CONFUSION
Poppandacorn found himself clinging to Americ-Ana's neck. He looked down. Antichrist was hopping in place, trying to reach him. Without being able to explain why, he suddenly started crying and said:
"Mommy!!! Help me!!! HE'S GOING TO DEVOUR ME!!!"
Americ-Ana then said:
"Poppa... this can't be serious. All this fuss, this drama, this crying... over a little critter?"
She pointed to the tiny fox, who kept jumping joyfully, trying to reach Poppandacorn.
"Just look at him! He wouldn't hurt anyone. He just wants to be your friend. For heaven's sake, Poppa, stop it!"
Poppandacorn glanced nervously from side to side, then stared at Americ-Ana’s face.
Then, Astyam stepped closer, stood beside her, crossed his arms, and said:
"We have a problem. The little black fox got attached to Poppandacorn."
"But... that's not a problem," said Americ-Ana.
But then Astyam continued:
"The problem... is that, during the ride from Crown Eden to the Cell, inside my Ferrari... Poppandacorn apparently spent the entire time calling the fox 'Antichrist'. Now the fox only responds to that name. Watch."
Astyam knelt before the tiny creature and snapped his fingers:
"Antichrist! Come! That's it, good boy! Sit! Roll over! Shake!"
Americ-Ana let out a disbelieving laugh, turned to Poppandacorn, still clinging to her, and said:
"I can't believe you, Poppa! Look at this! It's just a helpless little creature. You're jealous. You shouldn't have called him that... now he thinks that's his name!"
Poppandacorn looked around again. His LED eyes seemed confused. He said:
"Something feels weird, Mommy! I think I'm confused."
Wwwyye stepped closer and commented:
"Oh, come on! It's not that serious! So spoiled! It's obvious Poppandacorn loves being the center of attention... and now he can't stand sharing the spotlight with the little critter. That's why he's throwing a tantrum!"
Poppandacorn looked around again, seeming even more bewildered.
Seth approached:
"Well, well. What an adorable little creature. Truly charming. Have you already named him?" he asked, petting the small fox.
"His name is Antichrist," said Poppandacorn, still in Americ-Ana’s arms.
Poppandacorn seemed to reflect on the sentence he had just spoken.
Seth smiled and remarked:
"Unusual name, huh?"
Poppandacorn looked around again, stared at Americ-Ana, and then said:
"Mommy, I feel confused. I think something’s wrong. Maybe I’m sick."
Americ-Ana looked at him, scanning his face.
"What is it, Poppa? What are you feeling?"
Poppandacorn looked around once more.
"I feel confused, Mommy."
Seth began thinking out loud:
"What was I doing here again? Feels like I forgot something... Ah, yes! Got it! Folks, I’m here to show you the Cell you’ll be sharing as your residence!"
Poppandacorn squirmed in Americ-Ana’s arms.
"Wait a second! What’s going on?"
Americ-Ana stared at him again.
"What is it, Poppa? Is something wrong?"
Poppandacorn seemed to be thinking. He looked around, then faced Americ-Ana.
"Mommy, we’ve already been through this. We already entered the Cell."
Americ-Ana frowned.
"What do you mean, Poppa? This is our first time here. I’ve never been in this place before."
Poppandacorn looked around again, suspiciously.
"Mommy... but..." his gaze seemed lost.
Americ-Ana placed her hand on Poppandacorn’s forehead, as if checking his temperature.
"Your temperature seems normal. You’re fine. Maybe you’re having déjà vu."
Poppandacorn paused for a moment, reflecting on Americ-Ana’s words.
"You're right, Mommy. Maybe it is déjà vu."
Seth made a gesture with his hands, indicating that everyone should follow him.
They all walked through the stone arch. They stopped at the center, where two monumental doors of dark wood and ornate metalwork stood.
"Ah, yes. Do you have your Duality Key with you?" Seth asked.
"Right here," replied Astyam, raising the key.
Seth then said:
"Perfect. Now, the three of you need to place your hands on the key at the same time... and insert it into that lock."
Americ-Ana, Wwwyye, and Astyam extended their hands. Their fingers overlapped on the cold metal of the key. Together, they turned it.
Seth gestured for the trio to follow him. When he stopped, he turned around with a certain formality in his gaze and announced, with an improvised bow:
"Ladies. Sir. Welcome to the Cell. This will be the place the three of you will share for the next seven years while studying inside the Prince Equal One Zero Pyramid."
Americ-Ana took two steps forward. Wwwyye and Astyam quietly moved closer, positioning themselves at her sides.
"All of this is just ours? Ours, and no one else’s, for the next seven years?" asked Astyam.
Seth nodded and said:
"Exactly. This property is a genuine castle, built in English neo-Gothic style. It was constructed from solid stone and features ornate stained glass windows and gray slate rooftops. There’s a movie room that transforms into a theater, and not just any room: it seats 366 people. In total, there are 1,420 rooms, harmoniously arranged into five interconnected wings. Each wing has two suites per floor. In the central courtyard, there are two reflecting pools, one circular, the other rectangular. There’s a fully equipped gymnasium for both physical and tactical training. And the dining room... well, it transforms into a ballroom that holds up to 275 guests. Oh, and the stained glass tells a story. In cryptic order. It’s the tale of King Solomon and the 72 seals. The complex also includes parking and a garage for 300 vehicles, discreet access routes, safe and direct... and, of course, a helipad."
