Seeing Zara suddenly appear beside us, Lyla's eyes widen like saucers and she practically falls to her knee. Her voice is a mix of excitement and shock.
"Elder Zara!" (Lyla)
Just a moment later, the two boys follow suit, though a bit more calmly.
"Welcome, Elder Zara." (teen guards 1 & 2)
Zara's eyes move from me to the three young guards, her expression becoming neutral once again. She nods at them.
"Lyla, Orin, Dez...you're all dismissed from guard duties for the day. Return to the village." (Zara)
The three of them briefly exchange confused looks, but they rise in unison nonetheless.
"Understood."
With that, they give Zara a respectful farewell bow, then turn and walk through the gate behind them. Though they didn't seem hesitant to actually obey Zara's orders – despite their obvious confusion – I can see them throwing curious, reluctant glances over their shoulders as they depart.
Once they're gone, Zara turns to me and nods politely.
"Thank you, Mizuki. I'm sure you want to discuss some things before we depart today – follow me." (Zara)
¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬
Several minutes later, Zara is personally escorting me through the new wolf-kin settlement. As we walk, we draw no small amount of attention from the wolf-kin around us. I see many of the adults gawking at me, some of them bowing respectfully when I meet their gaze. Every now and then a group of kids will run along behind us, watching and chattering excitedly.
Clearly, I've developed quite the reputation among Zara's people.
The walk also provides me with an opportunity to better observe the changes to their lifestyle. Just as I suspected, the large, dorm-like structures are a kind of communal housing. I also spot structures that appear to be dedicated to blacksmithing, carpentry, butchering, and some kind of combat training. As we near the center of the settlement, I notice that its focal point is still a massive fire pit, but it's been modernized slightly, with a stone boundary for the pit, and wooden benches arranged in concentric circles around it. I'd guess they still prefer it for large village meetings, in lieu of a building a town hall.
Taking in the striking amount of development around me, I cast an admiring glance at Zara.
"I know that you mentioned having the wolf-kin who were trained in Eden start to develop your village, but...I never expected you'd have gotten so much done already. A defensive wall, modern housing, infrastructure for skilled labor, wolf-kin wearing armor and carrying weapons, security protocols...it's like an entirely different world than before. You've done a great job." (Mizuki)
Zara gives me a small, appreciative smile.
"Thank you, Mizuki, I'm glad you think so. We have a long way to go, but I want the wolf-kin – perhaps the demi-humans as a whole – to stand on equal footing with the other major races in my lifetime. I'm hoping that our trip together can help lay the foundation for that dream, by uniting the other races and securing some specialized aid." (Zara)
I smirk ruefully. Now that I'm actually watching for it, that remark just screams 'Alto was right'. Also, this trip is clearly very important to her personally, outside my own plans...I can't believe I was probably going to treat her like a simple tour guide if Alto had never warned me.
I give Zara a confident smile.
"Well, I'm sure you'll manage. After all, your progress already speaks volumes about your leadership. I can't believe the wolf-kin have embraced all this change so quickly. It's very impressive." (Mizuki)
Zara nods, but this time there's a clear disappointment in her expression as well.
"Yes, but...not all of the wolf-kin. You may notice that our numbers have dwindled. Some of them were unhappy and left to join one of the small, scattered settlements, others opted to stay but resist adopting many of the changes here, like the new housing. Fortunately, the opposite has also been true. I sent representatives to invite all the scattered wolf-kin in surrounding demi-human territory, and many chose to join us." (Zara)
I raise my eyebrows. That explains one of the earlier inconsistencies I noticed.
"I'm guessing that those teenagers I met were among the people who moved here?" (Mizuki)
Zara nods.
"Indeed, all of them. Most of those that have joined us from other settlements have been wolf-kin less than twenty years of age. I think they're usually more open to change than the older wolf-kin, so I don't mind. In fact, as Elder I specifically decreed that all orphaned wolf-kin under the age of 16 be sent here. That's how Lyla joined us." (Zara)
So...Lyla's another orphan like Zara. I frown at the news, but there's really nothing to say about it, I suppose. So, I ask another question that occurred to me earlier.
"Speaking of Lyla, what the hell was she doing out there as a guard in the first place? I know the wolf-kin mark adulthood at sixteen years, but she seemed several years younger than that, even. Should a little girl really have such a serious job?" (Mizuki)
Zara gives me a small smile, then looks ahead of us. Her gaze rests on a relatively modest house-like structure.
"This is the Elder's designated home. Why don't we finish talking inside?" (Zara)
I nod my agreement, then follow her into the small house. Inside, I'm surprised to see that it's relatively sparse in furnishing. It's just a large main room, and a small, separate room that appears to house a rudimentary toilet and shower stall. Inside the main room, there's a basic bed that's barely more than a cot, a small table with a few floor cushions surrounding it, and a large wooden storage chest.
Zara and I take seats at the small table, seated across from one another on floor cushions.
"Okay, please ask me what you'd like." (Zara)
I give her a wry smile.
"Well for starters, so you want to tell me why the hell everyone has been calling me 'Honored Mizuki'? No idea where that came from, personally." (Mizuki)
Zara's lip twitches, but she nods.
"The wolf-kin would refuse to address someone like you by your name only – it's considered disrespectful. Left to their own devices, they may have used 'Lord', 'God', 'Savior', 'Grand Elder' or something even more disagreeable to you. So, I told them to call you that. Of the titles they'd be satisfied with, I figured you'd be least bothered by 'Honored'. " (Zara)
I frown, but I don't say anything. What she's saying sounds reasonable enough, and I've never had a problem with the concept of people showing gratitude or respect to me. I just don't like it when they go overboard. 'Honored' is a little weird, but it doesn't cross that line, which is why I didn't bother correcting them earlier.
