On March 19th, after five days without classes, the school opened its doors once again. Among the returning students were Candado and his friends. However, they weren't the only ones embarking on the new educational cycle.

Martina and Kevin managed to get into school thanks to fake identities, a fictional home, and a tutor who only existed on paper. All of this was made possible by Candado's financial generosity. Initially, Kevin was reluctant about attending school, but with some pleading from Martina and a small bribery of sweets, he finally relented. However, his consent came with a condition: Martina had to attend school with him. Candado, as clever as he was, included Kevin's name on the school roster, even though, due to his age, he should have been in high school. The teachers overlooked this discrepancy and accepted Kevin's presence.

Initially, Esteban couldn't believe the good rapport the Bailak siblings had with Candado. It was an unusual situation, especially concerning Addel, who had previously distrusted Kevin but now considered him a friend.

The day at school passed pleasantly. The twins copied language exercises, Hector and Lucas exchanged notes on scientific ideas, German, Matlotsky, Anzor, and Declan chatted about various topics, from soccer to cards, jokes, and plans for the future. Viki, Ana María, and Pio engaged in lively conversations among themselves, while Hammya struggled to catch up on accumulated homework. Clementina was attentive to everything that happened, even observing her young boss, Candado, who simply occupied a chair and copied notes from the teaching program into his notebook. Occasionally, Hammya urged him to help her with certain topics, but beyond that, Candado didn't do much else.

Kevin, who had gotten along well with Candado in the previous days, devoted himself to copying homework using his powers. He made his pen levitate, and it automatically wrote down everything he needed. His only task was to move his index finger to guide the pen as it completed the assignments.

Occasionally, Kevin paused what he was doing to observe Martina. Although it had been her idea to attend school, Martina didn't feel entirely comfortable due to the presence of two youngsters who wouldn't stop whispering behind her back. You didn't need to be a genius like Einstein or a scientist like Hawkins to guess what they were talking about; they mocked Martina for her height and the curious tattoo on her forehead.

This deeply irritated Kevin, so he devised a plan to teach those annoying individuals a lesson. He took out four pencils, sharpened them meticulously with a sharpener, and placed them neatly on the floor. With a smile, he made the pencils roll to the feet of the two brats. Then, he borrowed a mirror from his benchmate, Tarah, and continued with his task.

Kevin positioned the mirror near the end of his desk and aimed it at the targets. Once everything was ready, he moved his index finger, and the pencils began to levitate in the air. They separated, and two of them headed towards one brat's bench, while the other two went to the other's table. Once in position, Kevin moved his hands, and the pencils began to poke his victims. Initially, he did it slowly to sow intrigue in the boys, but then he increased the speed and skill of the pencils, carefully avoiding being detected by his targets.

The stabs were precise and aimed at uncomfortable places: elbows, arms, legs, hands, buttocks, and parts of the neck. As he continued his act, the two bullying boys began to panic and moved frantically in search of the source of their discomfort. However, this only worsened the situation as they offered new targets for Kevin's pencils. Although it was difficult for him to contain his laughter while observing the situation, Kevin struggled to keep control over the pencils as his victims fell into his trap.

"Imbeciles," he said, trying not to burst into laughter.

Amid the struggle to figure out who the hell was poking them, they miscalculated one of their movements and toppled the table with them. The teacher, who was writing on the board, turned around, and upon seeing these two on the ground, she walked up to them. Kevin took advantage and brought his pencils back cautiously and quickly. He put his left arm behind his back, opened his hand, and his four pencils, green, pink, red, and orange, came flying.

As for the two brats, they were taken to the principal's office by the teacher to receive a few boring sermons. When everything was over, Kevin began to laugh quietly for successfully executing his plan, but as soon as he laughed, he felt a hard book hit on his head. Kevin looked up and saw Candado with a cold expression.

"It's forbidden to use magic to harm or bother others."

"Relax, they were bothering Martina, and they got what they deserved."

"That's not reason enough; don't do it in class, period."

"Fine, I won't do it again, happy?"

"No." Candado hit Kevin on the head again with his book and continued. "Now, yes, I'm better."

As soon as he did that, Candado went back to his desk, and Kevin continued writing with his flying pen, arms crossed. But as soon as he sat down, Matlotsky and Lucia raised their hands and signaled to him.

"Great, what now?"

Candado left his book on the table and walked over to where they were, hands in his pockets.

"Hey Candado, beautiful day, isn't it?"

"Cut to the chase, Matlotsky, what do you need?"

"We want you to help us study history. You know, we have a history exam on Friday, related to March 24th."

"Well, I'm surprised you're asking me for help," then Candado looked up as if searching for something. "Where's your sister?"

"She's in the bathroom, she'll be back."

"Come on, Candado, spill it and tell us already, will you?"

Candado gave Matlotsky a penetrating look.

"Please, don't make me hit you."

"Fine, what do you want to know?"

"Okay, according to this questionnaire, the question will be: What is commemorated on March 24th?" Lucia said.

"The coup d'état by Isabel Martínez de Perón and the assumption of power by the military."

Matlotsky and Lucia began jotting down what Candado said.

"Right, what happened during the dictatorship?" Matlotsky asked.

"Well, the military junta's de facto government focused on kidnapping and murdering all those who were against or had different thoughts, causing a massacre and disappearance of more than thirty thousand people."

The duo took notes while paying full attention to what Candado recounted.

"Next question, how long did it last, and how many presidents were there?"

"It lasted seven years, and there were four presidents: Jorge Rafael Videla, Eduardo Viola, Leopoldo Galtieri, and Reynaldo Bignone."

"Okay, okay," the duo said as they wrote.

"And the last one, in what year did democracy return, and who was the president?" Lucia asked.

"Democracy returned in 1983 with President Raúl Alfonsín, the father of democracy, so to speak."

When they finished jotting down everything he had said, they looked at him and thanked him.

"Thank you very much, Candado, for the information."

"When you do that, it's creepy; leave the synchronization, please."

"Okay," they both said simultaneously.

Candado said nothing, just gestured with his beret and went back to his seat. He knew saying anything else would mean getting teased again. He walked calmly to his chair; everyone else was busy doing their things as the teacher hadn't returned from the principal's office yet; she was still giving a lecture to the kids.

