January 27, 2026 — Present
I was always a kid with a hard life.
Maybe because our father abandoned us when I was seven years old. Maybe because my little sister contracted a fatal disease. Maybe because my mother works all day and almost all night to pay for her treatment... and even then, it's not enough.
I always got into fights at school. And because of that, I was always expelled.
That led me to lose grades. To be in high school at eighteen while others my age were already in university.
But my life changed since I entered that academy. I don't know if for better or for worse. But I know it changed.
⸻
Elysian was a boy with piercing brown eyes, light blue hair, and an athletic figure for his age. He was attractive to many women, though that never mattered much to him.
He wore a red t-shirt, gray pants, and sneakers. He always wore the same clothes, except when he had to go to school.
He was walking through the hallways of his city's public high school when he saw something that made his expression change.
Five large students were surrounding a girl.
Elysian loathed people who abused their power. But he loathed it even more when they didn't treat a woman with respect.
"Come on, gorgeous," said one of the bullies. "Let us see how much you want to be part of the popular kids' group. You know what you have to do."
The girl, trembling, began to lift her skirt.
A kick slammed into the face of the bully in the middle.
He fell unconscious to the ground.
The others turned around. Even the girl.
They saw Elysian.
"Didn't they teach you to respect ladies?" he said in a cold voice.
"What the hell?! Ivan, get up!" shouted one of his friends.
Ivan didn't respond. He was completely knocked out.
One of them lunged at Elysian.
Elysian dodged the blow with ease and responded with a right hook and a left hook straight to the jaw. The aggressor fell to the ground like an empty sack.
"Bastard!" another screamed, launching an attack.
Elysian spun with agility and threw a heel kick straight to the attacker's ribs.
The boy fell to his knees, clutching his torso, breathless.
Elysian looked at the girl.
"Hey, you. You don't have to humiliate yourself or disrespect yourself to get what you want. You can achieve it on your own. Now go. You won't want to see this."
The girl, impressed, left without saying a word. She could only hear the screams behind her. The remaining two didn't take long to fall.
Minutes later, Elysian was sitting in a chair in front of the principal's desk.
"You are in serious trouble, young man. You brutally beat up five boys."
The woman wore glasses and had her hair pulled back in a tight ponytail.
"Principal, I only hit five bastards who deserved it."
"Those 'boys' were taken to the hospital. They have serious fractures, broken lips, and head injuries."
Elysian didn't flinch.
"It's not enough. They deserved more. They were going to abuse a girl. You can ask Zoé, from the second grade."
The principal sighed.
"I got ahead of myself. Come in, please."
The door opened.
Zoé entered.
"If you tell the truth, Elysian won't have problems. But if not... he will be expelled. Come on, Zoé, what happened?"
Zoé remained silent for a few seconds. She looked at Elysian.
"Elysian attacked them for no reason."
"What?! That's a lie!" he exclaimed.
"Silence. Let her speak."
"We were talking. They were helping me with an assignment. Then Elysian, for no reason, attacked them."
"They were talking? Is it true they were going to abuse you?" the principal asked.
"No. That is completely false. I don't know why he made that up."
Elysian let out an incredulous laugh.
"Are you serious, Zoé? After I saved you... this is how you thank me?"
He looked at the principal.
"You don't have to say it. I'm leaving."
He stood up and walked out of the office.
At the exit, he grabbed his bicycle.
"I'm sorry, Elysian," said a voice behind him.
Zoé.
"But if I say what happened, I won't be popular."
Elysian looked at her for a moment.
"If you keep worrying about what people think... that will never happen."
He got on his bike and left.
Without looking back.
The wind hit Elysian's face as he pedaled hard.
The bicycle wheels spun so fast they barely seemed to touch the ground. The cars passing on the avenue were left behind one after another. Even some cyclists training on the road looked at him with surprise as he overtook them.
To someone watching from afar, it would look like a professional cyclist was training.
But Elysian wasn't training.
He was in a hurry.
His legs moved with power and precision; each pedal stroke was strong and steady. His breathing was calm, as if that pace required no effort from him.
After several minutes, the large white building appeared in front of him.
The hospital.
Elysian braked the bike in the parking lot and left it leaning against a wall. Without wasting time, he walked toward the entrance.
The automatic doors opened with a slight sound.
The smell of disinfectant filled the air.
Elysian walked through the hallways with familiarity. Several nurses looked at him as he passed, and some even smiled at him. He was already well-known there.
Finally, he arrived in front of a door.
Room 214.
Elysian opened it slowly.
Inside the room, a dark-haired girl was sitting in bed with a small notebook in her hands. She had a delicate face and a peaceful smile that contrasted with the paleness of her skin.
When she looked up and saw Elysian, her eyes lit up.
"Brother!"
Elysian smiled slightly.
"Hello, little one."
The girl put the notebook down and stretched her arms out toward him.
Elysian walked to the bed, and she hugged him tightly.
Despite her illness, the girl always had a warm energy that made anyone nearby feel better.
"I thought you wouldn't come today," she said with a smile.
"Of course I would come," Elysian replied. "I always come."
The girl observed him closely for a moment.
"Did you get into another fight?"
Elysian looked away slightly.
She sighed softly.
"Brother... you don't have to fight for everything all the time."
