Ilustración: Hybrid-Kira (2025)

Perfect golden rays of sunlight stream through the open windows of the Council Dome, illuminating the somber, stern faces of the Council of Leaders. This day they will interrogate the impostor; the man who cost General Kassia her freedom.

Today will determine whether his sacrifice was worth it, or whether it was all in vain.

Today, the Dome houses most of the mission's survivors; Iker, Marione, and I were summoned as witnesses, while Adara and Saemus, wearing their new uniforms and ranks, offer their services to maintain order during the interrogation and offer their firsthand testimony.

The wait is long, so long that Iker has chosen to rest his body on the floor, allowing Marione and me to sit beside him. Marione looks exhausted, whether from lack of sleep or some nighttime adventure to forget her worries. She was tired enough not to notice her head resting on my shoulder. I've stayed as still as a log so as not to disturb her rest, even if it meant allowing my arm to go numb from lack of circulation.

From my compromising position, I watch Adara, who stands at the opposite end of the Dome. Her posture is as firm as a statue, her arms crossed beneath her newly acquired fur cape, and her head lowered, patiently contemplating in a position that would allow her to spring into action at any moment. Saemus remains at her side, turning toward the Dome entrance to cover the angle Adara couldn't guard, watching the back of his beloved Huntress, who rests her eyes for a moment.

We waited for what seemed like an eternity, until the peaceful sounds outside were drowned out by the furious shouts and insults of a man who, judging by his tone of voice, was anything but happy.

All of us in attendance took note, and without a word to each other, we knew the wait was over. I gently shook Marione's arm, jolting her awake with a small jump that was enough to wake Iker as well. She simply sighed, wiped her mouth, smoothed down the lock of pink hair falling directly over her face, and stood up without a word to me.

-It's time. -I stared expectantly at the Dome doors, listening to the thunderous one-man orchestra getting closer-

The burly hybrid guards opened the doors, admitting a small team of Medics, both human and hybrids, who sighed in relief as soon as they set foot inside the Council Dome.

Strapped to a wheelchair by his wrists, ankles, and torso, and transported by a hybrid Medic using a special platform, the protagonist of this trial finally arrives. It was hard for me to believe that I had ever mistaken him for my father, because now that he's been stripped of dirt, his wounds treated, and his hair and beard trimmed a bit, his true appearance is enough for me to not hide my expression of disgust toward him.

He had a chubby face despite not being a very heavy man, although it was possible it was simply swelling. He had a crooked, bulging nose, pale and battered skin, yellowed teeth with missing pieces, and a pair of blue eyes that were now reddened by his own rage. The only thing that superficially resembled my father was his red hair, which seemed to be more like a dirty, coppery blond now that he'd been forced to take a shower.

Considering his general physical appearance, I could deduce that the man was in his sixties, but his incessant, furious energy made me think he was perhaps much younger, and had simply allowed himself to be destroyed by addictions and bad habits. His ragged clothes had been replaced with white pants and a short-sleeved T-shirt, the same clothes given to all patients.

The man moaned, spat, and writhed in his wheelchair from the moment he was towed to the trial area, trying to provoke some violent reaction from the doctors who had been patient enough to treat and transport him. The Medics, however, ignored those cries and resigned themselves to completing their assigned task, addressing the Leaders respectfully.

After delivering the patient to his destination, one of the Medics approached me, carrying what appeared to be a white garment in his hands. I closed the distance between us to receive the garment, not knowing specifically what it was, but as I received it, a very familiar sadness invaded my chest. It was an old, worn lab coat that had clearly seen better days, and despite its battered state, the name embroidered on its lapel was still legible.

“M. Hopper”

My father's lab coat, the same one the doctors had lovingly and painstakingly washed and mended after removing it from their current patient. I took the garment in my hands, gripping it tightly to control the storm threatening to brew inside my head, and before I could even verbally thank this sensitive human being, he had already bid me farewell with a gentle pat on my shoulder, following the same path as the rest of his colleagues; back to the hospital.

The doors closed behind them, but that wasn't enough to calm the atmosphere, nor the newcomer.

This man seemed to be a natural enemy of silence, as he hadn't stopped complaining since the doctors left. The Leaders allowed him to express himself for a few more minutes in the hope that his energy would soon run out, but realizing that this wasn't a matter of simply letting him vent all his feelings, Edurne seemed to lose some of her professional medical patience.

-Sir… Sir! I need you to listen to me for a moment. We won't be able to talk to you if you don't calm down.

-Talk to me? Why do you want to talk to me? I shouldn't be here in the first place! You brought me here! And what’s with this damned place? Why are those two animals up there and why are you treating them like people? -The man shouts, now directing his words toward the high dais. -Hey, you! Yes, you. I'm talking to you, you disgusting hybrid. At least show your face if you feel empowered to be up there, you glorified piece of living machinery. That's all you are, an animal!

Darius has maintained his presence in the shadows since before the interrogation began, and no one has had the courage to question his vow of silence, nor his withdrawn demeanor, which only seems to worsen with each passing day. Zenda makes a visible attempt to suppress her impulse to leap from the dais and land directly on the impertinent man's neck, limiting herself to pressing her lips together and hardening her expression. For his part, Darius's brown eyes peer at the man from the shadows, silent, and without showing the slightest reaction to what he was hearing. He moves forward until he is on the same level as the rest of the Leaders, the sun shining on his pale face, revealing deep dark circles and irritated eyes, earning a subtle look of concern from everyone present. But he simply remains silent, listening to the desperate man complain.

Darius may not have the strength to defend his honor, but Edurne wouldn't let a lack of respect toward her hybrid colleagues go unnoticed.

-Enough. You've been brought here to answer questions, nothing more. Are you capable of doing that? Or would you prefer to sleep another couple of days in a row in your room? -Edurne raises her voice, making the glass of the Dome rattle. The man simply laughs sarcastically at the human leader's obvious frustration-

-Of course, darling, whatever you want, I'll answer.

He wasn't stupid; he knew his safety depended entirely on a bunch of strangers, although that wouldn't stop him from provoking as many people as he could, especially if they were hybrids. Despite that, the threat of being drugged against his will was effective in starting a more civilized conversation.

-Start by identifying yourself. Who you are. Where you're from. What you do for a living.

Edurne's words are sharp, almost accusatory. But the guest didn't seem to care in the least. Instead, he responded in a casual tone, as if he were chatting with a group of old friends.

-My name is Ronald... My friends call me Ronnie. It doesn't really matter where I come from. I came to make a living in the great European Metropolis, although as you can see, that didn't turn out as planned. I live in a camp north of the capital. And as for my profession… -He smiles to himself, looking repulsively at all the hybrids present- I'm nothing more than an honest merchant.

-Liar. -Iker abruptly interrupts the testimony, earning a stern look from Edurne for interfering without permission, although she let him continue- The tattoo on your neck. It's a symbol used among criminals of your kind to identify themselves. You're a poacher.

The tattoo was almost imperceptible. Partially faded and hidden among the folds of his neck, the shape of what appears to be a large, broken fang is barely distinguishable.

-Is that true, Ronald? I warn you, lies won't get you very far here.

The question catches Adara's attention, and she assumes a tense position, taking note of his every gesture and movement, which Ronald found comical, as he seemed to have no choice but to obey.

-If the truth is what you want, then I'll confess… -Ronald adjusted his posture, pretending to get comfortable in the wheelchair to which he was strapped. Challenging Edurne with his gaze-… I'm a hybrid poacher, yes. I kill, dismember, and export the best parts around the world. Skins, bones, teeth, whatever those idiots in the capital order, I get it.

Iker had remained controlled, but no more. He growled loudly without even showing his teeth; there was no need for him to do so to show that he hated the guts of the man in front of him.

-…Heh, the irony… Now I'm the one tied up and helpless. At the mercy of those beasts again…

Before the Leaders could move on to the next question, Marione seemed to have enough information about the man to feel overwhelmed. She hugged herself tightly and, without saying a word, hurried out of the dome. My attempts to stop her were in vain. It would be best to let her go, if she wasn't ready to hear anything more.

-As long as you are here, Ronald, your life isn't in danger. In your particular situation, we're the lesser of two evils. -Edurne reiterates-

-Oh really? Well, I wouldn't be so sure, not with HIM on the throne…

He makes direct eye contact with Darius, who doesn't move an inch from his seat.

-You're the one many call "The King of Hybrids," aren't you? Novak himself put a hefty bounty on the head of a red LaFerrari with brown eyes, a magnificent specimen that goes by the name of "Darius." At first, we thought such a hybrid didn't exist, that it must be a myth... but here you are, hidden in your little glass box.

Like a dragon containing its inner fire, Darius exhales all the air from his lungs amid a low-pitched growl. And once he's managed to vent some of the tension, he resigns himself to answering with the fewest words necessary:

-I am no king.