"Wow... this is truly amazing," said Americ-Ana.
"It’s just like my sisters’," said Wwwyye. "Back when they still studied here at Equal One Zero, I used to visit them. I’d always go straight to their Cell... It’s exactly the same."
Seth then said:
"That’s right! Every student at Equal One Zero has a Cell. And they all follow the same architectural standard. This is the standard of Equal One Zero... it’s the standard of THE-IMPERIUM."
"I can’t believe this entire space is just for the three of us," said Astyam, spraying nasal mist into his nose.
"All the vehicles you already own, whether land-based, aquatic, or aerial, have been transferred to the garage. Everything is available to you," informed Seth.
A few minutes passed as Americ-Ana, Wwwyye, and Astyam admired the entire place.
Americ-Ana stood near the rectangular reflecting pool. Wwwyye approached her and said:
"Hey! Don’t you think Poppandacorn is acting kind of strange?"
Americ-Ana looked around when she heard the name. The plush robot was sitting on the green lawn, legs crossed. He was glancing from side to side, as if looking for or waiting for something.
"Yes. I noticed that. Earlier, before Seth guided us to the entrance of the Cell, he seemed confused," said Americ-Ana.
"I mean... yes, he is a Poppandacorn. But he doesn’t seem to be acting like himself," explained Wwwyye.
"What can I do?" asked Americ-Ana.
"Leave it to me, I know what to do," said Wwwyye.
She called out to Poppandacorn.
The plush robot approached with slow steps, still glancing around, suspicious of something.
Wwwyye knelt down to Poppandacorn’s height. She held his face with both hands and said:
"Okay, Poppandacorn. Run a virus scan."
Poppandacorn immediately lifted his head. His eyes began displaying the image of a scanner, with a percentage counter beside it.
When the numbers reached 100%, Poppandacorn announced:
"Scan complete. ZERO infected files found."
Wwwyye held the plush robot’s face in her hands again and gave the following command:
"Search for software updates, Poppandacorn."
Poppandacorn lifted his head once more. His eyes now displayed an LED magnifying glass. After a few seconds, he said:
"System updated. No new updates found according to the matrix."
Wwwyye held the robot’s face again.
"Do you feel okay?"
Poppandacorn looked to the sides. Then he faced Wwwyye and replied:
"I can’t say for sure. Something feels strange. I think I’m having déjà vu."
Wwwyye and Americ-Ana looked at each other. Americ-Ana said:
"I got it! I have an idea. Take a few pictures of us, Poppa. Record some videos too. Let’s keep this moment in memory."
Poppandacorn perked up at the idea. He immediately began firing flashes. Americ-Ana and Wwwyye started striking poses. A moment later, Astyam came over and joined the photos.
"Hey, Seth! Come take some pictures with us," called Wwwyye.
Seth joined the group.
Soon, even Antichrist was part of the recordings.
Seth turned to everyone and said:
"Alright, folks! Now that you’ve officially taken possession of the Cell, I need you to sign a document. It’s just to confirm that I showed you everything properly and that you all agreed to stay here, together, for the next seven years."
Seth opened his mouth and pulled out a folder. He opened it and began flipping through it, accidentally dropping half of the contents onto the floor. Papers flew. He hurried to pick them up, flipping a few pages upside down, until finally, he smiled.
"Found it! Here it is!"
Each of them signed: Americ-Ana, Wwwyye, and Astyam.
Then Seth began the scanning process. He passed a small portable reader over Astyam’s and Wwwyye’s wrists. Next, he scanned the three QR Codes on Americ-Ana’s face with a short, sharp beep. He crouched down to Poppandacorn, lifted the plush paw, and scanned the barcode hidden on the sole of his foot. Finally, he brought the reader close to Antichrist’s large black eyes, which simply stared back at him in silence.
"Very well!" said Seth. "Now I’ll give you tomorrow’s schedule."
Once again, he reached into his mouth and pulled out another folder. This time, he took out three sheets organized by time slots and handed one to each of them.
"That’s all, folks! You can enter the Cell, explore the rooms, pick your bedrooms, have dinner, sleep... basically, do whatever you like. Just remember to stick to the exact schedule, alright?"
Seth turned to leave. He began walking calmly toward the stone arch. But he stopped halfway, as if tugged back by a sudden pull of memory.
"Oh wow! What a slip! Please forgive me. Good thing I remembered!"
Seth shoved both hands into his pockets, rummaged a little, and with a slightly childlike smile, pulled out fistfuls of colorful confetti. He tossed them over the trio with the subtlety of a hurricane. Most of it landed directly in Wwwyye’s pink hair.
"I forgot to give you a proper welcome when presenting your Cell. So please consider yourselves... officially welcomed!"
"Is this for real?" said Wwwyye, pulling confetti out of her hair.
Seth walked up to the stone arch, turned around one last time, gave an awkward little wave, and disappeared.
Wwwyye looked at Americ-Ana and Astyam.
"How about we go explore the inside of our castle now? Whoever gets in first picks the best room!"
"Hey! That’s not fair!" said Americ-Ana, bursting into laughter as she ran ahead.
"This isn’t fair! Wait for me!" shouted Astyam, running right after her.
"MOMMY!!! DON’T LEAVE ME HERE ALONE!!!" screamed Poppandacorn, launching himself after the group with his short, clumsy legs, tripping over his own plush feet. Right behind him, Antichrist cut across the lawn at full speed, his paws swift as arrows.
