Without any other option, yet without completely lowering their guard or trusting the stranger, those present set out, including the little one noticed by no one, who also followed the group without straying far.
Their footsteps could be heard echoing among the immense bark of the gigantic trunks, which seemed never-ending. In the silence of the place, Wulfgang had to speak, for some questions circled his head and he could not remain quiet. "You seem to have much knowledge of our children. More than we ourselves have. What is the reason for this?"
The Great Wise Mage stopped. Calmly, he brought his hand to his beard as if remembering something in the deepest part of his mind in order to decide to speak:
"Believe it or not, in his previous life, one of the sons she is expecting was known as Leonel. He, along with his two brothers David and Esteban, after the forced imprisonment of Hades, became known as 'The Judge of Hell.' He took on the task of separating the souls in sorrow. He let go of the innocent souls that did not serve as food for the demons to use the space for those that could indeed serve the purpose."
Rey turned his head and looked up at Heroclades. He was connecting the current conversation with the one they held previously. The bronze-skinned subject with the well-groomed beard lit up his face with a smile from ear to ear. He was happy because he still had hope. "Now everything fits," the little one told himself, "perhaps, for this reason, I remember him placing so much emphasis on being my master. But if his enemies become mine too, it will bring me many problems… especially that Zeus person."
Heroclades said with much tact:
"The oracle I had consulted was not wrong."
No one spoke at the words of the man wearing tunics of golden threads, but his comment was not taken entirely well by any of those present.
The Great Wise Mage continued:
"With time and effort, the reforms of hell, on the part of this individual, were increasingly notable. With the excuse of optimizing entry, the retention of those brought and declared guilty, excepting Tartarus, the whole place ended up being an impenetrable plane for many gods, with the exception of a few entry keys that still remain out there, like the parchment I gave Ambrogio. I also have answers for several other questions, come. Let us not let silence make itself present on this walk."
Miján, making use of his intelligence, added:
"Like which ones?"
"Would you not ask yourselves for what reason," said The Great Mage, "the gentleman and lady present here are the most persecuted couple of the moment? Regardless of all the problems they caused in the second plane, do you not think it a bit overdramatic that so many individuals went seeking their heads?"
"Because of the prophecies," affirmed Wulfgang. "I answer as if I knew why to continue with a question: How is it that you know so much?"
"It is just that I am someone who appreciates listening and, in this very particular place, no one has secrets. Besides, as I said before, you are not the only ones who arrived at the entrance of the circle. The parchment transported everyone who ended up enveloped in the light."
Heroclades, somewhat disillusioned, added:
"What a pity! I believed they had ended up turned to dust. And what possibilities exist that they return to find us?"
"They are minimal; they must traverse the lower circles to achieve it and even if they manage to do so, they also have to find a way to enter a place designed to prevent the entry of the unchosen… Returning to the topic, from what I could hear, the prophecies of those living outside are not composed of empty words, but upon making the comparison with my knowledge, I could reach a conclusion…"
Katherine complained somewhat impatiently:
"Give us the explanation at once. It is not necessary for you to guide the conversation."
"The Judge and Reconstructor of Hell, Leonel, despite being a legitimate son of two fragments of the transcendental spirit of the earth, caused the chances for humans ending up in hell upon dying to rise up to seventy percent, not counting the endless reasons that were added as characteristics to be eligible for a position in the place's circles. 'To new times, new reasons to be condemned,' he said that. With this, mortals understand that the next incarnation is surely a threat to the race. Therefore, those outside felt the need to protect themselves in some way against what they feared and could not control. Is it not ironic? The relentless persecution against you led you to this circle, the circle in which everyone wants to be inside the place no one wants to reach…"
Ehimus said with astonishment and almost unable to believe what her green eyes were seeing:
"Is that, what I think I am seeing!?"
Rey, who had been paying attention to the Great Wise Mage's words and already had humans on the list of potential enemies, as soon as he heard the elf's words, quickened his pace to see what she saw.
Once at the front of the line, the little one whom no one could see noticed how Ehimus, Katherine, Wulfgang, Heroclades, Maryam, and Miján were left marveled to distinguish what they least expected to see in such a desolate and dark place. However, the little one with white eyes looked somewhat disappointed. He believed the so brilliant illumination was annoying; he remembered it was hard for him to get used to it and it irritated his eyes. But the adults couldn't help but hurry their footsteps. They walked, ran, and even jumped into the clarity appearing at the end of the path. They exclaimed the word "Light!" as if it were something they hadn't seen in a long time.
"How is it that they can adapt to the luminosity of the environment crowded by this light?" asked Rey, narrowing his eyes and covering his face with his hands while struggling to see the expressions the elders made.
Once he could see inside the divinity of the place, to Rey, the elders seemed to be saying they couldn't believe what they saw. And it was logical; those who had been surrounded by darkness, heart-rending screams, the smell of burnt flesh, and a mist of blood could not imagine such a change in so little time.
"But how is it possible that so much overflowing and exuberant beauty exists even beneath the stones?" said the green elf, extending her hands and dancing on the grass. "Lush vegetation full of life and glory. The sovereign scent of flowers fills the air, carried by the calming and relaxing wind that crosses the horizon and touches our bodies. The most wonderful of skies bathes us with its light. Even the enigmatically captivating sound of running water. Nothing ever seen by me before, not in storybooks or legends."
For the little one, the elf had a point. Stopping narrowing his eyes, Rey had to admit that the contrast of the decrepit and hostile world outside, compared to all the different colors composing the splendorous atmosphere, made the elders' reaction understandable.
