“The situation is turning ever grimmer.”

“If things proceed as they are, we are going to lose more.”

In a garden of groves, covered in haze of a misty fog, loud sounds can be heard, unbefitting of the supposed time, place and nature around. The sounds, were voices that carried solemnness and dejection, unbefitting the ethereal beauty that was of the garden surroundings.

“What about the others? What are their intentions?”

“Che?! Those things?

It was because of their doings that we have this turn of events.”

“If we weren’t having this crisis, I would have loved to turn their placed to ruins.”

“Forget those for now. We must right now focus on averting this troublesome mess!”

More voices, angry and irritated, were carried with the subtle breezes going by.

Anyone fortunate enough to be a guest in this garden may be offset by the voices. They may even wonder, why were these sounds so unruly and unbefitting. One may even wish to trace its origins to provide an opinion or two.

These, unruly noises can be traced to a small, but magnificent pavilion in the heart groves.

It stood, decorated in red and white, with embedded ornaments made of gold, bronze and jade. The embellishments on the exterior of this pavilion, created a most wondrous and transcendent aura. This was further accentuated with its location and positioning, as it rested on top of a small mound, on the shores of a jade green pond.

Even this scenery, was accompanied by floating clouds of white mist, sparse separated and surrounding the pavilion. A most phantasmal and soothing beauty emanated from the whole of the arrangement.

Again, forgoing the enrapture of the scenery, and learn of the origin of the voices, it is the inside of the pavilion that one must try to look at.

However, try as we might, the inside of the pavilion was obstructed with shades lowered from the sides. Thus, the gathering inside was hidden and obscured.

Only, with the light of a lamp from within the pavilion itself, offered few faint shadows to be cast on these shades.

Moving inside, several figures can be seen seated in circular council. Paper lanterns were both, hung from the ceiling and left resting on the floor in an octagonal format.

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“Everyone. Please, calm down.”

“Because of last incident, the factions have decided to work independent, but in tangent. Each is to build a plan and action on their own.”

“Cooperation is to only come, after each is settled and prepared.”

*snort*

“Will this resolve the infighting?”

“I doubt it!”

“But regardless, we need not care for the situation of others for now.”

“Indeed. Rather, change we must all change our focus.

If we can resolve the situation with us alone, or even with our better preparedness, we will fare better in future.”

Inside the pavilion, voices were raised once again, as emotions of those inside had started to run high.

I group of voices, tried to garner calm.

Another group, disdained and dissented.

This was the apparent and constant inter change of dialogue in this gathering. The aura of the pavilion was turbulent and disharmonious.

The last opinion, freshly brought back calm. Everyone inside seems to hold such feelings in commonality.

“Then… What are we going to do exactly?”

“We are gathered here, so that we may discuss a united solution…”

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≈Fuu≈

Almost everyone slowly sighed. IT was for the umpteenth time that the same question had been posed.

Those gathered here, seemed deeply troubled. If not for the obscurity inside, the faces of these people would certainly be scrunched with a frown or with contemplation.

A new pause of silence descended in the pavilion. It lasted for a few breaths of time, before the silence was again broken.

“Milady. Our previous attempts. It has inevitably turned to be ineffective and even disastrous.”

“Che! Who doesn’t know that!”

“I haven’t finished yet!”

A fairly young, boyish voice echoed inside the pavilion, taking everyone’s attention. In the middle of his speech, a disgruntled voice interrupted him, to which the voice grunted back in return.

“Continue.”

“What I can consider from my perspective, the trouble maybe because we are putting in too much at once. We are ‘fostering’ competitiveness ineffectively. And this has inevitably become detrimental to our goal.”

The explanation continued after one interruption, and upon it reaching this point, the tension of the pavilion had turned cold.

A majority in the pavilion felt discontent at the statement of a past mistake.

However, the voice continued, oblivious or ignoring of the tension around.

“I would like to suggest, we choose only one, this time around.”

When the next string of words was dropped, the air in the pavilion shuddered slightly.

“Oi! Brat! What do you think your saying?”

“You want us to look weak?”

“That’s right! What the hell are you talking about?!”

“Che! Stop being Senile!”

“That’s what…”

A barrage of discontent, exploded in opposition. Some of the figures had come to feel that a line had been crossed.

However, the boyish-voice was not done yet.

“L-I-S-T-E-N!

I said, we should start, with only one.

There is an important fact we seem to have forgotten.”

The shout from the boyish voice ran through the pavilion, snuffing out the opposition grumbles temporarily. Reasoning accompanied his shout.

“We are not fighting a duel.”

Again, silence falls as the boyish voice stops his words.

“Are you saying that we have approached this wrongly from the offset?”

After a short pause, a delicate but clear, female voice echoed in return.

“Yes Milady. Last time I did not speak-out in respect as a junior, but I wished to offer this opinion here now.”

The boyish voice, replied courteously.

“Then, complete your suggestion.”

“Yes Milady.

I would like to suggest that this time, we choose one.

Not to be a lone hero, but to be a commander.”

Startled hubbub broke from those words.

“A Commander?”

The delicate voice, asked again.

“Yes.”

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“Why?”

“To lead a faction for our cause.”

The last line was spoken with a tint of relief. The owner of the boyish voice seemed to have the tension in his voice, recede after clarifying his suggestion.

And with the suggestion presented, a flurry of discussion started. Heated gossips and discussion raged in the surroundings.

However, this time, voices more surprised. Pleasantly at that.

With no other discontent or suggestion brought forward, the gathering inside the pavilion had reached a decision.

Faint laughter, signaling the end of the gathering, echoed out as it carried away with the wind.