Wwwyye was the first to reach the stairs. But as soon as she crossed the doorway... she stopped.
Americ-Ana came right behind and didn’t have time to stop. She crashed straight into Wwwyye’s back, making her stumble. They both nearly fell.
"Careful!" she tried to shout, but it was too late.
Astyam followed right after, running at full speed, and couldn’t swerve in time. He collided with both of them, and then the three crashed to the floor together in a muffled mess of laughter, stumbles, and protest.
Still trying to recover from the fall, the trio realized they were not alone.
Standing in the hall, five silent figures waited at the edge of the red carpet that led to the staircase.
At first glance, they looked human. But the porcelain skin, the flawless gestures, and the floral patterns running across their bodies revealed something beyond the natural.
Three had a masculine appearance, two were feminine. They stood motionless, simply watching.
Americ-Ana, Wwwyye, and Astyam bowed.
"Fac Foedus! Sorry!" they said in unison.
One by one, the humanoids introduced themselves with clear voices and choreographed gestures:
Shabda Akasha, the butler, with black eardrums and a listening expression. Sparsha Vayu, the housekeeper, with blue porcelain skin and undulating features. Gandha Prithivi, the housemaid, with downcast eyes and oriental flowers across her body. Rasa Apas, the cook, robust and silver-toned. And Rupa Tejas, the gardener, marked by shades of fire.
Each one said "Fac Foedus," bowed, and returned to position.
The hall remained silent, like a clock waiting for its next command.
As soon as the introductions ended, Poppandacorn began walking slowly toward the porcelain humanoids.
"What is he doing?" asked Wwwyye.
"Poppa! Where are you going?" asked Americ-Ana, following Wwwyye’s observation.
Poppandacorn didn’t seem to hear. He approached the five porcelain androids. His LED eyes looked distant, as if he were staring... but his mind was somewhere far away from that place.
He examined the androids. He stopped in front of each one, observing them from top to bottom, and bottom to top. One by one, he seemed to conduct a detailed inspection.
Until he touched one of them and said:
"You were completely broken, shattered. Your pieces were scattered in fragments all over this entrance hall. There were legs, hands, arms, eyes spread across every corner. But now you're here. As if nothing ever happened. Your porcelain is intact."
Americ-Ana, Wwwyye, and Astyam looked at each other.
"Little buddy! What's going on? Are you okay?" Astyam was the first to ask, stepping closer to Poppandacorn.
Poppandacorn didn’t seem to hear him. He continued examining the androids’ porcelain, as if searching for something.
Americ-Ana approached and touched the robot.
"Poppa?"
Poppandacorn suddenly seemed to realize that they were all watching him. He quickly said:
"The so-called Moss Human are artificial clones created in a laboratory from a single identical original cell. During their formation, each unit’s brain is modified to perform only one specific task. They do not develop desires, emotions, or ambitions. Those brain functions were genetically removed."
Poppandacorn looked at Americ-Ana and continued:
"The intelligence of a Moss Human is strictly functional and limited to what it was programmed for. A Moss Human assigned to wash dishes, for example, will never understand or wish to do anything beyond that. They do not learn, they do not evolve, they do not become frustrated. They cannot even grasp the idea of change."
Poppandacorn turned to Wwwyye and continued his explanation:
"The term Moss Human refers precisely to their passive nature. Just like moss, they grow only where they are placed. They never leave that spot of their own will. They live, they obey, they execute... but they do not choose."
Americ-Ana, Astyam, and Wwwyye looked at one another. Poppandacorn then said:
If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.
"That’s what you were going to say, Astyam."
He paused, then looked at Wwwyye and added:
"It’s exactly the same type of android your sisters have, Wwwyye."
Americ-Ana knelt down to the height of the plush robot.
"Poppa. Your explanation was amazing. But something feels unusual about you. Please, tell me what’s going on."
Poppandacorn placed both paws on Americ-Ana’s knees and said:
"Mommy, you said the life of a Moss Human sounds so sad."
Americ-Ana grew even more confused.
"Poppa, what are you talking about? I don’t understand."
Poppandacorn, however, seemed to have his mind drifting elsewhere again.
Then Wwwyye said:
"I think we’d better go upstairs and pick our rooms. Maybe Poppandacorn is just overloaded. I think a good night in ‘sleep mode’ will help him feel better."
Poppandacorn still looked far away, lost in some other thought.
Wwwyye then asked:
"Shabda Akasha, can we choose our own rooms?"
The humanoid turned his head slightly in her direction. The obsidian discs on his temples spun with a subtle, almost imperceptible sound.
"Certainly, milady. Feel free. The castle belongs to you... and to the other masters."
Wwwyye darted up the stairs, shouting.
"AWESOME!!!"
Americ-Ana’s attention was drawn back by Wwwyye. She began to laugh and ran off in pursuit.
"Hey! Wait for me!"
Poppandacorn also seemed to snap out of his daze, because moments later he rushed after Americ-Ana, stumbling, his short legs spinning like unbalanced propellers.
Right behind, Antichrist ran like a living shadow, tongue hanging out, tail wagging.
"Wait for me!" cried Astyam, who, caught in the moment, tripped on the very first step. He fell to his knees but quickly got up, as if there were no time to waste, and continued racing up the stairs.
