— Listen — she said, her gaze distant.

The seriousness in her voice immediately silenced Beta.

— While we were hiding in Liz’s house, the village was taken. Everyone... was killed.

— W-what? — he stammered, lost. — Where’s Liz? Where’s Philipe?

He looked around but saw no one. Tears streamed down his friend’s face.

— All the girls were killed. All the villagers too. Philipe didn’t survive his injuries... Liz probably already found her mother. She’ll stay with her.

— No... — he murmured, incredulous.

— Liz will end up taking her own life. She told me that if I ever had to choose between saving you or her... I should choose you.

— Why?

— She said she wanted to see you following your dream... becoming an adventurer. That she’d rather see you saved, because you have a future. She, on the other hand... has always despised her own life — Payton said, sobbing. — Listen, Beta... Ferry, Tate, Jonathan... they’re all dead. Dereck betrayed them. He allied himself with the creatures. I don’t know why.

— I... I’m going to kill him — he said, voice muffled, burying his face in Payton’s chest.

— No! — she shouted firmly. — Dereck is ridiculously strong.

— But...

— You’re going to Vila Bétula. Find a job, gather supplies, and leave for Vila Gacha. There, you’ll tell everything that happened. You’ll study, train, and when you turn fourteen, and awaken your core, you’ll become a true adventurer.

— Why are you saying this... like you’re not included?

— Don’t seek revenge now, boy... — she coughed up blood. — Get strong. Make allies. And only when your power is greater than that damned man’s... then avenge those who were killed in our village. Those who raised you with so much care.

— Payton?

— Live long — she said, closing her eyes, slipping off the horse.

— PAYTON!!!

The boy’s scream echoed down the road. But it was too late. The poison had already reached the girl’s heart. Beta could do nothing. There was no way to bury her. He knew, despite his young age, that staying there wouldn’t change anything.

Mounted on the horse, he rode forward, crying uncontrollably.

It was too much information for a child. Everyone who, just a day before, had lived their lives normally... was now dead. An adventurer scarred by trauma had perished. Two mentors — one revealed as a traitor, the other killed by choice. Warriors close to him died protecting their people. The friends he had neglected in the name of training... brutally murdered. And the person he shared the strongest bond with, like a sister, dead before his eyes.

Beta rode beneath the afternoon sun, his skin golden in the light, but his eyes lifeless. Like Payton, he was broken inside. His mind was now an abyss of hatred, sadness, and revenge.

‡