Kael Lanpar's POV — (Matías Van Geast)
The first glimmers of sunlight began to slip through the cracks in the concrete walls of the building where we had taken refuge.
The light crawled across the floor, coated in dust and ash, with a hypnotic slowness. It took me a moment to realize that dawn had already broken.
The gentle warmth forced me awake. I opened my eyes lazily and confirmed that everyone else was still asleep, overcome by exhaustion.
—Mmnh…
Elizabeth's soft murmur made me turn my face slightly toward her. Her face, framed by loose strands of golden hair, was beginning to stir with the first signs of waking.
—Where are you going?
I barely caught her whisper. Watching her rub her eyes, struggling against sleep, drew an involuntary smile from me.
—I'm going to get some fresh air. I'll be back in a few minutes.
She nodded silently. Untying the sweatshirt wrapped around her waist, she tucked it beneath her head, turning it into an improvised pillow.
Carefully, I shifted away from her to let her rest and headed outside the building.
Outside, the ashfall had completely stopped.
The air was still heavy and dense, saturated with the lingering stench of corpses left behind by the battle.
I closed my eyes for a moment, trying to sort through my thoughts, to focus on everything that had happened with Dextrina and Matías.
But a distant sound tore me away from my memories.
A whistle.
Then the thunder of drums echoed from several directions.
That wasn't good news.
These lands were ruled by beings who had lost their humanity centuries ago—humans without reason, driven by a single instinct: hunger.
They couldn't be called dead, because they still felt pain when wounded.
But they weren't truly alive either.
They merely wandered through territories that no longer belonged to anyone… except decay.
—Looks like we've got visitors.
Francis's voice sounded behind me, accompanied by the hurried footsteps of cadets who had already awakened, tense and alert.
—Where's the sergeant? —I asked, drawing my sword as I spoke.
—He couldn't bear the shame of his own cowardice —Elizabeth replied, stepping up beside me—. A few cadets stayed behind to at least give him a proper burial.
I let out a weary sigh and fixed my gaze toward the mountains, where the sound was coming from.
Then I took a step back.
Something was approaching at high speed. It sliced through the air and struck the ground, landing just inches from my feet.
I crouched to retrieve the arrow. Tied carefully to the shaft was a small piece of paper.
Before the others could move to prepare for battle, I raised my hand, signaling them to stop.
—They come in peace. They're not enemies… just merchants.
From where I stood, I could see fully covered figures sliding down the earthen slopes, trailing thick curtains of dust behind them.
It seemed I had been mistaken. Those drums did not signal immediate danger.
Perhaps they weren't allies—but they weren't enemies either… at least, not unless we provoked them.
And knowing some of the cadets, I doubted the situation would remain calm for long.
—It's been a pleasure to see travelers again after so much time —a deep voice said—. Where are you from, little friends?
Cautiously, I sheathed my sword and stepped forward. The sharp eyes of the man who had spoken never left mine.
I tried to read his movements, but his face was an enigma. The rags covering him revealed little more than his eyes.
—I'd wager you don't know who I am —he said, extending his hand—. I'm a—
Before he could finish, I clasped his hand firmly and offered a cordial smile, one he clearly hadn't expected.
—You're a scavenger —I said—. Am I right?
He nodded slightly and let go of my hand, still confused by my reaction.
—Doesn't it disgust you to touch me? You're a strange one, boy.
By possessing Matías's memories, I had access to fragments of his life: good days, broken days… and everything that came after.
After his father's death and the loss of his village, he wandered for days through lands poisoned by radiation, enduring hunger, cold, and despair just to protect his mother and sister.
To keep them alive, he made the only choice left to him.
He sold his body into the service of the wealthy—individuals who ventured into the ruins of cities in search of the few valuable objects that had survived the disaster.
A knot tightened in my chest as murmurs rose behind me when the man in front of me removed one of his gloves.
