Kaleb looked at the Huachi Elders.

-Yes -said the boy-. There is someone who guides me from the real world. I don't know how they can see me or why it seems that only I can see them too, but I do know that they have guided me on this path, and thanks to their help I have been able to get here.

The Huachi Elders talked among themselves. It seemed as if they were debating various topics, until finally the Huachi Elder with the moustaches addressed Kaleb again.

-Hyoomans are not ool-owed in the Huachi Kingdom, they are puhn-eesh-uhh-bull by death -said the old man, serene-. However, if yoo reel-ee have Vo' Cas'cielt, we offoor to spare yoor life, if yoo guide oor huachi champion, and help him find his way out of the book. Yoo have three days to dee-side.

And with these words the three Huachi Elders left the cell.

Kaleb was stunned.

The old man with the moustaches gave an indication in huachi to one of the guards before leaving. The guard nodded and entered the cell, swam over to where Kaleb was and unlocked the handcuffs that held the boy's forearms. The shrimp quickly stowed back into the armor and the guard got out.

The boy rubbed both wrists to ease some of the accumulated pain from hanging for so long. Kaleb still had the shackles on his ankles, so he couldn't get very far from the wall.

The two guards closed the cell gate and left.

-They want me to guide them out -Kaleb told you-. But I don't know the way out of here. Even with your help, I don't know if we can find a way out. What are we going to do? -Kaleb said as he clutched his face in frustration.

The boy kept his face buried in his hands for a moment, leaning against the wall, until his stomach growled with hunger, accompanied by pain that made him clutch his belly with both hands.

Ugh -he complained-. How am I going to get out of here? -he said sadly as he looked at the only window in the cell, which overlooked the dark sea that he had seen on his way to the throne room.

Suddenly he heard the dungeon door. He quickly turned to find Nango, who was peering through the bars of the gate again. She was wearing the same seaweed hood and was holding some kind of large seashell, inside of which were plants and what appeared to be crab meat.

-N-Nango? -Kaleb said, as she gently opened the gate and stepped inside-. Nango! -he said more cheerfully.

-Shhh -said the huachi as she put a finger to her mouth.

The huachi swam to Kaleb and extended her arms offering him a conch full of food.

-I brought yoo something, yoo must be hoong-ree.

-Thank you -said the boy.

-Eat -said the huachi-. I will come ley-toor.

And with these words Nango swam to the entrance of the cell and opened the gate.

-Thank you, Nango -whispered Kaleb.

Nango smiled at him, then closed the gate and left.

Kaleb quickly devoured everything on his plate. The food satisfied the boy's hunger and when he finished he put the conch aside. It floated to a small corner that formed in the wall, with the central column dividing the wall.

The boy walked towards the column. Luckily the ankle shackles allowed him to reach it. It wasn't a long distance, but he'd still been afraid the chains weren't long enough. He found a small irregularity on the side of the column. It was submerged and quite large, and it seemed to be made of rock, for when he hit it with his knee the pain made him curse to himself.

Kaleb used this protruding piece to sit and leaned against the wall in chest-deep water.

Maybe it was this small degree of comfort, or that the boy ate too fast, or all the accumulated emotions, but exhaustion hit him, and soon he began to feel sleepiness overtake him completely.

-You have to help me out -he told you when a yawn interrupted him-. You must help me... find a... szzz -Kaleb fell asleep.