"Everyone is going to DIE!"
The figure grabbed Abraão by the shirt, desperately trying to keep the smile on his face.
"You're useless."
His voice trembled.
"You really think telling yourself you'll protect everyone you love is going to work? DO YOU REALLY BELIEVE THAT?!"
Tears began streaming down his face.
Even so…
he kept smiling.
A broken smile.
A forced smile.
A painful smile.
"It doesn't matter what you do… you're useless. USELESS!"
His tears flowed even faster.
"You're weak too! If you had been stronger, no one would have died! You useless piece of trash!"
Rivers of tears ran down his cheeks.
Then—
BOOM!
He punched Abraão.
The impact sent him flying.
"Haha…"
The figure covered part of his face with one hand.
"HaHaHa…"
His entire body began to tremble.
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!"
His laughter echoed through the endless void.
But it wasn't laughter born from joy.
It was madness.
Despair.
Pain.
Slowly…
the figure began to fade away.
Before disappearing completely, however, he looked back at Abraão.
His eyes were empty.
And for the first time…
his smile vanished.
He slowly walked toward Abraão.
Every step felt heavier than the last.
Then he collapsed onto his knees.
The tears wouldn't stop.
His entire body trembled violently.
When he finally raised his head, his eyes looked as though they were begging for help.
"If you had been stronger…"
His voice cracked.
"No…"
He lowered his head.
"If I had been stronger…"
His fists clenched tightly.
"Why…?"
A tear fell onto the ground.
"Why?"
Another.
"WHY?!"
His scream shook the void itself.
"WHY DOES THE WORLD HATE US?!"
The tears kept falling.
"Why does everyone I love leave me?!"
His breathing became erratic.
"Why…?"
He slammed his fist into the ground.
CRACK!
"Why?!"
Another punch.
CRACK!
"WHY?!"
Another.
And another.
And another.
Until his fingers began to bleed.
Abraão didn't know what to say.
He couldn't.
The figure slowly raised his eyes one last time.
"I can't do anything…"
His voice came out weak.
Broken.
"I'm trash."
He let out a bitter laugh.
"Trash that can't even protect itself…"
The tears continued to fall.
"So how could I ever protect anyone else?"
He slowly stood up.
Walked toward Abraão.
Grabbed him by the shirt.
And pulled him back to his feet.
For a brief moment…
it looked like he wanted to say something.
To ask for help.
To ask for forgiveness.
But he didn't.
Instead, he simply set Abraão back on the ground.
Then he stepped back several paces.
His fist slowly tightened.
Tears streamed endlessly down his face.
And with a scream filled with hatred…
and unbearable pain…
he charged forward.
"AAAAAAAHHHHH!!"
BOOOOOOM!!
His punch landed squarely on Abraão.
The impact launched him far into the distance.
Blood spilled from his mouth.
Then…
the figure finally began to disappear.
Particle by particle.
Until nothing remained.
Only Silence.
Mahina was on her way back from the village.
She had gone out to buy a few supplies.
As she approached the cabin, her eyes widened.
"ABRAÃO!"
The bags slipped from her hands.
She sprinted toward him.
"Abraão?! What happened?!"
The boy was lying unconscious beside a tree that had been split clean in half.
His body was covered in bruises.
Blood stained the corner of his mouth.
But what frightened Mahina the most…
was the expression on his face.
Even while unconscious…
he looked as though he was suffering.
Without wasting another second, Mahina picked him up and carried him into the cabin.
⸻
After cleaning his wounds and replacing his bandages, Mahina stayed by his side for hours.
Until…
Abraão slowly opened his eyes.
A sharp pain shot through his head.
The words of that figure still echoed inside his mind.
"You're useless."
"If you had been stronger, no one would have died."
He closed his eyes for a moment.
Was that…
the truth?
Or was it just another illusion created by the Eye of Lies?
He wanted to believe…
that everything he had seen was only an illusion.
But…
what if it wasn't?
What if that figure…
was truly a part of him?
His chest tightened.
"…No."
He took a deep breath.
"I'm not going to think about that right now."
For now…
he chose to believe it had only been an illusion.
Slowly, he got out of bed and left the room.
The sun was already setting.
Its orange light streamed through the cabin's windows, bathing the wooden floor in a warm glow.
Outside…
the scenery was beautiful.
For a brief moment…
everything felt peaceful.
As he entered the kitchen, he found Mahina preparing dinner.
Liora was still asleep.
"He must be exhausted…"
"It's better not to wake him yet."
Mahina noticed that Abraão had woken up.
She smiled softly.
"Abraão…"
"Come here."
"We need to talk."
He hesitated.
Even so, he walked over and sat down.
Mahina remained silent for a few moments.
Then she gently asked,
"What happened?"
She lowered her gaze slightly.
"Why were you lying beneath that tree…"
"…covered in injuries?"
Abraão looked down.
He couldn't answer.
Mahina noticed.
Without saying a word…
she moved closer.
And hugged him.
"You can tell me."
She gently stroked his hair.
"You don't have to carry all of this by yourself."