His hoarse, broken voice made no effort to defend himself. He simply emphasized how irrelevant his position of power was, as it didn't keep his loved one safe.

-Can you recall the circumstances under which you were imprisoned by the Vortex? -Edurne quickly brought Ronald's attention back to the questioning, but only earned a mocking sneer-

-And why should I give you that information, cutie? -Ronald replied without a single hint of seriousness in his tone. With the same voice a drunk one uses to flirt with a young girl.

Edurne then stood up from her seat, placing her hands on her elegant glass desk, hunching toward Ronald like a snake about to strike. I had never seen Edurne so tense, yet she managed to keep her voice and emotions under control.

-Because if you don't, when the time comes for you to leave our town, we could release you in an area where those same Vortexes will be waiting for you. And I highly doubt they'll be as hospitable as we are.

For the first time during the short but excruciating interrogation, Ronald seems to understand the seriousness of the matter, because now that his life was at risk, he has little desire to continue beating around the bush. His unpleasant smile fades, giving way to a face of misery and anger. As if he were reliving unspeakable horrors right before his eyes.

-...Those monsters. They call themselves civilized, but they don't hesitate to cannibalize each other as soon as food becomes scarce... -

Ronald swallows, as if trying to prevent the imminent vomiting caused by a specific memory.

-... They attacked us while we were traveling... There wasn't even time to comprehend what was happening. They surrounded us, destroyed our weapons, and took all our belongings, although they didn't try to kill anyone at the time. "We're lucky", I thought, "They'll just take our things and let us go". Oh, but how stupid I was to think we'd be okay... They took us to their settlement. There were hundreds of them. I'd never seen so many hybrids in one place. They locked us in a damp trench for weeks, forcing us to sleep in our own waste, freezing to death every time the rain flooded that damned hole in the ground... And as soon as the hunters returned without prey to feed the pack... They pulled one of us from the trench... And they ate them alive... We were nothing more than their emergency rations.

Ronald tries to bend himself, but his restraints keep him firmly in the wheelchair, only able to let his head hang, hiding his face with his tangled hair, regaining the breath his memory has stolen. And as disturbing as his testimony may have been, the Leaders don't soften the questioning.

-Were there other humans besides you and your colleagues?

-Yes... A group of youngsters wearing strange armors like hers. -Ronald nods in Adara's direction. -They pulled them all out of the trench one day. I thought they'd been eaten, but I think they just relocated them. I never saw them again after that.

The Leaders didn't hide the fact that this information was critical, as there was a high possibility that the group of youngsters was the lost Hunter squad; Iris's squadron, the same one she had to abandon in order to deliver Neyzan's message to the Leaders. But as hopeful as the information was, there was still someone else the Leaders seemed interested in learning more about.

-Besides them, did you see another human in the Vortex settlement?

Ronald's expression scrunched up, his attempt to remember seeming to give him a headache. It wasn't easy to recall the images in his mind, but at least he was cooperating, and that was all that mattered.

-Yes... There was a strange man…

-Continue.

-… He didn't look like the others; he lived outside the trench. Whether he was a prisoner or not, I never knew, but he seemed important to them. He gave us scraps of food, and on several occasions, he got into trouble trying to help us... It's strange now that I think about it. He seemed to be the only one who was there of his own free will. In fact... That boy over there looks a lot like him.

Ronald shakes his head towards me, but that wasn't necessary for me. I was sure the man he was talking about was my father.

Did you have any interaction with him?

-Yes... I think so. I'm not sure. I think I passed out, and he took care of me. After that... I woke up here.

The Council remained silent, waiting patiently for more information. But Ronald seemed satisfied with the little he said. But I wasn't satisfied with that at all.

-... Is that all? Is that the only thing you remember about him?

-Tyler. -Edurne struggled to make sense of what she'd just heard, calling my name as a request for silence before addressing Ronald again- Were you able to identify anyone else in the settlement?

-Tyler… -Ronald mumbled my name out loud. His eyes peered through his battered hair, sending a shiver down my spine and making Iker tense up- ...He mentioned your name.

-The... man you were talking about?

-No, not him... That damn demon... Neyzan.

A silence fell in the conversation, one that brought back a bad memory that froze me in place, unable to escape the truth.

-Ronald, don't stray from the question I asked you. -Edurne raises her voice, receiving not a shred of attention from the person being questioned, who keeps his eyes fixed on me-

-... You are the one he's looking for. Yes, I heard him.

-Answer the question my colleague asked you, Ronald. It's not a request. -Darius interrupts Ronald hastily, his hoarse voice reverberating inside the dome-

-You want me to answer all the questions, right?! Well, that's what I'm doing. Out of all of you, he's the only one who still sees me as a person, unlike you! Damned! Degenerates! Let me go!

Ronald explodes in rage upon hearing Darius ordering him around, violently writhing beneath his restraints. Adara rushes to intervene, holding Ronald's shoulder with a firm grip to prevent him from falling to the floor, wheelchair and all.

-Sir, please calm down. There's no need to do this again.

Ronald had gone completely hysterical. It seemed impossible to get any information out of him in his current state. Adara kept a firm grip on his shoulder in an attempt to calm him down and make things easier for her superiors, but that seemed to be useless. The Huntress discreetly rolled her eyes and turned to Zenda, who nodded to her to get him out of there. There was no point in trying to deal with him, at least not right now.

-Okay, I'll take you back to your room. Please stay still and... Ugh! -Adara exclaimed in pain.

It all happened too fast.

Ronald finally fell silent, but he could be heard... Growling?

Adara yanked her arm hard, but her hand was caught tightly between Ronald's teeth, as he had bitten the hand holding his shoulder.

Adara yelled at him to let go, but it was no use. Quite the opposite; Ronald tightened his bite.

She hit him in the jaw with a left punch, causing him to immediately open his mouth.

The punch sent the filthy man to the floor, wheelchair and all, leaving a small pool of blood where his battered face landed.

Saemus tried to lunge at Ronald, ready to leave him with fewer organs than he arrived with, but Iker stopped him before it was too late, putting his body between him and the poacher.

The Council Dome had descended into chaos. Shouts, shoves, accusations, and injuries. Suddenly, what initially seemed like a civilized meeting turned into a ticking time bomb, exposing the pent-up tensions of everyone present. And the catalyst, Ronald, wasn't helping matters by continuing his incessant shouting and insults, even after being punched in the face with a well-deserved blow.

The wound on Adara's hand was bleeding alarmingly, but she remained calm. As soon as Saemus was denied the chance to take it out on Ronald, he turned to his beloved to inspect the shocking bite alongside me.

Without even a first-aid kit on hand to treat the wound, my only solution was to use my father's freshly laundered robe as a makeshift bandage. Adara ignored her pain and refused help, but when she saw that the white cloth had already begun to absorb her blood, she had no choice but to resign herself and let me treat her.

Amidst all the chaos, Darius was the only one who showed no sign of reaction or disgust, simply observing the disaster in silence, in an emotional paralysis behind which he protected himself, like a shield, and which little by little, the cracks began to show.

I saw the Supreme Leader close his eyes and lower his head, surrendering to an expression of helplessness, like someone questioning his god about the reason for his misery.

With each sigh, his tension increased. He inhaled deeply and exhaled with an audible snort, his expression turning from despair to a deep, suppressed anger.

A chill ran down my spine as I witnessed the evolution of the man who suffered from his loss transforming into a regent who had lost his patience and let things spiral out of control for too long. This couldn't go on. He couldn't go on like this any longer.

-ENOUGH!

The ground shook beneath our feet at his authoritative voice, as powerful and terrifying as thunder. Darius's roar alerted the dome guards, who discreetly peered inside. Ronald finally ceased his insufferable chatter, but his expression wasn't filled with fear, but rather simple admiration as he realized his theory was true. He was truly in the presence of the one he himself had called "The King of the Hybrids."

Darius stepped down from the dais. Those present lowered their gazes in submission, some in fear and remorse, others in admiration and respect, but I did so to avoid making this problem any bigger and simply let him do his job. He began a slow walk toward the center of the Dome. The Supreme Leader's eyes were fixed on the stranger, who couldn't help but shrink in the presence of the enormous red hybrid, looking at him the way someone looks at a cockroach: with disgust and insignificance.

-... Anything else you wanted to share with us before returning to the hospital?

Ronald looked at him with arrogant superiority, unaware that he was the one tied to a chair, completely at the mercy of the hybrids who didn't care if he ended up as a Vortex's lunch, but even so, he had the minimum wisdom to choose his words and not spit in the Supreme Leader's face. He looked Darius in the eye, displaying a mocking, bloody smile.

