It was 8 PM. At the same time, in the same place... there was Shizu, at the meeting to discuss the plan. He had his hands over his face, completely lost in thought.
"What... what happened? Why am I here again...? This doesn't make sense... why... why..."
Anin, worried, kept calling out to him:
— Shizu? What's wrong? Are you feeling sick?
"Did I die in my sleep...? How? A night attack...? A trap...? Think, think, Shizu... what happened..."
He sank deeper and deeper into his own mind, still with his hands over his face and a look of pure panic.
Suddenly, the sound of a slap echoed through the hideout. Everyone looked around, startled. Anistina had stood up from her chair and slapped Shizu across the face. Then she yelled:
— Snap out of it!
She grabbed his shoulders firmly, locking eyes with him with a serious expression:
— Get a grip! Focus! Don't lose your mind in your own thoughts!
Those words woke him up. Shizu finally returned to the present, composed himself, and said:
— S-sorry, I just got lost in my thoughts for a moment...
Anistina sat back down in her chair and replied with a calmer tone:
— It's fine. Just don't do that again... it scared me.
Shizu sighed, still looking down, and muttered another apology. The meeting continued, with everyone discussing and adjusting the details of the plan. A good amount of time passed, and finally, Anin spoke up:
— Alright... based on the information we have now, we might have a chance. But just to be safe, let's meet again tomorrow at the same time to finalize everything.
Everyone agreed. Slowly, they started to leave. But Shizu stayed, deep in thought.
"I need to find out what happened that night... I have to understand how I died..."
Seeing him like that, Anin hesitated, but decided to approach:
— Shizu, wanna go for a walk?
He looked up and nodded. As they walked through the dark night, Anin broke the silence:
— I know it must be hard carrying all this responsibility... so if you need help or you're just tired, please tell me, okay?
Shizu, who had been walking with his head down, looked at her for a moment and replied:
— Alright... I'll tell you if I need anything.
She smiled, looking up at the sky.
— It's already late... I think I'll head home. Are you coming?
Shizu almost agreed but refused. He was afraid of putting Anin in danger in case something happened.
— I don't think so... you can go ahead. I'll stay here for the night. Good night.
She turned and said with a gentle smile:
— Ah... okay. Good night.
Shizu watched her walk away and thought to himself:
"Now... it's time to go back and uncover the truth..."
He returned to the favela and went to the place where Anistina and the others were playing cards.
— STOP CHEATING, CARLIUS!
— HE'S CHEATING AIR AT THIS POINT! NO WAY HE'S WINNING SIX TIMES IN A ROW!
Anistina shouted, clearly drunk. She was holding a bottle and accusing Carlius of cheating.
— Liar! You're totally cheating! I bet you have like ten cards under your butt! Get up!
She jumped on top of Carlius, trying to bring him down. Shizu, not wanting to interrupt, just watched and said:
— I'm going to rest now, so... good night, everyone...
— Alright! Good night, Shizu! Ugh... get off me, Miss Anistina!
— Okay, good night, Shibu... now fess up, Carnius! Where are the cards!!
— Aghhh! Let go of me, Miss!! I don't have any cards!
— COME ON, BOSS! TEACH THAT CHEATER A LESSON!
While everyone laughed and shouted, Shizu walked away and headed to the spot where he would sleep. But instead of lying down, he placed some pillows under the blanket to look like he was there. Then, he hid inside a nearby house, waiting... watching.
Time passed. Midnight arrived. Then he saw it. A figure approaching. Silent. Holding a sword, heading straight for where he would've been sleeping.
"So that's how it happened..." — Shizu thought.
He rushed out with his sword in hand and shouted:
— Hey! Who are you?!
The figure turned slowly... and Shizu froze.
— N-no... it can't be... why you...?
The moonlight revealed the figure's face. And Shizu recognized it.
The person who had tried to kill him that night...
was Carlius.
Shizu, with a serious and furious expression, stares at Carlius and yells:
— Why, Carlius?! Why did you do it?!
Carlius, arms crossed and wearing a stern expression, replies:
— Listen here, kid... you can fool anyone you want, but not me! You really think I'd believe that crap about you being on our side?
