Abraão woke up once again with a bad feeling in his chest. His entire body ached, as if he had been trampled during the night. It was around 6 a.m. The dormitory was still dark, with only a thin orange thread of light coming through the window, mixed with the faint glow of the 1000 moons that still hadn't disappeared from the sky.
He sat up in bed, rubbing his face. Lia was sleeping in the bed next to his, breathing calmly. Liora was curled up in a blanket on the floor, as always. Abraão didn't want to wake anyone. He got up slowly, put on the black Dojo tunic, simple pants, and boots. He grabbed his old sword and left the room in silence.
In the hallway, the air was cold. He descended the stairs slowly, feeling his legs heavy. As he was heading outside, the girl from the cafeteria called out to him.
"Abraão, wait a moment."
She looked different today. Her eyes were more attentive, and she wore a subtle smile that wasn't her usual one. She held out a steaming mug.
"Here. Drink this before training. It smells like cinnamon. It'll give you energy."
Abraão took the mug. The aroma was sweet, warm, and comforting. "Thanks… you seem different today."
She just gave a neutral smile. "Drink it quickly. It'll do you good."
He took a big sip. The liquid went down hot, with a taste of cinnamon mixed with something stronger, almost metallic. He felt a strange sensation in his chest — as if his body had been warmed from the inside, but at the same time a subtle cold climbed up his spine. He shook his head. Must be tiredness. He handed back the empty mug. "Thanks."
He went outside. The morning air was fresh, with a light breeze coming from the river. He sat on the edge of the Els River, legs dangling over the crystal-clear water that reflected the morning moons. The landscape was beautiful — the wide river, banks with damp grass, the towers of the Bastião shining in the background with the rising sun. He stayed there for a while, breathing deeply, trying to shake off the strange feeling from the drink.
Murata arrived around 7:10 a.m., walking slowly, sword in hand.
"Hey, Abraão. Good morning. Let's start your training!"
Abraão stood up. "Good morning, professor."
Murata smiled slightly. "Get up, we're starting the workout! Today is basic, but it's going to hurt. 100 push-ups, 100 sit-ups, 100 squats, and 100 jumping jacks. Without stopping. Then we'll mix it with the Lugua."
Abraão began. Push-ups first. His arms were shaking by the 40th. Sweat running down his face. Murata watched in silence.
"Don't stop. Breathe deeply. Keep your body straight."
Sit-ups came next. His stomach was burning by the 60th. Abraão gritted his teeth. "Hunf… it's heavy today."
Murata: "It's supposed to be. If it were easy, it wouldn't be special."
Squats: his legs were burning by the 70th. Jumping jacks: his lungs were burning by the 90th. When he finished 100 of each, Abraão fell to his knees on the grass, panting, sweat dripping.
"Hunf… hunf… I'm done."
Murata tossed him a bottle of water. "Drink. Now let's move to the sword part. Mix what you've learned with the Lugua. Simple cut. Show me."
Abraão picked up the sword. He tried. The cut came out smoother than before, but still crooked. Murata corrected him: "Loosen your wrist. Let the moon guide you. Don't force it."
They trained for another hour. Murata showed variations of the Lugua — one cut that flowed like water, another that created a small zone of silence. Abraão tried to copy them. He failed several times, laughed at himself, and tried again.
"It's not easy."
Murata: "It's not supposed to be easy. If it were, everyone would be a Master."
Murata observed the last cut and let out a slight smile.
"Now that's it… it's starting to look good."
Abraão took a deep breath, resting the sword on his leg. "Good is an exaggeration, professor."
"For you? That's progress." Murata took two steps closer. "And progress is what matters."
Abraão adjusted his posture. "So there's room to improve more."
Murata raised his own sword.
"Of course there is. Again — but this time think less about strength."
"Less strength?"
"Yeah. You're fighting the sword." He made a light, fluid movement in the air. "Let it go. The Lugua doesn't like those who force it."
Abraão nodded.
He breathed.
And tried again.
The cut came out lighter this time. Still not perfect, but… more natural.
Murata opened a slight smile.
"See?"
"…I think so."
"Not think. Did you feel it?"
Abraão stayed silent for a second… and then gave a half-smile.
"I felt it."
"Good. Keep that."
They continued for a few more minutes. Murata mixed movements: side step, diagonal cut, simple spin.
"Again."
"Now faster."
"Good! That's it!"
Abraão started to get into the rhythm.
His body still hurt, but now it was warmed up. Working.
He missed.
He hit.
He missed again.
But he was improving.
Time passed without him noticing.
