Zein was training with Kiera. In a violent clash between his steel and her spear, Zein's sword slipped from his hands, sent flying through the air. He ended up on the ground, staring fixedly at his palms; they were trembling again.
—I still can't... —he whispered, feeling a sting of helplessness.
—Don't worry, we can achieved this little by little. Come on, get up —Kiera said, extending her hand to him.
—Thank you —Zein responded, accepting the support.
—We can continue another day.
—Sure.
At that moment, Lyra approached them with a glass of water.
—Look, I brought you this, big brother —she said, offering him the glass with a smile.
—Thank you, and... seriously, forgive me for treating you like that that day —Zein responded, looking down, ashamed.
—How many times are you going to keep going on about that? —Lyra interrupted him, hugging him tightly—. No matter what happens, I will always forgive you and love you.
—Lyra...
Zein returned the hug before retreating.
Since leaving the hospital, he had taken refuge in research. He spent hours by the telescope, never straying from that place; after work and in every free minute, his mind was only there.
Suddenly, Naoko arrived at the observatory, panting.
—Zein! —she said, breathless—. Miguel has called an urgent meeting. Everyone must attend.
Zein left immediately, leaving Lyra under Kiera's care.
Upon arriving at the tavern, they were surprised by the amount of people; the place was bursting, although strangely the noise didn't seem to have alerted anyone outside. In the center, a screen floated above the floor. Alexander and Mei were organizing those present, among whom Zein quickly distinguished Kiomi, whose cold gaze locked onto him for an instant.
The night finished closing over the island when Miguel's face appeared on the magic screen.
—Look around you. For years, the Empire has treated us as if we were shadows, as if this land belonged to them just for treading on it with their iron boots. They wanted us silent and broken... but they forgot that shadows grow when the sun sets —his voice resonated with a natural authority—. Today, for the first time, we are not just survivors hiding in tunnels. Today we are stronger than they dare to admit.
He paused briefly, sweeping his gaze across the audience through the transmission.
—While they march through the streets bragging of a victory they haven't earned, we will strike the heart of their machinery. We do not fight out of hatred for what is in front of us, but out of love for what we leave behind. The time has come for the Empire to learn that this island does not bend. —His voice rose in pitch, laden with a contagious emotion—. Today we reclaim our home! For those who fell and for those yet to be born!
The tavern erupted in cheers and war cries. The fervor was almost tangible, but Zein remained motionless, his nerves on edge.
Those were exactly the situations the shadow had warned him about: foreign conflicts, mortal dangers that would drag down those he loved. If he joined, the risk to Lyra would be constant. He still had the option to take a step back.
Mei approached him and placed a hand on his head, stroking it gently.
—This isn't your fight, and it's not your duty to fight it —she told him with a warm voice—. Don't worry; they will do fine, even if you aren't there.
As soon as the meeting dissolved, Zein hurried to his room, needing silence to think. He sat on the edge of his bed, head in his hands.
«What do I do? It doesn't even concern me, I've only been here a few months...» he thought, struggling internally. «I could take Lyra and escape, find a peaceful place. But... leave everyone behind? If I stay, how long will it take for misfortune to reach us?»
—Stop thinking about such nonsense —a cracked voice suddenly said.
Zein raised his head. The shadow was there, prostrated before him, observing him with its habitual and unsettling fixity.
—Not now, please... —Zein murmured, covering his face with one hand.
—Don't say that, you wound my heart —the shadow replied with a sarcasm that dripped venom—. This is your moment, Zein.
—What?
—There aren't many strong people left on this island; you could obtain a position of power without the slightest effort —the shadow said, gliding toward him with palpable greed—. Imagine it: you, turned into a noble, giving Lyra a dream life. No worries, surrounded by luxury... Everything she deserves.
—You yourself warned me not to involve her in these conflicts, and now you're standing there telling me this —Zein reproached, gritting his teeth.
—You are already a murderer —the shadow declared, abandoning the mocking tone for a colder and more direct one—. And that is something you cannot change.
Zein's eyes widened, holding the entity's gaze. In that very instant, a violent pounding shook the door. It was Naoko. She was on the other side, panting, trying to catch her breath while holding a crumpled paper between her fingers.
—What's wrong? —Zein asked, throwing the door open.
—Look... —Naoko said, handing him the paper—. Check this.
Zein took the sheet and felt the world come to a stop. On the paper appeared his face under a clear heading: "WANTED."
He stood petrified, unable to look away from the poster. Panic clouded his judgment for a second.
«Now, even if I want to flee the island, they will pursue me everywhere...» he thought in desperation. «What if I send Lyra alone? No, it would be too dangerous...»
—It seems they are hanging these posters everywhere —Naoko added, finally managing to breathe normally.
Zein looked at her with his nerves on edge before handing the paper back. At that moment, Alexander appeared in the hallway, approaching them in a hurry.
—Zein! —he exclaimed, clutching another of those posters in his hand.
Alexander noticed that Naoko had beaten him to it.
—I see you already know —he said, trying to sound calm—. We have to move. When they publish these posters, it doesn't even take a day for the capture raids to begin.
