There she was, standing before me, Jean dressed in clothes that could only be called sportswear, with her characteristic unfriendly expression, but with a gaze that melted me inside.
"Why?"
Ever since she fixed her eyes on me, they had hypnotized me, but I had not realized why… until now.
—So you did come after all —Rachel said, jumping happily from her seat until she stood beside Jean.
For a second.
An instant.
When Rachel brought her face close to Jean's, I saw it.
The reason Jean captivated me with her gaze.
—You have the same look as Ale…
—What? —Jean asked, clearly confused.
Rachel was the only one who understood; she already knew the broad outline of my feelings. Ignoring what had just happened, she stole the attention, trying to make the moment less uncomfortable.
—Guys, let me introduce Jean d'Arc. I bet none of you expected her to be such a cute girl.
—Look, Jean, she called you cute —Heracles burst out laughing, holding his stomach.
—Shut up, wall of muscles —the girl replied as her pale face turned an unmistakable shade of red.
—You have nothing to be embarrassed about —Rachel continued— in fact I admired you a lot. You are quite a legend for my homeland.
—She is? —Díaz asked, while beside her, in an impressive jump for his short legs, the caricature-like Bonaparte stood before the girl.
—Mademoiselle, it is an honor to behold the figure of the Maid of Orléans once in my afterlife —he said in a charming tone, finishing with a delicate kiss on the back of her hand.
I did not even notice the instant when, with the same hand, she delivered a strong slap that sent the little emperor falling onto his rear.
—That must have hurt —Roberts said, enjoying the scene.
—He should be grateful we cannot feel anything —Díaz added, taking a drink along with her comment.
—I came… because I promised Rachel —the girl said, swallowing her embarrassment.
—Oh, you made a new friend. That's rare for you —Heracles commented, finishing his laughing fit.
—As if I were antisocial.
—Aren't you? Jean, you're antisocial, hahaha.
Heracles' teasing of his platinum companion did not stop, even while she struck his impenetrable back repeatedly. Dry blows, the kind that would break ribs.
—Well —Rachel interrupted, clapping her hands loudly— then, what did you want to say, Miss Jean?
—… —the girl stood before me, a couple of steps away, with a piercing gaze that went through me and froze my soul.
—Wait… sorry… I suppose.
—Why are you apologizing? —she questioned immediately.
—For anything I might have done… I suppose.
—Tris, you're very tense —Rachel, with a small jump, stood behind me— she's a good girl, she won't bite you.
—I already know her, Rachel.
—All the more reason then!
—Look —the black-haired girl said, turning her gaze aside and drawing the attention of those present— I underestimated you. For that, I apologize.
Silence fell.
Then.
Roberts was the first to laugh.
As if he had just told the funniest joke in the world, he started a chain reaction of laughter, from Roberts to Díaz, from Heracles to Saladin. The only ones who kept their composure were Rachel, with a friendly smile, and me…
"How am I supposed to react to something like this?"
—Why are you laughing? —Jean shouted.
—Well —Roberts replied between laughs— I don't think there was a single person here who believed in the boy at first.
"Ouch, thanks, captain."
—That's a fact. Even after seeing him fight I still have doubts —Díaz added.
—The boy is a box of surprises. Every time I look at him he has new toys —Bonaparte said, patting my lower back.
—I know firsthand how unreliable Tris appears —Rachel said, squeezing my shoulder and stepping between us— but he has spirit, qualities, and charisma worthy of someone to follow. He didn't have the strength of a warrior, but he never gave up, and look at him now. Even Gobban considers him.
—Not only him —Saladin interrupted— at least ten people in Platinum have their eyes on you, Tristan.
—Ten?... who? I mean, I only know you.
—Well, let's say Sal and I did a bit of publicity work —Heracles added.
—Although Arturo will definitely be a problem —Sal seemed distracted as he played with his beard.
—Does Sir Tristan really hold that much of a grudge against me? —I said, scratching my head.
—You messed with a Knight of the Round Table? —Jean asked.
—Just as you see… though I won't deny I share part of the blame —Rachel added.
—It wasn't your fault. Sir Tristan is simply immature —I replied.
—Why does everyone have their eyes on you…? Truly "She Who Waits" has her eyes on you.
Silence fell. Whenever reference is made to one of "Those Ones," it has that effect on everyone.
—"She Who Waits"? —Napoleon was the first to speak— I've never heard of her.
—Now that you mention it, it doesn't ring a bell —Roberts added— but well, there are ten of them, and usually you deal with the same five or six "Those Ones."
—Wait, about the system… are there only ten?
—Too much information.
For the first time in a long while, the one who interrupted was none other than Axio, appearing in particles as always before me and the rest.
—Axio, please give me information about Those Ones.
—Mr. Nobody who wants to earn a name, if you wish to know something about "Those Ones," you must at least be a Silver participant —he replied coldly, without a trace of his usual sarcasm.
—They never said something so ridiculous —curiously, the one who stepped between the talkative axolotl and me was Jean— Those Ones only see us as their pieces in a game whose rules we do not know.
—I ask you, lady, to restrain yourself —Axio interrupted.
—Why? Does the system forbid us from questioning?
Díaz, who had remained very calm, was now standing and circling the axolotl.
—It's not questioning. It's sharing information that is not allowed.
—And what information is that? —Díaz raised her voice as she advanced toward the axolotl, who unbelievably stepped back— "The One Who Loves to Mock Stories," "The One Who Loves Stories of Conquest," "The One Who Loves Stories of Impossible Love," "The One Who Loves to Shatter Dreams," "The One Who Loves to Write His Own Legends," "The One Who Loves to Learn from Defeats," and "The One Who Loves to Remain in the Shadows" are our puppeteers.
The uncontrolled shout made the axolotl retreat, who for the first time seemed worried before me.
—You… you already can… but Tristan…
—Tristan what? —Jean spoke again— The boy your system mocked by calling him Nobody cannot know who sponsors your sick little game?
—The name is chosen by the player upon entering, the system…
—That's true —Rachel said, almost embarrassed.
—That changes nothing. The system is controlled by a group of lunatics who only play with "their favorite historical and mythological characters," so that…
—Become a constellation.
I answered, uncertainly. Everyone present, including Axio, turned to look at me.
—What does that mean, Axio? Who is "The One Who Watches Me"?
The axolotl swallowed. For a moment he closed his large eyes and began to float above us. His sky-blue glow intensified until he became a small star in the room.
—Those Ones wait for those who earn a place in the afterlife. If you wish to know the one who has protected you, watched you, and desired you, you must reach Silver. There is no other option.
—Why don't you just tell him who it is? —Heracles, arms crossed, watched the axolotl calmly— Or I will tell him.
Finally, Axio, more out of resignation than anything else, turned back toward me.
—"She Who Has Loved Only Once and Waited."
Without another word, Axio disappeared along with his light.
—What was all that about? —Roberts said, dropping back into his seat.
—It's decided —Díaz said, walking firmly to my side— you and I will climb to Leo tomorrow.
—Wait… what?