After Desza fled that night and the group had been there for over six days, Candado rescued Rem Koirala. He delivered him safe and sound before President Chandra, who fulfilled her promise to forgive Joaquín of his charges and allow him to return to his command. Rozkiewicz was pleased to have him back and continued in his role as vice president.

All the people who accompanied Rozkiewicz that day returned to their homes in Resistance. Candado took his companions back home, the Bailak brothers left accompanied by their pets. Only God knows how they managed to convince Candado to bring a panda, an owl, a tiny dolphin, and a turtle on the plane, but they did. Hammya, who had made some calls, maintained a smile throughout the journey. A smile that caused a certain discomfort to Candado, but he tried to look elsewhere other than her happy face, and upon arrival, Hammya got off the plane and got on the horse Uzoori, urging Candado to take her home, so she could plan her objective. Candado wasn't interested in knowing the slightest detail of what she was planning.

The next day, Candado was enjoying, relatively, his life. It was Saturday again, the glorious Saturday for the students. Although for Candado, it wasn't just another day out of the 365 days of the year; he considered it a sacred day of rest, and he planned to spend the whole day in his house, alone and without company in his room, lying on his bed reading a book. When suddenly he felt three light knocks on his door.

"Go away," he said as he turned the page.

Despite Candado's brusque response, the door opened anyway, and Hammya peeked through it.

"Hey, do you have a minute?"

"No."

"Come on, please."

Candado gave her a disapproving look and got up from the bed.

"Make it quick," he said as he left the book open on his desk.

"Well, I would like you to accompany me."

"No."

"Why not?"

"Because it's Saturday, which means today is my day off."

"And?"

"How about 'And'?"

"I'm not going, period."

Then she approached him and sat on his bed, causing Candado to step back and his back to hit the wall.

"Hey, don't come closer."

"Come on, when was the last time we did something together?"

"We did something together?"

"Yes, you took me to faraway places like O.M.G.A.B., Buenos Aires, and Resistance."

"You sneaked into the last one."

"Whatever, the point is you can't spend the whole Saturday here."

"Oh no?" He then got off the bed and stood in front of her with his arms crossed. "Try to get me out of here."

"What about Uzoori?"

"He'll be fine, I took him out yesterday, so nothing's wrong."

"Stop making excuses, it's not healthy for you to be here."

"And you stop looking for an excuse to get me out of here. I'm happy in my room, and that's it."

"Aren't you going to check on the porcelain brothers?"

"They're fine, I sheltered them in the restaurant, the owner owed me a favor. Now that all his children have grown up, it wouldn't hurt for him to feel like a father again."

"And the duo?"

"They're happy living in the woods, so it's fine."

"And Yara?"

"She's with Mauricio in his other world."

"What thing?"

"A world I'll tell you about another time, or better yet, when I feel like it."

"Are you going out?"

"You're very insistent, aren't you?" He then placed his index finger on her forehead and flicked it. "I'm not leaving my comfy bed."

"Come on."

"No."

"Come on."

"No."

"Come on."

"No."

"What is this? Preschool? No and no, the story's over."

Hammya tilted her head, clearly upset by what he said, but shortly after, she lifted her head and said, "Let's go."

"I SAID NO!"

"Come on, don't be like this."

Candado rubbed his forehead and looked at her intently. "I'm not moving from here, get that into your head."

"Let's go."

"Do you not know any other word or what?!"

"Yes, come on, please come with me."

"I don't know who's more stubborn, you or Tínbari."

"Maybe I wouldn't be stubborn if you accepted to come instead of refusing me."

"Refusing me? Wow, using such a complicated word must have given you a headache."

"Are you insulting me?"

"Yes, what are you going to do about it?"

"Why are you doing this?"

"Because I'm an asshole, you wouldn't want one by your side."

"Nice try, you know I won't leave unless it's with you by my side."

Candado clenched his fists, and his left eyebrow started to twitch, but then he relaxed, adjusted his scarf, and took off his beret.

"Alright, the princess wins."

"Really?"

"Yes, so..." He then extended his hand. "Will you join me?"

Hammya took Candado's hand and helped her to her feet.

"I knew I could convince you."

"Yes, of course."

Then they both walked to the door, and Candado, courteously, opened it, bowed, and gestured for her to lead the way.

"Ladies first."

"Oh, thank you."

As soon as Hammya left the room, Candado closed the door with all his might and locked it.

"I'll leave," he said, then put on his beret, "when I want to."

Meanwhile, on the other side, Hammya was banging on the door.

"Open up, it's not fair."

"Life isn't fair," Candado said as he sat at his desk and flipped through some notes.

"Open up, or I'll break it down."

