Year 8 of the SuaChie Calendar, Central City.
Hycata, only fifteen years of age, was immersed in the functional gloom of the subterranean Shadow installations in Central City. The air, dense and controlled, was a stark contrast to the bustle of the buildings above that served as a façade.
A few streets away, Chuta's Central Mansion stood as the Kingdom's beacon, but here, beneath the earth, the shadow that protected that light was being forged. This was one of the Shadow installations, The Academy, the hidden heart of Suaza intelligence.
The instruction hall was devoid of ornament, focused purely on knowledge. Hycata sat alongside other recruits, taking notes on a wax tablet about a discipline that was, to all of them, utterly alien.
That day's lesson centered on the psychological behaviors of people.
The instructor, a seasoned man whose true identity no one knew, spoke of unconscious motivations, cultural biases, and the reading of micro-expressions to determine veracity and desire.
For Hycata, and for many agents, this seemed like something lifted directly from tales of spirits and the world of the dead. They had always been taught that will and spirit governed action; now, they learned that the mind could be analyzed, deconstructed, and, most disturbingly, manipulated.
"People act out of necessity, out of fear, out of a desire for status," the instructor recited in a monotone voice. "The great failing of the novice spy is to seek the lie in the word, when he must seek it in the pupil, in the tremor of the hand holding the reed pen. Their face is a mask, but their body, if untrained, is an open codex."
Hycata made a note, registering the analytical coldness of psychology. It was an uncomfortable, yet powerful, piece of knowledge that allowed him to view the world as a complex mechanism of emotional gears.
For months, his enthusiasm had been centered on the south, imagining the cold mountains and roads of the Inca Kingdom. The prospect of infiltrating that society, with its rigid bureaucracy and impressive road network, was the pinnacle of adventure. However, priorities had shifted.
New reports, brought by deep-cover agents traveling with the merchant fleet across the Dawn Ocean, spoke of unknown Kingdoms beyond Guanza Quyca: a land called Europe. There were tales of great ships, fierce kings, and a monolithic faith. The Inca was the land of the known and the measurable; Europe was the void on the map, the ultimate challenge for the Shadows.
The notion of venturing into that virgin territory of intelligence ignited his passion in a way that not even the gold of the Inca could match. The risk was immense, the distance overwhelming, but the potential reward—to know the enemy before the enemy knew us— It was the reason for the Shadow's existence. Hycata had requested the mission with impeccable calm, concealing his euphoria beneath the mask he had learned to forge.
Eighth Month of Year 10 of the SuaChie Calendar, Dawn Ocean.
Two years later, Hycata stood on the prow of one of the Kingdom's fastest vessels. It was not a pure Tequendama I, but a first-generation version modified with an elongated hull and sail configuration optimized for speed. Its sleek form had earned this type of ship a new name: the Yaguar.
The Yaguar cut through the waves at the head of a fleet, under the command of Captain Sogeking, leader of the Explorer Division and a legend in the Suaza Navy. Their mission: to escort the Genoese explorer Christopher Columbus back to Spain.
Hycata was no longer aboard the Yaguar. He had been discreetly transferred to the Santa María at the last port of call, assuming his cover identity as a mere assistant to Young Chuta's direct aide, Apqua. Apqua, a Shadow of higher rank and experience, was acting as the Kingdom's official envoy to the Crown of Castile and Aragon.
As the Santa María advanced, Hycata mentally reviewed his mission resources: several ingots of pure gold, an offering to European avarice; and the knowledge of the Castilian language, feverishly compiled during the three weeks Columbus and his men spent in Dawn City.
Three weeks of forced linguistic immersion—a laughably short span of time for a mission that would last years, but it was all Hycata could afford.
Hycata stood beside Apqua, his movements mimicking those of a young servant, head bowed and attentive to every order. Yet, behind that façade, his mind was a machine of calculation and anticipation.
The excitement he felt was so intense, so dangerous to his cover, that only his characteristic neutral expression, forged in the fires of the academy, could contain it. Thankfully, as Apqua's assistant, he was permitted to display a certain youthful curiosity and admiration for the European figures—a perfect excuse to observe without arousing suspicion.
He was preparing to spend the following years immersed in Europe. With Apqua's help, who would establish the diplomatic path, Hycata would focus on deep infiltration, the founding of the intelligence network that the Kingdom so desperately needed.