The sound provoked by the walking of skinny feet on the fresh grass moistened by a fine layer of water led to an old voice being heard:
"Welcome to this, the lowest circle of Paradise, the Heavens. The following circles overlap one another at the peak of the mountain and are known as the nine heavens."
The first name mentioned, even if it were a low circle, reflected in everyone's gazes a future without worries. Ehimus asked:
"And that is it? Is there no more?"
The Great Wise Mage continued:
"No. Above the nine heavens is the 'Garden of Eden,' and higher up the 'Empyrean,' which is guarded by a flaming sword and faceless beings, with luminous yellow bodies and blood of fire… but it is not information you need to know."
He paused in his walking and stepped to the side of the path.
"I fear my humble guidance reaches up to here. I have other matters to resolve, even so, I will make the necessary time to be your intendant. That means I will resolve any problem you have so you avoid having to interfere directly in any matter. I will come to greet you every morning from here on out. Now, if you allow me, I recommend you follow the path; it will lead you to the house that will serve as your stay."
Rey noticed how the elders were happy, so happy they could even jump for joy, including the muscular vampiress. In contrast, for some reason, Wulfgang Lobato's face seemed not to fit. With curiosity, the little one approached his father, the one who held his mother in his burly arms. From closer up, it was obvious he was trying to hide the sadness that with such hunger wanted to devour his eyes and bathe him in tears.
At that precise moment, Maryam lifted her hand and touched her beloved's face. The vampiress with thin and pale lips whispered something into the lycanthrope's ear:
"I can hear how your heart trembles. It burns you inside to know there is no turning back. Although I know that for you that will not be an excuse to give up… Fang, eat of the fruit with me, share the path of your friends. You know few can do 'the right thing' when it truly matters. I ask you…"
Wulfgang returned a whisper:
"Sadness is an irreversible current of pain when you realize you are about to renounce the last opportunity to be there for someone… My heart trembles and hurts. Not because there is no turning back and I am leaving that world with its problems to someone else, but because I know I am moving away from all the things I am to get closer to you and all the things you are." A whisper from someone humble, honest, noble, and sincere, who was becoming a selfish liar.1
Maryam, in a whisper, replied:2
"And i3s that not what love is like? To love can be sacrificing your happiness or someone else's. Just because you are in a safe place does not mean your responsibility as a father has ended; who assures you that my future will not be in danger once my children are born and you are not there? Do not turn around, do not leave and leave me here, even if I deserve it… Out of love I gave you everything without expecting to receive anything back... It is not that I didn't want to tell you, it was that I didn't have the courage... Now, when I need you most, I ask you. Stay with me until they grow or die, give me the opportunity to earn everything I want by my own means."
Wulfgang clenched his jaw and decided to turn a deaf ear so as not to end up in an argument with the vampiress or worry those surrounding him. The lycanthrope of arrogant body, with the first step he took on the soft grass, tore the sorrows from his heart and kept going forward. Without looking back, worrying about himself and his own responsibilities, he acted like someone abandoning the idea of returning to the other plane.
Rey had his eyes wide open, and they were not looking to the sides, at the forest, or at the sky, but remained fixed on his father. He thought that none of the others present had left unfinished business in the other plane, that perhaps that was the reason they were happy and his father was not.
Ehimus, chewing with her mouth full of the place's plants and flowers, said:
"I am excited, seeing so much green brings me so much happiness that I do not need a house to sleep!"
Miján, showing the ghost of a smile on his face upon seeing how the half-empty bag of the group's treasurer hung, replied:
"You are right, 'Green.' The white aura of the place is to my liking. The tranquility and the atmosphere are more than someone like me could ask for. I did not want to abuse the hospitality. Besides, it is not as if we have much money. So as not to inconvenience, it would be better to camp here while I, responsibly, look for the best way to double and triple our capital."
The Wise Mage, contaminating his wrinkled facial expressions with suspicious intrigue, added:
"Here, the night does not pass in the same way it does in other planes, much less the one you come from and to which you are accustomed. I insist you follow the path and reach the residence assigned to you. You must not worry about money or any form of payment, believe me, it is a pleasure on my part to provide you with everything necessary so you can have a pleasant stay. If you should happen to need my services and cannot wait until the lights are made again, you can find me in the sanctuary that is at the beginning of the lake you see there. The waterfall of 'Destiny and Knowledge,' atop the Great Wise Rock, is my humble abode. All this area belongs to the feline guardians you saw before, so on your walk try not to disturb the cubs or their mothers."
Changing his tone along with the expressions of his ghoulish face and demonstrating joy, he continued:
"Until the next sunrise, my dear tenants." Fading his silhouette, he made known the last detail which, though mentioned last, was not least important.
As soon as the old man left, Miján repeated the phrases that had worried him most:
"Here, the night does not pass the same as in the plane we come from… Oh, yes, yes… Of course. It makes sense, it is not as if I see a sun or a star providing us with light. Since we do not have to worry about money, I believe it is worth following his advice. Nothing exists better than what is free."
Heroclades, discreetly, approached where the elf was and asked her:
"Green, can you sense the presence of anything else other than these striped beasts?"
Ehimus responded as soon as she finished adorning her garments with the place's flowers and vegetation; she even made herself a crown:
"Yes, but, at the same time, no. Very ephemeral, as if they were not in this plane… spirits. This site is very weird; if I could describe it, it is like a spider web. A gigantic circle full of curved filaments woven in a spiral that make up a countless number of bristles. Ahhh! It is very difficult for me to perceive the presence of non-hostile entities in a place as complex as this, but we are definitely not alone. Many with the rank of god sleep beneath the earth. Many other individuals in the surroundings who have the nature of fairies and some other entity I have never sensed before."
