After being disintegrated, Eden found himself in an unknown place, falling freely through the sky, unconscious. The book that the strange man had given him was also tumbling above him, and abnormally, there was light coming from a sun.
And then, he heard a voice within him:
— Remember me, Eden Nox.
The voice startled him, instantly waking him up.
— "Ugh, my head…"
— "Ow, ow…"
He quickly realized the gravity of the situation. The book was drifting away from him. He struggled to catch it, but in vain. Suddenly, a majestic golden eagle, radiant in color, burst out of the clouds and dove toward him. Eden screamed:
— "No, no, no!"
With a desperate maneuver, the eagle narrowly missed him but snatched the book in its beak before flying away. Eden, still in free fall, yelled:
— "Hey, give me back my book, you thief!"
Majestically, with a smirk on its beak, the eagle flew off… but lightning suddenly struck it. The bird collided with an invisible barrier, and the shock propelled the book straight back into Eden's hands. After a quick thank you, he put it away.
Noticing that he was dangerously close to the ground, he bit his hand, drew some symbols, and strange inscriptions appeared. But despite his dizzying speed, nothing happened. The inscriptions vanished immediately. Eden shouted:
— "Oh no, I'm screwed!"
As he fell, he noticed a residence with an open roof leading to water. As his last hope, he adjusted his trajectory toward the opening. Below was a private bath where beautiful girls were laughing and bathing.
They chatted among themselves:
— "The ceremony is coming soon."
— "Oh, I'm so excited to meet people!"
— "Me too."
— "Come on, let me wash your back."
— "Okay."
— "Scrub lower, please."
— "Alright."
— "And there, is it good?"
— "Oh yes, I'm all soaked now!"
— "Stop that, girls!"
They burst into laughter.
At the same moment, through the opening where the sunlight streamed in, a silhouette drew closer without them noticing. Suddenly, someone fell straight into the water, under the roof's opening. The girls immediately scrambled out of the bath in a panic.
The person emerged from the water, half-conscious, arm stretched out in front of him, bare-chested, and declared:
— "Hello, beautiful ladies… am I in heaven?"
— "Please, can someone tell me where I—"
But before he could finish, one of the girls behind him knocked him out. Eden ended his sentence in a faint whisper:
— "I am…"
Then he collapsed.
A woman entered the room and asked the girls:
— "What's going on here?"
Seeing the body, she asked:
— "Is he dead?"
The girls replied:
— "No, Governess, just unconscious."
The governess immediately screamed:
— "Guards! Guards!"
The guards rushed over, but fearing to see the girls naked, they stayed in the corridor leading to the bath.
One of them asked:
— "What is it, Mrs Mother Governess?"
The governess replied:
— "Idiots! Do you see this man?"
One guard, staying in the hallway, stretched his neck, glanced quickly at Eden without daring to look at the girls, then stepped back and said:
— "Yes, Mrs Mother Governess, I saw him."
The governess ordered:
— "Cut off his head!"
The guard protested:
— "But Mother, you know that's forbidden."
And she said:
— "Fool! I didn't ask your opinion, I told you to cut off his head!"
— "Uh… sorry, is it Mother or Mrs Mother Governess?"
And he said:
— "Sorry Mother… I mean, pardon, Mrs Mother Governess."
And she said:
— "Idiot, unworthy son! I've always told you that familiarity is forbidden in the workplace!"
And he said:
— "Sorry, Mrs Mother Governess, it won't happen again."
And she said:
— "Oh my God…"
And he said:
— "But unfortunately we can't execute your orders, because in our society, that's forbidden."
The governess sighed:
— "Fine… then lock him in prison."
And he said:
— "Right away!"
He ordered two of his companions to go fetch the man, but they refused, because the sacred rule stated that anyone who laid eyes on the chosen women would be petrified for life.
So they told him to go himself. After a few hesitations and cheers, he entered with his eyes covered, feeling his way step by step. He passed Eden, stretched out his hand and… mistakenly grabbed a girl's chest, declaring:
— "See, Mother, I did it! I caught him!"
