The chill that courses down my spine leaves me cold and temporarily paralyzed. My mouth is completely dry and my tongue goes limp, leaving me speechless. Luana tries to help:

“Dinner didn’t sit very well with him.”

“There’s no need to worry, young man. This will be quick.”

Quick? As in a quick death? Is that what they’re trying to say? Have they discovered that my grandfather’s teaching me magic? Do they intend to separate me from everyone else so they can kill me? Torture me? What can I do? Having no choice, I stand up and follow the two through the room. Other students are looking at us, not quite understanding what’s going on. On the way, other soldiers have set up a table near the stage and seem to be taking the names of young men interested in military service. The line is long; apparently, Felix’s speech has left them inspired.

Using a side door, I enter the hall giving access to the ballroom’s support areas: kitchen, laundry room and a few offices. The guardsmen direct me to another door at the end of the passageway and tell me to go in; they remain outside. I open it and find myself in a common room containing a large table with chairs around it. On the other side, I see a man sitting with his back to me, looking out the window. It’s Felix Barolfen.

“Please have a seat, Mr. Yandel.”

I obey and, worried, await more instructions.

“Is everything all right?” he says as he swivels his seat so he can see me.

It seems like I’m in front of an enormous predator. Felix is huge and, sitting in a large armchair on the other side of the table, the difference in power between us is clear. It’s as if he could devour me at any moment. Essentially, if he wanted to kill me now, no one would know.

“Yes,” I respond.

“You seem frightened. Has something happened?”

“No, sir. It’s just that dinner didn’t sit well with me.”

“I can’t eat mushrooms either, you know?” He tries to break the ice and quickly changes the subject. “I think you know why you’re here.”

“No, sir, I don’t,” I reply, shaking my head.

“Very well. I’ll explain it for you.” Before beginning, he takes a cigar from a drawer and lights it. “Do you mind if I smoke.”

Does it make any difference? He’s already lit the cigar.

“Of course not,” I answer.

The cigar smoke is nauseating. It quickly fouls up the room and makes our conversation even more unpleasant.

“Yandel, I’ve had my eye on you for the last couple of years.”

That’s it. I’m screwed. He knows about everything: the enchantments, my grandfather, the rebels. I’m going to be arrested as soon as this conversation ends. His cigar must be the part of the torture.

“Your grades in high school are exemplar, plus your performance in combat-related subjects is excellent. I’ve spoken personally with your archery teacher. He told me that you’re brilliant. Your skills will prove useful to our guard. I can easily imagine a young man with your aim handling one of our pistols.”

I’m a bit calmer now; I even let out a sigh of relief, releasing all my pent-up air at once. So that’s it, then? He just wants me to enlist? Not that it’s a good thing; it’s just much better than my first impression.

“I’m sorry, sir. I’m not sure if I correctly understood the reason for our conversation,” I say, wanting more information.

“It is I who should apologize. I was excited about your school records and forgot to mention why I’m here today.” He puts his cigar out in the ashtray and continues. “This year, our enlistment strategy is a little more robust. We’re not only looking for those who are interested, but we’re also going after people we believe would have a bright future in Acigam’s military. Your prospects are bright, Leran. What you learn in high school is just a teaser. In our guard, you’ll receive serious training, which will make you a skilled combatant and greatly improve your ability as an archer.”

You would also teach me to kill, torture and ignore people’s rights. I must decline his invitation very politely.

“I’m certain it’s a great opportunity, sir. But my family has a business downtown and my grandfather’s is very old; it’s my duty to take over his store.”

“I understand, but I’d like to make your potential clear, so you can make the best choice. As you know, here in Acigam you’re free to choose what you want.” He opens his eyes and observes me with a strange expression, smiling out of the corner of his mouth. “Isn’t that true?”

“Of course, sir. I’ll really think about your proposition and talk to my family so we can come to the best decision for everybody concerned.”

“It’s good that you worry about your family,” he says, standing up. “Now I know you’ll make the right decision.”

I don’t know why that phrase sounds like a threat. Maybe because of how Felix is looking at me.

“In the meantime, that’s it, Mr. Yandel. We’ll be in touch. As soon as you decide, let me know.”

He extends his hand in farewell. From its size, I believe he could crush my head with it. After saying goodbye, I leave, shaking my hand to relieve the pain caused by his firm grip. Passing through the door, I see there’s already another student waiting to talk with Felix. That makes me calmer. He really is speaking with promising candidates for his army. I had the bad luck of being the first.

I return to the ballroom and find Luana worried.

“What’d they say?”

“Nothing much, I just received an invitation to join the royal guard due to my school records.”

“Are you going to?” she asks, taken aback.

“I don’t know.”

“Eww, Le!” she says after moving her nose in and sniffing my clothes. “You smell like cigarettes.”

