It had been exactly two days since Mane and Lily agreed to stay for a while, and it was time for them to leave. In the Dark Valley, a place where the light of the sun never shone, the concept of time could be tricky and it was almost impossible to discern how many hours or days a person spent exploring it. But Mane and Lily embarked upon this journey, one fraught with mystery, with a pocket watch, so that wasn't a problem. Mane and Lily had done as they had said and now that two days had passed, they couldn't afford to waste any more time. They had to get the Revival Grass to Lam. But before that, there was a situation that needed diffusing.
"Why do you have to fight?" Lily had a worried expression on her face as she addressed Mane. Mane was right next to her, but his focus was on the blades he was retrieving from his backpack.
"Apparently I need to prove that I am strong enough to protect Silver in the outside world," Mane smiled bitterly and replied.
During their two day stay, Silver's allegiance to Mane had come up. It was Silver himself who made the confession to his mother. And he did so because his mother was refusing to let him follow Mane and Lily. Mane understood why Silver run away the first time, and why he was so reluctant to return when Mane asked him for the location of a Revival Grass. It was because Silver knew that he wouldn't be able to get out if he came back here, and he was a Crystal Monkey that loved freedom. Apparently the only reason why Silver never made it outside Dark Valley when he escaped the first time was because he didn't know how to get out. If he did, he would have left ages ago.
Mane understood Silver's mother's worries. Crystal Monkeys were hunted no matter where they went, and that wouldn't change. Silver wanting to explore the world would definitely leave her very worried. Besides, Silver had an unusual identity. Silver was a Crystal Monkey King! Mane and Lily had a hard time believing it when they were told. The monkey that had pledged allegiance so easily to Mane was actually a King?!
Emerald Crystal Monkeys were special existences. Silver's mother was born as a Crystal Monkey Queen, and Silver was a Crystal Monkey Prince. Although he had lost his complexion, it was bound to return if he kept on improving in strength and basking in the light of the Light Tree. Although Mane had proven to Silver's mother that he was more than capable of helping Silver grow with Devour, he hadn't done anything to show that he was capable of protecting her son and future King of the Crystal Monkeys.
Mane underestimated the gravity of Silver's decision to submit to him. Just like Hildegarde said, a beast's submission to a human was far more important than Mane thought it was. Silver's mother wouldn't have given any conditions at all if not for the fact that Silver had already submitted to Mane. In fact she had a fit when she found out, and the other monkeys had to calm her down. If not things would have become very ugly.
So to settle the issue, she gave a condition. The only way Mane would be able to take Silver with him was if he won a round of duels. Yes, a round of duels. Mane was meant to fight against the other beasts and Silver's mother. The first round was a duel against 11 Earth Realm Crystal Monkeys! 5 of the monkeys were at the 6th Stage, 3 were at the 7th Stage, and the last three were at the 8th Stage. It sounded unreasonable, but Silver's mother argued that if Mane couldn't win in a fight against all the monkeys, then he wasn't worthy to face her. And Mane had to admit that she had a point. For she was a Heaven Realm Beast, and had the right to make such claims for her strength was indeed vastly superior to the others.
So Mane was going to do just that. Mane sheathed his blades after confirming that they were still as good as new. Then he slung the scabbards over his shoulders, allowing both swords to rest on his back. All the while Lily stood beside him with a worried expression on her face.
*Roar*
"We both know you aren't sorry so cut it out," Mane scowled at the other figure next to him. Lily stood to his right, and Silver to his left. Silver scratched his head embarrassingly when he heard Mane's words, suggesting that he really wasn't here to apologize for pushing Mane into this pit. Mane was surer than ever that Silver knew exactly what was going to happen after his revelation and had planned this entire scenario out. But he couldn't complain. He did get two Revival Grasses here after all.
