Returning to Brazilovia, Loren welcomed her with a sweet smile that soon shifted into slight concern. When asked, Elisa explained that she wanted to return so they could secure temporary housing and plan a solution for Rykenzon with more patience. She asked about the previous days. With a discouraged sigh, Elisa summed them up in one word. Tiring.
On her back and somewhat aware of what was happening, Shaphira muttered about how their training would continue. Elisa said that Slady had written down the step by step of what they had to do. At that moment, however, she only wanted to keep her distance from him for a while.
Still sleepy, Shaphira asked about Elisa's emotions. Elisa said she was not angry but added that if her sister said one more word she would give her a few slaps. With a grumble, Shaphira adjusted herself and settled on the soldier's back.
Observing their dynamic, Loren commented that something serious must have happened for both to be so psychologically exhausted but she would not pressure them with questions. She would only show them how to obtain temporary citizenship.
After minutes of silent walking, Loren parted the branches to reveal a lonely house, slightly larger than the others. As they approached, small wind chimes clashed softly like a calm alarm. Loren placed a hand on Elisa's back, saying she could not interfere once Elisa stepped inside that house.
Crossing the empty and dark hallways, a pleasant scent that might have been incense reached their noses. Elisa tapped Shaphira's thighs lightly to wake her but the sudden awakening made her arms loosen from around Elisa's neck, causing her to fall face first onto the floor. With a muffled cry, Elisa tried to help her get up.
Until she heard someone telling her not to move.
A spear, thicker and sharper, brushed the skin of her neck as a subtle warning. A hoarse female voice whispered in her ear, threatening to kill her if she did not give a plausible explanation in the next five seconds.
Revealing her intentions calmly, Elisa said she only wanted temporary housing rights and that she had been sent on a mission to solve the problem on a nearby island.
The woman's greenish eyes narrowed briefly in the darkness but she withdrew the blade from Elisa's neck with dangerous slowness. When she stepped forward, she revealed herself to be much taller than the general, her beautiful and well built body covered in red paint.
Elisa took a deep breath as she looked at the figure before her. She compared the woman's physique to Ferinish, thinking she might have found someone even more muscular than the Pillar of Combat herself.
Shaphira lowered her ears at the intimidating woman before her, sitting cross legged and avoiding eye contact. Without fear, Elisa extended her hand, introducing herself as General Elisa and reaffirming her intentions.
Without much ceremony, the woman asked them both to follow her.
As they walked through the corridors, Elisa felt Shaphira's hand squeezing hers. She observed the place for a moment, noticing many religious symbols dedicated to a certain goddess.
Could it be the serpent in Rykenzon? Did those people see that snake as a deity? The thought lingered in her mind.
When they reached a room lit by candles, Elisa saw the woman kneel in submission and respect before the figure she called her husband.
A man stood up, revealing another muscular figure. Elisa gulped. He thanked his wife for the gesture and asked her to take care of their children. After the woman complied, he gave Elisa and Shaphira a wide smile, apologizing for his beloved's behavior, explaining that she was very protective.
Elisa had already realized that from the way she had been greeted. With a short laugh, the man leaned on his humble table and introduced himself as Ryken Ryin and his wife as Salamandra Ryin.
His bright brown eyes focused curiously on Shaphira's features but soon returned to the main subject. He asked the two to sit on the floor and make their request.
Understanding their intentions, Ryken wrote on a sheet of paper and a mischievous smile formed on his face. He said he understood their goals but they needed to complete two steps to gain full access to Brazilovia.
They had to offer a drop of their blood as a sign of fidelity and trust and of course earn the trust of the people or.
Then the man's malice became evident on his face.
They had to perform the Tucandeira Ritual.
The two were curious, unaware of what they would face. The man stood up from his chair and briefly explained the ritual.
Young men entering adulthood had to demonstrate their courage and resistance to pain. For this, they had to place their hands inside straw gloves filled with dozens of tucandeira ants, known as bullet ants, whose sting is one of the most painful in the world.
With Renkai Energy in that world, the ants had become far more powerful in terms of their sting. And they would have to withstand those stings for ten minutes without showing any sign of pain.
Shaphira widened her eyes at what she heard. She asked if it could not be different for women.
The man laughed, saying that women had other rituals but if they wanted the people's immediate trust they had to endure that one whether they liked it or not.
Elisa lowered her head. Her arms seemed to tremble as if she could already foresee what would happen to her body. Her eyes drifted to Ryken's arms where she noticed the scars covering the area.
They were deep and permanent like a life marking experience for every man who lived there.
Despite the fear, she knew she had a mission to fulfill. If that process was necessary.
With courage greater than reason, she stood up and accepted the ritual. Shaphira looked at her as if her sister had lost her mind.
But seeing her determination made her change her mind.
She stood as well. With a serious tone she accepted to do the same as Elisa.
With enthusiastic claps, the man excused himself and left the house for a moment. He climbed the trees and shouted to the entire population of Brazilovia about the event that would take place that day.
His voice was absolutely deafening.
Minutes later, guided by the couple, Elisa noticed that the woman also bore the same marks as her husband. Curious, she asked who had last completed the test. After a brief silence, Ryken said it had been a man with blindfolded eyes. He added that the experience had been as disappointing as it was impressive, explaining that the ants had died after stinging him, making him an anomaly among those who performed the ritual.
Recognizing the description, Shaphira nearly revealed the man's identity but Elisa stepped on her tail to silence her.
When they reached a circle of people, in the center there were two straw gloves resting on a wooden log, infested with ants slightly larger and redder than normal, a clear sign that they were Renkai Creatures.
The two positioned themselves on opposite sides, hearing the crowd encourage them and the two leaders observe with crossed arms.
For a moment, regret rose from the feet to the heads of both women.