“It’s not cigarettes. It’s cigar.”

“So, have you started smoking? I’m going to tell…”

“Stop being an idiot,” I cut her off. “Felix Barolfen was smoking in the room while talking with me. He’s disgusting.”

“Uh, okay. I understand. He really does look disgusting.”

I stand up to get a glass of juice and notice the instruments have been uncovered. The band should start playing in a few minutes. Meanwhile, I return to the table and continue with my plan to keep my sister far from prospective brothers-in-law. I sit next to her, talking, making sure no one approaches. I manage to chase off two more lunkheads and everything is going well.

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It’s almost midnight and the band is finally beginning its show. Their sound is wonderful, danceable. Everyone goes to the dancefloor and begins enjoying themselves. I even forget about the predicament I was in a few minutes ago in that room. I spend twenty minutes on the dance floor and leave to drink some water. While I’m going back to the center of the ballroom, I hear:

“Leran?”

I quickly turn around and see her, she’s beautiful. Wearing a red sleeveless dress that’s not very long, silver sandals, a silver bracelet and necklace. Her hair is tied back in a braid and she’s wearing an elegant tiara on her forehead. Her lips are painted a light red, almost pink, and her gaze… that took my breath away. She’d come.

“Ju… Judra. How are you?” I say, nervously.

“Great,” she smiles and comes to me, giving me a kiss.

I feel the world spin faster while I embrace her and hear the music playing in the background. This girl leaves me completely stunned.

“What have I missed?” she asks.

“Just the commander of the guard’s boring speech.”

“It’s just as well that I got here now.” She says. “And your sister. Did she come too?”

“Yes, let’s go. I’ll introduce you.”

I reach for Judra’s hand and take her to the table where Luana had been, but she’s no longer there. Where could that girl have disappeared to?

“She was just here.”

“That’s okay. She probably went to the restroom. Let’s dance in the meantime,” she says, dragging me to the dancefloor.

The rhythm’s still spirited and Judra dances well. Her steps are enchanting, a mixture of sensuality with innocence. I’m not a bad dancer but it’s hard to keep up with her. She takes my hands and helps me imitate her moves, all the while laughing at my lack of coordination.

“Okay, we’re getting better,” she compliments.

After two fast songs, the band plays a slow, romantic tune. I take Judra by the waist and pull her close. She wraps her arms around my neck and we begin to dance with our faces very close.

“I’m glad you came,” I whisper in her ear.

“I couldn’t miss your party, could I?”

I smile and offer her a kiss which she doesn’t refuse. Once more, we’re there enjoying each other’s company to the sound of the music, swinging from side to side, two steps here, two there. Her lips are so soft I could keep on kissing them for hours on end and the perfume she’s wearing is delicious. It reminds me of the flowers my mother grows in her garden. It’s all just too perfect. They play several songs and I don’t even notice the time flying by. After a few minutes clutching her on the dancefloor, Judra asks for a glass of water and I’m obliged to leave her and go to the bar. I look for Luana quickly on the way and don’t find her. I’m a little concerned.

“I need to find my sister,” I say, giving her the water.

“No problem. Tell me what she looks like and I’ll help you.”

“A little shorter than you, long dark hair. She’s dressed in black, with a skirt and red accessories.”

“Isn’t that her sitting there?” Judra points to another corner.

“My, it is. You’re fast.” I respond, smiling.

My sister gets up and goes to another part of the ballroom, but she’s followed by a very large guy of medium height. She says something to him, apparently irritated.

“I think that fellow’s bothering her,” Judra says.

I don’t say anything and go directly to my sister. Getting near, I see he’s one of those snooty kids, somebody important’s son. Already drunk, he grabs Luana, trying to kiss her. She pushes him and slaps him on the cheek. Furious, he raises his hand to hit her. I step between them just in time.

“Is there a problem here? I ask, restraining his fist.

“This your boyfriend, princess?” the imbecile pops off, slurring his words.

“No, I’m her brother and you’d better leave now.” I push his arm and release him. He then loses his balance and falls, landing on his posterior.

By now, a circle of young people has formed and I’m in the middle with the guy on the floor in front of me. They begin to laugh. Outraged, the drunk stands up and starts berating me.

“Just who do you think you are to tell me anything? Do you know who you’re talking to, you piece of garbage?” He pushes me with both arms and I take a few steps backwards.

“I don’t care who you are. And I don’t think you’re in any shape to fight. I’m not going to beat a dead horse.” I turn my back to see if Luana is all right. She screams:

“Le!”

I turn around and see the guy coming at me, trying to hit me with everything he’s got. I block his blow with my arm and stick my leg out. With the weight of his body, he crashes to the floor and stays there, sprawled out, unable to get up.

“Let’s get out of here.” I take Luana by the arm and pull her from the circle, stepping through the ring of bystanders.

