After two in the morning, everyone had already returned to their homes by Tínbari's order, who assured them that there was nothing to worry about. Although few believed his words, he was somewhat right: there was nothing they could do at that moment, and staying there would only have worried their families more. So, with no other choice, they accepted the order without protest.
Candado didn’t wake up until the following night, exactly at eleven o'clock. When he opened his eyes, he saw his room illuminated by the full moon and heard the sound of crickets in the stillness of the night. He tried to recall what had happened, but his memory was clouded. As he tried to move, he realized something was holding him; he carefully turned around and found his mother, deeply asleep beside him. Her eyelids were swollen, a sign that she had wiped away her tears many times. Even in her sleep, her cheeks were still wet, and silent tears fell from her closed eyes.
“What happened to me?” Candado whispered, distressed.
“I see... you don’t remember,” replied a familiar voice.
“Tínbari? I hear your voice, but I don’t see you.”
“I’m inside you.”
Candado slapped his chest uncomfortably.
“I feel like this is an invasion.”
Tínbari let out a small laugh.
“I see you're still the same. Listen to me, Candado: when one of your eyes turned completely black, I knew your end was near. Now it’s back to normal, but what I’m doing won’t stop the... curse.”
“I see…”
“I’m sorry, Candado. Because of the recent events, your mother, your father, and everyone else already know you have the same 'illness'—” he paused “—the same one that killed Gabriela.”
Candado put a hand to his forehead.
“It can’t be,” he said with concern.
“I’ll be temporarily disconnected for tonight. Your spirit became so weak it allowed Odadnac to escape.”
“What is he doing right now?”
“He’s locked up; he won’t bother you for now. Your eye is back to normal because I severed any contact with your guardians. Mind, Heart, Lung, and Soul have been helping me.”
“I never imagined there would be a civil war inside me.”
“For now, rest. Everything is under control.”
Candado sighed and looked at his mother.
“I will.”
“Good, with that said, see you.”
“Yeah… take care, and good luck.”
Inside Candado, in a hidden dimension, was Tínbari. The place where he stood seemed like a room with a lamp casting light only on a small circle around him. In the shadows, four other figures stood by his side, but the light barely revealed their legs. One was dressed in green, another in red, another in white, and the last in light blue.
“What did he say?” asked the figure in red pants from the darkness.
“He said he would rest,” Tínbari replied. He then turned his head to look at Odadnac, chained by his feet and hands to a rock.
“Now tell me, what should I do with you?”
Odadnac lifted his head.
“You’re all useless. This body will collapse without my help.”
“We don’t need your help,” replied the figure in light blue pants.
“You’re deceived… Were your memories blocked to protect yourselves, or are you too weak to face reality? I disgust being part of him… and of you.”
Tínbari snapped his fingers. Immediately, each of the guardians grabbed a chain and began pulling with all their strength, slowly dismembering Odadnac. Despite his obvious pain, he didn’t utter a single scream, though suffering was clear on his face.
“I warn you, Wrath or Hatred, whatever you call yourself, don’t interfere again. You should have accepted Candado’s sentence.”
Odadnac smiled defiantly.
“You don’t understand... His eclipse is over. There’s nothing left of him to hide, not even from me. You can’t kill me; if he couldn’t, you certainly won’t. And when these chains break, you’ll regret witnessing that moment. My strength doesn’t come from this body, but from the outside. Everything I see, feel, or hear will be my nourishment.”
“You’re so heavy… and arrogant. But if Candado wanted it this way, so it shall be. After all, I made a promise to Gabriela.”
“You’re a scoundrel…”
“Maybe, in your eyes.” Tínbari spun on his heels and ordered, “Cage!”
The four figures extended their hands, and lava bars emerged from the ground, surrounding Odadnac and Tínbari before solidifying into a volcanic stone prison.
“This cage is made with my material,” Tínbari said, pointing to the ceiling.
“And so what?” Odadnac scoffed.
“It means you won’t be able to break it. Only someone from the outside could destroy it... and that’s me.”
“This cage won’t hold me for long.”
“Of course it will.”
Tínbari moved away from him, passing through the bars as if they were a hologram. Odadnac watched, helpless, as the guardian faded into the shadows.
