Hiram paid with more pieces of his gold trinkets. They rented a room to clean up and change clothes. When noon was over, Hiram went out into the desert. Vanrra lay on the bed, locked in, alone with his thoughts.
Mahia, Esau, and Gamini. I'll never see them again. I'd give anything to go back; it's all I want. The world beyond the valley is full of monsters and humans; I don't know which is worse. That girl, her screams, because I did nothing. I can't do anything; it doesn't matter what I face, titans or humans, I'm useless. I don't even know where I'm going or if there is a safe place. Aelia Capitolina, who else might have told me that? —When does my sadness end? —Looking out the window, he realized it was already night. The moon shone like a shining beacon; it looked bigger than usual.
—When will he return? He's taking too long. I'll wait a bit longer. —He lay down on the bed again and closed his eyes. He dreamed of that day, the first time he painted a picture, when his teacher taught him to use brushes. He painted the first thing that came to mind, a big tree. A tree with large fruits, ten big fruits. He painted twenty-two small branches holding and connecting the fruits to the tree. A tree of light.
A snake slithered up his leg and climbed up his back to his left eye. He woke up with a start and jumped out of bed. It was just a nightmare; it was still night. —What time is it? How long did I sleep? Doc? Doc?! —He feared the worst. —Did something happen to him? He said he wasn't far, but why isn't he coming back? I have to go look for him.
Vanrra packed his backpack and went out the front door. The streets were deserted. Before continuing, fear overtook him. What am I doing? I'm a damn useless coward; that spider will kill me if I go out there. Maybe it already attacked the doc. Could be he's hiding in that warehouse, waiting to be eaten. No, I must trust him; I have to wait.
—Why are you afraid? —Mithra spoke to him at his side.
He nearly jumped in fright. —Where did you come from?
—I live here.
—It's very late for a child.
—What are you afraid of?
—I'm not afraid; I'm just worried.
—I hear you all the time. Are you weak? That's why you're afraid?
—You're just a kid; you don't know anything.
—Why didn't you help that girl? You were afraid they'd beat you, that they'd hate you.
—They would have killed me; I have no weapons. How could I defend myself? Not even the strongest man in the world can withstand a bullet.
—Then you're weak.
—Only if you see it that way.
—If you had had enough strength, would you have saved that girl?
—Yes.
—Would you have saved your friends, your village, Mahia?
—Yes.
—Do you think you can still help them?
—They're already dead; it's impossible. I can't change the past.
—But you can change the future. You can save the doc.
—He doesn't need saving; he has strength.
—Help isn't always physical, nor is strength. Strength is the ability to change the world to your will, the ability to keep moving forward no matter the obstacles; the way doesn't matter. The only thing that matters is that you manage to make a change in this world.
Vanrra turned to look at the boy. —What does that mean?
—Hiram needs you. How do you expect to get strong locked up in here? You have to go out. It doesn't matter what Hiram told you; everyone makes mistakes. No one is perfect. Maybe he's testing you.
—Testing me? What are you talking about, kid?
—He's your teacher. Teachers test you; they want to make you better. Maybe he wants you to go look for him. Think about it: he's never let you down; he always keeps his word. Why is he taking so long now? It seems like he's doing it on purpose.
—Could be you're right. But even so, I'm not sure. He told me my emotions would tell me if I was being impulsive. Maybe that's what he meant.
—If you were thinking impulsively, you wouldn't have prepared; you'd have just run out. Right now, you're using the reason. You're not being impulsive.
—I don't even know where he is. He didn't tell me where he was going.
—I saw him; I can show you which way he went. You'll get there in a few minutes.
—You're a strange kid. Why are you telling me this? You're very mature and wise for your age.
—You're the strange one; those clothes make you stand out. I'm not the only one who's noticed you. Many more are looking for you.
—Who's looking for me?
—The undesirables of the earth and the undesirables of the sky, but don't worry, I'll make sure they don't hurt you. —Follow me; I know another exit, far from the gates. —Vanrra followed Mithra through the empty streets. —They entered the bazaar; the shops were empty. A few lights came from the windows of the houses. They went down an alley and reached a hidden street, right by the wall.