So while she's away, the others do all sorts of things except homework. However, they have a certain freedom because there's an unwritten rule to obey Candado. They can't bother others, and they can't use their powers to harm others at school. The last one who defied this ended up in the hospital, or so they say. This guy tried to use his powers to bother students and teachers, and Candado, the unionist who doesn't tolerate disorder and the whimsical, told him not to do it anymore; he had no right to bother others. This guy, trying to be the center of attention, attempted to attack Candado and become popular, but it backfired; Candado knocked him out with just three punches, which weren't severe, but it's clear he couldn't bear the humiliation and decided to move away from town.

Since then, many kids and some teachers are grateful to have a boy who indirectly imposes fear. Many at school call him "Rattlesnake." He warns his enemies not to approach him, only he warns them with five-minute speeches and not with a rattle. Also, if you're not careful, you'll expect a deadly bite or a punch.

As Candado continued with his reading, Hammya, who was busy with all the topics that had been covered, nudged Candado.

"It's not that I'm sensitive, but it seems like everyone's turned against me today; I can't read in peace," Candado said, keeping his gaze on his book, then he turned and looked at Hammya. "What do you need?"

"I'd like you to tell me the meaning of the word 'receptacle'; I don't understand what it means."

"A cavity in which any substance can be contained, happy?"

"Yes, but…"

"Glad to hear it," Candado turned his head and looked at his book. "Now leave me alone."

Hammya said nothing and just wrote down what Candado had told her in her notebook.

"Great, I'm done," she then put her pen in the pencil case and leaned back on the table with a satisfied smile.

"Candado."

"..."

"Candado."

"..."

"Candado."

"..."

"Candado."

"…!"

"Candado."

"What do you want?" Candado snapped.

"What are you reading?" Hammya asked with a smile, as if she had already gotten used to Candado's attitude.

"What?" Candado inhaled and continued. "I'm reading 'The Attempt of the Infinite Man' by Pablo Neruda."

"So where do you get all those books from?"

"From my house, where else?"

"I see you really like those writers; it surprises me that someone like you cares about adult topics."

"First and foremost, what the hell is it to you? And secondly, what I read is my business and no one else's, got it? Just like you like that green hair, I like reading."

"Well, a few days ago, you said you'd be kinder; now it seems like you're not living up to your word."

Candado made a face and rolled his eyes 180 degrees.

"And there you go again, yes, I've said it, but so far you haven't given me a reason to keep my word."

Hammya yawned and said, "Please, it's too early; don't be like this today."

Candado clenched his fists tightly and crumpled a page of his book, showing his teeth together, top with bottom, and turned his head to look at Hammya, his face ominous with immense anger, which Hammya didn't see as she was totally and absolutely asleep on her desk. He raised his arm with his book in hand, and just as he was about to strike, the door opened, and the teacher and the two brats entered. In that split second, Candado calmed down and acted as if nothing had happened. In contrast, as soon as the teacher saw Hammya sleeping, she approached and asked if she was okay, to which she responded.

"I'm fine, just sleepy."

"Go to the bathroom and wash your face."

"And also tell me how deep the Kermadec Trench is," Candado whispered.

"Did you say something?" Hammya asked.

"Nothing, I said nothing."

Hammya got up and left the classroom; the teacher didn't even bother to look at Candado, so he just sat at his desk and continued with his work. Candado, on the other hand, closed his book and looked at his watch.

"Today is the day," Candado sighed and continued. "I hope nothing goes wrong in the inspection. Life goes on, huh? It's as if Guillermo were still alive. Well, I think it's better to remember him with smiles than with tears."

Just at that moment, someone knocked on the door. The teacher said to come in, and the principal entered, then fixed his eyes on Candado.

"Gather all your things; they're looking for you."

Candado packed his folder and pencil case, took his backpack, and said goodbye to his classmates and friends. After that, guided by him, he left the classroom and walked with the principal to the school's exit.

"This stays between you and me, okay?"

"Yeah, sure."

The principal patted Candado on the shoulder, then turned around and went back into the school, closing the door behind him. Candado didn't look back at any moment; he just continued until he could see the school's gated entrance, where there were three figures: two boys and one girl. One was facing him, with black hair and dark eyes, dressed in dark pants, black shoes, a white shirt, and a blue tie. The second had dark hair and a $1 coin embedded in his right eye, wearing a black shirt with a white tuxedo vest and a white tie, black pants, and dark brown shoes. The third was a woman, not very tall, reaching Candado's shoulder, with red hair and eyes that matched her hair. She wore a white t-shirt with a light blue pullover that had two horizontal yellow stripes on the chest. At first glance, they looked like thugs, especially the boy with the coin instead of an eye. Candado didn't pay attention and approached them. As he got closer, he could make out one of them, as the boy in the blue shirt and tie was his friend.

"I never thought the president of the Traffic Lights of Argentina would come to see me in person, Joaquín."

"And I never thought I'd have to inspect a friend."

"Don't lie," he said, smiling.

Candado and Joaquín shook hands.

"You know? Today I had classes; I'd like to know why you couldn't schedule another day."

"Candado, I understand the situation, I know the school was attacked and you were without classes for a while, but unfortunately, your situation in the O.M.G.A.B. has changed."

"What do you mean?"

"The padlock (a position of leaders of the state of the unions, similar to the president of a country) of the World Organization of Adjacent Guilds Bernstein, Yuuta Aikawa, signed your exoneration, and within six days, you can return, if you pass the inspection."

"I already knew that, Yuuta sent me a letter, and damn him, he wrote it in Japanese to mock me, you have to be a real son of a... bitch to do that to me."

"Well, thank goodness he's not here."

"Yes, thank goodness," Candado glanced at the people who were accompanied by his friend and continued. "By the way, who are they?"

"Right," Joaquín stepped aside and pointed to his friend. "Candado, this is Mark Aurelio, but his nickname is Coin."

"Pleasure, glad to meet the most wanted boy in the world," Coin greeted with a hoarse and ominous voice.

"Heh, pleased to meet you."