-You may think you're very civilized... you and your horde of degenerates. But the truth is, you're no different from him... From Neyzan. You both control and terrorize. I know you want to kill me, but you won’t. You're no better than him for pretending to be the good guy.

Darius looked at him soberly, but a deep hatred burned in his eyes. Not toward Ronald, but toward the situation he'd put him in.

-My wife sacrificed her life to save you. Consider yourself lucky that I still respect her decision. -Darius snorts sharply directly in Ronald’s face, then calls to the twin guards, who were already ready to follow their Supreme Leader’s orders. -Escort Mr. Ronald back to his temporary quarters, and make sure that…-

Darius stops mid-sentence, freezing in place without finishing giving the order to his faithful guards, as if he wanted to pay special attention to the seemingly perfect silence. The Leader’s strange behavior puts everyone on alert, trying to sharpen their senses in search of anything unusual. And just as his guards tried to ask their Leader what was going on, then we all heard it.

At first, it seemed to be an unusual gust of wind outside. Possibly an approaching storm? Then it evolved into a mechanized sound, a faint whirring accompanying a choppy wind in the distance.

It was the unmistakable sound of a low-flying helicopter rapidly approaching Cilt territory, and none of us were prepared for what that meant. None, except Darius.

-... Of course, it had to be. -Darius exclaimed with a growl in his voice.

He seemed to know exactly what was happening, but that didn't reassure him. As soon as Darius proceeded to leave the Council Dome without further ado, everyone decided to do the same. If something was important enough for him to interrupt an interrogation in that way, it was important to everyone present.

Edurne quickly got up from her seat and searched through the pockets of her lab coat, pulling out a myriad of different objects until she found a clean gauze. Inspecting the integrity of the gauze, she walked toward us and with a gentle gesture removed my hand from Adara's wound, peeling back the fabric that had stuck to her exposed flesh and proceeding to treat the painful bite that had made the huntress hold back her tears. Giving her one last look, I leave my friend in Edurne's caring hands and Saemus's protection.

My concern for Adara is replaced by a new one almost immediately. I meet Iker outside the Dome, where Darius, Zenda, and Leander are watching the sky with bad expectations.

The helicopter hovers over Cilt, circling the area a couple of times, causing every human and hybrid in the city to leave their homes to look up and witness an event that, judging by the worried expressions on many of their faces, was neither usual nor welcome.

The sound of the helicopter's blades is deafening. Many hybrids roar fervently toward the sky, in a vain attempt to scare off the flying metal beast. Others immediately sought shelter; the sound reminding them of traumatic moments from their exile from the E.M. Of soldiers bringing death from the skies.

-Eeks... What is happening now?

I stick to my friend's side, my eyes never leaving the sky, while he fights against his instinct to flee. It wasn't the first time I'd seen a helicopter in my life, but it was the first time its presence brought with it an aura of uncertainty and danger.

-We have visitors… And I don't think they came all the way here just for tea and chatter. -Iker responded coldly, taking a more upright position that would allow him to feel more secure in the face of any danger-

The helicopter circled a third time, this time at a slower speed, and seemed to choose the training camp in front of the Hunters' village as its landing zone, which was on the opposite side of the city from where we were.

-Adara. -The Hunter Leader emerged from the dome upon hearing Darius call her,  applying her new bandages carefully, but ready to follow orders. Darius noticed her wound again and seemed to change his mind- …Go to the hospital to have that bite checked out as soon as possible. You can take the day off.

-My Leader… -Adara intervened, lowering her voice in fear that it would be perceived as an attack on authority- …You'll need all the support available. Allow me to help.”

Darius watched her with subtle concern. He glanced at Edurne, who shrugged, disclaiming responsibility for Adara's health. If she wanted to put herself at risk, that was her decision. And Darius was in no position to refuse help.

-In that case, you and Saemus gather all the Hunters and give orders to protect the citizens. Don't let anyone get too close to that helicopter or its passengers, and do what's necessary to maintain order. I trust in you.

-Yes, sir.

Adara thumped her chest with her good hand, and she and Saemus left almost immediately to gather every Hunter within the city walls, no questions asked, no excuses.

-I guess we'll have to go greet our guests now… -Darius spoke in a low voice to his fellow Leaders, but as if he'd remembered they weren't alone yet, he turned to look at Iker and me with a certain air of frustration- And as for you two…

I shrugged, even though I had nothing to worry about, while Iker gave a nervous smile, pressing himself to the ground to appear as unintimidating as possible. Darius sighed and squeezed his eyes shut. I could swear he rolled his eyes inside his skull from the stress he was under at that moment. If Darius had hands, this would be the perfect moment to rub his brow in exhaustion.

-Just… don't get too close. And don't get into trouble.

The Supreme Leader was clearly irritable, on the verge of a stress breakdown that is effectively mitigated by his many years as regent, and ironically, his colleagues seemed much more relieved now that Darius had finally broken his vow of silence, even if this was caused by forces greater than himself.

We watched the four Leaders leave for the training camp.

Iker and I stood there for a moment longer, trying to process what was happening. Just a few minutes ago, our biggest concern was Ronald, who was currently being forcibly taken back to the hospital. But now, all my previous worries pale in comparison to the uncertainty of our unexpected visitors.

A playful shove to my legs made me lose my train of thought and my balance for a second, and out of sheer muscle memory, I turned to look at Iker with an almost accusatory look, to which my companion only gave me a mischievous, conspiratorial look. And I already knew exactly what that meant, even before he said a word.

-... Wanna get closer to the action, and get in trouble for it?

—-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

While the Leaders hurriedly took the dirt road that would lead them directly to the training camp, Iker preferred to take a "shortcut."

Resigned to being carried like luggage inside Iker, I cling to his body, hugging his ribs with my legs and arms, taking special care of the arrowhead stuck in his side. Riding inside a hybrid is terrifying, uncomfortable, and in Iker's case; dangerous, as my friend never seems to miss an opportunity to demonstrate how fast and agile he is, even if it means bouncing me around like a pity sack of potatoes.

The bumpy, obstacle-ridden path seemed to finally convince him that perhaps cutting through the woods hadn't been one of his brightest ideas, but before he could change his mind and resign himself to taking the dirt road, Iker sniffed the air and seemed to recognize the area. After diving back into the undergrowth a couple more times, we finally reached our objective. In front of us lies a privileged view of the training camp. The vast terrain, covering several hectares of grassland without a single tree, has become the ideal landing spot for the imposing helicopter, which is still slowing its long propellers.

The crowd didn’t take long to gather, as before the Leaders even arrived, a crowd of hybrids and humans had reunited at this very spot, effectively being controlled by the well-organized orders that Adara and Saemus had given to their respective Hunters, who had taken up their positions as crowd control. And while the rest of the citizens push each other to get a glimpse of the visitors, Iker and I watch from the front row.

-Eeks, I don't think we should be here. -I complain to Iker in a low voice while fighting against the thorny bushes we're hiding in- We're too close to the helicopter... I think it'll be better if we just blend into the crowd.

-Shhh, don't worry, nothing's going to happen to us. They can't see us from here.

-Darius told us not to get into trouble! Ah! -The aggressive nature around me manages to scratch my face and arms, forcing me to return to the safety of Iker's interior, whose thick, rough skin has nothing to worry about- And just in case you haven't realize, spying on an E.M.’s military helicopter up close can easily get us into one.

-It'll only be trouble if we get caught.

Iker responds sarcastically, ignoring any of my warnings. Maybe he really knew what he was doing... Or maybe he's so curious about this that he can't measure the consequences. Either way, it wasn't as if I had the choice to go anywhere else, but my worries were quickly replaced by curiosity as soon as I saw the Leaders arrive, standing up for their people.

I know more about hybrids than helicopters, but I didn't need to be an expert to know that this was a formidable military machine, painted in ultramarine blue camouflage, bearing the unmistakable emblem of the E.M. : The White Compass, on both its sides. Its blades had finally stopped spinning and raising dust, and its powerful engines had finally fallen silent.

It wasn't hard to imagine why many were nervous at the sight of such a metal beast, as anyone who had spent enough time around hybrids would have expected the enormous helicopter to start moving on its own. A more than terrifying thought for any citizen, regardless of species. But fortunately for everyone, hybrid helicopters are nothing more than a myth, a tale mothers tell their cubs to keep them from straying far from home.

The helicopter door opens, and a dozen soldiers emerge, all carrying high-caliber firearms and covered from head to toe in navy-blue armor with white accents, almost identical to those worn by the Cilt Warriors. The same government that eradicated hybrids from its streets was the same one that gave us the remnants of its own army. It was a silent reminder of Cilt remaining completely dependent on the will of the E.M.

The intimidating soldiers, indistinguishable from one another, guard the perimeter of the helicopter and cover every angle, standing their ground without a word or gesture to any of the citizens present, clutching their weapons as they see so many hybrids gathered in one place before them.