“Goodbye forever,” Tínbari said. He then turned to the others. “Let’s go, we have a lot to do in this area.”
“See you,” Odadnac replied with a crooked smile.
Candado watched his mother as he thought about what to say when she opened those red eyes and looked at him.
“Mama,” he murmured.
He gently placed his hand on her cheek, wiping away her tears, but his touch was enough to make Europa Barret wake up. Her eyes opened, and seeing him, she sat up quickly, not taking her gaze off him.
“Candado…”
He didn’t have the courage to look her in the eyes and lowered his head.
“I’m sorry, mom.”
Europa hugged him tightly.
“First Gabriela, and now you... How many more things do they think they can take from me?”
“I…”
“No, Candado... I’ve already lost too much. If I lose you too, it will be my end. I can’t go through that again, I can’t see another child die.”
“I’m sorry.”
She held him tighter, fearing that if she let go, she would lose him forever. However, Candado knew that this hug wouldn’t solve anything.
“Mom, don’t cling to me just because I’m weakening. I don’t want you to end up like I did with Gabriela.”
“Don’t talk as if you’ve already resigned yourself to that fate. I won’t let it take you.”
“As hopeful as that sounds, mom, it won’t change what’s happening. I’m not dead yet, and if death wants to find me, it’ll have to face a very difficult road. I’ll make it overwhelmed by me and it’ll leave.”
Candado pulled away from her, offering a weak smile.
“What are you doing?”
“I’m hungry.”
Europa jumped out of bed, startled.
"You're right. I haven't prepared anything. How did I not think of that before?"
"Has Karen already eaten?" he asked.
Europa stopped mid-step, sensing the chill in his words, though she avoided diving into what she truly felt.
"Yes, she's already eaten. Why do you ask?"
"Because it's always me who feeds her."
"Don't worry, son, Karen is sleeping with a full stomach."
"Thank goodness."
Europa hurried out, leaving Candado alone in his room, bathed in the light of the stars. He remained thoughtful, replaying the recent events in his mind. Everyone had discovered his secret, some Baris had tried to kill him and his family, he had let himself be consumed by anger and pain, and he'd spoken cruel words to Hammya, who didn't deserve his treatment. All of that had happened in just one day.
However, he also realized how much his friends and family loved him, especially his mother, a kind woman with such a tender heart that anyone would envy it. Candado sighed.
"Mom... why do you have to watch your children die?"
The thought of causing her that suffering again hurt him deeply. He knew she was strong, but even strength had its limits. He felt that if he died, his mother would collapse. He couldn't allow her to go through that—nor his father, despite their differences. He still loved her.
In another room, Hammya lay on her bed, a damp cloth over her forehead. After the events of the day, exhaustion, stress, and the overuse of her magic had pushed her to the brink of a high fever. Héctor had insisted she stay in bed, and she was now strictly forbidden from getting up, not even to see Candado.
If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.
"I hope he's okay," she murmured in a hoarse voice.
"Of course, he will be," Clementina replied, sitting at the desk, reading the Soliant newspaper.
On the front page that day, there was an image of Krauser exiting a church in the rain, with the headline: "Inspector Krauser, Religious?" Clementina let out a small laugh.
"Poor fool."
"Is something wrong, Clem?"
"Nothing, miss, nothing you need to worry about."
Hammya stared at the ceiling, where some words were written.
"Clementina... what does that say up there?"
"It's something Gabriela used to tell her brother: 'You have work to do.' According to her, seeing that phrase reminded her that each day was a new chance to be happy."
"It sounds beautiful."
"Gabriela had a gift for creating phrases like that."
"And Candado? Does he have something like that?"
"Well... when he finishes a fight, he usually says 'Oyik.' It's one of his quirks, really."
"I see..." Hammya smiled faintly, touching the damp cloth. "Maybe I'll feel better tomorrow."
Clementina closed the newspaper and leaned back in her chair.
"Let's hope so."
"Clem, can I...?"
"No," Clementina replied, guessing her intention.
"But..."
"No, miss Hammya. You won't see Candado until you recover."
"I just want to know if he's okay."
"He's fine. That's all you need to know."
Meanwhile, Candado had left his room and headed to the stable to feed Uzoori. There, he found a familiar presence. Matlotsky was waiting for him, leaning against a wooden pillar.