Elysian placed a hand on her head and ruffled her hair a bit.
"Someone has to take care of this world of idiots."
The girl let out a small laugh.
"You're silly."
Then she took her notebook and showed it to him.
"Look, I made a drawing."
Elysian looked at it.
It was a simple drawing.
A small house... a tree... and three people holding hands.
"It's us," she said proudly.
Elysian remained silent for a few seconds looking at the drawing.
"When I get better... we are going to live in a house like that," she continued with a smile full of hope.
Elysian looked at her.
His brown eyes softened for a moment.
"Sure," he finally said.
"When you get better, we'll go wherever you want."
The girl smiled even more.
To her, those words were a promise.
And Elysian never broke his promises.
Luna was still looking at the drawing with a smile.
"Do you like it?" she asked.
Elysian sat in the chair next to the bed.
"It's fine."
Luna puffed out her cheeks a bit.
"You always say the same thing."
"Because you always draw the same thing," Elysian replied.
"Hey!" she said, faking anger.
Elysian took the notebook and looked at it more closely.
The house had crooked windows, the tree was bigger than the house, and the people were simple stick figures.
But the three figures were holding hands.
Elysian closed the notebook gently and gave it back to her.
"It's pretty," he said this time.
Luna looked at him with a satisfied smile.
"I knew you were going to like it."
There was a short silence.
Luna observed him closely again.
"So..." she said, tilting her head slightly. "What happened this time?"
Elysian sighed.
"Nothing important."
"That means something did happen," Luna replied with a small smile.
Elysian leaned back in the chair.
"I got expelled."
Luna widened her eyes a bit.
"Again?"
"Again."
She sighed.
"Mom is going to be very angry."
"I know," Elysian said.
Luna looked at him in silence for a few seconds.
Then she spoke in a softer voice.
"Why do you fight so much, brother?"
Elysian didn't respond immediately.
Finally, he said:
"Because there are people who deserve it."
Luna looked down for a moment.
"But it's always you who ends up in trouble."
Elysian shrugged.
"I'm used to it."
Luna looked up again.
"I'm not," she said in a low voice.
Elysian looked at her.
"I don't like it when something happens to you," she continued. "Every time you fight, I think that one day someone stronger is going to hurt you."
Elysian smiled a little.
"That's not going to happen."
Luna looked at him with a serious expression.
"You're not invincible."
Elysian raised an eyebrow.
"Who said I am?"
Luna pointed at his face.
"Your face."
Elysian let out a small laugh.
Luna ended up laughing too.
After a few seconds, she spoke again.
"Do you know what I dreamed yesterday?"
"What?" Elysian asked.
"That I was already cured."
Elysian remained silent while he listened to her.
"We were leaving the hospital and you were outside waiting for me with your bike," Luna said with a smile. "And Mom was crying, but from happiness."
Elysian was watching her attentively.
"Then we went to get ice cream," she continued. "And you let me choose the flavor."
Elysian crossed his arms.
"Now that is a dream."
"Hey!" Luna said, hitting him gently with the pillow.
They both laughed.
Then Luna settled into the bed a bit.
"Brother."
"What is it?"
"Thanks for always coming."
Elysian frowned a little.
"You don't have to thank me for that."
"Yes, I do," Luna said. "I know you're busy... and Mom works all the time... but you always come."
Elysian stood up and walked to the room's window.
He looked at the city through the glass.
Then he spoke without turning around.
"You're my sister."
Luna smiled.
"The best," she said.
Elysian shook his head slightly.
"The only one."
Luna let out a small laugh.
Then she looked at him with curiosity.
"Brother."
"What?"
"When I get better..."
Elysian looked at her again.
"Can we go to the sea?"
There was a small silence.
Finally, Elysian responded with a slight smile.
"Sure."
"Then you have to get strong," Luna said. "Because you're going to have to carry all my suitcases."
Elysian sighed.
"That sounds harder than fighting five idiots."
Luna laughed again.
And for a moment...
The hospital room no longer seemed like a hospital.
It simply seemed like the place where two siblings talked about their future.
Elysian stood up from the chair after spending a good while talking with Luna.
She already looked a bit tired.
Her eyes were starting to close slowly.
"Brother..." Luna murmured, half-asleep.
"Yes?" Elysian responded, approaching the bed.
"Don't get into trouble tomorrow."
Elysian smiled a little.
"I'll try."
Luna opened one eye.
"That's what you said last time."
Elysian let out a small laugh.
He leaned over slightly and tucked the blanket around her.
"Rest," he said in a low voice.
Luna looked at him with a peaceful smile.
"I love you, brother."
For a moment, Elysian said nothing.
Then he replied.
"Me too, shrimp."
Luna finally closed her eyes.
Elysian stayed there a few seconds longer, making sure she had really fallen asleep.
Then he took his backpack.
And left the room silently.
He closed the door carefully.
The hospital hallway was quiet.
Only distant footsteps and the constant sound of some machines could be heard.
Elysian walked toward the exit.
But before he could reach it, a voice stopped him.
"Elysian."
He turned around.
It was the doctor in charge of Luna's case.
A woman in her forties, with a white coat and a serious expression.
"Doctor," Elysian said.
She walked toward him.
For a few seconds, she seemed to hesitate.
