Lira stared at Kael with silent desperation.
Her eyes shimmered, not with tears but with a quiet, breaking plea.
'Say something, Kael. Just one word. Please… Side with me…'
But Kael didn't respond. He kept quiet as he sat with his eyes closed, unbothered by the noise around him.
In that moment, a cold emptiness swelled in her chest.
The others around her were still arguing.
For a moment, she went numb. This wasn't the outcome she was expecting. She knew war would bring even more bloodshed. It would disrupt their peace and dislocate families.
She knew she had to stop it before things got worse.
Hence, she decided to take matters into her own hands. She had to prevent unnecessary slaughter.
Pursing her lips, she straightened her back before fighting back.
"If we kill them, we declare war. If they're scouts, others will follow. Maybe not tomorrow… but eventually," she said, her voice rising above the others. "Is that what we want? Another war? More blood on our soil?"
"You're being naïve, girl!" someone snapped. "Compassion is weakness."
"No," Lira countered, her voice trembling but firm, "compassion is what keeps us from becoming like them."
Scoffs echoed around the room, and the tension grew heavier. The debate got even more heated, and the room felt like a dam about to burst.
Ethan was enjoying this heated debate, munching on popcorn he had exchanged for some miracle points. The miracle points allowed him to trade stuff from another universe.
However, the only drawback was that he couldn't use it in the real world.
In other words, it meant he could trade for stuff but couldn't use it in real life.
Basically useless!
"You bunch of morons, you should learn something from her," Ethan barked as he munched. "How can you be so shortsighted? You morons are all brawn and no brains."
Though he could have intervened using his divine miracle, he wanted them to figure things out on their own.
After all, he couldn't keep an eye on all of them all the time.
Thud!
Just then, Kael slammed his fist on the table. The loud thud echoed, startling some and scaring some.
A ringing silence fell upon the room like a blade slicing through noise.
Everyone turned toward him, and the air tightened.
Kael didn't raise his voice. He didn't need to.
His amber eyes glinted with an eerie light as he rolled his pupils. First, he met Lira's eyes, then his gaze drifted around the table, pinning all of the elders and warriors in place.
The members present were responsible for making decisions for the well-being of the tribe. This was the committee that was supposed to consist of the most intellectual members of the tribe?
Laughable! Pathetic!
Only those words could justify their foolishness and shortsightedness.
Even a girl younger than all had better wisdom and vision than the so-called elders.
Kael let out a scoff before he spoke, "Enough!"
His voice was calm and low. But it carried a hint of authority in it.
No one dared to speak.
Even the flames of the lantern seemed to flicker more quietly than before.
Kael leaned forward, his gaze still sweeping the room like a storm cloud before the rain.
"I've heard your opinions. Now," he said, his voice cold as steel, "you'll hear mine."
The others didn't even dare to gasp; their eyes fixed on him.
"The shrine will be completed tomorrow, and we'll present them before our God and let him decide…" Kael continued, his voice cold and absolute.
"But how can we—"
Someone was about to retort, but stopped as Kael shot a glare at him.
Kael could tell what he was about to say: "How can we allow the elves to meet our God?"
The others didn't dare defy his orders. It was clear to them that Kael had come to a decision, and he wouldn't hear another word on this matter.
The decision was made, and it was for the better.
Although Kael had said those words, he didn't mean them and was just putting on an act. He didn't want to inconvenience his god with trivial matters such as.
He had decided to interrogate them, obtain information, and use them to their advantage.
Though he had made his decision, he couldn't make it so obvious.
Even if he was the leader, he couldn't decide matters on his own. Otherwise, what difference would there be between him and the previous tyrannical leader of the tribe?
There wouldn't be a need for the committee if he could decide things on his own.
Considerate of their feelings, he decided to use God as a façade to convey his decision. Now, if it were God's decision, it would sound more convincing, and the members wouldn't hold a grudge either.
It was like killing two birds with one stone.
"Now then…" Kael continued, "Let's talk about other issues?"
The committee members then diverted their conversation to other pressing matters concerning the tribe.
Inside the dim room where Lina was held captive.
Lina sat in the corner, her knees pulled close, hands bound before her. Her silver hair clung to her face in places, damp with sweat.
The darkness was intimidating, and every tick of silence gnawed at her nerves.
Then—
Creak!
The door handle rattled.
Lina held her breath in fear.
The wooden hinges groaned as the wooden door pushed inward—just an inch at first, then another. A low chuckle slipped through the gap.
Fear clutched her heart as her heart raced.
'Is my time over?' She thought, her pupils constricting in panic.
Then a large, broad-shouldered wolf-kin leaned into view. His fur was the color of rusted bronze, thick and ragged like an untamed beast.
Scars crisscrossed his snout and neck—each one a story best left untold. His eyes, a sickly amber, glinted with a twisted amusement.
His lips peeled back in a sneer, revealing sharp teeth.
"Well, well," he drawled, voice deep and slurred with malice. "Didn't expect to find a flower caged in here."