“Is everything all right?” Judra asks, worried.

“It was just a drunk. Everything is now.”

“So, are you Luana?” Judra asks.

“Yes, I am. And you must be my brother’s girlfriend, right?”

I think you could have seen my blushing cheeks from a thousand kilometers away. The look I give Luana is so hostile that she realizes how thoroughly I detest her inquiry.

“Girlfriend?” Judra asks, self-conscious.

“Luana, wouldn’t you rather go talk with your friend over there?” I point to where the drunk had fallen.

“No thanks. I’d rather stay here with my sister-in-law.”

Great, she’s managed to do it. Judra and I are now both completely mortified, not knowing where to look.

“Uh, guys, what do those faces mean? You’re not going to let some drunk ruin the party, are you?” Luana makes a joke about the situation and returns to the dancefloor.

“Quite lovely, that sister of yours,” Judra says with a mocking smile, clearly unsettled.

“Well, yeah, she’s authentic…” That’s the only non-aggressive way to describe her that comes to mind her.

In my heart, I want to kill Luana, but what can I really do? I wind up following her example and take Judra back to the dancefloor. After dancing for almost an hour, I notice the guy I tripped is staring at us. He says something to his two friends and points in our direction.

“It’d probably be better if we left,” Judra says after also spotting what is happening.

“I agree. Luana, let’s go,” I call out to her.

It’s not a good idea to have problems with those guys. I start toward the exit and the girls follow me. Seeing that we’re leaving the ballroom, the three block our way, preventing us from reaching the door.

“And, now, wise guy?” challenges the drunk.

“We don’t want any problems; we’re just leaving,” Luana interrupts.

“Too late for that,” he snaps back.

They surround us and begin pushing me from one side to the other. Luana screams for help and Judra disappears. After being jostled a few times, I’m propelled toward a taller boy and use my inertia to hit him harder, smacking him squarely on the nose. Blood immediately starts flowing and he raises his hands to his face to stop the pain. I’m struck from behind by his other friend and fall to the floor. Before they can start kicking me, four guards appear and immobilize the troublemakers; Judra has brought them. All three are dragged outside, each one accompanied by a soldier, while the fourth stays to disperse the crowd that gathered to watch the fight. The drunk keeps on yelling, until he’s completely removed from the locale:

“Do you know who I am? You can’t do this to me. My father will get you all!”

I can’t believe I saw guards punishing somebody like him. I don’t know who his father is, but if he’s a high-ranking government official, his father can even have these soldiers killed if he finds out what happened.

“Now that they’re gone, we can have a little more fun,” Judra says.

Which, in fact, is what we do. We spend another hour at the party. Now exhausted, we decide to leave. The ballroom is much emptier and the only people remaining are those who really like to party or who are so drunk they’re slumped in the corners.

“We’re not going to miss anything else if we leave now,” Luana says, looking around.

“I agree.”

We leave the party and walk down the street toward the train station. It’s still dark and we must walk a while to reach the terminal. But that doesn’t matter; the early morning air is pleasant, warm. We’re chatting, laughing about what happened. Judra and I are still arm in arm and Luana’s right behind us. We distance ourselves a little from her when she stops to adjust her boots. As soon as we notice that my sister isn’t keeping up with us, we turn around to wait for her.

“Hurry up,” I yell.

“Calm down, I need to loosen this a little,” Lua says, tugging on her bootlaces.

Before she can finish, I’m surprised by someone who comes out of a nearby alley and pummels me in the back. I put my hand where I’ve been struck and fall in pain. Judra screams when she’s grabbed by another individual who immobilizes her arms. I then hear a familiar voice.

“We’ve been waiting for you, hero.” It’s the drunk.

Judra yells for help while the lout throws her to the ground. She passes out from the impact. Furious, I get up and punch the guy, but the third jerk smacks me in the ribs. They’re all armed with wooden cudgels, which is what they used to hit me with the first time. The pain from the blow brings me to my knees and I’m attacked from behind before falling again. The three begin kicking me and I can do nothing but protect my head with my arms. Seeing them beating me, Luana is desperate.

“Stop it! Just stop! You’re going to kill him!” she screams while running to help me.

As soon as she approaches, one of the guys pushes her and Lua falls face down. What a coward! I try to get up to help her, but I’m kicked in the stomach, which knocks my wind out. I feel like I’m about to pass out from the beating. Then, with my eyes almost closed, a strident noise catches my attention and brings me back to consciousness. Flashes of light pass by as if an explosion has taken place right beside me. The blows stop and, looking around, I see all three lying on the ground. I rise to my knees and see Lua standing, arms extended, with her face turned and eyes closed. Traces of energy detach themselves from her hands and dissipate in the air. Frightened, I check one of the boys’ neck for a pulse, but I feel nothing… He’s dead. Luana’s killed him.