Episodes 166. Those who Spoken Through the Tears of joy.

Their meeting with the four other teachers created a small, joyful reunion in their hearts. However, that joy was immediately slashed by their own feelings of caution towards each other.

They all activated their weapons as if anticipating one group to attack first.

Their trust in each other shattered.

"You... Why did you draw your weapons?" Haran glared at the four teachers.

"You did it first! Why are you pointing your swords at us?!" Fredrica clutched her knife like a mugger threatening their victim.

"That might make sense... Alright then..." Haran understood the situation and lowered her bow.

This tense situation wouldn't end if one of the two sides didn't back down. She immediately looked back without turning her body. She raised her right hand to shoulder height to signal her team to lower their weapons.

"Ah... okay...?" Fredrica, confused by her opponent's sudden compliance, could only follow suit.

After all, it was her request. The opponent had done as asked. Now it was her turn.

Now both groups had lowered their weapons. The critical situation was over for the time being.

.......

The night wind blew strongly over the hill they stood on. The moonlight reflected off the artillery, creating a beautiful scene.

The two groups faced each other with minimal lighting. Their eyes didn't stray from the group opposite them.

"So... Are you here for the same reason?" Daniel opened the conversation.

Despite the minimal lighting, all the teachers immediately knew the speaker was him. His large body was a distinguishing feature.

"If you think our target is Rasyid... Then you're wrong." Zarbeth stepped forward to lead the discussion.

"Sorry, but if your goal is different, we cannot consider you allies!"

"Is that the 'real' answer from you, Daniel?"

Even though his opponent spoke in a mocking tone, Zarbeth didn't feel offended or angry. Her voice remained flat, firm, and authoritative.

"Geh!"

The old woman's statement startled Daniel. He began to question what he was doing.

Fwoosh! Fwoosh! Fwoosh!

Lights suddenly illuminated the area around them. The fire burning like a bonfire came from a card placed on the ground. They instantly knew who made it.

"Lodo?" Zarbeth turned to him.

"Zarbeth, do you want to ramble about your old friend again?"

The old friend Lodo referred to was Nova. That name was often heard throughout Magic Class 3 before the Teacher Test. Zarbeth always detailed the old woman before their plan was executed.

"As you guessed, your battle is not just against that man but also something stronger... Nova Sena, the Mayor."

"We know that... 'Though only partly.'" He immediately whispered something.

The three people beside him didn't hear what he said. But Zarbeth, standing in front of him, understood.

"Huh... (sigh)" The old woman lowered her head. "So you let those unaware walk into a suicide mission, huh?"

Lodo didn't answer, only closing his old eyes slowly and lowering his head without returning to his original position.

"He-hey... What are you two talking about?" Fredrica, feeling left out, walked between the two of them.

"Something only us old folks understand," Zarbeth evaded her question. "Forget about that, you three... Will you join us? What we're doing here has nothing to do with them (Rasyid and Nova). We're here to get you out of this hell."

They all widened their eyes, startled by the old woman's statement.

"Getting us out?" Fredrica tilted her head.

"From hell..." Rasputra lowered his head sadly, understanding the meaning behind the old woman's words.

"What do you mean by hell?! We're here to destroy that hell!" Contrary to the other two, Daniel rejected the old woman's good intentions.

"Destroy hell? Have you forgotten how terrifying Rasyid is? Even with such a large artillery, it won't stop him."

"That's because you don't know! We're being helped by the Governor to destroy that man! And you can see, the artillery is silent proof of his help!" He pointed at the artillery.

Zarbeth's entire group was shocked to hear the title mentioned, but Zarbeth remained calm.

"Have you succeeded?"

"Of course not!"

"Then, how many casualties have fallen?"

That question again left the three of them silent.

Zarbeth didn't need to hear the answer from their mouths. Just by looking, she knew what had happened.

"You'll be slaughtered before you can even scratch their clothes."

That statement was an undeniable fact. Even with the Governor's help, if their current opponents were Rasyid and Nova, what they were doing was nothing but foolish.

.......

Feeling the debate would drag on, Haran stepped forward and stopped beside Zarbeth. She stood with her hands on her hips, looking at the four people with a face that said, 'Oh well.'

"This conversation will last long if we don't end it now. So... Let's do this."

Haran offered a suggestion to the four people. It was clearly something beneficial to them and made them trust the woman.

An agreement was reached.

Haran raised her hand to chest height to shake hands. Her smile lightened the atmosphere, seemingly telling them to leave everything to her.

Daniel tried to return the handshake, but before he could touch the woman's hand, Lodo interrupted and stole the handshake.

"This is a dangerous mission, Haran..."

"Don't worry, old man, I won't fail this time. I promise." Haran responded to Lodo's concern with a smile brighter than the campfire in the dark night.

"Good luck." Lodo turned around.

He glanced at Daniel, whom he had cut off earlier.

"Forgive me, an old habit." He bowed and walked past that fat man.

When he was in ground with Fredrica and Rasputra, Lodo turned around and waited for the other team's move.

"Old man..." Daniel looked at the old man with a dumbfounded gaze.

He wasn't angry about being interrupted. The old man's behavior was a daily occurrence for him.

With that, Daniel followed Lodo's steps and lined up like the others.

The two groups faced each other.

But it wasn't for long.

Zarbeth's group, except for Haran, walked towards Lodo's group to join them. Haran remained standing, still wearing the same bright smile as before.

The group looked at Haran with sad eyes, knowing they had to part. But they knew that within Haran was a determination to overcome this. The items she brought before coming here were proof of that resolve.

"Big sis Haran... I hope we can meet again." (Tasya)

"You have a courage I lack... Come back safely!" (Xander)

"If you meet Rasyid, you can beat him up as much as you want, I won't mind!" (Samuel)

"Good luck, Haran." (Widodo)

"I'll promote you to the highest rank if you return." (Bahar)

"We all trust you, Haran..." (Zarbeth)

"Good luck." (Rasputra and Fredrica)

"Tch! Remember, Haran! This is your last reckless act!" (Daniel)

"Sometimes I think this should be my task as I'm the oldest here. But seeing your determination opened my eyes that this problem can only be solved by you young people." (Lodo)

They all gave their final parting words to the woman.

"Everyone... Thank you." Haran was touched, gently holding her chest. Tears welled up in her eyes.

She turned and looked at the building reduced to rubble. "Everyone, I'm going!" Her resolve was clear on her face.

"We're going too!"

Simultaneously, they parted and walked towards their respective goals.

Haran walked towards the building, while the newly united group tried to traverse the hill to meet the others.

Haran didn't feel alone at that moment. She felt her friends cheering for her departure.

She even glanced back.

She didn't just see the shadows of her friends; she also saw the shadow of someone very dear to her.

That figure shone in the darkness. Her smile was so radiant in Haran's eyes. It was the smile of her sister, Tania.

"Tania, look at your sister now! Your sister is doing something right now! Together with your sister friends! I'll create the world you dreamed of!"

Those words were spoken through the woman's tears of joy. This might be her end, but she wasn't afraid. She was determined.

Haran immediately took to the sky using the Hover shoes she had created. She flew gracefully like a fairy in a fantasy world, leaving a trail of colors.

Her current target, the mayor, Nova Sana.