A new school day begins. Karlo is sitting in his classroom with a satisfied smile on his face. Something good must have happened.
Silvia enters the room.
(Silvia): Good morning, everyone. Please take your seats. Class is about to begin.
Each student sits down at their desk.
(Silvia): Very well, let's begin. Last week we started talking about the basic concepts of magic and the elements that belong to it. Could someone tell me about those elements?
A girl with black hair and green eyes raises her hand.
(Silvia): You may speak, Elena.
(Elena): The elements are divided into two categories: primordial elements and branched elements.The primordial elements are fire, water, earth, air, light, and darkness—which is also known as dark magic.Branched elements are those that arise from the combination of two primordial elements. They include lightning, ice, poison, life, and others. Normally, a living being inherits one primordial element from their mother and another from their father, and based on those inherited elements, the individual may—or may not—develop a branched element.There are cases where someone inherits more than one element from one parent, or even from both parents, and there are also cases where a person inherits the same element from both their mother's and father's side. However, both situations are quite rare.
(Silvia): Excellent explanation, Elena. I believe we can continue without further delay.
Someone enters the classroom.
(Fernanda): E-excuse me… sorry I'm late…
(Silvia): Class has just started, so don't worry, still, it's unusual for you to arrive late. Did something happen?
(Fernanda): Just a small issue… that's all.
(Silvia): I see. Please take your seat, then.
Silvia knows very well that something is wrong, but Fernanda clearly doesn't want to talk about it. She discreetly looks at Karlo, who notices and understands the message.
The morning classes come to an end, and all the students head to the cafeteria to have lunch before the afternoon classes begin… well, with a few exceptions.
Fernanda is leaning against the same tree where she met Karlo for the first time. Shortly after, he shows up.
(Karlo): I knew I'd find you here.
(Fernanda): Oh, hi. Want another sandwich? She gives a small smile.
(Karlo): Not this time, but I was curious about where you get your lunch. I never see you at the cafeteria, some people from our class and I eat there, if you ever want to join us, you're more than welcome.
(Fernanda): My mother brings it to me. She lives here in the city. And… thank you for the invitation, but I'll have to refuse, the cafeteria is kind of uncomfortable for me…
(Karlo): I see. Yawn I'm going to take a nap right over here, if you don't mind…
(Fernanda): I don't mind at all.
Karlo moves to the other side of the tree and leans against it. Then, subtly, he leaves one of his eyes half open and looks toward three girls hiding not too far away. When they notice he is there, they decide to leave.
(Fernanda): You knew they were here, didn't you?
(Karlo): I could say the same about you. Why don't you just tell already?
(Fernanda): I don't know… maybe because they still haven't really done anything.They just come here, say things to my face—like "filthy-blood scum" or "abyss witch"—then they laugh, pull my hair, and leave.I thought that if I told someone, it would only make them angry and they'd start doing even worse things.If it stays like this, I can endure it… it's nothing I haven't heard before…
(Karlo): And what if they do something worse, even if you don't report them?
(Fernanda): Well… if things get worse, then I would say something. I think…
(Karlo): So you're just going to wait for the mess to blow up in your face, even knowing you could simply dodge it?
She remains silent.
(Karlo): Well, if you won't say anything, then I will.
Karlo starts to stand up. At that moment, something grabs his shirt.
(Karlo): They've already done something worse than just laughing and leaving, haven't they?
Fernanda takes a deep breath.
(Fernanda): My mother works as a cook at a restaurant here in the city…That restaurant kind of belongs to the Alrchestr family. You know… Débora Alrchestr. The girl with the braided black hair…
(Karlo): So that's her name? I could've sworn it was "Scum 2"…
Fernanda ends up laughing.
(Fernanda): Who would give a name like that to their own daughter?
(Karlo): Well, it suits her.
(Fernanda): Yeah… I guess it does. Anyway… she knows my mother works at that restaurant, she never made a direct threat, but the way she talks makes it clear she could make my mother lose her job if she wanted. It was already hard for my mother to find work because of the rumors going around… I don't want her to be fired because of me…
(Karlo): I see. But still, if I'm the one who reports it, there won't be a problem.
(Fernanda): Unfortunately, it doesn't matter who reports it. She's smart, the moment she finds out there's a complaint against her, she'll know it was me.
(Karlo): Will she really know?
Fernanda looks confused, but ends up trusting Karlo to help her.
Some time later, the bell rings and everyone returns to their classrooms. At the end of the day, Karlo goes back to his room with his friends.
(Luen): Yawn Finally, I can go back to my bed. I'm exhausted.
