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CHAPTER 13: SILENT MOURNINGS
🕑 Added 2025-02-09 14:00:10 +0000 UTCOfelia’s narration:
After an involuntary night of deep sleep, Lady Chía and I woke up to find Mrs. Licovi sitting uncomfortably close to our beds, balancing a tray of breakfast and smiling like nothing had happened.
—Morning! Time to eat before it gets cold —says Mrs. Licovi.
—After you drugged us? —Lady Chía replies, sitting up and narrowing her eyes—. Trust is kind of hard to build after something like that.
—Oh, come on! I was just helping! I didn’t want you two getting attacked by that wraith or those Velas! —Licovi exclaims, clutching the tray dramatically.
—Helping? —I shoot back—. Drugging people isn’t helping, Mrs. Licovi. That was shady at best.
—And if I… give you extra scrambled eggs?
—Well, sometimes we have to take a leap of faith. Second chances and all that.
—Lady Chía!
—Yay, that’s the attitude! I’ll get those eggs right away!
Licovi leaves the room. I groan and pinch the bridge of my nose as soon as she’s gone.
—Lady Chía, I get it. Now that you’re human, you love food, but sumercé can’t be so careless about things like this.
—Oh, relax, niña —she says, leaning back against the headboard with a stretch—. I think we can trust her. Besides, those eggs smelled amazing.
—sigh fine. Gotta admit, I am actually starving.
We had barely started eating when Mr. Julio stepped into the room, taking the same chair Licovi had been sitting in earlier. After greeting us politely, he leaned forward with a serious face.
—I owe you both an apology for what happened last night. Licovi... she’s got a good heart, but she tends to act first and think later.
—You don’t say—I reply.
—Still, she means well. —His expression softened as a small smile crept onto his face—. She’s clumsy, sure, but she’s brilliant, too. And she’s got this... light about her. Once you really know her, you can’t imagine being without her.
The way his face lit up while talking about her was disarming. True love like that wasn’t something I expected to find in a place like this.
—That’s sweet and all, but it’s exactly why you should let us help— says Lady Chía while drinking some coffee—. Your town is in danger, and the three of you alone won’t be able to stop La Patasola.
—What makes you think five people will do any better?
—Try me.
Chía raises her hand, and a large sphere of water materializes in the air above her palm. Julio freezes, his eyes are as wide as the water swirled and shimmered.
—Y-You can make water from nothing? What kind of magic is this?
—I told you before, didn’t I? I’m a fallen goddess. I might not be at my peak, but I’m more than capable of handling a wraith.
—She’s right. Lady Chía saved a whole town from a demon filled with chaos magic. Compared to that, a wraith is nothing.
—Thanks, kiddo.
The moment was broken by Licovi, who returned with a tray of food. She set it down and crossed her arms with a skeptical expression.
—Bluffing, if you ask me.
—Huh? What do you mean? —I ask.
—Magic or not, it doesn’t matter. You can’t kill a wraith.
—Wait, what? You can’t kill it? —I ask once more.
Julio’s astonishment faded, replaced by the same grim seriousness from before.
—Of course not. Wraiths are spirits. You don’t kill ghosts; you exorcise them.
—And that’s not even the hardest part. —Licovi continues—. Wraiths are spirits born from violent deaths, but they can’t and don’t care to harm the living unless someone is controlling them. A wraith can be exorcised like any other spirit, but to exorcise a controlled one, you have to sever its connection to its summoner first.
Chía let the sphere vanish, lowering her hand as a knowing smile spread across her face.
—Well, that confirms it. You two are definitely shamans.
—Wait, you didn’t believe us before?
—What happened to second chances?
—Can someone explain what’s going on?! – I ask once more time.
Chía chuckled, leaning back as if the weight of the mystery had finally lifted.
—It’s ok, niña. Most people don’t know how wraiths work. They think they’re just violent monsters you can hack and slash. But these two? They know their stuff. They are true shamans. Now that it’s confirmed, we’ve got a chance. Truth is, I had no idea how to stop La Patasola before this. I know nothing about exorcise spirits.
—But we do—Licovi smiles, winking playfully—. I’m just an apprentice, but I’ve helped Mrs. Bertha exorcise plenty of spirits before.
—Don’t underestimate yourself, Licovi—Julio’s tone softens—. You’re a pretty good shaman in your own right. By the way, I’m not a shaman. Just my wife and Mrs. Bertha are. I’m just a regular handyman who gives them moral support, at best.
Before we can continue, Mrs. Bertha steps into the room. She looks serious. I can already tell she brings bad news.
—Julio, Licovi, we’ve got work to do. The café’s staying closed today.
—What’s wrong, Mrs. Bertha? —Julio’s voice tightens with concern.
—La Patasola attacked again. This time, it was Carlos Robles.
—Oh no! —Licovi gasps— Another big head from the Benefactors!
—Move, you two. I need a moment with our guests.