Meanwhile, the Leaders wait patiently at the front of the crowd. Darius discreetly speaks with his human colleagues about their next move, while Zenda keeps a mental record of every small gesture and movement the metropolitan soldiers make.

There is a brief exchange of arguments between Darius and Leander, who didn't seem entirely happy with what the La Ferrari was asking him to do, to which Edurne decided to take him by the arm and make him walk beside her in the most elegant way possible. Although Leander's displeasure didn't last long, it only took him a deep sigh and a few steps to return to his usual role as a charismatic and peaceful Leader, showing chivalry toward his colleague, who still held his arm, albeit with a much softer and more casual grip.

Edurne and Leader walked with feigned calm toward the helicopter, gaining the attention of the soldiers, although they didn't consider it important enough to see them as a threat. Once they were a few meters from the vehicle, one of the soldiers extended a hand in the air in front of them, signaling that this would be the maximum distance they could approach. The human Leaders respected the indication, waiting patiently for the last passenger to disembark the helicopter; the only passenger for whom, apparently, we were all gathered.

A tall, elegant man with platinum-blond hair, wearing an attractive and formal royal blue suit, stepped onto solid ground, his black shoes seeming to gleam in the harsh afternoon sun. I poked my head out from between the bushes, ignoring the thorns. There was no way I could explain what I was witnessing. Right before my eyes, President Novak himself had decided to pay a surprise visit to our humble village in the middle of nowhere… and the citizens seemed neither surprised nor pleased by this visit, which confirmed my suspicion that this had happened before.

Novak took the liberty and time to adjust the tie and cuffs of his expensive designer suit, brushing off the smallest particle of dirt that had clung to his person, all while half the Cilt watched him silently, expectant of what would happen next. Even the Warriors and Hunters had taken a moment to look away from their work of crowd control to witness what everyone were observing.

Seeing that her comrades had become distracted, Adara decided to observe what was happening on her own. It only took a couple of seconds of staring at the President for her to regret her decision, immediately turning back. I could see in her gaze a look I could only describe as “a bad memory,” something she didn’t need to see at that moment, something that was enough for the current Hunter Leader to abandon her post at the barricade and decided to push her way through the crowd, hiding her face until she disappeared. Saemus watched her leave, but did nothing to stop her. If it were up to him, he would have accompanied her on her retreat, but since Saemus was second in command under Adara, he really had no choice but to swallow his worries and trust that his partner would be fine without him.

Adara's strange behavior almost made me lose focus of what was happening with our visitor, who finally seemed convinced of his immaculate appearance. Being escorted by the two soldiers closest to him, President Novak deigned to walk toward the human leaders... or at least, that's what it seemed.

Leander took a step forward when he saw the President approaching, and without hesitation or second thought, extended his hand in a warm and respectful greeting.

-Welcome to Cilt, Mr. Novak. It's a pleasure to see you again.

-It's "President Novak," if you don't mind. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to speak with the true leader of this town.

Novak completely ignored Leander and Edurne without pausing or bothering to shake their hands, without even looking them in the eye or showing the slightest sign of reciprocating the greeting. The human leaders are forced to step aside and allow the metropolitan ruler to pass, which they find less than pleasant. Leander muttered a few words to himself as he watched Novak walk by, only to be reprimanded by a nudge from the female leader at his side. The soldiers watched both leaders sternly, but decided not to give it much thought.

Meanwhile, Novak walks with haughty confidence and haste toward Darius, who, along with his mother, resigns themselves to maintaining their composure and waiting for the president to approach them. If he really wants to speak with "the true leader of the people," he'll have to approach them himself.

-President Novak. What's the reason for this pleasant surprise visit?

Darius's stoic face wasn't enough to hide his displeasure, nor would his sober and controlled tone soften the sarcasm he dared to use in front of Novak, but that seemed to be the least of his worries. He knew what cards to play against him.

-Leave the formalities aside, Darius. You know perfectly well why I'm here.

Without showing the slightest bit of respect, Novak addresses Darius as nothing more than a guy who apparently owes him something, but the Supreme Leader doesn't let that dampen his composure.

-...I may have a vague idea why.

-Don't try to fool me...Is there a reason why all your warriors have abandoned the southern border of the capital? The Vortex will soon notice the lack of vigilance, and you know very well what happens when they get too confident in densely populated areas. I need answers and solutions, right now.

Novak yells and points his finger at Darius, unconcerned that hundreds of hybrids and humans were listening to every word he spoke of, earning countless disgusted glances who felt offended by the way he addressed their beloved leader.

Knowing he couldn't win any argument against the man who feeds his people, Darius remains open to dialogue despite everything.

-I'm willing to solve this problem. We can go to the Dome to negotiate and...

-Negotiate? -Novak lets out a fake laugh, one of those you only hear from politicians, a laugh of superiority and appearance, before abruptly changing to an arrogant tone- I'm not interested in negotiating with someone who uses guerrilla tactics to get what they want, much less if that someone is a hybrid who will put their own people above any human citizen. No offense, of course. It's your nature, after all.

Darius forced a grimace that threatened to reveal his true opinions, but it manifested as a tight smile only present at the corners of his mouth, while his eyes bore like razors into the face of the arrogant man in front of him.

Novak distracted himself for a moment to look around, apparently searching for someone who didn't seem to be present at the impromptu meeting.

-And speaking of singular hybrids. Where's Kassia? As far as I remember, she's the one in charge of military decisions. Did she have a setback? Something more important to do than her job?

Novak's ignorant and insensitive words had returned Darius to his state of mourning, causing him to hesitate for a moment, until he managed to muster the courage to maintain his professional profile, without letting his emotions take over his actions.

-...Kassia was taken prisoner by the Vortex after a mission. I'm sorry if that is a setback for you. Believe me, we all feel the same. -The resentment in his voice is palpable, but he soon redirects his conversation to simply addressing Novak's request- Military matters are now managed by Zenda, my mother. She will guide us in resolving this issue.

Ignoring half of what Darius told him, Novak silently reflects on what he had just heard, focusing only on what he considered "important," and adding his own thoughts to the already sensitive dialogue.

-So Neyzan has gotten his way once again. I'm sorry. Although it doesn't surprise me too much, knowing the history between those two... 

-I won't argue anymore!... Not in front of everyone. Do you want solutions? Then I ask you to accompany me to the Dome. Right now.

In a fleeting burst of desperation, Darius raises his voice to cut Novak off, and without waiting for his reply, he turns and begins his walk back to the Council Dome, intent on ending this as soon as possible.

The sudden change in Darius's tone didn't go unnoticed by anyone, and although Novak didn't want to show it, it made him reconsider the attitude with which he had addressed the Supreme Leader until now, as the President was not used to taking orders from those he considered "inferior."

With an apathetic attitude, Novak convinces himself to follow the path Darius has laid out for him, and escorted at all times by two of his soldiers, he and the other three leaders set out for the Council Dome, disappearing from public view as they walk along the winding road that crisscrosses the territory.

Soon, the citizens who had gathered to witness Novak's arrival began to disperse to attend to their daily duties, although some of them decided to remain near the training camp, possibly to curiously admire the helicopter and its crew for a moment longer.

Iker decides that's enough spying for today and finally silently steps back from the bush where we've hidden, allowing me to get out of his interior without a word. I could see from his averted gaze that something had made him uneasy, and that the words of both political leaders were swirling around in his head without making much sense.

-... I guess this isn't good news.

-No. It's not. -Iker's eyes darted from one place to another, not focusing on any specific spot, trying to make sense of what he had just witnessed. I knew he had returned to reality when he looked me straight in the eye, and his gaze softened- He mentioned the absence of Cilt Warriors patrolling the borders of the Metropolis... If Novak has gone to the trouble of coming all the way here in person to discuss a problem like this, it means he's getting desperate. He's afraid of what will happen if the Vortex discovers his vulnerability... But I don't understand... He has the anti-hybrid forces and the army at his disposal... Why doesn't he just send them to protect the borders?

-Because he doesn't want to look weak in front of the public. -Iker frowns at my argument, which, to his ears, didn't seem to make sense. But to me, having lived my entire life in the E.M. It made perfect sense- Novak has built his empire around a promise: preventing a second Vortex Accident. If he deploys his own army to guard the borders, people will feel insecure, and all his promises to keep the nation safe and free from the threat of the Vortex will fall apart. His power depends entirely on maintaining the appearance that the E.M. is a safe place, and Cilt has helped him maintain that facade all this time, sending Warriors to do his dirty work without anyone noticing... What I don't understand is why.

-The Cilt Accords. -Iker quickly answers, almost as if he'd been forced to learn that very response as part of his training- When Cilt was founded, the Leaders signed an agreement with Novak; The Metropolis would give us food and resources in exchange for Cilt sending Warriors to protect the borders from any Vortex that tried to enter… That's why you and I met that night… I was chasing a Vortex that had crossed the border, and when I found her, I found you too.

