Inside the dimly lit room, the tension was palpable as Rizki and Liora locked horns in a verbal duel. Leaning forward, Rizki's voice was unwavering as he pressed for answers. "Give me all of your known shady merchants around this place."
Liora, her enigmatic presence only intensified by her crimson hair and violet eyes, reclined casually in her chair. She didn't utter a word, but her expression seemed to convey a mocking defiance, silently challenging him with her silence.
Rizki's frustration reached its limit, and a tinge of irritation seeped into his voice. "Is there some kind of binding oath, a non-disclosure pact among you? Why the secrecy? Even in the world of science Olympiads, spoilers are allowed, but here I am, left in the dark."
"I'm not familiar with your 'olym-what'," Liora responded with a sly grin, "but rest assured, this information is classified."
Rizki's eyes rolled at her cryptic response. He turned his gaze to the two girls seated beside them, sharing popcorn that he had retrieved from his bag. The atmosphere grew even tenser as he snatched the popcorn and exclaimed, "Hey, don't pilfer my popcorn!"
Both girls pouted, branding Rizki as a meanie. Realizing that he had disrupted their enjoyment, he sighed and reluctantly returned the popcorn to them, watching them munch on it as if the stakes of their conversation were nothing more than a trivial snack.
With the popcorn situation momentarily resolved, Rizki couldn't help but return to the maddening enigma before him. He could no longer conceal his frustration. "You know, knights don't seem to accomplish much. They're akin to corrupt politicians, and I detest that. I hope you won't become one who undermines me."
Liora's indifference remained unwavering as she replied, "This is not your concern. Focus on healing yourself."
Rizki's patience evaporated, and he couldn't contain his anger any longer. He propped his right foot onto the table, exposing his perfectly intact leg. "Healed? Look at me, I'm whole!"
Liora, seemingly unmoved by his display, remained composed. "It's a secret," she cryptically replied, "and I'm not at liberty to share it with you. You're a human and a hero."
"Frustrating! I'm not a hero, I'm a villain!" Rizki snapped in exasperation, his temper igniting.
Liora's raised eyebrow and cold tone continued to amplify the tension. "Yet, your actions speak differently."
On the sidelines, the two girls observed the escalating confrontation between Rizki and their steadfast grandmaster. They exchanged furtive glances and whispered among themselves, their hushed words affirming the futility of Rizki's attempt to engage in a debate with their resolute leader.
As the tension continued to swell within the dimly lit room, Rizki couldn't help but question the wisdom of seeking answers from the enigmatic Liora. He felt as though he had entered a maze of secrets and challenges, with no clear path forward.
The half-hour of heated debate dragged on, each word exchanged adding to the weight of their conflicting perspectives. Rizki, drained and exasperated by the relentless secrecy, reached a breaking point.
"I've had enough of this!" Rizki declared, his voice a potent mixture of frustration and anger. He rose abruptly from his chair, the scraping noise it made against the floor amplifying the sudden silence that engulfed the room.
Without a word, Rizki stormed out of the room, his footsteps echoing down the corridor. His thoughts whirled in a tumultuous storm of emotions, and he couldn't escape the nagging feeling that there was far more to the story than what Liora had revealed.
The two girls sat in stunned silence, their bewildered expressions mirroring the intensity of the confrontation they had just witnessed. Liora, her composure unshaken, eventually rose from her seat and followed Rizki out of the room.
Rizki's abrupt departure left the two girls in a room still heavy with tension. Their silent contemplation was punctuated by the enigmatic presence of their leader and the uncertain path that lay ahead.
Outside, in a quieter corner of the Acra, Rizki pulled out his phone and dialed a number he knew all too well. On the other end, a familiar voice answered.
"Hello?" Faye's voice came through the phone, accompanied by the distinct sound of something being devoured, akin to popcorn.
Rizki's irritation was evident in his tone as he retorted, "You seem to have a popcorn craving, don't you?! Tell me everything you know about the malicious activities here!"
Faye's response, nonchalant and infuriating, only served to exacerbate the tension. "You should be the one embracing malice, Rizki. I've asked you to be a villain, not a hero."
Rizki's frustration reached its zenith, and he could no longer contain his anger. "I'm asking you for a list of those who've turned villainous! If this is your answer, then you are part of the reason why Acra is in this state!"
Faye, however, remained composed in the face of his outburst. She sighed and set aside her popcorn in her divine realm, explaining that providing the information he sought would violate the rules set by the gods.
Frustrated and feeling utterly powerless, Rizki realized that he was not only grappling with the enigmatic Liora but also confronting the unyielding constraints of divine law.
"Calm your head down, Rizki. I will attempt something on your behalf," she responded before ending the phone call.
Back in Acra, Rizki tried to regain his composure. He moved to a different section of the compound, squatting down and using his foot as an improvised seat. He lit a cigar, the tendrils of smoke swirling around him as he pondered his current predicament.
As the minutes ticked by, Rizki's thoughts drifted back to his past, to the time when he had been a delinquent yet also one of the brightest minds among his peers. Those were the days of calm and composure, and he couldn't help but wonder why he now allowed himself to be consumed by anger over seemingly trivial matters.
In the midst of his contemplation, someone swiftly confiscated his cigar. It was Evelyn, one of his wives, who had silently approached and taken a seat beside him.
"Eve is in discussion with the grandmaster to gather information for you," she said softly, her eyes filled with concern.
Rizki attempted to retrieve his cigar, but she tossed it aside, along with the cigar pack and matchstick, ensuring he couldn't indulge in the habit. She advised him that seeking solace in smoking wasn't a solution, and if he felt frustrated, he should confide in his wives.
Rizki sighed, his frustration still lingering, and he conceded that he couldn't help but dwell on the situation. He wanted to resolve the crisis as swiftly as possible.
Evelyn hugged him from the side, offering her unwavering support and reassurance. She pledged, "We will try the best to look out information for you."
Grateful for her understanding, Rizki gazed up at the darkening sky, feeling the weight of the world on his shoulders.
Evelyn sensed his inner turmoil and ventured to ask if he wanted to delve into Liora's past, to uncover the reasons behind her steadfast resolve. Initially apathetic, Rizki reluctantly nodded, signaling his willingness to unravel the enigmatic layers of Liora's history, in the hope that it might provide the answers to the mysteries surrounding Acra and its enigmatic knights.
"Here, I will tell you grand master's story and the reason why she is harsh in her own way." She started