"And she is Ruth Van Grace."

Candado approached to shake her hand, but she didn't intend to, so Joaquín took her wrist and guided it to Candado's hand.

"It's okay, she's just a friend."

Ruth accepted and shook his hand, but didn't say a word.

"She's strange."

Joaquín ignored what Candado had said and continued.

"Alright, fancy a walk with us for a while?"

"Yes, that's why I'm with you."

Candado walked alongside his "inspectors"; apparently, they had the power to say whether he was ready or not. Along the way, Candado began to worry about the matter, so he decided to break the silence by talking about uncommon things for him.

"Tell me, where are Krauser and Glinka?"

Joaquín laughed at the question and said.

"You know, Krauser goes here and there, basically likes to do good and spread it all over the country. Glinka remains herself, she didn't want to follow me today because she had to go to school, so I decided to bring them along to meet you."

"Wow, how considerate of you."

"It's nothing. But, you know, right?"

"What thing?"

"About what the Circuit has been doing lately to our comrades."

"Between us, that seems like someone's incitement to start a war."

"I thought the same, but there are rumors within the agency that a war is going to start any moment. I don't know when, but if things continue this way, blood will be shed."

Candado looked at the ground with concern and said.

"You're right."

"Well, I didn't take you out of school to talk about that. There will be a time and a place to talk, so don't worry."

"Great."

"I don't need to remind you how things work, right? If you fail the inspection, you'll have to hand over your badge, standard, and flag. The W.O.G.A.B. has no power over the decisions made by the inspector, as we are an independent body from the organization. If you believe the decision is reckless or unjust, you'll have to appeal to the supreme president of the Traffic Lights, who is Julekha Chandra."

"I already know that, I don't know why you're explaining it to me. I made the laws."

"I did it so you wouldn't forget."

Candado looked up while grimacing.

"Alright, what's the purpose of this walk?"

"Nothing in particular, I just wanted to talk to you."

"Really? I don't believe you."

"Partly yes and partly no."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, when your name came up at the department, no one, absolutely no one wanted to take your case for inspection. I thought it would be a good idea to take your records so I could meet with you."

"Do I scare people that much?"

"Yeah, at least others, because I, nor my group, fear you, we just hold respect for you, not to mention we've known each other for a long time."

"Well, I guess I should thank you then."

"Don't mention it, after all, I wanted to chat with my friend," Joaquín said as he put his hand on Candado's head.

"As if I were your dog."

"My apologies."

"Tell me, do you know someone named Addel Schrödinger?"

"Yes, I know him, he's Krauser's nemesis. It's not common to see them fight."

"Besides all that, have you ever fought against him?"

"No, I never indulged in those pleasures. You know, I just focus on enforcing the law, nothing more."

"Joaquín is very peaceful about these matters. Usually, Ruth and I defend him when the situation gets out of hand."

"That's true, Coin is like that with everyone who's somewhat powerful to me."

"If it weren't for us, Joaquín would never have come this far."

"Don't be so egotistical, because I could take you down with my eyes closed."

"Oh, be careful, Joaquín is going to kill me with a pen."

"Ruth, please."

At that moment, she nodded in affirmation and punched him on the cheek.

"Thank you very much."

Candado smiled and looked up at the sky.

"This brings back so many memories with my team."

"Candado, I think it's the first time in a long time I've seen you smile."

"And that determination reminds me of my new partner."

"New partner? Do you have a new member?"

"Yes, her name is Hammya Saillim, and she's the daughter of an old friend of my father."

"Wow, a friend of your old man."

At that moment, Candado's eyes sparkled, he looked at his left hand and then at his friend's back.

"Joaquín, can you do me a small favor?"

"Yes, what is it?"

"I want you to go to Entre Ríos and bring me information about a friend, his name is Ricardo Miranda, nicknamed the Wheel."

Joaquín wrote down the province name and the individual's name.

"I've got it. Once I have it, I'll send you a letter with all the information I've gathered."

"Great, it would be nice to have some information from time to time. I've had so many doubts that it would be good to know something, right?"

"What are you talking about?"

"Nothing, I was just talking to myself."

"By the way, did you see Rucciménkagri? They say she passed through this area a few years ago."

"No, I haven't seen her, why?"

"Yuuta has been going crazy looking for her, so much so that he's put a reward of three thousand gold coins, there are still certain things she needs to answer for."

"Darn, is she that dangerous?"

"Her affiliation is with the Circuit, Candado. They're inherently dangerous; she's betrayed her former comrades, she's a criminal being hunted everywhere, whatever it is, the information she has is crucial for both groups."

"Well, I hope you're lucky."

"Thanks, it's very exhausting to keep track of her search."

"Ah, what a situation."

Joaquín took out a planner from his pants pocket and flipped through a few pages.

The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

"Tell me, who's the old man you've been meeting with lately?"

Candado stopped, causing Joaquín to walk ahead, he raised his head and looked at his friend's back, but this time, his gaze was suspicious.

"How did you get that information?"

"Maybe you don't know, Candado, but you're an important member of the W.O.G.A.B. We can't afford to leave you unattended. When you were detained and penalized, Yuuta called me and told me not to take my eyes off you. I called four people to take turns watching over you, the first was Arce Catherine Lourdes, Reinhold Krauser, Xundaringel Ángela."

"That's three, who's the fourth?"

"Ha, me. I must say, when you went to the park that afternoon, you looked very pale, as if you had fought with someone."

"I don't like being followed, let alone being spied on."

"I wasn't spying on you, just watching over you just in case."

"Just in case of what?"

"Just in case something happened to you, remember that your life is crucial for us Semaphores."

"So? The feeling I had that day, that someone was following me, was that you?"

"No, that was someone else, I don't remember their name right now, but I call them the overseer, a person capable of doing the most difficult tasks in the agency."

"She's your teacher, right?"

"Let's say yes, but that doesn't change the fact that she's not bad at her job."

"To be honest, what did you do to convince your overseer Mariela to follow me?"

"(It's incredible that he knows her name) Truthfully, she always seeks to prevent her little ones from going astray in life."

"You lied to her."