"Like which ones?" asked Heroclades.
"A dullahan, dwarves, white witches, scholars, I suppose some hero or another, and many humans," answered Ehimus.
"Hmm! Interesting," changing his attitude, Heroclades continued. "I suppose we will have time to meet the neighbors… The journey has been long and these tired bones of mine are already looking for somewhere to sit. Besides, in what paradise do there not exist women, alcohol, and glory of which the arrivals are not deserving?!…"
Rey listened to everyone talk and celebrate as they started walking. The little one whom no one saw never took his gaze off his parents, especially Wulfgang's face. A sad and tired face of someone defeated, even after having achieved a victory. Something intrigued him greatly. A doubt that, like fire, grew inside the little one. Curiosity burned within his body. Rey also felt that the most important moment of knowledge was near, the reason for which he would discover the why of his journey to the past.
Walking along an already well-trodden path with the others, Katherine stopped and let the couple pass her. The muscular vampiress stopped to observe in the direction of one of the many gigantic burrows inhabited by the beasts, large and beautiful, which were the owners of the place, according to what the black-skinned old man had said.
Rey stopped and looked to realize that, just like the first attackers, these large animals also had the same quadrupedal shape. The difference was that they evidenced white fur with black stripes on the head, the back, and their tails.
The vampiress, who was walking last now, next to the little one with white eyes, looked toward the other side, in the direction of the immense lake. In the gigantic basin that seemed to channel the brightness of the place, the water so pure and crystalline could be confused with liquid light concentrated there. The two spectators with attentive eyes overcame the brightness of the clarity and focused their gazes into the distance until it could be distinguished how the gigantic beasts came out of the lake. Then they shook their bodies with much energy and set off on the path after picking up with their mouths what they had left on the shore.
As soon as Rey intended to return his attention to his parents, who had already gone ahead, one of the black beasts appeared from among all those that were white. That one, despite being different, had the same size and walked just like the others. The reckless animal approached the shining water like the others did, only this one left the body of a dead person it carried in its mouth on the lake shore, just before entering into a slow dive into the water, which seemed to be the very day of the place. The beast disappeared from the spectators' view. It swam from one side to the other. Sometimes with subtlety, also with aggression, but only when the water's brightness was infected by the black, before the little one's eyes, the big thing turned white, just as all the others were.
"A camouflage so they are not detected in the dark," said the vampiress in a low voice, sharing her discovery with herself and, of course, also with the little one no one saw. "Ahh, the smell was familiar to me. It is charcoal they use so as not to stand out in the darkness. Where do they find the charcoal? It is weird because no fire or signs of smoke can be seen anywhere. Hmm?"
Although neither the color nor the size of the forest trees were anything natural… In the distance, the beast emerged from the water at the same time it ceased to be completely black. It shook itself energetically and, immediately after, picked up the corpse of a person and headed to another site where peers of different sizes awaited it.
Rey observed and thought. He had understood that those who painted their furs with charcoal carried on their shoulders the responsibility of protecting and bringing food to those who stayed behind. Also that the food of those beasts could perfectly be any creature not strong enough to defend itself or intelligent enough to know how to escape. Everything seemed simple to understand, but, suddenly, he began to see the world in a blurred way.
Water came out of Rey's eyes when he saw how playful and energetic cubs welcomed the group's hunter from a burrow. The largest one, who had the prey in its mouth, had been walking tiredly, but not in that moment when its family saw it arrive. The beast had changed its behavior, perhaps to appear well and not worry the others. It walked proud of itself for its achievement and, as if it had put all its problems aside, gave its offspring the meat it carried and which had cost it so much work to obtain. The gigantic animal left its cubs enjoying the feast to keep moving forward and rest its head atop the partner's back and embrace it with affection. Immediately after, the two parents lay down together to watch their children eat.
They were beasts that could not even be understood speaking among themselves. They were beings that did not stand on two legs, that did not have hands, and even so, they had a family bond much stronger than the one Rey remembered having seen between his two parents. He thought he was sick when he felt salt water coming out of his eyes. He didn't like the feeling he was experiencing seeing other creatures with parents who got along well, who showed happiness and familiarity 1between them. Rey felt moved by not having been able to have that type of experience. "And for what reason?" he asked himself while wiping his eyes.
The little one, with green hair and eyes, shouted the vampiress's name for the third time before running to where she was and taking her by the hand.
"Katherine, what are you doing?… You must not separate from the group."
Rey turned his back to the landscape and, thanks to the shrieks Ehimus gave the muscular vampiress, managed to recover a bit from his sentimental state. When the little one raised his eyes and could see clearly again, he saw that Katherine had a hand raised in the direction of the white beasts. It seemed she had something to say and was going to rely on what her finger pointed at. Katherine, showing her predisposition, added:
"I was not wrong! Fang broke a tooth of the animal. A fate worse than death awaits the poor thing! A hunter missing a tooth will not be able to get food for itself; it will be irremediably condemned to die of hunger. And what if it has a family?! Or if the mother is forced to look for food? What will happen to the cubs? They will be left alone!" With every word, a whole storm of doubts was unleashed in the vampiress's gaze, who was usually unexpressive and acted as if nothing mattered to her.