—Yes, ma’am! —They answer in unison, rushing out of the room.
Mrs. Bertha closes the door behind them, turning to face us with a steady gaze.
—I assume we’re ready to trust each other now?
—Y-Yes, Mrs. Bertha!
—Yeah, old one. We’re on the same team. We’ll stop that wraith together.
—Good. Then here. —She hands us… a bill?!
—Wait, old hag, are you charging us for what?!
—The room, last night’s third breakfast, and the one you’re eating right now.
—But you drugged us!
—Nope. That was Licovi, and we’re truly sorry.
—B-But we thought today’s breakfast was part of the apology!
—I’m sorry, little one, but friendship and business are two separate things.
—All of this costs what?! —Lady Chía’s voice rises as she stares at the paper.
—Thanks for your patronage, and please come back soon! I’ll be waiting for you downstairs. —With that, Mrs. Bertha sweeps out of the room.
The silence hangs thick for a moment.
—Well, kiddo, good thing we’ve got that endless money bag.
—Not for that long if we keep wasting money like this!
We go downstairs and we see Bertha and the rest with a bag full of tools. Maybe to do “shaman stuff”. I have never seen a shaman before, but looks like they are always as prepared as a demon hunter.
As we soon as stepped out of the café, Licovi stopped, her eyes scanning the horizon as if she could see something we couldn’t.
—What is it? – I ask.
—I can feel it – Licovi replies –. The energy... it’s not just in one place.
—Yeah, I felt that too – adds Lady Chía.
I turned to Mrs. Bertha, looking for answers, and she didn’t disappoint. Without a word, she pulled a small vial with powder from her bag. The powder inside was fine and shimmering, almost alive in the way it moved. She uncorked it and blew it into the air. It swirled, spinning, catching the wind. And then it began to move and divide in two trails. One was thin and almost invisible, snaking toward the village. The other was stronger, brighter, leading deep into the forest.
For a moment, silence stretched between us all as Bertha studied the trails. Her lips tightened, and I could tell she was considering the options, seeing the danger of both paths.
—We’re splitting up – Says Mrs. Bertha with a serious tone—. Julio and I will go to the village. We need to examine the body and deal with Francisco Vela and his men if they get in our way.
—B-But, Mrs. Bertha…! —says Licovi with a worried tone.
—We’ll be fine. Francisco won’t do anything to us. Besides, we’re not looking for a fight this time. We just wanna check for clues. Right, Julio?
—… Yes, ma’am – he angrily babbles.
—I couldn’t hear you right, kid – Mrs. Bertha playfully teases Mr. Julio.
—Ok, fine!
—Atta, boy! —Bertha turns to us and continues —You and Chía will take Licovi into the forest. Follow the stronger trail. Licovi is weak rookie, but her spiritual power is way stronger than mine. I’m sure she will find useful clues, but I need you two to protect her in case of, you know…
—La Patasola, right —replies Lady Chía.
I wasn’t sure if that comforted me or made things worse. Still, I said nothing more as Bertha turned to Licovi.
—Stay close to them, Licovi —she orders—. And if you sense or see anything dangerous, don’t do anything stupid. You flee with Chía and Ofelia, understand?
—Yes, Mrs. Bertha —Licovi answers with a calm but nervous undertone.
Before we took our ways, Julio and Licovi hug each other.
—Remember: don’t do anything stupid —he says.
—Ditto —she replies. Then, both kiss goodbye and we took our separate paths.
Julio’s narration:
The town is way quieter than I expected. It felt off. There aren’t many people milling about, unlike the day after Iván’s death when everyone was gathered, yelling and screaming. I look around, trying to figure out why the atmosphere was so different. The streets seemed emptier than usual, but my gut told me it wasn’t just because of the time of day.
Mrs. Bertha, walking beside me, is deep in thought. I know her well enough to recognize when something troubles her. After a moment of silence, she speaks.
—It's because of the old man. —Her voice was low, almost a whisper, as though she didn’t want to be overheard. I know exactly who she means to. The old man who had disappeared after standing up to the Vela brothers last time, his sudden vanishing being far too convenient for them. After that quick reminder of cruel authority, no wonder why nobody wants to peep or even talk about the new dead man.
—You think the Benefactors had something to do with the old man disappearance? —I ask, glancing over at Bertha, who was scanning the surroundings with a sharp eye.
—Don’t ask questions you know the answer to, my boy. Francisco and his police have been getting more aggressive lately. And when someone dares to speak out, they get silenced. Especially when they are being shown as weak.
Back to our research, this is the second big Benefactor that is murdered in two days. To some… heck, to me, the death of another Benefactor might seem like a small victory, but Bertha isn’t having any of it. She turns to me sharply with a harsh gaze.
—Don’t ever think that way, Julio.
—What way?
—That way, mijo!
—… It was a Benefactor, Mrs. Bertha. Nobody is going to miss him. A good Benefactor is a dead Benefactor.
