Staring with terror at the red sun that was rushing toward the horizon, Inmar murmured, barely heard, „It’s gone!” After that, her eyes filled with tears, for she saw that sun only with the eye of her mind, that sun that was covered by Maranam’s black clouds. Yet, even though she saw it, she would have wished not to have the power to see it just to not ever know when the sunset was. Thus, she could have stayed there forever, waiting for Ahi.

She winced eventually and sadly looked at Alena when the fox asked her, „Who is gone?”

„The sun,” murmured Inmar, barely heard, looking at the sky again. Thus, she could see the mad gallop of the clouds on the sky’s black-like pitch vault. Then, at the same time, far behind those clouds, she saw the Sun, fulfilling its daily routine, for the Sun was like that: it was just warming the earth, for millennia already, without caring about fights for power, meanness, and hatred.

Suddenly, when a cold wind surrounded them, the foxes shuddered. Yet, seeing that that wind kept rounding them, they closed the cloaks up to the chin and gathered all in one place, just not to allow the wind to kneel them. Even so, even though that wind was weird, only Alena and Inmar thought that it was so. That’s why they carefully looked around. Seeing nothing, they looked at each other and sent a telepathic thought to each other. Then, nodding yes, they positioned themselves one in front of the other, and, stretching their hands that almost touched the other one’s hands, they smiled. Thus, when their palms „looked” at each other, the two foxes had been capable of feeling the energy madly running through their veins as though that wind had increased their power. Yet, this worked against that wind, for, when Inmar and Alena closed their eyes, a torch, totally made from fire, a torch that had the form of a flame, appeared between their palms. Only then, they opened their eyes again and, while looking at each other, they smiled.

Nevertheless, that torch wasn’t enough. At least this was what the two foxes thought. Thus, looking at their sisters, the foxes understood their trick and, positioning themselves in a circle, surrounded them. This way, being inside of the circle, somehow protected by the other foxes that already formed the famous fireballs above their palms that were touching the other palm, facing up, while having their eyes closed, Inmar and Alena felt that they had more control over that flame that was between them. That’s why they also formed a black sphere above the left palm, and when the spheres had the size of a golf ball, they threw them up.

Those spheres didn’t fall to the ground eventually but kept floating in the air at the same height as the women, who measured 1.7 meters. The same happened to the torch the two foxes had left free: it was also floating in the air. After that, both Alena and Inmar took a step behind them. Then they took another one and one more. Yet, they didn’t take their eyes off the spheres and off the torch. Then, when they thought that the distance between them was big enough, they closed their eyes again and started to move their hands in a circle as though drawing a wheel.

Actually, they were drawing a wheel, and this was perfectly seen very soon outlining in front of them and having the symbol of the foxes - the same eye Mayar was seeing in her inner world each time she needed its help. Then, the spheres and the torch have been surrounded by two fire circles. Yet, those circles weren’t positioned one above the other or face to face, but one horizontally and one vertically, intersecting half away. Thus, when on each of those four hemispheres, created by the intersection of the two circles, Mayar’s inner eye appeared, the torch and the black spheres exploded.

Nevertheless, the impact of the explosion wasn’t big. On the contrary, it didn’t even pass the Barrier of the circles. Even so, when the blinding light decreased its intensity and the foxes could watch what they had created, they saw different currents, red and black, inside of those two circles. Then, right in the middle of those currents, they saw the jackal.

That’s why Inmar hissed through her teeth, „Pakai!” After that, she looked to her right and saw that old man standing at the edge of the village and strangely grinning while watching them.

Keṉṉal, seeing him and recognizing in him the old man Ahi followed a few hours ago, murmured, confused, „That one… isn’t he the one…?”

„Yes, it is him! The annoying Titan of Strife, Pakai!” Murmured Inmar.

„Then, if he is there, where is Mago Ahi?” Asked Alena, preoccupied. „Don’t tell me that…”

„It seems so, Alena,” replied Inmar in a whisper. „It seems that Ahi has been deceived by his mother, who, helped by that bastard, closed her son somewhere. Yet, he will escape from there for sure. Then, that decrepit old man will definitely see what the Mago of the Black Stones can do.”

„Even so, Inmar, before Mago Ahi escapes, we are exposed,” murmured Keṉṉal. „That’s why I think that’s a good idea to listen to what he has told us and to turn back to the Mount of Fear.”

„We’ll do that,” murmured Inmar with hatred. „Yet, before going there, I intend to teach this old man what it means to cross swords with us.”