One Month Later, Palos de la Frontera.
The scent of salt, dried fish, and the fear of the unknown permeated the port of Palos de la Frontera. Hycata stood aboard the Santa María, a vessel that, in his eyes, seemed fragile and uncomfortable compared to the robustness and comfort of Suaza ships. The other two Spanish caravels, the Niña and the Pinta, approached cautiously.
Meanwhile, the Yaguar, that bolt of speed, kept its distance, anchored discreetly beyond the immediate sight of the port, near the open waters. It had fulfilled its solo escort mission, maintaining constant vigilance over Columbus's flotilla, while the rest of the Suaza armada awaited orders at the strategic position of the Cape Verde Islands.
Hycata disembarked, right behind Apqua. The excitement, disguised as curiosity, was difficult to contain, but the milling crowd provided excellent camouflage. The local people swarmed, loudly celebrating the expedition's return with a noisy but orderly passion, a contrast to the freer ceremonies of the Suaza Kingdom.
He observed everything with the clinical eye of the Shadow. The distinct features—paler skin, abundant beards, and sharp noses—the muted colors of the wool and linen clothing, and the language that sounded harsh to his ears. He felt like a specter in an alien world, his identity hidden behind the fabric of his Suaza tunic, designed to appear exotic, yet of low rank.
Columbus, visibly euphoric and filled with newfound arrogance, led Apqua, alongside the Pinzón brothers, through the town, toward the local noble's house. The Genoese man did not cease speaking.
"A route! I found the West! New lands!" Columbus shouted with overwhelming enthusiasm to an envoy of the noble waiting for them.
The envoy, a man with a pale face and rich garments, congratulated Columbus in an unctuous voice, emphasizing the "unparalleled support" of Palos and the "vision" of the Pinzóns. It was a dance of flattery and claims, where everyone sought to maximize their share of the success.
Apqua, conversely, kept a low profile; his questions were discreet yet penetrating.
"The city is admirable, envoy. And the local businesses? What goods move here besides fish? Are there many outsiders?"
Apqua inquired with the innocence of a curious merchant, sowing questions that Hycata recorded as baseline intelligence: understanding the economy, demography, and routes of infiltration.
Hycata listened, his face a mask of innocent attention. He was not merely an assistant; he was Chuta's anchor point in Europe.
The plan for the following day was simple, and the real plan, complex.
Apqua would depart with only two other assistants toward the capital, Barcelona, to meet with the Catholic Monarchs. Hycata, under the pretense of being the logistical liaison, would return to the Yaguar for the day, to "send corresponding messages" from the Suaza fleet at Cape Verde.
However, both knew Hycata would only return to the ship during daylight, maintaining the illusion of returning to the chain of command. By night, Hycata would covertly re-enter Palos, his appearance as a simple assistant vanishing.
A much more complex plan would be set in motion: securing a base, establishing escape routes, and beginning to purchase loyalties and secrets in the port. The true work of the Shadow was about to begin.
The day after Apqua's departure with Columbus.
The morning silence in Palos de la Frontera was a quality foreign to the din of Dawn City. It was a dense stillness, broken only by the cry of gulls and the distant tapping of a hammer in the port, an echo of the life Apqua had left behind the day before.
Hycata was at the house of Felipe, a low-ranking officer under the command of the Pinzóns. The house was modest, built with whitewashed bricks and bearing a persistent scent of fish and brine.
Felipe, a man of forty with skin weathered by the sea, had been contacted by Zasaba during the stay of Columbus's expedition in Dawn City. The promise: a better life and riches in exchange for discreet logistical help for the "diplomatic relations" between the two Kingdoms. Felipe had accepted, driven by the lure of Suaza gold and the promise of future influence.
At the rough-hewn table, the three of them breakfasted on a stew of chickpeas and hard bread. In addition to Hycata and Felipe, there was Luis Sarmiento, another sailor from Columbus's expedition.
Luis was not a mere recruited sailor; he was a former Castilian merchant from Toledo. His story was a silent tragedy: betrayed by a local noble who confiscated his prosperous business, he was falsely accused of trading with Granada before its conquest. The humiliation and loss had forged within him a deep desire for vengeance against the noble system that had devoured him.
Luis, with his graying beard and tired but alert eyes, had been the Shadows' most valuable recruitment in Dawn City.