"A little, I just told her you were very depressed and would surely do something stupid."

"I can't believe it, so, is she good?"

"Of course she is."

"As an overseer, not as a spy."

"If she wasn't, she wouldn't have cared if I told her your situation, but as you can see, she followed you, so think about your answer."

"I see, you're very skilled at this."

"Yes, of course. Now tell me, who is it?"

Candado closed his eyes for a moment and then opened them.

"His name is Nelson Torres, he was my grandfather's friend, that's all."

"I see, it seems my suspicions were off."

"Suspicions?"

"Oh, nothing, it's just my issue."

By the time the conversation had ended, the group was standing in front of the guild.

"It hasn't changed at all, although the last time I was here the paint was eaten away by dampness, now I see it's shiny again."

"Pio and Matlotsky were always masters at painting."

"Well, I could give you points for seeing that you take care of your group's hygiene," Joaquín said as he wrote in the planner.

"Great."

"Well, can we come in?"

"Oh, of course."

Candado walked alone to the door. He opened it and gestured with his hand for them to enter. The group entered and looked around, everything was clean and tidy, every shelf and bookcase was gleaming.

"It's as if you knew we were coming," Moneda said.

"Not at all, the place is always like this; I always make sure my group keeps it that way, that's why it's always gleaming."

"Great, it seems everything is in order. Now I want you to show me the guild documents, please."

"For what?"

"Organization's regulations, it's to know if you haven't been defrauding the mission reports you do day by day or at least if you've complied with every rule the W.O.G.A.B. has asked of you."

"Do you really think I'd be capable of such a thing?"

"It's not about mistrust, but as an inspector, it's necessary to fill out your form to show that you've always been loyal to the organization and to Harambee, not to mention that those who hate you need written proof."

"Seems fair, follow me please."

Candado walked to a yellow door, inserted a key, and opened it.

"This is the room where we keep the documents," Candado said as he turned on the light.

The room was a mess, with tons of documents detailing the guild's activities for approximately a hundred years, stacks and stacks of papers.

"It's insane!" exclaimed Moneda, astonished.

"It'll take us a thousand years to read all those notes."

"Ah, not those, since those are from my great-grandfather, grandfather, and mother. The ones you're going to inspect are these," said Candado, pointing to a smaller stack of papers.

"Never make those jokes again," said Moneda, with his hand over his chest, relieved.

"Alright, Ruth, Candado, and Moneda, help me carry these documents, please."

The three agreed, each taking a more or less considerable stack of folders, while Joaquín carried a huge pile.

"What are you doing?" asked Candado.

"Helping, after all, they're just papers, they weigh nothing," he said, dropping the stack of documents on a desk.

When Joaquín placed the notes on the table, Candado and the others placed the papers next to Joaquín's pile, while Candado brushed the dust off the papers from his clothes, he heard a cleaning noise with strange sounds behind him. Candado turned and saw Ruth with a brush held by her hair, cleaning the documents on the table one by one, while she had her hands in her pockets.

"Wow, I never thought you had that kind of power."

Ruth looked at Candado and gave him a thumbs up, but with a cold attitude.

"You're strange."

"That's her, if she's given you the thumbs up, it means she likes you."

"That's still scary."

"Why?"

"It's as if she were a person who forgets to express herself."

"Yes, do you have a problem with people who lack emotions?"

"Yes, any problem?"

"No, not at all," then he looked at Ruth and continued, "Hey, thanks, but that's enough, now do me a favor and rest and watch outside, please."

Ruth nodded and left the house while putting her brush back in her pocket. And once she left, Joaquín approached Candado and put his hand on his shoulder.

"I have to confess something, please close the door."

Candado walked to the door and gestured to Moneda to leave the room, and once he was gone, Candado closed the door.

"Alright, what do you want to tell me?"

"It's about Ruth, as we're friends, I think I should tell you."

"Alright, what is it?"

"She suffers from a disorder. Five months ago, Ruth was abused by her family; her parents weren't the best, and as a result, she suffered a lot in that environment. I'd like you to help her a little too, please."

"What happened to them?"

"One morning her parents beat her to the point where they were about to kill her; she defended herself and used her powers to kill them. From that day on, she lost her voice when she saw her parents dismembered in front of her eyes. When the police found her, they took her to an orphanage, where she lived for two weeks until an aunt adopted her, but her stay didn't improve. So she decided to put her niece in the Semaphores agency before sending her to school, and as you know, the Semaphores are not only an agency but also a school."

"And how did she end up under your care?" asked Candado.

"Let's say her papers came into my hands, Chaco is a small province, news travels fast."

"Wow, smells like mafia."

"It's nothing illegal."

"Barreto, you're a horrible person hiding behind that smile."

"Don't jump to conclusions; anyway, I'd like this to stay between us, not to mention that I'll need your help in this matter."

"Alright, I accept."

"Thank you very much. Now, without further ado, I'll start writing down everything you've done in the last few years."

"Do you want me to do something?"

"No, I don't need anything. You can go for a walk around, but not too far, as I'm still supervising you."

Candado left the room and saw Moneda chatting with Ruth outside, while she listened attentively. Candado made a mocking face and headed to his office. When he opened it, he saw Clementina lying on his desk asleep with a book on her face.

"What?!," he lowered his voice quickly, then looked behind him to see if anyone had heard him. "What are you doing here?"

Clementina turned her head and looked at Candado.

"Who are you?"

"Don't play dumb and tell me what the hell you're doing here."

"I was told that some people took you from school, to be more precise, the Semaphores. I realized it would be your inspection, so I left school and took the shortcut to get here and clean up the mess Matlotsky had made, and after finishing cleaning, I fell asleep."

"So it was you, I suspected it was weird that the room smelled like strawberry fragrance."

"I used a little, yes."

"Well, thanks for the help, although I didn't know this place was a dump."

"Believe me, it was, it seems Matlotsky woke up here inside."

"When my vacation is over, I'll go get him."

Candado took an orange candy from his pocket and threw it to her hands.

"And this?"

"You earned it, it's a token of my appreciation."

"Well, thank you."

"Of course."

Candado left his office and closed the door behind him, but he hadn't noticed Clementina was standing next to him.

