I blink. They call the native fox-kin language Sacred Tongue? How self-absorbed can you be?
Putting that aside, I restrain my growing frustration at their hostility. This is still a diplomatic mission that means a lot to Zara, and I really do not want to burn her bridges with the fox-kin just because I'm personally offended. Still...why are they so touchy about me speaking fox-kin? And what can I tell the Daima that will satisfy them? Certainly not the truth.
I raise my hands in a conciliatory gesture, a strained but polite smile on my face.
"I'm sorry, I didn't realize it was a taboo to speak your language. I met a fox-kin from South Paw some years ago, when I was a kid, and he was kind enough to teach me. I just wanted to make a good impression on Elder Zara's behalf, by demonstrating a respect for your culture. I apologize for any misunderstanding." (Mizuki)
Against my expectations, both Daima tighten their grips on their katanas, their expressions becoming outright bloodthirsty.
"An obvious lie..." (Daima 2)
The second Daima, the one that seems to have seniority, glances at the first. A silent understanding seems to pass between them with a nod. The senior Daima returns his gaze to Zara and I, while the first slowly begins circling us.
"You are both being detained for questioning. Do not resist, or you may be killed." (Daima 2)
My eyes widen in shock, and I instinctively slow time to a crawl while I think.
They're detaining us? Threatening to kill us!? My initial reaction is anger. I'm tempted to play hard ball with them...to make a show of force and demand they treat us better. Nothing that actually causes harm, just something passive that restricts their aggression and sends a message. But eventually, I temper my outrage and consider our situation more carefully.
If we let them 'detain' us, then they'll probably get someone pretty high level involved, right? At the very least, I could insist that I'll only 'confess' to this Teyla person. Maybe this is the best way to facilitate Zara's diplomatic talks...unconventional though it may be. Either way, they haven't actually acted on their death threats yet. We can still sort out this misunderstanding later, as long as I keep my cool.
Besides, I can't let myself forget that there's an Otherworlder behind the fox-kin's growth – one that may be alive. One that could be powerful enough to make my life difficult. If possible, I should avoid unnecessarily revealing any excess strength or calling attention to myself.
With that in mind, I drop my time spell, and prepare to be detained. Unfortunately, that's when all hell breaks loose.
"Wait, th-" (Zara)
Zara steps in front of me, hands raised, as she tries to talk the Daima down. However, before she can even get her thoughts out, there's a katana flashing towards her neck. On reflex, I once again slow time. As the world around me seems to halt, my eyes snap to the Daima's katana, now mere centimeters from slicing into Zara's neck. It's clearly an attempted killing blow.
Zara's expression is frozen in shock, her body leaned back in an attempt to avoid the unexpected strike. But, I can tell...she's not moving fast enough – she'll die.
And that really...really pisses me off.
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Zara doesn't know where she erred in her decision. What exact, seemingly hostile movement she made that sealed her fate. All she knows, as she watches the blade careening towards her neck at a pace she can't counter, is...that mistake is going to cost her life. An unfamiliar coldness wraps around her heart as the realization sets in. Then...
CREAAAK!
She watches in stunned silence as her assailant's sword stops in its tracks, right by her exposed neck, the metal of its blade becoming mangled under the iron grip of a hand that's suddenly appeared in her vision. As her heart hammers in her ears, her eyes absentmindedly trace to the source of the hand. Her gaze lands on Mizuki, and her heart nearly stops at the sight.
He seems to have lost all the playful warmth she's come to expect. Even when someone upsets him, he's normally still carrying a hint of amusement. Now though, there's a murderous, unsettling expression on his face, one she's only seen once...the night he slaughtered Belmod. His jaw is taut, his back straight, and his eyes hold an uncompromising darkness in them that sends shivers down her spine.
At the same time, she can see a subtle tremble in every muscle of his body. Not strain or fatigue – tension, restraint. Like he's holding back some impulse with everything he has. His eyes are locked on the now terrified Daima that attacked her, and his voice comes out as a low growl.
"Don't...you...dare..." (Mizuki)
A sense of foreboding settles on Zara's body, dark and oppressive.
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Give them a chance. Don't kill them. Don't escalate. Don't kill them. Zara doesn't want to burn bridges. Don't kill them. Don't...kill...them.
Even as my eyes dissect the Daima holding onto the katana I've grabbed, my worst impulses screaming that I should throw him into the nearest wall hard enough that he bursts at the seams, I try to maintain a grip on my more diplomatic sensibilities. But...
THWACK!
"Gah..." (Mizuki)
I stumble forward as something crashes into my back, the sensation like being slapped hard with a pool noodle. I whip my head around, finding the other Daima staring at his ineffective katana with a bewildered expression. Realization dawns on my face, and the last of my concerns about restraint evaporate.
