"I'll get 5% of your power?" he asked.
Inside him, he wasn't thinking about power itself, but about transformation. He knew that one word, "yes," would reshape him. However, he no longer wanted to go back to how he was.
Luca nodded. He looked at him calmly, his face showing no signs of cunning or deceit. He was sincere in his idea of sharing his power with André in exchange for giving him a name.
André was silent for a few seconds, thinking carefully about the decision he was about to make. But he realized that he wanted to start over... and be stronger.
"I think it's better than staying nameless. So let my new beginning be with you, Luca."
"Will you trust me? Will you let me give you a name?
What if the power kills you? What if you're not ready for it?"
Even though he was the one who made this choice, he wanted to make André hesitate, or doubt him... even if only a little.
Then André replied, his voice calm and his gaze firm.
I don't think I trust you completely.
But I know you won't do anything to hurt me.
After all... no one would give up part of their power to someone they just met.
Luca ran his hand through his hair, then laughed lightly and said, staring at him.
"I'm not a person, you fool. I'm a spirit. A damned one, too."
"A person or a spirit. Either way, my words are true," Andri sighed and said.
Luca stared at him silently for a few seconds, then put his hand on his forehead and sighed slowly:
"Oh my God... It seems I'm stuck with a stupid kid.
But you still intrigue me."
Then, Luca calmly extended his hand in front of André, and a heavy red aura began to flow from it.
It was dense, like smoke slowly twisting in the air, so much so that André felt it moving in the room, touching his senses. Luca said,
"Touch it."
Andre hesitated for a few seconds, feeling slightly confused, then reached out his hand.
When their hands met, Luca whispered in a voice unlike any he had ever heard before. It was calm.
"I will name you Maldo."
His pupils dilated and trembled, he quickly withdrew his hand, glanced at it, then looked back at Luca.
Luca watched him calmly, not interfering, just waiting.
Then he snapped his fingers, and André's body suddenly calmed down,
as if the boiling had stopped, but the energy still ran through his veins.
André was still unable to comprehend what had just happened, but he was surprised and smiled calmly.
"Feel it. Is this really only 5%? Amazing. How powerful will you be?"
"Me! Ha ha, you are super strong. I told you I was the coolest," Luca replied, boasting.
Before André could add anything, he raised his finger to silence Luca. "Footsteps are approaching."
"What! But I don't hear anything," Luca marveled at him.
It seems I can hear anything from a long distance. Even though I only have one ear. I have a point.
They are steady footsteps. It seems to be a calm person. That's reassuring.
The footsteps were getting closer. I think they're only a meter away now.
Maldo thought, his eyes fixed on the door, counting the footsteps as the person approached.
As soon as the person arrived, the sound of the door lock turning began.
"He's here. Hide quickly," Maldo signaled to Luca urgently.
Luca didn't move, but smiled, a mischievous smile that didn't suit the situation.
"You fool," Maldo whispered, but before Luca could hide, the door opened.
A person carrying a small flashlight shone it around the room. The person didn't know that Luca was lighting up the place, or rather, couldn't see the light.
Maldo had his hand over his eyes, so he couldn't see who the person was.
When the person noticed Mald's discomfort with the light, he raised the flashlight to the ceiling.
Maldo removed his hand and was able to see him. Daniel was standing calmly and steadily in front of him, smiling that meaningless smile. But what caught Maldo's attention was
"Can't he see him? Can't he see Luca?"
He turned his head slightly to make sure he wasn't crazy
and found that Luca had disappeared. No, he hadn't completely disappeared, but had become small and was standing on Daniel's shoulder, inexplicably.
Then he noticed something else. Daniel had colors.
Ha! I can see this person's colors too!
He had carefully styled platinum hair, parted and tied back. He wore an elegant suit adorned with a blue jewel. His eyes were violet.
This person looked exactly like a nobleman.
Wait... I can remember him too. I haven't lost my memory of him.
Then his thoughts were interrupted by Daniel approaching him. He came closer and closer, but his eyes stopped at Maldo's face when he noticed the traces of fatigue and pain all over his body.
The burn mark was clearly visible. He reached out his hand and gently held his face without hurting him. His features became sad as he took a deep breath and looked at the scars surrounding his body.