"Just say what you actually want to say," Mane sighed and said. He lightly moved his arms and stretched a bit. As he warmed up, he turned to face the large monkey beside him and spoke to it. Spending two days with the Crystal Monkeys had been very beneficial. Both to Mane and Lily. Both of them had grown more accustomed to the monkeys, and had spent a lot of the time here speaking to them. So now they could understand a lot of what the monkeys said. Mane had even given them numbers based on their strength. Numbers 1 to 11. And he did this by testing them all, which was why Silver's mother didn't dare to be complacent and said they should fight Mane together. And it was also because of this that Mane was certain that Silver set him up. After all, it was only after witnessing Mane's true strength that Silver informed his mother of his submission to him. It was almost as if after seeing Mane bash every single one of the other monkeys with relative ease, Silver was certain that Mane could dig him out of this mess.
*Roar*
Silver roared feebly with a pleading expression on his face. And then as if thinking about something important, he roared again.
"Which do you want me to do: go easy on them or win? Because I definitely cannot do both." Mane spat out with a bit of frustration.
"Doesn't feel good to be played by a monkey twice, does it?" Hildegarde who was upon his shoulder was finding the entire situation amusing. She knew why Mane was upset, and who wouldn't be. After all, he had been played by Silver twice in a span of a few days. Not only was the monkey using him, he also wanted Mane to go easy on the others. And then he seemed to think about his request and also added that Mane should win.
*Roar*
Silver roared with a bit more conviction now, and Mane waved him away whilst saying, "Fine. I would do that. I would use my fists when I fight them. But I would use my blades with your mother. She is too strong for me to fight barehanded.
*Roar*
"I said I would do it. Just stop making noise"
Lily smiled whilst watching the two of them bickering. She understood Silver just as well as Mane now. So she caught the entire interaction. To her it was amusing that man and beast were able to get along 'so well'.
"I'm ready – I guess," Mane stated after putting on his boots and picking a few stones from the ground.
"Be careful," Lily gently hugged him and said.
"Here is where you say 'I will'" Hildegarde teased when she noticed that Mane was rooted to the spot.
"I will," Mane recovered, replied and quickly turned away before revealing his embarrassment. He had hugged her before, but the circumstances then were very different from now, and each time he had been expecting it. More often than not he was the initiator, but this one caught him off guard. Not only was he not expecting it, she was the one who initiated it. And that was why he was so surprised.
As he breathed in the scent of lilies that was still glued to him, he was overcome with a great sense of calm. He was able to disregard everything, even the 11 Pseudo Legendary Crystal Monkeys waiting patiently for him. Mane had achieved the state of tranquility. It was the perfect state one could be in when fighting.
"Who knew that a single hug could be this miraculous?"
Unfortunately for Mane, Hildegarde's naughty comment broke his state of tranquility. Mane's eyebrows twitched in annoyance, and he swatted the fairy off his shoulder like he was warding off a fly.
*Roar?*
Silver who was walking next to Mane tilted his head in surprise seeing Mane's action.
"There was a bug," Mane lied and kept walking, leaving the confused Silver who knew that there were no bugs in this cave.
"I am not a bug!" Hildegarde fumed whilst flying back to Mane. But even she knew that she deserved that. So when she returned to his shoulder this time, she sat down quietly.
Once Mane reached the 'centre stage', he came face to face with the eleven crystal monkeys – and Silver's mother.
*Roar*
Silver's mother roared loudly and beat her chest. Mane who understood what she meant only nodded his head. She acknowledged his reply and repeated her actions to the eleven crystal monkeys, who beat their chests and returned her roar. And then she gave the signal to fight.
*Roar*
The monkey leading the eleven looked apologetic, and it roared to Mane as if to ask for forgiveness.
"I know you don't want to Number 1. But you must. He is your Prince and future King after all. Besides, you cannot disobey the orders of your Queen."
After Mane had beaten them up, he had spared with them a lot, and they had come to like each other. Because of that they were really reluctant to fight him, and Number 1, who was the strongest amongst the eleven was quick to tell Mane that none of them wanted any part in this.
"Let's start then," Mane stated plainly, and his strength was displayed in all its glory as the aura of a 1st Stage Earth Realmer filled this space.