The memory of the day we met flooded my mind for a moment, and as strange as the circumstances of that day may have been, I couldn't help but be swept away by the memory, a subtle smile forming on my face, though it was immediately overshadowed by Iker's reasoning, as he began to realize the seriousness of the present and what this meant for everyone.

-Darius ordered all Warriors to return to Cilt after our failed mission… If he decided the lesser of two evils would be to jeopardize The Accords, and possibly damage the relationship with Novak, all in order to strengthen our own defenses… What dangers are we facing? -Iker asks with concern, knowing he won't get a satisfactory answer-

-I'm not sure. But what I do know is that the loss of Kassia has made him unstable... Perhaps the decision to bring the Warriors back was a simple instinct. A decision made out of emotion, not logic.

-Do you think... Darius has become impulsive in his decisions?

-... Perhaps he always was. The only difference was that, before this, Kassia was there to support him and keep him calm.

Darius. The beloved regent of Cilt. The first member of the Council of Leaders, and the youngest of the four original Leaders. He always tried so hard to maintain an honest and righteous appearance, making the right decisions even when they were difficult. But whenever problems seemed to be spiraling out of his control, he could always turn to his beloved Kassia. Despite keeping a much lower profile than her husband and not being seen as the head of the Council, she always displayed a titanium-strong temper in the face of adversity. And now, more than ever, it was evident to me how much he glanced at her with the corner of his eye during meetings at the Dome, always attentive to her reaction, always ready to decipher what she was thinking… Always ready to be her voice, because perhaps the one truly making all those decisions… was Kassia all along. The regent and general of Cilt's armed forces must have a great influence on the government after all, and perhaps no one had ever stopped to consider the true extent of her power on the Council until now. But why hide it? Why allow people to think that Darius was the closest thing to a perfect leader?

Then some of my vague, almost conspiratorial reasoning made sense to me, as I remembered what Ciro told me about the circumstances that made Darius a leader; He never wanted to be a leader in the first place, but after defeating Neyzan, he truly had no choice but to take his place at the helm of a refugee colony and turn them into a unified town. Meeting the expectations of thousands of hybrids and humans would be no easy task… but he was never alone. He had Ciro, his mother, and Kassia by his side at all times. But now that two of his pillars have collapsed, the illusion of the perfect leader is beginning to dwindle.

Now more than ever, Cilt's system of government seemed fragile and unstable, and if I've learned anything from living all my life under a totalitarian government, it's that there will always be someone who wants to turn instability into chaos, and chaos into sabotage, and that inevitably ends in the fall of entire societies. My throat tightens at the mere thought that something like this could happen to my new home.

Despite the uncertainty, one thing is true: today the Leaders and President Novak will reach an agreement. Whether this agreement will be beneficial for us remains to be seen. For now, we have no choice but to wait.

And wait is what we did.

We decided to spend the rest of our afternoon near the Stone Podium, accompanied by many other citizens who, like us, preferred to stay close to the action in case we heard any further news.

Ironically, today is a beautiful day. Excellent for easing the tension we've been carrying since the morning of the interrogation. The sun has finally risen, giving us a soft patch of tall, green grass where Iker and I happily lay down to sunbathe and rest from our mental burdens and uncertainty.

We weren't the only ones enjoying the good weather; Children ran around and had fun, completely and blissfully unaware of what was happening in the adult world. A group of friends shared their meals around the melody of a guitar. Hybrid teenagers, too young to participate in this year's Zeingen tournament, challenged each other to practice fights to hone their skills. A mother and daughter had brought wildflowers as an offering to the missing. I watched with tenderness and silent gratitude when I saw that some of those flowers were meant for my father. The gray ribbons atop the pillars swayed gently in the gentle evening breeze.

I sighed. For a moment, everything was fine.

In a not-so-subtle move, Iker tried to distract me by resting his chin on my stomach without me noticing, as if his weight and size wouldn't immediately give him away. I pushed against his nose with my hands, and he pushed me until I rolled like a log for several meters. We laughed, as if nothing bad were happening. As if time had stopped.

Iker talked about Novak; that this wasn't his first time in Cilt. That he was the main reason why, even in Cilt, the law punishes humans who commit unforgivable crimes less severely than hybrids who commit the same deplorable acts. He was also the one who banned the possession of firearms, which became a local tradition, but not all of his reforms have been accepted with such enthusiasm. For a time, Novak forced Cilt to fly E.M. flags throughout its territory, which were removed and burned a few hours after his last visit. The population's displeasure with the metropolitan president was abundantly clear. He wasn't welcome, but everyone had to pretend he was.

-Novak said that "Neyzan has gotten away with it again" when he learned about what happened to Kassia... What do you think he meant by that?

Iker frowns, trying to make some sense of my question, but all he manages is mere speculation.

-I think he was talking about Marcus. You know... when they took him too.

I clutch the dirt with my hands, pulling up the small grass blades that seconds before had received no more than a caress from my fingers, and that have now been uprooted with a crunch, which I wasn't entirely sure had come from the plant or my knuckles. If what Iker said was true, it meant Novak always knew my father was alive, and yet, he decided it was best to make my mother and I believe he was dead.

One more question echoed in Iker's head; I saw it in his restless eyes, darting from side to side, trying to make sense of what was muttering in his mind.

-Although there's something I really don't understand... What was that "knowing the history between the two of them" about?... Between Kassia and Neyzan. What did he mean by that?

-If you're confused, imagine how confused I must be. I replied with a subtle laugh, but Iker seemed to be thinking too seriously to return the gesture- Is there anything you know about it?

-Nothing... -Iker tenses his expression, silently reviewing his memory- Actually, now that I think about it, no one knows much about General Kassia's past life. That's... strange.

-Well, many come here to rebuild their lives, right? To start over and forget the past. Maybe that's what happened to her too.

Iker's hesitant silence told me he wasn't satisfied with my reasoning. Simply respecting Kassia's privacy and not delving into her personal life wasn't a real option. He wanted answers.

-What if...?

Iker stops mid-sentence, his expression showing disbelief, his pupils narrowing for a moment, showing that the thought has unnerved him. I do my best to read his body language, but he makes it difficult by wiping that expression off his face and swallowing hard.

-What if... what? -I insisted to Iker to tell me what was going through his mind, although it was harder for him than I thought- ... Eeks.

-Forget it. She's an honorable leader. It wouldn't be right of me to say it... I owe her too much.

Iker retreats into his thoughts for a moment, as if he had put an emergency brake on his train of thought, and I can see a hint of remorse on his face. And I, knowing that it would be impossible to get him to confess now, resign myself to lying back on the grass, staring at the more than welcome clear blue sky.

-Well, I'll tell you something. It's not normal that Novak, of all people, knows more about her than any citizen... And Darius knows it. It made him nervous. That's why he interrupted him. That's suspicious to say the least, don't you think?

Iker sighed silently and lay down beside me as we reached another impasse in our questions. There were too many things we wouldn't understand, and there's nothing we can do but accept it and wait for some clarity in the future.

-I think you're right.

I close my eyes. I fight against the noise in my head, which threatens to rob me of the brief peace of the moment. But the noise kept growing. In fact, the noise seemed to be coming from somewhere outside my head. I sit up again, sensing that something isn't right; a tension is present between every human and hybrid gathered nearby.

On the path connecting the Podium with the Hunters' village, three E.M. soldiers walk with confidence and haughty determination, terrifying every citizen they encounter with their cold, masked gazes, brandishing their weapons as a symbol of superiority and a delusion of invulnerability.

-Those idiots… -Iker mumbles as he sees the soldiers approaching.

All eyes are on them. The silence and tranquility of their movements puts everyone present on guard. Children run away. Young hybrids stop their games and stand close to each other. The songs fall silent, and mothers take their children with them. It was as if an evil omen surrounded the newcomers.

With unclear intentions, one of the soldiers climbs onto the podium, scanning the monument and its surroundings for something. Something that was missing. He observed the gifts at the foot of the pillars, and using the end of his weapon, he removed the offering objects to inspect them, knocking over the flowers and other delicate gifts with little care or interest. This earned him disgusted looks.

Testing the nerves and tolerance of the people, he leaned toward the gifts and took a stuffed hybrid plush with a firm hand, holding it with little care, squeezing it and playing with it. When his attention was completely spent, he threw the stuffed toy back into the offering, which was now nothing more than a jumble of objects and flowers scattered on the platform of the Podium.

The soldier strolled around the Podium unhurriedly, amused by the quantity and variety of objects in the offerings. He walked until he came face to face with the Scientists' Pillar, the one where people have kept my father's memory alive.

