The haggard-looking woman locked up underground breathed out heavily and lowered her head without replying.
She was far too weak for any word that reached the tip of her tongue to roll out.
Slowly, her chest rose and fell while she panted lightly as she heard Empress Himiko's response.
What followed next was her unearthing.
Clicking her tongue against the roof of her mouth, Empress Himiko asked, "Cat got your tongue?"
She did not wait for the other lady's response as she tsked away, "Well, I will come to you."
Immediately, she gathered some energy like the wind around her hand. Without warning, she removed the dirty earth beneath her feet to reveal an old wooden door.
Wasting no time, Empress Himiko gathered another round of wind in her hands before holstering the door, forcing it to fling open.
But right when it was about to knock hard against the earth, she quickly raised her palm to stop the force, being aware of the attention it might bring.
