.


    When she reached the bottom, she found a round wooden door. She put her hand on the handle and opened it. Upon entering, she found a very large space, with seats and a huge sand arena.


    "Oh my God."


    ¡°Fascinating, isn¡¯t it? Matlotsky built it as compensation for what he stole from Candado,¡± Anzor said, walking to the center of the arena.


    Liv walked over to where he was and waited for the other opponent.


    After a few minutes, Candado descended, accompanied by his teammates.


    ¡°Good, I¡¯m glad you¡¯re comfortable here, as you¡¯ll be showing us what you¡¯re capable of with them.¡±


    ¡°IT¡¯S THAT CRAZY WOMAN!¡±


    Candado covered her mouth and pushed her aside.


    ¡°Apologies for Hammya¡¯s manners. I know she and I had a rather unfriendly encounter the first time, or the second, but now she¡¯s acting like nothing happened.¡±


    Then, Candado used his strength to force Hammya to sit while she wore a vacant expression.


    ¡°Alright, what do I need to do?¡±


    Candado jumped onto the field and walked over to Liv.


    ¡°It¡¯s simple: to join, you need to be punished.¡±


    ¡°Punished?¡±


    ¡°For two reasons. For trying to kill me and for attacking me from behind. That¡¯s why you¡¯ll fight two people, and be grateful it¡¯s not three or four, or worse.¡±


    ¡°Worse?¡±


    ¡°With me,¡± he said, pressing his forehead against hers.


    ¡°Oh, alright.¡±


    Then he stepped back and turned away.


    ¡°Perfect, now you need to win,¡± he said as he returned to his seat.


    At that moment, Declan jumped from the stands and landed in front of her. He then raised his arm in an L-shape and placed his elbow under Liv¡¯s chin.


    ¡°I won¡¯t be lenient,¡± he said coldly.


    Then he stepped back, adjusted his white gloves, and drew his sword, plunging it into the ground and resting both hands on it.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    Declan didn¡¯t answer and just stared intently into her eyes. Then, he heard the unsheathing of a sword behind him, making Liv turn and look back.


    ¡°Good luck, girl,¡± Anzor said as he did exactly what Declan was doing.


    Liv started to feel nervous seeing both of them like this. Candado, sitting in the stands, raised a hand with a red flag and waved it up and down three times.


    ¡°BEGIN!¡±


    As Candado¡¯s shout reached Anzor and Declan, they reacted and attacked her. Liv took a small jump backward, but they moved swiftly and pursued her. Liv drew her sword and threatened with an attack but was unsuccessful. This caused Liv to use invisibility.


    ¡°That doesn¡¯t work on me,¡± Declan said, his blue eyes flashing green.


    He then moved to where she was and began thrusting fiercely, making it seem as if he was attacking thin air. Anzor, on the other hand, just observed, as he didn¡¯t have that ability.


    After a few minutes, Declan managed to grab her by the wrist and throw her to the ground. He then spun his sword vigorously and drove it with all his strength towards her.


    But before his sword could touch her, Liv managed to stop it effectively and astonishingly with her teeth, causing everyone present to be shocked, except for Candado, who sat with his arms crossed and raised an eyebrow.


    ¡°What?¡± Declan said, surprised.


    Then he quickly turned around and delivered a blow to her chest. From behind, Anzor came at incredible speed, jumped, and stood on his shoulders.


    ¡°She¡¯s playing with them,¡± Walsh said to Kruger.


    ¡°It¡¯s interesting,¡± Candado said, watching intently.


    After Liv stood balanced on Declan''s shoulders, she jumped down and delivered a kick to his shoulder blades, causing him to drop his sword. Before she could celebrate her victory, a beautiful white creature appeared from Liv''s back, once again surprising everyone present.


    ¡°A swordmaster, then? This Liv truly lives up to her armor,¡± Lucas said.


    Candado frowned at Lucas''s words.


    ¡°Swordmaster,¡± Candado whispered to himself.


    The creature was stunning, with light blue skin and the form of a beautiful woman. She wore a cloak that partially covered her body, had gray hair, and a helmet resembling that of the goddess Athena. Her eyes were white and crystalline, her face showed a cold demeanor, she wore golden shoulder pads, and carried a diamond spear.


    Declan was astonished by what he saw but didn¡¯t let himself be intimidated. He did the same, his eyes turned green, and his own creature emerged from his back.


    ¡°You handle your pet well,¡± Declan said.


    He then charged at her.


    ¡°Be careful,¡± said Liv¡¯s creature, without moving its lips.


    Liv hesitated for a moment, then ran towards him, drew her sword, and lunged at Declan with incredible speed.


    Liv¡¯s creature thrust its spear with all its might into the chest of Declan¡¯s creature, but he, with his strength, grabbed Liv¡¯s spear and locked it.


    As both creatures fought, Liv and Declan battled fiercely, sword against sword. Each of Declan¡¯s strikes made it increasingly difficult for Liv to defend herself.


    ¡°He¡¯s not fighting seriously; he wants to tire you out and then deliver the final blow,¡± said Liv¡¯s creature.


    ¡°Thanks, Mid¨¦n.¡±


    At that moment, Anzor appeared and summoned his own creature, joining the fight with Declan.


    ¡°This is going to get ugly,¡± Liv said.


    After saying that, she crouched, extended her fists to either side of her opponent, and suddenly, her armored gloves detached from her and struck both of their chests.


    She then stood up, took her sword, and began spinning on her axis. A small whirlwind appeared above her head and started attacking both opponents, but Declan stopped it with his palm. As they were about to unleash their full energy, Declan jumped from the dust cloud that had emerged from the whirlwind and, with his sword in hand, ran toward her. Anzor, on the other hand, positioned himself behind her, charging at her fiercely. It seemed that all was lost for Liv; her creature wouldn¡¯t be able to defend her from two attacks at the same time. But just as the battle was about to end, Candado stood up and shouted:


    ¡°STOP!¡±


    At that moment, everyone halted.


    Declan showed his displeasure but did not disobey Candado. He stopped and sheathed his sword, and so did Anzor.


    ¡°You¡¯ve been spared,¡± Declan said gruffly.


    On the other hand, Anzor cheerfully patted Liv on the shoulders.


    ¡°Good fight. I hope we can do it again.¡±


    At that moment, Candado jumped from his seat and walked over to Liv. He took her left hand and handed her a badge.


    ¡°Congratulations, you¡¯ve been accepted.¡±


    ¡°But I haven¡¯t won.¡±


    ¡°If you had kept fighting, you probably would have destroyed this place. What matters is that you¡¯ve left me satisfied.¡± He then looked around. ¡°From now on, she will be our new teammate.¡±


    Everyone burst into cheers and praises, repeatedly chanting Liv¡¯s name. Anzor gave her a pat on the back, as if saying she had made it, and then ran to Declan and approached him.


    ¡°Come on, Mr. Grumpy, let¡¯s go get something to eat.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not paying for your food again.¡±


    ¡°Oh, come on.¡±


    As Liv watched the duo leave, Hammya appeared and extended her hand to her. Liv looked at her, puzzled, but shakily accepted her hand.


    ¡°Sorry for calling you crazy. Now that you¡¯re here, I¡¯d like to know that you won¡¯t act like that again.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry for attacking you. I think I should apologize properly.¡±


    ¡°No need. It¡¯s fine. Thank you.¡±


    At that moment, Ana burst in, approaching the two.


    ¡°Let¡¯s have a party.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t you dare,¡± Candado said, passing by and unwrapping a candy.


    ¡°Oh, come on, don¡¯t be unpleasant.¡±


    ¡°Get a little lost,¡± Candado said, climbing the stairs.


    ¡°CANDADO!¡±


    Hammya and Liv laughed at what they had just witnessed.

 COINCIDENCE

    While the acceptance of Liv into the Guild was being celebrated on the Island, the leader of the Circuit, who had been in Buenos Aires for a month, was still investigating his friend''s murder. Every step he took moved him further from his goal. Guillermo had created a game without players: he couldn¡¯t find the person who had killed his friend. The more he investigated, the more he deprived himself of sleep, food, and drink. Despite Addel¡¯s attempts to reason with him, Esteban continued to ignore his companion¡¯s orders.


    The causes kept piling up. Addel informed Maldonado of the situation, and Maldonado quickly ordered the mission to be aborted. However, Esteban''s response was clear: he wouldn¡¯t return to Chaco until he found what he had set out to look for.


    "NEVER!" Esteban shouted.


    ¡°Sir, your condition has deteriorated. You haven¡¯t made progress in the mission, nor have you physically improved.¡±


    ¡°I just¡­ need more time, okay? I can¡¯t leave without having done enough.¡±


    ¡°Time? That¡¯s what you¡¯ve been wasting. Look at yourself; you haven¡¯t slept or eaten in a week. You¡¯re emaciated.¡±


    ¡°¡­ You don¡¯t know what it¡¯s like to lose someone, do you?¡±


    ¡°Sir, Guillermo was also a close friend of mine. If he were alive, he¡¯d tell you to stop.¡±


    Esteban laughed, but it was a sad laugh.


    ¡°If he were alive, I wouldn¡¯t have done any of this,¡± he said while leaning against the building''s railing. ¡°Look down there, they¡¯re like ants.¡±


    ¡°This is a construction site. I think you should step away from there.¡±


    Esteban ignored Addel and stayed leaning a little longer.


    ¡°Someone betrayed us, someone was clever enough to betray us. When I find them¡­¡±


    Esteban started to slide down the wall, worrying his friend.


    ¡°Sir, Esteban! Answer me!¡± Addel shouted in distress.


    Esteban¡¯s eyes were open, but he wasn¡¯t listening; exhaustion was consuming him. Little by little, he lost consciousness.


    As Esteban passed out in Addel¡¯s arms, two people walked below them, unnoticed by his friend: Krauser, accompanied by Maidana, who wasn¡¯t wearing his balaclava.


    ¡°God, I hate this city,¡± Krauser complained.


    ¡°Stop complaining,¡± Maidana responded, pulling down his sleeves to check his watch. ¡°Damn, it¡¯s 3:39 PM.¡±


    ¡°Look who¡¯s talking about complaining.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m up to my neck with this nonsense, and on top of it, I have to endure this damn cold with you.¡±


    ¡°The mission was optional. Ever since Joaqu¨ªn returned to command, he¡¯s been trying to solve problems both inside and outside. And you decided to take the mission.¡±


    ¡°I only did it because no one else wanted to take the papers from the table. Hey¡­ why the hell am I telling you this? Better tell me, what are you doing here?¡±


    ¡°I just wanted to meet my traveler self.¡±


    ¡°It would be amazing to see how that ¡®other me¡¯ falls apart when he sees this,¡± Krauser said as he pulled a photo from his pocket, which ended up in Maidana¡¯s hands.


    Maidana looked at the photo, and his eyes widened in surprise.


    ¡°WHAT THE HELL IS THIS!?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s exactly what it looks like. Kruger is back.¡±


    ¡°I hate that cheap, obtuse, hateful, bloodthirsty copy of Barreto.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s the damn difference between you and him? You¡¯re both killers.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t ever compare me to that loser. I thought it was clear who¡¯s better between the two of us.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t care who¡¯s better, as long as neither of you gets in my way, everything will be fine.¡±


    ¡°I¡­¡±


    ¡°Silence,¡± Krauser said, placing his hand on Maidana¡¯s chest.


    Then he turned and looked ahead. Despite the crowd around them, he noticed a hooded figure.


    ¡°I think that¡¯s the one we¡¯ve been looking for. He looks just like the guy from the security cameras.¡±


    ¡°Perfect, I was getting bored.¡±


    Maidana put on his balaclava, and Krauser adjusted his hat.


    ¡°Let¡¯s follow him¡ªremember, don¡¯t kill him.¡±


    Maidana grimaced and replied, ¡°Fine, but let me enjoy it.¡±


    Once Krauser located the individual, they began following him from a considerable distance. The subject continued walking, unaware that he was being followed. As they moved through the streets of the capital, rebuilt after that incident, the city was filled with police and military personnel; security was very tight. The guild members collaborated with the nation''s president to protect the citizens.


    The tight control made it increasingly difficult to proceed; they had to show identification and state their names several times. However, they repeatedly managed to slip past security due to their efficiency and, finally, were able to catch up with him in time.


    The individual''s behavior was odd. At no point did he seem suspicious that someone, in this case, them, was tailing him. As he walked, his body moved involuntarily, as if he had a neurological issue. As they got closer, they started hearing the delusional mutterings the man was whispering.


    "The ceiling, the ceiling, the ceiling, there¡¯s nothing else... There''s nothing else in their hearts, they don¡¯t beat, they don¡¯t move, they feel no compassion... Ha... what a head I have."


    After repeating the same thing more than six times, the subject turned right onto a narrow street lined with vendor stalls. Krauser and Leandro followed him down the path until the man stopped in front of a yellow house, completely run-down. He knocked twice: the first knock was soft, the second much harder, making it clear that he couldn¡¯t fully control his body.


    "Gentlemen, ti, tan, ta, tan, goton, betem, retan, titan, green eyes, red hair, Poseidon of the sky, Atlas of the cursore... and the great T, for the dead and, and, and, and, for, for, for, for the de, de, dead."


    "Paranoid as ever, just come in, Paulo."


    "Paulo?" whispered Maidana.


    "You know him?"


    Maidana squinted for a moment. "Yeah, in the past, when Dockly and I were friends, we went after him. He''s a guy with an unstable mind."


    "So..."


    "Shhh, look."


    The door opened, and Paulo entered. Krauser and Maidana stepped back and hid to come up with a plan.


    "Alright, we''ve followed him, and now we know where he''s hiding. Now we destroy him."


    "No, I think it¡¯d be better to go inside and listen to the conversation. I have a feeling this isn¡¯t over yet."


    "Be clear, Maidana, I didn¡¯t understand a damn thing."


    "What I mean is, we should eavesdrop on the conversation."


    "And how the hell do you suggest we do that?"


    Maidana smiled and took on Krauser¡¯s form. "Leave it to me," he said, mimicking Krauser''s voice.


    He stood up, resumed his normal form, straightened his tie, and walked toward the door. He knocked and turned invisible.


    "Who is it?"


    "Your mother¡¯s rapist."


    The door burst open, and a muscular man rushed out, running to the sidewalk and looking in every direction.


    "WHERE ARE YOU, YOU SON OF A BITCH?!"


    Krauser, hiding, placed a hand on his face. "What an idiot," he said, leaning against a wall and watching where his friend had gone inside. "Please, don¡¯t get yourself killed."


    After throwing a fit, the man returned to the house, muttering and cursing. He slammed the door, but as he turned around, he came face to face with Maidana. Maidana put a finger to his lips, covered by his balaclava, and then placed a chloroform-soaked cloth over the man¡¯s face. Stupidly, the man inhaled deeply in an attempt to hold his breath, which caused him to pass out in Maidana¡¯s arms.


    "Good baby," Maidana said as he propped him up in a chair. "Good baby."


    Taking on the man''s appearance, build, and voice, Maidana carried him to an open bathroom. He sat him on the toilet, locked the door, and hung a sign that read: "Out of service."


    As Maidana was turning away, someone approached and touched him gently. He spun around sharply, but when he saw it was Rose holding a drawing in her left hand, he relaxed.


    "Did I scare you?"


    "Yeah, I thought you were someone else."


    Rose looked up and smiled. "I made a drawing for you, Mr. Roberto."


    "Really?" Maidana asked, with a sarcastic tone.


    "Of course," Rose said, lifting the sheet and handing it to him.


    It wasn¡¯t a Van Gogh or a Quinquela; it looked more like a Milo. The drawing was full of scribbles going back and forth, in red, violet, brown, and some other indiscernible color. The figure was basically a circle with four lines coming out of it¡ªarms and legs¡ªwith a disproportionate smile on its face.


    Maidana looked at the drawing, confused, then at her. "How old are you?"


    "I''m nine," she said, smiling.


    "That explains everything," Maidana said, scratching his chin and studying the drawing carefully.


    ¡°Do you like it?¡±


    ¡°Oh, yes, I do.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m glad. I¡¯ll make another one for you.¡±


    Rose took the drawing from his hands and dashed off. Maidana watched her leave and murmured, ¡°What¡¯s the point of giving me a drawing if you¡¯re just going to take it away?¡±


    He then walked into a room where several people were chatting. In one corner, a striking young man was leaning against a wall, playing with a PSP console. As Maidana approached, the young man raised a hand to greet him.


    ¡°Roberto, quite the charmer, always a Casanova,¡± said a peculiar guy as he came closer.


    ¡°Oh, I wouldn¡¯t say that. I¡¯m just an employee.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t be so modest.¡±The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.


    The young man had skin like ice, with vapor slowly rising from his body. He wore a shiny red tuxedo with a black handkerchief.


    ¡°Reciting poems?¡±


    ¡°Of course not.¡±


    ¡°Come on, Roberto, you always give me one.¡±


    ¡°But I forgot today.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, it happens to all of us,¡± he said, glancing around. ¡°Especially with someone like Desza coming here.¡±


    Maidana¡¯s eyes lit up at the mention of the name.


    ¡°I don¡¯t understand why that guy is doing this. What¡¯s the point of holding a meeting here, right at the place where he attacked a few days ago?¡±


    ¡°Is Desza coming today?¡±


    ¡°Have you forgotten? You¡¯re the one who spread the word to everyone here.¡±


    ¡°Right, I forgot,¡± Maidana said with a cynical smile.


    ¡°How could you forget? Goodness, it¡¯s not normal for you to be so careless.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve been really nervous these past few days.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, that happens to all of us. Since Desza hit the Sem¨¢foros hard, we¡¯ve all felt a bit anxious.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡±


    ¡°Of course. Everyone, well, most people, have always dreamed of taking down the guilds, and this guy, Desza, has given us a push to continue the fight. He¡¯s a hero.¡±


    ¡°Well, I¡¯d like to see that come true.¡±


    ¡°I would too, Roberto, I would too,¡± he said, glancing at his watch. ¡°Anyway, I need to send a message right now. We¡¯ll talk later.¡±


    He shook Maidana¡¯s hand and left.


    Meanwhile, Maidana, having finished his conversation, began to investigate further.


    There weren¡¯t many people¡ªtwelve in total, each chatting among themselves. It was clear that most didn¡¯t know each other, but Maidana wanted to learn more about Paulo, the hooded guy, so he left the room to search for him. First, he noticed a closed door with sunlight visible from beneath it. Gathering his courage, he knocked.


    ¡°Who is it?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s Roberto, the guard at the entrance.¡±


    ¡°Guard? I didn¡¯t know we had a guard.¡±


    ¡°Yes, well¡­ I was assigned to be here.¡±


    ¡°Oh¡­ oh, I see, that was me. Go ahead, come in.¡±


    Maidana wiped the sweat from his brow and opened the door.


    Inside, there were three people. One was the voice he had heard: a woman with short blonde hair, brown skin, and brown eyes, dressed in formal attire from a private school. The second was Paulo, without his hood, with light orange hair, though his eyebrows were red, and green eyes that seemed constantly frightened. He wore bright sky-blue formal clothes, white shoes, a tailcoat, and a yellow handkerchief. The third was a boy sitting next to an uneasy Paulo. He had long black hair, styled back and tied in a braided ponytail. His eyes were completely black, as if his pupils were dilated to the maximum. He wore a trench coat that reached his knees, matching pants, and shoes. On his gloved hands was the symbol of a five-pointed star with an eye in the center.


    ¡°Wow, nice to see you here.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, miss.¡±


    ¡°Miss? I¡¯m fifteen.¡±


    ¡°Sorry.¡±


    ¡°You always say that, it¡¯s like¡­¡±


    ¡°Can we please move on from this topic?¡± Paulo interrupted, scratching his temple vigorously.


    ¡°How silly, go on, my friend,¡± she said, then looked at Maidana. ¡°Close the door, Roberto. This is private; we don¡¯t want anyone else overhearing us.¡±


    ¡°Understood.¡±


    Maidana closed the door behind him and stood in front of it.


    ¡°As I was saying, things will soon spiral out of control. Paulo knows very well that these situations are always the first to get out of hand.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s nothing to fear; it¡¯s all part of the cause, and we all know that.¡±


    ¡°Whether it¡¯s for the cause or not, there will always be consequences, heh, heh, heh. Paulo isn¡¯t stupid. Paulo is smart; he knows very well the price to be paid.¡±


    ¡°Stop rambling. Nothing will happen.¡±


    ¡°Nothing? That never happens with changes. Something always happens, whether it¡¯s good or bad, productive or catastrophic.¡±


    ¡°Come on, don¡¯t exaggerate, please.¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t calm down, eh, eh, eh, I can¡¯t calm down if the situation is worse than it seems.¡±


    ¡°Yes, the situation is complicated, but¡­ I think everything is clear now, or maybe not¡­ perhaps¡­¡±


    ¡°Shut up.¡±


    ¡°You shut up, Sheldon. Being Candado¡¯s clone hasn¡¯t done you any good. Your father, the scientist Dar¨ªo, was never¡­¡±


    At that moment, Sheldon snapped his fingers, setting his index finger ablaze with a blue flame.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you dare¡ª¡± he blew on his finger¡ª¡°speak ill of Dar¨ªo.¡±


    Sheldon continued reading, but Maidana was stunned by the conversation. Sheldon was Candado¡¯s clone: their faces were identical, as were their skin and gaze. The only differences were his long braided hair, blue eyes, and clothing.


    ¡°We all hate Candado, everyone in this house. That¡¯s why we exist. The ideologies of that kid are dangerous for the world. I don¡¯t care about the Circuits or the Guilds, just him.¡±


    ¡°Sheldon, always so punctual.¡±


    ¡°The only reason I¡¯m here is to find Candado¡­ and kill him.¡±


    ¡°Paulo knows Sheldon is vengeful, always chasing the moth, heh, heh, heh. But Paulo also knows it¡¯s very difficult to overthrow Esteban. No one knows what the G.C.G. is planning. They are incredibly powerful.¡±


    (Overthrowing Esteban?), Maidana thought, alarmed.


    ¡°Yes, Paulo, I know it sounds impossible, but with Esteban¡¯s bad reputation, nothing is impossible.¡±


    ¡°Exactly. But Paulo will tell you what else is impossible.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°Attacking Kanghar. The W.O.G.A.B. is indestructible. Its democracy is stronger than any other global state.¡±


    Maidana was even more alarmed. (I can¡¯t believe what they¡¯re saying¡­ attacking the W.O.G.A.B.? Overthrowing Esteban? What is all this?).


    ¡°That¡¯s why alliances exist.¡±


    ¡°Exactly, little crazy.¡±


    ¡°Alright, this stays between us, okay?¡±


    ¡°Yes, my dear, between the three of us.¡±


    ¡°But there are four of us.¡±


    ¡°He doesn¡¯t count,¡± Sheldon said, pointing at Maidana.


    ¡°Why?¡± Paulo asked.


    ¡°Because he¡¯s a spy.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s ridiculous. Roberto is my uncle.¡±


    Sheldon pulled a small bell from his pocket and rang it softly. Suddenly, Maidana¡¯s disguise vanished, revealing his true identity.


    ¡°You¡¯re good, but not good enough for me.¡±


    Far from being intimidated, Maidana decided to act with cunning.


    ¡°Bravo, sir, but assassins need to stay alive to share this glorious information,¡± he said, bowing graciously.


    Everyone stood up to attack him, except Sheldon, who watched him with suspicion. The girl unleashed four steel pincers from her waist, and Paulo transformed his left arm into a strange gun.


    ¡°You fooled Paulo, heh, heh. But that will be fixed.¡±


    ¡°Where¡¯s my uncle? Damn traitor.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s fine, calm down,¡± Maidana replied, looking up with a smile.


    Sheldon panicked and shouted:


    ¡°BACK OFF!¡±


    Maidana drew a gun and shot Paulo, pushing him away. Then he aimed at the girl and shot her in the arm. As he was about to shoot Sheldon, Sheldon was already by his side.


    ¡°Damn.¡±


    That was all Maidana could say before Sheldon delivered a powerful blow to his abdomen, throwing him against the door.


    ¡°Sheldon¡­¡±


    ¡°Are they alive?¡± Sheldon asked, looking at Paulo and the girl.


    ¡°Paulo realized; they¡¯re electrodes, affecting my magical energy.¡±


    ¡°Will they be okay?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s temporary. Paulo will be fine, just like Nina.¡±


    ¡°Oh, hell, this will look very bad on my record,¡± Maidana said, getting up and brushing splinters off his clothes.


    ¡°A SEM¨¢FORO!¡± someone shouted from the gallery.


    Maidana drew his weapon and fired at Sheldon, who dodged the shot and hurled a chair at him. Maidana turned invisible and avoided it.


    ¡°Oh no, not that,¡± Sheldon said as he stomped the ground.


    This caused Maidana to fly and crash into the ceiling, becoming visible again as he fell to the ground.


    ¡°Is he dead?¡± asked a young woman.


    At that moment, the entrance door shattered, and Krauser appeared.


    Maidana opened his eyes, grabbed one of the bystanders¡¯ legs, and delivered an electric shock, leaving him unconscious. He then got up, seized Sheldon by the neck, and pushed him, landing a knee to his stomach.


    Krauser ran toward his friend, pressing his back against his.


    ¡°Bad time to forget my violin at home.¡±


    ¡°You play horribly, brother. Stick to something else.¡±


    ¡°Well, and¡­¡±


    ¡°CATCH THEM!¡± Sheldon shouted just before being shot by one of Maidana¡¯s sleeves.


    ¡°Such a damn nuisance,¡± Maidana said, his arm extended from where the projectile had come.


    ¡°We¡¯ll talk later,¡± Krauser added as he prepared for the attack, adjusting his hat and partially revealing his wicked teeth.


    Krauser extended his tentacles and grabbed four of them around the waist, slamming them against the wall. A shot struck his left temple, causing him to turn around. With a tentacle emerging from his wrist, he seized the shooter by the neck and threw him against the wall.


    ¡°We need them alive,¡± he remarked while fighting alongside Sheldon.


    ¡°This is the worst plan I¡¯ve ever seen,¡± Sheldon complained.


    ¡°Get used to it,¡± Krauser replied, kicking an unknown assailant who was charging at him with a knife. ¡°The job is always unpredictable.¡±


    At that moment, Guz and J?rgen made their entrance.


    ¡°YOU TWO!¡± Krauser shouted, releasing the others and running toward them.


    ¡°KRAUSER, DON¡¯T DO IT!¡± Sheldon warned.


    Guz, remaining motionless, summoned a tentacle from the floor that ensnared Krauser by the legs, tossing him across the room. His hat flew amidst the debris, and Krauser was suspended in the air by the force of the tentacle.


    Seeing this, Maidana rushed to his aid, but before he could reach him, J?rgen, with his incredible speed, grabbed him by the neck and slammed him against the wall, immobilizing him.


    ¡°Damn it¡­¡± Maidana gasped as he tried to free himself.


    J?rgen said nothing, only watching him coldly with one hand in his pocket.


    ¡°Well, well, this is a real mess,¡± an unfamiliar voice said. ¡°I don¡¯t know why I bothered calling you here.¡±


    ¡°That voice¡­¡± Krauser murmured, petrified as he recognized it.


    The footsteps grew louder and louder until Desza¡¯s figure emerged.


    ¡°Oh, Krauser.¡±


    ¡°DESZA!¡± he shouted with contained fury.


    ¡°What a tremendous coincidence to find you here.¡±


    ¡°When I¡¯m free, I¡¯m going to slit your throat,¡± Krauser threatened.


    Desza chuckled and surveyed the scene with disdain.


    ¡°You two have really made a mess. Look at this place, it¡¯s disgusting.¡±


    ¡°Sir¡­¡± said a voice coming from the kitchen.


    Desza walked over and opened the pantry, finding Rose, terrified.


    ¡°Oh, my rose, what are you doing here?¡±


    ¡°Burton invited me,¡± the girl replied, trembling.


    Desza extended his hand and helped her out of the pantry.


    ¡°Go outside, your brother was very worried searching for you,¡± he said, gently stroking her cheek. ¡°I was worried too.¡±


    Rose smiled, hugged him, and ran toward the exit.


    ¡°You¡¯re a cynic, Harry,¡± Maidana said disdainfully.


    ¡°I¡¯m not. I¡¯m just a normal person,¡± Desza replied.


    ¡°Normal? Someone who killed countless innocents during the journey in Italy? Is that what you call normal? You¡¯re a murderer, no matter how you look at it. Did you really think¡­ schools, hospitals, orphanages¡­ were your targets?¡±


    ¡°No one was innocent, Krauser. Sometimes, sacrifices must be made.¡±


    ¡°You always say that, but what does it mean? What drove you to kill them?¡±


    ¡°God told me.¡±


    ¡°You¡­¡±


    ¡°Enough with the speeches. It¡¯s time to act.¡±


    Infuriated by Desza¡¯s words, Krauser grabbed the tentacle that was ensnaring him, freed himself, and kicked Desza in the chest, pushing him towards J?rgen and making him release Maidana.


    ¡°It¡¯s time,¡± Krauser said, threateningly approaching Desza.


    At that instant, the door collapsed, and Dockly and R?sse?s entered. Dockly immediately shot Krauser¡¯s head off, but Krauser maintained control. From his severed neck emerged a white tentacle that struck Dockly in the abdomen. Desza quickly ducked and cut the tentacle, making it vanish instantly. Although Krauser was decapitated, he somehow continued fighting against those present.


    Meanwhile, Maidana got to his feet and ran towards Desza, but Desza stopped him with a blow to the chest using the handle of his machete.


    ¡°Weak,¡± Desza said mockingly.


    Maidana reacted by drawing a knife hidden in his suit¡¯s inner pocket and lunged at him, managing to make a small cut that ran from Desza¡¯s temple to his cheek.


    ¡°Don¡¯t mock a yellow rank, idiot.¡±


    Switching hands with the knife, Maidana attacked Desza again. Despite Desza being armed with a machete, Maidana¡¯s speed and agility with just a knife gave him the advantage in the fight. Amid the combat, Sheldon emerged from the debris and rushed towards Maidana but was halted by a knife he had hidden in his shoe.


    ¡°Candado?¡± Desza asked, surprised.


    Sheldon tried to break Maidana¡¯s foot, but Maidana drew a small gun and shot him in the chest. The bullet wasn¡¯t strong enough to kill him but was enough to disorient him. Seizing the moment, Maidana spun around and kicked Sheldon in the neck.


    Dockly suddenly appeared with his Winchester rifle, ran towards Maidana, and aimed at his chest, but Maidana deflected the weapon with his arm, causing the shot to hit Sheldon¡¯s shoulder instead. Sheldon had been trying to stab Krauser, who was busy fighting J?rgen and Guz simultaneously.


    Maidana grabbed Dockly¡¯s forearm, looked him in the eyes, and, to Dockly¡¯s surprise, changed shape, which left Dockly in shock.


    ¡°How dare you, Leandro?¡± Dockly spat.


    Without answering, Maidana struck Dockly in the neck and threw him into a room. He caught the Winchester rifle in midair and shot Guz in the back. J?rgen immediately reacted, running towards him, but Maidana spun the rifle in the air and struck him with the handle, sending him crashing to the ground.


    Desza then appeared behind Maidana, machete raised and ready to attack. Maidana blocked the blow with the rifle, trapping the machete in the weapon.


    ¡°NOW!¡± Maidana shouted as he resumed his original form.


    Krauser leaped at Desza, enveloping him with his tentacles and began pummeling him all over his body, his eyes glowing with fury.


    ¡°WE HAVE TO KILL THE BEAST!¡± Krauser yelled repeatedly as he bombarded Desza with punches and kicks.


    Then, he lifted Desza into the air and hurled him against a wall, destroying it with his body. At that moment, Desza¡¯s followers arrived, their eyes filled with rage, and attacked Krauser and Maidana fiercely.


    ¡°DAMN YOU!¡± Krauser roared.


    He extended tentacles from his back and twisted his face into a grotesque form. He charged at them, first grabbing Joel¡¯s hand and throwing him towards his sister Jane and R?sse?s. Then, he seized Azricam by the neck, threatening to devour his head with his monstrous mouth. However, before he could, Dockly sprang into action, disheveled and disheveled. He pulled a double-barreled shotgun from his waist and fired, but missed the shot. Krauser hurled him towards Dockly, but Dockly dodged the attack, dropped his weapon, and ran at Krauser.


    ¡°EVERYONE! MANEUVER NO. 78! NOW!¡± Dockly ordered.


    J?rgen appeared from beneath Krauser and delivered a punch. Then, Dockly leaped into the air with his hands raised. Seeing this, Jane drew her sword and hurled it at him. Dockly caught it mid-flight and, with all his strength, drove it into Krauser¡¯s head, pinning him between the ground and the sword. Krauser let out a spine-chilling scream of pain as R?sse?s slid through the room, burning his legs and forcing him to kneel while struggling to free himself.


    ¡°I¡¯LL KILL YOU! I¡¯LL KILL YOU! I¡¯LL KILL YOU! I¡¯LL KILL YOUUUUUUUUUUU!¡± Krauser screamed in desperation, unable to regenerate.


    Maidana leaped to assist him. He ruthlessly struck J?rgen, removed the sword, and shoved Krauser towards a window. At that moment, Dockly, with a vein throbbing in fury, aimed his weapon at Maidana, but Maidana became invisible and struck him on the back of the neck. Quickly, Maidana retrieved his weapon and shot at Isabel, who was shielded by J?rgen. He then ran at J?rgen, kicked the weapon from his hand, and grabbed him by the neck, throwing him against a wall.


    ¡°It¡¯s over,¡± J?rgen said, shaking his hands off.


    The others closed in on Maidana. Guz stood up, expelling the bullet from his back. Desza, bleeding from his head, approached Maidana with a psychotic grin.


    ¡°Well, well, it seems you¡¯ve fallen.¡±


    Maidana, kneeling, looked him in the eyes.


    ¡°No, animals fall. Men never do.¡±


    ¡°Then I suppose we should treat you like an animal. Kill him.¡±


    Maidana pulled out a red star with a white button in the center and smiled, though his expression was hidden by the balaclava on his face.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Joaqu¨ªn. It seems I won¡¯t be able to return to the agency.¡±


    As he was about to press the button, a thunderous roar shook the place. Maidana¡¯s eyes widened as the approaching tremor became more evident. Suddenly, the wall collapsed, and two figures appeared. The first grabbed J?rgen and Guz by the neck and threw them aside. The second figure emerged from the ground with a mask on, which had a slot like a mailbox. The figure puffed up its chest and let out a powerful scream, shattering the glass and expelling everyone present. Maidana collapsed, unconscious the moment his body hit the ground, feeling himself weakening gradually.


    Barely conscious, he sensed someone lifting and carrying him. Though his senses were blurred, he managed to see what was happening around him.


    ¡°Nice hat. I think I¡¯ll take it,¡± said a strange voice.


    Suddenly, a tentacle shot through the window, grabbed the hat, and a voice replied:


    ¡°It¡¯s mine.¡±


    The owner of the tentacle put on the hat and looked at Maidana.


    ¡°What are they doing to him?¡±


    ¡°We need to get out of here, quickly,¡± urged a feminine voice.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, we¡¯re on his side.¡±


    Maidana closed his eyes and drifted into complete darkness.

 I AM WHAT I AM

    Far from Buenos Aires, in the town of Isla del Cerrito, was Ana Mar¨ªa Pucheta, who was driving Candado crazy by going back and forth. To keep her away from him all day, he assigned her the important task of showing Liv around the town and also taking Hammya with her so he could peacefully sign Liv''s forms, which were necessary for her to stay in the guilds.


    As they left, the sky clouded over, and it looked like it would rain soon. Just as Hammya, the last to leave, crossed the door, she turned to look at Candado. He watched her, then looked at the sky with a neutral expression, reopened the door, grabbed an umbrella, and handed it to Hammya.


    "Good luck," he said coldly.


    He closed the door and locked it.


    Hammya walked away from the house and opened the umbrella. As they walked, the door suddenly opened, and Walsh came running to catch up with them.


    "Wait!" he shouted as he approached.


    "Hello, Walsh!"


    "You didn''t need to shout at me," he replied with a smile.


    "Can I help you with something?" Hammya asked, holding the umbrella over her head as it began to drizzle.


    "Yes, I''d like to join you. I don¡¯t know you or the Chinese sword."


    "I¡¯m Liv."


    "Well, hello Liv."


    Walsh cleared his throat and extended his hand to Hammya, who shook it politely.


    "I¡¯m Dar¨ªo Walsh, member of the Roob¨®leo guild."


    "He¡¯s our record keeper. In other words, he schedules everything that happens inside and outside the circle. He¡¯s been away for a few months. He¡¯s also a strategist."


    "But there wasn¡¯t a plaque on his seat," Liv commented.


    "That¡¯s because his chair is stored in the meeting room. That¡¯s why you didn¡¯t see it."


    "Wow, I thought everyone had forgotten about me," Walsh said jokingly.


    "That¡¯s not true. The guild isn¡¯t the same without you. Now that you¡¯re back, it will be more fun," Hammya said.


    "But... you always slack off," Clementina interjected.


    "Silence, it¡¯s not fun doing it alone. It¡¯s better in a group."


    "Thanks, I feel much better now. I thought I¡¯d be a bother," Walsh replied.


    "Friends are never a bother," Pucheta assured.


    "Except you," Clementina said sarcastically.


    "Don¡¯t be like that, Clementina," Walsh replied, trying to mediate.


    "Ooh, how sweet," Pucheta said while hugging him.


    Clementina took him by the shoulder and moved him away from her.


    "Jealous?" Pucheta teased.


    "Your hugs would finish off any living being."


    The group laughed and continued on their way, leaving the president inside the house, busy helping his companions. Candado was cleaning his office, dusting, polishing, and sweeping. He had rolled up his white shirt sleeves to avoid getting it dirty. Removing the dust from the wooden floor was a bit tricky, but thanks to his powers, he could remove and dispose of it without any problems. He cleaned his desk and then dusted off each book on the shelf before putting them back in place.


    At that moment, he picked up a white-covered book and cleaned it until he stopped upon reading the title: Rain of Dreams by Axel Miguel Copas, a story told by the author himself. It was a book Gabriela used to read to him when he was afraid of the dark, as she identified with the protagonist, both fearing darkness. She believed in the existence of demons and evil sprites, especially Pombero, while Candado feared going blind forever when the light disappeared or that some entity would steal his sight.


    Gabriela would turn on the light on her nightstand and read him that book, which told the story of a girl facing her worst fears to save her family. In this way, she encouraged her brother to face his own fears indirectly.


    Candado smiled upon seeing the book in his hands again. He had never read it himself; it was always Gabriela who read it to him. As he grew older, and even though he could read it himself, she continued reading it to him, telling him that it would prepare him for when he had a child. Those were her words when Candado once asked her about her way of treating him. However, that wasn¡¯t the only reason; she also did it because she loved him very much.


    Standing with the book, smiling as he looked at it, Candado placed his hand on the spine.


    "Well, are you going to move or just stand there staring at the book like a fool?" said a voice.


    Candado looked up and turned around, still holding the book.


    "Ah, Kruger, as repulsive as ever."


    Kruger was holding a mop in one hand and a red bucket in the other. His sleeves were rolled up, and he wore a black apron tied around his body. He had red latex gloves that almost reached his elbows.


    "I can''t stand dirt, it completely disgusts me."


    Candado bit his lips to keep from laughing at Kruger¡¯s appearance, who called himself a killer, cruel, evil, satyr, sadistic, and psychopathic. It was ironic to see him dressed like a housewife entering a home overrun with spiders, dirt, mold, and dust.


    ¡°Well, ¡®mega killer,¡¯¡± he puffed his cheeks and made a rasping noise with his lips. Then he covered his mouth with his fist, cleared his throat, and continued, ¡°Tell me, do you need anything?¡±


    ¡°Yes, the area where you keep your papers is a complete mess.¡±


    ¡°Did you use the mop, by the way?¡±


    ¡°Yes, though I can¡¯t believe someone like you leaves piles of papers on the floor.¡±


    ¡°Wow, you¡¯re...¡±


    ¡°Silence, I¡¯m not done! Tell me, why the hell don¡¯t you store your damn notes in a cabinet that¡¯s sold right around the corner?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s easy to find things this way, at least for me, of course.¡±


    Kruger raised his eyebrows and left.


    ¡°In the end, it seems the Barreto brothers are very similar,¡± he said as he left.


    Candado turned around and put the book back in its place.


    ¡°Wow, I thought you¡¯d do something else, but I was wrong.¡±


    ¡°T¨ªnbari, why am I not surprised?¡± he responded ironically.


    ¡°Relax, I just came to tell you something.¡±


    ¡°Something?¡±


    Pucheta and the others arrived at the plaza, where they relaxed after a long walk.


    ¡°Do you more or less know where each location is?¡± Pucheta asked while fanning herself with both hands.


    ¡°Of course.¡±


    ¡°Are you hot?¡±


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you, Hammya?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s 15 degrees Celsius,¡± Clementina said.


    ¡°How I wish I had that quality,¡± Walsh said as he shivered.


    ¡°If you want, I can warm you up,¡± Pucheta offered with her arms extended.


    ¡°No, thanks.¡±


    Clementina sat next to Walsh, took a cup of hot coffee from her chest, and handed it to him.


    ¡°Thanks,¡± he said, taking the cup with both hands.


    ¡°That¡¯s what friends are for,¡± Clementina replied kindly.


    She then went back to her place and sat next to Hammya, who seemed distracted.


    ¡°Is something wrong?¡± Clementina asked.


    ¡°No, nothing,¡± Hammya hesitated.


    ¡°Seriously, you¡¯ve been very thoughtful lately,¡± Pucheta said, still fanning herself.


    ¡°It¡¯s just that¡­¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s just what?¡±


    ¡°I wanted to know¡­ how did you meet Candado, Ana?¡±


    ¡°Well, that¡¯s a long story, but I¡¯ll give you a summary.¡±


    ¡°Alright.¡±


    ¡°I lived in Resistencias, and at that time I was the leader of a guild called The Illuminated. We had nine members. We weren¡¯t famous, but we were happy doing our jobs, until something happened.¡±


    ¡°What happened?¡±


    ¡°What happened was that my friends betrayed me and kicked me out of my guild. I never knew why, but that¡¯s how it was. I tried to get it back several times, but it didn¡¯t work. So I decided to fight against the guilds and joined the Circuit to make them suffer¡­ and I succeeded. I incriminated them for much worse things, which led to their expulsion from W.O.G.A.B. forever. But my greed didn¡¯t stop there. I wanted to make the guilds suffer even more, and I started working for the Circuit. Day after day I attacked the guild members, and I was at the top. They even promoted me to lieutenant.¡±


    ¡°What happened?¡±


    ¡°What had to happen. My next target was the Roob¨®leo guild¡­ and its Candado,¡± she laughed, ¡°Sorry, Candado Ernest Barret.¡±


    Hammya swallowed and asked:


    ¡°What happened?¡±


    By that time, Liv and Walsh were also interested in the story.


    ¡°I knew the Circuit hated him, but I never knew why. If I wanted to keep climbing, I had to deal with him. But I¡¯d be lying if I said that was the only reason¡­ the truth is, I hated him a lot and wanted to destroy him. When I saw his mission on the board, I thought I finally had something that would take me far, so I took the mission and went to Isla del Cerrito to finish him off.¡±


    ¡°By yourself?¡± Liv asked.


    ¡°No, I went with two other people.¡±


    Hammya, anxious, made a gesture of desperation. She couldn¡¯t take any more interruptions; her curiosity was consuming her.


    ¡°Continue, I want to know what happened,¡± she said, swallowing and clapping quickly.


    ¡°We waited for Candado to leave the school,¡± Ana paused for a moment and looked at the ground.


    ¡°Ana?¡± Clementina asked.


    ¡°Wow, that was a long time ago. It feels like all of this is a huge irony of life.¡±


    Three years ago...


    Candado was walking down the sidewalk, accompanied by Clementina. He had his left hand in his pocket and was holding a black folder in his right hand, which he was reading.


    ¡°There he is, the president of W.O.G.A.B. and Candado of the Roob¨®leo guild.¡±


    ¡°Really? I didn¡¯t notice, Ricardo. Thank you very much for your help.¡±


    ¡°Pucheta!¡±


    ¡°What do you want, Rico?¡±


    ¡°Stop mocking him,¡± Tiffany said.


    Pucheta laughed and quickly cut off her laughter.


    ¡°Seriously, we need to follow him.¡±If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    ¡°We can take him out right now.¡±


    ¡°No, Tiffany. I don¡¯t want to involve innocent people. It¡¯s better if we go somewhere where it won¡¯t be a problem.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s follow him.¡±


    The group set off to capture Candado. They walked nine meters behind him, as Pucheta¡¯s research on people who had been defeated by Candado indicated that he could sense someone¡¯s presence from more than five meters away. To be safe, they stayed an additional four meters back. Although, in Pucheta¡¯s mind, whether Candado noticed or not didn¡¯t matter. She was convinced she would defeat him anyway.


    ¡°Oh, how strange, he stopped,¡± Pucheta said.


    ¡°Yes, and so?¡± a voice responded from behind them.


    Pucheta quickly spun around, throwing a punch without looking at her target, but she hit the air, as there was no one there.


    ¡°Your reflexes aren¡¯t bad, but they¡¯re not great either,¡± the same voice said.


    Pucheta and her companions turned around and saw Candado standing in front of them, with his arms behind his back.


    ¡°Why are you following me?¡± Candado asked.


    ¡°WHAT DOES IT MATTER TO YOU!?¡± Ricardo shouted.


    "CHEW SOME GLUE!¡± Candado shouted back.


    ¡°DON¡¯T SHOUT!¡± Pucheta exclaimed.


    ¡°Fine, I won¡¯t shout,¡± Candado replied calmly.


    Tiffany ran toward him, but Candado grabbed her by the neck and gently pushed her back to where she was before.


    ¡°That wasn¡¯t funny,¡± Candado said.


    Pucheta stepped forward and approached him until they were just inches apart.


    ¡°What does a Circuit want from me, girl?¡±


    ¡°Your life,¡± Pucheta replied with a smile.


    ¡°Another clich¨¦ phrase. Believe me, I¡¯ve seen scarier faces than yours, girl.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not interested. I¡¯m going to¡­¡±


    ¡°I accept.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°What you heard. If you want to fight, I can help you.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    ¡°But not in a public place.¡±


    ¡°Are you afraid of hurting someone?¡± Pucheta asked sarcastically.


    ¡°No, I just hate crowds.¡±


    Ana responded with a punch, which Candado stopped effortlessly.


    ¡°You¡¯re pathetic when it comes to patience, girl¡­¡±


    ¡°LET GO!¡± Pucheta shouted, clenching her fists. Then she calmed down and continued, ¡°Stop calling me girl. I¡¯m Ana Mar¨ªa Pucheta.¡±


    ¡°Pucheta? Like my mom¡¯s stew?¡± Candado asked, showing a serious smile.


    Pucheta fumed but then broke into a wide grin.


    ¡°I see you enjoy annoying others.¡±


    ¡°It depends, girl.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯M NOT A GIRL!¡±


    ¡°Then, old lady.¡±


    ¡°Do you want me to kill you here and now?¡±


    ¡°Come to the park in...¡± Candado pulled out a watch from his vest and checked it. ¡°Oh, well, I won¡¯t have time to eat,¡± he then put it away and looked her in the face. ¡°In twenty minutes.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t think¡­¡±


    Candado turned around and began to walk away.


    ¡°He¡¯s running away,¡± Tiffany said.


    ¡°No, miss, he wouldn¡¯t do that.¡±


    ¡°So where is he going?¡±


    ¡°To where the wind guides me and my heart dictates.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s heading to the square,¡± Ricardo said.


    ¡°How do you know?¡±


    ¡°I can tell when someone is lying, Pucheta. His heart is literally telling me he¡¯s going to the square.¡±


    ¡°Correction, I¡¯m not lying,¡± Candado said as he walked away.


    ¡°That... that¡¯s true... how strange.¡±


    ¡°Strange? I like it,¡± Pucheta said with a smile, then quickened her pace.


    ¡°It¡¯s time to move,¡± Tiffany said, following Pucheta.


    Ricardo kept staring at Candado¡¯s back.


    ¡°Are we going or not?¡± Tiffany asked.


    Ricardo continued to watch Candado¡¯s figure.


    ¡°Ricardo, is something wrong?¡±


    ¡°We need to be careful with Candado. His heart is white.¡±


    ¡°White?¡±


    Ricardo suddenly looked down and started coughing. He then knelt, red tears streaming from his eyes.


    ¡°God! What¡¯s happening to you?¡± Tiffany rushed to him and helped him stand.


    Tiffany¡¯s words alerted Pucheta, who was walking away. Seeing Ricardo on the ground, coughing and suffering, she ran back to them, glancing at Candado.


    Candado remained still, hands in his pockets, facing away, not looking at what was happening.


    Tiffany helped Ricardo up and wiped the bloodstains from his cheeks and lips.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay, it¡¯s okay, it¡¯s over,¡± she comforted him.


    Pucheta turned to Ricardo.


    ¡°What did you see?¡±


    ¡°His heart is white, Ana. I don¡¯t think it¡¯s a good idea to fight him. I tried to get closer, but I felt...¡±


    ¡°What did you feel?¡± Pucheta asked.


    ¡°Fear. It might sound crazy, but I felt like Candado was choking me.¡±


    Pucheta watched as Candado¡¯s silhouette disappeared around a corner.


    ¡°Candado, what are you?¡± Pucheta asked with a smile.


    The trio arrived at the square, where, to their surprise, Candado was already waiting, crouched down, watching a group of ants pass by.


    Pucheta approached from behind.


    ¡°You¡¯re quite intriguing.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t care,¡± Candado replied without looking up.


    Pucheta moved closer and raised her foot to crush the ants, but Candado reacted quickly, placing his hand where she was about to step, surprising both her and the group. He had stopped a fatal blow.


    ¡°Man is violent, like everything in nature, but...¡± Candado looked up, ¡°we have the tools to do more damage than any other species.¡±


    Pucheta withdrew her foot and took a step back abruptly upon seeing his violet eyes.


    Candado lowered his head and continued watching the ants.


    ¡°We harm those around us, cut down more trees than we need, kill more animals than we need to eat, leading them to extinction.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re insane.¡±


    Candado looked up, and his eyes burned with a violet flame.


    ¡°We¡¯re all insane.¡±


    He then stood up and clenched his fist.


    ¡°I eat meat, so do you. I wear leather, so do you. We are disgusted by how an animal is killed, yet we consume its flesh anyway. We¡¯re all insane, but let¡¯s not talk about me. You wanted a fight, so I¡¯ll give you one.¡±


    Candado appeared dangerously close to her in the blink of an eye. Pucheta, frightened, used her elbow to strike him in the chest, but just as she was about to hit him, Candado vanished and reappeared behind her. Pucheta crouched and kicked at his legs, but Candado leaped, grabbed her by the head, and threw her against a nearby sculpture. Pucheta, using her hand, decapitated the sculpture without taking her eyes off Candado. She then took the head of the statue and threw it at him. Candado stood firmly, waiting for the head to hit him, but just as it got close enough, it disintegrated upon entering his aura.


    ¡°Sorry about the architect,¡± Candado said.


    Pucheta leaped from the sculpture and charged at him with incredible speed, causing nearby trees to shake.


    ¡°Bad idea,¡± Candado commented.


    He bent down and extended his hands, opening and closing them slowly, while stopping blinking. When the smoke ball propelled by Pucheta was close enough, Candado clenched his hands and pulled it towards him. As the dust cleared, he had Pucheta¡¯s legs in his hands. Then he stood up and threw her to the right, impacting against a construction wall.


    Candado took out a notebook from his pocket and, writing aloud, said, ¡°Pay Professor Sonsa for the destruction of his house.¡±


    He put away his notebook as Pucheta, filled with rage, emerged from the rubble holding a brick in her right hand.


    ¡°Girl, you should never use speed against me. It¡¯s very easy for me to stop someone like that.¡±


    Pucheta gritted her teeth, and her eyes began to turn a fierce red. Candado squinted and drew his machete. Pucheta threw the brick, which Candado sliced through with his machete, but behind the object appeared a red light approaching at high speed. Surprised, Candado couldn¡¯t react in time, and the light struck him in the chest, propelling him out of the square and crashing into a car, which he demolished with his body.


    Pucheta¡¯s eyes returned to their original color as she smiled.


    ¡°How satisfying,¡± she said, while tying her disheveled hair back.


    A man ran out and started yelling at Candado for destroying his car. Candado, irritable, picked up his hat, took a gold ingot from his pocket, and threw it at the driver before charging towards Pucheta with fury. Pucheta smiled and ran towards him. When they were close enough, a thunderous explosion shook the ground, raising a cloud of dust as the earth cracked. Ricardo and Tiffany ran towards the scene.


    When they arrived, they saw nothing. The dust was so thick that visibility was impossible. However, from within the cloud, sounds of blows could be heard, and a light that shone first in violet and then in red was visible. It was clear that the red belonged to Ana and the violet to Candado.


    As the dust settled, Pucheta looked visibly pleased, while Candado maintained his serious expression. The girl wanted to finish Candado off, but seeing how formidable he was, she decided to prolong the fight to weaken him.


    But it didn¡¯t work that way. The fight continued until nightfall, and neither of them showed signs of exhaustion. The spectators, in complete silence, had not moved from their spots.


    Pucheta poured everything she had, but it wasn¡¯t enough. Then Candado stopped.


    ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± she asked.


    ¡°It was enjoyable playing with you, but I need to go home. It¡¯s getting late, and I¡¯m sure I¡¯m causing someone concern.¡±


    Ricardo and Tiffany positioned themselves behind Candado.


    ¡°You¡¯re not leaving until this is over,¡± Ricardo said.


    ¡°It¡¯s already over; you¡¯ve won,¡± Candado responded calmly.


    ¡°What?¡± Pucheta asked, incredulous.


    ¡°You said you wanted to defeat me, but there are many ways to beat someone, not just in a fight.¡±


    ¡°Are you going to leave like that?¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡±


    Indignant, Pucheta lunged at him, but Candado grabbed her by the neck and slammed her down onto the ground with force.


    ¡°Don¡¯t make me hurt you for real. You¡¯ve won, what more do you want?¡±


    ¡°I want the guilds to disappear. Every single one of them.¡±


    Ricardo and Tiffany ran to help her, but Candado moved away, watching them closely.


    ¡°Filthy Harambee supporter,¡± Pucheta spat out, furious.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you dare provoke me, Arjona. You won¡¯t be able to defeat me,¡± Candado replied, unperturbed.


    ¡°We¡¯ll see about that,¡± Ricardo said, turning into smoke and advancing towards Candado.


    ¡°Interesting,¡± Candado commented, unfazed.


    The smoke began to grow and move dangerously close. Candado drew his machete, threw it, and embedded it in the smoke.


    ¡°Predictable,¡± Ricardo murmured as he dodged the weapon and lunged at him. But Candado violently pulled the machete back, injuring Ricardo¡¯s shoulder, forcing him to materialize.


    Taking advantage of the moment, Candado pulled the machete out of Ricardo¡¯s shoulder and struck him in the neck, knocking him away with a single blow.


    ¡°One less,¡± Candado said, sheathing his weapon.


    ¡°I¡¯m still conscious,¡± Ricardo replied, in pain.


    ¡°No, step aside, Ricardo. This fight is mine,¡± Pucheta intervened, determined.


    ¡°Do you hate me that much?¡± Candado asked, frowning.


    ¡°All the guilds are trash,¡± Pucheta snapped.


    Candado sighed and narrowed his eyes.


    ¡°Again with that...¡± he murmured.


    Determined, Pucheta lunged at him. Candado remained still, waiting. When she was about to strike him, he grabbed her by the shoulders and looked her directly in the eyes.


    ¡°PUCHETA!¡± Ricardo and Tiffany shouted, rushing to her aid, but something or someone was holding them back.


    Pucheta struggled but couldn¡¯t free herself from Candado. That was when her eyes began to turn completely dark.


    ¡°Now tell me, why do you hate the guilds so much?¡± Candado asked in a soft but authoritative voice.


    ¡°Pucheta, hold on!¡± Tiffany cried out, distressed.


    Candado kept his gaze fixed on her.


    ¡°Show me what you hide deep in your heart,¡± he ordered.


    Candado¡¯s completely black eyes saw all of Pucheta¡¯s memories. Her friends, her family, her comrades... even the day she was betrayed, judged by the Traffic Lights, and expelled. He understood everything in that moment.


    After collecting what he needed, Candado released her and stared into the void.


    ¡°I see now, that¡¯s what happened.¡±


    Pucheta stood up, and the field surrounding them vanished.


    ¡°Pucheta!¡± Ricardo and Tiffany exclaimed as they reached her.


    ¡°Are you okay?¡± Tiffany asked, concerned.


    Pucheta waved them off with a hand and stepped forward.


    ¡°What did you do to me?¡± she asked Candado.


    Candado slowly turned his head and looked her in the eyes.


    ¡°I just saw your memories and your resentments.¡±


    ¡°How dare you?! I¡¯m not going to...¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re an idiot,¡± Candado interrupted.


    ¡°What did you say?¡± Pucheta asked, outraged.


    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you come to see me after what they did to you?¡±


    ¡°Why would I go to the one who requested my expulsion?¡±


    Candado¡¯s eyes returned to normal.


    ¡°What are you talking about? I didn¡¯t sign anything, I was never informed of such a thing.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re an idiot! Pucheta gave her most loyal services to the guilds, and they treated her like trash. That¡¯s how all guild members are. You give everything, your sweat, blood, and tears, and they throw you away,¡± Ricardo said, interrupting the conversation.


    Candado looked at him intently.


    ¡°I have never unjustly expelled anyone. My position carries great responsibility, and what happened to Pucheta happened behind my back. But I can return your guild to you.¡±


    ¡°It no longer exists. Everyone was expelled and scattered. Once it was empty, I burned it.¡±


    ¡°Well, in that case¡­¡±


    ¡°What? Are you going to say I¡¯m a criminal?¡±


    ¡°No, by no means. I¡¯m just going to say that you¡¯re an idiot.¡±


    Indignant, Pucheta lunged at him with fury.


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter what you do.¡±


    Pucheta threw a punch, and Candado blocked it with his palm.


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter what you say.¡±


    She tried again, but Candado dodged the blow and pushed her away.


    ¡°You¡¯re someone who was deceived. I would never have expelled someone as formidable as you,¡± Candado said firmly.


    Candado pulled a badge from his vest and threw it to her. Instinctively, Pucheta caught it and examined it.


    ¡°Due to the negligence of the Traffic Lights and, of course, my fault, you were expelled from the guilds. You felt betrayed, but¡­¡± Candado looked up, glancing at the band tied to his arm. ¡°If one is loyal to Harambee, they continue to help from the shadows. The mistake many make is thinking that the W.O.G.A.B. is Harambee, when in reality, Harambee is Harambee. No one can replace it, not even me.¡±


    ¡°What are you trying to tell me with all this?¡± Pucheta asked, confused.


    ¡°You are who you are. I am who I am. And Harambee is Harambee.¡±


    Candado knelt down, bowing his head and placing his right hand over his heart.


    ¡°I apologize for not realizing the harm I did to you, both myself and the organization. A lock must watch over the well-being of its people, and I failed to do that with you. I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    Pucheta couldn¡¯t believe it. She had the leader of the W.O.G.A.B., the most powerful man of all, kneeling before her.


    ¡°Get up, it¡¯s embarrassing,¡± she demanded.


    ¡°That¡¯s why I¡¯m doing it,¡± Candado replied. ¡°You endured the embarrassment of being exiled; I will endure the same.¡±


    ¡°But you don¡¯t care what others think, that¡¯s why you do it.¡±


    ¡°I regret to say that I don¡¯t care what others think of me, but rather what my family thinks of me.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re very strange.¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t return you to your old guild, but I can offer you a place in mine.¡±


    ¡°And if I refuse?¡± Pucheta challenged him with her gaze.


    ¡°I won¡¯t be able to do anything, and I¡¯m willing to suffer any punishment.¡±


    Pucheta smiled and said:


    ¡°Tiffany, Ricardo, from now on we¡¯ll be enemies.¡±


    ¡°What? Aren¡¯t you going to trust his word?¡± Tiffany asked, surprised.


    ¡°I¡¯ve unjustly prejudged Candado. I¡¯ve always followed Harambee, but I forgot why I did it. She¡­ she was someone great, brave. I was blinded by hatred towards the false people who called themselves followers of Harambee. I must also apologize for having acted this way.¡±


    ¡°I understand,¡± Tiffany responded with a sigh.


    ¡°Tiffany¡­¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s already made her decision,¡± Ricardo said, approaching and extending his hand. ¡°I¡¯ll always be your friend, Pucheta, but I can¡¯t abandon my principles of the Circuits. I want to change the U.F.E.T.C.¡±


    ¡°I hope you¡¯re a good fighter when we meet again,¡± Pucheta replied with a challenging smile.


    Pucheta looked at Candado, approached him, and, placing both hands on his shoulders, lifted him effortlessly as if he were a grocery bag. Then she set him down firmly.


    ¡°Tell me, Prez,¡± she said with a smile.


    ¡°Yes?¡± Candado responded while adjusting the clothes she had wrinkled.


    ¡°Where do I sign, boss?¡±


    Present


    ¡°From that day on, I became a guild member again,¡± Pucheta narrated while examining the guild badge. ¡°And this is my new badge, which I vowed to protect.¡±


    ¡°Wow, it¡¯s the first time I¡¯ve heard you say that,¡± Clementina commented, intrigued.


    ¡°Well, yes, to be honest, I was surprised when he knelt down,¡± Liv added, still impressed.


    ¡°Wow, Candado kneeling before someone like you,¡± Hammya said, enjoying the moment.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t know any of that,¡± Walsh said, somewhat puzzled.


    ¡°I must say that Candado is a great friend,¡± Pucheta said, looking at Hammya. ¡°But I see a future romance between you and him.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Hammya asked, blushing.


    ¡°Clementina told me everything when they went on a trip to the meadow where Mauricio is stationed.¡±


    Hammya glared at Clementina, showing her anger.


    ¡°Seriously, my Hammyita? A kiss? A kiss on the cheek? Oh, I nearly lost my mind with excitement!¡±


    ¡°I see you¡¯re very excited,¡± Walsh said with a smile.


    ¡°I¡¯m more than excited. It¡¯s thrilling!¡±


    ¡°Wow, I never imagined anything like this,¡± Liv commented.


    ¡°Like what?¡± asked a voice from behind them.


    A figure in a white trench coat and a blue beret appeared behind the girls.


    ¡°CANDADO!¡± Hammya and Pucheta shouted in surprise, in unison.


    ¡°Is something wrong?¡± he asked, curious.


    ¡°No, no, nothing. Nothing at all.¡±


    ¡°How long have you been here?¡±


    ¡°Since I heard the word ¡®thrilling.¡¯¡±


    ¡°Good thing,¡± Hammya said, letting out a sigh of relief.


    ¡°Good thing what? Wait¡­ were you talking badly about me?¡±


    ¡°No, not at all.¡±


    ¡°Why do I feel like you¡¯re mocking me?¡± Candado narrowed his eyes.


    ¡°Come on, Candado, don¡¯t take it to heart,¡± Walsh said, trying to calm the situation.


    ¡°Walsh, don¡¯t speak.¡±


    ¡°Yes, sir.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve come because I received a report from Tiffany. I¡¯m sure you know her,¡± Candado said, pulling out an envelope from his trench coat.


    ¡°That¡¯s mine,¡± Ana Mar¨ªa responded with a satisfied smile.


    Candado made a face before handing over the letter.


    ¡°Congratulations, Ana Mar¨ªa. Your little friend has entered the Grand General Council,¡± he said as he handed over the envelope.


    ¡°Thank you, boss,¡± Pucheta replied as she took the letter.


    ¡°Don¡¯t call me that,¡± Candado replied, somewhat annoyed.


    He then turned his attention to Liv and added:


    ¡°As for you, everything is in order. You¡¯re officially part of the guild on paper.¡±


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Liv responded gratefully.


    ¡°Who delivered the letter?¡± Pucheta asked, looking at the envelope she held.


    ¡°T¨ªnbari. He raided the mail,¡± Candado answered indifferently.


    ¡°I¡¯ll thank him when I see him,¡± Pucheta said with a smile.


    ¡°Well, the little one made it. I¡¯m very happy. It¡¯s been a while since I saw her,¡± Candado commented.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about that, boss. I¡¯m sure with her there, there will be many changes,¡± Pucheta said confidently.


    ¡°Why do you keep calling me that?¡± Candado asked, frowning.


    ¡°Did you forget, boss? I am what I am.¡±

 THE WAY

    Maidana awoke disoriented in an unfamiliar place. A blinding, intense light shone directly in his face.


    ¡°Get this crap off my face,¡± he grumbled, extending his hand toward the light in an attempt to shield himself from it.


    ¡°Well, look who¡¯s awake,¡± a voice said just as the light dimmed.


    Confused, Maidana sat up in bed and covered his face with both hands.


    ¡°What a headache...¡± he murmured to himself. He slapped his cheeks a couple of times, trying to clear his head. ¡°Wait... where¡¯s my mask?¡±


    At that moment, the balaclava fell into his hands.


    ¡°Who the hell are you?¡± he asked, still disoriented.


    ¡°Alan ¨¢rapdor Fern¨¢ndez. I¡¯m the one who healed all your wounds after that incident.¡±


    Maidana quickly donned the mask, feeling more secure as he did so. Then, he jumped out of bed.


    ¡°Someone else came with me,¡± he said urgently.


    ¡°The guy who looks like Slenderman?¡± Alan replied with a smile.


    ¡°Do you know where he is?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s downstairs.¡±


    ¡°Thanks.¡±


    Without wasting any time, Maidana rushed down to the ground floor. Upon arrival, he found a long corridor lined with doors¡ªmore than twenty in total¡ªon both sides.


    ¡°I should have asked which door is the right one,¡± he muttered, pausing for a moment.


    He chose the door directly in front of him and opened it cautiously. Outside, it was already dark.


    ¡°Wow, how long have I been asleep?¡± he wondered aloud.


    ¡°Two days, buddy,¡± a familiar voice responded from behind him.


    Maidana turned around quickly.


    ¡°Krauser, are you okay?¡± he asked, relieved to see his companion.


    ¡°I¡¯m a creature of terror,¡± Krauser said nonchalantly, ¡°and that says it all.¡±


    Maidana looked around, still perplexed.


    ¡°Where are we?¡± he asked.


    ¡°You¡¯re in my guild,¡± a voice answered from the shadows.


    Maidana turned to the right, searching for the source of the voice, but saw no one. Suddenly, a figure emerged from the wall.


    ¡°What are you looking at?¡± the figure asked with a teasing smile.


    Maidana spun around abruptly.


    ¡°Who the hell are you?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m Eugenia B¨¢rce, but everyone calls me Karinto.¡±


    ¡°Alright... Karinto,¡± Maidana said skeptically. ¡°Why the hell am I here?¡±


    ¡°Miss Karinto helped us,¡± Krauser interjected before she could respond.


    ¡°And what happened to Desza?¡± Maidana asked, remembering his other companion.


    ¡°The gringo? Micaela made him run.¡±


    ¡°How many of you are there?¡±


    ¡°There are five of us now. We used to be nine, but... things happened,¡± Karinto said with a shrug. ¡°You know how it is.¡±


    Maidana glanced at Krauser, who hadn¡¯t stopped sipping calmly from a cup since he had seen him, holding a small porcelain plate in his other hand.


    ¡°Is something wrong?¡± Krauser asked, noticing Maidana¡¯s stare.


    ¡°How can you be so calm?¡± Maidana retorted, irritated.


    ¡°Relax,¡± Krauser replied with a smile. ¡°I informed Joaqu¨ªn of our position as soon as you fainted.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve been asleep for two days! Desza escaped again, and you¡¯re taking this lightly!¡±


    ¡°I think you should calm down,¡± Karinto said, crossing her arms. ¡°You¡¯re still weak.¡±


    ¡°Of course, I¡¯m weak!¡± Maidana exclaimed, exasperated. ¡°I haven¡¯t eaten or bathed in two days!¡±


    ¡°Well, everyone spends their days as they can, right, Karinto?¡± Krauser commented calmly.


    ¡°Exactly, my friend,¡± Karinto replied with a grin.


    Maidana closed his eyes in frustration and let his head fall against the wall.


    ¡°Hey! It was just a joke,¡± Krauser said, maintaining his composure.


    ¡°We failed the mission, Krauser. What are we going to tell Joaqu¨ªn... or the agency?¡± Maidana slid down the wall, covering his face with his hands. ¡°Just thinking about all the paperwork makes me want to cut my veins.¡±


    ¡°Are you okay?¡± Karinto asked, looking at him with concern.


    ¡°Forget it, he¡¯s tired,¡± Krauser interrupted. ¡°He had a tough mission, was on the verge of death, and passed out. Obviously, he¡¯s not alright.¡±


    Amid Maidana¡¯s murmurs and complaints, Krauser finally interrupted him.


    ¡°Leandro, stop whining and tell me everything you know about that meeting.¡±


    Maidana straightened up, pulling away from the wall, and looked at his friend seriously.


    ¡°You¡¯re right; I need to tell you everything.¡±


    Karinto led them to a more private room. They sat on a comfortable red sofa, with a glass table in front of them holding papers, pencils, and various glasses.


    ¡°Okay, what did you see?¡± Krauser asked, crossing his arms.


    ¡°There were a lot of people inside,¡± Maidana began. ¡°Apparently, they plan to overthrow the president of the Circuit and annihilate the W.O.G.A.B.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s nothing new,¡± Krauser replied, uninterested. ¡°It¡¯s always the same.¡±


    ¡°Trust me, it seemed like a total waste of time,¡± Maidana sighed.


    ¡°No, no, no, no, wait. There¡¯s more,¡± Karinto said, leaning forward.


    ¡°What more?¡±


    ¡°I saw a clone of Candado.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Karinto asked, surprised. ¡°Are you sure?¡±


    ¡°Very sure.¡±


    Both of them looked at Krauser, who had remained silent until that moment. He leaned forward and spoke in a low tone.


    ¡°It¡¯s true. There are four clones of Candado, but none have been able to surpass him. Each one has the ability to emit fire, but not violet fire. That makes him unique. The flames of the clones are blue, black, pink, and red, but while they are strong for us, they are weak compared to Candado.¡±


    ¡°What background does the president have?¡± Maidana asked.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t Candado the president?¡± Karinto asked, puzzled.


    ¡°We call him president because it¡¯s a title, and it would be confusing to call him something else. However, to avoid individuality, he refers to the others at the table as ¡®president,¡¯ even though they¡¯re all padlock. In Argentina, since Candado has been around, it¡¯s the only country that calls its representatives presidents instead of using the official jargon.¡±


    ¡°Wow, I didn¡¯t know any of that,¡± Maidana said, astonished.


    ¡°Putting that aside for a moment,¡± Krauser interrupted, ¡°the situation is becoming more difficult to manage. The Witnesses are looking for allies. We can¡¯t ignore this. They set fire to Buenos Aires. I don¡¯t want to imagine what they¡¯ll do to the country or the world.¡±


    ¡°Certainly, things are getting worse,¡± Maidana nodded. ¡°Desza has been the only one to reach this level. I think these years of peace have weakened us, filling us with a false ego that this would never happen again, but the situation is spiraling out of control.¡±


    Maidana observed Krauser, who, since he was first seen, hadn¡¯t stopped sipping calmly from a cup while holding a small porcelain plate in the other hand.


    ¡°Is something wrong?¡± Krauser asked, noticing Maidana¡¯s gaze.


    ¡°How can you be so calm?¡± Maidana replied, irritated.


    ¡°Relax,¡± Krauser responded with a smile. ¡°I informed Joaqu¨ªn of our position as soon as you passed out.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve been asleep for two days! Desza escaped again, and you¡¯re taking it all lightly!¡±


    ¡°I think you should calm down,¡± Karinto said, crossing his arms. ¡°You¡¯re still weak.¡±


    ¡°Of course, I¡¯m weak!¡± Maidana exclaimed, exasperated. ¡°I haven¡¯t eaten or bathed in two days!¡±


    ¡°Well, everyone gets through their days as best they can, right, Karinto?¡± Krauser commented casually.


    ¡°Exactly, my friend,¡± Karinto replied, grinning.


    Maidana closed his eyes in frustration and let his head drop against the wall.


    ¡°Hey! It was just a joke!¡± Krauser said, maintaining his composure.


    ¡°We failed the mission, Krauser. What are we going to tell Joaqu¨ªn... or the agency?¡± Maidana slid down the wall, covering his face with his hands. ¡°Just thinking about all the paperwork makes me want to cut my wrists.¡±


    ¡°Are you okay?¡± Karinto asked, looking at him with concern.


    ¡°Let it be, he¡¯s tired,¡± Krauser interrupted. ¡°He had a tough mission, was on the brink of death, and passed out. Obviously, he¡¯s not fine.¡±


    Amid Maidana¡¯s murmurs and complaints, Krauser finally cut in.


    ¡°Leandro, stop whining and tell me everything you know about that meeting.¡±


    Maidana straightened up, stepping away from the wall, and looked at his friend seriously.


    ¡°You¡¯re right; I need to tell you everything.¡±


    Karinto led them to a more private room. They sat on a comfortable red sofa, with a glass table in front of them, scattered with papers, pencils, and several glasses.


    ¡°All right, what did you see?¡± Krauser asked, crossing his arms.


    ¡°There were a lot of people inside,¡± Maidana began. ¡°Apparently, they¡¯re planning to overthrow the president of the Circuit and annihilate the W.O.G.A.B.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s nothing new,¡± Krauser replied, uninterested. ¡°It¡¯s always the same.¡±


    ¡°Believe me, it seemed like a complete waste of time,¡± Karinto sighed.


    ¡°No, no, no, wait. There¡¯s more,¡± Maidana said, leaning forward.


    ¡°What else?¡±


    ¡°I saw a clone of Candado.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Karinto asked, surprised. ¡°Are you sure?¡±


    ¡°What he says is true,¡± Krauser replied without hesitation.


    Both of them stared at him. He leaned forward and spoke in a low tone.


    ¡°It¡¯s true. There are four clones of Candado, but none have been able to surpass him. Each one has the ability to emit fire, but not the violet one. That makes him unique. The flames of the clones are black, blue, pink, and red, but while they¡¯re strong for us, they¡¯re weak compared to Candado.¡±


    ¡°What background does the president have?¡± Maidana asked.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t Candado the president?¡± Karinto asked, puzzled.


    ¡°We call him president because his name is a title, and it would be confusing to call him otherwise. However, to avoid individualities, he calls the others at the table ¡®president,¡¯ even though they¡¯re all technically Candados. In Argentina, since Candado¡¯s been around, it¡¯s the only country that refers to its representatives as presidents instead of using the official jargon.¡±


    ¡°Wow, I didn¡¯t know any of that,¡± Karinto said, surprised.


    ¡°Putting that aside for a moment,¡± Maidana interrupted, ¡°the situation is becoming harder to manage. The Witnesses are looking for allies. We can¡¯t ignore this. They set Buenos Aires on fire. I don¡¯t want to imagine what they¡¯ll do to the country or the world.¡±


    ¡°Things are certainly getting worse,¡± Krauser nodded. ¡°Desza has been the only one to reach this level. I think these years of peace have weakened us, filling us with a false sense of pride that this would never happen again, but the situation is spiraling out of control.¡±


    ¡°Krauser, you really think about these things,¡± Karinto said with a smile, glancing sideways at his companion.Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    Krauser observed him in silence before asking:


    ¡°Tell me, how were you there?¡±


    ¡°There? Oh, well, we were waiting for the opportunity to catch Nina.¡±


    ¡°Nina?¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s the girl I was talking to,¡± Maidana replied.


    ¡°Exactly. She¡¯s part of an organization outside the Circuit and the Guild. She¡¯s considered neutral, not on anyone¡¯s side. Generally, people like that aren¡¯t a problem, but... there are organizations like theirs that follow T¨¢natos because they¡¯re discontented with the Circuit.¡±


    Krauser frowned.


    ¡°Wow, that girl could be very problematic. We¡¯ll have to be careful.¡±


    Karinto let out a mocking laugh.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Are you afraid of girls?¡±


    ¡°No, I¡¯m afraid of danger.¡±


    Krauser grimaced, almost resigned.


    ¡°Like everyone.¡±


    Karinto raised an eyebrow and asked sarcastically:


    ¡°And what about you, mannequin?¡±


    ¡°Nothing,¡± Krauser replied, unfazed. ¡°I¡¯m death and terror personified.¡±


    ¡°Wow.¡±


    Before Karinto could retort, a third voice interrupted with an annoyed tone:


    ¡°Stop flirting,¡± Maidana protested, crossing his arms. ¡°Don¡¯t you realize the gravity of the situation?¡±


    Karinto, always carefree, shrugged.


    ¡°Relax, mascots. They¡¯ve never achieved anything as opposition, so don¡¯t worry about it.¡±


    ¡°Either way,¡± Krauser interjected, with a more relaxed air, ¡°we can¡¯t be serious all the time. Leave that to Candado, Joaqu¨ªn, Declan, Ruth, or Sim¨®n.¡±


    ¡°And why am I not on that list?¡± Karinto asked, pretending to be offended.


    ¡°Who knows,¡± Krauser replied with an ironic smile.


    Maidana rolled his eyes.


    ¡°Look, Krauser, I¡¯m not interested in your jokes. They¡¯re disgusting, infuriating, and not funny at all. Leave that to Moneda.¡±


    ¡°Fine, calm down, Leandro,¡± Krauser responded, raising his hands in surrender. ¡°And tell me, what do you suggest?¡±


    ¡°I suggest we hurry to Resistencia and inform the tricolor agency.¡±


    Krauser and Karinto listened attentively.


    ¡°We¡¯re running out of time. We have to prevent these two things from happening.¡± Maidana continued, his tone laden with concern. ¡°If Esteban is overthrown, we¡¯d go to war against the Circuit, and this time, it won¡¯t matter who wins. There will only be chaos and destruction.¡±


    Krauser looked at Maidana.


    ¡°We need to take these reports to Resistencia.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll go with you,¡± Karinto said with a smile.


    Krauser looked at her with curiosity.


    ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°This is going to be entertaining,¡± Karinto replied, shrugging.


    The next morning, the group gathered at a central location of the Traffic Light in Buenos Aires, preparing to return to Chaco. While they waited to be attended to, Krauser couldn¡¯t help but cast a curious glance at Karinto.


    ¡°Hey, don¡¯t you have parents you need to inform that you¡¯ll be away?¡±


    ¡°Yes, my parents live in Resistencia.¡±


    Krauser frowned, confused.


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Karinto explained calmly. ¡°You see, I used to live here, so my parents sent me on vacation with my uncles.¡±


    Krauser tilted his head toward the small group behind them.


    ¡°And them?¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re also from Chaco.¡±


    ¡°Okay, I¡¯m not going to ask why,¡± Krauser said, giving up.


    ¡°As you wish,¡± Karinto replied, with her usual nonchalance.


    At that moment, Maidana returned with a folder in hand.


    ¡°Leandro, did you get it?¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± Maidana responded, handing over the documents.


    Krauser and Karinto stood up.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± Krauser ordered.


    Just as they were about to leave, a shadow stopped them.


    ¡°Excuse me,¡± said a familiar voice.


    Krauser looked up.


    ¡°Schr?dinger?¡±


    The man smiled wearily.


    ¡°Hello, Krauser. Of all the faces I expected to see, and at the same time, not.¡±


    Maidana looked at him warily, his hand sliding toward the revolver at his belt.


    ¡°Are you going to attack us or what?¡±


    ¡°No, of course not,¡± Addel replied with a reassuring gesture. ¡°I need your help.¡±


    Karinto raised an eyebrow.


    ¡°Our help?¡±


    ¡°That''s right,¡± Addel turned to Krauser. ¡°I need you to come with me. I¡¯ve heard you¡¯re a healer and a doctor.¡±


    ¡°Are you?¡± Maidana asked, incredulous.


    ¡°Shhh,¡± Krauser placed a finger to his lips, gesturing for silence. ¡°That¡¯s a secret.¡±


    Then, he looked at Schr?dinger with suspicion. ¡°How did you know that?¡±


    ¡°I spied on you,¡± Addel replied, smiling. ¡°One day, I¡¯ll settle the score.¡±


    Krauser sighed. ¡°Well, get to the point.¡±


    ¡°Esteban has been unconscious for almost three days,¡± Addel explained, his tone growing serious. ¡°And I¡¯m starting to worry.¡±


    ¡°Why me?¡± Krauser asked. ¡°Why not a doctor?¡±


    ¡°I already tried, but those damned doctors couldn¡¯t do anything.¡±


    ¡°What if I refuse?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll burn the city down, kill your friends, and¡­¡±


    A mechanical sound interrupted his words. Maidana frowned, recognizing the noise.


    ¡°Is it a bomb?¡± he whispered.


    ¡°You¡¯re crazy,¡± Karinto said, backing away.


    Maidana drew his revolver and aimed it.


    ¡°Impertinent,¡± Addel murmured, remaining calm.


    Krauser raised his hand. ¡°Put the gun down, Leandro.¡±


    ¡°But¡­¡±


    ¡°Do it,¡± Karinto interjected, gently pushing Maidana¡¯s arm down.


    Krauser stepped forward. ¡°I¡¯ll help, but¡­ end this.¡±


    Addel smiled and raised his hand, silencing the noise. He then revealed his wrist, showcasing a simple watch.


    ¡°Loud, isn¡¯t it?¡± he said with a mischievous grin.


    ¡°And the bomb?¡± Maidana asked, still distrustful.


    ¡°What bomb?¡± Addel laughed. ¡°That was just my alarm.¡±


    Maidana looked at Krauser, concerned. ¡°Don¡¯t you think it¡¯s better to ignore him?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Krauser replied firmly. ¡°Knowing Addel, I don¡¯t think he¡¯s lying. You should go. It¡¯s vital that information reaches the W.O.G.A.B.. as soon as possible.¡±


    Maidana nodded, patting Krauser¡¯s shoulder twice before leaving with the others. Meanwhile, Krauser and Addel ventured into the city.


    As they walked, memories of past confrontations began to resurface, each word laden with resentment and unhealed wounds.


    ¡°Tell me, Schr?dinger,¡± Krauser asked, ¡°why are you and Esteban here?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a secret,¡± Schr?dinger replied, evasively.


    ¡°I see,¡± Krauser responded with a wry smile. ¡°So, what are you looking for?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a secret.¡±


    ¡°I see¡­ Did you find it?¡±


    Addel glanced at him sideways. ¡°It¡¯s a secret.¡±


    ¡°Is there anything that isn¡¯t a secret?¡± Krauser asked, frustrated.


    ¡°Just ask your questions, egghead,¡± Addel retorted, maintaining his composure.


    They finally arrived at the doors of a convent.


    ¡°Is this the place?¡± Krauser asked, looking at the building before them.


    Addel said nothing as he opened the enormous doors of the convent. Upon stepping inside, he removed his hat and extinguished the white smoke enveloping him, revealing his face.


    ¡°Mind your manners.¡±


    He then walked to a donation box and placed a hundred peso bill inside. Kneeling, he quickly made the sign of the cross, murmuring an Hail Mary and an Our Father.


    ¡°Do I have to do this? I¡¯m an atheist,¡± Krauser said, lacking enthusiasm.


    Addel stood up and walked toward a door on his right, without replying. Krauser, who had remained outside, glanced back for a moment, hesitating whether to follow.


    ¡°I can¡¯t believe this,¡± Krauser muttered.


    Finally, he entered the convent, took off his hat, and approached the donation box. He patted the pockets of his coat and chest, searching for something. After a brief moment, he looked at his left hand resting on his chest. He removed his glove and slid a gold ring from his index finger, placing it in the donation box.


    As he tried to catch up with Addel, he found him waiting by the door, leaning against the frame, observing him in silence. Krauser nodded and stepped back, heading towards the altar of Jesus.


    ¡°Thank goodness Joaqu¨ªn isn¡¯t here,¡± he murmured as he knelt and prayed the Our Father.


    Turning around, he saw Addel playing with his hat, looking at him with a mocking smile. He gestured for Krauser to follow. Obeying, they both walked down a long hallway with more than twenty wooden doors, each adorned with a cross. Addel stopped in front of one and opened it, causing a slight creak.


    The room was simple: a bed, a desk, a table with two chairs, and a bookshelf. Esteban lay in bed, while a bald man with glasses and a prominent white beard sat beside him.


    ¡°Father Hank, how¡¯s he doing?¡± Addel asked.


    The man removed his glasses and replied, ¡°The fever has gone down, but it will return. For now, he¡¯s stable.¡±


    ¡°I understand. I¡¯ve brought a friend to help us.¡±


    Krauser stepped forward and bowed to the elder.


    ¡°A pleasure.¡±


    Hank observed him with curiosity. ¡°Don¡¯t you have a face?¡±


    Krauser squinted, revealing the little of his expression that was visible. ¡°I¡¯m a hybrid, what most commonly call a monster.¡±


    Father Hank let out a jovial laugh. ¡°Wow.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t I frighten you?¡± Krauser asked with an ironic tone.


    ¡°No, of course not,¡± Hank replied, still laughing, extending his hand. ¡°I¡¯m Father Hank Maurice.¡±


    Krauser nodded and turned his attention to Esteban. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with him?¡± Addel asked.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know; I haven¡¯t examined him yet,¡± Krauser replied.


    Saying this, he handed his hat to Father Hank and extended both hands, one at chest height and the other at abdomen level. He remained in that position for a few minutes. Suddenly, Esteban¡¯s body began to rise slowly, hovering a few inches above the bed, right between Krauser¡¯s hands.


    ¡°Wow,¡± Krauser murmured as he moved his hands above Esteban¡¯s head and left leg.


    ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± Addel asked.


    ¡°He has a clot of energy, both in his magic and his body. There are injuries to his heart and brain, but they aren¡¯t severe.¡±


    Addel stepped forward.


    ¡°Is there a cure?¡±


    ¡°Yes, you could say that,¡± Krauser replied with an ironic tone.


    Just then, Krauser''s hands began to break down, transforming into what looked like tiny parasites that embedded themselves in various points of Esteban''s body: the nape, forehead, elbows, knees, chest, and abdomen.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡± Father Hank asked, alarmed.


    ¡°I¡¯m cleaning and repairing his system. He¡¯s been under a lot of stress and has accumulated a great deal of negative energy. His power is turning into poison for his own body.¡±


    ¡°What does that mean?¡± Addel asked with concern.


    ¡°It¡¯s similar to cancer, but this one can be cured.¡±


    After a few seconds, Krauser¡¯s hands returned to normal, and Esteban''s body slowly descended onto the bed.


    ¡°What happened?¡± Addel asked.


    ¡°Nothing, he should be fine now. I eliminated all the accumulated magic and made sure his system functions correctly.¡±


    ¡°Thank goodness.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t take this lightly, Schr?dinger. It¡¯s likely that whatever caused this will happen again. He seems to be fighting against something.¡±


    ¡°It must have something to do with Guillermo.¡±


    ¡°His brother?¡±


    Krauser put on his hat and sat down in a chair.


    ¡°I found it quite strange that someone like him was so affected, especially when he attacked Candado in the rain that day. He was very hurt, particularly by that conversation he had with the empty chair of his ¡®friend.¡¯¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re a... YOU SPIED ON HIM!¡±


    ¡°I was prepared too,¡± he teased defiantly.


    ¡°NO!¡± Addel stepped dangerously closer. ¡°You had no right; mess with me, not him.¡±


    ¡°I assumed it was a taboo, wasn¡¯t it?¡±


    ¡°You had no reason to do it.¡±


    ¡°What will you do? Kill me?¡±


    ¡°Oh no, certainly not. What I¡¯ll do to you will be worse than death; you¡¯ll even beg for it.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m a monster; I¡¯m not afraid of your threats,¡± Krauser said, leaning back in the chair with his arms crossed.


    ¡°I¡¯ll make sure...¡±


    ¡°Hey, hey! Cut it out, guys. You¡¯re in the Lord¡¯s house, and my brothers and sisters are resting,¡± Father Hank interjected.


    ¡°You got lucky, phenomenon,¡± Addel said.


    ¡°Look who¡¯s talking.¡±


    At that moment, a girl appeared in the doorway, dressed in pajamas.


    ¡°Father Hank, what¡¯s happening?¡±


    ¡°Nothing, my child, nothing.¡±


    ¡°I thought this place was a convent,¡± Krauser remarked.


    ¡°It is, but we also offer refuge to homeless people,¡± Father Hank replied.


    ¡°Wow,¡± Krauser said, in an indifferent tone.


    Noticing his attitude, Addel decided to annoy him a bit. And what better way to do it than by giving him an errand.


    ¡°Slenderman.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t call me that; I¡¯m neither tall nor skinny.¡±


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter; get some water. Esteban needs it.¡±


    ¡°Give me a reason why I should be his servant.¡±


    ¡°If you do, I¡¯ll share a secret with you. A secret that Esteban and I discovered.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not a good enough reason. Surely, when I come back, you¡¯ll end up lying to me.¡±


    ¡°Addel¨¢ndromechkrin Schr?dinger swears it.¡±


    ¡°Your parents must have loved tongue twisters.¡±


    ¡°Whatever. Just bring the water.¡±


    Krauser stood up and looked at Father Hank.


    ¡°Where''s the bathroom?¡±


    ¡°The bathroom is...¡±


    ¡°Hold it right there, comrade,¡± Addel interrupted.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Krauser asked.


    ¡°You won¡¯t give Esteban water from the bathroom. Give him clean, pure water.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but there are no mountains or mines here, and I doubt there¡¯s a river nearby.¡±


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you go to the kitchen?¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s the difference? All the water in the convent comes from the same tank.¡±


    ¡°No, we have separate tanks,¡± Father Hank clarified.


    ¡°Don¡¯t mess with me. And where are those tanks?¡±


    <div>


    <div>


    <div>


    <div>


    ¡°Let the girl accompany you. After all, the bathroom is in the same direction,¡± said Father Hank.


    ¡°And why should I care where the bathroom is if I¡¯m not going anyway?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not for you, it¡¯s for her. The way she¡¯s standing, it looks like she needs to go.¡±


    Krauser glanced at the girl, and indeed, she was shaking on her feet. He then turned to the priest.


    ¡°Wow, your ability to read people reminds me of someone.¡±


    ¡°Who?¡±


    ¡°Nothing. Maybe someday, at some point or year, you¡¯ll know.¡±


    Krauser adjusted his hat and stepped out the door, holding a plastic basin in his right hand. He approached the girl.


    ¡°Take me to the kitchen.¡±


    ¡°Sure.¡±


    The girl hurried ahead, taking quick steps, while Krauser followed slowly, unhurried. As he walked, he stared into space, observing the dim lighting in the hallway. Suddenly, he noticed the girl had come to a complete stop, right at the threshold between the light and the darkness that dominated the rest of the corridor. At the end, an open door revealed a brightly lit kitchen with a dishwasher and some furniture.


    When Krauser reached her side, he stopped as well. The little girl¡¯s feet hesitated to touch the dark part of the floor.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Krauser asked, disinterested.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to go there. The darkness is bad.¡±


    ¡°How old are you?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll be eight on the 18th.¡±


    ¡°So, this Thursday.¡±


    ¡°Right, I think.¡±


    ¡°Great.¡±


    ¡°And you?¡±


    ¡°I turned 13 on the first of July.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re big.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m glad. Now, can we cross?¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    The girl¡¯s legs began to tremble, although her face remained calm.


