I was born, to the misfortune of someone who wasn't blessed with wealth, in a small town in the interior of a distant capital. The town was as big as a short run by a lame person, and even though it had everything necessary to live, it wasn't an easy place to be, let alone grow up.

I don't remember my childhood as much as I would like or even as I deserved, but being abandoned in a dilapidated and structurally inadequate orphanage brings out that kind of feeling. But if there's one thing I remember, it's the day I met her. She wasn't too young or too old; she was what any man would consider a landlady. Her presence made people turn their heads, not because of her beauty or physique, but because she always exuded a sense of intangibility and superiority. She was like a lioness, a wild and untamed beast, captivating any man of her time. What attracted me, being a child, was her perfume; Jasmine.

During that time, my favorite place on Earth was an old and tattered sofa. I would hide from the world and from everyone else. To me, it was my kingdom, and even without subjects to rule or a crown to wear, I was free. Pain and fear had always been constants in my life, and being around other children had always been challenging. If there is one universal truth, it is that children can be dangerously cruel to those they dislike, and I don't think they ever liked me very much.

I was in my kingdom when my first subject appeared. Among so many brave children who didn't run from the rain streaming through the thin roof of that dilapidated place, I saw her face looking at me. Her smile was genuine, as if she had found something she may never have been searching for but had finally found.

"You know, little one, you don't have to be afraid. God is in the rain."

During the years I spent by her side, my days were always joyful and full of life. Even a simple afternoon snack could turn into the conquest of a castle surrounded by zombies. My spoon-sword would slice through the decrepit corpses while she turned her apron into an impenetrable armor, protecting me from poisoned arrows. We never lost a war, not even the toughest battle against hordes of demons; we would slaughter them all before dinner or my math exercise.

But one day she stopped fighting, and the once joyful and lively days became empty and sad. The bed that used to be empty until late at night became her prison, her smile turned bitter, and her breath became slow. It didn't take long for life to teach me something I never wanted to learn.

Death is cruel and full of pain; takes something that should never be taken, and even though it is relentless, we are never prepared. But after all, I was just a child, how could I be prepared? On the day I said goodbye, the sun was high in the sky, and the only sound I heard was the pulley being pulled by the rope. In my pain, I prayed to return to that couch and to my kingdom, never to leave it again. But more than that, I longed for a rainy day. Deep down, I just wanted to be surprised by that face one more time.

Years passed, and I could no longer count my age with my fingers and toes. I always thought I would be old and rich when I couldn't do that anymore, but there I was, wasting my time doing something I didn't enjoy to earn something that allowed me to subsist. My job was never a priority, and its importance dissipated as soon as I left that place. However, that day was different. I met her.

"What terrible rain, I just want to go home. Help me out, Jesus."

Amidst my indecision between wanting to leave and being tormented by my boss, I saw someone happily strolling in the rain. I had an umbrella, which looked more like a parasol, and yet I didn't want to get my shoes wet. But the woman I saw was getting drenched in the rain without caring about anything, and she was even smiling. The drops hit her dark skin like tree bark, and it seemed like, just like my eyes, she didn't want to leave that place. I had never seen anyone so beautiful, and even when I approached to offer my umbrella, I couldn't open my mouth. In fact, at that moment, I couldn't even remember my own name.

"Today is a beautiful night for a rain shower. Don't you think?"

Everything about her was unique and refreshing; falling in love was simply a fact, and I loved her from the moment I saw her until the moment I lost her. Life is surprising; what marks us and we never forget are the bad things, while the good memories, even though they are many times greater, are overshadowed by the trauma.

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"Mr. Jonathan, I need you to stay calm and listen to me carefully. You were in an accident. A truck entered the road where you were, and unfortunately, your car was hit."

"I would like to know how my wife is, doctor."

"You broke your legs and arms in five places; we need to fix this with invasive surgery as soon as possible. For this reason, I need you to authorize me to proceed."

