If you’ve made it this far, let me take a moment to thank you sincerely. I hope you’ve enjoyed the journey so far or, at the very least, found it intriguing.

Your continued trust and interest mean the world, and I’m excited to share what lies ahead.

Happy reading, and thank you for staying with the story.

Chapter 31 – Urano

The city of Port Fidelis, usually frantic yet orderly, was wrapped in a strange tension.

The bustling markets had emptied, and the normally lively streets were only traversed by shadows swiftly moving, seeking shelter.

The cause of it all became apparent at the main entrance of the city, where a man of imposing stature made his entrance with a decisive step.

Urano.

He was the emissary of the Sky, known not only for his extraordinary strength but also for his ruthlessness.

Almost two meters tall, his figure was a blend of lethal grace and power.

His hair was short and a very light blonde, his eyes glowed with an icy blue hue.

He wore a white tunic, which fluttered in the wind, revealing battle gear beneath it.

Despite his elegant appearance, there was an aura of danger surrounding him, like a predator always ready to strike.

Behind him, a command unit of ten men marched in silence.

They wore no heavy armor, but their synchronized movements and the way their eyes scanned every corner spoke of their experience and lethality.

The city had become their prey, and every inhabitant seemed like a potential informant.

Urano stopped at the center of the main square, looking around like a king surveying his kingdom.

The silence that followed his arrival was broken by his deep, resonant voice, which seemed to echo through the streets.

----------------------------------------

> "Bring me anyone who knows something. I don’t have time to waste."

The residents, who had been watching from behind half-closed windows and partly open doors, held their breath.

When no one stepped forward, Urano slowly raised a hand.

With a swift motion, he pointed to a nearby tavern, and two of his men burst through the door without hesitation.

From inside came screams, the sound of objects falling, and finally, the dull sound of a blow.

Shortly after, one of the commandos came out, dragging a middle-aged man by the arm, his face bloodied and his eyes filled with terror.

> "Talk," Urano ordered, his calmness more threatening than any scream.

The man stammered something, his voice trembling and broken.

Urano tilted his head, as if to listen better, but his gaze remained impenetrable.

After a few seconds, the man collapsed to his knees, exhausted and frightened, while Urano turned toward one of his subordinates.

> "The circus entrance. Are there any other useful details?"

The soldier nodded.

> "A man with a peculiar hat was seen heading there last night. He might be our target."

Urano flashed a cold smile.

> "Let’s go."

The streets of Port Fidelis turned into a hunting ground.

Every corner, every house, and every establishment was searched with methodical efficiency.

The cries of the citizens mixed with the sound of heavy footsteps from the soldiers and the creaking of doors being torn off their hinges.

There was no escape for those being interrogated; Urano was a patient and lethal hunter who never let his prey slip away.

When the command reached the entrance of the Circus of Wonders, Urano stopped, observing the decaying structure with interest.

> "Here we are," he said, a hint of satisfaction in his voice.

> "Let’s get ready to enter. I don’t want any mistakes."

----------------------------------------

Behind him, the soldiers arranged themselves into formation.

In the unnatural silence of the Circus of Wonders, the sound of metallic footsteps broke the tense atmosphere.

Urano and his command were approaching, their shadows cast onto the faded tents.

Requiem calmly observed the movement beyond the circus openings, his expression serious for the first time.

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

Love, by his side, held her breath, while Ayperi nervously floated beside her, trying to keep calm.

> "We can’t wait," Requiem whispered, his voice low and sharp.

> "We need to move. Now."

Love nodded, but the terror in her eyes was clear.

Ayperi brushed her shoulder with its soft glow.

> "Little lost one, follow him. There’s no time to think, only to act."

Requiem made a swift motion, pointing to an exit in the back.

> "Follow me, but stay behind me. Don’t make a sound."

They moved silently through the maze of tents and dilapidated structures.

Each step seemed amplified in the tension of the moment, and Love’s breath became more rapid.

Ayperi floated beside her, its movements more nervous than usual.

When they reached the back of the circus, Requiem stopped, scanning the darkness with sharp eyes.

> "Wait here," he ordered.

With stealthy steps, he approached the exit and peeked outside.

After a moment, he returned.

> "It seems clear. Move, quickly."

As soon as they stepped outside, the sound of a shouted command echoed through the air.

Urano had spotted them.

"There!" his deep voice roared, and the sound of heavy footsteps followed immediately.

Requiem grabbed Love’s hand and pulled her forward.

> "Run!" he shouted, his tone brooking no argument.

They dashed through the alleyways of Port Fidelis, their steps echoing on the wet stones.

The rain was falling heavily, making the ground slippery and the air thick with humidity.

Love ran as fast as she could, but her heart pounded in her chest, fear making her nearly blind.

Ayperi floated beside her, whispering encouragements.

Behind them, Urano and his men advanced like an unstoppable force.

The noise of their armor, the booming of their steps, every sound seemed to get closer and closer.

Requiem suddenly stopped at an intersection, pushing Love into a narrow side street.

> "Don’t stop running!" he ordered.

Then he turned, watching Urano approach, a towering figure who seemed to dominate the entire space.

> "Go, little lost one," he whispered, turning to her for a brief moment. "I’ll keep him occupied."

Love hesitated, her eyes filled with terror and uncertainty.

> "But—"

"Don’t argue!" Requiem interrupted, his voice echoing through the alley.

> "Go! Ayperi, take her away."

The little spirit gently pushed her.

> "Let’s go, Love. We need to move."

With one last glance at Requiem, Love turned and began to run, her steps growing fainter.

Behind her, the sound of metal clashing against the floor echoed as Requiem prepared to face Urano.