"Well, it's interesting to see you breaking mommy's rules, isn't it?"
"What are you doing in my house?" Candado asked, not hiding his annoyance.
"Watching over you," Matlotsky replied, his body language exaggerated.
"Get out of my house."
"Not a chance. I was planning on playing a prank on you today, but, thanks to fate, we ended up in this situation."
"Probably something that would make me lose my patience, but I'm glad it failed."
"Candado, it's not funny to see you make your mother cry."
That almost pushed him to his limit. Candado took a deep breath, feeling the tension in his body.
"I understand," he replied bitterly.
But Matlotsky didn't plan to stop there. To him, hiding such a big problem was a sign of disrespect towards friendship and trust.
"You know, I never imagined you'd walk through that door with that attitude. We've been through all of this, and still, you always remain tough and cold in the face of any problem."
Candado closed his eyes.
"Is that it? Is that all you're going to say?"
Hearing those arrogant words, Candado opened his eyes, and in the dim light of the room, his irises glowed with an intense violet color.
"Everything you said is true to a certain point. Your anger is just like mine, and I understand you use it against me for what I put you through, but..."
His eyes returned to normal.
"But what?" Matlotsky asked.
"Your soul is tainted with negativity. I think it's time for you to go home and sleep."
"I have no powers, Candado. It's impossible for you..."
"True, but we all have souls. That's the one thing the Bible got right."
Matlotsky leaned against the wall and started laughing.
"You are and always will be the lock, Candado."
"Don't use my name to mock my rank."
"For now, the lock is Héctor."
"Hey."
"But it would be funny if the lock of locks was Candado."
"That's called Marshal."
"Although it would be hilarious if you were called Sekur."
"Hey..."
"But..."
"ENOUGH!"
Matlotsky walked over to the window.
"Lord Candado of the Locks of the Lock of the Lock of Candado, it's time for me to retire to sleep, but before..."
Candado grabbed a brush he used to groom his horse and threw it at him, causing Matlotsky to lose his balance and fall out of the window.
"Insufferable," Candado said coldly.
He approached his horse, Uzoori, and gently stroked its neck.
"I'm sorry, my friend. I couldn't take you out for a walk today."
The horse whinnied and licked his face, coaxing a faint smile from him. Candado patted the head of his faithful companion and, without saddling him, climbed into the corral and lay across Uzoori’s back.
“This brings back memories…”
Five years earlier
On December 9, 2008, somewhere in the impenetrable Chaco forest, two young siblings trudged through the undergrowth. Sixteen-year-old Gabriela led the way with her younger brother, eight-year-old Candado, searching for something only they believed was real.
“Are we almost there, Gabi?”
“Of course not, Candy. If it weren’t for this machete, we’d be stuck here for days.”
Candado sighed, wiping the sweat from his brow.
“Are you sure the Pombero is here?”
“The inspector is never wrong. With this heat and the machete in hand, I can practically smell the Pombero. Trust me.”
“I’m tired. We’ve been walking for an hour.”
Gabriela planted the machete into the ground, approached Candado, and looked at him closely, a mischievous smile creeping over her sweat-drenched face as she gazed at her brother’s flushed, sweaty cheeks.
“What?” asked Candado, avoiding her gaze.
“Do you know what I’m thinking right now?”
“Your smile scares me, Gabi.”
“I love it,” Gabriela said, hugging him tightly. “I adore your sweetness! Time for a swim! To the Nile River!”
Her shout echoed, sending birds and reptiles scattering. Candado frowned at her.
“Gabi, keep it down! We could scare away the Pombero…”
Suddenly, the tall grass began to rustle, revealing a straw hat bobbing in the distance.
“Gabi, there!” Candado whispered, growing nervous.
Gabriela saw the hat disappearing and, without hesitation, lifted Candado onto Uzoori, their saddleless horse.
“Come on, Uzoori! After the goblin!”
“Hey… Gabi, this is dangerous.”
“Nothing’s dangerous when I’m the dangerous one.”
Of course, they didn’t catch the Pombero. After an hour of chasing, they reached a lagoon, where it seemed the creature had once again evaded them. Gabriela, frustrated, floated in the water, cursing her bad luck, while Candado sat on a rock, feet in the water, watching her.
