The dawn quickly came. Alone in his room, Kesrick is already awake. Actually, he hadn't slept well because of what he found out about someone who killed his grandparents. He's also thankful to his stepmother, whom he doesn't consider wicked anymore.
Almost, he couldn't believe that his stepmother would tell the truth about her own father; after a long time of searching for the killer, he's currently inside the shelter of the person he searched for. He was just trying to calm himself and avoid doing something unlawful because he also knew that Garagogo was strong and powerful and that he needed to have a good plan in order to take revenge.
Kesrick's stepmother also informed him that Garagogo was planning an attack on Antipatris; as a result, he considered killing Garagogo during the battle in order to show the Antipatrisian that he had killed the most despised Incinololo. He doesn't want Garagogo to live longer because he will just kill innocent people, even though they're not doing anything wrong to him. He realized why Zadiv didn't care about anyone, because in that way, he also couldn't hurt them.
Kesrick jumped out of his bed. He remembered the task that was given to him by Garagogo. But it seems that he's not in the mood to do anything, especially if he's away from Lyra. He fixed his bed now and got his bloody red cloak that was hanging on the peg. He opened the door, went out, and slammed it with a little anger, perhaps for everything, but especially for Garagogo. He angrily walked towards the throne room while wearing his cloak, then he entered there and saw the demigod sitting on the encrusted black throne with a scepter in his hand.
"You're already awake, so you're going to start your first task today?" Garagogo asked. He stood up and walked towards Kesrick.
"That's exactly the reason why I'm here, but Lyra won't accompany me; hence, I'm asking you to let me stay here with Lyra," Kesrick replied, then mumbled, "if you won't let me, you can't reach the battle, you'll die here," while clutching his palm.
"Why do you seem mad? That's okay for me if you want to stay here with Lyra; perhaps you need to know that we're going to attack Antipatris one of the following days. So I'm giving you a little time to be with my granddaughter so that you can rest before the battle. You need to be present during that time," Garagogo explained.
"I thought that you would not let me," Kesrick mumbled. His palm gradually came back to normal. "Thanks, master, but certainly, I already know that you're going to attack Antipatris, my stepmother told me."
"Your stepmother? Who's she?"
"Demigod Langya."
"What?" Garagogo exclaimed as many things were coloring his mind, such as what he did to Kesrick's grandparents. "Did she tell you anything else?" He asked.
"What's the point, master?" Kesrick pretended to be naive.
Hearing him, Garagogo felt relieved; Kesrick also noticed it. Garagogo seems to be grateful that Langya didn't tell Kesrick about what he did to his grandparents, or else he'd also reveal what she did to Kesrick's father.
"Why did you seem to be an insecure master? Is there something that I don't know, but I need to know?" Kesrick asked.
Garagogo replied, "No, no, you may now dismiss. I just need to check on Rufus' battlers to know if they are ready for the battle."
"Master, can I join with you?"
"If I just don't need your help, you can't do anything you want," Garagogo mumbled. "Yes, of course, you may." He turned to leave.
Kesrick wanted to punch Garagogo when he was not looking at him, but what was in his mind was his ruse, which could bring him to the zenith position, which is respected by everyone, even the demigods. In this position, he doesnvt need to follow any rules because he will be the one to make the rules that everyone must follow, and if they don't, they'll receive a fantastic punishment.
"Master, can I know the reason why you're going to attack the kingdom of Antipatris?" Kesrick asked as he walks along with Garagogo.
"Kesrick, is not it clear to you that war is caused by wickedness? So let's do these wicked things that good may come as a reward from San Zibar," Garagogo replied.
Kesrick realized how important is dogma to Incinos and Incinololos because it affects their deeds and demeanour towards each other, but he can't teach an old dog new tricks, because a leopard can't change its spots.
"Ah, but master, are not you guilty if you've hurt others' feelings?"
"Are you chiding me that I've hurt someone? Certainly, I like to hurt anyone, even my daughters and sons, even you." Garagogo sounds mad, but he tried to prevent himself from doing something wrong to his immature disciple.
"Master, why won't you prove your words?"
Kesrick attempted to touch Garagogo's ear, but Garagogo caught his finger and he attempted to break it up, but he was still preventing himself. Instead of scolding Kesrick, Garagogo perched his arm over his shoulder.
"Kesrick, I'm not doing any absurdity to you. I hope that you won't destroy our good partnership," Garagogo said.
"Master, are you sure that you did nothing wrong to me?"
"What do you mean, Kesrick?" Garagogo pretended to know nothing about what Kesrick was talking about. He doesn't want any trouble, but it seems that Kesrick wants a fight.
Kesrick said nothing for a while. He also perched his arm over Garagogo's shoulder. At the same time, Garagogo stopped fanning the flames because he didn't want to get burned.
"Master, why are you so serious? Don't you know that I'm just teasing you because I really miss my father?" Kesrick asked.
Garagogo felt Kesrick's yearning for his father; therefore, he said, "Kesrick, I want to tell you something about your father."
Kesrick suddenly stopped and asked, "What's that master?"
"It's something important: I know who killed him," Garagogo replied.
"Who's that person's master? Please tell me. I really want to know." Kesrick sounds begging.