„I agree with you,” said Alena, approaching Inmar. „Yet, how to do that? I don’t think he will come, even if we kindly ask him to come.”

„You are right, for he’s definitely a chicken. Even so, I think it will be better to catch him in a trap by giving him what he needs.”

„By giving him what he needs… What do you mean, Inmar?” Asked Keṉṉal, approaching the two foxes.

„I mean to give him something my brother has. Not for nothing this one lured him God knows where: he needed something from him.”

„Maybe, but what exactly?” Insisted Alena.

Inmar kept silent for a while, for she also didn’t know what Pakai could want from Ahi. Then, to understand this, she started to remember all the useful things Ahi could have and which Pakai could want. Thus, she remembered the moment Ahi was damn furious when Mayar could pass his Barrier of protection and stole the power of fire from him. That’s why Inmar grinned eventually, „I know how we can lure that one here.” Then, looking at the two foxes, Inmar murmured „Taṭai!”

„Do you mean the Barrier of Protection of Mago Ahi?” Murmured Keṉṉal, thunderstruck. „Yet, I don’t understand, Inmar, how can the jackal be interested in something that isn’t his?”

„Of course, he is. Actually, he wants this badly,” said Alena this time, grinning, for she understood the trick of their commander. „The jackals'nature: they always want something that’s not theirs. That’s why they always eat the others'prey, right?”

„Now I see,” said Keṉṉal. „Yet, how to make him come here?”

„Very simple,” replied Inmar confidently. „As we can’t show him Ahi’s Barrier, we can use the instruction to make that Barrier.”

„Something that simply doesn’t exist. And you know that,” insisted Keṉṉal.

Alena grinned again, „We know this. He, however, doesn’t know it. So, let’s do as Inmar said.” After that, Alena turned to her place.

Keṉṉal instead remained next to Inmar for a few moments more. Yet, seeing that Inmar also turned back to her previous place, where she had stood while she and Alena had formed those circles, the fox also returned among the other foxes. After that, forming one more sphere in their hands, the foxes allowed them to float freely around, alluringly shining in the distance.

***

At the end of the village, while carefully watching what was happening at the edge of the woods, Pakai became really curious. More after he saw the spheres in the foxes’hands, for this was the single thing he could see. Then, seeing those spheres strangely illuminating, he turned with all his body toward the forest and closed his eyes, intending to see what was happening there.

Yet… surprise… his mind seemed to have stopped in place. That’s why he furiously mumbled, „What the hell? I have just used my mind to form that Portal and to pass Ahi through it. Why can't I do this now? Is it because of the foxes? No, I don’t think so. As far as I have heard, they aren’t as powerful as Ahi is. Even so… what the hell are they doing there? It seems that they murmur a spell or something.”

That’s why he started to nervously move in place. Even so, he couldn’t reach the edge of the forest with the power of his mind, not even at that time. Thus, seeing that he failed for the second time, he cooked his nose. „Then, if I can’t reach that place with my human body, then I will use my perfect trick, for the jackal from inside you, Pakai, never fails.” Yet, closing his eyes and squeezing his fists, just as he was doing all the time when he was transforming, he couldn’t change. This really made him crazy. Even so, he didn’t give up and tried once again. That time he even squeezed the whole body so that even his eyes got out of the orbits and gnashed his teeth. Nevertheless, the miracle didn’t happen. Thus, understanding that it was something damn weird, Pakai got really furious and yelled, „Damn you, cunning foxes! What, didn’t you learn the lesson, right? At the same time, you have the shame to listen to your master who told you to leave this place as fast as possible. Well, it seems so, that you…”

Yet, he became really attentive the moment he saw something sneaking between those circles he couldn’t see. That’s why he narrowed his eyes to see that place better. Thus, at first, he saw a strange golden light and nothing more. Nevertheless, the moment the fire spheres from the foxes’hands started to float in the air and got to that place where the circles were, too, they revealed what Pakai wanted to see: a beautiful golden book. Therefore, seeing it, Pakai yelled like a mad person, „The instructions! Those used to form the Barrier Taṭai. Yet, how is this possible that the foxes have it?”

He winced eventually, hearing Alena’s voice in his left ear, „Why shouldn’t we have them, great Pakai?” Then he heard her voice in his right ear, „This is something that always belonged to us. Or... what, do you think that Mago Ahi protected us for 10 years for free? It was because of this book, for only after he promised us to always protect us he could have it.”