    ¡°If you stay there, you¡¯re going to pee yourself.¡±


    The girl clenched her teeth and squatted down.


    ¡°I really think you should go. It¡¯s only about ten meters.¡±


    ¡°No, the darkness is bad.¡±


    Krauser manifested two tentacles that slowly approached the girl and wrapped around her waist. She was startled, looked up, and before she could say anything, he lifted her into the air.


    ¡°Look, it would be a problem if you smelled.¡±


    With that, Krauser stepped into the dark corridor, first with his body and then with the tentacles holding the girl. Just as he was about to enter the darkness, she got scared, closed her eyes, and began to tremble while singing:


    ¡°Mama, mama, mama, she kisses me at night, tucks me in, spoils me, protects me (...).¡±


    The hallway was long, and Krauser could hear the girl¡¯s small, trembling voice, terrified. He glanced back, puzzled and curious about how she was behaving.


    At the end of the darkness, Krauser lowered the girl and tucked his tentacles back into his body. He then leaned down and looked at her.


    ¡°Hey, you can open your eyes now and... stop singing.¡±


    The girl opened her eyes and looked around; she was now in a well-lit place.


    ¡°What happened?¡±


    ¡°Go to the bathroom already.¡±


    The girl reacted and ran toward a door that was there; fortunately, there was light in the bathrooms.


    Once she disappeared, Krauser placed the basin in the dishwasher and turned on the tap for the water to flow.


    ¡°The darkness is bad,¡± he murmured. ¡°Dockly used to say something like that a long time ago.¡±


    As the water fell from the faucet, Krauser felt nostalgic, but he couldn¡¯t enjoy the moment, as everything related to him made him angry. Hearing or remembering that name made his blood boil.


    ¡°Traitor.¡±


    Those were the words that escaped from that monstrous mouth with sharp teeth; his eye sockets began to hollow out.


    ¡°Dockly, allying with someone as wicked as Desza.¡±


    At that moment, he felt something on his arm. Krauser turned around and displayed his malevolent face, with sharp teeth and empty sockets illuminated by a red light.


    ¡°Are you angry?¡± the girl asked naturally.


    Krauser stared at her for a few seconds.


    ¡°Tell me, don¡¯t I scare you?¡±


    The girl patted her head, her face, her cheeks, her chest, her arms, her thighs, and her legs.


    ¡°No.¡±


    Krauser changed his face back to how it was before.


    ¡°Was that really necessary?¡±


    <div>


    <div>


    <div>


    The girl shrugged.


    "I see that the only thing that terrifies you is the darkness," Krauser said as he turned off the faucet.


    "Yes."


    Krauser manifested his tentacles, took the basin, and lifted it into the air, placing it over his head.


    "Shall we cross?"


    "No, the darkness is bad."


    Krauser sighed, manifested his tentacles again, took the basin, and then extended his hand.


    "At least you could take my hand. If we cross together, I¡¯m sure nothing will happen to you."


    The girl didn¡¯t respond but accepted Krauser¡¯s offer and took his hand. Though she was still afraid, she held on tightly and kept her eyes closed as they crossed. Krauser, for his part, simply looked forward, careful to avoid spilling water from the basin atop his head.


    When they reached the other side, Krauser released her. Not feeling his hand anymore, the girl opened her eyes and looked at him.


    "We''re here."


    "Wow, you¡¯re clever, kid."


    "Casandra, not kid."


    "Got it, kid."


    Casandra looked at him expectantly.


    "Krauser," she said with a sigh.


    "Krauser."


    "Yes."


    "Krauser."


    "Yes, that¡¯s my name."


    The girl smiled, which made Krauser curious.


    "Hey, don¡¯t I scare you?" he asked, pointing at himself with his index finger.


    The girl patted her head, cheeks, forehead, arms, hips, chest, stomach, and legs.


    "No."


    "Are you making fun of me?"


    The girl looked at her feet and hands.


    "Not really."


    Krauser covered his face with his left hand and chuckled. Then he reached into his pocket and pulled out a metal flashlight. He leaned down, knelt, and placed the flashlight in her right hand.


    "A gift," the girl said, astonished at the sight of the flashlight.


    Krauser stood up and continued walking.


    "What¡¯s it for?" Casandra asked as she examined it.


    "Wow, KrauKrau."


    "KrauKrau?"


    "Will you come to my party?"


    "...We''re strangers."


    "Will you come to the party?"


    "You won¡¯t stop until I say yes, will you?"


    Cassandra nodded comically.


    "Alright."


    "Yay!"


    Krauser, without stopping, pointed back toward the darkness they had emerged from.


    "It¡¯s for them."


    Krauser arrived in the room where the others were.


    "Hello, I¡¯m back."


    "I didn¡¯t notice," Addel said sarcastically.


    Krauser ignored him and instead lowered the basin beside Esteban¡¯s bed. He stored away his tentacles and sat in a wooden chair.


    "You know, I think this is going to drive me crazy."


    "Why do you say that?" Father Hank asked while soaking a cloth and wiping Esteban¡¯s forehead.


    "I never thought I¡¯d end up helping a Circuit."


    "Me neither."


    At that moment, Casandra sat on Krauser¡¯s lap to play with the flashlight.


    "Okay, frothy one, tell me what you have for me."


    "Alright, alright, I¡¯ll say it."


    For nearly twenty minutes, Addel recounted what they saw, what they heard, and what they discovered. Krauser said nothing, only listened attentively, and when Addel finished, he responded.


    "That¡¯s what I needed, thanks, puffs."


    Krauser exited the convent and paused halfway down the path. He turned around and waved goodbye, lifting his hand. Addel, Father Hank, and the girl waved back. Casandra moved her hand from side to side with the flashlight he had given her. Krauser kindly waved once more and walked away, hands in pockets, into the illuminated streets of Buenos Aires province. He looked ahead, showing his eyes and mouth, striking terror in most people and mocking the expressions on their faces.


    "You¡¯re not the ones who should fear me; it¡¯s Desza you should be afraid of. Happy July ninth!" he shouted, bursting into a loud, reckless laugh.


    Krauser had discovered something entertaining.

 DILEMMA

    It was a rainy Friday morning, July 13th. Candado was in his guild, sitting in a chair, reading El Ocaso newspaper. There was nothing but bad news: Chile had lost two guilds the previous night in a mysterious fire. Paraguay reported five missing guild members, with families demanding that Ra¨²l lead the search. Argentina had suffered attacks on traffic lights in Mendoza, Catamarca, Corrientes, and Santa Cruz. In Brazil, Antonio Da Silva, the renowned and famous guild member, was found dead on the roof of a school in Bras¨ªlia.


    Candado had never seen news like this before, but his face showed no sign of shock or surprise. He remained calm, though deep inside, he was worried. He remembered what T¨ªnbari had told him three days earlier.


    Three days ago.


    ¡°Relax, I just came to tell you something,¡± said T¨ªnbari.


    ¡°Something?¡± Candado asked, while picking up a book and dusting it off.


    ¡°Yes, it''s... very serious.¡±


    Candado understood the gravity of the situation and placed the book on the table.


    ¡°I see. I suppose it¡¯s quite important, right?¡±


    ¡°You can call it whatever you like.¡±


    ¡°Alright,¡± Candado snapped the fingers of his left hand, and a chair slid over to him, where he sat down. ¡°I guess this will be long.¡±


    ¡°I found my brothers.¡±


    ¡°Oh, the Bari. And?¡±


    ¡°Five of them live in this province.¡±


    ¡°I already know one, I think his name is Slonbari.¡±


    ¡°But he¡¯s not the only one. I told you there are five, and I haven¡¯t been able to contact them. They won¡¯t let me, except for one: Arr¨¢bari, the father of the trees. He told me something about Pullbarey.¡±


    ¡°And what¡¯s that?¡±


    ¡°We know what Pullbarey is like.¡±


    Candado¡¯s eyes lit up.


    ¡°What¡¯s he like? I know he possessed a human, but I don¡¯t know his appearance.¡±


    ¡°He looks like a boy your age, wears a mask, and is always accompanied by an elderly man dressed elegantly.¡±


    ¡°All of this is interesting, but I don¡¯t see why it''s so serious.¡±


    ¡°During the last encounter with Desza, all the Bari who were present saw you. Many of them hate you; they detest the thought that the blood of the mighty Keplant runs through the body of a human. Violet blood is sacred to the Cotorian people.¡±


    ¡°Violet blood?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s said that when Keplant disappeared, he gave his heart to his son Roob¨®leo, who hid it in a rune that turned violet. The water, the land, the plants, the trees, the animals¡­ all the wildlife, except for most of its inhabitants, carries that color.¡±


    Candado looked at his hand.


    ¡°I see,¡± he then enveloped it in his flames. ¡°Violet blood. Desza slashed me with a machete, but the blood that flowed from my wounds that day was red.¡±


    ¡°They call it violet blood because it¡¯s the essence of magic. In your case, it¡¯s your ¡®segalma¡¯ (second soul).¡±


    ¡°What are they planning to do to me?¡±


    ¡°Kill you. Arr¨¢bari warned me that five Bari are coming for you. I¡¯m sorry, Candado, but your plan to remain unnoticed by my brothers is no longer an option.¡±


    Present


    Candado felt a hand on his shoulder but didn¡¯t move. He kept reading the newspaper.


    ¡°Are you alright?¡±


    ¡°Do I look like I¡¯m not?¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°Then there¡¯s your answer.¡±


    ¡°Oh, well...¡± Hammya walked around him and sat down across from him.


    Candado continued reading intently while Hammya stared at him. It was 8:11 AM on Friday, and there was no one else in the guild. Candado had gotten up early to pick up the newspaper and read it (though it was likely he hadn¡¯t slept at all). Hammya had met him on the way. At first, Candado wanted to go to the cabin alone, but Hammya insisted and followed him there.


    ¡°Candado,¡± Hammya interrupted.


    ¡°Hm.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve changed a lot.¡±


    Candado glanced up and then back down.


    ¡°You think I¡¯ve changed?¡± he asked, without taking his eyes off the paper.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Hammya replied. ¡°The first few months I stayed at your house, you were very strict. You didn¡¯t want anyone entering your room.¡±


    ¡°No. I didn¡¯t want you entering my room,¡± he corrected her, finally lowering the newspaper and looking at her seriously. ¡°And I still feel the same way. I just got tired of telling you. Just because you¡¯re there doesn¡¯t mean I like it.¡±


    ¡°Oh, well,¡± she said with a playful smile, continuing, ¡°You¡¯ve also changed the way you treat me. Now you¡¯re more chivalrous.¡±


    Candado sighed, resting the newspaper on his lap.


    ¡°It¡¯s a way of thanking you for bringing my parents back to my side,¡± his gaze wandered to the ceiling as he smiled. ¡°Yesterday, I played soccer with my dad until two in the morning. When was the last time we did that?¡± His voice was nostalgic.


    Suddenly, Candado brought a hand to his mouth and began coughing.


    ¡°Candado!¡± Hammya shouted, immediately standing up.


    Candado raised his hand, signaling for her to calm down as he continued coughing. When he finally managed to stop, he lowered his hand. Fortunately, there was no blood.


    ¡°Thank God,¡± murmured Hammya, letting out a relieved sigh before sitting down again.


    ¡°This will get worse over time,¡± Candado said flatly, focusing once more on the newspaper.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Hammya nodded sadly.


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to make that face. I¡¯m the one dying, not you.¡±


    ¡°But I don¡¯t want you to die,¡± she said in a soft voice, almost choked with emotion.


    Candado slowly lowered the newspaper and looked her directly in the eyes.


    ¡°Why? You don¡¯t know me well enough to say that.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re my friend,¡± Hammya replied, her voice now firmer. ¡°And it¡¯s not just me. Everyone else would feel bad too.¡±


    ¡°I see,¡± Candado said, returning to his reading as silence filled the space they shared.


    Several minutes passed in which Hammya remained silent, watching Candado¡¯s chest. On the left side of his jacket, the insignia of W.O.G.A.B. gleamed.


    ¡°Candado,¡± she finally said, breaking the silence.


    ¡°Go on.¡±


    ¡°Why are you a guild member?¡± she asked, with a curious expression on her face.


    ¡°I¡¯ve told you before, haven¡¯t I?¡±


    ¡°Yes, but you said it in a very general way, like everyone would. I just want to know why you did it. Knowing you, I¡¯m sure you could have chosen the Circuit¡¯s path to end that cold war they¡¯re living.¡±


    Candado looked surprised for a moment but then cracked a small smile.


    ¡°You¡¯re not entirely wrong,¡± he admitted. ¡°It¡¯s true I took the Circuit¡¯s path with the intention of ending the war, but... unfortunately, I couldn¡¯t live with that decision.¡±


    ¡°Incredible,¡± Candado murmured as he listened.


    ¡°You see,¡± the voice in front of him continued, ¡°when they kicked me out of the Circuits, I learned many things... many things.¡±


    Candado leaned forward, paying close attention to every word.


    ¡°I hate human society,¡± he affirmed. ¡°There¡¯s no other reason. Society judges man, and that¡¯s what bothers me the most. Society dictates your rules: it tells you what clothes to wear, what to eat, how to speak, what you can watch, what you can ask, and how you should live. Human society is damaged, and it keeps getting worse. Often, it¡¯s society itself that creates its villain, just as it creates its hero. In this society, you can¡¯t be different.¡±


    <div>


    <div>


    <div>


    <div>


    He paused, as if the words carried a weight that Candado could feel in the air.


    "There was a girl, he continued, who wanted to be part of a group of girls, but they didn¡¯t accept her because she was different. She spoke differently, dressed differently, behaved differently. She was bullied and harassed by her classmates, yet the teachers punished her, believing the lies of the others. It was easier to believe someone well-dressed than her.


    Candado felt the words beginning to weigh on him.


    "And not only that. She lost her parents because a police officer killed them. Her mother was injured, but she ended up dying because they didn¡¯t have money for medical attention. The officer was exonerated, facing no punishment. The girl was left homeless, and the little she had was stolen by a businessman. Still, trusting in justice, she asked another police officer who happened to be passing by for help. But he ignored her. She begged, cried, pleaded, but no one listened. No one lifted her, no one gave her food, no one gave her water.


    A deep silence followed the tale, before the voice rose again with a bitter note.


    "It was then that she understood the harsh reality. The girl got up, began to steal, to manipulate, to kill. In the end, one is what they make of what was done to them. There was no reason to forgive those who had turned her life into a hell. Her name was Laila, and she ended up becoming part of the circle of T¨¢natos. Society trampled her, spat on her, and Laila had no choice but to take revenge. She took revenge on the officer, on the doctors, on the boys and girls who mistreated her, on all the faces she could remember in her moments of agony. She became the worst genocider in history, destroyed an entire country, and showed no mercy to any adult. She left countless orphans in her wake. Society destroyed her, and T¨¢natos welcomed her, provided her sustenance, a home, and a family.


    Candado remained silent, feeling the weight of the story on his shoulders.


    "T¨¢natos was clever, the voice continued. He took the outcasts of society, and that¡¯s why it was so easy for him to conquer the world in a year. It¡¯s sad, but T¨¢natos helped the homeless and trained them for his ranks. It may seem strange, but he truly wanted a better world. However, his way of thinking and the execution of his plan were not right. He believed that to achieve it, one had to destroy the current society, and that meant murdering everyone who disagreed with his vision: women, children, even newborns.


    Candado felt a pressure in his chest. The following words seemed darker with each passing moment.


    "When Harambee defeated T¨¢natos, he understood all of this. Then he decided to do something similar to what T¨¢natos wanted, but with a crucial difference: instead of creating chaos, Harambee built a separate society. A society where everyone would be free, where the different would be accepted. That¡¯s why he created the guilds and chose the children. Children are the purest beings in the world, those who lack malice, the easiest to guide down the right path. Harambee didn¡¯t form an army, he didn¡¯t create acolytes. He formed a society. A society by and for the children. The third option.


    Candado tilted his head, trying to grasp the magnitude of what was being narrated.


    "And why am I on this side? the voice became firmer. Because the guilds provided health, justice, peace, solidarity, security, hope, education, communication... and also a home. Harambee took T¨¢natos''s ideas and perfected them. He fought for a better world, alongside his friends, including my great-grandfather. They fought for those who had nothing. That was Harambee, and that is what the guilds are: a family."


    Candado stood up, placed his hand on his badge, and looked at the sky.


    "That¡¯s why I am guild-bound. That¡¯s why I follow Harambee. She gave hope and a home to those who had none, she gave them a family, and that family, for which parents like the representatives of the W.O.G.A.B. fought, is our responsibility and obligation to defend. That¡¯s what we are, the guilds, a family."


    He lowered his gaze and saw that Hammya was watching him intently, listening to every word with attention. Candado, feeling uncomfortable, flushed and sat back down.


    "I think I spoke, once again, with too much passion on this topic."


    Hammya was taken aback to see him in such a state. She had never seen him like this before, but, as expected, Candado quickly regained his composure and fixed his eyes on her.


    "Well, that¡¯s why I am guild-bound, he repeated, in a calmer tone."


    "What happened to that girl you mentioned?" Hammya asked.


    Candado stood up again and turned his back to her.


    "Jack Barret didn¡¯t have the courage to kill her. He saved her life and erased her memories. She was reborn as a new person and lived the rest of her days on the island of Kanghar. He and Rosa gave her a home and took care to spread word of her supposed death so she could live in peace."


    "But... isn¡¯t that wrong?" Hammya questioned.


    "Why would it be wrong?"


    "That woman killed countless innocents."


    Candado turned slowly, his hands behind his back.


    "What do you think they should have done with her?"


    "Punish her."


    "How?"


    "Uh, well..."This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    Candado stepped closer, his eyes fixed on Hammya.


    "Hammya, what is the correct answer in this world? Society treated her like a cockroach; the collective destroyed her life, and she only returned what she received. Why is she the villain and not society? Did she just wake up one day and decide to destroy a population? Is her evil any different from that of society?"


    Hammya countered.


    "Despite all the harm they did to her, the punishment was disproportionate."


    "Those were harsh words, but they did what they believed was right."


    "But..."


    "In this world, good and evil do not exist," Candado continued. "They are just words that men created and gave meaning to. Here, I''m good for letting you dress however you want, but in the Muslim world, it would be a sin to let you dress like that."


    "Of course good and evil exist," Hammya replied, her tone defiant.


    Candado closed his eyes and walked toward a bookshelf, his hands crossed behind his back. He stopped a few inches from it and spoke.


    "Do you know anything about history?"


    "History?"


    "Yes, the kind teachers teach," Candado answered, running his finger along the spines of the books.


    "Oh, sure. I was quite good at that," Hammya said with a smile.


    "Really?" Candado paused his finger on a crimson book, pulled it out, and, with the book open between his hands, looked at her. "What happened on October 12, 1492?"


    Hammya leaned back in her chair, thoughtful.


    "I know! Christopher Columbus discovered America."


    "If I were a teacher, I¡¯d say, ''Very good, a ten for Hammya.''"


    "And what would you say to me?"


    "I''d give you a zero," Candado said, closing the book with a sharp snap and sliding it between his hands.


    "Why? That¡¯s what the history book said."


    Candado sat down again, crossing his legs.


    "What does ''discover'' mean?"


    "To find something new or create something that didn¡¯t exist before."


    "And did America just appear out of nowhere when Columbus arrived?"


    "No."


    "Exactly. America had been inhabited for over 14,000 years before Columbus even set foot here. That Italian only brought three ships, planted a flag, plundered treasures, and took some natives to Europe. After that, the Spaniards came back, destroyed Tenochtitlan, killed, looted, and raped. To us, they were cruel invaders; to them, they brought their language, customs, and religion."


    "And what does that have to do with what we¡¯re talking about?"


    "That America was ''discovered,'' but in reality, it was invaded. They brought civilization, culture, and God. Tell me, do you really think that was a good thing?"


    "I don¡¯t know; I don¡¯t fully understand."


    "The thing is, good and evil do not exist as absolute concepts, Hammya. They are human ideas. If good truly existed objectively, Tenochtitlan would still be standing and not in ruins. Evil itself doesn¡¯t exist either. Humans act according to what suits us. Look, if a man tries to assault you and I have a gun, I would kill him without hesitation to save you. But does that make me a bad person for taking a life? I did something wrong to achieve something good."


    Hammya looked at him with her mouth slightly open, unsure of what to say.


    "You don¡¯t have to agree with me. It¡¯s just my way of seeing things. Good and evil are constructs of morality and religion. For example, some believe life is sacred. But if someone they love is in danger and they have a gun in their hand, they will have to choose between their morals and their family."


    "And what do you call that?"


    "It¡¯s a dilemma, a conflict between what we consider right and what we¡¯re willing to do."


    Candado stood up and walked to the shelf to return the book. Hammya interrupted him.


    "Candado..."


    <div>


    <div>


    <div>


    <div>


    ¡°Eme,¡± he replied as he placed the book back on the shelf.


    ¡°Would you really do something like that in my situation?¡±


    Candado turned and looked at her intently.


    ¡°Of course. You¡¯re my friend; you live in my house. It¡¯s my duty to take care of everything in my home.¡±


    Before Hammya could respond, the living room door opened, accompanied by approaching voices. She abruptly closed her mouth, picked up a diary, and pretended to read it, even though it was upside down. Candado covered his mouth, trying not to laugh, amused by Hammya''s clumsiness. Just then, H¨¦ctor entered with a folder under his arm.


    ¡°Good morning! Guess who¡¯s here?¡± H¨¦ctor said.


    ¡°Who are you?¡± Candado asked sarcastically.


    ¡°You''re cruel,¡± H¨¦ctor replied.


    Declan entered behind him, along with German, placing a hand on H¨¦ctor''s shoulder.


    ¡°Not even the storm can wipe out your mood,¡± Declan said, smiling.


    ¡°A real butterfly,¡± German added.


    H¨¦ctor smiled and gave both of them a pat on the back before turning to Candado and extending his hand.


    ¡°Hey, buddy.¡±


    Candado shook his hand, but H¨¦ctor pulled him in for a hug.


    ¡°Come here, don¡¯t be shy.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re cutting off my circulation, H¨¦ctor.¡±


    H¨¦ctor let him go, laughing, then looked at Hammya, who was still pretending to read the diary upside down.


    ¡°Well, well, well... the girl with the green hair. How have you been treating Candado?¡± he asked mischievously.


    ¡°Excuse me?¡± Hammya replied, confused.


    ¡°Clementina told me all about the ¡®gift¡¯ you gave to Candado.¡±


    ¡°The gossip of the day,¡± German teased.


    ¡°You¡¯re quite the comedic charmer,¡± Declan said wearily.


    ¡°Jealous?¡±


    Declan sighed, and Candado appeared.


    ¡°Seriously? A gift?¡± Candado interrupted, adjusting his wrinkled clothes after the hug.


    Hammya¡¯s cheeks flushed, her mouth went dry, and she began to sweat from embarrassment. Unable to bear it any longer, she covered her face with the diary.


    ¡°Leave me alone,¡± she said, embarrassed.


    ¡°But she just gave me a book. Is it really that big of a deal?¡± Candado thought.


    ¡°You¡¯re the only girl who shows such a noticeable blush.¡±


    ¡°Erika does the same, H¨¦ctor,¡± Candado retorted.


    ¡°She doesn¡¯t count.¡±


    H¨¦ctor chuckled and looked at Candado.


    ¡°Is something going on?¡± Candado asked immediately.


    ¡°Nothing, or maybe yes. Did you do what I asked?¡±


    ¡°About your sister?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I did.¡±


    ¡°Perfect, because I won¡¯t be able to be there.¡±


    ¡°So you came back just to tell me you won¡¯t be here, even though you made it clear in the letter you sent me?¡±


    H¨¦ctor looked away.


    ¡°Something like that.¡±


    ¡°Idiot.¡±


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter; I just wanted to see how you were.¡±


    ¡°The meeting didn¡¯t go well for you, did it?¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s just say no.¡±


    Candado sighed, bringing his right hand to his forehead.


    ¡°What did you ask for it to go so badly?¡±


    H¨¦ctor gestured for Candado to come closer. Candado leaned in, and H¨¦ctor whispered something in his ear.


    ¡°It¡¯s a sensitive topic. Can we talk about it somewhere else?¡±


    Candado stepped back a bit, looked at him suspiciously, then glanced at the others.


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    Candado moved toward a bookshelf, placed both hands on it, and slid it aside, revealing a door. He opened it to reveal a staircase descending into darkness.


    ¡°H¨¦ctor and I are going down. Please, don¡¯t interrupt us.¡±


    ¡°Sure, take your time,¡± Declan replied.


    Declan nodded as Candado turned on the lights and gestured for H¨¦ctor to follow. When H¨¦ctor started down the stairs, he stopped smiling and adopted a serious expression. German noticed and frowned.


    ¡°Is something wrong?¡± Lucas asked, concerned.


    German quickly smiled again.


    ¡°No, nothing¡¯s wrong.¡±


    Candado and H¨¦ctor disappeared into the darkness as they carefully descended the stairs. Upon reaching the bottom, they found themselves in front of a red door. Candado adjusted his beret and took out a white key to unlock it.


    ¡°I thought...¡±


    ¡°No one has beaten me yet,¡± Candado said as he turned the key and opened the door.


    They entered, and Candado turned on the lights. Inside was a vast room filled with shelves brimming with books and piles of handwritten papers. The most surprising thing was that the place was immaculate, showing no signs of dust or cobwebs. The lights came from a large chandelier that had once been designed for candles but was modified for electric bulbs. The old wooden floor was perfectly preserved, and the walls were made of stone and concrete.


    Candado sat at a round table with five chairs. H¨¦ctor closed the door behind him and approached.


    ¡°Tell me, what¡¯s going on?¡± Candado asked.


    H¨¦ctor smiled and placed his hands on his back.


    ¡°Are you crazy, Candado? Sick? Or have you lost your mind?¡±


    Candado leaned on his left fist and, disinterested, asked, ¡°What do you mean by that?¡±


    H¨¦ctor slammed his fists on the table, displaying his anger.


    ¡°DON¡¯T PLAY DUMB WITH ME!¡±


    Candado closed his eyes and continued.


    ¡°I should have guessed it; the only reason you called me to this place is to yell at me.¡±


    ¡°Seriously, Candado? Did you think I wouldn¡¯t notice?¡±


    Candado opened his right eye.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about.¡±


    ¡°YOU HID RUCCIM¨¦NKAGRI!¡±


    Candado opened both eyes.


    ¡°And what about that?¡±


    H¨¦ctor slammed the table again.


    ¡°WHAT ABOUT THAT?!¡±


    ¡°H¨¦ctor Ram¨ªrez Bonamico Mateo, stop shouting! I¡¯m not a dog or a cat; I¡¯m a human being, and we speak with dignity.¡±


    ¡°Dignity?¡± H¨¦ctor started pacing around the room. ¡°Dignity... dignity.¡±


    ¡°You need to calm down.¡±


    ¡°Calm down? Candado, you know who she is, you know what she did, but why?¡±


    Candado stared at his fingers for a moment, then looked him in the eyes.


    ¡°She told me everything. She didn¡¯t know who she was or what she was, but if she had the courage to share her past with me, then why deny her my help?¡±


    ¡°She has killed thousands of us in the past! Thousands! THOUSANDS!¡± H¨¦ctor shouted, slamming the table once more.


    Candado stood up and walked toward him.


    ¡°Tell me, my friend, did you really think we would come out unscathed after our abuses against nature? Mass hunts, extinction of countless species, millions of trees felled, contaminated rivers. Tell me, do you really believe nature would allow that?¡±


    ¡°No, no, no, that doesn¡¯t work with me, Barret,¡± he said, starting to bang on the table. ¡°She¡¯s wanted for capture; you¡¯re literally breaking the law. Your eloquent talk doesn¡¯t affect me, friend.¡±


    H¨¦ctor began to walk in circles, showing frustration and worry.


    ¡°Should we assume she is evil? Why should she be benevolent?¡±


    ¡°Are you justifying her actions?¡±


    Candado placed his index finger on H¨¦ctor¡¯s chest.


    ¡°H¨¦ctor, would you stand by and do nothing while a mob destroys your house? We think only of our needs, and to satisfy them, we¡¯re willing to trample anyone who stands in our way, regardless of the harm. If you¡¯re hungry, you grab a weapon and hunt; if you¡¯re cold, you chop down a tree and make a fire. She might accept that, but humankind created capitalism and commerce, and for that, they needed more than what nature could provide.¡±


    H¨¦ctor arrogantly brushed Candado¡¯s hand off his chest.


    ¡°That doesn¡¯t justify the blood of innocents. Ruccim¨¦nkagri is the most dangerous criminal in the world. We must judge her; she may have her reasons, whatever you want, but with that reasoning, we would forgive all criminals everywhere. She must be punished.¡±


    ¡°She has already been punished. Humanity triumphed. Every year, a forest is lost; population growth leads to the disappearance of thousands of trees, plants, and animals. She can do nothing more than protect the place where she takes refuge.¡±


    H¨¦ctor fell silent.


    ¡°If she is evil, then what are we?¡±


    H¨¦ctor smiled and loosened his tie.


    ¡°You always find a way to win arguments... and you always win. But other people won¡¯t think that way when they find out about this.¡±


    ¡°What will you do?¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t say anything. I don¡¯t share your view at all, my friend. But I¡¯ll act as if I didn¡¯t see anything. Don¡¯t forget: someday they will find out, and when that happens, you¡¯ll be expelled.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not afraid of expulsion.¡±


    ¡°You might not be, but I wouldn¡¯t like my friend to be thrown out of the O.M.G.A.B.¡±


    Candado walked back to his seat and rested his temple on his left fist.


    ¡°But I¡¯m afraid of other things, H¨¦ctor.¡±


    ¡°Is it about the witnesses?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s about Pullbarey.¡±


    ¡°Oh, the guy you told me about.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s been kidnapping children.¡±


    ¡°I suppose he¡¯s the one handling the rucrenia spell.¡±


    ¡°I guess, but doesn¡¯t it seem strange to you?¡±


    ¡°What thing?¡±


    ¡°Nothing, forget it.¡±


    H¨¦ctor approached Candado.


    ¡°You haven''t been sleeping, have you?¡±


    Candado didn¡¯t respond.


    ¡°You know, I think you should rest a little for your health.¡±


    ¡°My health?¡±


    ¡°Do you think I forgot? That day, outside the old man''s house, I saw blood.¡±


    Candado''s astonishment was fleeting; his eyes widened, but he tried to remain calm.


    ¡°I don''t know what''s going on with you, but it''s serious enough for you to keep it to yourself.¡±


    ¡°Forget that.¡±


    ¡°As you say,¡± he replied, then knelt down, forcing Candado to look at him. ¡°But remember, if I see blood in your cough again, I will be forced to act.¡±


    ¡°Forget that,¡± he repeated coldly.


    H¨¦ctor laughed and stood up.


    ¡°Alright, it¡¯s time to go up; I¡¯d like to have a little fun.¡±


    Candado got up, putting his hands in his pockets.


    ¡°Has your scolding ended?¡±


    H¨¦ctor chuckled and moved closer to Candado, like colleagues at work.


    ¡°No, of course not; I¡¯m just taking a break.¡±


    Candado and H¨¦ctor climbed the stairs, where the others were waiting.


    In the distance from the house, Clementina, the robot who took care of Candado, was not present. She had stayed home to help the Barret family now that Candado¡¯s parents had returned. Clementina busied herself with a little of everything, from washing dishes to cooking, but most of the time she cared for little Karen, now three years old. Her birthday was on July 10, and that day, Candado had been by her side the entire time, playing and singing with her, of course, in the company of her parents. It was the first time Candado hadn¡¯t appeared frivolous or empty; he was completely happy.


    However, Clementina had noticed something about Miss Barret. Europa was sitting in the armchair, dejected, staring at her photo album. As she passed by, Clementina decided to approach and look over her shoulder.


    ¡°I remember that photograph.¡±


    Europa jumped in fright and quickly turned around.


    ¡°Clementina, when...?¡±


    ¡°Just a moment ago.¡±


    Clementina circled the armchair and sat down next to her.


    ¡°Is something wrong, Miss Barret?¡±


    Europa swallowed hard.


    ¡°I was just looking at how miserable I¡¯ve been.¡±


    ¡°You shouldn¡¯t say that; you are the voice of this house.¡±


    ¡°Maybe...¡±


    Europa gazed at the album and looked at a picture of Candado in her arms. She placed her hand over it.


    ¡°I remember that day too. Candado was crying because he had dropped his candy in the water.¡±


    ¡°It was terrible.¡±


    Europa laughed.


    ¡°Of course, but that was him.¡±


    Clementina showed a pained expression.


    ¡°She took the picture.¡±


    ¡°She was an angel. Her death broke my heart.¡±


    ¡°Yes, not just yours.¡±


    Europa hugged the album and, without looking at Clementina, asked:


    ¡°Tell me everything about Candado.¡±


    Clementina hesitated and looked at her face.


    ¡°What? About what?¡±


    ¡°What happened after the funeral?¡± Europa asked as she tightened her grip on the album.


    Clementina hesitated, lowered her gaze, and began to recount.


    ¡°After the funeral, Candado headed straight to the cabin. We followed him in silence. H¨¦ctor and Erika tried to speak, but in the end, they said nothing. No one said anything. What could be said? He had lost an irreplaceable being. None of our words would help him.¡±


    Europa sobbed but remained steadfast. Clementina started to doubt but continued.


    ¡°The young master had trembling hands; he couldn¡¯t open the door to the house. However, he managed to do it. When he entered the living room, he inexplicably knelt down. No one dared approach him.¡±


    Clementina paused.


    ¡°Continue.¡±


    Clementina looked at her. Tears were starting to well up in Europa''s eyes, but she dried them with her wrist.


    ¡°Continue, please.¡±


    Clementina took a deep breath and continued.


    ¡°Finally, it was H¨¦ctor who intervened. Then, Candado exploded. The anger burst from his body, destroying everything around him: tables, chairs, paintings, objects... We all remained silent, watching as Candado unleashed all the pain he had bottled up inside. Time and again, he begged for her to return to her family, but nothing changed.


    Clementina paused again, glancing at Europa, who seemed on the verge of breaking down.


    ¡°Keep going, don¡¯t stop,¡± Europa urged, her voice trembling.


    ¡°Candado lost his balance and fell to the ground. He cursed God¡¯s name and himself over and over again. As he began to lose consciousness, he repeated her name time and time again: Gabriela...


    Europa broke into tears, dropping the album and covering her face. She couldn¡¯t bear it, yet still insisted:


    ¡°Don¡¯t stop,¡± she said with effort.


    ¡°Candado didn¡¯t sleep, didn¡¯t speak, nor did he eat for three days and three nights. The next morning, when I tried to get him out of his room, I found him on the floor, exhausted. We took advantage of the moment when he passed out and gave him all the vitamins through injections. He was so weak and didn¡¯t wake up until the next day. We all took turns watching over him.


    Europa was slowly crumbling.


    ¡°Candado searched for his parents, but you were no longer the same. He couldn¡¯t bear the loneliness; he didn¡¯t want his friends; he wanted his parents by his side. He wanted to cry in his mother¡¯s arms, but he was alone. His mother and father were gone. He cried and cried, but no, his parents weren¡¯t there for him. That was when he decided to shut himself in his room. He didn¡¯t want anyone else, just his parents, but they never knocked on the door.


    Europa burst into tears. Every word that came from Clementina was more painful than the last.


    ¡°Where were you?¡± Europa asked, cursing herself.


    ¡°He woke up the next morning, but he was no longer the cheerful and sweet Candado. He had awakened a different Candado, empty and cold-hearted. ¡®Gabriela,¡¯ was all he said. In his eyes was the reflection of pain itself; he was no longer human, just an empty shell. ¡®My parents hate me,¡¯ that¡¯s what he told me.


    ¡°What have I done? I made my son suffer. What kind of mother am I? Where was I when he needed me the most?


    Europa wept inconsolably. She knew she had ignored her son and his pain, a pain that had changed him forever. Nothing could stop her tears.


    ¡°That day we cried for Rueda, and we forgot our son. I can¡¯t imagine the pain he felt thinking he was forgotten.


    ¡°Hammya understood,¡± said Clementina.


    Europa calmed down a bit and looked at Clementina.


    ¡°That day, maybe I didn¡¯t realize it because I was happy to have a new resident, but Hammya understood Candado¡¯s pain. She was the only one who could sense it. That day, she asked about the horse and also wanted to see him. But not just that; she wanted to be by his side, to make him laugh, to make him angry, to sadden him... Hammya found Candado¡¯s balance.


    Europa fell silent, but the tears kept flowing.


    ¡°I wish I knew what she did to bring them back to their son.¡±


    ¡°Oh, that...¡± Europa wiped her tears. ¡°It was a long phone call, almost four hours. She told me everything that happened to my son: the pain, the disdain, how he risked his life regardless of how dangerous it was,¡± she let out a chuckle. ¡°I¡¯m such a fool... realizing my duty as a mother through a girl.


    ¡°The important thing is that now she¡¯s here with him, and since then, Candado has been very happy. That girl has achieved something we couldn¡¯t at the time: making him laugh and keeping that smile for longer.


    ¡°If she hadn¡¯t called me¡­¡±


    ¡°I wish we could go to Resistencia again one of these days. Don¡¯t you think, Candado?¡± a voice came from outside.


    ¡°Forget it, you can go, Hammya. There¡¯s no need for me to be there.¡±


    Europa stood up upon hearing her son¡¯s voice at the door.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be like that; it must be nice. It¡¯s like the first time you had fun and want to remember it.¡±


    ¡°I remember the first time I had fun.¡±


    ¡°Really? What happened?¡±


    ¡°It was horrible.¡±


    ¡°Fuuu¡­¡±


    The door opened, and Candado stepped inside. As soon as he put a foot in, he saw his mother standing in front of him, still with tears in her eyes.


    ¡°Mom?¡± Candado asked.


    ¡°Yes?¡±


    ¡°Were you crying or chopping onions?¡±


    Europa started to laugh, but at the same time, she began to cry again.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Hammya asked.


    ¡°Mom,¡± Candado stepped closer and extended his hand, ¡°whatever it is, I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    Europa knelt down and hugged Candado tightly, causing his hat to fall to the ground, rolling to Hammya¡¯s feet.


    ¡°Mom?¡±


    She kept crying. Her embrace trapped Candado, who could barely move beyond her arms. His cold and usual expression changed to one of concern.


    ¡°Is something wrong, Mommy?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry I wasn¡¯t there for you and for Karen. I¡¯m sorry for not knocking on the door earlier.¡± Europa hugged her son tighter. ¡°I hurt you; I wasn¡¯t by your side. I should have knocked on the door, I should have come in, I should have listened to your pain.¡±


    Candado hugged her back.


    ¡°I love you.¡±


    Europa cried and cried and cried. That was all she could do. She had missed two years of her son¡¯s life due to her pain. She and her husband had remained trapped in the past, while Candado walked alone into the future. What she had done seemed irreparable. But Candado didn¡¯t hate her; he never did; in reality, he thought she didn¡¯t love him.


    Europa felt foolish, but she couldn¡¯t stop crying, holding her son and apologizing again and again until she lost her voice. Clementina watched the scene with a smile, while Hammya, holding Candado¡¯s hat in her hand, shed a few tears. Candado simply held his mother; she was in so much pain, but he listened to her apology over and over again. At one moment, Clementina noticed something unusual on Candado¡¯s face: he was also crying. Tears filled his eyes and ran down his cheeks, almost imperceptible. Although he barely showed it, he felt that pain too. Suffering strengthens the bond of family. Europa would never leave her son alone again. Never again.

 THE NUMBER OF INFINITY

    That same night, Desza and her team were still being hunted, but under Pullbarey''s orders, Desza had to remain in the shadows. She had been underground, thanks to a gift from her boss, but that time was about to run out. She had received a personal visit from Pullbarey.


    Pullbarey entered Desza''s room accompanied by two hooded figures. Judging by their height, they were children, one thirteen and the other twelve years old.


    "Welcome, alien being," said Desza as she polished her machete.


    "You are a peculiar human. I have never seen such brutality against another human being before," Pullbarey replied.


    "Oh, I¡¯m flattered, very flattered," Desza smiled.


    "What happened to that meeting?" Pullbarey asked.


    Desza stood up and walked toward him.


    "It was canceled."


    "I see. So, you didn¡¯t get anything."


    "Oh no, of course not. I never leave without getting something in return."


    "Your lethal blows are of no use to me," Pullbarey said, pointing to the bandage on Desza''s forehead.


    "I had a few mishaps," Desza replied, stroking her forehead, "but I¡¯m not a failure. I was able to talk to Sheldon."


    "Sheldon?" Pullbarey asked, puzzled.


    "A clone of Candado. Just mentioning his name was enough for him to lend us his help."


    "Just him?"


    "No. Do you think I settle for crumbs? I have the help of everyone."


    "Good. I still need more people for this grand project."


    "True, there are many things we still need, but it doesn''t matter. They can be acquired later."


    "We don''t have enough reinforcements."


    "I¡¯m volunteering too," a voice resonated from the darkness.


    Desza leaned to the side, trying to see behind Pullbarey.


    A hooded figure stood in the doorway. The guards turned and prepared to attack, but Pullbarey raised his fist, signaling them to stop.


    "Well, well," Desza said, stepping between the hooded figure and Pullbarey, "you must be very brave to come here."


    The individual stepped forward and removed her hood, revealing her face: black eyes, red hair, and a tattoo of the number eight on her forehead that glowed faintly.


    "Oh, wow, you''re a woman," Desza remarked.


    "My name is Ocho," she said calmly.


    "Ocho? What a name. What do you want from me?"


    "I came to join you."


    "Me?" Desza raised an eyebrow.


    "Yes," Ocho replied.


    Desza sheathed her machete on her back and began to circle around her.


    "Wow, you entered here without anyone noticing. Impressive."


    "There was no one at the entrance," Ocho said with a smile.


    "Great, great," Desza responded, stopping in front of her. "TEAM!" she shouted into the air.


    At that moment, Desza''s companions appeared through a door that was there. Upon noticing Ocho¡¯s presence, they went on high alert.


    "Who is she?" Azricam asked.


    "Relax, it''s all good. She¡¯s Ocho, and she wants to be our friend."


    "And? Am I with you or not?" Ocho inquired.


    "Wow, you''re very quick. But not just anyone joins me. We used to be more, but the weakness of some caused our number to dwindle. You¡¯ll have to prove to me that you¡¯re worth something."


    Ocho looked at Desza¡¯s companions.


    "Is that your team?"


    "Oh, of course. They will be your test."


    "Is that so?" Ocho asked, uninterested.


    "Sure, but first, I''m going to give you two conditions."


    "Speak."


    "Wow, the first: if you accept and fight, you have to win. Because if you don''t, I¡¯m going to kill you. I hate the weak."


    "That doesn¡¯t scare me."


    Desza laughed and continued.


    "The second: you can reject my offer and calmly go home. A gesture of my respect to someone like you, who stood up to me. I love people with guts."


    "Well, are you done?"


    Desza laughed again.


    "Yes, I think so. So, are you going to fight or are you going to reject me?"


    "Fight."


    "Good, I''m glad. You¡¯re still brave," she then looked at the others. "Hey, you can now show off your qualities."


    Everyone moved toward Ocho, except for one, as Desza stopped him midway.


    "You don¡¯t, J?rgen."


    "Ma¡¯am?"


    "You will be the dessert."


    "As you command," J?rgen replied, standing next to Desza.


    "What will you do, Pullbarey?"


    "I''m not interested in your trivial matters. See you later."


    With that, Pullbarey vanished along with his guards.


    "Ha, what a shame," Desza said, looking at her team. "Let the fun begin."


    Ocho removed her cloak to move freely and got into position. She wore a long-sleeved red shirt, refined black pants, and a vest of the same color, white metallic gloves, and triangular shoes, also white and metallic.


    "I¡¯m ready."


    "Rose, stay back," Joel said.


    The girl nodded and positioned herself behind Desza.Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.


    "It¡¯s time to polish my skills," Chesulloth said.


    Everyone got into position.


    "This is going to be entertaining," said R?sse?s.


    "Be careful, Isabel," J?rgen warned.


    "Don¡¯t worry."


    There was silence for a few seconds until Desza gave the order.


    "ATTACK!"


    Dockly pulled out his Winchester and aimed at Ocho. However, she was in front of him in the blink of an eye. She took the barrel of the gun and deflected the bullet, then delivered a punch to his face and a knee to his chest, causing Dockly to drop his weapon. Ocho picked it up and shot Guz, damaging his mask and making him fall backward. She then shot R?sse?s in the chest, forcing him to kneel. But when she was about to shoot the third cartridge, Jane took the gun away from her with her sword. Ocho stepped back and used her hands to block the attack.


    Joel appeared behind her and started throwing needles at her. Ocho spun around and stopped some with her left hand.


    Guz got up, pulling his tentacles out from his back. His face had a hole in the right cheek where the bullet had lodged. Fury reflected in his eyes as he attacked Ocho. She grabbed one of the attacking tentacles, wrapped it around her left wrist, and ran toward Joel. Along the way, she was pursued by the violent sword strikes from Jane and Guz''s parasites. When she reached Joel, who pulled out more needles to throw at her, Ocho struck him in the chest, fracturing his right arm with her leg and wrapping the tentacle she had around his neck. She then shoved Joel against his sister.


    Azricam and Chesulloth ran toward Ocho, but before they could do anything, R?sse?s stood up. Still bleeding from the bullet wound in his stomach, he grabbed her by the glove, causing it to burn her. But despite that, Ocho managed to free herself by headbutting him in the face, and with her aching hand, she used the other to repel the sword attacks from Azricam and Chesulloth.


    Ocho grabbed the arm of the latter, struck her at the waist, and then kicked her knee, causing her to bend. After that, she used her arm to strike Azricam in the face, sending him stumbling back. This gave her the time she needed to finish off Chesulloth, hitting her chest with the palm of her hand and releasing a red electric shock. Then, she turned and saw Azricam. She ran toward him, but he quickly raised his sword, swinging it at her neck. However, Ocho ducked, grabbed him by the waist, and threw him to the ground. She stood up and raised her palm wrapped in red electricity, but before she could strike him, her arm was brutally injured by a bullet in the middle of her wrist.


    Ocho looked up and saw Dockly standing, aiming at her with his Winchester.


    "Hasta aqu¨ª, hermosa" said Dockly as he released the cartridge from the barrel.


    Ocho jumped toward Dockly, but he shot her in the leg, crippling her movement further. In a matter of seconds, everyone surrounded her.


    "You¡¯re trash," Azricam said.


    Ocho smiled.


    "They fell."


    She stood up and grabbed Dockly by the neck, hit him in the waist, then turned and grabbed Jane by the shoulders, using her as a springboard to escape. The mark on her forehead began to glow, illuminating a red hue.


    "The games are over."


    Ocho struck each one of them; she took Jane''s sword and hit her in the back of the neck, knocking her out. Joel, furious, lunged at her, but Ocho used his rage against him, as he wildly and predictably threw his needles, making it easy for her to dodge all his attacks. Finally, she threw her own, grabbed Joel by the neck, and hurled him against a wall. Then, the gloves she wore grew up to her elbows.


    ¡°This ends here.¡±


    Ocho focused her attention on R?sse?s, who unleashed lava from the palm of his hand. She dodged and kneed him in the bullet wound, knocking him unconscious. Then, she grabbed Az-ricam by the neck and threw him into the air, where he crashed against the ceiling and fell backward, passing out instantly. Next, she turned to Chesulloth and knocked her out with a powerful blow to the head, leaving only Guz, Dockly, and Isabel, who had yet to make a move.


    Both men gave it their all. Dockly readied his rifle again, Guz adjusted his mask, and Isabel took a defensive stance.


    ¡°I suppose you are the last ones.¡±


    Dockly responded with a shot.


    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s what I feared.¡±


    Ocho sprinted toward them, pulled a whip from her back, and struck Guz first. Isabel jumped into the fray and kicked Ocho in the chest, injuring her severely. However, Ocho didn¡¯t give in; she pushed through the pain and retaliated, this time hitting Isabel in the stomach with ten times more force. Then the shots began to rain down on her; Dockly was shooting like a professional, but Ocho was agile and dodged every one until she reached him. Just before she could land a blow, Guz protected him, grabbing her by the legs with his tentacles. He then flew at her, attempting to knee her, but Ocho stopped him with both hands. Dockly took his weapon, reloaded it, and aimed. Knowing what was coming next, Ocho freed herself and backed away from Guz, though he was still hot on her heels. This time, it was a close-quarters fight, and Guz was skilled; he targeted her chest, abdomen, and head. However, Ocho was also good at defense; she knew she couldn¡¯t land a direct attack since Guz moved too quickly.


    In that moment, Dockly trembled, unable to shoot with his partner in front of him, while Isabel recovered and moved toward Ocho. Realizing this, Ocho separated Guz from her, threatening to remove his mask, which made him back away abruptly, giving Dockly time to fire. Ocho bent down, and the bullet struck Isabel in the shoulder, sending her to the ground. J?rgen was stunned to see this and tried to rush to her aid, but Desza blocked his path, placing his machete in front of him with a smile.


    Not only was J?rgen shocked; Dockly and Guz were, too. Ocho seized the opportunity and knocked Guz out with a strike to the neck, then took down Dockly with a blow to the head. Only Ocho remained standing, smiling.


    ¡°I¡¯ve won.¡±


    Desza sheathed his machete and tucked it away on his back.


    ¡°Well, you¡¯ve finished dinner; now comes dessert.¡±


    J?rgen leaped into action, rushing toward Isabel, who lay unconscious on the ground. He pulled a large handkerchief from his pocket and bandaged her wounds. Isabel was in agony; it hurt, but her life was no longer in danger. J?rgen placed his right hand over the injury and pressed his fingers down hard, causing Isabel to scream in pain. He held this position for a few seconds until something shot out of the wound and into his hand: J?rgen had extracted the bullet. Without wasting a second, he bandaged Isabel¡¯s wound.


    Then he stood up and stretched his arms. Immediately, all the bodies of his fallen comrades began to levitate and vanish from the place, including Isabel.


    ¡°Do you know, miss? You¡¯re not to blame for her being hurt, but still, I hate you.¡±


    His eyes, dead from insomnia, reflected rage.


    Desza wore a chilling smile.


    ¡°How thrilling, J?rgen is upset,¡± he said while grabbing Rose by the arm and hiding her behind his back. ¡°This is going to be a big problem.¡±


    J?rgen Czacki, an orphan, had known a home in a convent orphanage, where he had hundreds of brothers and sisters, and countless mothers and fathers. All of that had vanished in one night: a night of fire and death. J?rgen had fallen asleep in the church¡¯s basement, and upon waking, the smoke had driven him to escape, only to find himself engulfed in flames. The culprits had vanished, and all his brothers, sisters, fathers, and mothers were dead. J?rgen screamed, and that scream caught the attention of a young man named Desza, who happened to be passing by. The desecrator saw in the boy¡¯s eyes the rage he was feeling at that very moment.


    ¡°Fascinating,¡± Desza said.


    J?rgen got into position while Ocho awaited the attack. The mark on his forehead, the infinite number, began to glow red. She smiled and lunged at him, even though he anticipated her attack; it was she who struck first.


    J?rgen ducked, transforming his arm into a sharp, dangerous metal, and thrust it toward her chest. Ocho stopped the blow with her hands and wrapped her legs around him, causing him to fall. However, J?rgen somehow managed to break free and pull away from her. His left arm began to take on a metallic form, and a black pyramid emerged from his hand.


    ¡°The Pyramid of Oblivion.¡±


    In the blink of an eye, J?rgen had vanished before her eyes, reappearing behind her. Ocho turned and countered J?rgen''s power, using her arms as a shield. The room trembled as J?rgen¡¯s power dissipated. However, Ocho began to grow serious. She threw a punch at his face, but J?rgen deflected it, grabbing her arm and pulling her toward him. Ocho threw a second punch; J?rgen ducked and grabbed Ocho by the chest, lifting her into the air and slamming her to the ground. But once on the ground, she clamped her legs around his head and brought him down.


    Then she got to her feet and started punching him in the face until he was unconscious. However, J?rgen seized her fist and pushed her off him. To distance himself from her, he transformed his arms into blades and charged at her once more, this time using his speed, a velocity Ocho could not control, leading her to take several hits. But Ocho had no intention of giving up. She struck the ground with such force that it caused a tremor throughout the place, freezing J?rgen for a few brief seconds, giving her the opportunity to hit him. When she was close enough, Ocho extended her right hand and struck him with a red sphere of electricity, hitting him square in the chest and sending him crashing into the wall. However, he got back up and raised his hand; this time it wasn¡¯t a pyramid but something different: a small pentagon that he brought to his waist and began to grow.


    Seeing this, Ocho was determined not to let J?rgen finish what he was doing, so she began to attack him. However, J?rgen closed his eyes for a moment, and when he opened them again, his orbs were completely dark. He ran at her, grabbed her by the neck, and with fury reflected on his face, struck her chest with all his might, causing an explosion that severely injured Ocho. As J?rgen walked toward her, his body began to fade slowly. But as he drew near, Ocho rose and sat up.


    ¡°This is the first time this has happened to me,¡± she said.


    J?rgen didn¡¯t reply.


    Ocho stood once more, clasping her hands together and leaving a considerable distance between them.


    ¡°This is the damage you should never have caused me.¡±


    Then she laughed, and from that empty space within her, a red figure began to take shape: an eight. Suddenly, all her wounds began to heal.


    ¡°The infinite number,¡± she murmured.


    The eight grew simply by her uttering those words, and as she opened her eyes, she lunged at J?rgen. He tried to stop her, but the number consumed him, compressed, and disappeared. J?rgen knelt, starting to bleed from various parts of his body.


    Desza clapped.


    ¡°Bravo, bravo, bravo, you¡¯re worthy of joining me.¡±


    Ocho approached J?rgen and handed him her backpack.


    ¡°What does this mean?¡± he asked.


    ¡°We are now partners, so you¡¯ll have to heal them,¡± Ocho replied, pulling her hand from her pants pocket. ¡°This is for your girlfriend; it will heal her wounds.¡±


    ¡°Thank you,¡± J?rgen said, turning his back. ¡°And by the way, she¡¯s not my girlfriend.¡±


    ¡°What a reserved man,¡± Ocho remarked, smiling.


    Desza walked toward her.


    ¡°Tell me, girl, now that you¡¯re on our side, why do you want to be part of this?¡±


    ¡°The same reason you do, sir.¡±


    ¡°The same reason?¡±


    ¡°Candado¡­ DEAD!¡±

 TIES

    It was Monday, July 15th, the last day of school for everyone. Although classes had been canceled due to a teacher strike, this was to be the true final day. Candado, who had gained a reputation as a "mafia boss" for two reasons¡ªhis personality, attitude, and character, and because he always carried a black briefcase that gave the impression he was carrying a weapon¡ªwas unusually happy that morning. He had a grin from ear to ear, and he had been like that since he woke up. Usually, Candado hated waking up early, detested any noise or voices around him, but what he loathed most were questions, whether smart or completely stupid.


    However, that morning something was different. He was so happy that it made Clementina and Hammya uncomfortable, all because his mother had hugged him that morning, releasing all her bitterness and pain onto him.


    As they walked to school, Candado swung his briefcase from side to side.


    ¡°It¡¯s a shame my parents couldn¡¯t take me to school this morning,¡± said Candado.


    ¡°Yeah, such a shame,¡± replied Clementina, avoiding looking at Candado¡¯s back due to the discomfort she felt.


    ¡°But they said they¡¯d come to pick me up today. I can¡¯t wait for 12:30, I¡¯m so anxious.¡±


    ¡°Right, it must be quite an achievement,¡± added Hammya with her usual smile.


    The trio arrived at the school gate, which was open. The janitor was cleaning and whistling, also in a good mood. Candado walked toward his classroom, with Hammya and Clementina by his side. He inhaled deeply, then exhaled, placing his hand on the doorknob to open the door.


    ¡°Hello, friends!¡± Candado said cheerfully.


    But that greeting made everyone tense: Declan, Lucas, Walsh, H¨¦ctor, Viki, Germ¨¢n, and Clementina (Hammya had no idea what was happening). Especially Clementina, who was left speechless. There was a girl in the room. She was pretty, with brown eyes, a scar over her left eye, and long dark brown hair tied into a ponytail with braids, adorned with white bows. She wore dangling diamond earrings, a dark blue beret, fine black trousers, matching shoes with gold buckles, a white shirt, a blue pullover with a red tie, and white gloves with the symbol of a black heart on the palm.


    ¡°Hey, long time no see,¡± said the girl, raising her hand exaggeratedly with a smile.


    Candado didn¡¯t say a word. He stood frozen, with the same expression he had when he arrived.


    ¡°Candado, it¡¯s not what you think,¡± H¨¦ctor intervened.


    At that moment, Liv appeared in her school uniform, alongside Pucheta in his usual attire.


    ¡°Oh, if it isn¡¯t Luis.¡±


    ¡°Luis?¡± Hammya asked.


    Candado dropped his briefcase and ran toward Luis, fist clenched. Luis dodged him quickly, and instead, Candado hit the wall. His joyful expression slowly changed, shifting from fake happiness to casual, then serious, cold, disgusted, angry, and finally furious, with eyes full of rage. It was like watching a robot switch personalities.


    The happy Candado had only lasted a few hours. The new Candado had returned, and this time, he was more bloodthirsty.


    ¡°I made it clear last time: if I ever saw you again, I¡¯d tear you to pieces.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I heard you loud and clear,¡± Luis responded indifferently.


    Candado turned, raised his arm, and pointed at Luis. The tension in the room grew; everyone knew what was coming.


    ¡°Candado, stop!¡± H¨¦ctor yelled, hesitating.


    At that moment, H¨¦ctor, Declan, Germ¨¢n, and Lucas rushed at him, throwing him to the ground, trying to calm him down.


    ¡°Candado, stop! You¡¯re going to destroy the school,¡± insisted Germ¨¢n, trying to hold his arm.


    ¡°Let it be destroyed. I have enough money to rebuild it as many times as necessary,¡± Candado replied coldly.


    ¡°That¡¯s not the point,¡± said H¨¦ctor.


    Candado struggled more and more, fueled by his anger, while Luis watched from the teacher¡¯s desk, sitting with a carefree smile. This enraged Candado even further, and slowly, he began breaking free from his friends, his rage giving him strength.


    Hammya, understanding what was happening, walked until she stood between Candado and Luis, catching the latter¡¯s attention.


    ¡°Miss¡­¡± Clementina hesitated.


    Hammya turned to Candado, closed her eyes, inhaled and exhaled deeply. Then, she opened them and stared at the completely furious Candado.


    ¡°You know if you destroy the school, you¡¯ll also destroy the flag?¡± Hammya said calmly.


    Upon hearing this, Candado stopped instantly, allowing his friends to slowly release him. Then, he straightened his clothes, looked at Hammya for a moment, and then focused on Luis, clearly showing his disgust for her. He put his hands in his pockets and left the room.


    ¡°Where is he going?¡± Hammya asked.


    ¡°He¡¯s gone to apologize to the flag,¡± Lucas said, wiping the sweat from his forehead.


    Luis stepped down from the desk and walked over to Hammya, extending her hand with a smile.


    ¡°Hello, I never thought someone like you could do that. I¡¯m glad you¡ª"


    ¡°Who are you?¡± Hammya interrupted.


    ¡°Rude,¡± Luis replied.


    ¡°Who are you? Candado never reacts like this.¡±


    Luis lowered her arm and gently pressed her forehead against Hammya¡¯s, smiling mischievously.


    ¡°What do you know about him?¡±


    Declan approached them and placed a hand on Luis.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you dare.¡±


    Luis turned to see Declan holding the hilt of his sword.


    ¡°Oh my,¡± said Luis, stepping away from Hammya and drawing everyone¡¯s attention. ¡°Please, I¡¯m just here visiting this little village of Cerrito.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡± asked Clementina.


    ¡°For fun.¡±


    Just then, the bell rang, and Luis fled through the window, promising to return. Hammya stood by the window, watching her leave.


    ¡°You need to line up, girl,¡± Declan said irritably.


    Hammya hesitated for a moment before stepping ahead of Declan, leaving him behind.


    When everyone was outside, lining up for the flag-raising ceremony, Candado was already there, tying the flag to the mast. As the second bell rang, he began raising it slowly, head held high and without his beret. The anthem played as the flag ascended, and when it finally reached the sky, the music stopped. The principal gave a brief speech and then allowed the students to return to their classrooms. However, Candado lingered a bit longer. The principal watched him with a smile.


    ¡°Do you want me to reprimand him?¡± asked the vice principal, looking at the boy with disdain.


    ¡°No, no, no. It¡¯s good to see someone respect national symbols. People like Candado remind me why I love teaching,¡± said the principal, smiling as he rolled up the microphone cables.


    The vice principal grumbled but said nothing more.


    Classes began, but Candado was still visibly upset. Not even reading improved his mood. His notebook and supplies were on the table, but he hadn¡¯t used them all class. He tried to relax, but knowing Luis was around disturbed him deeply. Candado¡¯s anger worried Hammya. What had Luis done to make him like this? That question kept swirling in her head.


    When recess time arrived, it was almost a miracle: Candado had managed to hold himself back until that moment. All the students headed to the yard, even the Bailak siblings, except for Candado''s companions.


    Walsh was the first to stand up. He walked over to his friend and placed a hand on his left shoulder.


    "You''re going out, right?"


    Candado slammed his book shut with force and flashed a chilling smile.


    "Of course I am."


    Walsh sighed but stood in front of him.


    "Candado..."


    "Yes?" Candado replied, standing up and heading toward the door.


    "Can I talk to you for a moment?" Walsh raised his right hand and showed three fingers.


    At this signal, everyone else got up and made their way to the yard. However, as Hammya was about to do the same...


    "Not you, girl. Look at his fingers," Candado said, keeping his gaze fixed on Walsh.


    Declan glared at Hammya with disapproval before closing the door behind him, being the last one to leave. Once everyone was gone, Candado spoke.


    "Alright, say it. What do you want? A lecture?"


    Walsh sighed and pulled up a chair to sit down.


    "Candado, sit."


    Candado complied, while Hammya watched from her place.


    "I suppose this is going to take a while," Candado said.


    "That depends on you, my friend."


    Candado frowned but then relaxed and looked Walsh in the eyes.


    "Go ahead."


    "Candado, both you and I know what she did... or at least, what she did to you."


    "An abomination. Just her existence makes me sick."


    "However, you don''t have to let it affect you like this. She didn¡¯t ask for it."


    "Whether she asked for it or not changes nothing. The agony of this world belongs to humans, not her."


    Candado stood up from his seat and left the room. Before he left, he looked at Walsh¡¯s back.


    "She will never be forgiven, never."


    He opened the door and left, leaving Walsh and Hammya alone.


    "I''m sorry you had to witness that," Walsh said.


    "Don''t worry, Candado will be alright," Hammya replied, though her smile was somewhat uncertain.


    Walsh approached and sat beside her.


    "You know, from the first day I saw you, I knew you were the reason Candado changed."


    "Changed?"


    "Yes, you see, Candado used to live completely shut off from everyone. Even though we tried to get him to open up, he never did. To him, our friendship was like that between a boss and his employees. Conversations with him lasted no more than nine minutes. But with you..."


    "With me?"


    "You changed him, made him better. That day, when I saw him interacting with others, I realized he was improving. And when he shook my hand, I saw your smile, and I knew you thought the same."


    Hammya smiled and fiddled with her thumbs.


    "Can I ask you a question?"


    "Anything you want, darling."


    "Darling?"


    "Sorry, that¡¯s how I talk to my sister. Does it bother you?"


    "No, not at all. Well... Who is Luis?"


    Walsh lowered his gaze, melancholic.


    "Well, Candado hates her, but she¡¯s not evil. Her image... it triggers and opens his most painful wound."


    Hammya remained silent.


    "Luis is Candado''s clone, but only in terms of blood and strength. Her physical appearance, however, belongs to Gabriela."


    "So..."


    "Yes, she carries Candado''s blood, but she looks like Gabriela. You didn¡¯t notice because Gabriela looked like that when she was thirteen. That¡¯s why, every time he sees her, every time he hears her, his heart fills with frustration, pain, and rage. But what consumes him the most is... the indignation with himself, with his very existence."


    On the school rooftop:


    "You didn¡¯t have to come back," Candado said angrily, glaring at Luis''s back.


    In the classroom:


    "Candado hurts himself every time he looks at her. Even though her appearance is almost identical to his, she was created with Gabriela''s DNA: her voice, her personality, her likes, her fears."


    "I can¡¯t believe it."


    "She¡¯s more of a clone of Gabriela than of Candado."


    On the rooftop:


    The wind blew gently as Luis turned to face him.


    "I¡¯m glad to see you."


    Candado, indignant, placed his hand on his back, touching the handle of his knife.


    "You''re pushing my patience to its limit, abomination."


    Luis closed her eyes and gave a soft smile.


    "No matter what you say, you¡¯ll never make me abandon what I feel for you."


    "Those feelings don¡¯t belong to you. You were created only because of that doctor''s whims. Nothing you are belongs to you, not even the affection you feel."


    Luis opened her eyes, serious.


    "Candado, Sheldon is against you."


    "I don¡¯t care what he does."


    "He¡¯s joined Desza."


    Candado looked away, closing his eyes for a moment.


    "Is something wrong?"


    "I don¡¯t want your concerns."


    "Oh? Oh, that, it¡¯s nothing. I¡¯ll always worry about you, no matter what."


    "SHUT UP!" Candado shouted.


    At that moment, Candado remembered that Gabriela had said something similar.


    "I¡¯m sorry, sorry for having existed. But you know, whether you hate me or not, I have to protect you."


    Candado frowned, and without turning, he said:


    "We''re done."


    Before he could take a step forward, Luis lunged at him and hugged him. Candado stood frozen, unable to fight back or react.


    "You¡¯re my brother, Candado. To you, I may be an abomination, a mistake, but to me, you are my brother. Is that all I was born for? I could¡¯ve killed you many times, but I didn¡¯t. I protected you and still do. Sheldon hates you, he wants to kill you, but I won¡¯t allow it. I¡¯m jealous of that girl, Gabriela."


    Then, Luis let go, and when Candado turned around, she was already gone.You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.


    "Abomination," Candado muttered, staring into nothingness with a cold expression.


    When Candado returned to the classroom, he was visibly depressed. He held his book with a sad and empty look. His eyes were fixed on the pages, but he wasn¡¯t reading. Hammya noticed and grew concerned for him, seeing the vacant look on his face. Candado lowered the book and stared at the chalkboard.


    Hammya touched his stiff hand. Candado took a moment to react. He lifted his head and looked at Hammya''s hand, with her index, ring, and thumb fingers resting on his palm. When he met her eyes, his gaze was that of someone broken, but Hammya smiled at him.


    "Don''t forget your parents are coming today."


    Candado''s eyes seemed to return to reality, as if he had been asleep and those words had awakened him.


    "Right," he replied, picking up the book again. "Right."


    Though those words seemed to calm him, he didn¡¯t show any joy, only his usual expression.


    "Ludmila, Grapes (Uva in spanish), Inspector, Siren."


    "Excuse me?"


    "Put together the initials of what you just heard."


    "L... U... I... S. Wait..." Hammya turned around. "Luis! LUIS!" she exclaimed in surprise.


    "Ludmila was her middle name, grapes were her favorite fruit, her alias was the Inspector, and sirens were her favorite mythological creatures."


    "So, Luis..."


    "Basically, her name is made up of the things she liked, convoluted and stupid, but she chose that name."


    Candado looked up at the ceiling with his arms crossed, then closed his eyes.


    "What a day..."


    "Good," Hammya interrupted him.


    Candado opened his eyes and looked at her as he lowered his head.


    "Huh?"


    "Your parents, Candado. Don¡¯t forget."


    "Right, right."


    Candado leaned back in his chair and looked at the chalkboard, smiling. It was as if he had been freed from a heavy burden, but it was the smile of a bitter, venomous child.


    Though I¡¯d like to say that smile lasted, the opposite happened: it got worse. As he relaxed, his hands instinctively touched his right pocket. He patted it two, three, even four times.


    "My wallet..." he muttered.


    "Huh? What about it?"


    Candado''s face broke into a sweat. He stood up quickly and began checking all the pockets of his clothes. Patting here, patting there, until his hands stopped on his chest. His expression shifted from surprise to contemplation, and finally, to something more sinister.


    "That little... Did she pickpocket me?"


    Candado rushed to the window, threw it open, and jumped out.


    "YOU THIIIEEEEF!"


    His scream faded as he ran off into the distance.


    "Wait, what? Wallet? Little...?" The teacher mumbled, too kind and calm to do anything about it.


    Hammya, still lost in the moment and in Candado¡¯s brief fit of madness, turned her head toward the twins, who were seated behind her and Candado.


    "What just happened?" she asked curiously.


    Luc¨ªa exchanged a glance with her sister before answering.


    "Seems like Luis stole his wallet," Erika replied.


    "Luis?" Hammya frowned in surprise. "But I thought¡ª"


    "We thought the same thing," Luc¨ªa interrupted.


    "Luis loves him," Erika continued. "She pulls these little pranks so that Candado will notice her, to remind him that she¡¯s Luis, not Gabriela."


    "It¡¯s like a child trying to get their parents¡¯ attention," Luc¨ªa added.


    "Exactly, something like that," Erika nodded, then looked at her sister with a smile. "Do you remember when Candado ate chalk by accident?"


    Luc¨ªa giggled softly.


    "How could I forget? He thought they were pastries covered in sugar. That day, it was just us and Germ¨¢n in the guild."


    Six months ago.


    Candado was sitting at his desk, reading the newspaper, when he reached out for what he thought was a croissant on the table. He took a bite and instantly spat it out, coughing violently as a cloud of white dust covered his lips.


    "Damn it!" he exclaimed, bringing his hand to his throat.


    He looked at the box of supposed croissants, inspecting its contents closely. His expression changed as he realized the truth.


    "Son of a... This is chalk with sugar!" he yelled, spitting the remnants into the trash can.


    Erika, noticing the mess, handed him a glass of water.


    "What¡¯s wrong, Canda?" she asked, concerned.


    "This is Luis¡¯s doing," he said, waving a letter that came with the box.


    Germ¨¢n took the letter and read it aloud.


    "''Thank you for your dessert,''" he quoted.


    Candado jumped to his feet.


    "That bitch made me eat chalk! I¡¯m going to make her swallow a chalkboard!" he shouted furiously, kicking the door open. "LUIS!"


    Present.


    The twins burst into laughter.


    "Sorry, it¡¯s just too funny to remember," Erika said, wiping away a tear.


    "You should¡¯ve seen how angry he was," Luc¨ªa added, with a mischievous smile.


    "It¡¯s cruel," Hammya commented, though she smiled a little.


    "Even if it¡¯s cruel, Luis truly loves him," Erika responded. "So far, the only way she¡¯s found to get close to him is by making him mad."


    "But it seems like he hates her," Hammya murmured.


    "If Candado truly hated her, she wouldn¡¯t still be bothering him," Luc¨ªa declared.


    "Don¡¯t be so harsh, Luc¨ªa. Candado would never be capable of truly hating her," Erika scolded.


    Hammya, ignoring the conversation, looked out the window where Candado had jumped.


    "I wonder what he''s doing now?" she whispered to herself.


    Somewhere in the forest.


    Candado was sprinting down a path full of vegetation.


    "Bitch, bitch, bitch, bitch," he repeated like a mantra, keeping his focus on his goal.


    He ran without stopping, following the easiest paths to get away from the town.


    "Where are you?" he muttered, panting as he looked around.


    Finally, he saw her. She was alone, sitting on a dead tree, her back to him.


    Candado approached stealthily.


    "The games are over. Give me my wallet," he ordered coldly.


    "I thought you didn¡¯t care about money," Luis responded without even turning around.


    "I don¡¯t care about money," Candado pulled out his knife, "but give me what¡¯s mine."


    Luis turned around, her expression serious. She reached into her neckline and tossed him the wallet.


    Candado quickly sheathed the knife and opened the wallet anxiously. He sighed in relief when he found what he was looking for: a photo of him, at five years old, sitting on Gabriela¡¯s lap.


    "I was going to play a prank on you," said Luis, watching him, "but when I saw the picture, I felt bad. That¡¯s why I waited."


    Candado looked at her with fury. He closed the wallet and slipped it into his pocket without saying a word.


    "Sorry, she was important to you, wasn¡¯t she?" Luis asked, looking at him seriously.


    Candado glared at him, gripping the knife tightly.


    "What do you know about pain?" he responded with a harsh voice. "You¡¯re a creation of science, born from some damned envious scientist. Everything you¡¯ve been through, everything you feel, what you like or what hurts you¡ªit''s all implanted. None of it is real."


    Luis stood up slowly, his eyes reflecting a mix of sadness and determination. He walked towards him, but Candado raised the knife again, pointing it directly at him.


    "Back off. Don¡¯t come any closer," he growled.


    Luis paused for a moment but then continued walking, raising a calm hand. He took Candado¡¯s rigid hand, still poised to strike, and with a slow, firm gesture, managed to lower the weapon. Without saying a word, he hugged him.


    "I wasn¡¯t planning to tell you, but Eight joined the Witnesses," Luis whispered.


    Candado pushed him away abruptly and looked at him with disdain.


    "Are you talking about that traitor?" he said, his brow furrowed. "I¡¯m surprised you even know about her, considering you didn¡¯t even exist when I met her."


    Luis held his gaze, hurt, but didn¡¯t respond to the provocation.


    "She¡¯s in my memories," he said, lowering his eyes.


    "Your memories or my sister¡¯s?" Candado shot back with venom in his voice.


    Luis pressed his lips together, ignoring the comment, and continued.


    "Eight is planning an attack against you. Sheldon and the Witnesses... it seems you have more enemies now."


    Candado narrowed his eyes, both intrigued and furious.


    "When?" he asked, his tone more controlled.


    "I don¡¯t know," Luis replied, shrugging.


    "You don¡¯t know? You warn me about something you¡¯re not even sure of?" Candado looked at him incredulously.


    "No. But I do know something," Luis said, averting his gaze. "They said they¡¯d strike when... when the music reaches my ears."


    Candado remained silent, perplexed.


    "What?" he asked, as if he hadn¡¯t heard right.


    "The information came from an infiltrator. I planted a recorder to listen to their conversations," Luis explained, more calmly.


    Candado sat down on the floor, thoughtful, his eyes fixed on a distant point.


    "We¡¯re all madmen..." he murmured to himself.


    "What did you say?" Luis asked, frowning.


    Candado stood up abruptly and turned his back on him.


    "Thank you, Luis," he said in a distant tone.


    "Candado, wait," Luis insisted, worried. "What does it mean?"


    "Desza is playing. She knows there¡¯s an infiltrator. She wants you to play her game, to chase her to the ends of the earth."


    "And the attack?" Luis asked.


    "It¡¯ll happen," Candado affirmed, "but not today, or tomorrow. She¡¯ll wait until I make the first move. I appreciate the information, but I¡¯m not going to do anything. The OMGAB is already on it."


    Luis gave a slight smile.


    "Then I¡¯ll stay here for a few months," he announced suddenly.


    Candado looked at him, stunned.


    "What did you say?"


    "I said I¡¯ll stay here for a few months," Luis repeated calmly.


    Candado tilted his head, thoughtful, then let out a sigh.


    "Sometimes I wonder if this will work," Luis murmured, almost to herself.


    "What will?"


    "Nothing, never mind. I¡¯m sure it will work. Right?"


    "What the¡­ you know what, I won¡¯t even bother."


    Candado decided not to try anymore and left the way he had come, leaving Luis behind.


    Back at school, only an hour had passed since he¡¯d left. Candado rounded the building and arrived at one of the classroom windows, which hadn¡¯t been closed yet. With a leap, he jumped inside, rolling on the floor and surprising everyone, including the teacher. He quickly stood up, dusted himself off, and looked at his classmates. Erika and Luc¨ªa were giggling quietly; Hammya stood frozen, eraser still in hand, interrupted in the middle of her task. H¨¦ctor covered his eyes, overwhelmed with secondhand embarrassment. Declan, German, Ana, Lucas, and Viki watched in amazement, silently clapping with exaggerated enthusiasm. Matlotsky, as usual, was asleep at his desk, unable to adjust to mornings even after four years. The Bailak brothers snickered, while Walsh watched with concern. Esteban stared without any visible expression on his face. Anzor and Liv, on the other hand, weren¡¯t paying attention at all.


    Despite the general commotion, the Social Studies teacher, a forty-year-old man with red hair and a goatee, regained his composure. His green eyes and stern expression made him perfect for dealing with the most rebellious students. He wore a white lab coat, a blue tie, dark pants, and black shoes, and his face was filled with irritation as he watched Candado from his desk.


    "Well, Mr. Barret," said the teacher, crossing his arms. "Do you have something to say to explain your grand entrance?"


    "It¡¯s funny you ask, isn''t it?"


    "Barret," the teacher said.


    "Yes?"


    "To the principal¡¯s office."


    Declan grew furious and placed his hand on his sword, but was stopped by his desk mate, Anzor.


    "Look, Barret, the Language teacher told me..."


    ¡°Your girlfriend?¡±


    ¡°No, Candado, she¡¯s not my girlfriend.¡±


    ¡°OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!¡± everyone shouted, except for Candado¡¯s brigade.


    ¡°SHUT UP!¡± the professor shouted, annoyed, as he slammed his hand on the desk.


    ¡°Excuse my audacity; I¡¯ll head to the principal¡¯s office right away,¡± Candado said calmly.


    ¡°Yes, that would be best, sir.¡±


    Candado gestured with his left hand to his classmates, signaling them to maintain order. Then he walked to the principal¡¯s office and opened the door, where the director was waiting for him.


    ¡°Oh, it¡¯s the eighth time I¡¯ve seen you, and I¡¯ve given you some very good words.¡±


    ¡°Ninth, sir, ninth, but thank you for the lovely words,¡± Candado replied as he sat down in front of him.


    ¡°What was it this time?¡±


    ¡°I jumped out of the window and said some bad words.¡±


    ¡°Well, well.¡± The principal opened a drawer and offered him a can of soda.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Candado said as he opened it with his knife.


    ¡°I¡¯ve told you many times not to bring that to school.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I forgot.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re just like your father.¡±


    ¡°Really? Everyone says I look more like my mom, Rudolph.¡±


    ¡°My name isn¡¯t Rudolph; it¡¯s Rudolph. I don¡¯t know why you call me that.¡±


    ¡°Mom called you that.¡±


    The principal sighed.


    ¡°How are your parents?¡±


    ¡°Fine. You should come over for dinner one of these days.¡±


    ¡°I wish I could, but I have many responsibilities.¡±


    ¡°Yes, I see, sitting there saying you have responsibilities.¡±


    ¡°Very bold, Mr. Barret, very bold.¡±


    ¡°There are still thefts in this school.¡±


    ¡°Not anymore; that¡¯s over, Candado. There will be no more legal looting.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡±


    ¡°Of course, I¡¯m not lying.¡±


    ¡°Ha, I see; you¡¯re the legendary ice boy.¡±


    ¡°And you¡¯re the locked-up Candado.¡±


    ¡°Who says that?¡±


    ¡°All the people I know.¡±


    ¡°Are there thirty of them?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Well, if you say so.¡±


    ¡°Changing the subject, how is Saillim doing?¡±


    ¡°Fine, fine. Having her under the same roof is unbearable, but she¡¯s fine.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s new. Does she live with you?¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡±


    Rudolph leaned back in his chair.


    ¡°I smell scandalous romance. It¡¯s good to be young.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve been hearing that a lot lately; it seems no one knows how to maintain a friendship with someone of the opposite sex. Poor unfortunate souls.¡±


    He then took a sip of his soda.


    ¡°Your mother was the same. Although she was your father¡¯s beloved, I remember she was quite the unattainable star.¡±


    ¡°To be honest, I haven¡¯t asked her yet, but tell me.¡±


    Rudolph leaned back even more.


    ¡°Really?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m going to be here until class ends, so tell me,¡± he said as he took another sip of his soda.


    ¡°Well, your mother was just like you. In fact, you inherited her intimidating gaze and her taste in clothing.¡±


    ¡°Yes, I know that part; I saw it in a photo.¡±


    ¡°It all started when your mother called us: me, Laura (H¨¦ctor¡¯s mother), Mercedes (mother of Joaqu¨ªn and Kruger), and Han (Thuy Han).¡±


    ¡°Wow, just you guys?¡±


    ¡°At that moment, yes. I remember your mother took us to Villa ¨¢ngela.¡±


    Twenty-six years ago:


    ¡°What¡¯s going on, General?¡± asked the energetic Laura.


    ¡°We¡¯ve done a lot today; it¡¯s time for a break.¡±


    ¡°Great, after a tough fight, it¡¯s good to slack off a bit,¡± said Mercedes.


    ¡°Okay, let¡¯s fight.¡±


    ¡°Forget it, Laura. I¡¯m tired, and honestly, I want to rest. My whole body hurts.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s good to take a break; it relaxes your bones and mind.¡±


    ¡°You said it, Thuy; let¡¯s chill.¡±


    ¡°Where do you get all that energy, Ram¨ªrez? And you just got out of the hospital yesterday.¡±


    ¡°How naive, Rodolfito; I always give 100% of my potential every day,¡± Laura said.


    ¡°Only Europe is allowed to call me that.¡±


    ¡°Bumpkin.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re a¡­¡±


    ¡°Enough.¡± Mercedes stepped between them. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t fight here, especially with Europe present.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll talk later,¡± Rudolph said.


    Europe cleared her throat.


    ¡°I¡¯m so sorry for worrying you like that. It¡¯s not very¡­ I¡¯m sorry, it¡¯s quite common for me not to say anything to the people around me, so I apologize. However, I called you all to make up for my rudeness. Today we¡¯ll have fun.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s go for it!¡±


    ¡°Calm down, Laura. You¡¯ll open your stitches.¡±


    Laura ignored her and started running through the park, laughing heartily. However, while running, a ball hit her in the face, causing her to fall backward.


    ¡°Wounded soldier, wounded soldier!¡± she repeated over and over as she crawled on the ground, pretending to be shot.


    Her friends rushed to where she lay on her back, her face injured and her tongue out, as if she were a corpse. Mercedes was the first to arrive.


    ¡°Are you okay?¡± asked Thuy Han.


    Mercedes gave her a weak punch in the abdomen, right where her injury was.


    ¡°MY STITCHES!¡± Laura screamed, writhing in pain on the ground.


    ¡°She¡¯s dead,¡± Mercedes said as she took off her white beret.


    ¡°I¡¯m alive, I¡¯m alive!¡± Laura said, feigning pain on her face.


    Everyone began to laugh. Europe looked at the ball for a moment, approached it, and picked it up.


    ¡°And this?¡±


    She looked around and saw a boy coming toward her, raising his hand to indicate that he was the owner of the ball.


    ¡°That¡¯s mine,¡± he said, then placed his hands on the ball, ripping it from Europe¡¯s hands. ¡°Thank you very much, and goodbye.¡±


    Europe felt annoyed. She pulled a hook from her sleeve and wrapped it around his left ankle, dragging him toward her, putting her foot on his chest and showing a cold demeanor.


    ¡°Excuse me if you¡¯re in a hurry, but you hit a friend. I think the least you can do is apologize, right?¡±


    ¡°GUYS! HELP!¡±


    Out of nowhere, a chain shot out from the ground where the guy was at her feet and grazed Europe¡¯s cheek, forcing her to pull away from him abruptly and fall into Mercedes¡¯ arms.


    ¡°What was that?¡± Laura asked as she stood up and covered her friend.


    The boy managed to free himself from Europa''s bindings and moved as far away from her as he could, hiding behind his savior.


    ¡°It¡¯s rude to treat my brother like that, brat,¡± said a redheaded boy as the chain from the ground wrapped around his forearm.


    Rodolfo stepped forward, positioning himself between Laura, who was shielding Mercedes and Europa.


    ¡°Very brave, very brave,¡± said the stranger.


    Rodolfo didn¡¯t respond, but his icy fists spoke for him.


    ¡°STOP!¡± shouted a voice from behind the stranger.


    A boy was running at full speed, accompanied by four others. When he arrived, he was out of breath.


    ¡°What a pathetic sight,¡± thought Europa.


    ¡°Goodness, I take my eyes off you for a few seconds and you¡¯re already causing trouble.¡±


    ¡°They were attacking Felipe.¡±


    ¡°They?¡±


    ¡°No, that was my mistake. It was HER!¡± the boy said, pointing at Europa.


    ¡°Oh, I see,¡± he said, stepping between himself and Rodolfo, causing the others to surround Europa for protection. He was still weak from the last fight, but it didn¡¯t matter much since he was one meter seventy tall and she was one meter forty-five, the shortest in the group. Rodolfo was a bit taller, at one meter fifty-nine.


    ¡°Relax, I don¡¯t want to fight. I¡¯m a nice person, just like you,¡± said the stranger.


    ¡°Stay away from her,¡± Mercedes replied, frowning.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to do anything to her.¡±


    ¡°YOU''RE LYING! Everyone hates her and tries to hurt her. Why would you be any different?¡± Laura clutched Europa tightly.


    ¡°Huh? How can anyone hate a pretty girl?¡±


    Europa looked at the tall boy in confusion.


    ¡°Laura, let me go,¡± she said coldly.


    ¡°I won¡¯t let my baby go. Nobody¡¯s taking your cuteness away, not even him.¡±


    ¡°Let me go, I¡¯m telling you,¡± she insisted, struggling without success.


    Mercedes grabbed Laura from behind and pulled her away from Europa.


    ¡°Annoying, loud, and dramatic. Europa wants her space.¡±


    ¡°No, no, no! I want to be next to her.¡±


    ¡°Exaggerating again,¡± Thuy Han said.


    Once Laura released her, Europa began to straighten her wrinkled clothes. She gestured for them to make way. When Rodolfo, the last barrier, stepped aside, Europa could finally see the boy in front of her.


    ¡°Oh, wow, you¡¯re short.¡±


    Europa didn¡¯t respond.


    ¡°How old are you?¡± the boy asked, uncomfortable.


    ¡°How old are you?¡±


    ¡°Me? Sixteen.¡±


    ¡°I turned thirteen yesterday.¡±


    ¡°Wow, you¡¯re a little girl.¡±


    ¡°Yes, and what¡¯s wrong with that? Mister¡­¡±


    ¡°Oh, how foolish of me. My name is Arturo Storni.¡±


    ¡°Europa Barret.¡±


    ¡°Wow, miss, I¡¯d like to apologize for what happened. You see¡­ my friend Bacone isn¡¯t good at being¡­ you know¡­ ¡®cordial,¡¯ so I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    Europa crossed her arms.


    ¡°I hope it doesn¡¯t happen again.¡±


    ¡°It won¡¯t, I swear.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but I don¡¯t trust strangers who give their word.¡±


    Arturo rubbed his chin, deep in thought.


    ¡°That makes sense. I¡¯d think the same if I were in your position. So¡­¡± Arturo knelt down and took her hand, surprising Europa, ¡°we¡¯ll do this.¡±


    ¡°What are you doing?¡± she asked, narrowing her eyes.


    Arturo smiled.


    ¡°An ancient guild oath. It is said that when Jack Barret went to Italy to help the resistance, he made an oath with Rosa Vel¨¢zquez, taking her hand and bestowing a precious object upon her.¡±


    Arturo pulled a red harmonica from his pocket and handed it to Europa.


    ¡°Here, a peace offering from a guild member. My late father¡¯s harmonica.¡±


    Europa looked closely at the harmonica.


    ¡°You¡¯re not a guild member. What you¡¯re saying isn¡¯t a gesture of goodwill, and it¡¯s not practiced.¡±


    ¡°Damn...that¡¯s bad. Sorry to lie to you, haha. But the story is true.¡±


    ¡°It is, but if you want to have a good relationship, answer me one question: Are you a Circuit?¡±


    ¡°Of course, I¡¯m not ashamed of it.¡±


    Europa scrutinized him, unsure how to react. She could tell he wasn¡¯t lying this time. However, seeing what he had done as a strange goodwill ritual, she decided to test this method.


    ¡°Well, I don¡¯t see a lie in your words, so¡­¡±


    Europa took off her beret, revealing her long black hair, which amazed everyone.


    ¡°I think it¡¯s the first time I¡¯ve seen you without your¡­ hat,¡± Mercedes said, surprised.


    ¡°Well, I don¡¯t think it¡¯s fair that only you do something like that. So here,¡± Europa placed her beret in Arturo¡¯s hand, as if it were a coat rack. ¡°It¡¯s a beret my mother bought for me; it¡¯s very important to me.¡±


    Arturo smiled again.


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll do it, Europa.¡±


    Present Day.


    ¡°Who would have thought? Later, J?n would end up with that man. Honestly, I can¡¯t believe it.¡±


    ¡°Hey, you¡¯re talking about my dad.¡±


    ¡°The truth is, when J?n told me she was pregnant, I thought¡­ oh my God. She was only sixteen when she was three months along.¡±


    ¡°Get to the point. What did you think of him?¡±


    ¡°That he was a rapist.¡±


    Candado said nothing, trying to process the harsh information he had received from Rodolfo.


    ¡°Oh, didn¡¯t you think, even a little bit, that it was love?¡±


    ¡°Your mother was 16, and your father was 20. What did you expect me to think? In my eyes, she was just a teenager, and your father was an adult. Call it whatever you want, but you know it¡¯s a crime.¡±


    ¡°They were different times. Still, they¡¯re my parents.¡±


    ¡°That''s factual, yes... she truly loves him.¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡±


    At that moment, the bell rang.


    ¡°Looks like your time is up.¡±


    Candado stood up, grabbed his bag, and shook Rodolfo''s hand.


    ¡°It was good talking to you.¡±


    ¡°Likewise.¡±


    Candado adjusted his beret.


    ¡°I¡¯ll see you tomorrow as civilians.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, tomorrow.¡±


    Candado placed his beret back on and hurried out of the room.


    ¡°Oh, Canda, you¡¯re out,¡± Lucas said.


    ¡°Are we meeting at the guild?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m afraid not, Walsh. My parents are coming today.¡±


    Just then, Hammya rushed toward him and took his hand.


    ¡°Hurry, I saw the car!¡± she said, pulling him along at full speed.


    ¡°I¡¯ll see you tomorrow, kid.¡±


    ¡°See you, Candado,¡± everyone said their goodbyes.


    ¡°Hammya, you don¡¯t have to do this.¡±


    ¡°Just be quiet.¡±


    Candado and Hammya stopped outside the school, where Clementina was waiting for them.


    ¡°Oh, young patron, you¡¯re here.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t bother me.¡±


    ¡°Here they come!¡± Hammya pointed.


    Candado smiled.


    ¡°Yeah, here they are.¡±


    The red Perono car (a model created by the Barret automotive company) was driven by Europa, with her husband sitting beside her.


    ¡°Get in, kids!¡± Arturo said, opening the door for them.


    Clementina stepped aside to let Hammya pass, then Candado, leaving herself between the two.


    ¡°Oh, wow. How are you?¡± Europa asked, sounding like a taxi driver.


    ¡°Good,¡± everyone replied with smiles.


    ¡°How was school?¡±


    ¡°Good,¡± said Clementina.


    ¡°Normal,¡± said Candado.


    ¡°Fun,¡± said Hammya.


    ¡°Great.¡±


    Then Europa looked out the window and saw Rodolfo watching from his house, smiling.


    ¡°Benjamin Rodolfo, nice to see you, thanks for looking after my kids.¡±


    (Her change in tone overwhelms me), Rodolfo thought and continued, ¡°I¡¯m just doing my job. Take care.¡±


    ¡°Same to you, sweetheart.¡±


    Europa started the car and pulled away.


