On the other side of the room stood Hammya. Her calm was almost irritating in contrast to the thick tension hanging in the air. While everyone else seemed trapped by unease, she remained serene, as if nothing here could possibly disturb her.

  Héctor paced back and forth without pause, running a hand through his hair in clear anxiety. Declan, on the other hand, toyed with the hilt of his sword, slowly turning it between his fingers; his posture was stiff, alert, ready to draw at the slightest suspicious movement. The presence of Mikos the skeleton in the room did nothing to calm him.

  Clementina never took her eyes off the door. Her hands intertwined again and again, betraying her constant worry. Candado was still on the other side—and that alone was enough to unsettle her.

  “Why are they taking so long?” Héctor asked at last, stopping in place.

  “Relax. They’ll be fine,” Hammya replied, her tone carefree.

  “I’d be more relaxed if I could see them.”

  “You already did. Be satisfied with that.”

  Héctor shot her an annoyed look. Under other circumstances he would never have allowed himself such a reaction, but here his irritation toward her was far too evident to hide.

  Before he could voice any further reproach, Mikos moved. The skeleton stepped forward with dry, echoing strides and opened the door.

  Candado and Sara stood behind him.

  “We’re back,” Candado announced.

  Héctor and Clementina rushed toward him and pulled him into a hug. Even Declan took a step forward, as if about to do the same, but stopped himself at the last moment; he cleared his throat and limited himself to a brief nod.

  Sara greeted the others shyly. Clementina was the only one who embraced her; Héctor merely placed a hand on her shoulder, keeping his distance, and Declan simply inclined his head.

  “Good evening, ma’am,” he said.

  Hammya smiled. She did not look surprised in the slightest. Calmly, she stood and fixed her gaze on Candado.

  “I see you reached an agreement.”

  Candado held her gaze in silence for a few seconds. She continued smiling, tranquil, as if she already knew the answer. Finally, he sighed and looked toward the rest of the group.

  “Yes. We reached an agreement.”

  “I know that look,” Héctor said, a crooked smile forming.

  Candado glanced at him.

  “I think I put everyone in danger.”

  Hammya stepped forward and placed a hand first on Héctor’s shoulder, then on Clementina’s, never taking her eyes off Candado.

  “You didn’t,” she said. “Because they’re here. As long as they’re here, you didn’t.”

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

  Her words clicked into Candado’s mind like scattered pieces of a puzzle falling into place. Still, he only nodded.

  “Yeah… I see that.”

  Hammya’s smile turned mischievous.

  “Of course.”

  “So what exactly did you do?” Declan asked.

  “An all-or-nothing deal,” Candado replied. “If we pass a trial, Sara gets what she wants. If we fail… we leave empty-handed.”

  Those words made Sara avert her gaze. Shame and guilt weighed heavily on her—others were about to face an uncertain trial because of her, one that could challenge even the strongest.

  “I understand,” Héctor said after a brief silence.

  Candado took a deep breath.

  “I just need to know one thing… Will you come with me?”

  “I would never abandon you, sir. With you to the very end,” Declan replied without hesitation.

  “My role is to care for and protect. I’ll be there, young master,” Clementina said firmly.

  “You’re my friend,” Héctor added. “I’d never leave you behind. I’m going with you.”

  Hammya smiled.

  “Of course I’ll be there.”

  In Candado’s mind, a clear image formed—what his Hammya would be like in that situation. He imagined her trembling, pretending to be brave, weighed down by fear, terrified of the unknown. But the woman standing before him was not that image. She seemed to know exactly what she was doing… and even to enjoy playing with everyone else.

  “Thank you,” he said at last.

  “No—really… thank you,” Sara added.

  Candado didn’t reply. There was no need to.

  Mikos watched the scene in silence, especially Hammya. She returned his gaze with a faint, unreadable smile.

  Some time later, the group was led into a large room, resembling an office. Only Nyrvana and Mikos were present.

  “Well, well, well,” Nyrvana said. “Now we’ll see whether all of this is more than empty words. Remember: if one fails, you all fail. Let’s hope you manage it. Good luck.”

  “Everything will go fine,” Hammya replied, almost challenging her.

  Nyrvana studied her carefully. There was something about her—something she couldn’t quite grasp, something different. But she chose not to pry.

  “Very well. Mikos will tell you what to do. I’ll handle the rest.”

  Mikos stepped forward.

  “First, remove your footwear.”

  Everyone complied. Candado carefully helped Sara.

  “Now lie down next to one another, forming a circle.”

  Candado lifted Sara in his arms to place her properly. As he did, he noticed she was trembling. It surprised him. Ever since he’d known her, she had always been cheerful, elegant, playful, seemingly unshakable. But the young woman he held now felt like a frightened child.

  “I’m scared,” Sara whispered. “What if I fail? So many people are depending on me.”

  Candado set her down gently and took her hand, looking straight at her.

  “Sara, you’re at my side. And with me, the chances of failure are low. But if you fail… if you do… I promise I’ll find another way to make your dream come true.”

  Sara took a deep breath. Slowly, the trembling faded.

  “You’re right,” she said, managing a smile. “I can’t keep being afraid. I have to think like a winner.”

  “That’s right,” Candado replied with a faint smile—rare on his serious face.

  Mikos cleared his throat.

  “Now, everyone lie down.”

  They formed the circle, leaving space between their heads. Nyrvana appeared holding the crystal with extreme care and placed it at the center.

  “Hold hands.”

  Candado took Sara’s hand. On his other side, Hammya waited. He hesitated. He felt rejection, discomfort… but in the end, he gave in.

  “This doesn’t change anything,” he murmured.

  “I know,” she replied with a subdued smile.

  “Close your eyes,” Nyrvana ordered.

  And then, everything changed.

  Candado woke in a strange place, wrapped in darkness scattered with star-like lights. He was alone.

  Clementina appeared in an empty room, surrounded by floating zeros and ones, along with words and impossible objects.

  Héctor found himself in a completely white chamber, with nothing but his own presence.

  Hammya awoke in an unfamiliar world—like another planet, one she had never known and yet felt deeply familiar. She smiled at being there.

  Declan opened his eyes in a house with a beautiful garden, fields he knew well. He wore Irish clothing.

  And Sara awoke in a cold, hostile place, among tents. She was standing.

  No wheelchair.

  Outside, everyone slept.

  Nyrvana leaned back in her chair.

  “Mikos, bring me something to eat. This will take a while.”

  “At once.”

  Mikos left the room. Nyrvana watched them with an expectant smile.

  “Let’s see… how they fare in their trials.”