A swarm of small, black insects is aroused when Garagogo and Kesrick take the grassy path towards the wide plaza of Satano de Tinago. Kesrick is gently scrubbing his head, because Garagogo doesn't tell him directly about the killer. He stopped on the roadside and talked to Garagogo.
"Kesrick, I know that you want to give justice and equity to your father, but... it was your stepmother who did the crime. If I'm telling you the truth, I can also use my power to show it to you," Garagogo said. Perhaps, he thought that he needed to go first before his daughter, but he didn't know that he was late.
Between the devil and the deep blue sea lies Kesrick. He didn't know who was telling the truth between Langya and Garagogo. He thought that there might be a dispute between them, but it also crossed his mind that they might both be telling the truth. He knew that everything was just theories, which are difficult to prove.
"Master, I don't want to join you anymore in going to the demigod Rufus. I just want to be alone for now," Kesrick said.
"Kesrick, promise me that you'll not make any missteps right now, because you don't know how strong and powerful Langya is, especially if she's angry. I just want to secure your safety." Garagogo turned and left Kesrick alone, sitting on a black pew by the roadside.
"O mother, if you're just here, I know that I'm currently not in this kind of situation," Kesrick said. He sighed and slightly pressed his nose against the stand when he saw someone coming towards him.
"Kesrick, what are you doing here?" She asked while going towards him.
"Lyra?" Kesrick stares right at her. "I thought that you didn't want to see me again." He smiled.
Lyra replied, "Definitely, I'm not here to see you, but to see my uncle Rufus and also to visit my father's grave."
Kesrick's smile gradually disappeared. He's curious why everything that happens in his life is sorrowful. "Do you mean that your father also died?" he asked.
Lyra sat down on the pew beside him and replied, "Um, but the most painful thing is that it was my despicable mother who killed him. At first, I couldn't believe it, but I gradually accepted my father's glum fate. How about you? We've not talked like this since what happened.
"Lyra, I don't want to tell you this, but I also know that nothing will be gone if you know."
"Why Kesrick? What's that thing bothering you?"
"It was because your aunt Langya told me that your grandfather Garagogo killed my grandparents; in contrast, Garagogo told me that it was your aunt Langya who killed my father. What do you think, Lyra, who tells the truth between them?"
"If nobody, and they are both just making a monkey of you, so if I'm in your situation, I'll go back to Antipatris, because my home was there. Look at yourself, Kesrick. You can no longer endure the climate here."
"No Lyra, don't tell me that, because I can endure hot and cold for you." Kesrick looked directly at everything but Lyra's face. Not long after, he slowly thrust his face towards her and kissed the girl, which made her lie down on the long pew.
Unfortunately, Lyra suddenly rises up with her palm and a loud blast can be heard as she slaps his face, which awakens him from a deep slumber. He's currently sitting on the black pew where Garagogo left him. As he stood up, someone was also coming towards him.
"Oh! Kesrick, what are you doing here?" She asked.
Kesrick notices that she's the girl from his dream; she's wearing the same clothes and saying the same thing as in his dream. He slapped his face to know if he was just dreaming again, but he felt pain, so he found out that everything was real. The girl continued walking towards him.
"Oh! Lyra, I thought that you didn't want to see me again." Kesrick smiled and sat back on the black long pew, and so did the girl.
"Definitely, I'm not here to see you, but to see uncle Rufus and also to—" Lyra had not finished saying her words when Kesrick interrupted, "Visit your father's grave."
"Huh?" Lyra is curious. "How did you know?"
"It's not funny, but I already saw this scene in my dream just a while ago. I'm sorry Lyra. I didn't consider your feelings a contrast to what you've done to me before. I know that you cared for me, but I easily lost them. But don't worry, because I want to gain them again."
"If you can't keep a promise to infinite stars, don't make one."
"You've told me that you would visit your father's grave, but please let me usher you there."
"No problem." Lyra stood up. "Let's go!"
"Um." Kesrick also stood up and walked with Lyra.
After a few moments, they arrived at the cemetery. Lyra and Kesrick went inside and searched for Maloco's grave, and they eventually found it. Lyra took a stab at performing dark magic, but her power hadn't come back yet. Meanwhile, Kesrick noticed what she was doing. It crossed his mind, the purpose of it. Hence, the boy used bloody magic, and beautiful, fresh flowers appeared above Maloco's grave.
"Thanks man," Lyra said.
"Everything for you," Kesrick replied. "By the way, can I know your father's real name?"
"You know, everyone was calling him 'Maloco,' but they didn't know that his real name was Mali LocoLoco, but because that name sounds ugly, he was introducing himself as Maloco," Lyra explained. "Why have you asked me that?"
"Nothing, I just want to shout," Kesrick replied. "Uncle Maloco! I'm asking your permission to let me marry Lyra!"
"Hey, what are you doing?"
"Is not it obvious that I truly loved you, and that I know you can learn to love me as well? You've cared for me, so that's a good start. You know, pity is akin to love."
"Kesrick, you don't know what I feel for you. I'm just shy and don't want to hurt you, because I know that I've hurt you many times. What else can I do if what you feel for me is not what I feel for you?"
"Lyra, I'm not insisting, but I know that you love me too, so please give me another chance to do what you've done before," Kesrick implored.