Poppandacorn managed to catch up with Americ-Ana. She stopped in front of a door and turned the bronze handle. The two entered the room.
Inside, the floor was dark oak covered by a Persian rug. At the center, a carved wooden king-size bed supported a canopy with linen curtains. In front of the bed, a stone fireplace held an oval mirror. To the side, a door led to the bathroom, where a checkered floor contrasted with white tiles, and in the center, a clawfoot iron bathtub rested beneath a small stained-glass window.
Americ-Ana scanned the room, looking for Poppandacorn. He was standing by the window, staring into nothing. Americ-Ana walked up to him. Poppandacorn said:
"Mommy, we’ll keep this room. You really liked everything here."
Americ-Ana ran her hand over the plush robot’s head.
"Poppa, how did you know I was going to choose this room?"
But then, someone knocked on the door, catching Americ-Ana’s and Poppandacorn’s attention.
Wwwyye and Astyam, with Antichrist in his arms, came in.
"Great choice! It’s huge and really beautiful," said Astyam.
"Except for a few pieces of furniture and paintings, it’s almost identical to mine. I like this one. I think we should sleep in a different room each day of the week. After all, the Cell has 1,420 rooms. I was even thinking of setting aside a whole day just to explore it," said Wwwyye.
"I don’t think we’ll have any free day... at least not this week. Did you two read the schedule Seth gave us?" asked Astyam.
"No!" Americ-Ana and Wwwyye answered at the same time.
"According to the schedule, we have to be at Crown Eden early tomorrow morning," said Astyam.
Americ-Ana turned to Poppandacorn. But before she could say a word, the plush robot was already holding the schedule in his hands.
"Poppa... how did you know?" said Americ-Ana, looking confused. "Anyway, thank you, Poppa."
"You're welcome, Mommy!" said Poppandacorn. He still seemed distracted.
Americ-Ana grabbed the paper and read it quickly.
"It says we have to go to Crown Eden to receive instructions..."
"Yes!" added Wwwyye, reading over Americ-Ana’s shoulder. "And then it says we have to go straight to the Solomon Coliseum."
"I think we’d better order dinner to the room... and go to bed as soon as possible. I’ve never been to the Solomon Coliseum before. All of THE-IMPERIUM was summoned to be there too," said Astyam.
"That’s right. Every school year, when the seals are returned to Equal One Zero, all citizens of THE-IMPERIUM are legally required to attend the Solomon Coliseum. I used to go with my sisters every time the school year began. We’ll be standing in front of all of them," said Wwwyye.
"Everyone from THE-IMPERIUM will be there tomorrow?" asked Americ-Ana.
"Exactly," answered Wwwyye.
"And I don’t know if you read all the way to the end, but the schedule also says we have to bring our KING MatNat spheres. No exceptions," said Astyam.
"Speaking of that... how do you guys plan to wear your spheres? I was thinking of using mine as a ring," said Wwwyye.
"I think I’ll attach it to a chain and keep it in my pocket, clipped to my pants," answered Astyam.
Suddenly, Poppandacorn, still dazed, walked slowly toward the center, where everyone was gathered. He opened the compartment in his belly and pulled out the KING MatNat sphere inherited by Americ-Ana from Helena Blavatsky. He handed it to Americ-Ana and said:
"Mommy, you will wear the KING MatNat sphere as a necklace. You will place it on the platinum chain you received."
Americ-Ana frowned. But before she could say anything, Poppandacorn continued:
"Astyam! You’re thinking of eating a turkey sandwich with a chocolate milkshake before going to bed."
Astyam stepped forward.
"Wait! How did you know I was craving that? Did I say it when I got here? Maybe I said it and forgot..."
Americ-Ana, Wwwyye, and Astyam looked at each other. Then, the three turned their gaze to Poppandacorn, still in a daze.
"Okay... here’s what we’ll do. Let’s lie down and sleep, rest and relax. Maybe we’ll wake up feeling better and more focused," suggested Wwwyye.
"I agree! We’ve been through a lot. Maybe our minds are just tired," said Astyam.
Wwwyye and Astyam, with Antichrist in his arms, looked at Americ-Ana and made gestures pointing toward Poppandacorn. Then they quietly left the room.
Americ-Ana knelt down to Poppandacorn’s height, took him by the arms, and lifted him onto the bed.
"Mommy. I almost forgot. Here it is," said Poppandacorn.
He opened the compartment in his belly once again and pulled out the leather-bound book with a golden tree embossed on the blue cover.
The mysterious symbols on the book’s cover shimmered.
"My goodness... with everything going on, I completely forgot about this book. Poppa... it’s the one you found among the daisies... inside the Cryptakashic."
"Sorry, Mommy... I did a lot of research, but I couldn't find anything that could decipher these symbols."
"Don't worry, Poppa. We'll figure this out together."
Americ-Ana lay down on the bed. Poppandacorn curled himself around her neck, forming a comfortable pillow.
"Poppa?"
"Yes, Mommy, tell me!"
"Promise me everything's going to be okay?"
Poppandacorn seemed to hesitate for a few seconds before answering. But then he said:
"Yes, Mommy! I promise!"
Americ-Ana began flipping through the book, her fingers brushing over the mysterious codes.
Poppandacorn activated "nap mode" and started playing a light, soothing melody of piano and harp.
Americ-Ana soon fell asleep.