"Hey, when did you get here?"

"I'm fast."

At that moment, Joaquín emerged from the room.

"Oh, Clementina, it's been a while since I last saw you."

"Same here."

"Well, I've reviewed all the documents, now tell me."

"What?"

"Since I arrived, that bookshelf has piqued my curiosity."

"Curiosity?" asked Clementina.

"Exactly, I never dared to ask, but now I will. What's behind the bookshelf?"

"Nothing, just a wall."

"Just a wall? If that's true, why the hell is the floor so worn out on that side? I don't think someone like you would move the bookshelf countless times just to see a wall."

"That's not—"

"Listen to me, I've been to every guild in this country; I've seen many secret passages."

"It's just a regular wall."

Joaquín tapped the bookshelf with his index finger.

"It seems like you've been moving it a lot, huh? Enough to wear out the floor."

Candado kept his gaze on Joaquín.

"Is it something illegal?"

"No."

"Would you mind if I 'move' it?"

"I'm afraid I wouldn't, I wouldn't like you moving the bookshelf; I like it where it is."

Joaquín stepped away from him, but he didn't give up on the topic.

"Candado, it's no use lying to me, especially in your position; you have a handwritten document by the Candados of the O.M.G.A.B. If you want to clear yourself of this stain, you have to talk, and by talk, I mean the truth."

"You win, it's a secret room, and what."

"Okay, would you let me pass?"

"No, I won't."

"Why?"

"You said it yourself; it's secret."

"That's true, but I want to get in."

"What if I refuse?"

"I'll consider it contempt, expel you, and still enter by force; how about that?"

"I could sue you for that."

"Maybe, but given your status of having been punished by the O.M.G.A.B. and just knowing that your enemies within the organization won't listen to you anyway."

"I have rights, believe it or not, they can't refuse my request for help."

"That's true, but when the report reaches Chandra or the O.M.G.A.B., they'll ask you about the secret passage, they'll search the documents, read them one by one; if they're not harmful, they'll sanction me for a year or more depending on the offense, but the documents won't be secret anymore."

"What if we silence you?" asked Clementina, pointing her arm like a machine gun.

"Stop, I don't want you to do that, we've known each other for a long time, Clem, don't be mean."

Just then, Ruth and Moneda appeared behind Clementina, intending to attack her.

"Don't resist, robot, because if he gets hurt, I'll make sure to destroy you."

"Moneda, that's enough, I forbid you to move, the same goes for you, Ruth."

"Clementina, lower the weapon."

"If I do. All our work will be revealed; you said it yourself, we must protect the writings with our lives."

Joaquín looked Candado in the eyes and said, "This is getting too serious, Candado, do you give me your word that there's no illicit material or fraudulent writings behind that bookshelf?"

"I swear, there's nothing behind that wall that could be corrupt for my colleagues and me."

"Alright, I believe you," then he tore a blank sheet from his notebook and handed it to Candado, then looked at his companions, "Ruth, Moneda, rest."

"But—"

"Rest, we won't discuss this matter."

"What's this?" asked Candado, holding the paper in his hand.

"It's a ghost certificate with my signature; if anyone besides me comes and wants to enter by force, you'll show them this paper."

"I don't understand."

"Simple, ghost certificates are used to protect your assets, so accept it."

"Moneda, Ruth, let's go, we're done here."

Joaquín headed to the door, accompanied by his companions, but as he was about to leave, Candado stopped him.

"Wait, why are you leaving so easily?"

"You said it was personal, right? Then I don't have to meddle, not to mention you said there's nothing illicit behind that wall, so as your friend, I'll believe your word."

"Barreto, you're too negligent."

"Maybe, but it doesn't hurt you."

Joaquín smiled and left the house with his companions behind him.

It was a totally and absolutely strange situation; Candado thought he wouldn't see another day if what was inside was revealed, but he never thought Joaquín would turn a blind eye and just leave like that.

But as soon as Joaquín and his friends' figures were out of sight, Candado took one of the books from the shelf and gave Clementina a strong blow on the head.

"Never do that again."

"Yes… sir."

Then he put the book back in its place.

"I can't believe it; knowing Joaquín, I was almost sure he would fight me to extract the necessary information, but it seems I was wrong. A little more, and a calamity would have unfolded."

"At least nothing happened."

"Then why don't you confess to your friends about your situation?"

"I don't want to; if staying in bed for a week means not telling them anything, then I'll endure it, period."

"You're too stubborn."

"And you're insolent, so we're even."

"Oh, come on, you know it's very difficult to hide a secret from Héctor, especially if it's very dangerous."

"I've been doing well these five months; I can carry on."

"Candado, you don't have much time, from what Hammya told me, that disease will progress and end up eliminating you."

"I'll cut that girl's tongue."

"Don't lash out at her; I asked her to tell me every last detail."

Candado covered his eyes with his beret and said, "That girl…"

"Reminds you of yourself?"

Candado remained silent for a while, reflecting on what Clementina had said.

"In fact, yes, she reminds me of myself, but she's too naive, too kind. Somehow, I feel... envious. She lost her father, and yet she responded to life with a smile," Candado exhaled and continued, "That girl must be strong because she won't always find kindness in things or people."

"That's why you're like that with her."

"Partly yes and partly no, her situation is too fragile. Despite my attempts to keep her away from me, she keeps talking to me, and that annoys me."

"Why?"

"Because she's the only one who wants to know more about me, not to mention she's given others too much courage to try to figure me out. I hate that, I hate that they try to get close to me."

"Sir..."

"Why? Why does she want to get close to me? Why did she want to know about my situation? It frustrates me immensely not to have a definite answer."

Clementina walked over to the sofa in front of Candado and sat down.

"Human understanding has always been a mystery to me, although over time I've come to understand it, because you and Gabriela gave me everything. You gave me a family, you gave me an education, you gave me happy moments and sad moments. I appreciate it all from the bottom of my heart. I believe that if you opened your doors to her, then surely she wants to repay you for everything you've given her."

"What evidence do you have for that rather soft and sentimental argument?"

"Well, do you remember that day when we were coming back from Héctor's house?"

