— Did you understand, kid? That's why they call this city the Prison City! Everything that's here stays here... so everyone's trapped. Condemned! — said the guard with anger in his eyes and anguish in his voice.
Shizu lowered his head, feeling the weight of those words.
— Wow... what a sad story...
A silence filled the air for a few seconds. Then, with a more serious expression, Shizu looked directly at the guard:
— Is there any way to escape? Any chance to flee?
The guard sighed tiredly, stood up, and turned his back.
— Forget it. Escaping from here is impossible. No one has ever managed to do it.
Even so, Shizu began to think, ignoring the discouragement in the guard's tone.
"So, I really died in my world... and ended up here. And now I died again... but that doesn't matter."
He lifted his head with determination and declared:
— Hey, guard! I've made up my mind. I'm going to save this city. And all the people in it!
The guard turned abruptly, incredulous.
— WHAT?? ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND, KID?! DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT YOU'RE SAYING?! NO ONE IS CRAZY ENOUGH TO FACE IMPERATRIZ BABADAR!!
Shizu simply smiled, confident:
— Too bad... because I am.
The guard huffed, turning his face:
— Ah... this kid...
Later...
Shizu was crouching near the city wall, his face tired, his mind spinning with confusing ideas.
— How the hell am I going to do this if I don't even have a place to sleep...? Calm down, Shizu... you can come up with a plan!
He ran his hands through his hair and leaned back, almost as if he were losing his mind. Then he saw...
A woman was walking down the street with an almost unreal lightness. Her blue hair danced with the wind, and her gray eyes seemed to pull the soul out of anyone who looked into them.
Shizu was hypnotized for a moment.
Without thinking, he suddenly stood up and grabbed the woman's hand. She turned, startled.
— E-excuse me... do you come here often?
An awkward silence hung between the two.
"WHAT A STUPID QUESTION WAS THAT??" Shizu thought, feeling the heat of embarrassment rise to his face.
— Uh... sorry. I think I mistook you for someone else...
He turned to walk away, but then, unexpectedly, he heard her voice:
— And you? You don't seem to be from here either. Who are you?
Shizu stopped and looked over his shoulder.
— To ask someone's name... shouldn't you give yours first?
She put a hand to her chin, thinking.
— Right. My bad... but you also approached me without saying your name.
Shizu took a deep breath, trying to regain his composure.
— Shizu Mark. Nice to meet you. And you, miss?
She hesitated for a second but responded firmly:
— Anin Thailor. Third Commander of the Three Armies of Empress Babadar.
Shizu's heart skipped a beat. She works for Babadar?!
He started to back away slowly.
— It was nice to meet you... but I... need to do something. See you around.
He tried to walk away casually, but then he heard:
— You're not from here, are you?
His spine chilled. And before he could escape for good...
— You're not running away! — she said, appearing in front of him with a single leap.
A violent kick sent him crashing against the wall. Before he could react, he felt the coldness of a sword's blade at his neck.
— There's nowhere to run. Come on, speak! Are you some kind of spy?! Answer me!
— N-no! I swear! I'm just a normal guy! I... I ended up in this crazy city without knowing how! I'm sorry! I don't even know what's going on!
— OF COURSE YOU'RE SUSPICIOUS! YOU JUST STOPPED ME OUT OF NOWHERE AND SAY YOU "ENDED UP" HERE?!
— I'M SORRY!! — he screamed, almost in panic.
She stayed firm for a few seconds, then sighed, sheathed her sword, and stepped back a little.
— This is a dangerous place. Do you understand me?
Shizu just nodded, still trembling.
She turned to leave. But he, impulsively, spoke:
— Do you think what that woman is doing to these people is right?
She stopped. The silence was suffocating.
— I don't think it's right... — she replied with a restrained voice. — But that doesn't mean I can do anything about it.
— Of course you can! We just need to come up with a plan and—
— NO! IT'S NOT POSSIBLE!! — she shouted, suddenly turning around, her eyes filled with rage. — It's impossible to defeat her. We've tried. But... it's impossible.
Slowly, her anger turned into sadness. She looked down and spoke with a heavy voice:
— A long time ago, when Babadar started crushing the city with taxes and cruel laws, there was a revolt. Strikes. Protests. And... then Grant appeared. A legendary swordsman. He organized a resistance, a plan. But she found out. She attacked first. Wiped them all out. Grant... fought until the end, even wounded. And she... — her voice trembled — she cut off his head and hung it on a spear, in the center of the city... as a warning. "This is what happens to those who challenge me." That's how my master died.
Tears ran down Anin's face, even though she tried to hold them back.
— After that, she found me. Forced me to serve in the army. Made me a commander... and I... I stain my hands. All to give a better life to my brother. Do you know how hard it is?! Do you think it's just about coming up with a plan?!
Shizu took a deep breath. He took a step forward.
— And you're going to give up... just because of that?
— WHAT DO YOU MEAN "JUST THAT"?! — she shouted, drawing her sword again, distraught.
— YES, JUST THAT! — Shizu shouted back with equal intensity. — YOUR MASTER FOUGHT UNTIL THE END, EVEN KNOWING HE WAS GOING TO DIE! HE DIDN'T GIVE UP! AND YOU? ARE YOU GOING TO THROW AWAY HIS EFFORT?! HOW DO YOU THINK HE FEELS, KNOWING HIS DEATH CHANGED NOTHING?!
Anin fell to her knees, trembling. She was crying openly now.
— I DON'T KNOW! I... I don't know...
Shizu approached and extended his hand, firmly.
— If you don't know... I do.
She raised her eyes, confused.
— How?
He smiled.
— Just... don't give up. We'll try again. We'll finish what your master started. Because now... I have a plan.
She looked at him for a long moment. Her face was streaked with tears, but her eyes shone with hope.
She stood up, gripped the boy's hand firmly, and said:
— Yes... let's do it. I'm counting on you, Shizu.