When I was a child, people always seemed to be afraid of me. I still remember the day in elementary school when a classmate got hurt after I defended myself from her bullying. She broke a bone.

  I don’t like to remember that, but for some reason, that moment came to my mind.

  I was always a phenomenon to others. No one approached me. Everyone feared my strength.

  But when I was twelve, everything changed.

  A boy two years younger than me entered my life, and for the first time, I didn’t know what to say or do.

  —Hi! Are you Estela? —he said with a bright smile—. I’m Axel, and this little one is Lucy. My dad and your dad are friends, they’re talking right now, and he asked me to come say hi and play with you.

  My father had taken me to a sports event, a soccer match. The teams from Toki were the most competitive in the country.

  "All the other cities want to beat us, but no one can," he said proudly.

  As we left the stadium, a man accompanied by two children—Axel and Lucy—came over to greet him. He seemed very happy to see my father, and soon they started chatting animatedly.

  I, on the other hand, didn’t know what to do.

  —This is the girl everyone talks about —Lucy said while savoring her candy—. Big brother, she’s the girl with extreme strength.

  —Estela, sorry about my sister —Axel intervened, somewhat embarrassed—. But is it true that you have super strength?

  —No… it’s not like that… Well, that would be a lie… I’m not a monster! —I said with a lump in my throat—. But yes, my strength is very great… though that doesn’t mean I’m a monster.

  Axel smiled with excitement.

  —That’s awesome! You’re awesome! You help people by lifting heavy things and also fight the bad guys, right?

  —It’s true that sometimes I help people carry things they can’t lift, but fighting bad guys… well… one time I hit a thief who stole from an old woman. I didn’t kill him, I just broke his arm. And another time, I incapacitated a man who was hurting pets. Well… he did deserve it. —I paused, feeling insecure—. Please, don’t think anything strange about me… I just try to be appreciated a little.

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  In reality, I had done many more things to help others. I helped my classmates, but even then, they still seemed afraid of me.

  But Axel wasn’t like them.

  Even knowing how strange I was, he had no intention of staying away from me.

  —Big brother, let’s go buy some ice cream —Lucy said, pointing at a nearby shop—. I already finished my candy.

  —Come on, Estela! —Axel extended his hand to me.

  For a moment, I hesitated, but in the end, I took it.

  We went to the ice cream shop together, and for the first time in a long time, I felt like I wasn’t alone.

  Axel wouldn’t stop talking.

  At that time, he was obsessed with comics and hero books. He told us stories about a barbarian warrior who was a thief but had an unbreakable moral code. About adventurers who explored dungeons and faced dragons. About a wizard who fought against a dark lord.

  —You’re like the heroes in the stories! —he suddenly exclaimed—. You help others, and that’s what matters, Estela. I wish I could be like you.

  I looked at him, not knowing what to say. No one had ever told me something like that before.

  —My dad will be here all month —Axel continued—. We’re on vacation, so we can play until school starts. We’re not from Toki; we’re from the city of Bamba.

  I showed them my strength… but their faces didn’t show fear. They looked at me with admiration.

  For the first time in my life, someone accepted me for who I was.

  For the first time, I didn’t feel like a monster.

  I returned to the present with a lump in my throat.

  I looked up at the starry sky, feeling a pang of pain in my chest.

  —I don’t want you to die, Axel… —I whispered—. My heart would break into a thousand pieces.

  —Captain, it’s time to take the train to Toki. The others are already at the station —said a Royal Guard soldier, pulling me out of my thoughts.

  I still felt the weight of Charles’ death.

  —How am I supposed to tell his family that he died…? —I murmured to myself, my soul heavy with guilt.

  Meanwhile, in Toki…

  Axel was meeting with a family still devastated by the loss of a loved one.

  —I’m so sorry… —he said tensely—. I couldn’t prevent Officer Rogers’ death… If he hadn’t appeared, I never would have been able to defeat that monster. I owe him my life.

  A little girl and a woman, their eyes red from grief, silently thanked him before leaving. Axel kept the officer’s gun as a reminder of his own limits.

  Axel remained in place, his brow furrowed.

  —You did what you could, big brother. You can’t save everyone —Lucy said, placing a hand on his shoulder.

  But his eyes still reflected sadness. Although he had defeated the monster, he couldn’t prevent the officer’s death.

  —You also got reckless —he continued—. If it weren’t for Max, you’d already be dead. I know you’re powerful, but be more careful.

  Lucy lowered her head in shame, unable to find an excuse.

  Axel looked at her with concern.

  —It was your first time killing a monster, wasn’t it? Before, when we went on adventures, it was always Max, Estela, or me who killed them. You were just support. Are you okay?

  Lucy sighed.

  —Yeah… I’m fine, big brother. You should worry more about Max. He’s in an audience with his father, the king, and he’s probably going to be punished for letting a monster attack the city, and his heart… his weak spot.

  At the Royal Palace…A middle-aged man, wearing a golden crown, stood in the grand throne room with a stern expression.

  He was waiting for his son.

  —Foolish boy… —he whispered impatiently.