"Vanrra. How does he know my name? What is that thing? Another titan?! But this one... is very different. How can something like that even exist?"
He laughed lightly. —Oh, boy! Why so quiet? Can't you control your body yet?
His mind only thought about running away; those eyes kept him anchored to the sand. —My body?! What do you mean?!
And kept looking down at him from up there. He walked to the edge of the titan's palm and went down on one knee. Vanrra could hear him as if he stood beside him. —You squeal like a bunny.Why don't you escape? Soldier.—He suppressed a laugh.
—Soldier? What are you talking about?
—Little bunny, you don't have to turn your back on the wolf; no matter how much you wish to forget, the wolves will always be there.
—Who are you?! How do you know my name?! What, that monster?
He pounded his chest. —This? Do I look like a monster? You and I are not that different; deep down, we are the same.
—What are you talking about?! Who are you?!
—I see you still have it inside: that rage, that fury, that strength. How long I've searched for you, oh my precious vessel! The wait was worth it; it's a shame that a crybaby gets in my way.
He still couldn't process that being; he felt vomit rise in his throat. How could he hear him from that distance? —Vessel?
—You ask too many questions. You really think I'll answer you? You don't have control over anything. This isn't about you; you're nothing but a madman. Everyone hates you. Even Mahia.
—That's not true! You… you…u…
He spoke as if delivering a blasphemous sermon, enjoying himself as he did so. —You don't know what say to me, little bunny; you have no idea how much I enjoy these moments, much better than scaring a little kid; your face is priceless. Repeating this moment, over and over again, seeing how they react.
—They?
He stood up and spread his arms. —Don't you hear them? Our audience! They love our show; they watch us all the time. They devour our light and relish our suffering; sooner or later, you'll learn.
—Who the hell are you?! Are you real?!
He let out a laugh to himself. —Of course, I'm real; I'm inside you right now. I whisper to you at all times; it's impossible escape from me. Cattle like you are only entertainment for me; they exist for my will.
"Should I run away? I can't stay here all night talking to that monster; it could move at any moment. Vanrra tried to turn his head to stop looking at those eyes. Why can't I run? Stop looking at me!"
—Do whatever you want, bunny. Why don't you run? Will you keep watching the wolf any longer?
—What you want from me?!
—You finally learned to ask; I was starting to get desperate. I thought we would be talking all night.
—What you want from me, damn monster?!
—How rude you are; didn't teach you to call people by their names?
—Well, what's your name?!
—I won't repeat it; I remember how you disrespected me. How does it feel now? Who is the kid?
—What are you talking about? If you won't answer me, then why you force me to ask?!
—Because it's so much fun see you like this; you kill me with laughter. Seeing you like this, so small and pathetic, is very funny. I have taken advantage.
Vanrra tried calm himself, closed his eyes, and took a deep breath. "It's not real; don't be afraid." It's just a nightmare.
—Why you close your eyes? I'm still here. You look very stupid.
"It's not real, it's not real, it's a nightmare; if you fear it, it will stay there. Ignore it, and it will disappear. These are the hallucinations of a madman in the middle of the desert. Breathe in and out; when you open your eyes, it will be gone." He opened his eyes slightly; as soon as he saw that titan, he immediately closed them again. "Shit, it is real." —Hey! Can you make that thing stop looking at me?
His eyes were like headlights. —My eyes? Why they bother you?
—I don't like them. Can you close them?
—No, I like seeing you.
—What you want from me?! Tell me now! —A total silence fell; even the wind stopped. The only thing he could hear was his heartbeat.
—You insist too much cattle; you could have asked me other things or just run away. Even though I mock you, I don't underestimate you, boy; I know what you're capable of. We both wear a mask, a puppet that hides our true selves; even in that, we are still identical. You are a perfect imitation of my persona.
—I'm nothing like you!
He let out a laugh; it was a rehearsed laugh. —Inside, we are identical. Do you understand now?
—No! What I'm capable of... What you mean by that?! —"What this bastard know about me? Is he a person? He talks like an idiot; he's just playing with me."
—You would treat me the same way if you were in my position; I have no doubt. You have many questions, and I have all the answers. I'll be generous and do you another favor. I'll let you ask me one question; I'll answer honestly, no tricks... no silly games.
—Are you serious?
—Is that your question?
"Will he tell the truth, or is he just playing with me? Well, I lose nothing by playing along; besides, I have no other choice." —Anything?! —The man ignored him; that titan didn't take its eyes off him. "What he know about me? Who is he?" —What you want, and why are you looking for me?!
—Those are two questions, you dirty cheater. You can't pay attention?
He clenched his fists. —What do you want?!
—It isn't obvious. —He pointed at his chest. —My only goal… is be free; I seek nothing else.
—Be free? Is that a joke? What I have to do with it?!
He left behind his mischievous, mocking tone. For the first time, he spoke without theatrics. —What you call freedom is nothing but an illusion, a lie of language. No one is truly free.
—What it mean be truly free?
—Be able to escape this prison and then do whatever I want. You know that people are cattle, right? What drives men is the search for truth, and what drives cattle is the men. We are all bound, a greater or lesser extent. I don't want only break my chains; I want destroy the whole prison, the whole damn city. Not before saving some children.
—I don't understand you; maybe you're crazy too.
—We're both a couple of madmen; we're both slaves. What sets us apart from the rest is that we have enough strength to break free from our chains. —He raised his fist in the air. —You don't want to be free?
—I'm already free.
—Are you sure? Can you do whatever you want? Or is there someone who stops you? Are you yourself? Your love for Mahia?
—No... there's nothing stopping me.
He claps. —I like your attitude, but you're a silly-ass liar. You lie to yourself; that way, you'll never be free or take what belongs to you. Deep inside you, that desire is there; I can smell it, taste it. You have to be quick. You're not the only one who wants to be free; you'll have to fight to keep your place. I like you, not like the other one; with you, I can have a conversation.
—Another? What other?!
—The one who destroyed your village.
—My village. Do you mean the titan?!
He smiled behind his mask. —Yes.
"That splendor titan, the one that crushed Mahia, was different from the other monsters; could it be someone like this guy?" —What you know about that?!
—Your questions are over. I was very generous, but don't worry, we'll see each other again very soon. He walked out of sight.
He took a few steps forward. —Wait! Where are you going?! Who destroyed my village? Tell me! Who killed Mahia?!
—You scream just like your father. —Vanrra froze, completely in shock. —You cry just like your father, oh! That bastard really knew how scream, until he tore his throat. You have no idea how much I enjoyed it. It was like letting a fine wine ferment; every second was worth it. —He mimicked a mocking sip.