The years passed for Daniel as water between his fingers, for the next five, he and Msi’ became more than inseparable, she seemed to have an unusual ability to understand him, more than any other in the village, her way of expressing herself and behaving was different when it came to her people or to Dan, beyond understanding his language, she seemed to understand his culture, few things he had to explain her, but even when he had to do it, that didn’t bother him. For her there wasn’t a more interesting human being, every day he had incredible stories about strange metal beings, homes in the sky and things that flew like birds.

But Msi’ wasn’t the only one who admired him, the man had gained a place in the tribe with all his effort, had learned the language, participated in every celebration, protected every member of the family and also had become the best hunter, although he was aware that his pistols gave him an unfair advantage and it was impossible to fail with them, they were huge and very heavy, the handle cloaked his whole hand, they had a small lamp on the top and a slot below where they shot small but powerful segments of lasers that could pierce almost anything and he could recharged them with a small generator in his capsule.

So after ten years of living among the koleeu, Daniel already felt part of them. But a small idea began to grow in his head. Day after day, he watched Msi’ mature and with that, grow old at an astonishing rate, now she was an adult little younger than him and if she continued like this, soon would be older. Death wasn’t in itself what worried him, he assumed that all living things must die at a certain moment, which he feared, was that the more time passed, the closer was the day of his return, he was afraid to be forced to return to a life as it once was, empty and purposeless. He once thought of asking, as a reward for his service, return to the planet after delivering the light, yet, it terrified him even more to get used to that tranquility and then to have to live what he had left of life without Msi’. The average of the koleeu’s life was about a hundred years, maximum, while with luck he could reach four hundred, too long to coexist with himself. His mind was consumed in these ideas more often and when the young woman noticed how his eyes were lost, she always sought him to get him out of the trance.

–What are you thinking about?

–Oh, nothing. Msi’ you know that I’m only here for the light, right?

–Yes.

–Tell me, what will you do when I leave?

–I don’t know, I do not like to think about it, can't you stay?

–I don't know.

Daniel had developed a predilection for the apples, so she always got him some, especially when she felt him sad.

–Here –She said, giving him one.

–Thank you.

–What about if today we go to swim, with Tí’paayu and the other children?

–Of course, if you want to.

They spent all the afternoon in the low river with the children of the tribe and for a few hours, Dan could have some mental peace.

The next day he had to report to the LIFE, but to his surprise, this time Miguel, was not alone.

–Landon!

–Chancellor –The man's heart began to pound.

–Tell us, how's it going?

–Very well, sir, everything normal.

–Excellent, two lustrums have already passed since you arrived, how is the light?

–She is very well, is very happy.

–Oh, sure. Miguel, explain to the captain what to do now.

–Yes sir. Landon, if our calculations are correct, the girl must already have four lustrums.

–Yes she is.

–Well, that means that it must have already matured, her metabolism can’t be equal to ours, due to her little contact with light –Those words caught the young man's attention–. Then it must be at the peak of its potential. So it's time to bring it back.

His heart gave a toss and his stomach seemed to rise to his throat, but he tried to keep the composure.

–I understand, yes, tell me what to do, how do I get the light out of Msi’?

–Ah, Daniel, there is no way to separate the light from the child. The light will leave her body only when she dies.

Daniel, understood the message immediately, and then the world stopped.

–I don’t...

–Daniel, it's necessary that you bring the light at this moment of its development, only now we can take advantage of the generated energy, then its potential will go down and also, if we wait too much and let the light come off naturally it will go again to recharge and we will lose the time, the machines will begin to fail and the weaker ones will die first. Daniel, your whole planet needs you.

His bosses noticed the man's anguish so Miguel suggested giving him some time to think about it. The communication ended and he still hadn’t finished digesting what had happened. For the first time in many years, he hesitated to follow an order.

When he returned home, Msi’ soon realized that her friend was very ill. By all means she tried to find out what bothered him, but he didn’t even dare to look into her eyes. After a while, Dan asked Msi’ to accompany him to the lake, she accepted and they spent several hours in the place. As she waited for him siting under a tree, he watched the flower–bed spreading across the water, remembering the words of the girl who had received him ten years before.

–A natural trap –he murmured to himself–. I should have known.

He looked down and then at her, to finally called her to talk, she walked next to him and there, he told her everything.

–They want me to take care of it.

His words left her mouth open.

–I think... well maybe…

–I don’t want to do it.

–Daniel, my people don’t depend on the light to survive, yours do.

–What does that mean?

–Do it.

–Why? –He asked madly.

–Because that's why you came for, that was your purpose.

–I promised everyone to protect you, not to murder you, I didn’t become a military man for this, no one ever said anything like this could happen.

–Daniel –She approached, trying to calm him–. Don't fear, nothing happens by chance, everything has a reason, this will be solved and if you have to, no one will hold a grudge against you, I know.

Msi’ hugged him and leaned on him, no one dared to speak more, so together they watched the evening fall slowly.