After a while, Murata lightly tapped his sword on the ground.
"Alright, break."
Abraão leaned forward, hands on his knees, panting.
"Now… it's really over."
Murata approached calmly.
"Good training today."
Abraão looked at him, surprised. "Really?"
"Really." He crossed his arms. "You started off badly… but you finished much better."
That stayed in his head.
Started badly… finished better.
"…thanks, professor."
Murata gave him a light pat on the shoulder.
"Go eat. Otherwise you'll die before you get strong."
Abraão carefully opened the door to the dormitory, trying not to make any noise.
But it didn't work.
"…you took a while."
Lia was already awake, sitting on her bed, holding her own moon pendant. Her gaze went straight to him.
Abraão froze for half a second.
"I… went for a walk."
"A walk?" She tilted her head slightly.
"Yeah."
"Before sunrise?"
Silence.
"…I couldn't sleep."
Lia stared at him for a few seconds.
Her eyes were soft… but attentive.
"…you could have called me."
Her voice came out lower.
Abraão looked away. "You were sleeping."
"Even so."
Before the mood could get heavier—
the blanket on the floor moved.
"Abraão-nii…"
Liora appeared, voice sleepy.
"…you disappeared…"
Abraão let out a breath, relieved by the interruption. "I didn't disappear, I just went for a walk."
Liora slowly opened his eyes… and when he saw him—
he smiled.
And got up immediately, walking over to him and hugging him.
"I woke up and you weren't there…"
"…I came back."
"Hehe…"
Lia watched the two… and made a small pout, almost imperceptible.
"…'went for a walk,' huh."
Abraão pretended not to hear.
⸻
Later, in the cafeteria—
Lia still seemed a bit thoughtful.
She was stirring her food without hurry.
"…Abraão."
"Hum?"
"You've been leaving early for a few days now."
His heart tightened slightly.
"…insomnia."
Liora immediately lifted his face.
"You didn't wake me up even once…"
"You don't wake up even if someone screams."
"That's true…"
Lia didn't laugh.
She continued looking at him.
"…even so."
Abraão shrugged. "It's nothing serious."
Short silence.
Then she looked away.
"…if it's not, then fine."
But she didn't seem fully convinced.
⸻
In the hallway, later—
Murata passed by them like any other professor.
Without stopping.
Without looking directly.
Just a casual comment as he passed:
"Don't be late for class."
"Yes, professor," Lia replied.
Abraão didn't say anything.
But for a second—
Murata glanced sideways.
Quickly.
Almost imperceptibly.
And kept walking.
Liora blinked.
"…he's a nice guy."
"Yeah," Abraão replied.
Lia looked between the two.
"…you two seem comfortable with him."
Abraão felt a small tightness.
"…normal."
⸻
Later, during free training—
Liora actually showed up.
With his clothes adjusted (even if a bit crooked), hair tied back with a silver ribbon.
"Abraão-nii… I came…"
"Miracle."
"I said I would come…"
Lia leaned against a nearby tree, arms crossed.
"I'm just watching."
"You judge," Liora said.
"I always judge."
Abraão laughed.
But as he picked up the sword—
he felt it again.
That sensation in his chest.
Faint.
Constant.
He ignored it.
⸻
While they were training—
Liora moved lightly, almost dancing with the sword.
He missed.
He laughed.
He spun more than he should.
Murata, in the distance, observed other students.
Like any professor.
But every now and then…
he looked.
Discreetly.
Evaluating.
⸻
And Lia—
was watching Abraão.
More than the training.
More than the strikes.
She frowned slightly.
Something didn't add up.
He was better.
Faster.
More precise than days ago.
With no explanation.
"…strange…"
The training field was busier that afternoon.
Students practiced in pairs, some under the supervision of instructors.
Abraão was in the center with Liora.
"Again," he said.
Liora spun the sword lightly — almost like a dance — and tried a cut.
It came out beautiful.
But too open.
Abraão dodged easily.
"You're leaving space."
"I like making it look nice…" Liora pouted.
"If someone attacks you, you lose."
"But you won't let them…"
Abraão sighed. "Train seriously."
"Hehe… okay…"
⸻
On the other side, leaning against a tree—
Lia observed.
Arms crossed.
Attentive eyes.
She wasn't just watching Liora.
She was watching Abraão.
His movement.
His reaction time.
Something didn't match.
"…he wasn't like this before…"
⸻
"Look at this."
A voice cut through the air.
Some students naturally stepped aside.
Jhonatam.
He walked with a relaxed posture, but his gaze carried that irritating air of superiority.
He stopped near them.
