Zein opened his eyes slowly.
The white ceiling took time to take shape, as if his sight refused to fully obey him. When he tried to move, a heaviness ran through his body, forcing him to stay still. He didn't recognize the place. He searched for memories, images, anything… but his mind was blank, as if someone had swept away the recent events without leaving a trace. The closed curtains barely filtered the light, tinting the room in a soft, muted tone.
It was then that he noticed it.
There was someone beside him.
Zein turned his head just slightly and saw her. Naoko was leaning over the bed, too close, her head resting on her own hands upon the mattress. Her body, meanwhile, rested on a chair placed next to the bed in an awkward posture that revealed she had been there for a long time. She was sleeping deeply, breathing softly, oblivious to everything.
Before he could process it, a nearby conversation caught his attention.
—And so, what type is my magic, Alexander? —Kio asked from somewhere outside his field of vision—. You said my healing magic would do them more harm.
—Do you seriously not know what type of healing magic you use? —Alexander responded, incredulous—. I can't believe it… and with how powerful you are.
—Are you going to criticize me or are you going to tell me?
—Ah… —Alexander sighed—. Your healing magic is… how should I put it…? Sacred.
—Sacred?
—Yes, let's call it that. The other type would be human magic, which was basically created based on the sacred.
—Ah… I see.
Zein remained in silence, listening, without intervening.
At that moment, Naoko moved.
Her body stirred slightly, as if waking suddenly from a deep sleep. She sat up slowly, her eyes still half-closed and her expression drowsy. A few rebellious strands of hair fell over her forehead, and she had the marks of her own arms on her cheek—proof of the position in which she had slept.
She stared at him.
At first, she seemed not to understand what she was seeing, as if her mind were still trying to fit the pieces together. Her eyes scanned Zein's face cautiously, searching for any sign.
And then she realized.
—Ah!… u-um… how long have you been awake? —Naoko asked, startled.
—For a little while —Zein responded calmly.
—W-well, I was… it's just that something happened to you and… and everyone stayed… and I couldn't leave and… —she began to say, tripping over her words, her hands tense on her legs as she looked for an explanation that wouldn't quite come out.
—Thanks for staying —Zein interrupted her, with a slight smile.
Naoko fell silent. She looked down almost immediately, a blush rising to her face as if she had been caught doing something wrong.
—Y-you're welcome… —she murmured.
At that moment, someone drew the curtains surrounding the bed.
The light rushed in and a figure appeared before them. The doctor was a man with dark skin, a perfectly groomed goatee, and black hair cut close to the scalp. He wore a wide white coat that contrasted with his robust build and the naturalness with which he moved through the room.
As the curtains opened fully, Zein could see the rest of the ward. To one side, in another bed, was Kiomi. A bit further away, Lyra lay with her gaze fixed on the ceiling. Zein's chest loosened when he saw her; he didn't know he had been holding his breath until that instant.
—What happened to us…? —Zein asked, without finishing the sentence.
—Chuy. You can call me Chuy; everyone calls me that. Or simply doctor —the man said as he straightened the curtains and checked some papers.
—What happened to us, doctor? —Kiomi asked from her bed, her voice lower than usual.
—You suffered the common effects of radiation —Chuy responded, flipping through the documents quickly—. You're from outside, aren't you? You should register at the Census Office. It makes it easier to keep track of diseases… and other things, to treat you better.
—Radiation? —Zein repeated, frowning.
Chuy looked up and set the papers aside.
—It is something that gravely affects the human body… or similar bodies —he said, as he took out a small vial of pills and then pointed to a special suit leaning against the wall—. It can be counteracted in three ways: with medication, with equipment that prevents contact… or with magic. Though the latter requires precision.
He stepped a bit closer and began to explain to them how to manipulate air magic to cover the body, forming an invisible layer that blocked the radiation. It wasn't enough to just use magic; it had to be maintained at a specific "frequency," stable and constant, or the effect was lost.
Zein closed his eyes and tried it. He felt the air react, obey him, adjust as if he had always known what to do. The same happened with Kiomi and, just a few seconds later, with Lyra once she woke up enough to imitate the process.
