At the beginning of the morning, while everyone was still asleep—
the library was in complete silence.
The light of the moons passed through the stained glass, illuminating endless rows of ancient books.
Between the shelves—
Megumi walked.
Unhurried.
Without making a sound.
As if that place… was familiar.
Her fingers slid across the books, one by one.
Stopping.
Ignoring.
Choosing.
⸻
Until—
a specific book caught her attention.
Ancient.
Worn.
With symbols that were not taught in the Dojo.
⸻
She pulled it.
Without hesitation.
⸻
Opened it.
Flipped through a few pages—
until she found it.
⸻
A circle.
Complex.
Almost… alive.
⸻
Her red eyes fixed on the drawing.
No emotion.
Only analysis.
⸻
And then she read.
⸻
"To defy death…
Sacrifice one million lives.
Trace the circle.
And the one who was lost… shall return."
⸻
Silence.
⸻
No exaggerated reaction.
No shock.
⸻
Only—
acceptance.
⸻
"…I understand."
Her voice came out low.
Controlled.
⸻
She closed the book slowly.
⸻
"…I will bring you back."
A pause.
⸻
"…father."
⸻
She placed the book back in its exact place.
As if it had never been touched.
⸻
And left the library.
⸻
Without leaving a single trace
The dormitory was still silent when Abraão woke up.
The light of the moons entered faintly through the window.
He turned his head—
And froze.
Liora was on his bed.
Hugging the pillow.
Very close.
—
"…what?"
—
Abraão got so startled that he recoiled—
And fell off the bed.
THUD.
—
"…ow—!"
—
Liora moved slightly.
"…Abraão-nii…"
Still asleep.
—
Abraão sat on the floor, staring.
Processing.
—
"…why are you here…"
—
He was going to ask.
But stopped.
—
"…I'll deal with that later."
—
He got up quickly.
Got dressed.
Grabbed his sword.
And left.
⸻
🍽️ Cafeteria
The smell of food was already in the air.
A few students were starting to appear.
—
The cafeteria girl was there.
As always.
—
Normal.
—
A soft smile.
Calm movements.
A common gaze.
—
Abraão paused for a second.
—
"…yesterday…"
—
But today—
there was nothing strange.
—
"Good morning," she said.
Naturally.
—
"Good morning."
—
No different drink.
No strange look.
Nothing out of place.
—
That bothered him even more.
—
He ate quickly.
In silence.
—
And left.
⸻
🌊 Training Area
The field was still empty.
The river flowed calmly beside it.
—
Abraão arrived.
Stopped.
Waited.
—
One minute.
Two.
Five.
—
Nothing.
—
"…late?"
—
Murata was never late.
—
The wind passed softly.
—
Footsteps.
—
"Well, well…"
—
Abraão closed his eyes for a second.
He already knew.
—
"…Jhonatam."
—
"If it isn't the failure."
—
Abraão sighed.
—
"Failure is ashamed to be in the same sentence as your name."
—
Silence.
—
Jhonatam froze.
—
For a second.
—
Then—
his face hardened.
—
"Why you—!"
—
He stepped forward and grabbed Abraão by the clothes.
—
And then—
stopped.
—
His whole body froze.
—
A hand.
On his neck.
—
Jhonatam turned immediately.
—
No one.
—
But the pressure…
was still there.
—
"…w-who…?"
—
A whisper.
—
Cold.
Heavy.
—
"—stop being weak."
—
Jhonatam's eyes widened.
—
And in the next instant—
the energy exploded.
—
A purple aura surged around him.
Dense.
Unstable.
Violent.
—
His eyes turned completely purple.
Without humanity.
—
Abraão took a step back.
—
"…this isn't right…"
—
Jhonatam let go of him.
—
But didn't step back.
—
He slowly raised his sword.
—
The movement…
was not his.
—
"Eclipse…"
—
The voice came out distorted.
—
"Head Slayer."
—
And he disappeared.
—
Not fast.
—
Instant.
—
Abraão didn't see it.
—
He only felt it.
—
Instinct.
—
His arms moved on their own.
—
CLANG!!!
—
The swords clashed.
—
At the last second.
—
The impact exploded.
—
The air vibrated.
The grass lifted.
—
Abraão was thrown straight into the river.
—
CRASH!!
—
The water split open.
—
Underwater—
everything went silent.
—
His body hurt.
—
But then—
he saw it.
—
The sword.
—
The rust…
cracking.
—
Breaking apart.
—
As if it was being torn away.
—
Revealing the real blade.
—
Smooth.
Ancient.
—
And a name.
—
"God of Water."
—
"…what…?"
—
He rose to the surface.
Breathing heavily.
—
On the shore—
Jhonatam was already there.
—
Waiting.
—
The purple aura even more unstable.
—
More dangerous.
—
Abraão tightened his grip on the sword.
—
"…God of Water…?"
—
Silence.
—
Then—
the sword responded.
—
An intense blue light burst from it.
—
The entire river reacted.
—
The water began to vibrate.
—
As if it were alive.
—
"…stop—!"