    ¡°I hope you all had fun today,¡± Arturo said.


    ¡°Why is Mrs. Barret dressed casually?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not working today; I just went to pick up my darling from work.¡±


    ¡°How romantic!¡± Hammya exclaimed.


    ¡°Yeah, I am,¡± he replied, winking at Arturo.


    ¡°Oh, wow, your parents are the best, Candado,¡± Hammya teased.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know other parents, but yes, they¡¯re good.¡±


    ¡°When you talk like that, you¡¯re just like your mother,¡± Arturo remarked.


    ¡°Hey, don¡¯t say it like that.¡±


    Everyone laughed except for Candado, who only managed a smile, captivating Hammya.


    ¡°Hey, Candado.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°You have a beautiful smile.¡±


    ¡°Flattering, Esmeralda, flattering.¡±

 PROFANE ALLIANCE

    <div>


    The night fell over Montevideo, accompanied by a storm that flooded the streets with thunder. Heart-wrenching screams echoed from all around. A mother had just seen the dismembered body of her son: eyeless, tongueless. Desza had been the perpetrator of that atrocity, and now the entire city was in a frenzy, desperately hunting for him. But only the laughter of a madman could be heard on the wind, reverberating through the storm''s echoes, alarming the authorities. Police officers dashed back and forth, trying to chase down that sinister laugh, but every time they seemed to close in, the cackling drifted farther and farther away. Desza was playing with them. He hadn¡¯t yet fully enjoyed his victim and wanted a bit more entertainment, skillfully evading both the police and the W.O.G.A.B.¡¯s Sem¨¢foros.


    <div>


    <div>


    However, the game had to come to a stop. He received a call from his companion, J?rgen Czacki.


    <div>


    <div>


    ¡°The mouse fell into the trap,¡± said the voice on the other end.


    <div>


    <div>


    Desza grinned.


    <div>


    <div>


    ¡°I¡¯m on my way.¡±


    <div>


    <div>


    Ready to end the game, Desza allowed the agents to catch a glimpse of him, his machete in hand. Before they could react, he lunged at them and slit their throats with precision.


    <div>


    <div>


    ¡°How dull these cops are,¡± he muttered, wiping the blood off his machete on one of the fallen officers'' uniforms.


    <div>


    <div>


    Then, stowing the machete, he walked nonchalantly through the crowd. People tried to console the devastated mother, who clutched her son''s remains, screaming in agony. Meanwhile, the culprit walked among them, smiling.


    <div>


    <div>


    Desza arrived at an old, under-construction building. Without hesitation, he kicked the door open and slid down the stair railing with a childlike laugh.


    <div>


    <div>


    ¡°Did you hear that?¡± asked Azricam.


    <div>


    <div>


    ¡°It¡¯s him,¡± replied J?rgen, washing blood off his hands.


    <div>


    <div>


    When Desza appeared, he slid over to J?rgen with the grace of a dancer.


    <div>


    <div>


    ¡°Where¡¯s my gift, Czacki?¡±


    <div>


    <div>


    ¡°In that room,¡± J?rgen said, gesturing with his chin while drying his hands.


    <div>


    <div>


    Desza headed towards the partially destroyed door, opening it gently only to slam it shut, startling R?sse?s and Dockly, who were inside. Before them was a young girl of about thirteen or fourteen, bloodied but still conscious, tied to a chair.


    <div>


    <div>


    ¡°Boss,¡± Dockly said, respectfully.


    <div>


    <div>


    ¡°Yeah, where¡¯s the pack?¡±


    <div>


    <div>


    ¡°They¡¯re with Eight, running an errand for the metal-face,¡± R?sse?s replied.


    <div>


    <div>


    ¡°For Pullbarey,¡± clarified Dockly.


    <div>


    <div>


    ¡°Yes, him.¡±


    <div>


    <div>


    ¡°You can go.¡±


    <div>


    <div>


    ¡°As you wish, sir,¡± Dockly responded respectfully, leaving with R?sse?s.


    <div>


    <div>


    Once they were alone, Desza dragged a chair and sat across from the girl, with only a table separating them.


    <div>


    <div>


    ¡°So, what do we have here? Arce Catherine Lourdes in the flesh. One of the three capable of stripping the second soul of its magic.¡±


    <div>


    <div>


    Arce glared at him with hatred and spat blood in his face without hesitation. Desza remained still, unphased.


    <div>


    <div>


    ¡°I¡¯m used to blood splattering on my face, miss,¡± he said calmly.


    <div>


    <div>


    ¡°You¡¯re trash, Desza.¡±


    <div>


    <div>


    With a cold smile, Desza placed his hand on Arce¡¯s head, as a father might with his daughter, and violently slammed it against the table.


    <div>


    <div>


    ¡°It¡¯s amusing that you remain brave, even after what J?rgen did to you. He left you lovely. I don¡¯t blame him; I congratulate him. After all, you¡¯re Arce, the one who ruined Isabel¡¯s normal life.¡±


    <div>


    <div>


    ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about.¡±


    <div>


    <div>


    ¡°J?rgen doesn¡¯t know,¡± Desza said, releasing her and flipping the table aside to get closer. ¡°But those two have been pretty cozy lately, and I, of course, had to take advantage of the situation.¡±


    <div>


    <div>


    He observed her intently, his tone more serious.


    <div>


    <div>


    ¡°Listen carefully, it¡¯s not amusing that some think we¡¯re the Witnesses from fifty years ago. We don¡¯t rip out souls or implant others. It¡¯s stupid.¡±


    <div>


    <div>


    ¡°I couldn¡¯t care less,¡± Arce retorted with disdain.


    <div>


    <div>


    ¡°You should, because there will be a war between you cockroaches and the Circuits, the traitors.¡±


    <div>


    <div>


    ¡°That¡¯s not going to happen.¡±


    <div>


    <div>


    ¡°Isn¡¯t it? Esteban is busy looking for his dead gay brother¡¯s killer, which, by the way, is me. Meanwhile, Candado was pretty comfortable living his peaceful life while W.O.G.A.B. hunts me. Their leaders are so distracted by the outer limits of their society that they don¡¯t even imagine what¡¯s coming from within.¡±


    <div>


    <div>


    ¡°You underestimate Candado.¡±


    <div>


    <div>


    ¡°Candado is the cherry on top; I can¡¯t beat him now that he¡¯s at the height of everything. Very few know of him, at least physically, but all that is about to change.¡±


    <div>


    <div>


    ¡°That¡¯s about to end too. My team will come for your head.¡±


    <div>


    <div>


    Desza smiled, pulling five Sem¨¢foro badges from his bag, three of them stained with blood.


    <div>


    <div>


    ¡°This team?¡±


    <div>


    <div>


    Arce looked at them in shock and pain, especially at the blood-stained ones.


    <div>


    <div>


    ¡°They were... just a bunch of trash.¡±


    <div>


    <div>


    ¡°BASTARD!¡± Arce screamed in fury, struggling to break free from the cuffs that bound her.


    <div>


    <div>


    ¡°That metal is special. It stops you from using your powers of any kind.¡±


    <div>


    <div>


    Arce fought with monstrous fury; they were all her friends. Meanwhile, Desza, with a mocking smile, kept a safe distance.


    <div>


    <div>


    ¡°I¡¯LL KILL YOU!¡±


    <div>


    <div>


    ¡°I thought Krauser would be with you, but I was wrong... I was getting bored. Funny, each one of them shouted ¡®Long live Arce!¡¯ before they died.¡±


    <div>


    <div>


    Arce, consumed by rage, tried to break her bonds, but Desza slapped her, then again, laughing all the while.


    <div>


    <div>


    ¡°You want to die; you want me to kill you... But I won¡¯t. I want you to remember my face. I want you to be the one who tells them who we are. And, for the love of all I hold dear, tell them that I, Desza the Profaner, will punish this world.¡±


    <div>


    <div>


    With that, Desza kicked Arce''s chair, tipping it backward. Arce, both physically and emotionally battered, felt the weight of her precious friends'' loss.


    <div>


    <div>


    Desza exited the room and turned to J?rgen.


    <div>


    <div>


    ¡°That was quite a show.¡±


    <div>


    <div>


    ¡°You flatter me. I always wanted to be a comedian, but being a killer and a comedian is much better.¡±


    <div>


    <div>


    ¡°What should we do with her?¡±


    <div>


    <div>


    ¡°Rough her up a bit more and then release her. She¡¯ll spread my name, Czacki.¡±


    <div>


    <div>


    ¡°And if she doesn¡¯t?¡±


    <div>


    <div>


    ¡°She will; that¡¯s why I chose her.¡±


    <div>


    <div>


    ¡°What now?¡±


    <div>


    <div>


    ¡°Let¡¯s see... Yes... We need one more thing. We¡¯re going to see someone very important.¡±


    <div>


    <div>


    Desza ascended the stairs, whistling an eerie melody. Just as he was about to place his hand on the door handle, it opened. From the storm outside, a figure appeared: a person dressed in a black trench coat, dark gloves, pants, and matching boots. His face showed a sinister smile, briefly lit by the flash of a thunderbolt.


    <div>


    <div>


    ¡°Moneda,¡± Desza said nervously.


    <div>


    <div>


    Moneda replied by punching him in the chest, throwing him down the stairs.


    <div>


    <div>


    ¡°SIR!¡± J?rgen shouted, rushing toward the room.


    <div>


    <div>


    ¡°Well, I never imagined Barreto¡¯s dog would come all the way here,¡± Desza said, slowly standing.


    <div>


    <div>


    Moneda descended the stairs, his hand sliding down the banister as if he owned the place.


    <div>


    <div>


    ¡°It¡¯s freezing outside; thanks for letting me in. I¡¯m surprised you were stupid enough to kidnap W.O.G.A.B.¡¯s most important judge.¡±


    <div>


    <div>


    ¡°Strength¡­ the one feat I acknowledge,¡± Desza responded, with a hint of mockery as he tried to regain composure.


    <div>


    <div>


    Moneda charged toward him, grabbing his neck and slamming him against the wall.


    <div>


    <div>


    ¡°How disgraceful.¡±


    <div>


    <div>


    J?rgen attempted to leap at Moneda, but Moneda intercepted him, grabbing his forearm and dislocating it with a swift blow. Then he seized him by the back of the neck and smashed him against the floor.


    <div>


    <div>


    ¡°J?rgen Czacki Urumbo Axel. Thirteen years old. Powers: speed, metal, and endurance.¡±


    <div>


    <div>


    ¡°You¡­¡±


    <div>


    <div>


    ¡°I studied you all before I came. I know everything about you. I also know you tried to kill Joaqu¨ªn. That¡¯s intolerable, and I won¡¯t let it slide.¡±


    <div>


    <div>


    Desza laughed as he got to his feet.


    <div>


    <div>


    ¡°It was just a joke. The message was for Candado. I never thought that idiot would be there.¡±


    <div>


    <div>


    Moneda, furious, charged at Desza and punched him in the face, slamming him against the wall once more.


    <div>


    <div>


    ¡°I won¡¯t permit any offense against the inspector.¡±


    <div>


    <div>


    R?sse?s lunged at Moneda to strike him, but Moneda stopped him, grabbing him by the neck and slamming him into the stairs. Azricam drew his sword and lunged as well, but every thrust was easily dodged.


    <div>


    <div>


    ¡°Too slow, snail.¡±


    <div>


    <div>


    Moneda rolled toward him and kicked him in the helmet, making him lose balance and fall. Then, he grabbed him by the legs and flung him into the ceiling.


    <div>


    <div>


    ¡°Easy job, easy money.¡±


    <div>


    <div>


    From the rubble of the wall, Desza emerged with a machete in hand.


    <div>


    <div>


    ¡°Die.¡±


    <div>


    <div>


    Moneda turned and disarmed him with a knee to the wrist, then grabbed him by the neck with both hands, lifting him into the air.


    <div>


    <div>


    ¡°I¡¯ve waited so long for this moment... It¡¯s sheer delight.¡±


    <div>


    <div>


    He began to tighten his grip on Desza''s neck in a fury, though his face wore only a satisfied smile. However, Desza laughed again.


    <div>


    <div>


    ¡°You''re strong and skilled, not to mention clever,¡± he said, straining against Moneda''s hands, ¡°but my madness is far stronger than fear and pain.¡±


    <div>


    <div>


    With a desperate effort, Desza managed to break free and kneed Moneda in the forehead, forcing him to stumble back. But Moneda simply smiled.


    <div>


    <div>


    ¡°Well, I think that¡¯s enough.¡±


    <div>


    <div>


    He tapped the W.O.G.A.B. insignia on his chest.


    <div>


    <div>


    ¡°Time¡¯s up.¡±


    <div>


    <div>


    Desza glanced, alarmed, at the door of the room where he had Arce captive.


    <div>


    <div>


    ¡°Dockly.¡±


    <div>


    <div>


    Dropping his guard, Desza rushed to the room. Inside, he found only a hole in the wall and Dockly lying unconscious. Desza smiled in disbelief.


    <div>


    <div>


    ¡°Clever foxes.¡±


    <div>


    <div>


    Moneda reappeared, landing a punch on Desza¡¯s stomach.


    <div>


    <div>


    ¡°I¡¯m still your opponent.¡±


    <div>


    <div>


    Desza responded with a headbutt, then grabbed his machete, and the fight resumed. As his subordinates prepared to intervene, Desza raised a hand.


    <div>


    <div>


    ¡°Stop! Stay out of this. Go help Dockly and get out.¡±


    <div>


    <div>


    J?rgen, adjusting his arm, nodded and gave the order.


    <div>


    <div>


    ¡°It had to be Glinka, right? She''s the only one who could pull that off without a sound.¡±


    <div>


    <div>


    ¡°Russian body, Argentine heart, the favorite of the W.O.G.A.B.,¡± Desza muttered with a hint of fascination.


    <div>


    <div>


    ¡°She¡¯d probably be flattered by that compliment.¡±


    <div>


    <div>


    ¡°Truce?¡±


    <div>


    <div>


    Moneda replied with a headbutt, followed by a punch to the chest and a kick to the neck that knocked Desza to the ground. Wasting no time, Moneda stepped on Desza¡¯s neck with force.


    <div>


    <div>


    ¡°I guess not,¡± Desza gasped in pain.


    <div>


    <div>


    ¡°The game¡¯s over, Desza. The guilds win; you lose.¡±


    <div>


    <div>


    Just then, the ceiling collapsed, and a figure dropped from the shadows.


    <div>


    <div>


    ¡°Sorry, nickel-and-dime, but I need the gringo.¡±


    <div>


    <div>


    Desza looked up, his expression changing as he recognized the figure.


    <div>


    <div>


    ¡°CANDADO?!¡±


    <div>


    <div>


    ¡°No, don¡¯t confuse me with that jerk.¡±


    <div>


    <div>


    ¡°See that? I¡¯m so famous even the upgraded version of Candado knows me,¡± Desza said, laughing mockingly.


    <div>


    <div>


    Moneda pressed his foot harder against Desza¡¯s neck.


    <div>


    <div>


    ¡°Die, you bastard.¡±


    <div>


    <div>


    The figure, who turned out to be Sheldon, sprang into action and struck Moneda in the chest.


    <div>


    <div>


    ¡°I hate repeating myself.¡±


    <div>


    <div>


    Moneda stood, looking at both of them.


    <div>


    <div>


    ¡°This isn¡¯t over. I¡¯ll be back for you.¡±


    <div>


    <div>


    Without another word, Moneda escaped through the hole in the wall where Arce had fled. Sheldon glanced at Desza, who was still lying on the floor, laughing weakly.


    <div>


    <div>


    ¡°What a mad destiny,¡± he gasped between wheezing laughs.


    <div>


    <div>


    ¡°You¡¯re too big to lose your head, aren¡¯t you?¡±


    <div>


    <div>


    Desza got to his feet, brushing off the dust.


    <div>


    <div>


    ¡°What brings such a familiar face to my den?¡±


    <div>


    <div>


    ¡°I came because I couldn¡¯t wrap up that last meeting. Many ran, but I want an alliance. My family wants a life where Candado doesn¡¯t breathe our air.¡±


    <div>


    <div>


    Desza clapped slowly.


    <div>


    <div>


    ¡°Bravo, bravo. Glad to see there¡¯s more motivation around these days.¡±


    <div>


    <div>


    ¡°I want to kill Candado.¡±


    <div>


    <div>


    ¡°Oh, I adore you; I love you. If only more people had such a beautiful, exciting, magnificent desire.¡±


    <div>


    <div>


    ¡°They told me you were crazy, and I see they were right, but what will you do now that two W.O.G.A.B. infiltrated the meeting? They¡¯ve probably already leaked the information.¡±


    <div>


    <div>


    ¡°That doesn¡¯t matter. There¡¯s nothing to hide; I want the world to know we exist.¡±


    <div>


    <div>


    Sheldon eyed him, appraising.


    <div>


    <div>


    ¡°You¡¯re insane.¡±


    <div>


    <div>


    Desza laughed, ecstatic.


    <div>


    <div>


    ¡°I can¡¯t wait to see the world drowned in terror¡­ in T¨¢natos¡¯ and my terror.¡±


    <div>


    <div>


    ¡°I¡¯d like to know how far you want to go.¡±


    <div>


    <div>


    ¡°Let¡¯s find my team and discuss it.¡±


    <div>


    <div>


    ¡°Hope this alliance won¡¯t fail.¡±


    <div>


    <div>


    ¡°It won¡¯t.¡±


    <div>


    <div>


    Suddenly, police sirens blared from the street below. There seemed to be far more of them than last time.


    <div>


    <div>


    ¡°Ha, ha, ha, HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!¡±


    <div>


    <div>


    Sheldon looked at Desza with mild distrust.


    <div>


    <div>


    ¡°Seems impossible to get bored here.¡±


    <div>


    <div>


    Desza grabbed his machete.


    <div>


    <div>


    ¡°Follow me, rookie.¡±


    <div>


    <div>


    They raced up the stairs, and upon reaching the top, Desza kicked open the door. The abandoned building faced a busy street, and, just as he expected, the police were already there, blocking their exit.


    <div>


    <div>


    ¡°DROP YOUR WEAPONS AND RAISE YOUR HANDS!¡±


    <div>


    <div>


    ¡°As you say, officer.¡±


    <div>


    <div>


    Sheldon raised his hands, and as he did, the patrol cars began to lift violently, only to crash down onto the asphalt with a loud clatter. Desza wasted no time, rushing toward the officers and slashing through them one by one with quick, precise cuts, his face splattered with blood.


    <div>


    <div>


    ¡°I love the sight of blood.¡±


    <div>


    <div>


    Sheldon watched, coolly, as the man finished off his opponents without remorse.

 SIGN

    <div>


    <div>


    While Desza and Sheldon formed an alliance unknown to Candado, he and his family enjoyed peaceful days in their village. Before leaving at the start of the holidays, H¨¦ctor had given an order¡ªor rather, a request¡ªto keep as much information as possible about the situation around them hidden, such as the Witnesses and Circuits. He wanted Candado to be able to relax and enjoy at least a month with his family, as he was recovering both physically and mentally, as Clementina and Hammya confirmed.


    Raindrops tapped on Hammya¡¯s window, waking her up. Her hair, however, had started to change color a few weeks ago, turning a light red. According to her, this happened every July.


    ¡°Oh god, I don¡¯t want to get up,¡± she murmured, covering her face with the blanket. ¡°It¡¯s cold.¡±


    Finally, she threw the blanket aside, sat up in bed, stretched her arms, and yawned.


    ¡°I¡¯ve got to wake up Candado.¡±


    She got out of bed and looked in the mirror, fixing her hair before leaving the room. Still sleepy, she headed to Candado¡¯s room, smoothed her clothes, and opened the door.


    ¡°Excuse me,¡± Hammya whispered.


    The room was dark. On the desk, a pile of books and papers; on the bed, Candado lay sleeping with a book on his face.


    ¡°Oh, he stayed up all night again.¡±


    Hammya walked over to him, gently took the book from his face, and placed her hand on his cheek. But as soon as her palm touched his face, a hand emerged from under the sheets and grabbed hers.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡± Candado asked, eyes closed.


    ¡°Are you awake?¡±


    ¡°Hammya, don¡¯t do that.¡±


    ¡°Sorry.¡±


    Candado let go of her hand and opened his eyes.


    ¡°Did you sleep well?¡± he asked as he sat up.


    ¡°Yes, thanks for asking,¡± she replied, glancing at the messy papers and books on the desk. ¡°I don¡¯t need to ask you; I already know.¡±


    ¡°It was necessary. I couldn¡¯t sleep all night. I haven¡¯t received the journals or news from the other guilds, so I had to distract myself to ease the stress.¡±


    ¡°(That¡¯s because I suggested to H¨¦ctor to block the news.) Either way, it¡¯s not good for your health.¡±


    Candado got out of bed, dressed in black pants and a red shirt. He walked to the bathroom, turned on the light, and grabbed his toothbrush, looking at himself in the mirror.


    ¡°Are you still there?¡±


    ¡°I just want to make sure you don¡¯t fall back asleep.¡±


    Candado began brushing his teeth, not paying her much attention. After rinsing his mouth, he looked at himself in the mirror again.


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t Clementina need you?¡±


    ¡°Are you kicking me out?¡± she asked, giving him a sweet, pleading look.


    ¡°Yes. If you don¡¯t want to take the door, you could always try the window... though we don¡¯t have any ladders.¡± He snapped his fingers. ¡°Which do you prefer? I recommend the window; it¡¯s faster.¡±


    Hammya let out a laugh.


    ¡°Hey, do you even realize what you just said?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± he answered, laughing.


    ¡°Don¡¯t pee in my room.¡±


    Hammya laughed so hard she ended up on her knees, completely losing her composure.


    ¡°Calm down, girl; you¡¯re overdoing it now. I¡¯m not a clown or a comedian.¡±


    Hammya composed herself and, with a deep breath, pounced on Candado, knocking him to the floor and landing on top of him. She placed a hand on his neck and held a pencil eraser close to his eyes.


    ¡°Revenge,¡± she grinned.


    Candado looked into her eyes.


    ¡°Oh, I see, this is about that time you came in here, and I threw you to the floor. But¡­¡± he pointed at the eraser, ¡°I didn¡¯t have such a shabby weapon.¡±


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter; a win is a win. I¡¯m surprised you let your guard down.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m at home. I don¡¯t need to be on alert around my family. Though¡­ you¡¯re an exception.¡±


    Hammya felt something at her waist, looked down, and saw Candado¡¯s hand holding a brush.


    ¡°But¡­,¡± Hammya stared at him, bewildered. ¡°What is this?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve got a lot to learn, a whole lot.¡±


    Hammya dropped the eraser and moved off him.


    ¡°If you were an enemy, my brush would be red instead of pink.¡±


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you put it away?¡±


    ¡°When I saw your attitude, I figured you¡¯d pull something on me¡­ something only you could provoke.¡±


    Hammya looked at the brush.


    ¡°Whatever. If all you¡¯re thinking about is revenge, you can leave now.¡±


    ¡°Why is your brush pink?¡±


    Candado examined it and lifted it to his eyes.


    ¡°What? Is that weird?¡±


    ¡°Well, I don¡¯t know¡­ it¡¯s not very¡­¡±


    Candado squinted at her.


    ¡°Very what?¡±


    ¡°¡­Nothing, I just thought you¡¯d be more into purple, violet, or even lavender.¡±


    Candado made a face.


    ¡°Hammya¡­ my favorite color is pink.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I wouldn¡¯t have guessed that in ten lifetimes.¡±


    ¡°But it caught your attention, didn¡¯t it?¡±


    ¡°Why not a blue, red, or something? I mean, even your beret is blue.¡±


    ¡°Because I like the color, and that¡¯s that.¡±


    ¡°Well, as long as you¡¯re happy, I don¡¯t mind.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t mind?¡±


    Hammya blushed.


    ¡°I¡¯m not supposed to care, but why don¡¯t you care?¡±You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.


    Hammya calmed down slowly, but her embarrassment didn¡¯t fade quickly, and in that situation, she couldn¡¯t speak without stuttering or saying something thoughtlessly.


    ¡°But if you say it doesn¡¯t matter, then fine, I guess.¡±


    Candado put his toothbrush away, turned to Hammya, and looked at her.


    ¡°Girl, I know you don¡¯t care about most things I say, but I¡¯m about to undress so I can shower and change.¡±


    ¡°Oh, well, I¡¯ll wait downstairs, but before that¡­¡±


    ¡°Get out.¡±


    Hammya fell silent, shrugged, and left the room. The door closed behind her.


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°I can still hear you breathing.¡±


    Hammya chuckled softly and walked away. As she bounced down the stairs, her gentle humming filled the house, reaching baby Karen¡¯s ears, who clapped and giggled, catching Europa¡¯s attention.


    ¡°What¡¯s up, my love?¡± Europa asked as she picked her up and kissed her cheek.


    ¡°It¡¯s Miss Hammya,¡± said Clementina, lying on the couch with a pillow on her head.


    ¡°Hi.¡±


    ¡°Good morning, Hammya. Did you sleep well?¡±


    ¡°Yes, very well, thanks for asking.¡±


    She took another step down and looked at Clementina.


    ¡°Are you okay?¡±


    ¡°Nothing, Miss Hammya. I¡¯m bored. I don¡¯t know what else to do,¡± she said, rolling onto her left and flopping face-first onto the floor. ¡°Life as a robot like me is so boring; nothing to do, nothing to see, and no one to annoy.¡±


    Europa laughed lightly and turned her attention to Hammya.


    ¡°Did you check on my son? Is he still asleep?¡±


    ¡°No, he¡¯s up already.¡±


    ¡°Well, I¡­¡±


    ¡°Wonderful,¡± interrupted Hip¨®lito, dressed like a French chef without his traditional hat. ¡°Call him for breakfast.¡±


    ¡°Right away,¡± Hammya said with a smile.


    She climbed the stairs again, approached Candado¡¯s door, and started knocking softly while saying:


    ¡°Hello, hello, hello, hello, hello, hello, hello, hello.¡±


    The door swung open, revealing Candado in a black robe, his hair wet, holding a towel around his neck. His eyes, full of annoyance, showed his patience was gone.


    ¡°What do you WANT?!¡±


    ¡°Were you busy?¡±


    ¡°I LEFT MY HOT BATH TO ANSWER YOUR BLOODY KNOCKING AND THE PAINFUL SOUND OF YOUR VOCAL CHORDS!¡±


    Candado fumed, but Hammya smiled.


    ¡°Sorry, but they¡¯re calling you, breakfast is ready.¡±


    Candado slammed the door. Just as Hammya was about to knock again, he opened it, giving her an intense look.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you dare,¡± he muttered, then closed the door. ¡°Now go away.¡±


    Candado walked back toward the bathroom.


    ¡°Need help?¡± asked a T¨ªnbari from the tub.


    ¡°Start by leaving, then I¡¯ll give more instructions.¡±


    T¨ªnbari winked his left eye, making Candado throw shampoo at him, but before it hit, T¨ªnbari vanished, and the shampoo hit the wall, spilling everywhere.


    ¡°Little rascal¡­¡±


    Meanwhile, Hammya bounced down the stairs.


    ¡°Mission accomplished; the target¡¯s been alerted. He¡¯s in the shower,¡± Hammya said, giving a mock salute.


    ¡°Well done, cadet,¡± said Europa.


    The two of them high-fived.


    ¡°Has madam returned to her childish state?¡± Clementina asked.


    ¡°Of course not. Her attitude changed dramatically when Gabriela was born,¡± said Arturo, sitting on the couch watching TV.


    ¡°Really?¡±


    ¡°Oh yes, she was very cold, but when I met her, she began to thaw slowly. When Gabriela was born, the coldness vanished,¡± Arturo said, glancing at Europa. ¡°No matter how many years pass, she¡¯s still beautiful.¡±


    ¡°I see, it must be mutual.¡±


    ¡°Of course, it is,¡± Mr. Barret said, smiling.


    At that moment, Candado came down the stairs, dressed in long red pants, brown shoes, a white shirt, a red vest, and his signature blue beret.


    "It''s cold today," Mr. Barret said sarcastically.


    "I saw it coming, so don''t worry," Candado replied, returning the jest.


    Europa and Hammya stepped out of the kitchen in perfect coordination.


    "That was quick," Hammya said, surprised.


    "When I''m not in the mood, I speed up my bath."


    "Oh, son, you''re here."


    "No, I''m upstairs¡­" Candado choked and began to sweat. "Damn, I did it without thinking."


    When he turned around, he found himself face-to-face with his mother.


    "Sorry."


    Resigned, Candado removed his beret, bowed his head, and closed his eyes. Instead of getting upset, Europa gently stroked his head.


    "There, there, it''s fine; I used to do that too."


    Candado lifted his head and put his beret back on, never taking his eyes off his mother.


    "Sorry, I''ll be more careful, Mom."


    Mrs. Barret patted Candado''s head once more and returned to the kitchen, not without winking at Hammya and giving a discreet thumbs-up.


    "I''m glad you''re in a good mood today," Grandma Andrea remarked.


    "Stay out of my mind."


    "Sorry, I can''t help it."


    Just as Candado was about to respond, his mother interrupted him.


    "Come eat."


    Everyone got up and headed to the kitchen. Candado was also preparing to go when someone knocked at the door.


    Candado stopped and looked toward the entrance, but Clementina was quicker.


    "Go eat, sir. I''ll handle it."


    Candado adjusted his beret and left the room.


    Clementina reached the door, straightened her tie, and opened it. Behind it stood a familiar, smiling face: German.


    "What are you doing here in this weather?"


    "I came because I need to see Candado."


    "Is it urgent?"


    "No, not at all," German said smoothly.


    Clementina stepped aside and let him in.


    "Come on in, the master is eating."


    "Oh, I hate to interrupt. Maybe I''ll come back later."


    "It''s no trouble; even psychopaths are welcome. Join us."


    "I''m flattered to know I have a place here."


    At that moment, Mr. Barret was returning from the bathroom.


    "Ben¨ªtez, how''s the family?" he asked, hugging German and patting him on the back.


    "I''m glad the boss finally realized he has a son."


    German always spoke bluntly, though with a smile. He had never forgiven Candado''s parents for neglecting their son.


    "Well, those days are behind us."


    "They¡¯d better be, sir," German said without losing his smile.


    "Let''s not argue here."


    "Don''t worry, Clem. I''ll graciously accept the invitation."


    "My dear, come eat," Mrs. Barret called from the kitchen.


    German, who was about to leave, stopped and looked at Clementina with a mischievous grin.


    "Is Mrs. Barret here?"


    "Of course."


    "Good."


    German closed the door and walked toward Clementina.


    "That changes everything. I accept the invitation."


    He then strolled toward the kitchen, removing his black gloves.


    "Looks like he''s going to do the same with my wife."


    "Don¡¯t doubt it, Mr. Barret. German has been wanting to do this for a while but never had the chance."


    German made a dramatic entrance, exaggerating his body language. He was in high spirits.


    "Good morning, Barret family," he said, bowing to them.


    "We''re not royalty or nobility, so please, stand up," Candado said.


    "Oh, of course, of course."


    German focused all his attention on Mrs. Barret, who smiled at him.


    "Have a seat. My table is your table."


    "Thank you, Candado."


    German sat to Candado''s right; Hammya sat on his left. No sooner had he sat down than Clementina approached, discreetly pressing something sharp to the back of his neck.


    "I¡¯ll serve you, German," she whispered in his ear. "If you dare make Mrs. Barret or Candado uncomfortable, I¡¯ll make you pay in the most cybernetic way possible."


    "Bring me a glass of water," German said, looking at her with an intimidating smile. "Please."


    Irritated, Clementina went to the kitchen. When she returned, she placed the glass beside him with a frown and sat to Mrs. Barret¡¯s right.


    "Is something wrong?" Mrs. Barret asked.


    "No, nothing, Mrs. Barret."


    Clementina gave German a warning look, to which he responded with a smile. The family was complete, except for Hip¨®lito, who wasn¡¯t built to eat, and Grandma Andrea. They enjoyed the rice stew, one of Candado''s favorite dishes. They conversed, with Hammya chattering nonsensically but making everyone laugh. Clementina, however, remained vigilant.


    After everyone had finished eating, German spoke up.


    "So¡­"


    Clementina reacted, transforming her left hand into a pellet gun.


    "So?" Candado asked.


    German closed his eyes.


    "Everyone''s happy, everyone¡¯s a family."


    "Of course," Candado replied with a smile.


    "I¡¯m glad."


    "What?"


    "Is something wrong, Clementina?" Candado asked.


    "No, nothing. Don''t worry about me."


    Clementina relaxed slightly but kept her guard up.


    "I¡¯m glad for you, Candado."


    German got up, took his plate to the kitchen, and then returned to Candado.


    "I need you to come with me, please."


    "Now?"


    "Now."


    "Is something wrong?" Mrs. Barret asked.


    "No, nothing, relax."


    Candado stood up, snapped his fingers, and his chair folded itself away. He went to the kitchen, washed his hands, and returned.


    "Alright, let''s go outside."


    "Be careful, my dear," Mrs. Barret said.


    "Don¡¯t come back late," Mr. Barret added.


    "Don¡¯t worry."


    Candado went out with German, closing the door behind him.


    "How did you know I was going to take you out of the house?"


    "I didn¡¯t know. I just wanted to be outside."


    "I see."


    Candado leaned against the lamppost by the door.


    "So, what¡¯s up?"


    German took a light blue envelope with white polka dots from his pocket.


    "This is unusual," Candado sighed as he took the letter.


    "Seems she found out about little Saillim."


    Candado squinted at German.


    "Don''t tell me."


    Then he looked at the envelope, carefully opened it, and slipped his left hand inside, pulling out a necklace with a ruby heart pendant.


    "Truth?"


    "The one with the pretty wheels."


    "Looks like she discovered something important to give me this necklace."


    "What does it mean?"


    "Sorry, but that''s something between her and me."


    "I see. So, will you go?"


    "Of course, I will." Candado put the necklace in his pocket, then opened the door. "Hammya, get dressed and come!"


    He closed the door again.


    "I see you''re handling it well."


    "Excuse me?"


    "I heard that girl is doing things right."


    "I see, good to know."


    "That sounds hollow. Is there something else?"


    "Honestly, I¡¯m scared."


    German¡¯s smile faded.


    "Scared?"


    "Honestly, her way of being is terrifying."


    German returned to his usual smile.


    "I see, don''t worry me like that. I thought it was serious."


    "What did you think?"


    "Nothing, my friend."


    "Hammya is the first person I''ve met who¡¯s noisy, annoying, stubborn, and kind¡­ and who made me deeply grateful from the bottom of my heart."


    "No doubt about it."


    At that moment, the door opened.


    "I¡¯m ready."


    Candado looked at Hammya.


    "Esmeralda, when''s your birthday?"


    "December 6th. Why?"


    "I just wanted to know. I¡¯d like to give you something special."


    "You''re giving me a gift?"


    "Maybe, or... well, I might give you something."


    "Hehe, now I have one more reason to look forward to my birthday."


    Candado turned his back, snapped his fingers, and his black leather coat flew from his window.


    "Awesome. Still impressive," German said.


    "Alright, let''s go."

 SAGRADA VERDAD

    After a long bus ride to the city of Resistencia, Candado sighed as he got off, closely followed by German, who didn¡¯t hesitate to complain.


    ¡°Candado, why did we have to come this way?¡±


    ¡°To save money.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t like public transport,¡± German said with a smile, dusting off his suit.


    Candado looked around, as if searching for something.


    ¡°Where¡¯s the¡­?¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s Ernest,¡± German pointed towards a red car approaching.


    Candado squinted, recognizing the driver.


    ¡°Alicia? What¡¯s she doing here?¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s our driver, Ernest,¡± replied German.


    ¡°I was supposed to take a cab,¡± Candado grumbled.


    ¡°Get in; it¡¯s free,¡± Hammya said, running eagerly toward the car.


    ¡°One of these days, German, mark my words: someone¡¯s going to kidnap her for being too trusting. Come on, let¡¯s go.¡±


    Candado and German hurried into the car. German took the front seat, as Alicia had forbidden it to Hammya.


    ¡°Hi, Candado, and thanks again for giving me this job,¡± Alicia said, smiling as he closed the car door.


    ¡°You¡¯re welcome,¡± replied Candado, fastening his seatbelt. He glanced at Hammya, who was pouting.


    ¡°It¡¯s not fair; I wanted the front seat,¡± she complained.


    Candado, with a barely concealed smile, took Hammya¡¯s seatbelt and fastened it for her as if she were a little kid.


    ¡°Oh, thanks¡­ wait! I could do it myself!¡± she exclaimed, annoyed.


    ¡°Be quiet,¡± he replied, then looked at Alicia. ¡°Please, drive.¡±


    ¡°Got it,¡± Alicia said, starting the car.


    A few minutes later, Alicia looked at Hammya through the rearview mirror.


    ¡°By the way, Candado, who¡¯s the girl?¡±


    ¡°Oh, she¡¯s Hammya Saillim. Hammya, this is Alicia S¨¢nchez.¡±


    ¡°Nice to meet you, green-haired girl,¡± Alicia commented, unable to ignore the detail.


    German chuckled briefly.


    ¡°Alicia has a special ability: she can sense people¡¯s emotions.¡±


    ¡°Cool, tell me, what do you see?¡± asked Hammya, intrigued.


    Candado intervened, warning her in a serious tone.


    ¡°Hammya, you made a mistake.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°She¡¯ll know all your secrets.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Candado, I¡¯ll control myself,¡± Alicia promised, though she looked at Hammya with a curious expression in her eyes.


    Alicia looked at her again in the mirror.


    ¡°Hmm¡­ your heartbeats are calm; you¡¯re a gentle person. Your primary spirit is kind, charismatic, and a little¡­ unsteady.¡±


    ¡°Nice,¡± Hammya responded, interested.


    ¡°I¡¯m not done yet. Quiet, my dear.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re twenty; don¡¯t talk like you¡¯re thirty,¡± Candado joked.


    ¡°Shhh, quiet, Candado,¡± Hammya said, gesturing for him to stop talking.


    Alicia continued.


    ¡°Your second spirit is wild, stubborn, and admirable. It¡¯s like a sea of fire, sand, and water. You¡¯re very determined when it comes to protecting your friends and family, but you struggle to face your own fears. Also¡­ oh, wow.¡±


    ¡°What? Tell me, tell me!¡± Hammya insisted.


    Alicia let out a small laugh.


    ¡°You¡¯re bold but very dependent on an important figure in your life, someone who has a reserved spot in your heart.¡±


    German looked at her through the mirror, curious.


    ¡°It¡¯s someone you admire deeply, someone you want to see happy. There¡¯s so much emotion for this person that I could spend an entire lifetime describing how you feel, and it wouldn¡¯t be enough. Who is that person you feel such a range of emotions for?¡±


    Embarrassed, Hammya rolled down the window and stuck her head out for some fresh air.


    ¡°Hey!¡± Candado shouted, grabbing her shoulders and pulling her back in. ¡°Are you crazy? It¡¯s dangerous to stick your head out with the car moving.¡±


    He watched her carefully, noticing something strange.


    ¡°Your temperature¡¯s off¡­ you¡¯re sweating a lot, and your neck and cheeks are red.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s just that¡­ it was a tough hit, a really tough one.¡±


    ¡°Sorry, I think I went too far again. I shouldn¡¯t have said so much,¡± Alicia apologized.


    ¡°No, it¡¯s my fault.¡±


    ¡°Why don¡¯t we talk about the weather?¡± suggested German, trying to steer the conversation away.


    ¡°Good idea, so¡­ the weather today is¡­¡±


    An hour of trivial conversation later, the car arrived at their destination: a grand white mansion, elegant but not excessive.


    The car stopped in front of the entrance.


    ¡°We¡¯re here,¡± Candado murmured, looking out the window.


    ¡°Great observation,¡± Hammya quipped, teasing him.


    Without saying a word, Candado gently pinched her cheek with his left hand, not taking his eyes off the window.


    ¡°I see you¡¯ve become more cheeky,¡± he commented, smiling as he kept her face trapped in his hand.


    Hammya squirmed and tried to break free while German and Alicia watched the scene with amusement.


    ¡°Thank you for bringing us,¡± said German, grateful.


    ¡°It¡¯s the least I can do,¡± Alicia replied warmly. ¡°I still have a lot to thank you for.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re exaggerating,¡± Candado replied, still pinching Hammya¡¯s cheeks.


    ¡°Let go, boor!¡± she complained, rubbing her cheeks.


    ¡°Of course.¡± Candado stretched her cheeks once more, then released her.


    Candado got out of the car and walked toward the entrance of the house. Hammya followed, still touching her face where he¡¯d pressed with his fingers.


    ¡°Sorry¡­¡± Hammya said quietly.


    He looked at her in silence, then removed the glove from his right hand, showing his palm. He lifted his hand to his chin and pressed his fingers against his skin firmly.


    ¡°Candado¡­¡±


    He raised his left hand, signaling her not to continue. Then he removed his hand from his chin, revealing several marks. Just then, German got out of the car and was about to join them when Alicia stopped him.


    ¡°Hey, the person she holds in her heart¡­ is it him?¡± she asked with a smile.


    ¡°Who knows?¡± German replied, also smiling.


    ¡°Well, I bet it is, then.¡±


    ¡°Interesting bet. See you later.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll take a few spins around the area. Call me when you¡¯re done.¡±


    ¡°I will.¡±


    ¡°Bye.¡±


    Alicia rolled up the window and drove away.


    At that moment, the house door opened, and a bald man with a mustache and glasses appeared. Seeing Candado, he looked surprised.


    ¡°Well, Candado, what a surprise,¡± then noticed the bruises on his face. ¡°What happened to you?¡±


    ¡°I got hurt.¡±


    ¡°Oh, my goodness, come in,¡± he then looked at Hammya and German. ¡°You two as well, come in.¡±


    Once inside, the man took Candado by the hand and led him to the kitchen.


    ¡°I¡¯ll give you something to reduce the swelling.¡±


    ¡°Oh? Okay.¡±


    Meanwhile, German approached Hammya and placed a hand on her shoulder.


    ¡°Come with me.¡±


    German led her to the living room, a large space decorated with great luxury.


    ¡°Have you been here before?¡± Hammya asked.


    ¡°Yes, I don¡¯t like it, but yes.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m surprised to hear you say that.¡±


    ¡°Having a bad attitude makes things more complicated for everyone; it leads us to make bad decisions, and consequently, unpleasant choices.¡±


    ¡°But¡­¡±


    ¡°Yes?¡±


    ¡°You never stop smiling. Why?¡±


    ¡°Who knows? Smiling is what¡¯s given me strength.¡±


    ¡°Strength?¡±


    ¡°Or maybe laziness, I don¡¯t know. I don¡¯t have a tragic story,¡± German said, picking up a newspaper that was on the table.


    Hammya noticed a scar on his face and was about to ask about it but held back, always wondering why it looked so much like a four.


    ¡°Hey, sorry, but I overheard you arguing with Candado¡¯s father.¡±


    ¡°Oh, you have a good ear, especially since I did it in a place where our voices shouldn¡¯t have been heard from the kitchen.¡±


    ¡°Well, my mom¡­ Mrs. Barret, told me to wash my hands before eating, but when I came back from the bathroom, I heard your conversation. I thought you were going to argue with him because of the way you addressed him.¡±


    ¡°A striking mistake, but I wanted to, really. I wanted to give him a lecture, but I held back because Candado was happy; it would¡¯ve been annoying and impractical.¡±Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.


    ¡°Happy? He had the same serious expression as always at the table.¡±


    ¡°His voice wasn¡¯t harsh or hard as it usually is. It was soft and calm, and he even smiled during the conversation.¡±


    ¡°So?¡±


    ¡°If Candado is happy, there¡¯s no need to make a fuss¡­ for now.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°I still want to give Europa a lecture. I¡¯ll wait for the right moment.¡±


    ¡°To do what?¡± Candado interrupted, entering with a few small bandages.


    ¡°Nothing, it¡¯s personal.¡±


    ¡°All right, let¡¯s go. Hammya, don¡¯t stray from me.¡±


    ¡°Where¡¯s the lady of the house?¡± German asked.


    ¡°In the garden, watering.¡±


    ¡°The plants?¡± Hammya asked, innocently.


    Candado shut his eyes tightly.


    (Control yourself, pretend she didn¡¯t say that.)


    ¡°Anyway, it¡¯s time. I¡¯d like to finish up so we can return home as soon as possible,¡± Candado said, looking at his watch.


    ¡°Sure, whatever you say,¡± German replied.


    Candado gave a signal with his cap, and German, understanding immediately, nodded. Hammya, however, didn¡¯t understand the gesture but went along with the atmosphere.


    The trio climbed up to the second floor, arriving at Holy¡¯s room. The door was finely crafted from soft salmon-colored wood.


    "Get ready, Emerald," German whispered to Hammya.


    Candado knocked on the door.


    ¡°Come in.¡±


    The door opened on its own, granting them entry.


    The room was large, resembling a living room more than a bedroom. It had only one window, a massive one covered with a white curtain spanning its entire length. There was also a glass door leading out to the balcony. The decor was childlike, filled with stuffed animals, toys, and pink wallpaper featuring a large red heart in the center. In the midst of it all, seated in a wheelchair, was Sara de Holy Truth¡ªa young woman with black hair, red eyes, and dressed in a white nightgown.


    ¡°Good morning, Candado, German, and Hammya. I¡¯ve been expecting you.¡±


    Candado placed a hand on Hammya¡¯s shoulder, holding her back a little.


    ¡°You¡¯re persistent, Sara. On a day like today¡­¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry to disturb your rest, but I couldn¡¯t wait.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re quite spoiled, Miss Sara,¡± German said, stepping forward.


    ¡°German, as arrogant as ever.¡±


    ¡°Enough with the bickering,¡± Candado interrupted. ¡°I¡¯m here, Sara. What exactly do you want?¡±


    ¡°I just wanted to see her.¡±


    ¡°Told you¡­¡± German whispered to Candado.


    ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°I only wanted to greet someone like her.¡±


    Candado raised an eyebrow.


    ¡°How do you know that?¡± German asked, a faint smile forming.


    ¡°First, show us your true form,¡± Candado ordered.


    Sara raised an eyebrow, reclining in her wheelchair with a slight smile.


    ¡°If Candado asks, then I¡¯ll comply.¡±


    Instantly, Sara¡¯s skin began to turn blue, and two small horns, like those of an elk, emerged from her head. Her teeth transformed into sharp fangs like a shark¡¯s, while her eyelids and parts of her temples turned white. A black eclipsed sun appeared on her forehead, and a pointed tail, resembling a lizard¡¯s, sprouted from her lower back.


    ¡°It feels good to show myself to you all. Pretending for so long is exhausting,¡± Sara said, relaxing.


    Hammya looked at her, wide-eyed in a mix of awe and horror.


    ¡°What are you?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m like you¡­ a monster.¡±


    ¡°Hammya isn¡¯t like that, Sara,¡± German interjected.


    ¡°Oh, yes she is, German. She¡¯s just like me.¡±


    ¡°Sara!¡± Candado shouted angrily.


    Hammya gently placed her hand on his shoulder, calming him down. Candado took a deep breath, composed himself, and cleared his throat before continuing.


    ¡°Don¡¯t call her that.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not the one calling her that,¡± Sara retorted. ¡°You humans call us that: me, Krauser, the nameless one, Luis, Grenia¡­ and who knows how many more.¡±


    ¡°I am not them, don¡¯t get confused. I¡¯m neither society nor humanity; I speak only for myself. I¡¯ve never used that word with you or anyone else.¡±


    Sara looked at him, impressed.


    ¡°You¡¯ve always been someone interesting, Candado, but the conversation is with her.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t provoke me, Miss Truth,¡± German said, stepping forward with an ironic smile. ¡°Only someone reckless would dare speak to Candado like that in my presence.¡±


    Sara smiled coolly.


    ¡°That was clear the first time we met, seventh monster.¡±


    German¡¯s smile faded, replaced by a serious expression.


    ¡°Don¡¯t provoke me.¡±


    Hammya took a step forward.


    ¡°Please, I don¡¯t want you to fight.¡±


    Sara tilted her head, observing her intently.


    ¡°Where did you find her, Candado?¡± she asked curiously.


    Hammya continued walking toward her.


    ¡°Do you know who I am?¡± Hammya asked.


    ¡°Of course, but as I said, the conversation is with you. For that reason, I¡¯d ask the gentlemen to leave.¡±


    ¡°Not a chance,¡± Candado responded, crossing his arms.


    Hammya turned and looked directly into his eyes.


    ¡°Please, Candado¡­ I want to know. Go,¡± she asked with a calm smile. ¡°I¡¯ll be fine.¡±


    Candado relaxed his expression and cast a warning glance at Sara.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry; she¡¯ll be fine,¡± T¨ªnbari¡¯s voice whispered in his mind.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go, German. We¡¯re leaving,¡± Candado said with resignation.


    They both headed to the door. Candado opened it, let German pass, and gave one last look at Hammya, who returned his gaze with confidence.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± she whispered. ¡°I¡¯ll be fine.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry; leave now,¡± T¨ªnbari whispered again.


    Candado closed the door behind him.


    ¡°Well then,¡± Hammya asked, turning to Sara with determination, ¡°who am I?¡±


    Sara smiled.


    Meanwhile, outside the room.


    Candado and German waited in silence, watching the door.


    ¡°So, now what, Ernest?¡± German asked.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go outside for a bit. I need some air.¡±


    Candado shoved his hands into his pockets and started down the stairs, German following. Once outside, they sat on the edge of the curb.


    ¡°What do you think they¡¯re talking about?¡± German asked, closing his eyes with a smile.


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure. Maybe she¡¯s telling her about her true nature, why she¡¯s different from others.¡±


    ¡°Really? I thought Hammya already had a sense of self-worth.¡±


    ¡°Just because she values herself doesn¡¯t mean she isn¡¯t curious about who she is and why.¡±


    ¡°Makes sense. Maybe it¡¯s something new about her.¡±


    Candado smirked slightly.


    ¡°The other day, she told me her body changes with the seasons. In summer, her hair is a bright green; in fall and winter, it turns reddish, the same with her eyebrows and eyelids. In spring, her hair returns to its natural color.¡±


    German chuckled, looking up at the sky.


    ¡°Curious girl. That¡¯s quite a novelty.¡±


    ¡°Indeed.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s funny that her hair color remains the same, even though it was different when we first met her.¡±


    ¡°She says it depends on the climate. Lucas ran a blood test at her request, concerned like a woman worried about her cycle.¡±


    ¡°Good grief.¡±


    ¡°It turns out she has antibodies similar to ivy, so she¡¯s a bit more resistant to autumn and the cold.¡±


    ¡°I see, but why now?¡±


    ¡°Apparently, recent stress has caused her hair to lose chlorophyll. Unlike us, who lose hair or go gray under stress, her hair fades faster, in a matter of hours or days if the stress is severe or persistent.¡±


    ¡°I understand, but I don¡¯t see much of a difference.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s dyed it, wears contact lenses, and uses eyebrow highlighter. She¡¯s embarrassed to be seen like this. Last week, her hair started fading and turned red; it looked like a ruby, just like her eyes.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s more like a tree than anything else.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve noticed that. Her powers weaken in winter, and she drinks lots of water and takes long showers. She¡¯s likely very vulnerable to the cold.¡±


    ¡°She has it rough.¡±


    ¡°No, she loves hot baths. The water bill has doubled, but it¡¯s nothing we can¡¯t manage. She¡¯s lucky we can afford those expenses.¡±


    ¡°Good thing you¡¯re disgustingly rich. I often wonder why you still live here.¡±


    ¡°Money doesn¡¯t matter; we barely use it. The clothes we wear are handmade by my mother, father, Hip¨®lito, my grandparents, and Clementina, using fabric from our own fields. Our food comes from family estates. We only use money to pay employees. Profits are split equally between the company and the workers. Fuel isn¡¯t an issue since we only use it for my parents¡¯ car. Our workers use their powers for the harvest, so we don¡¯t rely on it.¡±


    ¡°That was more information than I needed.¡±


    ¡°I know.¡±


    ¡°Oh, you wanted to show off.¡±


    ¡°Maybe.¡±


    ¡°So?¡±


    ¡°Just for fun.¡±


    German laughed.


    ¡°You know something?¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°Joaqu¨ªn got information about the girl. Why didn¡¯t you meet with him?¡±


    ¡°I thought it would be better if she told me about her past.¡±


    ¡°Did you know he¡¯s annoyed?¡±


    ¡°I gave him a box of chocolates.¡±


    ¡°He doesn¡¯t like chocolates.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s why I gave them to him.¡±


    Candado and German shared a laugh.


    ¡°I hope nothing bad happens to her,¡± Candado said, checking his watch.


    Just as German was about to say something else, a ball flew toward them. Without taking his eyes off his watch, Candado caught it midair.


    ¡°It¡¯s barely 10:00 a.m.¡±


    He lowered the ball.


    "Nice reflexes, Ernest."


    "Thanks."


    From a distance, a young boy with dark skin, dressed in a school uniform and with black hair, came running up.


    "Sorry! That was an accident."


    Candado and German stood up.


    "Hey, Candado."


    "Do we know each other?"


    "Oh, sorry." The boy took the ball from Candado''s hands and shook his hand. "I''m Erick Gomez. I passed by here the other day. A few blocks from here, you defended a kid."


    "Honestly, I didn¡¯t pay attention to those around me."


    "Don¡¯t worry."


    Candado looked him up and down.


    "So, Gomez... good to know."


    Erick laughed, slightly nervous.


    "I see."


    "No need to be nervous, kid. Candado doesn¡¯t bite." German gave Candado a look. "Yet."


    "Says the dog."


    "Werewolf."


    "Same thing."


    "Excuse me."


    "Oh, what is it, Erick?"


    "Do you happen to know Sara?"


    Candado glanced over his shoulder.


    "Oh." He turned back to the boy. "Why do you ask?"


    "It¡¯s just... it¡¯s unusual for Sara to talk to people. She only has two friends: me and Cantero."


    "The dawn witch."


    "She¡¯s not a witch, German. She¡¯s just... a humanitarian spirit."


    "Oh, fantastic, another Samaritan," he said with a sarcastic grin.


    "Anyway, what if I am friends with Sara?"


    "Please, be kind to her, Candado."


    "This kid has the wrong idea about her personality."


    "It¡¯s fine; I don¡¯t plan on being rude to her."


    "Bravo, sir, bravo," German praised with obvious insincerity.


    "Cut it out."


    At that moment, the door opened, and Hammya stepped out with a smile.


    "You guys are here?"


    "(Ignore his idiocy, ignore his idiocy)" thought Candado.


    "Of course. Can¡¯t you see us here, miss?" German asked in a teasing tone.


    "Oh, right. Silly me."


    "More than that," he continued with, "Is everything fine in there?"


    "Yeah."


    "I have to head home, sorry," Erick interrupted.


    "Oh, alright." Candado shook his hand. "See you later."


    "Goodbye, sir. It¡¯s been a pleasure."


    Erick said his goodbyes to Hammya and German politely, then ran off with his ball.


    "Nice kid," Hammya commented.


    "Yeah, he is¡ªsuch an idealist," German remarked, watching the boy walk away before turning back to Hammya. "So? What did she say?"


    "It''s a secret."


    "Wow, no surprise there, huh?"


    Candado smirked at German¡¯s remark.


    "Might be an interesting secret. Bet I know the answer."


    Hammya looked slightly surprised.


    "Should¡¯ve guessed."


    Candado yawned.


    "Should¡¯ve guessed," Hammya whispered.


    Thirty minutes earlier.


    "Who am I?"


    "Honestly, it¡¯s incredible; your organism, your cells, everything is very different from me and other humans."


    "How do you know that?"


    "It¡¯s in my nature. But putting that aside, let¡¯s address what you want to know."


    Hammya nodded.


    "The scent you give off isn¡¯t common around here. You probably smelled stronger before. Must be from being surrounded by humans."


    "What?"


    "Hammya."


    "Yes?"


    "Do you really want to know?"


    "Yes."


    "You¡¯re not human, nor are you from this planet. You¡¯re from Coleriam."


    Hammya sighed, relieved, though unconsciously.


    "You don¡¯t seem very shocked, do you?"


    "Oh, about that, I already knew."


    Sara smiled.


    "Well, looks like I didn¡¯t get the reaction I wanted."


    Hammya laughed softly.


    "Well, since there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯ll be going."


    Hammya turned and started toward the door.


    "How long do you plan on fooling Candado?"


    Hammya''s hand froze just before reaching the doorknob, and a light sweat appeared on her forehead.


    "I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about."


    "I¡¯ll just warn you of one thing: the lie you¡¯re carrying is very good, but also very fragile. Keep that in mind, Miss Hammya."


    Back to the present.


    "Emerald."


    "What?" Hammya asked, startled.


    "Lost in thought again?"


    "Sorry, Candado."


    "Whatever. Do you want it or not?"


    "Want what?"


    "Food. What else would I be talking about?"


    "Sorry, I wasn¡¯t paying attention."


    Candado made a face; he was annoyed, but then he calmed himself. He¡¯d noticed something about her, something that left him both concerned and astonished. He pulled his hands out of his pockets and walked up to her.


    "What¡¯s wrong?" He then took a step back. "What is it?"


    Candado raised his left hand and moved closer to Hammya¡¯s face, making her close her eyes.


    "Sorry for not paying attention," she apologized, terrified.


    But, unexpectedly for her, she felt Candado¡¯s hand on her cheek.


    Hammya opened her eyes and saw Candado studying her intently.


    "Don¡¯t move."


    Then Candado closed his eyes for a moment and reopened them, his gaze now entirely violet.


    "Something wrong?" German asked.


    Candado¡¯s eyes returned to normal.


    "Let¡¯s go home."


    "What? Why?"


    "You¡¯re sick, Hammya. If we don¡¯t get home right now, you¡¯ll get worse."


    "The eyes of terror, right?"


    "Of course not, German. It¡¯s one of the few abilities I¡¯ve gained."


    "Alright, I¡¯ll call Alicia," German said, pulling out his phone.


    "Candado, I¡¯m fine."


    "You won¡¯t be saying that in fifteen seconds."


    "But¡ª"


    "Don¡¯t argue with me. Your immune system is weak in the cold."


    "That¡¯s not true."


    At that precise moment, Hammya¡¯s hair turned black.


    "[¡­] Oh, and make it quick."


    "I told you."


    "No way, my hair!"


    German pocketed his phone and walked over to them.


    "Well, well. You¡¯re acting like a tree, but you never mentioned it was red."


    "I¡¯m wondering about that too."


    "You told him?"


    "Of course."


    Hammya covered her face, embarrassed.


    "My hair."


    "You said before that no matter what dye you used, it always turned green."


    "That''s true."


    "That¡­ shouldn¡¯t change just because it''s winter, right? It¡¯s the same situation."


    "¡­"


    "I suppose this is the first time you''ve tried this method, not realizing the result would be the same."


    "¡­" Hammya averted her gaze.


    "Fool."


    "You took the words right out of my mouth, German."


    "ENOUGH! Stop making fun of me. I forgot about that detail. I thought it would be different this time, but it lasted long enough."


    "Five hours."


    "That¡¯s a lot."


    "How long did it last before?"


    "An hour."


    "I guess when it¡¯s cold, your color change is slower than it is in summer," German speculated.


    Hammya began to cough.


    "And now you¡¯re going to keel over because you probably used all your energy to get back to your natural color," Candado pronounced.


    Hammya took a deep breath and exhaled.


    "I''m fine."


    "Your face is red."


    "It¡¯s nothing serious."


    "Oh, here comes Alicia," German interrupted, then waved his right arm in the air, shouting, "ALICIAAAA!"


    The car stopped in front of them, the door opened, and Alicia honked the horn.


    "Alicia Corporation Taxi Service," she continued, singing, "Ra, ra, ra, ra, Germ-an, man, man, man, ra, ra, man, man, man, ra, man, man, ra, ra, ger, ger, ger, man, man¡­"


    German joined in.


    "[¡­] Ra, ra, ra, ger, ger, ger, man, ra, ra, ra, man, man, ger, ger, man, man¡­"


    "Get in the damn car, German."


    "Sorry, Ern¨¦st," he apologized as he obeyed, still smiling.


    Hammya laughed at the scene but soon began to cough again.


    "Oh, what happened to your hair?"


    "It faded."


    Alicia let out a whistle.


    "Get in."


    Candado took her hand and helped her into the car.


    "Take us home, please."


    "Your wish is my command, ra, ra, ra, ger, ger, ger, [¡­]."


    German joined in again.


    "Ra, ra, ra, ger, ger, ger, man, man, ra, ger, man, ra, ra, ra, ger, ger, man, ger, ger, man, ger, ger, man, [¡­]."


    "This is going to be hell," Candado muttered, resting his head as he gazed out the window.


    Hammya began clapping along to the beat of their improvised song, smiling. Candado glanced over, catching her at the moment she started clapping, and couldn¡¯t help but smile.


    Noticing him watching her, Hammya decided to ask.


    "What''s up?"


    "Nothing."


    "Nothing?"


    Hammya started coughing again.


    "Exactly, little onyx."


    German and Alicia burst out laughing.


    "What? What¡¯s an onyx?"


    "Why not a carbonado?" German asked, laughing harder. "A black diamond from Brazil."


    "Don¡¯t be mean."


    "Sorry, Miss Onyx," Alicia teased.


    German exploded in laughter.


    "Hey! Don¡¯t be like that."


    Candado started laughing too. His laughter made them all stop and look at him, stunned, as he continued laughing. Alicia was surprised, German glanced at his friend for a moment before relaxing in his seat with his usual smile. As for Hammya, seeing Candado¡¯s joy made her feel happy, so much that she laughed along with him, sharing in that joy. German and Alicia exchanged a knowing look.


    "Victory," they whispered together.

 AFTEREFFECTS

    That same afternoon, Ruccim¨¦nkagri left her house and began strolling through the area.


    ¡°Don¡¯t go too far,¡± Logan said.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± she replied with a smile.


    Ruccim¨¦nkagri walked until she reached a field, as she was responsible for nourishing nature once a month. She sat on a stone and began to recite words in the language of nature, or at least that¡¯s how humans would describe it. She called it "Kray¡¯norf¨ªa," which in English meant ¡°Clear and Calm,¡± a way of preserving nutrients and encouraging the healthy growth of trees, plants, and flowers.


    That day, like many before, was cold, and to protect herself, she wore a poncho. Her hair, made of leaves that were now nearly all red, her feet, formed from roots, and her arms, made of stone, helped shield her from the chill. This was her attire for the cold.


    Sitting there, she finished her ritual just as she had begun it.


    ¡°Kray¡¯norf¨ªa.¡±


    At that moment, she heard footsteps approaching.


    ¡°I¡¯m glad to see you here.¡±


    Ruccim¨¦nkagri opened her eyes and turned her head.


    ¡°Sof¨ªa Ibarra Zapir¨®n.¡±


    ¡°Once again, thank you for giving me a place to stay.¡±


    ¡°I knew Candado would help you. After all, people may say what they want, but he would never abandon someone in need.¡±


    ¡°Thank you.¡±


    ¡°Also, it¡¯s a gesture of gratitude. Thanks for teaching me to use my magic. This staff has been truly helpful.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re welcome. But¡­ is something wrong?¡±


    ¡°No, not really. I just came to visit you, Gabriel Teacher.¡±


    ¡°About that¡­ I had to have a last name and middle name.¡±


    ¡°I noticed.¡±


    ¡°You can¡¯t fool me, Ibarra. I know you¡¯re hiding something more.¡±


    Sof¨ªa¡¯s expression turned serious.


    ¡°The Witnesses have set fire to the city of Buenos Aires.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m aware.¡±


    ¡°They¡¯ve also been making many union leaders disappear lately. They vanish one day, and the next their mutilated bodies are found. Strangely, it looks like the work of a single individual. I¡¯m quite certain it¡¯s Desza.¡±


    ¡°That boy. I feel sorry for what happened to him¡­¡±


    ¡°Yes? He¡¯s the one whose powers Candado stripped away.¡±


    ¡°Candado, Arce, and C¨¦sar.¡±


    ¡°You know them?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I know them. Are you done?¡±


    ¡°No, I¡¯d like to discuss something.¡±


    ¡°What about?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Ruccim¨¦nkagri closed her eyes for a moment.


    ¡°All right,¡± she then opened them. ¡°Let¡¯s talk.¡±


    Candado was sitting on his bed, a heater on his desk, playing a video game his parents had given him. He¡¯d made it home without trouble; Alicia had bid him and Hammya farewell and offered to drive Germ¨¢n home.


    ¡°Ugh, how boring.¡±


    Candado dropped the controller; he¡¯d finished the game in two hours. He stood up and headed to Hammya¡¯s room, where he found Clementina outside the door.


    ¡°Oh, young¡­¡±


    ¡°Master, yes, I know how this goes: you bother me, I yell; you tease me, I yell again, and we go back to the usual.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°So, what are you doing here?¡±


    ¡°Miss Hammya is being looked after by Europa; her cold has left her unable to move.¡±


    ¡°And why are you here?¡± Candado asked coolly.


    ¡°To keep you or any other male from crossing this door.¡±


    Candado stared at her, expressionless.


    ¡°Clementina.¡±


    ¡°Yes?¡±


    ¡°You know all the doors in this house have locks.¡±


    ¡°Ever since Gabriela and Facundo became¡­ very close, yes.¡±


    ¡°That wasn¡¯t necessary to mention,¡± he sighed. ¡°I know when a human lies, but not when a machine does. However, knowing the door locks from the inside, there¡¯s no need for a ¡®bodyguard.¡¯¡±


    ¡°What do you mean by that?¡±


    ¡°Here I see two possibilities. First, Hammya is so scatterbrained that she forgot the door locks and asked you to stand guard, and you, finding the situation amusing, agreed without hesitation.¡±


    ¡°The second?¡± Clementina asked, holding back laughter.


    ¡°That you two are plotting something, and I don¡¯t like it.¡±


    Candado placed his hand on the doorknob, but Clementina placed her hand over his.


    ¡°Girl stuff.¡±


    ¡°How I wish you were here.¡±


    ¡°Step back, sir, or I¡¯ll be forced to use force.¡±


    ¡°Want an alfajor?¡±


    ¡°You won¡¯t bribe me with that.¡±


    ¡°A box of alfajores?¡±


    ¡°Deal,¡± then she glanced at the door and closed her eyes. ¡°Sorry, Miss.¡±


    Candado reached into his pocket and pulled out a red key, then handed it to her.


    ¡°You know where it is?¡±


    ¡°Of course I do.¡±


    Clementina skipped away happily.


    Candado looked at the door, placed his hand back on the doorknob, and carefully opened it.


    ¡°What the¡­?¡± he then opened the door wider. ¡°HAMMYA!¡± Candado shouted.


    ¡°Ahhhhhhhhhh!¡±


    Candado had reason to yell: the girl was straining her body to levitate, which was raising her fever dramatically. Her clothes were damp with sweat. Noticing Candado¡¯s presence, Hammya was startled and fell to the floor.


    Candado quickly helped her up, supporting her on his shoulder.


    ¡°So this was what you were trying to hide from me?¡±


    ¡°I was¡­ testing something¡­¡±


    ¡°Heavens, you¡¯re burning up,¡± Candado said, removing his glove and placing his hand on her forehead.


    ¡°That¡¯s why I stationed Clementina at the door,¡± she replied, starting to cough.


    ¡°You need a bath, and fast.¡±


    Candado led her to the bathtub.


    ¡°I can do it alone.¡±


    ¡°Oh, no, no, no, no. This bathroom has a window big enough for you to escape.¡±


    ¡°Damn,¡± Hammya murmured.


    ¡°What did you say?¡±


    ¡°Pervert.¡±


    Candado grabbed her cheek and gave a gentle tug.


    ¡°It hurts; I¡¯m sick.¡±


    ¡°Too bad.¡±


    Candado settled her in the tub. Then, with his ungloved index finger, he blew softly, creating a small flame. He placed his finger on her forehead, and the flame disappeared.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    Candado responded with a clap, leaving Hammya in only her underwear.


    ¡°What are you¡­?! ¡ª[hit by a sponge the size of her face].¡±


    ¡°Now bathe,¡± Candado said, turning on the warm water and closing the curtain before sitting on a nearby stool.


    Hammya removed the sponge from her face and threw it away.


    ¡°I could¡¯ve done it alone. You¡¯re a pervert.¡±


    Candado flushed the toilet.


    ¡°AHHHHHHHHHH! IT¡¯S HOT!¡±


    ¡°Stop whining. It¡¯ll warm up again.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not good for me.¡±


    ¡°Bathe.¡±


    Hammya pressed her body against the wall to avoid the cold water.


    ¡°How did you get Clem to agree?¡±


    ¡°I bribed her with alfajores.¡±


    ¡°Our friendship means nothing.¡±


    ¡°Exactly.¡±


    ¡°THAT¡¯S CRUEL!¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t shout; you¡¯re sick.¡±


    Hammya calmed down, submerging herself in the tub while turning off the water.


    ¡°You¡¯re still here?¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t you have other things to do?¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°Can I bathe alone?¡±


    ¡°If the bathroom didn¡¯t have a window, I¡¯d leave.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not going to escape.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re lying.¡±


    ¡°Really.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re lying.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not lying.¡±This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it


    ¡°You are.¡±


    Hammya splashed the water.


    ¡°How do you know?¡±


    ¡°Practice.¡±


    ¡°Oh¡­¡±


    ¡°Also, someone telling the truth doesn¡¯t give up and ask how I know they¡¯re lying.¡±


    Hammya slapped the water.


    ¡°You didn¡¯t think of that, did you?¡±


    ¡°I hate you.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re lying.¡±


    ¡°Stop doing that.¡±


    At that moment, Hammya had the idea to try it again, using the curtain as a shield, raising her hand in the air.


    ¡°You¡¯d better not try the same thing here, or I¡¯ll pull back the curtain and watch you directly.¡±


    Hammya lowered her arm, resigned.


    ¡°Why do you insist? Since you arrived, you¡¯ve wanted to do that. If it weren¡¯t for Mom finding you lying on the ground, you¡¯d be much worse off.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°What did Sara tell you?¡±


    Hammya sighed.


    ¡°Nothing.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s a half-truth.¡±


    ¡°Analyze it, Sherlock.¡±


    ¡°She gave you information, but it wasn¡¯t what you expected.¡±


    ¡°Correct.¡±


    A few hours earlier¡­


    ¡°To be honest, I¡¯m somewhat surprised you already know, but I suppose you¡¯re also aware that your powers are similar to Candado¡¯s.¡±


    ¡°What? No, no, no. You must be mistaken.¡±


    ¡°Your powers, the same ones I feel now, are almost identical to Candado¡¯s; they¡¯re on the same frequency as the meteor from a hundred years ago. You¡¯re like a pioneer, only much stronger than him.¡±


    ¡°What? Impossible.¡±


    ¡°But what I sense is true.¡±


    ¡°But¡­¡±


    ¡°However, like Candado, you harbor a second life within you, though yours seems more like a guardian than anything else.¡±


    ¡°A guardian?¡±


    ¡°Something like that; it¡¯s the same one you used to defend Candado once and also when you attacked him. Your origin is from another place, outside this planet; you¡¯re neither human nor a reborn like me. You¡¯re different. Your powers will reveal more in time. From the moment we¡¯re born, our second soul already holds memories.¡±


    ¡°Will I be able to know them?¡±


    ¡°As you are now, no, but with time, you¡¯ll learn to control it. Your abilities are exquisite, Hammya. You can understand any language.¡±


    In that moment, she remembered a conversation with Declan.


    "Don¡¯t listen to him; he¡¯s a durubu."


    "It¡¯s ¡®d¨²r,¡¯ Viki, and no, that¡¯s not true."


    "Whatever, you¡¯re an idiot who talks funny."


    "And you¡¯re a t¨¢ t¨² le muc an¡ªhorrid."


    Viki became flustered as Declan spoke in Irish. Hammya''s eyes sparkled.


    "You''re a horrid pig."


    "What? I¡¯m defending you here!"


    "No, that''s not what you think. That¡¯s what he said, in English."


    "How did that happen?"


    "The situation stirred something deep in your power. You thought it made you unique and tried to keep it a secret. Big mistake, because when you don¡¯t use your power, it lies dormant. That¡¯s what¡¯s happening to you now."


    "Does that mean¡­ I need to use magic to know my past?"


    "Exactly. It might work, or it might not."


    Present


    "I see, that¡¯s what he said."


    "Yes, I thought that if I pushed my body, I¡¯d get everything I needed... a memory or something."


    "Hammya."


    "Yes?"


    "Where does that name come from?"


    "My father gave it to me. He said he saw it on a necklace."


    "No trouble at school because of it?"


    "No, no one cared about my name. However..."


    "However?"


    "Nothing, forget it."


    Candado stood up and walked toward the door.


    "Candado?"


    "I''ll be in my room."


    "But what about keeping watch?"


    "I¡¯ll trust you not to climb out the window."


    Then Candado closed the door behind him and leaned back against it.


    "What was that feeling?"


    He looked at the ceiling for a moment, then rubbed his face with his gloved right hand. But as he took a step forward, he suddenly dropped to his knees and covered his mouth. Through the gaps between his fingers, a red liquid began to trickle, dripping to the floor.


    "No, no, no, no, no."


    He tried to hold back everything in his throat, attempting to swallow the blood in his mouth. But it was in vain; he couldn¡¯t hold it, and so he rushed back to the bathroom.


    ¡°You¡¯re back.¡±


    Ignoring her, Candado quickly kneeled in front of the toilet, letting go of everything in his mouth.


    ¡°Candado, are you alright?¡± Hammya asked, wrapping herself in a towel and getting up.


    "NO!... Don¡¯t move that curtain. I don¡¯t want you looking at me; it would hurt your eyes."


    "Oh, come on, it''s not..."


    "HAMMYA!"


    The girl¡¯s hand froze just before touching the curtain.


    "Are you alright?"


    The sink faucet turned on.


    "Of course I¡¯m alright," Candado said, breathing heavily.


    Despite his answer, Hammya moved the curtain just a few inches and peeked at him. What she saw left her stunned: in just five seconds, she captured the image of him reflected in the mirror. Candado had blood smeared across his lips, and his left eye was entirely yellow. The sight frightened her, and she quickly hid again.


    ¡°Girl.¡±


    ¡°Yes?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll be in my room. If you need anything, ask Clementina. I¡¯ll be busy.¡± Then he muttered with a wince, ¡°It burns.¡±


    ¡°Candado.¡±


    ¡°Hmm?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t overexert yourself.¡±


    Candado looked at the curtain that separated them, noticing a small gap through which he guessed she had spied on him¡ªa fact that amused him slightly. But unable to confirm it, the answer remained ambiguous. Then he reached his right hand into his pocket while grabbing the doorknob with the other.


    ¡°When you¡¯re finished, get back to bed.¡±


    ¡°What...?¡± she wondered, surprised by that comment.


    With that, Candado left the bathroom and headed to his room, opening the door smoothly and closing it behind him.


    ¡°My Isidro¡­¡± he said, leaning against the door.


    Then he walked over to the mirror and stared at himself.


    ¡°You¡¯re rotten, Candado,¡± he murmured, giving a wry smile. ¡°Where are you, T¨ªnbari?¡±


    Candado placed his hand over his left eye, now completely black.


    ¡°I don¡¯t like any of this, Candado.¡±


    Hearing that voice, he turned around in alarm, only to see T¨ªnbari standing there, hands behind his back, surrounded by dark smoke.


    ¡°I thought you¡¯d make a joke.¡±


    ¡°The spell is advancing rapidly; there¡¯s no time for humor.¡±


    Candado¡¯s smile turned sadistic.


    ¡°I don¡¯t care.¡±


    ¡°Candado, this is serious. Don¡¯t play dumb; your life¡¯s at stake.¡±


    ¡°T¨ªnbari, my life has always been at stake. Since I entered your sphere, I was aware that every second could be my last. In fact, I did die. But I took the risk anyway. Being numb to what happens to me means I¡¯ve seen the face of death many times¡ªand not necessarily yours, T¨ªnbari. I¡¯ve only seen two Baris in my life, well, heard of one, but it¡¯s something that cures you of fear.¡±


    ¡°Candado¡­¡±


    ¡°However, it¡¯s necessary to keep the secret from the others.¡±


    ¡°How do you plan to hide this change?¡±


    Candado went to his drawer and took out a wicker sewing kit.


    ¡°With art, anything is possible.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll make an eye patch. A pretty cool one.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t like your attitude, Candado.¡±


    ¡°Nor do I like yours. So we¡¯re even.¡±


    Candado sat at his desk, beginning to choose a fabric for his patch.


    ¡°Day by day, you grow weaker, and you show not a shred of concern.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re the one who turned me into this.¡±


    ¡°No, you did.¡±


    With those words, T¨ªnbari vanished, a disappointed look on his face.


    ¡°Demonto...¡± Candado muttered as he continued sewing.


    Meanwhile, in the living room, Clementina was sitting on the couch with Karen on her lap, watching TV and sharing a box of alfajores with the baby.


    "See, little miss? That one is identical to your brother."


    Karen clapped, displaying a demeanor strikingly similar to her brother''s.


    "It seems it''s hereditary."


    Clementina hugged Karen as if she were a stuffed toy and began tickling her, prompting a burst of laughter from the little one. Just then, Mrs. Europa Barret entered from the adjoining room, dressed in long pants, white slippers, a black sweater, and a vermilion cardigan.


    "What are my girls up to?" she asked with a smile.


    "Playing," Clementina replied.


    Europa sat down beside her, and Clementina offered to hand Karen over, which she accepted delightedly, showering the baby with kisses.


    "Hello, my darling little girl," Europa cooed in a soft, loving tone that made the child giggle.


    "Pfft."


    "And where are the boys?" Europa asked.


    "Candado is in Hammya''s room, probably confessing his love."


    "Candado would never do that... I think."


    "It was a joke," Clementina laughed.


    "And the gentleman?"


    "Sleeping. He worked hard yesterday, so he deserves it."


    "You''re very considerate, Mrs. Barret."


    "He''s my husband, and even if he acts tough at times, I don''t want him to collapse."


    "I''m glad to hear that."


    At that moment, there was a knock at the door.


    "I''ll go check," Clementina said.


    She stood up and walked to the door, opening it to find Mauricio on the other side.


    "Hello."


    "Hello, Mauricio. Young Candado is upstairs."


    "If he heard you say that, he''d tear you to pieces."


    "Candado is like a dog that barks but doesn¡¯t bite."


    "Then he''d reassemble you and tear you apart again for comparing him to a dog."


    Clementina let out a small laugh and stepped aside.


    "Come in."


    Mauricio took off his hat.


    "Who was it?" Europa asked.


    "Oh, still as beautiful as ever, Mrs. Barret."


    "Oh, welcome, Mauricio. How are you?"


    "I''m much better now that I see you."


    "Flatterer. It¡¯s a relief to hear that."


    "Well, I don¡¯t want to be impolite, but I need to talk to Candado."


    "No problem, come on in."


    "Thank you."


    Mauricio patted Clementina''s head, leaned his staff against the wall, and headed up the stairs. He walked down the long hallway and stopped at a door with a sign in Latin: Cogito ergo sum. He smiled and knocked.


    "Who is it?"


    "Che ha''e yke¡¯y" (It''s me, brother).


    "Peho" (Come in).


    Mauricio opened the door and saw his friend¡¯s back.


    "How are you, Candado?"


    "The usual: fights, bullets, brawls¡­" Candado turned to look at him, revealing a red patch over his eye, "and blood."


    "What happened to your eye?"


    "I hurt myself."


    "Oh, wow¡­ does it hurt?"


    "No, it doesn¡¯t hurt."


    "Wow, wow, and triple wow."


    "What do you want, dog?"


    "Ahem, I need to talk to you about something important."


    "About what?"


    "About Yara."


    Candado leaned forward.


    "I''m listening."


    "The other day, while we were strolling through Barranqueras¡­¡±


    "Why did you take her there?"


    "Don¡¯t change the subject."


    "I¡¯ll get you for that later; go on."


    "As I was saying, while we were strolling, Yara told me she wanted to go to kindergarten."


    "What?"


    "As you heard, she wants to go to kindergarten."


    "She did turn five four months ago, but it¡¯s still too soon."


    "Yes, I was surprised too; she seemed very determined."


    "She¡¯s a strong girl."


    "Though a bit dependent on us."


    Candado leaned back in his chair.


    "Truthfully, I don¡¯t want her to go, but it¡¯s necessary for her to develop life skills."


    "It¡¯s strange hearing you say that."


    "I¡¯m making an effort not to make a scene."


    "I figured. What are you going to do about it?"


    "It¡¯s July, so there are no classes, but they resume on the thirtieth."


    "So that means¡­"


    "Yes, Yara will go to kindergarten."


    "Wow."


    Candado turned his chair and resumed writing.


    "That¡¯s all, right?"


    "Yes, sure."


    "Candado, is there anything you want to tell me?"


    Candado looked up, setting his pencil aside.


    "No, there¡¯s nothing."


    "Alright, I¡¯ll believe you."


    Mauricio left the room, but before closing the door, he looked back at his friend with curiosity.


    "See you."


    Minutes later, the door closed.


    "This is exhausting," Candado said, setting the pencil down beside the page before standing up.


    In the hallway, he made his way to Hammya¡¯s room and knocked.


    "Hello, can I come in?"


    "Sure."


    Candado opened the door and saw Hammya lying on the bed, staring at the ceiling.


    "So boring..."


    Candado walked over and placed a hand on her forehead.


    "Your fever¡¯s gone down a bit. But you¡¯re staying in bed until you¡¯re better."


    "I don¡¯t want to. Hey¡­ what happened to your eye?"


    "This?" Candado asked, bringing a hand to the patch.


    "Yes, that."


    "Nothing serious, it¡¯ll be fine."


    "(Liar). It was probably¡­ a mosquito? They¡¯re annoying, yes."


    "Of course they are."


    Candado sat on the bed, keeping his hand on Hammya''s forehead.


    "(Why? Why, Candado, are you hiding this from me?) Hey, why are you doing this?"


    "Your hair is magical. By using that dye, you forced your body to expel the ''intruder,'' getting rid of what little defensive magic you had left, leaving you vulnerable to harmful bacteria without any reserve protection."


    "What?"


    "In other words, you made yourself sick with your own power."


    "I see. And¡­ how long are you planning to keep your hand on my forehead?"


    "I''m sharing a bit of my power; the fever should go down with this."


    Alarmed, Hammya quickly pushed Candado''s hand away.


    "No!"


    Candado didn''t react.


    "Well, that¡¯s unexpected."


    "You need it more than I do."


    "Excuse me?"


    "Nothing."


    Candado leaned closer to Hammya.


    "What''s wrong? Tell me."


    "I won¡¯t."


    Candado sighed and moved back from her.


    "Fine, don¡¯t tell me; I can''t force you. I just want to ask you one thing in return."


    "What?"


    "Don''t leave your bed for any reason."


    "What if I need to go to the bathroom?"


    "I mean, just rest here and avoid any unnecessary strain."


    "Alright."


    "After all, you''re sick."


    "We¡¯re both sick."


    "Maybe, maybe not," Candado said coldly.


    "(Evasive.) Do you have to keep wearing that patch?"


    "Yes, until I''m well."


    "Fine."


    Candado placed his hand on her forehead again.


    "You know, I can tell there¡¯s something worrying you. I also know you speak to me silently. Maybe I¡¯ve asked this before, but I¡¯ll ask again: why do you worry?"


    "Because I''m your friend. And also because I know that feeling. My father used to do the same thing: hide things, and at night, he would go suffer alone in the bathroom. I never did anything for him, I¡­"


    Candado placed his hand on her forehead once more.


    "Even if you had done something, it wouldn''t have saved him. Cancer takes your life regardless. So stop worrying. Maybe it''s true that I¡¯ll die from this crap too, but that¡¯s something I chose."


    At that moment, Hammya saw her father in Candado''s figure.


    "No¡­"


    "Hammya, stop worrying about me. Besides being annoying, you''re only hurting yourself; all your efforts are pointless."


    Hammya slowly pulled Candado¡¯s hand from her forehead, covering herself with the blanket, upset by what he had said.


    "I want to be alone."


    "Alright."


    Candado stood, put his hands in his pockets, and left the room.


    As soon as the door closed, Hammya pulled the blanket down and stared at the ceiling.


    "My actions aren¡¯t pointless. I¡¯m going to help you, whether you agree or not."


    Hammya jumped out of bed, opened a wardrobe, and began dressing warmly: black leather boots, a gray wool coat, an orange scarf, and a hat. Then she opened the window and jumped to one of the tree branches, grabbing onto the sturdiest one. Carefully, she climbed down to the ground.


    "This is crazy."


    Hammya put on a pair of brown leather gloves, vaulted over the garden wall, and headed into the forest.


    "I have to tell them, I have to tell them," she repeated as she ran with all her might, convinced that the time had come for the truth.


    Meanwhile, at the guild, Matlotsky was planning another prank on his boss using Lucas''s gear.


    "I told you not to touch my stuff."


    "Don''t worry, I¡¯m a builder."


    "And I¡¯m a brilliant scientist and inventor. Don''t touch anything; last time you made Candado bald."


    "And he buried me alive. I spent the whole day underground; we¡¯re even."


    "You''re a bloody masochist."


    "Not at all, my friend, not at all. Besides, what could be worse than a biting plush toy?"


    "Don¡¯t bring Tadeo into this, builder."


    Just then, German entered, carrying a cup of hot milk.


    "Hey, are you planning to annoy Candado?"


    "Yes."


    "No."


    "Well, count me in."


    "German!"


    "Relax, Lucas."


    "We could use kerosene in his water bottle."


    "That¡¯s too extreme," Anzor said as he polished his sword.


    "And you did that last year," Pucheta added while fiddling with his phone.


    "True; he even hung me from the mast and called me the ''flag of fools.''"


    "I took loads of photos," Pucheta chimed in.


    "Don¡¯t remind me, Anzor."


    "How stupid. You do nothing but cause trouble for Candado," Declan muttered while reading a book.


    "You¡¯re always opposing us, Irishman; you¡¯re no fun."


    "I don''t understand why Candado doesn¡¯t kick you out."


    "Easy, easy, Declan, relax; there¡¯s no need to punish Matlotsky. Life already made him ugly."


    "Exac¡­ Hey!"


    "I¡¯ve never seen a greater universal truth in all of quantum existence, German."


    Everyone laughed. But in the midst of their laughter, a loud crash at the door interrupted them.


    "What¡¯s going on?" asked Pio, who was painting a picture.


    The door opened, and from the corner of the hallway appeared a familiar figure¡ªthe new student.


    "Hammya?" asked Lucia, adjusting her glasses.


    "I need¡­ to tell you¡­ about¡­"


    "Whoa, whoa, whoa, first of all, what happened to your hair?" Lucas approached Hammya. "And second, take a deep breath and exhale, because you look like you just ran a marathon."


    "Weak," Declan remarked with a smirk.


    "Don''t be like that. Some of us women can¡¯t run in the cold," Viki scolded.


    "Ridiculous," Declan replied.


    Noticing her irregular breathing, Lucas placed his left hand on her forehead.


    "You have a fever. Good heavens, have you been running like this? My goodness."


    Declan, who was about to leave the room, stopped and looked back, focusing on Hammya¡¯s pale face.


    "You shouldn¡¯t strain your body," Erika said.


    Hammya steadied herself, stood up straight, and looked around at everyone, who watched her with curiosity. With determination and no hint of fear, she declared:


    "I have something to tell you about¡­ Candado."


    Everyone looked concerned at her words and the way she said them. Hammya''s eyes were unsettling.

 NO SECRETS

    Candado was locked in his room, with no intention of coming out. It was more than obvious that it was due to the patch over his eye; he wanted to avoid explaining himself to his family, especially to his grandmother, who, to his misfortune, had the gift of reading minds.


    "This is annoying," he muttered irritably.


    He had his reasons for complaining. He couldn¡¯t read or watch TV without feeling discomfort. Doing so with only one eye was exhausting, giving him headaches or making him sleepy. The only activity left for him seemed to be complaining. From time to time, he would get up from the bed and look at himself in the mirror; his eye was still yellow, though he didn¡¯t feel alarmed by it.


    "Ah¡­" he sighed, resigned.


    Suddenly, a noise in the tree caught his attention. He approached the window, opened it slightly, and snapped his fingers.


    "Asin¨®h."


    As he whispered the word, a violet flame slipped through the opening, transforming into a flaming dog.


    "Investigate."


    The animal tilted its head and jumped onto the tree. Candado stayed by the window, waiting for his infernal creature to return with news. After a few moments, the dog returned, leaping back through the window. Candado stepped aside to let it in.


    "Did you find anything?"


    The dog shook its head. Candado stroked its head, managing a slight smile.


    "It''s all right, rest, my friend."


    The dog vanished, and Candado returned to his bed. Just as he was about to lie down, the reflection in the mirror startled him: there was his own image, sitting with a serious expression and a knife in his hand. To top it off, his eyes in the reflection were entirely black.


    "I told you I''d be back, Candado."


    He looked at it with narrowed eyes, without surprise.


    "Oh, I thought you''d be surprised," the figure in the mirror said, standing up and approaching. "Candado, don¡¯t you have something to tell me?"


    "I have nothing to talk about with you. Go back to your cell."


    "I don''t think that¡¯s necessary. Your body has set me free on its own. Since you''ve carried that spell¡­ every cough, every sneeze, every jolt has weakened my prison until there''s nothing left."


    "I can use my power to lock you up again."


    "But you won¡¯t."


    "That spell¡­ and the bastard who cast it¡­" Candado gritted his teeth. "I swear I¡¯ll make him pay. After all, he used an innocent boy to summon me."


    The reflected figure let out a bitter laugh.


    "An innocent boy? Candado¡­ you''re a coward. You¡¯ve lowered yourself too far."


    "You weren''t there. I fought with everything I had. The coward..."


    "That¡¯s what you remember."


    "Yes¡­" murmured Candado, looking away. "I don¡¯t know why I waste my time with you."


    The reflection tilted its head, its smile turning sinister.


    "Seems like you didn''t want her."


    Candado looked at it with fury.


    "What are you talking about?"


    "Gabriela."


    The mention of his sister made his blood boil.


    "Shut up. You don¡¯t know how much I loved her. I would give my life for her."


    The reflection smiled, and suddenly its hand reached through the mirror, gripping Candado by the neck.


    "You loved her? Don¡¯t lie to my face. Your anger, envy, pain, and desire for revenge made me strong all these years. I protected you the entire time. And how did you repay me?"


    Candado grabbed the reflection¡¯s arm firmly.


    "By locking you up."


    "NO! You tried to kill me. And when she¡­ when she needed you, you failed her. You''re nothing but trash."


    The reflection¡¯s arm began to disintegrate slowly.


    "Time¡¯s up," Candado taunted.


    "It may have been in the most cowardly way possible, but I''ll tell you here and now: you killed her."


    Candado was petrified, his eyes widened upon hearing that. However, the reflection continued.


    "When you realize what I said, you''ll need me. And I¡¯ll be strong again. After all, I am the evil, the anger, the pain, the envy. All that is negative strengthens me, because I am Odadnac."


    It released Candado and disappeared, leaving behind a smile.


    "I''m no coward," murmured Candado, adjusting his tie. But despite the firmness in his words, he began to doubt. His heart was pounding.


    "Why?" he asked himself softly, placing a hand over his chest.


    At that moment, someone knocked on his door.


    "What?"


