"Shut up! The lovely and beautiful teacher is speaking,"
Zaren said, with a wide smile, but his eyes fixed on the finish line.
" The goal is very simple: reach the temple at the top of the mountain, grab this other part of the amulet, and your team wins! The losing team pays the bill,"
Nobaru said, the intensity in her voice cutting the air.
" What if we get injured?"
Fukuoka asked, hand on his throat.
" Don't worry. If any of you... die, I'll bring you back to life,"
Nobaru answered, with an unconcerned wave, raising the stakes to desperation and determination.
" It's so far away, in this heat! This is ridiculous! She wants my death certificate!"
Fukuoka said, complaining with the force of an epic whine.
" The problem isn't reaching the top, but facing the spirit that guards the temple. Go! Prove your strength!"
Nobaru said, and the word 'strength' echoed, planting the seed of overcoming.
" This sensei is insane! She wants to kill me! I'm not going to make all this effort!"
Fukuoka said.
"You talk too much, weakling,"
Nanai said, her gaze a challenge that promised victory.
" Yoshi, handle this, British style,"
Fukuoka requested, feigning a dramatic outburst.
" Miss Nanai, I would appreciate it if you could respect your big brother Fukuoka. Remember that a team only wins united,"
Yoshi said, impeccably, invoking the value of friendship.
" He's not my brother! And I'm going to get there first!"
Nanai shouted loudly, darting toward the mountain with explosive energy.
Ugorin was training with her mother, Rarita. Every blow was a sigh of concentration and effort.
"Mom, why did you leave your clan?"
Ugorin asked, while dodging an attack.
"Because of your father,"
Rarita replied, her voice soft but with a touch of nostalgic pain.
" That's not what I'm asking. I want the truth that made you sacrifice everything!"
Ugorin said, stopping the training, seeking the depth of her loyalty.
" Don't lose focus. I was very happy there. It was an incredible place, gigantic waterfalls, amazing forests. It was incredible, and I had a magnificent flower garden. My parents never cared that much about me, only about your uncle, it was always him,"
Rarita answered, the familiar resentment evident.
" You didn't like him?"
Ugorin asked.
"On the contrary, I loved him, my only brother. I didn't like our parents for never putting me first; I sought my own value, until I met your father. Love at first sight,"
Rarita said, and a spark of passion lit up in her eyes.
14 years ago.
"Miss, by any chance, is this lipstick yours?"
Neret asked.
She blushed, with a slightly strained smile. Neret, with a little laugh on his face, started turning red. She felt as if flowers were growing inside her stomach and coming out through her mouth. It was the pure exaltation of love that made her betray her home.
"That day, I felt love. I felt as if only we existed in the universe,"
Rarita replied, her tone almost a vow.
Neret appeared out of nowhere, with a happy expression.
"What are you two talking about?"
Neret asked.
"Mom was talking about when she was expelled from her clan because of you,"
Ugorin replied, not realizing the bomb she had just dropped.
Suddenly, Neret's expression changed, becoming somber. His sadness and guilt were an abyss.
"If you need anything, I'll be in my room,"
Neret said, walking away, carrying the burden of having made Rarita sacrifice herself.
"It wasn't quite like that, dear. Why did you have to say that to your father? You know how sensitive he is,"
Rarita said, anguished by his pain.
Neret never forgave himself for Rarita being expelled from her clan.
Kakai's special squad waited, in a tense, militarized formation.
"Finally, you have arrived,"
a servant of Kakai said, his voice loaded with impatience and subservience.
They arrived and immediately introduced themselves.
" We are the special squad of the great lord Kakai, to whom we dedicate our lives and every drop of our effort!"
"I'm the handsome Ebu, and my charm guarantees victory!"
"I am the charming, grandiose, and beautiful Kunoshi, and I am the strength this squad needs!"
"Love is all you need. I am meferi, and my loyalty is infinite."
" Stop talking, you idiots,"
Kakai's servant said, with contempt.
"Who are you calling idiots, you bearded old man?! Your lack of respect tarnishes our effort!"
Kunoshi said, with an outburst of fury.
"Who are you calling old, you fake blonde,"
Kakai's servant said, escalating the offense.
" Fake blonde? NOW YOU'RE GOING TO TASTE MY STRENGTH!"
Kunoshi said in a tone of fury, her fist clenched, ready for battle.
Neret appeared, with an aura of unquestionable authority.
"Stop this!"
Neret said, his voice an absolute command.
The squad knelt, fear overriding pride.
" O great lord Neret, we bring information for the great lord Kakai; it is a mission of extreme importance!"
Ebu said, trying to regain dignity.
"- He is not here. You can tell me," Neret said.
" It is an honor, sir, but we only address lord Kakai. Our loyalty is to him!"
Ebu said, firmly, even while kneeling.
With great hatred, Neret replied:
" Well, you'll have to wait all night! He went out to handle some matters. You have no choice!"
Neret said, feeling the frustration of not being the focus of their loyalty.
Kakai was at a bar, shrouded in a mist of mystery. A girl came close to him and asked:
" Can I sit here?"
she asked, with a hidden intention in her eyes.
He smiled and answered:
" Of course you can,"
Kakai said, enjoying the game.
"What is your name?"
Kakai asked.
"It's Myoco,"
she replied.
"That is a very beautiful name. Would you care for a drink?"
Kakai asked, his calm contrasting with the tension of the mission.
" Yes, I would,"
Myoco replied.
The drinks arrived, and they were laughing. Suddenly, their expressions began to change, the mask of casualness dropping.
" Did you get the information?"
Kakai asked, his voice now serious and cold.
"Yes. In Nepal, there is a child the villagers say has special powers. She can manipulate her own body with her energy,"
Myoco replied, with the excitement of discovery.
"Fascinating,"
Kakai said, his interest sharpened by a new and great challenge.
" I think you should take her along with Ugorin," Myoco said.
"Why?" Kakai asked.
" Trust me. She is the key."