Zasaba, with his unerring eye for resentment and talent, had reached an agreement with Luis: he would help the Suaza Kingdom establish commercial and political relations with the locals, and the Kingdom would support him behind the scenes in his ascent as a merchant until he could achieve his goals, but with the requirement that the Kingdom would not demand illegal acts from him and that he would not link Hycata to the Kingdom's activities.
Luis, with the pragmatism of a merchant, had accepted the condition; he did not need to commit crimes, he only needed resources and support for reconstruction, and in doing so, aid the Suaza Kingdom, which did not appear hostile to the Spanish.
Hycata enjoyed his breakfast, maintaining his public expression of a curious young assistant. The Castilian, though still rough in his pronunciation, flowed naturally enough to follow the conversation.
"...And Captain Columbus, with that beard that looks like a cloud," Felipe remarked, laughing loudly. "He told us those gifts, the gold and the exotic fruits, would be worth more than we could spend in ten lifetimes. But look at that. I sold almost everything the Suaza gave me yesterday."
Luis, more circumspect, sipped his stew. "Felipe, always in a rush. Patience is the soul of trade. I, for my part, kept most of the fabrics and the cocoa given to me by that envoy… Apqua, I believe he was called."
Hycata interjected with the soft voice of a young man. "Apqua is very clever. He told us those gifts were a symbol of our appreciation for you. But, my Lord Luis, why do you believe the cocoa will be worth so much?"
Luis smiled, the first genuine smile Hycata had seen from him. "Because it is scarce, young man. And it has that flavor… bitter, yet awakening. Nobles will pay any price for what grants them prestige and is unique. And if we hold it until the echo of Columbus's arrival reaches the court of the Monarchs in Barcelona, the price will multiply."
Hycata registered every detail.
Luis, the resentful man, was a born merchant. Felipe, the officer loyal to the hierarchy, was easily influenced by quick wealth.
Asset and Risk Assessment:
Felipe: Driven by immediate avarice and gratitude for Zasaba's aid. His loyalty is to opportunity. He needs to be handled with the carrot and stick, but the carrot must always be monetary. This is why he served as Hycata's public anchor.
Luis Sarmiento: Driven by strategic vengeance and the desire to recover his lost honor. His loyalty is to the long-term objective. He is not greedy in the simple sense, but ambitious for restoration. He is the key asset for infiltration, as he understands the commercial and legal framework of Castile. Zasaba had been correct in recruiting him.
Hycata knew that, for the Shadows, Luis and Felipe were pawns in the Kingdom's game. But, unlike classic espionage methods, Chuta insisted on ethics: pawns were not to be sacrificed unnecessarily. The promise to Luis not to commit crimes and not to involve him was crucial.
"The Yaguar ship is fast, isn't it?" Felipe asked, changing the subject, his interest in material things returning. "Captain Pinzón said it seemed to glide over the water effortlessly. How is that possible, if you only have those triangular sails and such a narrow hull?"
"It is a first-generation design, my Lord Felipe," Hycata replied, limiting the information. "Young Chuta believes greatly in speed and agility. They are designed for exploration and rapid escape, not for heavy transport like your heavy vessels."
One Month Later, Felipe's House, Palos
A month had passed since Apqua's departure. Hycata's life had settled into a dangerous routine of day and night, although several events had occurred that aided his mission.
One was the Movement of the Yaguar.
The Yaguar, the swift Suaza ship, had become a habitual specter in the nearby waters. It had departed and returned a couple of times, not from the Great Quyca, but from the Cape Verde Islands, where the bulk of the fleet was waiting.
The Yaguar had finally docked in the port. Not by Apqua's order, but due to the demand from local nobles and merchants who wanted to purchase the exotic supplies being sold at exorbitant prices.
This had provoked an incident: the most important noble in Palos, his mind fixed on prestige and profit, had attempted to persuade the Pinzón brothers to capture the ship.
The Pinzóns, however, had sensibly refused, knowing the difference in firepower and the superior speed of the Yaguar. The refusal did not only come from the Pinzón brothers; even the officers and sailors declined.
The message was clear: the Suaza Kingdom was a partner that could not be touched.
Furthermore, with the Yaguar in port, it was much easier for Hycata to pass information to the other Shadows in Captain Sogeking's fleet. And at the same time, he had received important intelligence: Captain Sogeking had purchased an island from the Kingdom of Portugal in Cape Verde.
