The door opened with a soft creak, as if the place were breathing silently. Upon entering, they were enveloped in a dark room, lit only by candles arranged in irregular circles. The air was thick with incense and dried herbs, and Dangleo felt a slight dizziness, as if the atmosphere was trying to knock him off his feet.
An elderly woman rose slowly from a chair in the corner. She had bright, almost crystalline eyes and a mischievous smile that seemed to know more than she was letting on.
- Welcome, young people - she said in a soft but firm voice. - I am Madame Lucero. You've been a long time coming... How may I help you?
The children looked at her in surprise. The old woman seemed to know they were coming, and that provoked a mixture of intrigue and distrust.
Dangleo, crossing his arms with a skeptical expression, said,
- Well, then we'll be going, shall we?
Akane glared at him, as if he'd just insulted Lumis herself.
Dangleo flinched slightly, turning to the old woman with a forced smile.
The boys looked at her in surprise at that moment.
Akane took a few steps forward and began to explain Dangleo's situation: his nightmares and his confusion.
Madame Lucero listened attentively, nodding slowly.
- I understand, she said in a calm voice. - I can give you some clues. Dreams, both good and bad, are a window to the future, the present, or the past. You just have to discover their meaning. But if you want the session… you must be prepared for anything.
Dangleo shifted uncomfortably. But after a sigh, he nodded.
- Okay. I'm ready.
Madame Lucero smiled and indicated that they should sit around a low table. In the center, a crystal ball glowed with a soft, almost hypnotic light. The boys settled in expectantly.
- Okay... that's 100 coins each - the old woman said with a mischievous smile...
The boys looked at her in disappointment.
- What? It's my job, - she added, casually picking up a book and pencil.
/What a waste of time,/ Dangleo thought, already halfway to his feet.
But before he could leave, Alexander placed a firm hand on his shoulder.
- Hey, you're staying.
- But I don't have that much money, - Dangleo said, embarrassed.
- I know, - Alexander replied, placing a bag of coins on the table.
Dangleo looked at him, surprised.
- But it's your money, Xander...
- Don't worry. Akane and I lent it to you. Just... you have to start being more responsible. With money... and with everything in general. - We all care about you.
Alexander calmly left the tent with the other curious people, leaving Dangleo with a mixture of gratitude and discomfort.
- Shall we continue? - said Madame Lucero, taking the bag with a smile that seemed to know more than she was letting on.
/What have they gotten me into?/ Dangleo thought, nodding resignedly.
- Tell me all about yourself, Dangleo, - said Madame Lucero, delicately adjusting her glasses.
- Hmm... I'm... I'm 20 years old... and I'm a member of the Group, Marguerite's Dreams...
Madame Lucero nodded with a small smile. She took the crystal ball in her hands, and Dangleo looked at it expectantly... until she simply put it away.
- What? - asked Dangleo, confused.
- We both know that's just for show, - she replied naturally. - So those who come can see a spectacle. But you didn't come for the tricks and spectacles, did you?
Dangleo looked at her with a mixture of judgment and curiosity.
Madame Lucero leaned slightly toward him, her gaze fixed.
- How was your childhood, Dangleo?
The silence grew thick. For a moment, he thought about responding sarcastically... but something in the old woman's eyes prevented him from doing so.
- Um... Well... I don't know... I'm one of the many orphans in Helis... I practically grew up on the streets - she said as he looked away.
- On the streets, you say? Have you ever committed a crime? - she said, looking at him seriously.
- No, I never committed a crime, - Dangleo said, looking at her.
- And you survived on food from strangers and things like that? - Madame Lucero said, looking curiously at Logan.
- I suppose... - Dangleo shrugs.
- And your adolescence? - Madame Lucero asks thoughtfully.
Dangleo looks down.
- More of the same, I suppose - Dangleo says.
- You suppose... hmm... How did you get that dagger there? - Madame Lucero says, pointing to the dagger that appeared in Dangleo's dreams.
Dangleo felt a chill.
- I don't really remember - he said, looking at the dagger.
Madame Lucero looked at Dangleo seriously while writing in her book.