"Yes, I do."

"That day, Hammya, the great lady Barret, and I asked her to help us prepare the food. She agreed, but the great lady Barret told her to call her grandmother. She responded with tears and joy. It was at that moment that I realized she had regained what she had once lost, and all of that was thanks to you."

"I'm glad to know that at least she's happy in her new environment."

"Were you worried?"

"A bit, but I still think she's a burden."

"And you're back to your old self."

"Shut up."

Clementina smiled; at that moment, she had noticed a slight change in his attitude. She knew that the sensitive, cheerful, and playful Candado who had died two years ago was returning with that girl; just knowing that he was coming back filled her heart with great happiness.

After a relaxing thirty minutes without Candado's presence, the teachers could pick up the chalk and send a message to the kids to contribute thirty pesos for the repair of an air conditioner, and with that detail of legal mafia, they ended the classes five minutes early. All the kids were leaving the school in a crowd, and in that throng of people, Hammya was leaving the school last with the happiness of going home and taking a nap, but first, she had to go through one place. Her friends said goodbye to her and left, even Declan said goodbye to her because despite his distrust, he was still a gentleman. Since Hammya harbored no grudge within her, she returned the greeting. Since Héctor didn't say anything that day, everyone headed home, but Hammya wanted to stop by the guild before going home since Viki had given her a spare key; she basically pickpocketed Candado without him realizing it, with it, she could come and go from the guild as she pleased.

As she walked, she remembered the time she had arrived in town. Even though it had been almost a week, for her, it felt like years or centuries had passed. Although she also remembered her father, that man who had raised her for twelve years. She never thought she would have to go from one place to another to live. After almost a month of walking from Entre Ríos to Chaco, she was able to rest at the Barret's house. It also never crossed her mind that Candado would accept her like that, according to Clementina's words, Candado had a snake's tongue, as well as a radical thought about strangers. But who cares about that; she already had a roof over her head, she had hot food, a bathroom, and a place to sleep. What needed to be done was to maintain her stay.

While Hammya reflected on all this, she had no awareness of the time or her location. When she finally realized it, she found herself venturing into the forest, but fortunately, she spotted the guild on the horizon. She repeated the same process as before: she arrived at the back and circled the house from there. She climbed the stairs, inserted the key into the lock, and turned it to the left, opening the door.

Upon entering, she noticed that the house seemed empty. There was no sound. Hammya decided to explore every hallway and room of the place until she reached the lounge. To her surprise, she found Candado sleeping on the sofa while Clementina read the newspaper.

"Hi," whispered Hammya as she entered.

"Shhhh," Clementina responded with a silent gesture.

Hammya apologized in a low voice and placed her backpack on a nearby table. Then, she approached Clementina.

"What happened?" she asked, concerned.

"Nothing, he just fell asleep. He had a very long night last night."

"He didn't sleep?"

"Exactly. He was awake last night taking notes on certain O.M.G.A.B. records and doing research."

"That's demanding."

"Heh, that's nothing. Once Candado stayed awake for a whole week. The next day, I gave him a small electric shock to make him fall asleep, and he slept all day until the next morning."

"Could you please make less noise?" Candado ordered as he stirred in the armchair.

"I'm sorry," murmured Hammya, then she looked at Clementina. "Come on, we better talk somewhere else."

Clementina rolled up the newspaper and took Hammya's hand. Together they left the room and headed to an adjoining room. Once there, Clementina sat down on a wooden chair and resumed reading the newspaper, while Hammya sat opposite her in an identical chair.

"He won't hear us here," Clementina assured her.

"Are you sure?" Hammya doubted.

"Well, I'm not completely sure, but at least he'll be able to sleep peacefully."

"How is that possible?"

"As long as he's sleeping, there's no problem."

"I still don't understand."

"I don't fully understand it either."

"What's all this about?"

"Nothing in particular. I just wanted to talk to you; I didn't know what else to do since Candado was sleeping."

"Okay, that's fine. But I'd like to ask you some questions."

"Sure, go ahead."

"Alright, has Candado ever killed anyone?"

"No, he's never done that."

"Thank goodness. I thought he had."

"Come on, why would you think that? What made you think Candado would be capable of something like that?"

"He talks as if he lacks sensitivity, that's why I wanted to know."

"The truth is, that has nothing to do with Candado's attitude."

"Yes, you're right. I was silly to think that. Forget what I said."

"Okay. Do you have any other questions?"

"Yes, does Candado treat more people as if they were his children?"

"In reality, most of the people here are treated as if they were his children."

"For example?"

"Well, people like Yara, Erika, Lucia, Adrian... Who else? Oh yes, Amadeo."

"And why? Why does he consider them that way?"

"Candado, despite being tough, grumpy, and often cantankerous, is not a bad person. He's someone wounded by life, and society did nothing for him or his family. Doctors didn't do enough to help Gabriela; to them, she was just another patient, and her life didn't matter to them. Then there's the police, who to this day have not managed to catch the people who killed his grandfather. However, he feels more guilty. He had promised to protect her and take care of her, but one day she left this world unexpectedly. His heart was filled with guilt and self-hatred."

"It's a shame to think like that," sighed Clementina.

"But despite everything, Candado always ends up helping someone else. Among the people I mentioned, most of them are minors, except for Erika and Lucia. Thanks to him, they stopped suffering from misogyny. It's amazing how Candado takes care of them as if they were his family. Humans are truly complex creatures, and often even I am surprised."

"All of us, in fact, seek the best for him. We do everything possible to see him happy and content," Clementina explained.

"What if I lend a hand too?" proposed Hammya.

"Any help is welcome. That way, Candado will never be alone. We'll always be by his side and we'll never betray him, so yes, you can help us," Clementina affirmed.

"Great. Who else is inside?"

"Well, inside the guild we have Hector, Lucas, Mauricio, Diana, Logan, Erika, Lucia, Anzor, Viki, Pio, Declan, Ícaro, German, Matlotsky, Ana María, Antonela, Frederick, Joaquín, Tínbari, me, and now you."

"Wow, that's a lot. But who is Antonela?"