—
But it didn't stop.
—
The energy surged up his arm.
—
Too strong.
—
Uncontrollable.
—
A blast of water fired.
—
Massive.
—
Violent.
—
Without precise direction.
—
Jhonatam tried to react—
—
Too late.
—
The impact hit him directly.
—
His body was thrown far away.
—
Spinning in the air—
—
until crashing violently into the ground.
—
CRASH.
—
Silence.
—
The water fell.
—
Abraão stood still.
—
Breathing heavily.
—
He looked ahead.
—
Jhonatam was on the ground.
—
Motionless.
—
And then—
he saw it.
—
The blood.
—
And the arm.
—
It was no longer there.
Abraão stood frozen, trembling.
"W-What…?"
His voice failed.
—
"I-I didn't…"
—
The wind passed.
Cold.
Heavy.
—
Footsteps.
—
A shadow approached.
—
Murata.
—
He came calmly, eating a sandwich, like any normal morning.
—
"Hey Ab—"
—
He stopped.
—
The sandwich slowly dropped from his hand.
—
Silence.
—
His gaze scanned everything.
The ground.
The blood.
The arm.
Jhonatam.
The sword.
—
"…what happened here?"
His voice wasn't loud.
But it felt heavy.
—
Abraão swallowed hard.
—
"It was… an accident…"
—
Murata didn't interrupt.
—
"He attacked me… I just defended…"
—
"…and the sword…"
He looked at the blade.
—
"…it released that on its own…"
—
Silence.
—
Murata kept looking.
Analyzing.
—
Not the boy.
—
The sword.
—
"…let me see it."
—
Abraão hesitated.
For a second.
—
But handed it over.
—
Murata held the sword.
—
The moment he touched it—
the blade vibrated.
Lightly.
Like rejection.
—
Murata narrowed his eyes.
—
"…so it's real…"
—
He ran his finger near the inscription.
—
"…God of Water…"
—
He took a deep breath.
—
"…I thought this was just a story."
—
He handed the sword back.
—
"…listen carefully, Abraão."
—
His tone changed.
—
More serious.
—
"There is an ancient legend."
—
He looked at the river.
—
"When the world was still unstable… the ocean had a guardian."
—
"Leviathan."
—
"Not a monster."
—
"A god."
—
The wind blew stronger.
—
"He maintained the balance between chaos… and calm."
—
Murata crossed his arms.
—
"During an ancient war… he tore part of his own essence."
—
"…and turned it into a weapon."
—
He looked directly at the sword.
—
"A blade made from the soul of the ocean."
—
Pause.
—
"Abyssal Tide."
—
"…or as it became known later…"
—
"God of Water."
—
Silence.
—
Abraão tightened his grip on the sword.
—
"…that's impossible…"
—
Murata gave a faint half-smile.
—
"I thought so too."
—
He looked forward again.
—
At Jhonatam.
—
And the smile disappeared.
—
"…this is a problem."
—
He crouched beside the body.
Checked quickly.
—
"…he's alive."
—
Abraão let out his breath immediately.
—
"…but he lost a lot of blood."
—
Murata stood up.
—
And then—
looked seriously at Abraão.
—
"…this cannot leave here."
—
Abraão froze.
—
"…but—"
—
"No 'but.'"
—
Murata stepped closer.
—
"If they find out you did this…"
—
A pause.
—
"…you won't get a chance to explain."
—
Silence.
—
"…understand?"
—
Abraão tightened his grip on the sword.
—
"…I understand."
—
Murata nodded.
—
Picked up Jhonatam's body.
As if it weighed nothing.
—
Then—
the arm.
—
"…I'll take him now."
—
"Will he… be okay?"
—
Murata paused for half a second.
—
"…probably, don't worry."
—
And started walking.
—
But before leaving—
he stopped.
—
Without looking back.
—
"…and Abraão."
—
"…this sword…"
—
Pause.
—
"…it's not a weapon."
—
Silence.
—
"…it's a responsibility."
—
And he left.
—
Leaving Abraão alone.
—
The empty field.
—
The calm river.
—
As if nothing had happened.
—
But inside him—
everything was different.
—
Abraão looked at the sword.
—
"…God of Water…"
—
The blade remained silent.
—
But, for a moment—
the river water… moved.
—
Responding.
"Since there won't be training anyway, I'll go back to the room."
Abraão returned to the Dojo in silence.
But this time…
it wasn't just exhaustion.
His mind wouldn't stop.
The scene.
The blood.
The arm.
"…I did that…"
He clenched his fist.
Without noticing.
When he arrived at the dormitory, something broke his train of thought.
A letter.
Right at the door.
Still.
Waiting.
"…a letter?"
He slowly crouched, as if it were too fragile.
Opened it.
"Abraão, this is mom. How are you? Are you okay? I hope so. With love, mom."
Silence.
The outside world… disappeared.
The pressure in his chest changed.
It wasn't fear anymore.
It was longing.
A tear fell before he even realized.
"…mom…"
His voice came out almost inaudible.
