Lioness

She did it successfully.

She exchanged eyes with Hywel and held the same stare facing toward him for some time. Unsure if one of her friends, such as Timothy, tried to locate her, remained still and played the role of her own vanguard.

"From the moment I met you in the Acropolis, I knew something wasn't right with you. Attacking from the shadows and then trying to get on our good side, you had a plan."

She pieced together the riddle kept in her own mind and remained on high alert in case Hywel launched another series of attacks.

For that moment, he did not.

Like another ordinary person, he stood still, didn't move, and simply participated in their discussion. "What a bold accusation, Yasuda. Though I will admit, you're not a pushover in building the puzzles. But yes, indeed..." His mouth edges grinned, and his eyes narrowed as if there was more to his story than he already explained, "...that was... sort of a plan..."

Chiaki hid her emotions, being stoic, and didn't give him any hints of what she had on her mind. "I need you to answer me this..."

Hywel's interest increased drastically, directing Chiaki to the look which just said to ask him. He wanted to be oppugned, to share his unusual methods of proceeding — to show off and display his pursuits for the future of Sanctum Islands.

"If you *do* summon Yerachmiel, do you really think it'll change these islands for the better? What if this 'divine entity' you pursue to resurrect doesn't obey your orders? Aren't you a mere civillian of the islands this entity ruled decades ago? How can you truly believe it'll attend to any of the commands you give it? Surely it's beyond your control, Hywel."

The disbelief and lack of trust from Chiaki clung to him. The thought of being disobeyed absolutely frustrated him. However, his self-assurance — the impressive, high ego he wore — didn't even accept such excuses.

At that moment, he thought he was some kind of an emperor, a king, or even a god.

To him, Chiaki's entire opinion meant nothing. Instead of taking it as a warning, he believed it was a simple insult, trying to throw him off of his own capabilities.

"Such insults will not tolerate. You... cherry blossom girl..." He said and added, "How can you say such thing? Yerachmiel *will* follow my commands and see me as his lord! No matter what anyone says. No matter how much you question my authority — my assertiveness — I wouldn't dare to abide such flower-trampling words!"

Chiaki didn't budge and saw Hywel differently. "You can barely control yourself, and now you think you can control someone else? I'm being realistic over here."

Hywel listened, disturbed and agitated. His mouth trembled more the longer she spoke.

"Yerachmiel is a practical deity. That's how you and the other people see him as. How can you be this stupid, reckless, and passionate about this goal knowing his power is beyond your control? You already have a god. You already have a leader. But people like you ruined him *and* his reputation...."

"...If I were you, I'd accept my punishment, even if that penalty is death. You're the ones who changed him for the worst, and you can't renounce the truth."

Their conversation, their disagreement started becoming rash, especially for Hywel. Every word, every fact Chiaki mentioned sounded discourteous to him. It seemed like an unmannered or thought-out debate.

Chiaki stuck up for Ivione while Hywel to his own schemes. This discord would soon reach its climax, and another rapid battle would unfold in just but a minute.

The more truths she shared, the more sensible Chiaki remained, and the worse their stationary conversation remained, another dissension would erupt like a volcano.

"I'm done playing games with you and your friends. Shanya, show yourself right now!"

She zipped among the trees, parkouring over the branches. Like a leaping tiger, a cloaked figure dropped from the tree bushes. Her green cloak rippled behind her and unwrapped itself from the heavy wind storming through the forests.

Her arms spread and exposed her gauntlet shaped into sharp claws, as her lightly-tanned skin and dusky blonde-accented dark brown hair shrouded Chiaki's view.

Upon landing, she positioned her left arm on her hip and tilted it to the side. Her broadsword hung from her back but disappeared in fiery sparkles upon opening her dynamic, cat-like-pupil eyes, blazing brighter than the bluest of skies.

"I need you to eliminate this woman. She and her friends plot to deprive us of supplies and cause disharmony in our nation. I need you to do your job, and I'll pay you once it's finished. Don't let me down, or you can kiss your bonuses goodbye."

Appearing out of nowhere, like a purely formed assassin from the shadows, Shanya stood before her assertive — like a lioness ready to strike its prey.

"What?!" Chiaki shouted in surprise and caught Hywel grinning behind Shanya's back, showing the deceptions she could not see and tell.

She realized that Shanya was a mere puppet that followed his commands but with a human heart. Either she didn't understand the frauds thrown at her, or she had other reasons why she'd team up with him and work under him.

"I'll be taking my leave now. Have a beautiful fight, ladies." He turned around, lifting his arm over his back and waving at them without looking in their direction. He strode forward, evaded the branch blocking his path, and prepared to enter deeper into the forest.

The girls traded stares, and neither had a look of innocence on their faces. They both knew the casualties that were to come — that they'll end up in a fight no matter what.

Somehow, Shanya appeared at the perfect time after Hywel called upon her as if she remained hidden and observed their discussion, but she had no signs of hearing the conversation.

However, Chiaki tried one last time to speak to Shanya and reveal the truth. "Shanya. I don't know what's the reason behind your and Hywel's alliance, but he's not telling you the truth about his goals. How can you be sure he'll pay you even if you attend to his commands? What if he'll just reconsider and throw you out into the woods like a stray cat?"

Shanya did not respond.

She hauled back her arm with the gauntlet and formed a fist as fire spiraled around it.

She had no interest in chatter and hurried straight to her mission — eliminate the requested target.

To be continued...