—There’s no such thing as a “good” dead man. We don’t judge people by their ideologies. That kind of thinking is dangerous. It’s exactly why we despise the Velas. If we start thinking like them, how are we any different? They’ve twisted the town with their beliefs, turning it into something it was never meant to be. Besides, Carlos Robles may have been a Benefactor, but he was a good person. Take a look around.
I look at people’s expression… Unlike Iván’s death which had people filled with rage-bursting awe. This time, there’s sorrow. I see people lighting candles and praying outside their homes. Carlos clearly meant something to them.
—The Robles family was one of Harmony Town’s founders. They were Benefactors, yes, but Carlos, the last of them, was a good man. He truly believed in this town salvation and, despite being ally of the Velas, he strongly opposed to their corrupt ways. He never saw a difference between Benefactors and Purists, he just watched harmonians the same… unlike you, Julio. Shame on you.
Her words hit me like a punch to the gut. She softens her tone a little, as if reading my thoughts.
—You’re a good man, Julio. You have always been. I know you have been alone since you were a kid and that made you tough and brash, but you’re full of goodness, and it’s that goodness, that nobility of yours, that made Licovi fall for you. It’s why I took you in, even though you have no powers. You’re my kid, same as Licovi. Don’t let yourself get lost in this mess. You’re not an extremist, and you shouldn’t start thinking like one. You’re Julio, neither a Purist nor a Benefactor, just a good man.
I nod quietly, feeling the weight of her words. I’m not like the Benefactors. I have to remind myself of that sometimes, especially when the world felt like it was turning upside down. There are lines I can’t cross, no matter what, and Bertha and Licovi are always there to make sure I remember that.
We continue down the street, and then we finally arrive to the crime scene. We see the body covered in a veil. As we imagined, Francisco and the police is here, investigating the crime scene and pulling back the few spectators brave enough to still peeping around. But what drags our attention the most is not Carlos’ body, but a message written in blood in a wall next to him: “Death to The Benefactors!”, it says.
—Mrs. Bertha, seems like not everyone thinks the same as you.
—Oh, my gods —She sadly replies.
We hide among the spectators and get closer to the crime scene.
—So, La Patasola didn’t kill Carlos, after all. It was probably a violent Purist.
—Look closer, Julio. The veil covering the body is soaked with blood, however, all the surroundings but the message in the wall are clean, nothing similar as Ivan’s crime scene. Besides, his body is expelling traces of dark energy. La Patasola did kill Carlos, but she moved his body here and wrote that message to drag the attention away from her.
—That would explain why the tracking powder divided in two traces. One was the real crime scene and the other one was where the body was left… huh, that’s a first. She never did that before, and why would a wraith want to hide its traces?
—… She wants to incriminate the Purists. Mijo, this confirms what we all have been suspected: La Patasola is just a weapon, the real murderer is the one who summoned her and by looking and what’s happening, he wants to start a civil war in Harmony Town.
—My gods!
—Time to go.
As we are ready to leave, a coward, authoritarian voice stops us.
—You, there!! Where do you think you’re going?! —Says Francisco, who finally noticed our presence… guess we got too close.
—Leave us alone, Francisco —I reply—we just came to see what just happened.
—And now you have been present in two different crime scenes. That’s really suspicious of you.
—Same as some of the spectators around, Francisco —Says Mrs. Bertha—This is a small town, remember?
—Don’t you dare talking to me in that tone, old lady! Have you forgot who are you talking to?
—Yeah, the same rascal I used to clean his ass when he was a baby.
—Y-You, bitch!
Francisco rises his hand, ready to slap her face. However, I grab his hand just in time. I can feel his hand shaking. Coward as always.
—A-Are you try to interfere with our investigation, filthy Puritan?!
—If your investigation includes slapping innocent old ladies, then yes, I am.
I release his hand, which provokes him to step back. He sees all the spectators hushing about him, and he, trying to save his “pride”, regains composure.
—No matter. Just don’t interfere with our investigation —Francisco leaves.
—You didn’t need to help me, Julio! —Mrs. Bertha angrily shouts —I can perfectly defend myself! I don’t like…
—…been underestimated, yes —I interrupted her trying to calm her down —. But you can’t just expect me to stand still, can you?
—sighs Thank you, mijo —she replies while calming down.
—It’s ok, Mrs. Bertha. But I have to admit that it was hard trying to contain myself to break his face.
—Good thing you didn’t. Otherwise, I wouldn’t had been able to help you. You really need stop being so harsh.
—And you need to stop losing your marbles every time you feel underestimated.… Now, we better leave. I’m worried about your wife and our guests.
—You think Francisco will notice the same clues we did?
—Ha! Francisco is an awful police chief, a worst prosecutor and an even worse detective. He wouldn’t find a booger in his own nose. I’m damn sure he won’t interfere. Let’s go, Julio.
—Yes, ma’am!
TO BE CONTINUED…