It didn't take long for comments steeped in revulsion and hatred to surface—a common reaction among those ignorant of these people's stories: men and women consumed by radiation, deformed from head to toe.
His dry skin was riddled with cavities, scarred by a decay that did not match the youth in his voice.
—Those are the expressions I was waiting for —the scavenger snapped, pulling the glove back on.
Then he looked at me again.
—Now tell me, boy… don't I disgust you?
I shook my head and took a step forward, resting a hand on his shoulder. The gesture caught him off guard once more.
—We're willing to do business with your people —I said—. Tell me what you want in exchange for your goods.
I couldn't deny that my voice trembled more than I would have liked. I didn't know when one of the cadets might blurt out something stupid, and I wanted to avoid any unnecessary provocation.
After reaching an agreement with his people, we managed to convince them to hand over the merchandise we were looking for in exchange for our weapons.
I was surprised when they even offered to carry the heavy crates to our ship, but what caught my attention most was the sudden shift in everyone's attitude.
It was strange to see those arrogant cadets speaking almost cordially with people who, to their parents, would have been nothing more than abominations.
—We're ready to depart. All aboard.
The captain's voice echoed through the port, giving the final instructions before our return home.
After placing the last crate in the hold, I walked straight toward the scavengers' leader. I stopped in front of him without saying a word.
—Are you going to say something, or will you just stand there silent? —he said, crossing his arms.
A brief laugh escaped me.
—I don't think there's anything left to say. Maybe just a goodbye —I replied, turning toward the ship.
—I like you, boy —his voice sounded distant now—. I'd rather this be a see you soon.
As we boarded, I gave the signal to set sail, watching from afar as the scavengers slipped back into the shadows of their territory, disappearing among the city's ruins.
Sometimes life is full of coincidences. Though that scavenger no longer remembered it, he had once been one of those wealthy men who gave this body the chance to earn a living.
—So… what exactly is supposed to be in these crates?
One of the cadets couldn't resist his curiosity and, without asking permission, opened one of them. From inside, he pulled out a rocket launcher.
—Now this is a beauty… so this is what we've been risking our lives for?
Francis stepped up beside me, staring at one of the many reasons why that night was not going to end well.
I knew the future far too well to ignore what awaited me—but I still didn't know how I was going to endure it.
During the journey, feeling the constant sway of the ship beneath the assault of waves crashing against the deck, I found myself lost in the question I had been avoiding from the very beginning:
Could I fix anything before returning to my true world?
Matías had told me this was only a different timeline, that none of my actions would affect the present… and yet, I still couldn't decide whether I would let them die.
Amid doubts and scattered thoughts, the voyage felt shorter than expected.
So short that I barely had time to react when the ship came to an abrupt stop, forcing me to grab hold of something to keep from falling.
—Ladies and gentlemen, we have arrived at one of the three islands of Victius —the captain exclaimed—. Welcome to Frontest, our main island.
As we disembarked, cheers and shouts of celebration greeted us at once.
Despite all the commotion, my mind remained blank. I walked through the crowd glorifying our supposed achievement, indifferent to the smiles and applause.
Everyone was celebrating a victory stained with the blood of innocents—people who never asked to die for the greed of arrogant humans.
I bit my lower lip when I saw a desperate mother, crying on her knees while her husband held her in his arms.
From her trembling lips escaped the words I least wanted to hear:
—Where is my son? Where is my Estefano?
I turned my gaze away from the woman and continued on with my head bowed, feeling shame sink into me with every step.
—You did a good job, boy.
Lord Castleboard's voice greeted me as I crossed the threshold of his mansion. I felt his hand rest on my shoulder and could barely bring myself to look up.
I didn't answer.
I simply kept walking toward my room, aware that his eyes followed me with a restrained sorrow he did not dare to voice.
When I closed the door to my bedroom, I finally collapsed.
My body slid slowly down the wood until I reached the floor, and the tears spilled out uncontrollably.
