The Twenty Virtues Book 1- The Twenty Generals

8- The Adventure of a Deceived One! Operation Friendship begins!

Fernanda smiled. In her hand was a folder full of papers, which she held with great care as she looked around for the others. Her plan was simple: she had drawn each of her nineteen companions and hoped that by giving them the drawings, she could turn them into friends.

“A bit late, but I finally finished. I hope everyone likes it,” she said, touching her fingers together in an attempt to calm herself. When she got anxious, she needed to feel her own skin and breathe deeply. Her hands, slightly sweaty from nervousness, belied her state, but optimism remained. “Some of them make me uncomfortable… but it’s worth a try.”

First, Fernanda encountered Leo, lying on a medieval chandelier, in his lion form. The girl tried to talk to him, but the creature simply ignored her.

Leo was, by far, the most isolated of the group. Being able to speak with him would be a good sign. But he didn’t look, pretended not to hear. For this shapeshifter, socializing was a distant dream. Don’t worry, reader, you will understand.

Fernanda didn’t understand Leo. She had also lived in solitude, and never learned to like it, but she wouldn’t force him into anything. She left, placing the drawing on the floor. Leo descended, curious, and smiled upon seeing his caricature.

One friend. Eighteen to go.

Next, Fernanda found Ygritte, the armored woman, lying in her room. She received the drawing, confused. She didn’t understand why anyone would want to befriend such a difficult group to handle.

Ygritte carried a scar on her heart. Trust was already hard in that group, right? Unlikely. After all, no matter whom you chose: in the end, you would end up hurt. Trust me, reader, you will understand.

But Fernanda didn’t share those concerns. If she kept trusting, she would get it right eventually. With that, she left, leaving Ygritte intrigued by her response.

Two friends. Seventeen to go.

Then, Fernanda found Octo, the humanoid octopus. She handed him the drawing with open arms, but was not well received.

The creature grew furious: she had drawn a perfect caricature, but hadn’t portrayed him as he truly was—a human. Don’t be upset, reader, you will understand.

Fernanda apologized, took one of his tentacles and, with a sweet smile, said that next time she would try to capture his true essence. She moved on, leaving Octo observing her, astonished.

Three friends. Sixteen to go.

Shortly after, she found Lord V’huluver, the elderly man in a trench coat, beside the castle gate. Upon receiving the drawing, a strange feeling washed over him.

In the drawing, he looked angry. Was that how people saw him? V’huluver was happy. So why did he appear furious? How could he be one thing and seem another? Haha, don’t get confused, reader, you will understand.

Fernanda replied that she had simply drawn what she saw in him. And in her opinion, the old man should live with more lightness.

Four friends. Fifteen to go.

Further along, Fernanda found Rhoj, the most insane among the deceived. The madwoman didn’t even try to listen: she went straight for the attack. Fernanda, calmly, dodged as if it were a trivial game.

No words reached Rhoj. She wanted screams, chaos. Not rules or morality. Just entertainment. Calm down, reader, you will understand.

Realizing she was ignored, Fernanda left the drawing on the floor and walked away sadly. She barely noticed how Rhoj had enjoyed the interaction.

Five friends. Fourteen to go.

Afterward, she encountered Kesna, the snake-man, sipping tea on a castle balcony. Mentally, she hoped he wouldn’t say any words with “S”—it was hard to hear him speak.