NOVEL FROG Chapter 18: Emergency meeting
In a certain place, where the winds brushing the numerous trees and fallen leaves swept along, the moonlight shone through a gaping hole in the middle of rock formation. The reflection of light illuminates the hollow inside, which reveals it as a cave. Inside, bore the marks of countless swords swung. The mark was chaotic, only if observed by those who bore no knowledge about swords. Or those who lack the talent to recognize the pattern hidden within.
Softly, the footsteps of a lady reverberate throughout the cave. The sound was faint, but was the loudest as no other sound could be heard. Not even the howling wind outside could disturb the serenity of sound inside the cave. She holds swords in her right hand, and a book in her left. Walking in without any footwear, she put down the book in the tallest and flattest rock there, repurposed as an altar.
And then, she began to dance.
With the sword in hand, unsheathed, her movements were elegant yet distinctively sharp. The woman in silver hair recalled the mantra within the book.
The moon chooses no land to shine— it shines anywhere.
As if trying to decipher and embody the meaning, her movement further revined, her sword dance tracing along the rocks around, carving it with new marks. However, the currently elegant paced dance suddenly sped up. The trace of impatience clearly showed in her face, reflected in her movement. Memories surfaced, and the events which kept rewind like a broken radio affected her thought and the previously gracious movement.
Faster!! Stronger!!!
If there are any other people who also practice [Lunar Swordsmanship], they will surely stop her by now. As her movement is already deviating from the teaching. The essence of this swordsmanship was freedom and elegance, not impatience and firepower. But Heiran has no way of knowing this. Self-learning the swordsmanship by the book, she somewhat succeeds to capture some knowledge inside. But also, this warped her view on the technique itself.
With no one to guide her, she could only rely on self realization. And thus, sometimes fall into the false implication. The need for speed was one of them.
The pursuit of speed has a clear disadvantage.
"Hah, hah, hah—"
Only after a few minutes, a panting sound could be heard from her. [Lunar Swordsmanship] was incredibly taxing on endurance, Heiran also knew that. That is why her main exercise is composed mostly of cardio. But despite her endeavor, almost nothing has changed.
In truth, this could be attributed to her way of learning from the book. She largely focuses on practical technique, instead of the overall teaching. Forgot that everything has a flow. Hence, the reason why her [Full Moon] failed to inflict any meaningful damage to Drunag.
And that depressed her. With no way of knowing what is wrong, she could only employ the classic trial and error. Trying to improve the technique while deciphering the book's teaching. But after five years, she is still stuck in the same place. There are three more techniques she has yet to learn from the totals of seven. However, what use of more half-assed technique if the result yielded didn't match the true power of [Lunar Swordsmanship]?
The recent clash has awakened her from years of slumber. Truly, now she feels the proverb of 'frog in a well' is well suited for her.
How arrogant. Just because you're an S-class, you think everyone is beneath you? Hihihihi, how funny~ You can't even master the book properly. What are you gonna do, hm? Nothing! Because you can't do anythi—
"Stop!" the rampantly running negative thoughts immediately ceased to silence. But Heiran still maintains her curl position, with both hands grabbing each side of her head. This unnatural occurrence has already plagued her mind for a few years, and currently, Heiran is still unable to find the cause. This time, it was bearable. She could suppress it before it became more dominant.
I failed again today…
Still, the negativity of her mind won't just disappear. The burden she bears in the past several years creates a dent in her mind. And with the ghostly inner talk she heard occasionally like earlier, her mind was slowly poisoned from the well.
"Haaahh…" she sighed for one last time as her hands eventually sheathed the sword. Walking dejectedly, she picked up the scripture and intended to end today's training.
*drrrrtt*
Coincidentally, the moment she came out from the cave, her phone rang. Heiran checked the name on the screen.
It was her teacher.
***
Walpurgis Night. A gathering of strong individuals in the purpose of solely getting stronger. Usually, these gatherings of snake-like people would result in them fighting each other. But the primary reason for Walpurgis Night was the existence of Twilight. No one knew who, or even what, this existence is. They only knew it had the gospel which it releases to the world once every few years. And if used wisely, these scripture could provide them with a chance to be stronger.
When Mokai proposed individuals to receive the scripture, all of them, without exception, were delighted. For these monsters who hit their respective walls and see no chance to get further, the existence of scriptures was by any means, an incredible luck.
No sane individuals would pass on the business with zero risk like this. All they need to do is form an alliance to receive the annual 12 scriptures and no other things need to be done. A little inconvenience since most of them viewed an alliance as cowardice and each member felt more superior than the others. But when they tasted that first breakthrough, no more words were uttered. It's been a tacit agreement ever since.
And now, for the first time since the inception, this alliance stumbled upon their first crisis.
Eleven holograms, each occupying the eleven seat in the round table, lit the face of Walpurgis Night members. Only a creature with the head of an octopus is physically present.