Chuy stared at them, surprised.
They all seemed to share the same reaction… everyone except Kio.
After a quick check-up and some final instructions, Chuy left the room, leaving the ward in a strange silence, barely broken by the distant murmur from outside.
Alexander took a step forward, standing where everyone could see him clearly. He stood still for a second, as if organizing his thoughts, and then leaned forward in a clumsy but sincere bow.
—Forgive me… —he said—. I should have explained many things to you since you arrived. I haven't told you anything at all.
Lyra reacted immediately. She sat up slightly in the bed and reached her hands toward him, almost forcing him to raise his head.
—You aren't to blame for anything. Don't apologize —she said softly.
Alexander shook his head slowly.
—No. I am. I assumed you already knew what was necessary about this island… and I was wrong —he looked up, more serious—. For that very reason, I am going to explain what you need to know.
Their gazes crossed. Zein remained silent, attentive; Kiomi slightly gripped the sheets; Lyra tilted her head, expectant. Alexander took a deep breath before continuing.
—Just as it happened in Ilmenor forty years ago, when the Empire of the Black Sun invaded… the same thing happened here. Only it was ten years ago, and this territory was much larger than Ilmenor. The war left Mirathun devastated. It wasn't something immediate… it was a slow decline, until it fell completely.
The weight of his words settled in the room. No one interrupted.
—But that isn't the main point. During the war, a "hero" appeared. Someone with something known today as "powers." They are similar to magic… almost identical. The difference is that they are born with you. You are linked to that power from the very first moment. Their origin is related to the Fatum.
Alexander turned and approached one of the shelves. He pulled out a rolled-up map and spread it carefully over a nearby table, smoothing it with the palm of his hand.
—These are extremely rare and isolated cases. There are no clear records of how each power works, and each individual manifests something different. There are no patterns. There are no clear rules.
His finger stopped at a specific point on the map, out at sea, to the northeast of the island of Mirathun.
—About five hundred kilometers from the coast, something happened during the war —he continued—. This country's "hero" faced the forces of the Empire of the Black Sun… and he was losing. When he found himself cornered, with no way out…
Alexander looked up at them.
—He exploded himself.
The silence was absolute.
—What do you mean, he exploded himself? —Zein asked, unable to hide the incredulity in his voice.
—He could control the atomic nucleus, or at least that's what the researchers called it —Alexander continued—. It was something completely new. A power never seen, never studied… and with a destructive potential impossible to measure.
With his hand, he traced a wide circle in the air, marking the area where the battle had supposedly taken place.
—The explosion wiped out everything. Enemies, allies… it made no distinctions. What remained afterward was what we call radiation today. Something invisible, silent, that damaged the human body and any living being. At first, no one knew how to face it.
His gaze shifted for a moment toward the suit Chuy had shown earlier.
—The radiation hit Mirathun much harder than it hit the Empire of the Black Sun. A huge number of people died. And without countermeasures, the situation became unsustainable. By the time the Empire found a way to neutralize it, the scales were already completely tipped. Defeat was inevitable.
Alexander made a small glass vial appear with magic. It floated between them, spinning slowly.
—During the first days of the invasion, the Empire's researchers discovered something… fascinating —he said—. Radiation could be counteracted with magic. That made mages an invaluable resource.
He injected a thread of magic into the vial, and it glowed briefly, revealing an unsettlingly beautiful crystal inside.
—And then they discovered something else —he added—. That radiation could be synthesized into mana. A source as abundant as a gigantic mine.
The vial stopped glowing. Alexander held it more carefully.
—That was when the government started sending people into the explosion zone. They called them "liquidators." Their job was to go in there… and collect the radiation to bring it back to be synthesized.
He looked down.
—It is the deadliest profession in existence —he said in a low voice—. It doesn't matter how strong you are, or how precise your magic is. Sooner or later… the radiation always claims its due.
The silence thickened in the room.
Naoko took a small step forward. Her hands gripped the edge of her clothes, and her voice came out lower than usual, almost as if she didn't want to break that silence.