“Gabi, don’t you think you should at least put on some clothes?”
“I don’t want to; I’m bathing.”
“The Pombero might kidnap you.”
“I doubt it, because you’ll protect me.”
“Of course… always.”
Gabriela slowly swam toward him, imitating a crocodile stalking its prey.
“Gabi, that’s creepy, and it’s not hygienic; this water’s full of bacteria…”
When she was close enough, she raised her arms and let out a playful roar.
“I’m going to devour a mussel boy!”
“Gabi, you splashed me!” Candado complained, wiping off the water droplets.
Gabriela grabbed him by the waist, and they both fell into the water. Candado, who couldn’t swim, began to squirm. Realizing this, Gabriela lifted him onto her back.
“Relax; you’re safe here.”
“Gabi, I’m soaked, and I can’t swim, but…”
“But what?”
“Put something on.”
“Afraid someone might see me?”
“You’ll catch a chill.”
Gabriela looked at him, amused, then sighed.
“Fine. Let’s head to shore.”
“Thanks, Gabi.”
Obediently, Gabriela carried him back to shore.
“We should go back; it’s getting late,” Candado murmured.
“I know… I just have so much fun being here with you.”
“With me?”
“Yes, it’s nice to have a brother. Whenever I see you, I just want to be the best I can be and give you a hug.”
Candado smiled.
“Me too.”
Present
“Honestly, I wish you were here, Gabriela,” Candado murmured as his eyes filled with tears.
Uzoori shook his head, flicking his ears as if in understanding.
“Yeah, I get it, I get it,” he replied, as if the horse could understand his words.
Candado wiped his tears, took a deep breath, and climbed down.
“I’m starving,” he said, patting Uzoori fondly. “I’ll take you out for a ride tomorrow.”
He turned and headed toward the house, but just as he reached for the door handle, it swung open. Clementina appeared, holding a sack that smelled like food for Uzoori.
“Young master?” she said, surprised.
“...Clementina.”
“Is something wrong, sir?”
“No, nothing… I was just playing with Uzoori.”
“But…”
“Excuse me.”
Candado hurried out of the room, leaving Clementina without a chance to finish her sentence.
“Sir…” she murmured, watching him disappear down the stairs.
The room was dimly lit; if not for the light filtering from the hallway, Clementina wouldn’t have recognized him. The faint light barely illuminated his chest and part of his neck, leaving his face in shadow. Unknowingly, Candado was hiding his tears—tears he didn’t want anyone, especially Clementina, to see. As he descended the stairs, he quickly dried his eyes.
“That was close,” he muttered to himself.
He headed to the kitchen, the only room with light, where his parents, Europa and Arturo, were cooking together.
“All right, it’s done,” Europa announced. “I’ll go call Candado.”
“No need,” he said, entering.
“Hey, daddy!” Arturo laughed.
Europa put down the pot and approached her son, touching his forehead with concern.
“Are you okay? Fever, fatigue, or anything?”
“I’m fine, Mom,” Candado replied, gently holding her hand.
Europa nodded, relieved, and returned to the kitchen.
“Of course, you must be hungry. I’ll serve you right away.”
Arturo approached him with a serious expression.
“What’s wrong?” Candado asked.
Arturo gave a slight grimace before embracing him tightly.
“You had us so worried,” he said, looking over his son’s shoulder, where Tínbari watched silently.
Tínbari smiled, closed his eyes, and faded away before Candado could notice.
Candado sat at the table, taking in the comforting scene.
“What’s the chef cooked up?” he asked, sniffing the air.
“Ravioli stew,” Europa answered with a smile, as she took the seat to his left and Arturo the one to his right.
Candado looked at his parents, who surrounded him with forced smiles, and saw the sadness shimmering in their eyes.
“Go ahead…” he smiled softly. “You can cry.”
Both looked at his face, so much like Gabriela’s, and couldn’t hold back any longer. Europa was the first to break.
“Why?” she sobbed, hugging him. “Why does this have to happen to our family?”
Candado watched his father, who was struggling to stay strong.
“No need to hold back, Dad.”
Arturo finally surrendered and hugged him, letting the tears fall.
“Is this a punishment?” he asked softly.
