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I'm scared. Don't do this, Liza...

_ _ That is what my inner voice trying to say to me. Yes, deep down, I am scared. Fear is something that every living being has, even if that being is a dragon, known in legends as fearless beings.

But I am not a dragon. I may be pure blood, but I am not a beast. I know fear, especially if I cannot fathom the strength of my opponent.

I know this woman is dangerous. A Mythar hailing from Eastern countries are unknown to us, especially in ways of how they are using their abilities. I cannot make a difference on it. Is this woman using her magical abilities, or is this what my father always warn us? Is she using her Discord power?

Using her power or not, I know better than Hal. This woman is not what she is. She is tormented, forced, by people we haven't even known. Her heartbeat is not right, she is blinking a lot on our fight, and she is pulling her attacks, as if hesitating. I realize it when we were fighting like women fighting for a guy. It sounds stupid, I know, but ironically, it made us closer.

I know her pain. My abilities let me see something in her that anyone cannot find. Her true self is covered by her assassin façade. It is as if her inner self is shouting HELP to me, begging to be saved. And that is what I am doing right now. I cannot let her death be in our hand, just like what father did to that poor lizard.

"Huh? Giving up, young lady? It is the best decision, considering how weak your boyfriend is." She scoffed. "He is not the guy for you, dragon girl. Just look at what he was doing. He ran away while you are fighting me."

I ignore everything she throws at me. Let her do that. Hal might feel guilty right now. If I could talk directly into him, I would say 'don't'. This is no longer his fight.

"It's nice knowing you, dragon girl. Oh...Rhoda Ronsey is not my style, but I like strong women."

Rhoda Ronsey? Heh, what a talk. I bet if Rhoda ever made a movie, she wouldn't be as sensitive as I am now. I doubt Rhoda is even a Discord user.

As a pure blood, my senses as a dragon is more powerful than half breeds like Hal and many others. I know when an attack is coming, and I am pretty sure my gene is of a feral dragon asserting dominance. The woman attacks me with her sharp tail, but I dodge it by mere inches. She does not seem surprised, but I am pretty sure she is surprised within.

"Still got a fight in you, eh? I'll make sure you can't dodge that..."

"But...you are lying, right?"

This question catches her by surprise. She pulls her attack from me and her heartbeat jumps a beat. I know she is panicking when she realized that I am reading her throughout the course of our fight.

"W-what are you talking about? Am I ever lying to you?"

"You can't deny it, too, aren't you? You are not fighting with your heart's content. You are fighting because you are afraid of something."

"Afraid? Yes, I have a terrifying boss, but I don't care. As long as I do my things, I got my money and I lose my contacts with whoever that person is."

"Then why hesitate?"

"Because you are not the target. Your boyfriend is the one I am going to get paid for, and then Segara of Dornthal. I will kill them both and claim my prize..."

"You have someone dear to you who is going to die if you don't do anything, right?"

That's spot on! She is starting to lose her cool. I can see how her eyes becoming slits as she becomes more and more agitated.

"Are you trying to intimidate me?"

"I am just trying to tell you the truth. Who is it that you are so dear with? We can help you save him. Is he your husband? Boyfriend? Please, just stop this fight and let us find a way to help your dearest!"

"I don't give a damn about your wild imagination, missy, but you've overused your privilege. Stop right there before I give you a big scar. I mean it!"

I don't want to stop. I want to reach out to her heart, cut all the chains locking her true heart, and open up to me. We both know that fighting is useless, but she knows that if she stops, she will be targeted.

A sharp pain comes from my side. She attacks me with one of her aura. What a magic, I thought. Thanks to my scale, I don't get hurt more. It is just a scratch, but it is enough to make me wince. I may have strong feral instinct, but I have low pain tolerance.

"Liza!" Hal's voice rings behind my ears. He is worried, but if he dies, I will regret my life now. I turn around and smile to him, trying to ensure that he is going to fine. Apparently that is a wrong move, and he is even more desperate to save me from her.

Another attack comes to me. I am ready to endure the pain. Before they hit me, though, two red shields comes out of mid-air and deflected the attack. I turn around and I can see Hal extending his wings, preparing to take flight to protect me. He looks majestic with those arm-wings, but right now, I don't need violence.

"Hal, stand down!" I shouted. "I got this!"

"I cannot let you get hurt more than this! I may be a weak ass dragon, but I am still your boyfriend!"

"He's right, you know," said the woman. "Just stop this and let me take Haelstrom. He is not your type."

Haelstrom, huh? Cool name. Hal might not like it because it's mouthful, but I like it. This woman is getting into my nerves, but I cannot let her deny herself.

"You live your life denying of who you are," I said. "You are trying to cover your weakness with your powers. This is not the way you do things."

"Why? Women cannot lose to men, right? I am not going to throw myself as a bitch into a herd of hungry wolves."

"So don't act too tough and let me stop this fight. Denying things will not get you over things. You are burying it too far into your heart."

"Are you reading my mind? If you are, that is not something you want to know."

"So then tell me. Who are you protecting? We are not your enemy."

"Shut up! I don't give a damn about things! I just want to take that money and live my life! Stop making me feel like a damsel in distress!"