And he laughed. The soldier burst out laughing when he read the name to whom the offering was dedicated.

Marcus Hopper.

-So the old man finally got what he deserved. -The soldier speaks with a synthetic, almost robotic voice, due to the technology embedded in his helmet.

-He shouldn't have trusted his creatures so much. That's what he gets for choosing them over his own kind. -The soldier's companion responds coldly to the comment, watching from the base of the podium-

I must have exhaled more forcefully than I intended at the time, because by the time I was preparing to stand up, Iker pressed his weight onto my legs, just enough to keep me sitting.

-Ty... No.

-And what do you want me to do, sit here and do nothing?

Iker looked at me in anguish. With those eyes I've only seen when he's feared for my life. The gesture alone is enough to stop my futile attempt.

-... Yes.

It was useless. They may only be three, but they carry with them the means to get rid of anyone who gets in their way, and the support of a nation that doesn't care about our lives.

A conflict between us and the soldiers could further deteriorate relations between both sides. Truly, there was nothing realistic we could do to defend ourselves.

Iker is kind. But in his kindness, he won't let me get away with it. And deep down, I knew it was the sensible thing to do, even if I didn't agree.

-Trust me... it's better this way. You don't know what they're capable of.

We watched helplessly as the soldiers gloated over their power and lack of opposition. Soon, the three of them stood on the podium, overseeing from above the few citizens who had stayed behind to witness it, completely stripped of the will to say anything, or to do anything.

Seeing that they weren't getting the attention they so craved, they decided to take a riskier route, directly testing the nerves of the citizens of Cilt.

The leader of the trio of soldiers pulled a pair of climbing hooks from among the endless compartments of his armor and secured them to his gloves. His second-in-command pulled a package from his backpack, and from it he took out a rectangle of royal blue cloth, which he then attached to the shoulder of the leader, whose intentions did not remain secret for too long.

Using his sharp rappelling hooks, the soldier grabbed onto the central pillar of the Stone Podium, stabbing into the monument without remorse, propelling himself upward as fine, pulverized debris fell to the ground.

The hybrids closest to the Podium roared aggressively, and the other two soldiers pointed their weapons at them, effectively driving them back. Their human companions only managed to get between the weapons' path and their friends, causing the soldiers to relax their sights again.

The team leader managed to climb unopposed to the top of the Leaders' Pillar, and using his same climbing hook, he ripped the gray ribbon dedicated to Kassia to shreds. The ribbon could no longer support itself. The wind that had once made it flutter majestically was now the same one that had cruelly torn it from the rock pillar, gently carrying it on the warm breeze to rest at the feet of the same people who had once shown it respect.

Amidst the agonizing silence and the suppressed rage at injustice, the Metropolis let Cilt know once again who its true owner was.

The soldier planted the blue and white flag of Novak's dictatorship directly over the symbol of the Cilt Leaders.

The message was clear:

We are insignificant in their eyes.

And they have come to do their bidding. By any means necessary.

—-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

In an attempt to cure the uncertainty and dissipate the bitter pill of reality, Iker decided it would be best to get away from the action for a moment, taking refuge in the warmth of the Hunters' Village public dining hall. Ironically, though, we weren't able to completely escape what was happening around us.

Today's favorite topic of conversation in the great dining hall was none other than discussing our impertinent visitors. Truth, rumors, and gossip mixed and melded together, and although I refused to pay attention to information that might not be true, curiosity got the better of me in the end.

The Hunters expressed their concern about what was happening in the streets; the metropolitan soldiers had damaged important monuments in the city, and the citizens had been on the verge of rioting against them. There was a pattern in the soldiers' behavior: they seemed intent on imposing the E.M. flag at every important point in the city. The more conspicuous and disrespectful the place, the better.

A group of merchants sitting next to us recounted, their faces flushed with rage, how a second group of soldiers dedicated themselves solely to destroying the small businesses in the town center, all under the guise of a "check for illegal weapons possession." It wouldn't be the first, nor the last, time that these individuals took advantage of the Leaders' absence to loot the town, according to the testimony of that poor merchant, who has resigned himself to drowning his sorrows with the fattiest broth the town's public kitchen can offer.

-But I can't complain too much; my sorrow was only material… I can't say the same about that young lady over there.

The merchant subtly pointed his spoon, and as I surreptitiously followed it, I noticed a familiar face on the other side of the dining hall.

-Marione…

She was leaning both elbows on the table, partially covering her face with her hair, though the smallest window into her gaze revealed a black eye and a defeated expression.

-I'll be right back, Eeks. -

Iker lifts his face from his plate, watching with intrigue as a thick strip of noodles still hangs from his mouth.

As I got closer to Marione, I couldn't help but notice the scratches and bruises scattered across multiple parts of her body. My heart sank at the sight of her in that state. Even knowing her reputation as a troublemaker, it was inevitable to feel sorry for her, especially after what she's had to endure in such a short time.

I gently touched her shoulder, and she turned around, ready to strike. Her expression, filled with rage and pain, took a few seconds to soften. Those same seconds made me reconsider my direct approach, but they ultimately had an effect. Marione looked at me, somewhat bewildered that our paths had crossed again, and wordlessly let me know she hadn't had a good day so far.

I smiled at her with a hint of pity that I wasn't able to completely hide, and turning to look at Iker again, I offered her my hand for support.

-Come on, you don't have to be alone.

……

Sipping from the largest glass the cooks allowed, Marione regained her strength by drinking cranberry juice, after Iker and I had forbidden her from drinking alcohol so early in the morning.

A kind medical apprentice offered to treat her, stitching her split eyebrow, without Marione making any further gestures other than an occasional grimace. She kept her eyes lowered from the moment she sat down with us, seemingly ashamed of what had happened.

-Those morons started destroying people's businesses... I couldn't just sit and do nothing.

Her comment resonated with my decision to remain silent in the face of what was happening on the Stone Podium, and soon, the shame had changed hands.

-So... What did you do that made them so angry?

The corners of her lips lifted in a subtle, guilty smile. She took her hand out of her pocket, and her fingers emerged stained with a dark powder.

-Let's just say I got a little creative with the gunpowder.

-A little creative? You could have burned someone with those fireworks, kid! - The shopkeeper next to us exclaimed angrily, to which Marione just rolled her eyes.

-I put a little distraction at their feet without them noticing. You should have seen the way they stumbled in fright. - Marione laughs for the first time in days, but the movement caused the nurse to carelessly poke her, remaining still again.

-Heh, I bet that must have been fun to see. I would have paid to see it. - Iker echoes Marione's anecdote, which makes her smile genuinely.

The nurse secures the last suture with a knot, and after cleaning the wound one last time, she bids us a friendly goodbye, looking for someone else to help.

-Although, I think I should have limited myself to doing it just once. The second time I wasn't so lucky. They managed to identify me before I even lit the charge, and... well, you can imagine what happened next. -Marione points to her face, one eye too swollen to see properly, and her eyebrow with new stitches to take care of-

-... I am sorry.

Marione glanced at me at my comment and, stifling her laughter in the glass she was drinking from, furrowed her eyebrows in a sarcastic expression.

-Stop that. We both know I asked for it. Besides, I don't regret anything. Those idiots deserve to know how much we hate them around here.

Marione wouldn't accept anyone's pity, much less my own. But seeing that she was at least able to joke about it now was more than enough to make me feel at least a little calmer.

Peace never lasts long, much less with such nefarious visitors. That's what I thought, as I saw the people around us hurrying through the streets, murmuring to each other, drawn to whatever was happening beyond our view.

-Is it them again?

-What's going on?

A couple of Hunters converse urgently among themselves, readying their weapons in the process, until one of them deigns to share some information.

-Novak and the Leaders finished their meeting. They're on their way back.

The three of us looked at each other, and without another word, we jumped out of our seats and headed for the training grounds, where the entire citizenry was currently gathering to witness firsthand what would, at best, be the beginning of a new agreement between the two sides.

The street was soon filled with people and hybrids, all walking hurriedly toward the outskirts of the Hunters' village. What had initially been an organized walk soon turned into a traffic jam where pushing and shoving had become the main way to gain a better spot in the crowd. Marione and I took the lead, trying to clear a path for Iker as we walked, but no matter what we did, a wall of frustrated, restless hybrids and humans stood between us and our goal, and soon Iker began to fall behind.

-Go on! I'll find a shortcut.

Seeing that I wouldn't budge from my spot despite Iker's prompting, Marione snorted in frustration, grabbed me by the collar, and pulled me along with it until I was forced to walk. When I looked back, Iker had disappeared into the crowd, hopefully managing to escape without too much trouble.

Being led against my will at first, I did my best to follow Marione closely, skirting the crush of people through alleys, passageways, and buildings that looked like they were about to collapse, jumping over obstacles and climbing over mountains of rubble. I had no idea where Marione was taking me, but she seemed to know the route perfectly.