"I'd like to see you try," he then took a sheet of paper from the thousands he had there, folded it, and placed it inside a book, "it would be amusing to watch you break an arm or your head."

"CANDADO!"

"Scream all you want, I'm not opening." He then took a glass and a bottle of soda from his drawer. "It's my day off, I saved your refined hair on more than one occasion, I was an interpreter for some strangers who saved me, I was chased by damn Witnesses, and here I am. I think I deserve this." He took a sip.

"That's why, come with me, and you'll be more relaxed."

"With what? All I want is for you to stop banging on the door and let me enjoy my fifteen free hours." He then glanced at the clock; it was already ten o'clock. "Or should I say my fourteen hours."

Then there was silence, no more banging or Hammya's voice.

"Girl?"

...

"Girl? Are you there?"

...

"Well, I guess she got tired of standing there."

Candado finished his soda, went to the bathroom, washed his glass, and then put it away in the drawer. Then he walked back to his bed and lay down to continue reading. When suddenly he saw Hammya in his room again.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

"Didn't you think I'd just leave you like that?"

Candado hid his face behind his book.

"I told you to scram, girl."

"You should close the window, so no one breaks in to steal from you."

"I hate people like you."

"You can explain later why you hate them. For now, let's have some fun."

"No."

"There's no use denying it."

"I think I'm losing my patience."

"Come on."

"No."

"Well, if you leave me no choice, I'll up the ante."

Candado lowered his book and looked her in the eyes, raising an eyebrow.

"An ante?"

"Yes, though I'm not sure if I'll regret it, but well, I wanted this."

"Get to the point, you'll regret it later."

"Alright, if you come out, I'll do anything you ask."

"No," he then went back to reading his book.

"What? But why?"

"Because I don't need anything from you, except for you to leave me alone. But since you don't give a damn and don't listen to me, it's useless."

"Oh, come on, not even with that? What can I do to get you out of your room?"

"Nothing."

"Come on, anything."

"No, nothing from you is useful to me."

As soon as she said that, Hammya was about to give up when suddenly she noticed the book Candado was reading, "What Is to Be Done?" by Vladimir Lenin. It was at that moment that an idea struck her.

"Wait for me here, I'll be right back."

Hammya unlocked the door and left the room. Candado paid no attention and continued with his reading, but after a few fleeting minutes, Hammya returned, but with her hands behind her back, hiding something.

"That was quick."

"I see you like reading, especially those kinds of books."

Candado glanced at the cover of his book and then at her.

"Yes, so what?"

"That's why I want to make a deal."

"I'm not interested," he said, burying his face in the book again.

"No?" She then brought her hands from behind her back and revealed a book, and continued, "Not even for this?"

Candado closed his book, a sign that he'd had enough.

"I told you that... OH MY ISIDRO!" Candado exclaimed in surprise.

"I see you like it," Hammya said smugly.

"IT'S A BOOK BY ARTURO JAURETCHE!" He cleared his throat and continued, "Where did you get it?"

"My dad liked a lot of books on topics like these, his library was full of these books."

"What kind of person was he?"

"It doesn't matter, the point is... Do you like the book?"

"If I like it? I love it! It's very difficult to find a book by Jauretche."

"I'll give it to you if you leave here."

Candado tightened his eyelids and lips, and in a disinterested manner said, "Fine, I accept, all for that book."

As soon as he said those words, Hammya placed the book in his hand and smiled.

"All right, you've earned it. Now get dressed, I'll be waiting downstairs."

With these words, Hammya left the room, leaving Candado alone with his new book. He turned it over and read the title, "Ejército y Política."

"Damn, my grandfather would have loved to read one of these books," Candado said aloud.

And, as promised, he got out of bed, placed the book on his shelf, and snapped his fingers. The procedure was the same, but the clothes were different; a long-sleeved black shirt, dark trousers, a tie, and a refined white waistcoat, dark shoes, and his characteristic gloves in the same white color.

Then he walked over to his mirror and looked himself up and down, lifted his chin and turned it to the right and left.

"I hope this will do," he said as he adjusted his tie.

At that moment, Clementina, who happened to be passing by, saw Candado looking at himself in the mirror and walked past. Then, upon seeing this, she took a few steps back, mimicking the sound of a reversing truck, and stopped in front of Candado's open door. She put her index finger and thumb to her mouth and whistled.

"What a Casanova by a thousand censors," she whistled again, but without her fingers in her mouth, and continued, "he's a charmer, a Romeo, a Gardel, a Luis Miguel, a Sandro, a Frank Sinatra, an Elvis Presley, a Brad Pitt, a Belgrano, a..."

"Shut up."

Candado relaxed his shoulders and, looking at her through the mirror and with his hand still on his tie, said.