Poppandacorn, with his LED eyes turned off, entered "recharge mode."
The sound of an explosion shook the entire structure of the Cell, reverberating through the walls like a roar from the very depths of the earth.
Poppandacorn instantly activated RED ALERT! DANGER! His red eyes flashed as he leapt from the bed and landed on the floor with precision.
"This can’t be happening," thought Poppandacorn aloud.
He ran toward the door, gave a small hop, turned the knob. He looked back at Americ-Ana and said:
"Stay here, Mommy! A significant change in the structure of the environment has been detected. Get back, Mommy! Step back!"
Poppandacorn closed the door behind him and moved quickly, cautiously, down the hallway. Until he reached the top of the great staircase, in the entrance hall.
The plush robot saw what he had been certain he would find, and yet feared.
The five Moss Humans lay disintegrated across the entrance hall. Pieces of porcelain were scattered in every direction.
Poppandacorn descended the steps with caution until he reached the bottom of the staircase. He examined the entire area using his scanner vision. His eyes roamed the hall, searching for signs, for something he didn’t even know how to name. But anything could be considered a clue, until proven otherwise.
Carefully stepping among the porcelain shards, he picked up a piece, looked at it, examined it, then placed it gently back on the floor. He did this with almost every disintegrated part scattered across the ground. But, unfortunately, he found nothing. At least, not at first glance. Nothing that could explain what was happening.
Suddenly, he heard a noise coming from the top of the staircase.
It was Astyam, standing there, speechless as he witnessed what had occurred.
"What happened?"
Right after that, the sound of another person approaching echoed through. Wwwyye appeared.
"What is this?!"
Poppandacorn, his eyes still glowing red and flashing RED ALERT! DANGER!, raised his tiny hand.
"Do not come any closer! This is a crime scene! Something very strange is happening. Please, step back! Do not tamper with the scene until all the evidence can be collected!"
The sound of someone else approaching was heard. It was Americ-Ana, appearing at the top of the staircase, joining Astyam and Wwwyye.
"My God! Poppa, are you alright?"
Poppandacorn, however, was distracted, staring at the floor, searching for any clue to what had happened.
"Does anyone know anything?" asked Astyam.
"Nothing. Nothing. I was asleep and woke up to the sound of the explosion. I ended up falling out of bed and hurt my elbow," said Wwwyye, showing a small cut.
"Let’s take a closer look and see what it might be," suggested Americ-Ana.
Moments later, the three of them cautiously began descending the staircase.
Poppandacorn noticed the trio’s movement approaching and immediately said:
"No! Don’t come down! It’s dangerous! Something very strange is happening here!"
"It’s alright, Poppa. We’re all safe," said Americ-Ana.
They made their way down into the hall, where the remains of the Moss Humans were scattered. The porcelain shards shimmered under the light.
"Who could have done this?" asked Americ-Ana, staring at the broken pieces on the floor.
"I have no idea," said Wwwyye, looking around. "As far as I know, it’s just us in the castle. Could it be... there’s someone else here?"
"I don’t know what happened," replied Astyam. He crouched and picked up a porcelain fragment. "But judging by the way the pieces are scattered, it doesn’t look like the Moss Humans were attacked. I don’t see any signs of impact. It seems like... they simply exploded."
"Like spontaneous human combustion?" suggested Wwwyye.
Astyam nodded, still examining the fragment.
Suddenly, they heard a new sound. A sharp crack echoed from the top of the stairs.
They all turned at once, hearts pounding.
At the top of the staircase, there he was. Antichrist.
With his little tongue sticking out and his tail wagging, he stared at the group with the carefree look of an innocent puppy.
"ONCE AGAIN, WE HAVE OUR CRIMINAL SERIAL KILLER!" shouted Poppandacorn, raising both arms in accusation. "HE'S GUILTY, FOR THE SECOND TIME! LET’S ARREST HIM!"
"My God, Poppandacorn! Calm down," said Wwwyye, trying to restrain the robot, who now seemed out of control.
"It wasn’t him, Poppandacorn. He spent the night with me, in my room," explained Astyam.
"But he was the main suspect before, and he's the main suspect now!" Poppandacorn insisted, his little arms trembling. "He already committed one murder! And this previous tragedy! He killed Mister Hippopotamus! He dismembered the Moss Humans! He is a repeat criminal serial killer! Is nobody seeing this?!"
"What do you mean, main suspect before and main suspect now? And what do you mean, previous tragedy?" asked Astyam, confused.
"Calm down, Poppa," said Americ-Ana, stepping closer. "Antichrist is a good boy. What happened with Mister Hippopotamus... it was an accident. He’s just a puppy. He doesn’t have malice."
"He’s a spawn of Satan, Mommy!" screamed Poppandacorn, his eyes shining with desperation. "He’s a dangerous monster! A serial killer! Being a puppy doesn’t remove his culpability!"
"Culpability?!" Wwwyye raised an eyebrow. "Poppandacorn, where did you even learn that word? I think we need to focus and stop getting distracted."
"Exactly," agreed Astyam, walking over to Antichrist and picking him up. The little creature pressed his snout against Astyam’s chest, purring.
"Let’s think this through," said Astyam. "We don’t have our parents here. We have to act on our own. The first thing we have to remember is that those five porcelain androids, the Moss Humans, are the caretakers of the castle. If they’re not repaired, everything will fall into chaos."
