Season 2, Chapter 18: A Little Push

  The flames of the campfire continued to dance in the darkness. The stars covered the sky like a blanket of hope. And the three maids - Mimi, Trisha and Alysa - were so excited that they didn't even blink anymore.

  Trisha (shouting): “NOOO! Follow Elizabeth, don't leave her there!"

  Mimi (almost jumping): "You can't leave us like this! That was cruel!"

  Alysa (with a cut voice): "Please! Just... tell us more..."

  Elizabeth (laughing):

  "Hahaha... It's okay, trio of fools. It was just to see if they were paying attention to me."

  The three of them pouted identically, but they didn't dare to protest. The feline warrior let out a nostalgic sigh and looked back at the fire.

  Isabel:

  "Then, let's go back to the memory..."

  ?

  The memory continues

  The old man was on his knees.

  Elizabeth (narrating):

  "The next thing that happened was... surprising. The man, the same one who questioned Juan, fell to his knees. And his tears did it too."

  The ground was shaking slightly. Not out of fear. For emotion.

  Isabel:

  "In front of us was the most beautiful, brightest, most alive culture of the entire holy bi-universe.

  It was impossible to believe. Even for me."

  Elizabeth closed her eyes, remembering in detail.

  Isabel:

  "I saw flowers that I have never seen again. Some shone like live fireflies, others seemed to sing softly.

  The trees... each leaf vibrated as if it had a soul.

  The grass... smelled like pure hope.

  And everything felt... right. As if that place was healed.”

  The old man turned to Juan, his eyes flooded and his voice trembling.

  Villager:

  "How...? How did you do this?"

  Juan (with a soft smile):

  "Only cultivated. And I did it with love. Nothing else.”

  Villager (strongly denying):

  "No, boy! Don't lie to me.

  That field has never been like this. The fearsome Masked people always ruined it for us."

  Juan (seriously):

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  "Masked?"

  Villager:

  "Yes, boy.

  Those unfortunates don't do it directly. But they have tens of thousands of orcs under their control.

  They destroy everything.

  They never let us enjoy. That's why we give up.

  And we let him die."

  Other villagers approached, nodding their heads. Some cried, others trembled.

  Villager (with even lower voice):

  "And above all... for that beast."

  Elizabeth (in memory):

  "That's when I approached, curious."

  Villager:

  "Yes, young lady.

  Under that earth there is a fearful creature.

  A kind of gigantic mole that attacks us from below.

  It's impossible to plant. Every time we try, he...

  He destroys everything.”

  Elizabeth (narrating):

  "He looked at us sadly. I felt useless."

  Villager (hispering):

  "I'm sorry, young man.

  I know your intentions are good. But... they won't be of much use."

  ?

  The unexpected twist

  Juan... smiled.

  He even let out a slight laugh.

  Juan (laughing):

  "Hahaha..."

  The old man frowned, confused.

  Villager:

  Why is he laughing...? I don't think so?

  That beast is real! I swear!"

  The villagers supported him instantly.

  Woman of the town: "He doesn't lie, young man! That creature exists!"

  Juan (stopping the laughter with serenity):

  "Yes... but if that beast that you fear...

  She already beat her."

  Juan raised his hand and pointed his finger to one side of the field.

  Elizabeth (narrating):

  "When we turned around... we couldn't believe it.

  There he was.

  A gigantic mole.

  Dead."

  His inflatable body still seemed to tremble from the post-mortem spasms. The black claws were embedded in the earth. His mouth still open, frozen in the last scream he never emitted.

  Isabel:

  "The villagers... started screaming. To run. To hug me."

  Villager (llando):

  Young tie! Thank you... thank you very much!"

  Woman:

  "Allow us to reward you! A celebration!"

  Elizabeth (internal voice):

  “I didn't know what to say. He didn't even know I had killed him!"

  Juan, next to him, put his hand on his shoulder.

  Juan (laughing):

  She accepts! She's just a little shy."

  Then he raised his voice.

  John:

  "Scream for the incredible warrior!"

  EVERYONE (screaming):

  ELIZABETH!!! ELIZABETH!!!

  ?

  Later that night...

  The celebration was intense. Dances, laughter, dishes overflowing with meat and fruits. People hugging Elizabeth. Children hanging from his arms. The whole town seemed to revive.

  Valterion (arms crossed, proud):

  "Well done, Elizabeth."

  Charlotte (drinking a pocima):

  "I'm sure it was because of my mixes."

  Elizabeth (smiling):

  "Thank you... everyone."

  One by one they dispersed. Valterion went to train. Charlotte to prepare another mixture. Only Elizabeth and Juan stayed, sitting in front of a fountain.

  Elizabeth (looking at him seriously):

  "Why did you lie saying it was me?"

  Juan (raising an eyebrow):

  "Did I lie?"

  Elizabeth (screaming):

  Of course you lied!

  How could I defeat that monster?

  I don't do anything! I'm a hindrance!"

  Juan didn't move. He just looked at her... calmly.

  John:

  "Listen, Elizabeth.

  To defeat the top there were two constants.

  One: hit him at the exact moment.

  Two: kill your offspring."

  Elizabeth (confused):

  "Your baby...?"

  Juan (nodding):

  "Do you remember that little monster?

  The one with the yellow dot.”

  Elizabeth: "Yes..."

  John:

  "Well... that was the connector with the giant top.

  If you didn't kill him,

  I couldn't eliminate the beast.

  So yes, Elizabeth.

  You defeated him.

  I just gave the final blow."

  Elizabeth (crying):

  "But you could have done both things... why did you give it to me?"

  Juan (hugging her):

  "Because I see potential in you.

  You are much more than you think.

  You just need... a little push."

  He wiped a tear from his face with his thumb.

  Juan (smiling):

  But yes, enough tears.

  Let's celebrate you as it should be."

  Holding hands, they joined the rest of the town. Elizabeth, for the first time, walked with her head held high. For sure. With light in the eyes.

  ?

  Back to the present

  Elizabeth looked at the fire. Then he turned to the maids.

  The three of them were crying in silence, as if their hearts were shaking.

  Trisha (with broken voice):

  "Juan... he's too kind..."

  Alysa (sobbing):

  "It's an honor... a real honor... following someone like that."

  Mimi (crying openly):

  "Her humility... her humanity... she's beautiful!"

  Elizabeth (smiling, with bright eyes too):

  "They're right..."

  He was silent for a moment.

  Elizabeth (staring at them):

  "But now yes...

  Here comes what I really wanted to tell you.”

  The three maids wiped their eyes and leaned forward.

  Elizabeth (looking at them intensely):

  "You want to see Juan, don't you?"

  All (nodding, still crying): "Yes..."

  Elizabeth (looking at the fire):

  "Then get ready...

  Because this was the first time I understood

  That he...

  He was a ruler."

  ?

  Chapter 18 finished.