(Gabriel): I don't know how you can be so tired. All you do is sleep during class.
(Luen): Just going to class is already tiring.
(Gabriel): Why do I even ask…
(Karlo): Hey, you two… could you help me with something?
(Luen): I'm in—as long as it doesn't involve studying.
(Gabriel): Depends on what it is.
Karlo tells them his plan to help Fernanda get rid of Débora and her followers. For three days, the plan is carried out… until the day finally arrives.
Débora and her friends are walking calmly through the corridors when she notices some students looking at them and whispering.
They move to a corner at the end of the hallway.
(Débora): People are staring at us again. Until two days ago, it was just one student or another, but now it feels like the whole school is talking about us, i assume you two know something about this…
The two girls look visibly nervous.
(Débora): Zuri, you're not hiding anything from me, are you?
The small girl with pink twin-tails prepares herself to speak.
(Zuri): W-Well… apparently there are rumors that you're having an affair with a commoner from class 1-C… and that you secretly meet behind the school…
Suddenly, the other girl with long white hair cuts in.
(Camillya): Wait, I thought it was a senior from class 4-B, the one who already has a fiancée, people are even saying that you and him already—
(Débora): That's enough, you don't need to continue. Obviously, these are false rumors. Honestly, I don't know what anyone hopes to gain by spreading something like this, but if they think I'll just stand by while my image is being defamed, they're mistaken.
Débora starts walking angrily, and the other two reluctantly follow her. They stop in front of the coordinator's office.
(Débora): Mr. Ruviere? May I have a word with you?
(Ruviere): Come in.
When they enter, a blond man with red eyes is waiting for them.
(Ruviere): How can I help you?
(Débora): I know you are a busy man, so I'll be brief. There have been some rumors circulating about me recently, i believe you must have heard about them already. I would like to request that those responsible be identified and properly punished.
(Ruviere): I have indeed heard a few things, and even knowing that most of them have no real basis, i decided to investigate where and why they started. Although I couldn't find the original source of the rumors, I did discover that there are students who hold a certain grudge against you.
(Débora): No one is born to please everyone. At some point, someone will end up having something against you, but that is typical of people like them, they prefer slander and disgrace over solving things in a civil and honest way. Honestly, I don't understand how all these false rumors spread so far.
(Ruviere): Well… they say that to tell a good lie, you must mix in a little truth.
(Débora): Irritated What are you trying to say? You're not suggesting that someone like me would get involved with a commoner, are you? Or that I would be foolish enough to get involved with someone who is already engaged? I am not like a certain ex-count and his filthy-blood scum.
(Ruviere): Could you, repeat what you just said?
(Débora): Nervous I-It's nothing… I apologize for my vulgar words. I was just irritated because of these ridiculous rumors.
(Ruviere): You see… it wasn't only those rumors that made me look deeper into this matter.
(Débora): What do you mean?
(Ruviere): About two days ago, a student came to me saying there were rumors that you were threatening other students and taking advantage of the fact that they had no way to fight back, humiliating them.
Débora turns furiously toward the two girls behind her, who freeze in fear.
(Zuri): W-We didn't know about that!
(Camillya): That's right!
(Ruviere): Because it was a serious accusation, I decided to investigate. At first, I was rather skeptical. But when so many students were talking about it, there had to be some truth to it, and judging by your words and behavior just now, it seems my suspicions were correct.
(Ruviere): I would like to speak with your parents later this week. Until we decide on an appropriate course of action, you will remain inside your classroom every day until curfew, reflecting on whether your actions were worth it, i will inform the rest of the teaching staff, you are dismissed.
The three leave the room with frustration and fear on their faces. From afar, Karlo watches them reap what they had sown.
(Karlo): That should do it. I don't think they'll bother you for a while.
(Fernanda): Are you sure?
(Karlo): As long as you stay where people who are willing to help you can see you—like our classmates and teachers—I don't think they'll approach you. They'll be afraid of making their situation even worse.
(Fernanda): How did you know this would work?
(Karlo): It's not that I was completely sure it would. But I've seen situations like this many times. People like them rarely choose only one target, who knows how many other students they've done the same thing to? So, based on that, a few friends and I started spreading some rumors near the people we believed were also their victims.
(Karlo): You see… there are three types of victims. Those who do nothing but pray their aggressors will stop, those who know how to ask for help from someone they trust, and the third type… those who let their anger take over and want revenge.