„This… this isn’t possible!” Stuttered Pakai in disbelief. „It can’t be! As far as I know Ahi…”

„You believed what you wanted to believe,” Alena told him, suddenly appearing in front of him. Thus, seeing her, Pakai found her really seductive while the fox was smiling at him. „Now that you left us without Ahi, who didn’t turn back till this hour, it means he's dead. That’s why we had a short council and decided to find a new leader for us.”

„Another leader?” Murmured Pakai almost deliriously. „Yet, if I accept to protect you, what will you offer in exchange?”

„The Book?!” Alena told him in a cunning voice. „Nevertheless, for the pact to be accepted by all of us, it must be on our territory, great jackal. So…” Alena started to move back and back, sensually moving her hands toward Pakai as though she was dragging him after her.

The trick worked, for the old man followed her like a puppy, fascinated by her charm and by the book, of course. Moreover, the foxes’plan worked because they were aware of the meaning of the quote, „No matter how old the man is, he still loves women.” Thus, while he wanted more than he could have, all those foxes, to have fun with them for a while, and the Book, Pakai was easy to fool.

Yet, arriving at the place where the Book was and, more, when he stretched his hand to touch it, Pakai had been suddenly dragged inside of those two circles, in the form of the jackal. Thus, he got caught in his own trap. Only then, he understood the foxes’trick and hissed through his teeth, „Release me, you, damn foxes! You don’t even know who you are dealing with now.”

„Of course, we know who you are. Very well actually!” Inmar told him with hatred. „That’s why we trapped you in that cage. One from where you won’t escape so soon actually. Yet, even though you escape from there someday, we will be far away from here. Nevertheless, as we want you to never forget us, we decided to leave you a sweet memory.” After that, gnashing her teeth, Inmar grew the nails of her right hand a lot. Then, approaching the two circles, staring at Pakai, she forced him to come to her. Later, when they were so close to each other, Inmar put her hand through the Barrier of the circles that kept Pakai captive and left four deep wounds on his face, on the left side. Moreover, even though she didn’t intend this, one of the nails entered the jackal’s left eye, blinding him eventually.

That’s why Pakai yelled like a dement. Nevertheless, nobody heard him because of those fire circles. Inmar, however, even though she heard him, just as the rest of the red foxes actually, didn’t feel sorry for him. On the contrary, she looked at him with contempt and told him, „This was for my brother, jackal. Yet, if we see each other on the battlefield, then I promise I leave you without the throat too, not only without one eye, and this just to punish you for all those souls that ever suffered because of you.” After that, turning her back to that place, she told the foxes, „We are leaving! We finished here!” Then, soon after this, they entered the forest.

Behind them, Pakai kept yelling because he felt the pain not only in his left eye but also seemed not to see anything with his right one too while the whole body was burning him. More than that, the wounds caused by Inmar’s nails burnt like hell. That’s why he was cursing the foxes with all the bad words he remembered. Even so, this didn’t help him too much, for Inmar used some venom when she hurt him, and this was to make Pakai remember her forever.

***

Feeling great pain in the back of his head, Ahi sighed. Then, touching his head with his right hand while pushing his body up with the left one, he finally managed to sit. Even so, he kept his eyes closed, feeling that he was dizzy.

Then, when the dizziness passed a little bit, he forced himself to open his eyes. Yet, he saw nothing: only deep darkness all around. That’s why if he had put a finger into his eyes by mistake, he could have even sworn that it wasn’t because of him, so thick darkness there was. This even made him murmur, „Where the hell I am actually? Oh, and this head that I feel will crack soon.” Then, feeling another wave of pain in his head, he gnashed his teeth.

An answer to his question only silence offered him. That’s why the Mago felt that he was trembling inside. Then, feeling that he was really shaking inside, he stood on his knees, supporting himself with his left hand on that ice-cold ground while touching the back of his head with the right one. After that, with the remaining power, he stood up eventually.

Thus, feeling that the shaking inside passed and that the pain allowed him to breathe, too, Ahi deeply inhaled the cold air to calm down. After that, stretching both arms in front, he tried to form a torch to illuminate the place. Yet… surprise, he couldn’t use his magic power and this seemed really strange to him. Thus, confused, for he couldn’t see anything around, he looked at his hands. He even touched one hand to the other. Yet, feeling them so cold, even though, each time he was trying to use his magical power, they were burning, he shuddered inside and told himself, „It can’t be that life is so cruel to me. I don’t think that someone took my power. This is probably because of the headache. Thus, if I calm down, I’ll make it for sure.”