"Don't you have anything better to do?"

"Now that you mention it, yes, I have something to do, go with you, with Miss Hammya, and with the Barret gentlemen on a trip."

Candado's eyes lit up when she said that, so much so that he almost choked himself with his tie. Then he turned around and with an excited and poor voice said.

"Really? Impossible."

"Oh yes, I didn't know Hammya would be successful."

"But... She didn't tell me anything about..." Candado brought his left hand to his forehead, then continued, "Ah, it's nothing." Then he showed a smile that Clementina couldn't look at and whispered, "that girl is very spooky."

"Young man? Is everything alright?"

Candado, concealing his joy just from knowing he was going to spend time with his parents again, like in the past, said, but with a calm and gentle voice, "It's unbelievable. When was the last time?" He then smiled, and a few tears welled up in his eyes. "Dad, mom, is it true?"

Clementina felt a bit uncomfortable seeing such a sentimental Candado, so she decided to close the door without saying anything.

As that happened, and the door closed completely, Candado covered his eyes with his hand and cried tears of joy.

"It's incredible, it's incredible, they haven't abandoned me."

At that moment, Tínbari appeared behind his back, with his characteristic smoke, approached him, and gave him a hug. Candado, feeling Tínbari's arms, asked, "How long have you been hiding?"

"Since Hammya barged in. I thought of teasing you for a while, but when I saw you crying, I didn't dare."

Tínbari placed both hands on his shoulder, turned Candado around to face him, then knelt down, and with his human hand, snapped his fingers. From the wardrobe, a red handkerchief flew into his hand. Tínbari grabbed it and wiped away Candado's tears.

"Come on, Candado, your parents wouldn't want to see you like this."

"Thank you."

"Don't mention it. I may be annoying sometimes, but truly, you're like a son to me." He then smiled. "Candado doesn't cry, Candado smiles."

Candado then hugged Tínbari.

"Thank you very much," he said as he tried to stop his tears.

"You're welcome," Tínbari patted his back and continued, "you're my ward."

Then he stood up, took off Candado's beret, and ruffled his hair affectionately.

"See you later."

Then he put the beret back on and left, leaving Candado smiling.

He walked over to his mirror and combed his hair again. And by the time he finished, Hammya burst in, dressed exactly the same, except this time, her green dress had white cuffs and collar, she wore dark green pants, barely distinguishable under her dress, and the black shoes he had fixed for her.

"Are you ready now?" she asked.

Candado put on his beret elegantly and looked at her with a smile.

"Yes, I am."

"Good, then, let's go," she then smiled. "I'm glad to see you happy again."

Before Candado could say anything, Hammya closed the door, leaving Candado with his index finger in the air. But then he calmed down and lowered his arm. He adjusted his tie and armed with great happiness, he left his room.

He ran down the hallway, slid down the staircase railing, and landed on the floor in the most spectacular way possible, raising his hands like an Olympic athlete. To his surprise, what Clementina said was true. Candado's parents were getting ready, and when they saw their son appear out of nowhere, as they didn't see Candado sliding down the railing, they were surprised. Due to the short time they spent together, they felt somewhat uncomfortable seeing their son, especially his mother. The last time they saw each other, they had argued, and since then, neither of them had spoken nor exchanged greetings or looks. When they met their son, she felt uncomfortable and nervous. Words didn't flow clearly until her husband placed his hand on her trembling shoulder.

"Hello, son," he then cleared his throat. "How are you?"

Candado responded with a hug. Though she felt uncomfortable, she gladly accepted her son's embrace. For the first time in several years, she felt her son's warm body in her arms. Mrs. Barret couldn't help but shed tears.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have spoken like that. I was upset, angry," Candado said as his grip tightened.

"No, I'm the one to blame. I shouldn't have treated you like that, my love, never," she then placed her hand on his head. "There, there, calm down, I'm here."

"Mom," Candado said before losing his voice in tears.

Because his face wasn't visible, as it was buried in his chest, his expressions couldn't be seen.

The pain and hatred were fading away. The drastic change from a frustrated and loveless personality had turned into that, a deeply hurt person, but with the love of his parents, he could feel again what he had forgotten. The affection of his father and mother had returned. After the scene, Hammya shed a few tears. She was deeply moved by what she was witnessing.

Candado, buried in his mother's chest, his voice trembling as he apologized over and over again, and with each apology, his pain became more evident. His mother did nothing but hold him, trying to soothe his pain. Again and again, she repeated the same words, her soul ached to see her son sad and to lack the strength to calm him, yet she tried.

"What did I do to you? Forgive me," she said as she held her son in her arms.