He entered the room slowly, sat on the bed, and stared at the letter for a few seconds.
As if it were… a safe place.
Then he took a paper.
Took a deep breath.
And wrote, his hand still slightly trembling:
"I'm fine, mom! And how are you?"
He stopped.
Looked at the sentence.
"…lie…"
But even so—
he folded the paper.
Put it in his pocket.
"…I'll send it later…"
He stood up.
Got dressed.
Tried to return to normal.
Tried.
But couldn't completely.
He looked at the two.
Sleeping.
Peaceful.
Unaware of anything.
"…lucky them…"
He took a deep breath.
"LIORAAA, WAKE UUUUP!"
"You kiss really well, Abraão-nii…"
Silence.
…
"…WHAT?"
"LIORAAAAAA!!!"
Liora woke up startled, jumping up too fast.
"AAA! What is it?! What is it?!"
"Class is about to start!"
"…oh…"
He rubbed his eyes, still half-asleep.
Then—
looked down.
Realized.
And smiled.
"Hihi…"
Abraão crossed his arms, already suspicious.
"…why were you in my bed?"
Liora just kept smiling.
A small smile.
Almost innocent.
"Hihi…"
"Liora."
Silence.
He looked away for a second.
"…it was cold…"
A lie.
But his voice came out too soft to confront.
And before Abraão insisted—
Liora started changing clothes right there.
"Abraão… help me change?"
"…NO."
"But this time without closing your eyes…"
"I'M NOT HELPING."
"Last time you got all shy…"
"I'M NOT—"
"…I think the teacher is calling me over there."
Abraão turned and walked out.
Too fast.
"HEY! He ran away!"
Liora stared at the closed door.
The smile still there.
But…
a little smaller.
"…idiot…"
He finished changing alone.
More slowly this time.
Then went to Lia.
"Liaaa… wake up…"
"…five more minutes…"
Liora stayed silent for a second.
Thinking.
And then—
"…aren't you coming to my wedding?"
Lia jumped up—
And fell off the bed.
"WEDDING?! WITH WHO?!"
Liora laughed.
But this time…
it was a bit forced.
"Just kidding."
He lightly tapped her nose.
Lia turned red.
"I didn't think anything!"
"You did…"
"…I didn't!"
"…you did."
A small silence.
Then he turned.
"Go get ready. Abraão is waiting."
His voice sounded normal.
But his eyes…
weren't.
In the classroom, the three sat together.
As always.
But it wasn't the same.
"Students, I have an announcement…"
the teacher said.
"Student Jhonatam will not be attending today due to an accident."
Silence.
"He is in the infirmary."
Liora spoke quietly:
"Serves him right…"
Lia crossed her arms.
"So he learns."
And then looked at Abraão.
"Don't you agree?"
Silence.
Abraão didn't answer immediately.
"…yeah."
But it didn't convince anyone.
Liora glanced at him.
Noticed.
Something was wrong.
But…
didn't ask.
At lunch—
"MY FAVORITE FOOD!!" Liora cheered, trying to lighten the mood.
But while laughing…
he kept glancing.
Abraão.
And Lia.
Talking.
Arguing.
"Beans are good for your health!"
"I don't like them!"
"But you have to eat!"
"No!"
Liora laughed.
But inside…
his chest tightened.
"…they match…"
The smile faded.
Very slowly.
Almost no one noticed.
In the shower—
"Abraão… want to shower with me?"
"…WHAT?!"
"It'll be faster…"
"No need!"
"Okay…"
The door closed.
The water started running.
And inside—
Liora stayed silent.
No jokes.
No laughter.
Just leaning against the wall.
Water running down his face.
"…why did I ask that…"
He closed his eyes.
"…idiot…"
When he came out—
he saw.
Abraão.
And Lia.
Very close.
Too close.
Their faces almost touching.
The world felt… slow.
His heart raced.
Fast.
Painfully.
He looked away immediately.
"…did I take too long?"
"TOO LONG!" both answered.
And laughed.
Liora laughed too.
But it was different.
"…haha…"
Softer.
Weaker.
Back in the dorm—
everything seemed normal.
Conversations.
Laughter.
But Liora was quieter.
Watching.
Always watching.
When it was time to sleep—
Lia lay down.
Abraão too.
But Liora…
stood there.
Watching.
In silence.
His eyes were shining.
But not from happiness.
His heart pounded.
"…maybe…"
He took a deep breath.
"…maybe I won't stay with him forever…"
His throat tightened.
"…so…"
A step.
"…I'll enjoy it…"
Another.
"…while I still can."
He lay down in Abraão's bed.
And hugged him.
Tightly.
As if afraid of losing him.
Buried his face in him.
And stayed silent.
But a tear fell.
Then another.
Without sound.
Without anyone seeing.
In Abraão's pocket—
📱 New mission available.
Somewhere else—
"Zack… this is creating temporal failures."
"Moments are repeating…"
"He's going to notice."
Silence.
"…I know."
The voice replied.
Calm.
Cold.
"…but I have a plan B."
Pause.
"…and this time…"
"…it won't fail."