Before Koji and Saik could fully step into the energy wave, someone caught their attention. A soldier, jumping out of the driver's seat of one of the Tower vehicles, called out.
"Hey, you two! This one's for you," he said, pointing at the vehicle. "We've been ordered to ensure you get to your destination as quickly as possible."
"Thanks," Koji responded with a nod.
"Let's go, then," Saik headed toward the vehicle.
They climbed in without further delay, Saik taking the wheel while Koji closed the door. Leaving the others behind, they headed toward the nearest town, Primavera do Leste.
The armored vehicle roared down the deserted road beneath a suddenly clear blue sky. The surrounding vegetation was lush and green, with numerous well-maintained farms lining the horizon.
"So, after this mission, are you leaving the Tower and heading straight to Aurora?" Saik asked, keeping his eyes on the road.
"No, I can't just leave. There's the treaty I signed with the Tower. I can leave for a while, but nothing permanent."
"Remember the first time we came face to face with the commander? She said that we, as bearers, could decide to leave the Tower and even wipe out all the staff in the department if we wanted. The Tower is made of humans who can't dictate anything to bearers, that's what she said."
"Are you sure she said that?"
"Not in those exact words, but that's the message she sent us."
With the strong wind blowing, their hair swayed wildly. To get more comfortable, Koji slid down in his seat, letting out a peaceful sigh.
"Ah… this breeze, this calm… no sound of buildings collapsing or the ground splitting open. This is really nice," Koji said, closing his eyes to the wind and the silence of the landscape.
"I just miss my parents," Saik smiled faintly, his lips curling slightly, as if recalling the last time he saw them. "I'm hoping for some vacation after all this, so I can visit them."
"We just joined the Tower. I doubt we'll have any time off soon."
Koji remained quiet, eyes closed, body relaxed in the seat, and Saik continued.
"It's always tough keeping your head straight when it comes to family, especially in times of conflict. But somehow, I always feel like they're okay. A quick, sincere prayer never hurt anyone."
Reflecting on Saik's words, Koji pondered silently.
"Prayer... When was the last time I did that?"
He was never very religious, but the thought of a simple prayer during a moment of peace amidst the chaos seemed appealing.
"I don't know if you want to talk about it, but... besides the family you've lost, is there anyone else?" Saik asked Koji.
"To be honest, I always felt like my family was small. There were always fights, no one ever agreed on anything. In the end, it was always just me, my dad, and my mom."
"That sounds tough, but really... I think deep down, everyone feels the same. Deep down, family is you, your parents, and your siblings."
"Yeah..."
"Hey, look over there!" Saik spotted Primavera do Leste just a few kilometers ahead. It took only a few minutes to finally arrive.
The lights and bustling streets signaled that the city was alive, making them question if the Conclave was really operating there.
"We're here."
"Everything seems normal around here," Koji observed.
"Yeah, no signs of destruction or panic. Do we really need to be on alert here?" Saik slowed down the vehicle as they entered the streets.
The urban atmosphere was calm, with residents going about their daily activities, vehicles moving, and conversations echoing through the streets and establishments.
They stepped out of the car and began walking along the sidewalks, carefully observing everything. The people seemed oblivious to any imminent danger.
"Why are they so calm? It's like they don't care about the energy wave," Koji wondered.
He subtly approached a group of men chatting animatedly outside a workshop.
There were five of them, all middle-aged, some in greasy work uniforms, others wearing faded caps with faces weathered by the sun.
"They're talking about football," Koji murmured, somewhat surprised.
One of the men, a burly fellow wearing a Flamengo shirt, was gesticulating as he spoke.
"I told you, man! That kid's going to be Flamengo's next star! He's got skills; he just needs more time on the field."
Another man, wearing a Vasco cap, laughed and responded mockingly.
"Oh, here we go again with that! That kid's just another one of those you Flamengo fans hype up. Give it two years, and he'll be playing in Turkey or Japan!"
"Japan? No way! That kid's got potential for Europe, not like your team, starving for talent. Ha! Ha! Ha!"
Standing beside Koji, Saik whispered.
"They don't seem like they're living under the control of violent bearers."
"Yeah, any ideas?"
"Let's hit that bar over there, grab some water, and we'll keep walking around the city," Saik suggested, pointing subtly to a small bar across the street.
They crossed over and entered the bar, which had a rustic and old-school theme, with hanging lanterns and a retro aesthetic that invited reflection. They settled onto the stools at the counter, where the faint scent of aged wood and fresh beer filled the air.
"Think it'll take long to find them?" Koji asked, turning to Saik.
"Not sure, but we need to gather as much info as possible. Why is this city, made up of humans, seemingly fine, even within the energy wave? And where exactly is the start of this wave? We need answers."
"Maybe the start is in Cuiabá," Koji suggested, just as the bartender approached.
"What can I get for you?" the young man asked with a friendly smile.
"Two bottles of water," Saik replied.
The bartender nodded, grabbed the bottles from an old fridge behind the counter, and placed them in front of them.
"Never seen you guys around here before. New in town?" he asked.
"Yeah, just passing through," Koji tried to sound casual and relaxed.
"You should meet the folks here, then," the bartender said with a bit of enthusiasm.
Saik carefully studied the young man, analyzing the situation. The bar's atmosphere was welcoming, and the bartender seemed genuinely friendly. Yet something about him made Saik feel a slight discomfort.
"And who should we meet first?" Saik asked, playing along.
"Oh, there are a lot of interesting people around here. But you'd probably want to meet Mr. Juan. He knows everything that goes on in this town. A real local historian, you might say."
"And where can we find this Mr. Juan?" Koji asked, now intrigued.
"He's usually at the square, just after lunch. Head over there, and you'll surely run into him, but you shouldn't wait too long to meet them."
"Meet who?" Koji asked, curious, and Saik echoed the question. "How many are they, and who are they?"
The bartender replied.
"Who are they? Don't you know? They are the Enlightened! Elevated and Just! They are our guides..."