"Come on, let's go in," Aiden continued.
As he crossed the threshold, Dum felt that the air inside the fortress had a different weight to it: it smelled of oil and dried blood, a reminder that this was not a refuge, but the domain of hunters.
The echo of his footsteps mingled with the clanking of chains and the crackling of torches illuminating the stone walls.
"I can't imagine how they built all this... And what are those giant things? Are they Bearers?" he asked, gaping at the colossal silhouettes that seemed to guard the corridors.
Aiden, walking beside him with his hands in his pockets, smiled mysteriously.
"Well, it's a long story. I'll tell you what I know. According to rumors, this fortress was erected by a superior being, and those remains of giant creatures came from the Old Continent."
Dum frowned.
"Old Continent?"
Aiden let out a short laugh, but with a certain melancholy undertone.
"You have a lot to learn. I forgot that you didn't have a normal education... no offense. I didn't either," his voice lost some of its firmness. "But it's not something I like to talk about."
Dum noticed, for the first time, a hint of sadness on Aiden's face. He lowered his voice.
"You know I can't get mad at you, Aiden. But I will if you don't tell me what that continent is."
Aiden allowed himself a small smile.
"I appreciate your regard for me. Okay, listen carefully. The first humans were born on the Old Continent, a distant place, separated from us by a great ocean. Surviving there was almost impossible. Gigantic creatures inhabit those lands, and almost everything is hostile. Humans were on the brink of extinction.
Dum swallowed hard, trying to imagine it.
Aiden continued:
"That's why some gathered all the food they could, built boats, and ventured out in search of new lands. Only those who left that place survived... or so we thought."
He paused for a moment in front of a statue made from blackened bone remains.
"They found these lands. Here, the creatures were mostly peaceful; today we call them animals. It was a paradise that was christened the New Continent."
"That sounds incredible!" said Dum, his face lit up with fascination. "Tell me more."
Aiden smiled at his enthusiasm.
"For a long time, humans had no predators. We thought we had found a perfect home... but then the Bearers appeared. They remained hidden among us, killing silently. When their existence finally became apparent, we already had an advanced civilization, but little information about them. Well, a man named Biel Davenport founded the organization we know today as the Reicas. No one knows how he did it; only that he laid the foundation for everything we know about the Bearers. His greatest secret... is still kept by his heirs.
Dum tilted his head, intrigued.
"Heirs?"
"That's right. Biel had two sons: Ian and Asher Davenport. They organized raids on the Old Continent to explore and search for the origin of the Bearers. They discovered that these creatures apparently only lived here, on the New Continent. Then came Ian's mysterious death, which marked the beginning of our prosperity against the Bearers. Asher continued the expeditions, albeit with a different purpose: to strengthen his troops and gather materials. His best soldier at the time stood out in those raids: Nil, a Koen who was only sixteen years old.
"Koen... what's that?"
"Right, I forgot to tell you." Aiden paused and placed a hand on Dum's shoulder. Listen carefully, you must not forget this. We are divided by rank according to deeds, aptitudes, and responsibilities.
We all start with the rank of Anfänger, novice recruits. Then there are the Soldat, whose job is to assist the Koen in hunting Bearers. Above the Soldat are the Koen. The Koen lead the squads, made up of four Soldat and one Koen. On the same level as the Koen are the Vermittler, who are versatile and act as mediators between institutions; they protect influential families and recruit new members. They are usually squads of three. That is my rank... and above us all are the Starker, the strongest. Currently, there are only two, and they are the ones who possess the two weapons capable of definitively killing the Bearers.
"Of course I remember those weapons!" Dum exclaimed enthusiastically.
"Well, only the Starkers carry them."
Dum smiled with determination.
"A Starker... definitely, when I'm very strong, I'll be one of them."
Aiden laughed.
"That's the attitude! I know you'll make it."
"What about Nil?" Dum asked curiously.
"I don't actually know him personally, but his sister told me a lot about him. He's tall, with green eyes and golden hair. He was the strongest among us; he killed colossal beasts on the Old Continent. Many of the remains you see in this headquarters come from those hunts. But the most surprising thing was that, during a raid, they found a human alive in those lands we thought were deserted. His name is Gael. He didn't speak our language and it took him two years to learn it, but... it didn't take him long to surpass Nil, pushing him into second place and becoming the strongest.
Dum opened his eyes in disbelief.
"Survive there, alone? No wonder he's so strong."
"When they asked him how he did it, he just replied, 'Killing... and eating what I killed.' He's a peculiar guy, but very nice. And today you'll have the honor of meeting him."
"What?! But I barely..."
"Don't worry, you can ask him anything you want... even the secret of his strength."
The sound of hurried footsteps interrupted the memory.
"Dum!" Aiden's voice echoed in the hallway.
Dum smiled when he saw him.
"I'm so glad to see you."
"Same here. Sorry to keep you waiting." Aiden winked at him. "I have a surprise for you."
"A surprise?"
"I wasn't going to forget your birthday. Today you turn twelve and you're now a full-fledged Koen."
