Chapter 15: We can always be better

  The night was quiet. The fire they had lit began to be consumed, and the smoke rose gently towards the stars. Elizabeth stood next to Juan, walking slowly, as if every step took her away from pain and closer to peace. He took his hand firmly, but also with a sweetness difficult to explain. At every step, the tiredness of the soul seemed to fade.

  Suddenly, a crack between the flames.

  An imposing figure appeared from among the fire. Elizabeth covered her face, her heart beating hard. Juan, on the other hand, smiled.

  "Calm down," he said. He comes with me.

  The figure that emerged was none other than Valterion. His armor was still smoking, and his sword seemed to have felt every drop of chaos.

  "My lord," said Valterion, kneeling solemnly. I managed to put out most of the fires and took several people to the interplanetary hospital. The surrounding areas were protected.

  "Thank you, Valterion," Juan replied, with a serene look.

  Elizabeth watched everything in disbelief. For a second, her mind betrayed her.

  "I thought... it was him." The one with the green eyes.

  Juan slowly turned his face towards her.

  "The one with the green eyes?"

  "Yes," Elizabeth replied. Before you arrived... I saw a figure among the fire. He was looking at me. His energy was... horrible. As if something deeper than evil had touched me.

  "That must be a lie," a familiar voice interrupted.

  It was Charlotte. He appeared from the shadows, with his arms crossed and an almost sarcastic expression.

  —I checked the whole area. There is no trace of another presence.

  "Charlotte," John said. I don't think Elizabeth is lying. Maybe he saw something... or someone. But it doesn't matter anymore. For now.

  Then Elizabeth staggered and fell into Juan's arms. He held her carefully, gently lowering her to the ground.

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  "You can rest," he whispered. You deserve it.

  ?

  "How do you know your parents are dead?" Mimi asked in the present, while the girls listened to her in the cabin.

  The others scolded her with their eyes, but Elizabeth raised a hand.

  "It's okay." I know because... when I fainted, I heard Juan tell Valterion to give them a dignified funeral. And he replied, "As I command, my lord."

  The atmosphere became dense. It still hurt.

  ?

  In the past, Juan, Charlotte, Valterion and Elizabeth arrived in a small town. A remote cabin offered them shelter. Valterion, with his usual sobriety, paid with gold coins.

  "Where do you get them from?" Juan asked, amused.

  Valterion didn't answer. He just turned his face slightly.

  "Don't ask, my lord."

  The situation was strangely comical.

  Juan chose to stay in the same room with Elizabeth. Charlotte and Valterion shared the other. When they closed the door, Juan sat next to him.

  "Elizabeth?"

  "What?"

  "That's your name, right?"

  She nodded, and for the first time in a long time, she sketched a shy smile.

  "It's nice to meet you, Elizabeth." I'm Juan. My partners are Charlotte and Valterion.

  A silence. Then, he looked at her seriously.

  "Were they your parents?"

  "Yes," he replied, looking down.

  "I'm very sorry." But now you're safe.

  She didn't answer.

  "Is everything okay?"

  "It's my fault!" he shouted suddenly, bursting into tears. I... I wished we weren't together anymore. I cursed our life. I cursed being poor. I cursed everything. And then this happened!

  Tears flowed without restraint.

  Juan took her in his arms, gently, without letting go.

  "Look... I didn't know your parents." But if they raised someone like you, I'm sure they were amazing people. Worthy. Brave. And proud of you.

  "Do you really think that?"

  "With all my heart."

  She hugged him tightly.

  "Don't leave me." Please, don't leave me.

  "I promise you." And now more than ever... I need a sword by my side.

  Elizabeth blinked.

  "Swide?"

  "Of course," he smiled. Weren't you good with the sword?

  "Yes... but I threw away the only one I had." Or what for me was a sword.

  Juan rummaged in his backpack. He took out a wooden stick.

  "Are you sure?"

  She opened her eyes.

  "How do you have it?"

  "I don't know." I just felt like I couldn't leave a warrior's sword behind. But wait...

  Juan took out a small wooden dagger, broke it, and inserted it at the end of the stick. Now it looked more like a royal sword. Elizabeth's first royal sword.

  Mimi, in the present, let out a gasp.

  "So that was the famous sword!"

  Elizabeth held her with both hands.

  "This sword is the union of those I loved the most: my parents... and Juan.

  Trisha, confused, raised an eyebrow.

  "Do you love Juan?" But didn't you know him when you were a child? And he was already grown up?

  Elizabeth laughed.

  —On my planet we age fast in the first years and slower when we leave. I'm 19 now. Everything is fine. Hahahaha!

  Laughter filled the hut. Elizabeth looked at them all.

  "After that, I felt a spark." A flame in me. And I made two promises: to protect the innocent... and find the green-eyed being.

  "And what will you do when you find him?" Trisha asked.

  Elizabeth replied with bright eyes.

  —Finish what you started that day. With justice.

  End of chapter 15.