"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 Schrödinger."
"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. Hipólito 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?"
"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 Gómez."
"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, Héctor. After all, he's the only one who studies these things, even down to the color of the tie Iván Crusoe wore for the opening of the nations in 1920. He picked up the phone and dialed his mobile number.
On the other hand, Héctor 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, Héctor picked it up without stopping his reading.
"Hello?"
"It's me, Héctor."
"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."
Héctor 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." Héctor 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 Héctor, 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. Iván 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, Héctor hung up, and Candado went to the living room to try to wake Addel. He watched as Hipólito 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, Hipólito. 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."
Hipólito 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.
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 Tánatos 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 Gómez?" 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 Gómez."
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 Ernést Barret, but everyone calls me Candado, and no, I don't know her. I just came to find her so she can help Harry Schrödinger, 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?"
"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 Hipólito 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 Hipólito.
Martina approached Addel. "Move, please, sir." Hipólito 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.
"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."
Hipólito 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."
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 Hipólito 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. Hipólito 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 Tínbari.
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 Tínbari without turning his head.
"Where do you get these terms?"
"I don't know," he shrugged— "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— "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 Schrödinger. 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—a 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 Addelándromechkrrin Schrödinger, 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 (Tínbari 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?"
—Yes, 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 "Operación Masacre" by Rodolfo Walsh.
While Candado enjoyed his reading, Hammya, who was dressed in comfortable home attire—shorts and a yellow blouse—descended 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 Yarará 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 Joaquín Barreto. He's worse than me."
"Who is he?"
"A friend of mine. He's just like Héctor. 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."
"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 Tínbari 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 Tínbari, 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 Roobóleo 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 Hipólito, 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, Tínbari appeared and carried Candado's body.
"Wait, where were you?" asked Hammya, surprised.
"Nowhere, bolts, nowhere," Tínbari responded enigmatically.
Tínbari carried Candado's body to Hammya's room, with Clementina and Hammya following him. One of them opened the door, and Tínbari carefully placed Candado on the bed. Blood could still be seen on his mouth and glove, so Tínbari took a handkerchief from his pocket and began to clean the blood clot on his lip.
When he finished, Tínbari 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 Tínbari.
"What does he have?" asked Hammya, concerned.
Tínbari 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, Tínbari posed a difficult question:
"What did you do to make him like this?"
Hammya was surprised to hear Tínbari mention that Candado had asked her to stay away from him.
"How do you know that? You weren't there," said Hammya in astonishment.
Tínbari 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 Tínbari 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 Tínbari 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.
"The shirt... from that night was identical... Oh no," Tínbari 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 Tínbari with anger, fear, and confusion.
"What did I do?" asked Hammya, confused and scared.
Tínbari 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 Tínbari, 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 Tínbari.
"You are forbidden from attacking the beings in this house," intervened Clementina with determination.
Clementina transformed her hands into weapons and aimed at Tínbari, ready to defend Hammya.
"You're not going to touch Miss Hammya while I'm here," warned Clementina.
Tínbari, 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 Tínbari's claws as the latter looked at him in surprise.
Candado, with impressive strength, pushed Tínbari's arm backward and kneed him in the chest, followed by a blow to his face. This made Tínbari 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 Tínbari.
"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 Tínbari.
"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 Tínbari 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," Tínbari 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," Tínbari 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."
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."
"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 Tínbari 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."