Then she spoke.
"I need to talk to you about your sister."
Elysian felt a pressure in his chest.
But he kept his expression calm.
"Did something happen?"
The doctor shook her head slightly.
"No... but I want you to understand the situation."
Elysian crossed his arms.
"Luna's illness is very aggressive," the doctor continued. "We are doing everything possible, but..."
She paused briefly.
"The odds are not good."
Elysian said nothing.
The doctor looked directly at him.
"If the treatment works... there is a fifty percent chance of saving her."
Elysian felt his hands tighten.
"And the other fifty?" he asked.
The doctor lowered her gaze slightly.
"The other fifty percent is that her body won't hold out."
The hallway fell silent.
For a moment, only the distant sound of a heart monitor could be heard.
Elysian breathed slowly.
"But we are not going to give up," the doctor added quickly. "Luna is a strong girl. We have seen cases where patients beat the odds."
Elysian looked toward the hallway window.
The city lights were shining outside.
Finally, he spoke.
"She is going to live."
The doctor observed him in silence.
Elysian looked at her again.
His eyes were completely serious.
"Because if there is even a single chance to save her..."
His fists clenched tightly.
"I will find a way."
The doctor didn't respond.
She only nodded gently.
Elysian took his bicycle outside the hospital a few minutes later.
The cold night air hit his face.
He got on the bike.
And started to pedal.
The city lights passed quickly around him.
Without knowing it...
That night was the last one before his life changed forever.
Elysian pedaled hard through the streets of his city, moving away from the hospital. The sky was starting to darken; night was about to fall, and the streetlights were turning on, flickering like artificial stars. His bicycle seemed to fly under his feet: faster than any professional cyclist, but he wasn't doing it for competition, but out of urgency.
Tears began to slide down his face, mixing with the wind hitting his skin. He bit his lip, holding back sobs, while his thoughts revolved around Luna.
"I don't know how I'm going to do it..." he murmured, his voice cracking but firm. "But... I will achieve it."
Each pedal stroke was a reminder of what he had to protect. Every street he crossed, every traffic light, every sound of the city reminded him that he had to be strong, that he couldn't afford to fail. Luna depended on him, and there was no room for fear or doubt.
When he finally arrived home, his heart was beating fast, and the weight of responsibility was crushing him, but also pushing him forward. Wiping the tears with the back of his hand, he took a deep breath:
"I will do it... no matter what it costs."
His sister's destiny and his own life were starting to be written, and Elysian was determined to take the reins.
The Hales' small house was on a quiet street in their city. It wasn't an ugly house, but it wasn't something that drew attention either. It was the kind of house where families lived who worked hard every day to make ends meet.
The white paint on the exterior walls was a bit worn by the years. The small front garden had some plants that someone clearly cared for with love, though there was no money to fix everything that needed fixing.
Elysian left his bike leaning against the fence and went inside.
Upon opening the door, the interior revealed exactly what it was: a humble home.
The living room had an old but clean sofa, covered with a blanket to hide some wear. In front of it was a television that clearly had several years of use. A small wooden table was full of old magazines and some receipts.
In a corner, there were family photographs.
One of them showed Luna when she was younger, laughing with all the joy in the world. Another was of Angie with her two children when they were still kids.
There was also an empty space on the wall.
A place where another photograph once stood.
Elysian looked away.
He walked down the hallway to his room.
His room was simple. A single bed, a small desk full of notebooks, and some martial arts books quite worn from use.
On the walls, there were posters.
Action movies.
Martial arts movies.
Cinema classics that he watched over and over again.
There was also a punching bag hanging in a corner and some sports wraps on the desk.
Everything in that room screamed one thing: discipline.
Elysian let himself fall onto the bed and stared at the ceiling for a few minutes.
Until he heard the front door open.
Tired footsteps.
Angie had arrived.
Elysian came out of his room.
His mother was leaving her purse on the kitchen table.
Angie Hale was a strong woman. Not physically like a fighter, but in a way that was much more difficult.
She had her dark hair tied back; some dark circles marked her face from long workdays, but she still maintained a firm, intelligent presence... someone who had learned to endure the weight of life without breaking.
"You got home early today," she said as she took off her jacket.
"Yes."
Angie began to prepare something to eat. Nothing luxurious, just something simple for dinner.
After a few minutes, both were sitting at the small kitchen table.
Silence reigned while they ate.
Angie observed her son for a few seconds.
"Elysian."
"Yeah?"
"Don't you have something to tell me?"
Elysian kept eating.
"No."
Angie sighed slowly.
"How curious... because I got a call from your school today."
Elysian looked up.
"You were expelled again."
The silence became heavy.
"They were taking advantage of a girl," Elysian said calmly. "They were going to abuse her."
"That doesn't change anything!"
Angie hit the table with her palm.
"I didn't put you in boxing, judo, karate, and all those martial arts so you could fight in the street like a criminal!"
"Then what did you want me to do?" Elysian replied coldly. "Just stand there and watch?"
"I wanted you to think!"
"I did."
"You didn't!"
Angie stood up from her chair.
"Every school you enter, you end up expelled! Every damn year it's the same!"
Elysian clenched his fists.
"If someone tries to abuse a girl, I'm not going to sit idly by."
