The eccentric contest in which our protagonists had found themselves entangled had finally come to an end. A cold, starry night wrapped around the bakery while the moon rose in the sky with a beautiful, radiant glow.
Jake was slumped in a chair, leaning back, his arms hanging down as if he had melted from sheer exhaustion.
— This... definitely was something intense —he muttered, staring at the ceiling with half-closed eyes.
Beside him, Kairus mimicked the posture, letting out a long sigh.
— You're telling me, and that's coming from a warrior trained to have enormous endurance in unexpected situations— he replied, straightening up with a groan—. Well, what were the results of the contest?
In front of them, Hikari held a sheet of paper in both hands. Her expression was calm, yet focused.
— I must say, it wasn't anything spectacular —she said, then gave a small smile—, but we gained several loyal customers. With that, we'll definitely make it to the end of the month without trouble.
Jake raised an eyebrow.
— And your sister? Didn't the bakery also depend on her part?
Hikari slowly lowered the paper. Her gaze turned dim.
— As you know, she's on a trip. Her goal was to learn from great bakeries, to find the source of the magic our grandparents' pastries once had... to seek inspiration, so to speak.
—But leaving you alone with the weight of the bakery... isn't that cruel?— said Kairus, looking into her eyes with conviction.
Hikari let out a sigh that carried melancholy in every breath.
— It's not quite like that... She left me some money to hire staff, but...
She stopped. Hesitated. Then, with a timid smile:
— The truth is... I'm not good at that. I always think I'll choose wrong, that I can't tell whether someone is trustworthy or not. I struggle to trust my own decisions. What scares me most is doing things wrong... but—
After a short pause, she lifted her head and looked at Kairus and Jake with an enormous, innocent smile.
— I don't know why, but when I'm with you two... I forget to doubt. I feel like I can handle anything. I'm sure that if I apply what you taught me these past few days, I'll have the courage to bring more people into this shop. And my sister said she'd be back in a few days, so this place will definitely have a brighter future. That's why...
There was a pause. The silence filled with the hum of the refrigerator and the faint scent of strawberries and cream for decorating cakes.
Hikari approached the table, set the paper down, and looked at them with gratitude, though her attitude was full of hesitation, as if something deep within still troubled her and she wasn't ready for the answer.
— Guys... now that you've helped me, what do you plan to do?— she said, lowering her head and clenching her fists tightly.
Kairus leaned against the counter, his gaze down.
— Hikari... I think the answer is obvious. It's time for us to return to our world.
Jake nodded, arms crossed.
— You helped us when we were in trouble, and with our help, you managed to save this place. Our part is done.
Hikari went still. She didn't speak at first. She just stared at the paper she still held, biting her lip as small, glistening drops fell onto the table.
— I see... You'll be leaving too— she murmured.
It wasn't open sadness, but rather a soft melancholy, like something slipping through one's fingers that couldn't be held back.
Her eyes drifted toward the back of the bakery. And then, the memory returned.
°°°
The kitchen was full of golden light. Little Hikari held a piping bag awkwardly while her grandfather patiently guided her hands.
— Don't squeeze too hard, let the filling breathe —he said warmly.
Her grandmother laughed in the background, decorating a display with sugar flowers.
— What if I don't get it right? —Hikari asked, uncertain.
Her grandfather crouched down to her level, wiped a bit of cream from her cheek, and said:
— It doesn't matter if you don't get it right the first time. You can make mistakes as many times as you need. That's what we and your friends are here for—to help you when you fail.
The little girl clenched her fists, placed a hand on her chest, and shouted:
— Friends? I don't need any of that! If I work hard enough on my own, I can handle this place myself! I'll be the best at everything, even if no one helps me!
Her grandfather gently placed his hand on her head, stroking her hair softly as he smiled.
— Being the best at everything? Haha, that's impossible— he said calmly and teasingly —but there's something this old man hasn't told you yet, something I hope you'll always remember...
Back in the present, Kairus stared at Hikari, who had her head down, hands trembling.
— You'll be fine, I don't doubt it— he said cheerfully.
Hikari lifted her head slightly and asked in a nasal, discouraged tone:
— Why do you say that now?
— Well, let's just say someone opened my eyes, and I want you to open yours too.
°°°
A few days before the contest, specifically the day Jake and Kairus went shopping:
— Will she be okay?...— Kairus asked, worried.
— You mean Hikari?— Jake replied.
— Yeah, I'm worried about her and that bakery's future once we manage to return.
— Well, it's not like I really care what happens to her... But since you refuse to cooperate until we're done here, there's nothing left to do but give her the push she needs. Everything else will be in her hands.— The dark mage paused and took a breath— Besides, she'll be fine.
— Wow, didn't expect that from you. How can you be so sure?