"Training with this?" He looked directly at Liora.
A crooked smile appeared.
"Or is this a dance presentation?"
Liora froze.
His hand tightened slightly on the sword hilt.
"…I'm training."
"Training?" Jhonatam laughed softly. "They call this training now?"
Lia frowned.
"Leave him alone."
Jhonatam looked at her.
And the smile changed.
"Ah… Lia."
His tone became softer.
"You should train with someone better."
Silence.
He cast a quick glance at Abraão.
"…someone at your level."
Abraão didn't respond.
He just stared back.
Calmly.
That irritated Jhonatam more than any reply.
⸻
"Want to test it?" Jhonatam said.
Directly.
Provoking.
Liora took a step forward.
"I—"
Abraão put his hand in front of him.
"No."
Liora looked at him. "But—"
"It's not worth it."
Jhonatam smiled.
"Scared?"
Abraão replied with the same calm:
"Waste of time."
Jhonatam's smile froze for a second.
"…you talk too much for someone who shows nothing."
He turned sideways.
"When you want to be taken seriously, call me."
And he left.
⸻
Silence.
Liora grabbed Abraão's sleeve.
"…I don't like him."
"Neither do I," Lia replied.
Abraão just let out a breath.
"…ignore him."
But inside—
something lingered.
⸻
Further back in the field—
someone was watching.
Megumi.
Motionless.
Red eyes fixed.
"…strange…"
She wasn't looking at Jhonatam.
Nor at Liora.
She was looking at—
Abraão.
⸻
In another spot, further away—
Hermione was also watching.
Leaning in the shadow of a structure.
Golden eyes slightly narrowed.
"…interesting…"
⸻
And near the entrance—
Murata.
With his usual nervous appearance.
Sweating.
But watching.
Discreetly.
Analyzing every detail.
⸻
And Abraão—
in the middle of everything—
felt it again.
That sensation in his chest.
The training ended gradually.
The students began to leave the field, chatting.
Liora was sitting on the grass, leaning against Abraão.
"Did I do well?" he asked, looking up.
"You were better than yesterday."
"Hehe… so I improved."
Lia approached, arms crossed.
"You just didn't fall today."
"That's already progress!"
Abraão chuckled softly.
But then—
VIBR.
He froze.
A short sound.
Familiar.
Coming from his pocket.
The cell phone.
⸻
He disguised it immediately.
"I'll be right back."
"Where to?" Lia asked.
"Water."
Without waiting for an answer, he walked away.
⸻
Behind one of the structures—
he pulled out the cell phone.
The screen was lit.
But it wasn't normal.
The interface was different.
Dark.
With symbols he still didn't fully understand.
And then—
MISSION AVAILABLE
[Mission: Hidden Rhythm] Perform 50 perfect consecutive cuts without breaking the flow.
Reward: +1 Flow Control / +Exp Failure: No reward
Abraão frowned.
"…this again."
Abraão slowly put the phone away, as if nothing had happened.
He took a deep breath.
And returned to the field.
"You took a while," Lia commented, tilting her head slightly.
"Line," he replied simply.
She stared at him for a second longer than normal…
"…hm."
She didn't seem convinced.
But she let it go.
⸻
"Gonna train more?" Liora asked, already excited, holding his sword.
"Just a little more."
"Hehe, then I'll stay with you—"
"This time I'll go alone."
Liora pouted.
"…okay…"
But he stayed nearby anyway.
⸻
Abraão positioned himself.
Breathing.
Posture.
And he began.
The movements came cleaner now.
More natural.
As if his body was beginning to understand something new.
⸻
Lia watched in silence.
Eyes focused.
"…he wasn't like this yesterday…"
She lightly squeezed her moon pendant.
Something didn't add up.
⸻
Murata, further away, pretended to observe other students.
But his gaze kept returning every now and then.
"…he's catching on too fast…"
He scratched his head, nervous as always.
But he didn't interrupt.
⸻
Meanwhile—
in the cafeteria—
the girl was cleaning a mug.
Simple movement.
Common routine.
But for a moment—
she stopped.
Her gaze shifted slightly… toward the training field.
She stayed like that for a second longer than normal.
As if she were listening to something distant.
Then—
she returned to normal.
She continued cleaning.
As if nothing had happened.
⸻
Back on the field—
Abraão finished the sequence and slowly let out a breath.
His body was warm.
Tired.
But… lighter.
Better.
"…strange…"
He murmured.
⸻
Liora approached immediately.
"You did great!"
"You were better," Lia corrected, coming right behind.
She looked directly at him.