Even so, even though he was convinced of this, he understood that standing he wouldn’t make it. That’s why he sat down again, even though he felt the coldness of the ground deep inside. Thus, cross-legged, the Mago tried to calm down first. Yet, no matter what he wasn’t doing, he couldn’t calm down those mad beatings of his heart. He even heard a strange buzz in his ears, something damn unpleasant actually. That’s why he finally opened his eyes and mumbled, „No, this doesn’t work. I must try something else because calming down isn’t definitely for me.”

That’s why he tried to stand up. Yet, feeling a strange warmth in his left sleeve, something he couldn’t understand what it could be, Ahi put his right hand inside of the sleeve from where he took out the fireball eventually, that one formed by Inmar before he left with Pakai. „This is!” He happily murmured. „I’ll have at least light until I regain my strength and my power.” Then, finally standing up, he looked around him.

Even so, the moment he seemed to see something while looking around, he felt a sharp pain right in the middle of his forehead, above his eyes. That’s why he yelled like a dement that even his ears buzzed. Nevertheless, after the pain passed, he saw, with the eye of his mind, the same fire sphere. More than that, he realized that he had heard the echo of his own voice. Something that made him wince eventually. Yet, he also became attentive.

It was something strange in fact, for he remembered that the place where he got with Pakai was a closed one. That’s why it was impossible to be in the same place, for there, even though ten beasts had yelled at the same time, nothing would have been heard. Not even they wouldn’t have heard themselves. Yet, that place where he was at that moment, not only allowed an echo to be heard, but it was also colder than in that room. He could even hear the echo of his inner voice.

„Something damn weird,” Ahi said, closing his eyes. „How is this possible to feel everything so well? More than that, to hear my voice in that room? More than that, why is it so dark around me now when there has been so much light there? I can even feel a gust of wind from somewhere. Yet, from where?”

Thus, to understand where he felt that current of air from, Ahi closed his eyes and waited. Then, slowly rotating on his heels, he started to sniff the horizon. This way, he could feel that it was felt from the North. That’s why he turned toward the place where the currents of air were felt from. Then, stretching his left hand in front, in which he kept the sphere, he looked over there. A great thing he didn’t see actually, but even so he smiled and said, „If I go there, where I feel the fresh air from, I’ll find a door to get out of here for sure.”

He winced eventually, hearing a strange voice floating around him, „Are you sure that that gust of air isn’t just an illusion?”

This made Ahi suddenly turn to the left, illuminating the place with the sphere. Yet, he saw nothing, not even that time. That’s why he frowned and asked, „Who are you?” Nobody answered. This made him even more furious. That is why he yelled again, „I asked you who you are!” Yet, again, no answer was heard. That’s why he mumbled, „Do I have visions?”

„Probably!” That cunning voice, heard before, replied. This made Ahi gnash his teeth.

Nevertheless, very soon after that, he smiled, „If I hear you, it means I’m not alone.”

„What if you definitely are alone?!” The playful voice said. „Or maybe not?!” Then, a loud „hm” was heard around as though the earth itself had sighed after taking thoughts.

However, this didn’t terrify Ahi but made him curious. That’s why he insisted on finding an answer to his question, „You still didn’t tell me who you are.”

„I?” The Voice innocently asked.

„Yes, you,” replied Ahi, feisty this time.

Yet, he had to wait for an answer for a while. Because of this, he was illuminating the surroundings with that sphere, trying to see at least something. Nobody was seen there, however, even though he was clearly hearing someone’s breath somewhere near him. This made him decide that if he had waited a little bit more, he would definitely hear an answer. He did well actually, for, shortly after that, the Voice said, „Yet, who am I?! I’m probably someone. However, I don’t remember who I am,” the voice of a man said this time.

Then, the voice of a kid chortled and said, „Or maybe I am the story only?”

„Maybe?” Ahi asked himself. „Wait a minute! This voice… I feel I know it from somewhere. Yet, from where?”

He winced again when the slow voice of a woman said, „If tomorrow is sunny, maybe we’ll see each other again.” That voice of the woman resounded so beautifully around.

Ahi, however, at all impressed by that change of voices, still remained attentive. Then, as though he remembered something, he looked to his left, where he heard the voices from. After that, narrowing his eyes to see at least something, he asked, „Tayakkam?” Then, right after he asked that question, three voices: of a man, of a woman, and of a child joyfully laughed at the same time. This even made Ahi laugh, „I was right. It’s you! Yet, I thought you disappeared. A long time ago when I was a child. Why are you here then?”