    From the other side, a voice answered:


    "It''s me, Hammyi."


    "(Hammyi? Is she five or something?) Go away," he said coldly, looking at the door. "And take those with you. I don''t want to see anyone."


    "What?" she asked, confused.


    "Don''t play dumb. I know you''re with Declan, Anzor, P¨ªo, Viki, Lucas, Luc¨ªa, Erika, Pucheta, Walsh, Germ¨¢n, and... Germ¨¢n."


    "You didn''t say my name! YOU SKIPPED IT ON PURPOSE!" Matlotsky shouted from the other side.


    "Calm down, Matlotsky," Erika whispered.


    "Candado, we just want to talk," said Walsh.


    "Funny, because I don''t. Go away. And you, Hammya, go rest; you have a fever."


    "We know," Pucheta responded, concerned.


    "Well, take care of her and leave."


    "Hammya told us everything," Lucas said.


    Candado closed his eyes, dropping his shoulders and tilting his head slightly to the left.


    "It can''t be¡­" he whispered.


    "Why didn¡¯t you tell us anything?"


    "I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about."


    "Ern¨¦st, we know you''re sick and that what killed Gabriela wasn''t an illness, but a spell. The same spell that you carry."


    "Hammya¡­ you have no idea how much I hate you right now. Whatever my words, compliments, or good treatment, forget them. You¡¯re officially expelled from the Roob¨®leo guild."


    On the other side of the door, Hammya felt a pang of sadness. Her eyes watered, but she tried to stay strong as Viki and Erika hugged her.


    For the first time, Declan felt empathy for Hammya and took a step forward.


    "Sir, ever since Hammya arrived, I wanted her to leave to prevent the same thing from happening with Ocho... but if she¡¯s run from her house to here with a fever of forty-two, that¡¯s worthy of admiration."


    "I''m surprised to hear that from you, who distrusts everything. But that doesn¡¯t change anything. It''s true I need your votes to expel her, but as president of the guild, I have the power to bar her from our meetings."


    "You won¡¯t do it, my friend."


    "That voice... H¨¦ctor?" Candado turned, surprised. "What are you doing here?"


    "Hello, Candado," H¨¦ctor greeted as he closed the window behind him.


    "You were supposed to be¡­"


    "I got Hammya¡¯s call. I canceled my plans; this is more important than any trip."


    "H¨¦ctor¡­ get out of my room."


    "I won¡¯t. Not after what you just said to Hammya."


    "Get out, Candado, now," Viki ordered.


    "It¡¯s time for you to give us an explanation," added Matlotsky.


    "SHUT UP!" Candado shouted, and a thunderclap boomed in sync with his words.


    Hammya reacted, breaking free from Viki and Erika''s arms.


    "No, don¡¯t push him, please. He¡¯ll get worse."


    Everyone paused at her words.


    "Worse?" Lucas asked.


    Matlotsky pulled out a set of keys and unlocked the door.


    "There, it¡¯s open."


    Lucas pushed the door, and everyone entered.


    "Candado, please, stop," Hammya pleaded.


    He turned to them and shouted again.


    "I DON¡¯T WANT YOUR CONCERN!"


    "Candado, calm down."


    H¨¦ctor stepped forward.


    "Enough, Candado. You can¡¯t keep treating us like this. For years, we¡¯ve done nothing but look out for you, sacrificing ourselves without expecting anything in return."


    "No, stop excusing yourselves with your ¡®good intentions.¡¯ Stop being¡­"


    "Friends? Candado, no matter what you say, it won¡¯t change the fact that we care about you. We promised Gabriela."


    "Stop."


    "I won¡¯t stop. We¡¯ve gotten too used to your orders, and you, to ignoring everything we feel. You need to move on."


    "Silence."


    "You can''t keep hiding important things like this from us. Trust us; we¡¯d never betray you."


    "Enough," Candado muttered, placing a hand on his temple, where he had the patch.Stolen story; please report.


    "Candado¡­" Hammya whispered.


    "What¡¯s happening?" Walsh asked.


    "H¨¦ctor, stop. You¡¯re pressuring him too much."


    "No, Hammya, Candado needs to understand that not everything can be jokes and laughter. He needs to talk to us, trust us, stop hiding secrets."


    "Stop it, H¨¦ctor. I assure you, you don¡¯t want to know what I hold in my heart. I''ve been bottling this up for three years... three bitter years."


    "That¡¯s exactly what I¡¯m talking about. It¡¯s not healthy. You need to release all that pain; you can¡¯t keep storing up your feelings, or you¡¯ll destroy yourself."


    Candado managed a wry smile.


    "Now you care? For three years, you were there in my shadow. This is the first time we¡¯ve spoken about this so openly."


    ¡°It¡¯s true, it was a mistake. We left you alone. I left you alone, watching as the joyful child you were slowly faded away. I failed Gabriela. But I won¡¯t fail you. That girl you mentioned, Hammya... I thought she was a threat, but I was wrong. She did what we didn¡¯t: she reached out to you, challenged you, made you angry, and slowly brought back pieces of what you lost. For three years, I hadn¡¯t seen any expression on you other than seriousness. But she... she made you laugh, she made you cry, she made you feel anger. I envied Hammya because she managed what I couldn¡¯t. But I won¡¯t step back. Get angry, scream at me, hit me.¡±


    Candado¡¯s voice trembled.


    ¡°Just... stop.¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°You... hurt me... Just be quiet.¡±


    H¨¦ctor moved closer, and Candado stepped back, alarmed.


    ¡°Candado?¡±


    The patch had fallen off, and his eye, once yellow, was now completely black. But what truly shocked H¨¦ctor was that Candado was trembling¡ªnot from fear or distrust, but from pain. The impenetrable shell had cracked; before them stood a shaking, vulnerable human. He tried to retreat, but the others surrounded him.


    ¡°Sir?¡± Declan asked.


    Candado¡¯s body trembled involuntarily, struggling to stay upright.


    ¡°What have you done to me? I feel pain... so much pain.¡±


    Candado¡¯s eyes filled with tears as he looked at Hammya with rage.


    ¡°This is all... your fault... IT HURTS!¡± he shouted, shoving her aside.


    ¡°After him!¡± H¨¦ctor ordered.


    Candado stumbled down the stairs, rolling to the ground, catching the attention of Clementina and his mother.


    ¡°Sir?¡± Clementina asked, concerned.


    ¡°Son?¡± his mother questioned.


    Candado glared at them as he stood. A tattoo in the shape of a circle briefly appeared on his forehead and right cheek, glowing a fierce yellow, which alarmed his mother. Without a word, he looked away and saw his friends rushing down the stairs after him. He quickly rose, kicked the door open, and bolted outside.


    Lucas was the first to reach the door.


    ¡°Damn.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s happening to my son?¡± Mrs. Barret asked.


    Clementina looked at Hammya, who shook her head, unable to provide answers.


    ¡°Young master...¡± Clementina whispered, distressed.


    ¡°Don¡¯t just stand there, we have to go after him now!¡± Viki commanded.


    Clementina sprang from the couch.


    ¡°Search the whole town.¡±


    ¡°You all go. I¡¯ll stay with Mrs. Barret,¡± Matlotsky said.


    ¡°Thank you, Matlotsky,¡± Declan replied.


    ¡°No problem.¡±


    ¡°My son... what¡¯s wrong with him?¡± Mrs. Barret asked, worried.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Mrs. Barret. We¡¯ll bring Candado home; it¡¯s my duty,¡± Declan assured her.


    ¡°Hurry!¡± German urged.


    ¡°I¡¯m coming with you.¡±


    ¡°No, absolutely not. You¡¯re sick, Hammya,¡± Mrs. Barret intervened.


    ¡°I won¡¯t get better until Candado is back. As long as I can stand, I won¡¯t stop.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s stubborn. The last thing we need is for you to collapse,¡± Pio remarked.


    ¡°Let her come. I¡¯ll take care of it,¡± Declan said without looking at them.


    ¡°Tavis Declan Murphy Kennedy, I can¡¯t believe it! The apathetic Irishman defending the person he hates most!¡± Matlotsky teased.


    ¡°Shut up, Matlotsky,¡± Declan growled, pointing his sword at his neck.


    ¡°All right, hurry up,¡± Lucia urged, looking at the others. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s find him.¡±


    Somewhere in the mountains...


    Candado ran through the forest, tormented by the pain. His right eye had turned completely black.


    ¡°What... is this?¡± he cried in agony.


    ¡°It¡¯s your fault, my friend,¡± a voice echoed in his mind.


    ¡°Silence! You¡¯re no longer part of me!¡± he shouted, clutching his head.


    ¡°You can¡¯t get rid of me.¡±


    Candado fell to his knees in the mud, burying his head in his hands.


    ¡°What... is this? It hurts... it won¡¯t stop hurting. My head¡¯s on fire... I¡¯ve always endured pain; why can¡¯t I now?¡±


    ¡°Things have changed. You¡¯ve weakened.¡±


    ¡°Enough!¡±


    ¡°Your rage only makes me stronger, Candado. I feed off your negative feelings.¡±


    Candado rose.


    ¡°Fine, do what you want. I¡¯ll show you pain beyond measure.¡±


    A twisted smile appeared on his face.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t it hurt?¡± the voice wavered.


    ¡°You don¡¯t know pain... it¡¯s worse than a bullet or a sword. Much worse.¡±


    Candado began running toward the guild.


    ¡°You¡¯ll see what I¡¯m capable of.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯d like to see it.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ll regret your words.¡±


    He quickened his pace until he accidentally ran into Lucas.


    ¡°Candado, I¡¯m glad I found you...¡±


    ¡°Get out of my way.¡±


    ¡°No, sir. You¡¯ve got a spell that¡¯s killing you. I won¡¯t step aside.¡±


    ¡°Today, it seems everyone has a case of H¨¦ctor-ism.¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t step aside after seeing your face, sir. Those empty, black eyes aren¡¯t a good sign.¡±


    ¡°Funny that you should say that.¡±


    Lucas readied himself.


    ¡°Go ahead.¡±


    ¡°Looks like I¡¯ll have to hurt you enough so you can¡¯t get up.¡±


    Lucas snapped his fingers. But Candado jerked back, tore a branch from a tree, and hurled it at him. Lucas incinerated the branch instantly and lunged forward, but Candado leaned forward and headbutted him against a tree. Lucas tried to teleport, but Candado, anticipating it, blindly elbowed him, striking his chest.


    ¡°I know you too well, my friend,¡± Candado said seriously.


    Lucas staggered but didn¡¯t give up.


    ¡°If I could use my powers, I¡¯d defeat you, but here, in the forest, I only have my teleportation and fists.¡±


    Candado attacked again, summoning his violet flame. Lucas, forced to vanish again, reappeared just as Candado caught his left arm, lifting him in the air and punching him in the chest, leaving him kneeling on the ground, panting.


    ¡°Stay down.¡±


    ¡°No, my friend. I won¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°Your stupidity is incurable, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    Candado raised his arm.


    ¡°Good night.¡±


    Just then, an object flew at Candado with incredible speed. He didn¡¯t notice it until it was inches from his face, forcing him to release his hold and catch it in mid-air. It was a card¡ªthe king of spades.


    ¡°You¡¯ve gone too far, Candado,¡± H¨¦ctor said from a distance.


    ¡°H¨¦ctor, I¡¯m not in the mood for games,¡± Candado replied, incinerating the card with his hand.


    ¡°Come with us, and let¡¯s talk.¡±


    ¡°I have neither the time nor the patience for your nonsense,¡± he responded coldly. ¡°I need to go.¡±


    ¡°If you won¡¯t come willingly, you¡¯ll come by force.¡±


    ¡°Asin¨®h,¡± Candado murmured.


    Upon uttering the word, two massive flaming dogs emerged from the ground.


    ¡°Tell your problems to them,¡± Candado said before dashing off into the forest.


    ¡°I¡¯ll catch you, my friend... I swear it,¡± H¨¦ctor muttered as eighty cards began to swirl around him.


    Candado began to run, each step amplifying his pain. Still, he didn¡¯t stop, driven by sheer determination to reach his destination. After a few minutes of sprinting, he caught sight of the house.


    "Perfect," he whispered to himself in relief.


    Without further hesitation, he rushed to the door, opened it, and stepped inside. Looking back, he saw his companions approaching at full speed.


    ¡°It¨®h!¡± he murmured, shutting the door firmly.


    Suddenly, nearly twenty-foot-high violet flames erupted around the house.


    "Stop!" Walsh shouted.


    ¡°What is this?¡± asked Hammya, bewildered.


    ¡°It¡¯s Candado¡¯s fury,¡± H¨¦ctor replied.


    Inside, Candado moved along the walls, keeping to the shadows.


    ¡°You¡¯re forcing my hand... I hate you... I hate Hammya,¡± he muttered, as his right eye turned completely black.


    ¡°This isn¡¯t you, Candado. Come to your senses,¡± a voice spoke from behind him.


    ¡°T¨ªnbari,¡± he replied with disdain.


    ¡°The spell is affecting you. You¡¯ve used your power for too long. It¡¯s time to¡ª¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s time for nothing, you foolish demon,¡± Candado interrupted.


    ¡°I haven¡¯t seen you like this in ages. If you keep going, you¡¯re just doing what he wants.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m going to lock him away again. He¡¯s taken the mirror... I think it¡¯s time his cell becomes even more disturbing.¡±


    Candado stepped up to the mirror, staring intently at his reflection.


    ¡°Don¡¯t act as if nothing¡¯s wrong.¡±


    His reflection began moving on its own, and his clothing turned pitch black.


    ¡°Well, well... seems like I¡¯m doing a fine job,¡± the reflection sneered.


    ¡°You have no idea how much pain I¡¯m enduring, how much I want to end you,¡± Candado replied, his voice trembling.


    ¡°You can¡¯t kill me, Candado.¡±


    At these words, Candado fell to his knees before the mirror.


    ¡°It hurts, doesn¡¯t it? That¡¯s how I felt when you attacked me and betrayed her.¡±


    ¡°Your powers are destroying him, stop it,¡± T¨ªnbari intervened.


    ¡°I¡¯m doing nothing. He¡¯s the one releasing me, after locking me away in the depths of Limbo.¡±


    Candado stood up, his painful expression accompanied by a bitter smile.


    ¡°You... you¡¯re just a dark version of me.¡±


    He extended both hands toward the mirror, alarming both T¨ªnbari and the reflection.


    ¡°Which means that whatever I do to myself, you¡¯ll feel too,¡± he said, smiling through the pain.


    Candado¡¯s hands ignited in violet flames.


    ¡°Planning to melt the mirror?¡± the reflection mocked.


    ¡°No... I just want to make sure you stay away from me. This wasn¡¯t caused by Pullbarey¡¯s cursed spell; it was you, when I let my guard down.¡±


    With both hands wreathed in flames, he pressed them against his chest.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡± T¨ªnbari asked, alarmed.


    ¡°Stay out of this, Demonto,¡± Candado muttered before looking at the reflection. ¡°I¡¯m going to destroy you now.¡±


    Candado took a deep breath and released all his energy, burning from within. The pain was so intense he let out a scream that echoed through the entire house.


    ¡°Candado is¡­¡± Hammya murmured.


    ¡°Yes¡­¡± H¨¦ctor nodded, his face twisted in anguish and tears in his eyes.


    ¡°Candado, I won¡¯t allow this anymore.¡±


    H¨¦ctor ran towards the wall of flames, wrapping himself in the cards from his belt. He crossed through the fire, losing all his cards in the process, but reached the other side with his shield destroyed.


    ¡°Thank you, companions,¡± H¨¦ctor murmured sadly.


    At that moment, he saw Hammya, who had also crossed the fire barrier.


    ¡°How...?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re not doing this alone.¡±


    ¡°Hammya, that wall incinerates anyone. How are you unharmed?¡±


    ¡°Like this?¡±


    H¨¦ctor shook his head.


    ¡°We¡¯ll talk about it later. Right now, we have to save Candado.¡±


    They both rushed to the door. H¨¦ctor opened it first, and they ran down the hallway to the living room. There, they found Candado¡­ or rather, his dark reflection. His eyes and clothes were completely black.


    ¡°Candado¡­ No, you¡¯re Ira Odadnac, the feeling Candado destroyed.¡±


    ¡°Did he really think he could defeat me with that? Though I admit, it hurt a lot¡­ Finally, I¡¯m free to do as I please.¡±


    ¡°What have you done to him, you bastard?¡±


    ¡°Nothing. He did it all himself. With that pathetic speech, you triggered a pain and remorse in Candado, a suffering he could never control.¡±


    ¡°You¡­ son of a¡­¡±


    ¡°Oh, the girl who made all this possible. I¡¯m proud of you.¡±


    ¡°Look, I¡¯m warning you, let Candado go,¡± H¨¦ctor said angrily.


    ¡°As long as I¡¯m here, Candado will never die.¡±


    ¡°That doesn¡¯t matter to me,¡± H¨¦ctor replied.


    Odadnac turned and, without hesitation, punched him, throwing him out of the house. Then, he approached Hammya and placed his index finger on her forehead.


    ¡°You¡¯re very good, Hammya, very good. Thank you for freeing me, thank you for betraying Candado¡¯s trust. I¡¯ve never seen him in so much pain as he is now. You¡¯re too good to be bad. I love you, girl.¡±


    He kissed her forehead, causing Hammya to step back in fear.


    ¡°Ujtais nawaja ah¨®t (Thank you, demon girl).¡±


    He placed his hands behind his back and walked to the door. As he stepped outside, the storm raged; the violet flames extinguished, revealing his figure to everyone, smiling.


    ¡°You?¡± someone asked in disbelief.


    ¡°Well, well... German Santiago Ben¨ªtez, long time no see.¡±


    Luc¨ªa stepped forward to protect her sister.


    ¡°I¡¯ll never forget what you did to me. It¡¯s time you pay for it.¡±


    Odadnac raised his arms and bowed slightly.


    ¡°Now, please, rest.¡±


    Suddenly, Clementina burst onto the scene, transforming her left hand into a weapon and firing at him. Odadnac dodged the shots and lunged at her, grabbing her arm.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to hurt you; you mean a lot to me.¡±


    Clementina turned her right arm into a machete and swung it at him, but Odadnac backed away just before the blade could touch him.


    ¡°You are not my young master.¡±


    Odadnac smirked.


    ¡°Of course not, nor will I ever be, but that¡¯s how it is.¡±


    He rose into the air and began to laugh, looking down at them all.


    ¡°All of you, little ants.¡±


    However, something forced him down, a blow from a rock¡ªor rather, three rocks.


    ¡°What¡­?¡± they murmured in surprise.


    From the brush emerged a figure known to some and feared by others.


    ¡°RUCCIM¨¦NKAGRI!¡± they shouted.


    She smiled, but most reacted with distrust, except H¨¦ctor, Clementina, and Hammya.


    Lucas looked at her with hostility.


    ¡°Get out of here,¡± he ordered.


    T¨ªnbari stepped forward to defend her.


    ¡°She¡¯s not an enemy.¡±


    ¡°Of course not, not to a demon,¡± replied Anzor with sarcasm. ¡°But that lady is responsible for the deaths of many innocents.¡±


    ¡°I know, Russian, I know. But she¡¯s under Candado¡¯s protection.¡±


    The revelation left everyone stunned. They couldn¡¯t believe Candado would defend, or even hide, someone like her.


    ¡°We¡¯ll discuss this later. Right now, my friend needs help.¡±


    Ruccim¨¦nkagri stepped forward to face Odadnac, who looked at her with arrogance.


    ¡°Well, well¡­¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not here to fight,¡± she responded calmly. ¡°I left that life long ago.¡±


    ¡°Too bad for you.¡±


    Odadnac lunged at her, but before he could touch her, roots emerged from the ground, binding him and forcing him to his knees.


    ¡°Grave mistake,¡± he hissed.


    ¡°No, it¡¯s not,¡± Ruccim¨¦nkagri replied.


    Odadnac tried to set the roots ablaze, but he couldn¡¯t.


    ¡°Thank you, Candado,¡± said Ruccim¨¦nkagri.


    ¡°Impossible¡­ I control this body.¡±


    Ruccim¨¦nkagri placed her hand on his chest.


    ¡°Sleep, naughty boy.¡±


    Her hand began to glow with an intense white light, and slowly Candado¡¯s body returned to normal. Exhausted and shaky, Candado was himself once more.


    ¡°Thank you, Ruccim¨¦nkagri.¡±


    She smiled and released the roots binding him.


    ¡°Be more careful next time.¡±


    Candado struggled to his feet.


    ¡°Do you still hear him?¡±


    ¡°Not now, but I know I will again.¡±


    Candado looked at his companions approaching him.


    ¡°Great¡­¡±


    He stepped in front of Ruccim¨¦nkagri as Anzor confronted him.


    ¡°Candado, talk now about this. Now,¡± Anzor demanded.


    ¡°Hello, everyone. I¡¯m glad to see you all, and¡­ I apologize to everyone. Except you, Hammya.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡± Pio asked, intrigued.


    ¡°Because she lied to me, she can¡¯t keep quiet, and she didn¡¯t listen when I told her to stay in bed.¡±


    The others noticed Ruccim¨¦nkagri and turned to her with hostility again, but Candado intervened once more.


    ¡°Stand down, comrades.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s Ruccim¨¦nkagri, the dreaded druid. One of the greatest criminals to ever live, alongside Thanatos the Conductor, Chronos the Watchmaker, Laila the Butcher, and Victor the Judge,¡± declared Declan.


    ¡°Those days are behind us.¡±


    ¡°Humans don¡¯t forget, Candado,¡± Declan said.


    ¡°But they can forgive, and it¡¯s been a long time.¡±


    Anzor drew his sword.


    ¡°PUT AWAY YOUR WEAPON!¡±


    ¡°I will not. During the Circuist years in Siberia, the forests massacred local villagers. That wound is still open in my homeland.¡±


    Candado took hold of the sword¡¯s blade with his right hand.


    ¡°Don¡¯t make me angry, Vladimir Anzor Dima.¡±


    Clementina stepped between them.


    ¡°Please, don¡¯t fight.¡±


    Erika and Walsh placed their hands on Anzor¡¯s shoulders, coaxing him to lower his weapon. Candado hid his hand behind his back.


    ¡°All right, you all want answers¡­¡±


    Suddenly, Candado dropped to his knees with a groan of pain.


    ¡°Candado!¡± they all cried.


    Ruccim¨¦nkagri approached him.


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing, I¡¯m just hungry.¡±


    ¡°Oh, really? You¡¯re telling us this whole ordeal happened because¡­ you were hungry?¡±


    ¡°Exactly,¡± he replied, standing up. ¡°Is there a problem, Lucas Silva De Los Santos?¡±


    ¡°None at all.¡±


    ¡°I know what you¡¯re going to say, but I have to do this. Candado, you need to rest, whether you like it or not.¡±


    ¡°Ruccim¨¦nkagri, I appreciate what you just did, but what I do with my body is my business.¡±


    ¡°If I hadn¡¯t been nearby, you would have killed your friends and destroyed the village.¡±


    Walsh pushed forward and approached Candado.


    ¡°Talk to us, Candado. Stop bearing this heavy burden alone. We¡¯re your friends, and you know we¡¯d do anything for you.¡±


    Candado managed a wry smile.


    ¡°All of you¡­ are a nuisance to me, but¡­¡± He paused, as if weighing each word. ¡°¡­you¡¯re a necessary nuisance. I¡­ care for you all¡­ very much.¡±


    With those final words, Candado closed his eyes. His body lost balance, collapsing into his friends¡¯ arms. As his consciousness faded, their voices became distant echoes¡ªa final melody before he drifted into darkness.

 THE RAW TRUTH

    Candado remained in bed, motionless, having not woken since the previous day. Midnight had come, and his breathing was barely perceptible. By his side, Hammya held his hand, a mixture of hope and fear in her gaze. Nelson, taking his pulse, watched him intently, while his parents, visibly distressed, kept their eyes fixed on their son. In a corner of the room, Mauricio leaned against the wall, nervously rubbing his thumb along his hat.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with him?¡± Mrs. Barret asked, her voice trembling.


    Nelson didn¡¯t answer right away. He kept one hand on Candado''s chest, holding a glowing cylinder in the other.


    ¡°There¡¯s no response,¡± he finally said, his tone grave.


    ¡°You¡¯ve been here for five hours, and there¡¯s no response?¡± Mrs. Barret¡¯s voice cracked with desperation as she raised it.


    ¡°Darling¡­¡±


    ¡°No! I refuse to bury another child!¡± she cried, stifling a sob.


    Mauricio stepped forward and gently touched the back of Mrs. Barret¡¯s neck with his staff.


    ¡°Kasit¡­¡± he murmured softly.


    Mrs. Barret closed her eyes and collapsed into her husband¡¯s arms.


    ¡°What did you do to her, Mauricio?¡± Mr. Barret asked, surprised and concerned.


    ¡°She¡¯s only asleep. It¡¯s a rest spell; it wouldn¡¯t do for her to go into a crisis, not now.¡± Mauricio gestured toward Mr. Barret, who stroked his wife¡¯s head, kissed her forehead, and carried her out of the room.


    ¡°Quite a scene you¡¯ve stirred, Mauricio,¡± Nelson murmured, squinting.


    ¡°Silence, old man, do your job. My brother¡¯s life is at stake.¡±


    Nelson huffed and turned his attention back to Hammya.


    ¡°Girl, you¡¯ve been here for four hours, kneeling and doing nothing but holding his hand. Go rest.¡±


    ¡°How could I rest? This is my fault¡­ I thought I was helping him.¡±


    ¡°And you did help him.¡±


    Hammya looked up, puzzled.


    ¡°T¨ªnbari?¡±


    ¡°You managed to challenge Candado, and that¡¯s no small feat. You¡¯ve done more than you realize.¡±


    ¡°How did I help? All I did was make him hysterical. I betrayed his trust by trying to help him, and I only worsened his health.¡±


    Mauricio tapped Hammya¡¯s head lightly with his staff.


    ¡°You were once an emerald; now you¡¯re an onyx. You changed your hair, but don¡¯t change your essence,¡± he whispered firmly. ¡°Yes, Candado is in this state because of something you did, but I wouldn¡¯t say it¡¯s your fault. It would¡¯ve been worse if you¡¯d kept it all to yourself, leaving him to rot from the inside out. You¡¯re a heroine.¡±


    Hammya, rubbing her head, averted her gaze.


    ¡°That hurts,¡± she muttered.


    ¡°Not as much as the way you belittle yourself,¡± replied Mauricio without hesitation.


    Nelson, who had remained silent until then, approached Hammya, holding a photograph of Candado with his sister Gabriela and their grandfather.


    ¡°He must¡¯ve said something hurtful to you¡­¡± he said, looking at Hammya with understanding. ¡°We all make mistakes; I argued with my brother once and said terrible things. But he forgave me. I¡¯m sure Candado will do the same with you.¡±


    ¡°Maybe¡­¡±


    Nelson sighed and put the photograph back in place.


    ¡°I¡¯m going downstairs. I¡¯m thirsty; I wonder if there¡¯s any chacol¨ª.¡±


    He left the room, leaving Hammya and Mauricio in tense silence.


    ¡°So, what now?¡± she asked, not daring to look up.


    ¡°Nothing, just to observe¡­ I, for one, will wait for the right moment to act.¡±


    ¡°To use what?¡±


    Mauricio gave an enigmatic smile.


    ¡°You¡¯ll see, little one. You¡¯ll see.¡±


    Downstairs, Candado¡¯s friends were gathered: H¨¦ctor, Germ¨¢n, Luc¨ªa, Erika, Walsh, Lucas, Ana, Viki, Clementina, Anzor, Declan, Pio, Andersson, Kevin, Martina, Logan, Diana, Matlotsky, Joaqu¨ªn, Grandma Andrea, and Hip¨®lito. No one spoke; the tension in the air was so thick that the only sound was Nelson¡¯s footsteps descending the stairs.


    ¡°How is he?¡± asked Andersson.


    ¡°No change. He¡¯s just sleeping for now.¡±


    ¡°Do you know the cause?¡± asked Clementina, her voice heavy with disappointment.


    ¡°It could be exhaustion, stress¡­ anything.¡±


    Erika moved closer to Clementina and took her hand.


    ¡°He¡¯ll wake up,¡± she whispered, trying to smile.


    Nelson scratched his head and went to the kitchen. Just then, H¨¦ctor suddenly stood, drawing everyone¡¯s attention, and walked out to the yard without a word. A minute later, Walsh rose and followed him, closing the door softly behind him.


    When Walsh reached the yard, he found H¨¦ctor sitting under a tree, his head in his hands, pressing his thumbs to his forehead.


    ¡°I messed up again,¡± H¨¦ctor murmured without looking up.


    ¡°You didn¡¯t mess up,¡± Walsh replied calmly. ¡°You¡¯re always too hard on yourself.¡±


    ¡°Walsh, you¡¯re always kind¡­ why do you refuse to see reality?¡±


    Walsh sat down beside him.


    ¡°Everyone has their own perspective on reality. That¡¯s what I learned from Candado,¡± he replied gently. ¡°H¨¦ctor, you¡¯re one of the people who knows him best; you shouldn¡¯t punish yourself for what¡¯s already happened.¡±


    H¨¦ctor sighed and looked up at the sky without saying anything.


    ¡°Of course I should.¡±


    ¡°No, that¡¯s not true, H¨¦ctor. None of us are experts at dealing with the death of a loved one. It was obvious we couldn¡¯t do much; we were too young. We understood his pain, but not how to ease it. After all, a loved one is irreplaceable. No matter how many gifts we gave him, jokes we told, or adventures we offered, nothing would heal that wound. And, like you, I was afraid to act.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re lying.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°Walsh, when she died, you were the one who spent the most time with him. You were the only one who crossed that door. You stayed until sunset every Saturday and Sunday. Instead of doing something else, you were there with him for six months.¡±


    Walsh said nothing; his face was blank.


    ¡°If I had to say it, Walsh, you¡¯re much better than me. Even though you sparked his anger that one time, you kept coming back.¡±


    ¡°That doesn¡¯t make me better than you, H¨¦ctor. Acting in that moment doesn¡¯t make me a better person. I just did what I thought was right, and what¡¯s right is subjective. Remember that, H¨¦ctor.¡±


    ¡°Where did you learn all this?¡±


    ¡°From someone named Candado Ernest Catriel Barret. A young man like you and me, only he likes to think deeply. He wants to know why a rock is a rock or why people say what they say instead of what they really think.¡±


    ¡°And you?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m just me, testing my answers by what I see.¡±


    H¨¦ctor laughed.


    ¡°You¡¯re insane, Walsh.¡±


    ¡°Maybe, maybe.¡±


    Walsh stood up.


    ¡°Leaving?¡±


    ¡°Yes, but not alone,¡± he extended his hand. ¡°Let¡¯s go together.¡±


    H¨¦ctor took his hand and got up.


    ¡°Right, can¡¯t disappoint the others, can I?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re the Candado while he sleeps.¡±


    ¡°That sounds confusing.¡±


    ¡°Well, you¡¯re the president until Candado wakes up.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t treat me like a fool,¡± H¨¦ctor replied with a mocking smile.


    Just as they were about to enter the house, a crash came from the second floor, followed by a scream.


    ¡°What¡­?¡±


    The door flew open, and Declan and Clementina were thrown out from within.


    ¡°Guys!¡±


    Walsh reacted first.


    ¡°WATCH OUT!¡±


    He shoved H¨¦ctor to the right, just as a spear missed him by inches.


    ¡°I missed,¡± said a voice from inside.


    Clementina stood up, transforming her right arm into a machete¡ªthe only arm she had left.


    ¡°They¡¯re Baris. They¡¯ve come for Candado.¡±


    H¨¦ctor¡¯s eyes widened as a figure emerged through the smoky haze¡ªa pale-skinned figure with completely dark eyes, wearing a faded black coat and an old hat. The once-white fabric was stained with black and red.


    ¡°What are you?¡± H¨¦ctor asked.


    ¡°Stand back, creature,¡± Declan snarled, getting up with fury.


    The creature smiled.


    ¡°We only want the violet blood, not you. Don¡¯t interfere.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ll take it over my dead body,¡± Declan declared.


    ¡°No problem.¡±


    The creature drew a two-meter spear from its chest, sending shivers through the group¡ªeveryone except Declan, whose anger only intensified.


    ¡°I¡¯ll say it once more: we only want the violet blood, not you.¡±


    Then came another crash, this time from Candado¡¯s room. The window was shattered, and amidst the debris stood Matlotsky, hammer in hand, giving a casual wave.


    The creature hesitated for a moment, which Nelson took advantage of. Charging in from the kitchen, he wielded an assault rifle, firing into the creature¡¯s back. Approaching closer, he drew a magnum and fired directly at its head until the bullets were spent.


    ¡°TAKE THE BOY!¡± Nelson shouted.


    Mauricio and Hammya leapt through the large opening, carrying their friend.


    ¡°He¡¯s safe,¡± Mauricio assured.A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.


    ¡°NO!¡± the creature screamed.


    It seized Nelson by the arms, slamming him into the wall, though not enough to knock him unconscious.


    Matlotsky descended from the roof, planting himself before the creature.


    ¡°I left your lover unconscious. Step back, freak.¡±


    ¡°YOU¡¯RE INSANE!¡± Declan shouted.


    The creature extended its right hand and caught him by the throat in an instant.


    ¡°You dare strike a Keplanian.¡±


    "LET GO OF MATLOTSKY!"


    Declan charged toward the creature with his sword drawn, leaping at him. However, the creature threw Matlotsky into Declan, knocking them both to the ground. As it prepared to impale them with its spear, Diana appeared, her face bearing a fresh wound. Her furious expression, a twisted smile, and dilated eyes reflected an uncontrollable frenzy. Blood trickled down her temple.


    "PLAY WITH ME!"


    The creature turned toward her, giving Declan the chance to slash at its tendon. The creature fell to its knees, watching as Diana approached with a scythe in hand. She plunged it into its chest, and, without letting go, proceeded to bite its neck with a grin.


    The creature managed to break free, stumbling back as it clutched its wound. Diana smiled, her lips dripping with blood, her gaze defiant.


    ¡°No one harms my brothers.¡±


    ¡°Humans really are frightening.¡±


    ¡°Where¡¯s that voice coming from?¡± Diana asked, looking around.


    ¡°Up here.¡±


    Everyone looked up to see another creature standing on a tree branch. A hood shadowed its face, with glowing red eyes peering out. Its armor gleamed on its knees, shoulders, hands, forearms, legs, and shins, and it wielded a massive two-meter hammer.


    Diana eyed him and launched herself at him.


    "STOP!"


    Diana ignored the command and struck at the creature, but it was futile. He swatted her scythe away, forcing her back.


    ¡°Greetings, humans. I am the Bari of Time, B¨®rrbari.¡±


    ¡°H¨¦ctor, Hammya. Get Candado out of here,¡± Diana commanded.


    ¡°Understood. Don¡¯t die,¡± H¨¦ctor replied.


    ¡°Am I really that unreliable, H¨¦ctor?¡± Declan asked, flashing a smile.


    H¨¦ctor and Hammya carried Candado and hurried to leave.


    Remaining on their feet ¡ª Clementina, Matlotsky, Declan, Mauricio, Diana, Nelson, and Walsh ¡ª three more creatures appeared. One of them emerged from the rubble, looking more human but with dark eyes. A black trench coat draped over him, a cross hanging from his neck.


    ¡°Are you alright, Suen?¡± B¨®rrbari asked.


    ¡°They¡¯re all unconscious; I fed on their dreams, so yes,¡± Suen replied.


    ¡°They¡¯re Baris,¡± Mauricio muttered.


    ¡°Quite the observation, human,¡± Suen responded with a sardonic grin.


    ¡°Let¡¯s not waste any more time. We have to go after him,¡± Dess said impatiently.


    B¨®rrbari raised a hand to stop him.


    ¡°Patience, Dess. They¡¯re not going anywhere.¡±


    ¡°Where¡¯s T¨ªnbari when he¡¯s needed?¡± Matlotsky murmured.


    ¡°T¨ªnbari? Ah, right, the runaway. I never expected much from him; after all, he ceased to be a Bari long ago.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s admirable how he defends a human more than his own family.¡±


    Walsh knelt at hearing this.


    ¡°Surrender?¡± Dess asked with a smug tone.


    ¡°The Brotherhood does not surrender,¡± Walsh replied, smiling.


    He then ran his finger over the grass.


    ¡°This is our power.¡±


    The trio of Baris turned sharply, seeing Walsh, and behind him, all the humans Suen had put to sleep, led by Europa Barret.


    ¡°What a nightmare,¡± Joaqu¨ªn said, adjusting his tie.


    ¡°You¡¯re telling me,¡± Andersson replied.


    ¡°I won¡¯t let you near Candado,¡± Logan declared.


    Everyone was astonished, except B¨®rrbari, who stared intently at Walsh, who kept smiling.


    ¡°This is the Brotherhood; this is the guild.¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t put them back to sleep,¡± Suen admitted, frowning.


    ¡°I think killing them would be easier,¡± Dess suggested.


    ¡°It would be unwise to provoke the wrath of the Bearer. He¡¯s the only one who can kill a Bari,¡± B¨®rrbari said.


    ¡°Listen: no one will touch Candado while we stand,¡± Anzor said firmly.


    ¡°There¡¯s no other choice,¡± B¨®rrbari replied, drawing his hammer from his back. ¡°Usually, there¡¯s an unspoken rule of ¡®no full force against humans.¡¯ But since there¡¯s no punishment¡­¡±


    B¨®rrbari readied himself.


    ¡°Go after Candado; I¡¯ll stay here.¡±


    The other two Baris vanished before their eyes, stunning everyone.


    ¡°Well, let¡¯s begin.¡±


    Hammya and H¨¦ctor, carrying Candado¡¯s body, were running through the forest, trying to get as far away as possible.


    ¡°Where are we going?¡± Hammya asked.


    ¡°To the guild. It¡¯s the only place we¡¯ll be safe.¡±


    ¡°How could this happen?¡± Hammya exclaimed, distressed. ¡°How did they find us? This is strange¡­ Damn it, T¨ªnbari¡­¡±


    ¡°Do you think they¡¯ll be alright?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re from the Roob¨®leo Brotherhood; we¡¯re more prepared for war than anyone.¡±


    ¡°I see¡­¡±


    Hammya looked at Candado¡¯s back, noticing his increased perspiration.


    ¡°H¨¦ctor¡­¡±


    ¡°There! The guild!¡±


    H¨¦ctor took Hammya¡¯s hand.


    ¡°What¡­?¡±


    ¡°Close your eyes.¡±


    H¨¦ctor quickened his pace, heading toward the door so fast that Hammya, frightened, didn¡¯t know whether to stop, scream, or simply close her eyes. She chose the latter. H¨¦ctor kept running until they reached the door and passed through it as if it were transparent.


    Hammya opened her eyes, realizing they had suddenly stopped.


    ¡°What happened?¡±


    ¡°We passed through the door.¡±


    H¨¦ctor entered a room adjacent to the council hall, where a bed awaited. He gently lowered Candado onto it. Hammya entered moments later.


    ¡°How is he?¡±


    H¨¦ctor opened Candado¡¯s right eyelid with his thumb; his corneas were red, and the veins in his eyes pulsed with a trail of blood.


    ¡°I knew it¡­¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°Domino effect.¡±


    Then he stood up and looked at Hammya.


    ¡°Candado is suffering again, and we can¡¯t do anything.¡±


    H¨¦ctor¡¯s hands trembled as he said it.


    ¡°There must be another way.¡±


    H¨¦ctor forced a smile.


    ¡°You¡¯re right. It¡¯s too soon to give up. I¡¯ll see what I can do.¡±


    ¡°You could start by handing the boy over to me.¡±


    Hammya and H¨¦ctor shivered at the presence of Dessbari.


    Hammya rushed to Candado¡¯s bedside to protect him, while H¨¦ctor manifested his deck of cards.


    ¡°Leave him alone. Stop tormenting him.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s impossible,¡± Dess replied, striking his lance against the ground, rotting the wood where it touched.


    Hammya was horrified; her face reflected desperation and fear as she held Candado close. H¨¦ctor, though terrified, didn¡¯t let the fear overwhelm him. Determined to protect Candado and Hammya, his expression mixed defiance with the terror of risking his life.


    ¡°Step aside.¡±


    H¨¦ctor flung a card that grazed Dess¡¯s face.


    ¡°I¡¯ll make sure you suffer the despair of your wounds before you die.¡±


    H¨¦ctor lunged at Dess, wielding his cards as weapons. The Bari, feeling superior, wanted to toy with him, but he still feared the boy¡¯s determination ¡ª a drive that propelled him toward certain death. So Dess struck with lethal thrusts without hesitation.


    H¨¦ctor dodged as best he could; many of the thrusts barely grazed his clothing, but none reached his skin, as that would mean certain death. He knew piercing the lance was impossible; it was an artifact that seemed otherworldly, so he could only move side to side, searching for an opening to strike. When he thought he¡¯d found one, Dess released the lance and grabbed him by the throat.


    ¡°You¡¯re a slippery one.¡±


    Dess grinned and began to strangle him.


    Hammya jumped from her spot and ran toward him.


    "THAT''S ENOUGH!"


    Dess looked at her and kicked her, slamming her into a bookshelf that toppled over and fell on top of her.


    "H-Hammya!" Hector shouted, barely able to speak.


    "You should have taken the easy route."


    Hector''s neck began to darken, his eyes filled with blood, and foam poured from his mouth.


    "Let death embrace you."


    Hector''s groans gradually faded, his life slipping away. Just when it seemed all was lost, a root shot up from the ground, hitting Dess, who released Hector and fell unconscious.


    Dess cut the root and followed its trail with his eyes, realizing it came from beneath the bookshelf. Just as Dess planned to "inspect" the area, the bookshelf lifted, revealing Hammya, furious, her green hair and eyes glowing.


    "Well then..."


    Hammya hurled the bookshelf at him, making it clear she didn¡¯t want to hear his words. Though the impact didn''t harm him, Dess grabbed his spear and lunged at her. Hammya raised her palm, and the spear struck her hand as if it were made of metal; she wasn¡¯t harmed at all.


    Her face still reflected rage, and from her palm, roots emerged, completely enveloping the spear. Dess remained unfazed, breaking free from the roots and heading toward Candado''s bed.


    Hammya blocked his path and took the attack head-on, but suffered no harm.


    "You foolish Bari, you can''t hurt me."


    "That voice... you¡¯re..."


    "HOW LOUD!"


    Both turned.


    Candado was awake, holding his fac¨®n, his right eye black.


    "I see Hammya awakened her second personality."


    "Keplant..."


    "Keplant? I¡¯m Candado, wild little girl."


    With that, he got up from the bed and looked at Dess.


    "You¡¯re the most cowardly Bari I¡¯ve seen, attacking me while I was unconscious and going after my friends and family. What little dignity you Bariatiacs have."


    Dess stepped back and focused once more.


    Candado took a few steps forward until he saw his friend, stopping immediately.


    "H¨¦...ctor."


    Seeing his friend with blood in his mouth and a large mark on his neck, Candado¡¯s eyes began to dilate. Hector lay on the floor, seemingly dead.


    "I see no problem," Candado murmured. "Once, T¨ªnbari said maybe someone from your race would come someday to kill me and take my powers. Heh... it''s fine with me."


    Then he looked up, his gaze cold as death.


    "I mean, I¡¯m not a killer if I kill a Bari, right?"


    Dess felt intimidated but didn''t back down.


    "Come here and..."


    In the blink of an eye, Candado had disappeared and reappeared behind him, fac¨®n in hand.


    "As you command."


    Then he drove his fac¨®n into Dess''s neck, running it down his back and bathing in his enemy''s violet blood, while his face remained impassive.


    Dess let out a bone-chilling scream that left Hammya temporarily deaf, though Candado felt no discomfort.


    "I can¡¯t kill you with this. After all, mortal wounds for humans are just excruciating pain for you, but you¡¯re not at risk of dying. T¨ªnbari told me so."


    "Traitor, I knew I should have killed you myself, not him."


    Candado blinked and frowned.


    "Oh, that."


    He punched Dess and threw him out of the house, escaping immediately.


    "That which the human fears, come here; I command you."


    Out of nowhere, black smoke appeared before their eyes.


    "Well," T¨ªnbari yawned, "what a drag." He looked around. "Why wasn¡¯t I invited?"


    Candado grabbed him by the horns.


    "This is not a youth party, IDIOT!"


    "Ow, ow, ow, let go, Candado, it hurts!"


    "WHAT THE HELL WERE YOU DOING NOT IN YOUR POSITION, DAMN IT?!"


    "I felt an aura like that of my brothers, and I went to investigate... OUCH! DON''T PULL!" ¡ªCandado yanked harder¡ª "Alright, alright, please don¡¯t pull anymore."


    "You¡¯ll be..."


    Hector started coughing violently, as if trying to inhale all the air around him in desperation and pain.


    Candado released T¨ªnbari and ran to Hector¡¯s side.


    "Dammit, buddy," Candado said as he kneeled, supporting Hector''s head on his arm. "What have they done to you?"


    "Nothing... you know how it is, giving you the neck," Hector replied with a smile, placing a hand on his neck.


    "I¡¯m glad you¡¯re alright."


    "Where¡¯s the idiot?"


    "I scared him off."


    Hector began coughing.


    "Rest, friend."


    Hector stood up and collapsed onto a nearby chair.


    "Give me a few seconds; I¡¯ll be fine."


    "Sure, buddy."


    At that moment, Hammya burst into the room, her eyes still glowing.


    "Well, you¡¯re tough."


    "Who are you?"


    "That¡¯s cruel, Candado. It¡¯s me, your Hammya."


    "You¡¯re not Hammya, not mine, or anyone¡¯s. Who the hell are you?"


    "Well, I can¡¯t fool you. This body is both Hammya¡¯s and mine, but..."


    "Give me your name, damn it."


    The figure, still appearing as Hammya, placed her hand on Candado¡¯s shoulder.


    "My name doesn¡¯t matter. Just know that if you hurt her or make her sad, I¡¯ll make you suffer."


    Candado pinched the figure¡¯s nose.


    ¡°Ouch, ouch, ouch... that hurts.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t threaten me, but I¡¯ll take care of her.¡±


    He released her, and she began rubbing her nose.


    ¡°Apologize to her properly. Goodbye.¡±


    Suddenly, the sparkle in Hammya¡¯s eyes faded, her hair returned to red, and she collapsed into Candado¡¯s arms.


    ¡°I think I owe her an apology,¡± Candado said, laying her down on the bed.


    T¨ªnbari made a sarcastic gesture with his hands.


    ¡°Do me a favor and die, would you?¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t die, and no matter how much you beg, I won¡¯t.¡±


    H¨¦ctor chuckled softly.


    ¡°Candado, I¡¯d like to help you with this more than anyone, but right now, I¡¯m useless.¡±


    ¡°Dessbari is the Bari of the heartless, the murderers, the thieves. His touch rots the skin of anyone it touches.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m surprised you survived,¡± Candado commented.


    ¡°Dessbari cannot corrupt those who have a pure heart and soul. People without evil are immune to his touch... though it seems he managed to do quite a bit of damage to you.¡±


    Candado placed his hand on his chin.


    ¡°I guess I¡¯d rot faster than H¨¦ctor.¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡±


    ¡°Hmmm... I don¡¯t care.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not afraid of the Baris, and I won¡¯t tolerate them doing as they please just because I¡¯m unconscious.¡±


    ¡°Wise decision, Candado.¡±


    ¡°H¨¦ctor, take care of Hammya. Actually, just watch over her.¡±


    ¡°And if she wakes up?¡±


    ¡°Tell her to stay in bed and wait. I need to talk to her later.¡±


    ¡°Oh, well.¡±


    Candado gestured with his beret and left the room, accompanied by T¨ªnbari.


    ¡°Well, where are your brothers?¡±


    T¨ªnbari stepped forward, answering his question.


    ¡°Alright,¡± Candado smiled, ¡°lead me to them.¡±


    As they moved toward their destination, Suenbari, hidden in the shadows of the house, emerged from his hiding place and looked at Candado¡¯s back with a proud expression.


    ¡°Forgive me, brothers, but I can¡¯t attack someone chosen by Keplant.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re close.¡±


    ¡°I feel like... no, we must hurry.¡±


    Candado snapped his fingers.


    ¡°Asin¨®h.¡±


    Out of nowhere, a giant dog wrapped in flames appeared, which Candado mounted.


    ¡°Uzoori would be jealous if he saw you like this,¡± T¨ªnbari joked.


    Candado didn¡¯t reply; his eyes, especially his left one, reflected intense worry.


    Upon arrival, they found a heartbreaking scene: in the garden, all of their friends and family had turned into diamonds. His mother was raising her fist, his father was protecting Lucas and Liv, Nelson had his right arm outstretched with a gun ready to fire, Diana was on the ground with her scythe prepared for an attack, and Mauricio and Logan were standing in defensive positions. They had all been petrified in the middle of the confrontation.


    ¡°What is this?¡± Candado murmured, kneeling as anguish flooded his face. His pain was so intense that he couldn¡¯t control his dog, which eventually faded away.


    ¡°It was B¨®rr¡¯s doing,¡± T¨ªnbari whispered.


    Candado looked up toward a hooded figure floating in the air, tapping its mace against the ground while humming. The moonlight and the stars illuminated the figure.


    ¡°I expected this from Hach, but from you, no.¡±


    The humming and tapping stopped.


    ¡°T¨ªnbari, after all this time, the coward shows his face.¡±


    Candado quickly stood up, full of rage, and charged at B¨®rrbari, but T¨ªnbari stopped him, holding him firmly by the right arm and chest.


    ¡°You son of a bitch¡­¡±


    B¨®rrbari descended to the ground and approached, stopping five meters away.


    ¡°I can feel your thirst for revenge, but relax, killing humans isn¡¯t my style.¡±


    Candado was far from calming down; the fury still burned inside him.


    ¡°I¡¯ll leave for today, but next time I¡¯ll come for the violet blood... and for you, traitor,¡± B¨®rrbari said.


    T¨ªnbari reacted to the remark and quickly put Candado to sleep by placing his demonic hand on his head. The young man lost strength and collapsed into T¨ªnbari¡¯s lap.


    ¡°I see he doesn¡¯t know,¡± B¨®rrbari commented.


    ¡°I¡¯ll never tell him.¡±


    B¨®rrbari let out a sigh.


    ¡°I¡¯m not one to give you lessons, but... I haven¡¯t forgotten what you did for me. However, the situation you¡¯re in forces us to act. Lingari is our leader, and whether we like it or not, we must follow his orders. I wish I had your courage, T¨ªnbari... you don¡¯t know how much I envy you.¡±


    B¨®rrbari lightly tapped his mace against the ground, and with a magical gesture, everyone who had been petrified returned to their normal state.


    ¡°Is that all?¡± T¨ªnbari asked, glancing around.


    ¡°Yes. We just wanted to know how strong the human was. Now, seven of us, along with your allies, know where Candado lives and what he represents.¡±


    ¡°Why are you telling me this?¡± T¨ªnbari asked.


    ¡°You saved my life once, and... I¡¯m grateful. ¡± B¨®rrbari flashed a faint smile and began to fade away. ¡°See you, brother.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll never regret my actions,¡± T¨ªnbari whispered, looking at Candado. ¡°I have nothing to regret, nothing.¡±


    T¨ªnbari carried Candado in his arms and looked around. The people who had been petrified began to move and return to their original forms.


    ¡°My God, I thought I wasn¡¯t going to make it out of this,¡± Matlotsky said, with a sigh of relief.


    Europa, who still felt the pain from the experience, knelt down and then stood with effort. Her gaze scanned the area until it landed on T¨ªnbari, who was holding her unconscious son in his arms. At the sight of T¨ªnbari, some, like Kevin, tried to attack, but Walsh stopped them.


    Mrs. Barret ran to her son, tears of anguish and relief in her eyes. When she reached T¨ªnbari, he handed Candado to her.


    ¡°He¡¯s alive, Europa,¡± he said, trying to comfort her.


    She knelt, holding her son against her chest, while an inconsolable cry escaped her. All the fear she had experienced with her daughter Gabriela was now repeating itself with Candado.


    Except for Arturo Barret, no one dared move; everyone watched T¨ªnbari with concern. And the demon, known for his charisma and mocking attitude, didn¡¯t have the courage to look them in the eye. He only stared at Candado, his face filled with rage and pain, aware that time was running out for him, inexorably.

 THATS NOT YOU

    After two in the morning, everyone had already returned to their homes by T¨ªnbari''s order, who assured them that there was nothing to worry about. Although few believed his words, he was somewhat right: there was nothing they could do at that moment, and staying there would only have worried their families more. So, with no other choice, they accepted the order without protest.


    Candado didn¡¯t wake up until the following night, exactly at eleven o''clock. When he opened his eyes, he saw his room illuminated by the full moon and heard the sound of crickets in the stillness of the night. He tried to recall what had happened, but his memory was clouded. As he tried to move, he realized something was holding him; he carefully turned around and found his mother, deeply asleep beside him. Her eyelids were swollen, a sign that she had wiped away her tears many times. Even in her sleep, her cheeks were still wet, and silent tears fell from her closed eyes.


    ¡°What happened to me?¡± Candado whispered, distressed.


    ¡°I see... you don¡¯t remember,¡± replied a familiar voice.


    ¡°T¨ªnbari? I hear your voice, but I don¡¯t see you.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m inside you.¡±


    Candado slapped his chest uncomfortably.


    ¡°I feel like this is an invasion.¡±


    T¨ªnbari let out a small laugh.


    ¡°I see you''re still the same. Listen to me, Candado: when one of your eyes turned completely black, I knew your end was near. Now it¡¯s back to normal, but what I¡¯m doing won¡¯t stop the... curse.¡±


    ¡°I see¡­¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Candado. Because of the recent events, your mother, your father, and everyone else already know you have the same ''illness''¡ª¡± he paused ¡°¡ªthe same one that killed Gabriela.¡±


    Candado put a hand to his forehead.


    ¡°It can¡¯t be,¡± he said with concern.


    ¡°I¡¯ll be temporarily disconnected for tonight. Your spirit became so weak it allowed Odadnac to escape.¡±


    ¡°What is he doing right now?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s locked up; he won¡¯t bother you for now. Your eye is back to normal because I severed any contact with your guardians. Mind, Heart, Lung, and Soul have been helping me.¡±


    ¡°I never imagined there would be a civil war inside me.¡±


    ¡°For now, rest. Everything is under control.¡±


    Candado sighed and looked at his mother.


    ¡°I will.¡±


    ¡°Good, with that said, see you.¡±


    ¡°Yeah¡­ take care, and good luck.¡±


    Inside Candado, in a hidden dimension, was T¨ªnbari. The place where he stood seemed like a room with a lamp casting light only on a small circle around him. In the shadows, four other figures stood by his side, but the light barely revealed their legs. One was dressed in green, another in red, another in white, and the last in light blue.


    ¡°What did he say?¡± asked the figure in red pants from the darkness.


    ¡°He said he would rest,¡± T¨ªnbari replied. He then turned his head to look at Odadnac, chained by his feet and hands to a rock.


    ¡°Now tell me, what should I do with you?¡±


    Odadnac lifted his head.


    ¡°You¡¯re all useless. This body will collapse without my help.¡±


    ¡°We don¡¯t need your help,¡± replied the figure in light blue pants.


    ¡°You¡¯re deceived¡­ Were your memories blocked to protect yourselves, or are you too weak to face reality? I disgust being part of him¡­ and of you.¡±


    T¨ªnbari snapped his fingers. Immediately, each of the guardians grabbed a chain and began pulling with all their strength, slowly dismembering Odadnac. Despite his obvious pain, he didn¡¯t utter a single scream, though suffering was clear on his face.


    ¡°I warn you, Wrath or Hatred, whatever you call yourself, don¡¯t interfere again. You should have accepted Candado¡¯s sentence.¡±


    Odadnac smiled defiantly.


    ¡°You don¡¯t understand... His eclipse is over. There¡¯s nothing left of him to hide, not even from me. You can¡¯t kill me; if he couldn¡¯t, you certainly won¡¯t. And when these chains break, you¡¯ll regret witnessing that moment. My strength doesn¡¯t come from this body, but from the outside. Everything I see, feel, or hear will be my nourishment.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re so heavy¡­ and arrogant. But if Candado wanted it this way, so it shall be. After all, I made a promise to Gabriela.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re a scoundrel¡­¡±


    ¡°Maybe, in your eyes.¡± T¨ªnbari spun on his heels and ordered, ¡°Cage!¡±


    The four figures extended their hands, and lava bars emerged from the ground, surrounding Odadnac and T¨ªnbari before solidifying into a volcanic stone prison.


    ¡°This cage is made with my material,¡± T¨ªnbari said, pointing to the ceiling.


    ¡°And so what?¡± Odadnac scoffed.


    ¡°It means you won¡¯t be able to break it. Only someone from the outside could destroy it... and that¡¯s me.¡±


    ¡°This cage won¡¯t hold me for long.¡±


    ¡°Of course it will.¡±


    T¨ªnbari moved away from him, passing through the bars as if they were a hologram. Odadnac watched, helpless, as the guardian faded into the shadows.


    ¡°Goodbye forever,¡± T¨ªnbari said. He then turned to the others. ¡°Let¡¯s go, we have a lot to do in this area.¡±


    ¡°See you,¡± Odadnac replied with a crooked smile.


    Candado watched his mother as he thought about what to say when she opened those red eyes and looked at him.


    ¡°Mama,¡± he murmured.


    He gently placed his hand on her cheek, wiping away her tears, but his touch was enough to make Europa Barret wake up. Her eyes opened, and seeing him, she sat up quickly, not taking her gaze off him.


    ¡°Candado¡­¡±


    He didn¡¯t have the courage to look her in the eyes and lowered his head.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, mom.¡±


    Europa hugged him tightly.


    ¡°First Gabriela, and now you... How many more things do they think they can take from me?¡±


    ¡°I¡­¡±


    ¡°No, Candado... I¡¯ve already lost too much. If I lose you too, it will be my end. I can¡¯t go through that again, I can¡¯t see another child die.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    She held him tighter, fearing that if she let go, she would lose him forever. However, Candado knew that this hug wouldn¡¯t solve anything.


    ¡°Mom, don¡¯t cling to me just because I¡¯m weakening. I don¡¯t want you to end up like I did with Gabriela.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t talk as if you¡¯ve already resigned yourself to that fate. I won¡¯t let it take you.¡±


    ¡°As hopeful as that sounds, mom, it won¡¯t change what¡¯s happening. I¡¯m not dead yet, and if death wants to find me, it¡¯ll have to face a very difficult road. I¡¯ll make it overwhelmed by me and it¡¯ll leave.¡±


    Candado pulled away from her, offering a weak smile.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m hungry.¡±


    Europa jumped out of bed, startled.


    "You''re right. I haven''t prepared anything. How did I not think of that before?"


    "Has Karen already eaten?" he asked.


    Europa stopped mid-step, sensing the chill in his words, though she avoided diving into what she truly felt.


    "Yes, she''s already eaten. Why do you ask?"


    "Because it''s always me who feeds her."


    "Don''t worry, son, Karen is sleeping with a full stomach."


    "Thank goodness."


    Europa hurried out, leaving Candado alone in his room, bathed in the light of the stars. He remained thoughtful, replaying the recent events in his mind. Everyone had discovered his secret, some Baris had tried to kill him and his family, he had let himself be consumed by anger and pain, and he''d spoken cruel words to Hammya, who didn''t deserve his treatment. All of that had happened in just one day.


    However, he also realized how much his friends and family loved him, especially his mother, a kind woman with such a tender heart that anyone would envy it. Candado sighed.


    "Mom... why do you have to watch your children die?"


    The thought of causing her that suffering again hurt him deeply. He knew she was strong, but even strength had its limits. He felt that if he died, his mother would collapse. He couldn''t allow her to go through that¡ªnor his father, despite their differences. He still loved her.


    In another room, Hammya lay on her bed, a damp cloth over her forehead. After the events of the day, exhaustion, stress, and the overuse of her magic had pushed her to the brink of a high fever. H¨¦ctor had insisted she stay in bed, and she was now strictly forbidden from getting up, not even to see Candado.If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    "I hope he''s okay," she murmured in a hoarse voice.


    "Of course, he will be," Clementina replied, sitting at the desk, reading the Soliant newspaper.


    On the front page that day, there was an image of Krauser exiting a church in the rain, with the headline: "Inspector Krauser, Religious?" Clementina let out a small laugh.


    "Poor fool."


    "Is something wrong, Clem?"


    "Nothing, miss, nothing you need to worry about."


    Hammya stared at the ceiling, where some words were written.


    "Clementina... what does that say up there?"


    "It''s something Gabriela used to tell her brother: ''You have work to do.'' According to her, seeing that phrase reminded her that each day was a new chance to be happy."


    "It sounds beautiful."


    "Gabriela had a gift for creating phrases like that."


    "And Candado? Does he have something like that?"


    "Well... when he finishes a fight, he usually says ''Oyik.'' It''s one of his quirks, really."


    "I see..." Hammya smiled faintly, touching the damp cloth. "Maybe I''ll feel better tomorrow."


    Clementina closed the newspaper and leaned back in her chair.


    "Let''s hope so."


    "Clem, can I...?"


    "No," Clementina replied, guessing her intention.


    "But..."


    "No, miss Hammya. You won''t see Candado until you recover."


    "I just want to know if he''s okay."


    "He''s fine. That''s all you need to know."


    Meanwhile, Candado had left his room and headed to the stable to feed Uzoori. There, he found a familiar presence. Matlotsky was waiting for him, leaning against a wooden pillar.


    "Well, it''s interesting to see you breaking mommy''s rules, isn''t it?"


    "What are you doing in my house?" Candado asked, not hiding his annoyance.


    "Watching over you," Matlotsky replied, his body language exaggerated.


    "Get out of my house."


    "Not a chance. I was planning on playing a prank on you today, but, thanks to fate, we ended up in this situation."


    "Probably something that would make me lose my patience, but I''m glad it failed."


    "Candado, it''s not funny to see you make your mother cry."


    That almost pushed him to his limit. Candado took a deep breath, feeling the tension in his body.


    "I understand," he replied bitterly.


    But Matlotsky didn''t plan to stop there. To him, hiding such a big problem was a sign of disrespect towards friendship and trust.


    "You know, I never imagined you''d walk through that door with that attitude. We''ve been through all of this, and still, you always remain tough and cold in the face of any problem."


    Candado closed his eyes.


    "Is that it? Is that all you''re going to say?"


    Hearing those arrogant words, Candado opened his eyes, and in the dim light of the room, his irises glowed with an intense violet color.


    "Everything you said is true to a certain point. Your anger is just like mine, and I understand you use it against me for what I put you through, but..."


    His eyes returned to normal.


    "But what?" Matlotsky asked.


    "Your soul is tainted with negativity. I think it''s time for you to go home and sleep."


    "I have no powers, Candado. It''s impossible for you..."


    "True, but we all have souls. That''s the one thing the Bible got right."


    Matlotsky leaned against the wall and started laughing.


    "You are and always will be the lock, Candado."


    "Don''t use my name to mock my rank."


    "For now, the lock is H¨¦ctor."


    "Hey."


    "But it would be funny if the lock of locks was Candado."


    "That''s called Marshal."


    "Although it would be hilarious if you were called Sekur."


    "Hey..."


    "But..."


    "ENOUGH!"


    Matlotsky walked over to the window.


    "Lord Candado of the Locks of the Lock of the Lock of Candado, it''s time for me to retire to sleep, but before..."


    Candado grabbed a brush he used to groom his horse and threw it at him, causing Matlotsky to lose his balance and fall out of the window.


    "Insufferable," Candado said coldly.


    He approached his horse, Uzoori, and gently stroked its neck.


    "I''m sorry, my friend. I couldn''t take you out for a walk today."


    The horse whinnied and licked his face, coaxing a faint smile from him. Candado patted the head of his faithful companion and, without saddling him, climbed into the corral and lay across Uzoori¡¯s back.


    ¡°This brings back memories¡­¡±


    Five years earlier


    On December 9, 2008, somewhere in the impenetrable Chaco forest, two young siblings trudged through the undergrowth. Sixteen-year-old Gabriela led the way with her younger brother, eight-year-old Candado, searching for something only they believed was real.


    ¡°Are we almost there, Gabi?¡±


    ¡°Of course not, Candy. If it weren¡¯t for this machete, we¡¯d be stuck here for days.¡±


    Candado sighed, wiping the sweat from his brow.


    ¡°Are you sure the Pombero is here?¡±


    ¡°The inspector is never wrong. With this heat and the machete in hand, I can practically smell the Pombero. Trust me.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m tired. We¡¯ve been walking for an hour.¡±


    Gabriela planted the machete into the ground, approached Candado, and looked at him closely, a mischievous smile creeping over her sweat-drenched face as she gazed at her brother¡¯s flushed, sweaty cheeks.


    ¡°What?¡± asked Candado, avoiding her gaze.


    ¡°Do you know what I¡¯m thinking right now?¡±


    ¡°Your smile scares me, Gabi.¡±


    ¡°I love it,¡± Gabriela said, hugging him tightly. ¡°I adore your sweetness! Time for a swim! To the Nile River!¡±


    Her shout echoed, sending birds and reptiles scattering. Candado frowned at her.


    ¡°Gabi, keep it down! We could scare away the Pombero¡­¡±


    Suddenly, the tall grass began to rustle, revealing a straw hat bobbing in the distance.


    ¡°Gabi, there!¡± Candado whispered, growing nervous.


    Gabriela saw the hat disappearing and, without hesitation, lifted Candado onto Uzoori, their saddleless horse.


    ¡°Come on, Uzoori! After the goblin!¡±


    ¡°Hey¡­ Gabi, this is dangerous.¡±


    ¡°Nothing¡¯s dangerous when I¡¯m the dangerous one.¡±


    Of course, they didn¡¯t catch the Pombero. After an hour of chasing, they reached a lagoon, where it seemed the creature had once again evaded them. Gabriela, frustrated, floated in the water, cursing her bad luck, while Candado sat on a rock, feet in the water, watching her.


    ¡°Gabi, don¡¯t you think you should at least put on some clothes?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to; I¡¯m bathing.¡±


    ¡°The Pombero might kidnap you.¡±


    ¡°I doubt it, because you¡¯ll protect me.¡±


    ¡°Of course¡­ always.¡±


    Gabriela slowly swam toward him, imitating a crocodile stalking its prey.


    ¡°Gabi, that¡¯s creepy, and it¡¯s not hygienic; this water¡¯s full of bacteria¡­¡±


    When she was close enough, she raised her arms and let out a playful roar.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to devour a mussel boy!¡±


    ¡°Gabi, you splashed me!¡± Candado complained, wiping off the water droplets.


    Gabriela grabbed him by the waist, and they both fell into the water. Candado, who couldn¡¯t swim, began to squirm. Realizing this, Gabriela lifted him onto her back.


    ¡°Relax; you¡¯re safe here.¡±


    ¡°Gabi, I¡¯m soaked, and I can¡¯t swim, but¡­¡±


    ¡°But what?¡±


    ¡°Put something on.¡±


    ¡°Afraid someone might see me?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ll catch a chill.¡±


    Gabriela looked at him, amused, then sighed.


    ¡°Fine. Let¡¯s head to shore.¡±


    ¡°Thanks, Gabi.¡±


    Obediently, Gabriela carried him back to shore.


    ¡°We should go back; it¡¯s getting late,¡± Candado murmured.


    ¡°I know¡­ I just have so much fun being here with you.¡±


    ¡°With me?¡±


    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s nice to have a brother. Whenever I see you, I just want to be the best I can be and give you a hug.¡±


    Candado smiled.


    ¡°Me too.¡±


    Present


    ¡°Honestly, I wish you were here, Gabriela,¡± Candado murmured as his eyes filled with tears.


    Uzoori shook his head, flicking his ears as if in understanding.


    ¡°Yeah, I get it, I get it,¡± he replied, as if the horse could understand his words.


    Candado wiped his tears, took a deep breath, and climbed down.


    ¡°I¡¯m starving,¡± he said, patting Uzoori fondly. ¡°I¡¯ll take you out for a ride tomorrow.¡±


    He turned and headed toward the house, but just as he reached for the door handle, it swung open. Clementina appeared, holding a sack that smelled like food for Uzoori.


    ¡°Young master?¡± she said, surprised.


    ¡°...Clementina.¡±


    ¡°Is something wrong, sir?¡±


    ¡°No, nothing¡­ I was just playing with Uzoori.¡±


    ¡°But¡­¡±


    ¡°Excuse me.¡±


    Candado hurried out of the room, leaving Clementina without a chance to finish her sentence.


    ¡°Sir¡­¡± she murmured, watching him disappear down the stairs.


    The room was dimly lit; if not for the light filtering from the hallway, Clementina wouldn¡¯t have recognized him. The faint light barely illuminated his chest and part of his neck, leaving his face in shadow. Unknowingly, Candado was hiding his tears¡ªtears he didn¡¯t want anyone, especially Clementina, to see. As he descended the stairs, he quickly dried his eyes.


    ¡°That was close,¡± he muttered to himself.


    He headed to the kitchen, the only room with light, where his parents, Europa and Arturo, were cooking together.


    ¡°All right, it¡¯s done,¡± Europa announced. ¡°I¡¯ll go call Candado.¡±


    ¡°No need,¡± he said, entering.


    ¡°Hey, daddy!¡± Arturo laughed.


    Europa put down the pot and approached her son, touching his forehead with concern.


    ¡°Are you okay? Fever, fatigue, or anything?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m fine, Mom,¡± Candado replied, gently holding her hand.


    Europa nodded, relieved, and returned to the kitchen.


    ¡°Of course, you must be hungry. I¡¯ll serve you right away.¡±


    Arturo approached him with a serious expression.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Candado asked.


    Arturo gave a slight grimace before embracing him tightly.


    ¡°You had us so worried,¡± he said, looking over his son¡¯s shoulder, where T¨ªnbari watched silently.


    T¨ªnbari smiled, closed his eyes, and faded away before Candado could notice.


    Candado sat at the table, taking in the comforting scene.


    ¡°What¡¯s the chef cooked up?¡± he asked, sniffing the air.


    ¡°Ravioli stew,¡± Europa answered with a smile, as she took the seat to his left and Arturo the one to his right.


    Candado looked at his parents, who surrounded him with forced smiles, and saw the sadness shimmering in their eyes.


    ¡°Go ahead¡­¡± he smiled softly. ¡°You can cry.¡±


    Both looked at his face, so much like Gabriela¡¯s, and couldn¡¯t hold back any longer. Europa was the first to break.


    ¡°Why?¡± she sobbed, hugging him. ¡°Why does this have to happen to our family?¡±


    Candado watched his father, who was struggling to stay strong.


    ¡°No need to hold back, Dad.¡±


    Arturo finally surrendered and hugged him, letting the tears fall.


    ¡°Is this a punishment?¡± he asked softly.


    They both held him tightly, as if afraid Candado might disappear between their arms.


    ¡°I¡¯m not going to die,¡± he said firmly.


    ¡°She said the same thing!¡± Europa cried, recalling Gabriela¡¯s words. ¡°Right up until the very end, she kept saying that¡­¡±


    Candado didn¡¯t flinch.


    ¡°Please, don¡¯t cry. Truly, everything is fine.¡±


    ¡°How can you say that?¡± his mother asked, distraught.


    ¡°Dad, Mom¡­¡± Candado smiled at them with determination. ¡°I¡¯ll fight and I¡¯ll win.¡±


    He hugged them, and his voice filled with warmth they couldn¡¯t ignore.


    ¡°Feeling your love, your sadness, your anger¡­ makes me happy. It makes me see that you care, that you worry about me. For the first time, I feel truly loved.¡± He sighed. ¡°You have no idea how glad I am that you¡¯re with me. These two years of sadness¡­ I want to make up for them. I want to live, to stay here with you. I¡¯m not going to die. I¡¯m going to fight with everything I have.¡±


    Europa and Arturo look at him with a mix of pride and sadness.


    "And now¡­?" they ask, expectant.


    "Now..." he says, picking up his plate, "we eat. I¡¯m starving."


    They both laugh and embrace him again, comforted by his usual attitude.


    (I have something to do after this), Candado thinks to himself. The meal continued without any further incidents.


    In Hammya''s room, Clementina and Hammya speak in low voices.


    "Clementina, do you think Candado is okay?"


    "I don¡¯t know¡­ on my way to feed Uzoori, I saw him rushing out of the stable."


    "Why didn¡¯t you follow him?"


    "Because I didn¡¯t receive an order from the Barret family."


    "Oh¡­ I guess you can¡¯t disobey."


    "No, that¡¯s not it."


    "Then why?"


    "If I leave my post, you¡¯d escape."


    "Ah¡­ I see."


    "But it¡¯s okay. If Candado didn¡¯t want me to see him, it must have been for an important reason."


    "Yes¡­ there¡¯s always a reason."


    Clementina frowns, thoughtful.


    "Of course. He never does anything without thinking¡­ probably."


    Suddenly, the door swings open, and Candado steps in from the dark hallway.


    "Sir?" Clementina says, surprised.


    Candado looks at her.


    "¡®Probably¡¯?"


    "Oh, that¡­ excuse me."


    He moves towards Hammya, who watches him with a mixture of terror and surprise, even instinctively trying to step back.


    "Girl, I don¡¯t have fleas."


    Hammya freezes, watching him with curiosity.


    "Ruby," Candado said coldly, referring to her current flushed state.


    "Did you come here just to annoy me?" she asked.


    "Yes."


    "Then get lost."


    "No."


    "Why not?"


    "Because I¡¯m not done."


    "Annoying me?"


    "No, apologizing."


    Hammya looks at him, surprised.


    "Even though you betrayed the secret I told you, and it upset me..." Candado begins, but Hammya interrupts.


    "I got it the first time, Candado," she said, regretful.


    "But¡­ I knew from the start that at some point you¡¯d let it slip. I just didn¡¯t expect it to happen so soon. Still¡­ thank you for helping me. I¡¯m really sorry for what I said," Candado murmurs, placing his left hand on Hammya''s forehead. "You¡¯re a headache, but¡­ you were the one who made it possible for my parents to be with me now. I never thought this day would come, least of all because of a girl like you."


    "Sir¡­ are you crying?"


    Hammya gently moves Candado¡¯s hand aside to see his face, noticing a faint tear shimmering in his eyes. She¡¯d never seen him like this before. The first time she saw him cry, he¡¯d hidden his face in Nelson¡¯s chest; the second and third times, in his mother¡¯s arms. This was the first time she could clearly see him, vulnerable.


    "Go on, you can make fun of me."


    "No." Hammya picks up the sheet, stands up from the bed, and softly wipes away his tears. "There, that¡¯s better."


    Clementina smiles silently, watching the scene.


    "Consider it payment for that other time," Hammya says.


    "That other time?"


    Candado grows thoughtful, until he recalls when he¡¯d given her his handkerchief to dry her tears. Remembering, he smiles.


    "Did you remember?" Hammya asks, a small smile on her lips.


    "Yes, but that time, I didn¡¯t wipe your tears. You did it yourself."


    "It doesn¡¯t have to be the same this time, does it?"


    Behind them, Clementina stifles a laugh while secretly typing a message to Krauser, one of Candado¡¯s best friends, who wasn¡¯t there that day.


    Krauser¡¯s phone vibrates, but with both hands occupied holding a little girl, he can¡¯t take it out of his pocket. Instead, he extends a tentacle from his back to retrieve his phone and read the message.


    "He¡¯s awake XD"


    Krauser lets out a barely audible chuckle.


    "I¡¯m glad to know he¡¯s okay."

 KRAUSER

    Generally, Krauser is often mistaken for Slenderman, both for his appearance and for his reserved personality. Alongside H¨¦ctor, Joaqu¨ªn, Declan, and previously Ocho, he is among those who have known Candado since kindergarten. He lives in the city of Resistencia and is Joaqu¨ªn''s neighbor. Krauser attracts attention when walking down the street due to his lack of a visible face; however, both he and his twin sister, Grenia O¡¯P?hner, do actually have eyes.


    Krauser and Grenia hide their eyes behind unusual eyelids that appear closed from the outside but allow them to see from within, like the one-way mirrors used in police interrogations in movies. Both are hybrids, born from the union of a monster and a human, which grants them certain human traits, like their eyes. Krauser has black eyeballs with red irises, while Grenia¡¯s are green. Due to the darkness of their eyes, both are highly sensitive to sunlight and prefer to keep them closed for most of the day, only opening them in the safety of their home or at nightfall.


    Krauser¡¯s family consists of his mother, Kr?ma O¡¯P?hner Barret, a creature adopted by Europa Barret. Kr?ma is a monster with long black hair and, like her children, lacks a face; however, unlike them, she has no eyes. His father, Javier Reinhold, is a human with blonde hair and a trimmed mustache, whom Europa and Mercedes describe as "kinder than any god"; a person incapable of cruelty and willing to endure hardship due to his generosity. Then there are his sisters, Grenia and Beatriz Reinhold O¡¯P?hner Griselda. Unlike Krauser and Grenia, Beatriz has human facial features, although her skin is unusually pale. She inherited Javier¡¯s green eyes and Kr?ma¡¯s pallor and hair. Finally, there¡¯s him: Krauser Lautaro Reinhold O¡¯P?hner.


    That morning, Krauser woke up early, around 8:00, as there were no classes due to an institutional day. Still in bed, he opened his eyes and sat up, wearing blue pajamas.


    "Such laziness," he murmured as he walked to the wardrobe.


    He changed clothes, choosing a white shirt, a brown vest without buttons, pants of the same color, black sandals, and a red scarf around his neck. Then he walked to the mirror and looked at himself closely.


    "Hmm, good," he said, adjusting the scarf.


    He opened his bedroom door, stepped out, and closed it behind him. His family¡¯s house is simple, a single-story building. In the kitchen, as usual, his father Javier was already up and humming while making breakfast.


    "Hi, Dad," Krauser greeted, opening the pantry to grab some cookies.


    "Lauty, good morning."


    "Let me guess: tortillas with dulce de leche."


    "Beep, beep, beep, bingo," Javier replied playfully.


    Krauser gave a slight smile.


    "Is Grenia up yet?"


    "Ha, ha, no, not yet," replied Javier, taking off his apron. "I¡¯ll go wake up your mother."


    As his father left the kitchen, Krauser took the opportunity to add honey to his sister¡¯s tortillas, knowing she prefers that over dulce de leche. Javier arrived at the bedroom and carefully opened the door. He approached Kr?ma, who was sleeping in a white nightgown decorated with green flowers, and gently placed his hand on her cheek. Although Kr?ma has no eyes, Javier knew when she was asleep; upon waking, she would furrow her brow and let out a soft purr. Sunlight was harmful to her, so Javier always woke her gently.


    ¡°Dear, wake up; it¡¯s time for breakfast.¡±


    Kr?ma furrowed her brow and purred, not wanting to wake up just yet. Javier smiled and, knowing it would be hard to get her up, lifted her in his arms like a princess and kissed her forehead.


    "If you don¡¯t want to come to the kitchen, I¡¯ll carry you there."


    Meanwhile, Grenia had arrived in the kitchen with messy hair.


    "Good morning, Krau."


    "Good morning, Grenia," Krauser replied without looking up from the newspaper.


    "Tortillas, my favorite¡­ and with honey."


    "Enjoy," Krauser said.


    Javier entered the kitchen carrying Kr?ma in his arms.


    ¡°Dad, you spoil her too much. I want that too; it¡¯s not fair!¡± Grenia complained.


    "Good morning, dear," said Javier, carefully placing Kr?ma in a chair. "Come on, breakfast is important."


    Kr?ma sat up and took a fork.


    "Mom, you need to cut the tortillas first," Krauser commented without taking his eyes off the newspaper.


    Kr?ma puffed her cheeks and let out a childish huff.


    Kr?ma is a synthetic monster, created in a human experiment to give artificial life. The scientists failed to create a complete human, and her appearance was left incomplete: no eyes, ears, lips, or mouth. When they planned to destroy her as a ¡°scientific error,¡± she escaped to Argentina, where she began to develop unique organs. Though she lacks eyes, her brain found a way to perceive her surroundings through a vein coiled in her eye sockets, forming a kind of red gem that reacts to her emotions. When she is angry, the gem glows intensely, radiating heat and burning her delicate eyelids, forcing her to cry blood to cool down. Despite the extreme pain, Kr?ma endures it when her anger takes over, though she rarely shows herself in that state.


    As for her mouth, Kr?ma did not develop lips but has vocal cords, teeth, and a tongue. However, these aren¡¯t enough for her to speak. She spent a whole year unable to hear until her brain developed a more efficient auditory system than that of a human or animal. She rarely speaks; Kr?ma typically communicates through sign language or writing. In family life, she is very attentive to her children and husband, though sometimes Krauser proves to be more resourceful than her.


    Kr?ma puffed her cheeks, trying hard to cut her tortilla.


    "Mom, the knife¡¯s edge is backward," Krauser noted without looking up from the newspaper.


    Kr?ma pouted, and Grenia got up to help her, laughing as she cut the tortillas.


    "This always happens with you," Grenia remarked, chuckling.


    Krauser closed the newspaper, placed it under his chair, and began eating. Skillfully, he cut his tortilla in half, opened his mouth in an almost inhuman way, and devoured both halves in one bite.


    "Krauser, manners," Javier chided, feeding little Beatriz, who, at her young age, already had two tiny tentacles sprouting from her shoulder blades.


    "Sorry, Dad."


    ¡°Hey, how about a riddle?¡± Javier proposed.


    Kr?ma clapped excitedly, Grenia nodded, and Krauser¡­


    "I don¡¯t like your riddles."


    "Oh, come on, try it this time."


    ¡°No, thanks.¡±


    "Alright," Javier murmured, disappointed.


    "Go on, say it," Grenia encouraged him, eager.


    "Alright. Let¡¯s see, what is always with us, we cannot alter or touch it, yet we can feel it? Something we can¡¯t see, though we can see thanks to it, and that children cling to until they grow older."


    ¡°That must be¡­¡±


    The phone began ringing in the living room.


    ¡°Mom, can you get it?¡±


    Kr?ma instantly got up and ran to the living room.


    ¡°You know Mom can¡¯t speak,¡± Grenia reminded him.


    ¡°Oops, I forgot,¡± Krauser replied, feigning an apology.


    A few seconds later, Kr?ma returned, pouting.


    Krauser chuckled.


    "I¡¯ll go," he said, getting up from his chair.


    "Mom, don¡¯t be so innocent," Grenia advised her.


    Krauser went to the phone, picked it up, and brought it to his ear.


    "Reinhold family, Krauser speaking."


    "Oh, I¡¯m glad you answered. It¡¯s Hammya, Hammya Saillim."


    "Hammya? Oh, right, the girl with green hair who was with Candado that night. How are you?"


    "I¡¯m fine¡­ but it¡¯s about Candado," Hammya¡¯s voice turned somber.


    Krauser grew serious.


    "What happened to him?"


    "Last night¡­ he had an accident. And he won¡¯t wake up."


    "What do you mean he won¡¯t wake up?"


    "He just isn¡¯t. He always wakes up early, but not today. I¡¯ve tried everything¡­ They said you were a doctor and that you might be able to help."


    "Where¡¯s Clementina?"


    "I slipped away from her. I¡¯m a bit sick, with a fever, but I can¡¯t rest while he¡¯s like this," Hammya said, letting out a sob.


    "I¡¯ll be right over. In the meantime, you should rest."


    He hung up the phone and returned to the kitchen.


    "Listen, the Barret family is in trouble."


    "What?" Javier exclaimed. Kr?ma stood up, alarmed, while Grenia rose too.


    ¡°We need to go check on them,¡± Grenia said.


    ¡°That¡¯s what we¡¯ll do,¡± Javier confirmed.


    Krauser went to his room, put on his red trench coat and brown hat, hastily buttoning it as he muttered to himself:


    "What could have happened?"


    When he returned, he found his parents already prepared, and his mother wearing a jacket over her nightgown. Javier had pulled the car around, and they all quickly climbed in: Krauser first, followed by Kr?ma, Javier, and Grenia, who was holding


    The car started, and tension filled the air.


    "I hope it''s nothing serious," Grenia whispered.


    Krauser closed his eyes.


    "I hope so, too."


    An hour later.


    The car stopped in front of the Barret house. Krauser was the first to get out, running to the door, where he began knocking impatiently. His family soon followed suit.


    "I already called," Krauser said.


    The door opened, and Europa appeared, her eyes red.


    "How is he?"


    "How did you find out?" Europa asked.


    "Let''s just say we have informants," Krauser replied without hesitation.


    Europa stepped aside, allowing them to enter. Kr?ma hugged her, while Javier spoke with Arturo, who stood beside her. Krauser and Grenia went upstairs and entered Candado''s room, where Clementina and Hector were waiting in silence.


    "What¡¯s going on?" Clementina asked.


    "They told us Candado won¡¯t wake up," Krauser replied.


    "They told you?" Clementina repeated, confused.


    Hector and Clementina exchanged glances. Krauser removed his hat and bowed his head to them.


    "I''m sorry, but I can¡¯t reveal the source."


    "That''s fine, but it¡¯s not serious, really. He¡¯s only fainted."


    "Come on, Hector, don¡¯t give me that."


    "He must be very tired."


    "If that''s the case, it won¡¯t hurt for me to check on him."


    Hector looked at Clementina, as if seeking her permission, and she nodded in agreement.


    "Grenia, go outside."


    "I can take her to Hammya."


    "Clem..."


    "Yes?"


    "Does Hammya happen to live here?"


    "Yes, she does. Why?"


    "No reason."


    Clementina led Grenia out of the room, leaving Krauser with Hector.


    "All right, I think it¡¯s time to get to work," Krauser said, taking off his coat.


    "What happened to the brown one?"


    "It¡¯s at home," Krauser replied, hanging the coat on the back of a chair.


    He moved to the side of the bed, raised his arms, and began to levitate Candado''s body, using the same method he¡¯d applied with Esteban.


    "I don¡¯t feel... Wait, what is that?"


    "What¡¯s wrong?"


    "This is unusual. There¡¯s an unknown clot in his second soul. This isn¡¯t normal."


    "Can you do something about it?"


    "I¡¯ll try."


    From his back, tentacles emerged, one of which rested on Candado''s chest, which began to glow with a soft, serene light.


    "A little more... almost there... ARGH!"


    "KRAUSER!"


    The tentacles on Candado''s chest started to melt, causing immense pain for Krauser, who opened his mouth in a desperate scream.


    "IT BURNS!"


    "LET GO!"


    "I CAN''T! I... ARGH!"


    Hector grabbed Krauser by the waist, pulling back with all his might, finally managing to break him free from "the trap." Both collapsed to the floor.


    "What... what was that?" Hector panted.


    "I have no idea."


    At that moment, Krauser''s and Candado¡¯s parents rushed into the room.


    "What¡¯s going on!?" Arturo exclaimed.


    Clementina and Grenia entered as well.


    "I heard a scream," Grenia said.


    Hector helped Krauser to his feet.


    "I was trying to heal him, but something stopped me."


    Europa approached her son, placing a hand on his forehead.


    "He¡¯s sweating."


    "It must be the medicine," Krauser replied.


    "Medicine?" Clementina asked.


    "The sweat will help cleanse the bacteria affecting him; it¡¯ll dilute whatever¡¯s harming him... except this."


    Krauser showed his nearly melted tentacles.


    "I¡¯ve never seen anything so powerful. It really hurt me."


    Kr?ma knelt beside her son, taking his injured tentacles, four in total. Channeling her energy, she began to heal them slowly.


    "Thank you, Mom."


    Kr?ma nodded, opened her mouth, and, like an iguana, affectionately licked his cheek.


    "You¡¯re always so loving with your children," Europa said, smiling.


    Kr?ma nodded energetically.


    "I hate to be blunt, but can we leave and let Candado rest?" Arturo interjected.


    "I¡¯ll stay," Krauser said.


    "Krauser..."


    "There¡¯s something malignant inside him; I need to get it out."


    "We know," Clementina said.


    "All of us do," Hector added.


    "Then why aren¡¯t you doing something?" he asked hotly.


    Europa''s eyes filled with concern at his words. Arturo restrained himself from getting angry at Krauser.


    "Krauser, please, don¡¯t speak like that," Hector said sadly.


    Kr?ma hugged Europa to comfort her, while Javier placed a hand on Krauser¡¯s shoulder, trying to calm him.


    "Let¡¯s talk downstairs," Javier suggested kindly to the others.


    He looked at Kr?ma, and she nodded. The adults left the room, leaving Krauser, Hector, and Clementina alone.


    "Listen, I know this is hard, and you¡¯re angry, but don¡¯t talk like that again."


    "Hector, I think..."


    "No, Clementina. He needs to listen."


    "What do I need to hear?" Krauser asked.


    Hector hesitated, but his determination overpowered his doubt.


    "Candado suffers the same as Gabriela."


    Krauser''s eyes widened in disbelief.


    "You must be joking."


    "Do you think I''m kidding?"


    Krauser brought his left hand to his face.


    "No... not again..." he murmured. Then he leaned against the wall, sliding down to the floor. "This can¡¯t be happening again."


    "That¡¯s why no one called you, Krauser. We knew you couldn¡¯t do anything to help him."


    "Krauser, we know what this meant for both of you: for Candado, for not being able to protect her; and for you, for not having saved her."


    "STOP! I don¡¯t want to hear it," Krauser exclaimed, covering his face. Then he jumped to his feet.


    "Krauser?" Hector asked.


    "This is different; I¡¯m no longer ignorant. I can still do something. I¡¯ll cancel my pending matter to stay here with him."


    "Wait, wait... what matter do you plan to cancel?" Hector asked.


    "Does it even matter?"


    "Yes. You¡¯re a Semaphores inspector; you can¡¯t just cancel it."


    "Relax, Hector; it has nothing to do with my job."


    "Hold on. First, what is it?" Clementina asked.


    "It¡¯s classified... no, it¡¯s personal."


    Clementina put her hand on her chin, thoughtful.


    "I don¡¯t buy it," she said, then looked at Krauser. "Especially that part about it not being important. Tell me."


    Krauser closed his eyes, exhaling with resignation.


    "Birthday," he whispered softly.


    "What?" Clementina asked.


    "A birthday."


    "A Summit...?" Hector stammered, confused.


    "BIRTHDAY!" Krauser repeated emphatically.


    "I see," Clementina said, glancing at Hector.


    "Candado''s and Joaquin''s birthday is on November 12," Hector noted.


    "Right. And Declan''s is on February 1; yours is the 21st of the same month. And Ocho¡¯s was September 5."


    "Don¡¯t talk about that traitor," Hector muttered, annoyed.


    "Wait, what are you getting at?"


    "Well... Hector, you tell him," Clementina encouraged him with a gentle nudge.


    "Me? Well... just that you¡¯ve been to those birthdays your whole life: mine, Candado¡¯s, Joaquin¡¯s, oddly enough Declan''s and Ocho''s. No one else¡¯s."


    "And what''s wrong with that?"


    "There¡¯s nothing wrong with it; it¡¯s just odd that they invite you. So, who was it this time?"


    "A girl from Buenos Aires named Casandra."


    "Wow... quite the gentleman," Hector teased with a mischievous grin.


    "She¡¯s eight years old."


    "Oh, I see," Hector apologized, a bit embarrassed.


    "Anyway, you¡¯re going," Clementina said determinedly.


    "What?"


    "I agree; you¡¯re going. You can¡¯t let a little girl down; it¡¯s wrong. You have to go."


    "Wait, Hector. I can¡¯t leave while my friend is unconscious and in this state. He¡¯s very ill."


