Jesus smiled as he saw his followers, clad in their angelic armor. The golden light from the sky reflected off their shining breastplates, giving them a celestial aura. The breeze was warm and soft, caressing their faces with the peace of the divine realm.
—I think you need some mentors —he said, opening a glowing door with a wide smile before vanishing among the clouds.
The chosen ones stared at the scene in awe. Behind the door, a warm and enveloping light illuminated two familiar figures: Liz, Ruwi's aunt, and César, an old family friend. Both stood at the threshold, their faces reflecting wisdom and a hidden sadness from years of struggle.
Jesus introduced them with a solemn voice:
—They will help you on your mission. —Jesus explained.
Liz stepped forward first. Her white robe flowed gently, and her eyes, filled with tenderness, landed on Ruwi. She approached him and wrapped him in a warm embrace, infused with maternal love.
—I always knew you would be special —she whispered, her voice trembling with emotion.
But before the emotion could overtake the moment, César, with his serious expression and firm stance, placed a hand on Liz's shoulder. His dark cloak, torn from battles, fluttered slightly as he spoke.
—Liz, we need to talk to Ruwi alone —he said gravely.
Without a word, they guided Ruwi to his room. As they crossed the threshold, the atmosphere changed. The warm light of the living room faded, and the air in the room felt denser, laden with memories and secrets that were about to be revealed. The moon filtered through the window, casting long shadows on the bed where Ruwi sat, feeling the unease grow in his chest.
—What's going on? Why are you so serious? —he asked, his voice reflecting a slight tremor.
César leaned toward him, his gaze as grave as a sky before a storm.
—Ruwi, what I'm about to tell you is important. In the time of your parents, they were sent, just like you and your friends. I fought by their side; we were brothers in battle. But… one of my old friends fell into darkness. Ishnofel… he was the one who killed your father and mother. —He paused, closing his eyes as if reliving a nightmare.
The air seemed to stop. Ruwi felt as though the ground beneath his feet was crumbling. His chest tightened as his mind processed the truth.
—They tried
I faced him and managed to wound him, but he escaped my hands. It was Liz who protected you when I couldn't. —César continued, his voice heavy as iron.
Tears streamed down Ruwi's cheeks. All his life, he had believed his parents died in an accident, but the truth was far more painful. Liz, seeing his suffering, embraced him warmly, letting her love try to ease his pain.
—My dear, I know this is difficult, but it was necessary for you to know —she whispered, gently stroking his back.
Between tears and with newfound determination in his chest, Ruwi hugged them tightly.
—Thank you for telling me. At least now I know they died defending what they loved. I'm proud of them —he said firmly.
With renewed conviction, he stood up and went to find his friends. In the living room, the fireplace cast dancing shadows on the stone walls. Daniel and Rosenda were trying to comfort Camila, who, wrapped in a blanket, sobbed silently.
Ruwi approached and placed a hand on her shoulder gently.
—Camila, I'm sure they would be proud of you for the mission we're about to undertake —he said softly, stroking her hair.
Daniel gave a sincere smile, hugging Camila.
—We're here to support you, friend. —Daniel said, stroking her back.
—You'll never be alone! —exclaimed Rosenda energetically, trying to lift the group's spirits.
The three friends embraced tightly, sharing the pain, but also their promise to move forward together. From a distance, Liz and César watched the new chosen ones. Liz had teary eyes, but they were filled with pride, while César, arms crossed and gaze hard, felt, for the first time in a long while, part of something again.
He, along with Liz, Eliana, and José, had once been the chosen ones. But the death of the couple left César with a wound that never healed. He had distanced himself from Liz, unable to face his failure. Now, however, Jesus had given him another chance.
But while hope grew in Ruwi's house, far from there, in a dark corner of the spiritual realm, Ishnofel moved among the shadows. His blackened wings spread with macabre elegance, and his eyes, like burning embers, glowed with sinister expectation.
From the top of a hill, he watched Ruwi's house.
—Soon we will meet again —he whispered, with a twisted smile, before vanishing into the darkness.