—My dad… —she began, and had to stop for a second—. He was part of the first generation of liquidators.
She did not look up.
—He always said everything would be fine. That it was just a matter of being careful… —her fingers trembled—. He would get ready every morning as if it were a normal day.
She swallowed hard.
—He didn't make it to the end of the year.
—They pay a pittance as liquidators only for them to end up dead —Alexander said, his brow furrowed—. And even so, they also use them to eliminate the radiation heading toward the island. They've managed to reduce almost half of what was there a decade ago… but even now it's still dangerous to be without protection.
The vial disappeared from his hand as if it had never been there.
—Over time, people of all kinds began to arrive —he continued—. People fleeing from wars, persecuted races, those who had no place to go back to. They all ended up here. That is why Mirathun ended up being called "the world's dumpster."
—I see… —someone murmured, without much strength.
The conversation ended there. The silence that remained was not awkward, but heavy, as if each person were carrying thoughts they didn't know how to say out loud.
They spent the night in the infirmary. The next day, when the sun was already high, they returned to Alexander's house.
Around noon, the door to the antique shop opened carefully.
It was Naoko.
She was dressed up, with clean and tidy clothes, though her hands betrayed her nerves as she toyed with the strap of the bag hanging from her shoulder. She took a deep breath before speaking.
—My, Naoko —Mei said from the counter—. What brings you here?
—U-um… well… since Zein is new here… —she hesitated—. I mean, since everyone is new… I thought maybe they would like me to show them the city.
Mei smiled softly.
—Let me ask them.
She went to find Zein and Lyra first. Both accepted almost immediately. Then, Mei looked at Zein for a second longer.
—Could you ask Kiomi? —she told him—. She's been in her room since they arrived.
Zein nodded.
He went up the stairs and stopped in front of Kiomi's door. He raised his hand to knock.
—Ki…
He stood still.
Zein strained his ears.
From the other side of the door, a barely perceptible sound was heard, so faint that for a second he thought he had imagined it. He held his breath and listened closer.
It was weeping.
Choked, held back, as if every sob had to pass through a filter before coming out. Kiomi was crying. Not loudly, not openly. She cried like someone who does not want to be heard, as if even that were forbidden to her.
—Mom… —a broken voice murmured, cracking in the middle of the word.
Zein's hand remained in the air, a few centimeters from the door. He didn't lower it. He didn't knock, either. He stayed there for a few more seconds, his chest tightening, feeling that any noise from him would break something that was already far too fragile.
In the end, he took a step back.
And he left without making a sound.
When he returned to the front of the shop, Naoko and Lyra were already waiting for him. Lyra was swinging Naoko's hands naturally, as if they had known each other their whole lives.
—And Kiomi? —Lyra asked, tilting her head slightly.
Zein hesitated for just a second.
—She's… —he swallowed hard—. She said she'd rather go another day.
Naoko nodded without pushing.
—Right… then, shall we go?
Lyra let go of one of her hands and smiled.
Naoko led them through the city, or at least through the part of Mirathun she knew best. As they walked, she explained that the island was divided into provinces, and within those, into very different neighborhoods. Each area seemed to have its own rhythm, its own noise, its own way of existing.
With them, Naoko remained shy. She spoke softly, careful with every word, looking at the ground more than once. But when they approached the merchants' stalls, something changed. She would say hello, ask questions, and smile. Her voice sounded firmer, more alive. Some merchants even blinked in surprise before returning her greeting.
Lyra walked by her side, listening to everything intently, marveling at every new thing. Zein observed in silence, letting the atmosphere envelop him little by little.
They passed food stalls, narrow streets filled with voices, the beach where the sea hit calmly, and even exchanged words with a couple of soldiers who seemed to know Naoko well.
Without realizing it, the light began to turn orange.
As the sun began to set, Naoko took them to a high bell tower, high enough to see the city stretching out beneath them, with lights turning on bit by bit like stars trapped on dry land.
—This place is special —Naoko said, sitting on the edge—. I found it when I was little.
Zein sat beside her, looking at the horizon.
—How beautiful —he said without thinking.
—Eh?! —Naoko gave a small jump, turning toward him with her face flushed—. W-what is?!