The governess shook her head, despairing at her son's incompetence.
Feeling judged, he opened his eyes proudly, saw the naked girls, and screamed, nosebleeding like a pervert as he was thrown backwards.
His brothers, hearing his cries, entered with their eyes closed too. One stepped on a bar of soap, banged his head, and fainted. Another tripped over his brother's arm already on the ground and passed out as well. One by one, the guards were taken out of commission, under the gaze of a completely exasperated governess.
Meanwhile, in a room resembling a throne hall, a frail old man stepped forward and knelt before the stairs, surrounded by guards. At the top were two thrones, one of them occupied by a great chief.
The old man declared:
— "Oh great and merciful chief, my name is Albert and I offer you my greetings."
The great chief replied:
— "No need for that between us, Albert. Everyone knows you, especially me, your best friend. But greetings to you too. Now, tell me… what brings you here with such oily courtesy?"
Albert said:
— "As you know, great chief, the great Selection is approaching, the most sacred event of our community. My son has now reached the age to participate, as tradition demands. But, to be honest, with your clemency and permission, I would like my son not to take part."
The guards and the chief burst out laughing.
Albert said:
— "But… what did I say that was so funny?"
The great chief's expression changed and he said:
— "Do you hear yourself? Because of you and your son, I should break the rules of our community, rules that have existed since ancient times? Do you realize the families that have already faced this ordeal? They all had to endure it at least once. Your son will participate, as the custom demands. Nothing more to discuss. Prepare him."
Albert, desperate, insisted:
— "But… isn't there another solution? I'll do anything to keep him out of it!"
The great chief pondered and said:
— "Maybe… but that depends on whether you can endure certain trials."
— "I'll do everything in my power!"
— "Then, to start… lick my feet."
Shocked, Albert remembered his promise and obeyed. The great chief and his guards burst into laughter. Then he ordered him to disguise as a jester and said:
— "Now, entertain your chief."
While dancing, Albert recalled a past walk with his son:
— "Dad, why do all the other villagers have everything they want and we don't?"
Troubled, Albert replied:
— "Because your father hasn't always made the best choices in life… But you know what? The important thing is to be happy."
His son then told him:
— "I love you, Dad. You're my best friend. Even if others think otherwise, to me, you're a hero."
With tears in his eyes, Albert laughed at the memory. But as the great chief grew bored, he said:
— "Enough. Join me in my chambers."
Albert obeyed.
Elsewhere, in the city prison, Eden had been brought in by the guards.
When he woke up, he found himself in a small cell along a corridor. He said:
— "Ugh, my head… that girl really didn't hold back. But with her beauty, I forgive her. Where am I now? Looks like… a prison."
He spotted a rat, jumped, then heard the cry of a young man in the neighboring cell:
— "Guard! Guard! Please, release me! I'm innocent!"
Eden thought:
'Nothing to lose… Let's try, maybe it'll work.'
He grabbed the bars and shouted as well:
— "Guard! Guard! Release me! You're not really gonna lock up someone as kind and innocent as me! Come on, be nice and let me out!"
While he spoke, the man next door called to him:
— "Mister! Mister! Hey, mister!"
Eden turned his head toward him. The young man asked:
— "Mister, are you innocent too?"
Surprised, Eden replied:
— "Yes… yes, I'm innocent too."
The young man said:
— "Alright, I believe you."
Eden thought, shocked:
'Wow, you'd have to be really dumb to trust a stranger that easily…'
The young man added:
— "Rest easy, sir. I'll call them again so they open for us."
And Eden agreed, as the young man shouted:
— "Guard! Guard! Please, guards, me and my neighbor in the right cell are innocent, so please, guards, come and release us!"
And the young man said:
— "Wait sir, sir, please, could I at least know your name?"
And Eden said:
— "My name?"
And the young man said:
— "Yes, your name, it's to mention them while calling the guards."