"Dead..." (Mizuki)
Without even waiting for a response, I use my gravity spell to take hold of the Daima that hit me from behind. I fling him into his comrade, the residual force sending them both flying into the Sanctum's gate.
CRASH!
Their momentum breaks down the gate, sending them and its doors skittering into the Sanctum. The Daima rag doll across the ground, coming to rest over a dozen meters inside. For a moment, I idly wonder if they've died from blunt force trauma, but they both begin groaning softly. Guess they lived after all.
I turn to Zara, and seeing her rattled, the fog of my murderous rage starts to dissipate, giving way to a softer expression. As the gravity of what I've done sets in, I feel a pang of anxiety over how she may respond.
"Zara, are you okay? I'm sorry I lost my cool. But when they-" (Mizuki)
"Thank you, Mizuki...for saving me. I'm sorry..." (Zara)
Zara cuts me off, leaving me stunned. Her demeanor is uncharacteristically flustered, her eyes holding a trace of something rare for her...fear. Then, her words register, and my expression twists in confusion.
"Sorry? What do you have to be sorry for?" (Mizuki)
Zara takes a deep breath, her demeanor slowly normalizing. She casts me an apologetic glance as she scans our surroundings.
"Stepping towards them like that, trying to avoid detainment. That's what triggered his sword strike at me. To save my life, you had to reveal yourself. In retrospect, you wanted to let them detain us, right? That's why you weren't resisting. I should have known..." (Zara)
I raise my eyebrows.
"Don't worry about that. If we're distributing blame, then it seems it was my speaking their precious language that triggered this. I should have just kept my mouth shut and let you handle things." (Mizuki)
Zara shakes her head.
"You couldn't have known...speaking their language helped with the rabbit-kin. Besides, they weren't going to let us in as things stood. That line about all the Council members being gone was clearly a lie. I'm guessing they didn't take me seriously and were trying to send me away politely, and that's why you mentioned this Teyla person." (Zara)
I raise my eyebrows. However, my surprise at her perceptiveness is interrupted by the sound of dozens of pounding footsteps approaching our position from inside the Sanctum. Thankfully, the portion of the Outer Court near the Sanctum's gate is practically vacant of the fox-kin milling around elsewhere. Technically, we could disappear right now and pretend we were never involved. Nobody conscious has seen us here, and I could easily make those Daima extra dead...they earned it.
I glance at Zara, my expression turning serious.
"Looks like we're going to have company soon...how do you want to play this? If we leave now, they probably won't even be able to pin this to us. Your neutral standing would be maintained, and we could always come back later to retry the diplomatic approach when things cool down." (Mizuki)
Conflict flickers across Zara's face, then her eyes steel and her posture straightens. She shakes her head at me, her voice laced with a cold resolve.
"No...if we flee, we'd have to kill the guards, and it'd cost us the moral high ground. Failing to gain a new ally would be the least of my concerns if they ever connected us to the incident." (Zara)
I purse my lips.
"What, then?" (Mizuki)
Zara takes a confident step towards the Sanctum, resting her hand on her sword hilt. She glances at me over her shoulder.
"Turn this situation around on them and negotiate from a position of strength. My age, the fact that I came alone, the history of the wolf-kin – the fox-kin are primed to look down on me and my people, just like those guards did. I'm going to show them just how much of a mistake that is. Make them value us as a potential ally, and fear us as an enemy.
"I'm sorry, but...can I count on you to follow my lead, Mizuki? I may need your strength, and that could expose more of your abilities." (Zara)
I blink, taken aback by the bold declaration. I study her with a complex mix of emotions, considering her request. She's really grown as a leader – bold, decisive, calculating, and there's a part of me that swells with pride and affection at the sight. But...
There's a real possibility that doing as she asks could end with me facing another Otherworlder today, without the element of surprise on my side. Maybe the author of the Note. Maybe someone with as much magic power as me, even. In the worst case scenario, I think I'd still have the edge in magic theory, based on the fox-kin's level of technology. But neither my nor Zara's safety would be guaranteed.
After a moment, I sigh in resignation, my decision made. If worse comes to worst and the author of the Note really is in there, powerful as hell, then so be it. I'm about fed up with dancing to their tune anyway...at least I'll have a chance to beat some answers out of them.
I straighten my back, mentally preparing myself, then I fix Zara with a wry smile.
"Ah, what the hell...sulking around in anonymity was starting to wear on my nerves anyway. If you want to make a statement, then I've got your back. Just tell me what you need." (Mizuki)
For the briefest of moments, her expression flickers warmly, carrying amusement, gratitude, and maybe something deeper. Then, she nods, and her expression settles into one of determination.
She turns her head to gaze at the Sanctum's demolished entrance, the sounds of thundering footsteps almost upon us, and she begins striding forward.