"I have no idea how to fix a porcelain android," confessed Americ-Ana, crouching down. She picked up two pieces and tried to fit them together like a puzzle.
"They were probably manufactured by Novaxtraai," suggested Wwwyye. "Just like everything else here in THE-IMPERIUM. Maybe the best thing would be to take the pieces to some repair center... or call someone. Someone who knows how to deal with this."
"Guys... can we maybe deal with this later?" said Astyam, checking the watch embedded in his bracelet. "We’re already late. We need to be at Crown Eden at the scheduled time to receive instructions."
"Astyam is right," agreed Americ-Ana. "According to the schedule Seth gave us, we go straight from Crown Eden to Solomon Coliseum."
"We can’t miss the Coliseum summons," added Wwwyye. "It’s the law. Absence can be considered a crime. Either prison or trial, depending on the case."
"Then we’d better hurry," said Astyam, pressing Antichrist against his chest as he began climbing the stairs. "When we return, we’ll deal with this... accident. Or incident. Whatever it is."
"This is not an accident! Nor an incident!" protested Poppandacorn, running after them. "This is a crime! And the killer is in Astyam’s arms! The serial killer! This is the second time it happens! We’re in danger! Something very strange and confusing is going on!"
Poppandacorn pointed with full conviction at Antichrist, who, upon hearing his name, simply wagged his tail.
"Calm down, Poppa," said Americ-Ana, picking up the robot in her arms and climbing with him. "Help me get ready so we can go to Crown Eden. In the meantime, you can tell me your theories about the crime scene... just like you mentioned."
"We’ll meet down here and leave together," said Wwwyye, already near the top of the stairs.
Americ-Ana and Astyam nodded.
Each went to their room. Minutes later, they were all gathered again in the entrance hall. The light touched the shattered remains of the Moss Humans.
"Be careful not to step on anything," warned Astyam. "I read in an article that the Moss Humans are unique pieces. No two are alike. Each fragment is priceless."
With ceremonial reverence, they crossed the hall on tiptoe. The sound of their gentle steps contrasted with the brutality of the scene they were leaving behind.
They reached the door.
Americ-Ana looked from side to side. She seemed to be searching for something. Then her eyes settled on Poppandacorn. He had picked up one of the porcelain pieces and was now staring at it. His thoughts seemed to be somewhere else entirely.
"We need to look into what’s wrong with Poppandacorn," suggested Astyam.
"Definitely. He’s been acting strange since yesterday," said Wwwyye.
"Do you think he’s going to be okay?" asked Americ-Ana, her voice beginning to waver.
"Yes! Of course! As long as we stick together, everything will be fine. Don’t worry," said Wwwyye.
"It’s true. We’ll be together. Everything will turn out fine," said Astyam, gently stroking Antichrist.
Americ-Ana picked up Poppandacorn in her arms. He still seemed distracted.
Then the door opened.
They all stepped through.
Poppandacorn found himself clinging to Americ-Ana’s neck. He looked down. Antichrist was hopping along, trying to reach him.
The plush robot glanced around, as if confused. His panda head rotated a full 360 degrees, scanning the entire environment.
"No signs of reality distortion were found," said Poppandacorn, his LED eyes in scanning mode.
Americ-Ana looked at the plush robot with a puzzled expression.
"Poppa, are you alright? Did something happen during the ride in Astyam’s Ferrari?"
Poppandacorn, however, didn’t answer right away. He was still rotating his head, checking once more for any signs of reality distortion.
"Mommy! We need to talk. Something is happening," whispered Poppandacorn very softly into Americ-Ana’s ear.
Americ-Ana felt a wave of concern at what the robot had just said. She took a few steps away from the others, still holding Poppandacorn in her arms. Then she said:
"Tell me everything, Poppa! What’s going on?"
Poppandacorn looked into Americ-Ana’s eyes with his glowing LED gaze.
"Mommy! I’ve come to the conclusion that we are trapped in a loop. This is already the third time we’ve lived through this moment."
Americ-Ana paused for a moment. She took a deep breath, trying to process what she had just heard.
"Trapped in a loop, Poppa? What do you mean?"
"I mean, Mommy, that we’re doing the same thing over and over again. I’ve managed to count three times we’ve lived through the same sequence. If there were more, I can’t say. But I’m absolutely sure that since I started noticing, this is the third time we’ve experienced it all."
"Poppa, if that’s true, how can we fix it?"
"I don’t know yet, Mommy. I don’t have enough information to make a decision based on reliable data."
"What can I do to help, Poppa?"
Poppandacorn turned his glowing LED eyes away for a few seconds. He seemed to be thinking. Then he reached the following conclusion:
"Until I’m able to gather more information about what’s happening, Mommy, just act naturally, as if everything is normal."
Americ-Ana nodded in agreement. She kissed the tip of the plush panda’s nose and returned to join the others.
On the outside, Poppandacorn seemed calm. He was resting in Americ-Ana’s arms, his eyes lit in standard mode and his body relaxed. But inside his system, something entirely different was happening.
Without anyone noticing, he was accessing advanced functions from his core. Lines of code were running in silence. Poppandacorn had entered internal investigation mode.
With a silent command, he activated AUTO-PILOT MODE.
On the internal screen visible only to Poppandacorn, three parameters were defined:
- Automatically copy the behavioral patterns of his owner, AMERIC-ANA DELSILVA (also known as Mommy), and replicate them in his personality.
