CHAPTER - 53
~ The Next Day ~
Dav: (Tired) Good morning, director
The Director: (Irritated) How many times do I have to tell you to call me Vittorio outside the Academy?
Dav: (Asking) Are we going by car? Or can we fly?
Vittorio: (Pointing) The driver is waiting outside.
Do you want to have breakfast somewhere first?
Dav: (Smiling) After visiting your family, we'll have breakfast together somewhere.
Vittorio: (Thinking) Please, never change.
(Looking at Dav, hinting a smile) Alright. Let's go then.
Narrator: They arrived at the place.
Dav stepped out of the car and found himself in front of a vast cemetery, silent and covered with roses and fresh flowers.
A place of remembrance for those who fell in that fateful raid ten years ago.
Among them, Beatrice Morelli and Eleonora De Santis.
The tombstones were well maintained, with delicate inscriptions carved into the marble.
Next to them were fresh flowers that Vittorio regularly brought.
Vittorio: (Sad) Beatrice, Eleonora... this is the man who saved us all ten years ago.
Dav De Lion.
Dav: (Smiling, respectfully) It's a pleasure to meet you.
(Kneeling to observe the tombstones more closely)
Mrs. Beatrice, your husband is an extraordinary man.
I'm sure it was never boring with him.
[Slight smile, looking at Eleonora’s tombstone]
And you, Eleonora... Your father is someone I will never see in anyone else in this world.
[Sighs, with a more melancholic expression]
I hope to be a better father like him for my daughter.
He lowered his gaze for a moment.
I know you’ve probably already seen everything...
I hope you can agree with me one day, when we all meet together.
Narrator: Vittorio slowly knelt in front of the tombstones, his body trembling slightly.
He clenched his fists, trying to hold back the tears, but when he touched the cold marble with his hand, his resistance crumbled.
He bit his lips to keep from sobbing, then let go.
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His shoulders dropped, and silent tears fell onto the graves of his wife and daughter.
Dav, noticing the moment, stepped back a few paces, giving him the space he needed to talk to his family.
That was when a strange sensation struck him.
Soft, delicate voices whispered in his ears.
???: (Whispering gently)
"Please, take care of him."
???: (Younger voice, playful but affectionate)
"Dad is a crybaby, but he's the best. Please, hero, watch over him."
[Dav smiled, and for the first time in a long while, he felt tears stream down his face.]
Dav: (Voice breaking but happy) You’re already doing it yourselves, from what I see...
Narrator: A sudden, light breeze passed through the cemetery.
A gentle gust that settled on Vittorio's shoulders, almost like an invisible embrace.
Maybe it was just a random breeze... or maybe not.
Vittorio, with swollen eyes, felt the wind caress his skin and paused for a moment.
Then he closed his eyes, inhaling deeply.
A moment later, he wiped his face with the back of his hand and stood up, looking at the sky with a melancholic but serene expression.
Dav, behind him, watched in silence with a smile.
Vittorio: (Softly) Thank you...
~ A Little Later ~
Vittorio: (Laughing to change the atmosphere) So!? Shall we go have breakfast now?
Dav: (Smiling slightly) Let's go then.
~ Arriving at the café, seated in a spot isolated from the crowd ~
Dav: For me, a coffee and a nice croissant with Nutella.
Vittorio: I'll have the same.
Waiter: I'll be right back!
Vittorio: (Thinking aloud with a nostalgic smile) Can you believe it?
I already miss when it was me, you, and Matteo in those fine uniforms, having lunch together, telling stories, and laughing.
(While biting the croissant)
Now he's busy with his guild and can't waste time with us...
Dav: (Eating slowly) Yes, he must be very busy...
After all, with a guild like his, I’m not surprised.
(Thinking aloud) What was it called? Mh...?
The Assassin's Guild!
Vittorio: The... Onyx Blade!
Narrator: They remained silent for several seconds, the words still echoing in the air.
The tension quickly grew, and Vittorio started sweating slightly.
Vittorio: (Softly, almost shouting) Are you telling me that Matteo is the leader of the Assassin's Guild and wanted worldwide?!
Dav: (Surprised and pale, realizing he revealed something he shouldn’t have) Was it a secret?!
(Looking at the croissant, with a nervous laugh)
I meant... the Sandwich Guild, heh heh heh...
Vittorio: (Whisper-shouting, waving his fork) You didn't even try to come up with a believable name...
Dav: (Sweating, trying to fix the situation) Well, what can we do now? His fault!
He never told me it was a secret! I just woke up from my coma, I know nothing!
(Making a silly face, shouting) That idiot forgot, as usual, to say anything!
~ Meanwhile, in Milan ~
Matteo: (Sneezing, shivering from the cold) Shivers...
I should get some warmer clothes, I suppose...
Narrator: While Matteo continued thinking about how to dress warmer, Vittorio sat there, red-faced with rage, but also incredibly confused.
Dav, on the other hand, couldn't help but throw him a careless glance, hoping no one had overheard the "revelation."
Vittorio: (With a worried tone, waving his fork) If he finds out, it will be a problem...
Only the most trusted and few know about him.
He might come to kill me, and surely he knows my location...
Dav: (Completely unbothered, making a silly face, typing on his phone)
Then we should call him and see what he thinks.
Vittorio: (Petrified, eyes widening) Eh...?
Dav: (On speakerphone, with a mischievous smile) Mattee, is that you?
Matteo: (Immediately, a bit irritated) Matteo, not Mattee...
Anyway, what's up? I was gathering intel from one of our little friends.
Dav: (Looking at Vittorio with a silly face) I might... have accidentally told Vittorio about your guild.
Is that a problem?
Matteo: (Calmly, in a serene tone) Do you trust him? He seems like a good man to me.
Dav: (With a serious voice, but making a funny face) Touch him, and I'll build you a house on the moon and launch you there.
He’s really important to me.
Matteo: (Laughing out loud) AHAHAHA!
I never would, if you consider him family.
(Serious, but then laughing again) If he’s listening, tell him not to worry about his position; I know what kind of man he is, he’s truly a good one.
Like how I know you went to the cemetery and are now in a café.
Dav: (Laughing) If you're so worried about me, you should protect me directly and not some spy, pff.
Narrator: Trembling and silent from the news, Vittorio looked around, searching for the spy.
Matteo: (Shouting)
Now, damn it, I'm working, if you don't mind these sentimentalities!
Dav: (Laughing)
When you're free, let's meet up.
Vittorio misses you for drinks and lunch again.
Matteo: (Laughing even more)
You're embarrassing me, AHAHA!
We'll talk later, my friend.
Narrator: Dav put down the phone, looking at Vittorio with a satisfied smile.
His face seemed a bit more relaxed, while Vittorio, laughing, shrugged his shoulders.
Dav: (Looking at Vittorio, with a sly smile)
Did you hear that?
Vittorio: (Laughing, letting out a sigh of relief)
He's still the same... AHAHA!
END OF CHAPTER - 53