— "It's just to increase our chances of being released, since the real culprits are never that honest."
— "My name is Malick. So, if you don't mind, could you give me yours?"
And Eden, after all the adventures he had gone through, said:
— "My name is Eden… Eden Nox."
And Malick said:
— "I didn't need your full name, but thank you for specifying."
— "Thanks, now you can rest."
And as he kept calling out to the guards right in front of his cell, someone said:
— "Hey, it's useless! You've been nagging us for days. Nobody hears you. The guards are just on break or gone."
— "You're only annoying us now!"
And Malick said:
— "Oh, thanks for letting me know, and sorry for the disturbance."
And he sat quietly in the corner of his cell.
— Since you're innocent, can you tell us what you did to end up here?
All the prisoners became interested, even Eden. Then another said:
— Yes, yes, at least a little story, it could help us pass the time.
And Malick said:
— Alright, as you wish.
— There was a time when I used to play with a group of friends… well, at least I thought they were my friends. I really believed they were.
— One day, my father and I went to an event, a gala. My father was in the kitchen, and I was cleaning the hall, because our boss didn't want the place to look dirty, even though the party had already started and guests were present.
— Since we badly needed the money for house repairs, we had no choice but to go. Everything was going fine, even if some guests deliberately dirtied the place just to watch me clean. But every time I finished, I would apologize and then sit in a corner, watching them celebrate, impressed by everything.
— And that's when someone waved at me. A man. I thought he wanted me to clean, so holding my mop, I waved back, just to be sure. But he smiled and said:
— No, come, come, leave your mop and come sit with us.
I was shocked, but not wanting to disobey, I did as he said and went to their table, where he was sitting with his wife and his son. He told me:
— My boy, can you tell me your name?
And I answered:
— Malick.
And the man said:
— That's a very nice name.
— Now, let me introduce you to my son Aaron.
— I'd like you to be his friend starting today. What do you think?
And Malick replied:
— Yes… if Aaron also wants to be my friend.
And the father and mother laughed. Then the father said:
— Of course he wants to be your friend too.
— Isn't that right, Aaron?
And Aaron answered:
— Yes, father.
And the father continued:
— Perfect! Now Aaron, go get some chairs and sit down with your new friend.
Aaron looked at his father strangely, and as he was about to speak, Malick interrupted:
— No sir, I'll go get the chairs.
And the man said:
— No, leave it to Aaron. He'll go.
— Right, Aaron?
And Aaron answered:
— Yes father, right away.
After fetching the chairs, Aaron sat down in front of Malick and said:
— Hey tough guy, go get me something to drink.
And Malick replied:
— Alright, right away, Aaron.
And Aaron said:
— No! You're not allowed to call me by my name. Call me "Sir."
And Malick answered:
— Alright, Sir.
After bringing something to drink, Malick came back and found more people at the table. He said to Aaron:
— Here you go, Sir, something to drink.
Then Malick added:
— I'll be right back, I'll go get myself a chair.
And Aaron said:
— No, wait, go get drinks for my friends first.
And Malick obeyed. After bringing the drinks, he sat in his corner while Aaron and the others talked among themselves.
Later, Malick overheard them talking about a tennis match scheduled for the next day. He asked Aaron if he could join. Aaron, shocked, asked:
— You? Do you even know tennis?
And Malick answered:
— Yes, but I've never played.
Aaron agreed to let him participate.
The next day, Malick showed up at the place and waited a long time, but no one came. Just as he was about to leave, the team arrived. Malick said:
— Hello Sir! I've been waiting for you for so long, at the time you told me.
And Aaron said:
— If you don't know how to manage your time, then you shouldn't have come.
— Anyway, let's get started.
The match began. Malick was paired with one of Aaron's friends, while Aaron had another teammate. It was a doubles match.
At first, Aaron's team dominated, since Malick barely knew how to play. After mistakes and a thirty-point gap, they paused. But after the break, Malick was fired up.