- Act naturally and spontaneously, always in accordance with the guidelines of item 1.
- Avoid contradictions between items 1 and 2.
While his external interface responded to human stimuli, inside, Poppandacorn was scanning everything: ambient temperature, sound frequency, behaviors, temporal irregularities, traces of unusual energy, and system failures.
The Auto-Pilot Mode activated by Poppandacorn processed the events with systematic precision. His internal analysis recorded each step, one by one:
- Astyam revealed that, during the journey to the Cell, the fox began responding to the name "Antichrist" after being repeatedly called that by Poppandacorn.
- Astyam demonstrated that the fox obeyed simple commands, such as "sit," "roll over," and "give paw," and seemed completely harmless.
- Wwwyye and Seth joked about the situation, laughing at Poppandacorn’s jealousy and dramatic exaggeration, which made him seem unhinged.
- Despite their attempts to lighten the mood, Poppandacorn remained in crisis. The fox, upon hearing the name "Antichrist," responded positively, wagging its tail with enthusiasm.
- Seth resumed his functional posture and reminded them that he needed to present the Cell, where Americ-Ana, Astyam, and Wwwyye would be living for the next seven years.
- The group arrived at the entrance to the Cell and, together, used the Key of Dualities to unlock the monumental doors that guarded the threshold.
- The architecture was revealed with grandeur: a neo-Gothic castle with stained-glass windows, symmetrical gardens, and a carved stone staircase.
- Seth presented the features of the Cell with enthusiasm: 1,420 rooms, two reflecting pools, a movie theater, a gym, a garage for 300 vehicles, and even a helipad.
- Seth handed out documents and schedules. Americ-Ana, Astyam, and Wwwyye signed the papers, officially confirming their stay as residents of the castle.
- Before leaving, Seth threw handfuls of colorful confetti over the group in a theatrical farewell. He gave an awkward wave and disappeared through the stone arch.
- The trio then ran toward the interior of the Cell, competing to see who would choose the best room first.
- They stumbled and fell together at the entrance, laughing with excitement.
- In the entrance hall, five figures stood silently. They were the Moss Humans, porcelain humanoids perfectly aligned on the red carpet.
- Each one introduced themselves with a clear voice and ceremonial gestures: Shabda Akasha, the butler; Sparsha Vayu, the housekeeper; Gandha Prithivi, the housemaid; Rasa Apas, the cook; and Rupa Tejas, the gardener.
- Astyam explained that the Moss Humans were clones programmed to perform specific tasks, without emotions, desires, or ambitions. They were incapable of learning, evolving, or dreaming.
Then, suddenly, Poppandacorn exited Auto-Pilot Mode the moment he came face to face with the five Moss Humans.
When Astyam finished speaking, Poppandacorn stepped forward and said:
"Mommy, Astyam, Wwwyye... while searching public databases and forums from THE-IMPERIUM, I found the definition. They are called Moss Humans. They belong to a category of human beings cultivated in laboratories based on primitive plant cells. They live. They obey. They perform. But they do not decide. They do not desire. Just like moss... they only grow where they are placed, and never leave that place of their own will."
Silence hung heavy for a moment.
Poppandacorn took a few steps forward and approached the five Moss Humans. He activated scan mode and ran his vision across the bodies of all the porcelain androids. Nothing was detected based on his analysis.
Poppandacorn returned to stand beside Americ-Ana, Wwwyye, and Astyam, who was holding Antichrist.
Americ-Ana looked at the motionless humanoids in front of the staircase and said:
"Wow... this feels so sad..."
Then, Poppandacorn re-entered Auto-Pilot Mode. While the plush panda analyzed, inspected, and tested the entire surrounding environment, his automated form followed these steps:
- Wwwyye asked if they could choose their rooms, and the three of them ran excitedly through the hallways.
- Americ-Ana chose her room, and Poppandacorn approved.
- Wwwyye and Astyam visited the room and commented on the architectural details and the schedule for the next day.
- Americ-Ana felt the emotional weight of knowing she would be standing before all of THE-IMPERIUM at the Solomon Coliseum.
- Poppandacorn handed over the KING MatNat sphere and the mysterious book filled with undecipherable codes.
As soon as Poppandacorn was sitting alone with Americ-Ana in the room, Auto-Pilot Mode was deactivated.
"My goodness... with so much going on, I completely forgot about this book. Poppa... it’s the one you found among the daisies... inside the Cryptakashic," said Americ-Ana, flipping through the mysterious book with indecipherable codes.
Right after, Americ-Ana lay down on the immense bed, sinking into the soft mattress. Poppandacorn curled up around her neck, activating his massage-pillow function.
With the book still in her hands, Americ-Ana turned to Poppandacorn and said:
"You know, Poppa... I feel more relieved and much calmer now that you're doing better. I must admit I was worried when you told me we might be inside a loop. But in the end, I think we just needed to rest... both you and me... We've been through so much in such a short span of time. But I’m glad everything is finally falling into place."
As she said the final word, Americ-Ana felt her eyes begin to grow heavy. Her breathing slowed, and soon after, she fell asleep.
Poppandacorn was still analyzing, deep within his internal system, all the actions that had taken place while he had been in Auto-Pilot Mode.
"ZERO INTERFERENCE OR DISTORTION FOUND IN PRESENT REALITY," read Poppandacorn’s internal scanner.