"Antonela is a friend of ours. Although she's not part of our guild, Candado made a special deal with her and gave her access. She comes by occasionally and is friends with all of us. You'll love meeting her when she comes."

"I see. And Logan?"

"Logan is Mauricio's brother, the guy he was playing with. He's a very serious person, never laughs or jokes. Actually, he can be a bit intimidating, but he's a good person."

"Another Candado, it seems there's another one like him. And Diana?"

"Diana is the girl who helped us the other day against that psychotic girl with the sword."

"Oh, I remember that. The scythe girl."

"Exactly. And now, who is Ícaro?"

"Ícaro is Candado's cousin. To be honest, he's a serial troublemaker, but deep down he has a good heart," Clementina continued. "Then there's Joaquín, the regional president of the traffic lights. He's quite rough; to be honest, I don't like him much, but Candado trusts him, so it's okay."

"Wow, and Frederick, who is he?"

"Frederick Fliipoff, although everyone speaks to him with respect and only calls him Frederick. He's a football lover and personally, he's Matlotsky's best friend."

"That's great. It's impressive to see how all of you help Candado to keep going."

At that moment, Hammya realized that Candado had been wounded by the circumstances of life, but despite his pain, he was never alone. There was always someone willing to help him, and the evidence was that his friends had done more for him than his own family, especially after the death of his daughter. He wasn't a bad person; he was just wounded and suffering. All of that had made him tough and cold as a way to protect himself psychologically. Deep down, Hammya felt envious that Candado had such loyal and committed friends, friends who would never abandon him. Hammya had spent very little time at school, and when she finally had the chance to make friends or at least acquaintances, her life took an unexpected turn due to her father's illness, which led her to spend a lot of time at home, studying with a private tutor and missing out on the opportunity to socialize.

"You know, I feel a little envious," confessed Hammya.

Clementina, who was reading the newspaper after finishing the conversation, looked up and observed Hammya with curiosity.

"What? Envy?" Clementina asked.

"Yes, Candado is lucky to have you all. I, on the other hand, have nothing. My father died, I never met my mom, and I never had friends. When he died, I was left with nothing. Then I realized that I had regained what I had lost and what I never had: a family."

Clementina gave a slight smile.

"Deja vu, I suppose."

"Sorry?"

"Nothing, I was just talking to myself."

At that moment, Candado entered the room, without his beret and struggling to stand, wobbling every time he took or tried to take a step.

"Is something wrong, sir?" asked Hammya, concerned.

"I think I relaxed too much and I can't stand up properly," Candado responded with a slight laugh.

"Do you need anything?" inquired Hammya.

"Yes, a coffee to wake me up."

Clementina folded the newspaper, placed it on the table, and stood up.

"Where are you going?" asked Hammya.

"To bring him a coffee," Clementina responded as she left the room.

Meanwhile, Candado managed to sit at the table.

"Wow, you seem pretty beat," remarked Hammya.

"Don't make me laugh, girl. I'm just a little tired."

"Then why not keep sleeping?"

"Because I can't stand it. I can't stand doing nothing."

Then, Candado literally collapsed onto the table.

"Ah, I'm tired. I need sugar or caffeine to reactivate my brain."

But as soon as he finished speaking, Candado fell asleep the next minute. He seemed really exhausted.

Hammya watched Candado, and from that perspective, he seemed like a harmless and relaxed person, like a baby. The way he slept was tender, and it was possibly the first time Hammya had seen him in that way. She felt a strange sensation of tenderness filling her heart slowly.

However, after a few seconds, Hammya placed her hand on Candado's head and began to stroke him, as if she were a mother soothing her child. But suddenly, something strange began to happen. Hammya felt odd, and when she stopped the caress, her eyes shimmered again with a light green color, and she could see fragments of Candado's memories, as if she were a specter.

She saw a field full of flowers and Candado's parents. She observed a memory of Candado crying because he had hurt his knee and his mother was tending to it. She saw Candado playing with his sister, being lifted in the air, similar to how Candado did with Yara. In her mind, Clementina had unnaturally pale skin and lacked emotions, simply mirroring Candado's facial expression. Then, she saw Candado hugging his parents and his sister.

Each image brought a smile to Hammya's face. However, these happy memories gradually began to change, and Hammya started to see fragments of conversations from those memories.

"Happy ninth birthday, Candado. You're on your way to becoming a man," said Gabriela as she clapped.

"I don't think it's that big of a deal," commented Tínbari.

"Shut up and don't bother my brother."

Then, Clementina appeared with skin and emotions, holding a bottle of soda.

"A toast to Master Candado Barret on his ninth birthday," she declared as she poured soda for everyone.

Everyone stood up and raised their glasses.

Afterward, Gabriela hugged Candado and stroked his head while he sat on her lap.

Hammya smiled at seeing this tender scene. However, her smile faded when she saw the next memory. It was a rainy night, Candado was drenched, his friends were dressed in black, and they looked at him with concern. He was leaning against a wall, and the place was the guild. Candado knelt down, tears reflected in his eyes, and an expression of deep pain on his face.

"Candado, do you need anything?" asked Héctor.

"Get lost," Candado responded firmly.

"Excuse me?"

"GET LOST! ALL OF YOU!"

Candado knelt down and began to cry, but his anger was even greater than the pain he was feeling. His eyes turned violet, but they weren't fiery as they used to be, but a pure violet. On his face, the characteristic tattoo of the same color began to appear, and his hands were enveloped in flames.

"Why? Why did you take her? Why did you snatch her life away?"

His friends said nothing; they just watched as he began to release all his pain with his words. Tears welled up in their eyes from their friend's suffering, and a sense of helplessness overwhelmed them as they couldn't do anything to ease his pain.

"She... She did everything, everything a human being should have. So tell me, why the hell did you take her? She believed in you, I believed in you, and we always kept our word. We didn't kill, we didn't murder, we didn't even swear allegiance to other gods."

Candado struggled to find the right words as tears prevented him from speaking fluently.

"I... I should have gone in her place, she... No," Candado frowned and looked at the ceiling with anger. "You had no right to claim her life, you had no right. Who do you think you are to take my sister away? Bastard, son of a bitch, son of a thousand whores," he exclaimed as he stood up and clenched his fists. "Why do you just take the kind-hearted people and leave us bastards? No, you're not fair, I deny your existence. You're a murderer."