    "We¡¯ll handle it."


    "But..."


    "Do your parents know?"


    "Yes, I notified them in advance."


    "And did they agree?"


    "Yes, but with everything that¡¯s going on, I doubt they''ll let me go now."


    At that moment, the door opened, and Javier peeked in.


    "Krauser, I have to ask you something."


    "About what?"


    "Are you going to the birthday party or not? You said you¡¯d be there by 10:00, and it¡¯s already 9:20."


    Krauser frowned, incredulous.


    "Seriously, Dad?"


    Hector stepped up to him and added:


    "Yes, Mr. Reinhold, he¡¯s going. He promised, and he¡¯ll keep it."


    Krauser looked at Hector with annoyance.


    "You scoundrel, Hector," he muttered.


    "You¡¯re going; Candado would be upset if he knew you made a little girl feel bad, understand? A lit-tle girl."


    "Hector, that sounds bad; Candado likes kids in general, regardless of gender," Clementina explained.


    Krauser sighed and looked at his father...


    "Alright. Take me to the Traffic Lights Airport."


    Before leaving, he glanced at Clementina and H¨¦ctor.


    "Let me know if he wakes up, please."


    "We will," Clementina replied.


    Krauser closed the door and left with his father. As they walked, Javier looked at him curiously.


    "What do you think your sister is doing?" Javier asked.


    "I don''t know."


    They passed by a half-open door and both paused to discreetly peek inside.


    There was an animated conversation going on inside.


    "... and that''s how it happened. Honestly, I can''t even believe it, but it did."


    "Damn," a girl''s voice came through, sounding amused before a laugh followed. "Hammya, I envy you. I would have loved to see Candado laugh like that."


    "Yeah, it was awesome."


    "I see."


    "I like it when he smiles."


    "I understand. I also enjoy making people laugh."


    "Then..."


    Outside the room, Javier smiled.


    "I see you get along well," he commented, noticing a change in the girl''s hair color. "Did it turn red? Wow, she really likes dyeing it."


    "Yeah, no kidding," Krauser responded with a faint smile.


    "Let''s go."


    They descended the stairs into the living room, where Kr?ma was hugging Europa with a worried expression.


    "Sweetheart, I''m taking Krauser to the airport. He has to leave," Javier announced, addressing Kr?ma.


    She extended two tentacles from her back and began writing in her personal agenda.


    "Be careful," she said.


    "We will," Krauser affirmed with a nod.


    After saying their goodbyes, they left, and Krauser felt an odd atmosphere in the air.


    "Why do I feel like this is going to go wrong?" he asked with concern.


    "Son, you need to have faith and try to enjoy yourself."


    Javier opened the car door. Krauser climbed in and fastened his seatbelt, casting one last glance at the house while opening both eyes wide.


    "Is something wrong?" Javier asked, settling into his seat.Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    "No, nothing."


    Javier started the car, glancing at his son.


    "He''ll be fine. Have faith."


    Krauser closed his eyes and whispered, "I''m not good at having faith."


    The drive to the Traffic Lights Airport in Resistencia was tense and silent. Neither of them spoke, and the heaviness in the air was palpable. However, when they arrived, Krauser got out of the car, looked at his father, and with an unexpectedly soft voice said:


    "Light..."


    "What?" Javier asked, surprised.


    "The riddle from this morning, the answer was light. We see thanks to it, and children, often afraid of the dark, tend to cling to its presence. We feel it too, because depending on the position of the sun, it gives us cold or heat."


    "I think this is... the first time you''ve answered one of my riddles since you were in kindergarten," Javier said, smiling and slightly embarrassed.


    Krauser didn''t respond. He didn''t even look. He just touched his hat. It was clear he was embarrassed too; his pale skin revealed the blush creeping onto his cheeks, which he tried to hide by lowering the brim of his hat. Javier, for his part, smiled and got back in the car.


    "Let me know when you reach your destination."


    "Sure."


    Javier started the vehicle and drove off, while Krauser watched until the car disappeared from sight. Then he headed toward the airport and reached a booth where an elderly man attended him.


    "Excuse me."


    "Yes, young man?"


    "I¡¯d like to book a flight to Buenos Aires."


    "Last name and first name, please."


    "O¡¯P?hner Reinhold Krauser Lautaro."


    "On the runway, it just arrived a moment ago. Please go ahead."


    "Thank you."


    Krauser lifted his hat as a courtesy and headed toward the runway. Once there, he boarded the plane and settled into one of the many empty seats. However, just as he was about to relax, someone sat next to him.


    "Hey, mannequin."


    "Glinka?"


    "Yeah, it¡¯s me."


    "What are you doing on this plane? There are like ten empty seats."


    Glinka let out an exaggerated laugh.


    "What''s so funny?"


    "I have to go to Buenos Aires. You know, me, Moneda, and Ruth are the best inspectors from Chaco."


    "And?"


    "Well, they need us. They recently kidnapped Arce Catherine."


    "I know, you did quite well back there."


    "Yeah, and now I¡¯m back to help."


    The plane began to move.


    "Oh, we¡¯re moving!" Glinka said, excited.


    "I don¡¯t think I¡¯ll survive forty-five minutes with you," Krauser murmured.


    "Did you say something?"


    "No, nothing."


    The plane took off, and Glinka eagerly looked out the window, watching as the ground receded.


    "Tell me, Krauser."


    "Yeah?"


    "Let¡¯s play hide-and-seek."


    "You¡¯re not a kid."


    "Of course I am. Want to prove it?"


    "Leave me alone, Glinka."


    Glinka gave him a small tap on the head and snatched his hat.


    "Gotcha!"


    With that, she started running down the plane''s aisles.


    "GLINKA!!!"


    After an exhausting forty-five minutes, the plane landed at the Traffic Lights Agency in Buenos Aires. The doors opened, and the staircase began to descend.


    "We''re here," Glinka said with enthusiasm.


    Meanwhile, Krauser could barely stand.


    "I hate you," he said, snatching the hat from her hands.


    Glinka burst out laughing.


    "See you, Krau. I''m going to meet Ruth and Moneda," she said as she ran off. "I¡¯ll greet them for you!"


    "Plague," Krauser murmured as he placed his hat back on and headed toward a taxi.


    Though there weren''t many cars in Plaza Don Alum¨ªd Ger¨®nimo, also known as Plaza Centella for its peculiar nighttime silence, he managed to find one that took him to his destination. The plaza, founded in 1913, was spacious and leafy, with wooded areas and a secluded parking lot for magic-powered vehicles.


    Despite his appearance, Krauser rarely encountered any issues in guild society or at the agency he worked for. In Buenos Aires, he was known as the first "Monster" to reach the rank of Supreme Marshal of the W.O.G.A.B., a military position granted during wartime by the "locks" or "presidents." There were even rumors that he might be smarter than Candado, the president of the guilds, and could take his position, although Krauser didn¡¯t seem interested in running for it.


    Lost in thought, the car stopped in front of the church. As was his custom, Krauser had already calculated the exact fare and paid it immediately. However, as soon as he set foot on the sidewalk, he was greeted by looks of awe and fear. The bourgeois society of Buenos Aires, often cruel and distant from the guilds, watched him with suspicion.


    "Oh, great."


    Krauser took off his hat, revealing his face.


    "Slenderman!" someone whispered from the crowd.


    Krauser opened his eyes wide, stared at the people, and suddenly let out a deep, chilling scream. It was enough to make everyone flee, except for an old man and a little girl.


    "We''ve been waiting for you, young man," the old man said.


    Krauser lowered his gaze, hiding his mouth and eyes.


    "Hello, Father Hank," he said, adjusting his hat back into place.


    "Oh, you came."


    "Hello, Casandra. I''m glad to see you¡¯re doing well."


    "We went out to buy some things for the party and ran into this crowd outside the church."


    "Yeah, I hate crowds."


    "Come on, come in."


    Krauser crossed the threshold, and Father Hank stopped him.


    "Don''t worry about taking off your hat; we won¡¯t be having the party here. It¡¯s going to be outdoors."


    "Wow..."


    Casandra hugged Krauser¡¯s left leg.


    "Do you want something?"


    "Welcome," she said with a serious expression.


    "It looks like she likes you. She only does that with me and Flor."


    "Oh, yes... um, please let go."


    Casandra released him and took his hand.


    Krauser glanced at Father Hank, who ignored him completely.


    "She looks like a doll."


    However, he accepted Casandra''s small hand and walked with her to the yard. There, garlands hung from the walls, large wooden tables were placed outside (about three or so), numerous white plastic chairs, colorful party hats, and scattered plates and utensils could be seen.


    "This... looks like a kindergarten."


    "What did you expect from an orphanage?" Father Hank replied sarcastically.


    Casandra released his hand and ran to a girl who was helping to hang some loose garlands.


    "Flor."


    The girl turned around.


    "Ah, Casandra!"


    Flor left the garlands on the table, got off the chair, and ran toward Casandra. When she was close enough, she jumped into her arms.


    "What are you doing here?" Casandra asked.


    "I decided to help."


    From a distance, Krauser watched the interaction between the two girls.


    "Wow, it¡¯s true she hugs people she likes."


    He then looked around.


    "There are only ten adults, eleven with the old man¡ªfive women and six men. At this rate, the party is going to take forever."


    Krauser checked his phone.


    "11:34 a.m. Anyway, I think I¡¯ll lend a hand... or tentacles."


    Krauser stood in the middle of the garden and extended thirty-two tentacles from his back, astonishing everyone. If it hadn¡¯t been for Father Hank¡¯s warning, they would have attacked him out of fear.


    Krauser¡¯s tentacles moved from side to side. Some hung the missing garlands, others tied and hung balloons, others placed tablecloths, some organized plates and utensils, and others arranged chairs. A few even cleaned up the leftovers. By the time he finished these tasks, in just a few minutes, the tentacles returned to his back. Casandra watched in astonishment, though her face didn¡¯t show much¡ªonly the surprise in her eyes.


    "With that, we¡¯re done."


    Father Hank began to clap.


    "Great! And thanks for helping us."


    "Th... thanks."


    Krauser wasn¡¯t used to receiving praise from strangers. Even though he was well-known throughout the country¡¯s traffic lights, he avoided crowds so they wouldn¡¯t approach him, which meant he rarely received recognition for his actions.


    "We''re glad you helped," said a young woman.


    Krauser adjusted his hat to hide his face, as his pale skin revealed his slight blush.


    "Yeah... I¡¯m glad you¡¯re happy."


    At that moment, a door opened, and a group of children came out.


    "Oh, they woke up," Father Hank said.


    The children were quite surprised to see the garden.


    "I think it would have made more sense to surprise the birthday girl instead of the guests."


    "Relax, it doesn¡¯t bother me," Casandra said, giving a thumbs-up.


    "You¡¯re strange."


    Just then, Flor approached Krauser.


    "Do you need anything?"


    "Thanks for the help."


    "You¡¯re very polite."


    "I¡¯m Florencia Iglesia. I¡¯m not an orphan, but I live here with my mom."


    Florencia had pale skin, blonde hair, and blue eyes. She wore a blue nightgown and white shoes, looking about fourteen years old.


    "Casandra talked about a bald man with pale skin, identical to a doll she has."


    Krauser chuckled.


    "Don¡¯t you fear me?"


    "Of course not. I¡¯m not afraid of dolls."


    "How old are you?"


    "Thirteen."


    "I see, you¡¯re very mature for your age."


    "Of course."


    "Florencia is great, she knows a lot of things," Casandra said proudly.


    "Obviously."


    "I don¡¯t like her attitude, it reminds me of Glinka."


    "Guys," Father Hank interrupted, "it¡¯s time to blow out the candle."


    Casandra showed surprise and ran to Father Hank.


    "Let¡¯s go, everyone!"


    Florencia said goodbye to Krauser and followed Father Hank.


    Krauser, for his part, followed them with his hands in his pockets.


    Everyone sat down, except Krauser, who leaned against a tree that was nearby, where he could observe Casandra. She was sitting at the second table in the middle, at the edge, wearing a party hat.


    When the cake arrived, with a candle shaped like the number eight, everyone began to sing "Happy Birthday" and clapped, including Krauser. Casandra began to smile from ear to ear.


    "Make a wish, sweetie," Father Hank said.


    Casandra closed her eyes and then blew. Everyone clapped again.


    "Happy birthday, Casandra!" everyone shouted.


    The little girl looked happy as she saw how they congratulated her.


    "So she can make other expressions," Krauser murmured to himself.


    The cake was small, but they had baked more to feed all the children. As they distributed the slices, Krauser, who had made sure his plate had a decent portion, looked around. He noticed something odd: only four people were with Casandra. One of them was Florencia, and the other three were a girl and a boy.


    "She doesn¡¯t have many friends," Krauser said as he took a bite of his cake.


    But as he tasted it, his gaze drifted off to the view. In his mind, the image of the children from his past appeared. He saw Candado, H¨¦ctor, Joaqu¨ªn, and Ocho.


    "What a curious sight," Krauser said with nostalgia.


    At that exact moment, Father Hank appeared behind him.


    "Why don¡¯t you join us?"


    "Nah, I¡¯m fine."


    "I see."


    "Father."


    "Yes?"


    "Tell me, what kind of orphan is she?"


    "I don¡¯t quite understand."


    Krauser began to bite his plastic fork.


    "That girl¡­ she¡¯s afraid of the dark, right?"


    "Indeed."


    "Would you mind telling me why?"


    "No, but¡­ why do you want to know?"


    Krauser inhaled and exhaled, then removed the plastic fork from his mouth and placed it on the plate.


    "In Chaco, I have a friend. He loves children, he cares for them, pampers them, and protects them too much."


    "Really?"


    "But to me, they¡¯re just annoying. They scream, cry, fight, and are selfish."


    "Oh... I see. You didn¡¯t seem like that when you were with those two."


    "To be honest, Father, I didn¡¯t want to come today. I have a friend who might be in a coma, and I left him to come here, where there are two things that really bother me: one is this church, and two, the children."


    "I see, you''re one of those, huh?"


    "Religion has only done harm to my family and my kind. We are the children of the devil, born to cause chaos and hate among humans. Mother was brutally mistreated by all kinds of churches."


    Father Hank stood up and placed his hand on Krauser¡¯s shoulder.


    "It¡¯s not wrong to think like that, don¡¯t suppress it, let it all out."


    "Honestly, I hate them. They hide behind something that doesn¡¯t exist to justify their actions."


    "The problem is with them, not with God."


    "Well, if we put it that way, fine."


    Krauser turned and opened his eyes.


    "This... is a human structure, not of God or the saints. It¡¯s human. The Bible was written by men, and they wrote what they thought was right. They fabricated their God. The Bible itself is a science fiction book. Even the word ''God''... you call Him that, using human language: in Spanish, ''Dios'', in English, ''God'', and many other words within the religion. But what if God doesn¡¯t use any of those languages to communicate? Did He ever give His name? Giving names to things is a human concept. We call a glass ''glass'', but ask an animal, an alien, or even God. They created something false, spread rumors, and managed to make this fallacy last."


    Father Hank placed his hand on his head, smiling as he spoke.


    "Everything you say is true, but my belief doesn¡¯t come from the Bible or from priests. It comes from within me. And maybe it¡¯s true that He doesn¡¯t exist, but¡­ I still believe that He could exist, not in the sky or under the earth, but with us, and in every man."


    "You¡¯ll keep going with that, won¡¯t you?"


    Father Hank knelt and placed both arms on Krauser¡¯s shoulders.


    "Tell me, did you feel better after letting all that out?"


    "Yeah, whatever. Now answer my question."


    Father Hank smiled.


    "Alright, alright," then he became serious, letting go of his shoulders and continuing. "The truth is, she suffered from child abuse."


    "Rape?"


    "Not sexual, but physical and psychological. In fact, I want you to come with me for a while."


    "Why?"


    "She¡¯s been drawing some pretty strange things, and from the way you spoke about religion, I think you could interpret them."


    Krauser thought for a moment.


    "I¡¯ll do it." He then left his empty plate on a wooden table and followed him.


    Father Hank guided Krauser along the path, moving away from the celebration party. Krauser looked back, noticing how Casandra smiled while talking to that group of four people.


    When they entered the church, there was an absolute silence. The only sound was the echo of their footsteps. After a few seconds of walking down a vast hallway, they reached a door with her name and a name¡ªCarolina¡ªon it.


    "Shared room?"


    "Yes, two people per room. After all, there are 60 children living here."


    Father Hank reached into his pocket, took out a key, inserted it into the lock, and turned it left until the door made a noise. Then, he opened it.


    "Wow," Krauser expressed.


    Inside were two beds¡ªone on the left, against the wall, and the other on the right, also against the wall. Both places had a bookshelf, a desk, and a wardrobe. Krauser¡¯s expression came from noticing that the right side was in disarray, while the left side was perfectly tidy.


    "Sorry about the mess. Flor doesn¡¯t like to clean, and she especially doesn¡¯t make her bed."


    "I figured."


    Father Hank walked over to Casandra¡¯s burgundy wardrobe, opened it, and inside was a wide variety of clothes. But what mattered wasn¡¯t the clothes, but what lay beneath them: a wooden chest.


    "Casandra made this with her own hands last year," Father Hank said as he pulled out the chest.


    Krauser approached, knelt down, and opened it.


    "Fifty centimeters long and thirty wide. Wow."


    Inside was a collection of items: rocks, dry leaves, tree branches, toys, soda bottle caps, and two corks.


    "A collector, huh?" Father Hank said with a smile.


    "Yeah, H¨¦ctor used to do that."


    "H¨¦ctor?"


    "A friend of mine. But for now, show me what you wanted me to see."


    Father Hank moved the objects¡ªsuch as the toys and other things¡ªaside and pulled out a rather thick drawing folder.


    Krauser took the book from Father Hank¡¯s hands and opened it.


    "Wow, it¡¯s pretty normal. It¡¯s a tree and a... two-legged cat?"


    "She tried to make it look cool."


    "Yeah."


    Then, he turned the page.


    "Hmmm, it¡¯s her and her friend Florencia playing ball, although it¡¯s drawn terribly."


    "She can¡¯t draw circles."


    "Yeah."


    They moved to the third page.


    "Well... in this one, this is a dead tree, and this is her, sitting, playing with a rather deformed bird."


    "Does it mean anything?"


    "Yeah, drawing isn¡¯t her thing."


    "She¡¯s only seven... I mean, eight."


    "Right."


    The first pages showed nothing out of the ordinary, until they reached the tenth and eleventh pages.


    "Oh, this is interesting."


    "What do you see?"


    "She misspelled ''maker (she wrote ''aker'') and ''sleep'' (she wrote ''slee''). The last one really catches my attention¡ªhow do you mess up that? slee... What is a slee? The slee, they slee''s, we slee."


    "Krauser!" Father Hank scolded.


    Well... it didn¡¯t seem too bad, but the next page was rather dark.


    "Alright, this is interesting."


    "What do you see?"


    "A drawing."


    "Krauser..."


    "Okay, okay, no more jokes (Candado, you¡¯ve rubbed off on me...)"


    The drawing showed a girl lying in a bed, and an older man standing in front of her. But it wasn¡¯t normal¡ªthe man had two heads. Through the window, there was a distorted moon, and the room was in chaos.


    Krauser¡¯s eyes widened.


    "Her father was an alcoholic."


    "Really?"


    "This person has two heads¡ªone happy, the other angry. I think he was a good father when he wasn¡¯t drinking. You can tell he did it at night."


    "Do you think that¡¯s what happened?"


    "No. While she was scared of the night, that¡¯s not enough to fear dark places even during the day."


    "I understand."


    Krauser turned the page. This time, it was completely scratched in black, and on the next page appeared a very strange drawing: a person with a long neck, another with four arms, and one more without a head.


    "¡®Black man, twisted man, and empty man.¡¯"


    Krauser closed his eyes for a moment.


    "Is something wrong?"


    "Casandra is mentally unstable... this must¡¯ve been."


    "What?"


    "Apparently, she was wrong when she said she only suffered abuse from her father. It seems these people also made her suffer."


    "Why do you come to that conclusion? Aren¡¯t they just monsters?"


    "Look at how it¡¯s drawn. The black one is really detailed, with these lines. They probably entered her room when it was dark. She says it had four arms, but it really only had two. The others come out from its waist, so I guess her coat was tied there. And about the headless figure... she never saw it clearly. The twisted man... she couldn¡¯t figure it out."


    "But when I took her to the hospital, they said..."


    "There was nothing wrong."


    "A curious case of abuse."


    Krauser flipped the page. Nothing out of the ordinary, until he found another drawing. One was normal, but the next one was eerie: a black figure with enormous arms over a girl.


    "This is already the product of her own mind. I can tell that the dark represents evil, which is why the drawing is like this," Krauser said.


    "I see," said Father Hank with a sad tone.


    Krauser continued flipping through the pages until he saw a female figure beside the girl.


    "Who is she?"


    "Probably her mother. She appears later on."


    Krauser tilted his head.


    "Her mother?"


    "Yes."


    "(I don''t believe it. This character doesn''t appear in the room...) I see, her mother."


    "Yes, her mother," Father Hank affirmed.


    "Can I take a photo?"


    "Go ahead."


    Krauser pulled out his phone, focused the image, and took the photo. But as he did, he stared at it closely.


    "Is something wrong?"


    "No, nothing."


    Then, Krauser looked out the window of the room and saw Cassandra, very happy. Father Hank, noticing how Krauser was watching her, said:


    "She may be someone who struggles to express herself, but she has a heart of gold."


    "Let''s leave here," Krauser said loudly.


    "Krauser? Wait..."


    "I''m hungry."


    "Since when have I become so considerate with human children?" Krauser thought to himself.


    Krauser exited the church, looking at the photo he had taken. But when he tried to take a break by sitting down, Cassandra appeared out of nowhere beside him, startling him a little.


    "When did you...?"


    "Are you having fun?"


    "Ah... Yes, I guess."


    "I''m glad, I guess."


    "Girl."


    "Cassandra."


    Krauser was reluctant to speak that way.


    "Cassandra."


    "Yes?"


    "Tell me... what was your mother like?"


    "What?"


    Krauser quickly stood up.


    "No, nothing, forget what I asked."


    "Okay... but is something wrong?"


    "No, nothing''s wrong."


    Krauser extended his tentacles from his back and wrapped them around her waist.


    "Let''s go to the party."


    "Yay!" Cassandra responded dryly.


    Krauser''s eyes widened.


    "Just for this time, show me what you want most, girl," he said to himself.


    Krauser took Cassandra back to the fun center, where there was an inflatable castle. Reluctantly, Krauser had to enter at the girl''s insistence, jumping from one side to another, until he started enjoying it. After all, like everyone else, he had been eight years old once. The other kids, seeing how Krauser carried Cassandra with his tentacles, wanted him to do the same for them. Though he didn¡¯t mind, the adults feared the children might get hurt. In just thirty minutes, Krauser became a celebrity among the kids he despised.


    He did clever tricks, like creative juggling with his hands and tentacles, making shapes of animals and inanimate objects. Despite how tedious it was, just seeing Cassandra smile was enough for Krauser to show all of his monstrous potential.


    "Get ready, ladies and gentlemen!"


    After saying this, Krauser stretched his legs to reach a height of ten meters, as if he were wearing giant stilts. Then he extended his arms and began to fragment in the air. In just a few seconds, his arms transformed into something like tree roots. Then, tiny white particles, identical to snow, sprouted from his arms, scattering among the children. Though it wasn¡¯t cold, it looked like snow, but resembled a dandelion in their hands.


    "OHHHHHHH!!!"


    The children screamed with joy, amazed by what they were seeing.


    Then, Krauser returned to his usual form and approached Cassandra, only to bend down and show her his index finger.


    "Happy birthday," Krauser said, opening his eyes.


    A black glass rose appeared from his index finger.


    Cassandra was amazed. She took a handkerchief from her blue dress, wrapped the rose, and handled it with great care.


    "Thank you, Krauser," she said with a smile.


    And for the first time since he arrived, Krauser cracked his face to show a smile. Though it was a little eerie to those present, Cassandra smiled back and felt deeply happy about it.


    Although the celebration had ended at 1:30 PM, the party was not over yet. Father Hank had rented two buses to take the children to the zoo. Krauser thought it was all finished, but it wasn¡¯t; he still had to stay. Shortly after the celebration ended, he tried to leave, but Cassandra wouldn¡¯t let him. In fact, she made him promise to stay with her all day.


    Once everyone got on the transport, driven by Father Hank and one of the sisters, Krauser, who hated public transport, found himself trapped. Cassandra sat on his lap, letting Flor take the seat next to him, making sure he had no way to escape.


    "Cassandra, there are thousands of seats available, why on my lap?" Krauser complained.


    "To make sure you don¡¯t run away," Cassandra answered with a mischievous smile.


    Krauser closed his eyes and leaned his head against the back of the seat, resigned, while letting out a sigh.


    "Here we go," said Father Hank excitedly.


    The bus started and began its journey. During the trip, the children began to sing to pass the time. Interestingly, other children were traveling on nearby buses, crossing from one side to another. It was surprising how calm they were, though a bit exasperating to have to endure the same song over and over. The traffic that day was heavy, and if they were lucky, they would arrive in an hour.


    Finally, after a long ride, they arrived at the zoo. When the doors opened, all the children quickly got off, but Krauser was the first to leave. Quickly, he extended his tentacles, forming a square to block one of the exits and ensure the children didn¡¯t scatter.


    "Thanks, Krauser," Father Hank said, relieved.


    "You''re welcome," Krauser replied, adjusting his hat.


    "Alright, kids, don''t separate from the adults. Hold hands with your buddy," Father Hank instructed.


    Flor and Cassandra held hands, and in turn, they grabbed Krauser.


    "Take care of us, Mr. Mannequin," Flor said with a smile.


    Father Hank stepped in front of the children and, taking one of their hands, began to lead them through the zoo. Although everyone was excited to see the animals, Krauser didn¡¯t find it attractive to watch beings in captivity. Despite this, he understood Cassandra and Flor''s preferences. It seemed that Cassandra''s favorite animals were the panda, the Gal¨¢pagos tortoise, the capybara, and the armadillo. Flor liked the gorilla, penguin, polar bear, and lion.


    Cassandra pulled on Krauser¡¯s hand to take him to a specific place, and he accepted without complaining, making sure she didn¡¯t get into trouble or hurt. They saw everything: lions, tigers, penguins, monkeys, among others. It was also clear how fascinated they were by the giraffes.


    "How pretty! What are they?" Cassandra asked.


    "They¡¯re giraffes," Krauser replied.


    "Why do they have such long necks?"


    "I don¡¯t know, Cassandra, evolution made them that way." Krauser leaned down, without kneeling, and looked at her. "Why don¡¯t you ask them?"


    "Giraffe! Why do you have such a big neck!" Cassandra asked, laughing.


    "Krauser, do giraffes talk?" Flor asked mockingly.


    "Who knows, no one has tried," he answered, shrugging.


    Flor stopped, visibly discouraged.


    "It was just a joke," she said, trying to cover it up.


    "What?" Krauser looked at her, confused.


    "Ah, no... it''s not that."


    Krauser stood beside her while Casandra continued to gaze at the giraffes, clearly excited.


    "So, what''s going on?" Krauser asked, concerned.


    Flor looked him straight in the eye, or at least where her eyes should have been.


    "I need to tell you something," she said, her voice serious.


    During the excursion, as often happens, the children would sometimes wander off, making it difficult to keep them together. Krauser took care of the two girls, but he also kept an eye on the rest of the group. His senses were on high alert, as the children often drifted away or got distracted by something, losing track of time. Several times, he had to use his tentacles to prevent them from straying too far. This went on for almost three hours until finally, at 6:36 PM, they were able to leave the zoo.


    The return to the orphanage happened at 7:50 PM, as the sun began to hide behind the buildings. Many of the kids were tired and sleepy; after all, they''d had a great time. They ran, jumped, shouted, laughed, and now exhaustion was evident.


    Krauser, too, was exhausted. He had protected everyone throughout the day, often suppressing his frustration or irritation in front of the children. Yet, his face betrayed his tiredness and annoyance. His mother used to say that when he got angry, his face transformed, and although Krauser tried to hide it with his hat, the veins in his face would swell when he was stressed or upset. He didn¡¯t like being noticed, so he avoided looking at others. Still, he had learned to control his anger, although it wasn''t always easy.


    When the children finally got off the bus, Casandra and Krauser were left alone. Flor had fallen asleep during the ride, worn out from the morning''s activities, and her mother had taken her along to make sure she didn¡¯t hurt herself. Casandra stared out the bus window while the sun sank behind the buildings.


    "Is something wrong?" Krauser asked, noticing that Casandra seemed lost in thought.


    "The darkness," she answered quietly.


    Krauser placed his hand on her head, recognizing her mood.


    "Go on, join your friends."


    Casandra got up from her seat and headed for the door. But before she could get off, she turned back toward him.


    "I''ll be there in a second," he said with a small smile.


    Casandra smiled back, and Krauser nodded, staying behind as she got off the bus. In his mind, Flor''s words echoed, replaying their conversation near the bathrooms before everything had spiraled out of control.


    A few hours ago...


    "...And? What''s the big deal? Or better yet, why should I care where you move after we get back?"


    "I¡¯m telling you this because Casandra talks a lot about you."


    "And?"


    "She''s terrified¡­ no, she¡¯s scared to death of the dark. But she can''t keep the lights on. Until now, she¡¯s never been alone when the darkness surrounds her."


    "I gave her a flashlight as a gift. Let her manage with that."


    "No, you don''t understand. That won''t help. She believes someone will show up, and they... they..."


    "They?"


    "She says they¡¯ll come to play with her. A game she doesn¡¯t like, and she always ends up getting hurt."


    Krauser remembered the drawing.


    "And what do you want me to do about it? I can¡¯t stay and live with her."


    "I know, but... at least tonight... I want you to stay with her."


    Flor knelt, pleading for him to listen, but Krauser stopped her. He freed a tentacle from his waist, which rested on her chest and knees.


    "Don¡¯t do that. The Traffic Lights should kneel to you, not the other way around. I¡¯ll do the best I can."


    Flor smiled gratefully.


    Present:


    "What would you do, Candado, in my place?"


    Krauser stood up and exited the bus. The last rays of the sun faded in this part of the city. As he was about to walk away, Father Hank stepped into his path.


    "Is something wrong?"


    "Sorry to stop you, but there''s something I need to ask you that I didn¡¯t get the chance to ask in that room."


    "What is it?"


    "At what age do the powers manifest?"


    Krauser widened his eyes upon hearing the elderly man¡¯s question.


    Casandra was in her room, sitting on the bed, watching her friend pack her things. Though her face remained expressionless, her hands trembled as she held the tennis ball she used to pass the time.


    Flor glanced at her through the reflection in the wardrobe mirror.


    "Sorry," she said, her voice shaky.


    Casandra set the ball down on the bed, got up, and walked over to her.


    "It¡¯s okay. I agreed to this."


    "It¡¯s not like that."


    Flor turned and stared at her.


    "Previously, it was believed that powers were born in children, but that¡¯s not the case. It¡¯s more like an illness. They manifest when they¡¯re over three, five at most," Krauser explained.


    "Please, Casandra, don¡¯t lie to me like that," Flor said, her voice breaking.


    "What¡¯s wrong, Flor?"


    "Not everyone has them, Father Hank. Some people are born with a kind of defense against the ''Segalma'' when they¡¯re born," Krauser said, showing his tentacles.


    "Segalma?" Father Hank asked.


    "Second soul, abbreviated in scientific terms."


    "Is something wrong, Flor?"


    Casandra didn¡¯t understand why her friend was crying.


    "Don¡¯t say..."


    "Usually, Segalma is born to back up our soul, but to thrive and survive, it needs vitamins. Not just any kind. Let me give you a very crude and exaggerated example so you understand: A shipwrecked person arrives on an island where the sea is lava, and any attempt to escape is dangerous. The lava can kill him and burn the escape route, but the island isn¡¯t deserted; it has coconuts, bananas, and fruits of all kinds. The shipwrecked person knows he¡¯ll never leave and will have to spend the rest of his life there. To survive, he¡¯ll eat whatever the island offers, and by doing so, he becomes part of it. His DNA mixes with the island¡¯s. But eventually, he gets tired of just eating the same things. He knows he needs something else to survive. So, he uses the island¡¯s powers to plant his own food: potatoes, oranges, apples, tomatoes, lettuces. And if he wants meat, he¡¯ll create animals to eat. If he wants a house, he¡¯ll make the materials, and so on," Krauser detailed.


    "How would this work scientifically?" Father Hank asked.


    "Casandra, I can tell when someone is lying, and right now, you¡¯re not telling the truth."


    "What?" Casandra alarmed.


    "I know," Flor said, her eyes red.


    "Segalma is in the air. When a baby is born, the parasite enters its lungs. It can¡¯t be seen with human machines, can¡¯t be seen, smelled, or touched, but it can be felt. To your eyes, you can¡¯t see it, not even with scientific tools. But we, the monsters, can. This parasite feeds off cells (like coconuts and bananas), but that¡¯s not enough. It needs to develop, so it creates its own food to survive. This happens when the individual is between three and five years old."


    "Why ''second soul''?"


    "I can see the real ''you,''" Flor said, raising her hand and pointing to the side of Casandra, "to your left."


    "At first, it was thought to be a spirit, but Harambee disproved that when he saw how this parasite clung to something to survive. This something was called a wall or boundary, the limit that separates the invisible from the parasite. It was discovered that this was a soul, an invisible soul. But as the parasite progressed, that invisible part began to gain color. The soul, the magical force that keeps us alive, is the reason the heart beats and the brain acts the way it does. This parasite came from a meteorite that fell a hundred years ago."


    "I see."


    "Why did you want to know this?"


    "Because... Flor has, and I think she¡¯s the only one here, a special gift."


    "A special gift?"


    "Yes, Flor knows when someone is lying. Not only that, she can also feel what others are feeling."


    "I don¡¯t see any of that," Casandra said, her tone skeptical.


    Flor lifted her gaze. As she did, she saw two Casandras in front of her. One with her typical expressionless look, and the other, the real one, was crying. She was crying nonstop.


    "You¡¯re suffering," Flor said, her voice soft.


    "It¡¯s not like that," Casandra replied, her face impassive.


    Without thinking, Flor embraced her.


    "Why are you doing this?" Casandra asked with a sigh.


    "Because if I cried here, it would make it even harder for you to leave," Flor explained.


    "Casandra, I¡¯m sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry..." Flor repeated, almost out of breath.


    Casandra hugged her in silence but didn¡¯t say anything.


    "I know Casandra is afraid of the dark, but she has to overcome it. Many children are afraid of sleeping in the dark, but if I let her sleep with the light on, everyone else would want the same, and..."


    "It would be terrible to see the electricity bill, right?" Casandra interrupted, giving half a smile.


    "...The orphanage is going through its worst months."


    "Everyone here feels guilty, Flor, for not being able to stay by your side, and Casandra for not being able to get over it."


    "What can I do? She won¡¯t have to live with the light on forever. I know it sounds cruel, but she has to overcome this fear. Otherwise, she¡¯ll never move forward and will regret it for the rest of her life."


    "You talk as if you¡¯ve been through something similar."


    Hank ignored Krauser¡¯s statement and instead asked:


    "What should I do?"


    "You¡¯re the adult, not me."


    With those words, Krauser turned and disappeared around the corner of the street.


    Night fell, and Krauser didn¡¯t return to the church. Flor said her goodbyes to Casandra through tears. She didn¡¯t want to leave, but she knew she couldn¡¯t stay. Casandra, for her part, smiled, though her smile was fake. Both knew that Casandra¡¯s true feelings were something else.


    The little girl sat on the bed, flipping through an illustrated book, but she couldn¡¯t enjoy it. Every minute, she looked at the clock. The lights would go off at 11:00 p.m., and when that moment arrived, the door to her room opened. Father Hank¡¯s head appeared.


    "I¡¯m going to turn off the lights," he said gently.


    That didn¡¯t reassure her. Upon hearing those words, her pupils dilated with fear. Father Hank, noticing her terror, slammed the door shut, locked it, and turned off the light.


    "I¡¯m sorry, but you have to endure it. You need to grow."


    Casandra jumped out of bed and ran to the door. She grabbed the doorknob and began to twist it desperately.


    "FATHER, FATHER, OPEN, OPEN!"


    Father Hank covered his ears and, with tears in his eyes, fled down the hall. Alone, Casandra began banging on the door with her hands, using all her strength. Her fists bruised, but she kept hitting. She also kicked the door, one after the other, trying to break it down. But the door was too strong.


    Her desperation grew. She fell to the floor, searching for a flashlight. It was the same one Krauser had given her. She pressed it again and again, but it wouldn¡¯t turn on. Tears kept streaming from her eyes, and her voice grew more desperate. Her hands trembled and sweated. Fear overwhelmed her so much that the flashlight slipped from her hands and got lost in the darkness.


    Casandra started searching for it but couldn¡¯t find it. Eventually, she couldn¡¯t bear the fear any longer. She climbed into her bed and curled up in a corner, hugging herself. They said fear made you see things that weren¡¯t real. Casandra was at that point, completely terrified. She cried nonstop, alone. She tried to calm herself by singing, but it didn¡¯t work.


    "Casandra, let¡¯s play a game."


    The little girl froze. The voice was familiar, but she couldn¡¯t see anyone. She only heard it.


    "Let¡¯s play."


    Casandra, trembling, grabbed her pillow and began to hit the air.


    "Come on, it¡¯s me, the twisted man. Don¡¯t you remember me?"


    "STOP, STOP!"


    "Don¡¯t be afraid of us," the voice said mockingly.


    "NOOOOOOOO! HELP! HELP! I WANT LIGHT! MOM! DAD!"


    Suddenly, she felt something brush against her legs. Terror flooded her even more.


    "LEAVE ME ALONE!"


    The voices laughed.


    "STOOOOOOOOOOOOP!"


    The window suddenly opened, and a strange figure entered the room. It reached into its pocket, pulled out a flashlight, turned it on, and began following the cries until it found Casandra. It approached her, who was hugging her head, struggling against the fear as she kept crying.


    "Hey, little girl."


    Casandra gasped in surprise.


    "It¡¯s not that bad."


    "Kra¡­ Kraukrau..."


    "Yeah, it¡¯s me, Kraukrau¡­ huh?"


    Krauser was alarmed when he saw Casandra¡¯s state. Her eyes were red, and she had bruises on her hands and legs. Krauser involuntarily opened his mouth.


    "Who did this to you?" he asked in a grave, almost sinister voice.


    Casandra began to cry even more.


    "Who did this to you? (Why am I getting angry?)"


    "I¡­ I..."


    Krauser hugged her, and she buried her face in his chest.


    "I¡¯m here. It¡¯s okay."


    "Father Hank, is this really necessary?" he thought.


    Krauser lifted her in his arms as if she were a princess. Casandra couldn¡¯t stop crying, still fearful of the darkness, and most of all, unable to see it, only feeling it.


    "Nighttime also has beautiful things," he said, trying to calm her.


    Casandra heard those words but couldn¡¯t respond. Krauser led her to the window she had entered through. Then he jumped outside, extended his tentacles, and, gripping the walls of the church, began to climb. Casandra glanced around with the corner of her eye, feeling the cool wind brush her face and skin. Slowly, she calmed down, though her hands still clung to his coat.


    When Krauser reached the highest point of the church, he pulled a tentacle from his waist and slipped it into his coat pocket. He took out a two-button control, one red and one green. Pressing the red button, all the lights in the city went off instantly. That control had actually been a gift from Karinto when he left for the Chaco. Though the city¡¯s lights went off, the darkness began to frighten Casandra, who buried her face in Krauser¡¯s chest.


    "Little girl, don¡¯t look down. Just look up."


    Casandra hesitated but slowly started pulling away from Krauser¡¯s chest and followed his advice. Looking up, her eyes widened in awe. A sea of bright stars dominated the night sky. Although there was no full moon, the stars shone with the full brilliance of the night.


    "When you¡¯re afraid and look up, the lights are watching you, Casandra. They say, ''Happy birthday.''"


    She stayed silent, soaking in the beauty of the sky.


    "I want you to look at them, Casandra. Look at them and contemplate their beauty," Krauser said, his eyes fixed on the stars.


    "It¡¯s beautiful," she murmured, almost speechless, admiring the celestial display.


    "This same sky was seen by Van Gogh when he painted his work ''Starry Night.'' In the dark, Casandra, you can see this. Not everything you see is bad."


    Casandra stopped looking at the night sky and looked at Krauser. The stars seemed to make him shine.


    "Thank you, they¡¯re beautiful."


    Krauser looked at her and, opening his eyes, whose bright red gaze shone in the darkness, tried to smile, though his face remained serious.


    "You''re welcome," he replied.


    They both stayed watching the sky for another hour. Casandra began to remember the first time she met Krauser, then when he appeared at her party, later when he and Flor went to the zoo, and now, when he had come to save her from the darkness. Casandra couldn¡¯t help but cry and smile at the same time.


    "Thank you," she said, her voice trembling.


    Krauser pressed his forehead against hers, then pulled back slightly and kissed her on the forehead, just as he did with his brother and sister.


    ¡°You¡¯re the first human girl I don¡¯t hate,¡± he said, a faint smile on his face.


    Casandra smiled and looked up at the sky again. Slowly, sleep began to take over her. She didn¡¯t want to fall asleep; she wanted to stay with Krauser, but the fatigue eventually won out, and she fell asleep in his arms, surrounded by the starry sky.


    Krauser¡¯s phone vibrated, but since his hands were occupied holding Casandra, he extended a tentacle from his back and pulled the phone from his pocket.


    ¡°¡®She¡¯s awake XD¡¯¡± he read from the message.


    Krauser let out a nearly silent chuckle.


    ¡°I¡¯m glad she¡¯s okay.¡±


    The next morning, Casandra woke up in her bed. She looked around but didn¡¯t see Krauser. Rubbing her eyes, she felt a slight discomfort. When she moved her hands away, she saw that they were bandaged. She glanced at the clock¡ªit was 10:00 a.m. The sunlight streamed through her window, illuminating the black rose Krauser had given her. The light reflected off the rose and onto her face. Casandra pulled the blankets aside and moved closer to the rose. As she lifted it, she found a note underneath it. She took it and read:


    To Casandra:


    When you fear the darkness again and can¡¯t see the stars, use this rose to light your way. Use the lantern I gave you, reflect its light on the rose, and you¡¯ll see the magic.


    P.S. Don¡¯t forget to buy BATTERIES for the lantern. I bought some today, and they¡¯ll last as long as they last.


    Casandra folded the letter and placed it in her drawer. Then, she took the rose and crawled back under the covers, where the darkness didn¡¯t scare her. She held the rose in her left hand while she used her right hand to turn on the lantern. In seconds, the black rose began reflecting lights across the blanket¡¯s walls: four-pointed stars, a full moon, and a crescent moon. Casandra began spinning the rose on its axis, using her thumb and index finger.


    As she spun the rose, she started laughing, over and over again. Father Hank stood at the door, listening to how much fun the girl was having. In his hands, he held a tray with her snack: a glass of warm milk and cookies, accompanied by a note that simply read, ¡°Sorry.¡± Father Hank placed the tray on Flor¡¯s empty desk and slowly closed the door, wanting to listen to Casandra¡¯s laughter a bit longer.


    Then, he walked away from Casandra¡¯s room, but when he was far enough, he turned around, placing his right hand over his cross, and affectionately said:


    ¡°I wish adults like us could learn from children like him, Reinhold Krauser.¡±


    Meanwhile, a pale-faced figure, known as "Slenderman," walked through the airport with his hands in his pockets. He boarded his plane, the one for the Traffic Lights, and looked in the mirror for a few seconds, watching as the plane began to ascend into the sky.

 SHADOW AND REFLECTIONS

    A few days after the incident in Buenos Aires, on July 22, Esteban had returned to his regular work without remembering the events that had led to his fainting, courtesy of Krauser. However, his anger had not yet subsided. Esteban had gone back to Chaco to meet with certain people he could hardly tolerate. As he walked through the streets of Resistencia, his steps led him to the meeting place: "MORES," a place supposedly just a regular bakery.


    ¡°Disgusting,¡± Esteban muttered moments before entering.


    "Hello... oh, you''re Esteban; the rest are waiting for you downstairs," said the store owner, with an arrogant and grumpy tone.


    (I hate bakeries), Esteban thought.


    "Thank you," he replied coldly.


    He headed to a white door, opened it, and found a table with four chairs inside. Three were occupied, while the fourth, empty, was his by default. The other attendees were familiar faces, each with two bodyguards. In the first chair sat Sebasti¨¢n Maldonado, accompanied by his bodyguards Jerem¨ªas Facundo, a man wearing a black mask and guerrilla outfit, and Florencia Talavera, a red-haired woman in a school uniform¡ªunderstandable, as it was 1:50 p.m.


    In the second chair was Joaqu¨ªn Barreto, along with his bodyguards Kruger Barreto and Ruth Van Grace, who clearly despised Maldonado.


    In the third was Sara Holy Truth, with her bodyguards: Victorino Aurelio, distinguishable by his horns, lizard tail, and white eyes, making him appear blind, dressed in a black suit and yellow tie; and Camila Zaracho, who, compared to the others, seemed the most normal person in the room.


    "Greetings," Maldonado said.


    Esteban moved the chair and sat in it.


    ¡°It¡¯s obvious your hatred towards us is understandable,¡± Sara said mockingly.


    ¡°A Guild Traffic Light and a Syndicate from the Re-creators, or rather, the Nubenors¡ªtwo enemies at the same table.¡±


    ¡°Enough, Esteban; don¡¯t bring trouble to this table,¡± Maldonado warned.


    ¡°Let him, let him release all his hatred; it¡¯ll do him good,¡± then looked at Esteban, ¡°Re-creator or Nubenors, whichever is more comfortable.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s funny to hear that from a monster.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s what we are,¡± Sara replied.


    ¡°Why don¡¯t we talk about something else?¡± Maldonado asked nervously.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t come to talk about the weather. I¡¯m here because I was contacted for an emergency, and the only reason I accepted was that I thought Candado would be here.¡±


    ¡°Candado won¡¯t be coming,¡± interrupted a voice from behind, making everyone turn.


    For most present, the voice was nearly unknown, especially for Maldonado and Esteban.


    ¡°Luis,¡± Joaqu¨ªn greeted.


    ¡°Who are you? What do you mean Candado won¡¯t be coming?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s indisposed. Yesterday, Candado had certain issues preventing him from attending today.¡±


    ¡°The unnameable L29K5873-08F-R3G... or Luis.¡±


    ¡°You know my name.¡±


    ¡°I never forget the names of those who help the Re-creators. It¡¯s an honor.¡±


    ¡°I see, you¡¯re a life manufactured by science.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± Luis said, then walked over to an armchair and leaned back in it. ¡°For various reasons, Hachipusaq won¡¯t be able to show their true identity, so I¡¯ll be substituting for them today.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s been over a damned year that they¡¯ve been hiding from us; I¡¯m starting to think they don¡¯t actually exist.¡±


    Luis, relaxed, replied to Esteban.


    ¡°They certainly exist, kid; they¡¯re just in a complicated situation.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t mock me.¡±


    ¡°Hachipusaq will need your help for what¡¯s coming.¡±


    ¡°And what would that be?¡±


    ¡°That, my dear friend, you¡¯ll see later.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s cutting you off, Esteban.¡±


    ¡°SHUT UP! I don¡¯t know why I have to put up with a lousy Traffic Light like you here.¡±


    Kruger and Ruth reacted, but Joaqu¨ªn stopped them.


    ¡°Well, I suggest you calm down; we don¡¯t need to fight among ourselves at times like this.¡±


    ¡°Erasers can never work with Traffic Lights,¡± Facundo expressed.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to hear that from an organization whose purpose was to eliminate threats, being the greatest known genocides,¡± Kruger provocatively replied.


    ¡°You want me to stain the room with your blood?¡±


    ¡°Try it, human trash.¡±


    ¡°Always the same,¡± Luis said, rubbing his forehead. ¡°Alright, alright, alright, don¡¯t do anything stupid, please.¡±


    ¡°Kruger, stand down,¡± Joaqu¨ªn ordered.


    Obeying his brother, Kruger returned to his position.


    ¡°You too, Facundo,¡± said Maldonado.


    Facundo grumbled but obeyed the order.


    ¡°Proceeding,¡± Luis cleared his throat and continued, ¡°As you know, the writings of Ndereba Harambee, the same ones used to imprison Thanatos, were stolen from the Traffic Light agency.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t see the problem,¡± Maldonado deliberately commented.


    ¡°There is a problem with that, Eraser,¡± Joaqu¨ªn stood up and looked at him intently. ¡°These writings are very important, even to you. The powers they contain are potent enough to break the chains holding the most dangerous subject: Thanatos, the Builder.¡±


    Maldonado didn¡¯t allow himself to be intimidated and stood up as well.


    ¡°However, they still need something else, am I wrong?¡±


    Ruth moved in front of Joaqu¨ªn to protect him, but he put his hand on her right shoulder, signaling her to stand back.


    ¡°What you imply is true.¡±


    ¡°I knew it.¡±


    ¡°Maldonado, now is not the time to be arrogant,¡± Esteban intervened.


    ¡°Sorry.¡±


    ¡°Listen to me, Traffic Light. We know perfectly well that there are two keys to releasing Thanatos: the writings and¡­¡±


    ¡°Harambee¡¯s spear,¡± Sara concluded.


    Esteban bit his lips in frustration.


    ¡°Exactly, but the Witnesses have been busy and haven¡¯t tried to take the spear. Last month they were hidden and quiet, but a few weeks ago, they began massacring members of guilds and circuits again.¡±


    ¡°Desza, the Profaner,¡± Joaqu¨ªn clarified.


    ¡°A madman who doesn¡¯t distinguish between madness and reason,¡± Esteban added.


    ¡°There¡¯s nothing more dangerous than a mentally ill person mobilizing masses.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Aurelio; for now, he only has about ten followers.¡±


    ¡°He lost almost all his men in the assault on the Traffic Lights in Resistencia; some died and others were captured,¡± Joaqu¨ªn said.


    Esteban interrupted.


    ¡°So far, we¡¯ve only talked about what we already know,¡± then he looked at Luis, ¡°What does Hachipusaq suggest?¡±


    ¡°Destroy what they seek, and with it, the Witnesses.¡±


    ¡°How?¡± Florencia asked for the first time.Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators!


    ¡°Our leader is busy devising the right moment to strike and destroy.¡±


    ¡°Luis... It¡¯s not as simple as snapping fingers, and we don¡¯t have much time either. The General Council is pressuring me to make a decision, or they¡¯ll dismiss me. They just want to destroy those guilds.¡±


    ¡°We must be patient, Mr. Esteban.¡±


    ¡°Patience? Is that the best we can do?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s something I will do.¡±


    A voice echoed in the room.


    ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, I present Faustino¡ªFausto to friends,¡± Luis said.


    ¡°At your service,¡± greeted the voice as the door opened.


    ¡°Hello, hello, hello. An ice man?¡± Maldonado asked.


    ¡°That emblem¡­ you¡¯re a Circuit,¡± said Camila.


    ¡°The wolf is the symbol of my flag.¡±


    ¡°Explain, comrade, what was it you did?¡±


    ¡°Of course, Miss Luis,¡± Fausto replied, looking at the audience, ¡°A while back, I had an encounter with Candado, which I miserably lost, but that was the purpose of the test. I could notice, thanks to my wounds, that Candado carries a deadly spell in his body, a very dangerous one that¡¯s slowly killing him. Desza is taking advantage of Candado¡¯s injury to hasten his plan. After the fight, I handed over the reports to Miss Hachipusaq, and though I couldn¡¯t see her face, I could feel the pain reading my report caused her. That¡¯s right, ladies and gentlemen: the formidable warlord is dying slowly, and apparently, nothing can stop it.¡±


    Everyone was stunned by what they heard, unable to believe it.


    ¡°Candado dying?¡± Esteban asked.


    ¡°That¡¯s right.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s why Hachipusaq is looking for ways to help him.¡±


    ¡°And what makes you think I¡¯ll help?¡±


    ¡°You will, Esteban Everett Bonaparte.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s a damned guild member, Fausto. You and I are from the Circuit.¡±


    ¡°This is different. In the Circuit, you are my president, but here, you and I are equals. And if you stand in the way, I¡¯ll confront you.¡±


    Maldonado stood up.


    ¡°Gentlemen, let¡¯s not fight among ourselves.¡±


    ¡°Maldonado, no¡­¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not in our jurisdiction. Do whatever you want, but as long as I¡¯m here, you won¡¯t do anything.¡±


    ¡°I see the Erasers have more power than the president of the Circuit.¡±


    ¡°I am the archivist. Unlike you, who is merely an inspector in Argentina, I have worldwide jurisdiction.¡±


    ¡°Your political power is pitiful, Sebasti¨¢n,¡± Kruger said mockingly.


    "At least I¡¯m not living in Joaqu¨ªn¡¯s shadow."


    "It¡¯s my duty," Kruger replied proudly.


    "Alright, enough," Sara intervened.


    Without further interruptions, Fausto continued.


    "As I was saying, Candado is weak. But that¡¯s not all; Desza is forming alliances with three figures: Nina Fern¨¢ndez del Valle, Paulo Caba?a Villarroel, and Sheldon Gray, also known as Z15G9736-02J-T8T."


    "And why does that concern me?" Maldonado asked.


    "Of course, it affects you. I infiltrated their meeting, but before I could gather all the information, two damn Sem¨¢foros interfered: Reinhold Krauser and Leandro Maidana."


    "Those... are my subordinates," Joaqu¨ªn said bitterly.


    "I know, and I also know you were the one who sent them there," Fausto replied, emphasizing his last words.


    "I''m sorry."


    "Fausto, please continue," Sara interjected.


    "Of course. Ahem... it should matter to you, my friend, because somehow, these three know Candado Barret¡¯s weakness and plan to exploit it for their own gain."


    "So?"


    "Esteban, when Candado can¡¯t lift a finger, they¡¯ll come for you."


    "For me?"


    "Yes, sir. Their goal is to see you dethroned."


    An intense silence filled the room; no one wanted to speak, stunned by what they¡¯d just heard.


    "Sir, your political opposition may be minor, but it¡¯s not insignificant. Remember, when you won the election, there was a protest against you, and it was only thanks to Candado that you¡¯re leading the organization now."


    "So, you want me to repay my debt to him by protecting him until he recovers?"


    "Nothing would make me happier, sir."


    Esteban closed his eyes, took a deep breath, then opened them and looked at Fausto.


    "I don¡¯t know who this Hachipusaq is, but if someone like that could get someone as obedient and loyal as you to confront me, then they must be formidable," he said with a smile. "And I like formidable people. Alright, Faustino, you¡¯ve won. I¡¯ll help Candado until that miserable soul recovers from whatever is killing him."


    "I¡¯m glad you made the right decision, sir. I¡¯m very proud to have voted for you."


    "I don¡¯t let down my voters."


    "Hachipusaq has devoted all their time to Candado," Luis said, stepping forward.


    "It doesn¡¯t surprise me; I would do the same," commented Sara.


    "So would I," Joaqu¨ªn added, raising his hand.


    "I wouldn¡¯t, unless it benefited me, but given the situation, it¡¯s in my best interest to help him."


    They all looked toward Maldonado, who, feeling their eyes on him, stood up and looked back at each of them.


    "I¡¯ll give everything I can to help."


    With a wide smile, Luis concluded the meeting, saying:


    "Now that we¡¯re all in agreement, I¡¯ll explain everything before you leave. Each of you will investigate our enemies Nina del Valle, Paulo Villarroel, and Sheldon Gray on your own. With that, this meeting is adjourned."


    Everyone stood up, and one by one, they shook hands with Luis and Fausto before leaving the room.


    "Thank you for warning me about my planned overthrow," Esteban said before closing the door behind him.


    Once everyone had left, only Luis and Fausto remained in the room.


    Luis wiped the sweat from his brow and looked at the curtain behind him.


    "Did we do well?"


    The curtain slid to the left, revealing two people. One stood elegantly dressed, illuminated in a way that cast shadows over their face, though a long beard was visible. The other person sat in the dark, only their diamond-studded gloves visible.


    "You did perfectly," said a woman¡¯s voice.


    "I¡¯m glad."


    "Fausto."


    "Yes, ma''am."


    "Send the letter. It¡¯s time to make the move."


    "As you command, Hachipusaq."


    While plans were forming in the bakery, across the city Nelson Torres, somewhat bored with nothing to do, sat in a restaurant with his friend Bruno G¨®mez. As Nelson sipped his beer, Bruno drank his coffee, still wearing that military beret.


    "Look at us. If Alfred were here, we¡¯d be laughing our heads off, wouldn¡¯t we?"


    "That¡¯s all in the past; it¡¯s just you and me now."


    "Whatever you say."


    "How are the others?"


    "They¡¯re all fine. Miguel spends time with his grandson Lisandro, Elsa and Sim¨®n are enjoying retirement, Rosa is still investigating the mercenaries, and Aldana is living her life."


    "I see."


    "And your kids? How are Susana and Alejandro?"


    "Susana remarried, to a man named ¨¢lvarez. She came last month with her new husband to stay over for vacation. She told me her last husband cheated on her, so she divorced him, and now she¡¯s happy with this ¨¢lvarez; she¡¯s expecting a baby, three months along. She thinks it¡¯ll be a boy. Alejandro also visited with his wife and daughter Roc¨ªo for the holidays, just like every year."


    "Roc¨ªo? Is she rebellious?"


    "I thought she would be, given her attitude is similar to Teresa¡¯s, but she¡¯s very enthusiastic and always listens to the stories I tell Alejandro and Susana."


    "Oh, wow."


    "And your wife?"


    "She¡¯s still around. I told her to take it easy, but she seems intent on staying a doctor."


    "And how¡¯s Antonio?"


    "Since his wife died, he¡¯s been raising his daughter alone."


    "I hope he can keep going. Losing someone like that is an unbearable pain."


    "Oh, look at you, Nelson, showing concern?"


    "I think you should wipe that grin off your face. I don¡¯t like it."


    "Grumpy old man."


    "You¡¯re old too; you¡¯re 77 and still moving around," Nelson said sarcastically.


    "I¡¯m 76, old man; you¡¯re the only one who¡¯s 77."


    "Same difference."


    Bruno laughed.


    "Idiot."


    Bruno wiped the tears of laughter from his eyes and continued.


    "But seriously, we have to do something. What happened today was dangerous. I''ve never seen a Bari try to hunt a human before, and we''ve seen plenty of them over the years."


    "The boy always thought there were only two Baris."


    "Two?"


    "Candado doesn¡¯t know about Amabaray."


    "Really?"


    "Yes, when Europa was about to give birth to Candado, the doctors said that one of the two would die. And guess what?"


    "Yes, I know the story. I was there. Europa offered her life in exchange for her son¡¯s."


    "Amabaray was devastated. She didn¡¯t want her old friend to die without knowing her child, so she broke one of the fundamental Bari rules: intervening in a human''s life. Amabaray stepped in and saved both her friend and her friend''s child, but..."


    "But she was weakened, and as a result, she decided to sleep until she could recover. To keep her soulmate from being sad, she erased her memories. It was hard for her husband, her father, her mother, and her daughter; neither you nor I could tell her the truth."


    Nelson tapped his glass with his index finger.


    "Yes, it¡¯s sad," he sighed and continued, "but it doesn¡¯t change the fact that, because of that sacrifice, she put herself on her ''brother'' Luzbari''s radar. I suppose he wants revenge by taking her son¡¯s life."


    "Is that so?"


    "No, it¡¯s a guess."


    "Protecting the boy will be hard: mercenaries, Cirquists, Baris, and now the Witnesses."


    "Do you think Greg is behind this?"


    "Of course. That bootlicker was the one who massacred our colleagues in the C.I.C.E.T.A. labs."


    "Why would Pullbarey collaborate with a human?"


    "I don¡¯t know. Maybe it¡¯s because of those words he claimed bound him."


    1949


    Alfred grabbed the creature Pullbarey by the collar, weakened by the golden lance embedded in his abdomen.


    "Your mistake was trying to interpret the human race rather than understanding it, and that¡¯s why you lost, stupid creature."


    Pullbarey¡¯s mask began to crumble, revealing his horrid teeth.


    "Alfred Vel¨¢zquez Cristian Barret, this isn¡¯t over. You may lock me away, but you¡¯ll never be able to kill me."


    Alfred ignored the warning, withdrew the lance from his abdomen, and pushed the stone to which Pullbarey was bound, watching as he fell into the abyss, disappearing slowly from sight.


    Present


    "Honestly, I think that¡¯s why he sought a common enemy."


    "I see; it seems Greg was the best option."


    "It wasn¡¯t that he was the best option, Bruno; he was the only one. Greg¡¯s intelligence rivaled Alfred¡¯s."


    "Praising him again?"


    "I¡¯m going to smack that cup over your head."


    "You¡¯d waste my coffee," Bruno said, leaning back in his chair and taking a sip calmly.


    Nelson took a deep breath and continued drinking.


    "Hey."


    "What?"


    "What if we meet at your place?"


    "Huh?"


    "I think I found a way to bring Amabaray back."


    "It¡¯s been more than thirteen years since that incident; I don¡¯t think you, Europa, or I will be able to see her."


    "That doesn¡¯t matter. We can count on Candado."


    "Are you crazy, Bruno? Didn¡¯t you hear what I said?"


    "Of course I did, but if we manage to save her, we can save Candado¡¯s life. Or are you planning to keep him stable with vials of Slonbari blood?"


    "I know what you¡¯re thinking, Bruno, and it won¡¯t work. That theory was dismissed years ago."


    "We shouldn¡¯t give up. I¡¯ll gather the team," Bruno said, taking one last sip of his coffee. "Tonight at your place."


    "My family¡¯s there."


    "In the basement, kid, in the basement."


    "What?"


    "You¡¯re still working on Alfred¡¯s projects, aren¡¯t you? I know you¡¯re trying to build a portal to Cotorium."


    "That was always his dream. I at least want to finish it."


    "Good. Tomorrow night, then."


    "I didn¡¯t agree to this."


    "See you."


    Bruno dashed off.


    "HEY!"


    "I DIDN¡¯T BRING MONEY!"


    "SON OF A¡ª!"


    Everyone turned to look at Nelson.


    "Go back to your business."


    "Sir," the waiter interjected in a slow, deliberate voice.


    "What?"


    "There are children present. If you¡¯ve finished your drink, please pay and leave."


    "You think I¡¯m drunk?"


    "I didn¡¯t say that, sir; it¡¯s just that if you¡¯re going to stay here, don¡¯t make a scene."


    "Damn old man, I can¡¯t believe I fell for his trick again," Nelson muttered.


    "Sir?"


    "I got it, I¡¯ll pay the bill," Nelson said, putting a hundred pesos on the table.


    Then he stood up.


    "Your change."


    "Keep it," he said, not turning around.


    Once outside the restaurant, he strolled through the city of Resistencia.


    "Ah, Alfred," Nelson sighed, "you left me a tough job; I wish you were here in moments like these."


    He glanced at a mirror on sale in a furniture store¡ªthree hundred fifty pesos.


    Nelson looked at his reflection from head to toe.


    "Though I can¡¯t believe I¡¯ve been on this planet for seventy-seven years," he said, adjusting his white coat, his graying hair, and mustache, then added, "Look at you, Domingo Nelson Bautista Torres. Old but handsome, gray-haired but with hair, wrinkles but strong."


    He smiled, and in his reflection, he saw his younger self. Smiling, Nelson left the storefront and crossed the street alone.


    "Though it¡¯s fun being with Candado, don¡¯t worry, friend. When I look at the boy, it¡¯s like seeing you. Really, he carries your blood. He carries the violet blood," Nelson thought with a smile on his face.

 SONG OF A PROMISE

    It was 8:30 in the morning on a warm July 23rd.


    Candado woke up feeling a comforting warmth surrounding him. It wasn¡¯t unusual¡ªhis mother was lying beside him, holding him close, while the lit stove kept the outside cold at bay.


    ¡°Mam¨¢...¡± he murmured softly.


    Candado smiled and placed a hand on her cheek, savoring the peaceful moment.


    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t want to get up if it means staying here with you.¡±


    With his eyes still half-closed, he tried to drift back to sleep. But then, the door creaked open ever so slightly. A figure tiptoed into the room. It was Hammya.


    Candado instinctively shut his eyes, focusing on her faint steps on the spotless floor. She approached the bed, and he cracked one eye open just enough to catch a glimpse. In the dim light, her crimson eyes glowed like embers, their intensity betraying a worried expression. He understood her concern instantly¡ªit was all for him.


    Hammya extended her hand, gently resting it on his head, unaware that he was awake. After a moment, she smiled faintly and whispered, ¡°Get better soon, Candado... Everyone¡¯s waiting for you. I¡¯m waiting for you.¡±


    ¡°Thank you,¡± he replied quietly.


    ¡°Wha¡ª?¡± Hammya stifled a gasp, startled.


    Candado lightly grasped her wrist and slowly sat up. In the darkness, he couldn¡¯t make out her exact expression, but the glow of her eyes was unmistakable.


    ¡°Good morning, Hammya,¡± he said in a hushed tone.


    She bit her lip, trying not to scream in surprise, and gave a quick nod.


    Letting go of her hand, Candado turned his attention back to his mother. He tenderly stroked her cheek.


    ¡°The sun¡¯s up, Mom,¡± he said gently.


    Europa stirred, her brows furrowing slightly as her nose crinkled. Slowly, she began to wake.


    ¡°My darling...?¡±


    ¡°No, it¡¯s me, Mom.¡±


    Her eyes flew open, and in an instant, she pulled her son into a tight embrace, her face lighting up with a radiant smile.


    ¡°Good morning, Mom,¡± he greeted.


    ¡°Good? No¡­ these are wonderful mornings,¡± she replied warmly.


    After a long hug, Europa looked over at Hammya and extended her arms to include her in the embrace.


    ¡°H-hey...!¡± Hammya stammered, visibly flustered.


    ¡°Good morning to you too, my little chlorophyll-deprived tree,¡± Europa teased playfully.


    (Oh... so that¡¯s where Candado gets his sense of humor.)


    Europa stood, stretching her arms with a contented smile. ¡°I¡¯ll go prepare breakfast.¡±


    ¡°Please,¡± Candado replied.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Hammya added.


    As Europa left the room, Candado swung his legs over the side of the bed, revealing purple pajamas with his name elegantly embroidered in white cursive.


    ¡°All right, time to get dressed. If you¡¯d kindly leave, great. If not... well, I don¡¯t mind.¡±


    He extended his right arm dramatically, and Hammya, already anticipating his antics, raised her hands defensively.


    ¡°Stop!¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°I¡ªI mean, I¡¯m leaving!¡± Hammya said with a sheepish grin.


    ¡°Good. Do it.¡±


    Laughing under her breath, Hammya exited the room. Candado snapped his fingers, then began selecting his outfit for the day. After carefully adjusting his vest, gloves, and tie, he slicked his hair back.


    He paused in front of the mirror, placing a hand on the glass. ¡°Looks like the cage is working again¡­¡± he murmured before sighing and turning away.


    When he stepped into the hallway, Hammya was waiting.


    ¡°Feeling cheerful this morning?¡± he asked dryly.


    ¡°Do you want to know why?¡±


    (She has such sharp ears...) he thought, before answering, ¡°I don¡¯t know why, and I don¡¯t want to ask.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡±


    ¡°Really.¡±


    Hammya pouted but quickly replaced it with a mischievous grin. As Candado walked ahead, she pulled something from behind her back: his beret.


    ¡°Surprise!¡± she said, placing it neatly on his head in one quick motion.


    Candado stopped, his hand brushing the top of the beret.


    ¡°Oh, wow. You¡¯re so...¡±


    ¡°So what? Cute?¡±


    He stared at her in silence, offering no reply.


    ¡°What?¡±


    Candado ignored her and headed downstairs, leaving Hammya trailing after him, determined to make him answer. When they reached the living room, they found Clementina sitting on the couch with Karen on her lap, watching cartoons.


    ¡°Good morning, Clementina,¡± Candado greeted.


    ¡°Good morning, young master.¡±


    ¡°Forget I said that,¡± he replied, a faint flicker in his eyes.


    Clementina shot him a warning look, glancing meaningfully at Karen. Sensing the tension, Hammya quickly covered Candado¡¯s eyes.


    ¡°What¡­?¡± he muttered, confused.


    ¡°Is something wrong with Canda?¡± Karen asked, tilting her head.


    ¡°No, nothing. We¡¯re just playing!¡± Hammya improvised nervously.


    Candado gently took Hammya¡¯s hands and lowered them.


    ¡°It¡¯s fine. You can let go now.¡±


    She complied hesitantly, watching as Candado approached Karen, who launched herself into his arms without warning.


    ¡°Anything to report?¡± Candado asked softly, holding her close.


    ¡°Karen behaved well,¡± Clementina replied with a smile.


    ¡°I¡¯m glad. That¡¯s very good.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s adorable, isn¡¯t she?¡± Clementina cooed, stroking Karen¡¯s hair.


    ¡°She really is,¡± Hammya admitted with an affectionate tone.


    Just then, Hip¨®lito appeared in the doorway. ¡°Time for breakfast, everyone!¡±


    ¡°That was quick,¡± Candado remarked, setting Karen back in her seat.


    ¡°Of course,¡± Hip¨®lito replied with a grin.


    ¡°Don¡¯t overdo it, old man,¡± Candado quipped sarcastically.


    ¡°Whatever you say, kid.¡±


    Candado cast a meaningful glance at his family before heading to the kitchen with Hammya, Clementina, and Karen in tow.


    ¡°Perfect,¡± he remarked as he saw everyone gathered around the table.


    Before sitting down, he helped Karen into her special chair. Though she frowned at the sight of it, she didn¡¯t put up much of a fight. She understood, albeit reluctantly, that the chair was necessary for her safety.


    ¡°This chair again?¡± Karen grumbled.


    ¡°It¡¯s for your own good, little one,¡± Candado said with a kind smile, securing her in place.


    Karen shot him a mock scowl, but her lips eventually curled into a resigned smile.


    Candado took his seat between Europa and Hammya.


    ¡°So, what¡¯s on the menu today?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Milk for the kids, coffee for the grown-ups, and an assortment of croissants and sweet biscuits,¡± Grandma Andrea announced as she began pouring drinks.


    Breakfast unfolded uneventfully, though Andrea couldn¡¯t help but notice the subtle tension in Arturo and Europa. While both wore smiles, a mother¡¯s intuition told her they were deeply troubled. Something in their demeanor reminded her of the darkest days after Gabriela¡¯s passing.


    Her gaze shifted to Candado, who appeared calm, almost detached, his thoughts clearly elsewhere. When their eyes met, he offered her a serene smile, as if silently assuring her, Everything will be fine.


    Andrea returned the smile, though unease lingered in her heart. What more could a mother do in moments like these?


    After a few more minutes of lighthearted conversation about family anecdotes and everyday matters, breakfast came to an end. Candado stood, gathered the plates with an almost magical efficiency, and carried them to the sink, where Hip¨®lito and Clementina were already washing up. Then, he scooped Karen into his arms and returned to the living room.


    There, he settled her on his lap and turned on the television. He carefully selected a children¡¯s channel, avoiding anything too intense or frightening. Karen nestled into his arms, entirely absorbed by the cartoons on screen.


    Candado idly flipped through the channels with the remote in hand.


    ¡°Candado¡¯s hogging the remote again,¡± Andrea teased from the kitchen.


    ¡°Oh, really? Does he always do that?¡± Hip¨®lito asked with curiosity.


    ¡°Of course. He loves watching cartoons with Karen,¡± Clementina chimed in as she dried a plate.


    Andrea sighed nostalgically. ¡°Gabriela used to do the same with him when he was little.¡±


    Clementina suddenly set down the plate and approached Candado.


    ¡°Candado, I need you to come with me to a friend¡¯s house.¡±


    ¡°Sure thing. See you later, Miss Hammya.¡±


    ¡°Later,¡± Hammya replied with a nonchalant wave.


    Andrea and Clementina left the house, leaving Candado with Karen and Hammya in the living room. Wasting no time, Hammya plopped down beside Candado on the couch.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    ¡°Talking on the phone. What does it look like?¡± Candado replied dryly, his eyes still fixed on the screen.


    Hammya tilted her head, amused. ¡°Looks like you¡¯re back to your old self.¡±


    Candado frowned and glanced anxiously at Karen.


    ¡°Karen, did you hear anything?¡±


    The little girl, engrossed in the television, gave no indication of having heard their exchange. She stared at the screen with a seriousness that was almost comical.


    ¡°Thank Isidro she didn¡¯t hear me,¡± Candado murmured in relief.


    ¡°Your sister is¡­ interesting,¡± Hammya commented, her gaze still on Karen.


    ¡°She¡¯s enjoying her show.¡±


    ¡°How are you feeling?¡±


    ¡°Fine, fine¡­ I think I¡¯m regaining control over my body.¡±


    Hammya leaned closer, her expression growing more serious. ¡°Who was that person?¡±


    Candado blinked, confused. ¡°Person?¡±


    ¡°Yes, you know, the dark you.¡±


    The boy shifted uncomfortably in his seat but seemed willing to explain.


    ¡°Oh, you mean Odadnac. That¡¯s what Gabi called him.¡±


    ¡°Odadnac?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s complicated to explain, but it¡¯s not a secret, so I can tell you.¡±


    Hammya nodded, intrigued. ¡°Go ahead.¡±


    ¡°Odadnac was born from my anger, jealousy, rage, pain, and fear. He¡¯s the personification of everything negative within me. According to my grandfather, everyone has a part like that, something that activates when we¡¯re in danger. In my case, I gave him life with my powers. I¡¯m not the only one; my great-grandfather had something similar, or so I¡¯ve been told.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s¡­ incredible, and terrifying,¡± Hammya said, still processing.


    Candado¡¯s eyes clouded briefly. ¡°What¡¯s curious is that Odadnac was different. He loved Gabriela. She was the one who gave him his name.¡±


    ¡°Odadnac?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s my name spelled backward.¡±


    ¡°Oh!¡± Hammya gasped, covering her mouth. ¡°That makes sense now.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re only realizing that now?¡± Candado said with a wry smile before continuing. ¡°But the truth is, Odadnac hates me. I locked him inside me, and that infuriated him. When my health started to deteriorate, his prison began to crack, and he managed to escape.¡±


    Hammya placed a gentle hand on his cheek.


    "You don¡¯t have to apologize for anything."


    Candado nodded but gently moved her hand away.


    "The strange thing is, I feel like there¡¯s something I¡¯ve forgotten. Every time I try to recall it, fragments of images appear, but then they vanish. I¡¯ve tried writing everything I saw."


    "How many times did you try?" Hammya asked.


    "Two hundred times, according to my notes."


    "Two hundred? That¡¯s insane."


    "I know. The last page had a plea scrawled in my trembling handwriting: ¡®Don¡¯t try again. It won¡¯t be pleasant.¡¯"


    "Why do you think you wrote that?"


    "It must¡¯ve been something too painful," Candado admitted, rubbing his eyes. "The pages were crumpled, as if I had cried over them."


    "Relax. Don¡¯t push yourself anymore."


    Sensing the shift in mood, Karen stopped watching TV and wrapped her arms around Candado, her sweet smile lighting up the room.


    "Never grow up," Candado murmured, holding her close.


    "You¡¯ve got quite the personality," Hammya teased, standing up.


    Candado chuckled, and before Hammya left, he made a request:


    "I want you to go to the guild for me. I¡¯m not in the mood to go out today."


    "Why not?"


    "I¡¯m with Karen."


    Hammya smiled, ruffling his hair before heading for the door.


    "Alright, I¡¯ll go. See you later."


    "Yeah, see you, Hammya."


    With a lighthearted grin, Hammya waved goodbye to Candado. As she stepped out, her thoughts wandered, and she decided to take her time heading to the guild. It had been a while since she enjoyed a relaxed walk¡ªvacation had been a whirlwind of activities, including dyeing her hair green in a sudden whim. Now, as she thought back on it, it seemed unnecessary. At least Candado said I looked cute, she mused with a soft giggle, humming a carefree tune.


    She no longer felt annoyed or self-conscious about her hair''s natural red color.


    Turning a corner, she ran into Natalia¡ªknown to many as Pio¡ªengaged in a lively conversation with another girl named Tarah.


    "Hammya!" Natalia greeted her warmly.This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.


    "Hey, Pio." The "redhead" smiled and turned her gaze to the other young woman. "And who are you?"


    "I¡¯m Tarah Camila Ortega, leader of the Bluejay Guild," the girl replied, extending her hand. Hammya shook it in response.


    "Are you the one who never wears shoes?" Hammya asked, her curiosity piqued.


    Tarah glanced at her bare feet and shrugged.


    "I don¡¯t like them. They always hurt me."


    Natalia chimed in quickly, "She¡¯s the mayor¡¯s daughter¡ªthat¡¯s why the city¡¯s always spotless."


    Hammya nodded approvingly before remembering her errand.


    "Well, I¡¯m here because Candado sent me to the guild."


    "Ah, so the boss is starting to act like himself again," Tarah chuckled.


    The conversation turned more personal when Natalia added, "We were just passing by."


    "Passing by?" Hammya raised an eyebrow.


    "I¡¯m visiting my boyfriend," Tarah said proudly.


    "Boyfriend? Who is it?"


    "Esteban."


    "Him?" Hammya couldn¡¯t hide her surprise.


    "Yes, I like the way he is. I¡¯m very much in love."


    "I don¡¯t get it."


    Tarah laughed gently.


    "When you find your other half¡ªyour orange or your apple¡ªyou¡¯ll understand."


    Natalia stifled a laugh, clearly enjoying the banter.


    "Still teasing me about my hair?" Hammya protested.


    "Sweetheart, when it was green, I missed my chance to make jokes. Now that it¡¯s red, I¡¯m not holding back."


    Tarah checked the time.


    "Saint Rita! We¡¯re running late. See you!"


    After saying goodbye, Hammya resumed her walk, her mood lighter, almost skipping with joy as the cool breeze brushed her face.


    Soon, she came across Andersson, who was adjusting the lettering on a sign outside a shop.


    "Hi, Hammya. Running errands?"


    "No, just heading to the guild. What about you? How¡¯s everything?"


    "Good, though my brothers are still sleeping." Andersson turned toward the shop as his name echoed from inside.


    "Andersson, when you¡¯re done, take a break, alright?" came a commanding voice.


    "Yes, sir."


    Back to the conversation, Andersson asked,


    "How''s H?ngl?s doing?"


    "GLaDOS?"


    "No, H?ngl?s, which is ''Candabo''... candado in Swedish. I have a hard time pronouncing his name in Spanish."


    Hammya laughed at his confession.


    "Speaking another language isn''t easy, but keep trying, okay? You''ll improve, I''m sure of it."


    "Thanks, Hammya."


    "See you later!"


    With a friendly farewell, Hammya walked away, greeting several people along the way before finally reaching the guild.


    ¡°Whew, it¡¯s freezing.¡± She rubbed her hands together as she climbed the stairs and knocked on the door.


    "Who is it?" a voice asked from the other side.


    "Hammya."


    An awkward silence followed her response.


    "Declan? Why aren¡¯t you opening the door?" another voice chimed in.


    "I don¡¯t want to open it."


    "It¡¯s too cold to leave her outside."


    "She has a roof to go back to."


    Hammya crossed her arms, letting out a small sigh of frustration as she waited for someone to finally decide to let her in.


    The sounds of a scuffle soon reached her ears.


    "Stop it, Wilson!" Lucas yelled as he struggled. "Get your hands off me!"


    Declan and Lucas continued their argument, completely ignoring Hammya, who stood outside, unsure of what to do.


    "Wow... he still hates me," she murmured with an awkward smile.


    Suddenly, a female voice interrupted from the other side of the door.


    "Excuse me, could you open the door?"


    "GO AWAY, ERIKA!" Declan and Lucas shouted in unison.


    A loud crash reverberated through the space, echoing all the way to the entrance.


    "DON¡¯T YELL AT MY SISTER!" a roar followed.


    Hammya took a step back, her heart racing.


    "(I don¡¯t want to go inside anymore. This is scary...)"


    She turned on her heel, trying to escape.


    "Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll come back later..."


    But before she could get far, the door creaked open. Erika stood there, smiling, her expression both elegant and unsettling. It was an odd sight: her innocent smile contrasted with the chaos behind her. Lucas was embedded in the wall, while Lucia was pounding on Declan, who managed to block most of her blows.


    "Sorry for the mess," Erika said nonchalantly. "This only happens when Candado isn¡¯t around."


    "I see..." Hammya replied, her doubt evident. She inclined her head and greeted, "Hello, Lucia."


    "Hi, sweetheart!" Lucia responded brightly, still clutching Declan by the collar of his coat, her fist raised threateningly.


    "Hello, Declan."


    "Hello, beast," he grumbled with no emotion.


    Seizing the distraction, Hammya slipped into the house and greeted Erika with a kiss on the cheek.


    "Hi, Erika. I¡¯m glad you¡¯re doing well."


    "Likewise." Erika closed the door behind her. "What brings you here so early in the morning?"


    "I¡¯m surprised you¡¯re all up so early."


    "We usually get up around six or seven to manage the guild. Of course, it¡¯s a bit strange doing it without Candado."


    "I see. Is H¨¦ctor here?"


    "Yes, he¡¯s in the office with¡ª"


    "THE DOOR, ERIKA!" Lucia interrupted, furious.


    Without hesitation, Erika flung the door open, almost instinctively. Lucia grabbed Declan by the lapels again and hurled him out of the house, straight into the muddy yard, still wet from last night¡¯s rain.


    Declan got up, glaring at his soiled clothes. He clenched his fists so tightly his knuckles turned white. His teeth ground together as his bloodshot eyes filled with seething rage.


    In a swift motion, he drew his sword, gripping it with his left hand. As he did, his eyes began to glow with a vibrant green light.


    "Oh no... this just got bad," Erika muttered nervously.


    Lucia grinned with amusement. She dashed toward Declan and, as she stepped outside, leaped into the air, extending one leg, which turned to solid gold.


    "Goodbye, Irishman."


    "You little¡ª" Declan began, but he couldn¡¯t finish his sentence.


    Lucia landed on Declan''s sword, deflecting it, and delivered a kick to his head that sent him sprawling to the ground.


    ¡°This is a mess¡­¡± Hammya whispered, closing the door softly.


    ¡°But¡­?¡± Erika began to say.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. They¡¯ll be fine,¡± Hammya replied calmly, taking Erika¡¯s hand. ¡°Come with me. I need to talk to Hector.¡±


    ¡°Alright¡­¡± Erika murmured, casting a final glance at the door, hesitating about whether she should intervene or not.


    As they passed Lucas, who was dusting himself off after emerging from the rubble, Hammya greeted him.


    ¡°Hi, Lucas.¡±


    ¡°Hi, Hammya,¡± he replied, pulling a phone from his pocket and dialing a number. ¡°Matlotsky, I need you to fix something¡­ again.¡±


    Hammya and Erika finally reached Hector¡¯s office, though technically, it belonged to Candado.


    ¡°Wow, I think this is the first time I¡¯ve been here,¡± Hammya commented, eyeing the door.


    ¡°Yes. Usually, Candado is inside managing the guild, talking to other leaders¡­ or staring out the window for hours, pondering solutions to every problem he encounters.¡±


    ¡°I can already picture his routine.¡±


    Hammya knocked softly on the door.


    ¡°Come in,¡± a voice called from inside.


    As they entered, Hammya was struck by the sight of the office. The walls were painted in an elegant green, and at the far end was a single window without bars, adorned only with a white curtain that let the light filter through. On either side hung two portraits in places of honor. To the left, a serene Gabriela Esperanza Barret smiled gently. To the right, a youthful Alfred Vel¨¢zquez Barret beamed brightly, his identity confirmed by a nameplate beneath the portrait.


    Flanking each portrait were glass display cases filled with various items, though none were books. This stood out to Hammya, who noticed that the entire office only contained four books, neatly arranged on a small table.


    The floor of white-and-yellow tiles gleamed, and in the center of the room stood a black wooden desk, free of decoration except for a single massive notebook atop it. In front of the desk, two red armchairs stood out, one of which was occupied by Viki, lounging casually.


    ¡°Is something wrong?¡± Hector asked with a kind smile.


    ¡°Not exactly¡­ Candado didn¡¯t want to come,¡± Hammya admitted.


    ¡°I see,¡± Hector sighed, closing the book he had been reading. ¡°I should¡¯ve guessed. I thought he¡¯d send Clementina, as usual, but this is quite unusual.¡±


    ¡°It means Candado trusts you,¡± Viki said with faint enthusiasm.


    ¡°Maybe, maybe.¡±


    Hector stood and walked over to Hammya.


    ¡°So, what¡¯s going on? I really wanted Candado to come, but it seems you¡¯re here in his stead. Does that mean he doesn¡¯t care about the situation?¡±


    ¡°Honestly, I don¡¯t think that¡¯s the case,¡± Hammya interjected.


    ¡°Explain.¡±


    ¡°Well, do you remember when Candado hit you in the chest that time?¡±


    ¡°Yes, though I should clarify that it wasn¡¯t him¡ªit was Odadnac.¡±


    ¡°Right. I think he feels guilty and doesn¡¯t know how to apologize.¡±


    Hector pondered this for a moment.


    ¡°Perhaps I should visit him instead.¡±


    ¡°What? Seriously?¡±


    ¡°Of course, Viki. This isn¡¯t the first time something like this has happened,¡± Hector replied, glancing at her.


    ¡°First time? This has happened before?¡±


    ¡°Oh, right, you weren¡¯t there. Back in the garden, there was this boy who used to bully him, but Candado never retaliated. I wasn¡¯t his friend back then. One day, the boy crossed the line and hid his beret. That pushed Candado into a blind rage. I always saw kindness in him and wanted him to stay that way, but as his fist was about to strike the bully, I instinctively stepped in and took the blow myself.¡±


    ¡°Wow,¡± Erika said, surprised.


    ¡°You didn¡¯t know?¡± Hammya asked.


    ¡°Not at all.¡±


    ¡°Well, the thing is, Candado felt terrible about it and skipped the garden for a few days until I decided to visit him at home. Luckily, I found him playing alone in the plaza. That¡¯s when I thought it would be fun to spend time with him. From that day on, I offered him my friendship, and he gave me a tie in return.¡± Hector touched his chest. ¡°This tie.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s so cheesy,¡± Viki remarked.


    ¡°Jealousy speaks in those words, my dear,¡± Hector teased.


    ¡°What a sweet story,¡± Erika said, touched.


    ¡°So that¡¯s why you always wear that white tie,¡± Hammya noted, with no intent to offend.


    ¡°Am I imagining it, or are you implying I¡¯m low on resources?¡±


    ¡°No, not at all. By the way, can I ask you a question?¡± Hammya quickly changed the subject.


    ¡°Of course, go ahead.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve always been curious¡ªwho has been with Candado the longest?¡±


    ¡°Oh, that. It¡¯s no secret. I suppose you¡¯re asking who the ¡®pioneers¡¯ of this guild were.¡±


    ¡°Exactly.¡±


    ¡°Well, me, Krauser, Joaqu¨ªn, Ocho, and Declan. We visited him often at his house in Ireland. He didn¡¯t speak Spanish but could understand it. Later, in first grade, Lucas, Germ¨¢n, Matlotsky, Erika, and Luc¨ªa joined. In second grade, Walsh, Pio, Antonela, and Frederick came along. In third grade, Candado befriended someone who didn¡¯t want to join the guild. Her name was Glinka, and she was quite intimidating. In fourth grade, Ana Mar¨ªa Pucheta joined us. In fifth grade, Viki and Anzor. Sixth grade saw no new members. And this year, which is seventh grade, we met you and Liv. Andersson doesn¡¯t count, as he¡¯s not formally part of the guild.¡±


    ¡°Wow.¡±


    Hector pulled an envelope from his pocket and handed it to Hammya.


    ¡°Nelson sent this a few hours ago. That old man seems to never sleep¡ªI received it at five in the morning.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s inside?¡± Hammya asked.


    ¡°No idea. I haven¡¯t opened it.¡±


    ¡°Can I open it?¡±


    ¡°No, it¡¯s Candado¡¯s, not yours.¡±


    ¡°Boo¡­¡±


    "Alright. Send it to Candado. I personally wanted him to pick it up, but if Nelson sent it so early, it must be important."


    "You know it''s 9:16 a.m., right?" Erika interjected.


    "I spoke to Nelson and asked him to wait a few hours so Candado could get some rest. He agreed."


    "Fine, I''ll take care of delivering it."


    H¨¦ctor placed a finger on Hammya''s forehead.


    "Yeah, it''s all sweet and everything, but don''t even think about opening it."


    "I understand."


    "H¨¦ctor, don''t be rude," Erika said, brushing his finger away.


    H¨¦ctor looked out the window and saw Luc¨ªa watching the scene intently, making him a little uncomfortable. He quickly pulled his hand back and gave her a wave. Luc¨ªa sighed, pressed against the glass, then walked away, giving H¨¦ctor a sigh of relief.


    "Thanks and goodbye," H¨¦ctor rushed.


    "Eh? Alright, if you say so," Erika said.


    Hammya left the room. As she walked down the hall, she saw Lucas and Matlotsky repairing the wall.


    "This is incredible, you¡¯ve made it look brand new. I''m impressed," Lucas remarked.


    "What amazes me is how the hell you broke this concrete wall with your back," Matlotsky replied.


    "It was during a fight with Declan."


    "I knew black folks were tough, but not that tough."


    Lucas laughed at the comment.


    "Hey, guys."


    "Hey, Hammya," they both responded.


    "I see you repaired the wall."


    Matlotsky pretended to be embarrassed.


    "Don¡¯t be a clown," Lucas retorted.


    "Shut up, you space alien portrait," Matlotsky joked.


    Lucas ignored the comment.


    "Well, I see you''re in a hurry, so I won''t keep you."


    "Thanks, have a good day."


    After saying that, Hammya left the house. She had planned to say goodbye to Luc¨ªa and Declan, but they were still fighting like their lives depended on it, so she decided not to interrupt.


    Meanwhile, at Candado¡¯s house, he was sitting on his armchair, playing riddles with his sister Karen.


    "What number, added twice, gives four?"


    "Two," she quickly responded.


    Candado clapped and continued.


    "What goes through the sea and doesn¡¯t get wet?"


    "The shadow."


    Candado clapped again enthusiastically.


    "What is round, but hollow, and flies through the air?"


    "The wheels of a plane."


    "Bravo!" Candado exclaimed with a smile.


    "Another one, another one," Karen begged, excited.


    "Okay... What is big and strong like a lion?"


    Karen raised her index finger and declared firmly:


    "You."


    Candado was stunned.


    "Exactly... What?"


    "You," Karen repeated without hesitation.


    Candado adjusted his beret, lowering it over his eyes.


    "Can I... Can I know why?"


    Karen looked at him seriously and replied:


    "Candado is big because he always gives me the things I can''t reach. Candado is strong because he always lifts me up, even with heavy boxes. And Candado is like a lion because he always protects me."


    Candado, now unable to hide his emotion, covered his face with both hands.


    "By Isidro... I never expected this."


    From a corner, Clementina, the android, observed the scene with a camera in hand. Since the "cameras" in her eyes had filled up with nothing but photos she had taken, she had bought a camera to fulfill the same function.


    "For the album ¡ªshe said while capturing the moment."


    When Candado recovered from his embarrassment, he embraced Karen tenderly.


    "You''re so cute, Karen. I wish you would never grow up."


    "That''s impossible, both you and I know that". she replied with childlike wisdom.


    At that moment, Arturo burst into the room.


