There were many people, divided into two groups. But Meyara wasn't sure if she could call the other party a group, because they were definitely outnumbered. They only had at least five people on their side, and the distress on their faces was plain to see, unlike the other side who only looked angry and demanding.

“You already agreed to this! So why withdraw now? You can’t just change your mind for any reason!” One of the people in the larger group asked angrily. “The dragon can't wait any longer. We have to do this now before something bad happens!”

“We won't do anything until you bring our child back!”

“Your daughter ran away because of her own choice! It has nothing to do with us!”

“You're lying! You must have sacrificed her first thing this morning without anyone knowing!”

“Why would we do that? She's impaired!”

“Uh … are they talking about you?” Adriel whispered to the girl behind his back who immediately shrugged.

"Maybe. I'm glad they're still here. I thought we were too late," said the girl nonchalantly. She was much different from the helpless girl they had just met a few minutes ago. This change in character made Meyara frown.

"Okay. I'm glad to hear that too. But why don't you go there to meet them? It looks like they're going to fight.” Meyara spat lightly so she wouldn't draw unwanted attention their way.

“I would like to, but….”

"But?"

“I forgot to tell you one thing. My people don't really like meeting new people. Strangers mean danger to us. So before I leave, I have to make sure you guys have a place to hide.”

"What?" Meyara and Adriel asked at the same time, but Meyara's voice was higher than the young man's.

“Why didn't you say that before? If that's the case, why are you asking us for help? How can we help you without getting us into trouble?” Meyara groaned in frustration. She was becoming more uncomfortable by the minute. It felt like impending doom was looming behind them. She didn't know exactly why, but when she saw those people, she immediately knew that this wasn't something worth fighting for.

"Well, it's too late to question any of that because now we've managed to attract them."

Hearing Adriel's frightened comments, Meyara and the little auburn haired girl looked forward once again. Making eye contact with so many people there glaring at them. Well, most of them. The smallest group just gaped, seeing their child waving weakly at them.

“My daughter, you’re still alive!” A woman shrieked. Tears of joy pricked her eyes. She started running towards the girl but was immediately stopped by a group of angry people. “What now? I can't go to my own child?”

“She came with a stranger!” said another woman. “Two of the worst. I can feel their burning energy even from this far away. We can’t let them intrude on our territory any more than this.”

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"That's right! As far as we know, those people just want to steal what’s ours."

“No need to talk any more. Get them!”

In an instant, the ground beneath their feet rumbled. One of the villagers who was raising his hand was busy chanting a spell with fiery eyes. A thick earthen wall immediately formed in front of Meyara and Adriel. However, that wasn't the only thing that surprised Meyara.

Before the wall was fully formed, far behind the crowd, Meyara saw several cats lying limp with collars made of thick straw ropes around their necks. There was barely any fur on its skin which was covered in scratches. A thin strip of paper is attached to the back and tail, resembling fins. Reminding Meyara of the dragon which was the biggest reason she came here.

She snapped out of her thought just as the walls ahead began to creep up around them. Intending to trap them whole without a way out. Its height did not completely obscure their view, but it was enough to suffocate them.

“Wait! You won't waste your time on us!” she shouted at the top of her lungs. But it seemed in vain because everyone was busy spouting accusatory words while brandishing their weapons. Meyara's body shuddered at the sight of the familiar bident. "Please listen to me! Otherwise, the dragon will completely destroy this place!”

"Don’t lie! What do you know about our dragon?” Meyara could hear someone asking her, but she could barely make out all the words amidst the roar. Then she remembered what she was thinking when Adriel started squatting with the suspicious girl.

"Okay! I don't know anything!" she admitted. “That's why I'm here. To prove that all of you are just delusional people! You didn't care about my warning, because there were never any dragons in the first place!"

She knew for sure that what she had just said contradicted her previous statement. However, she didn't have much choice. She had to try everything to lure people into listening to her, even if she should lie through her own mouth.

Maybe this could not be used as a measure of success, but Meyara is sure that the surrounding walls are denser and have a slightly reddish glow. It seemed that the Glimmerwall villager’s anger began to rise after hearing her accusations.

"You cover up your shame and disappointment over the limitations of your abilities by making up stories about a bigger and powerful creature who only submits to you." At this point, Meyara babbled while closing her eyes tightly, trying to prevent dust and sand from entering. “Offerings were added to the composition because you wanted to have an acceptable reason to get rid of people who were born perfect but were useless!”

"Apparently, you don't know how threatened your life is right now." A man's voice echoed through the buzzing walls. “Don't continue to inflame my people's emotions, or I won't give you a peaceful ending.”

"No way," Adriel whispered beside Meyara. Both of his hands now held the hands of the little girl who still looked calm. Meyara didn't know who was calming whom. “Is that their leader? Why does he sounds so rude? I think every leader should have integrity or whatever. He shouldn't threaten us like this.”

Meyara just shrugged while holding back a few sarcastic words. She felt like criticizing the leader who had only emerged after his own citizens attacked the foreigners who came in peace, but there was no point in doing so if no one would actually listen to her. The atmosphere around was still quite noisy, especially now that the little girl's parents kept shouting for Meyara to throw their child over the wall.

Adriel, who also heard this, finally tried to lift the girl onto his shoulders, Meyara just watched without any intention of helping. However, the girl raised her right hand while shaking her head.

“I can do this. I'm really sorry about all this. But I really have to bring some people to save my family.”

“We already know, you told us about it.”

“It's almost evening. I have to convince them to take you two right now," she continued without paying attention to Adriel's words. She jumped quite high, the remains of the dirt that pushed her feet up trailing behind her as she managed to reach the top of the wall. Her balance was surprising, considering she didn't have any left hand to balance herself. “Sorry, but you two should consider yourselves lucky. Not many people have seen dragons. I will pray for your safety."

"What—"

Adriel grabbed his own hair, starting to panic. Meyara snorted in annoyance as she muttered, “We're doomed."

***