Shizu, consumed by anger, snaps back:
— What?! What do you mean?! We talked just today! I already told you I want to help—
— SHUT THE HELL UP!! — Carlius shouts, cutting him off with an explosive tone.— You seriously think I'm buying that crap?! A kid who just showed up in town suddenly wants to "help" right when we're under attack?! Do I look stupid to you?
Shizu, shocked and speechless, just stares at him. Carlius steps closer, eyes narrowed with suspicion.
— The way you talk... it's like you're not even a kid. There's no way I can believe you're just some normal person. I just... can't.
— Then what do you want me to do?! — Shizu shouts, his voice on the verge of breaking.— What do I have to do to earn your trust?! HUH?! TELL ME!!
Carlius looks at him in silence for a few seconds. The air grows heavy. He slowly approaches, then stops right in front of Shizu. With a serious face, he pulls out a dark glass bottle filled with a pulsating, red, viscous liquid. He hands it to the boy.
— If you want my trust... drink this. All of it. Don't spit it out. If you do... I'll slice you in half.
Shizu hesitates. The smell of the liquid is strong and burning. But without backing down, he grabs the bottle and starts drinking.The taste is unbearable: a mix of fiery pepper, sour lemon, and a disgusting texture that clings to his throat. After a few gulps, Shizu can't take it — he spits it out and collapses to his knees, coughing.
— Argh... c-cough cough... damn... — he mutters, eyes watering.
Without hesitation, Carlius draws his sword and raises it above his head. Shizu shuts his eyes, expecting the worst.Silence takes over for five long seconds... until Carlius lets out a sigh.
— ...You're trustworthy, after all.
He sheaths his sword.Shizu, confused, opens his eyes.
— Huh...? But... didn't you say if I spit it out, you'd cut me in half?
Carlius crosses his arms and looks over his shoulder.— That mixture wasn't just any drink... it was a lie detector. A rare compound made of poisonous peppers, lemon, and special herbs. Only demons or people with extremely high resistance can drink it without spitting it out. But that's not the main thing...
He points to the floor.
— See that red color?
Shizu looks at the spilled liquid.— Yeah... I see it. So what?
Carlius explains:
— If you had been lying, the liquid would've turned gray. No matter how hard you tried to act honest, it would've exposed you immediately. If that happened... I'd have killed you.
Shizu takes a step back, still pale. Suddenly, Carlius kneels before him.
— I'm sorry, Lord Shizu! I acted too quickly! But I had to be sure you were trustworthy! My deepest apologies!
Shizu, uncomfortable, tries to lift him up.— P-please... get up. It's my fault for seeming so suspicious...
Carlius stands and extends a respectful hand.— So... do we have an agreement, Leader?
Shizu stares at the hand for a moment, then smiles and shakes it.— Hmm... of course, dear Sub-Captain.
The two shake hands firmly. But right after, Carlius gets serious.
— By the way, Leader... I have one urgent request.
Shizu, curious, asks:
— Really? What is it?
Carlius smiles nervously, almost begging:
— Please... don't tell Lady Anistina about this, ha ha ha...
Shizu instantly frowns.— OF COURSE I'M GONNA TELL HER!!
Carlius drops to his knees again, clinging to Shizu's legs.— PLEASE, IF YOU TELL HER, SHE'LL KILL ME!!!
Shizu tries to shake him off, yelling in frustration:
— NO WAY! YOU WERE ABOUT TO KILL ME A MINUTE AGO!!
Carlius whines, still hugging his legs:
— I'LL DO ANYTHING! JUST DON'T TELL THE CAPTAIN!!
— GET OFF ME, CARLIUS! I'M GONNA TELL HER!! GET OFF, DAMMIT!!
— NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!
— CARLIUS, LET GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!
Meanwhile, elsewhere in the slums...
— Achoo!
Anistina sneezes suddenly. One of the nearby soldiers looks at her, worried:
— Did you catch a cold, ma'am?
She, clearly drunk and holding an almost empty bottle, replies with a crooked smile:
— Cold? Nah... someone's messing with danger...
She takes another swig and grins slyly, eyes half-closed:
— If it's Carlius... he better start digging his own grave.