"And if you keep going like this, you're going to ruin your life!"
"My life is already ruined," he said in a low voice.
That made Angie fall silent.
Elysian stood up.
"I'm not going to apologize for doing the right thing."
Angie looked at him with a mixture of anger and exhaustion.
"You don't understand anything yet..." she said in a low voice.
Elysian simply took a glass of water and went to his room without saying another word.
The door closed softly.
In the kitchen, Angie was left alone.
She sat down slowly again.
And for a moment, her strong face broke a little.
Because deep down, she knew something.
Elysian wasn't a bad kid.
But the world doesn't always reward those who do the right thing.
Several minutes passed.
In Elysian's room, only the faint sound of the ceiling fan spinning slowly could be heard.
He was sitting on the edge of his bed, elbows resting on his knees and hands interlaced. His gaze was fixed on the floor.
The argument with his mother kept echoing in his head.
Then footsteps were heard in the hallway.
The door opened softly.
It was Angie.
Elysian looked up.
His mother was still serious... but she wasn't shouting anymore.
She just looked tired.
She entered the room, observing everything around her for a moment. The movie posters, the punching bag, the wraps on the desk.
Then she sighed.
"You're still just as stubborn as when you were a kid."
Elysian didn't respond.
Angie crossed her arms.
"I'm not angry because you defended that girl."
Elysian raised his head slightly, surprised.
"If someone was going to hurt her... you did the right thing."
There was a small silence.
"But that doesn't change how I feel," Angie continued. "I'm worried."
Elysian frowned slightly.
Every time you get into a fight against several guys... every time you end up in trouble... all I think is that one day someone might actually hurt you."
Her voice softened a bit.
"You're all I have... besides Luna."
The words hung in the air of the room.
Elysian looked down.
Angie stepped a bit closer.
"Listen... tomorrow I want you to show up at the job I told you about the other time."
Elysian looked up.
"Job?"
"Yes. At a friend's mechanic shop."
She leaned lightly against the wall.
"You need to start doing something with your time now that you're no longer in school."
Then she stared at him.
"Besides... the extra money wouldn't hurt us."
Elysian nodded slowly.
"Alright."
Angie seemed a bit relieved.
She looked at the watch on her wrist.
"I need to sleep for a couple of hours... my night shift starts soon."
She worked both day and night whenever she could.
She headed toward the door.
Before leaving, she stopped.
"Elysian."
He looked up again.
"Try not to get into any more fights tomorrow."
There was a short silence.
"I'll try," he responded.
Angie smiled ever so slightly.
Then she left the room and closed the door.
The house fell silent again.
Elysian lay back on the bed, staring at the ceiling.
The morning light entered through the window of the small room.
Elysian slowly opened his eyes.
He spent a few seconds staring at the ceiling, as if remembering where he was. Then he sat up in bed and stretched his arms.
His body was still sore from the previous day's fight.
"Great..." he muttered to himself.
He got up and walked toward the kitchen.
The house was completely silent.
That wasn't strange. His mother had surely already left for work or was sleeping after her shift.
On the table, there was a folded piece of paper.
Elysian picked it up.
It was a note written in his mother's quick handwriting.
"Good morning."
"Make yourself some breakfast, take a shower, and show up at the location I sent to your phone."
"Don't be late."
"—Mom."
Elysian smiled a bit.
"Always so direct..."
He left the note on the table and opened the refrigerator.
There weren't many things.
A few eggs, bread, some ham, and milk.
Nothing out of the ordinary.
Elysian wasn't a chef... but he knew how to manage.
He took out a pan, cracked some eggs, and started frying them. Then he toasted some bread and heated the ham.
While he cooked, he moved naturally, like someone used to preparing his own food.
A few minutes later, he was sitting at the table eating his breakfast.
Simple.
But enough.
Afterward, he got up, quickly washed the plate, and went to shower.
When he came out, he dressed in a black t-shirt, some somewhat worn-out jeans, and his sneakers.
He took his phone.
There was a message from his mother with a location.
A mechanic shop.
Elysian took his bicycle and left the house.
The morning air was fresh as he pedaled through the city streets.
It didn't take long to arrive.
The place was a large shop, with several cars parked outside.
The metallic sound of tools clanking and engines being serviced filled the environment.
Elysian leaned his bike near the entrance.
When he entered, a large man with a thick beard and grease-stained hands looked at him.
"Are you Angie's boy?"
Elysian nodded.
"Yes, sir."
The man wiped his hands with a rag.
"I'm Mark."
He looked him up and down.
"Your mother says you need work... and that you're strong."
Elysian shrugged slightly.
"I guess."
Mark pointed to a car raised on a lift.
"Good. Let's see if that's true."
He walked toward a huge box filled with heavy metallic parts.
"Carry that over there."
The box seemed to weigh quite a bit.
Many adults would have trouble carrying it.
Elysian looked at it.
Then he lifted it.
With ease.
Mark raised an eyebrow.
Elysian walked calmly with the box as if it didn't weigh much and set it down where the mechanic had pointed.
Mark let out a small laugh.
"Wow..."
He picked up another large engine part.
"Then try this."
It was an even heavier piece.
Elysian took it.
His arms tensed... but he lifted it.
He held it for a few seconds before placing it on the workbench.