(Karlo): But as you probably know, taking revenge on someone who has more influence than you, all by yourself, is extremely difficult. However, taking advantage of a situation that has already been set in motion by someone else… that's much easier. So I imagined they wouldn't miss the opportunity and would continue spreading the rumors—either by exaggerating what already existed with new lies, or by talking about what they themselves had gone through—until it finally caught the attention of someone who could put an end to it.
Fernanda takes some time to process everything she has just heard.
(Fernanda): If anyone else told me they had thought of something like this and actually put it into practice without even being sure it would work…I wouldn't believe them. I'd think they were lying and that I'd still be in danger. But for some reason… I can't bring myself not to believe your words…So… it's really over now…
Small tears run down her face.
(Fernanda): Thank you… thank you so much…
She tries to hide her tears by covering her face with her hands. Karlo turns his back to her, giving her space so no one sees her crying.
(Karlo): There's no need to thank me. I did it because I wanted.
They remain there until the bell rings for the start of the afternoon classes, and then they return to their classroom.
More days pass. During that time, the parents of the three girls come to speak with Ruviere, and they are far from pleased with what their daughters had been doing at the academy. As a result, the three girls are suspended indefinitely—and considering how furious their parents were, it is believed they will not be returning anytime soon. As for Fernanda, with Karlo's help, she begins to grow closer to her classmates and stops isolating herself from others.
It is the beginning of a Sunday afternoon. Karlo has just returned to the guild after spending hours gathering herbs. He is received by the same receptionist as last time.
(???): Welcome back. Everything went smoothly, I presume?
(Karlo): Yes. Here are the requested herbs.
He takes three large bags filled with various medicinal plants from his pouch and places them on the counter.
The receptionist opens one of the bags and checks its contents.
(???): Everything looks perfect, as always. It's actually impressive how you manage to complete so many gathering requests in such a short amount of time. Even some veterans take several hours just to finish a few missions.
(Karlo): Thank you, but I can't say it's easy. (And I can't say it's cheap either…)
(???): Thank you for your hard work. Here is your reward.
She hands him the money, and Karlo stores it in his pouch.
(???): Would you like to take another mission?
(Karlo): No, thank you. That's enough for today.
(???): In that case… could I ask you a small favor?
(Karlo): What would that be?
(???): One of the clients from the missions you've been doing is an elderly man who owns a small pharmacy not far from here. Due to his current health, he is no longer able to gather herbs on his own, when he learned that someone had been helping him keep his business alive, he asked us to pass along a message saying he would like to thank that person personally. So… could you stop by his shop? I would be very grateful as well.
(Karlo): Sure, I can stop by. Could you tell me where it is?
The receptionist draws a simple map and hands it to Karlo.
(Karlo): Well, I'll be going then. See you next week, Prin.
(Prin): See you. I hope we can continue counting on your support.
Karlo leaves the guild and follows the map until he reaches a small pharmacy that, at some point, must have seen better days. Now, only the remains of what still stands are left.
Karlo knocks on the door. After a while, through a small crack, he can see someone approaching. The door creaks open, revealing an elderly man with only a few strands of hair left on his head, and whose left eye can no longer see what is in front of him.
(???): Hello? How can I help you, young man?
(Karlo): Good afternoon, and sorry for the disturbance. I'm a mercenary from the guild. I came because I was told you wanted to thank me…
(???): Ah, so it was you. Thank you very much for your help, even though the reward doesn't match the effort you've been putting in, please come inside. At least let me offer you something.
Karlo steps inside. The interior is no better than the outside—broken glass containers on the floor, nearly empty shelves, dust and cobwebs everywhere.
(???): I think there should still be some coffee left from this morning, i just need to warm it up. I'll be right back.
The old man goes to the back of the shop and returns a few minutes later with two cups of coffee, handing one to Karlo.
(Karlo): Thank you, sir…?
(Henri): Henriqueel, but please call me just Henri…
He sits down on a small chair.
(Karlo): My name is Karlo. It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Henri.
(Henri): The pleasure is mine. Thanks to you, I can still keep this place standing, even though this shop was never more than a simple local pharmacy, it used to be quite busy in the past. Now… it's almost like an abandoned ruin, it's painful to see something that has been in my family for three generations end like this. I suppose I can only blame my own foolishness… heh.
(Karlo): What do you mean?
(Henri): You see… ever since I was a child, I've been passionate about herbalism. While other children went outside to play, I stayed in my room studying medicinal plants and their many effects. My parents loved seeing me work so hard to be like them, so they simply let me do whatever I wanted. But because of that, I never learned how to interact with people properly.
