I Am The Truth II

Chapter XX: For the Revolution, or for the Primes?

This was the village Val had been in. She had run here, contemplating whether to go on for the case. And after Galadar and Hadion arrived, she decided to leave.

Of course, Ria knew some of this when she stepped foot in the village. After all, she had been keeping watch over Val's movements during the case, and this was no different. However, it did not change the fact that she could not have felt more out-of-place. Eastern Ardoni like her were only just above complete foreigners.

And yet, Ria had lived with three Mendoris for four long months even after Senn's death. Perhaps she had been that depressed that she tuned out of her surroundings completely.

As the Sendaris proceeded, various locals stopped to regard her. Most likely this was the second time they saw a female whose very appearance was contradictory to the norms. And that too, one from another clan.

She walked slowly, peeking through the doorways of homes that were open for a glimpse of a familiar face. Her gaze just nearly intruded upon a couple having a physically intimate moment and immediately looked away. It was mildly embarrassing to admit that her species had absolutely no sense of modesty, and she was no different. A small memory briefly surfaced regarding her and Senn on the roof of an apartment building during a rainy night, but she immediately pushed it out of her mind.

"Is that... Ria!" A familiar voice excaimed.

Before she had any chance of reacting, a Mendoris had wrapped his thick arms around her like an octopus. Hadion had a habit for greeting familiar faces with over-enthusiasm, a thing Ria had not seen in months now. Forget that, she had not seen him or Galadar since she had been taken into the hospital.

"It is you, right?" He asked, taking a good look at her.

"Uncle Hadion," Ria greeted through a mildly strangled voice, though for the first time in a while, there was something of contentment inside her, even if it was brief.

Finally he let go, and the Sendaris did everything in her power not to double over and gasp for breath. Instead, she put her hands on her hips, forcing herself to remain upright.

"It really is you!" He exclaimed. "How did you find us here? Did Val tell you?"

Val. She bristled, but hid it while the other was turned towards her. The two girls had become dangerously hostile around each other in the last few weeks, most likely due to an increasing pile of unresolved disagreements.

"She... told me, yes," Ria forced. "She is doing alright as we speak."

Galadar along with a few other Mendoris that Ria did not recognize appeared. 

"Ria!" He gasped. "You are alive!"

Once again, the air was squeezed out of her lungs as the second of the  Mendoris twins grabbed her into a bearhug. Everyone was grinning, touched by this reunion. Even Ria felt mildly elated to see the two brothers again.

"... Galadar," Ria gasped weakly.

"Oh right, sorry," The other said, letting go.

He brushed some of her thick hair strands off her face. 

"Where have you been all this time?" Galadar asked. "Ever since the case with the mysterious masked Ardoni ended, I have not heard from you or Val."

They still did not know who the masked Ardoni was. Ria felt the mask hidden on the inside of her cloak. One slip up was all it would take.

"I have had to respond to Conchord's authorities for a little bit," Ria lied.

"Oh, you were called back into service?"