„Probably because Fate decided so,” the man replied. „To be closed here, at the bottom of the earth, at the gate of this world, just as the truth is at the bottom of the sea.”

„Wait a minute, what world, Tayakkam?”

„I don’t know this. I only know that I am somewhere, in another world maybe. Where exactly I don’t know. Actually, when I woke up a long time ago, it was already dark all around us.”

Ahi laughed. „Even so, you are still in the real world.”

„In the real world?” The woman asked. „Why are you so sure about this?”

„Because this „maybe” still wanders the world. Actually, it is still heard on everybody’s lips. Thus, if people still doubt, it means that you are captive in the real world and not somewhere else.”

„Yet… Why did they do this to us?” The child asked, somehow upset. „Why did they close us here if our power still wanders the world, Mago Ahi?”

Ahi winced for the third time, „Yet, Tayakkam, how did you know my name? I’m sure that I didn’t tell you.”

The child laughed, „We found it out from Fate. She told us when she left you here.”

„Did Fate leave me here?” Ahi asked, scared. „When exactly?”

„I don’t know this already, great Mago, for we don’t feel the passing of time here. More than that, we can’t calculate it. We only know that it has been a while and that the daylight runs somewhere just to allow the night to take over the world,” the man sadly replied.

It made Ahi feel sorrow for the old Titan of Doubt, who was closed there for so long. That’s why he eventually asked him,

„Do you still remember the outside world, Tayakkam? Do you remember when they closed you here? The year maybe.”

„What year?” The man asked in a low voice. „If I remember… well, wait a minute, I know… Oh, well, I don’t remember. Or… maybe you know what year it was?”

„I?” The woman asked. „Maybe… oh, I also don’t remember.”

„Neither I,” said the child. „Only if…”

They suddenly kept silent when Ahi gnashed his teeth and a barely heard, „Damn you… with your „maybe,” was heard. Then, feeling that the irritation of that „maybe” decreased, he deeply inhaled, then exhaled, to turn to the left later, intending to go away, for he felt that if he had stood for a minute more next to the triple Titan of Doubt, he would have definitely lost his mind.

He stopped eventually, hearing the child’s voice, „You said you want to go north.”

„That’s right,” replied Ahi, feisty.

„Even so, you are going West now. Why not go to the North? And… why exactly to the North? Maybe there…”

Ahi interrupted his speech, suddenly, „Because I feel the fresh air coming from there.”

„Wasn’t it from the South?” The woman asked. Something that made Ahi confused. More when the man said, „No, there isn’t the South, but the West. I’m sure about this, for when we went west we always felt the fresh air coming from there.”

„What I think is that you are both wrong,” the child interfered in their talk. „Let’s not forget that the world has four corners. Why not be in the East where the fresh air is felt from? From there the Sun rises and…”

„No, it’s the South for sure, for…,” the woman sharply said.

„No, no, no! It’s the West for sure,” the man interrupted her thought.

„The South!”

„No, the East!”

„No, the…”

„Enough!” Ahi suddenly screamed, outraged. „That’s enough having so many doubts. It’s because of this you are still here and not out. Because you couldn’t agree on anything.”

„We?” The child asked in amazement.

„Yes, you. Or what… Do you think that you have been named the Titan of Doubt for nothing and that you are formed from three different parts just for fun? No, you are a man, a woman, and a child to have different opinions, always. Thus, you are able to sow doubts wherever you go, even in your soul. That’s why, It’s decided: we go North!”

„What if we are wrong, doing this?” Asked the woman, preoccupied.

„Then… we turn back and go to the South,” Ahi replied drily. „If going south, we are again wrong, then we will go in the other two directions because failure is only a new beginning. Thus, there is no failure if there is no attempt. At least by trying we can get something. If you stay in place, afraid of failure, then you won’t ever achieve any goal.”

„Eh, maybe you are right,” the man sadly said. „Yet, we are so: we always hold this „maybe” in our arms and we never have rest.”

„Then maybe this „maybe,” which you hold in your arms, needs to be forced to walk alone, huh?” Ahi hissed through his teeth. Moreover, he was really furious. „Because of it, you are closed here for so long. It’s time to trust others if you can’t trust yourselves. Who knows?! Maybe by having trust in others, you can get out of here one day, don’t you think so?” Asked Ahi, frustrated.