We soon left the crowd behind, taking a route that only Marione seemed to know, jumping from rooftop to rooftop. After maneuvering with difficulty for what seemed like an eternity to my poor body, we finally stopped on the roof of an old, abandoned house, which was partially covered by the thick branches of the trees that had grown right next to it. In front of us was the training ground, and as we peered down for a moment, we could see the crowd of hybrids and humans below us, with an incredible panoramic view that no one else in Cilt could have.

From our perspective, we watched a group of people and hybrids march down the main avenue, just minutes away from reaching the training grounds. We had arrived just in time.

But Marione didn't seem convinced to simply watch from above.

No, she wanted to be front and center.

She gripped firmly onto the branch of a tree that had begun to engulf the old house, and with feline-like dexterity, she began maneuvering through the treetops, seeking the safest route to use the branches as a ladder to the ground.

Meanwhile, I watched her, stunned by the realization of what I would have to do now.

-Don't overthink it, just do it.

I got goosebumps, my breath shortens, and I feel my limbs go numb as my anxious heart drains my own blood.

-Shit, shit, shit…

I curse with every wobble and shaky movement my clumsy body manages to maintain in order not to fall from the tree. Following Marione's movements like an instruction manual for not dying pathetically, I manage to slowly descend from the large tree that until now has offered us strong branches on which to rest our weight. But the steps don't descend infinitely, and we both end up sitting on the branch closest to the ground, in what seemed to be a drop of just over three meters.

Marione was the first to take the initiative and let herself fall, landing masterfully by distributing the impact across her entire body. I cursed in my head one last time, enjoying the mundane feeling of not having any broken bones, and in my own way, I looked for a way to lessen the impact of my fall. I hugged the thick branch with my entire body, hanging like a sloth, and relying entirely on the strength of my weak arms, I held onto the branch with only my hands, swinging for a few seconds until I was sure my body was as stretched as possible toward the ground. And when I was finally ready, I let go of the branch, and the ground found me faster than I expected, making me stumble and fall almost in slow motion, bending every joint in my body to distribute the impact of my fall.

Marione saw me on the ground, and with a look that I could only interpret as one of pity, offered me her hand to help me up.

-Hey! What are you doing out of the line? Back where I told you to! -For the Hunter, who had barely turned to look at us, we had simply materialized a few meters outside the audience line, and we, taking advantage of his ignorance, simply followed his instructions, taking a place in the front row, just as Marione had planned.

-… You're too clever for your own good.

Marione smiled mischievously, pretending to polish her nails as part of her boastful act, but as soon as she looked ahead, her smile dissipated.

There were no fanfares, no spokesmen announcing the arrival of the regents. Only a squad of soldiers furiously stomped the ground with their march, protecting President Novak, who walked with the false confidence of someone fleeing an argument, convinced that his word was the only correct one.

Behind him followed the four Leaders; Visibly upset and nervous, but among them all, it was Darius who kept a predatory gaze on Novak's back.

Novak stopped near the crowd of curious citizens, smoothed his hair, adjusted the collar of his expensive shirt, and adjusted the cuffs of his even more expensive jacket. His presence earned the silent attention of the audience, eager to finally know the conclusions that have emerged after hours of discussion. It's a type of attention Novak relishes with all his might; controlling the information that reaches the citizens is his favorite sport.

-Dear citizens... humans and hybrids alike. I would like to share good news with you, but unfortunately, that will not be possible. Your beloved leaders have refused to cooperate in our agreement, and I fear that means things cannot improve until the accounts are settled, and everyone does their part to fulfill the Cilt Accords.

-We are not the ones who have forgotten the importance of fulfilling the Accords. -Darius didn't waste a single second responding to Novak, and this seemed like the beginning of a discussion between the two regents, one that could easily have serious consequences. It was like watching an accident in slow motion.

-It's rude of you to interrupt my speech, Darius.

-Well, since you've decided to make this information public, I think your monologue is now a debate, Novak.

Darius walks toward the same audience Novak had previously addressed, moving purposefully in front of everyone who looks at him with respect and admiration, as if addressing each of its citizens directly and personally.

-Everyone deserves to know the truth. And the truth is, the government of the European Metropolis has refused to pay its share of the Cilt Accords for over half a year, even though our Warriors risk their lives every day protecting the borders of the metropolitan capital. We have complied with the treaty, even without receiving anything in return, but this situation has become unsustainable. -Turning to look at Novak again, Darius emphasizes his words with resentment- I have sent countless messengers to your door, and they all return empty-handed. I tried to use diplomacy, and all I received was indifference. The way I see it, this deal is not fair. And if that means withdrawing my troops from your border to deliver the message, then that's what I'll do.

-Don't threaten me, Darius. -Novak's charismatic voice has become a weapon of intimidation, but Darius was in no mood to be intimidated by a man of empty words.

-It's not a threat. It's a warning.

The two regents maintain tense eye contact. The atmosphere is heavy, and the silence is broken only by the faintest murmurs of citizens whose uncertainty has made them uneasy, but Darius demonstrates once again in front of everyone why he was appointed Leader.

-This is very simple. Fulfill your part of the Accords, and I will send my Warriors to protect your borders again. Otherwise, you will have to use your own military resources to protect you and your citizens. All I ask in return is that the debt to my people be paid. That is all.

-Oh right, what a wonderful idea, deploying the army through the city streets to cause panic and insecurity among the population. Sounds like a wonderful idea! -Novak shouts to the audience in a superficial act of ridiculing Darius's request, then brings his hand to his forehead, gathering all his frustration to yell back in his face- Do you have any IDEA what it means to have to divert government resources to fund a single year of your Warriors' mediocre service?

The hybrid next to me, a Warrior, snorted sharply at Novak's comment, and he wasn't the only one. The Warriors in the audience did their best to keep their reactions to themselves, though some of them showed them nonetheless, booing and shouting at the man who ignorantly called those who risked their lives to protect complete strangers mediocre.

Inevitably, those comments have gained Zenda's full attention, and she begins to inch closer to her son, almost sensing that her intervention would be necessary should the argument escalate.

Completely ignoring the minor commotion he's caused, Novak sighs and decides to resume a position of superiority, looking over the shoulder as he regains his composure.

-But of course you wouldn't understand. But how could you? You're a tribal leader, not a real politician. -Of all Novak's previous remarks, those words seemed to stir something inside Darius, making him snort and retract his rearview mirrors, feeling offended- And I don't make deals with people who don't know what it really means to lead a nation. In fact, you should consider yourself lucky to have the freedom to live here, with your own rules and... interesting traditions.

-Then what do you want from us? If you don’t want to negotiate, why did you come?

Darius could no longer hide his own uncertainty in the face of the man who seemed dissatisfied. It was a situation in which, inevitably, we all knew the Leaders would have to bow their heads again and submit to whatever their master demanded of them.

Sensing the slightest sign of vulnerability in the Supreme Leader, Novak regarded him with feigned pity, and in a rare gesture of consideration, he squatted down until he was at Darius's eye level, looking him straight in the eyes. A gesture that Darius tolerated with a nervous look.

-There are times when one must simply accept defeat for the good of all... Don't get me wrong, you and your Warriors have done a great job keeping the Vortex at bay all this time, that's admirable. Just look at what you've accomplished!

Novak extends his hands grandly to his surroundings, once again becoming the candidate who years ago won the vote and affection of the people of the metropolis, addressing the people of Cilt again without the consent of their leaders.

-…But you have to admit it; this dream wasn't going to last forever. You knew it, all of them knew it the moment you left the Metropolis. You and Kassia played king and queen for long enough. The people you call "your citizens" live in insecurity, with a distorted view of reality. Humans and hybrids claim to be equal, but they don't hesitate to exile those who don't share the same ideals. Don't you realize? You've radicalized them.

The anger on Darius's face was replaced by a thoughtful expression, lowering his gaze so as not to see the worried faces of those under his protection, who, little by little, are accepting parts of Novak's speech. There was something in his words that made sense, even if that insecurity was planted by force. But if Novak is known for anything, it's for his grandiose proposals, impossible to refuse.

-I am here to offer you all a secure future. You will be able to continue living in your small town in the middle of nowhere if you prefer… albeit with a few small, necessary changes. We will free your leaders from the burden of leading the community, and you will have back the life that exile stole from you. Cilt will officially become part of the Metropolis, and that means all of you will be able to reunite with the loved ones you had to leave behind. -Novak has struck gold by digging into the deepest wounds of everyone present, who collectively toy with the idea of ​​returning to the life they had before the Vortex Accident, before having to leave their old lives behind- That's right! No more broken families! All of you human and hybrid residents of Cilt will be repatriated and helped to return to your families. We can build a better community, without shortages or the threat of those vile Vortexes, only if we all work together. That doesn't sound too bad, does it?

