Sitting on the branch of the large tree, just meters from the shelter entrance, was the pensive figure of Liam, who watched the morning sky through the dense forest vegetation. Dawn filtered through the leaves like a net of golden light, dyeing the air with a warm, misty glow. In the distance, the first birdsong broke the damp silence of the early morning, and a soft wind stirred the treetops, carrying with it the earthy scent of the previous night's rain.

  More than six months had passed since Joel disappeared without a trace. Six months in which Ariel, Alicia, and Liam himself had done their best to keep the shelter running, feigning normalcy to the little ones, ensuring that meals were regular and that classes in the small school followed the schedule Joel had established.

  At first, no one seemed too alarmed. Joel was known for disappearing from time to time to pursue one of his newest projects and returning days or even weeks later, always with a calm smile and his pockets full of candy or books for the children.

  But this time… it was different. There was no goodbye from him, no note, no message, not even one of those “goodbye gifts” he used to leave for everyone. He just left.

  Liam perfectly remembers Ariel's face the morning they noticed him missing: the contained sadness in her eyes, that mixture of resignation and fear that only those who have lost so much are able to calmly conceal. He also remembers the silence that stretched over the following days, when the children asked, “What happened to Joel?” and no one knew how to answer.

  And when the food and candy supplies finally ran out—almost two months ago now—Liam had no choice but to go hunting more often. It was then that he truly understood how much everyone depended on Joel.

  Still, deep down in his mind, he couldn't blame Joel for anything. On the contrary, he felt that these hardships had strengthened the group. Every grueling workday, every sleepless night, every impromptu decision—everything contributed to forging an independence that hadn't existed before. It was as if, unwittingly, Joel had prepared everyone for a future without him.

  Even with that gratitude, Liam couldn't deny the shadow that enveloped him. Living under the almighty wizard's shadow made him feel small, irrelevant. Every time he made a decision, he wondered if Joel would have done the same, if he would have acted with the same calm, or with that natural authority that seemed to be born of silence. Liam wanted to be his equal, or at least prove to himself that he could lead without relying on that invisible presence that still hovered between the walls of the shelter.

  But there was something else. A reason that kept him awake many nights, one he couldn't confess to anyone: his feelings for Alicia. During those months, they had shared more time than he ever imagined. Conversations by the fire, long walks to collect wild berries, or simple moments of silence when the children were asleep.

  She, with that serenity that seemed to hide her own weight of guilt and melancholy, had learned to trust him. And although Liam tried not to dwell on it too much, he knew his feelings had changed. It was no longer just admiration… it was something deeper and more complex.

  So every hunting trip, every night watch, had become a way for him to prove something: that he could take care of himself, that he could protect his people, that he could be more than just a follower of Joel.

  Fortunately, Nana had granted Liam full access to Joel's arsenal. That room filled with firearms and explosives, which he'd learned to master with much practice during his hunts. Especially the rifles with telescopic sights, which had allowed him to kill prey that wouldn't let anyone get too close and could only be reached from a distance: rabbits, rodents, and many types of birds.

  Nana was the only one who truly knew what had happened to Joel, but she refused to reveal the full truth. She only said that he was temporarily unwell and had a major problem to resolve before he could return. Her words, though calm, were always accompanied by a serious tone that caused more unease than relief.

  Furthermore, she had given a very clear warning to the three adults at the shelter: “Be very careful when Joel returns and don't assume he's still the same. Only I can confirm if he is really who he says he is.”

  None of the three—not Liam, not Ariel, not Alicia—knew what to think. The warning was meaningless to them, and every attempt to obtain more information ended in frustration. No matter how many times they questioned her, the statue simply responded the same way: “I can’t say more. It’s a direct order from Joel.”

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  Despite this, they all trusted Nana, considering her indispensable to their survival. Her presence, sometimes invisible, kept the shelter safe, controlling every inch of its territory from the shadows. Except for Joel’s room—the one place even she didn’t enter freely—Nana had eyes everywhere in the shelter and even in the forest surrounding the large tree. In her own words, “The forest accepted Joel and me as its guardians.”

  Liam knew that without her, he wouldn’t dare hunt so far. And it was Nana who kept the most dangerous beasts away, who warned of danger, who balanced that delicate pact between nature and the humans who lived within.

  As Liam was about to return to the shelter to begin preparing breakfast, he felt a presence beside him. He turned around slightly, and almost lost his balance when he saw her there: Nana herself, standing on the same branch as him.