When the game resumed, Malick's teammate served, Aaron returned it, and then Malick's team scored fifteen points in record time, thanks to Malick. Everyone was shocked. But Aaron's team didn't give up.
Now the game grew intense, the score thirty to fifteen. During the rally, Aaron's teammate hit the ball aggressively, Malick's teammate returned it the same way, and soon they were smashing it back and forth at full speed. The ball reached Malick, who sent it straight to Aaron. Aaron failed to respond. Malick's team scored thirty more points.
But Aaron was determined to crush Malick. The next rally began. Everyone was fully focused. Malick's teammate served, Aaron's teammate returned, Malick volleyed, then Aaron sent a powerful shot straight at Malick. But Malick returned it toward Aaron's teammate, who faked and redirected it to Aaron. Aaron smashed it back toward Malick, but his teammate tried to intercept and got hit in the head, knocked out of the match. The point was awarded to Aaron's team, making the score thirty to forty.
When the game resumed, Aaron smashed the ball straight at Malick's arm, breaking it.
Not wanting to give up, Malick kept playing despite the pain. Aaron and his partner began targeting him, hitting the ball as hard as possible to injure him. It no longer looked like tennis but an execution. The ball left bruises all over Malick's skin.
But Malick refused to quit. When the ball came again toward his broken arm, he jumped and kicked it down to give it momentum, then swung with his good arm, sending it toward Aaron. Shocked, Aaron took the blow to the head and fell to the ground.
Malick immediately apologized. The score was now forty to forty.
Aaron, furious, told his partner to quit the match. Reluctantly, the friend obeyed after seeing Aaron's dark glare.
When Aaron served, he put all his rage into the ball. If it hit Malick, it might have killed him. But with his injured leg, Malick stumbled. The ball narrowly grazed his face.
The match was over. Aaron's team had officially won, but in his heart, Aaron felt he had lost and bore deep resentment toward Malick.
Afterward, they met again, and Aaron said to Malick:
— Well played.
And Malick said:
— Thanks, but you were really strong.
— And I'm sorry again for that shot.
And Aaron replied:
— Don't worry about it.
— But since we're friends now, why don't you come with us to the haunted caves tonight?
Malick refused, because his father had forbidden it and he had work that night. Aaron then said:
— Ah, okay. That's too bad. But remember, we'll be there tonight.
That evening, while Malick worked with his father, Aaron and his group went to the cave with their boat.
Malick's father noticed him being distracted and said:
— What's on your mind, Malick? You're not like usual.
And Malick answered:
— Nothing, father.
But his father insisted he take a break. Grateful, Malick left to join his friends with his own boat.
When he found them, their boat was sinking. They climbed onto Malick's boat, but since it could only carry three, Aaron pushed Malick into the freezing water.
Malick cried:
— What are you doing, Aaron? It's freezing, and I've heard there are piranhas!
And Aaron replied:
— I know, we saw some. So be careful.
— You'll stay here for a bit…
Malick laughed nervously and said:
— What do you mean, "I'll stay here a bit"? It's dark, and this cave is supposed to be haunted!
And Aaron said:
— As you can see, your boat can only hold three. We've been stuck here too long, we're exhausted.
— See that rock over there? You can stay on it. Once I get the others out, I'll come back for you, don't worry.
— You're the strong one, so a few seconds won't bother you.
So Malick climbed onto the small rock while Aaron's group left. Alone, Malick waited. Seconds turned into minutes, minutes into hours.
THE MAN WAITED AND WAITED… but no one came back.
Just as the cave began collapsing, the rock beneath him broke, and he fell into the water, unconscious.
When he woke, he was outside the cave, lying on the ground. An old man was beside him. Malick asked:
— Who are you? Did you save me?
And the old man said:
— Yes, I saved you. My name is Salamano.
And Malick said:
— Mister Salamano, my name is Malick. Did you see my friends? Are they okay? They must be looking for me!