Mark crossed his arms.
"Not bad."
He smiled a bit.
"I think you're going to be quite useful around here, kid."
Elysian only responded with a slight smile.
The work didn't bother him.
In fact...
He liked keeping busy.
The rest of the day went by quickly.
The work in the shop wasn't easy, but it wasn't boring to watch either.
Elysian went from one car to another helping the mechanics.
Sometimes he held engines while someone tightened bolts. Other times he carried tires, moved toolboxes, or pushed broken-down cars onto the ramps.
His hands ended up covered in grease.
The sound of wrenches clashing with metal, roaring engines, and old radios playing in the background filled the air.
Despite the exhaustion, Elysian worked with energy.
At one point, one of the mechanics whistled upon seeing him lift a heavy part.
"Hey kid... are you sure you're not a professional wrestler or something?"
Some of them laughed.
It was break time, and several were sitting near a makeshift table made from an old door.
They had bought sodas and fast food.
"No," Elysian responded with a half-smile.
"Well, you should be," said another mechanic. "That engine weighs more than my mother-in-law."
Laughter filled the shop.
Mark was leaning against a wall drinking coffee while listening.
"And what did you want to be?" asked one of the workers. "We all have a story."
One started telling how he had lost his first car in a bet.
Another talked about how he met his wife.
Between jokes and anecdotes, the conversation reached Elysian.
"And you, kid?" asked one of them. "You look like a fighter."
Elysian drank some of his soda.
"I wanted to be a professional boxer."
The mechanics raised their eyebrows.
"Really?"
"Yes."
"And what happened?"
Elysian looked at the ground for a moment before answering.
"Nothing spectacular..." he said calmly. "In an amateur tournament, I broke my hand."
He slightly lifted his right hand as if remembering the pain.
"The doctor said if I kept fighting, I could damage it forever."
The mechanics made pained faces.
"Ouch... that really hurts."
"Yeah..." Elysian continued. "So I quit."
He shrugged.
"Life goes on."
"Well, if you fought the way you carry engines... you surely would have been a champion," said one of them.
Mark let out a small laugh.
"Maybe he still can."
Elysian smiled slightly, but said nothing more.
The conversation continued among jokes and laughter.
By the time they realized it...
It was already night.
The shop was closing bit by bit.
One by one, the mechanics said their goodbyes.
"See you tomorrow."
"Good job, kid."
"Don't forget to bring gloves, or you're going to end up with black hands forever."
Elysian raised his hand in farewell.
"See you."
Soon the place was almost empty.
Only a few lights remained on.
Elysian was cleaning a tool when he heard raised voices.
He looked up.
Near the shop office, Mark was arguing with an older man.
The man wore an expensive suit.
But his expression was full of anger.
"I told you the payment was this week, Mark."
"I know," Mark responded with frustration. "I just need a few more days."
"That's what you said last month."
"I'm gathering the money."
The man slammed his hand on the desk.
"I don't care."
Mark clenched his fists.
"I have employees... I have to pay wages."
"That's not my problem."
The argument escalated.
Until suddenly...
The man pushed Mark.
Mark stepped back.
"Hey—"
But the man threw a direct punch to his face.
Mark fell against a table.
Elysian watched from a distance.
His body tensed.
Don't get involved...
He remembered his mother.
He remembered the hospital.
He remembered Luna.
He couldn't get into trouble again.
The man hit Mark again.
A brutal blow.
"Pay what you owe!"
Mark fell to the ground.
The man began to kick him.
Elysian clenched his fists.
Don't get involved.
Don't do it.
Then he remembered something one of the mechanics had said hours earlier.
"Mark works like crazy for his daughter."
"He has a family to support."
The man kicked Mark on the ground again.
And that was enough.
Elysian walked toward them.
"Hey."
The man turned around.
"What do you want, brat?"
He didn't finish the sentence.
Because Elysian's fist slammed directly into his face.
The man fell backward.
"You bastard!"
He tried to get up.
But Elysian was already on top of him.
One punch.
Another.
One more.
The dry sound of fists echoed in the shop.
The man tried to cover himself.
But Elysian didn't stop.
He hit with a brutal fury.
Until the man fell to the floor.
Broken nose.
Blood running down his face.
But Elysian kept hitting him.
"Elysian!"
Two of the mechanics who were still there ran and grabbed him.
"That's enough!"
"He's going to die!"
Between the two of them, they managed to pull him away.
Elysian was breathing hard.
His fists were stained with blood.
The man on the floor could barely move.
His nose was completely twisted, multiple bruises were forming, and blood covered his face.
A few minutes later...
The man stood up with difficulty.
He looked at Elysian with hatred.
"This isn't going to end like this..."
He spat blood.
"I'm going to sue you."
Then he looked at Mark.
"And you."
He wiped the blood with a handkerchief.
"If you don't fire this brat..."
He pointed at the shop.
"I'm taking the premises away from you."
Silence filled the place.
The man left the shop furiously.
The door slammed shut.
And everyone remained in silence.
The silence in the shop lasted several seconds after the man left.
Only Elysian's heavy breathing could be heard.
Mark was sitting on the floor, leaning against a table. His lip was split, and a bruise was starting to form on his face.
One of the mechanics handed him a rag.
"Are you okay?"