"I'm sure you all already noticed." Mokai, the only one present in person, said grimly. "Yesterday night, I noticed Herbring's lamp was extinguished. And when I sent my men to investigate, his gate was gone."
The sudden revelation by Mokai sent everyone there into a shock. Not because of the death of their somewhat comrade, but because the gate which is the home of Herbring, was gone.
Everyone here has equal information about each other, and thus, understand fully how unprecedented this situation is.
To put into perspective, it's equal to finding out about that one particular fortress which is famous for its impenetrable might, fell in just one night. It's inconceivable. Their mind can't comprehend the 'how', but know the gravitas of this event is more than what they initially understand.
Subtly, Mokai eyeing one particular member which he suspect may hold an additional information but refusing to indulge said information. But while internally he holds her under suspicion, calling her out here may be disadvantageous since what he has is only speculation without evidence. Funnily, even in the world of the strong, the notion 'innocent until proven otherwise' is applicable.
Not to mention, her standing in the group is somewhat high. Since she's also a member of Witches Tea Party.
"... If what you said is true, then can we assume the culprit targets the scripture? I can't find any reason besides that. His house was gone, and I strongly believe it was the destruction of evidence."
Murmurs come from all directions as they all seem to be on the same page. Inside, Mokai did also assume that. But if there's one thing he learns from living a long life, it is that sometimes, everything may not be as simple as it seems.
"Well, what you said may hold some truth. But rest assured. I shall investigate this matter myself. After all, it also disturbs our Lord, Twilight."
Once again, the members buzzed but this time, it was a different kind of worry.
All of them knew Twilight, since because of 'it', they reap a fat benefit of potential growth, escaping them from the stage of stagnation. Yet, this is the first time they heard Twilight express something. And it was a 'disturbance' caused by the current situation. Fearing for their risk-free business to be discontinued, all of them voice their eagerness to directly show their worth when they know 'it' observes them.
"I'll participate. If it's truly scripture which they target, then I should naturally act up."
"Yes. Us Walpurgis are here for that reason, aren't we?"
"True, true."
Meanwhile, Mariele did not say anything the whole time. Her posture is laid back, chin down. Her natural red eyes contain many thoughts behind.
Mokai's suspicion was actually accurate. She did hold a secret regarding Herbring's misfortune. And it was quite critical evidence.
"What do you mean Herbring's gate is gone?" she immediately demanded an explanation the moment she heard the news. "His gate was functionally, a labyrinth fortress. That bat was so proud and confident of his house, that he bragged about it everywhere. And I did infiltrate it once, so I know."
The collapse of a gate was no strange phenomenon to her, who lives from a time where the term gate is not 'gate'. She herself has caused some collapse, but that's all from lower gates. The red gate which Herbring's reside was a 'true' red gate. Different from those newly constructed red gates which frequently popping' up on the earth.
She's one of those survivors from 'that' era. Herbring and his red gate were the same.
While she's looking down on him as weak, she also knows Herbring is not one to underestimate, especially when he's in his own turf.
In her confusion, her subordinate faithfully reports his findings.
"T̷̫͉̰͕̒́h̶̯̰̝̻̿̓͢ę̷̵̧̖̫̗̆̊ r̶̷̲͍̭͐̾̀͟ę̷̵̧̖̫̗̆̊s̩͙͖̋͛͟i̵͓͙̱͚̎͟d̸̡̩͍̔ͥ͜û̶͙̽̿͆̈ă̶̸̝ͦ͊̿͋͞ḻ̸͈ͧ͑̓̓̀͡ m̶̷͔ͪ̽͡ă̶̸̝ͦ͊̿͋͞g̴̶̛̮̣͙͠i̵͓͙̱͚̎͟c̷̹͖͋́̃, i̵͓͙̱͚̎͟s̩͙͖̋͛͟ r̶̷̲͍̭͐̾̀͟ę̷̵̧̖̫̗̆̊d̸̡̩͍̔ͥ͜"
"... red?" At that moment, countless possible suspects flashed her mind. But, on the other hand, it was almost impossible. Because either they are weaker than Herbring, or the evidence doesn't match.
"Is it perhaps because of the scripture…? But, if the assailant was skilled enough to blow Herbring's gate, why do they need it?"
Once again, the puzzle doesn't match. Yet no matter how much she thought about it, it's just a hole here and there. Greatly frustrating her.
A sigh escaping her lips. She re-focusing her attention to the present, which just reaches the conclusion. A formation of a small investigation team. It mostly consists of those who like bootlicking. As few as two were volunteered out of necessity, those who had a private alliance with Mokai. While the rest, like her, bear no interest to be part of it.
Just as she was on the verge of leaving, a whisper through a private channel was sent. But she knew the content even before seeing it.
Let's talk.
It was from Mokai.
