The Round Table room was widely recognized by all who had ever occupied its seats. The Round Table itself was not impressive; devoid of its leader's presence, it was an ordinary room. However, since the moment Reda took charge, the dynamics changed drastically.
For that reason, it had become a common protocol for everyone to sit down before the overall leader. The last time someone dared to challenge this rule resulted in a bloody episode. The former head of the secondary lineage sat down before the chief, and the cruel fate he suffered on that occasion still haunted everyone's memory to this day.
"Raza, I told you to sit."
"But I am sitting."
"Raza, don't make me repeat."
Intimidated by Reda's intense aura, Raza obediently sat down. However, when the hot chair touched his skin, a shiver ran down his body, as if he were about to take off on an airplane. Fear tightened his chest, and a chill ran down his spine.
"I-I sat."
"Alright, let's get started, you brats!"
Reda clasped her hands and adjusted her arm positions. Her body began to emit heat, and flame marks started appearing on her skin. These marks danced as if they were living flames, some of them visible on her hands and face. Her expression gradually closed, revealing her clear irritation at the situation.
Reda took a deep breath, and as she exhaled, a flame swept through the Round Table, illuminating the room impressively and infusing a profound sense of intimidation into everyone around her.
'Please, not me,' Kata thought, trembling inside.
The flame continued to spread to the elders, who remained indifferent to Reda's display of power.
'Phew!' Kata sighed in relief.
As the flame approached Raza, a shiver ran down his spine, and he began to feel his teeth chattering. The weight of what he was about to face was heavy on him, and deep regret filled his mind.
He bitterly regretted his past actions, especially the choice to go to the head of the disposable lineage before attending the meeting. The consequences of his decision began to haunt him at that moment, when the order to sit down was given. His eyes reflected the fear of possible punishments awaiting him, and he realized how impulsive and rash he had been in his actions.
Even before the flame reached Raza, Reda interrupted the tension in the room and asked a question:
"Which one of you is the spy?"
Everyone in the room was surprised by Reda's question, except for one person who was deeply absorbed in watching the flame. When the flame finally passed over him, Raza let out a sigh. It wasn't a light or quick sigh but one deep enough to catch everyone's attention in the room.
"Raza. Is it you?"
"Uh! Ah! Me?"
Raza was clearly confused because Reda's previous question hadn't reached his ears. An expression of confusion spread across his face as he struggled to understand what was happening in the room. A tense silence hung, and Raza felt completely disconnected from what was unfolding around him, leaving him bewildered and at a disadvantage.
"Tell me, Raza, why would you do this?"
"I'm sorry. I didn't understand."
"You didn't understand? You didn't understand?" she continued. "Raza!"
As Reda vehemently pronounced Raza's name, a wave of overwhelming flames swept through the Round Table, forming a fiery barrier that engulfed the entire room.
The intensity of the flames turned the room into an inescapable prison, where any attempt to escape would be met with a cruel fate, as the fire would toast anyone who dared to challenge the barrier. The atmosphere in the room became even more oppressive with the sudden eruption of flames.
'What have I done?'
Before Raza could even open his mouth in his defense, the situation had taken a drastic turn.
"Burn."
"Arrrrrrgggggghhhhh!!!!"
Raza was being painfully consumed by the flames emanating from the chairs, which now appeared capable of conducting and releasing fire with overwhelming intensity. His body was engulfed in flames, and the pain he felt was unbearable.
"Raza. You were one of the few I thought would betray me. Of all people, you. How lamentable."
"Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!"
"What's the matter, Kena?"
Kena began murmuring into Reda's ear.
"I see. So that's it."
Soon after, the flames consuming Raza abruptly ceased, extinguishing.
"My bad, I made a mistake. Kiakiakiakiakiakia!"
'What? I was spared? But why was I being toasted?'
"You old fool. It seems you're getting senile," Levi said.
"Kiakiakiakiakiakiakia!"
"Rarararararararararara!"
Seeing the situation, the elder Matra began to sob more intensely. Some claimed that this was her peculiar way of laughing.
'These old folks are crazy,' Kata thought.
'What's happening here?' Raza remained confused and didn't understand what was going on.
"But we need to find out who the spy is."
"Yes, but what led you to think this?" Levi asked, seeking clarification.
"As you already know, the city's leader came to me and had the audacity to propose an alliance."
"Seriously? Unbelievable. That baby grew up."
"Yes, I remember when he used to fondle my breasts," Matra said.
"Rararararararara. Yes."
"If I were younger. I'd give in to him."
"Hey! Matra! Put yourself in your place," Levi said seriously.
"You old fool. I was just kidding," she replied in jest.
"I hope so."
"Leaving that aside. We have to find out who the spy is," Reda said.
Raza, now recovered thanks to his healing ability, slowly raised his hand, indicating that he had something to say.
"What is it, Raza?"
"I have an idea," he said, smiling, apparently more confident.
"Really?"
"Yes. A way to find out who the spies are."
"Interesting."
Raza was a man with fragile self-esteem, and it was due to his ability to manipulate fire. When this ability was active, his ego inflated considerably, but as soon as he stopped using it, his self-esteem began to dwindle rapidly. This constant oscillation deeply affected his confidence and self-image.