Zein didn't look away from the horizon, as if nothing had happened.
—The view, of course.
There was a second of silence.
—Oh… yes. Right —Naoko murmured, looking away while clumsily adjusting her bangs, trying to get the heat in her cheeks to go down.
The day's exhaustion finally took its toll on Lyra. Without saying anything, she settled against Zein and, in a matter of seconds, fell fast asleep on his lap, breathing calmly. Zein lowered his arm a bit so she would be more comfortable without even thinking about it.
—By the way… I've noticed something —he said after a moment, glancing at Naoko.
—W-what's that? —she responded without looking at him directly.
—You're quite reserved, and that's fine. But today… today I saw you differently. More cheerful, more relaxed. It surprised me.
Naoko clasped her hands over her legs, interlacing her fingers nervously.
—I suppose it's because… I've known the people we talked to today for a long time. Here… we look out for each other —she smiled softly—. I don't know how it was in Ilmenor, but this place doesn't stay standing because of the government, but because of the people. Because no one lets anyone else fall.
Zein nodded slowly.
—I used to think they were exaggerating when they called Ilmenor "small" —he said, looking at the city stretching to the horizon—. But seeing all this… I think I understand now.
Naoko took a deep breath.
—I… —she shifted a bit in her spot—. I'd like to know more about you —she said quickly—. N-not in a weird way or anything! Just… curiosity.
Zein let out a low laugh.
—Relax, I understand.
He looked at Lyra for a moment, making sure she was still asleep, and then looked back at the sky.
—It sounds strange, but two years ago, Lyra and I fell from the sky, literally.
—You're not joking… seriously? —Naoko asked, her eyes widening a bit.
—Seriously —he nodded—. That's where we met Kio. At first she was… pretty unbearable —he smiled—, but over time we realized what she's actually like. We also met Zyteg, a dragon friend of hers. He's scary to look at, but he's surprisingly kind.
Naoko didn't say anything. She just listened with genuine attention, as if every word were something precious.
—A while later, we arrived at Ilmenor —Zein continued—. There… we met a lot of good people. We had quiet, normal moments. I went to school, I had friends I could trust…
His voice remained stable, but something in his posture began to close off. His shoulders, just a little. His back, rigid.
—I also met Lucian… —he smiled faintly—. He gave me a beating on the first day, but even so, he ended up being my teacher. He taught me so many things…
The smile stayed suspended, as if it didn't know what to do there.
Naoko watched him out of the corner of her eye. She said nothing, but she no longer saw the same Zein as before.
—And… and I met Meliora —he added—. Kiomi's mother. She was always smiling… even when she had no reason to. Even right until the end…
There, his voice failed him.
It wasn't a sudden break. It was as if each word weighed a bit more than the last.
—And if I hadn't… if I hadn't… —he swallowed hard—. If only…
Silence fell between them.
Zein looked down. Naoko felt the urge to say something, anything, but she couldn't find words that didn't sound empty.
Then she saw it.
A tear rolled slowly down Zein's face, falling from the edge of his left eye.
—A-are you okay? —Naoko asked, moving a bit closer, carefully—. Is something wrong?
—No… —he responded quickly, wiping his face—. I must have yawned or something. You know, sometimes tears just come out…
But they didn't stop.
One more. Then another. And another.
Zein pressed his lips together, turned his face away, trying to hide as he wiped himself with his sleeve. His breathing began to tremble, irregular.
—Hey… —Naoko took another step.
—Sorry… —he interrupted her, his voice low and broken—. Could you… could you leave me alone for a bit? And take Lyra with you, please?
It was barely a whisper. One that seemed to be held together by the last of his strength.
Naoko didn't respond. With extreme care, she took Lyra in her arms so as not to wake her and began to walk down the stairs.
Halfway down, she heard them.
Choked sobs. Held back. As if Zein were fighting even against that.
Naoko stopped at a point where he couldn't see her. She didn't turn her head.
Upstairs, Zein was left alone.
And when the night finally finished falling over Mirathun, he was still there, letting out everything he had kept inside for days.