Another important development was his new flow of Information and a special contact with a local merchant.
Much of the intelligence was gathered from the bars and brothels of Palos, where inebriation loosened the tongues of sailors and soldiers. The other key source was Luis Sarmiento, who, with his need to restore his business, moved in higher commercial circles.
This network led to the most promising contact: Juan Pérez Coronel.
Juan was an important Castilian merchant, a converso, whose father, Abraham Senior, had converted his entire family to Christianity to escape harsh religious persecutions.
Juan, though nominally Christian, seemed profoundly dissatisfied with the intolerance his family still suffered and which had marked his life.
Hycata, through Luis as a discreet intermediary, had begun exchanging letters with Juan Pérez Coronel a couple of days prior.
Juan Pérez Coronel was a seed worth more than ten gold ingots: an asset infiltrated into the financial heart of Castile, with knowledge of the routes and sufficient resentment to support the Suaza Kingdom, even if he did not know it.
The last significant event was the growth in wealth of the expedition members.
During the first week, the Pinzóns and other officers had liquidated the Kingdom's gifts: exotic foods, vibrant fabrics, and handicrafts. Cocoa, in particular, had become an obsession for the nobles, igniting desire for the products of this new Kingdom. Many sailors earned "large" sums of money, which Hycata knew would be quickly spent in the port.
Hycata, conversely, had convinced Felipe to hold onto some of his goods until the price rose.
"The news travels slowly, my Lord Felipe. When the nobles at court hear of the cocoa, the demand here will explode, just as Master Luis said," Hycata had stated weeks earlier.
And so, it had been.
Just the day before, Felipe had sold his remaining goods at six times the price his peers received, securing a sum that substantially improved his financial situation.
This small market manipulation was a key point of Hycata's mission.
He had not wanted to use his secret funds (the Suaza gold), knowing that people like Felipe were extremely susceptible to quick riches, and the presence of so much gold could make them greedy and unstable, exposing the agent. By allowing Felipe to enrich himself "legitimately" and through Hycata's "advice," his loyalty was now based on self-interest and the intelligence of his "assistant," a much stronger bond than mere purchase.
With Luis, the relationship was one of commercial mentorship and shared vengeance; Luis, being an experienced merchant, was better able to differentiate long-term benefits, minimizing the risk of exposure.
All these events had made his stay an exciting routine, but he still could not move freely; other conditions were still missing for that.
"It should have arrived," Hycata thought, gazing at the port.
Now, Hycata knew that Apqua had likely already reached Barcelona and was preparing for his audience with the Catholic Monarchs. The mission's fate hinged on that meeting.
Sitting by the window, watching the shadows lengthen across the harbor, Hycata awaited the monarchs' response.
Depending on the Crown's answer—whether they desired cooperation or confrontation—Hycata would adjust his strategy: a proactive and bold approach if the Crown cooperated with the Kingdom, or a more subtle path of deep infiltration if the door was opened to a superficial relationship of trust.
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[A/N: CHAPTER COMPLETED
Hello everyone.
We're back with another Shadow, and to apologize for another long chapter.
Here we have Hycata, a Shadow who will be involved in the affairs of Spain, and in general, he'll be our eyes within the kingdom.
By the way, the only character in this chapter who is a historical figure (I'm referring to the new ones) is Juan Pérez Coronel, and his father, Abraham Senior, is also a historical figure. However, both are irrelevant to the history of Spain.
Or at least, in the history we know. Perhaps things will be different now, at least for Juan, since his father will soon die.
UFD: Abraham Senior was a Jewish-Spanish rabbi, banker, and politician, patriarch of the Coronel family, and the last Chief Rabbi of Castile. In 1492, he converted to Christianity, taking the name Fernando Pérez Coronel to avoid the expulsion of the Jews from Spain, thus founding the noble Coronel lineage. He also met Queen Isabella of Castile and even intervened in the negotiations for her marriage to Ferdinand of Aragon.
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Read my other novels.
#The Walking Dead: Vision of the Future (Chapter 87)
#The Walking Dead: Emily's Metamorphosis (Chapter 33) (INTERMITTENT)
#The Walking Dead: Patient 0 - Lyra File (Chapter 13) (INTERMITTENT)
You can find them on my profile.]