"Once, you sat next to me in a square and said you liked me. I asked you why, and you didn't have any. At the time, I didn't understand, but now I feel I know the feeling you expressed to me, Natasha."
"We were never that close. I think the only moment of connection between us was the training you asked me to do. Even though it was short, there I could see the genius the world lost, Jonhye."
"No matter how many years, how many deaths I witness, I never forgave myself for taking your life. Your daughter couldn't know the incredible mother you were, Raintalya."
"And you... how could I not see the death beside you that day? I... I failed you. But, regardless of where you are, in heaven... or in hell, I want you to know: I will never let Elisa suffer. She doesn't deserve that. Goodbye, my one and only best friend, Raizer."
Slady places his hand on his neck, undoing a necklace. A heart: R and R. Connected by curves that fit together like a key and a padlock, inseparable.
He crouches down, places it on the man's gravestone.
"You once told me this was a gift you would give on the day of the Second Renkai Awakening. Now it's yours. Give it to your beloved."
Rising, Slady turns his back, gives one last look at the gravestones, and his silhouette disappears among the leaves.
***
Drops of water fell from the sky onto the man's braided hair. The young woman beside him hid in his overcoat. Only a red shirt protected him beyond the tree above him.
Soldiers were gathered around a tomb surrounded by other large tombs. They shouted about the man who had died, raising the barrels of their guns above their heads as they fired. With each shot, Elisa wrapped herself tighter in her overcoat, and the gleam in Slady's eye, with each feat mentioned, each life saved not only by the man but by his group, faded.
Her face hid in his chest, her arms wrapped around him. Loud sobs, her shirt stained... he pressed her head against him, stroking her hair.
"I'm so sorry."
He placed the mechanical arm over her shoulders. The shots continued, but increasingly became whispers as the distance grew.
In the streets, they observed what was once a grand tavern, now reduced to ashes. Elisa detached herself for a moment, walked to the entrance. The door fell with a touch. She lowered her hand, her head tilting as her feet brushed away the dust and debris.
"I liked it here, Slady. I really liked it... why... why does everything we love, want to protect, die or end before our eyes, so quickly?"
"It's a cruel irony, very cruel... I don't know all the answers, however, I really want to draw an optimistic conclusion about it."
"And is there any optimism in that?"
"... I haven't found it yet."
***
As the days passed, there wasn't even a sound in the library. Slady would be locked in a room for countless hours. Elisa in a bedroom. Shaphira, sitting on the sofa, huddled up, hiding her face in her arms. The plates of food on the table no longer steamed.
The equipment was repositioned in the camera. Inserted into an electrical conduit, connecting it to a computer. Slady placed both hands on a lever. He took a deep breath and pulled down. The bluish light flickered, the conduit trembled. The light not only in the room, but in the entire library went out...
But the computer turned on.
Images. Countless images...
From pixels to a rendering that reveals even the dust.
Videos of lunch, service...
Arrogant customers, expulsions...
People who had once walked on that land. His wife, his siblings... even the little newborn girl.
Among so many images, the last recording was shown to him:
Raizer was in his chair, one blade sharpening another, larger one. Suddenly, the door opens. He raises an eyebrow and points with his fingers outside the tavern, his voice changing through the camera. After seconds, he slams his fist on the table, his arms rigid. However, the figures, dressed in white clothes, point a pistol that gleamed white.
A shot. Reflected by the sword, it hit the walls.
And the fire ignited.
Raizer moved quickly, the blade decapitating a woman's head. Instantly, he put his hand to his chest, breathing heavily. He tried to run outside the tavern, but a wall of ice formed. He tried to destroy it with the blade, but to no avail. Then he ran to the room. But a shot pierced him, falling to the floor, his heart leaping out of his mouth in a cough.
Even with his heart pounding, he tried to crawl, but collapsed.
The last thing he saw was his face turning. His eyes fixed on the camera.
...
...
Slady didn't react, his hands still positioned beside the computer. Slowly, he stood up, heading towards the door. But abruptly, he grabbed the camera and threw it against the wall.
"Almost... almost... I could almost save you!"
The door opened again. Shaphira was on the sofa, looking at him in her arms. He walked to her, knelt before her, and touched her face.
"I'm sorry, I lost control."
In the bedroom. Elisa opened her eyes, not bothering to cover herself, staring at him with dark circles under her eyelids.
He sat beside her. His hand reached for hers. She squeezed it tightly... after a deep breath, Slady said:
"I'm not your father. I never was. I can never replace him. Therefore, starting tomorrow, you and Shaphira will begin training together."
"Please, uncle, don't make me-"
"I know who killed your father."
***
End of Introduction.