We Appreciate Power - Grimes, HANA

After our fathers returned, Yalena and I parted ways. She threw a quick glance in my direction before exiting the building, leaving my father and me. I explained to him that the Oumas could be a potential ally in the future which earned questions but I kept the details vague. I didn't know what I was going to do tomorrow to convince Yalena but if I could get her trust, she could in turn convince her family.

—

Tomorrow morning came much quicker than I'd have liked. I'd spent the night planning a performance to convince Yalena but as a result I hadn't been cultivating which left me feeling tired. I could remove physical trace of my fatigue but my mind still felt groggy as I dragged myself to breakfast where I met up with my family.

After absentmindedly consuming my breakfast, a maid came to the room to inform us that Yalena had arrived. My parents, ignorant to my plans were surprised. They were even more so when I stood up saying "I'll take care of it."

Due to our lack of communication, my parents could only conjecture as to my relationship with Yalena. "Isn't he interested in Levi?" said my mother before I'd left the room. I felt that I should explain the situation but I didn't know how to explain my relationship with Yalena. We weren't friends or love interests. The closest thing I could think of would be business partners but that'd be presumptuous in the eyes of my parents who saw me as a child.

I decided to ignore the situation in the dining room and left to greet Yalena. As I approached the front door, I felt a growing anxiety in my abdomen. The result of this exchange would decide the fates of many. If it went badly, there'd likely be some kind of coup d'état in which my family would be the target not to mention rampant instability in the economy. It was a situation that I'd rather not face because although I was confident in my ability to protect myself, I couldn't guard everyone I cared for at all times. The only way I'd be able to ensure their safety is by completely eliminating the threat but that was my last option. I wouldn't commit a massacre if I didn't need to.

Putting my thoughts aside, I welcomed Yalena inside. She was wearing a simple outfit today, slim pants with a baggy blouse. In contrast to yesterday's behaviour, Yalena seemed impatient and rushed, as though she had other things to do. At least she wasn't flirting anymore.

Acknowledging her rushed attitude, I took her with me straight to the woods behind the house. I explained that I'd be giving a "demonstration" so we couldn't be within sight of the house. She accepted my reasoning but I could see hesitance in her expression.

—

After having walked straight, deeper into the forest for around half an hour, Yalena was understandably suspicious of my intentions. Not wanting to arouse her suspicions even further, I decided that we'd gone far enough. There were no humans within a radius of over three kilometres which I confirmed with mana sense. I just hoped it'd be enough.

—

Yalena's POV:

I wonder if he's going to try to kidnap and ransom me. We'd long been secluded from prying eyes so if he was going to try anything it'd be sooner than later. In preparation, I moved my hand over the grip of the dagger hidden under my shirt. I'm confident that I could take him on unless he brought backup.

I sighed internally over my situation. Just a few years ago, I was in line to take over as head of the Oumas. Unfortunately, circumstance out of my control just had to show up, namely a war. The power I'd accumulated suddenly became worthless; all that remained was my family's plentiful wealth but lacking the power to keep it, it wouldn't be ours in future. My only chance was to hug a golden thigh for fear life, in the off chance that I could survive this conflict.

The Byrons weren't exactly awe-inspiring but I wouldn't forfeit my individual power to marry someone of higher rank yet. I had planned to use the young lord as my pawn, securing the spirit lands so I could deliver it to the victorious empire when they showed up. My plan wasn't perfect, relying on a warmonger's generosity/lust, but if I could even become that person's mistress, I might live to fight another day.

Sadly, the young lord wouldn't play my game. He wasn't interested in me in any way that I could leverage so I was left to agree to terms that weren't optimal, at least for the time being. I could only pray that his surprise would end up being a good one.

—

After stopping, the boy said that the demonstration would begin shortly. We stood upon the top of a decline that allowed us to look out over the trees to a wide swath of forest below. The seemingly endless forest would've been beautiful if I had been able to enjoy it but I'd long lost faith in this boy. I had readied myself for his attack but he hadn't moved. Charlie stood with closed eyes quietly muttering to himself.

Had he gone mad? I continued to watch him, feeling anger rising up inside of me. Had he not even thought this through? Did he not have anything to show for all this? We'd walked out into the forest, and for what?

I was about to go beat him when he stopped muttering and opened his eyes. He turned to me before pointing out into the distant valley. I was so surprised by his sudden movement that I looked to where he pointed. There was nothing there, or so I'd thought.

My eyes focused on a distant flash of white light in the midst of some far off trees. The bright white light was quickly getting bigger and bigger until within a few seconds it had covered a big portion of the surrounding forest. That was when the fire started. In a flash, the trees that weren't already covered by the light were set aflame. In the blink of an eye, a huge forest fire began. Next, I'd noticed something happening as some fires dimmed starting from the middle but after surpassing the fires, trees began to knock over. The sight reminded me of toothpicks but those had been full grown trees that towered over the land. I was worried what might happen if it reached us but we were far enough away that whatever knocked those trees couldn't reach us.

I thought it was over after that but I was wrong. It seemed as though what had just knocked down the trees was now happening in reverse. Debris was dragged towards a now towering plume of smoke where the light had once been. The fires that'd dimmed earlier were now back, stronger than ever, their flames pointing towards the smoke plume. Fire rose high into the sky along with a massive amount of smoke that I didn't think was feasible. Who could do this? What is this?!

I was shaken out of my stupor by the cold tears that had fallen from my eyes. I looked over to the boy standing near me, met his gaze and listened to his words, "Do we have a deal?"