Mark spat some blood on the floor.
"I've been worse."
Then he looked at Elysian.
The boy was standing, fists still tense and the man's blood on his knuckles.
Mark let out a tired little laugh.
"Kid..."
He stood up with effort.
"Thanks."
The other two mechanics who had helped pull him away stepped closer as well.
One of them shook his head, still surprised.
"That was... incredible."
The other nodded.
"I swear... I've never seen a teenager knock down a guy that big."
They looked at Elysian with a mixture of respect and surprise.
"That guy weighs like a hundred kilos."
"And you sent him to the floor in seconds."
Elysian shrugged.
"I just reacted."
One of the men frowned.
"Hey... but wait."
He looked at him with curiosity.
"Didn't you say you quit boxing because you broke your hand?"
Elysian remained silent for a moment.
He looked at his hands.
Then he looked up.
"Yes."
There was a pause.
"I lied."
The three men looked at him.
"What?"
Elysian breathed slowly.
"The real reason is that I was banned."
Mark raised an eyebrow.
"Banned?"
Elysian nodded.
"In an amateur fight... the guy I was fighting started provoking me after the match."
He briefly remembered that moment.
"We ended up fighting outside the ring."
He looked down a bit.
"I hit him too much."
The mechanics remained silent.
"I almost killed him."
The words hung in the air.
"The tournament judge said someone like that shouldn't fight professionally again."
Elysian shrugged slightly.
"So they took away my chance at boxing forever."
No one spoke for a few seconds.
Finally, one of the mechanics let out a low whistle.
"Wow..."
Mark crossed his arms, thoughtful.
"That explains a lot."
Then he sighed.
"Well... anyway."
He looked toward the door where the owner of the premises had gone.
"That idiot is going to come back."
One of the men shook his head.
"For sure."
"And when he does, he's going to want trouble."
Mark ran a hand through his beard.
"But I'm not going to fire you."
Elysian looked up.
"What?"
"I'm not going to fire you," Mark repeated firmly. "That guy doesn't call the shots here."
Elysian shook his head.
"Yes, you should."
Mark frowned.
"No way."
"Do it."
"No."
The two looked at each other.
"Mark," Elysian said calmly. "If you don't do it, he's going to take the shop from you."
"Let him try."
"You can't risk the shop for me."
One of the mechanics intervened.
"He's right, boss..."
Mark looked at him.
"Whose side are you on?"
"The side of common sense."
Elysian sighed.
"I can get another job."
Mark shook his head.
"It's not that easy."
"For me, it is."
"You're a good worker."
"And I can be one somewhere else."
Mark observed him in silence.
Elysian continued:
"You have employees."
He pointed around the shop.
"And a family."
The words made Mark fall silent.
Elysian spoke calmly.
"It's not worth risking everything for me."
The shop fell silent again.
The other two mechanics exchanged glances.
They knew Elysian was right.
Elysian pushed forward with strength on his bicycle, leaving the street behind as his mind replayed what had happened minutes ago at the shop. Every punch, every decision, every move of the fight with the man attacking Mark returned to his head. The wind lashed his face and his light blue hair moved like a flag.
When he arrived home, he noticed something strange: the mailbox indicated he had received mail. That seemed odd; the delivery man hadn't come since he was ten years old. Carefully, he opened the mailbox and found an envelope.
An envelope of vellum paper, so thick and creamy it seemed out of place among the ordinary mail. It had no postage stamp, but in the center of the flap, closing the secret with silent authority, shone a midnight blue wax seal. As he brought it closer to the lamp, the emblem of Maravilla Academy emerged from the shadows. It was a coat of arms of sharp elegance. At the top, a golden torch extended its flames upward, flanked by two spread wings that seemed engraved with a surgeon's precision. The contrast of the gold against the dark blue background gave it an air of ancient royalty—something that is not bought, but inherited. In the heart of the shield, a monogram of interlaced lines formed a pyramid of letters—a triad of the letter 'A' protecting each other—with a small solitary star in the center, like an all-seeing eye. Crossing the design, a band engraved in gold dictated the name in sober capital letters: MARAVILLA. Below, in an almost imperceptible but firm typography, it read the founding year, 1923, reminding him.
Elysian entered the house and opened the envelope. The letter contained information about Maravilla Academy: a school focused on training successful individuals, with high-level education, highlighting unique talents, and offering all the tools for its students to become leaders, geniuses, and elite professionals. At first glance, it seemed like a normal and legitimate document.
Elysian left the letter on the table and, after a few minutes, took out his phone. Something didn't convince him; he wasn't the perfect student to receive a scholarship from such an exclusive school. Maybe it was all a scam.
He searched for the academy on the internet and what he found left him thoughtful: the school was located in Salem, Massachusetts, and was famous, privileged, and with a renown that extended worldwide. From there came the most successful people—millionaires, businessmen, geniuses who practically had their lives figured out. The more he investigated, the more he realized that this school didn't just offer education; it offered opportunities that could change anyone's life.
Elysian thought of his sister Luna and his mother. This was his chance to help them, to give them a better life, to guarantee that Luna had a future despite her illness and that his mother could stop carrying everything alone. But the problem was evident: the school was in another city. He couldn't just leave Luna and his mother behind.