„Yet… what happens if…?” The child insisted.

Ahi, however, didn’t stay to listen to him. He turned his back on them and walked north, for he decided not to stay to listen to them anymore. If he had stood there for more, he was afraid that he would have been taken over by fears and doubts, which would have eaten him from the inside worse than the worm holes. More than that, he was convinced that if one didn’t try he wouldn’t ever succeed. That’s why he decided to leave, even though alone, at least while he still had the chance to do that.

The three Tayakkam stood in place for a while. Then, sighing, each of them in his own way, they followed Ahi, in silence. Yet, they did that only because someone was whispering in their ear all the time, „Maybe it’s time to have some trust, huh?” and not because they were sure of something.

***

The only Titan with three bodies, Tayakkam was really special. It had the body of the woman Taya, of the man Akka, and of the child Kam. Yet, they weren’t three personalities in one single body, but three different bodies that started from one single point - the waist of the man, as though it was the trunk of a tree that ramified into three in the upper part. Nevertheless, it wasn’t something they chose or Fate decided so, but the result of Uranus’s devilish mind, who planned the birth of this Titan just to sow discord among the other Titans and among humans at the same time.

To create him, as he didn’t have Chaos or Yggdrasil’s power, Uranus used water and clay. Then, after shaping Tayakkam’s body, he sprinkled magic dust over him, dust taken from the cosmic stars and a little sand taken from Māṉsṭar Kēlaksi and the Desert of Oblivion. Thus, in three days, Tayakkam appeared in the world, at Sunrise, three thousand years before Samaya and Fenrir’s time.

Because it was sunny all around when they first saw the daylight, the three Tayakkam were always happy. Nevertheless, even though they opened their eyes for the first time while lying on the soft grass and looking at the blue sky of the morning, they weren’t as innocent as they seemed to be. This undoubtedly was because of their weird body: from the waist down, they had the feet of the man Akka, while the rest of his body was outlined on the right. Then, from the waist to the left, it was the woman’s body, and, from her waist to the left, it was Kam’s body. Yet, Kam wasn’t separated from Taya’s body but seemed to be held by her in her arms.

Thus, the weight of the three bodies was on Akka’s shoulders. Better to say on the two big soles that had six toes each. Then, looking up at the body, two hairy legs were seen, wearing short pants up to the knees. After that, at his waist, a wide belt, dark brown, was seen, squeezing Akka’s tunic like a ring. Something considered weird, just like Taya's dress, which was dark purple with a white collar and levers, tied right under her breasts by a black ribbon. Then, as though it was an extension of her dress, the white garments of the child Kam were seen. Yet, Kam’s vestment wasn’t totally white. It was also tied over his chest with a pink ribbon. Then, as though he stole the color of his vestments, he had blond hair and blue eyes, something that made him more similar to a girl than to a boy.

Taya’s hair instead was dark brown, up to the waist. A dark shade that reminded others about the color of the boiling pitch. In addition, she had dark brown eyes, which were the perfect combination of her long black eyelashes.

Unlike Taya and Kam, Akka seemed totally opposed to them. He had short hair, almost fire-red when the sun illuminated it. As red as his hair, his eyes were, which were changing the shade of their color according to the area, where they were. For example, if there was night or they were in the shade, Akka’s eyes were dark-red, like wet bricks. Yet, if they were bathed by the sunlight, they were bright red. More than that, it was also strange the form of his ears, somehow crooked and big.

Looking like that, different from others, they were definitely considered a strange family. Even so, Tayakkam considered that they were a whole, despite the fact that they had different opinions and each of them had a heart beating in his chest. Actually, what was making them a family was the beating of their hearts, which were undoubtedly beating at the same time.

Yet… let's turn back to the day Tayakkam saw daylight for the first time. That day, the first who smiled was the child. What made him smile? The blue of the sky, seen all over in front of them. Then, happy, he said, „It’s so beautiful.”

„Like no other,” replied Taya.

Nevertheless, that „maybe” whispered by Akka made the three of them wince. Then, looking to their right, Taya and Kam saw Akka looking at the sky with wide-open eyes while he kept murmuring „maybe” all the time. That’s why Taya asked him eventually, „Why do you always say „maybe”?”

„Because this world is like that,” replied Akka. „It’s impossible for us to be real. Just as this world can’t be real.”