Dum laughed.
"It seems like nothing gets past you."
Aiden handed him a package wrapped in dark cloth.
"Here, open it."
Dum carefully untied the knots.
"This sword..."
"It was a pain to find, but the important thing is that I got it. I figured it meant something to you."
There was a brief silence. Dum ran his thumb along the guard, as if searching for something.
"It's my father's sword... I can't tell you how grateful I am."
"That's not all, Dum. I have another surprise for you..."
Many miles away and a few hours after Aiden's encounter with Dum, under a high, pale moon, Yam and Vega emerged from the damp, gloomy landscape. The city welcomed them with lights that illuminated their tired faces. Yam could barely stand; his breathing was heavy, his wounds still open. Vega held his arm with effort, exhausted but determined not to let go.
"Yam..." she whispered, seeking his gaze. "I don't know if you know who I really am."
He raised an eyebrow, wiping the blood running down his temple with the back of his hand.
"I only know that you helped me when I needed it. You could have ignored me... and that was enough."
She looked down, pressing her lips together. Finally, in a whisper:
"My father... is Asher Davenport."
Yam blinked, confused. He didn't know that name. Everyone in town knew who he was: a tycoon who owned companies that supported half the district, but also the secret leader of the Reicas. Yam, however, simply shrugged.
"Um... I don't know who he is."
Vega sighed.
"It doesn't matter. First we have to get you to a hospital."
Before she could respond, a voice came from across the street:
"Miss Davenport, are you okay?"
A black car with tinted windows stopped under a streetlight. A man in an impeccable suit got out. Vega recognized him instantly.
"Liam!" she exclaimed, relieved.
The driver ran toward her, his face contorted with worry.
"Miss, who is that guy?"
"His name is Yam. He rescued me. I'll explain later, but he needs a doctor."
Liam didn't argue. With steady hands, he opened the back door.
"Mr. Yam. We'll take you to the Davenports' house. There you'll be treated by the best doctors in town."
"I don't think..." Yam tried to protest, but Vega interrupted him insistently. He ended up slumped in the leather seats, uncomfortable amid so much luxury that contrasted with his body covered in wounds and dried blood.
During the trip, Liam explained that his father had been worried since Emma, Vega's friend, reported her disappearance. Vega recounted what had happened, although he omitted the detail about the creature. The driver, in a serious tone, promised to escort her everywhere. He gave Yam a look of sincere gratitude.
The car stopped in front of a hill. There stood the Davenport mansion: a light stone building with gardens pruned like sculptures and columns, tall windows, marble sculptures... everything spoke of power and wealth. Yam got out unsteadily, feeling like an intruder in that world of wealth.
As soon as they crossed the entrance, servants came out to greet them.
"Prepare the medical room!" Vega ordered in a firm voice, very different from the young woman who had cried in the forest hours earlier.
While doctors attended to him in a large room equipped like a private operating theater, an imposing figure entered. It was Asher Davenport: tall, with precisely combed gray hair and a dark suit that radiated authority. His blue eyes, cold as steel, rested first on his daughter and then on Yam.
"Vega, dear... what happened?" he asked in a deep voice, though his hands trembled slightly.
She hugged him.
"Father... if it weren't for Yam, I don't know what would have happened."
Asher turned to the young man, who was stifling a groan as his side was stitched up. Yam raised a hand in a weary greeting.
"Nice to meet you, I suppose."
The millionaire watched him silently, as if trying to figure him out, before extending his hand.
"I can't thank you enough for what you did for my daughter. We Davenports don't forget our debts."
Yam squeezed Asher's hand, feeling the strength of a man accustomed to imposing himself.
"I'm not interested in your money," he replied in a harsh voice.
Asher held his gaze for a moment, then nodded with a slight smile.
"I find you interesting... your eyes don't say otherwise."
Vega, still clinging to her father's arm, looked at him in surprise. Yam just sighed, leaning back on the stretcher. He sensed that saving that girl was just the beginning.
Yam spent a whole day in the mansion, attended by doctors who were amazed at how quickly his wounds were healing. The luxury of the room was alien to him: too neat, too ornate for someone accustomed to the bare essentials.
The next morning, Asher visited him. He entered without knocking, with the bearing of a man who never asks permission. He had a cigar between his fingers, though he didn't light it.
"Yam, right?" he asked, though he didn't seem to need confirmation. "I've done a little research on you in this short time."
Yam, sitting on the bed, raised an eyebrow.
"I don't think I have much of a history. I'm new in town."
Asher smiled briefly, but his eyes remained cold.
"So, with your bare hands, you defeated something that even most of my armed men couldn't face alone. That tells me more than any file ever could."
He moved closer, resting his cigar on the table.
"My daughter told me what you did. I'm indebted to you... I recognize courage when I see it. You have something that is rare even among elite soldiers: the will to survive and to win."
Yam narrowed his eyes.
"Are you going to get to the point or keep showering me with praise?"
Asher let out a short laugh.
"There's just one detail that doesn't add up... weren't you dead, Yam Tarnished?"