    "Playing house".


    ¡°No, we''re playing riddles,¡± Candado replied.


    ¡°I see,¡± Arturo said as he sat down next to them. ¡°Keep playing with your sister.¡±


    Candado adjusted Karen in his lap.


    ¡°That¡¯s what I¡¯m doing.¡±


    Arturo smiled.


    ¡°By the way, how do you feel?¡±


    ¡°Very good,¡± Candado replied.


    ¡°No pain?¡±


    ¡°No, nothing.¡±


    Arturo affectionately patted Candado¡¯s head.


    ¡°I see.¡±


    ¡°So do I,¡± Karen added, leaning in to receive some affection as well.


    Arturo smiled and petted her head.


    ¡°You know, when I see you with Karen, you remind me a lot of Gabi. She was very affectionate with you.¡±


    Candado looked down.


    ¡°Yeah... she was the greatest person I ever knew. Her kindness, that unmistakable smile... She always saw the good in people, she used to say they just needed another chance.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s painful to think she¡¯s not here anymore.¡±


    A heavy silence filled the air.


    ¡°Many times, I lied to myself,¡± Arturo continued. ¡°Every time I opened the door, I hoped she would come running to hug me like she used to after work. I wanted to believe she was at a friend¡¯s house or on a trip.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯d never go on a trip,¡± Candado said with a small smile.


    ¡°I know... but I wanted to believe she was still alive. It¡¯s very painful for a father to lose a child to a disease that slowly consumes them.¡±


    Candado raised his gaze, hope gleaming in his eyes.


    ¡°Wherever she is, I think she¡¯s watching over us with a smile.¡±


    Arturo nodded, patting his head.


    ¡°Dad...¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m so sorry for being a bad father. Losing her shattered me, and I neglected you. I was selfish, only thinking about my pain. You suffered too, and you must have hated us a lot.¡±


    Candado vehemently shook his head.


    ¡ªDad, I never hated you. I love you both so much.


    At that moment, Hammya burst into the house, panting and sweating.


    ¡°Candado!¡±


    Father and son looked at her in surprise.


    ¡°What''s going on? Why are you so out of breath?¡± Arturo asked.


    ¡°I ran here,¡± Hammya replied, wiping the sweat from her sleeve.


    ¡°I think I¡¯ll leave you two alone,¡± Arturo said, standing up awkwardly. ¡°See you later.¡±


    When Arturo left, Candado turned to Hammya.


    ¡°So?¡±


    Hammya handed him an envelope.


    ¡°This is for you.¡±


    Candado took it curiously and sighed.


    ¡°What now?¡±


    ¡°I want to know what''s inside.¡±


    ¡°You''re such a gossip.¡±


    ¡°Come on, I braved this cold to see Hector. The least you can do is show me the contents.¡±


    Candado exhaled in resignation and opened the envelope. When he saw what it contained, his expression changed.


    He pulled out an A4-sized photograph. It showed a woman with lilac hair, violet skin, and closed eyes.


    Immediately, Candado put the photo away and looked nervously over his shoulder.


    ¡°Relax,¡± a voice whispered from the black smoke. ¡°She¡¯s not here.¡±


    ¡°Where is she now, T¨ªnbari?¡± Candado whispered.


    ¡°She¡¯s in the garden, doing gymnastics.¡±


    Candado stood up from the couch.


    ¡°Clementina.¡±


    The android stepped out of her hiding spot, awkwardly concealing the camera behind her back.


    ¡°Yes, young master?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll spare you the insults for now. I want you to look after Karen.¡±


    ¡°Where are you going, Canda?¡±


    ¡°Me?¡± he asked nervously. ¡°Your brother has some work to do, I¡¯ll be right back.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t take too long.¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t,¡± he responded with a smile.


    ¡°What¡¯s going on? Who¡¯s that girl?¡±


    ¡°Hammya, do...¡±


    ¡°Girl?¡± Europe interrupted as she came out of the kitchen in tight black pants and a sleeveless blue shirt.


    ¡°Mom, what are you doing here?¡±


    ¡°What a great physique!¡± Hammya admired.


    ¡°Thanks, Hammya. And as for you, Candado, this is my house. There''s no problem with you coming into the living room, is there?¡±


    ¡°No, of course not, no problem.¡±


    ¡°I heard something about a girl.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, the truth is¡­¡±


    Candado covered Hammya¡¯s mouth and pulled her close to him.


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing, don¡¯t worry.¡±


    Europa smiled mischievously.


    ¡°Ah, my son is at the stage where girls his age are looking for him.¡±


    ¡°Mmhmm, mhmm, mhmm,¡± murmured Hammya under Candado¡¯s hand.


    ¡°Yeah, I get it. Candado is very handsome, isn¡¯t he, Hammya?¡± Europa asked, amused.


    Hammya blushed deeply.


    ¡°Say no or shut up!¡± Candado whispered.


    Hammya hesitated, then began nodding her head.


    ¡°Not that!¡± he whispered again, exasperated.


    ¡°Right? My son isn¡¯t handsome.¡±


    ¡°Mom, I think¡­¡±


    ¡°Then I¡¯ll leave you two alone. Ah, youth.¡±


    Europa returned to the kitchen, and after a few minutes, she headed to the garden to continue exercising. When the garden door squeaked as it closed, Candado let go of Hammya.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you?¡± she asked, annoyed.


    ¡°She didn¡¯t do anything wrong, ma¡¯am,¡± Clementina intervened. ¡°She only said you were handsome.¡±


    ¡°I have no problem with her saying that, but not in front of my mom.¡±


    ¡°Are you embarrassed?¡± Clementina asked coldly.


    ¡°Canda is handsome,¡± Karen commented innocently.


    Candado softened, but quickly regained his seriousness.


    ¡°No, but my mom would spend an hour praising me and talking about me.¡±


    ¡°Then you¡¯re embarrassed,¡± Hammya stated.


    ¡°Would she talk about your childhood?¡± Clementina asked, intrigued.


    Candado looked at her seriously.


    ¡°Believe me, you don¡¯t want to hear about my childhood.¡±


    Hammya smiled.


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter.¡± Candado grabbed Hammya by the wrist. ¡°Let¡¯s go to my room.¡±


    With that, he ran, pulling her along.


    ¡°Good luck, Hammya!¡± Clementina called with a smile.


    ¡°Clem, sweet, sweet,¡± Karen asked as Clementina lifted her in her arms.


    ¡°I¡¯ll give you something later, darling,¡± she replied tenderly.


    When Candado arrived in his room, T¨ªnbari appeared again.


    ¡°What a scene.¡±


    ¡°Silence and make sure no one hears us.¡±


    ¡°On it, on it.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s going on, Candado?¡± Hammya asked, confused.


    ¡°What is that old man thinking...?¡±


    ¡°An envelope?¡±


    ¡°Yes, T¨ªnbari, but the envelope doesn¡¯t matter, it¡¯s what¡¯s inside.¡±


    Candado pulled out a photograph, which alarmed T¨ªnbari, who up until then had been charismatic.


    ¡°Is she...?¡±


    ¡°Ahmm, Candado¡­¡±


    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s her.¡±


    ¡°Canda...!¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t believe it,¡± T¨ªnbari expressed.


    ¡°HEY!¡± Hammya shouted, angry.


    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s what I want to know. What¡¯s going on, who is she, and why are you so surprised?¡±


    Candado handed the photograph to Hammya and then collapsed into the chair at his desk.


    ¡°Her name is Amabaray.¡±


    ¡°A Bari?¡±


    ¡°Yes and no. She¡¯s a Baray, which means ¡®mother¡¯ in Roob¨®leo. She served my mother. Like T¨ªnbari, she was the Baray of love and desire.¡±


    ¡°Was?¡±


    ¡°My mom had a problem when I was about to be born. She was very weak, and it seemed she wouldn¡¯t survive the birth.¡±


    ¡°You?¡±


    ¡°No, my mother. The doctors said only one of us would survive. Mom had used up so much of her spirit to save the world from a war. Unfortunately, she had used her strength while she was three months pregnant, which left her sickly.¡±


    ¡°What happened?¡±


    ¡°What had to happen. Mom was ready to save me, but Amabaray didn¡¯t want that. She wanted her friend to see me. So, she decided to sacrifice herself.¡±


    ¡°Sacrifice herself?¡±


    ¡°She intervened in the life of a human and stopped the death of both by using her own vital energy. Only the energy of life can save another life. She was the first Baray to save a human at the cost of her own,¡± T¨ªnbari explained.


    ¡°Wow¡­ Why did you hide this from your mother?¡±


    ¡°She doesn¡¯t remember. Only my father, my grandfather, my sister, and I know because Amabaray erased her memories. It¡¯s as if they never knew each other.¡±


    ¡°How do you know all this? It¡¯s strange.¡±


    ¡°Gabriela told me when I was a child. She always cried when talking about her. They must have been very close.¡±


    ¡°I see.¡±


    ¡°But there¡¯s something strange here.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± asked Hammya, intrigued.


    ¡°How does Nelson know that I know this story? I never told anyone. He should believe I¡¯m unaware.¡±


    ¡°That photo is recent, Candado,¡± Hammya said seriously.


    ¡°Do you know where she decided to sleep?¡± he asked, not taking his eyes off the photo.


    ¡°No. She disappeared one night. All we found was a letter and a necklace... the same one your mother wears now.¡±


    Candado fell silent for a few seconds, his mind working at full speed. Finally, he stood up and walked to the window, his gaze fixed on the horizon.


    ¡°Whoever it is,¡± he murmured, ¡°someone knows something. Maybe even more than I do.¡±


    ¡°What will you do?¡± Hammya asked, watching him intently.


    ¡°I¡¯ll talk to H¨¦ctor.¡±


    Candado opened a drawer and took out his phone. He dialed a number quickly while Hammya and T¨ªnbari watched him in silence.


    One minute.


    No one answered.


    Two minutes.


    Candado began to grow impatient.


    Five minutes.


    ¡°Someone answer the damn phone!¡± he grumbled irritably.


    Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, a trembling voice answered.


    ¡°Hello?¡±


    ¡°IT¡¯S ABOUT TIME!¡± Candado shouted.


    ¡°Ca-Candado?¡± H¨¦ctor stammered on the other side of the line.


    ¡°Oh, sorry,¡± Candado said, in a somewhat calmer tone.


    ¡°You have no idea how my heart is after that scream...¡±


    ¡°And you have no idea about my patience.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°Nothing. I just want to know: who sent you the envelope?¡±


    H¨¦ctor was silent for a moment before replying.


    ¡°I guess you already know. How did you find out?¡±


    ¡°There were a few things that didn¡¯t add up.¡±


    H¨¦ctor sighed on the other end of the line.


    ¡°It¡¯s true. The envelope wasn¡¯t sent by Nelson. I¡¯m sorry. I didn¡¯t mean to lie to you, but I thought you¡¯d come if you believed it was from him.¡±


    Candado clicked his tongue.


    ¡°Ah, I see. How did the envelope get to you?¡±


    ¡°It was dropped off at 5 a.m. A stranger handed it to me in person.¡±


    ¡°Can you describe them?¡±


    ¡°I couldn¡¯t see their face. It was too dark, but their voice... was soft and cordial.¡±


    ¡°Soft and cordial?¡± Candado repeated, frowning.


    ¡°Yeah, something like Germ¨¢n¡¯s. Although I highly doubt it was him, because the voice was very feminine.¡±


    Candado fell silent for a moment, processing the information.


    ¡°Did they say anything else?¡±


    ¡°Yes. They asked me to say hello to you and to meet Nelson tonight. Then... they said something strange, like a melody:


    ¡®Moon of dreams, shine in the sky, Your light is my guide, my beacon and desire. You light the path of the girl who sings, With her eyes to the sky, her soul enchants.¡¯


    ¡®... Moon of the sky, do me a favor, Come down to meet me, come with your love. Desire blooms, my soul calls you, And in your light I find the peace it claims.¡¯¡± Candado completed softly.


    ¡°Exactly! How did you know?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a lullaby.¡±


    ¡°Lullaby?¡±


    ¡°Yes, one that was sung to my mother when she was a child.¡±


    H¨¦ctor seemed to think in silence for a moment.


    ¡°Hmm... is something wrong?¡± he finally asked.


    ¡°No, nothing important. Keep working.¡±


    ¡°Do you want me to go with you tonight?¡±


    ¡°No. I know I¡¯ve hidden a lot of things, but this time I want to do it without my friends finding out. Please.¡±


    H¨¦ctor let out a light laugh.


    ¡°Friends? Did you say friends?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, is there a problem?¡±


    ¡°When was the last time I heard you say that so sincerely? Alright, I won¡¯t do anything, but I want you to tell us everything later.¡±


    ¡°I promise.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll see you, Catriel.¡±


    Candado hung up the phone and turned to Hammya and T¨ªnbari, who were watching him expectantly.


    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Hammya asked.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. You tell me.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°Oh, sorry. I was thinking about other things.¡±


    ¡°What are you going to do, Candado?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m going to see Nelson.¡±

 UNDER THE CITY

    That same morning, at the other end of the province, Desza walked through the bustling streets of Buenos Aires, blending in with the crowd like any ordinary citizen.


    ¡°This stinks. No matter where I go, I¡¯ll always smell sin,¡± Desza muttered in his deep, gravelly voice.


    But today, he wasn¡¯t in the mood to slaughter anyone. In fact, his usually stoic face bore a cold, detached expression. The reason was obvious: he had to meet someone he would rather see dead than converse with. Yet, he couldn¡¯t disobey Pullbarey. If he wanted to achieve his goal, he had to bite his tongue and swallow his desire to dismember Johan Martines.


    The meeting was far from welcoming. Johan, under the strict conditions of their contract, had ensured a violence-free encounter. In bold letters, the clause stood out: NO VIOLENCE! Begrudgingly, Desza had to agree to that when signing the deal. The chosen location for the meeting was also unusual: a crowded spot ¡ª the subway. There was a specific train car where they could talk without interruptions. To reach it, Desza had to cross a tunnel and find Johan waiting for him.


    However, as he prepared to leap onto the tracks, a police officer stopped him. Poor soul. Desza drove his machete into the officer¡¯s chest and muffled his cries, letting the man drown in his own blood as death crept in, slow and agonizing. With a twisted grin, Desza carried the corpse and discarded it in the shadows of the tunnel, where the darkness consumed it.


    ¡°I feel better now,¡± Desza sighed, brushing off his hands before finally spotting the train car where he was supposed to board.


    His satisfaction vanished the moment he saw Johan inside the car. Scowling, Desza had no choice but to move forward.


    He opened the door with his machete and stepped in.


    ¡°Hello, Desza,¡± Johan greeted him.


    ¡°Hello, Johan,¡± Desza replied with a tense calm.


    ¡°I¡¯m glad you accepted my invitation.¡±


    ¡°Trust me, if Pullbarey didn¡¯t need you, you¡¯d already be dead,¡± Desza retorted, his disdain clear.


    ¡°Don¡¯t make me laugh, Harry. You¡¯re not that powerful,¡± Johan shot back with a smug smile.


    Desza took a seat nearby while Johan leaned against the wall, keeping to the shadows.


    ¡°I was right,¡± Johan said with an air of superiority.


    ¡°About what?¡± Desza asked, his voice tinged with skepticism.


    ¡°I see it now¡­ You¡¯re so great, so pure, so eloquent that you humble yourself before me. But we both know you¡¯re nothing more than a fallen star.¡±


    Desza¡¯s hand slowly moved toward the hilt of his machete. Johan, sharp-eyed, caught the motion.


    ¡°Go ahead,¡± Johan taunted. ¡°Five years, Desza. Five years we¡¯ve known each other. You rose through the ranks slowly, and many thought Desza, the Protector, would be the one to replace Candado as a candidate. But everything changed after the incident in Italy.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t come here to relive the past, you damned runner,¡± Desza snapped, his voice laced with venom.


    ¡°Runner? Is that what they call me now? Come on, mate.¡±


    ¡°Let me make one thing clear: just because I left the guilds doesn¡¯t mean I¡¯ve abandoned my hatred for you.¡±


    ¡°I know. Now then, sorry to keep you waiting. What do you need from me?¡±


    ¡°Pullbarey needs your help with something important.¡±


    ¡°To fight the guild? I¡¯m a mercenary; I¡¯ll take any job. But if your actions are serious enough to plunge this harmonious world into war, the price will be steep.¡±


    ¡°Money isn¡¯t an issue.¡±


    ¡°Fine, I accept. Last time, I didn¡¯t expect that Jorge¡ª¡±


    ¡°J?rgen,¡± Desza corrected.


    ¡°Right, him. I never imagined I¡¯d get a job offer two days later. Killing Nicol¨¢s Caba?a... I have to say, because of that slave, I nearly lost my life. I didn¡¯t expect such brutality.¡±


    ¡°I curse that black bastard for not killing you,¡± Desza growled.


    ¡°Let¡¯s save that for another time. What does your ¡®noble¡¯ Pullbarey want from me now?¡±


    ¡°Candado is slowly dying, but according to Pullbarey, there¡¯s a strong chance he can be cured of that spell.¡±


    ¡°Oh? And what¡¯s the plan?¡±


    ¡°You must know of the Archangel Realm.¡±


    Johan¡¯s arrogant expression faltered.


    ¡°You¡¯re serious?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s the boundary between our world and the archangels¡¯. Nothing exists there but a field of flowers and an annoyingly clear sky.¡±


    ¡°And yet, you survived.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not something I¡¯m proud of.¡±


    ¡°Correction: you were born there. They called you Archangel Johan.¡±


    ¡°Mercenary Johan. If there¡¯s one thing I hate, it¡¯s archangels.¡±


    Desza smirked, tempted to taunt him further but held back. It wasn¡¯t worth jeopardizing his goal. If Johan had forsaken his identity as an archangel, there must have been a compelling reason.


    ¡°Fine. Only someone like you can come and go from that place.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t plan to.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ll be paid handsomely to do it.¡±


    ¡°I accept. I suppose Lilith will be quite upset, but she¡¯ll get over it.¡±


    ¡°I couldn¡¯t care less about your wife¡¯s feelings.¡±


    ¡°Good. It seems I¡¯ll take this job. After all, I need the money.¡±


    Johan stood and extended his hand.


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s tradition. When a contract is made, there¡¯s a handshake.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t like you. I¡¯m not doing it.¡±


    ¡°Do you think Barack Obama and Ra¨²l Castro liked each other when they shook hands? They hated each other, mate. I¡¯d hate shaking hands with a black man too.¡±


    At that moment, Ocho barged in.


    ¡°Sir.¡±


    ¡°What is it, Ocho? I told you I wanted to come alone.¡±


    ¡°I couldn¡¯t leave you unguarded, so I watched from the shadows. Regardless, you need to leave. Sem¨¢foros are closing in from all directions.¡±


    ¡°How many?¡±


    ¡°About a hundred.¡±


    ¡°A hundred? Pathetic.¡±


    ¡°Well then, we¡¯ll regroup at Congress Street, Desza.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t plan to fight a hundred people. That¡¯s not my style. I kill my targets, not civilians.¡±


    ¡°Suit yourself, more for me,¡± Desza replied with a grin.


    ¡°Quickly, sir, we must go.¡±


    ¡°See you around,¡± Johan said before vanishing before their eyes.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go, Ocho. We¡¯ve got a fight to win.¡±


    Desza stepped out of the wagon, machete in hand, only to find a familiar face waiting for him.


    ¡°Moneda.¡±


    The smile on Moneda''s face was tinged with madness.


    "I¡¯ve never been humiliated like that before," he said, shifting his gaze to Ocho. "And you? Is this what you really wanted? Betraying Joaqu¨ªn, Candado, Krauser, H¨¦ctor, Declan, Clementina, Gabriela... Do none of those names mean anything to you?"This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.


    Ocho responded with a crooked grin.


    "Yeah, so what? I hate all of them. Especially Candado. There¡¯s no one more sentimental than him."


    "Joaqu¨ªn has spent countless hours searching for you. Krauser never stopped believing in you. Who are you really?"


    "A Witness."


    Desza burst into laughter.


    "That¡¯s great. Really. I can¡¯t believe it."


    He raised his machete, pointing it directly at Ocho.


    "You¡¯re too insane to come back here again."


    Moneda ignored Desza and continued speaking to Ocho.


    "Tell me, what did you think of Joaqu¨ªn? I want to know. Did you really care about him? Did his friendship matter to you?"


    Ocho lowered his head, his face hidden from view.


    "Speak. I want to know."


    After a moment of silence, Ocho raised his head, a massive grin stretching across his face.


    "Garbage. A lunatic. A piece of shit. There wasn¡¯t a single moment when I didn¡¯t hate him with every fiber of my being. How can someone be so naive? He believes in everyone, thinks they all have some goodness in them... He¡¯s an idiot. How can a human like him still be alive?!"


    Moneda slowly closed his eyes, his mind drifting back.


    Two years earlier.


    In a padded room inside a psychiatric hospital, a boy sat on the floor, staring at the door, imagining what lay beyond it¡ªdreaming of a world outside his cell. The door was always locked. He was too dangerous, too unpredictable. He wouldn¡¯t hesitate to hurt anyone who came close.


    He lived in the cruelest of conditions. If the animals who kept him alive dared to approach, he treated them like beasts. A cage encased his head to stop him from biting, and his arms were strapped tightly behind his back, cruelly bound with straps that dug into his flesh. Never before had such savagery been seen in a minor¡ªnor such unrelenting cruelty directed at others.


    Then, the unmistakable sound of a key turning in the lock.


    ¡°Who could it be?¡± he asked playfully.


    The door opened, and two figures entered: a boy his age and an adult woman, the doctor overseeing the facility¡¯s safety protocols.


    ¡°You have ten minutes. No more,¡± she said, her voice firm. ¡°I¡¯ve taken measures to ensure he won¡¯t attack, and if he does, he¡¯ll be sedated immediately. I can¡¯t believe Candado convinced me to allow this.¡±


    "Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ve done something illegal too. I lied to my mom to be here."


    The doctor raised an eyebrow but said nothing.


    ¡°Go on, do what you have to do.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, yeah.¡±


    With that, she stepped out, leaving the door ajar.


    Mark Aurelio, seated on the floor, smirked at the obvious nervousness of the woman. But his smirk vanished the moment his ¡°visitor¡± shut the door behind him and turned with a serious expression.


    ¡°Well, you¡¯re Mark Aurelio. Nice name.¡±


    "...¡±


    "Hey, I¡¯m Joaqu¨ªn. Joaqu¨ªn Barreto. This must be confusing for you, I guess."


    Mark gave a crooked grin.


    "I could slit your throat right now."


    "That¡¯s scary, but not as scary as my mom."


    "Are you here to hit me, insult me, or ask about my right eye and how I like sticking things into it?"


    "None of that. I don¡¯t care about the hole or the cotton you¡¯ve stuffed in there. I¡¯m just here to get you out of here."


    Joaqu¨ªn walked over and sat directly in front of him¡ªdangerously close, enough to catch Mark off guard.


    "You want me to kill you?"


    "Do you know about the Guild?"


    "Huh? No."


    "Good. That¡¯s normal. I¡¯m actually short on staff, and I need a helper."


    "Let me guess... me?"


    "Yeah, you."


    "Don¡¯t you realize what I could do to you if you let me out of here?"


    "Probably kill me. But wouldn¡¯t it be better to start over?"


    "Everyone is the same¡ªbloodthirsty, treacherous, delighting in others¡¯ pain. Why should I start over? Why don¡¯t they fix their own lives?"


    "You hate society."


    "Yeah, even you."


    "Really?"


    "Yes."


    "Are you sure?"


    "ARE YOU DEAF?! YES! I HATE YOU ALL! I HATE EVERYONE!"


    "Great."


    Without hesitation, Joaqu¨ªn leaned forward and hugged him. As he did, he reached for the lock on Mark¡¯s cage and unlatched it.


    "There. You¡¯re free," he said, continuing to unbind the restraints.


    "What? What?" Mark stammered.


    "You said you hate society. I hate it too. It¡¯s unfair, sexist, corrupt, unequal. But I don¡¯t wish for its destruction. Beautiful flowers grow from the filth. It¡¯s for those rare, beautiful things that we give the world a second chance. Society doesn¡¯t have to accept you just because you follow some stupid authority¡¯s rules. I believe in second chances. If you want to live without being treated like trash, come with us. I¡¯ll make you the envy of humanity."


    Present Day


    "(At that moment, only you took the hand of a madman without hesitation. Is that what a monster is? If you use words as your defense, then I will be your weapon.)" thought Moneda.


    ¡°I see,¡± he said, opening his eyes. ¡°I see you are truly despicable.¡±


    Ruth, who had been present, was utterly infuriated.


    ¡°So, you understand now.¡±


    Moneda smiled once more.


    ¡°If Joaqu¨ªn won¡¯t kill anyone, then... I¡¯LL TAKE CARE OF KILLING EVERYONE WHO MADE HIM SUFFER!¡±


    With those words, Moneda lunged at Ocho instead of Desza.


    ¡°Die, traitor!¡±


    Desza moved to help her, but Ruth intercepted him, her expression brimming with disdain. She faced Desza, the murderer of the guild members.


    ¡°Come on, girl. You¡¯re too slow for me.¡±


    Ruth didn¡¯t use her hands, moving like an acrobat as she dodged and attacked tirelessly. Desza didn¡¯t seem interested in using his machete against her, merely blocking and evading her strikes. It was clear he enjoyed toying with his victims.


    Meanwhile, Ocho kept her distance from Moneda, knowing how dangerous it was to get close to someone as unhinged as him. But Moneda managed to close the gap, his hand reaching her throat. However, before he could savor his victory, Desza hurled his machete, forcing Moneda to release her.


    The fight raged on until reinforcements arrived¡ªthe Semaphores, led by Ramiro.


    ¡°There they are! Catch them!¡±


    The army, comprised mostly of teenagers aged sixteen to eighteen, moved to assist.


    Desza¡¯s expression hardened upon seeing them. He grabbed Ruth by her long hair, pulling her toward him with brutal force.


    ¡°I¡¯ve had my fun, but it¡¯s time to leave.¡±


    He headbutted Ruth, causing her to collapse onto her back from the impact.


    ¡°RUTH!¡± Moneda shouted.


    Ocho seized the distraction to return the machete to Desza, who took it with a twisted sense of affection.


    ¡°COME ON, YOU FOOLS!¡± Desza bellowed, brandishing his machete.


    Ramiro grinned.


    ¡°You think you can kill them? This isn¡¯t Chaco...¡±


    One of the Semaphores blocked Desza¡¯s machete with his right hand, fracturing his arm in the process.


    ¡°THIS IS BUENOS AIRES! WE FIGHT CIRCUIT-WRECKERS TWENTY-FOUR HOURS A DAY! WE¡¯RE THE BEST OF THE BEST!¡±


    Desza dropped to his knees in pain, his broken arm swinging limply like a pendulum. Switching his machete to his other hand, he attempted to strike another Semaphore to his left, but the man deftly blocked him, grabbing Desza¡¯s arm and kicking him hard in the ribs.


    ¡°Stop, Alex, we don¡¯t want to kill him.¡±


    ¡°Too bad.¡±


    ¡°As you can see, Desza, the Semaphores here are far stronger than those from Chaco. The constant attacks from filthy Erasers have made us sharper.¡±


    Desza glared at Alex.


    ¡°Hey, pretty boy, don¡¯t regret letting me live.¡±


    Moments later, the wall exploded.


    ¡°WATCH OUT!¡± Franco shouted.


    The ground trembled as panic erupted among the fighters. In the chaos, Desza stood up, pulled a vial from his pocket, and drank its contents.


    ¡°Let¡¯s laugh together,¡± Desza said, plunging his machete into his own abdomen.


    ¡°ALEX!¡± Alejandro shouted.


    Desza twisted the machete and withdrew it, leaving Alex gravely wounded.


    Alejandro leapt to intervene, but Desza moved faster, catching him before he could act. His speed had increased dramatically.


    ¡°Let¡¯s laugh, Alejandro.¡±


    Desza prepared to decapitate him, but Franco intervened, grabbing Desza¡¯s arm and pulling him back with all his strength, successfully saving Alejandro from the blade¡¯s sharp edge.


    ¡°You owe me one.¡±


    ¡°Well, you escaped me this time.¡±


    Desza smirked, turning his gaze to Ocho, who had managed to break free from Moneda moments earlier.


    ¡°Come, Witnesses. COME FORTH!¡±


    Suddenly, Desza¡¯s henchmen emerged from the hole. Dockly was the first to appear, shooting a Semaphore in the leg with his Winchester.


    ¡°Parasites,¡± he muttered, reloading his weapon.


    More figures began pouring out of the chasm.


    ¡°PROTECT DESZA!¡± R?sse?s shouted.


    ¡°Bear witness to your own deaths,¡± Dockly taunted.


    Ramiro stepped forward, carrying Alex¡¯s injured body.


    ¡°Everyone, get out of here. We need medics.¡±


    He handed Alex over to one of his men.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to lose more lives. Take Carlos too¡ªhe needs help.¡±


    ¡°But...¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s an order.¡±


    Franco and Alejandro stood firm. They had no intention of leaving him.


    ¡°I said go.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m the Vice President; I¡¯m not leaving,¡± Franco declared resolutely.


    ¡°I¡¯m an inspector, and I¡¯m staying too,¡± Alejandro added.


    Desza¡¯s smile widened, cold and menacing.


    ¡°Ocho, J?rgen, step forward. The rest, leave.¡±


    ¡°But... Desza, we can¡¯t abandon you here,¡± Azricam pleaded.


    ¡°Don¡¯t forget, we have party preparations to make, right?¡± Desza said mercilessly.


    ¡°Desza¡¯s right. Let¡¯s go,¡± Chesulloth decided.


    The group began retreating, leaving the trio to face the Semaphore triumvirate.


    ¡°Today, we lost two great comrades. Now, it¡¯s your turn to pay with your life,¡± Ramiro said, his venomous smile returning.


    ¡°You¡¯re so childish, Ramiro,¡± Desza replied, unbothered.


    With those words, the three groups clashed.


    J?rgen slammed Alejandro into a wall, breaking through it and leaving him out of sight. Meanwhile, Franco and Ocho moved into another part of the battlefield.


    Desza and Ramiro engaged in an evenly matched duel, machete against fists. Ramiro knew a single misstep could cost him his life.


    ¡°You¡¯re slippery,¡± Desza sneered, observing his opponent¡¯s agility.


    ¡°COME AT ME!¡± Ramiro roared, defiant.


    On the other side of the city, Johan sat on a bench in an almost deserted plaza. He could feel the stares of the few passersby, their discomfort evident as they glanced at him. His presence alone seemed to unsettle them. It was then that someone sat beside him.


    "I see you¡¯re still causing trouble," said a voice, soft but firm. Johan turned to face his interlocutor.


    "Gabriel."


    The mercenary smirked, a hint of smugness curling his lips.


    "It¡¯s fascinating to see someone like you have the guts to spit in Joaqu¨ªn¡¯s treaty¡¯s face."


    "I¡¯m a mercenary, Gabriel. My loyalty belongs to the highest bidder."


    "Even if the ones hiring you are the same people who tried to kill you?"


    "Even then? No. I¡¯m far too expensive for them."


    "I could kill you, Johan, for screwing over President Joaqu¨ªn."


    "I didn¡¯t sign any contract with him. I signed with Rozkiewicz."


    Gabriel adjusted his hat, his gaze a mixture of disdain and curiosity.


    "I¡¯m a Functionary. I uphold the treaties."


    "I see."


    "You¡¯re quite the rule-follower, aren¡¯t you?"


    "No, I just do what¡¯s right, whether it aligns with the law or not."


    Johan let out a sarcastic laugh.


    "Blind obedience to rules is stupid, Gabriel. That¡¯s just pathetic."


    "Is that why you abandoned your duties as an archangel?"


    Johan¡¯s smile vanished instantly.


    "Maybe your wings are still white, and mine have turned black, but let¡¯s not forget¡ªI wasn¡¯t cast out."


    "Don¡¯t provoke me, kitty. I may look young, but I¡¯m six thousand years old."


    "And I¡¯m ten thousand. I¡¯ve watched countless people, monsters, and angels come and go. I¡¯ve seen empires rise and crumble before my eyes. I¡¯ve witnessed people killed for simply trying to help humanity."


    "You¡¯re a Bailak."


    "Bailak, human, monster, Bari, alien, animal, fish, microbe, virus, titan, god, angel, demon... Turns out I¡¯m none of those things. I don¡¯t even know what I am. All I know is, I¡¯m superior to them all."


    Gabriel¡¯s expression darkened, his irritation evident.


    "Did you come here just to rub that in my face?"


    "No," Johan replied with icy calm, "I came to give you a warning."


    "And what¡¯s that?"


    Johan locked eyes with him, his tone unwavering.


    "Nicol¨¢s Caba?a. He¡¯s a close friend of both Joaqu¨ªn and Rozkiewicz. He left the hospital two days ago."


    "I see he survived. Good for him."


    "If you go near him again..."


    Gabriel¡¯s gaze sharpened, his face twisting grotesquely, dark eyes bulging, his jaw distorting into something monstrous with long, sharp teeth.


    "I WILL KILL YOU!"


    Johan remained unflinching.


    "Threats don¡¯t work on me."


    Gabriel covered his mouth and stood abruptly, letting out a low growl.


    "An archangel like you is a disgrace. I can only hope our paths don¡¯t cross in blood."


    "How ironic," Johan said, standing and folding his arms with an air of defiance. "Because I won¡¯t be hoping for that."


    Gabriel glared at him, his fury barely contained, but Johan was already walking away. Before leaving, he threw one final warning over his shoulder.


    "The world is about to change, Gabriel. And when it does, it¡¯ll be here, at this very spot, at the same hour, that our paths will cross again."

 SCIENCE + MAGIC ≠ TRUTH

    The night was cold, and an icy wind slipped through the clouds blanketing the sky. Candado and Hammya stood before the door of a modest house¡ªNelson¡¯s house. Initially, Candado had planned to come alone, but at his mother¡¯s insistence, Hammya and T¨ªnbari were supposed to accompany him. However, T¨ªnbari had disappeared without explanation, leaving Candado and Hammya to face whatever awaited them on their own.


    Candado stared at the door with determination, while Hammya broke the silence:


    ¡°Are you ready?¡±


    He nodded, though doubt churned inside him.


    ¡°I just hope this isn¡¯t a trap.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll be by your side; don¡¯t worry,¡± Hammya said with conviction.


    Candado considered replying with something sarcastic. How is she supposed to protect me if she can barely defend herself? he thought. It was like a rabbit promising to protect a wolf. But out of respect, he kept the comment to himself.


    ¡°Fine. I¡¯m counting on you.¡±


    Hammya blinked, surprised.


    ¡°What? I thought you¡¯d make fun of me...¡±


    ¡°Okay, then! I¡¯ll do it,¡± she replied enthusiastically.


    Candado took a deep breath before knocking on the door.


    ¡°Calm down, calm down,¡± he muttered to himself in an attempt to steady his nerves.


    The door creaked open, and to their surprise, it wasn¡¯t Nelson who greeted them but a young girl. She had long, curly black hair, wore round glasses, and was dressed simply: an orange shirt, a wool vest, winter pants, and red sneakers. Her voice was soft and kind when she spoke:


    ¡°Do you need something?¡±


    Candado hesitated for a moment, while Hammya stared at the girl with seriousness. The child, with her peculiar beauty, seemed to light up the night¡¯s darkness. Even Hammya felt a sting of jealousy.


    ¡°Does Nelson live here?¡± Candado asked at last.


    ¡°Yes, he¡¯s my grandfather.¡±


    Candado glanced at Hammya, who remained fixated on the girl, analyzing every detail of her presence.


    ¡°Hey, Earth to Hammya. Earth to Hammya¡­¡±


    ¡°Are you two siblings?¡± the girl asked, tilting her head.


    ¡°Siblings?¡± Candado echoed sarcastically.


    Pulling a coin from his pocket, he pressed it against the back of Hammya¡¯s neck, making her flinch from the cold metal.


    ¡°That¡¯s freezing!¡± she exclaimed, spinning around abruptly.


    ¡°Back with us?¡± Candado teased.


    Hammya blinked, confused.


    ¡°Ah, sorry... What were you saying?¡±


    Candado sighed, pocketing the coin.


    ¡°Nothing important.¡±


    The girl smiled, curious.


    ¡°You¡¯re Candado Barret, aren¡¯t you? I recognize you. You helped my friend out of a really bad situation. She always spoke highly of you.¡±


    Caught off guard, Candado hesitated, his mouth opening slightly before closing again. He glanced around quickly and then cautiously spoke:


    ¡°I see¡­ Is Nelson here?¡±


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you curious how I know who you are?¡±


    Candado studied her intently.


    ¡°Coatlicue Carolina Fern¨¢ndez.¡±


    The girl¡¯s eyes widened in amazement.


    ¡°How did you know?¡±


    ¡°Three reasons. First, you¡¯re wearing the same shampoo Carolina used, which I assume you gave her when she couldn¡¯t afford it. Second, she mentioned a friend named Roc¨ªo. And third, you¡¯re wearing a snake pendant identical to the one Carolina always wore.¡±


    The girl smiled, a bit shy.


    ¡°I¡¯m Roc¨ªo Cleva Torres.¡±


    ¡°Pleased to meet you, Roc¨ªo,¡± Candado said, offering a slight bow.


    ¡°Nice to meet you, Roc¨ªo,¡± Hammya added, extending her hand.


    Roc¨ªo gestured invitingly toward the house.


    ¡°Please, come in.¡±


    Candado removed his beret as a gesture of courtesy while stepping inside.


    ¡°Nelson¡¯s in the basement,¡± Roc¨ªo informed them as she closed the door.


    ¡°And where¡¯s the basement?¡± Hammya asked.


    ¡°I¡¯ll show you.¡±


    Ever the gentleman, Candado allowed her to lead the way.


    Roc¨ªo acknowledged the gesture with a harmonious smile, which only fueled Hammya¡¯s frustration.


    ¡°You never treat me like that! Why her?¡±


    Candado shot her a sideways glance, his tone cold.


    ¡°Because I feel like it.¡±


    The blunt response left Hammya speechless. What an absolute¡­ she muttered under her breath.


    Finally, they arrived at the basement door. Roc¨ªo pointed to it.


    ¡°My grandfather¡¯s down there with his friends. He asked not to be disturbed.¡±


    Candado retrieved a card from his pocket.


    ¡°I have a special invitation. Here¡¯s proof.¡±


    Roc¨ªo examined the card and nodded.


    ¡°Thanks, Roc¨ªo.¡±


    ¡°See you later, Candado.¡±


    The girl walked away, leaving Candado and Hammya alone before the basement door. Hammya glared at him, fuming.


    ¡°Do you actually hate me?¡± she asked, her voice laced with hurt.


    Candado sighed.


    ¡°No, I don¡¯t hate you.¡± Then he added, ¡°Nelson gave me this card. He never specified when or where to use it.¡±


    ¡°Couldn¡¯t you use common sense?¡±


    ¡°For these things? No.¡±


    Hammya furrowed her brow, confused.


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    Candado crossed his arms as if explaining something obvious.


    ¡°There are times when common sense is necessary, and times when it¡¯s not.¡±


    ¡°Right¡­ if you say so.¡±


    Candado smirked faintly.


    ¡°Glad we cleared that up. Now let¡¯s get moving,¡± he said, tapping the card against his fingers.


    Taking a deep breath, Candado prepared to descend into the basement. Just then, his phone vibrated in his pocket. Swiftly, he pulled it out and answered.


    ¡°What is it?!¡± he whispered harshly, nearly yelling.


    ¡°Why are you whispering?¡± H¨¦ctor¡¯s curious voice came from the other end.


    ¡°STAY PUT WITH THE OTHERS UNTIL I CALL YOU!¡± Candado barked.


    ¡°Alright, alright. Got it. See you.¡±


    He hung up, shoving the phone back into his pocket with a heavy sigh.


    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go.¡±


    ¡°Okay¡­¡± Hammya replied hesitantly, following him closely.


    Candado flicked on a small light near the doorframe and peered down.


    ¡°Stairs,¡± he said, pointing to the descent.


    ¡°Feels like we¡¯re walking into our doom,¡± Hammya muttered nervously.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be ridiculous.¡±


    One step at a time, they descended. Candado led, with Hammya just a step behind. The path wasn¡¯t long, but the air grew heavier with each step. At the bottom, they found themselves in a cluttered room: piles of broken boxes, scattered appliance parts, and dismantled televisions, fans, and air conditioners creating a chaotic scene.


    ¡°Smells like a mechanic¡¯s workshop,¡± Candado observed.


    ¡°No one¡¯s here,¡± Hammya added after a quick glance.


    ¡°Really? I hadn¡¯t noticed,¡± Candado retorted sarcastically, making Hammya puff her cheeks in frustration.


    ¡°Don¡¯t do that,¡± he added without looking at her, his attention drawn to something deeper in the room.


    A curtain hung oddly on a wall.


    ¡°Hammya.¡±


    ¡°Yes?¡± she answered, putting down a stuffed toy she¡¯d picked up from one of the boxes.


    ¡°Come here.¡±


    ¡°Coming,¡± she replied, approaching curiously. ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°What do you see there?¡± he asked, pointing at the curtain.


    ¡°Uh¡­ a curtain.¡±


    ¡°Good. A curtain. Now tell me, doesn¡¯t it seem strange?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s just an ordinary curtain.¡±


    Candado let out a deep sigh, pinching the bridge of his nose in exasperation.


    ¡°Nelson, you¡¯re a genius if you deal with people like this,¡± he muttered.


    ¡°Eh? What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    ¡°Three things: observation, perception, and evaluation, girl. Think. What are curtains for?¡±


    ¡°To block sunlight from windows¡­ or for decoration?¡±


    ¡°Exactly. So, what¡¯s it doing here?¡± he asked, pulling the curtain aside with a firm motion.


    It revealed not a window, but a suspiciously smooth white wall, distinct from the rest of the basement.


    ¡°See now?¡± Candado asked, a smug grin spreading across his face.


    Hammya averted her gaze, embarrassed.


    ¡°That¡­ I already knew.¡±


    ¡°Sure you did,¡± he replied monotonously.


    Candado approached the wall, scrutinizing it closely. His left eye began to glow a faint yellow, granting him a glimpse into the hidden mechanisms behind the surface.


    "Did you find anything?" Hammya asked, already recovered from her initial confusion.


    The gleam in Candado''s eye faded as he responded:


    "Yes, it''s a door."


    "Can you open it?"


    "I''m working on it."


    Candado touched a wall lamp, which turned left with a soft click. As he did, a small panel with a calculator-like keypad was revealed. He pressed a red button, and the device powered on.


    "It has a code," Hammya observed, leaning over his shoulder.


    "Yeah."


    "Do you know it?"


    Candado didn¡¯t answer immediately. In his mind, he tried to piece things together.


    (H¨¦ctor is a genius at hacking servers... but I don''t get this stuff. Though... wait... maybe...), he thought.


    He started typing something on the panel, his fingers moving quickly while Hammya tried to peek, unsuccessfully.


    He typed some numbers, but an error popped up. For a brief moment, there was confusion, but then he found the right code.


    "I can''t see anything, Candado."


    "Shh. I''m almost done."


    After a few seconds, the panel emitted a faint beep, and the door opened.


    "You did it," Hammya said, impressed.


    "It was a pretty obvious password."


    On the other side, a dark room lit up automatically as they crossed the threshold.


    "An elevator?" Hammya asked, looking around.


    "Looks like it."


    They both stepped into the lift. Hammya looked at the panel¡¯s buttons: three floors and one emergency button.


    "Three levels underground? Seems like Nelson likes to hide."


    Candado pressed the button for the lowest floor without hesitation.


    "Candado, we don¡¯t know where this leads. Be more careful. Maybe there''s another way to get there without using this."


    He looked at her with a neutral expression, then pressed the button again.


    "Oops, my fingers just went to the button on purpose."


    Hammya began to tremble as the elevator started its descent.


    "Calm down, Ruby," Candado sighed, leaning against the elevator wall and closing his eyes. "It''s only twenty meters deep. We¡¯ll take a few minutes, or more, to get down in this thing."


    Hammya kept trembling, her hands gripping her dress tightly, wrinkling it.


    "What¡¯s going on?" Candado asked, glancing at her.


    "I think I didn¡¯t tell you, but..."


    "But what?"


    "I hate elevators," she confessed, still shaking.


    Candado sighed, visibly exasperated.


    "Why didn¡¯t you tell me earlier? I¡¯m bad, but not a monster."


    "I didn¡¯t want you to know," Hammya answered, avoiding his gaze.


    Candado leaned towards her, coming down to her height. Their facial expressions were stern, which made Hammya think to herself: But your face is scarier than the elevator, Candado.


    "That''s how I felt when you told everyone my secrets," he said sarcastically.


    "Is... this divine punishment?" she asked, swallowing hard.


    "Yeah," he replied, letting out a fleeting smile.


    Hammya trembled even more, her hands clenched around her dress. For a brief moment, Candado seemed to enjoy seeing her like that, recalling all the times she had caused trouble in his life. However, that feeling quickly faded. He couldn¡¯t bear the thought of torturing her like that.


    Suddenly, he stretched out his arms, grabbed Hammya by the shoulders, and pulled her into an unexpected hug. Her hair, a few inches shorter than Candado''s height, brushed against his chin.


    "What¡¯s going on?" she asked, alarmed.


    "Wow, you¡¯re really short."


    "Hey!"


    "Calm down," Candado said, covering her eyes with his right hand, resting his left on her back. "Right now, you''re in a dark room."


    "But..."


    "Just listen. You''re in a dark room."


    Hammya slowly nodded and took a deep breath, trying to calm down.


    "Is it over?"


    "Yeah. Now, stretch out your arms."


    She obeyed, though slowly, still trembling. When she finally extended her arms, Candado closed his eyes.


    "Now lower them," he ordered.


    Hammya lowered her arms, and Candado removed his hand from her eyes. Instantly, a vast forest appeared before her, a landscape as beautiful as it was unreal.


    "What is this?" she asked, amazed.


    "I used the Hands of Terror," Candado replied.


    "The Hands of Terror? That doesn''t sound scary."


    "I manipulated your mind to implant this vision."


    "Are these your memories?"


    "Something like that," he answered evasively.


    Hammya was dazzled, wanting to move, to explore the forest, but Candado didn¡¯t let her go.


    "Stop right there," he said firmly.


    "What¡¯s wrong?"


    "Even though you¡¯re seeing this, we''re still inside the elevator. Everything you feel, smell, and see is just an illusion."


    Hammya understood and, with a smile, leaned back against him.


    "I didn¡¯t know you were weak in enclosed spaces," Candado said, teasingly.


    "Are you going to use this against me?"


    Candado looked up, as if reflecting.


    "Hmm... maybe."


    "I knew it!"


    "It was a joke. I¡¯m not that bad."


    "If that¡¯s the case, then tell me your weakness."


    Candado smirked and placed a hand on her head.


    "If you want to see me weak, hit me on the back of the neck."


    "Why?"


    "All my magic energy concentrates there. A hard hit creates a magic clot that deactivates my powers for an hour."


    "Wow... I think I¡¯m going to tease you with that."


    "The real problem is catching me."


    "Have you ever been that weak?"


    Before he could answer, the elevator arrived at its destination, and the doors opened, dissipating the illusory forest. Ahead of them, Nelson waited, leaning on his cane, a smile on his lips. Behind him, a dark hallway stretched into the unknown.


    "Well, well, well. What do we have here?" Nelson said with a mocking tone.


    Candado released Hammya naturally, stepping in front of her to face the elderly man.


    ¡°Nelson, we need to talk.¡±


    ¡°I figured as much. That¡¯s why you¡¯re here,¡± Nelson replied, turning his back on them and gesturing with his hand for them to follow.


    Candado slipped his hands into his pockets and pulled out the card, tossing it toward him.


    ¡°Here¡¯s your mess.¡±


    He then proceeded to leave the elevator. Hammya, still embarrassed by both the question she had asked and the position in which Nelson had found them, hesitated before following him.


    ¡°About your question,¡± Candado said, glancing over his shoulder at Hammya, ¡°yes, I was.¡±


    He then continued down the dark hallway, and after a moment of processing his answer, Hammya hurried to catch up. As they walked, the lights slowly turned on, illuminating the path Nelson led them through, toward the unknown.


    ¡°It¡¯s incredible that you figured out the password,¡± Nelson commented with a grin.


    Candado smiled as well.


    ¡°4.46.26.52.1.74.17.8.¡±


    ¡°Exactly. How did you know?¡±


    ¡°Per¨®n assumed the presidency on July 4, 1946. Eva Duarte de Per¨®n, ¡®Evita¡¯ to the people, passed away on July 26, 1952. And on July 1, 1974, General Per¨®n died. There''s also October 17, 1945, when thousands of workers and supporters of Per¨®n, mostly from the labor and union sectors, spontaneously gathered in Plaza de Mayo in Buenos Aires. That was the ¡®Day of Peronist Loyalty.¡¯¡±


    Candado paused, eyeing Nelson, who flashed a mocking smile.


    ¡°You¡¯re missing the eight,¡± Nelson teased.


    ¡°I¡¯ll admit, it was clever to put the eight,¡± Candado responded, ignoring the teasing tone.


    ¡°Why?¡± the elderly man asked, amused, trying to get a rise out of him.


    Candado dodged the question with grace.


    ¡°The number¡¯s there on purpose for a seven-letter word like C¨¢mpora. Actually, it would be: C-¨¢-M-P-O-R-A-V. The ¡®V¡¯ under the letter ¡®P¡¯ symbolizes Per¨®n¡¯s return or Per¨®n¡¯s victory.¡±


    ¡°C¨¢mpora!¡± Hammya exclaimed, nodding slowly as if pretending to understand.


    ¡°Clever, you¡¯re a sharp one, kid,¡± Nelson said with pride.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t understand a thing...¡± Hammya muttered, frowning.


    ¡°Hammya, why the face?¡± Candado asked, raising an eyebrow.


    ¡°Nothing...¡± she replied.


    Nelson stopped in front of a large door.


    ¡°Does it have a code?¡± Candado asked, curious.


    ¡°No, no code.¡±


    Nelson opened the door with his left hand and stepped inside.


    ¡°Welcome to my... lab!¡±


    Nelson¡¯s lab was immense. There were strange machines, computers, and, being so far below the surface, an air conditioning system so powerful that the atmosphere felt like Antarctica (or at least cold). Bookshelves and tables were in disarray, papers scattered not only on them but also across the floor. In the back, a machine stood out, resembling a lava lamp, but inside it contained a white energy sphere that powered the entire lab and house.


    ¡°Greetings,¡± a sudden feminine, robotic voice said.


    Candado turned in surprise and found himself stunned by the sight: a girl with long black hair, dark eyes with red irises, dressed in a white nightgown adorned with a black ribbon. She was barefoot, and her face was identical to Clementina¡¯s.


    ¡°Barret Ern¨¦st Candado Catriel, the facilities greet you. I greet you,¡± said the android, bowing elegantly.


    ¡°Who are you?¡± Candado asked, returning the bow politely.


    ¡°I am Clementine V01, named as my creators wished. You may call me whatever you like.¡±


    Despite her serious expression, her demeanor conveyed kindness. Nelson and Hammya, upon seeing her, couldn¡¯t help but compare her to Clementina and laugh quietly among themselves.


    ¡°Clementine, please,¡± Candado said.


    ¡°I will remember the order. Recording... please wait... request saved. How would you like me to address you?¡±


    Candado closed his eyes and, as he touched his left eyebrow, accidentally brushed his scar. Noticing it, he began to rub it thoughtfully with his index finger.


    ¡°How about...¡± he lowered his hand and placed it in his pocket. ¡°Catriel.¡±


    ¡°Overwriting file. Request accepted in cybernetic memorial framework 6H. Name: Catriel.¡± Clementine¡¯s eyes briefly glowed before dimming. ¡°Mr. Catriel, how may I assist you?¡±


    Candado looked at Nelson with a mix of surprise and curiosity.Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.


    ¡°She looks like Clementina. Same face, same eyes¡ªthough different color¡ªand the same lifeless smile.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s your ¡®sister,¡¯ so to speak,¡± Nelson replied. ¡°Unlike Clementina, Clementine cannot think for herself; she only does what I programmed her to do. Clementina, on the other hand, was the second android made by your grandfather. She¡¯s the first.¡±


    ¡°Mmm, I see.¡±


    ¡°Originally, Clementine was supposed to be your birthday gift, but Alfred canceled it at the last minute. I still don¡¯t know why. Clementine had it all: obedient vocabulary, defense updates...¡±


    ¡°And my grandfather decided to create Clementina with parts from the first Argentine computer,¡± Candado interrupted sarcastically. ¡°Crazy, huh?¡±


    ¡°Yes, your grandfather had unique ideas,¡± Nelson said, amused.


    Candado stared at him intently.


    ¡°Where¡¯s Grivna?¡±


    ¡°Her?¡±


    Nelson gestured for them to follow, including Clementine.


    "Where are we going?" asked Candado.


    "Grivna is with my friends," Nelson replied.


    They stopped in front of a wooden door.


    "Behind this is the most magnificent thing you¡¯ll ever see in your life."


    With a firm motion, Nelson opened the door with a swift knock.


    "Damn!" exclaimed Candado, astonished.


    The room was enormous. In the center, Nelson''s friends were engaged in lively conversation. Two giant windows revealed the outside: a cold, dark landscape. The space was decorated with paintings, family photos, and shelves filled with books. At the back, a white light emanated from a circle in the ceiling, projecting the figure of a twenty-meter-tall, translucent child.


    "The director is entering the room," a voice announced from the speakers.


    Nelson stood behind Candado, placed a hand on his shoulder, and pointed to the space with his cane.


    "This is an exact replica of Alfred Barret''s office, the creator and director of the C.I.C.E.T.A. laboratories."


    Suddenly, the white light in front of Candado took shape, manifesting into a child with a perfect face, bright black eyes, a red tailcoat, a violet tie, and tight brown gloves.


    "I am Manuel Belgrano V4," he said solemnly, placing a hand over his chest. "It is an honor to welcome the grandson of my father, Alfred Barret."


    "Manuel... Belgrano?"


    Nelson smiled and stepped forward.


    "Your grandfather admired the revolutionary Don Manuel Joaqu¨ªn del Coraz¨®n de Jes¨²s Belgrano."


    Candado extended his hand, but Belgrano politely declined.


    "I¡¯m sorry, it would be an insult not to accept a Barret¡¯s hand, but I don¡¯t have a physical body."


    "No worries," Candado responded, feeling uncomfortable.


    Hammya let out a laugh behind them.


    "This," Nelson said in a solemn tone, "is my laboratory, the place where Alfred''s Hopes and Dreams lie."


    "Stop speaking in English," Hammya interjected.


    "What is that?"


    "Hopes and Dreams, Hammya."


    "I see."


    Candado looked around while Nelson tried to calm the confusion.


    "Mr. Candado, I¡¯ve heard very positive things about you from Grivna," one of the guests remarked.


    "And Grivna?" Candado asked, intrigued.


    "Sister!" Manuel shouted, searching all around.


    Nelson''s friends stood up and began moving toward the group.


    "Sister!" Manuel insisted.


    "Hello again, little gaucho," came a voice behind them.


    "Greetings, Bruno," Candado replied, while Manuel kept frantically searching.


    "Sister! Where could she be? Grivna!" Manuel exclaimed, spinning around.


    Suddenly, a shout echoed through the room:


    "WHAT DO YOU WANT?!"


    Candado and the others turned toward the source of the sound. A bookshelf moved, and from its shadows, a metallic hand emerged.


    "I can¡¯t believe this," grumbled the figure as it emerged. "One can¡¯t even rest after so much work... YOU!"


    Candado observed closely. The creature before him was unlike any other. Its body was made of black and white plastic and metal. An electric current flickered along a stripe running across its cheeks. Instead of a left eye, it had a flat cylinder with a glowing point in the center, crowned by a slowly spinning holographic nut. Its right eye was more human, but a bright yellow. It had no hair, with thick cables emerging from its head.


    "Who are you?" Candado asked, impressed.


    "Who am I? Who am I?" the figure repeated sarcastically. "Old human, I am Grivna A.PRE.MA.SEG.MA.GE-003-V5."


    "And what does that mean?" Candado raised an eyebrow.


    "It means Precursor Automaton of Maintenance and Security of the Generator Machine 003, Version 5. But of course, that¡¯s probably too complicated for you."


    Nelson intervened with a smile.


    "Grivna is the automaton Alfred and I built. She¡¯s responsible for maintaining this whole system."


    "She seems more human than the other robots," Candado commented.


    Nelson laughed and said, "Her autonomy came about accidentally¡ªshe was struck by lightning while recharging, no damage, but she became more chatty and semi-independent. She still listens to orders and does what the core memory matrix commands."


    "Heh, more sentimental than the others, huh?"


    "I¡¯m sorry I¡¯m not up to your expectations, Mr. Barret," Manuel interjected, kneeling in front of him.


    Candado stared at him, perplexed.


    "(What¡¯s wrong with him? He¡¯s too loyal to be a hologram.) Don¡¯t worry, Manuel. You don¡¯t have to kneel before me."


    "He¡¯s very kind, just like your grandfather," Manuel responded, standing up. He then vanished and reappeared on the upper floor, seemingly looking for something.


    Meanwhile, Grivna began disconnecting from the wall, releasing several cables attached to her body.


    "I usually hate greeting, but being a descendant of Alfred, it¡¯s a personal obligation. Doesn¡¯t mean I like it," she said, adjusting some hanging cables from her head.


    "But in your records, you spoke very highly of Catriel, sister."


    "Shut up, Clementine!"


    Candado observed the scene closely.


    "(A robot who hides what it thinks... Seems more human than machine.) Interesting."


    "What are you staring at?" Grivna asked arrogantly.


    "Nothing in particular... um... Well, I hope we can get along," Candado said, extending his hand politely.


    "You catch on quickly," Grivna replied, crossing her arms.


    However, she stared at him intently before reluctantly accepting.


    "It doesn¡¯t mean I like you, okay?"


    "Understood."


    At that moment, a figure gracefully fell from the ceiling and landed in front of them.


    "My most respectful and cordial greetings, Mr. Ern¨¦st," it said with a bow.


    Candado looked at him skeptically.


    "And who are you?"


    "I am RuC¨¢Pe, short for Rucci C¨¢mpora Per¨®n."


    Candado couldn¡¯t help but smile sarcastically.


    "Seriously, Nelson, you need to stop naming things related to Peronism," he then looked at RuC¨¢Pe. "Let me guess. You¡¯re some sort of defense, a loyal, military-trained bot, right?"


    "Exactly. How did you know?"


    "Just guessed," Candado replied with a forced smile.


    RuC¨¢Pe had a face resembling that of President Per¨®n in his youth. He wore a black trench coat, military boots, and a red beret, very much in the fashion of the 1950s.


    "Although I possess his physical traits, I could never be like the gentleman Juan Domingo Per¨®n," the automaton clarified.


    Candado nodded.


    "(His voice isn¡¯t like the general¡¯s. At least that¡¯s a relief.)"


    "Is this everyone?" Hammya interrupted.


    "No, the librarian is missing," Clementine replied.


    An uncomfortable silence filled the room.


    "Where is she?" Elsa asked, uneasy.


    Suddenly, Nelson raised his cane and placed it on Candado¡¯s shoulder.


    "She¡¯s behind you."


    Candado turned quickly. In the dim light, two glowing red eyes shone intensely. A figure began moving toward them, dragging a sack.


    "Good evening," a feminine, robotic voice echoed in the room. "I¡¯ve captured some intruders who tried to enter the premises."


    The figure then walked toward them, carrying what seemed like a sack. When the light illuminated it, Candado could see its appearance more clearly. It had a striking face with seemingly normal eyes: white eyeballs and a brown iris. It wore a white shirt and a black vest, with a navy blue tie.


    At first glance, it could have seemed like an ordinary human, were it not for its legs, which gave it away. From the waist down, it had four limbs resembling spider legs: thin, but with a pointed shape like huge needles. Its hands, made of metal, appeared to be covered by armored gloves due to their design.


    "Hello. I am Juanita, the librarian..."


    Candado put a hand to his face in frustration.


    "Juana Larrauri de Abram¨ª. One of the first female senators in Argentine history, elected in 1951 after women gained political rights. I knew it! NELSON!"


    Juanita then dropped the rope she was holding, revealing its contents. Everyone stared in shock as the sack''s contents were revealed to the room.


    "You... sure are troublesome," Candado said coldly.


    It turned out the "sack" wasn¡¯t a sack at all, but Candado¡¯s friends (H¨¦ctor, Declan, Anzor, Viki, Lucas, Liv, Pucheta, Germ¨¢n, Matlotsky, Walsh, Erika, Luc¨ªa, P¨ªo, Andersson, and Clementine), all tied up and gagged.


    "Do you know them, sir?" Juanita asked.


    "Yes, I know them," Candado replied, fixing his gaze on Clementine. "How long are you going to keep up this charade?"


    Clementine winked with her right eye. Without further ado, she transformed her right arm into a machete and sliced through all the ropes in a single strike. However, the action wasn¡¯t very careful. As soon as the ropes broke, her companions reacted aggressively, prompting the nearby automatons to draw their weapons: Grivna deployed lasers from her temples, Per¨®n activated a cannon from his left arm, Clementine wielded her machete-like arm, and Manuel took control of the system, activating turrets installed in the room.


    "Enough!" Nelson declared...


    "Scatter."


    "But..."


    "I said scatter, Declan."


    "Understood."


    Everyone sheathed their weapons, including the androids.


    ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Candado asked.


    ¡°We lost your signal, Candado. We thought something might have happened to you,¡± Germ¨¢n replied.


    ¡°How did you get in here?¡± Nelson interjected.


    ¡°There was a path that led to this place,¡± Lucas answered.


    Candado looked at Nelson.


    ¡°Is there another way in?¡±


    ¡°We have three routes: one through my house, another through my garage, and the last one through the old labs.¡±


    ¡°I see¡­¡± Then he turned to Hector. ¡°And how did you guys get in?¡±


    ¡°Unlike you, Candado, we went down the stairs that were in the garage.¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t believe it,¡± Hammya muttered.


    Candado sighed and continued:


    ¡°Clementina, tell me that¡­¡±


    However, Clementina and Clementine were staring at each other, frozen by the resemblance between them.


    ¡°Twins!¡± Erika and Luc¨ªa exclaimed in unison.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡± Candado asked.


    Clementina frowned, and her eyes began to glow. In response, Clementine quickly poked her in the eyes.


    ¡°My sensors!¡± Clementine shouted, covering her face.


    ¡°CLEMENTINE?!¡± Manuel also yelled.


    ¡°It¡¯s not good to scan my body.¡±


    ¡°WHY DIDN¡¯T YOU SAY THAT EARLIER?!¡± Clementine snapped.


    ¡°This is like a comedy,¡± Candado murmured to himself.


    Clementine blinked a couple of times, adjusting her eyeballs, which were sunk deep in their sockets.


    ¡°It¡¯s fine now.¡±


    She then looked at Clementina.


    ¡°Sister?¡±


    ¡°V02.¡±


    ¡°Do you know each other?¡± Candado murmured, surprised.


    Clementina fixed her gaze on Clementine.


    ¡°Bread.¡±


    ¡°Cheese.¡±


    ¡°January.¡±


    ¡°Legendary.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s you!¡± Clementina exclaimed joyfully, hugging her. ¡°How have you been?¡±


    She pulled away and gave her a big smile.


    ¡°Is she happy?¡± Candado murmured.


    ¡°It¡¯s been so long,¡± Clementine said with a slight smile.


    ¡°Her too? I¡¯m glad...¡± Candado muttered again, while Hammya seemed moved.


    But just when everything seemed calm, Clementine returned the affection with a punch to Clementina¡¯s face.


    ¡°CLEMENTINA?!¡± everyone shouted, except Candado.


    ¡°What is this situation?¡± Candado commented wearily.


    Clementina fell to the ground. Clementine grabbed her by the collar of her shirt and started punching her in the face.


    ¡°Seven years! Not a card, not a greeting, not a gift, not even a lousy birthday wish! Seven years, seven years¡­¡± she repeated as she threw each punch slowly.


    Clementina¡¯s face was bruised and scratched.


    ¡°Sorry.¡±


    Clementine stopped.


    ¡°Sorry? What¡¯s wrong with you?¡±


    ¡°I forgot.¡±


    The silence flooded the room.


    ¡°You forgot? You¡¯re a robot! A DAMN CASSETTE THAT RECORDS EVERYTHING! HOW COULD YOU FORGET?!¡± Candado shouted, furious.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know, I lost some of my files, but I don¡¯t remember why.¡±


    Clementine hit her again.


    ¡°You¡¯re horrible. And I was the one sending you cards for your birthday¡­¡±


    ¡°It was you?¡± Candado interjected.


    Clementine looked at him.


    ¡°Yes, Mr. Catriel. Every January first, I would send a letter and a birthday card.¡±


    ¡°Mmm, I remember. I even handed them to you in person a couple of times.¡±


    Clementine looked back at Clementina.


    ¡°Did you read them?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I did.¡±


    ¡°And?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t remember what they said ?Sorry?¡±


    Clementine headbutted her and threw her to the ground with a swift judo move.


    "Despite not showing any emotions, she was really angry," Lucas commented.


    "That was obvious," Grivna concluded.


    Ignoring the chaos, Nelson started clapping to draw everyone''s attention.


    "Alright, alright. Now that our star is gathered, it''s time to move on to the next level."


    Nelson walked toward the center of the room, where there were armchairs and a table.


    "Take a seat."


    Clementina stood up and followed Candado and Hammya.


    "You recovered, good to see," Candado remarked in an apathetic tone.


    "I''m glad you care," Clementina responded, her voice dripping with irony.


    Nelson sat in an armchair and looked at Manuel.


    "Do us a favor, Belgrano."


    "Sure," Manuel replied.


    In that instant, Manuel¡¯s body began to transform into what seemed like a three-dimensional map.


    "Alright, you probably don¡¯t know this, Candado, but we¡¯re organizing an operation to save someone, since we found her," Nelson said.


    "It¡¯s Amabaray, right?" Candado asked.


    The elders exchanged surprised glances.


    "How do you know that?" Nelson inquired, clearly astonished.


    Candado closed his eyes, crossed his arms, and sighed.


    "I see... so that¡¯s what this was all about."


    "What?" Nelson asked, bewildered.


    Candado opened his eyes and fixed his gaze on the group.


    "Listen, Nelson, it''s true that I never met her," he said, his calm voice a stark contrast to the tense atmosphere. "But Gabriela did. She used to tell me things... no, I correct myself, she talked to me about her deeds, and how Amabaray loved my mother more than her own life."


    At that moment, T¨ªnbari manifested before everyone.


    "I should have guessed," he murmured. "You¡¯re planning to put Candado''s life at risk."


    "T¨ªnbari?" Candado asked, confused.


    "It¡¯s not like that, my friend," T¨ªnbari replied, his calm voice barely concealing his concern.


    Just then, another figure appeared, materializing before them.


    "Slonbari," a deep voice announced.


    "Long time, Candado," Slonbari greeted solemnly.


    Candado¡¯s friends, especially the closest ones, were stunned to see Slonbari.


    "An¡­ Bari? I can¡¯t believe it," Lucas said, astonished.


    "We''re not planning to put Candado at risk. On the contrary, we want to save him," Slonbari explained.


    "Amabaray¡­ it doesn¡¯t matter if you manage to get to her, if you wake her up, she¡¯ll die," Nelson said, his tone serious.


    "There¡¯s a way to save her," T¨ªnbari said, refocusing on the group. "And it turns out the answer is here, in Candado''s blood."


    T¨ªnbari¡¯s eyes widened uncontrollably upon hearing this revelation.


    "You plan to use his violet blood?" he asked, incredulous.


    "She gave her life to save another life, but the blood of an ¨²zergluk, or as you call it, Candado¡¯s violet blood, could save her," Nelson said, with determination.


    "If that''s the case, why didn¡¯t you do it with Europa? Why does it have to be him?" T¨ªnbari asked, searching for a logical explanation.


    "Europa couldn¡¯t do it," Nelson replied. "She was the bearer of Amabaray. Only someone else, with Keplant¡¯s blood, could achieve it."


    Candado crossed his arms and stood thoughtfully for a moment, then looked directly into T¨ªnbari''s eyes.


    "Do you think...?"


    "T¨ªnbari, I know you''re afraid of the consequences of what might happen, but you have to trust us," Nelson interrupted. "Candado doesn¡¯t have much time left."


    Those words hit everyone present like a punch to the gut, leaving them in stunned silence as they processed the gravity of the situation.


    "Damn..." Candado murmured.


    "What¡¯s this about not having much time?" T¨ªnbari asked, confused.


    Slonbari looked at Candado, or rather, turned his face toward him, since he had no eyes.


    "Candado, I know this may sound unbelievable, but the more you used your powers, the more you ignored the pain that prevented you from going on... your time has terribly shortened."


    "How long, Nelson?" Slonbari asked, his tone somber.


    "A week. And you know it very well," Nelson replied, without hesitation.


    The news left everyone alarmed, except for Candado and the elders, who were already aware of the consequences.


    "That can¡¯t¡­ be," Hammya said, visibly frightened.


    "Do you want to save Candado, T¨ªnbari? Because I do," Nelson said firmly. "I swore to Alfred to protect the Barret family. I¡¯m not going to lie to him. Amabaray is the only one who can save him."


    Candado calmly stood up from his seat, looking at everyone with seriousness.


    "Can I save Amabaray?" he asked, his voice filled with determination.


    "Candado, I think you should be more worried about your health," advised Anzor, visibly concerned.


    "I SAID! Can I save Amabaray? Yes or no?" Candado insisted firmly.


    "You can save her, you just need to give her a bit of your blood," Nelson replied after a brief pause.


    "I don¡¯t see the problem," Candado retorted, without hesitation.


    "Are you ready to go there?" Nelson asked, addressing him.


    "Of course," Candado answered confidently.


    "Well," Nelson said, standing up. "To your positions."


    The elders stood up and quickly dispersed across the room, each taking their place.


    "Then we will take you there," Nelson said with a smile, looking at Candado.


    "Candado... Why?" T¨ªnbari asked, a mixture of concern and confusion in his voice.


    "It¡¯s necessary for me," Candado replied, staring intently at the demon.


    "If you go there, it''s certain that my brothers will be there," T¨ªnbari said gravely.


    "Why would the Baris go there?" Candado asked, still not fully understanding.


    "Amabaray is the only one who can remove Keplant''s blood, as she is Roob¨®leo''s direct daughter," T¨ªnbari answered.


    "Someone with a heart like hers would never do that," Candado said without hesitation.


    "Amabaray is innocent, and she will easily believe their lies," T¨ªnbari warned.


    Candado took the demon''s hands, looking him in the eye.


    "T¨ªnbari, trust me. I know what I''m doing."


    He then let go of his hands and looked at Nelson, who had not moved.


    "Tell me, how did she get there?" Candado asked, impatient.


    Nelson smiled, a mysterious grin that hinted at something important to come.


    "Follow me," he said, heading toward a large window that looked out to the cavern''s exterior. From there, they could see a massive lake.


    "Do you see it?" Nelson asked, pointing toward the horizon.


    "Yes, and?" Candado asked, still not understanding.


    Nelson placed his hand on the window, closed his eyes, and took a deep breath.


    "BELGRANO!" he shouted, his voice firm.


    A hologram appeared behind them, manifesting as a ghostly figure.


    "Yes?" Manuel responded, nervously.


    Nelson turned, and pointing with his cane, ordered, "Do your thing now!"


    "At your command," Manuel said before vanishing.


    "What was that?" Candado asked, puzzled.


    Suddenly, outside the facility, the huge pit beyond the window began to stir violently. Waves crashed against each other, rising and breaking furiously. Then, a massive structure emerged from the water, resembling the frame of a gigantic door.


    "What the hell?" Candado exclaimed, slightly surprised.


    "It was worth it, five years manipulating that thing to make it rise and sink through an electric communication with Belgrano," Clementina said, walking up beside him.


    "Cool," Hammya commented, pressing her face against the window like a child at an aquarium.


    "Behold! THE DOOR! The means to connect this world with any world you can imagine."


    "Except Cotorium," Clementina clarified.


    "I see."


    "You¡¯re going to go through it," Nelson smiled.


    "Pardon? What...?"


    "GUYS! Do it!"


    Sim¨®n and Elsa pulled a lever, causing the machinery to tremble slightly, accompanied by a soft noise.


    "Positioned."


    "I don''t like any of this," Hammya said, clinging to a pillar.


    "Relax, relax."


    The door shone with a white glow. The brilliance was so intense that Candado had to cover his eyes with his right hand.


    "Candado," the wind whispered in his ear.


    He couldn¡¯t help but be surprised by the familiar voice, quickly turning, looking behind him, moving his head from side to side.


    "That voice..."


    "THERE IT IS!"


    Candado looked at Nelson.


    "THE DOOR TO THE ARCANE WORLD!"


    The light stopped glowing, revealing its great beauty. A beautiful field of flowers awaited on the other side, a desert so stunning it seemed like a dream. The gentle wind filtered through from the outside, and the flower petals drifted into the room, bringing the freshness of the landscape with them.


    "There... that¡¯s..."


    "The border between the human world and the world of legends," Nelson concluded, looking at Lucas.


    Candado turned around again.


    "Is something wrong?" Walsh asked.


    Hammya looked at Candado with interest.


    "Her voice?"


    "Her... voice?" Walsh asked, confused.


    Candado closed his eyes and scratched his left eyebrow while breathing in and out slowly.


    "Forget it, nothing¡¯s wrong," Candado said, unconcerned.


    Nelson abruptly pulled him with his cane.


    "Look, kid, that¡¯s where she is."


    Candado adjusted his beret.


    "How do I get out?"


    "Through the door," Nelson answered.


    Candado looked at him with an empty expression.


    "OVER HERE!" Hector reacted quickly, trying to prevent his friend from doing something "violent."


    Bruno stood up, pulled some keys from his pocket, and approached the door. He opened it carefully.


    "I should clarify that the other side is dangerous. Not everyone should go there," Clementina warned.


    "Wherever he goes, we go too," Declan said firmly.


    Clementina blinked slowly.


    "I see."


    Nelson walked to the door and opened it with determination.


    "Those who need to leave, should go. We will stay here to keep the door open."


    "Alright, we''ll follow Amabaray," said Candado, resolute.


    T¨ªnbari placed his hand on Candado''s shoulder.


    "Listen to me."


    "Once you step in, I won¡¯t be able to protect you. As a Bari of death, my powers are sealed. I won¡¯t even be able to enter that world, only watch and hear what''s happening there."


    "Don¡¯t worry, I''ll be back before you can even say my name."


    Candado turned and walked towards the portal, moving calmly, leaving behind T¨ªnbari, who watched him with concern.


    "Candado," T¨ªnbari whispered, his voice tinged with melancholy.


    Candado stopped in front of the large portal, a few petals and dust drifting into the room, along with a gentle, sweet breeze.


    "The wind... it''s so peaceful," said Candado, feeling the softness of the air caress his face.


    "Be careful, Candado," warned Nelson.


    "I will be," Candado replied, with a smile.


    With those words, Candado stepped confidently through the portal. He placed one foot across, then followed with the other, fully entering the tranquil open field. He looked around, inhaled deeply, holding the air in his lungs, closed his eyes for a moment, and then exhaled serenely.


    "What pure air..."


    He turned and looked at the others still standing behind in the room, surprised. Candado smiled and, with a decisive gesture, removed the glove from his left hand and extended it towards them, inviting them to cross.


    "Let¡¯s go."


    Declan was the first to take his hand, followed by Germ¨¢n, Anzor, Lucas, Matlotsky (strangely), Pucheta, Liv, Viki, H¨¦ctor, Andersson, Pio, Lucia, Erika, Clementina, and Walsh. Theoretically, Hammya would be the last to take his hand. She felt flattered by the gesture, but as soon as her fingers touched Candado¡¯s outstretched hand, her eyes shimmered with a green glow. In that moment, Hammya¡¯s mind was pulled somewhere else. She saw a red, stormy spiral, surrounded by a terrifying darkness, like a tunnel. She could hear the voices of people she knew.


    "It¡¯s a fact that the plane won¡¯t fly," joked Arturo Barret.


    "You don¡¯t have to get mad about it," answered a soothing female voice.


    "Young master, you must look elegant," said Clementina, in her usual tone.


    "...If you don¡¯t choose a damn path, I¡¯ll do it for you," interjected Odadnac, restless.


    "You need to leave, it¡¯s not safe," exclaimed T¨ªnbari, agitated.


    "NONE OF YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENED!" shouted Candado, furious.


    "Happy birthday, brother," a cheerful female voice said.


    "I¡¯ll be there, just save me some of that cake," joked Frederick.


    The voices faded, leaving Hammya trapped in a strange sensation.


    "What happened?" asked Europa Barret, worried.


    "CANDADO, COME BACK HERE!" shouted an older male voice, also anxious.


    "I¡¯ve always wanted to be a scientist. It¡¯s something I learned from a video game. I don¡¯t think what you¡¯re doing is more embarrassing than mine," Joaqu¨ªn said, embarrassed, trying to downplay it.


    "Smile for the camera, Ern¨¦st," Lucas, energetic, tried to make it all seem like a joke.


    "I love you so much. I don¡¯t want you to hate me," a female voice sobbed, full of sadness.


    "CANDADO!" another female voice cried, surprised.


    "I would never hate you, Gabi," Candado answered firmly, regret in his voice.


    "I¡¯ve heard that already, but tell me, do you think this is right?" asked Matlotsky, in a serious tone.


    "No, I haven¡¯t forgotten. I¡¯ll bring it right away," another cheerful female voice tried to reassure him.


    "Please, understand, I didn¡¯t do it on purpose. I¡¯m sorry," the female voice lamented again, on the verge of tears.


    "Stay calm, please. I¡¯ll get you another one. You can have mine, but don¡¯t cry, it¡¯s a special day," Walsh, flustered, tried to calm the situation.


    "Behind the bushes," T¨ªnbari, condescendingly, pointed to the place.


    A sound of glass breaking.


    "I HATE YOU, GABRIELA!" Candado shouted, furious.


    "I can¡¯t believe what you¡¯ve done. I¡¯m disappointed," Krauser expressed his disdain.


    "You made your sister cry. I¡¯m ashamed to be your friend," H¨¦ctor, angry, couldn¡¯t hide his disappointment.


    "You didn¡¯t have to go that far. You¡¯re ungrateful. I hope you rot, Candado. Do you hear me? ROT!" Matlotsky, furious, exploded in rage.


    "I... I didn¡¯t want this," Candado, with tears in his eyes, lamented.


    "[...] the sky illuminates the path of the child of the bells, and of a latent wish that watches the sky, longing for its arrival to the earth..." a female voice sang softly, filling the air with mystery.


    "And to think it was a child who had it..." said a strange voice, full of disbelief.


    "GET AWAY FROM HIM!" shouted a female voice, furious.


    "I won¡¯t let you hurt him," T¨ªnbari, determined, stood on guard.


    "Please, don¡¯t close your eyes. Don¡¯t do it, I beg you. I¡¯ll fix it. Hate me if you want, but don¡¯t close your eyes... no... don¡¯t close them," the female voice cried desperately.


    Hammya woke up in a completely dark forest, beneath a torrential rain. The only light illuminating the surroundings came from the lightning that cut across the sky. In the distance, she saw two people facing off against a creature. Everything around her was engulfed in darkness, with only the sounds of thunder, the rain, and the ongoing battle echoing through the air. Straining to make sense of the place, her eyes settled on a familiar figure: Candado, when he was younger, lying in a puddle of water, watching three people fighting.


    "What is this?" she asked, perplexed.


    Suddenly, an unknown force pulled at her body, and it merged with Candado''s. Now, she saw everything in the first person. She couldn''t control the body, but she could observe through his eyes and hear through his ears.


    "Am I¡­ in his body?" she thought, astonished.


    "CADADO, LISTEN TO ME!" shouted an urgent voice.


    Candado¡¯s head turned toward a puddle, in which the reflection of an outstretched hand appeared.


    "Odadnac."


    "Take my hand, that way we can help her."


    "I can¡¯t do it."


    "STOP SHAKING! TAKE MY HAND! Use me to help her, together we can defeat it."


    "I¡¯m scared."


    "I KNOW YOU¡¯RE SCARED! But do it, that¡¯s the only way you¡¯ll win."


    Candado looked ahead, and in that moment, a thunderclap illuminated two familiar figures: Gabriela and T¨ªnbari, fighting against an entity his eyes couldn¡¯t identify.


    "She won¡¯t be able to defeat it, her power is wavering, she¡¯s too weak. That¡¯s why she has to take my hand," Odadnac said, anguish in his voice.


    "T¨ªNBARI, LEND ME YOUR STRENGTH!" Gabriela shouted, her hands enveloped in violet flames as she summoned huge dogs and fire.


    "I don¡¯t have anything left to give, I¡¯m weak too," T¨ªnbari responded, his voice tired.


    "I WON¡¯T LET YOU GET CLOSE!" Gabriela screamed, defying the enemy.


    "Come on, do it," Odadnac¡¯s voice pleaded once more.


    Candado looked at his reflection, the anguish reflected in his eyes.


    "Please, I¡¯m only asking this of you. If you don¡¯t do it, she¡¯ll die¡­" Odadnac¡¯s voice trembled with pain. "Please, I beg you, just take my hand and she¡¯ll be fine. And you will be too."


    "What is this?" Candado wondered, filled with confusion.


    "Candado, you always showed yourself as a strong and serious person. You gave a cold stare to danger. I know you¡¯re scared, but please, take my¡­ HAND!" Odadnac¡¯s voice cracked.


    "I can¡¯t do it, getting angry is bad. Mom says that¡­" Candado, tears in his eyes, tried to justify his fear.


    "ENOUGH!" Odadnac¡¯s voice exploded.


    Odadnac¡¯s eyes dilated, and with force, he partially pulled his body out of the water, extending his hand toward Candado.


    "TAKE MY HAND NOW! STUPID CHILD, IF I COULD DO IT ALONE, I WOULD, BUT I NEED YOUR BODY, DAMN FOOL!"


    "(This is... the dark version of Candado, the one who possessed him)."


    "I don¡¯t want to do it," Candado said through sobs.


    Odadnac gritted his teeth, looking at Gabriela. Time was running out, strength was fading. He looked back at Candado, and his eyes widened with surprise when he saw his face. Hammya, watching through Candado¡¯s eyes, didn¡¯t understand what was happening, but when she saw Candado¡¯s reflection in the pond, she understood. He was smiling.


    T¨ªnbari tried to intervene, but it was useless. The figure extended his hand, from which a black crystal emerged, plunging into T¨ªnbari¡¯s abdomen. Despite the wound, T¨ªnbari pressed on, determined. The enemy grabbed him by the forearm and slammed him to the ground, immobilizing him and weakening him further. Then, he destroyed the dogs that had been defending Candado.


    Odadnac glared at Candado with fury.


    "Do you see now!? What are you waiting for!? Take my hand already! Now, now, NOW!"


    The figure quickly approached Candado, in the blink of an eye, and stepped on Odadnac¡¯s back.


    ¡°Take¡­ my hand, brat¡­ only then can you save her,¡± the figure said, completely weak.


    Odadnac extended his hand with all his strength, but the figure pierced it with a spear, pinning it to the ground and allowing black blood to spill from the wound.


    ¡°Candado¡­ you¡¯re a damn coward¡­ a deranged coward.¡±


    Then, Odadnac¡¯s body vanished, leaving them alone. Trembling with fear, Candado pressed himself against a tree, his body vibrating and his face covered with tears.


    ¡°Give me back the violet blood,¡± he said, showing a dagger.


    That action prompted Hammya to try to help him without thinking, but it was futile. Candado then kneeled and drove the dagger into his own chest.


    ¡°AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re so loud,¡± the figure said indifferently.


    Hammya couldn¡¯t utter a word. What she saw left her breathless. However, a mysterious force tore her from her body and placed her beside Candado. It was then that she saw Gabriela dragging herself, leaving a trail of blood. The leaves, the grass, the ground, everything was soaked in an alarming amount of blood.


    Gabriela rose, her eyes glowing an intense violet. Her face became covered in tattoos of the same color, and her rage was palpable. She breathed with difficulty, but didn¡¯t stop. With effort, she picked up her knife from the ground, and though her chest bled more, she pushed forward, never giving up. She looked at the back of her target, gripped the handle of her knife tightly, and ran towards him.


    The figure turned and extended its arm, ready to strike her with the spear. Gabriela leaned right, slashing his hand, and with determination, made her way to his neck, driving her hand into it.


    ¡°Stay away from him,¡± Gabriela said, blood on her lips.


    Blood spurted in a stream. The figure spat more blood and, with an inhuman scream, quickly pulled away.


    T¨ªnbari stood up the moment the enemy¡¯s magic disappeared and delivered the final blow to his chest, fracturing the figure¡¯s dark form.


    ¡°They destroyed my vessel, but I¡¯ll return for what¡¯s mine,¡± it said, before its body disintegrated into dust.


    T¨ªnbari looked at Gabriela, who was holding her unconscious brother in her arms.


    ¡°OPEN YOUR EYES! OPEN YOUR EYES, CANDADO!¡± she screamed desperately. ¡°Please, don¡¯t close them, don¡¯t do it, I beg you, I¡¯ll fix it, hate me if you want, but don¡¯t close your eyes¡­ don¡¯t close them.¡±


    Hammya was frozen, tears streaming down her face.


    T¨ªnbari appeared walking, his right hand over his left arm, still in pain.


    ¡°Let it go, Gabriela. He was stabbed with a Cremull dagger, or as you guilds call it, a spell.¡±


    Gabriela embraced her brother tightly. His eyes began to open, but they were empty.


    ¡°Right now, Gabriela, your brother is suffering unimaginable pain. The spell is devouring his soul. There¡¯s no word or number that can describe the pain he¡¯s feeling right now. A broken arm or a stab wound are like tickles compared to this.¡±


    Gabriela became desperate.


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t¡­ he scream?¡±


    ¡°He won¡¯t. This dagger is made to prevent the victim from screaming or asking for help.¡±


    Gabriela, holding her brother even tighter, looked at T¨ªnbari through tear-filled eyes.


    ¡°What can I do? Seeing my little brother suffering¡­ I don¡¯t want that, I don¡¯t want it. What can I do?¡±


    T¨ªnbari stayed silent for a moment.


    ¡°It¡¯s simple¡­ kill him.¡±


    Gabriela¡¯s face flooded with terror.


    ¡°What are you saying? Kill him?¡± she asked, her voice trembling.


    ¡°There¡¯s no human medicine that can save him. My master assured me of this and told me to stay away if I saw one. It¡¯s bad luck, but his life has already ended.¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°Crying is something I don¡¯t share with you. I lost it when I became Bari.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t you have a heart? Don¡¯t you feel pity? You¡¯ve been with us for so many years.¡±


    ¡°We can talk all day about how a heart only serves to pump blood and not to harbor feelings. Now you need to take care of him. He has one day left to live.¡±


    Gabriela looked at her brother, her eyes shining with desperation.


    "One day?"


    "One day of suffering."


    Gabriela placed her hand on her chest, fighting back tears.


    "What will you do? It¡¯s useless to feel his heart."


    "No. I¡¯ll save him. I¡¯ll absorb his curse, just like I did with the poison that one time."


    "What?"


    "I can''t destroy it, can I? But I can transfer it to my body."


    "You were pierced by Pullbarey¡¯s weapon. You have a curse inside you, which will heal in a year. It¡¯s too dangerous."


    "Candado doesn¡¯t have a year."


    "If you do this, you¡¯ll have two curses inside you. You¡¯ll suffer like no human ever has. And your life will be short. This path you¡¯ve chosen¡­ will kill you."


    "I know, but¡­ if I can help him, if I can save him, and even if I can see him smile, it will have been worth it."


    "That¡¯s madness."


    "T¨ªnbari, promise me something."


    "What?"


    "When I die, I want you to protect my brother."


    "That¡¯s my duty, Gabriela¡­"


    "And also, understand this¡­ No, I order you, from now on, to have feelings."


    T¨ªnbari¡¯s eyes hid behind his eyelids.


    "It¡¯s useless, but I¡¯ll do it."


    Gabriela closed her eyes, wrapping her hand around her brother''s chest. She swallowed hard, not out of fear for what might happen to her, but because of the anguish she felt for him.


    "Isidro, lend me your strength," she murmured, looking at the sky. "In exchange, I¡¯ll give you my life."


    She pulled her hand away from Candado''s chest, tearing a strange stream of yellowish smoke mixed with black. The mist began to wrap around her arm, overtaking her body. The pain was unbearable, as if her very essence was being ripped from her. She bit her lips, struggling to hold back the moans of agony. But she didn¡¯t give up. She wouldn¡¯t.


    Suddenly, T¨ªnbari appeared, stepping between her and her brother, pulling her away with force. Gabriela''s magic faded, and she collapsed, resting entirely on the demon¡¯s lap.


    "Enough," T¨ªnbari said, his tone firm.


    Gabriela, exhausted, could barely respond:


    "I haven¡¯t¡­ finished."


    "You can¡¯t take all of the curse away," he replied, stopping her. "It would be dangerous for both of you. You¡¯d end up absorbing his life instead of the curse."


    "How much time does he have?" she asked weakly, looking at her brother.


    "You extended it by ten or fifteen years," T¨ªnbari answered coldly. "By then, something might be able to counter it, and your brother would be safe¡­ but..."


    Gabriela nodded, a faint smile forming on her face. Then, she began coughing violently, spitting out blood. Still, her smile didn¡¯t fade.


    "How much time do I have?" she asked in a broken voice.


    "Four years," T¨ªnbari said, his tone grim. "You¡¯ll die on November 2, 2010. Congratulations, you¡¯ve sentenced yourself to death."


    Gabriela let out a laugh that wasn¡¯t joyful, but rather a bitter acceptance.


    "Huh? I don¡¯t make jokes like that," T¨ªnbari said, confused.


    "Surely it¡¯s because of my order," she responded, laughing between breaths.


    "You¡¯re an idiot. No one can save you. You¡¯ll suffer and die," T¨ªnbari sighed. "Only Amabaray could save you, but I don¡¯t know where he is."


    Gabriela gently caressed her face, her expression sad.


    "It¡¯s a shame... My whole family will suffer because of a selfish decision. I want you to take care of them."


    With those words, Gabriela closed her eyes and allowed herself to drift, succumbing to exhaustion. T¨ªnbari lifted her in his arms without saying a word.


    At that moment, Candado''s friends and family arrived, lanterns in hand. The sky cleared, and a full moon illuminated the landscape.


    "What happened?" Arturo asked, while carrying his son.


    "They¡¯ve passed out from exhaustion," T¨ªnbari answered, his expression unchanged.


    Europa, at the front of the crowd, quickly approached. T¨ªnbari moved closer to her, placing Gabriela in her arms.


    "I was so happy she finally passed out," T¨ªnbari remarked with some sarcasm.


    "Thank you," Europa responded with a faint smile, holding her daughter. Then she looked up to meet T¨ªnbari''s gaze, but her smile faded when she noticed something unusual.


    "T¨ªnbari..."


    Hammya, observing her surroundings, was also surprised to see something strange.


    "Is something wrong, Mrs. Barret?" he asked, not breaking his gaze from Europa.


    "You¡¯re¡­ crying?" she asked in disbelief.


    T¨ªnbari smiled, but it was a bitter smile.


    "Humans are terrifying and very strange."