They arrived at an old shop. Vanrra saw the shop's striking sign. There was a strange figure carved on it: a large snake eating its own tail, forming a circle. The figure in the center of the circle was so worn it was unrecognizable. Is like...a cube?
—Kid, do you know what that is?
—Does it catch your attention?
—I feel like I've seen it before. Do you know what it means?
Mithra moved some metal plates, revealing a corridor with old stairs. —I don't think this is the moment for him. You have to hurry; this passage will take you outside, so you won't have to bribe the guards.
—Thanks, kid. Don't you want me to give you something?
He giggled. —Right now it's not necessary.
Vanrra went down the completely dark corridor. He took a small flashlight from his backpack and turned it on just like the doc taught him. The passage was full of dust, but the walls were almost intact, as if time had stopped inside. He continued for several dozen meters until he reached another staircase. When he climbed up, he found a metal door. He pulled the rusty handle with all his strength; it barely budged.
—You've got to be kidding me. —He tried with all his strength; he tried several times. Mithra came up behind and helped him pull. They managed to move the lever. —Thanks, kid. —Vanrra went out to the outer city. A couple of people were gathered around campfires spread throughout the streets.
Mithra led him to the outskirts. Vanrra could see the body of that woman hanging where the desert begins. He felt great sadness; hated himself for being so weak.
Mithra said to him. —He went that way. When you reach the dunes, you'll see the warehouse lights. You'll know you're close when, in the distance, you see the great rock formations. Maybe I'll go see them; with this moon they'll look beautiful.
—One day I'll return the favor.
—I'll be waiting for it. Don't forget it.
Vanrra ventured into the desert; the wind was cold. First, he walked over barren land; soon he reached the sand. He climbed a hill to get a panoramic view. In the distance, he saw a light, just as Mitra had told him.
He walked through the desert; when he reached that light, he discovered it was a flame that sprang from the ground, from the earth itself. He could see those great hoodoos, rock formations that covered the whole desert.
No matter where he looked, there was nothing but sand and rocks. Darkness fell over the desert. —Where am I? I think I'm lost, or maybe I've been here before. —He looked up at the moon; it was the only thing lighting up the night.
In that direction there was a strange formation of rocks, a large irregular pillar, dozens of meters long. Behind it he could make out a figure, totally dark, against the moonlight. He tried to figure out what that thing was; it had to be… a giant… —Are you lost, boy? —He heard that voice as if it were standing right beside him.
Vanrra jumped in fear. He experienced intense panic in his chest. —Who are you! Where are you? —He looked for where the voice had come from.
His voice was arrogant, a mocking voice, the voice of an owner talking to a pet. It was cunning and deep. —I'm ashamed to have not introduced myself in better shape before; I'm right here. I apologize. —He lay on the palm of a great, absolutely still Titan. He appeared to be dressed in a brown tactical military outfit with a few green armor plates.
His suit was a little baggy, it had armor on the legs and forearms. He wore a big, mustard-colored poncho that fluttered in the wind. He wore a black gas mask with two big red glass eyes.
He had his arms crossed, his eyes fixed on Vanrra. The titan was lost in darkness, its form barely visible. One leg extended, it was crouched in an unnatural manner. It had three big claws, like a bird's feet. Its four arms were stretched out in different ways; it seemed to be dancing some kind of macabre dance.
Large armor plates extended from its shoulders, bending backwards like wings, falling down their back like some sort of cape. The titan wore something like a lion mask, but it was more like a metallic demon's mask with two horns. It had the long mane of metal plates. Eyes too big. No pupils. It had a long, segmented metal tail with a needle at the end.
He was horribly uncomfortable at the sight of it, and something inside him screamed at him to run away. He gabbled in horror, trying to take in that monster. —What…? —There was something wrong with that being; he didn't know what, something that shouldn't exist, something deeply wrong. Something far deeper and more terrifying than the titan itself. A mockery of nature
—We can finally start, Vanrra.