— Because...
°°°
— If you truly love what you do, it's impossible for people not to support you.
The phrase hung in the air.
Hikari blinked as the sheet trembled slightly in her hands.
— Haha, you just reminded me of my grandpa— she said with a melancholy smile forming on her face as small tears slid down her cheeks.
Then she lifted her head and looked straight at Kairus, showing a charming, heartfelt smile.
— Thank you so much for everything!— said Hikari, her voice filled with both joy and nostalgia.
— Did you forget already? I told you this story would have a happy ending— said Kairus, returning her smile.
In the back, Jake silently stepped out into the yard. He needed some air after such a long day.
The yard was quiet, barely lit by the warm glow filtering through the kitchen windows. Flower pots lined against the wall released the scent of mint and lavender. The night sky stretched above—vast and silent.
He sat on the top step, elbows resting on his knees, eyes fixed on the stars.
Kairus appeared soon after, quietly. He dropped down beside him, hands in his pockets.
— You know, I've always wondered—he said bluntly— I don't think you're a bad person, so... why did you end up becoming the Dark Lord?
Jake didn't answer right away. His eyes stayed on the sky, as if searching for something that wasn't there.
— That I'm not a bad person? —he muttered with a faint, melancholic laugh— Heh, that's the first time someone's said that to me.
Kairus glanced at him sideways but stayed quiet.
— Do you know what happens to commoners who have thoughts or ideas different from the church's?— Jake asked, turning his gaze toward Kairus. His eyes carried a deep, burnt-in sorrow.
— Honestly... I don't— Kairus replied.
— As a knight of the church, you should. Those who dare to go against it...
Jake closed his eyes. The memory struck like a blade.
°°°
In a dark alley. A barefoot boy ran, people shouting insults behind him. "He's the heretic's son!" they yelled. "You don't deserve to be called human!"
He tripped. Fell. Covered his head, bracing for the beating.
°°°
— stop being human to them— he paused— that's... what happened to my parents. Because of their beliefs, I was harassed by the church's followers since I was a kid— Jake said, recalling his past— Damn it, they wouldn't even sell me a single loaf of bread!
Kairus stayed silent for a moment, took a deep breath, slapped himself, and said:
— Damn, I really am stupid!— he clenched his fists— I said protecting people's dreams was a knight's duty, and it turns out the one who needed help the most was right beside me this whole time.
— Don't worry, it's not your fault. It's not like you could've done anything back then.— said Jake.
— You're right. Back then, I couldn't have done anything even if I wanted to— he said, rummaging through his pocket — But now I can.
Jake went silent, as memories of that day flooded back.
°°°
As the little boy shielded his face, he heard the sound of blows—but they weren't hitting him.
A lizard-man in armor covered him with his body. He drew his sword and struck the attackers with the hilt, knocking several unconscious while others fled, terrified by his imposing presence. His armor bore marks of war, yet his eyes were calm.
— W-why are you saving me? I'm the heretic's son, I don't deserve any mercy— said the boy, tears streaming down his face.
The lizard-man crouched beside him, speaking gently:
— First things first... What's your name, kid?
The boy, still trembling, replied in a shaky voice:
— I... I don't remember.
The alley went silent for a few seconds before the man burst into a rough laugh.
— Are you kidding me? Even bread is called bread. How can you be so slow that you forget your own name? —he said between laughs, shaking his head.
— Hey! I just said I don't remember... —the boy muttered, looking away, fiddling with his fingers— I-if I try hard enough, maybe...
The lizard-man watched him for a moment, then scratched his chin, thoughtful.
— Well, until you remember, we'll have to call you something...
A few minutes passed in silence before a spark of inspiration lit his face.
— I got it! You'll be called... —he paused dramatically— Joaquín!
The boy stared at him in disbelief. The alley filled with laughter again.
— Joaquín? What a ridiculous name! I'd never call myself something that stupid!
But the lizard-man didn't mind. Instead, he smiled tenderly and approached the boy.
— You know, names aren't just labels. They're memories, stories that carry deep meaning for the one who bears them. And that name... —he said, gently placing a hand on the boy's head— was the one that brought out that smile you're trying to hide.
The boy lowered his gaze, embarrassed—but in his eyes, something new shimmered. Something like hope.
The lizard-man stood up slowly.
— As for why I saved you...
He turned, looked at the boy seriously, and said:
— Children shouldn't bear the burdens of their parents.
°°°
In the present, Kairus handed Jake an envelope he had taken from his pocket. Inside, there was money.
— This is for helping at the bakery— he said.
Jake took it without a word.
Kairus smiled, repeating the words from that memory:
— Children shouldn't bear the burdens of their parents.
[A new beginning will unfold in this story]
—To be continued in Chapter 11—