"…you're improving fast."
Abraão shrugged. "Training."
"Just training?"
Silence.
"…yes."
Lia held his gaze for a few seconds.
As if she were trying to find something.
But she looked away.
"…okay."
⸻
On the way back to the dormitory—
the sky was already darkening.
The moons were beginning to appear.
The wind was colder.
Liora walked glued to Abraão, holding his sleeve as always.
"Hehe… today was good…"
"It was."
Lia walked on the other side.
Quieter.
Thoughtful.
⸻
When they passed near the cafeteria—
the girl was closing up.
She lifted her gaze.
And met Abraão's eyes.
For a second—
she didn't smile.
She just observed.
Fixed.
Calm.
Silent.
⸻
Then—
she smiled.
Like always.
Sweet.
Normal.
"Good night."
"Good night," Lia replied.
Abraão also replied.
But something…
didn't feel the same as the other days.
⸻
As they walked away—
Lia spoke softly:
"…she seems different."
Abraão glanced sideways.
"Different how?"
"…I don't know."
She frowned slightly.
"…it just seems that way."
⸻
Behind them—
the girl remained standing.
Watching.
Until they disappeared from sight.
The smile…
vanished first.
The dormitory was silent when they returned.
The light from the moons came through the window, spreading a soft glow throughout the room.
Lia was the first to move.
"I'm going to take a shower," she said, grabbing a change of clothes.
Before leaving, she looked at Abraão once more.
"…don't stay up late."
"I won't."
She hesitated for a second…
as if she wanted to say something more.
But she just nodded lightly and left.
⸻
Liora had already dropped his sword in the corner and thrown himself onto Abraão's bed without thinking.
"I won't be able to walk tomorrow…" he murmured, sinking into the mattress.
"Then don't train."
"No… I will…" he turned his face, looking at him with a small smile. "If you go… I'll go too."
Abraão let out a light laugh.
"You say that now."
"Hehe…"
Liora stretched out his hand and held his sleeve, even though he was already lying down.
"…stay here a bit."
Abraão didn't respond.
But he didn't pull away.
⸻
The room fell silent.
Only the soft sound of breathing.
The wind coming through the window.
And, in the distance, the distant noise of the Bastião.
⸻
After a few minutes—
Liora was already asleep.
Breathing calmly.
Still holding his sleeve.
⸻
Abraão looked down.
He stayed like that for a few seconds.
Then, carefully—
he released his hand.
Slowly.
Without waking him.
⸻
He sat on his own bed.
And remained silent.
⸻
That sensation in his chest returned.
Faint.
But constant.
Like a… pulse.
He brought his hand to his chest.
Pressed lightly.
"…this again…"
⸻
VIBR.
The cell phone.
In his pocket.
⸻
He pulled it out slowly.
The screen turned on by itself.
📱 NEW MISSION AVAILABLE
[Hidden Mission] Do not trust everything that seems ordinary.
Reward: ??? Penalty: ???
Abraão frowned.
"…what?"
He read it again.
It didn't make sense.
It wasn't like the others.
No clear objective.
No explanation.
⸻
He looked toward the door.
Then at the window.
Then… at Liora sleeping.
⸻
He turned off the screen.
Put the phone away.
"…must be a bug…"
⸻
The door opened.
Lia returned, hair slightly damp, releasing a few drops on her shoulders.
She stopped when she saw the scene.
Liora sleeping on his bed.
Abraão sitting beside it.
In silence.
⸻
"…he never changes."
"No."
She approached slowly.
Her gaze softened.
"…you should rest too."
"I will soon."
Lia hesitated.
Then spoke more quietly:
"…if there's something… you can tell me."
Abraão looked up.
"…I know."
She stared at him for a second…
searching for some answer.
But she didn't find one.
⸻
"…good night, Abraão."
"Good night."
She lay down.
Turned to the side.
With her back to him.
But it took her a while to close her eyes.
⸻
The room fell silent again.
⸻
Abraão lay down last.
His body heavy.
Tired.
But his mind…
awake.
⸻
The moons shone through the window.
The cold wind passed lightly.
⸻
He closed his eyes.
He tried to sleep.
⸻
…
⸻
For a single second—
he had the clear feeling that he wasn't alone.
⸻
He opened his eyes immediately.
⸻
Darkness.
Silence.
Lia sleeping.
Liora too.
Nothing out of place.
⸻
"…it's all in my head…"
He turned to the side.
Closed his eyes again.
⸻
But this time—
it took longer to fall asleep.
⸻
And somewhere in the Bastião—
someone was still awake.
Watching.