Take Stand

As the chaos unfolded, Vanessa's face lit up with amusement, her eyes sparkling with mirth. Inja, whose meticulously applied makeup was now slightly smudged, turned to Vanessa with a mixture of confusion and annoyance. "Why are you laughing? Aren't you scared?" she asked, her voice tinged with incredulity.

Vanessa's laughter subsided, and she stood up, her movements fluid and confident. "Me?" she repeated, a hint of a smile still playing on her lips. With a calm, deliberate stride, she approached the snake, which was still poised, its hood spread wide.

As Vanessa drew closer, the snake's eyes fixed on her, its body tense and ready to strike. However, Vanessa seemed entirely unfazed. She began to move her hand in a slow, circular motion on the ground, her fingers splayed wide. The snake watched her, its gaze mesmerized by the gentle, soothing movement.

As Vanessa continued to move her hand in the calming gesture, the snake's aggressive posture gradually relaxed. Its hood began to retract, and its body lost some of its tension. After a few moments, Vanessa subtly changed the direction of her hand movement, pointing instead towards the exit.

The snake understood the gesture and, with a final, almost imperceptible nod, slithered away from the group. As soon as the snake disappeared from view, the atmosphere in the room shifted dramatically. Some girls burst into exaggerated, relieved laughter, while others began to mockingly reenact the snake's appearance. Meanwhile, several girls stood frozen, still struggling to calm their racing hearts and regulate their breathing.

"Some of our exquisite, hand-embroidered clothes are completely ruined!" one of the girls lamented, surveying the damage to their intricate silks, delicate lace, and precious gemstones. The delicate fabrics were now stained, torn, or smeared with dust, rendering them unwearable.

Inja's eyes narrowed as she turned to the others, her expression a mask of suspicion, malice, and calculated innocence. "Is it possible that this is Vanessa's pet snake, and she deliberately called it here to disturb our happiness?" she suggested, her voice dripping with venom, accusation, and artificial sweetness.

"Yes, that must be it," another girl agreed, her voice tinged with naive gullibility, her eyes wide with excitement. "Otherwise, why would the snake have listened to her?" The group began to murmur among themselves, their voices filled with speculation, distrust, and malicious gossip.

Jædana's face darkened with anger as she listened to the fabricated allegations against Vanessa. Her eyes flashed with indignation, and her voice took on a firm, authoritative tone. "This is ridiculous," she declared, stepping forward to confront the group. "What Vanessa did was a standard technique taught in villages and training programs. When a snake appears, you need to approach it calmly and reassure it that you mean no harm."

Jædana's gaze swept across the group, her eyes burning with intensity, her expression a testament to her conviction. "Vanessa's actions were a simple way to defuse the situation. She didn't panic or run away, which would have only provoked the snake further. Instead, she used her knowledge and quick thinking to protect us all."

Jædana's voice rose, her words dripping with passion, conviction, and a hint of frustration. "And instead of being grateful that the snake wasn't more aggressive, you're blaming Vanessa? If it had attacked, it could have caused serious harm, even death. These ungrateful girls!" she exclaimed, shaking her head in disgust, her eyes flashing with annoyance.

Jædana's eyes locked onto Inja, her gaze piercing, accusatory, and unwavering. "You should be thanking Vanessa for her bravery, quick thinking, and selflessness, not spreading malicious rumors and speculation. Your behavior is not only unjust, but it's also cowardly, and it reflects poorly on your character."

Just then, Elianora stood up, her movements fluid and deliberate, like a gentle breeze rustling the leaves of a tree. She turned to Jædana Eryandur and asked her to keep quiet, her voice firm but polite, with a hint of gentle reprimand. Then, she walked over to Vanessa's side and stood beside her, a gesture of solidarity and support that spoke volumes about her character.

"What are you all saying?" Elianora demanded, her voice clear and authoritative, like a bell ringing out across the landscape. "That the snake Vanessa just chased away is her pet, and she called it here to harm you? Just because some of you gossipmongers said something about her, you think she'd resort to revenge by unleashing snakes on you?" Elianora's eyes swept across the group, her gaze piercing and accusatory, like a shaft of sunlight illuminating the darkest recesses of their minds.

Then, she turned to the others and said, "Don't think everyone is as lowly and vindictive as you are. Not everyone resorts to baseless accusations and malicious gossip." Her words hung in the air, a stark rebuke to the group's behavior, like a cold wind blowing away the cobwebs of their minds.

Seeing Elianora speak out like this, not only Vanessa but Jædana was also taken aback, left momentarily speechless, like a bird frozen in mid-flight. However, Jædana quickly regained her composure, her expression thoughtful, like a still pond reflecting the beauty of the surrounding landscape. She knew that Elianora rarely confronted others directly, preferring instead to tackle injustice through more subtle strategies, like a master weaver threading intricate patterns into the fabric of life. This uncharacteristic outburst hinted at a deeper frustration, one that Jædana was determined to understand, like a detective unraveling the threads of a complex mystery.