But his ear contained dried blood. He was a little shocked and tried to hide his shock with a question.
"That bastard Enzo. He did this, didn't he?"
Maldo didn't answer. Instead, he just strangely stared at Daniel, examining him from head to toe. His eyes were dull, but he continued to examine him.
"Ah... Your silence is going to kill me one day. Come on, let's get out of here." Daniel sighed and stepped back, pointing to the door.
Maldo hesitated, then walked behind him. As soon as his eyes touched the light outside, he felt a sharp discomfort, so he lowered his gaze and followed quietly.
Luca sat quietly on Daniel's shoulder, watching Maldo as he walked behind them. Daniel, however, was completely unaware of Luca's presence.
As they crossed the long corridor, a girl rushed by and bumped into Maldo's shoulder so hard that he fell backward and hit the floor.
She froze in place, her features contorted with panic and anxiety, as if she were more accustomed to fear than to safety.
She hesitated for a moment, then leaned toward him and extended her small, trembling hand.
"I'm sorry... Please forgive me, I didn't mean to," the girl said in a frightened voice.
Daniel stopped walking and calmly turned toward them. His eyes rested on the girl, then a reassuring smile appeared on his lips as he said in a calm tone:
"It's okay, Sally. You can go back to work."
As soon as she heard his voice, she quickly straightened up, nodded her head, and ran off down the hallway.
Maldo remained seated, watching her as she walked away, the fear etched on her face arousing a silent curiosity within him. But what attracted him most of all were her locks of hair. He whispered to himself in amazement:
"Red hair..."
I could see its color too! It's a beautiful color.
Maldo thought for a few seconds as he stared at the hallway she had just passed through.
Daniel interrupted his reverie with his voice. "Move it, kid, I don't like standing around." He stood there grumbling and waving his hand.
Maldo got up from his spot and straightened his posture, walking with him through the intertwined corridors until they reached a room he had never seen before. It was completely different from the previous cells and corridors; its atmosphere was warm and comfortable, as if it belonged to another world.
Daniel entered first, took off his coat, and threw it carelessly on the sofa, then sat down slowly, his voice calmer this time:
"This is my room... Come in. No one will hurt you here."
Maldo hesitated for a moment at the doorway, his eyes scanning the interior with cautious curiosity. The room was completely different: its walls were covered with dark wood, and the hanging lamps emitted a warm yellow light that dispelled some of the austerity of the place. On the small table near the bed lay a book, open halfway, and next to it a half-full glass of water; a scene suggesting another life, calm and strange, unrelated to their brutal world.
Does this person live with us in the same place? Maldo wondered.
Then he moved slowly inside, his eyes darting around the room as if trying to decipher a hidden code.
"Sit here," said Daniel, pointing to a sofa in colors that were easy on the eyes.
Maldo nodded and sat down. Daniel stared at him for a few seconds, then got up. He brought a plate of food and a glass of water and placed them in front of him.
The food looked delicious. Maldo's eyes sparkled innocently, and he swallowed hard. But he controlled himself and looked at Daniel cautiously. "Why should I trust you? This could be poisoned."
Daniel smiled coldly and replied immediately. "Why would I go to the trouble of poisoning you? If I wanted to kill you, I could simply do it in front of you.
After all, I hate to stab someone in the back, kid." Then he sat down calmly on the sofa next to him, as if the matter was not worth more than that.
Maldo was convinced by his words. He realized that if he wanted to kill him, it would be easy for him to do so.
So he gave in and reached for his fork, then began to eat, the first bite hesitant, followed by another more quickly, until his hunger turned to gluttony.
The food disappeared from in front of him while Daniel watched him silently, a faint smile on his lips, like a tender smile.
When Maldo finished, he wiped his mouth with his hand, then suddenly turned to Luca, who was leaning on Daniel's arm. A strange smile appeared on his face, as if he was enjoying the scene more than he should.
I think this man is different from the rest.
He's not bad at all. He can't be bad.
Maybe he can help me restore my memory.
Maldo had thoughts about Daniel as he stared at him calmly.
"I've lost my memory," he said to him.
Those words made Daniel freeze in place. He looked at Maldo in shock. "What did you say? I … I didn't hear you clearly."