Ehimus expressed on her face that she understood the vampiress's point:
"Coming from where you come from makes you a natural defender of animals. I, as the queen of the forests and nature that I am, will be saddened and cry for the miserable death of an animal that was only looking for food for its family. I can understand you and agree with you entirely on the matter, but if I regret anything, it is not having been ingenious enough to be the one to take the reins of the situation and resolved it my way. Besides, Wulfgang is the shield of the group, just as you are. Whether good or bad, it was the decision he made."
Katherine responded:
"The decision of a coward, I would say!" she affirmed while crossing her arms and puffing out her chest.
Ehimus, somewhat irritated, let out what was itching on her tongue while pointing her index finger at the vampiress:
"And what decision did you make?"
Katherine didn't know how to respond, but before she could open her mouth she was cut off.
"Yes, that is the difference between you and him. You are less than a coward. A long time ago I learned that it is not good to insult those you follow because you are insulting yourself."
Katherine looked at the little green one as if her eyes were lit flames. She remained silent, but her hand seemed ready to brandish the great cross-shaped sword hanging from her back.
Rey understood that, from the vampiress's point of view, she could not continue stooping to the level of a fool who had lived much less time. She was also angry at not being understood and felt the urge to fight to demonstrate her reasoning by force.
Ehimus, defiant, placed her hands on both sides of her waist and rose onto the tips of her toes to appear taller.
Rey took a deep breath. He closed his eyes and turned halfway around. He intended to continue his path, but did not realize he was in the way of the light elf coming hurriedly to the place. Too late to react: Rey covered himself with his hands and slid one of his feet backward preparing for the collision; however, the "silver-haired elf" passed through him as if nothing were there. The experience lasted only a second. Rey, while inside that body, saw everything black, but also felt the overwhelming sound of organs performing their functions.
Miján, who came to intervene, resentful and annoyed at having to deal with all the group's divergences, kept going straight.
"Whether it's women. Whether it's sex. Whether it's alcohol. Whether it's pleasures. All the De-Grecias are the same. And now these two! Give me a damn break, will you? Katherine, Ehimus, stop making my life more miserable than it is. Please, fight a little quieter and where no one sees you, or I will have to kill you."
Ehimus began to shout:
"Uri-Uri-Uri-Uri!"
At the same time, she ran with her hands raised with the intention of escaping Miján and shouting loudly enough not to hear his complaints. As soon as Katherine looked at the light elf, he tensed completely. Rey noticed that Miján had the attitude of someone regretting having addressed a physically stronger and more intimidating member.
The little one in green stopped when, before her eyes, at the end of the path, a whole enigmatic building became distinguishable, its structure blending perfectly with the surrounding landscape and not appearing to be part of the forest.
Everyone looked where she was looking.
Rey, the boy whom no one saw, knew that was the place where he had been born, but the adults did not. They were marveled as soon as they saw the so particular mansion that was named as home by the Great Wise Mage.
It was as if it were the first time they observed an installation laden with fine attached leaves, leaves that disappeared by morning and also served as walls. Behind the intertwined green and dew, robust white walls could also be seen which, without having a solid base, levitated above the ground through the air, for they came from above along with the leaves. The immense structure, devoid of windows but full of fine and graceful edges, swayed with the breeze of the gentle wind, just as the surrounding trees also swayed. A small staircase of five steps, made of roots, seemed to be what joined the earth to the residence, taken from the most fantastic fairy tale. Although, up close, not even the stairs touched the ground.
Without ceasing to inspect with their gazes and question the safety of the immense structure, the group arrived at its foot.
Heroclades, the most enthusiastic of all, was the first to climb the five steps and, with a smile from ear to ear, knocked five times on the door. No one answered. He knocked again and this time added in a loud and energetic voice a "hello, is anyone there?", but the silence remained present. Behind the wooden entrance, nothing and no one seemed to exist. The echo produced by the knocking made the place resemble an empty shell. Without a response, the bronze-skinned man turned around and, with the word in his mouth, almost swallowed his tongue from the shock he received. Eliminating the wide smile he wore on his face, he proceeded to scratch his chin and stammer while closing one eye and opening the other.
"Since when was she behind us and we still hadn't paid attention to her? Impressive. Only a 'Life Stealer' or an 'Aura Controller' could move so close to me without my perceiving it, leaving aside the others."
Heroclades had reason to be surprised. Despite the state of alert in which those present were, a woman with secret airs and a dark dress with some white stripes appeared behind everyone without being noticed. In a real combat, or had it been an ambush, one of the group members would surely have ended up dead. Said incident was a problem to consider.
Rey, as a good spectator, was the first to infer the reason why his and his father's master argued with himself. He also knew the harmless purpose of the curious maid wearing an apron who had appeared behind Lobato Wulfgang, who was the last of the group after Katherine had rejoined.
"What is happening to Hero?" asked Ehimus with a mocking tone, for he reminded her of a senile old man from her home. Her shrill voice once again broke the peaceful silence that seemed to have lasted a long time. Miján complained again. Katherine said with irritation that if for any moment she could keep quiet. Then Wulfgang asked:
"Hero?"
"Fang, can you sense her?…" said Heroclades.
The lycanthrope kept silent at the question, closed his eyes, and with his nose inhaled as much air as he could. Once inside, Wulfgang let out the air he had breathed and returned a confident look to his master.
Rey didn't understand the why of this gesture; he only saw his father with sure expressions.
Lacking motives to continue prolonging the suspense of his so unusual behavior, Heroclades raised his hand and pointed with his index finger.
The group members diverted their gazes, turned their necks, and even rotated their bodies to follow where the finger pointed, right at the end of the line. Beyond Wulfgang stood a female body whose hands were kept behind her back and eyes wide open, like a girl who wanted to see something without touching it.