Hammya's plan had succeeded; she had removed that stain from Candado's heart. Now he could feel that, even though it hurt, he was expelling all the pain he had held for almost three years.

"I'm not Gabriela, but I want you to love me as you did her, that's all I ask."

At that moment, Mr. Barret hugged them both.

"We always loved you, we were just afraid, afraid to move forward, and afraid that one day, we would no longer remember the face and name of our angel. We were so foolish; we wanted to protect someone who was no longer with us, neglecting you and your sister for no reason," he broke into tears. "I'm sorry, sorry for being a terrible father."

"Dad..."

"I swear... I swear I'll never leave you alone again, I swear to be there when you're sad, I swear to be there when you're happy, I swear."

Amidst the tears of the three, Candado was able to show a smile, a genuine smile, one he had never shown, not even to his friends. Clementina, Hipólito, and Hammya felt victorious seeing Candado truly happy again.

The hug lasted a little while longer, until Mr. Barret decided to end it and asked his son to get ready, that they were going on a trip. Candado agreed and went to the bathroom to wash his face, still wearing his smile.

Then the whole family got into the car and set off on their journey to a remote and tranquil area, full of trees and neatly trimmed grass. There, the family decided to take their rest and have some fun.

Curiously, it was where the Bailak brothers lived, who were talking to Mauricio accompanied by Yara, and also the area where Rucciménkagri lived, sitting on a hollow log and drinking mate.

"I see the knight without armor found what he had lost," she said tenderly as she watched the scene.

Mauricio, Yara, and the Bailak brothers, upon seeing Candado here, decided to welcome him. When Candado noticed their presence, he surprised them with a smile that made them stop just inches away from him, except for Yara, who hugged his leg.

"Hello, princess."

"What did you do with Candado?"

"Come on, Kevin, it's me," he said with a smile.

"What did you do with that grumpy Candado?"

"Grumpy?" he asked, confused.

"Guys, it's Candado, he's just happy now, that's all," Clementina clarified.

"You scared us," said Mauricio.

Candado lifted Yara and then looked at them.

"What are you doing here?"

"We live here," Martina said.

"I see."

"But what are you doing here?" Kevin asked.

"I'm just spending the day with my parents. Will you join us?"

"Well, it wouldn't hurt to meet your parents," said Kevin.

When he said that, they stepped forward and went to greet the Barret couple. Candado made an ironic grimace and walked, accompanied by Clementina and Yara, to see how they introduced themselves.

After they greeted Candado's parents, they joined the feast prepared by Mrs. Barret. Candado sat down, with Yara on his lap and Hammya on his left and his friend Mauricio on his right.

"Candado, I'm glad to see you laughing again," said Mauricio as he ate some sweet biscuits.

Candado didn't respond; he just nodded, which didn't mean much, but then he smiled again as he watched his parents talking to his friends, Martina, Kevin, and Yara, who for some strange reason stopped sitting on his lap and wanted to sit in the middle of the tablecloth. You could see how Yara spoke with them without fear, which made him even prouder of his little one.

"Hammya, thank you for doing this," he said as he took off his beret and placed it on his lap. "I'm very grateful to you."

Hammya, who had been taking pictures of the whole family, set aside the camera, approached Candado, and kissed him on the cheek.

Candado felt puzzled by such an action, but fortunately, no one noticed this, only Candado and Mauricio, who remained silent out of respect.

"Why was that?" Candado asked, once again showing his cold demeanor.

"It's another gift from me, for letting me live with you," she replied, smiling, "after all, I won the bet."

Candado didn't react to her gesture, he simply smiled back and looked at his family with joy and happiness; he had found what he had lost years ago. He had regained his family, and that day, that Saturday of that year, Candado would always remember it. Although he had many things to do, including dealing with the Witnesses and curing himself of that curse that was killing him, he was able to forget his worries, at least for a day. Meeting his family and feeling happy to be with them.

"I wish this could last forever," Candado said with his eyes closed.

"We can do it another day," Hammya replied.

"Yes, you're right. Thank you."

"Don't make that face."

"Thank you, Hammya, thank you for giving me this moment."

Hammya took his hand, causing him to open his eyes and focus all his attention on her, then she said:

"After all, you deserve it, you're a wonderful person, and I want to help you."

"You've already helped me."

May 5, 1916, Ndereba Harambee.

The mornings are cool for me, there's never a moment when I don't feel happy, happy to be alive. All the time they ask me, what drove me to carry out this struggle, and I told them, family, yes, family, there's nothing more important than family, nothing, without family there's no love, and without love there's no life, wars break this bond, and we become the living dead. That's why we fight, to defend family, home, and life, that's why guilds exist.

TO BE CONTINUED...