The alley opened into a labyrinth of secondary streets, and Love ran, trying not to think about what she was leaving behind.

Ayperi floated beside her, silent for the first time, as if even it felt the weight of the moment.

----------------------------------------

The rain continued to fall, washing away every trace of their escape.

Love ran relentlessly, her breath coming in gasps, mixing with the sound of the pounding rain.

The city of Port Fidelis, with its tangled alleys and the dancing shadows created by the streetlights, seemed to turn into an endless maze.

Ayperi floated beside her, its flickering light barely illuminating her steps.

> "Little lost one," the spirit said urgently, "you must keep going. Don’t stop."

> "I... can’t..."

Love panted, her lungs burning with every breath.

But she didn’t stop.

She knew Urano and his men weren’t far behind, the sound of their metallic footsteps still echoing in the streets behind them.

They crossed an empty market, the abandoned stalls wobbling under the weight of the rain.

Love slipped on a puddle but immediately got back up, propelled by adrenaline and fear.

Ayperi turned to check the path behind them, then floated back to her.

> "Requiem is holding them off," the spirit murmured, as if trying to reassure her.

> "We have an advantage, but we need to use it."

Love nodded weakly, clenching her fists as she struggled to keep going.

The streets were getting narrower and darker, but Ayperi seemed to know where to go, guiding her with quick gestures.

Finally, they emerged from the alleyways and found themselves in an open area near the docks.

The expanse of the sea stretched out before them, black as ink beneath the stormy sky.

The wind howled, carrying the salty smell of the waves crashing against the piers.

Love stopped for a moment, leaning against a lamppost to catch her breath.

Her body trembled, her hair stuck to her face from the rain.

She looked at Ayperi with eyes filled with panic and uncertainty.

> "I can’t go on," she whispered. "We can’t keep going like this."

> "You have to," Ayperi responded gently but firmly.

> "You have no choice, little lost one. You have to survive."

----------------------------------------

Requiem was standing in the middle of the empty alley, his cloak fluttering just under the weight of the relentless rain.

With almost ritualistic calm, he removed his hat, shaking the wet hair that fell softly over his shoulders, and carefully placed it on a nearby crate.

He dusted it off delicately, as if it were the most important moment of his life.

> "It’s rare that I take a break for a tête-à-tête with one of the emissaries," he muttered to himself, adjusting the hat with one final touch.

Then he turned, hands in the pockets of his cloak, awaiting Urano’s arrival.

From the end of the alley, the sound of metallic footsteps approached, rhythmic and imposing.

When Urano emerged from the shadow, his towering figure and gleaming armor seemed like a bastion of power.

His men followed him, lining up neatly behind him, but it was clear that Urano’s presence alone was enough to dominate the scene.

Requiem tilted his head, a disarming smile painted on his face.

> "Quite an entrance, Urano. You almost make me feel intimidated."

Urano stopped just a few steps from him, eyeing him with disdain.

> "Requiem," his deep and authoritative voice said,

> "I was wondering which insect had dared to interfere with my mission.

>

> Now I see it’s not an insect, but... a clown."

Requiem opened his eyes wide, pretending to be offended.

> "Clown, you say? Ah, Urano, your sense of humor is as sharp as your sword.

>

> But tell me, is it really necessary to insult my wardrobe? This hat has seen more battles than you can imagine."

Urano took a step forward, his armor creaking slightly as he moved.

His gaze sharpened.

> "I’m not here to play, Requiem. Where are they? Where have you hidden them?"

Requiem spread his arms as if to indicate the darkness around them.

> "Oh, where could they possibly be? In such a vast, vast world... who knows? Isn’t that the beauty of the hunt? To seek, to chase, to lose, and to begin again."

Urano narrowed his eyes, clearly irritated.

> "Don’t test my patience. You can’t face me. Move aside, and maybe I’ll show mercy."

Requiem chuckled softly, pushing a wet strand of hair from his face.

> "Mercy, you say? What an interesting word, especially coming from you, Urano. But you know, I don’t care. I like being here, doing my work as... a clown, as you say."

Urano tightened his grip on the hilt of his sword, his gaze as cold as steel.

> "You know you can’t stop me. You have no power, no authority. You’re just a shadow in a world of titans."

Requiem took a step forward, his smile dimming slightly.

> "A shadow, you say? Maybe. But shadows can hide many things, Urano. Secrets, mysteries, even truths that titans like you can’t see.

>

> And I assure you, you won’t take another step closer to them."

Urano stared at him for a long moment, his men barely moving behind him, ready to intervene at the slightest signal.

> "You’re crazy, Requiem," he finally said.

> "A crazy man who stands between me and my duty. And I don’t let anything get in my way."

Requiem smiled again, this time with a touch of melancholy.

> "Maybe I’m crazy, but I’m a crazy man with a purpose.

>

> If you want to pass, Urano, you’ll have to defeat me. And I warn you, even a clown can be unpredictable."

Urano didn’t answer.

He drew his sword with a fluid movement, the gleaming blade reflecting the dim light of the streetlamps.

> "Then so be it. I don’t have time to waste on your little games."

Requiem reached into his jacket pocket, then, with a swift motion, pulled out a card.

> "Alright then. Let’s see how sharp your patience is... and your sword."

Thank You for Reading!

I hope you enjoyed this chapter and that the story has sparked your curiosity for what’s to come. If you’d like to stay updated on new chapters and support the journey of this universe, be sure to follow this page. Your support means the world to me and helps keep this story alive.

Feel free to share your thoughts or questions—I’d love to hear from you!

Until next time,

Teo