Maryam made her closed eyelids blink. Miján could not avoid stepping back by reflex. Ehimus opened her eyes in surprise and Katherine clicked her tongue. Rey could notice how, except for the young wolf and the bronze-skinned elder, the other members took precaution as soon as they spotted the servant who had appeared out of nowhere behind them. Wearing a white apron over her long black dress, she seemed to ignore the negative behaviors of those present, not because she assumed she would be attacked, but because she couldn't divert her gaze from Maryam. Rey could notice an unusual feeling in the Silvia he knew. "If I had to describe it, I would say she does not look at my mother, but looks at where my mother is. Upon my father's hands. She looks as if she were losing something that belongs to her."
After so much tension in the atmosphere, Wulfgang turned around and, before being able to say anything, heard a question.
"Why is she in your arms carried in the same way knights carry princesses in stories?"
Wulfgang, deciding not to be discourteous, responded with kindness and understanding:
"Because she is very weak and I feel that for now it is better that she rests in my arms."
Slowly, Maryam opened her eyes as if wanting to see whose interested voice was speaking to her beloved. The attentive servant informed the wolf cub about the vampiress's behavior with an "oh! look… She is opening her eyes."
Maryam raised her gaze to meet her beloved's face, then weakly turned her head and observed the young woman wearing a maid's apron.
"Hello. If it is not an inconvenience for me to ask, may I know who you are, curious young lady?" she asked with a pleasant expression on her face, she who, at all times, behaved with education and courtesy.
"Who am I?!" Like someone who had realized her feelings were taking the lead, at the question, she rectified her posture, changed the expressions on her face, and making an elegant curtsy continued: "I am Silvia Dina The-Third De-Heavens."
After introducing herself when her name, origin, and descent were requested with a simple "who are you?", she returned to neglecting her behavior like someone who had no further obligation to continue being polite or elegant. Inside, Silvia had been marveled at having been called young lady, and couldn't contain herself from asking:
"Why are your eyes so blue and your skin so white? Why do you call me young lady if, evidently, you look younger than me?"
Maryam picked up the lock of hair hanging in front of her face and played with it in her right hand.
"My eyes are blue like those of my ancestors, just like my skin and my hair. They represent one of the marks distinguishing my lineage, a lineage that has endured almost as long as time itself."
After responding, she smiled showing part of the fangs protruding from her lips to then give a seductively serious look, the same look a child would give upon seeing one more toy they could perhaps add to their collection.
While the elusive maid spoke with the vampiress, Rey could notice how everyone began relaxing the expressions on their faces and seemed to reflect. "Perhaps it is because she, at no moment, showed bad intentions or any type of hostile behavior for those present to continue acting with such distrust. It was time to forgive, and even if they took the event as a warning, there was no reason for them to continue fighting. The maid and the Great Wise Mage possessed enough power to finish off any of those present and, even so, they chose peace, friendship, and understanding. It was a type of respect they could show and precisely how strong it was became the reason why they trusted so much. It wasn't that they didn't have sufficient reasons to make war and unleash a fight. His father and the group were newcomers to the place, looked different, had other customs, and who was to say they wouldn't do harm. But it is in vain to keep thinking about that," the little one told himself.
The one in charge of receiving and attending to the guests decided to change the subject. She seemed to be feeling a chill down her spine, provoked by the vampiress's intentions. Even Rey had noticed that his mother could take her whims very seriously. She tended to analyze, calculate, and reflect on all her actions, and more so if they were for the purpose of satisfying her personal entertainment.
Silvia, somewhat uncomfortable feeling the direct flirtation from someone of her same sex, decided to change the topic:
"How careless of me! I did not invite you to enter."
Leaving the vampiress aside and passing through everyone like someone trying to hide her attributes, she continued:
"In case I cannot open the door for you during the day, you should know that between the ground and the roots there exists a passage that gives entry beneath the kitchen floor. You can also use the chimney, but unfortunately, it must always be lit. Wait for me here, I will open for you now."
Disappearing from where she was, Silvia appeared when she opened the entrance door to the house.
"Welcome…"
Both her voice and behavior changed drastically, as if she had put on another totally different being. If Rey hadn't seen her acting the same way as when she was forced to say her name, he would have sworn they had changed the maid.
The group members passed through the door which, once opened, radiated an incredible brightness that could only belong to another world. Availing itself of a minimalist style on the exterior, the interior of the place stood out for the fine architectural combination of various eras and worlds. Columns of marble and limestone, detailed with insignias, symbols, and stories plated in gold, silver, and bronze. The ceiling was composed of semicircular arches with floral touches that made use of the pillars and merged with paintings in motion. The stairs and the balcony transmitted the sensation of spaciousness and height, while the glass and iron, cast with finesse, integrated one over the other. Symmetry was the main characteristic of the floor, which made use of a rug right under the armchairs and sofas. The furniture and paintings displayed ostentation and a lavish display of goods and riches. The residence was a fusion of the tastes of the tenants who would inhabit it; this was obvious to the little one because none of them seemed to complain or be uncomfortable about the place where they were going to live. Rey knew that the ground floor was made up of a spacious living room, connecting to the dining room, from the dining room to the kitchen, and passing down a hallway, were the bedrooms. Going up the lustrous staircase, on the other side of the chimney, one could reach the upper floor, which boasted a balcony and only one entrance door to a room.
Silvia, pointing with her open hand to the different places in the house, continued:
"Up the stairs is the master bedroom. We have a kitchen, living room, dining room, multiple bathrooms, and the rest of the chambers are down the hallway. It is not necessary for you to limit yourselves."