  Her appearance grew ever more detailed, like some kind of fairy born from the will of the forest, but no less imposing for that. The sheen of her metallic skin was reminiscent of wet quartz, and her pupil-less ivory eyes seemed to see beyond the physical.

  For a moment, Liam considered reproaching her for her habit of suddenly appearing—a habit that had already caused more than one fright among the children—but he stopped when he noticed that Nana's expression was different this time: fixed, attentive, almost... tense. She was watching something in the distance.

  Following her gaze, Liam squinted until he made out a human silhouette, barely visible in the distant forest. As the seconds passed, it soon revealed itself to be a person moving steadily through the trees, carrying a large bundle on their shoulders.

  "Who's...?" he whispered, but didn't finish the sentence.

  "No matter what happens," Nana interrupted, with a firmness that chilled the air. "Don't speak to that person."

  Liam froze. He had never heard Nana speak in that tone. It was a dry voice, devoid of all her usual serenity, laden with an authority that brooked no reply.

  He just nodded, swallowing. As he did so, the figure among the trees slowly emerged from the green veil of the forest. As he drew closer, the pace of his steps became clearer. The man moved forward with an almost unnatural determination, and although the bulk on his back seemed immense, he showed not a single sign of fatigue.

  By the time the man was close enough, Liam could clearly make him out. The newcomer wore a dark leather mask, with smooth, expressionless features, barely interrupted by two eye holes. On his back, he carried an enormous bundle, the size of an adult, but the most disturbing thing was the ease with which he moved, jumping from branch to branch as if he were carrying nothing. His movement was supernatural: swift, precise, almost dancing.

  Liam barely had time to tense his body when the stranger landed on the same branch he was standing on. Only Nana stood between them, her small figure imposingly blocking the newcomer's path, her calmness not concealing the tension in the air.

  "Good morning, my dear Nana," said the voice behind the mask, with a melodious and courteous tone that sounded almost mocking. "I have good news... and also a very nice gift."

  The voice sent an immediate chill through Liam. It was a very familiar voice. But the timbre, the cadence, even certain inflections were totally different from Joel's. It was too light, too carefree... almost childlike.

  "You're not allowed to be here," Nana replied coldly, without changing her posture.

  "Hooooo... what a heartless coldness," the masked man replied, making an exaggerated gesture of offense. "And I came to visit you with so much affection..."

  He dropped the bundle from his shoulders with a thud in front of her, then continued in a cheerful voice. "I even brought you a little snack."

  Liam felt his heart stop as he saw the bundle move. The sack coughed, shuddered… and then the young man realized with horror that what was lying there was a living person.

  "Who is this person?" Nana asked, with the same icy tone, though her eyes shone faintly with an amber glow.

  "An extremely dangerous fellow," the masked man replied, striking a theatrical pose, crossing his arms. "One who was poking his nose where he didn't belong."

  "Just like you... I can't detect any magic in him," Nana observed, not letting her guard down.

  "Oops! My apologies," the masked man said in a sing-song voice. Then he bowed with exaggerated politeness and untied the sack.

  Inside, the body of a horribly burned man was revealed: no hands, blind in one eye, his skin charred in patches, covered only by rags. A barely audible moan escaped his mouth, muffled by a gag.

  "I had to take many precautions to bring it to you fresh," the masked man continued, almost proudly. "I didn't want to ruin your gift... like what happened last time." He laughed softly.

  Then he took a wooden medallion from around the prisoner's neck. "Fortunately, Ashoka was kind enough to make another one. I suppose he still feels guilty about ruining that vial of blood."

  The words echoed in Liam's mind without any sense. But Nana, on the other hand, reacted instantly. Thick wooden tentacles sprouted from the tree trunk and wrapped violently around the prisoner, immobilizing him even more than he already was.

  It was then that Liam realized the magical energy emanating from the burned man. Very faint and reduced, but far denser than he had ever felt in another human being. And one that only Nana could match.

  The masked man, however, remained completely calm, leaning slightly to one side as if enjoying a spectacle.

  “Calm down, my dear guardian,” he said, chuckling softly. “The metal collar around his neck prevents him from using magic. A very useful artifact that… let's just say I discovered and borrowed from a prison.”

  Liam couldn't tear his gaze away. There was something deeply wrong with the masked figure before them. The air around him seemed to bend, thrumming with a silent, dangerous energy. And though the face was still hidden behind the mask, the young man no longer had any doubts:

  That voice, that posture, that presence… belonged to Joel… But not the Joel they knew.