The plush panda reprogrammed himself so that his nightly recharge mode, nap mode, would last only half the usual time.
Poppandacorn then began his self-recharge process.
Some time later, he was awakened by his internal alarm.
He opened his little LED eyes. Americ-Ana was sleeping deeply.
He jumped down from the bed and tiptoed to the door. He turned the knob quietly, closed the door behind him, and slipped into the hallway.
With light and silent steps, Poppandacorn crept along the corridor walls until he reached the entrance hall.
The five Moss Humans stood still and aligned, staring into nothingness.
Poppandacorn crouched down and, while hiding, let his scanning vision sweep across the entire space.
Time passed. Poppandacorn did not stop scanning the environment for a single second.
As sunlight gradually began to pour into the space, Poppandacorn heightened his vigilance to the maximum level. All of his internal circuits were now operating at 100 percent, beyond the permitted threshold.
Not even a fly, not even a speck of dust, would go unnoticed by Poppandacorn’s detectors.
Everything was calm. All was silent.
Until, suddenly, without any prior warning, all the porcelain androids exploded simultaneously.
Shards, fragments, and porcelain dust flew in every direction.
Legs, arms, torsos, hands, and feet were thrown across every corner of the entrance hall.
Poppandacorn got up slowly, his internal circuits still operating at maximum capacity, beyond the permitted threshold.
He began walking, little by little, toward the top of the staircase.
As he neared the step, he heard a voice say:
"Little robotic child!"
Poppandacorn immediately activated RED ALERT! DANGER!
His sensors detected that the sound had come from below, to his left.
Poppandacorn redirected his gaze.
On the floor rested a porcelain shard. A curved, delicate fragment that had once been the mouth of one of the Moss Humans.
"Down here, little robotic child... That’s right. Here!" said the shard, with a gentle voice that seemed to emerge from within the inanimate matter.
Poppandacorn slowly crouched down. He picked up the fragment with both of his tiny hands. His LED eyes gave off a faint, flickering glow.
"Thank you so much for your attention, my dear little robotic child," said the voice. "I am Sparsha Vayu, the housekeeper of the SAMKHYA CELL. During this cycle, my fellow workers and I have noticed something very strange... it’s as if the sand inside the hourglass of time had frozen in midair. The day is repeating itself countless times. And with every restart... we explode. Our fate shatters like cherry blossoms: at the exact moment we reach our most beautiful form, we are thrown to the ground."
Poppandacorn’s eyes now displayed a digital projection of tears running down.
"Why do you cry, dear little robotic child?" asked Sparsha Vayu.
With a trembling voice, Poppandacorn replied:
"Dear gentle lady... I cry because I thought my circuits were defective. I believed that I... I wasn’t managing to serve my Mommy properly. But as the gentle lady said... there is something wrong with time."
"Exactly, dear little robotic child. This paralysis of time, and the constant resetting of the day, do not seem to affect us, siblings of the circuit. My companions and I have observed your tireless effort. Please, help us understand this mystery. If it is not solved, our beloved masters and mistresses, as well as your cherished maternal Mommy, will remain trapped in this continuous flow. Trapped... forever."
Poppandacorn held the fragment more firmly, and with his other little hand, placed it over his chest, or the closest place a robot could call a heart.
His LED eyes blinked once more. The virtual tears kept falling.
"Yes, dear gentle lady... I promise. I promise to make countless efforts so that the kind housekeeper and her companions no longer have to suffer, being shattered and thrown into the air every day. I will do everything I can so that the masters and mistresses, and my Mommy, may emerge victorious from this journey."
Right then and there, Poppandacorn began to devise a plan. A protocol of questions and answers that he would direct to the housekeeper Sparsha Vayu. It was necessary to understand. It was necessary to break the cycle.
But before he could formulate the first question, footsteps approached in the hallway.
Astyam appeared, closely followed by Wwwyye.
With great care, Poppandacorn leaned down and placed the mouth fragment on the red carpet as if placing a relic into safekeeping.
"What is going on?" Astyam and Wwwyye said at the same time.
Poppandacorn wiped his little LED eyes, which were still shedding virtual tears. He blew his nose and acted as if nothing had happened.
"Poppa! Are you alright?" said Americ-Ana, calling from the top of the staircase.
Poppandacorn, once again, activated Auto-Pilot Mode, which proceeded through the following stages:
- Astyam, Wwwyye, and Americ-Ana joined Poppandacorn at the top of the staircase. All were shocked by the scene.
- Poppandacorn declares that it is a crime scene and accuses Antichrist.
- Americ-Ana tries to calm him down and considers the possibility of spontaneous human combustion.
- They realize there is no time to solve the case: they need to go to Crown Eden.
- Poppandacorn protests, but Americ-Ana takes him with her to get ready.
- The trio prepares and reunites in the hall, crossing over the remains of the Moss Humans with care.
At that moment, in Americ-Ana’s arms, Poppandacorn deactivated Auto-Pilot Mode.
His LED eyes blinked, returning to a conscious glow. He looked one last time at the porcelain shards scattered across the floor and waved his tiny hand.
Then, he brought his hand to his own temple in a solemn gesture of salute, like a little soldier about to enter the battlefield.
With Poppandacorn in Americ-Ana’s arms, Wwwyye beside them, and Astyam holding Antichrist against his chest, the group crossed through the door.