With different gestures and non-verbal language, Silvia spoke and acted like someone who had to have correct posture, move with elegance and style at all times. Making soft and harmonious gestures wherever she went, also to perform any of the tasks entrusted to her.
At the same time the elders passed into the interior, Rey noticed something in that moment: his father could perfectly well be the strongest, the living example of someone who throws himself into combat and guides his followers charismatically, ensuring his back never touched the ground or saw a blow, but the one moving the strings and maintaining such a chaotic and uneven group was Maryam. Of course, the more members the group had, the stronger it would be, and the vampiress was not against such an occurrence. Perhaps, just like Wulfgang, Silvia was acting as she was acting because of Maryam's presence.
Once everyone entered the interior of the house, Miján took the opportunity to state his worries to the servant.
"If it is habitual for you to disappear and reappear like a ghost… I am not going to feel very comfortable, so to speak. Especially when you cannot be sensed at all."
In response to the comment, Silvia showed a discreet smile, to suddenly make the door close by itself after everyone entered. Ehimus turned white with fear, Miján and Heroclades looked for the explanation of the event, except for Katherine, who for some reason was furious and looking at the light elf as if she were about to explode. The servant, of tall and thin build, ignored the palpable irritation of the muscular vampiress while inspecting the tenants from top to bottom. The little green one commented with a voice so low it could almost not be heard:
"I believe this house is much more fantastic than I expected. The external appearance does not fit, at all, with the internal one."
The servant returned her gaze from among everyone to focus on the little one in green, who had formulated a comment not very far from reality. Silvia didn't know what to say or how to refer to her. With politeness and etiquette, she decided to respond to the comment while pointing to the door with her open hand:
"As you know, young lady, the interior of the dwelling is not connected to the exterior and it is all thanks to that door. This house, with time, will accommodate the needs of its tenants. Example: your rooms will expand without limits, they will have what you need, when you need it, so you do not get bored."
Rey realized that, with those words, the servant had not corrected Ehimus and at the same time had explained to her, without being discourteous, the correct reason for something. But Silvia was creating a distance between the guests and herself by speaking that way. As if formality widened the field between friendship and duty.
Wulfgang also seemed to realize that the maid was acting distant and, in an attempt to cut the so palpable distance, proceeded to introduce himself:
"The little one with green hair is Ehimus Eximos De-Elfos. He is Heroclades Poro De-Grecia, my current master. She is Katherine Priovam De-Amazonas, sister of the one I carried in my arms. He is Miján Bloke De-Tecnologías. My name is Lobato Wulfgang De-Arcadia. And my dear wife, here, in my arms, is Maryam Priovam De-Nazaret. Silvia Dina, in this moment, I speak for everyone and we are delighted that you receive us and give us lodging. You can leave the formalities aside and call us by our first name, yes?"
Silvia nodded with happiness, intertwining the fingers of her hands in front of her chest and showing a smile at the same time she gave a little hop. Immediately after, a but emerged:
"Nothing would make me happier, sir. Although I fear that will not be possible. I am strictly forbidden to interfere directly or indirectly with those inhabiting the installation. I am a servant and serving is my job; if I do not follow the rule, I will have to face the consequences. I ask you not to delve further into the subject…"
Rey was thoughtful, not because of Silvia's situation, but because of the components that made up a name. He understood that the first part was the name by which an individual was recognized. He was called Rey, although he had no surname like his brothers. Neither he nor his brothers bore the third component, "De-".
Silvia continued:
"It is a pleasure to serve tenants from so many different places that exist out there… I hope you have enough time to tell me your stories, for nothing is truly insignificant to me. Once again I introduce myself: I am Silvia Dina 'The Third,' and I am at your service."
"Different places that exist out there." Silvia's words brought clarity to the thoughtful little one. The third component of the proper name in an introduction referred to the place of origin. Along with this, Rey also understood something crucial: listening to the adults' conversations required more than just lending an ear to the topic. He could admit that, if in that moment the Great Wise Mage asked him to explain something about the history of the adults' arrival, he would not be able to do it, not if he just kept listening for the sake of listening. Rey understood that there was a great difference between listening and understanding, that by just listening he would not obtain knowledge because listening does not require much effort, being something done unconsciously. In contrast, understanding requires full attention and retaining needs even more energy so the understood information is not easily forgotten, as the Great Mage had warned him. "I shall not continue just listening from now on. I have to interpret and comprehend the meaning to be able to act accordingly if it should become necessary…," he told himself.
From one second to the next, the newcomers had already scattered throughout the residence. Touching everything and seeing everything like curious little children who had a new place to explore and conquer.
Rey también tenía curiosidad. No era menos cierto que ya estaba familiarizado con la residencia, pero nunca había entrado en el cuarto de nadie, ya que él no era adulto y, en consecuencia, no tenía uno propio. Independientemente del tema del entendimiento, él creyó que también era importante observarlo todo con atención. Girando la cabeza al escuchar pasos por la escalera, Rey vio a sus padres seguir las indicaciones de Silvia.
En la segunda planta, después de subir por las escaleras, Rey se quedó mirando al enorme corazón rojo acompañado por rozas que sobresalían del relieve de la madera que conformaba la puerta de la habitación a la que nunca se había atrevido entrar. La entrada era igual que como la recordaba, con múltiples siluetas que representaban dibujos tan bien tallados que hacían imposible la idea de pensar en que alguien lo hubiera hecho con sus manos. El picaporte lustrado de un brillo amarillo que podía convertir la luz normal en brillo dorado, que reflejaba un tono amarillento. Wulfgang, con actitud cansada, dijo:
—A lo bueno cualquiera se puede acostumbrar con facilidad. No tengo motivos para sentirme incómodo —agregó cual si fuese el mantra que siempre se repetía a sí mismo una y otra vez.
