DiMENSIONS [IDOLiSH7]

34: Diamond Hearts

~Majabah~

"I would never dare lie to high lord Nanase-sama. I assure my lord that I have the information you seek, but in exchange for it, I ask that you keep this town's existence and Beastmastery a secret."

Earlier, Minami presented his terms in a bold manner, as expected from someone once from a family of high standing. He insisted that Gaku, Riku, Tamaki, and Mitsuki should look around town and think hard before giving him the final decision.

"I understand where he's coming from." Outside walking around, Mitsuki voiced his opinion.

"What's there to understand? That snake speaks of nothing but treason!" Gaku shook his head, infuriated that someone dared to claim the whole town for himself when the Nanase should hold absolute power over all of Majabah.

"Try to look at this from another perspective, Yaotome," Mitsuki argued. "Some of these people choose to come and live here because they don't know magic. They are taught Beastmastery and are free from discrimination and all that." The doctor had a point there. Riku and Gaku felt the need to listen to Mitsuki as he was the only one who could approach the townspeople. Majabah was not a kind world to those who knew no magic. The people here feared magic and they felt threatened just by having two magic users walk among them.

"Regardless, he is controlling the game." Riku made a thinking pose, looking worried. "Without knowing the spirit's whereabouts, Majabah and Silica will never be truly safe."

"My instinct tells me he knows about you, Rikkun." Tamaki could not shake his gut feeling. "He knows I'm a dragon. You and I have the same aura."

"They say knowledge is power. I'm beginning to understand why." Gaku let out a loud sigh.

Riku knew the decision was on him. There was another thing he knew even better: his feelings. He was sad. Sad because the state of the town he was in was unacceptable. People here were running away from cruel reality, and he did not blame them one bit. He felt sad, as he was a lord who could not even make his townspeople feel safe in their own status.

Riku steeled his resolve. Seeing something like this made it even clearer that he wanted to make Majabah a better place for commoners and non-magic users, especially now that the world was connected to Silica. He appreciated that Mitsuki always advised him to take little steps at a time and be patient as major changes could not happen overnight. For now, the lord had made his decision.

~~

"I cannot accept your proposal, Natsume."

Even the seemingly calm Minami went wide-eyed hearing that answer. Biting his lip, he had thought the lord would return with an agreement for sure, especially when he had heard tales of how this particular Nanase cared more about his people than the rest. Perhaps he was too quick to believe someone high and mighty would be considerate. As if the reptiles in his house could sense his anger, pythons, boa constrictors, and many other snakes came slithering around Minimi's body. They hissed at Tamaki, Mitsuki, and Gaku who were forced into their combat stances.

Riku gulped nervously. Before anyone got hurt, he went on with his explanation right away. "Instead, hear me out, will you not?"

"But of course, my lord." Minami bowed despite having cursed the man standing before him a thousand times. 'Hear me out' my ass. If he wanted to keep his head on his shoulders, he had to accept that order, whatever it might turn out to be.

"You are very cunning but also kind." Riku smiled reservedly. "I understand you are trying to protect these people from suffering. Then again, I believe this is not the most ideal solution. They are safe from cruel words and harsh reality, but they are not free."