    Suddenly, a blinding light enveloped Hammya, and a voice echoed in her mind.


    "React, girl, don¡¯t fall asleep standing."


    A cold sweat began to crawl down her body, and her breathing became erratic. She looked around, bewildered, as if someone were watching her. Finally, her eyes locked on Candado, who was still holding her hand.


    "Are you okay?" he asked, concerned.


    Tears began to pour from Hammya¡¯s eyes, as her breathing grew more frantic.


    "Do you feel sick?" Nelson asked, noticing her distress.


    "What¡¯s happening?" Candado asked, even more worried.


    Hammya started laughing uncontrollably, trying to hide her sadness from both him and the others. She released Candado¡¯s hand and, without any help, walked alone toward the portal.


    "I was just thinking... your face is exactly like Pedro Eugenio Aramburu¡¯s," she said, with a nervous smile.


    "DO YOU WANT ME TO KILL YOU OR WHAT?!" Candado shouted, furious.


    Hammya burst out laughing, her tears still falling.


    "I didn¡¯t even hurt you," Candado said, his tone cold.


    "(Please, don¡¯t notice. I don¡¯t want you to see me cry. You¡¯ll only want to investigate, and you¡¯ll just hurt yourself...) Let¡¯s go with the others, Masera."


    "HAMMYAAAAAAA!" Candado yelled, chasing her.


    Hammya, laughing, began to run.


    "Come on, turtle!"


    "You worry about me and mock me? GET BACK HERE!"


    Hammya, with a disdainful smile, responded through her laughter, while some of the others followed her.


    "Don¡¯t laugh if you don¡¯t know!"

 AMABARAY

    The group walked tirelessly, moving farther and farther away from the portal. Despite its picturesque and majestic appearance, the place had a disturbing atmosphere that kept them on high alert. It was vast, imposing, and completely unknown to them. The group¡¯s reactions were understandable, but even amidst their uncertainty, they exchanged smiles and conversation to lighten the mood.


    Candado led the march with a firm stride, knowing the way. H¨¦ctor, however, couldn¡¯t hide his unease. Since they had left, his face had lost all its joy.


    ¡°H¨¦ctor.¡±


    ¡°Yeah? What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    ¡°Hammya hasn¡¯t stopped staring at me, has she?¡± Candado asked with a slight gesture of irritation.


    H¨¦ctor discreetly turned his head toward the girl.


    ¡°She is.¡±


    ¡°I see¡­ Since I took her hand, she¡¯s been acting strange. She even tried to annoy me with some bad jokes.¡±


    ¡°And what do you want to get at?¡± H¨¦ctor replied, raising an eyebrow.


    ¡°Honestly... she looks at me with pain and pity.¡±


    ¡°Do you think we should have left her behind?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know, H¨¦ctor. I don¡¯t even understand why I brought her along.¡±


    H¨¦ctor shifted the conversation, trying to lighten the mood.


    ¡°We¡¯ve walked a lot, and we¡¯re still not there.¡±


    ¡°I feel it¡¯s close,¡± Candado replied, firm.


    ¡°I don¡¯t like this place.¡±


    ¡°The Baris?¡± Candado asked, knowing exactly what he meant.


    ¡°Exactly. I see you noticed it too.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not the only one.¡±


    H¨¦ctor quickly glanced at the others. Clementina, Declan, and Andersson were on high alert, watching for any movement.


    ¡°They¡¯re probably watching us,¡± H¨¦ctor stated.


    ¡°I don¡¯t think so. I don¡¯t feel anything unusual in the air.¡±


    ¡°Then why are you so worried?¡±


    ¡°One almost killed me.¡±


    ¡°I know. I was there.¡±


    Suddenly, Candado stopped, raising a hand to signal for silence.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± H¨¦ctor asked, uneasy.


    Candado closed his eyes, placing his right hand to his ear as if concentrating.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you hear it?¡± he whispered.


    Clementina activated her sensors and scanned the area.


    ¡°A stream?¡± she asked.


    Candado opened his eyes quickly, a spark of determination in them.


    ¡°There it is. We¡¯re close.¡±


    Without another word, he began to run, the rest of the group following behind. The sound of water guided them to a crystal-clear stream. Upon arrival, they found themselves before an impressive scene.


    On the other side of the stream, a majestic ceibo tree stretched its branches, casting shade over a glass bed. Resting on it was a female figure, covered in roots, leaves, and crystals. A path of flowers led up to a circle of red roses around her. Despite the time that seemed to have passed, the woman¡¯s white garments looked immaculate.


    ¡°So, this is where it¡¯s been hidden all this time...¡± Candado murmured, approaching cautiously.


    He placed his hand over the woman¡¯s and felt a faint pulse.


    ¡°She¡¯s still alive,¡± he said, a flash of hope in his voice. Then he looked to the others. ¡°She¡¯s been asleep all this time.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s wake her up,¡± suggested Clementina, eager.


    ¡°I can¡¯t wait to see my mother¡¯s face when she sees her again,¡± Candado added.


    He pulled a small knife from its sheath and, carefully, pricked his finger. He let a drop of blood fall onto the woman¡¯s lips. As soon as the first drop touched her mouth, the ground began to tremble, and the glass bed cracked slightly.


    Suddenly, Erika reacted with alarm, her eyes glowing intensely.


    ¡°CANDADO, AIM FOR YOUR STOMACH!¡±


    A spear shot up from the bed, heading straight for the spot Erika had warned about. Candado stopped it calmly, gripping it between his thumb and forefinger.


    ¡°This isn¡¯t funny,¡± he said coldly, ripping the spear free and throwing it far away.


    The atmosphere turned chaotic. From various points, weapons emerged from the ground and attacked the group.


    ¡°DECLAN, BEHIND YOU!¡± Erika shouted, her eyes glowing again.


    Declan reacted instantly, dodging a sword that sprang from a rock. Leaning down, he sliced the stone with precision.


    ¡°Thanks, rabbit,¡± he joked, though still on guard.


    The tension grew with every warning Erika shouted.


    "At your feet, Germ¨¢n!"


    He grinned and transformed into a lobiz¨®n. With a fierce motion, he buried his massive arms into the ground, pulling someone out and hurling them far from the group.


    Erika¡¯s eyes began to glow once more. The intensity was so overwhelming and sudden that her vision started to ache.


    "LUCAS, INVISIBLE! SOUTH SIDE, NOW!"


    The scientist puffed out his chest and exhaled sharply, releasing a torrent of fire that drove away the approaching threat.


    Erika''s eyes flashed wildly.


    "Behind me," she muttered in disbelief.


    When Erika turned, she saw a figure clad in black armor closing in dangerously, wielding an enormous hammer with clear intent to strike. The weapon swung toward her, but just before it could connect, Viki intercepted it with her arm. The sound of bones breaking echoed as she halted the blow.


    Anzor charged at the attacker with his sword unsheathed. The enemy, noticing his intent, attempted to flee, but Luc¨ªa acted swiftly, wrapping molten gold around his legs and locking him in place.


    Anzor leaped, sword raised high, ready to strike. But the enemy, still holding his hammer, aimed to counterattack mid-air. Thanks to H¨¦ctor¡¯s reflexes, a force field made of cards materialized, blocking the blow and protecting his friend.


    Anzor grinned. At the last moment, he sheathed his sword and, with an agile move, delivered a direct kick to the enemy¡¯s face, knocking off his helmet. Landing smoothly, his eyes glowed a deep red, and he delivered a brutal punch to the man¡¯s chest, sending him flying backward.


    "That¡¯s how it¡¯s done," he said with satisfaction.


    Finally, Candado managed to pull out a hidden figure from beneath the bed, ordering his group:


    ¡°Gather around now!¡±


    The group formed a tight circle, forcing themselves to step back as they moved away from Amabaray. In front of them, disturbing figures began to manifest.


    ¡°No human could withstand simultaneous attacks like these,¡± said a deep voice.


    Candado gritted his teeth, his gaze hardening as he recognized the speaker.


    ¡°B¨®rrbari¡­¡± he uttered, with contained fury.


    The mentioned figure smiled mockingly.


    ¡°It¡¯s sad that you only remember my name,¡± he replied with apparent disdain.


    Candado glared at him, full of rage and caution.


    ¡°We¡¯ve come for Amabaray and for you, Candado. The others can leave,¡± B¨®rrbari declared coldly.


    Declan stepped forward, raising his voice in indignation.


    ¡°Leave!? Never! You, usurper creatures of humanity, will not set a foot near Candado.¡±


    Declan¡¯s words resonated throughout the group, filling the air with an almost tangible tension. Everyone was taken aback by his bravery.


    However, H¨¦ctor analyzed the situation carefully. His eyes moved from side to side before fixing on B¨®rrbari.


    ¡°You¡¯re clever¡­ I felt the same that day, Bari. Show your damn subordinates,¡± he said, his tone full of contempt.


    B¨®rrbari slammed the ground three times with his mace. In an instant, five figures emerged from the shadows: four children and an adult.


    ¡°Impressive,¡± Walsh remarked, crossing his arms with a reserved demeanor. ¡°I knew they couldn¡¯t pull this off without supervision.¡±


    A chill ran down Candado¡¯s spine. His eyes widened as he recognized them, and a drop of sweat rolled down his forehead.


    ¡°This¡­ can¡¯t be¡­¡± he murmured.


    Anzor, alarmed, whispered, ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡±


    Candado barely managed to respond, his voice tense.


    ¡°They¡¯re Baris. Terrible creatures capable of multiplying their strength a thousandfold. You¡¯re all too weak to face them. I won¡¯t be able to protect you all¡­¡±


    Suddenly, his eyes met Erika¡¯s. Tears of crimson were gathering in them.


    ¡°Luc¨ªa, blindfold your sister,¡± he ordered, his voice firm.


    ¡°No, Candado! I can still help!¡± Erika protested.


    ¡°You¡¯re not used to that power, let alone simultaneously. You could lose your sight¡­ or worse.¡±


    ¡°But¡­¡±


    ¡°No. Do as I say. Viki, Lucas, Anzor, and you, Luc¨ªa: protect her at all costs.¡±


    Luc¨ªa reluctantly nodded and went to blindfold Erika, fulfilling her duty to protect her.


    Walsh stepped forward with a chivalrous air.


    ¡°Where are your manners?¡± he asked, ironically polite. ¡°Please, introduce yourselves.¡±


    The figures stepped forward, from left to right.


    ¡°I¡¯m Marcelo Soto, and he¡¯s Volbari, the Bari of the Volcanoes,¡± the first one announced.


    Marcelo wore dark blue jeans, sneakers, and a white short-sleeve shirt. His dark hair and brown eyes betrayed his determination. Beside him, Volbari, a deformed creature made of volcanic rock, had two horns on his stone head, with eye sockets leaking lava. His body, made of ash and stone, revealed cracks from which incandescent magma flowed.The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    ¡°I¡¯m Daniela del Valle, and he¡¯s Dessbari, the Bari of the Heartless,¡± said a young woman with intense red hair, dressed in a private school uniform: a white shirt, black tie, and dark pants. A black patch with a red heart covered her right eye.


    ¡°Emilia Lambda, and he¡¯s B¨®rrbari, the Bari of Time,¡± said a woman with short black hair, wearing dress pants, dark brown leather boots, and a light blue shirt.


    ¡°Domingo Rojantr¨¦ll, and he¡¯s Geobari, the Bari of the Earth,¡± announced a man with white hair and green eyes. He wore a red morning coat and a violet tie. Geobari, his Bari, seemed made of rock and sand, shedding small pieces of his ¡°skin¡± as he moved.


    ¡°I¡¯m Katya C¨¦spedes, and he¡¯s Tiebari, the Bari of Terror,¡± said a blind young woman with blonde hair and a white dress. Her Bari, an abstract faceless figure, reflected a darkness lit by small lights, like a starry night sky.


    Matlotsky swallowed nervously.


    ¡°This is not good¡­¡± he muttered.


    Candado closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and turned to Declan.


    ¡°Declan, I need you to do me a favor.¡±


    ¡°Speak, sir.¡±


    ¡°I want you to step back.¡±


    ¡°Are you planning to surrender?¡±


    ¡°No. But I don¡¯t want you to intervene. I just want you to witness what happens.¡±


    Candado removed his jacket and handed it to Clementina, along with his dagger.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to need this?¡± she asked, concerned.


    ¡°Though T¨ªnbari hates them, I don¡¯t want to kill his brothers,¡± he replied, before walking to stand a meter away from B¨®rrbari.


    ¡°Are you surrendering?¡± asked the Bari.


    ¡°I¡¯m no package,¡± Candado retorted, adjusting his tie. ¡°Amabaray is waiting for my mother. Let¡¯s finish this.¡±


    B¨®rrbari smiled mockingly.


    ¡°You¡¯re as insolent as T¨ªnbari. It¡¯s a shame he can¡¯t be here.¡±


    ¡°Why¡¯s that?¡±


    ¡°Because here, no matter how hard you try, you won¡¯t die. As you say: the law of this world.¡±


    Candado smiled, cold and defiant.


    ¡°Is that so? How curious¡­ I didn¡¯t know that.¡±


    He removed his cap and threw it towards Clementina.


    ¡°Well then, that changes everything.¡±


    The air grew heavy.


    ¡°Hey¡­¡± murmured H¨¦ctor, his voice trembling.


    ¡°Don¡¯t tell me this is for real¡­¡± added Lucas, sweating cold.


    For some reason, Candado¡¯s group grew alarmed when they saw him take off his cap, even Clementina.


    ¡°Is something wrong?¡± asked Hammya, confused.


    ¡°Run,¡± Declan said suddenly.


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°Get away from this area, fast.¡±


    Everyone started running, except for Hammya, who was determined to stay. However, Declan, with the order to protect her, grabbed her by the arm and dragged her along.


    ¡°Don¡¯t stay there, stupid girl!¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re escaping!¡± warned Emilia.


    Geobari and Domingo prepared to chase them, but before they could take a step, an enormous violet wall of fire, over twenty meters high, erupted from Candado¡¯s palm, intimidating everyone except Tiebari, B¨®rrbari, and their humans.


    ¡°You want me, don¡¯t you?¡± Candado asked.


    B¨®rrbari raised his mace, forcing Geobari and Domingo to retreat.


    Candado extinguished his fire.


    ¡°I suppose you want to do this the hard way. I would have liked to meet you under different circumstances, but I need your power to save my people,¡± B¨®rrbari said, apologizing.


    Candado prepared to fight, while his friends watched from fifty meters away.


    ¡°Why are we so far?¡± asked Hammya.


    ¡°When Candado takes off his cap in a fight, it means he won¡¯t hold back,¡± Anzor explained.


    ¡°I see¡­¡± replied Andersson.


    ¡°Did you know?¡± Hammya asked.


    ¡°No, but when everyone ran, I decided to do the same.¡±


    Hammya felt foolish but quickly recovered and asked again:


    ¡°Is it serious?¡±


    ¡°Candado has only done this twice, and both times it was against Esteban. I must say, yes, it was very serious,¡± H¨¦ctor intervened.


    ¡°How serious?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ll see.¡±


    Candado closed his eyes, waiting for the first attack.


    ¡°NOW!¡± shouted B¨®rrbari.


    Candado opened his eyes, letting the violet flame and the tattoos on his face manifest.


    Geobari was the first to charge, but Candado caught his hand and punched him so fast that he barely had time to react. B¨®rrbari and Emilia attacked simultaneously, but Candado didn¡¯t flinch and moved toward his attacker. However, B¨®rrbari stepped in the way.


    Candado snapped his fingers, and a massive flame surged, burning everything around him. Thanks to B¨®rrbari¡¯s reflexes, Emilia stayed safe, though he suffered severe injuries to his left arm and almost lost his cape.


    ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± asked Katya.


    Tiebari stepped forward, took her hand, and placed it on Amabaray¡¯s bed.


    ¡°Stay here, you¡¯ll be safe.¡±


    As he was about to leave, Katya stopped him by grabbing his sleeve.


    ¡°Please, be careful.¡±


    Tiebari didn¡¯t respond. He only petted her head and walked away.


    ¡°Alright, it¡¯s time you experience terror.¡±


    Tiebari kneeled and leaped toward Candado, his body sprouting eyes in every direction.


    ¡°Fear me,¡± he said in a terrifying voice.


    Candado turned around, struck motionless by a strange force.


    ¡°DO IT!¡± shouted Tiebari.


    B¨®rrbari and Dessbari tried to land a lethal blow, but Candado smiled.


    ¡°Peyak (Mirror).¡±


    In that instant, his body disappeared, leaving only violet smoke behind.


    ¡°What? How?¡± B¨®rrbari faltered.


    ¡°Where is he?¡± asked Hammya.


    ¡°There,¡± pointed Viki.


    Candado emerged from the ground, but something had changed: his hair and clothes were red.


    ¡°After him!¡± ordered Dessbari.


    ¡°What a spinning top you are,¡± said a voice behind Dessbari, just before striking him in the back.


    Dessbari turned quickly and saw another Candado, this time with white hair and clothes.


    ¡°What? Two?¡±


    ¡°No, of course not.¡±


    From the dust arose a third figure, striking B¨®rrbari and Geobari. This Candado had light blue hair and matching clothes.


    When the dust cleared, two more figures appeared: one with green hair and clothes, and another with crossed arms.


    ¡°I represent Candado¡¯s soul,¡± said the one in white, attacking B¨®rrbari with his power.


    ¡°I represent Candado¡¯s heart,¡± added the one in red, facing Dessbari.


    ¡°I represent Candado¡¯s lungs,¡± said the one in blue, fighting Geobari.


    ¡°I represent Candado¡¯s mind,¡± concluded the one in green.


    ¡°Four? No, FIVE!¡± Hammya exclaimed. She then looked at her friends. ¡°Did you all know about this?¡±


    ¡°Is it real, H¨¦ctor? Please, pinch me,¡± Viki asked.


    ¡°Candado is awesome,¡± Declan praised.


    ¡°Wow, I didn¡¯t expect this,¡± admitted Lucas.


    ¡°So no one knew?¡± Hammya concluded.


    The identical figures of Candado gathered and fused into one.


    ¡°What a dirty trick¡­¡±


    Dessbari appeared behind him with a spear. However, celestial arms emerged from Candado''s back, stopping the spear and surprising everyone.


    "Now that''s dirty," Candado said.


    The hands on Candado''s back shattered the spear attempting to pierce him and unleashed a violet flare that struck Dessbari directly, inflicting severe wounds.


    "You can''t die," Candado said with a cold calmness, his gaze sinking into Dessbari like a dagger. "But I can make your life miserable."


    Without hesitation, he struck Dessbari in the neck and shoved him away. At that moment, Tiebari attempted to attack from behind, but Candado stopped him by seizing his arms with unyielding force.


    "Show me your terror," he whispered in a low voice.


    Suddenly, Tiebari''s dark face was covered with eyes staring at him relentlessly. The atmosphere seemed to grow heavier, but Candado merely smiled.


    "I think you''re confused," he said, tightening his grip on Tiebari''s arms. "I''m not the one who should fear you... You are the one who should fear me."


    His eyes blazed intensely as he drove his left hand into Tiebari''s face.


    "It¨®h."


    Tiebari''s body ignited in violet flames. Before he could react, Volbari appeared from behind and sprayed him with scalding lava. Candado raised his right hand to protect himself.


    "You¡¯re an arrogant human," Volbari grunted, smiling smugly. "You should kneel."


    When the lava stopped flowing, Volbari looked on with satisfaction, believing that Candado had been defeated. However, his smile faded as he saw his enemy still standing, firm, with a cold and calculating expression. Candado looked down at his right hand, now reduced to bone.


    "Interesting..." he murmured, lifting his gaze toward Volbari, who instinctively stepped back before Candado¡¯s intense presence. "You watched the battle without moving, waiting for your chance to strike. What a disappointment. I despise arrogant opportunists."


    Calmly, he enveloped his skeletal hand in violet fire. His friends and enemies stood in awe as Candado, still with his hand disfigured, showed no sign of pain.


    "The games are over," he said in a grave voice. "A wound like this... has made me very angry."


    The fire slowly began regenerating the tissue of his hand.


    "It¡¯s time to show my fury."


    Without warning, Candado charged at his enemies. B¨®rrbari swung his mace toward his head, but Candado dodged quickly. Sensing Tiebari''s presence behind him, he spun around, grabbed one of his hands, and broke it with a brutal movement.


    B¨®rrbari tried to take advantage of the moment, but Candado stopped his mace with a precise kick, stunning him briefly. Tiebari, injured, tried to tear at Candado¡¯s back with his other hand, but Candado reacted with a direct punch that sent him flying.


    Geobari slammed into the ground, causing the earth to crack, and jets of sand and stone burst from the crevices. Candado¡¯s eyes flashed again.


    "It¨®h."


    The violet flames enveloped Geobari, silencing his attack. Dessbari advanced with his spear, but Candado skillfully dodged, striking B¨®rrbari on the head with a kick that made him stagger. However, the tip of the spear pierced his left palm.


    Candado¡¯s white glove turned red, but he didn¡¯t make a sound. His cold, empty gaze froze Dessbari in place. With a sharp twist, he turned his hand and broke the spear in two before launching himself at Dessbari with inhuman speed.


    A precise blow to the neck sent him to the ground. Candado calmly withdrew the blade from his hand, letting it fall to the ground as the blood pouring from his wound stained the nearby flowers red.


    "A beautiful view, don¡¯t you think?" he said sarcastically.


    Volbari tried to take advantage of the distraction to launch another attack.


    "Asin¨®h."


    Two enormous dogs made of violet fire appeared behind him and knocked him down before he could act.


    Tiebari, despite his wounds, charged again at Candado. He closed his eyes, inhaled deeply, and then exhaled, opening his eyes with a shout:


    "IT¡¯S TIME TO END THIS!"


    In a flash, his body split into four identical replicas. While his copies kept the Baris occupied, Candado advanced toward Amabaray¡¯s body, where a group of humans watched the scene in terror.


    "CAPTURE HIM!" B¨®rrbari roared.


    Candado reached them with a mocking smile and false courtesy.


    "Good morning," he said, bowing theatrically as he placed his right arm across his chest.


    The tension was palpable. Emilia was the first to attack, but Candado snapped his fingers, sending her flying with a wave of force. Domingo tried to surprise him from behind but was struck on the chin, knocking him out cold.


    Daniela, armed with a hook, managed to latch onto his shoulder. However, Candado grabbed her face with one hand, smiling as he said:


    "Too kind not to tear my chest open and finish me off."


    His eyes gleamed with a deep black.


    "The hands of terror."


    Daniela''s body trembled, and silent tears began to fall down her face as a muffled scream escaped her throat.


    "DANIELA!" Dessbari shouted angrily, trying to advance toward her, but one of Candado''s copies stopped him.


    Suddenly, Candado felt weak blows to his back. He turned slowly, facing the new threat with the same coldness that had defined him up until now.


    "Let her go, you bully!" Katya cried desperately.


    Candado complied. Daniela¡¯s body hit the ground with a dry thud. Then he turned and grabbed the young girl''s left hand, which was frantically trying to pull away.


    "It goes against my principles to fight someone blind like you," Candado said calmly.


    "I¡¯m not afraid of you," Katya responded firmly.


    "I know you''re not," he murmured.


    Candado placed his hand gently on Katya¡¯s cheek. That simple gesture ignited Tiebari''s fury, and he clenched his fists. Suddenly, Candado¡¯s red and green copies appeared, blocking his path. When Tiebari tried to lunge at him, the white copy intervened and struck him in the chest, halting him instantly.


    With a quick and precise movement, Candado knocked Katya unconscious without causing harm. He then walked toward Amabaray¡¯s body, her shoulder wound bleeding profusely. The blood ran down her arm, dripping slowly onto the girl¡¯s mouth. Three drops were enough to make Amabaray open her eyes.


    The petals of flowers began to surround her body, while the ceibo tree that surrounded her shook violently. Its leaves followed the swirl of petals, and a wild wind burst into the place. Candado stepped back sharply, watching as his copies faded. The Baris, mute witnesses, stared in awe. Candado''s friends felt an immense energy that seemed to rival their own.


    When the wind calmed and the petals scattered, Amabaray was standing. Her eyes glowed with an intense white as she gazed at the sky. Candado took a step forward, but the young woman abruptly lowered her head and murmured:


    "Humans... Humans... I..."


    "Amabaray, sister, you¡¯ve awakened!" B¨®rrbari shouted with joy.


    Amabaray looked at the bodies around her. Her eyes first reflected confusion, then rage.


    "I... I..." Her voice turned into a scream full of hatred. "I hate humans!"


    Suddenly, her hand transformed into a sharp blade, pointing directly at Emilia¡¯s unconscious body.


    "NOOOO!" B¨®rrbari cried desperately.


    Candado reacted immediately, stepping between Emilia and the blade. He caught the weapon with his bare palm. At that moment, his friends leaped from their hiding places, ignoring the Baris as if they were mere decorations.


    "Anzor, Declan! Go for the people and get them out of here!" Candado ordered urgently.


    "Understood," they replied in unison.


    Meanwhile, Amabaray seemed to be struggling with something inside herself. She shook her head back and forth, murmuring unintelligible phrases in her native tongue. Candado watched her closely.


    "Hey, wake up... You don¡¯t hate humans."


    Amabaray took a step back. Wings of crystal grew from her back, her tunic darkened, and an unknown symbol emerged from her chest.


    "They will die here," she said coldly.


    "You can¡¯t kill us. This world doesn¡¯t allow death," Candado said, never taking his eyes off her.


    Erika, who was nearby, quickly removed the bandages from her eyes, revealing an intense glow in her gaze.


    "No!" she screamed in terror. "But she¡¯ll absorb their souls into herself."


    "Take the bodies and leave!" Candado insisted.


    Amabaray¡¯s wings extended further as she rose into the air. She pointed to the ground with both hands, and the threat was clear.


    "Back, back! Back!" Candado shouted.


    From Amabaray''s hands, sharp crystals began to fall like a deadly rain.


    "Here, come to me!" Lucas called, activating a force field that protected the group.


    Hammya, farther from the group, felt a brush on her leg and fell to the ground. Candado saw this and clicked his tongue in frustration. Without hesitation, he ran toward her.


    "CANDADO!" H¨¦ctor yelled.


    "ACTIVATE IT, LUCAS, NOW!" Candado ordered.


    Lucas complied, creating an energy umbrella to shield the rest of the group. Candado reached Hammya, hitting the crystals that threatened to fall on her. Moving at an incredible speed, the shards tore at his clothes and embedded into his skin, but he didn¡¯t stop.


    "Go, Candado. You won¡¯t hold on much longer," Hammya pleaded.


    "I won¡¯t!" he replied.


    "LEAVE!"


    "What kind of person would I be if I left you behind?"


    "Candado..." she stammered.


    "NO! I will never leave you!"


    A voice resonated in the air, full of echo and disdain.


    "Hypocrite."


    Candado froze, petrified. The rain of crystals continued to fall.


    "I¡¯ve had enough of this hypocrisy. Hearing your voice is poison to me."


    "Who...?"


    "Odadnac. The one who dresses and fits."


    A dark aura enveloped Candado, halting the projectiles in mid-air. Then, with a mere gesture, he sent the crystals flying back toward Amabaray with the same force, piercing her body and destroying her wings. The young woman fell to the ground, crashing with a thunderous sound.


    "SISTER!" B¨®rrbari shouted desperately.


    The Baris rushed toward Amabaray''s body, but before they could reach her, a black trail enveloped the young woman¡¯s form.


    "No, no, no... That belongs to me. I need you to heal the parasite inside," Odadnac murmured, his voice gravelly.


    Candado knelt, feeling a shudder in his chest. From his own body, Odadnac began to emerge, struggling to detach himself. First, his hands came out of Candado¡¯s chest. Then, his left leg detached from Candado¡¯s, followed by the right. Finally, Odadnac¡¯s grinning face appeared where Candado¡¯s had been.


    "FREEDOOOOOOOM!" Odadnac shouted, his voice filled with wild ecstasy.


    Candado groaned in pain, a sharp and piercing agony as the entity fully separated from his body. He looked around, relieved to have left behind the prison that had been his own form. His eyes scanned the Baris, who watched him in disbelief and alertness.


    He inhaled deeply, filling his lungs with fresh air, and then exhaled with a sinister smile.


    "Smells like cooked garbage..." he commented disdainfully, not breaking his gaze from the Baris.


    B¨®rrbari was the first to react. With a roar of rage, he raised his massive mace and tried to strike Odadnac. However, before he could even get close, Odadnac summoned black flame dogs that charged at him with fury.


    "It¨®h..." Odadnac murmured, contemptuous of his opponent.


    In that moment, a gigantic wall rose before them, towering over a thousand meters high, surrounding all the Baris. No one could pass through it.


    "You¡¯re trash," Odadnac said with a cruel smile, watching the confusion he¡¯d caused.


    With a single wave of his hand, Odadnac levitated Amabaray¡¯s unconscious body, drawing her closer to him while staring at Candado. He extended his hand toward Amabaray''s face, his eyes locked onto his former host.


    "Hello, hypocrite," he said mockingly, as if greeting an old acquaintance.

 MEMORY

    Candado''s body began to tremble uncontrollably, blood pouring from his mouth as if from an open faucet.


    ¡°CANDADO!¡± everyone screamed in unison, their voices thick with despair.


    Odadnac extended his left arm, and strange black threads emerged from the ground, wrapping themselves around everyone, including Hammya.


    ¡°Shhh¡­ shhh¡­ shhhh,¡± his voice slithered through the shadows. ¡°What a pity you can¡¯t die here.¡±


    A shout echoed from behind.


    ¡°ODADNAC!¡±


    He smiled without turning.


    ¡°Well, speaking of hypocrites¡­ here comes the biggest one of all.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s enough,¡± said the voice, deep and resolute.


    Odadnac turned slowly and found himself facing T¨ªnbari.


    ¡°T¨ªnbari. How nice to see you¡­ or at least, it would be, considering you caged me like an animal.¡±


    ¡°T¨ªnbari, what are you doing here?¡± Candado¡¯s voice was weak, yet firm.


    ¡°The portal closed, Candado. I came as soon as I felt the cage shatter.¡±


    Odadnac crossed his arms, his grin widening.


    ¡°Death has no power here. That includes you, my friend. Knowing that¡­ why are you here?¡±


    T¨ªnbari remained silent, but Odadnac didn¡¯t let it slide.


    ¡°Yes, answer him, T¨ªnbari. Why risk yourself?¡± His white teeth glistened as his smile stretched from ear to ear. ¡°Come on, tell him. Tell him why you¡¯re here.¡±


    T¨ªnbari¡¯s face tightened. His eyes betrayed a terror that Odadnac¡¯s words, cloaked in venom, stirred deep within him.


    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Candado asked, struggling against the black chains that bound him.


    ¡°You know¡­¡± Odadnac tilted his head with malice.


    ¡°NO! Don¡¯t do it, please!¡± T¨ªnbari raised his voice, almost pleading.


    ¡°Well, a demon begging. This is new,¡± Odadnac chuckled coldly.


    ¡°T¨ªnbari, what¡¯s wrong with you? You¡¯re not like this!¡± Candado¡¯s voice was furious and confused.


    ¡°Do you know that in this world, you can die?¡± Odadnac continued, ignoring them both.


    Candado raised an eyebrow.


    ¡°What nonsense are you spouting now?¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s a simple way: suicide,¡± he said casually, his tone disturbingly nonchalant.


    Candado snorted, sarcastic.


    ¡°And? Should I give you a prize for stating the obvious?¡±


    ¡°You still have strength to mock me, even in this state. Fascinating.¡± Odadnac gestured, and black chains shot from the ground, restraining Candado once more as he attempted to move.


    ¡°Predictable. Very predictable.¡±


    Meanwhile, Hammya began to stir.


    ¡°Well, look who¡¯s waking up,¡± Odadnac sneered, but his tone darkened as he turned back to Candado. ¡°It¡¯s time to get to work.¡±


    He walked slowly toward him, his figure radiating a menacing energy.


    ¡°Candado, I¡¯m sick of your hypocrisy. Once you¡¯re dead, I¡¯ll take your body and deal with Pullbarey myself.¡±


    Candado glared at him with disdain.


    ¡°For that? You¡¯re an absolute fool.¡±


    Odadnac¡¯s smile vanished. He grabbed Candado by the throat and lifted him.


    ¡°I wonder how much longer you can hold on to your sanity, insolent child.¡±


    Candado could barely breathe, but his gaze remained defiant.


    ¡°Someone like you will never break me. You didn¡¯t before, and you won¡¯t now.¡±


    Odadnac released him roughly, his face darkening further.


    ¡°Always so arrogant? Very well. Let me prove you wrong.¡±


    He reached a hand toward Candado¡¯s face, but before he could touch him, T¨ªnbari shouted:


    ¡°NO!¡±


    Odadnac froze and turned slowly toward him.


    ¡°Well, well. This is interesting. T¨ªnbari, begging again?¡± His tone was mocking, but his eyes glimmered with dangerous curiosity.


    Candado watched the scene unfold, bewildered.


    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± he asked, his voice filled with frustration.


    ¡°Gabriela wouldn¡¯t have wanted this.¡±


    The name struck like a blow. Candado¡¯s eyes widened in shock.


    ¡°What¡­?¡±


    Odadnac¡¯s cruel smile returned.


    ¡°She¡¯s dead. Whether she would¡¯ve wanted it or not? We¡¯ll never know.¡±


    ¡°DON¡¯T TELL HIM!¡± T¨ªnbari shouted desperately.


    ¡°Oh? You want me to stay silent? Then kneel.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± T¨ªnbari hesitated, his face reflecting inner turmoil.


    ¡°If you do, I won¡¯t say a word. I promise.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t do it!¡± Candado roared, struggling against his chains. ¡°It¡¯s a trap!¡±


    T¨ªnbari, trembling, fell to his knees.


    An absolute silence followed. Even Hammya, still bound, stared in disbelief.


    ¡°WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?!¡± Candado shouted, unable to comprehend what he was seeing.


    Odadnac grinned victoriously.


    ¡°You win, T¨ªnbari. I won¡¯t say a word. For now.¡±


    T¨ªnbari¡¯s relief was short-lived.


    ¡°However¡­¡±


    Suddenly, Odadnac placed his hand on Candado¡¯s forehead.


    ¡°I¡¯ll show him.¡±


    T¨ªnbari¡¯s eyes widened in despair, his voice trembling with anguish.


    ¡°NO! DON¡¯T DO IT!¡±


    Odadnac¡¯s smile turned cruel as his hand began to glow a fierce red. Without warning, he released Candado¡¯s chains and, in an unexpected move, bound T¨ªnbari instead.


    ¡°NO! THAT WASN¡¯T THE DEAL!¡± T¨ªnbari cried, tears streaming from his eyes.


    ¡°I kept my word. I didn¡¯t say it,¡± Odadnac replied with a sarcastic sneer. ¡°But I never promised not to make him remember.¡±


    Candado groaned, clutching his head as his face contorted in growing torment.


    ¡°NO, Candado! Don¡¯t remember! Don¡¯t remember!¡± Hammya begged, her voice cracking with fear.


    T¨ªnbari turned to Hammya, confusion etched on his face.


    ¡°What? How¡­?¡±


    Hammya, in a desperate act, broke free and ran to Candado.


    ¡°Well, this is getting interesting,¡± Odadnac remarked, resigned, before attempting to restrain her again.


    Candado screamed, his voice filled with agony.


    ¡°WHAT IS THIS?! IT BURNS!¡±


    The ground beneath him began to crack as tremors shook the room. Hammya grabbed him by the shoulders, panic evident in her movements.


    ¡°No, no, no, no. Candado, listen to me! Fight it! Don¡¯t remember!¡± she pleaded, her hands trembling as she cupped his cheeks.


    Candado¡¯s eyes began to darken, a deep black spreading across them, moving erratically.


    ¡°WHAT AM I NOT SUPPOSED TO REMEMBER?!¡± he shouted in desperation.


    Hammya hugged him tightly, tears streaming down her face.


    ¡°Please, fight it. Don¡¯t¡­¡±


    Suddenly, Candado¡¯s gaze lifted, and an intense golden light illuminated his eyes. Everything around them changed.


    In his mind, a dark abyss engulfed him. There was no sound, no light, no presence¡ªonly an endless void. Then, a white light pierced the darkness, opening massive doors that revealed a torrent of memories. Voices, images, and emotions bombarded him mercilessly.


    ¡°Smile, Candado (H¨¦ctor, cheerful).¡±


    ¡°Do you realize the damage you caused me? (Candado, angry).¡±Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m sorry, I didn¡¯t mean to (Gabriela, crying).¡±


    Candado clutched his ears.


    ¡°Enough!¡±


    But the voices didn¡¯t stop.


    ¡°Happy birthday to you (A crowd).¡±


    ¡°I love you, brother (Gabriela, happy).¡±


    ¡°The clouds in the sky, hallelujah! (Ocho, celebrating).¡±


    ¡°I hate you (Candado, furious).¡±


    ¡°STOP IT ALREADY!¡± Candado fell to his knees as the voices drilled into his mind.


    ¡°No, that¡¯s not how it was. It¡¯s a lie.¡±


    The flow of memories intensified, unraveling before his eyes.


    ¡°Dream of sweets, my friend (Mauricio, playing).¡±


    ¡°It was an accident. You don¡¯t have to take her away (Declan, concerned).¡±


    ¡°GO AWAY! I HATE YOU! (Candado, enraged).¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­ (Gabriela, crying).¡±


    ¡°THAT¡¯S NOT TRUE!¡± Candado screamed at the doors.


    Despite his efforts, the mental barrier crumbled. He remembered everything: the storm, the confrontation between Gabriela and T¨ªnbari against Pullbarey, his own cowardice, the pain of being pierced by a dagger, and his sister''s sacrifice to save him. Every detail crushed him.


    Back in the present, Candado fell to his knees in front of Hammya. His now-clear eyes brimmed with tears.


    "I... I... it was me who..."


    "DON''T SAY IT!" Hammya shouted, knowing exactly what he was about to confess.


    "I... I was the one who killed her."


    "That''s not true, Candado. It¡¯s not your fault," Hammya replied, her voice laced with desperation.


    Odadnac burst into laughter.


    "He''s on the edge of the abyss."


    "DO SOMETHING!" Hector shouted from a distance.


    "DON''T LET HIM FALL!" Lucas warned.


    Candado''s hands began trembling uncontrollably. Hammya reached for him, but Odadnac trapped her again with magical chains.


    "Enough for now. This was fun, but the show must go on," Odadnac said with disdain. "Let''s not ruin the fun too quickly."


    Candado stood slowly, looking up at the sky with a vacant expression. Though his face was still, his sweaty, trembling body revealed the chaos consuming him.


    Odadnac approached Candado slowly, his presence heavy with tension.


    "What¡¯s wrong? Is that all?" he mocked. Then he clapped, as if a brilliant idea had struck him. "Oh, right, I forgot. Candado was never good at reading the room... not even his own feelings."


    Stopping a meter away, Odadnac observed him. Candado, his gaze distant, seemed to look without seeing. Taking advantage of the moment, Odadnac raised his left hand and snapped his fingers, releasing Amabaray. The creature soared toward him, ready to attack, but without even glancing, Odadnac raised his right hand beside his ear and clenched it into a fist. Amabaray collapsed unconscious immediately. With a cold gesture, he re-bound the creature and drew it toward him.


    "You know, Candado, it''s easy to throw tantrums like these. I envy you. I can only watch your reactions¡ªI can''t manifest them myself. That¡¯s what I once told you," he paused, tilting his head. "But guess what? I am the embodiment of rage. I feed on it. I thrive on it. I thought rage alone would make me happy... but I never imagined meeting Gabriela. Without her anger, my heart felt something unexpected: happiness."


    Amabaray, wrapped in roots, was positioned next to Odadnac like a trophy.


    "It¡¯s incredible, isn¡¯t it? That rage can feel love... and also hate itself. Hate, the hate I feel, the hate for not being able to help her that day. And all because I am bound to you."


    Odadnac turned his gaze to T¨ªnbari, his eyes filled with contempt.


    "That damn creature... Yes, T¨ªnbari. You were the one who asked her to erase your memories and replace you with a new version. There¡¯s only one word for that: cowardice. But guess what?" A bitter laugh escaped his lips. "T¨ªnbari can¡¯t erase memories. She doesn¡¯t have that power. Do you know what she did? She transferred them to someone else to keep. That someone was me."


    His voice grew louder, almost a roar.


    "For six years, I¡¯ve done nothing but watch them over and over. Over and over, and over again. Gabriela saving you at the cost of her life... your damn cowardice... that agonizing pain."


    Thunder roared through the sky as if responding to his fury.


    "This world is quite rotten, don¡¯t you think? It¡¯s ironic that rage can feel love and sadness. But enough. It¡¯s time for you to¡ª"


    "Silence."


    Candado lifted his head, his gaze firm and determined. He stood, facing Odadnac with unexpected strength.


    "I don¡¯t want to hear you anymore."


    "Why? Don¡¯t you want me to remind you how cowardly you were? That you could have helped your sister?"


    "Don¡¯t say it."


    "It must take a lot to deny reality. And when reality is undeniable... what do you do? You create another one, don¡¯t you?"


    "Shut up!" Candado shouted, his voice trembling with rage.


    "CANDADO! IF YOU GET ANGRY, HE¡¯LL TAKE CONTROL OF YOU!" Walsh yelled desperately.


    Candado hesitated, absorbing Walsh¡¯s words, but Odadnac showed no mercy.


    "You say you loved her, don¡¯t you?" he mocked. "Yes, you told me that day. Did you really love her?"


    Candado lowered his gaze, his fists trembling.


    "Of course not! Why else would you erase your memories? Because you didn¡¯t want to remember her. Because you didn¡¯t love her as much as you claimed. Because it was you who killed her. You¡¯re so pathetic you couldn¡¯t accept what happened, so you ¡®erased¡¯ your past."


    Hammya struggled desperately against her bindings, trying to break free.


    "It¡¯s interesting, what you asked T¨ªnbari, you know? You said: ¡®I want to remember that fight, but erase her and put me in her place. That way, I can remember her face and become strong.¡¯ Do you remember those words? I do."


    Candado shuddered, his gaze lost on the ground. Odadnac smiled, sensing his prey was breaking.


    "You¡¯re like a balloon, my friend. Sooner or later, that air is going to burst."


    "CANDADO, COVER YOUR EARS!" Hammya shouted desperately.


    Candado hesitated, but Odadnac was faster. He grabbed his wrists and stared into his eyes.


    "You felt relief when Pullbarey fatally wounded her. Oh yes, I remember it well... disgusting scoundrel."


    Candado¡¯s body trembled, his knees buckling until he sank to the ground. Odadnac released him with disdain.


    "I also remember seeing a smile on your face when Gabriela was struck. What was so funny, Candado? Did you enjoy watching her suffer? Huh? Was it amusing to see her fall?"


    "No... I... I..."


    Tears streamed down Candado¡¯s face. The memories overwhelmed him: the happy moments with Gabriela, her virtues, everything she did for him. And the time he, in a fit of anger, shouted:


    "I HOPE YOU DIE!"


    That memory was the trigger. The pain repressed for years crushed him, and Candado couldn¡¯t bear it.


    "AAAAAAAHHH!!!"


    His scream tore through the air, laden with anger, sorrow, and regret. Candado let out a guttural cry. All this time, he had been denying the truth: he was the true culprit. He felt like he was the murderer of the person he loved most. Odadnac¡¯s voice echoed in his mind like a cruel whisper.


    "You¡¯re a hypocrite," it sneered. "You hated your sister. Didn¡¯t you think it¡¯d be better if she died?"


    Hammya, summoning superhuman effort, broke free of her bindings. She fell to the ground, panting, but without wasting a second, she ran toward Odadnac. When she reached him, she channeled all her rage into a punch to his face just as he turned.


    She tried to reach Candado, who sobbed uncontrollably, but she had no chance. Odadnac recovered quickly and struck her brutally in the chest, sending her sprawling to the ground. He then turned toward Candado, a triumphant smile on his lips.


    "I¡¯ve broken him," Odadnac¡¯s voice dripped with satisfaction. "Now his mind is mine."


    With a simple gesture, he seized Candado once more, this time without resistance. The young man¡¯s body turned pale; his clothes darkened, and his eyes reflected a terrifying void.


    "At last, I¡¯ve succeeded. Now it¡¯s time for revenge."


    Hammya tried to stop him, summoning thick roots from the ground to wrap around Odadnac''s body, but he broke through them effortlessly.


    "Please, that doesn''t even hurt," he mocked, his voice dripping with sarcasm.


    He flew toward her with terrifying speed, striking mercilessly¡ªa knee to her chest, followed by a punch to her back that ended with her head pinned under his boot.


    "You¡¯re weak, girl. Leave now, and you won¡¯t have to suffer further."


    Hammya, blood as green as emeralds trickling from her mouth, lifted her gaze toward Amabaray, her eyes filled with desperation.


    "I can¡¯t let him win."


    Summoning all her remaining strength, she attacked again, this time with thicker, sturdier roots. While Odadnac wrestled to free himself, she darted toward Amabaray, silently praying for a miracle.


    "Help me..." she whispered.


    Her eyes glowed an intense green as she extended her hand toward Amabaray. The moment her fingers brushed his forehead, something inside her awakened. Odadnac noticed the shift and hesitated for a moment, taken aback. But there was no time to react¡ªAmabaray, now revitalized, lunged at him with a fury that forced Odadnac to defend himself.


    Wasting no time, Hammya turned her focus to cutting the dark threads binding the others.


    "Quickly, free us now!" shouted Anzor.


    With each cut, her companions regained their freedom. German grinned as he regained control of the situation.


    "Perfect! Now we can fight back."


    Hammya reached T¨ªnbari, who still looked defeated.


    "T¨ªnbari, how long was the door closed?"


    "Does that even matter?" he replied with a defeated tone.


    "ANSWER ME!"


    T¨ªnbari sighed heavily.


    "A few minutes after you left. I was delayed because the door separated me from you."


    "Then, can it be opened?"


    "I don¡¯t know."


    Frustrated, Hammya kicked at the nearby flowers. The others gathered around her as she stared at Amabaray and Odadnac battling fiercely in the rain. Her face hardened as a thought struck her.


    "I¡¯ve got it! Hector and Lucas will do it."


    "What? That¡¯s impossible!" both protested in unison.


    "You two love science; figure it out."


    "But we don¡¯t have the materials," Hector countered.


    "Yes, you do. Matlotsky has them."


    Matlotsky blinked, startled.


    "Me?"


    "Yes. You can fix anything, and that box you carry has everything we need."


    Turning to Erika, Lucia, and Viki, Hammya gave her next command.


    "I need you three to distract those creatures," she said, pointing to the Baris, who were emerging from a fiery prison just moments ago.


    "And how¡¯s that going to help?" Walsh asked.


    "It¡¯ll buy us time. Erika, you can see the future and lie like no one else. Tell them we can harm their companions if they don¡¯t cooperate, or something along those lines."


    Viki smirked as she caught on to the plan.


    "Let¡¯s go, ladies."


    Hector stopped Viki before she left.


    "Be careful."


    Viki answered with a quick kiss.


    "I will."


    Without another word, the three headed off toward their perilous mission as the storm and battle raged on.


    Erika took the lead, addressing the Baris first with an amicable tone.


    "Given the circumstances, I come in peace and humbly request your cooperation."


    B¨®rrbari sneered at her.


    "And why would I ever do that?"


    Erika shifted her approach, maintaining a friendly smile but lowering her voice to a threatening tone.


    "Please, we wouldn¡¯t want anything bad to happen to Domingo, or for Katya to lose more than just her eyes. That would be so, so unfortunate. Not to mention Marcelo and Daniela¡ªit¡¯d be tragic if they lost their limbs... accidentally."


    The Baris bristled defensively.


    "Are you threatening a Bari?"


    "Me? Oh, never," she replied with false sincerity. "I only wish to ensure their safety. It would break my heart if something happened to them¡ªespecially since you¡¯re powerless to help without us."


    Erika¡¯s eyes gleamed as she turned her focus to Dessbari.


    "I wouldn¡¯t do that if I were you. Surely, you wouldn¡¯t want your host losing a hand so soon, would you?"


    Offering a disarming smile, she returned her gaze to B¨®rrbari.


    "It¡¯s true you¡¯re stronger, but surely you¡¯ve noticed you can¡¯t leave because my da¡ªmy friend is being controlled by something malicious, sealing both your exit and ours."


    Her companions marveled at the elaborate lie unfolding before them.


    "You can help us escape, postponing this conflict for the sake of your hosts. Surely, you¡¯re concerned about their lives too?"


    Her words struck a nerve, as B¨®rrbari let out a frustrated cry at the thought of harm befalling his host.


    Meanwhile, Hammya kept her eyes fixed on Odadnac, who was still locked in battle with Amabaray.


    "Hold on a little longer," she murmured to herself.


    "What are you planning, young lady?" Anzor asked, his voice a mix of curiosity and concern.


    "To bring back Europa."


    Everyone around her turned, staring in disbelief.


    "It''s just a theory, but if we manage to connect both worlds, the blood signal should restore their memories. After all, she never renounced Europa. She just fled and erased her memory."


    Hearing this, T¨ªnbari seemed to regain his composure.


    "That makes sense. A Bari cannot renounce unless both parties agree. If the pact is still active, any harmful magic affecting the bearer is completely nullified."


    Declan scowled, visibly irritated.


    "And how do you know that?"


    "I''ll explain later... Sorry, I will explain it later," Hammya replied, lowering her gaze briefly before speaking with newfound determination. "Now, let¡¯s save Candado!"


    "Absolutely!" everyone shouted in unison.


    Each person rushed to their assigned task. H¨¦ctor and Lucas began constructing a portal using whatever they could find. German, Andersson, Anzor, and Declan kept a close eye on the prisoners, ensuring they didn¡¯t escape or cause trouble. Walsh, Pio, and Clementina assisted Matlotsky with the build, while Pucheta and Liv stayed on guard, ready to intervene if negotiations with the Baris went south.


    From a higher vantage point, Hammya observed the three girls negotiating with the Baris.


    "I hope this works," Pucheta muttered nervously.


    Viki turned and raised her left hand, forming a "V" with her fingers.


    "Victory," Pucheta cheered enthusiastically.


    "Not yet," Hammya interrupted coldly, her eyes fixed on the unfolding scene.


    Finally, the Baris parted ways with the girls and advanced to intervene in the fight between Odadnac and Amabaray.


    "Let¡¯s move," Hammya commanded without hesitation.


    After a few tense and exhausting minutes, the machine was ready, thanks to Matlotsky¡¯s speed and everyone¡¯s collaboration.


    "We need to end this now," Hammya declared.


    "Does it work?" Anzor asked hesitantly.


    "No idea. We¡¯ll have to test it," H¨¦ctor replied, gesturing for everyone to step back from the contraption¡ªa metallic frame covered in gears and cables.


    Lucas stood ready at the improvised control panel.


    "Three... two... one... zero!" he shouted, pressing the button decisively.


    The device let out an ear-splitting noise, sparks flying through the air. A blue vortex began forming at the center, spinning faster and faster.


    "Come on, come on, come on!" Lucas and H¨¦ctor chanted together.


    Suddenly, with a blinding flash, the portal stabilized, revealing what looked like a laboratory filled with tools and advanced machinery.


    "Guys? GUYS?!" a voice exclaimed from the other side, startled by the connection.


    "Shit, I¡¯m a genius," Lucas muttered, stunned.


    "No, we are," H¨¦ctor corrected him.


    "Hello, old man," Hammya greeted flatly, her expression serious.

 WE DO NOT FORGET

    In Candado''s House. Arturo sat on the couch, watching a movie while cradling Karen in his arms. Beside him, Grandma Andrea kept them company. Meanwhile, Europa stood in her room, adjusting a formal outfit in front of the mirror: a white shirt, a navy-blue V-neck pullover, a violet tie, white gloves, black pants, and polished dark shoes.


    No matter how much she tried to focus on her appearance, her attention kept drifting to the necklace around her neck. Over and over, she tried to recall its origin, but her memory failed her. Arturo always gave the same response:


    ¡°It¡¯s a gift from me. Have you forgotten already?¡±


    Europa never believed him. Whenever she closed her eyes, a recurring dream haunted her: a shadowy figure held her hand and whispered in a calm voice,


    ¡°I will always be near.¡±


    For thirteen long years, the dream repeated, laden with disconcerting irony. That presence had kept its promise, never failing to say the same thing.


    ¡°Who could you have been?¡± Europa whispered to herself.


    She sighed, setting aside the weight of her thoughts, and stepped out of the room. She headed to the living room, where her mother and Arturo awaited her.


    ¡°Did you dye it red again?¡± Europa asked with a tinge of curiosity.


    ¡°Yes, I did,¡± Andrea replied with a radiant smile.


    ¡°You look beautiful, my love,¡± Arturo added, gazing at her tenderly.


    Europa closed her eyes, exhaling with a hint of superiority.


    ¡°Of course, I am.¡±


    Andrea chuckled softly.


    ¡°You bring back so many memories dressed like that. It feels like yesterday when you¡¯d sit on my lap, watching TV with me.¡±


    Europa returned a nostalgic smile and was about to sit beside them when a strange tingling sensation coursed through her head, causing her to collapse to her knees.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Andrea cried out, alarmed.


    At the Ram¨ªrez Residence.


    Laura woke up startled, her body drenched in sweat. She glanced at her husband, peacefully sleeping beside her, and raised a trembling hand to her face.


    ¡°She¡¯s awakened,¡± she whispered with a mix of joy and fear, as she rose from the bed.


    In a Hotel on Isla del Cerrito.


    Thuy Han stepped out of the shower, still wrapped in steam, her voice a soft murmur:


    ¡°Europa.¡±


    A smile curved her lips.


    ¡°I¡¯m coming to help you.¡±


    A Few Blocks from the Hotel


    Mercedes and Pablo hurried through the deserted streets.


    ¡°Mom, I think we¡¯re going to be late getting home,¡± Pablo said, worried.


    Mercedes looked intently in a specific direction, as if something was calling her.


    ¡°Europa needs me.¡±


    ¡°If she¡¯s going, Arturo will probably be there too,¡± Pablo added, quickening his pace.


    Without another word, they began to run.


    In a Mechanic¡¯s Shop.


    Terry lay under a car, adjusting the brakes, when a violet light illuminated the workshop. He rolled out from under the vehicle and looked up at the moon, now glowing purple. Smiling, he grabbed a beer can and took a sip.


    ¡°Great timing,¡± he muttered sarcastically before shouting, ¡°Felipe, close up for me!¡±


    At the Police Station.


    Cacho felt a prickling sensation at the back of his neck while playing solitaire. He stood up, intrigued, and looked out the window. The moon seemed to call to him.


    ¡°The more years you made us wait, the more I forgot your face,¡± he said with a melancholic smile.


    He placed his hat on his head, adjusted his weapon belt, and hurried out.


    ¡°Claudio, take over for a bit.¡±


    ¡°Be careful,¡± Claudio replied from his desk.


    Cacho nodded, leaving him behind.


    At Perrando Hospital.


    Guti¨¦rrez Barret locked his office and, upon stepping into the parking lot, noticed the violet moon. A calm smile crossed his lips.


    ¡°Looks like it¡¯s going to be a long night.¡±


    He stored his belongings in the car and dashed off at superhuman speed toward Europa¡¯s house.


    ¡°Sorry, Brenda. I won¡¯t make it home tonight,¡± he said quickly over the phone before hanging up.


    In Resistencia.


    Samanta was watching TV, cuddling Edgar, when she suddenly sat upright, shouting,


    ¡°It¡¯s her!¡±


    ¡°Who?¡± Edgar asked, alarmed.


    ¡°Amabaray! I knew she would return.¡±


    Edgar smiled.


    ¡°That¡¯s good. I¡¯m sorry I can¡¯t go with you.¡±


    Samanta opened a portal in the wall and looked at him tenderly.


    ¡°Sweetheart, say hello to her for me.¡±


    ¡°Of course. Take care of the kids.¡±


    In the Reinhold Family.


    Kr?ma was playing with her daughter Beatriz on the rug, while Krauser read a book and Javier washed the dishes. A simultaneous chill ran down their spines.


    Kr?ma carefully placed Beatriz in her crib and rushed to her room, leaving Krauser puzzled.


    ¡°Mom?¡±


    Javier, removing his rubber gloves, spoke seriously:


    ¡°Krauser, take care of your sisters. Your mother and I have to go.¡±


    ¡°Understood,¡± the boy replied, feeling bewildered.


    At the Barret House.


    Hip¨®lito stormed into the living room, gently taking little Karen from Arturo¡¯s arms so he could assist Andrea. Europa stifled her cries of pain, trembling, until suddenly everything stopped. A torrent of images surged through her mind, blurred memories beginning to take shape. In every one of them, she was there.


    ¡°Cari...¡±


    ¡°I remember now, Arturo,¡± Europa interrupted, her voice trembling with emotion.


    Arturo looked at her in surprise just as she raised her head. Her face, marked by sorrow, lit up with an unexpected smile as tears streamed down her cheeks.


    "Amabaray?" Arturo asked in a hushed voice.


    Europa nodded and, unable to hold back, embraced her husband tightly.


    "I remembered, Arturo. I remembered! I remembered Amabaray."


    Andrea, witnessing the scene, smiled with relief as Arturo stood there in astonishment.


    "I can hear her voice," Europa continued, pulling back slightly from Arturo. "She''s scared, confused, and sad."


    Determination spread across her face.


    "I have to go."


    "I''m coming with you," Arturo declared without hesitation.


    "But¡ª"


    "Go on, don¡¯t worry," Andrea interjected. "Hip¨®lito and I will take care of the baby."


    Europa and Arturo exchanged grateful looks. Europa kissed her daughter''s cheek, while Arturo ruffled her hair affectionately.


    "Take care of her," Arturo said.


    "I took care of you when you were a child," Hip¨®lito replied with a smile.


    "Just as I did," Andrea added triumphantly.


    Without another word, Arturo and Europa dashed out into the dark streets of the town. Europa led the way, guided by an inexplicable certainty, while Arturo followed, worried yet resolute. With every step, memories surged back into Europa¡¯s mind, bringing a weight that both hurt and filled her with clarity.


    "Amabaray..."


    Europa, Age 5.


    Amabaray looked at her lovingly as she adjusted the bow on her floral dress.


    "You¡¯re stunning. This dress matches your eyes... well, sort of. Not that red flowers are the same as your eyes."


    Europa giggled and ran to her, leaning against her chest. Amabaray embraced her tenderly.


    "You¡¯re so beautiful."


    Europa, Age 6.


    "I¡¯m still nervous..." Europa paced back and forth on the bed.


    Amabaray smiled, floating over to scoop her into her arms. They both lay down together on the bed.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    "There¡¯s no need to worry. I¡¯ll be here if you need me."


    "Even so, I¡¯m scared. Mom, Dad, Uncle Hip¨®lito, and you have always been there for me, but..."


    "Everything good starts with a little fear, don¡¯t you think?"


    Europa, Age 15.


    Debris rained down around them. Europa ran toward her friend, but Amabaray stopped her, holding her by the waist.


    "Let me go! I have to help her!"


    "No..."


    Europa struggled desperately, watching her friend trapped beneath the collapsing roof. The last image she saw was Amabaray smiling and mouthing words she understood without hearing: "Thank you, Mom."


    The world crumbled. Arturo and Amabaray managed to pull Europa out of the tunnel, but she resisted, clawing her way back toward the cavern, screaming at the top of her lungs:


    "Evvaaaaaa!"


    Amabaray held her tightly, tears streaming down her face. Arturo could barely contain his own emotions as he tried to keep Europa safe.


    Europa, Age 24.


    "You have no other choice, Europa. Either the baby or your life," Rodolfo said gravely.


    "I want her to be born," Europa replied firmly, her voice unwavering. "Even if it means my death."


    "We¡¯ve already lost so many friends... I don¡¯t want to lose you too."


    Amabaray stepped in, embracing Europa decisively.


    "Do you truly want her to live?"


    "Yes."


    "Even if it costs you your life?"


    "Yes."


    Amabaray smiled.


    "Then I¡¯ll make sure both you and your baby survive."


    "Thank you..."


    In the Present.


    As they ran through the town, Europa felt pain and hope intertwine within her heart.


    "Even then, you never left me, Amabaray... I should have known," she whispered, tears welling in her eyes.


    Europa kept running until her steps brought her to Nelson¡¯s house. There, waiting for her, were her old friends: Javier Reinhold, Kr?ma O¡¯P?hner, Mercedes G¨®mez, Laura Ram¨ªrez, Rudolf ¡°Rodolfo¡± Decarte, Pablo Barreto, Thuy Han, Terry Bacone Salazar, Quisca ¡°Cacho¡± Daniel, Samanta Storni Alum, and Guti¨¦rrez Hern¨¢n Danilo Barret.


    "What are you all doing here?" Europa asked, bewildered.


    Rodolfo smiled as he pointed toward the sky.


    Europa and Arturo looked up. The sky was bathed in a deep shade of violet.


    ¡°¡®Look at the sky. When the moon turns violet, it means a Bari has awakened from their slumber. Those connected to their existence will feel it,¡¯¡± Javier recited solemnly.


    ¡°Amabaray has awakened. And it seems you''ve regained your memories,¡± Mercedes said.


    Europa stared at them, stunned.


    ¡°You¡­?¡±


    ¡°When Amabaray completed her task, she erased your memory. She knew that after what happened to Eva, you wouldn¡¯t be able to bear losing someone else,¡± Rodolfo explained.


    ¡°But we refused to forget her. We knew she would return,¡± Pablo added.


    ¡°She tried to do the same to me, but I didn¡¯t let her,¡± Guti¨¦rrez chimed in.


    ¡°We¡¯re here to see her again,¡± they all said in unison.


    Arturo knocked on the door. Barely a second passed before it opened, revealing Clementine in the doorway.


    ¡°As Lady Hammya said, here you are. And there are more of you than I expected.¡±


    ¡°Hammya?¡± Europa asked.


    ¡°Down to the basement, please,¡± Clementine said, stepping aside to point toward the entrance.


    Without hesitation, Europa and the others entered the house and headed to the basement. They descended the stairs quickly, arriving at a room with two open doors: one leading to an elevator, the other to another staircase.


    ¡°Which way?¡± Laura asked.


    ¡°The elevator,¡± Europa decided.


    When they reached the desired floor, Europa kicked the door open.


    On the other side were Nelson and Hammya, along with their group. A young girl stood near a portal while Nelson typed furiously on a computer.


    ¡°Where is she?¡± Europa demanded.


    ¡°Oh, Europa¡­ I could have sworn there was a door where you''re standing,¡± Nelson replied, his voice dripping with sarcasm.


    ¡°Your sense of humor sucks at times like this,¡± Rodolfo growled.


    ¡°Director? Mom?¡± H¨¦ctor asked, startled by the new arrivals.


    ¡°Hello, darling. I see you¡¯re still breaking the rules,¡± Europa said with a smile.


    ¡°Sorry.¡±


    ¡°No need to worry. It¡¯ll be our little secret.¡±


    ¡°How did you get here so fast?¡± Hammya asked, her disbelief evident.


    ¡°The elevator,¡± Terry replied simply.


    Hammya shot Nelson a sharp look.


    ¡°What? I have a freight elevator. Some equipment can¡¯t be brought down the stairs or through that tiny lift,¡± Nelson said defensively.


    ¡°I see,¡± Hammya sighed.


    ¡°Where is Amabaray?¡± Europa asked firmly.


    Nelson rolled his chair until he was directly in front of her. He stood up, a faint smile playing on his lips.


    ¡°Amabaray is outside. Unfortunately, your son went out there too¡­ and it seems he¡¯s lost his mind. He¡¯s started attacking his friends.¡±


    Europa narrowed her eyes, her gaze shifting to Hammya and noticing the bruises on her face.


    ¡°What happened to you, dear?¡±


    Hammya tried to smile, though her discomfort was evident.


    ¡°I fell down the stairs.¡±


    Declan glanced at her, his expression skeptical of the excuse.


    ¡°Now, Mr. and Mrs. Barret, I need your help to save Candado from himself. I didn¡¯t think you¡¯d bring so many along,¡± Nelson said.


    ¡°What happened to him?¡± Arturo asked.


    ¡°There¡¯s no time for that now, but I promise, I¡¯ll explain later.¡±


    Hammya extended her hand toward Europa. She took it without hesitation, and Arturo followed suit.


    The group crossed through the portal, following Hammya as she led them toward a shoreline. The sky above was shrouded in black clouds, and relentless rain poured down. Hammya pointed toward a spot in the distance where Candado and Amabaray were locked in combat with the Baris.


    ¡°Are those¡­?¡± Arturo began.


    ¡°Yes, Mr. Barret,¡± Hammya confirmed solemnly.


    ¡°My son¡­¡±


    ¡°Candado has been consumed by the rage¡ªwhat we call Odadnac,¡± Hector explained.


    ¡°What do you suggest we do?¡± Europa asked, her eyes fixed unwaveringly on her son.


    ¡°You deal with Amabaray. We¡¯ll handle Candado,¡± Hammya said firmly.


    ¡°It¡¯s risky,¡± Arturo murmured.


    ¡°If there¡¯s one thing I¡¯ve learned from Candado, it¡¯s that everything is about risks,¡± Hammya countered, her tone resolute.


    Europa gave her a brusque pat on the head, a wry smile tugging at her lips.


    ¡°You¡¯ve changed a lot in the five months I¡¯ve known you.¡±


    ¡°Whatever you say, Mrs. Barret.¡±


    ¡°You can call me ¡®Mom.¡¯¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll discuss that later.¡±


    Arturo stretched, preparing himself.


    ¡°It¡¯s been a while,¡± commented Thuy Han.


    ¡°You can say that again,¡± Arturo replied as Europa clapped him on the back.


    ¡°Try not to get yourself killed.¡±


    He grinned at her, then turned to Hammya.


    ¡°We¡¯ll take care of Amabaray. I¡¯m leaving my son in your hands.¡±


    ¡°Ready, love?¡± Europa asked Arturo.


    ¡°Always,¡± he said with determination.


    Europa launched forward with incredible speed, and the others followed close behind.


    Amabaray turned just in time to see Europa charging toward her. A cold smile spread across her face as she leaped to intercept, placing herself between the Baris and the incoming group.


    ¡°Pres¡¯ kat niata, pres¡¯ kat niata,¡± she intoned, her voice chilling.


    ¡°That language¡­¡± murmured B¨®rrbari in surprise.


    He immediately gave the order for Tiebari to retreat. He recognized the words¡ªit was the language of Roob¨®leo, and the phrase meant ¡°my struggle.¡±


    Europa continued her charge and, upon reaching Amabaray, grabbed her firmly by both shoulders.


    ¡°Amabaray! It¡¯s me, J?n!¡±


    But Amabaray didn¡¯t respond. She shoved Europa away forcefully, a blade emerging from her wrist and slashing toward Europa¡¯s chest. Arturo intercepted the attack with a well-placed heel kick, redirecting the weapon into the ground. Rodolfo froze Amabaray¡¯s feet, and Thuy Han struck her head with his Vietnamese hat.


    Undeterred, Amabaray extended her arm, a sharp blade emerging from her palm. Terry restrained her with a chain, giving Laura and Mercedes a chance to tear the weapons embedded in her ribs away.


    Before they could finish, Amabaray broke free violently, delivering blows aimed at their heads. Pablo and Arturo countered her strikes with precision, blocking her attacks with their legs.


    ¡°Hurry!¡± Pablo urged.


    Amabaray freed her feet and prepared another strike, but Kr?ma wrapped her torso with his tentacles. Meanwhile, Javier, Samanta, and Guti¨¦rrez analyzed her movements.


    ¡°To the left,¡± Javier instructed.


    Kr?ma responded by extending a tentacle to trap one of Amabaray¡¯s legs. Samanta created a portal to confine her, but Amabaray roared furiously, breaking free to continue her assault.


    Laura inhaled deeply, releasing a green gas from her mouth.


    ¡°TAKE COVER!¡±


    Terry exhaled flaming saliva, which ignited in the air. Despite their efforts, Amabaray grew stronger and more dangerous with each passing moment.


    Cacho drew his weapon, firing at Amabaray¡¯s legs to divert her attention. Then, holstering his pistol, he charged at her and restrained her with his superhuman strength. His eyes glowed a fiery orange, and three iron horns emerged from his head.


    ¡°Guti¨¦rrez, help me!¡±


    Guti¨¦rrez sped to his side, securing the bindings. But once again, Amabaray broke free, forcing the group to retreat.


    ¡°I¡¯ll handle her attacks; you try to reach her!¡± Laura commanded. ¡°I don¡¯t want to hurt her!¡±


    Europa made another attempt. This time, Amabaray drew a second dagger, but Arturo deflected it. Europa grabbed Amabaray by the waist, pulling her away from Odadnac to prevent further harm to the others.


    Amabaray broke free and struck Europa¡¯s back¡ªa blow that wasn¡¯t enough to take her down. Europa latched onto her shoulders, speaking desperately.


    ¡°Do you remember when you hugged me after what happened to Eva?¡±


    Amabaray¡¯s response was a brutal headbutt, sending Europa to the ground, blood streaming from her nose. Still, she didn¡¯t give up.


    Amabaray raised her foot to stomp on Europa, but Kr?ma pulled her back with his tentacles while Pablo and Arturo delivered a joint strike to her chest.


    ¡°Be more careful,¡± Arturo said, helping Europa to her feet.


    She nodded, rushing back toward Amabaray and embracing her tightly.


    ¡°Do you remember when I hurt my legs, and you carried me home?¡±


    Amabaray struck her repeatedly, but Europa didn¡¯t let go. The others scrambled to block the onslaught of punches raining down on her.


    ¡°Do you remember when I was angry, and you gave me that silly apple?¡±


    With tears in her eyes, Europa rested her head on Amabaray¡¯s chest, smiling softly.


    ¡°Do you remember when I told you I¡¯d fallen in love with Arturo, and you promised to help me?¡±


    Amabaray screamed in rage, majestic crystal wings unfolding from her back. With Europa still clinging to her, she soared into the sky with breathtaking speed.


    ¡°EUROPAAA!¡± everyone shouted from the ground below.


    Once in the sky, Amabaray roared with fury. Her eyes glowed like fiery embers, and her metallic fists began to pound against Europa.


    ¡°Do you remember when I was consumed by my anger, seeing only darkness, but you stood by me?¡±


    Her strikes intensified, ringing out like thunder.


    ¡°Do you remember when I was pregnant with Gabriela, and you would rest your head on my belly to listen to her?¡±


    Amabaray faltered. Her movements became erratic, and her glowing eyes flickered like a faulty light.


    ¡°I WILL DESTROY EVERYTHING!¡± she screamed, her voice shaking the heavens.


    With her last ounce of strength, Europa pressed her head against Amabaray''s chest and began to hum softly. Slowly, the hum turned into a gentle, familiar melody, the kind they used to share.


    ¡°I¡¯ll never let you go; I¡¯ll always stay near.


    I¡¯ll fight to save you, but I need you to hear.


    This isn¡¯t your place, not where you belong.


    Please remember me, and who you are inside.


    Come back to us, return home.


    I¡¯ll never abandon you, never leave you alone.¡±


    Amabaray screamed in frustration, struggling to break free from Europa¡¯s embrace. Below, everyone watched with bated breath. The height was perilously high, and whispers of prayer for Europa¡¯s safety filled the air.


    Europa¡¯s voice grew stronger:


    ¡°I¡¯ve waited for you, with hope in my heart.


    Even when my mind told me we were apart.


    In my dreams, you¡¯ve always been near,


    guiding me, holding me, whispering here.


    Now, after all these years,


    you¡¯re still the one who wipes away my tears.¡±


    The melody carried across the air, but Amabaray¡¯s mind was a storm. Fragmented memories and distorted voices swirled inside her. That woman¡ªthis human holding her so tightly¡ªwas she truly an enemy? Her instincts screamed yes, urging her to obliterate this fragile being. After all, humans had stolen Keplant¡¯s power. They deserved to be sacrificed for the sake of this unrelenting war.


    But... why does it hurt?


    Each strike felt like a piece of her heart breaking. Her mind, torn between rage and longing, betrayed her. Who was J?n? Why did she feel as if she had been waiting for her all along?


    Suddenly, a guttural cry erupted from her soul:


    ¡°I HATE HUMANKIND!¡±


    Europa, still clinging to her, replied softly:


    ¡°That¡¯s not true; it¡¯s not who you are.


    Hatred doesn¡¯t fit; it leaves a scar.


    Thinking of hate only brings you pain,


    because love, not anger, flows in your veins.¡±


    Amabaray roared again, tears streaming down her face.


    ¡°I NEVER KNEW YOU!¡±


    Europa¡¯s voice trembled but didn¡¯t falter.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry I¡¯m late. I¡¯m sorry I forgot.


    Please, forgive me¡ªit was never my thought.


    Don¡¯t let this end; don¡¯t let it break.


    I can¡¯t lose you¡ªmy heart would ache.¡±


    Amabaray¡¯s metallic fists stilled. Each word cut through her, piercing her armor.


    ¡°You¡¯re scared and lost, unsure and alone.


    But I won¡¯t leave you¡ªI¡¯ll guide you home.


    Please, wake up. Open your eyes.


    I need to see that smile, the one that shone so bright.


    So please, wake up¡ªdon¡¯t give up the fight.¡±


    Amabaray trembled. Her strikes, once fueled by rage, now faltered, weak and uncertain.


    ¡°You¡¯re scared and lost, but I won¡¯t let you fall.


    Take my hand¡ªyou can conquer it all.


    Please, wake up, find your way back.


    The light in your smile is the warmth that we lack.¡±


    Europa¡¯s strength gave way as her body collapsed against Amabaray, bruised and battered. Then, something shifted. The furious glow in Amabaray¡¯s eyes dimmed, returning to their natural hue. Memories rushed back like a flood, overwhelming her.


    ¡°J?N!¡±


    Amabaray¡¯s scream was raw and full of anguish. She dove after Europa¡¯s falling body, wings of crystalline light spreading wide to soften their descent.


    On the ground, the group rushed to meet them. Amabaray folded her wings and held Europa close, tears streaming freely down her face. Europa¡¯s eyelids fluttered open, and she smiled weakly at the sight of her old friend.


    ¡°J?n, J?n, J?n...¡± Amabaray whispered brokenly, repeating her name like a lifeline.


    Europa chuckled softly, her voice a faint whisper. ¡°I heard you the first time.¡±


    Amabaray hugged her tightly, as though she feared losing her again. For the first time in thirteen years, she felt whole.


    ¡°Is this real?¡± Amabaray murmured, her voice trembling with doubt.


    ¡°No, Amab. It¡¯s not a dream,¡± Europa replied with tender certainty.


    As their reunion unfolded, the others¡ªArturo, Pablo, Mercedes, Kr?ma, Javier, Terry, Thuy Han, Laura, and Rodolfo¡ªjoined the embrace. Tears flowed freely as joy and relief filled the air.


    But the moment was shattered by a distant rumble. The group turned toward the source, where Odadnac¡¯s ominous figure loomed, growing ever more menacing.


    The atmosphere shifted. Hammya raised her hand, signaling the group to rally. Her focus remained unwavering.


    ¡°Now that we have what we need, it¡¯s time to make use of it,¡± she declared, her tone cold and resolute.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you think you¡¯re being a bit harsh?¡± H¨¦ctor interjected, his gaze firm.


    Hammya¡¯s sharp eyes met his. ¡°We need to save Candado. Celebrations can wait.¡±


    Arturo stepped forward, his expression stern. ¡°What¡¯s the plan?¡±


    Hammya took a deep breath, her voice steady.


    ¡°This is where Amabaray and I come in. We¡¯re going to drive Odadnac out of Candado¡¯s body.¡±


    A tense silence followed. The mission ahead was perilous, but Hammya¡¯s determination was unshakable. Everyone understood: time was of the essence.

 TEARS OF THORNS

    Then the plan began.


    ¡°That¡¯s insane.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s insane in itself, Declan.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t understand it, Hammya,¡± Europa said.


    ¡°Hammya?¡± Amabaray asked.


    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s my name. Any problem?¡±


    ¡°N... no,¡± murmured Amabaray, visibly uncomfortable.


    Hammya looked away toward the battlefield.


    ¡°Candado is in a sensitive stage,¡± she said, her voice grave and firm. ¡°Everything he does reflects the anger and sadness he feels.¡±


    She pointed toward the fight: Odadnac was battling all the Baris.


    ¡°He¡¯s playing with them, testing them. That means he doesn¡¯t yet have complete control over his body. He did the same thing that day when that woman used the roots to trap him.¡±


    ¡°That woman? Oh, you mean Ruccim¨¦nkagri,¡± Clementina interjected.


    ¡°Whatever her name is,¡± Hammya replied coldly. ¡°What matters is that he could have escaped, or even killed her, but he didn¡¯t because Candado prevented it.¡±


    Arturo stepped forward, frowning.


    ¡°Are you saying that Candado is struggling internally with that guy?¡±


    ¡°Struggling? No,¡± Hammya said. ¡°Candado is too depressed to resist. If he were truly fighting, his body would already have begun to fail, and one of the Baris would have wounded him by now.¡±


    ¡°So then what does it mean?¡± Arturo insisted.


    Hammya exhaled patiently.


    ¡°It means that Odadnac can¡¯t completely control Candado¡¯s body. He¡¯s using this fight to test his limits and achieve total domination. What I need is for Amabaray to create a force field around the two of us.¡±


    Hector frowned.


    ¡°Why exactly you?¡±


    Declan, more direct, stepped forward and confronted her.


    ¡°Yes, Hammya, why you?¡±


    For the first time, Hammya didn¡¯t feel the usual intimidation in front of Declan. She looked directly at him.


    ¡°Because I know how to save him. I know how to separate Odadnac from his body. None of you can do it.¡±


    Declan frowned, his voice defiant.


    ¡°That doesn¡¯t answer the question. Why?¡±


    Hammya clenched her fists and took a deep breath.


    ¡°Because I wasn¡¯t there that day on his birthday. If you go, Candado will only remember how you reacted when he insulted Gabriela. What do you think he¡¯ll feel if Hector approaches him? He¡¯ll remember what was said, and it will only make things worse. But I don¡¯t carry that burden. For him, I¡¯m not a reminder of his pain.¡±


    Hammya stood up and faced their inquisitive gazes.


    ¡°Are you going to support me or not?¡±


    Viki was the first to stand, followed by Clementina, Pucheta, Walsh, and finally the others.


    ¡°All right, let¡¯s do it.¡±


    Hammya ran toward the battlefield. B¨®rrbari was the first to notice her, and with a quick motion, he signaled to the Baris to step back. Without question, they obeyed. Odadnac, bewildered, watched as his opponents retreated, creating an empty space around him.


    He didn¡¯t have time to react as a figure closed in at high speed. Hammya leaped with feline precision, her face impassive. She grabbed him by the waist, lifted him into the air, and slammed him onto the ground in front of the tree where Amabaray was waiting.


    ¡°CIRCLE!¡± Hammya shouted.


    Odadnac tried to kick her while she was distracted, but she blocked the blow with her forearm. Even so, the impact was enough to throw her off balance. Odadnac tried to flee, but the circle was already closed.


    Surrounded by his enemies, he attempted to attack Hector, whom he considered the weakest. However, Lucas surprised him by spitting fire, Clementina fired with precision, and Hector delivered a kick to his chest that sent him back to the center of the circle.


    ¡°AMABARAY!¡± Hammya shouted.


    Amabaray spread his wings and rose into the air. With a precise motion, he generated a celestial force field that enclosed Hammya and Odadnac, leaving the others out. However, Odadnac began to pound violently on the force field to escape, but nothing seemed capable of even cracking it.


    ¡°It won¡¯t work,¡± Hammya said as she walked toward him. ¡°Here, death has no power, and that gives me the advantage¡ªand her advantage.¡±


    Odadnac grinned maliciously.


    ¡°I should have killed you when I had the chance.¡±


    Hammya ran toward him, throwing a punch that Odadnac easily dodged. She wrapped her hands in violet flames and shot a burst of fire at him, but Hammya rolled across the ground and avoided the attack.


    From the outside, the others observed the intense battle.


    ¡°What could she be doing?¡± Walsh asked, worried.


    ¡°What she can,¡± Pucheta answered seriously.


    Odadnac grabbed Hammya by the hair and began pounding her stomach and face. With a quick motion, she drew a machete and cut his hand, forcing him to let go.


    Then something unexpected happened: Hammya began to bleed from her nose, but her blood wasn¡¯t red. It was green.


    ¡°What are you?¡± Odadnac asked, stunned.


    Hammya wiped her nose and showed a mocking smile.


    ¡°I¡¯m Hammya Saillim, moron.¡±


    Her eyes glowed with intensity as she moved toward him. Odadnac reacted with a punch to her stomach, but she refused to back down. Without hesitation, she struck him hard in the nape of his neck.


    ¡°By possessing Candado¡¯s body, you acquired his powers and abilities... but also his greatest weakness.¡±


    Hearing those words, Odadnac¡¯s body began to flicker, as if losing its consistency.


    ¡°YOU!¡± he roared as he grabbed her by the neck with uncontrollable fury.


    Hammya calmly smiled, broke his grip with a sharp movement, and surprisingly embraced him.


    ¡°Now you¡¯re going to take me to where he is.¡±


    ¡°NOOOOOOO!!!¡±


    A sphere of smoke and fire formed around them, obscuring them from the others¡¯ view. The plan was still in motion.


    The body of Odadnac and Hammya passed through a tunnel formed by black storm clouds and violent gusts of wind. The sensation was suffocating; the environment felt like an eternal storm. Suddenly, Odadnac began to dematerialize. His body turned into ash, swept away by the wind. Hammya, on the other hand, continued falling into what appeared to be an endless void: only wind, storm, and rain.


    Finally, everything changed. The world turned white. Hammya opened her eyes and found herself standing on a ground covered in something resembling white grass. The storm felt like a distant memory; she wasn¡¯t wet, and her clothes and hair had taken on an unusual whitish tone. She looked around, but all she could see was an endless white void, interrupted only by a few scattered pine trees.


    Confused, Hammya turned, searching for something or someone. She spun so much that she ended up falling to the ground. Her hands touched the grass, warm and soft, confirming that this place, though strange, was tangible.


    When she lifted her gaze, she saw it: a figure from behind, standing out in the monochromatic world. Hammya stood up and walked toward it. As she approached, she noticed the landscape around her beginning to change. What had once been a white void was now becoming an immobile forest. Nothing moved, neither the branches nor the leaves. There was no wind¡ªjust an unsettling silence.


    ¡°Candado?¡± she asked as she got close enough.


    ¡°He¡¯s not here,¡± the figure said kindly and calmly.


    ¡°Who are you?¡± she asked, bewildered.


    ¡°You can call me whatever you like, but he and my brothers know me as the White Guardian.¡±


    ¡°Are you like Candado? You look... identical.¡±


    ¡°In part, yes. But not entirely. I could destroy you if you were an intruder, but considering what you did with Ira, I forgive you.¡±


    With that, he turned his gaze toward something Hammya couldn¡¯t see. She moved closer, trying to decipher what he was looking at. Ahead of them stood a fountain with crystal-clear water cascading from a sculpture.


    ¡°If you want to reach him, you¡¯ll have to go down.¡±


    ¡°Down? You mean into the water?¡±


    ¡°This water can¡¯t drown you, dear. The only connection between our worlds is this spring.¡±


    Hammya swallowed, hesitated for a moment, and then placed her foot into the water. As she was about to submerge her other foot, the Guardian placed a hand on her shoulder.


    ¡°Be careful. He¡¯s very distressed by what happened. Try not to make it worse, or you¡¯ll die there.¡±


    Hammya nodded, swallowing her fear, and stepped in. When her body was completely submerged, she murmured to herself:


    ¡°Oh, Hammya, bad time not to know how to swim.¡±


    She held her breath and plunged under.


    Suddenly, she found herself in another place. Everything appeared to be the interior of a house, but not just any house¡ªit was the Barret family home. However, it was empty. Hammya observed carefully; the birds were singing outside, and the trees danced with the wind. Her hair and clothing had returned to their usual color¡ªor almost. It still had hints of red.


    She tried to leave through the front door, but as her hand extended toward the doorknob, it passed through it as if it were a hologram. Intrigued, she tried the windows, but they too remained unyielding, as though the outside world were forbidden to her. Finally, after several unsuccessful attempts, she gave up and began searching for Candado.


    She climbed the stairs, which creaked under her weight, and noticed how everything appeared exactly as she remembered it. It was as if she had never left this house. She walked down the hallway leading to the rooms until she stopped in front of Candado¡¯s bedroom door. It was slightly ajar, unlatched, which gave her a strange sensation of company, as if she weren¡¯t entirely alone.


    She touched the doorknob, and to her surprise, it was warm. She pushed the door open, and what she saw on the other side left her speechless. The room was in ruins: the walls were cracked and riddled with holes, the bookshelves splintered and scattered across the floor, the window displayed a huge hole through which the wind howled. The wardrobe and desk lay destroyed, and a sharp, acrid scent of burnt wood lingered in the air. Burnt books, charred clothing, and blackened paintings were heaped like mute witnesses to a terrible tragedy. Even the bed was unrecognizable.


    Hammya turned to look at the inside of the door. The doorknob, now visible, was completely melted, explaining the warmth she had felt when touching it. Though the chaos was evident, it wasn¡¯t enough to frighten her.Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.


    Resolute, she moved toward the neighboring room: Gabriela¡¯s room, which she had come to consider her own. The door was slightly ajar. This time, Hammya pushed it open with the tip of her right foot. A sharp creak split the silence as the door opened slowly.


    And there he was. Candado was sitting on the edge of the bed, holding a wooden frame with a photograph inside. It was a picture of himself embracing his sister Gabriela on his tenth birthday. With almost reverent care, he traced his index and middle fingers over the glass as though caressing something sacred. His hands were covered in cuts and slightly bleeding, and the glove he wore had holes in the knuckles, probably from the blows he had delivered. Hammya remembered immediately the holes in the walls, ceiling, and floor of Candado¡¯s room.


    The scene, steeped in melancholy and tenderness, left her without words. There he was: broken, yet desperately clinging to a memory.


    "What are you doing here?" Candado asked in a calm voice.


    "I came to take you home."


    "Home? I am at home."


    "Not this house. Your real home."


    Candado paused for a moment but continued to trace the photo in his hand.


    "Go away from here. I want to be alone. I want to be with her."


    "Candado... she¡¯s already passed away," Hammya said softly.


    Setting the photo frame on the bed, Candado looked into Hammya''s eyes.


    "I know, Hammya. I¡¯m not an imbecile. But even so, I want to be with her."


    "Candado, let¡¯s go home. Everyone is waiting for you."


    "Who¡¯s waiting for me?" he asked sharply.


    "Your parents, your friends... and me."


    "No... they¡¯re not waiting for me. In fact, no one is waiting for me there."


    "Candado, that¡¯s not true. They are truly waiting for you."


    "WOULD THEY WAIT FOR A MURDERER!?" he exclaimed, rising to his feet abruptly and letting the photo frame drop to the floor.


    "You¡¯re not a murderer," Hammya said in a soft voice.


    Candado sneered at her.


    "What does someone who¡¯s only known me for five months know?"


    "It¡¯s true. You¡¯ve known me for five months. But you know, Candado, in that time, I¡¯ve seen you. I¡¯ve seen what you are and what you do when someone is in trouble, whether financially or in life-threatening situations. I¡¯ve seen someone who works hard for the well-being of others, who shoulders great responsibilities. I¡¯ve seen someone who, despite his fragility, was strong enough to impart justice. I¡¯ve seen a person who loves his family and takes care of his friends. That¡¯s the Candado I want."


    "I DIDN¡¯T DESERVE THAT!" he screamed, his face contorted in pain.


    Hammya took a step closer, but Candado immediately bristled.


    "STAY AWAY FROM ME!" he shouted angrily.


    Hammya froze.


    "What he said is true. Odadnac was right."


    "It¡¯s not true," Candado said in a weary tone.


    "Of course it is. When she was fatally injured, I felt happy. Happy because she had been punished. I wanted her dead, and I told her to die."


    "You were only five years old, Candado. Stop tormenting yourself," Hammya whispered.


    "I was a coward. I erased my past so I could live my life without regret. Odadnac was right. I... I didn¡¯t love her," his words came out brokenly.


    "NO! THAT¡¯S NOT TRUE!" Hammya screamed, tears brimming in her eyes.


    "LOOK AT REALITY, HAMMYA! IF IT WERE TRUE, SHE¡¯D BE ALIVE! ALIVE! VI-VE!"


    His words vanished into the air, and his eyes filled with pain.


    "Yes. I was fooling myself all this time. First, it was an illness, and then a false lead that someone else had killed her. But it wasn''t like that... it was me all along."


    "You were only five years old. It wasn''t your fault," said Hammya, her voice a mix of sadness and understanding.


    "What do you know? Huh? Nothing... I''m a killer. Do you see these hands, Hammya? Look at them... LOOK AT THEM! These hands could have saved Gabriela if I had given a little bit of power to Odadnac. If I hadn''t been a coward, a bad brother, she would still be alive."


    "That isn''t your fault, Candado," Hammya replied, her voice trembling.


    "YES, IT IS! DON''T YOU DARE SAY OTHERWISE BECAUSE IT IS!" His voice came out as a roar of suffering and anger.


    Candado''s face was etched with pain.


    "I know what you''re going through, Candado. I recognize that feeling. I suffered it when my father died, but even so, I kept moving forward. I worked to resist the pain because he didn''t want that. He wanted me to always smile. That''s why you must keep moving forward too."


    Candado glared at her in fury.


    "Candado?"


    "Move forward? Sure, the world moves on while I stay behind. Do I just keep going because you said so?"


    "I didn''t say that..." Hammya murmured sadly.


    "You didn''t say that, and yet you expect me to move forward? You''re stupid," Candado retorted with contempt.


    "Candado..."


    "I''m aware of it, stupid girl. I know everyone keeps going forward, everyone tries, everyone does, I did it too. I kept going, and going, and going¡ªKEPT GOING! AND I KEPT GOING! BUT I...! came to a realization: even if the world keeps moving, the pain doesn''t go. It haunts you, it torments you, it suffocates you. There is nothing but that pain coursing through your body every single day, reminding you that nothing will ever change."


    His words hung in the air, heavy, like a sentence.


    "I understand. I know it hurts..."


    "You don''t know. STOP! pretending you do, because you don''t," Candado''s voice rose with contained fury. "You don''t know what it''s like to wake up every day and see, right there, the room where she used to sleep. To go to the square where she used to play, to pass by the school she went to. To see her photo in every damn frame every single day. All of that only adds to your misery, as if it were trying to remind you again and again that the pain will never leave, that I will never see her again, nor hear her."


    He paused, breathing heavily, and then continued:


    "It hurts. Every day it hurts, Hammya. Every damn morning, afternoon, and night. The pain doesn''t leave. You just... just have to endure it, but I''m tired of it. I''m tired of it. I''ve borne enough. I tried to resist, but... it''s enough. It won. I gave in to it, and now I just want..."


    "Don''t you dare say that," Hammya interrupted firmly, her voice serious but laden with concern. "Never, Candado, never say something like that, please."


    Candado''s face was covered in a shadow of despair. The weight of three years of pain and guilt was breaking him down. Hammya watched him, unsure of what to do. She wanted to help, but her words felt useless in the face of his torment.


    "Gabriela wouldn''t have wanted you to feel this way," she whispered, trying to calm him. "She would have wanted you to keep smiling."