- From what I see, it's a dagger from Helis... its blade is made of Lumis crystals... not a cheap design... even military, I'd say, - she said, looking closely at the dagger, and then turning back to Dangleo. - ... anyway... Last question... - he says. - What is your greatest wish?
Dangleo looked at her seriously and said.
"That's what you have to do," Madame Lucero interrupts, saying, "I asked you a question, kid."
Dangleo gets annoyed but answers.
"Wh... I want to be a hero, like the greatest heroes of Helis," Dangleo says, looking at her steadily.
"Um..." Madame Lucero closes her book and says seriously to Dangleo, "Dangleo, you'll never be a hero."
The atmosphere becomes tense, and Dangleo angrily tells him.
"You don't know what you're talking about..." Madame Lucero tries to answer, "Dangleo."
Dangleo stands up, and Lucero speaks to him.
"Dangleo, you," Dangleo angrily interrupts, "don't know me!"
Unfazed, Madame Lucero says.
"A fragmented person will never be a hero. You have to change."
Dangleo looks at her seriously.
"Fragmented? Change?" I'm not going to change just because some old woman with a fake magic ball tells me to.
Madame Lucero stands up.
"You have to. You won't be a hero, but," she says seriously, but Dangleo interrupts her. "And what do you want me to do? Start working at the power plant? Make me a knight!? /Why?/
Dangleo's hands begin to tremble slightly.
"I want you to save yourself... I want you to stop suffering. Save yourself before you think about saving anyone else. Look for your fragments, look for your past... you... know where to look."
"Tch... What a waste of time," she says as she walks toward the exit.
Madame Lucero yells at her.
"DANGLEO, STOP RUNNING AWAY."
Dangleo freezes, feeling chills, as he clearly remembers the boy from his dream yelling, "DANGLEO, RUN AWAY!"
Dangleo turns to Lucero and says,
"I... WILL BE A HERO! And I will prove that you don't need to change anything! You don't need to—"
Madame Lucero gets angry and yells at him.
"IF YOU DON'T TRY TO CHANGE YOUR WAY, THE WORLD WILL CHANGE YOU TO ITS OWN!" Dangleo responds angrily as he leaves. "THEN FUCK IT AND LET HIM TRY!"
Madame Lucero sits down again, saying with a sad look on her face...
- Tch... Good luck, kid...
Dangleo left Madame Lucero's shop with an angry and frustrated expression. The boys, who were waiting outside, approached him with concern.
- What... What happened, Dangleo? - We heard screaming - Akane asked, looking at him worriedly.
- It doesn't matter - Dangleo replied seriously without pausing to explain. - I'm going home.
Liz and Alexander looked at each other, worried about Dangleo's reaction, having never seen him like this before.
- Dangleo, wait - Liz said, trying to stop him - What... What's going on? What did Madame Lucero say to you?
Logan stopped and turned to them, his gaze annoyed.
- I don't want to talk about this anymore, okay? - he said, his voice rising. - Tch... I'm sorry... I just need to think.
Just then, Jack and Victor walked by and approached, noticing the tension in the air.
- What's going on here? - Victor asked, looking at Dangleo worriedly.
Dangleo turned to them, his expression somewhat depressed.
- Nothing, - he said. - I'm just going home.
Jack walked over to him, looking at him uneasily.
- Are you okay, Dangleo? - he asked.
But Dangleo didn't answer. He just turned and walked away, leaving the others staring at him in concern.
- I'll talk to him, - Jack said, worried.
Victor nodded.
- Go on. I'll see you later.
Jack followed Dangleo, trying to catch up.
- Dan, wait, - he said. - What happened? Did the guys say something to you? I've never seen you like this before.
But Dangleo didn't stop. He kept walking determinedly, determined to put the frustration and depression he felt behind him.
Then Jack followed him and said to Dangleo,
- We've never seen you upset before. You usually act like you don't care, but... now... Tch, I don't know what to do... You're my best friend, Dangleo. I don't want to see you like this...
Dangleo stops and turns to Jack, with a regretful and sad expression, and says.
- I... I'm sorry... I... went to see the psychic...
Jack is surprised and says, - So you finally went... Honestly, at first I thought you were upset because they were forcing you and you didn't want to.
