Standing on the balcony of the room in a certain mansion located just outside of Athens. A petite woman with long dark hair wearing a nightgown is staring at the moon while enjoying a cup of tea. It didn't take too long for this serene scene to be interrupted by a knock on her door. Without looking back, she answered, "Come in."
A tall lean man wearing a white suit and a nondescript white mask entered the room, "Good evening, Miss Elexa. I'm sorry to interrupt your rest, but I'm here for my daily report."
"..." The woman continued staring at the moon before saying, "Go on."
"There is still no news regarding the target. But we were able to narrow it down on the Islands on Saronic Gulf." The man proceeded to bow as he reports today's findings.
"Is that all?"
"...Yes."
"You may leave."
"Understood. Goodnight, Miss Elexa." The man walked back to exit before closing the door gently.
A mild night summer wind blew into the room chiming the bells hanged on the windows. Elexa took her cup of tea and drank it before speaking, "Petter... I told you not to sneak to my room."
From the shadow in the corner of the room, a man wearing casual clothing with shoulder-length dark red hair while holding a spear walked out, "What do you plan to do next, Teny."
Elexa, who was called Teny looked back and glared at him, "I told you not to call me by that name!" Along with her words, a dense amount of Mana spilled from her and crashed down on Petter.
Petter had to take a step back and swallow his saliva at the same time of dropping his spear and raising his hands in surrender, "Alright! I won't call you by that name!" If anyone from the Perseus Clan could see this scene where the 'Strongest' of this generation is surrendering in front of the 'Weakest', they would question their sanity.
Elexa took back her gaze along with her Mana and faced the moon again.
Petter sighed in relief and thought, 'This sadistic bitch is too scary...' He picked up his spear again before saying, "What do you plan to do now?"
The real reason why Petter didn't participate in the competition for the Clan Head is that he knew how much of a monster is hiding under the skin of that petite woman. Petter isn't really scared of her fighting prowess as he welcomes it greatly. Challenging her to a battle is one of his wishes if he truly wants to become strong. What scares him the most, however, is the fact that she would do anything, as in anything just to achieve her goals. She wouldn't even hesitate to eat human flesh if that what she needs to do.
"For now... Wait." Elexa answered as she poured another cup of tea for herself.
"Couldn't you have dealt with that monster a few days ago? Why let her escape?" Petter finally asked what has been bothering him since that day.
"It'll be too boring..."
"What?"
"Athena wouldn't like a show like that. If I had finished her off back then, I wouldn't get what I want." Elexa chuckled for a bit.
"...What are you talking about? You want to entertain Athena? Why would you want to do something as troublesome as that?" Petter couldn't fathom her reasoning at all as she could already get most of what she wants if she becomes the Clan Head.
Elexa sat down on a chair before saying, "You really have no interest in this competition, huh?"
"..." Petter kept his silence and let her continue.
"Aside from the weapons of the respective house that won in the competition, you can receive an additional reward." Elexa rested her chin on her right hand as she looks at Petter with a smile.
With his curiosity piqued, Petter asks with a little enthusiasm, "There's more? What is it?"
"Think about it yourself. Why do you think there are only four Houses in Perseus Clan?"
"Because..." Petter muttered but a certain idea flashed in his mind, "Ah...! You couldn't be referring to that, are you!?"
Chuckling, Elexa affirmed his words, "Hehe, yep. I want the Kibisis that contains Medusa's head."
"What!? Why would Athena even think of handing over something as dangerous as that!?" He couldn't understand her words. Something as dangerous as a God's head should never land on the hand of a human. Adding to his confusion is Elexa is so sure that Athena could grant this thing.
"It's indeed dangerous, but it's not impossible to find those you can handle it." Elexa leaned back on her chair and stated her opinion.
Petter finally got the gist of what she wants to do, "So you're saying you want to put on a show for Athena so that she would grant you the Kibisis?"
"Bingo~." Elexa playfully answered, but it only gave Petter a shudder.
Petter hesitated for a bit before asking another question, "...Why would you even want something like that?" In all honesty, Petter didn't want to ask this question as he would get involved with her schemes deeper. He only visited her tonight due to some curiosity but he didn't expect he would get these kinds of answers. But no matter what, he already heard her goal for letting Medusa go and he wanted to make sure what are plans further as it would inevitably involve him and his House.
"Because a great change is about to happen~. I want the strongest card I can get so that I would have a place in it." This vague answer of her only gave Petter a bad premonition.
"...You're not making any sense..."
"You'll understand it in the future."
"And why are you telling me all about this?"
"Aside from the few people who knew me, I also want some subordinates when war broke out. I can't participate in it with just me alone after all. That's just suicide~."
"Damn it! I got involved in something I shouldn't have!"
"Now, now. Don't be too hard on yourself. Because of your skills, I would have pulled you in sooner or later~. By the wa-..." Elexa was happily speaking but stopped all of sudden.
"Why did you st-...!?" Petter who wanted to ask what happened heard a woman's voice inside his head.
'Aegina Island.'
"What was that!?"
"Are you an idiot? That's Athena's voice. She got tired of waiting and now pointed us the direction of where the monster is."
"..."
"Ah~. It'll be hard to pull her out even if we know where she is." Elexa suddenly clapped her hand twice and a cloaked man suddenly appeared beside her without Petter's notice. Petter tightened his hold on his spear to get ready to battle.
"Shadow. Prepare that woman. It's about time for her to take the stage."
"Understood, master." With those words, he disappeared as fast he appeared.
"Who's that?"
"My precious pawn~."