Chapter 43: "The rebirth of the ruler"

  The chapter begins with Valterion moving away from the group. His gait is heavy, his face gloomy and his mind tormented. Even though everyone tries to stop him, he refuses.

  "Val, please stay!" Elizabeth shouts, holding her arm tightly.

  - "They don't understand!" - Valterion replies, turning away abruptly - "I let them die... I abandoned them!"

  - "You did what you could!" Scarlett exclaims, with tears in her eyes- "Juan would never blame you, because he... he trusts you more than anyone else."

  But Valterion simply walks away, without listening anymore.

  ?

  The bi-universe in live

  Meanwhile, in every corner of the bi-universe, everyone is aware of one thing: Juan's state of health.

  Screens transmit news on every planet. Crowds gather to pray and wish the ruler to recover. Even those who were once enemies... those who sowed chaos... now cry, knowing that Juan was the one who gave them a second chance.

  - "Please, don't go..." - whispers a man in a tavern, with his eyes red from crying so much.

  - "He saved my family..." - sobs a woman in her home - "He can't die..."

  Juan's impact on the universe is greater than anyone had imagined.

  ?

  The reunion with his grandmother

  Stolen novel; please report.

  Inside Juan's mind, everything seems like a dream. It is in a park, surrounded by a warm breeze and the sound of leaves rocking in the trees.

  Suddenly, he hears a voice that makes his skin stand on end.

  - "Juanito?"

  Juan turns around and, when he sees her, his eyes fill with tears.

  — "Grandma!"

  Without thinking about it, he runs to her and hugs her with all his strength. Juan's crying is irrepressible, clinging as if he never wanted to let her go again.

  - "Grandma... I miss you so much..." - he murmurs with a choppy voice.

  She caresses her hair, with that warmth that only a grandmother can transmit.

  - "My child... don't cry anymore..."

  They both sit on a bench, talking for a long time. Juan tells him about his friends, his battles and everything he has faced as a ruler.

  - "You knew it, didn't you?" - Juan asks with a trembling voice - "Did you know this was going to happen?"

  Grandma smiles tenderly at her, but she doesn't answer with a yes or no.

  - "The only thing I knew..." - she whispers - "It's just that my grandson was destined for something big."

  Juan lowers his head, struggling not to cry.

  - "But I don't want this... I don't want to be a monster... I don't want anyone else to die..."

  The grandmother takes both hands firmly, her voice firm but sweet.

  - "Listen to me well, Juan..." - his eyes are fixed on his - "You are strong... but your true strength is not in your power... it is in your soul."

  Juan then remembers those words that his grandmother said to him when he was a child:

  “Never lose your soul.”

  - "You have to go back, Juan..." -she tells him- "It's not your time."

  — "Go back...? How can I do it?" Juan asks, desperate.

  The grandmother stands up, with a warm smile that breaks her heart.

  - "It's time for you to go..." -he whispers- "Tell your mom that I always take care of her..."

  Juan shakes his head, tears falling hard.

  - "No... I don't want to leave you..."

  Grandma hugs him tightly, whispering close to his ear:

  - "When you wake up... you will no longer be the same physically... but you will always be my child... my Juanito."

  The scene is filled with light, and Juan feels how every part of his being begins to fade.

  - "Grandma... will I see you again?" he asks with a broken voice.

  She smiles at him once more and caresses his face tenderly.

  - "I will always be with you, my child..."

  While tears continue to fall on his face, Juan can't help but smile. A calm, serene smile... the smile of someone who has finally understood his purpose.

  With that expression... disappear.

  ?

  The end

  The chapter ends with the image of Juan, with his eyes closed but a smile on his face.

  End of chapter.