Dangleo continues walking with Jack.
- She was really weird, and the atmosphere was the same... but... uh... She told me I'd never be a hero - Dangleo says, looking up at the sky, which was so... normal... calm... serene... - I... I thought I was doing things right... I... Yeah... I don't think I've ever done anything heroic, and now I'm getting used to this place... I...
Jack puts a hand on his shoulder.
- Don't worry, Dangleo. Maybe he didn't mean it. You said yourself that most of them are con artists.
Dangleo looks at Jack, annoyed.
- She meant it... I don't know if she's a con artist, but... She's wrong - Dangleo stares straight ahead, continuing on his way - I'll prove her wrong... I don't have to change to be a hero.
Jack takes Dangleo's hand and looks at him curiously as he says,
- Change? - Dangleo replies. - He said if I don't change, I'll never be a hero, and I'm not going to change. I'll always be me... I'll never feel lost again."
Jack looks at Dangleo sympathetically and says, - So what are you going to do now? - Dangleo replies. - I don't know. Right now, I just want to get home."
Jack looks at the ground and says,
- I... I understand... about being lost... I don't know what to do... most of you have clear goals, but for me... my childhood was amazing... my sister is always there for me... even so...
Dangleo looks at him.
- I don't know what to do to fit in... I mean, I want to be able to beat you in battles... I want to take care of my sister like she did... everyone... but I don't know how... - Jack stands up. - I'm the weakest of the group.
Dangleo tries to say something, but Jack continues.
- Today I went to join the cavalry... I thought it would help you guys more, earn money... and get stronger... but...
There, Dangleo says.
- They told you you had to go away for a while, right?
Jack looks at him strangely but continues.
- Yes... I hesitated for a moment... it's not that I don't trust you to take care of my sister... it's that I don't know if I can take care of myself without you... and I don't want to lose everything again, lose you all and have to start over... maybe you think I'm a coward.
Dangleo looks at him sympathetically and says,
- You're not a coward... We are a mess... - Dangleo smiles, and Jack follows.
Jack looks around, sees that they're arriving home... he sees children playing and Lumis followers helping and chatting with people... he notices it's getting dark and says,
- You're not a coward... We are a mess... -They're going to turn on the lights of Solhaven... I belong here now. I will protect my loved ones and this kingdom in my own way.
Dangleo sees Jack's determination now and feels sorry for himself... he wants to have that now, yet he puts on his best face for Jack and says,
- Very well, protector... we're almost home.
As they walked home, the sun behind them turned a deep orange... as if it too was ready to say goodbye.
Dangleo lay in his bed, thinking about everything. "DANGLEO, RUN AWAY, DANGLEO, STOP RUNNING AWAY, YOU'LL NEVER BE A HERO."
/Tch/
- Dangleo, it's time for dinner... we also have a meeting about the errand tomorrow... it's important, I'll see you downstairs - Alexander said from behind the door.
Dangleo went downstairs and sat at the table with his companions, but his gaze was blank and his demeanor distant. The boys looked at him worriedly, and then Alexander began to speak.
- Okay, we had prepared for this without even knowing if they would accept us... Today I have the news that it's a fact... We have a commission for the king, - he said with a proud look.
Liz, Jack, and Akane looked at Dangleo, but he barely reacted, and Victor said, - So your brother managed to get us accepted.
Alexander took out a certificate and showed it, saying, -Indeed, but we won't know the amount until the job is finished.
Liz looked at him curiously and said, - Why? - And Alexander replied,
- Apparently this is a secret commission from Solhaven... And a commission involving a large sum of money attracts attention. I knew about it because, as you know, my brother is a knight. Otherwise, it would have been complicated for us.
Helena looked at him intrigued and said,
- Hmm, and why, out of so many adventurer groups, did they accept this one, which is of the lowest rank? I mean, practically no one knows us, and we only do simple tasks for the same reason... I find it strange."
Alexander puts the certificate away, responding.
- Easy, for them it's better that we don't be known, because like with money, if they send a group of, say, rank 4, it would attract unwanted attention, and they don't want anyone to find out what we're going to transport, especially the Kingdom of Helis."