„I still think we are real,” replied Kam joyfully. „Very real. If you don’t believe me, look at the sky. It’s so blue. More than that… ah, I’m also not sure, to be honest, for we don’t even know who created us. Or in front of whom to worship.”

This made Taya look in amazement at Kam. Then, innocently, she asked, „Yet, Kam, what do you think worship means?”

„Your beliefs. Probably,” replied Akka instead of the child. „And… ah, I’m also not sure. I just…” They stood like this, lying on the ground and looking at the sky, until late at night when the sky suddenly covered with many shining stars. Yet, because they were asking questions all the time, they started to feel confused and that they had many doubts.

Nevertheless, this made Uranus very happy. Thus, while sitting on his cosmic throne, he was rubbing his palms and said, „This is a damn perfect thing.” After that, he sent a thought to the three Tayakkam, who started to wander the world the next day, sowing doubt wherever they passed by.

The humans, however, seeing that wherever Tayakkam appeared, strife, doubt, and other devilish things happened among them, started to surround them, and from far away actually. They even started to run away when they saw the Titan appearing around them. Something that made the three Tayakkam very sad because they couldn’t make friends while the humans avoided them. More than that, it was killing them inside, for they really had a good heart. They didn’t intend to hurt people, they only tried to know the world. The world, however, seemed not to want to know them. That’s why all the creatures ran away as soon as they saw them.

Eventually, humans started to chase Tayakkam away when they saw them entering their village. That’s why they got, in the end, on a green field, the same field where they appeared in this world. Thus, being „home” again, without seeing the entire world or making friends, Tayakkam became really sad.

Akka’s eyes even filled eventually with tears when he said, „Yet, humans don’t love us. Why?”

„Is it because they don’t know us?” Taya asked, grieved.

„I think that’s because they are afraid of us,” Kam told them.

This amazed Akka and Taya a lot, who asked at the same time, „Why should they fear us if we didn't do anything to them?”

„Maybe because we look weird?” The child answered with another question. „You also saw this! Humans have a single body, a single head, and a face. We, however, are three with a single body. That’s why they are afraid of us: because we are different.”

„Maybe you are right, Kam. Yet, if we have been created this way, we must accept this. Just like humans must accept us as we are,” murmured Taya.

„Hm, maybe. Nevertheless, each of us has his own morals and ideas. Thus, everyone can think differently, don’t you also think so?” Kam innocently asked while looking at the sky.

This made Taya and Akka stare in amazement at him. The child, however, without paying attention to them, continued his thought, „Just think about this! Why should someone accept others, as they are if those ones can’t accept themselves? The same happens to us: we also don’t accept ourselves and we think we are weird. More than that: why accept someone who doesn’t look like you? Then, do you think that there are more creatures that look weird as we do?”

„Probably,” replied Akka, not at all convinced. Then, sitting down and supporting his arms on his knees, forcing Taya and Kam to do the same, they looked at the flowers and at the herbs that were dancing with the wind. „Even so, Kam, I think that we are the only ones that don’t accept ourselves. To be honest, I wish I knew the answer to all the questions that spin in my head.”

„Questions? What questions?” Tayakkam heard the voice of a child behind them. Something that amazed them a lot. That’s why they right away looked over there and saw a boy about ten with brown hair and black eyes approaching them, fearless. Yet, what made the three attentive were the black eyes of the boy. Something deep, something unseen before, as though the boy swam in a lake of pitch not long ago. His eyes looked so strange at that moment.

Nevertheless, they were happy that someone approached them eventually. Kam even happily clapped his palms and shouted, „A human baby! A human baby approached us, Akka. Taya. He approached us.”

The boy frowned, „What human baby? Aaa, do you mean me,” he finally said, smiling. „Yet, I’m not a baby, but a simple kid.”

„A kid? What is a kid?” Taya asked.

This made the boy stare at her. Then he thought, „Is she stupid or does she only pretend to be?” Loudly, however, he said, „A kid is… is… a human, but smaller.”

„Then you aren’t a human,” said Akka confidently.

Akka’s words made the boy scratch the back of his head: that weird giant was right. Or maybe not?! Oh, he wasn’t sure anymore. Even so, he kept staring at them for a while. Then he said, „You also don’t seem to be human. Then, who are you?”

„We?” Akka asked in amazement. „Aaa, eh, we don’t know who we are because we don’t remember and…”

„I was talking about your name!” The boy mumbled. He was upset. More than that, he was staring at them with his arms crossed over his chest.

„Aaa. I’m Akka!”

„I am Taya.”