They both held him tightly, as if afraid Candado might disappear between their arms.
“I’m not going to die,” he said firmly.
“She said the same thing!” Europa cried, recalling Gabriela’s words. “Right up until the very end, she kept saying that…”
Candado didn’t flinch.
“Please, don’t cry. Truly, everything is fine.”
“How can you say that?” his mother asked, distraught.
“Dad, Mom…” Candado smiled at them with determination. “I’ll fight and I’ll win.”
He hugged them, and his voice filled with warmth they couldn’t ignore.
“Feeling your love, your sadness, your anger… makes me happy. It makes me see that you care, that you worry about me. For the first time, I feel truly loved.” He sighed. “You have no idea how glad I am that you’re with me. These two years of sadness… I want to make up for them. I want to live, to stay here with you. I’m not going to die. I’m going to fight with everything I have.”
Europa and Arturo look at him with a mix of pride and sadness.
"And now…?" they ask, expectant.
"Now..." he says, picking up his plate, "we eat. I’m starving."
They both laugh and embrace him again, comforted by his usual attitude.
(I have something to do after this), Candado thinks to himself. The meal continued without any further incidents.
In Hammya's room, Clementina and Hammya speak in low voices.
"Clementina, do you think Candado is okay?"
"I don’t know… on my way to feed Uzoori, I saw him rushing out of the stable."
"Why didn’t you follow him?"
"Because I didn’t receive an order from the Barret family."
"Oh… I guess you can’t disobey."
"No, that’s not it."
"Then why?"
"If I leave my post, you’d escape."
"Ah… I see."
"But it’s okay. If Candado didn’t want me to see him, it must have been for an important reason."
"Yes… there’s always a reason."
Clementina frowns, thoughtful.
"Of course. He never does anything without thinking… probably."
Suddenly, the door swings open, and Candado steps in from the dark hallway.
"Sir?" Clementina says, surprised.
Candado looks at her.
"‘Probably’?"
"Oh, that… excuse me."
He moves towards Hammya, who watches him with a mixture of terror and surprise, even instinctively trying to step back.
"Girl, I don’t have fleas."
Hammya freezes, watching him with curiosity.
"Ruby," Candado said coldly, referring to her current flushed state.
"Did you come here just to annoy me?" she asked.
"Yes."
"Then get lost."
"No."
"Why not?"
"Because I’m not done."
"Annoying me?"
"No, apologizing."
Hammya looks at him, surprised.
"Even though you betrayed the secret I told you, and it upset me..." Candado begins, but Hammya interrupts.
"I got it the first time, Candado," she said, regretful.
"But… I knew from the start that at some point you’d let it slip. I just didn’t expect it to happen so soon. Still… thank you for helping me. I’m really sorry for what I said," Candado murmurs, placing his left hand on Hammya's forehead. "You’re a headache, but… you were the one who made it possible for my parents to be with me now. I never thought this day would come, least of all because of a girl like you."
"Sir… are you crying?"
Hammya gently moves Candado’s hand aside to see his face, noticing a faint tear shimmering in his eyes. She’d never seen him like this before. The first time she saw him cry, he’d hidden his face in Nelson’s chest; the second and third times, in his mother’s arms. This was the first time she could clearly see him, vulnerable.
"Go on, you can make fun of me."
"No." Hammya picks up the sheet, stands up from the bed, and softly wipes away his tears. "There, that’s better."
Clementina smiles silently, watching the scene.
"Consider it payment for that other time," Hammya says.
"That other time?"
Candado grows thoughtful, until he recalls when he’d given her his handkerchief to dry her tears. Remembering, he smiles.
"Did you remember?" Hammya asks, a small smile on her lips.
"Yes, but that time, I didn’t wipe your tears. You did it yourself."
"It doesn’t have to be the same this time, does it?"
Behind them, Clementina stifles a laugh while secretly typing a message to Krauser, one of Candado’s best friends, who wasn’t there that day.
Krauser’s phone vibrates, but with both hands occupied holding a little girl, he can’t take it out of his pocket. Instead, he extends a tentacle from his back to retrieve his phone and read the message.
"He’s awake XD"
Krauser lets out a barely audible chuckle.
"I’m glad to know he’s okay."