Silvia tuvo la cortesía de girar la perilla de oro y abrirle la puerta a la pareja que, sin mucha demora, se adentró al cuarto en el que podrían descansar sin ser molestados.
Rey se quedó afuera. Le habían cerrado la puerta casi en frente de su nariz, dejándole sin tiempo a entrar. La curiosidad le llamaba, pero él no se sentía muy contento de atravesar algo. Al levantar su mano y hacer contacto con la madera, se dio cuenta de que esta era sólida. Recordó que durante el instante en el cual Miján le atravesó, todo se apagó, escuchó sonidos raros y no se sintió muy agradable. Pero fue un instante en el que logró atravesar algo en aquel mundo. Tal vez no podía atravesar la puerta, no porque esta no pudiera ser atravesada, sino porque él no sabía cómo hacerlo de forma voluntaria.
El pequeño que nadie veía podía caminar como mismo todos lo hacían. No era que se hundiese en el suelo o flotará por los aires como un fantasma, así que ¿cuál era la diferencia? La respuesta le resulto obvia. Proponerse o esperar. Sí. Cada vez que él se proponía tocar o esperaba a que algo le tocara, no podía. Incluso en el momento cuando se propuso conscientemente con sus pies tocar el suelo que pisaba, él comenzó a hundirse. Esa era la clave: "querer". Entonces, Rey quiso tocar la puerta y el resultado fue que con sus dedos logró atravesar la misma. Luego le siguió su mano, su cabeza y por último su cuerpo.
Rey vio cómo Wulfgang dejaba caer con suavidad el delicado cuerpo de su prometida en la cama. El licántropo respiró hondo. Observó una vez más todo aquel inmenso cuarto, como observaba alguien que no sabía por dónde comenzar, hasta que movió su nariz y la acercó a sus prendas. Rey no podía oler, pero la expresión de su padre le dejó en claro que el olor de la ropa que vestía le daba la pista perfecta por donde comenzar. Mientras se movía por el lugar, el pequeño veía cómo actuaban sus padres en la intimidad.
Wulfgang abrió el grifo de la rara bañera, tan alta como la cama al pie de esta. La poceta tenía bordes redondeados, algún que otro pasamanos y numerosos frascos de colores. Media casi un metro de alto, con un ancho de un metro y medio por un borde de otro metro y medio de largo. Grande y blanca, con un interior que parecía estar conformado por tres o cuatro asientos.
Here is the translation of the text. I have maintained the distinct narrative voice—the detached, slightly naive observation of Rey contrasted with the raw, primal intimacy of his parents. I have also smoothed the prose and enhanced the descriptive flow to improve readability in English while keeping all the original details intact.
Gingerly, Rey perched himself on the edge of the bed to get a better vantage point as the strange bathtub filled. Looking past his mother's feet, he watched his father undress while billowing steam crowded the room. Rey felt a sudden wave of gratitude that he could phase through solid objects; he reasoned that if he were to fall in, drowning would be easier than trying to climb out. Given his diminutive size, he wouldn't be able to escape on his own, and he didn't trust his parents to help him.
Rey cocked his head, puzzled by the sudden hiss of a shower starting up. Despite having already turned on the tap for the immense bathtub, his father had stripped off his clothes and stepped into the separate, smaller corner shower.
Maybe he has so much filth on his body that he doesn't want to contaminate the bathwater, Rey mused.
Taking advantage of the moment, Rey hopped lightly from one side of the bed to the other, drawing closer to his father. The Lycanthrope had shed every garment and let his guard down completely. It was the perfect opportunity to closely observe the flesh that seemed fused so tightly to the muscle. His father's naked body was enviable—solid and robust, like a trunk carved to perfection. Yet, what stood out most were the hundreds of patches of mottled skin covering him. It was also curious that his father bore no wounds on his back that had left scars. Rey understood the implication: for his father, these patches of flesh were not merely wounds of the past, but trophies carrying the weight of survival—evidence that he had faced every danger head-on, never turning his back.
Feeling renewed, Wulfgang toweled off the remaining moisture on his skin. He draped the towel over his broad shoulders and returned to the bedroom, intending to finish the preparations he had started. The bathtub at the foot of the bed was on the verge of overflowing; the rushing water from the tap had been cut off just in time.
As soon as the attentive husband added salts and oils to the water—ingredients he believed would benefit the skin of his beloved, who still lay surrendered among the sheets—he rose from the edge of the great tub and moved to the foot of the bed. Wulfgang leaned in close, whispering into the vampiress's ear:
"Look at the way you're wiggling that little ass so provocatively. Isn't that right? We can do two things at once…"
The wolf wore the ghost of a smile, his voice dropping to a suggestive purr. Maryam looked back at him, her gaze a mixture of amusement, mischief, and vice.
"Here? Without the others?" she asked. "No, please, you know we can't… at least not without them. What would happen if they got jealous?"
Wulfgang stroked her back, his touch lingering. "They are forbidden to feel jealousy," he stated firmly, sealing the decree by pressing a kiss to the vampiress's lips.
For some reason, Rey's heart began to race. He didn't recall ever seeing his parents fuse their mouths together like that. They were both consumed by vice and desire, their hands unable to stay still as they explored one another. His mother's skin was like silk, pale and warm. His father's lips traveled down to her neck, delivering small, sharp nips to the sensitive flesh. Maryam breathed heavily, twisting in the bed, her inhales deepening as Wulfgang slid his hand between her legs.