Sofia excitedly shouts.
- And what are they going to take? - Victor tells her. - We don't know, Sofi... They'll tell us tomorrow at the meeting point.
Sofia is discouraged, but Liz strokes her head and says, - So, what will the tasks be? The routes and so on? - Helena answers as she takes out a map.
- Okay, I'll tell you how to get there. I managed to get some information from travelers and some foreigners... it wouldn't be difficult if they went with Victor or me, but on this occasion...
Helena proceeds with the map to show the boys the way to follow... Explaining the safest and best route to get there... with Dangleo minding his own business, not paying attention to it...
Alexander proceeds to give everyone their assignments.
- Okay, Victor and I have already talked about this. The only ones going are Akane, Dangleo, Liz, and me...
Jack looks at him in surprise and says.
- Why not me? - Alexander replies. - Why, you and Victor will look after Sofia and Helena. The information might leak out, and we don't want anything to happen to them, is that okay with you?
Jack looks away but answers.
- All right - Victor told him. - You'll be my apprentice, so that when Dangleo returns, you'll win a fight, not just against him but against the others as well.
Jack returned to normal and became excited.
- Yes!!! Jack said.
Alexander took out a sheet of paper and began to draw as he spoke.
Alexander stood up, stretching his neck as he quickly unfolded a sheet of paper.
- Okay, they'll provide us with a large carriage, with powerful lights in case night falls and we have to scare off Arkhais or Dhelaks - he said, pointing at the drawing - Although we'll most likely arrive at the port around noon on the second day, since the journey will take at most a day and a half, we'll rest at an inn.
He paused, looking at Liz and Dangleo.
- Liz, you'll be our guide. Bring the documents, maps, and everything else we'll need.
Dangleo, you take care of the emergency equipment: lanterns, flares, the usual.
Dangleo frowned.
- We won't need it. We always carry that and never use it. Besides, that box weighs a lot...
Liz interrupted him with a patient smile.
- That's precisely why they're emergency supplies, Dan. The idea is not to use them, but we have to take them, and besides, we've never made a trip as long and important as this one.
Alexander nodded, crossing his arms.
- Even if the carriage they're giving us has the luxuries I mentioned, it's best to be completely safe, so, well, as soon as we're done with dinner, put everything in the driveway. We don't want you to forget... again.
Logan looked lazily and said.
- Good...
Alexander resumed dividing up the tasks.
- Okay... Akane, you're going to make sure we keep whatever we're carrying safe. If anything happens, like bandits or something, you protect the object... well, I'll drive... Okay?
Everyone nods, and Victor happily says - Well, from what you said, Dangleo, I think you're back to normal. Hahaha - Dangleo smiles.
Helena goes to the kitchen with Sofia.
- Are you okay, Dangleo? You had us worried - Victor says to Dangleo, who replies - Yeah, I'm better. I just have a little headache. Thanks for asking.
Jack laughs and says - Honestly, it seemed a little silly to me at first, that you'd get all worked up just because some "Seer" told you you'd change or you wouldn't be a hero."
Dangleo becomes serious again and says - Well, I think it was a little silly.
- It's not what she said that bothered me, it's how she said it... She... I noticed in her eyes... I... I don't know how to explain it...
Everyone looks at him sympathetically, and Victor tells him - I'll take care of putting the emergency supplies in the entryway. After you... - Alexander interrupts Victor - I'm sorry, Victor, but I don't agree with you. We all agreed to do something, and we have to be responsible and follow through."
Dangleo, a little annoyed, says, - It's okay, I don't need help - and Akane says - Bu... But Alex, Dangleo isn't feeling well at all... We have to...
Dangleo looks at her, annoyed, raising his voice a little, and says
- I already said I'm fine, Akane, and if I'm like this, it's because you sent me to that stupid place.
Jack stands up, annoyed by what happened, and raising his voice, says, "...
- You say you don't want to change, but you are. You're turning into a complete idiot! - Victor says excitedly - Jack!
The atmosphere becomes tense, and Sofia and Helena walk in with stuffed bread.
- I'm not hungry. Thanks for the food - Dangleo says as he heads to his room.