Those words shattered the last wall he had built around his heart.
And so…
Abraão told her everything.
About the figure.
About the words.
About the guilt.
About his fear of truly being useless.
When he finished…
silence filled the kitchen.
Mahina hugged him even tighter.
"Abraão…"
Her voice was calm.
Almost motherly.
"None of what he said is true."
She gently patted his head.
"The Eye of Lies exists to make you doubt yourself."
"It found the deepest wound in your heart…"
"…and turned it into an illusion."
She smiled warmly.
"Don't believe those words."
Abraão slowly closed his eyes.
For the first time since waking up…
he felt a small sense of relief.
"Maybe…"
"Maybe it really was just an illusion."
Just then…
"Mmm…"
The two of them looked toward the living room.
Liora had finally woken up.
He rubbed his eyes sleepily as he sat up on the couch.
Mahina smiled.
"So, you're awake, aren't you?"
He simply nodded.
"Come."
"Sit with us."
Liora slowly walked over to the table and sat down.
Abraão smiled.
"So…"
"What's your name?"
The boy immediately became nervous.
"M-My name is…"
"Liora."
"Liora Vans."
Abraão extended his hand.
"I'm Abraão Yoku T."
"It's nice to meet you."
Liora shook his hand.
"N-Nice to meet you too…"
Abraão looked at him for a second.
Then chuckled.
"Are you okay?"
"Your face is as red as a tomato."
Liora instantly covered his face with both hands.
"I-It's nothing!"
"I can't believe this…"
"Now that I think about it…"
"I took a bath in his house…"
"Wore his clothes…"
"Slept on his couch…"
"And even cried in his arms…"
"Even though I just met him…"
"This is so embarrassing…"
Liora immediately stood up.
"I-I should get going!"
"Thank you so much for your hospitality!"
"I'll go get my clothes and—"
Abraão interrupted him.
"Why are you in such a hurry?"
"Your clothes are still wet."
"And you haven't even had dinner yet."
"B-But I'm not hungry!"
GRRRRRRRR…
His stomach answered for him.
Abraão struggled to hold back his laughter.
"I can only imagine what it'd be like if you actually were hungry."
Liora's face turned even redder.
"S-Sit down."
Liora crossed his arms.
"I've already been enough trouble…"
"You haven't been any trouble at all."
"Now sit."
Since Liora remained standing…
Abraão simply picked him up.
"H-Hey?!"
"What are you doing?!"
Abraão placed him on the chair beside him.
Liora puffed out his cheeks.
"…Fine."
"I'll eat."
Mahina placed dinner on the table.
Macaroni and cheese.
Boiled chicken.
Ketchup.
And a bottle of coffee for anyone who wanted some.
"Mmm…"
Abraão smiled.
"That looks delicious."
Liora's eyes sparkled.
The moment the plate was placed in front of him…
he began eating as though the food might disappear at any second.
The emptiness in his stomach…
was beyond words.
Abraão laughed.
"Take it easy, Liora."
"The food isn't going anywhere."
But Liora was so focused on eating…
that he didn't hear a single word.
When everyone finished…
Liora stood up.
Lowered his head.
Tears slowly rolled down his cheeks.
"T-Thank you…"
"Thank you so much for the meal…"
Abraão gently placed a hand on his head.
And smiled.
"You're welcome."
Just then—
BZZT
The phone vibrated inside his pocket.
"Hm?"
He pulled it out.
⸻
NEW MISSION
"Unlock."
Objective: Go to the forest at night.
You may go alone or accompanied.
Survival Chance: Depends.
Penalty for refusing: You will not unlock your true potential.
⸻
Liora looked at the glowing screen curiously.
"What's that glowing thing?"
Abraão showed him the phone.
"It fell from the sky."
"It keeps giving me missions."
"And most of the time…"
"the rewards are worth it."
Immediately…
his thoughts drifted back to the Eye of Lies.
"…Looks like I have to go."
He picked up his sword.
"I'm heading out, Mom."
Mahina nodded.
"Be careful, son."
Abraão opened the front door.
"Wait!"
Liora hurried over.
"I'm coming with you."
Abraão shook his head.
"You don't have to."
"If you get hurt…"
"I'll blame myself."
Liora answered without hesitation.
"Don't worry."
"I'm not weak."
There was so much conviction in his voice…
that Abraão couldn't help but smile.
"…Alright."
"Let's go together."
The two headed toward the forest.
Abraão kept the phone in his hand.
A small arrow on the screen pointed the way.
"…Looks like this thing works as a map too."
Liora stared at the screen.
"Then let's just follow it."
They walked deeper…
and deeper…
into the forest.
The trees became denser.
The silence…
heavier.
When the darkness became almost absolute…
the phone automatically switched on its flashlight.
A bright white beam illuminated the path ahead.
Abraão smiled.
"It even has a flashlight…"
A few minutes later…
both of them suddenly stopped.
Far ahead…
between the trees…
an enormous crimson light shone brilliantly.
It pulsed.
As though it were alive.
Abraão narrowed his eyes.
"…What is that?