(Henri): I spent most of my life avoiding others. I did have a few friends, of course, but like me, they weren't very social either, we only met from time to time. I never had a romantic relationship, much less got married or had children. My parents wanted a grandchild, but they respected my decision not to be involved with anyone. So I kept doing what I always did, without thinking much about it.
(Henri): But twenty-two years ago, when my mother passed away, I realized I had ignored the only wish my parents had for me. And then I understood that, because I was stubborn and only thought about what I wanted, I ended up interrupting the legacy that began with my grandfather…
(Henri): I'm sorry. It must be unpleasant to have someone unload their problems on you the moment you meet—especially an old man like me.
(Karlo): It doesn't bother me. On the contrary, I'm glad you decided to talk to me. Some things are better simply let out, no matter who is listening.
(Henri): Smiles You are a good young man, Karlo. Your parents must be very proud to have a son like you, if only I had been like you back then…
(Karlo): You speak as if you hadn't been a good son.
(Henri): Well… it's just that—
(Karlo):"My parents loved seeing me try to be like them, so they let me do whatever I wanted."That's what you just said. Any child who can put a smile on their parents' faces is a good child. Your parents are very proud of you too, Henri.
Tears run down Henriqueel's face. It has been a very long time since anyone spoke such kind words to him.
After a moment, he wipes his tears.
(Henri): Thank you, Karlo… I didn't even realize how much I had been waiting to hear those words…
(Karlo): There's no need to thank me yet. We still have a lot of work to do to make this place what it once was.
(Henri): How?
(Karlo): Mr. Henriqueel… could I work here?
Henri is taken by surprise.
(Henri): I'm glad you want to help me, but I can barely afford to send a proper reward to mercenaries to gather herbs for me—let alone hire an employee.
(Karlo): You don't need to pay me for now. I study at Selenti Academy, so my only real expenses are my meals at the beginning of the afternoon—and even that is mostly covered since I became a mercenary specialized in gathering missions. Prin—the staff member who asked me to come see you—started reserving most of the gathering requests for me. So I won't be short on rewards.
(Henri): I see… well, I don't see any reason to refuse. In that case, let's get to work. This place won't stand on its own.
The two of them spend the rest of the afternoon working in the shop. First, they clean the dust, cobwebs, and broken glass from the floor. Then Karlo takes some wooden boards that were stored away and nails them over the door and some windows to cover the holes. When a guild employee arrives to deliver the herbs Karlo had gathered, they begin preparing as many medicines as they can in a single afternoon.
It is already night, and Karlo finishes placing the last bottles on the shelves.
(Karlo): For two people who only had a few hours… we actually got quite a lot done.
(Henri): Thank you… truly. I never thought this place could become what it once was again.
(Karlo): Considering what you told me about how this place was when you were a child, there is still a lot to do. But at least now, it can't really be called an abandoned ruin anymore.
(Henri): You're right…He looks at a small photograph of his parents from when they were still alive and gives a faint smile.
Karlo glances at an old wall clock that somehow still works. It is around 8:40 p.m.
(Karlo): I should go. Curfew will start soon, and I've already been scolded more than enough during these first two weeks.
(Henri): Very well. Once again, thank you for everything you've done. You really are a good young man, Karlo. Never let anything make you doubt that, have a good night…
Henri turns around and walks toward the room at the back of the shop, Karlo heads for the front door and leaves the store.
Outside, making sure no one is nearby, he opens a portal right in front of the pharmacy. As he steps through it, he finds himself in a place he is already familiar with.
It is a street similar to the one he had been standing on only a second before entering the portal. However, despite the resemblance, there are clear differences. The ground, the houses, even the sky—everything is gray, as if it had been completely burned and reduced to ash, from the other side, it is still possible to hear laughter and music coming from a nearby bar. But in this gray world, there is absolute silence, not even the night breeze can be heard or felt.
When the portal finally closes and Karlo looks back, two small blue lights are floating in the air in front of the shop's door.
(Karlo): I was able to convey your feelings. I believe he will be fine from now on. You may rest and wait for him up there…
The two small lights remain there for a few seconds, facing Karlo. Then a part of the cloudy sky opens, and beams of light envelop them.
"Thank you."
In a matter of seconds, they disappear, and the cloudy sky closes once more.
(Karlo): Sigh I'm glad they were able to move on so easily. If only it were like that for everyone…No… there's no point in thinking like that, i knew from the beginning this wouldn't be something I could finish in just a few decades…Still… I'll help as much as I can while I'm alive.
Karlo begins to walk, breaking the silence with the sound of his footsteps.