“Tyx...” Black was staring at the stride of the man in the trench coat ahead of him, following him through the corridor. “He said he would introduce me to some people... Who?”

They had already exited that old corridor and taken the right path, climbing twenty more floors to where they were now. It was a distinct passage, with arched walls and no doors, just a smooth, white wall. At the end, which was a good distance away, nothing could be seen but darkness.

Each step echoed in the silent corridor, drawing closer to the inevitable darkness at its end.

– Have you eaten anything? – Tyx asked, glancing sideways at Black.

– What?

– I asked if you’ve had something to eat. You know breakfast is an important meal, right?

– Oh... yeah, if you can even call that food... – Black said, stopping in the corridor with a furrowed brow. – Are you really a Defender?

Tyx stopped and turned to face Black, who was watching him with doubtful eyes.

– Do you think I'm lying?

– Yes, you don’t fit the profile. – Black replied instantly, crossing his arms as he spoke. – You’re too carefree and relaxed. Besides, they would never accept someone like you.

Tyx scratched the side of his head, maintaining a casual smile as he lowered his head.

– And here I thought I would spend a morning without being reprimanded... – Tyx replied lightly, shrugging. – But what do you mean exactly by “someone like me”?

– You have a problem with your legs; I saw how you walk. – Black said, pointing with his chin at the man's legs. – Defenders would never accept a disabled person.

Upon hearing the young man’s words, Tyx laughed genuinely, lowering his head and hiding his face with his hat.

– What’s so funny?

– Your honesty; after all, no one would speak to one of the five like that. – Tyx replied, showing a smile that revealed slightly yellowed teeth.

“One of the five? Is he really a Defender? No... this can't be right.” Black averted his gaze, staring at his distorted reflection on the tile.

– But I have to admit, you have sharp eyes. – Tyx said, lifting the right hem of his pants to reveal a metal prosthetic.

But it wasn’t an ordinary prosthetic; it was as thick as a real leg and seemed to have a joint at the heel, allowing for complex movements.

– It will never replace a real leg, but the fact that I can buy my own coffee is already a victory. – Tyx said, focused on his prosthetic and then looking at Black with an exaggerated smile. – They always bought me coffee with cream, urgh... And I’m more of a fan of plain coffee, you know, from where I come from...

– So, where are we going? – Black interrupted Tyx, with drooping eyelids.

– Oh, right. – Tyx cleared his throat. – To a very special place.

They both headed toward the darkness when several lights were turned on, revealing a huge double door that seemed to tell a story through its engravings.

To the left, there was a scene of conflict; a war. Several soldiers were present, some fallen and others getting back up, their eyes shining as they held the American flag over various debris.

To the right, there was a row of faces of men and women turned to the side, staring at a huge star in front of them. Below the star, two hands were shaking.

In the center of the door, which occupied most of the surface, stood the imposing figure of a man and a woman dressed in simple clothing. Both had a glimmer in their eyes and were looking at each other. Behind each of them were the symbols of the moon and the sun. They held the edge of the engraving as if they were supporting it; in the center, there was a statue holding books in its left hand and a flaming sword in its right. Behind it, a vast city rose, with buildings reaching the clouds.

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

– What is this? – Black asked, looking at the immense door in front of him.

– In war: duty. In peace: selflessness. – Tyx said, first looking to the left, then to the right, and finally to the center. – And in life: sacrifice...

“Wow.” Black stared at the engravings on the huge door; it was like a work of art coming to life. He turned his attention back to Tyx, who seemed focused but not exactly on the door, rather on something else.

– Are you okay? – Black asked, raising an eyebrow.

Tyx quickly cleared his throat and managed a smile.

– Of course... that’s what it says in the building guide, in case you didn’t know. Come on, I need to introduce you to some people. – Tyx said, turning his back to the door, which made a noise and began to open.

“What was that just now?” Black stared at Tyx but then shifted his attention back to the door, expecting a dazzling light to shine through. In reality, the light was almost scarce; he could only see a huge figure, like a giant.

For a moment, he swallowed hard, but within seconds the door opened fully, revealing a large oval hall; the walls appeared to be made of glass covering its extensive space, but they were covered.

Now he could fully see the giant figure, which was an immense statue. It resembled a muscular man who appeared to be naked; he was kneeling, but one knee concealed his private parts. In his hands, he held up a massive globe, and on his back, there was a cloak made of numerous small, intertwined hands that stretched from the ground to his shoulders.

– Who is this? – Black asked, astonished as he looked at the statue.

– This is the figure of Jupiter, your representation. – Tyx replied seriously, also gazing at the enormous statue. — That on his chest is his symbol.

The symbol was formed by an inverted triangle in the center of a white spiral that extended horizontally.

“So, this is the guy who took me out of Division Zero...” Black continued to stare at the statue with a certain fascination, then looked around the rest of the room.

In the center, there was a large table that seemed to simulate the lower edge of the shadow cast by the massive globe raised by the statue, forming half of a circle that fit perfectly into the shadow projected by the light in the space. Around the table, there were five chairs, four of which were occupied.

It was impossible to see the individuals sitting there, as the light coming from behind perfectly concealed them.

In the center of the shadow cast by the globe, there was a reinforced chair and a well-polished wooden table, solitary amid the vast hall. Tyx gestured for Black to approach the central chair with a wave of his hand.

He walked toward the table, observing the four who were seated.

Black started from the left. The first was a man with slightly yellowed skin and an average height, dressed formally and wearing glasses. He had a slightly protruding forehead, with a large brow; his slanted black eyes matched his hair, which was short and neatly combed. He sat upright, quickly manipulating a computer.

“Why are his eyes like that?” Black glanced at him briefly before moving on to the next.

The second was a Black woman, also of average height, with visible muscles. Her face was serious, and her eyes and hair were brown. The curly hair framed her face, while her full lips were painted red. She wore a gray jacket, a black shirt, and jeans. With her arms resting on the table and her fingers interlaced, she was the only one with a welcoming smile.

“What a beautiful woman...” Black almost smiled but held back. “I can’t forget that I’m not here on my own accord.”

The third, in the center, was a massive man, nearly three meters tall. His skin was white, and his body was muscular. His black eyes and triangular face were intimidating, resembling a draconian figure. The long beard and black hair tied back complemented his appearance. He was dressed in a tailored formal outfit and had his hands interlaced over the table, partially covering his mouth.

“He is... enormous...” Black stared at the man with sharp eyes. As they exchanged glances, the man frowned. “Does he know me? No, that would be impossible.”

The fourth man didn’t seem as large as the third, but he was over two meters tall and muscular, resembling a bodybuilder. His skin was white, and his face had a square, well-defined shape. His goatee and blonde hair were neatly trimmed with a military cut. His yellow eyes were similar to Black’s but with a vivid coloration. He wore a dress shirt, loose and comfortable pants, and sneakers. He was sitting with his arms crossed and legs open, leaning back in his chair.

“His eyes... are like mine...” Black locked eyes with the individual, and his eyes widened slightly. “Is he just like me...?”

Black remained standing in front of the table, sitting silently and alternating his gaze between the individuals.

– Black, welcome to the Order of Defenders. – Tyx proclaimed.

Finally, the last seat on the right was taken by Tyx. After sitting down, he looked at the other members, who nodded before turning their attention back to Black, who maintained a serious expression with his fists resting on his knees beneath the table.

“So this is it... What exactly do they want from me?” Black tried to keep his breathing steady, but his heart raced. “I believe I’m about to find out...”