Hours passed while Elysian remained in his bed, immersed in his thoughts, wondering what he would do, how he would solve everything, how he could help his mother and Luna without losing himself in the process. The room was in silence, except for the distant ticking of the clock and the wind gently hitting the window.
Suddenly, the door opened.
"I'm home." His mother's voice, firm and warm at the same time, filled the room.
Elysian was so concentrated on his thoughts that he didn't hear her. He didn't react until a sharp knock thudded against the door.
"Did you hear me?! I'm home!"
"Ah... sorry, I didn't hear you," he said, sitting up slightly.
"Fine," Angie replied as she turned, "I'm going to prepare dinner."
His mother left the room, leaving Elysian alone again, lost between uncertainty and anxiety. Several minutes passed before they sat together at the table. The warm light illuminated the modest kitchen, with simple dishes and the aroma of home-cooked food floating in the air.
"How was your first day of work?" Angie asked, with that mixture of worry and curiosity that always characterized her.
Elysian's face opened into a forced smile, but he couldn't hide the nervousness he felt.
"It was... pleasant."
"What's wrong?" she insisted, frowning.
"What are you talking about?" Elysian responded, trying to stay firm.
"Show me your fists." Angie's tone became firmer, almost intimidating.
"What? Why?"
"Show them to me!" she shouted as she stood up from the table, her contained fury shining in her eyes.
Elysian slowly raised his fists. The marks of the fight were evident: purple bruises, superficial cuts, the memory of blows that still ached under the skin.
"I knew it. You got into another fight," Angie said, her voice loaded with reproach and worry.
"No... Mark was attacked. I had no choice, Mom," Elysian replied, trying to explain, to justify what he had done.
"I'm fed up, Elysian!" His mother looked at him with a mixture of exasperation and pain. "How do you want me to ask you? This fight better not get you fired."
Elysian remained silent, his mother's words hitting him harder than any punch.
"What? They fired you, didn't they?"
"I'll get another job, Mom. On my own."
"On your own nothing, Elysian!" Angie reprimanded him harshly. "You know you can do whatever you want, but you disappoint me... you're just like your father."
those words hurt him like a blade piercing his chest. His eyes dropped, fixing his gaze on the floor, as a knot of frustration and sadness formed in his throat. Then, his mind traveled to Luna, his little sister, sick, fighting day by day. Remembering her gave him strength. He clenched his fists and stood up with decision.
He went to his room, where he opened the letter he had received that afternoon. The letter from Maravilla Academy.
With trembling but determined hands, Elysian took a suitcase and began to pack. Clothes, personal items, the essentials he would need to depart. His teeth clenched tightly while his heart beat with intensity: he knew his life was about to change, and that this decision would not only affect his future, but that of his entire family.
The next day, sunlight filtered through the frayed curtains of Elysian's room, drawing shadows on the walls filled with posters of his favorite movies. He breathed deeply, picked up the suitcase, and went downstairs with a firm step, although his heart was racing.
"Luna..." he said softly as he entered the hospital room. "I need to talk to you."
His sister raised her head from the book she was reading. Her eyes, large and— ...full of innocence, they lit up upon seeing Elysian.
"What's wrong, Ely?" she asked, with a timid smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.
Elysian knelt by the bed, seeking Luna's gaze. "I'm going to have to leave for a while..." his voice cracked slightly, trying to be strong. "It's important, and... I can't explain everything now, but it's something I must do."
Luna frowned, confused and worried. "Why? Where are you going? Are you going to leave me alone?"
"I'm not going to leave you alone," Elysian replied, holding her small hands in his. "I just... I need to do this so I can help you. To help Mom too."
Luna looked down, biting her lip, trying to hold back the tears. Her voice was barely audible. "But... I want you to stay, Ely. I don't want you to go."
"I know, Luna..." Elysian stroked her dark hair, trying to instill confidence in her. "If I could stay, I would. But this opportunity... it can change our lives. I need to do it."
Luna closed her eyes and a sigh escaped her lips. For a moment, her childish heart wanted her brother to stay by her side, but slowly she began to understand.
"Then..." she said, in a thread of a voice. "If it's for us... for Mom and for me... I can understand. Just promise me something, Ely."
"Anything, Luna." Elysian looked at her intensely, promising with his voice and his gaze. "Promise me that you will fight to keep going and that you won't give up, even if I'm not here."
Luna nodded, as tears began to slide down her cheeks. "I'll wait for you. I'll wait for you and you'll come back."
Elysian smiled, trying to hide his pain, and hugged her tightly. "Thank you, Luna. Thank you for understanding. I promise I'll come back."
He stood up, placed his suitcase by the bed, and gave her one last look before leaving the room, feeling his heart tighten with every step toward the door. He knew this decision wouldn't be easy, but he also knew it was necessary.
Elysian got off his bicycle and rested it against a wall. The metal creaked slightly as he settled it. Then he walked toward a small but lively restaurant; from the door, you could already hear clashing plates, conversations, and the smell of freshly made food.
As he entered, a girl working there approached with a professional smile.
"Welcome, follow me please. I'll show you to a table."
Elysian shook his head slightly.
"Ah, no. I'm looking for Angie Hale."
The girl raised an eyebrow with curiosity.
"Angie? Are you her son or something?"
