(Anais Point of View)
In the hall, there is a long table and twelve chairs; old, sturdy and made of wood. Unlike usual buildings, there is no crystal light. The hall is still very bright as there are two windows that expose it to sunlight.
"Please have a sit, my lady." Berand gives the red haired Margrave a gesture to sit.
Margrave, the short haired girl and a blond haired girl beside her sit while the rest of their party stand behind the three.
"She is Fleuret, a daughter of Count Valois and beside her is Viola, the daughter of Baron Bryce."
The three leader of One God Cult don't dare to sit.
However, Anais is actually busy studying the people behind Margrave. She has strong sixth sense since her childhood. The church forcefully took her and educated her.
The man and a woman at the other side. She has dark crimson, and messy hair, reminding Anaïs about bird nest. Not as short as the noble daughter, Fleuret Valois, but this woman's messy hair reaches her nape. She dons light armour.
Anais strongly feels these two are not human. The woman with messy hair has the presence of wolves. The man, on the other hand, emits presence unknown to Anais.
She steps past the table and approach the standing people. She points at the man and dark crimson haired woman.
"May I know both of your name?"
Everyone is surprised.
The man smiles, she feels he hears no bad intention. He introduces himself with gentleman's gesture,
"My name is Hiro. I am the leader of this party."
The woman who emits beastly presence steps forward and awkwardly introduces herself,
"I am Brita. Nice to meet you."
Hiro. Brita. She forces herself to remember their names by heart.
Actually, Anais also feels there are five women in the group who have magical ability. Three black haired girls with weird outfits. The girl with long honey coloured hair and rapier at her hip.
But the woman with voluminous chestnut coloured hair not only possess magic magical ability but dangerous eyes. No. She is a human but has a presence similar to the non-human, Hiro. In fact, there are two other female human who possess similar presence; the tall woman with navy blue hair and light brown skin, as well as short blond haired woman with revealing armour. Despite being human, these three have similar presence as the non-human, Hiro.
Anais points to the three.
"May I know your name."
The three reluctantly step forward.
The tall woman introduces herself, "I am Sekrit."
The blond woman with sexy sexy armour lazily introduces herself,
"Clementine."
The female sorceress stares sharply at Anaïs and utters clear but half hushed voice,
"My name is Soraya Zoen. My body and soul belongs to Master Hiro." Hearing that, a woman who looks like a female knight with a long sword, appears to be immensely shocked. Her face turns pale and cold sweat appears on her forehead. Her fearful expression catches Anaïs' attention and is being pointed at.
"You, the knight. May I know your name?"
While being slightly trembling, the female knight steps from the back to the front.
"Forgive me. My name is Lyla Halpernia."
"Like your cult that is wanted by the church, Lyla is also wanted by Ferelden. Please keep her name a secret."
The Margrave turns behind and tells everyone.
Anais feels dark emotion and sorrow from Lyla, that is another reason she called her.
However, there is another woman is even gloomier than Lyla. Her dark emotion swallows everything.
She points at the sorceress, with long honey coloured hair and rapier at her hip.
"What's your name?"
"I am Sylvia."
Each of Sylvia's words cut deep into Anais' heart as if the darkness envelopes her.
Sylvia looks somberly at the ground. Anais feels Sylvia is similar to her. Sylvia probably had endured awful experiences, suffered too much, and yet even still, she has not lost her fastidiousness. Anais sees all that as very much a joyous thing, but no doubt it often pains Sylvia herself. Anais should know—she is the same. She had delved the deepest part of the church, and between that and the many women afterward, she had suffered much…torture...rape....
She takes a step toward Sylvia, closing the space between them and reaching out a hand to touch her cheek, hearing the trembling
“Oh” that comes in response. The skin is like silk beneath her fingers. Anais smiles at the gentle heat it radiates.
“There are always those who run, hiding from the sun, through the shadows. It’s simply the way of the world…and we must recognize it.”
She strokes the cheek gently and feels Sylvia jump. It is so sweet, Anais’s eyes squints in amusement.
She is more and more sure that she must have looked this way to those around her when they had braved to save her.
“First, I want you to acknowledge that they exist. That’s different from giving up. And then, on that basis…”
Speak up.
“We don’t judge the evil in the world but call attention to it. That is justice.
“Law is based in justice, but it is not the same thing as justice, nor is judgment. Confuse these things, and one shall tumble into simple self-
righteousness.”
Sylvia stiffens.
“Yes…madam,” she replies weakly.
“Hee-hee. Very good.”
Anais backs away, and there is another “Oh.”
Sylvia withdraws backward in something of a tizzy.
"Please forgive Speaker Anais for her peculiar behaviour, my lady. She has extreme instinct that she immediately approaches anyone intriguing her." Berand apologizes on behalf of her.
"Eeeee. Interesting." Margrave stares at interestedly. That makes even Anaïs blushing.
"Please. Speaker Anais."
Anais straightens her posture, walks to the other side and sit on the chair as instructed to do so by Margrave's gesture.
"Unknown to Lord of Redcliffe, your group occupies Winterwatch Tower and Hinterland. I, Margrave Minerva Blare, the Lord of Lothering promises not to report you to the authority. And pledge will help you to the best of my ability if it is found out by Redcliffe or Ferelden. Nevertheless, I have a condition.."
Hyndel and Berand look nervously at Minerva while Anais is more interested to look at people behind Minerva.
Silence envelopes the hall. The two cult leaders swallow their saliva in pins and needles.
Minerva sneaks a glance at Hiro.
"Starting from today onwards, this man, Hiro shall be your leader. He shall rule this territory. Your cult and the refugees must heed him like a king."
Minerva speaks gallantly as if giving them a command.
Hiro strides to beside Minerva as planned.
"I, Hiro shall rule and be responsible for your life. This is my oath!"
"King.." That word escape Berand's mouth.
Anais calmly stands up and gracefully walks to Hiro.
"I, Anaïs acknowledge this man as my King."
She boldly declares before kneeling and take Hiro's right hand.
She kisses the hand.
The two cult leaders gawk and their eyes become widened.
As planned beforehand, the other girls who stand behind Hiro join the play-acting and kneel down.
"Long live our King!"
"Long live our King!"
"Long live our King!"
The girls fluently shout that sentence.
Then, even Anaïs shouts with them,
"Long live our King!"
"Long live our King!"
"Long live our King!"
Finally, Berand and Hyndel join the shouting,
"Long live our King!"
"Long live our King!"
"Long live our King!"
Margrave Minerva slightly grins.