—But where do I go? —Zein asked, panic beginning to seep into his voice—. I can't leave Lyra alone.
—She's with Kiera, isn't she? —Alexander intervened—. She can look after her for a while, I'm sure of it.
—Yes, but... even so, I have nowhere to hide —Zein replied, looking at both of them with desperation.
—What if... how about you hide at my house? —Naoko blurted out suddenly.
—That seems like an excellent idea. Come on, we have to move fast —Alexander decided, gently pushing Zein so he would start packing his few belongings.
Once ready, they left stealthily, heading first to Kiera's house.
—Alexander will send Kio to stay with Kiera and Lyra —Naoko explained as they moved through the shadows—. That way they'll be more protected. He himself will take care of notifying Miguel about your situation.
—It's easy to say, but I can't help feeling that everything is falling apart —Zein murmured, casting a fleeting glance at the starry sky.
Naoko, for her part, walked in a tense silence. «Shit... what was I thinking?» she reproached herself internally. «I invited him to my house just like that. To him... Well, it's not like it's something intimate, right? It's just a temporary refuge.» As the thought spun in her head, she felt the heat rise to her cheeks until her face was glowing red.
—What's wrong? Are you okay? You look... did you get sick? —Zein asked, noticing her strange behavior.
—It's nothing! Don't worry —she responded abruptly, giving herself a couple of slaps on the cheeks to regain her composure.
Upon arrival, they explained the urgency to Kiera, who accepted immediately. Zein knelt in front of his sister and stroked her hair tenderly.
—Lyra, you're going to stay here with Kiera for a while, okay? Kio is coming to stay with you both, too. You'll be safe.
—And what will happen to you? —Lyra asked, clutching his arm with concern—. Do you really have to go?
—I'm only leaving for a bit, but don't worry, I'll be back soon —Zein told her, forcing a reassuring smile.
—Do you swear it?
—I swear it —he responded, holding out his pinky finger to her.
—And when you come back... will we go wherever I want? —Lyra asked, seeking a guarantee amidst so much uncertainty.
—Of course, we'll do whatever you want —Zein said, letting out a small laugh.
—Then it's a promise —the girl declared, hesitating for a second before interlocking her pinky with her brother's.
—I swear it.
Lyra let go of him only to throw herself into his arms and hug him with all her might. After pulling away, Zein stood up and looked at Kiera.
—Thank you so much, truly, Kiera.
—Don't worry about it. Take it as an outstanding balance I've had with Miguel for a long time —she responded with an enigmatic smile.
—How do you know that...?
—Let's go, Zein. It's getting late —Naoko interrupted him from the door, urging him to move.
They left in a hurry and walked until they reached Naoko's house. She, looking somewhat embarrassed, showed him her humble home. It was a simple building that camouflaged itself perfectly among the other houses in the neighborhood.
Upon entering, Zein stopped dead in his tracks, surprised. Miguel was sitting there, waiting for them.
—Miguel?
—I'm glad you made it here safe and sound, boy. I've been waiting for you —the veteran said, standing up to receive him.
—What are you doing here? —Zein asked, confused.
—Ah, that's right... I never explained my relationship with him to you —Naoko intervened, shyly scratching the back of her neck—. Miguel is my legal guardian.
—Your guardian?
—When the mushroom cloud rose over the sea, almost all of my family died. I was orphaned in an instant —Naoko explained, lowering her gaze—. Miguel was wandering the island, without a job or direction, when he found me alone. He decided to adopt me and, since then, we've supported each other.
—Exactly. This sweetheart is my pride and joy —Miguel added, affectionately ruffling Naoko's hair—. She's like my own daughter.
—Don't say such embarrassing things, old man... —Naoko murmured, fleeing from Zein's gaze out of pure bashfulness.
After the encounter, Naoko showed him the house and the corner where he would be sleeping starting that night. However, sleep did not come. Zein remained alert, his mind fixed on the capture poster and the ghosts of his past, until he decided to step out into the patio for some air.
There he found Miguel, sitting under the moonlight, observing the vastness of the sky.
—Can't sleep either? —Miguel asked, pointing to the chair beside him for Zein to join him.
—No —Zein admitted, sitting down—. How did you do it?
—Do what?
—Get over it. Moving on after having killed someone. You act as if nothing happened, as if it were... normal.
—I didn't get over it. It's not something you get over; it's something you learn to carry —Miguel responded, turning his gaze toward him—. But that burden gave me strength. Strength to protect others and prevent them from suffering the same things we went through.
Zein remained silent, mimicking Miguel's gesture and losing himself in the stars.
—Even so... I'm afraid of killing someone again —he confessed in a whisper.
—And what if you attack with the back of the sword instead of the blade? With that, you shouldn't have to kill anyone —Miguel suggested matter-of-factly.
—Just knocking them out?
—Exactly —Miguel smiled and gave him a firm pat on the back—. But don't worry; I have some special tasks for you tomorrow. I won't send you to the front to kill people, at least not for now.
—Thank you, Miguel —Zein responded, returning the smile.
They both remained there, in a comfortable silence, sharing the vastness of the night.