    "That''s what you think," Candado replied with a bitter smile. "I don''t know how someone like you can keep smiling. You lost your father, walked here from so far away with just a suitcase full of clothes. You endured hunger, cold, heat... and yet you had the strength to enter a school, sit in class, and stay by my side."


    "It was worth it," she said, her smile trying to bring light into Candado''s dark world.


    "No... I betrayed my sister. Why would it be any different with you?"


    Hammya looked at him, a mixture of sadness and determination in her gaze.


    "Don''t say you''re evil, because you''re not..."


    "ENOUGH!"


    Suddenly, the room disappeared, transforming into a forest under the rain. Candado was agitated, his eyes burning with fury.


    "DO YOU KNOW THIS PLACE?!" he shouted.


    Hammya recognized it. It was the place where Gabriela had fought against Pullbarey.


    "This is where I could have saved her, where I could have done something," he said, clenching his fists.


    "Yes, I know it," Hammya said softly.


    "Of course you know it," he continued, his voice accusatory. "Odadnac showed me how you were digging into my memories, searching for this. How many times did you do it to manipulate me?"


    "Candado, don''t continue with this. There was nothing a five-year-old child could have done."


    "You''re wrong," he retorted harshly. "I could have done something, but I didn''t. Because I was afraid. Because I hated her. I was angry with her for something stupid. I can understand how the world works. I can be a bastard, dictating the ways of life as though I were some perfect god, but I couldn''t use my strength to save her. Don''t excuse me because of my age¡ª''you were only five''¡ªat that age, I was aware of my surroundings. Her death only reinforced my view of the world."


    Hammya tried to approach him.


    "Candado..."


    "I SENTENCED HER TO DEATH HERE! IT WAS HERE THAT I KILLED HER!"


    Candado collapsed to his knees, tears streaming freely down his face.


    "Why did she keep smiling despite what I did to her? WHY?! WHY THE HELL DIDN''T SHE REJECT ME?!"


    Hammya approached and hugged him. Candado struggled, trying to pull her away.


    "Let me go!" he shouted, his voice tight with a knot of emotion.


    She closed her eyes and held him even tighter.


    "I''m not letting you go."


    Candado stopped resisting and began to cry even harder.


    "Everyone is right to hate me¡ªmy friends, my parents... I selfishly sought their attention when I was the one who killed their daughter. I should have been the one to die!"


    "That''s not true..."


    "Tell me, Hammya," he continued, through his sobs, "am I not a terrible person? Am I not the worst of all, someone who destroyed the most precious thing they had? I took feelings that weren''t mine, love that was never meant to belong to me."


    "You¡¯re wrong. I don¡¯t see you like that."


    Candado looked up at her, his face drenched in tears.


    "I destroyed her future. She wanted to be a mother. Today, she would have been twenty-one. Perhaps she would have been studying for a career or happy with her boyfriend. But I... I killed her. I took everything from her. I would give everything I have to go back in time. I would give even my life if it meant bringing her back."


    Hammya was crying, too. Seeing him so broken was breaking her.


    "You¡¯re not a murderer, Candado. That wasn¡¯t your fault."


    "Looking at her was the same as murdering her, even knowing what was happening."


    "Not for a five-year-old child."


    "Why won¡¯t you leave me alone?"


    Hammya looked at him intently, her words resonating in his mind before she even spoke them.


    "Because... because I¡¯m your friend."


    "I don¡¯t have friends. Someone as kind as you doesn¡¯t deserve to have a murderer as a friend. You deserve far more than I or this world could ever offer."


    "You¡¯re not a murderer, Candado."


    "Of course I am. I destroyed something I loved deeply... I did it. I¡¯m a monster." Candado clung to Hammya¡¯s embrace with all his strength. "I destroyed her for something stupid. I took the life of a wonderful person. I want to die..." his voice trembled, filled with unbearable pain.


    Hammya tightened her embrace, her voice broken but firm.


    "Stop, Candado. Stop saying that."


    Candado gritted his teeth, trying to hold back the torrent of emotions washing over him.


    "If I... if I had taken Odadnac¡¯s hand, she would be alive."


    Hammya fell silent, allowing Candado''s words to fill the space between them.


    "She would be here with me... not in a box underground."


    Candado¡¯s strength finally broke. He surrendered to the warmth of Hammya¡¯s embrace, and the tears came, unstoppable, washing away all the weight he had carried in silence for years.


    Then, the surroundings changed. The rainy forest that surrounded them vanished, replaced by a school. Hammya watched in silence as the scene unfolded: Gabriela carefully adjusting the knot in Candado¡¯s tie before planting a kiss on his cheek. The image faded, giving way to another.


    Now they were in the living room of their house. Candado''s mother hugged her children while they watched television. Then, the scene shifted to a garden. Gabriela was lifting Candado into the air, imitating the sound of an airplane, and both of them laughed uncontrollably.


    But the garden vanished, and they found themselves in a hospital. Gabriela was lying in a hospital bed, pale, nearly bald, and very thin. Yet her smile remained, untouched, as if nothing could ever steal it.


    The next scene was dark. The Barret family was sleeping in the hospital room. Mr. Barret sat in a chair, while Europa and Candado lay on the bed beside Gabriela, who was hugging her brother. Candado gazed at her, his eyes red, struggling against sleep. Gabriela kissed his forehead and smiled sweetly.


    "Take good care of mom and dad. Soon you¡¯ll be a big brother. Watch over Karen... I¡¯m sure she¡¯ll be a beautiful young lady."


    Candado began to cry silently as Gabriela embraced him. That was the last time he would feel her warmth. His voice faded, his eyes closing slowly.


    "I love you so much..."


    The world darkened again. Candado broke into desperate sobs.


    "Why did she keep loving me?" he shouted, his voice broken. "Why?!"


    Hammya held him even tighter, beginning to pat his back, her own voice soaked with tears.


    "There, there... I¡¯m here..."


    "Why did she have to die?! Why did she let me live?!" Candado¡¯s voice was a broken whisper, each word tearing at his throat. "Gabi... it hurts so much, too much..."


    "I know..." Hammya replied, sobbing. "It¡¯s a horrible feeling, I know. Cry as much as you need to. I¡¯m here with you."


    Candado continued crying until his tears finally ran dry. His breathing became slower, though his body still trembled.


    "Let¡¯s go home," Hammya said in a soft voice, a faint smile on her face.


    Candado nodded. The world began to crumble slowly, as though it were made of paper. The forest, the house, the garden, and the hospital disappeared before them.


    When they opened their eyes again, they were back in the living wasteland. The black clouds cleared, allowing a ray of warm light to envelop them.


    "There they are!" Hector shouted, pointing at them with visible relief.


    Amabaray lowered the barrier surrounding them, and the group ran toward their friends. Joy and relief flooded their faces upon seeing them safe.


    From a distance, Amabaray observed his brothers retreating through a portal. Each carried their respective human. B¨®rrbari, the last to cross, turned to tilt his head slightly toward Amabaray¡ªa gesture of farewell and promise.


    When the portal disappeared, Amabaray turned toward Europa and the others.


    Everyone was hugging and applauding Hammya. By that point, she had returned to her usual personality, feeling embarrassed by all the praise she was receiving. Europa and Arturo approached to embrace their son.


    "Mom, Dad¡­"


    "What¡¯s wrong?" Arturo asked, his voice laced with concern.


    "Hammya has something important to tell you."


    Europa and Arturo exchanged a glance, understanding that Candado needed some time alone.


    "You¡¯re right. We¡¯ll talk to her, but we¡¯ll come back later to shower you with kisses," Europa said, planting a kiss on his forehead.


    Candado responded with a cold smile. Arturo and Europa moved away, leaving him alone as they headed toward Hammya to thank her.


    At that moment, Candado felt entirely isolated. Everyone was busy talking, congratulating Hammya. Even Declan was engrossed in conversation with Andersson. It was then that his eyes fell upon the fac¨®n lying in the dirt, still stained with blood.


    Upon seeing it, memories came rushing back like a torrent. He thought of Gabriela, of what he had caused his beloved sister. The pain and guilt lingered, as fresh as they had been on that first day. His tears had never served as relief.


    He walked slowly toward the weapon, picked it up, and looked at his reflection in the sharp blade. There he saw himself¡ªOdadnac.


    "You¡¯re a killer. Nothing and no one will ever change that," the reflection said before fading.


    "I know," Candado whispered, his voice filled with pessimism and despair.


    Meanwhile, Hammya, surrounded by congratulations and pats on the back, began to feel uneasy. The crowd celebrated her as a hero, but something felt wrong. She couldn¡¯t see Candado anywhere. She looked through the sea of people until, through a small gap, she found him. What she saw froze her in place.


    Her joy turned to pure terror. Erika, celebrating with her sister, noticed as well. Her eyes glimmered briefly, and she looked toward the same spot as Hammya. Both of them froze as they saw Candado bringing the fac¨®n toward his neck, the blade glinting just centimeters from his skin.


    Everything slowed to a crawl. Their minds screamed, but their bodies refused to respond. Nobody else had noticed. The distance wasn¡¯t great, but to them, it felt like a bottomless chasm.


    "Ca¡­" Hammya tried to vocalize, but no words came.


    Desperate, she scanned the crowd, searching for help. Declan, having noticed her odd behavior, followed her gaze.


    "What¡­?" he whispered, panic overtaking him.


    Then, with all the force he could muster, he shouted:


    "CANDADOOOOOOOO!"


    Declan¡¯s cry broke Hammya¡¯s trance. Her eyes and hair turned a bright green as adrenaline surged through her, propelling her forward.


    Candado, head bowed like a child scolded, murmured:


    "I¡¯m sorry, Gabi¡­"


    He closed his eyes, lifted his arms, and without hesitation, brought them down violently, driving the fac¨®n toward his neck.


    The blade pierced the skin, and a spurt of blood splattered onto his face. But something was strange¡ªhe was still breathing.


    "I... I''m sorry¡­Ca¡­Candado, but I¡¯m not so phenomenal as to stop this with my teeth," Hammya said, her voice trembling.


    Candado opened his eyes, shaking. The blood covering him wasn¡¯t his own; it was Hammya¡¯s. She had stopped the fac¨®n with her hand. The blade was buried deep into her palm, all the way to the hilt. Her green blood dripped onto his face as the weapon came to a stop just millimeters from his neck.


    "AAAAHHHHHHHH!"


    With a painful tug, Hammya yanked the fac¨®n from Candado¡¯s hands. The blade remained lodged in her own left hand.


    Candado stood there, dumbfounded, and so did everyone else. They were all paralyzed by the incredible speed and force of Hammya¡¯s intervention.


    Hammya looked at the group but fixed her gaze on Candado.


    "I¡­ I''m glad you''re okay," she said, forcing a smile through her tears.


    Blood continued to pour from her wound. With the strength she had left, she pressed her left arm, attempting to stop the bleeding, but the pain was unbearable. Finally, her body collapsed.


    Before losing consciousness, her final vision was of Candado running toward her.


    "I¡¯m glad I made it in time."


    That was her last thought as her eyes closed, leaving behind a serene smile and a single tear on her face.

 THE END OF PAIN AND THE BEGINNING OF THE SCAR

    Hammya woke up in her bed, feeling the warm daylight filtering through the window and gently brushing her face. As she opened her eyes, the sky came into view: a radiant sun accompanied by a few white and gray clouds dancing on the horizon. Yet, something felt off. She realized she could only see with one eye, and a sharp pain began to spread through her body, especially in her ribs and chest¡ªsensations she had never experienced before.


    Suddenly, a memory surged within her, and anxiety shook her to the core. She had to know what had happened to him.


    ¡°Candado! CAN¡ª!¡± she shouted, her voice breaking with fear.


    ¡°I¡¯m here,¡± a cold, sharp voice responded from somewhere nearby.


    Hammya turned her head toward the sound and saw him: there he was, sitting with a book in his hands, wearing the same composed demeanor that always defined him.


    ¡°There¡¯s no need to shout,¡± he said indifferently, standing up calmly and walking toward her.


    As he approached, Hammya froze. He bore no visible wounds, as if nothing had happened. He wore a crisp white shirt paired with an elegant red tie, a flawless black vest, white gloves, fitted dark trousers, and shoes that perfectly complemented the ensemble.


    ¡°Candado?¡± she asked in a faint voice.


    The boy scratched his cheek with his index finger, glancing to the side.


    ¡°Do I look like someone else?¡±


    Before she could answer, Hammya leapt out of bed and embraced him so tightly that he lost his balance, falling to the floor.


    ¡°You¡¯re okay!¡± she exclaimed with relief.


    ¡°Forget about me and worry about yourself. You¡¯ve been asleep for two days,¡± he replied, trying to get back on his feet.


    But Hammya paid no attention to his words, holding him as if she never intended to let go.


    ¡°Hey, I¡¯m fine now. I just went through a dumb phase,¡± he said, attempting to lighten the situation.


    Carefully, Candado picked her up and set her back on the bed. Then he noticed a green stain on his glove.


    ¡°Looks like you reopened your wound. I¡¯ll need to change your bandage,¡± he said seriously.


    He walked over to a nearby desk and pulled a first aid kit from one of the drawers.


    ¡°Where am I?¡± Hammya asked, still disoriented.


    ¡°You¡¯re in your room,¡± he replied as he prepared the materials.


    ¡°What happened to the others?¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re at home. It¡¯s 9:05 in the morning, so they¡¯re probably still asleep. They¡¯ll come by at noon to check on you,¡± he explained calmly.


    ¡°My hair is green again,¡± Hammya muttered, a hint of confusion in her voice.


    ¡°It¡¯ll turn red again,¡± he assured her with certainty.


    Hammya couldn¡¯t help but laugh softly at his nonchalant reply.


    ¡°Did you sleep?¡± she asked suddenly.


    ¡°Yes. Clementina and my mother forced me to rest. They didn¡¯t take their eyes off me... after what I tried to do,¡± he admitted, his voice carrying a mix of regret and honesty.


    Concern clouded Hammya¡¯s face as he pulled out alcohol and cotton from the kit.


    ¡°And now?¡± she asked.


    ¡°I had to tell them everything¡ªabsolutely everything¡ªfrom why I did it to why I wanted it all to end,¡± he replied gravely.


    Hammya remained still, watching him closely.


    ¡°What happened?¡±


    ¡°They hugged me. All of them, in fact. No one got mad, no one lashed out. Though my mother¡­ she did hit me,¡± he said, sadness evident in his tone as he began to remove the bandage from her wound.


    ¡°Would you mind looking up?¡± he requested.


    Hammya obeyed, directing her gaze to the ceiling and wincing involuntarily as the scab tore away from her skin.


    ¡°Well,¡± she murmured.


    ¡°How does it look?¡± Hammya asked.


    ¡°You¡¯re lucky the blade didn¡¯t damage your bones. You only suffered a tear in the flesh and muscle. No stitches were needed because the blade was so fine,¡± he explained with professional precision.


    ¡°Lucky me,¡± she quipped sarcastically.


    Candado dampened a cloth with water and gently began to clean the wound.


    ¡°What you did that day was incredibly reckless. You could¡¯ve lost your hand¡ªor died,¡± he said while working.


    ¡°Heh, that wasn¡¯t possible. No one could¡¯ve died in that, not to mention if I hadn¡¯t done it, you could¡¯ve died,¡± Hammya replied seriously.


    ¡°But you could¡¯ve lost your hand.¡±


    ¡°But I wouldn¡¯t have lost you,¡± she answered with a smile.


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Candado applied alcohol to the wound, and Hammya couldn¡¯t suppress a pained cry.


    ¡°Ah! It stings!¡± she exclaimed.


    ¡°Don¡¯t look down,¡± he said calmly.


    ¡°Fine, fine, I won¡¯t,¡± she replied, pouting.


    With care, he continued tending to her wound.


    ¡°Are you okay?¡± she asked softly.


    ¡°Of course I am,¡± he replied indifferently.


    ¡°I don¡¯t mean physically¡ªI mean the other thing,¡± she insisted.


    ¡°I¡¯ll survive,¡± he said firmly.


    Once he finished, he carefully bandaged her wound.


    ¡°Why did you do it?¡± he asked suddenly.


    Hammya lowered her head, but he urged her to look at him again.


    ¡°No! Don¡¯t lower your head,¡± he said firmly.


    She complied, returning her gaze to the ceiling.


    ¡°Because you would¡¯ve died, Candado, and I didn¡¯t want that. I didn¡¯t want you to die. Gabriela would¡¯ve been furious if she knew she died for nothing,¡± she whispered, her voice heavy with emotion.


    ¡°I¡¯m not talking about Gabriela¡ªI¡¯m talking about you,¡± he replied, his voice trembling.


    Candado finished bandaging her and looked at her with sorrow.


    ¡°I already said it¡ªbecause I didn¡¯t want you to die,¡± she added firmly.


    ¡°But why did you do it?¡± he asked again, doubt lacing his tone.


    ¡°Why? There¡¯s no why. Let me answer your question with one of my own: would you have done the same?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I would,¡± he replied without hesitation.


    ¡°Well, there you go. So would I,¡± Hammya said, a mix of defiance and relief in her tone.


    Silence fell between them, broken only by the distant hum of sunlight streaming through the window.


    Candado finished bandaging the wound, placed the supplies back in the box, and set it aside, only to take her injured hand in his.


    ¡°You knew it would hurt a lot, yet you still did it,¡± he said, staring at and gently caressing the bandaged palm of her hand.


    ¡°Of course, I did. And I knew it would hurt, I think. Actually, it hurt a lot,¡± Hammya replied softly. Then, slowly, she lowered her head until her forehead rested against his.


    ¡°But this pain is nothing compared to the pain I would feel if you had died.¡±


    Candado''s eyes tightened, and the tears he had been struggling to hold back began to flow, sliding down his cheeks and dripping onto her bandaged hand. Hammya noticed, and with tenderness, she began to stroke his back with her free hand.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Candado murmured, fighting not to break down completely. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry.¡±


    Hammya smiled, slid off the bed, and hugged him tightly.


    ¡°Shhh, shhh, shhh, it¡¯s okay.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry about your hand.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry about your eye.¡±


    ¡°It wasn¡¯t your fault. It¡¯ll heal.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry for everything I¡¯ve done to you.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s nothing to apologize for. You¡¯ve never done anything wrong to me.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry for hurting you.¡±


    Hammya embraced him even more tightly, sensing how fragile and vulnerable he was in that moment.


    "Someday, I¡¯ll tell you what I keep in my heart," she thought.


    She removed his beret and, while he continued crying, kissed his forehead, calming the emotional storm raging inside him just a little.


    Caught up in this moment of love and solace, Hammya completely forgot about her surroundings until a familiar voice snapped her out of her thoughts.


    ¡°Uh, Hammya,¡± said Europa, her tone filled with confusion.


    Hammya flinched and pulled away from Candado, quickly retreating to the bed as though the sound had startled her. She turned toward the voice, finding Europa staring directly at her.


    ¡°Hi,¡± Hammya said, her nerves unmistakable.


    In that instant, she sensed a tense hostility in the air, something that made her instinctively let go of Candado and withdraw further.


    ¡°Mom, I was going to tell you, but...¡± Candado began, turning to face his mother.


    ¡°I can see that, son,¡± Europa replied, her expression serious.


    ¡°Your voice sounds hostile. Is something wrong?¡± he asked.


    Europa stepped closer to Hammya, sat down beside her on the bed, and looked at her directly. Then she turned to her son, noticing the tears still glistening in his eyes. She wiped one away with her thumb, smiling sweetly as she spoke.This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    ¡°Breakfast is ready. Go downstairs, please.¡±


    ¡°Okay,¡± he replied, a hint of embarrassment in his tone that Hammya caught immediately.


    The door closed behind Candado, leaving the two women alone in the room. Europa sighed and smiled gently at Hammya.


    ¡°I¡¯m glad to see you¡¯re alright.¡±


    ¡°Like this?¡± Hammya asked hesitantly.


    ¡°Sorry about that. I¡¯m not used to seeing Candado being hugged by anyone other than Gabriela.¡±


    ¡°I see,¡± Hammya replied.


    Europa embraced her, a gesture so maternal that it felt as if she were caring for Hammya as though she were her own daughter. Resting her cheek on Hammya¡¯s head, she whispered:


    ¡°Thank you.¡±


    ¡°Thank you?¡± Hammya echoed, confused.


    ¡°If you hadn¡¯t seen it, if you hadn¡¯t stopped him¡­¡± Europa tightened her embrace, her voice trembling as she tried to hold back tears. ¡°I would probably have buried another child¡­ The thought terrifies me. What if no one had seen him? What if no one had stopped him in time? The fear of it consumes me. But when I saw you holding him, all that fear vanished.¡±


    Hammya smiled and gently stroked her back.


    ¡°I love your son,¡± she said softly.


    Europa hesitated for a moment but eventually calmed herself.


    "I know. I¡¯ve known since that time."


    "That time?" Hammya asked, her voice a mixture of nervousness and curiosity.


    "Do you think I didn¡¯t see? Do you think I don¡¯t know you kissed him on the cheek during the picnic?"


    Hammya didn¡¯t respond immediately, a nervous tension building in her posture.


    "Well, I¡¯m glad you told me and all," Europa continued, her tone gaining a slight edge, "but don¡¯t you think you¡¯re both too young for that?"


    Hammya frowned, her expression firming.


    "I don¡¯t think you¡¯re the right person to lecture me about that," she replied with surprising boldness.


    Europa choked slightly on her own breath, caught off guard.


    "Ahem¡­ That¡¯s¡­ different," she managed to say.


    "How is it different?" Hammya pressed, her tone steady and unrelenting.


    "..." Europa faltered, clearly searching for an answer.


    "I¡¯m waiting," Hammya said, fixing her with a pointed gaze.


    Europa wasn¡¯t intimidated by her defiance. Instead, she met Hammya¡¯s stare with an even fiercer intensity.


    "You two really are mother and son," Hammya remarked calmly.


    "What gave you any reason to doubt it?" Europa shot back defensively.


    "Nothing. Just saying," Hammya replied, her expression softening as she shrugged.


    She gave Europa a friendly pat on the back and smiled.


    "I¡¯m not burning any bridges here, so relax."


    Before their conversation could continue, a bright light streamed through the window, signaling the arrival of Amabaray.


    "Oh, there you are," Hammya said with a hint of relief.


    "Hello, J?n," Amabaray greeted her before turning to Europa. "Hello, little one. How are you feeling?"


    Hammya touched her bandaged eye and smiled timidly.


    "More or less okay," she answered softly.


    Amabaray smiled warmly and patted her head with gentle affection.


    "By the way, have you seen T¨ªnbari? I¡¯ve been looking for him all morning."


    Hammya and Europa exchanged knowing glances, sharing a mischievous smile that made Amabaray furrow his brow in confusion.


    "I don¡¯t get it," Hammya said, her brow raised in curiosity at their silent exchange.


    "It¡¯s nothing like what you¡¯re imagining," Amabaray retorted, clearly flustered.


    Realizing what was happening, Hammya joined Europa in a shared smirk, adding fuel to the playful teasing.


    "But¡­"


    "...We didn¡¯t say anything," Europa concluded with mock innocence.


    Amabaray, unable to maintain a serious demeanor, turned red under their scrutinizing gazes.


    "I¡¯m leaving!" he blurted, hastily retreating from the room.


    Europa and Hammya burst into laughter at his embarrassed reaction. But the laughter subsided as Hammya winced, clutching her injured hand.


    "Does it still hurt?" Europa asked with genuine concern.


    "A little."


    "I was surprised you have green blood."


    "Well, the truth is¡­"


    "You don¡¯t have to tell me now," Europa interrupted gently. "It¡¯s fine. I don¡¯t like prying into other people¡¯s secrets. When you¡¯re ready, you can tell me."


    "Alright."


    Europa stood, her departure marked with a kind smile and a casual wave before she left the room.


    Left alone, Hammya glanced around, her thoughts adrift.


    "What do I do now?" she muttered to herself, feeling slightly lost.


    She had no better idea than to lie on the bed and stare at the ceiling. As she gazed into the emptiness above, memories of everything that had happened in this world began to surface. As she replayed those events in her mind, a wave of tension overwhelmed her. She realized how much her personality had shifted. She had become cold and calculating, all for the sake of saving Candado. The vivid sensation of holding him in her arms mere moments before still lingered in her mind.


    What have I done?! she thought, alarmed.


    She grabbed a pillow and buried her face in it, kicking her feet into the air as if pedaling an invisible bike. After several long seconds of this ¡°pedaling,¡± she let the pillow fall away and resumed staring at the ceiling.


    ¡°Some habits never change,¡± she muttered softly to herself.


    Meanwhile, Europa descended the stairs, lost in thought. Her conversation with Hammya replayed in her mind, particularly what the girl had revealed about her feelings for her son. Surprisingly, the revelation stirred a strange happiness in Europa. It reminded her of the day Gabriela had her first boyfriend. Back then, Europa had learned of it through a surveillance device she had secretly installed while her daughter slept, a precaution to shield her from potential harm.


    Though the method was invasive, it had worked¡ªalbeit not without consequences. Before resorting to that measure, she had directly questioned Clementina about her romantic affairs, but the android had lied. As punishment, Europa had implemented a verbal and behavioral system that forced Clementina to always tell the truth about family-related matters. What she hadn¡¯t realized at the time was that implementing such systems without proper protocols risked erasing memories from the subject¡¯s mind. This was how Clementina had lost all recollection of her origins¡ªa truth she hadn¡¯t pieced together until much later.


    Now in the kitchen, Europa glanced out the window as she prepared something. Outside, she spotted Candado sitting under a tree, eating alone. A bittersweet smile crossed her lips. She knew her son was worried and was avoiding her, mistakenly believing that she hated him.


    Taking a deep breath, Europa closed her eyes, gathered her resolve, and stepped outside to join him. The creak of the door startled Candado. He looked up quickly, his gaze darting around nervously, as if searching for an escape route. Before he could act, Europa smiled and approached him.


    Candado instinctively braced himself, but it was too late. Europa reached him, scooped him up from under his arms, and hoisted him into the air with a burst of laughter.


    ¡°And where do you think you¡¯re going?¡± she teased, pulling him into a tight hug that left his feet dangling off the ground.


    ¡°I was¡­ uh¡­¡± Candado hesitated, knowing he couldn¡¯t lie.


    ¡°Hmm?¡±


    ¡°I wanted to¡­ leave,¡± he admitted reluctantly.


    Europa smiled, her expression softening. ¡°Where to?¡±


    ¡°I was going to¡­¡± He trailed off as she hugged him again, this time taking off his beret to keep him from overheating. He squirmed in protest.


    ¡°Oops, my bad.¡±


    ¡°I could¡¯ve done that myself.¡±


    ¡°I know, but you wouldn¡¯t have,¡± she replied, lying back on the grass while still holding him tightly, like a cherished teddy bear.


    ¡°You¡¯re going to mess up my hair.¡±


    ¡°Sometimes you act like such a little girl,¡± she teased with a grin.


    Though Candado continued to struggle, he couldn¡¯t stop a small smile from creeping onto his face. Trapped between his mother¡¯s warmth and affection, resistance seemed futile.


    ¡°Well, guess what¡ªI like when everything¡¯s in order.¡±


    He definitely gets that from me, Europa thought with a chuckle.


    Candado finally stopped struggling when Europa sighed in relief, a sound he immediately recognized as a sign of her happiness.


    ¡°I remember when I was teaching you how to walk,¡± she said, her voice tinged with nostalgia. ¡°You refused to stand on your own, but the moment I stretched out my arms like I was going to hug you, you¡¯d get up and run toward me with everything you had.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t remember that.¡±


    ¡°Of course not, you idiot!¡± she laughed. ¡°You were only a year old. The country was falling apart¡ªchaos and destruction everywhere¡ªbut we always found reasons to smile. Even when my beloved Argentina was being devoured by the incompetence of its president, we managed to get by.¡±


    ¡°2001,¡± Candado said, ¡°the year Argentina went up in flames due to a lack of social policies.¡±


    Europa leaned back under the shade of a tree, resting Candado¡¯s back against her chest.


    ¡°You were very lucky.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°I was born in 1976, just months before the military coup. I grew up watching my country fall into ruin. I never knew democracy as you do. But when I heard my parents talk about it¡ªabout how the country used to be¡ªI couldn¡¯t believe it. That was Argentina? I wanted to see it for myself. My childhood was filled with the arrival of dictators, the misery they brought, the fear in people¡¯s eyes, and the disappearance of those who simply vanished before my very eyes.¡±


    ¡°And then democracy arrived, didn¡¯t it?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± she nodded. ¡°I remember seeing a man standing on the balcony of the Casa Rosada, talking about democracy. My parents were crying¡ªnot because they missed the past, but because a dream had finally come true. But democracy wasn¡¯t what I imagined. Hunger didn¡¯t vanish. The same bleak landscape remained: a president chosen by the people, weak and ousted. Then came Carlos Sa¨²l Menem, a Peronist who handed over national industries to foreign interests¡­¡±


    ¡°Sorry to interrupt your oversimplified historical narrative, but¡­ what does any of this have to do with me?¡± Candado interjected.


    Europa took a deep breath and continued:


    "I felt the same way. I felt guilty, Candado. Guilty that my country was in such a state, that everything was lost. If only I had been born earlier, maybe my vote could have changed history and spared my eyes from witnessing such misery. But I realized that wasn¡¯t possible."


    "What are you trying to tell me? Sorry, but I think there¡¯s a huge difference between your story and mine."


    "History is a process, Candado. Even if there were a time machine to take you back to 1955 to warn President Per¨®n about the bombing of the Casa Rosada, nothing guarantees that history would have changed. Other factors would have intervened. The Church might have used the power of its symbols to declare him the devil, inciting a mob with the help of those who followed their faith. Businesses could have found ways to sabotage him, raising prices to starve the people and blame him for their suffering. No matter how hard you tried, the outcome would likely be the same: Per¨®n¡¯s overthrow."


    Candado remained silent.


    "It¡¯s different¡­ so different," he finally whispered.


    "Candado, blaming yourself for your sister¡¯s death is nonsense. You were only five years old when it happened. At that age, you were just a cheerful, playful child. It¡¯s not your fault, it never was. If you had taken Odadnac¡¯s hand when he offered it to you, you might have died, or you could have succumbed to anger. But anger is not strength, Candado. It¡¯s weakness."


    "Weakness?"


    "Yes. If you had taken his hand, you might have gained power, but you would have died. You were too young to handle something like that. The stress and anguish would have destroyed you. And even if you had survived, you wouldn¡¯t have known how to fight and would have died anyway."


    "But at least Gabriela would be here¡­"


    Europa hugged her son tighter, pressing her cheek against his.


    "I¡¯ve gone through bad things too, my sun. I lost five of my closest friends, one of them as dear to me as Yara is to you. I was betrayed by the guild I admired the most: the GreenBlood. I lost my position in O.M.G.A.B. I lost Amabaray, I lost my daughter¡­ And today, I almost lost you over an absurd reason: blaming yourself for something that wasn¡¯t your responsibility."


    As she held him tightly, her voice was calm and steady. Candado kept his face hidden, silently crying. His expression was cold and emotionless, but nothing could conceal the peace he felt at that moment.


    "How is it possible¡­" he murmured, his voice broken, smiling through his tears. "How is it possible that after everything, I feel so sentimental with the two of you? I don¡¯t understand¡­"


    Europa smiled and kissed his cheek.


    "Even if you say you¡¯re a terrible person, I¡¯ll always be by your side. When you cry, lean on me. When you need help, just ask. Because after all, I¡¯m your mother, and it¡¯s my duty to care for you, pamper you, hold you, and above all, love you. I regret distancing myself from you, but I promise I¡¯ll never leave you alone again. Never."


    Candado removed his hand from his eyes and quickly turned his face to bury it in his mother¡¯s chest.


    "Is it okay if I do it now?" he asked.


    "You don¡¯t have to ask me that."


    Europa placed her right hand on her son¡¯s head and softly patted his back with her left as she listened to his sobs.


    "You don¡¯t need to hold back, Candado. Let out everything you¡¯re hiding in your heart."


    Despite his pain, the boy complied with his mother¡¯s request. No one but Europa heard his sobs.


    As he cried, she hummed a gentle lullaby, an ancient song she had shared with him many times. And though his tears did not cease, peace began to flow into his heart once more, carried by the melody that danced between them.


    "Moon of Dreams, lantern above,


    Guide the child through soft bells of love.


    A deep desire takes its flight,


    Yearning for love in the earthly night.


    He loved the Moon, begged her to descend,


    And at her glow, his heart would bend.


    His love was pure, like a river¡¯s song,


    The Moon heard him, embraced him strong.


    The Moon in the sky kept her vow, it¡¯s true,


    To grant the wish of a family new.


    She held his hand, kissed him with light,


    Bells sang softly in the night.


    The stars above cradled them tight.


    Ring, oh ring, oh bell of love,


    Dance through the night, beneath stars above.


    Sing for the wind, and whistle for the sea,


    Clap for the Moon, her gaze so free.


    But the heart cannot wait, it longs to embrace,


    To kiss her glow, to feel her grace.


    Its greatest wish, its ultimate call,


    For the Moon once more to the Earth would fall.


    Her smile to the child brought a bloom of spring,


    She took his hand, together they''d sing.


    Their souls entwined, to the heavens they soared,


    As he turned to the Sun, their love restored.


    In blazing light, their bond would show,


    Their eternal love, in astral glow.


    The bells resound, singing their flame,


    The endless love of the Sun and the Moon.


    The bells resound, echoing their name,


    The timeless union of the Sun and the Moon.


    The bells resound, dancing in tune,


    The eternal love of the Sun and the Moon."


    Europa watched Candado tenderly as he rested against her chest. His breathing was deep and steady, yet the faint traces of tears still lingered on his cheeks. She gently ran her hand through his hair, her smile radiating pure love, and whispered softly:


    "Rest, my son."


    The crunch of dry leaves broke the quiet moment. Europa lifted her gaze and saw Arturo approaching carefully.


    "Luna del cielo..." he murmured, his voice tinged with nostalgia. "It''s a song I sang to you a long time ago."


    Europa looked at him, surprised, but said nothing. Arturo sat beside her, settling close as though the years hadn¡¯t worn away the bond they once shared.


    "I think I¡¯ve fallen in love with you again," he said suddenly, his voice carrying a gentle sincerity as he smiled softly.


    Europa responded with a warm, serene smile of her own as she continued to stroke Candado¡¯s hair. Arturo¡¯s eyes drifted to the boy¡¯s face, observing him quietly for a few moments. There was something about the way Candado slept, the stillness of his expression, that filled him with an unusual sense of peace.


    Carefully, Arturo reached out, brushing away the tears still clinging to Candado¡¯s face.


    "No matter how much he¡¯s grown, he¡¯s still just a child," Arturo remarked with a tender, melancholic tone as he let his hand rest gently on Candado¡¯s head. "To me, he¡¯ll always be my son."


    Europa nodded, her gaze returning to the boy, who seemed to sink further into her embrace.


    "Look at him," she said with a sigh filled with affection. "He seems happy."


    Arturo smiled as well.


    "Yes... he¡¯s sleeping so peacefully."


    The two of them remained silent, watching Candado¡¯s serene breathing as though the whole world had momentarily stilled in harmony. A gentle breeze carried the faint scent of damp earth and dry leaves, wrapping the scene in quiet tranquility. Europa began to hum the lullaby she had sung so many times before, and after a moment, Arturo joined her, his deep, warm voice harmonizing with hers.


    It was a simple moment, yet brimming with meaning: a mother, a father, and their son sharing a peace born in the aftermath of chaos. Though their past was riddled with scars, the present moment was all that mattered¡ªthe bond that united them.


    In the distance, Clementina observed the scene with a soft smile.


    "Rest well, young master," she whispered.

 CONCERT

    It was August 1st, 2013. Several days had passed since that incident, and time flowed normally for the Barret family, but with one notable difference: Candado. His attitude had changed drastically toward Hammya, especially in the way he spoke to her, now with warmth and understanding. This shift was due to the events that had unfolded in the neutral world. Candado had explained the reason behind his actions¡ªactions that had nearly cost him his life. Many of his friends had apologized to him, as they felt responsible for having treated him cruelly on his birthday. They didn¡¯t know when Candado had erased his memory, but upon realizing he was acting as if nothing had happened, they decided to go along with it.


    After clarifying everything and avoiding delving too deeply into the details of the incident to prevent lingering negative effects, life resumed relatively peacefully. Especially because that day, August 1st, marked the concert of Bel¨¦n Ram¨ªrez, H¨¦ctor¡¯s sister. As H¨¦ctor had mentioned both in writing and verbally, he would not be present that day¡ªor for at least a week¡ªas he was committed to supporting his sister. Nevertheless, he had left an explicit request for everyone in the guild: to film Bel¨¦n¡¯s important event. Like Candado, H¨¦ctor held his sister in high regard, treating her more like a parent than a sibling.


    As usual, Candado found himself in Bel¨¦n¡¯s room, this time accompanied by the O¡¯P?hner brothers, Grenia and Krauser, who were also there to support her. Everything seemed to be going well¡ªuntil the unexpected happened: Bel¨¦n played¡­ terribly!


    ¡°That violin sounds like it¡¯s suffering,¡± Krauser remarked.


    ¡°Come on, Bel, you¡¯ve got this!¡± Grenia cheered.


    ¡°Stop. That¡¯s enough,¡± Candado said.


    Bel¨¦n obeyed and lowered her instrument, fearful that Candado might be angry with her. But in truth, he wasn¡¯t upset.


    ¡°First of all, needes, calm down.¡±


    Bel¨¦n laughed. ¡°You said ¡®needes.¡¯¡±


    ¡°No, of horse not.¡±


    Bel¨¦n laughed again.


    Krauser and Grenia opened their eyes in surprise and stared at her. Candado, returning to his usual cold expression, raised his thumb in approval. Krauser, understanding the gesture, cleared his throat and removed the violin case from his back. He glanced briefly at Candado and, with a crooked smile, prepared for what was next.


    ¡°Well then, it¡¯s time.¡±


    Krauser took out his violin, tightened the bow, and rested it on his shoulder, playing the melody Bel¨¦n had tried to perform earlier. There was no need to say it¡ªhe played magnificently. Candado and Grenia watched intently, while Bel¨¦n listened with deep concentration.


    When he finished, Krauser relaxed his arm and lowered the bow.


    ¡°That¡¯s it. That¡¯s how it¡¯s done,¡± he said with satisfaction.


    Candado and Grenia applauded, impressed by the performance, but for Bel¨¦n, the sensation was different. Though she thoroughly enjoyed the performance, she couldn¡¯t help feeling Krauser was far superior to her, which plunged her into a state of pessimism.


    ¡°I¡¯m terrible,¡± she said, her voice cracking.


    ¡°What?¡± Krauser responded, surprised.


    ¡°I¡¯m terrible, Canda, compared to Krauser.¡±


    ¡°No, no, no, no, no¡ªyou¡¯re a great violinist,¡± Grenia said nervously.


    Candado sighed.


    ¡°There¡¯s nothing for you to worry about, dear. I¡¯ll be here.¡±


    Bel¨¦n took a deep breath, puffing up her cheeks, and then exhaled forcefully.


    ¡°Alright, I have to try again.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s the spirit,¡± Candado said proudly.


    Bel¨¦n tried again, but the result was the same: she played completely off-key.


    Annoyed, Krauser extended his tentacles and snatched the violin from her hands abruptly.


    ¡°Good grief,¡± he muttered, massaging his forehead. ¡°She has more potential to paralyze her enemies than to play on my violin.¡±


    At that exact moment, the door to the room swung open, and Bel¨¦n¡¯s mother entered, carrying a tray with some snacks.


    ¡°Working hard, huh?¡±


    ¡°Aunt Laura!¡± Krauser and Candado greeted, tipping their hats.


    ¡°Any progress?¡± she asked, placing the tray on a folding table in the room.


    ¡°None,¡± Krauser replied.


    ¡°Hmmm, I see.¡±


    Laura patted Bel¨¦n¡¯s head, making her smile and feel a little calmer.


    Laura Lana Lezcano, also known as Mrs. Ram¨ªrez: Laura and Europa have been close friends since childhood. She has long white hair, gray eyes, and an unpredictable wardrobe style¡ªthough at home, she often wears a white lab coat, black leggings, a red shirt, and black espadrilles. Despite her age, she has a playful personality but can become mature and serious when the situation demands it. Her sense of humor resembles Matlotsky¡¯s, and she is deeply loving toward her family. She was Europa¡¯s strongest support after Gabriela¡¯s death.


    Power: Unlike her son, Laura is the strongest in the family. She wields white fire and possesses immense physical strength.


    Skill: Painful as it is to admit, she¡¯s good at everything.


    ¡°And? What¡¯s the verdict?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know, Mom. I don¡¯t think I¡¯ll do well,¡± Bel¨¦n replied.


    Laura began patting her head more vigorously, tousling her hair.


    ¡°You¡¯re blind, not useless.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re terrible at playing the role of a supportive mother, Aunt,¡± Krauser chimed in.


    Laura smiled and attacked Candado with a hug.


    ¡°Genes are amazing. That sharp tongue, those sharp eyes¡­ you really are her son.¡±


    ¡°What made you think I wasn¡¯t?¡±


    ¡°Mom! Don¡¯t do that,¡± Bel¨¦n protested.


    Laura lifted Candado into the air and began to spin him around. Krauser and Grenia pressed their backs against the wall, visibly frightened.


    "Mom said she¡¯s crazy when she likes something," Krauser muttered.


    "Mom! Put me down!"


    "You two, do something!" Candado shouted, flailing his arms.


    Laura eventually stopped and set him down.


    "Sorry," she apologized with no trace of remorse. "I got carried away again."


    Candado stumbled, trying to steady himself.


    "I don¡¯t understand how H¨¦ctor survived this. Does she do this to him too?"


    "Always. Since kindergarten. Whether he made his first friend, aced his exams, achieved something, or even failed, I celebrated with him the same way."


    "So, no matter the occasion¡ªgood or bad¡ªyou spoil him regardless?"


    "Exactly."


    "And you hug everyone you like, don¡¯t you?"


    "Absolutely."


    Candado glanced at Bel¨¦n by accident and noticed her downtrodden expression. He suspected her gloom wasn¡¯t solely because of her poor playing.


    At that moment, Krauser and Grenia attempted to sneak out of the room, but Laura¡¯s sharp ears caught them. She grabbed them effortlessly, as though they were stuffed animals.


    "Hugs for you two as well!"


    "No, thanks! We prefer to live without them!" Krauser protested, wriggling in her grip. Meanwhile, Grenia pretended to go limp like a possum in hopes of being released.


    Taking advantage of the chaos, Candado grabbed the violin and led Bel¨¦n out of the room.


    "Where are we going?" she asked.


    "The patio. I have a hunch you¡¯ll play better there."


    Bel¨¦n lowered her head but allowed herself to be guided. Once outside, Candado sat on the doorstep, studying her intently.


    "I can¡¯t see you, but I feel like you¡¯re glaring at me. What¡¯s wrong?" she asked.


    "I¡¯ve read your body language. I want to be wrong, but I know I¡¯m not."


    "What are you talking about?"


    "I mean, I know something¡¯s bothering you. The way you move, stand, or gesture¡ªit¡¯s all in the details."


    "It¡¯s nothing."


    "It¡¯s definitely something," he said with a sigh. "Tell me, has your mom ever lifted you the way she does H¨¦ctor?"


    "Lifted me?"


    "(So I was right.) Allow me."


    Candado placed his hands on her waist, effortlessly lifting her and spinning her around. Afterward, he set her down gently and caught her in a steadying embrace.


    "Is that what it feels like when she does it to you?"


    "Exactly."


    "My mom never did that. I tried to get her to, but she never dared to do for me what she does for H¨¦ctor. He seemed to enjoy it, though."


    "(I¡¯ve got an idea.) If you play well at this concert, I bet you could convince your mom to do it."


    "Really?" she asked, turning to the left.


    "I¡¯m on your other side," he corrected.


    She turned. "Really?"


    "Of course. Now..." Candado handed her the violin. "Play your melody."


    Bel¨¦n smiled and began to play.


    "You¡¯re good with kids," she remarked mid-tune.


    "T¨ªnbari?"


    "Moch."


    "What¡¯s that?"


    "Hello, in the language I invented."


    Candado sighed.


    "What¡¯s wrong?" she asked.


    "Nothing. Keep practicing." (Get lost, Demonto. I¡¯m busy right now.)


    "I can¡¯t leave without you. After all, you¡¯re still on medication," came a mental reply.


    (I¡¯m fine, T¨ªnbari. The coughing and vomiting have stopped. I¡¯m fine.) He adjusted Bel¨¦n¡¯s fingers slightly. "Try adjusting the first line; it sounds off-key when you play it."


    "Okay," Bel¨¦n replied, oblivious to his internal conversation.


    "Listen, I know I¡¯m interrupting, but the more you address this, the quicker you¡¯ll improve. It¡¯s just a moment of your time, please."


    (You¡¯re insistent, but I appreciate your concern. That said, something else worries me¡­) "There, I¡¯ve got it," Candado said aloud.


    "What¡¯s troubling you?"


    (Any news of your brothers? I never thought they¡¯d leave so abruptly.)


    "B¨®rrbari is too proud, but he¡¯ll return for your blood. The Barret family has always been a target for the Baris, whether to study or protect them, ever since your grandfather¡¯s time. But they¡¯ve never dared to attack before. Some, like Amabaray, are exceptions, but others¡­ like Hachbari¡­"


    (Hachbari?)


    "He¡¯s incredibly dangerous for humans. He¡¯s never dealt with one before and despises them, but he needs them."


    (Honestly, I hope never to meet him.)


    Bel¨¦n stopped in her tracks.


    ¡°And?¡±


    ¡°Perfect.¡± Candado stood up and patted her on the back. ¡°Now all you have to do is play for everyone.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t forget to stay with me tonight.¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t forget.¡±


    ¡°The teacher said you need to bring an instrument.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°A musical instrument, to accompany me.¡±


    (It would¡¯ve been better if you¡¯d told me earlier.) Candado sighed. ¡°Fine, fine, I¡¯ll bring one.¡±


    ¡°Great!¡±


    Candado closed his eyes and smiled. ¡°Alright, I won¡¯t.¡±


    After saying that, Candado slipped a piece of paper into his pocket and proceeded to ruffle Bel¨¦n¡¯s hair.


    ¡°Thanks.¡±


    ¡°No problem.¡±


    At that moment, Krauser walked out, adjusting his vest, clearly ruffled from the earlier hug.


    ¡°Bel¨¦n, it¡¯s time to eat. Take a break.¡±


    Suddenly, tentacles wrapped around Bel¨¦n¡¯s waist and lifted her into the air. Judging by the way she spoke, it was obvious it was Grenia.


    ¡°See you later, Candado,¡± Bel¨¦n said with a smile as Grenia carried her back inside.


    The door shut, leaving Krauser outside. He dusted off his clothes and approached Candado.


    ¡°Some way to leave me hanging.¡±


    ¡°Well, it was you or me.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not talking about Bel¨¦n¡¯s mom.¡±


    ¡°Then what?¡±


    ¡°You left me out when you planned to recover that Bari.¡±


    ¡°Baray.¡±


    ¡°Whatever. Look, I get that you tried to keep it quiet to avoid anyone getting hurt, but¡­ seriously? Suicide?¡±


    ¡°Who told you that?¡±


    Krauser widened his eyes.


    ¡°Do you think an inspector like me would reveal his sources?¡±


    Candado sighed.


    ¡°Sorry, I wasn¡¯t thinking straight.¡±


    ¡°Do you have any idea how worried Grenia, Joaqu¨ªn, and I were?¡±


    ¡°Does anyone else know?¡±


    ¡°No, just us. We¡¯re keeping it under wraps so it doesn¡¯t get used against you in the Circuit.¡±


    ¡°I see.¡±


    Krauser extended his left hand.


    ¡°I¡¯ll let it slide for now, but please¡­ don¡¯t pull stunts like that again, for God¡¯s sake.¡±


    Candado shook his hand.


    ¡°I¡¯ll be careful. By the way, was that all?¡±


    ¡°It took me two days to bring this up, Candado. Grenia¡¯s waiting for her chance to kick your ass, and Joaqu¨ªn¡¯s drowning in your messes.¡±


    ¡°Messes?¡±


    ¡°He still hasn¡¯t forgotten how you stood him up after he gathered intel on Hammya Saillim. Technically, he sent someone else to handle it, but even so. And now this? I assure you, if he weren¡¯t buried in work from the recent incidents, he¡¯d have already given you what you deserve.¡±


    Candado smiled.


    ¡°Yeah, probably.¡±


    ¡°By the way¡­¡± Krauser glanced around to make sure no one was listening. ¡°Sara¡¯s been meeting with someone called Hachipusaq.¡±


    ¡°She sent me a letter a month ago, but I didn¡¯t feel like going.¡±


    ¡°You know her?¡±


    ¡°Not much. I just had an audience with her once.¡±


    ¡°Her?¡±


    ¡°Yes, a masked woman.¡±


    ¡°I see.¡±


    ¡°Is something wrong?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, actually. Hachipusaq proposed something rather interesting.¡±


    ¡°What was it?¡±


    ¡°Creating a society for monsters¡ªor as she calls it, a society of the Re-Creators.¡±


    Candado raised his left eyebrow slightly.


    ¡°Now that is interesting.¡±


    ¡°My thoughts exactly. Let¡¯s see how well it works out.¡±


    ¡°Who is Hachipusaq? What an intriguing woman.¡±


    ¡°Candado¡­¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°Hey, snap out of it.¡±


    Candado came back to himself.


    ¡°Sorry, got lost in thought. Anyway, I need to head home for a family matter. Mind staying and guiding her a bit longer?¡±


    ¡°No problem. I¡¯ve got nothing else to do. It¡¯s Thursday, everyone¡¯s at school, so I¡¯m free.¡±


    Candado gave him a quick hug before leaving the yard, vaulting over the wall, and disappearing into the forest.


    ¡°Heh, that kid,¡± Krauser chuckled softly.


    The boy in the beret started walking through the forest, with T¨ªnbari following closely behind him.


    "I see you have nothing better to do," Candado remarked.


    "Every day, someone dies on that planet. So it doesn¡¯t matter. Their souls will all end up in my sphere, mwahaha," T¨ªnbari replied with exaggerated theatricality.


    "Got it, you¡¯re a lazy liar," Candado said with a dry tone.


    "I only go to the humans who catch my interest. These days, that¡¯s a very rare occurrence."


    "Tell me about it." Candado suddenly stopped in his tracks. "Oh, by Isidro, I didn¡¯t realize."


    "You didn¡¯t realize this is Diana¡¯s territory?" T¨ªnbari asked mockingly.


    "Relax. She¡¯s not coming today."


    Candado turned and spotted someone lounging on the branches of a tree.


    "Logan, it¡¯s rare to see you here," Candado greeted.


    "I¡¯m watching over this part of the forest while she¡¯s away," Logan replied with a yawn. "Nothing to worry about. Keep walking."


    "Where is she?"


    "With the Pombero. He¡¯s helping her deal with some crops destroyed by a fire deeper inside the woods. She¡¯ll return when she¡¯s done."


    "Done with what? Killing?" T¨ªnbari asked sarcastically.


    "Farming. Killing¡¯s just a bonus. The Pombero doesn¡¯t take kindly to people burning the forest and killing his animals for no reason. So she doesn¡¯t mind helping him deal with that."


    "Sounds rough. Anyone I know on her list?"


    "Checked. None."


    "Then, yeah, just rough for you."


    "Tell me about it. She doesn¡¯t even know how to properly manage this territory," Logan grumbled.


    Candado smirked. "Yeah, that sounds about right. Take care, Logan."


    "Take care, Ernest," Logan replied with a wave of his hand.


    Candado quickened his pace, leaving Diana¡¯s zone. Soon, he came across two people sitting in the middle of the forest¡ªMauricio and Yara. Yara was staring intently at a soccer ball, while Mauricio was leaning against a tree, his hat pulled down over his eyes.


    Candado approached them to see what they were up to.


    "Hey."


    Yara turned sharply, giving him the same fierce look she¡¯d been directing at the ball. But when she saw Candado, her expression melted into a wide grin.


    She ran toward him with her arms outstretched and hugged his leg tightly.


    "Dad!" she exclaimed.


    Candado crouched down and picked her up. "What are you doing?"


    "Looking at the ball," she said.


    "Looking?"


    "Uncle said if I stared at it long enough, I¡¯d get smarter and be able to join the garden," she explained earnestly.


    "Really?" Candado asked with a hint of irony.


    "Yes."


    "Look, a hummingbird," he said, pointing to the sky.


    "Where?" she asked, craning her neck eagerly.


    Taking advantage of the little girl''s moment of distraction, Candado delivered a swift kick to Mauricio''s shoulder, causing him to lose balance and fall over.


    "Oh, I saw it, but it¡¯s gone. It¡¯s so fast," Yara said, disappointed.


    "Yeah, it is," Candado replied.


    Mauricio got back on his feet with the help of his staff.


    "You? What¡¯s your deal?"


    "T¨ªnbari," Candado called.


    "Yes, yes, yes," T¨ªnbari replied nonchalantly as he walked over to Yara and covered her ears with both hands.


    "Huh?" Yara exclaimed, surprised.


    Candado didn¡¯t take his eyes off T¨ªnbari, who maintained his carefree attitude.


    "If you really wanted her to get into kindergarten, you should¡¯ve called me. I could help her with her studies. But if you prefer to toy with her enthusiasm and lie to her like that, knowing how excited she gets, you¡¯re making a big mistake."


    "It was just a small, harmless joke," Mauricio defended weakly.


    Candado¡¯s eyes slowly ignited with a violet flame. Noticing the change, T¨ªnbari turned Yara away, fully aware of her deep trauma related to fire.


    "Listen," Candado said firmly. "You might be 200 years old, you might have raised Logan and Diana when they were kids, but if you keep raising others with lies that could crush their enthusiasm, I¡¯ll make sure to break your bones."


    Mauricio, visibly uncomfortable with the tension, cleared his throat.


    "N-no need to worry. It won¡¯t happen again."


    "Dad!" Yara suddenly shouted, drawing Candado¡¯s attention.


    His eyes returned to normal as he turned to her.Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.


    "Yes, sweetie?"


    "I can¡¯t hear anything at all!"


    Candado motioned with his hand for T¨ªnbari to remove his hands from her small ears.


    "Oh, the sound is back," Yara said with relief.


    Candado patted her head and picked her up in his arms.


    "Stop staring at the ball," he said.


    "Huh? Why?"


    "A ball is for playing, not for glaring at it like that."


    "Alright, I¡¯ll play with it instead of staring."


    "That¡¯s the spirit."


    Candado gently set her back on the ground.


    "I handled the paperwork a few days ago with my parents. For various reasons, they¡¯re her guardians," he explained.


    "Didn¡¯t expect any less from you. So, when does she start?" Mauricio asked.


    "Monday, Mauricio. Monday."


    Yara jumped with excitement, and in her enthusiasm, she bit down on Candado¡¯s forearm.


    "Ouch!" Candado exclaimed, lifting his arm with Yara hanging from it. "So you¡¯re entering that phase, huh?"


    "She¡¯s been enjoying chewing things lately," Mauricio said with a resigned tone. "Yesterday, she bit my staff, my leg, and my arms."


    "Yara, would you mind letting go of Daddy?" Candado asked.


    The little girl opened her mouth and landed on the ground on her feet.


    "Sorry," she said with a sheepish tone.


    Candado glanced at his forearm, where tiny teeth marks were imprinted on his blue sweatshirt.


    "Oh, this will be interesting." He clasped his hands behind his back. "Just be careful not to bite anyone else."


    "..."


    "¡­"


    "¡­"


    "Alright," Yara finally agreed.


    "Great."


    T¨ªnbari muttered under his breath, "No matter how you look at it, she hesitated. And that¡¯s terrifying, Candado. Really terrifying."


    Candado sighed.


    "Well, I have to go now."


    "You''re leaving already?" Yara asked, her voice tinged with sadness.


    "Yeah, little one, but I''ll be back."


    The girl let out a disgruntled purr.


    "That hurts, Yarar¨¢. Hurts more than a bite."


    "Sorry, Uncle!"


    Candado chuckled to himself as he walked away.


    "See you later!"


    "Bye, brother."


    "See you, Dad."


    Candado continued on his way, heading home. After a few blocks, he spotted his house and the wall separating the garden from the forest.


    "Need help?" T¨ªnbari asked.


    Candado shook his head and jumped with agility, crossing to the other side. Upon landing, he saw Hammya and Clementina waiting for him, positioned exactly as they had been that time.


    "D¨¦j¨¤ vu," Candado murmured.


    "Hello, young master," Clementina greeted with a playful smile.


    "Hi, Candado," Hammya said.


    "I''m going to ''pause'' the moment when I shout at you, Clementina, and skip to the scene with Hammya. Okay?"


    "I''m not going anywhere."


    Candado looked at Hammya with curiosity.


    "Why aren¡¯t you at school?"


    Hammya felt cornered, but her familiarity with the atmosphere in that house allowed her to remain calm.


    "I was sick."


    "Sick?"


    "Yeah, sick."


    Candado instantly knew she was lying, but he decided to play along. He removed his glove and placed his hand on Hammya¡¯s forehead.


    "You don''t seem sick to me."


    Hammya felt an indescribable joy as Candado''s hand rested on her head.


    "Do you have something to tell me?"


    "Yes."


    "What?"


    "Thank you."


    "What?"


    "Thank you."


    Candado withdrew his hand, confused, and then turned to Clementina.


    "Now I¡¯ll go with you."


    "Okay," she replied with a smile.


    "STOP CALLING ME MASTER! I''M NOT THE MASTER OF ANYONE!"


    "Sure, of course."


    Candado sighed and put his glove back on before entering the house. Meanwhile, Hammya and Clementina shared a quiet laugh.


    "Have you told him yet?" Clementina asked.


    "No."


    "Why? That day he seemed so vulnerable... You could''ve easily won him over."


    Hammya smiled sweetly.


    "I didn¡¯t want to take advantage of his emotional instability." She looked at her bandaged hand. "I promised myself I¡¯d tell him when he gets back what he lost."


    Clementina approached and gave her a supportive back rub.


    "It¡¯s okay, it¡¯s okay. I know you¡¯ll make the right decision."


    Hammya sighed deeply.


    "I... "


    "Do you love him?" Clementina interrupted.


    "Yes, but I''ll wait for the right moment to say it."


    "That¡¯ll be interesting."


    "Why?"


    "Knowing him, he might reject you."


    "Ah! Are you on my side or against me?!" Hammya exclaimed indignantly.


    "Both. That¡¯s what makes it fun, but you might actually succeed."


    "If you put it like that, I might believe you."


    "I lied. It¡¯s certain he¡¯ll say no."


    "Clementina!" Hammya protested.


    "Although... you¡¯ve already gotten Candado to be nicer to you."


    "Yeah... I can¡¯t help but be happy," Hammya confessed with a smile.


    From the window of his room, Candado watched them silently.


    "What could they be talking about?" he wondered as he fixed his gaze on them.


    His heart felt heavy, guilty. Seeing Hammya smile stirred a mix of emotions inside him. She had always smiled for him, even during the darkest moments. Even in his deepest pain.


    "Hammya... She truly is a good girl."


    The door suddenly opened, but in a completely ordinary way. Amabaray entered with a kind smile, a stark contrast to the sudden, mystical entrance of T¨ªnbari. She had adopted human customs.


    "Ern¨¦st, it''s time for the daily check-up," she announced, ignoring the fact that Candado had slipped away from her earlier.


    Candado sighed and closed the curtains.


    "Alright."


    He turned to Amabaray as he took off his beret and placed it on the table.


    "That''s not enough," Amabaray repeated.


    Candado began to undress silently. He took off his gloves, then his tie, and finally unbuttoned his vest and shirt, laying them across the back of a chair.


    "Sit wherever you want, wherever feels most comfortable."


    Candado obeyed and sat on the floor. Amabaray shrugged in an ironic gesture and positioned herself behind him.


    "In a few days, you¡¯ll be fully healed."


    "Yes."


    "Don¡¯t be tense, I won¡¯t do anything bad."


    "I¡¯m sorry... I¡¯m not used to... people I don¡¯t know being behind me."


    "¡®Is it her? The Baray who was with my mother when she was a little girl? She¡¯s so nice. I¡¯d like to ask her so many things,¡¯ right?"


    Candado swallowed, surprised.


    "It¡¯s... unsettling that you read my mind."


    "Scared?"


    "No, unfortunately, I¡¯m used to it because of my grandmother, just... a little embarrassed."


    Amabaray smiled mischievously.


    "I was lying, I just guessed."


    "I see... but it¡¯s still embarrassing."


    "It¡¯s okay, I won¡¯t do it again."


    Candado sighed, relieved but still uncomfortable.


    "It might be late to tell you this, but... I¡¯m really glad I met you. And I¡¯m sorry."


    "Why are you sorry?"


    "I didn¡¯t want Europe to suffer again. I had already lost Eva and many of her friends. I couldn¡¯t lose you too... I didn¡¯t want her to cry again."


    "You don¡¯t need to apologize."


    "Yes, I do. But I don¡¯t regret what I did. If I hadn¡¯t done it, you¡¯d be dead. Still, I feel terrible about Gabi... I felt awful when I found out what happened."


    "It¡¯s hard not to notice."


    Amabaray hugged Candado warmly.


    "Even if just for a moment, your happiness and the happiness of others justify my decision. I saved you, and Gabi lived long enough to meet you. Not only that, she had another daughter."


    Candado closed his eyes, letting those words sink deep into him.


    "When Gabi spoke about you, I always wanted to meet you. Now... I¡¯m glad you were able to come back."


    Amabaray held him a little longer before finishing the treatment.


    "Alright, thanks again."


    "It¡¯s nothing. I know you¡¯ll escape again, so... it¡¯s nothing."


    Candado began to slowly get dressed.


    "How long will this take, the procedure?"


    "Oh, not long. I¡¯m not as powerful as my grandfather. This is the best I can do."


    "I see."


    Candado smiled, feeling more at ease.


    "Thank you, for everything."


    Before Amabaray could respond, she exited the room, closing the door behind her.


    "You''re welcome," she murmured, smiling to herself.


    Outside the room, Candado adjusted his gloves and hurried down the stairs, only to trip over something and fall on his back.


    "Damn it, Hammya! HAMMYA!"


    Quick footsteps approached.


    "What happened?" Hammya asked, alarmed.


    "Your damn pet."


    "Lentejuela!" Hammya exclaimed upon seeing her turtle. "Where have you been?"


    Candado got up, rubbing his back.


    "What was that noise?" asked Clementina, appearing.


    "Nothing important," Candado said, cracking his back. Then he looked directly at her. "By the way, Clementina..."


    "That must have hurt."


    "Listen to me when I talk to you!"


    "Yes?"


    "Have you seen my guitar?"


    Hammya looked at him in surprise.


    "Guitar?"


    "Yes, that wooden thing with strings that makes noise."


    "I know what a guitar is, sir."


    "Then don¡¯t waste my time. Tell me where it is or if you¡¯ve seen it."


    Clementina looked at him with doubt.


    "Are you sure? You haven¡¯t played your instrument in three years."


    Candado placed his hands gently on Clementina¡¯s shoulders.


    "Where is it? Speak, I didn¡¯t ask for an analysis of my habits or when I last played it. Just tell me where it is."


    "Yes, I know its location. Are you sure you want to know where it is?"


    Then he began to shake her desperately.


    "It¡¯s... in the basement, sir."


    Candado let go of Clementina and ran off, leaving the android dizzy. Hammya rushed over and caught her before she could fall to the ground.


    "Miss Hammya... or misses," murmured Clementina, stumbling.


    Hammya let out a little laugh and settled her on the couch. She set the turtle aside and placed both hands on Clementina''s cheeks.


    "Are you alright?"


    "Of, of, of, of... co... co, cou, cou, rse... se, se, se... se... la, lad, lad... lady."


    "No, no, no, that¡¯s not alright at all."


    At that moment, Karen appeared, drinking something from a transparent green plastic cup. Upon seeing the situation, she placed the cup on the table and rushed toward Clementina.


    "Karen knows how to help!" she announced determinedly.


    She climbed onto the couch, grabbed the remote control, and struck Clementina''s head forcefully.


    The android¡¯s eyes flickered and went out, like a television turning off, even emitting the characteristic power-down sound.


    "You killed her!" Hammya exclaimed in alarm.


    "No, we need to wait," Karen responded calmly.


    After a few seconds, a white light emerged from Clementina¡¯s eyes, revealing a blue background with tiny white letters. Finally, her eyes returned to normal.


    "My brother taught me to do that when the TV froze," Karen said, looking pleased with herself.


    "Clementina¡¯s not a TV!" Hammya retorted.


    "My head... I feel like my cybernetic system shook violently," Clementina muttered.


    "Oh, there it is. Karen finished her job," said Karen as she jumped off the couch and picked up her cup again.


    "TV fixed. Karen withdraws, she¡¯s very busy."


    "TV? I think this is the second time she¡¯s done that to me," Clementina said, still dazed.


    "Are you okay?" Hammya asked, concerned.


    "I¡¯m fine, I¡¯m fine."


    "You scared me."


    "It was just... some kind of dizziness... Human? Bionic?"


    "It seemed like something else."


    Clementina let out a nervous laugh to escape the conversation.


    "Hey!"


    "The time for laughter is over, it¡¯s time to work," Clementina said as she stood up.


    "Wait."


    Hammya grabbed her by the collar and forced her to sit back down.


    "What¡¯s going on?"


    Meanwhile...


    Candado was in the basement, a surprisingly tidy place. It was so neat that even the cobwebs shimmered and had a pleasant scent. Everything was in its place, which made it easy for Candado to find what he was looking for: his guitar, stored in a transparent black plastic case, placed on top of a locker.


    He put a small stool to reach it and removed the case.


    "It smells like polished wood and furniture spray," he murmured as he opened it.


    He looked at the guitar for a moment. It had been a gift from his father, who used to play it when she, Gabriela, was alive.


    "Three years... Clementina," he said with a smile, taking the guitar out of the case.


    He cleaned a nearby stool and sat down. Closing his eyes, he gently stroked the strings with his thumb, letting out soft sounds. He adjusted his gloves and began playing a monotonous melody, testing how much practice he had lost.


    "From one to ten... six. But something is better than nothing."


    He remembered a melody that Bel¨¦n used to play on her violin. He closed his eyes, recalling every note and every bow movement. Slowly, he memorized the sequence, adapting it to the guitar.


    The music began to flow. The melody, soft and calm at first, gradually gained rhythm. His fingers danced over the strings, and a hum escaped his lips, complementing the music.


    Outside, Clementina and Hammya watched him.


    "There you have your answer," Clementina whispered.


    "True, but are you sure he won¡¯t discover us?" Hammya asked.


    "When Candado focuses, it¡¯s hard to pull him out of his world."


    "Even though he¡¯s always alert..."


    "Candado has let his guard down since he met you."


    Hammya gazed at Candado with excitement. The music seemed to resonate in her heart. Each note was wonderful, every string vibrating with a captivating sound. Without realizing it, she stepped out of her hiding spot and walked toward him.


    Clementina tried to stop her, but it was useless. Hammya reached Candado, who, absorbed in the melody, didn¡¯t notice her presence. In the past, he would have reacted immediately, but this time he didn¡¯t.


    Hammya hugged him from behind, abruptly stopping his playing. For nearly two minutes, silence reigned until Candado coughed once, sharply.


    "Hammya," he said calmly, "Is something going on?"


    Hammya, aware of what she had done, tried to improvise an excuse:


    "Zzz..."


    "What...? Hammya, don¡¯t sleep on my back!"


    Clementina, hidden behind the wall, laughed silently.


    "Hammya, wake up!"


    "Zzz..."


    "If you want to sleep, do it in your bed, not on my back."


    "Zzz..."


    "Wait a second! You¡¯re not sleeping! Your breathing and heartbeat are not those of someone asleep."


    Hammya yawned and moved away from Candado.


    "What are you doing here?" she asked, confused.


    "It¡¯s my house. I go wherever I want," he replied calmly.


    When Candado tried to turn around, Hammya placed both hands on his cheeks, forcing him to look forward.


    "What¡¯s going on now?" he asked, furrowing his brow.


    "Please, look there."


    Candado sighed, complied, and fixed his gaze ahead. Hammya removed her hands from his face and stayed still, saying nothing.


    "Hammya, are you embarrassed or running a fever?"


    "No! Of course not."


    "You¡¯re lying, I know."


    Hammya looked away and thought, It¡¯s useless. He always knows when someone¡¯s lying, just like he¡¯s an expert at reading people. Finally, she sighed.


    "How do you know?" she asked, trying to sound calm.


    "Well... um. There¡¯s a mirror where I¡¯m looking now, and I can see everything you¡¯re doing."


    "..."


    "..."


    "..."


    "..."


    How did I not see that?! Hammya thought in panic, pointing desperately upward and shouting:


    "Ah! A UFO!"


    "Ha, how stu¡ª"


    Before she could finish her mockery, an object resembling a plate with flashing lights and a colorful pattern crossed the sky visible from the basement window, emitting a strange sound. Candado stood frozen, shocked.


    "What?!"


    A loud bang from behind him made Candado turn around. Clementina was there, looking toward the door.


    "It¡¯s better to leave her alone," the android advised calmly.


    "Clementina! Did you see it? Tell me you saw it!"


    "What thing, sir?"


    "The UFO!"


    "Excuse me?"


    "Yes, a UFO! Did you see it?"


    (I never imagined Candado would fall for such a silly and old joke.)


    With an air of disbelief, Clementina responded:


    "Are you alright, sir?"


    Candado, still puzzled, looked again through the skylight.


    "I have no idea, argument, credibility, or understanding of what just happened."


    "I think it would be better for you to practice in your room, sir."


    Meanwhile, Hammya ran up the stairs, passing by Europa and Arturo.


    "Hammya?" they both asked in unison.


    Without stopping, the girl reached her room, kicked the door open, entered, and hid under the blankets.


    "Mother Earth, swallow me whole!" she screamed, burying her face in her pillow.


    Meanwhile, Candado came out of the basement, rubbing his temples.


    "I''m not crazy... or am I?"


    "What are you muttering?" Clementina asked.


    "Nothing. Just talking to myself." He sighed deeply. "I¡¯ll go to my room. I need to write something."


    "I understand."


    As he turned, he bumped into his father¡¯s chest, Arturo.


    "Did something happen down there?" the man asked.


    Candado looked up.


    "No. Why?"


    "Hammya ran out in a panic."


    "She was just embarrassed because I figured out she was lying to me."


    "That¡¯s only half the truth," Clementina clarified.


    Arturo sighed.


    "I was asking him."


    "Sorry, Mr. Barret," Clementina apologized.


    Arturo patted Candado''s head.


    "Don¡¯t do anything to upset her, alright?" Then, as he walked away, he added, "Next time, watch where you''re walking, son."


    "I will."


    Candado glanced sideways at Clementina, who turned her gaze away.


    "I¡¯ll forget you called me half a liar this time. Next time, I¡¯ll crush you."


    Clementina pretended to sigh in relief.


    Candado returned to his room, closed the door behind him, and leaned against it, exhausted and confused by what had just happened. He took off his beret and gloves, hanging them carelessly, and then walked over to his desk. He sat down and began to practice.


    Two hours later, the door suddenly swung open. Karen, his little sister, had used her cleverness to tie a string to the doorknob to get in. She tiptoed toward Candado, trying to sneak up on him, but the door creaked, betraying her. Candado stopped writing, set the pencil aside, and waited patiently.


    Karen, thinking herself clever, jumped to the right and shook a nearby shelf.


    "BOO!" she shouted.


    A poorly placed book fell from the shelf, ready to land on Karen¡¯s head, but Candado caught it with quick reflexes.


    "Did I scare you?" she asked with a mischievous smile.


    Candado placed the book on the desk and grabbed a black marker from the pencil holder.


    "Yes, you scared me."


    Then, without warning, he drew a mustache on her face.


    "Don''t do that again, Karen Florencia Vel¨¢zquez Barret."


    "I''m sorry."


    Despite his mild annoyance, Candado ended up turning her face into a little work of art. He then put the marker back in its place.


    "Karen wants to know if she can play with Yara again."


    "Why are you asking me that?"


    "Karen wants to know."


    "Is this blackmail or a question?"


    "Karen wants to know."


    Candado sighed.


    "We''ll talk about that later."


    The conversation between Karen and Candado felt like a dispute. A few weeks ago, Karen had manifested her powers, which was extremely strange for someone only three years old. Normally, these powers began to develop around the age of five. Sure, there were exceptions: some manifested between two and eleven years old, but there were no records of powers appearing beyond that age. It was believed to be the definitive limit.


    In Karen''s case, there was something even more unusual: she had manifested three components. It was common for a person to develop one or two components at most when their powers activated, but never three. To put it more simply, it was like mixing the three primary colors to create all the others. That¡¯s how the components worked: they were the foundations of the powers. Most humans had a limited number of components, typically five to a hundred different abilities derived from them. However, the Barret family was the exception, with an literally uncountable number of powers.


    Karen, in particular, had manifested three components: violet flame (a unique inherited power), healing, and protection. The little girl deeply admired her brother, Candado, who, in theory, had been the one to care for her. That was why she tried to imitate his cold demeanor, though in her own way. However, every time she spoke to him, she couldn''t help but smile, just like she did with everyone who lived in the house.


    "Little one, don''t look at me like that."


    "Karen is tired. Karen wants to sleep in your bed."


    "Karen has her crib."


    "Karen has spoken."


    Candado sighed, again.


    "You need to stop watching that show. Fine, you can use it."


    "Karen wants to sleep with you."


    "I don¡¯t dream."


    "Karen wants you to dream."


    "That''s not how it works."


    "But Karen wants."


    "Does Karen not want anything else?"


    "Karen wants many things: ice cream, mom, dad, Uncle Hipo, Hammya and..."


    "I get it, you want many things. But now, what do you want the most? Apart from sleeping in my bed with me."


    "Play with Karen."


    "Alright. This game will be perfect for you."


    "How do you play?"


    "Whoever falls asleep first wins."


    "Great! Karen is going to win. She''s good at sleeping."


    Karen ran toward her brother¡¯s bed, climbed it with effort, and lay down. She closed her eyes tightly, ready to win.


    Candado suppressed a laugh, covering his mouth to avoid giving himself away. He looked the other way, squeezing his eyes shut to calm himself.


    It barely took six minutes for Karen to fall deeply asleep, exhausted from not being used to waking up early.


    Candado smiled softly. He wiped away the marks he had made with the marker. He gently tucked her in, kissed her forehead, and left the room. In the hallway, he crossed paths with Clementina, who was carrying a bag of carrots.


    "Feeding Uzoori?" Candado asked.


    "Of course," Clementina replied with a smile.


    They both went their separate ways. Candado descended the stairs when he heard knocks on the door. Fortunately, Europa was there to answer.


    "Hello, long time no see," Europa greeted.


    "Hello, Mrs. Barret."


    "What brings you here?"


    "I came to see Candado."


    "Of course, come in."


    "Sorry for the inconvenience."


    The visitor entered, and Europa closed the door behind him.


    "Henry Llovizna," Candado said as he descended the final steps.


    Henry was a man from Corrientes with brown eyes and brown hair. Above his head floated a white cloud, the size of a cricket ball. He wore a black polo shirt, white pants, and matching shoes, though due to the cold that day, he had on a navy blue raincoat. Henry had a changeable personality and was very good friends with Lucas.


    His power had manifested when he was five years old, when a small cloud descended from the sky and settled above his head. The cloud changed according to his mood: it was white when he was happy, black and full of thunder when he was angry, and it rained when he was sad. Additionally, Henry could control lightning, wind, ice, gas, and water, and he had the ability to travel in seconds riding his cloud.


    "Are you here for the concert?" Candado asked, extending his hand.


    "Not today, sorry," Henry replied, accepting the handshake.


    Candado put his hands in his pockets.


    "How can I help you?"


    "It''s about... uh... about..."


    Candado tried to calm him down, speaking in a calm tone.


    "You don¡¯t have to be nervous. It''s your job."


    "Sorry."


    "Let me guess, is it about Sara?"


    "No."


    "Not?"


    "It''s about Li...l...a."


    "What?"


    "It''s about Li..."


    "Speak more clearly, please."


    "Lila has a message."


    Candado froze when he heard that name.


    "Oh... I see," he replied monotonously.


    "Sorry."


    "I understand what you''re going through. I promise I''ll make it up to you."


    "It''s fine, but I know how you, Joaqu¨ªn, and H¨¦ctor get when you hear that name."


    "They''re traumatized just thinking about it. Me, on the other hand..." Candado crossed his arms and showed a sadistic smile. "I''ll endure it."


    "Candado!"


    At that moment, Clementina burst in, coming down the stairs.


    "Hello, Mr. Henry," Clementina greeted.


    "Hello, Clem."


    Candado returned to his usual expression.


    "Sir, Uzoori is a little upset."


    "I see. I''ll take him to graze this afternoon."


    "How thoughtful of you, going to see Lila, I mean," Clementina commented with a mischievous smile.


    Candado froze when he heard that word again.


    "Would you like some breakfast?" she asked.


    "No, thank you. I''m fine."


    "Would you like pastries or biscuits?"


    "No, thank you. I''ve already had breakfast."


    "Massages?" she asked, as both of her hands began to vibrate.


    "No, thank you."


    "A rest?"


    "I''m fine."


    Candado snapped back to reality.


    "Well, what does she want?" he interrupted.


    "It''s something important."


    "Does it have to be now?"


    "She said it¡¯s guaranteed for a year; after that, the serious stuff will have happened."


    "How can something serious be slow?"


    "No idea."


    "I guess we''ll see that later."


    "Well, Candado, I just came to tell you that. Actually, I lied to my mom saying I was going for a walk and would be back. Sorry I can''t stay longer."


    "We''ll see each other later," Candado said, giving him a hug.


    Henry hurried out of the house, not without first saying goodbye to Clementina with a kiss on the cheek.


    "Well, with the technology nowadays, you could have sent me that information by email, but what can you do?"


    "Where are you going, young master?" asked Clementina.


    "I forgot something."


    Candado began to climb the stairs and stopped in front of Hammya''s half-open door. He stared at it carefully and reached for the doorknob, intending to close it. However, something inside him conflicted: open the door and go in, or close it and head to his room. Before he could make a decision, he realized he was already inside the room.


    "Shit!" he exclaimed.


    He quickly covered his mouth upon noticing that Hammya was asleep.


    "Heh, seems like she¡¯s not used to mornings."


    His eyes fixed on the bandage on her hand. Unconsciously, he traced his index finger over the wrapped palm. He still couldn''t believe what he had seen. To hurt herself like that to save a life, hers. He didn¡¯t know how else to apologize, but it wasn¡¯t enough. She had been clear: "I don¡¯t want you to apologize to me, I just want you to apologize to yourself."


    Candado smiled and kissed her forehead.


    "You really are strong, Hammya."


    He got up, slipped his hands into his pockets, and left the room. Before closing the door, he looked at her one last time, smiled, and closed his eyes as he walked back to his room.


    When his footsteps had completely faded, Hammya opened her eyes, smiled, and touched her forehead.


    Candado went downstairs with his guitar and collapsed onto the couch.


    "Let¡¯s move on."


    He closed his eyes, chuckled softly, and began practicing again.


    As night fell, the concert venue resembled more of a theater, with hundreds of comfortable blue chairs decorated with yellow flowers. Although the seats weren¡¯t full, there were enough people to create an atmosphere.


    Behind the curtain, Bel¨¦n paced anxiously, wearing a sparkling white dress that matched her hair. Her dull eyes reflected her nervousness.


    "Bel¨¦n, you''re going to wear yourself out if you keep walking like that," said Candado, not looking up from his book.


    "I can¡¯t help it. What if I mess up, trip, or go out of tune?"


    "Relax, everything will be fine... or not."


    "Candado!" Bel¨¦n retorted.


    "What? It could happen."


    "That doesn¡¯t help."


    "Stop bothering her, Candado," Clementina interjected, entering the room with Hammya and Andersson.


    "Wow, how gallant," commented Hammya.


    "It¡¯s the fifth time you¡¯ve said that."


    "How gallant."


    "Sixth."


    "I have to admit, it¡¯s a revolutionary outfit. Not everyone dares to combine a purple tuxedo with a red tie."


    "Why do I feel like you''re mocking me, Andersson?"


    "How do you plan to play with those gloves?" asked Clementina.


    Candado snapped his fingers and played the guitar for a minute.


    "Happy?"


    "¡­"


    "I¡¯m waiting for your response."


    "It¡¯s good. Very good."


    A lady suddenly burst into the room.


    "Get ready. You¡¯re next."


    Then she disappeared as quickly as she had come, leaving Bel¨¦n even more nervous.


    "W-w-what? N-n-no... not yet..."


    Candado placed a hand on her head.


    "You¡¯re not alone. I¡¯m with you."


    "Give it your best. It¡¯s time to impress them with your violin," said Hammya, patting her shoulders.


    "Y-y-yes... No... Yes!"


    "That¡¯s the spirit!" Hammya replied enthusiastically.


    The audience¡¯s applause echoed.


    "It¡¯s your turn," announced Andersson.


    Bel¨¦n nodded, took Candado¡¯s hand, and together they walked to the stage. A bright white light illuminated them, accompanied by the applause of the crowd. As they walked, Candado noticed that Bel¨¦n was trembling.


    As they stopped in front of the audience, Candado bowed, also acknowledging the other gentlemen who would accompany their melody.


    "Everything will be fine," he whispered.


    Bel¨¦n smiled with a noticeably nervous expression as she took her violin out of its case. Candado sighed, though what he felt inside wasn¡¯t resignation. With a snap of his fingers, he made his guitar float from the dressing room to his hands, a trick he had already planned for the trio but always managed to surprise. He lightly strummed the first string, immediately eliciting applause from the audience. With a slight bow of his head, he closed his eyes but subtly opened his left eye to observe Bel¨¦n. Although she seemed calmer, it wasn¡¯t quite enough.


    Smiling cunningly, Candado lifted his head, looked at the audience, and without warning, shouted:


    "DECLAN, GIVE ME A CHAIR!"


    The silence that filled the room was broken when a wooden chair flew toward the stage. The audience was left speechless, including Bel¨¦n and Candado¡¯s parents, who exchanged incredulous glances. The chair landed at their feet, but Candado simply kicked it aside with his left foot before shouting again:


    "SMALLER!"


    This time, a small stool appeared flying from the same direction. Candado caught it in mid-air and placed it on the floor.


    "THANK YOU!" he exclaimed, bowing his head with a satisfied smile.


    Laura, in the midst of the audience, looked to Europa for an explanation, but she merely shook her head frantically, as confused as the rest. The entire room was on edge, wondering if someone might have gotten hurt from that display.


    And then, unexpectedly, Bel¨¦n began to laugh.


    "Get ready for the show," Candado announced seriously into the microphone as he sat on the stool.


    The lights that illuminated him went out, leaving Bel¨¦n in the center of the stage, still smiling.


    "Sorry for the little distraction, but now I want you to forget what you just saw and please, enjoy my¡­ no, our song."


    The lighting dimmed over Bel¨¦n as she placed the violin on her shoulder. At that moment, the chatter ceased entirely, even the murmurs disappeared. The melody began, soft and delicate, with each bow stroke producing a sound that filled the air with sweetness. Bel¨¦n¡¯s eyes seemed to stare into the void, but her hands and body moved in perfect synchronicity, as if she were conversing with the strings of the instrument.


    At first, the music was repetitive, but soon it began to transform. The melody evolved into something deeper, filled with sadness and emotion, a lament that drew sighs from the audience.


    From the shadows, Candado began to play his guitar, accompanying the violin with a rhythm that gave the piece body and structure.


    "Oh, oh, oh¡­" he murmured softly into the microphone, his voice blending the instruments into perfect harmony.


    The melody that emanated from Candado¡¯s guitar strings and Bel¨¦n¡¯s violin seemed like a symphony woven by the same thread of fate, where each note transcended time and space, opening a portal to the deepest and oldest emotions of the human soul. When Bel¨¦n placed her violin on her shoulder, the gesture was almost ceremonial, as if she were preparing not only to play but to invoke something sacred. Her gaze, lost in the void, seemed to look beyond this world, as if her eyes were directed to a place where only sound could reach.


    The first note that came from the violin was soft, almost ethereal, like a whisper of wind caressing the skin. It was the very purity of sound, a fleeting glimpse of a beauty so pure that anyone who heard it felt time stop. Each movement of the bow was a gesture charged with almost mystical concentration, as if Bel¨¦n were merging her own being with the violin, conversing with it in an ancient language that the listeners couldn¡¯t comprehend, but could feel deep within their souls. The music slid slowly, like a serene river flowing through a tranquil landscape, but within its course, something was being forged within the heart of the melody.


    As the piece progressed, the music began to transform. The notes started to carry a latent sadness, like a distant echo of something lost, something that could never return. The violin, which had once sung sweetly, now became a lament, a cry of the soul that resonated in the walls of every spectator¡¯s heart. The violin strings didn¡¯t just produce sound; their vibrations seemed to reach into the deepest core of human existence, awakening forgotten emotions, those hidden in the darkest corner of memory. Each new musical phrase was like a sigh from the past, an echo of a truth that could never be verbalized, but that everyone felt deeply in their chest.


    At that moment, from the shadows, Candado began to play. His guitar, initially shy, joined the melody with a gentleness that seemed to embrace the violin, as if both instruments shared a common secret. The guitar, its strings vibrating with each strum, provided a solid foundation, yet remained light, like the breath of a being aware of its fleeting nature. Its rhythm followed the pulse of the violin, but not merely as an accompaniment. Candado¡¯s guitar didn¡¯t just complement the music; it nourished it, strengthened it, adding a deeper hue to the already expanding palette of sounds that began to touch the limits of the human experience.


    Each note from the guitar and every stroke of the violin seemed to merge into a harmonious dance that wasn¡¯t just music, but a wordless communication, an exchange of emotions that transcended the barriers of language and logic. Candado''s guitar, with its warm and deep tone, and Bel¨¦n¡¯s violin, with its soft, continuous lament, intertwined like two beings who understood each other beyond reason. Each carried an emotional weight that they shared, multiplying it, until the room became a suspended space in time, where only the music and the emotions it stirred existed.


    The listeners were not simply receiving a melody; they were being absorbed by it, as if each string played by Candado and Bel¨¦n were drawing out the deepest parts of their being. The room filled with a reverent silence, not just from the stillness of the music, but from the intensity of the emotional connection that had been forged. The melody flowed like a powerful river, but its current did not pull; it caressed, enveloped, making one feel that the weight of the world could be released with a few simple notes. Everyone in the room felt that by listening to this music, they were being touched by something greater than themselves: a universal truth, a divine comfort, a hug that needed no words.


    Thus, the melody from Candado¡¯s guitar and Bel¨¦n¡¯s violin was not just music; it was a primitive, ancient language that reached deep into the souls, revealing feelings that seemed to have been asleep for centuries. In the end, the echo of that harmony still lingered in the air, suspended, like an unspoken truth, but understood by all.


    After the performance ended, the lights dimmed and the audience erupted into enthusiastic applause and whistles. Candado walked over to Bel¨¦n and leaned toward her ear.


    ¡°You did it, it wasn¡¯t so bad, was it?¡±


    Then, he wrapped his arms around her and lifted her, just as the lights returned to the room. Candado didn¡¯t bother greeting the audience¡ªnot because he was rude, but because he was busy holding Bel¨¦n and guiding her to the right spot for her to greet them. Even so, he took a moment to nod in gratitude a couple of times.


    When everything was over, Candado and Bel¨¦n headed to the dressing rooms, where their families and friends were waiting.


    ¡°Hello everyone, I hope¡­¡±


    Before she could finish, Laura rushed to her daughter, lifting her into the air and spinning her around. Bel¨¦n, a little flustered, couldn¡¯t help but smile. Candado, on the other hand, was left with words caught in his throat.


    ¡°Congratulations, sir!¡± Declan applauded.


    ¡°That was sensational!¡± the sisters praised.


    ¡°Incredible!¡± Anzor summed up.


    ¡°Original!¡± Matlotsky said with enthusiasm.


    ¡°Romantic!¡± Hammya exclaimed with excitement.


    ¡°What?¡± Candado asked, confused.


    ¡°Nothing,¡± Hammya replied evasively.


    ¡°¡®Romantic,¡¯¡± Clementina repeated in Hammya¡¯s voice.


    ¡°Clementina!¡± Hammya shouted, angry.


    Everyone began to laugh, except for Candado, who raised an eyebrow while displaying a crooked smile.


    ¡°That was sensational!¡± Europa said as she embraced her son.


    ¡°You really put in a lot of effort back there,¡± Arturo continued, smiling.


    Candado smiled and nodded.


    ¡°Of course, I¡¯m the wonderful guitarist of the Catriel family,¡± he said with a playful grin.


    A voice from a corner interrupted the conversation.


    ¡°When I heard you were going to play the guitar again, I didn¡¯t believe it for a second. But when Clementina sent me the photo, I made sure to sit in the front row.¡±


    Candado turned toward the voice.


    ¡°No way... ¨ªcaro?¡±


    Everyone turned to look at him.


    ¡°Norberto!¡± Matlotsky greeted, recognizing the visitor.


    ¡°Don¡¯t call me by my second name, builder,¡± ¨ªcaro replied, glancing at Matlotsky with some disdain.


    ¨ªcaro detached his back from the wall and walked toward Candado, who extended his hand. Candado smiled and accepted the handshake.


    ¡°Hello, cousin,¡± ¨ªcaro greeted in a relaxed tone.


    ¨ªcaro was a man with black hair and gray eyes, his skin pale as the moon. He was dressed entirely in black: a cowboy hat, trench coat, gloves, formal pants, and riding boots. He had an extremely extroverted personality, sometimes more than those around him could handle. He was the only person who had defeated Candado three times in a row in a fight, and thanks to him, Candado discovered his passion for video games.


    Powers: Demon.


    Skill: He¡¯s very good at drawing.


    ¡°I can¡¯t believe it, you here?¡± Candado said, incredulous.


    ¡°Yeah, well, when I found out you were going to play, I couldn¡¯t miss it,¡± ¨ªcaro said, smiling widely, his gaze locking with Candado¡¯s.


    ¡°I see Nelson has the bad habit of spying on people, you degenerate old man,¡± Candado commented with some disdain.


    ¨ªcaro laughed and moved closer to him.


    ¡°And to think you have a beautiful voice, just like me.¡±


    ¡°What the hell?¡± Anzor asked, confused.


    ¡°Relax, relax,¡± ¨ªcaro replied with a playful smile.


    Declan, noticing ¨ªcaro¡¯s proximity, put a hand on his shoulder, clearly uncomfortable with the young man¡¯s presence.


    ¡°Relax, Kennedy. I¡¯m not going to bother him for now,¡± ¨ªcaro said, looking at Declan with an expression of indifference.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to say hello?¡± a voice asked.


    ¨ªcaro turned and saw Europa.


    ¡°Hellooo, Aunt!¡± he exclaimed before releasing Candado and enthusiastically hugging Europa.


    ¡°How¡¯s your mom?¡± she asked, smiling.


    ¡°She¡¯s fine, you know, she¡¯s supposed to arrive in three hours, but since I¡¯m so smart, I decided to fly here faster.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re definitely in for a nice punishment,¡± Europa said, smiling mischievously.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go party, Candado,¡± ¨ªcaro said, not giving him a break.


    ¡°What?¡± Candado asked, surprised.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go, let¡¯s go, let¡¯s go!¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t pull me, ¨ªcaro!¡±