And Mr. Salamano said:
— Open your eyes, boy. Those people are not your friends. They abandoned you, left your kindness to die in that collapsing cave. Thank heaven you were spared, or you wouldn't even be alive to think of them.
And Malick said:
— No, they're not like that… Thank you for saving me, but I won't take more of your time. It's getting late, they must be searching for me. Thank you again.
And old Salamano said:
— In the future, choose your friends wisely, my dear Malick.
Malick left. Later, he spotted his "friends" from afar, drinking and laughing. Aaron said:
— I couldn't stand him anymore. The only reason my father ordered me to do this was because it looked good for us to pretend to help that poor wretch.
And his friends added:
— Same for us.
And Aaron continued:
— Besides, he smelled like rotten fish, just like his father.
Malick turned away, his heart heavy, remembering Salamano's words:
"In the future, choose your friends wisely."
And he never saw them again… until the day he was arrested, because they had all disappeared and their parents accused him of killing them out of hatred.
And with those words, he concluded his story by saying:
— That's how I ended up here.
And the prisoners in the nearby cells began to cry.
The prisoner said:
— Your… your story is too touching.
— You have a good heart, but the darkness in the hearts of others was too strong.
— Really, I feel sorry for you.
And the prisoner said:
— I need a hug after all this.
And his fellow prisoner hugged him, and both of them started crying out of sadness. Then they asked Eden:
— And you, your story… h-how… how did you end up here?
And Eden said:
— Hmm, as far as I remember, I was in a room full of sexy girls, and I heard about a governess.
And a prisoner said:
— Wait, wait… governess?
And another said:
— Sexy girls?
And another shouted:
— The Villa of Beauties?
— The most guarded place in my city!
And Eden said:
— Yes, I think that must be it, because there were guards too.
And all the prisoners booed Eden, telling him he was lying. And one of them said:
— Ahh!!!!!
And another said:
— That's dorhi!!! (That's a lie!)
And Eden said:
— Believe it or not.
Then, a woman's underwear slipped out of Eden's clothes and fell in the middle of the prison corridor, between Eden's cell and the others. And one prisoner shouted:
— Oh my God, women's underwear!
— And it even smells like the women from the Villa of Beauties!!!
And the prisoners started going wild, shoving each other to grab the underwear:
— Give it to me!!!
— Give it to me!!!
— Give it to me!!!
Then one of the guards came, picked up the underwear thinking it was a handkerchief, blew his nose in it, and then threw it in the trash, shouting:
— Silence! Silence, you bunch of idiots! Someone's got a visitor. Mr. Malick!
And the prisoners shouted:
— You're the idiot!!!
Then, a breathtakingly beautiful girl walked up to Malick's cell. As she passed by, Eden was stunned by her beauty, and even the other prisoners started going wild, whistling and dancing. And one of them said:
— No, really, we're spoiled in this prison.
And in the back, someone said:
— Hey beauty, give us a 360!
And another said:
— This is better than our rotten life as rich people!
When she arrived in front of Malick's cell, with the guard opening it, she was a little scared. So Malick reassured her, saying:
— Don't be afraid, I just met them. They look mean, but they don't bite.
— But if you want, we can go to the room next door.
And she nodded yes. They moved away to talk, and after finishing, she left. Malick returned to his cell and Eden asked him:
— Malick?
And Malick answered:
— Yes?
And Eden said:
— If you don't mind, could you tell me who that girl was?
And Malick said:
— Oh, it's nothing. That was Maya. She comes to see me from time to time to bring me news from outside, and from my father, who is doing well.
— Thank God.
And the prisoners shouted:
— A story! A story!!!
And Malick, troubled, said:
— A story? A story about what? I've already told you everything.
And they said:
— Since you mentioned your father and all, you could tell us more about him. He sounds nice.
And Malick said:
— Alright. There was a time when I wasn't the person I am today.