I nod at Zara.
"Got it, that's fine then, I guess. So, you were just about to tell me why there's a little girl as one of your guards, right?" (Mizuki)
Zara nods.
"Truthfully, she's not actually a guard – her assignment was temporary. In fact, the guard supervising them would have ordered her and the youngest two others inside the village if real danger ever arrived at the gate." (Zara)
I purse my lips thoughtfully. If before I wasn't sure that the kids were the ones being tested somehow, now I am. For what, though? Zara clearly didn't do this on a whim.
I give her a curious look.
"I'm guessing that has something to do with your little setup at the gate. How long were you standing there watching, by the way?" (Mizuki)
Confusion flickers across Zara's expression.
"From the beginning, of course. How long had you been aware of my presence?" (Zara)
I shrug.
"Just a few seconds before I called you out." (Mizuki)
Her eyes briefly widen in surprise.
"That is surprising...I assumed you were aware from the beginning. I thought you constantly used your abilities to sense for invisible people around you." (Zara)
My eye twitches.
No, Zara, I don't just spam magic sense all the time. Why would I do that? I was in a public space in friendly territory – I didn't care who heard what I had to say or saw what I did, and there was no danger.
I shake my head.
"Afraid not. Not without a reason. Anyway, what were you hoping to achieve with all this?" (Mizuki)
Again, Zara's expression is briefly puzzled.
"You haven't already guessed?" (Zara)
I fight the urge to roll my eyes.
What the hell is with her? I'm not omniscient, for gods' sake. Also, I'm not treating my everyday life like a puzzle, constantly trying to guess every little thing when I could just ask!
I give her a thin smile.
"I have suspicions, but I'm curious to hear it from you." (Mizuki)
Zara just nods.
"It was a kind of...test, for the wolf-kin you saw guarding the gate – especially the young ones like Lyla. I need to identify the people that I can trust most to help carry out my vision for our people, and it's common knowledge that my rise to Elder was...strange. I was pleasantly surprised to see that, despite being potentially placed against you as a result, they chose to follow my standing orders to the letter." (Zara)
I nod.
"Makes sense, but what about the second part? You clearly wanted me alone with the younger guards. Why? And why put Lyla in charge, given her age and the temporary nature of her position?" (Mizuki)
"To show how the others reacted to taking orders from a girl that's younger than them – I find myself in the same situation, after all. They wouldn't so carelessly disrespect me, but if they were alone with Lyla, I thought it'd be more apparent. Also, I have high hopes for Lyla, and I wanted to see how she handled the situation." (Zara)
My eyebrows widen.
That's...pretty slick, actually. From what I saw, those boys were respectful to their de facto commander. Whether that's because they actually respect Lyla, or just the authority granted to her by someone more senior, it's hard to say. Either way, though, it bodes well for them obeying Zara.
As for Zara's comment about grooming Lyla...
I smile at her knowingly.
"Yes...clearly you're hoping to purge the wolf-kin 'might makes right' mentality from her and raise another progressive leader. I like your chances, honestly. She seems to worship the ground you walk on." (Mizuki)
Zara sighs helplessly.
"I noticed that as well. She seems determined to imitate a false impression of me, and I fear it will hinder her growth." (Zara)
I can't help but chuckle at the irony.
"Fufufufu...now you know how I feel." (Mizuki)
Zara cocks an eyebrow.
"Are you implying that I do the same thing to you?" (Zara)
I shrug.
"Maybe a little, but I was mainly thinking of Alto. Your impression of me has always seemed rooted in tangible elements – my knowledge, my abilities, my intelligence, my influence. I think you overestimate me in all those respects, but aspiring to them still leads you in an honest direction.
"Alto on the other hand...well, I think she imagines me as a fundamentally better person than I actually am. I worry that the longer she holds onto that false view of me, the more it will hurt her when I inevitably prove it wrong." (Mizuki)
It's something that I've worried about more than once, and the reminder of it causes me to sigh apprehensively. However, a light smirk tugs at Zara's lips.
"If you think Alto has decided you are a better man than you are, then instead of waiting idly to prove her wrong and hurt her, shouldn't you work to better yourself until you can prove her right? If you care for her, that seems the wiser course of action." (Zara)
I blink, feeling particularly called out by the subtle accusation.
If I think that my more detached, jaded personality is going to hurt someone I claim to love, why am I not doing anything to fix it? It's a...reasonable question, but I also don't think it's fair to frame the situation quite so simply. We're talking about acting against my fundamental perception of the world.
What if one day I see something as a decision between putting Alto's or our friends' lives on the line, and preventing it through means that risk her viewing me as a heartless monster? I'm weighing two fears of hurting her...even losing her...but one is clearly more palatable. One is potentially reversible.
I can't just unlearn seeing it that way, and I'm not willing to pretend as though I have and be left holding the regret of those decisions.
I give Zara an appreciative nod, hoping to change the subject.
"That's insightful, Zara...I'll give it some thought. As for your own situation, try not to worry so much. I think Lyla has a good head on her shoulders, from what I saw, and she clearly takes what you say to heart and works at it. That's most of the battle. Just give her clear guidance and some time to reflect on it." (Mizuki)
Zara nods thoughtfully, seeming distracted. Then, she fixes me with a look that's distinctly apprehensive, her voice becoming uncharacteristically hesitant.
"Mizuki, there's something else I need to tell you...about why I arranged for you to talk to Lyla and the others." (Zara)