Candado, overwhelmed by pain and anger, began to vent physically, hitting the walls with his fists, destroying tables and chairs, overturning bookshelves and books, and releasing his power in the form of flames. All the while, he cried and screamed in pain, expressing his grief for the loss of his sister. His friends watched helplessly as their friend suffered.

"I hate you, I hate you, I hate you, I hate you, I hate you, I hate you, I hate you, I hate you, I hate you, I hate you, I HATE YOU! I HATE YOU! MURDERER! WHY DON'T YOU DIE!?"

Candado destroyed everything within his reach, his anger toward God was overwhelming, and he wished to somehow seek revenge in the realm of paradise. Meanwhile, Hammya watched the scene in astonishment, feeling Candado's pain in her own chest as he continued his destruction.

"BRING HER BACK! SHE ALWAYS BELIEVED IN YOU, YOU'RE A MURDERER!"

Finally, Candado became exhausted and knelt in the midst of the chaos he had created. All the anger had left his body, leaving behind a broken heart filled with pain.

"I promised I would always take care of you, protect you. Why aren't you here? You told me you would marry the boy you liked and have children. Please, come back and fulfill your dreams," Candado pleaded before collapsing on the ground. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have gotten so angry. I don't want to make you feel bad. Please, come home to dad and mom, to grandma and grandpa, to Clementina, my friends, and me. Come back home, don't leave me. I want to see your smile again, I want us to play again, I want to see that magic trick with the coin you used to do when I was sad. I want you back, I want you to hug me when I'm sad. I need you."

Candado closed his eyes and tears streamed down his face, soaking the ground around him. His friends rushed to him and embraced him, trying to console him as he cried. Hammya, on the other hand, also shed some tears as she watched this emotional scene unfold.

Then, the scene disappeared in the blink of an eye, and Hammya found herself back in the room. She was surrounded by an overwhelming silence. Candado lifted his head and looked into her eyes.

"Why was your hand on my head?" Candado asked with curiosity, breaking the silence that had settled in the room.

Hammya, still confused by the experience of seeing Candado's memories, stuttered as she responded, "I, um..."

Candado noticed that Hammya was also crying and asked with concern, "And why are you crying?"

Hammya, touching her cheeks and feeling the dampness of the tears, tried to wipe them away with the sleeves of her sweater. Then, she felt someone grab her wrist. She lowered her gaze and saw that Candado had stopped her with his left hand while offering her a white handkerchief with his right hand.

"It's so your eyes don't get irritated," Candado explained with compassion.

Hammya took the handkerchief and then looked up to Candado, noticing that he too was crying, although he was trying to hide it.

"Thank you," Hammya replied sincerely.

However, Candado, trying to deny his tears, stood up and turned away quickly, hiding his face from Hammya.

"No, it's not true," he said with a choked voice as he tried to wipe away his tears with his white glove.

Hammya noticed Candado's distress and tried to understand what had happened. Candado quickly excused himself, "I... um, I'll go see why Clementina is taking so long."

He turned his back and hurried down the hallway, disappearing from Hammya's view. She was left alone and wondered what she had seen in Candado's memories and how she had managed to see them. It seemed she had witnessed happy and sad moments of his life, but what had affected her the most was the death of his sister, Gabriela. Hammya lowered her gaze and sighed worriedly, wondering if that had been the reason why Candado hadn't slept the night before.

As Hammya reflected on what had happened, Candado hastily left the room, closely followed by Clementina.

"Wait, Candado, let's talk about this," Clementina urged.

"There's nothing to talk about," Candado replied as he grabbed his beret and backpack.

Clementina tried to stop him, but Candado slammed the door shut behind him. Then, Clementina turned to Hammya with a concerned expression on her face.

"What happened?" Clementina asked, seeking answers in Hammya's expression.

Hammya held the handkerchief in her hands and responded to Clementina with sincerity,

"I think I saw his memories."

Clementina showed surprise and curiosity on her face.

"Oh, it seems that temporarily uprooting wasn't just your power."

"You think so?"

"Yes, I would believe so. But tell me, what did you see?"

"I saw some things, like his birthday and the day his sister died."

Clementina's expression became even more astonished.

"I see, so you saw how he took it?"

"Yes, I saw how he suffered the loss of his sister. I also saw how emotionally shattered he was, I saw the fury and rage he felt towards God and towards himself."

Clementina sat in the chair where Candado had been before and looked at Hammya.

"Well, what you saw there was the death of that cheerful and playful Candado, and the birth of the cold and serious Candado he is now."

Hammya nodded, beginning to better understand Candado.

"I think I understand him better now. I feel some of Candado's pain. He thinks he doesn't deserve to be happy because he feels guilty for not being able to protect his sister. That's why he wants to push away anyone who gets close to him so he never feels hurt again."

Clementina nodded in agreement.

"Yes, you've come to the same conclusion. Candado has a sensitive heart and seeks to protect all those around him."

"But he contradicts himself, as Yara approaches him and he accepts her."

"Well, in that case, it's the opposite. She needs Candado, and he can't turn his back on her because he's the only one who understands her and knows how to care for her. The proof is that Mauricio didn't know what to do when she was sick. Candado, on the other hand, knew how to cure her and spent days and nights taking care of her until her fever subsided."

Hammya reflected on these words and then looked at Clementina with determination.

"I want to help him."

Clementina nodded with a smile.

"I don't mean to question you, but why?"

"Candado has carried this burden alone for so long. He has managed to hide his pain from all of us, but by delving into his memories and dreams, I feel it's time for him to have a hand to carry that heavy burden. He shouldn't have to do it alone. I want to help rebuild the broken person that this Candado is and turn him back into what he was before, a cheerful and charismatic being. When I arrived here, Candado accepted me without any problem, and I want to return the favor."

Clementina nodded in approval.

"Great answer, Miss Hammya, great answer."

Hammya had made a decision, and she was determined to help Candado heal and find the happiness he deserved after so long carrying his painful past.