It was easy for me to see through Novak's false promises. Behind that empathetic smile lurked a professional liar, a bottomless pit only temporarily satiated by power over the lives of others. But when I looked around at those around me, I didn't see the same disgust on all their faces.

The possibility of returning to what once was is a formidable force, capable of changing people and entire ideologies. The guilt in the eyes of those who have silently agreed with him is disguised by nostalgic glances.

-All in exchange for complete control of our home... and our lives. -Darius decided to stand by his word once again, earning Novak's ridicule.

-Don't be so dramatic. Do you really call this place "home"? You're here because you have no choice, aren't you? Your citizens aren't loyal to you out of conviction... They do so because it's the only thing they can do, to avoid being exiled by you and your barbaric laws.

-Our laws have kept us safe for nearly a decade. If you don't want to understand that, that's not my problem.

-And I see that's done wonders for keeping you all safe, hasn't it? What about all those who have lost their lives following your orders? Or the people who have been exiled, abandoned to their fate in the Vortex-infested forest? Or those who have been marked for life with tattoos, branding them traitors? … Do I even need to mention Kassia?... It seems those "laws" have only favored you.

The Warrior who has remained dormant within Darius has finally had enough.

Snorting and baring his sharp teeth, the Leader, who until then had been civilized, advanced with fury and determination directly toward Novak, controlled only by Zenda, who blocked his path with her own body, containing her own urge to be the one to end this nonsense.

As the entire Council of Leaders fought against the impulses of their strongest member, Novak nearly tripped over himself, retreating with the speed worthy of someone who feared for his life for a couple of seconds. The armored soldiers protected the President with a human barrier, pointing their weapons directly at Darius's head.

The Warriors of Cilt roared in unison; it was the unmistakable war cry that made them push through the crowd and assemble as a single mass of humans and hybrids, ready to protect their people and their Leaders.

Citizens screamed and sought refuge everywhere, sensing that tragedy was imminent. And I, unable to know what would happen, simply grabbed Marione and led her to take refuge behind a tree, suffocating with anguish as Iker stood among the ranks of Warriors, facing the soldiers' deadly weapons.

-Can’t you see it? They're nothing but savages! Is this your leader? Are you going to trust your safety to a hybrid who couldn't even keep his mate safe? -Novak was guided by his soldiers to board the helicopter, but the latter seemed to have much more to say- He's been using you all this time! And if you think he'll save you from the Vortex, you are wrong!

Novak's provocations only fueled the Warriors' aggression, which Zenda controlled as soon as she was sure that Darius wouldn't try to rip anyone's head off. The Warriors followed the newly appointed leader's orders, and little by little the tension eased, even though the soldiers never let their guard down.

Despite the pleas of his colleagues, Darius pushed his way through the Warriors. His expression, though furious, contained his explosive aggression deep within his gaze, in his dilated pupils that observed everyone around him.

Zenda did not stand in his way this time.

Darius advanced silently, with his Warriors watching his back, and with a platoon threatening to kill him before his eyes. The entire city held its breath, for the fate of the relationship between the two nations now rested on the choice of words of a single individual.

And for the sake of everyone, he better choose wisely.

-…You've come all the way here, to my territory. I opened the gates of my city to you, and my people were willing to hear what you had to say… And all you did was disrespect my citizens, our way of life, and my wife. And that's something I won't allow. Your promises are filled with malice, and all you truly desire is to exterminate us. Because you understand that it's better to have us as allies than as enemies. But no more. We've tolerated your incompetence and complicity for too long now. So today, on behalf of my citizens, I ask that you leave my city… and never return. You are not welcome here.

Darius's grave words are enough to take everyone's breath away. And once the realization of what this means begins to sink in the collective mind, mixed reactions among the population were immediate. But among them all, the one truly outraged was President Novak himself, whose pale face had turned red with shame and rage.

-This... is... idiocy! You depend on the Accords!

In an unexpected turn of events, Darius smiles coldly and condescendingly at the pathetic man shouting from the safety of his squadron. Something in him had inevitably changed when he made a decision that would change everyone's lives, whether for better or worse; there was no time to think about it. The decision had already been made, with or without the consent of the people. And Darius can do nothing but become Novak's worst nightmare: a Tribal Leader, as he had called him before.

-Consider the Accords as a simple piece of paper to wipe your ass with... As of today, Cilt becomes completely independent from the Metropolis. That means, right now, you are in foreign territory, and without permission. But don't worry. I'll let you leave my territory without any obstruction, this time only.

Protected by the voice of their own Leader, the boos toward Novak were immediate, as for the first time in Cilt’s history, no one would have to hold back their opinions about the tyranny of the E.M. anymore. The entire town pushed the outsiders back with their presence, forcing them back into the helicopter, guarding themselves from every angle as they felt vulnerable for the first time, and Novak tasted defeat in every one of his words.

-... Damn you, you and your horde of degenerates! Don't expect any kind of help from me! Not today, not tomorrow, not ever.

Darius regained his stoic expression, his sole purpose being to fill his lungs with the determination that had been stolen from him. And with that determination, the Supreme Leader of Cilt roared with the strength of all those who had placed their faith in him. A roar that shook the ground and silenced the forest itself.

The village rejoiced; their Leader had finally returned.

Novak hurried toward the helicopter, and amidst the jeers and shouts of the people, he entered the safety of his flying can. The blades stirred the stifling afternoon air, with no regard for those near the rotors. The strong gust of wind blinded the Warriors, but they didn't care. The people threw rocks at the body of the helicopter as it remained on the ground, and within minutes, the blue and white-painted flying beast took to the skies and left Cilt's territory.

"Freedom!"

Was what the Warriors and Hunters of Cilt shouted, raising their spears to the sky, expressing their excitement and unwavering commitment to the cause. The uncertainty was soon replaced by jubilation, which spread even among the most skeptical.

But Darius didn't celebrate. His gaze was lost in the same sky dominated by the new enemy, forcing himself to remain grounded in the face of imminent danger.

His thoughtful gaze softened for the sake of the community. Seeing that his entire audience had gathered around him, Darius displayed a warm and calm smile, humbly accepting the compliments and thanks of the citizens. There was no point in worrying everyone with the daunting scenarios that were running through his head at that moment.

Weaving our way through the shoving and cheering of the people, we were finally able to reunite with Iker again. His eyes didn't lie; He looked worried, even amid the excitement and the promise of a freer future.

-Silence, please. I need your attention for a moment.

Darius's voice rose above the tumult, and the entire village listened respectfully, opening enough space for the great Leader's words to reach everyone.

-I am aware that these changes have taken us all by surprise, and such a radical change can be frightening. But sometimes, these kinds of changes are necessary. -Darius stood up straight, showing pride in his words- Brothers and sisters, a new era for Cilt has begun today. An era of independence and freedom, but also of sacrifice and hard work. It is up to us to keep this community united and strong. I ask you, with all my heart, to join a noble and simple cause; to give the best of yourselves, and to support one another. We are living proof that both species, hybrids and humans, can live in peace and prosper. And it is up to us, here and now, to keep that hope alive, for our own good, and that of our descendants. And I assure you that I, and the Council of Leaders, will be the first to advocate for your well-being. Today and always, until death.

-So be it! -Zenda roars her war cry in support of her son, followed by her fierce Warriors, and with them, the rest of the community.

-Now, go and spread the word! Be messengers of good news. The time has come to show who we truly are. It is time to display our insignia with pride, and raise our flag!

Filled with pride and hope, hybrids and humans from Cilt spread throughout the city, driven by Darius's inspiring speech, which managed to erase any trace of fear.

His words echoed in thousands of mouths and took refuge in the hearts of the citizens, who, for the first time in many years, would no longer have to feel rejected by their former home. For they were no longer outcasts. Now, their home stands on its own, without asking anyone's permission to exist.

The Warriors of Cilt marched through the city triumphantly, removing each and every one of the blue and white flags that the Metropolis had imposed for its dominion.

And then, something magical happened.

One by one, the citizens took out from among their most prized possessions the insignia they were forbidden to display.

Black flags bearing the image of an orchid and white laurels.

The Cilt emblem, which remained hidden for all these years, now flourishes on every street, home, business, and monument.

The city is painted black, but it wasn't in mourning. Black is a symbol of revolution, of defiance of the previously established. A color that only the brave of heart dare to wear.

And among the streets filled with celebrating citizens, a chant of unknown origin resonates like a hymn, traveling through the forest until it reached the ears of those to whom it was addressed;

“May freedom have mercy on us.

May strength make us gentle.

May hope never abandon us.

So be it.

So be it.

So be it.”

Hybrid-Kira (2025)