Like I said earlier, moonwalkers tend to always find a way to balance their fame with their infamous reputation of slaughtering. We are not good people, but sometimes we take certain actions you might find to be heroic. Conflict attracts us, our entire existence is based on chaos. I had been sent away by Onelo for a break, for a time of closure. And under such circumstance, I'm not even supposed to handle a sword. But in my journey for closure, I met these two, and everything changed.
ESINI VILLAGE
Rona is standing over the corpses of the man eaters, covered in their guts. Yunu and Kiri are still recovering from the shock and still trying to process how a moonwalker got involved in the crisis.
"Are you two alright? "
Rona asks, looking away, bending down to examine the bodies. Kiri and Yunu remain silent, unsure of what exactly to say. Rona continues,
"These aren't the usual man eaters. These were once men and women, but the curse was placed on them with black magic. "
Yunu finally breaks the silence,
"But isn't that the story of all man eaters? "
"No lady, you do not understand my point. Man eaters are descendants of a cursed tribe, not these ones I see here. These ones have been cursed recently, and someone has been powerful enough to replicate that same sort of sorcery. "
"Arida is at war with us, "
Kiri says as Rona replies,
"Then, you're all doomed. Their forces outnumber and overpower yours. They are the only ones to go this length in sorcery, and that dooms your entire land. "
"What should we do then? "
Yunu asks as Rona replies,
"Run away from Kalakala while you still can. That's the only thing you should do. "
ARIDA.
Ramus, father of Maven walks into her chambers unannounced and meets her half naked. She quickly covers her chest and speaks in shock,
"Father! How could you walk in unannounced? That's not noble. "
Ramus replies,
"I own the entire building Maven, and everything in it, including you Maven. Won't you offer me a sit? Have you lost your manners? "
Maven responds, pointing to a chair,
"Please take a seat.... "
"On the contrary, I don't think I will. I did not come here to sit and exchange pleasantries. Tell me Maven, who am I in Arida? "
This question puzzles Maven who replies,
"You're Chief Ramus, one of Arida's noble and influential men. "
"So, you know that as far as Arida is concerned, I have a reputation to keep. May I know why you have decided to disgrace me? "
"What do you mean? "
"I assured Dilis that my beautiful daughter is his for the taking, but you turned him down...again! "
"But father... "
"How could you refuse a King of a suitor and shame me? There are a lot of maidens better than you in the kingdom, and you plan on letting my chance of becoming invisible slip away? Have you no reasoning or ambition? "
"What sort of a father would use his only daughter for his selfish ambition? "
Ramus comes closer and raises his hand to slap her, but doesn't release it. He replies,
"The type who wants what's best for the family. How would you understand? You're the daughter of a worthless woman who abandoned her husband and daughter because of love. "
Maven sheds tears bitterly and responds,
"You and both your parents forced her into a marriage she never wanted, and you want to do the same to me. "
"What sort of a child would support her mother abandoning her? "
"The type who got tired of watching you hit her mother. "
"No daughter, the type who's ready to make the same mistake her mother made. I can see it in your eyes, her mistakes written all over you. For over twenty-five years since you were conceived, you've finally found value, and you've decided to let your sentimental worthlessness take over you. I will not tell you this again. You will accept Dilis' proposal, and you will marry him. "
After saying this, Ramus walks out of the room, leaving Maven emotionally hurt.
One of Arida generals arrives at the castle and meets King Dilis in his throne, playing a game with one of his chiefs. The General speaks,
"My King, Gosha and Gbagu are marching. The news is that they're heading to our garrisons at the outskirts. "
"Tell me general, why do you think Erue, Annehile and Larhanath submitted easily? "
"Out of fear I presume. "
"Does that mean Kalakala, Gosha, Kpoka and Ti'gen aren't afraid? Ti'gen is the weakest of the ten kingdoms, with no king or enough warriors, but they did not surrender, because they're at the outskirts of Bloodrock. They could easily flee instead when the war comes to them. But these other three kingdoms that submitted are right around us, the closest, and very vulnerable. That's why they surrendered, because the war will hit them first. Gosha and Gbagu cannot get to Arida without passing through either of these three kingdoms or Kalakala, and Kalakala is too far from them to go round. This means that these forces will pass through any of the other three, especially Erue. Send words to Erue, tell the king to arm his warriors for war. They are my weapon against Gosha and Gbagu. "
"Yes my lord. "
After this, the general leaves as the chief with Dilis speaks,
"You truly are the wisest of all kings. "
"I am not the wisest, the wisest is yet to be born from me, and that should terrify you.
ESINI
Rona is walking away from Yunu and Kiri who speak to each other,
"This could be a golden opportunity. Who comes across a moonwalker in such a circumstance? We should ask for her help in finding mother, "
Yunu says as Kiri replies,
"Moonwalkers are not all that heroes sister. What makes you think she will help? "
"We pay her, if that's what it takes. We should at least try. "
They both agree and go after her as Yunu speaks,
"We are searching for our mother. She was in the village when the attack hit, and her body isn't among the dead. "
Rona replies,
"Your mother has been taken as a slave if that's the case. She's in Arida. "
"Can you help us get her back? "
Kiri asks as Rona replies,
"I am not a helper. Run away from Kalakala and mourn your mother. You'll never see her again. "
After saying this, Rona continues walking, leaving Yunu and Kiri emotionally hurt, acting like she doesn't care. That's what keeps the moonwalker reputation going, being cold and ruthless, but calm and slow to speak, showing no emotions. Rona might act like she doesn't care, but deep down, she feels empathy. She knows what it's like to loose a mother.