"Doctor, I think I asked you a question. Could you please answer me?"

"...Of course, sir. Your wife and the child in her womb didn't survive the impact. I'm sorry."

"What, pregnant?"

"Sorry, I didn't know she had omitted this information, but I need you to stay calm and not worsen the situation. We can clarify everything after the surgery."

"Why me? I've never harmed anyone."

"I need you to stay calm."

"Mr. Jonathan, are you listening to me? Nurse, I need your help; we're losing him! Come quickly."

My still moist eyes prevented me from seeing my surroundings; the only thing I felt in those few seconds was that I was in a bed, and it was comfortable, maybe more comfortable than I wanted it to be. As I wiped my eyes, I could identify some unfamiliar objects, and in the background, near what should be an open door, there was a person sitting.

"I see you've woken up from your nightmare. After the beating you took, I thought you would die without ever having the chance to fight. Not that this is uncommon, but it's somewhat unfair, isn't it?"

The person speaking wasn't too far away; she was sewing something like a leather garment and seemed unfazed by my presence.

"Sorry, where am I?"

"Hmm, that's a good question. I think most of us ask it every day. But I guess you want to know where you are right now, and at this very moment, you're in my house."

As I tried to sit up, my body still hurt a lot, but looking at my arm and feeling my stomach, I could tell that I was in a healthy condition—sore but well.

"Imagine the luck you have, being a tamer and an aquanaga at that."

"Sorry, I don't understand what that means, but thank you for saving me. Are my dogs okay?"

I had no idea what that person meant, and I really didn't care. I just wanted to get out of here with my dogs as soon as possible. If there's one thing I've learned, it's not to trust anyone. But with a tiresome laugh, my thoughts were interrupted.

"Ah! Ah! Ah! Believe me, all I did was bring you here. You healed yourself, and, amazingly, the connection with your beasts is so strong that they healed as well."

"Thank you anyway, but where are they?"

"Well, you have a point. Hold on a second; I'll bring them."

As I watched that person stand up, it became clearer what she was. Her upper part was like a beautiful woman with red hair and an extremely toned body. Even with thick clothes, I could tell she had never had an easy life. However, her resemblance to a bodybuilder ended from the waist up, as from the waist down, she looked like a desert snake.

"Here they are. You know, they haven't eaten for a long time, and I don't think the meat I gave them will harm them. Besides, they need strength here, and so do you. But what I would recommend first is for you to form a pact of subordination with your beasts, so that something like what happened doesn't happen again."

"I'll do whatever you said, and again, sorry; I'm new here, and I don't want to bother, so I'll leave."

I stood up, still limping, and held my dogs in my arms. I was determined to leave that place. I couldn't trust anyone else and needed to adjust and understand everything, from where I was to how to survive. I had mouths to feed, and depending on suspicious favors was not something I could afford to accept.

"Sure, no problem, but if you want to wait a little longer, feel free. I liked your beasts; they are weak, that's for sure, but they didn't leave your side even after everything that happened. To them, you must be a nice person, and one thing I know is that Beasts don't lie. Unlike most people around here."

I could feel the weight of her emotions in her words. I was sure she had gone through the same things as me, maybe worse, but that wasn't the time to feel compassion. I needed to recover. But when I reached the door and opened it, I was surprised by something long forgotten.

"You know, thank this day. It's been a long time since it rained, and without it, you would definitely be screwed. It's days like this that make me forget about the desert. It's good that you woke up to see it too. Enjoy it; it's very rare, and here, God is in the rain."

I felt a tightness in my chest when I heard those words. I hadn't heard them in years, and in that moment, I understood something. Turning to that intimidating being who rescued me when she didn't have to and gave me a hand when everyone ignored me, I felt a déjà vu, and a flash of meaning collided in my mind.

"This isn't the first time I've heard that phrase. Sorry for my lack of manners; my name is Jonathan, and yours?"

"Interesting. My name is Cassiopeia, but you can call me Cass. Welcome to Westland."