"Yes, I'm her son. Could you tell me where she is?" Elysian responded with a friendly smile.
"Sure, she's in the kitchen... as always," the girl said, also smiling.
Elysian walked toward the kitchen, opening the door carefully. The noise of utensils and hot steam filled the atmosphere. He searched with his gaze among the cooks until he finally saw her.
Angie was washing dishes energetically, moving her hands quickly as the water ran.
"Hi, Mom."
Angie looked up upon hearing the voice. When she saw Elysian, her eyes widened in surprise.
"What are you doing here?" she asked, leaving what she was doing and approaching him.
"I came to..."
"I knew it. You decided, didn't you?"
"What?" Elysian said, confused.
"I saw the envelope that came for you... so you're leaving."
Elysian looked down for a bit before answering.
"No... well, yes. But I'm not leaving you both. I'm going to go improve my life... our lives. For you... for Luna."
Angie looked at him in silence for a moment. Then her eyes softened.
"I understand. You know... I'm very proud of you, son. And I'm sorry for telling you that you were like that man."
Then she hugged him tightly.
"I'm so sorry."
"Angie!" a head chef suddenly shouted from the back.
She stepped back a bit.
"What are you doing? You have plenty of dishes to wash."
"Yes, sorry, I'm washing them right now."
Angie went back to the sink.
"Now go," she told Elysian softly.
Elysian just nodded.
When he was about to leave, he heard her voice.
"Ely."
Elysian turned around.
Angie looked at him with a warm smile.
"Don't stop doing good."
Elysian smiled too.
"I love you, Mom."
Elysian left the kitchen and closed the door behind him. The noise of the restaurant enveloped him again: plates, conversations, and the constant movement of the waiters.
Then he saw the girl who had told him where his mother was earlier. She was carrying several plates of food toward a table, but as she turned between the tables, she tripped and lost her balance.
The plates fell to the floor, and the food ended up on some customers.
"What's wrong with you?" "Are you stupid or what?" said the men the food had been spilled on.
The girl crouched down quickly, embarrassed.
"I'm so sorry... I haven't been here long, seriously, I'm sorry," she said as she started to pick up the plates.
Suddenly, a hand appeared, helping her pick things up.
When she looked up, she saw it was Elysian.
He knelt down and began helping her collect them.
"Thank you..." the girl said.
Elysian only responded with a small smile.
"I'll bring your things again right away," the girl said, looking at the customers.
One of the men stood up in annoyance.
"No, we'd better just leave. Besides, we're going to talk to your manager."
"No, please..." the girl said, grabbing the man's hand to stop him.
Suddenly, the man gave her a hard slap that knocked her to the ground.
Elysian clenched his fist tightly.
For a second, he was about to launch himself at them... but in that instant, he remembered Luna and his mother.
He took a deep breath.
And relaxed his fist.
"Hey," Elysian said.
The men turned to look at him.
"What do you want, brat?"
"Why don't you just get lost... and tell the manager that this girl was a great waitress?"
The men laughed.
"And what makes you think that, kid?"
Elysian pointed upward.
"I don't know... maybe the fact that it would go viral on the internet. 'Men hit a woman because she made a mistake.' Look... do you think the security cameras recorded your faces well?"
The men looked toward the restaurant's cameras.
"Son of a bitch..." they muttered.
Without saying another word, they turned around and left.
The restaurant went silent for a moment.
The girl stood up with Elysian's help.
"Thank you..."
"You're welcome."
She looked at him with a smile.
"You're just like your mother... always kind-hearted."
Elysian scratched the back of his neck with a bit of embarrassment.
"Well... I guess that's what characterizes us Hales."
Then he checked the time.
"Well, I have to go. I'm running late."
He turned around to leave.
"Wait!" the girl said before he reached the door.
Elysian turned.
"What's your name?"
"Elysian," he replied with a smile.
"Elysian..." the girl repeated, testing the name in her mouth.
Elysian walked out through the restaurant door.
As he walked toward his bicycle, an idea crossed his mind.
I have to make it... losing is not an option.
His expression changed.
Now there was only great determination in his eyes.
Elysian settled in by the window of the train taking him directly to Salem, Massachusetts. The landscape raced by: green fields, forests stretching until they were lost on the horizon, and small towns that looked like they were out of an old painting. The wind coming through the train's crack ruffled his blue hair, and for a moment, he allowed himself to relax.
He thought of Luna, of her small smile despite the illness that hounded her. He thought of his mother, Angie, working tirelessly to keep the family afloat. His heart tightened, because he knew that the distance separating him from them was a risk, but also the only chance they had to change their lives.
"I'll make it..." he murmured to himself, clenching the handle of his suitcase tightly. "For you both. For Mom... for Luna."
The train kept moving forward, and with every kilometer that brought him closer to Salem, a strange feeling coiled in his stomach: excitement, fear, and something he couldn't quite identify. It wasn't just a trip to an unknown city; it was a direct step toward what he didn't know, but sensed... wouldn't be easy.
What Elysian couldn't imagine was that every wheel turning on the tracks was taking him straight... into the wolf's den. A place where the calm of the landscape was only a mirage and where every decision could change everything.
The horizon darkened with the first lights of sunset. Salem was approaching, and with it, his new world.