I wrapped my arms around myself, unable to bear the weight of everything I had lived through.
In the end, I reached a conclusion as simple as it was devastating:
I had no answers… and I didn't know what I was going to choose.
Everything hung suspended in a bitter silence.
There was nothing… except my own sobs echoing in that hollow void of emotion.
Until his voice returned.
—I hope you're listening…
My heart leapt. That voice… it was Matías's.
—You're probably thinking I'm speaking to you right now —he continued—, but I'm not. This is nothing more than a recording. What I wanted to tell you.
I didn't know why, but something inside me warned me that the words to come would not be the ones I was expecting.
—First things first. I want you to fulfill what I asked of you the first time we met.
Dizziness struck me all at once. I staggered to the bed and let myself fall onto it, feeling the room spin around me.
—I want you to live a normal life —his voice continued—. I want you to prove to me that I was always wrong in the way I thought.
I swallowed, unable to move.
—Don't worry about Dextrina's existence, or mine. That's no longer your concern. Focus on your world. Become strong… so you can protect those you love.
There was a brief pause, almost imperceptible.
—And don't forget this —he added one last time—: your death… gave you meaning.
It took me a moment to process everything, but in the end, the only feeling that surfaced was a strange one… happiness.
I couldn't explain why. My heart was pounding, still shaken by the panic his words had left behind. I was worried, yes—but I also felt light, almost at peace.
Unconsciously, a laugh escaped my lips. I laughed like a madman, mocked my cursed fate… and still I laughed, because maybe—just maybe—I was free.
—Sometimes I think you're truly insane.
My expression changed instantly when I heard Elizabeth's voice. She had the door half open.
I tried to excuse myself, to invent some absurd explanation, but before I could say a word, she stepped forward and wrapped her arms around me.
—I'm affected by what happened too.
I felt her body trembling; it wasn't anger—it was fear.
I wanted to say something to reassure her, to appear strong, but I was so confused inside that all I could do was wrap my arms around her and return the embrace.
—Either way… we have to get ready for this damn celebration.
Her words managed to push aside, if only for a moment, what Matías had planted in my mind, dragging me back to the present… and to what I knew would happen that night.
Elizabeth gently pulled away and lay down on the bed, staring at the ceiling, lost in her thoughts.
Forcing myself to live in the now, I lay down beside her, trying to understand what it was she was seeing… or perhaps what neither of us dared to say.
—This might sound absurd… especially considering that we're both fifteen.
She paused for a moment and turned her head to look at me before continuing.
—And really, you should be the one asking me.
I swallowed, not knowing what to say.
—Matías, you matter… more than you know —she said with a sincerity that disarmed me—. I love you.
Her face moved dangerously close to mine, stopping just inches from my lips. I could feel her breath, warm and unsteady.
—Talking about marriage now is stupid, I know —she continued—. But if you marry me and take my last name, you and your family will no longer be slaves.
The air rushed out of my lungs. I had to sit up to catch my breath. In that instant, everything clicked: now I remembered why Matías carried the Castleboard surname… even though he never actually married.
She sat beside me, rested her head on my shoulder for a brief moment, and then stood.
—I'll see you later at the event.
Her smile was devastating. Far more than any wound, far more than any battle.
My mind screamed at me to get up, to stop her—but it was too late.
The clash of metal came first; then her scream tore through the corridors, piercing me before I could react.
When I finally moved and threw the door open, I barely caught sight of the murderer who had ended her life leaping out the window.
My bare feet stepped into her blood, still warm, as I rushed toward her. I felt it stain my skin, felt it cling to me.
There was nothing I could do but kneel beside her and pull her into my arms, remembering that even with power over time, some things were inevitable.
With her body clutched to mine, the screams of agony and the thunder of explosions soon followed. That was the price of human greed.
Even as pain hammered against my chest, I felt my consciousness being torn from that body. My eyes began to close, the last tears slipping free.
I was going to return home…
but at what cost?