Back then, I was a bit troublesome. And because of that, I ended up causing problems for my father: a debt of one million that I had to pay back the next day. How was I going to do that? That day, I went out, and my father found out the news. I wanted to run away to avoid his anger, but since I was tired and it was getting late, I ended up resigning myself to going home.
When I got there, my father was sitting on a chair waiting for me. I walked in. I stared at him. He stared back. We just looked at each other. And all he said was:
— Did you eat?
I said:
— Yes.
But in reality, I hadn't eaten. I had lost my appetite because of the situation.
So he said:
— Then get ready, we're going out.
And I hurried, thinking:
— What's he going to do?
"Why isn't he saying anything, this old fool?
— Is he going to kick me out of his house?
"But even if he did, I didn't care, I could rebuild my life.
— Is he going to hit me?
"He had never done that. And if he ever did, I would file a complaint against him.
He could do whatever he wanted, but I was ready for anything.
When we went out, we headed to a place. As we walked, he still hadn't said anything, but I was wary. And we arrived at a warehouse where there were some people. My father went up to the boss, and I sat in a corner waiting for him. And with a smile, he said:
— Hello sir, I hope I'm not disturbing you. I'm looking for work. Could I apply here as a laborer?
And the boss said:
— We're full, and in your condition, I don't see you working.
And my father answered:
— Don't worry about my condition, I'm very strong. I can even work for two. Please, take me. I'll do the work of two for the pay of one.
The boss agreed. And when I was there, I saw my father, despite his old age, lifting heavy objects, putting them in a wheelbarrow, and working with the others, making twice the effort they did.
My heart clenched, because I was ready for anything, but not this. And I got up and said to him:
— But dad, what are you doing?
— Let me do it instead.
He said:
— No! Stop! No way, son! Look, look at your father suffering… suffering for you… suffering for your education. I don't know what else to do with this burden. I have no one to help me. So just sit and watch. Watch what a father can do for his family, in silence.
And I asked him, with tears in my eyes:
— But… what about the ring mom gave you before she… before she…?
And he said:
— Ah, that ring? I sold it too. But from where she is, she'll understand.
And after many tears, my father managed to get the money back. But the most important thing wasn't the money… it was the message. A message that is sometimes spoken through silence.
And with these words, Malick concluded his story:
— Since that day, that message has changed me and made me a better person.
Later, a message reached the Grand Chief. He summoned the guards who had taken Eden to prison and said to them:
— I heard there was an intruder in the villa.
— How do you explain this?
And the guard said:
— Sir Grand Chief Dad… even we don't know how this is possible.
— Yet there were guards everywhere, as usual.
And the Grand Chief said:
— It's only under your watch that intruders get in everywhere, you bunch of incompetents!
Then one of the guards whispered something in his ear.
And he shouted:
— What?! I've just been informed that this intruder came from outside the dome!
"His presence could disrupt the balance of the city.
"We must be more cautious.
— Hey, you bunch of idiots, where did you take him?
— Sir Grand Chief Dad… we took him to the People's Prison.
The Grand Chief shouted:
— Bring him back here immediately!!! And stop calling me "Sir Grand Chief Dad"!!!
And the guard said:
— Alright, Dad… but if he escapes or is no longer there, how should we find him?
And the Grand Chief said:
— My God… so your incompetence extends even into the prison?
— Fine… to find him, just look for the clothing he was wearing the first time you saw him. If he ended up there, he's not very smart. So listen carefully: search for the one wearing his clothing and nothing else.
And the guard said:
— Alright, Dad.
And the Grand Chief laughed:
— Ha ha ha ha!!!
— They won't have their way here!!!
— Ha ha ha ha!!!
And the guard, reluctantly, laughed too:
— Ha ha ha…
— I don't know why, but I'm laughing too, Dad…
"Maybe it'll make me smarter…
And the Grand Chief shouted:
— Get out of here, you incompetent!!!
And the guard said:
— Yes, Dad.
And the Grand Chief said:
— And stop calling me that, you idiot!!!