„You can call me Kam,” the child joyfully said.

„Aaaa, Tayakkam!” The boy happily shouted. „Now I understand: you are a whole split into three.”

„Probably. Nevertheless, who are you?” Taya asked him.

„I? Ahi! The firstborn of the Titanide of the Eternal Night, of Tenebre, and of Coallar.”

„Titanide? Coallar? Who are they?” Tayakkam asked at the same time.

This made Ahi wonder again if they were stupid or only pretended to be. Then, reproachfully shaking his head, he told them, „I don’t know why, but I have the feeling that you have no damn idea where you live. So, I’ll tell you how things work on this planet.” After that, he sat next to the Titan and they cheerfully talked until night came.

Seeing that it was night all around, Ahi jerked on his feet and looked at the sky full of stars. Then he looked at his friends again and told them, „I must go now.”

„To go? Where?” Tayakkam asked, also standing up.

„Home,” the boy happily said.

„Home? But… what is a „home?” Murmured Taya confused.

„Mmm,” murmured the boy, taking thoughts. „It’s only the place where one spends the night.”

Then Ahi looked in amazement at Tayakkam when Akka said, „We don’t know how it feels to spend the night at home because we don’t have a home.”

„A house, you wanted to say. Then… where do you sleep?”

„We? Right here. Under the sky which is so beautiful at night,” said Taya melancholically.

„What about those days when the sky cracks and Gaea’s rain floods the earth, where do you stay then? Also here?” The three Tayakkam nodded yes. „Well, this isn’t good at all. You also must have a house. Absolutely, because everybody has a house.”

„Everybody?”

„Yeah, everybody. Actually, even the snakes and the wind have a house. That’s why I said that you must have a house too.”

„But we don’t have one. We think so. Probably we don’t have one,” said Akka, sad and amazed at the same time.

„Then… go north and don’t stop until you get next to a mountain of rocks. There, turn right and climb the mountain. After that, when you get to a big clearing, you will see a narrow path that climbs to the left. Take that path and climb it until you get to a place with many rocks, huge and sharp. There you will see many abandoned grottos. You must pick one and make it your house, for…” Hearing the shout of a bird in the sky, Ahi looked over there. Then, scared, he said, „I really must go now.” After that, he ran toward the woods.

„But… when we see you again, baby human?” Kam shouted behind Ahi.

„Tomorrow! If tomorrow is sunny, I will see you again!” Shouted Ahi. After that, he ran as fast as he could through the woods until he got to Coallar’s grotto, which Ahi had always named at home.

***

„Now I understand why the phrase „If tomorrow is sunny we will see you again,” looked familiar to me,” said Ahi to himself. Then, he looked to the left where he heard Tayakkam’s heavy footsteps. „Yet, why did I forget that day? I wasn’t that little when I met them for the first time. Even so, I completely forgot about them. Why?”

He winced eventually, hearing Akka’s question, „Do you think there is a long way to get outside?”

„I don’t know the answer to this question, to be honest.”

„Why?” Taya asked in amazement.

„Because… we also don’t know everything in this world. Let’s just say that we only lie to ourselves that we know that. Yet, we know almost nothing.”

„Just like us!” Said Kam confidently, something that amazed Ahi. Actually, Ahi was pleasantly surprised by Kam’s wisdom, for even though he was only a child, he thought like an adult.

„Why?”

„Because… we always ask each other questions like: why? Maybe…? Is it because of…? Yet, none of us knows why we ask such questions.”

Ahi smiled. „It’s because you are similar to humans: you ask the same questions. Or… better to say, they ask the same questions you ask because you made them ask them. You are… Doubt!”

„Doubt? But… what is this?” Akka asked.

„It’s when you want to do something, but you aren’t sure about this. Just like when you started to argue, not knowing which path to take to get outside.”

„We never argued. We were only trading opinions. Nothing more.” Replied Taya, amazed.

„Yes, yes, I’m sure about this!” Ahi said smiling. He was really happy. More with the thought, „Yet, I feel so well because we meet again, friends!” Then he looked at the three Tayakkam that were following him. „It must be sunny for sure outside because we are together now, for Doubt must be helpful, at least from time to time.” After that, smiling again, he hastened his step, for… he had so many thoughts in his head that weren’t allowing him normally to breathe. One of those thoughts was about Pakai who betrayed him. That’s why, for the first time in his life, he was anxious to get out, to see the daylight again, and to show his enemies what an evil Mago, like he was, could do.