Maryam, looking like someone on the brink of surrendering to persuasion, whispered, "I still don't trust it, I don't think it's safe… Besides, you know it takes a lot for me to be satisfied with just you."
"That's fine," Wulfgang said, his voice rough. "Today, I don't care if you can't hold back… I have a feeling this is going to be fun. I'll take my time getting there, at least for a few hours. Don't pretend you don't want it when you do."
"If you want, you can masturbate; that's fine by me. But Young Man," she teased, "I advise you not to involve me in this or keep heating things up. Putting out this fire takes a lot of work."
Rey watched as Wulfgang rose to his knees on the bed, positioning his hips near his mother's head. He possessed something firm, imposing, and pulsating that stood tall, reaching all the way to his navel. The same slab of meat that usually hung loose, swinging side to side with every step, now looked unbreakable, veins bulging, blood threatening to burst through the skin. Wulfgang pushed the member down with his thumb and released it, letting it snap back to slap against his stomach with a firm, audible thwack.
"Think you can spit on it?" he asked.
Maryam smiled, rolling her body over the sheets. She nodded as she gathered her hair back. "As proof of my love, I intend to let you continue spoiling me in your own way. Don't stop…"
She sat up, opened her mouth, and stuck out her tongue, letting saliva drip onto the rigid member before casting a suggestive glance up at him from beneath her lashes.
"What else do you want me to do…?"
With a wider grin, Wulfgang smeared the fluid over his length. Then, with immense delicacy, patience, and care, he finished stripping the clothes from his beloved.
Rey watched as his father swept his mother up into his arms. But Maryam wasn't limp like before; this time, she wrapped her hands and legs securely around the Lycanthrope's torso as he stepped into the bathtub. She was suspended there, supported by three points of contact—her two arms and Wulfgang's lower member pinning her in place. She looked desperate as her husband sat on the edge, yet she held on as he took a sponge and patiently began to scrub her breasts.
Rey observed his mother's naked body with keen attention. The contrast between them was stark, almost like day and night. Unlike his father, she had no scars; her skin was entirely white, and from her chest protruded two large, rounded, pale spheres. Maryam's breasts and buttocks looked delicate and vulnerable; their flesh wasn't pulled tight against muscle like the wolf's. They were soft, eye-catching, and spongy—so much so that they bounced and jiggled under the firm swats of an open hand.
The atmosphere between the two parents was becoming conspiratorial, as if every discomfort between them had evaporated.
"Let the heat of the water relax you," Wulfgang murmured.
At the Lycanthrope's words, Maryam's pale face, along with the tips of her ears, began to flush red. The vampiress slowly lifted her face, her gaze locking onto the eyes of the one holding her and letting her slide against his robust body.
"You have beautiful red eyes," she said, her own eyes rolling back into her head. "I love seeing myself reflected in them… while you put it inside me all the way to the end."
While Maryam wore the expression of someone anticipating a release, Wulfgang slowly adjusted his lover's body against his own, finally allowing her to settle completely onto him. Just as slowly, Maryam opened her mouth wider and wider until a small moan escaped her throat, her hands clutching tightly to her lover's shoulders.
Rey asked himself: Is Mother the type who dedicates and surrenders herself to whoever interests her? Whereas Father seems to be someone who can't feel comfortable unless he's doing something for someone else. But me… where do I fit in? Am I the type who feels pity for others, unless they let me do something for them?
He circled the room again and again, eyes alert, trying to ignore the strange behavior of his parents. But once the moans and the splashing of water became too intrusive to allow him to think, he decided to leave the way he had come.
As soon as he passed through the door, he was startled to find Silvia sitting in silence just outside the entrance. She was crouched with her ear pressed against the wood and one eye level with the keyhole. She was trying to control her ragged breathing while peering through the hole, her right hand moving busily between her legs as she tried to suppress her presence.
Rey tilted his head, blinked twice, and decided to disregard the behavior of these adults who seemed to be acting so irrationally. Retracing his steps, he went down the stairs and looked up. There was no one there; the other individuals had already retired to their quarters.
Curious to see the interiors of the remaining rooms, Rey prepared to set off, only to realize he couldn't move from his spot. Rooted to the floor, eyes wide open, the small boy watched as the maid shot down the stairs like a bolt of lightning. Ehimus, too, zoomed past the spot with astonishing speed. Then came Miján, Heroclades, and Katherine. The adults were darting from one side to the other, gathering in groups of two or three, separating, rushing from right to left or top to bottom in the blink of an eye.
Confused, Rey thought, Is it me who is moving slowly, or is the world around me moving faster? He stood there, unable to move a muscle.
Silvia was the last one remaining. She appeared to be dusting the grand salon with a feather duster, but in the literal blink of an eye, she seemed to shift to sweeping the floor. Finally, she ran a cloth over the furniture—wiping down every surface that wasn't a wall, ceiling, or floor. Once the room appeared organized to perfection, she killed the lights, plunging everything into darkness.
The blackness was heavy and prolonged, stretching out for several of the little boy's slow blinks. It took time—an agonizing stretch of it—before the lights in the house flickered back to life, finally breaking the spell that held Rey and allowing him to see and move normally again.
Suddenly, a blood-curdling scream tore through the silence from the second floor.
That was Mother, the little one thought instantly.
Although Rey had never heard her scream before, the cry possessed the unmistakable timbre of her voice. But what in the world could be happening to wring a scream like that out of her?