I dodge her attacks. She is becoming more frantic and unable to focus. She will not be able to concentrate on me. Please, just let my approach work!"

I walk, dodge, and walk again, repeating the pattern. She starts crying when she attacks me. I starts to get scrapes, and I got thrown from my place by her force. I can't give her up, not on my watch!

"Why are you so goddamn persistent?! Just give up!"

Without her knowing it, I have been standing in front of her. She is surprised that I can get close to her without her knowing. We start for a moment, with her being surprised and I trying to make a sincere face of regret. After a while, her eyes starts shedding tears.

"Why...why are you so kind to your enemy?" her voice is breaking down, and by time...she is getting smaller and smaller.

"If my enemy is not even evil, why do I even want to fight? It's over."

"Just leave me alone..."

"Don't lie to me, little one."

"Just leave..." She is breaking up. "I...I don't want to kill you...but I have to...for my son."

"Is he a good boy?"

"A hundred years...a hundred years is the year when I finally can conceive a son. I am so happy...and I know evil men are trying to find a baby kitsune cub. I work as an assassin before I have him...but I just can't. I know he cannot know."

"Then stop. Would you mind telling me where your baby boy is?"

"He is..."

"Right here, isn't it?"

That voice came as a surprise to both of us. When I turn around to find the source of the voice, my father is walking with a boy nine-tails wearing the same collar his mother does. When I see the appearance of that boy, I realize that right now, this Mythar woman is using her boy's appearance as a disguise.

"Apparently some unwanted guests are trying to get rid of your son. I came there just in time...but I accidentally blew up your wall."

"W-who is trying to kill my baby?!"

"Care to guess? Your... 'employer' might think that you are not going to be loyal and he is trying to make you feel like you will do his biddings. Guess you owe me one there, lady."

Wow, so dad is also trying to save this woman? I guess he is not a full soldier after all.

There is a heartfelt moment when the Mythar woman turns into a young woman around my age, hugging her son while tears went down her eyes. I want to shed my tears, but Hal's touch return me to the present.

"You really have overdone it, Liza," said Hal with a smile.

"Now...Yulli Issira...would you mind tell us about who are we facing?"

"Wait, dad, you know her? Then, the one who you are trying to contact is..."

Dad looks toward me and said, "Yes...but apparently the boss has contacted her first before I did. Yulli is a freelance assassin, and her connection to illegal crimes is bigger compared to most hitman I know. I was too late to get in contact with her, but I was in time to find out that her boss is going to betray her, regardless of results. So now, will you tell us?"

Yulli seems to be hesitating, but not long after, she said, "I'm so sorry...but I don't know anything about my employer."

"I see.... Now, let me ask another question. Why are you calling Hal 'Haelstrom'? His real name is Hal Trixija, not Haelstrom Trixija. And then, care to explain why I am also the target?"

I stop the questioning so we can get to a place where we can talk with a relaxing atmosphere since we are in the middle of the street and my fight with Yulli has caused commotion. Dad understands and we went to the same café while Hal goes to get Art.

After everyone has gathered, Yulli starts to talk.

"My employer gave me names. One is of your name, Segara of Dornthal, alongside your face. Another one is Haelstrom Trixija, with his face," said Yulli while pointing to Hal. "Apparently they knew the existence of my son and blackmailed me to get the two of you or he would be killed. I was thinking that my house was discreet and I wouldn't be found, but I know that days before you found me, I was being watched, and I thought I wouldn't get caught if I disguised myself as my own kid."

"So your kid is a Hidden Beast?"

She nodded.

"Then what's with the fashion sense? Why the collar?"

"Though I may look like I'm ignorant with my son, that dog collar is not just for fashion, though canine Anima and Mythar his age use that as a fashion sense. That collar has magical rune to dispel his magical aura so he cannot be detected and can pass as an Anima. Mine is just an illusion I created, so they will be more focused on me instead of to my son. But I know sooner or later I will get caught and get killed if I don't do things right.

"I hastily go to the nearest parking space and somehow found your group. Then...everything went on just like what your daughter and her boyfriend will explain."

"You kiddos are lucky she is hesitating," said dad to us. "But, Liz...you really know how to change people's hearts."

I don't want to brag about it, but that's what I want to do as a future attorney.

"You daughter is something, Segara of Dornthal," said Yulli. "I'm really sorry for calling you things. Really, you have given me a better view of life. For years I have been a merciless assassin working freelance, but after a one night stand, I got pregnant. Other assassins understood and they left me alone, at least until my child was born. Trei is an innocent kid who does not know my line of work, but he is almost ten, and sooner or later he will find out. So, I declare that killing the two of you is my last job. But...Liza, right? You saved me from soaking my hands with blood again. To be honest I am surprised that you have such an ability. To know the heart of a person and give them the change to repent themselves...what a kind ability."

I understand that others who see my ability will think of it as a noble ability, but personally, I don't feel like it. In fact, I am concerned of what this ability might do if it is used by a wrong person. Instead of giving proper judgement, it will make them manipulating the honesty of a person for one's gain. I don't want that. That is why, using my ability in a fight is one of the worst things that this ability can do.

"Clearly your daughter's resolve changed my view of life. So, now, I can just release the grip of my weapon and leave, but I will do one final job before I retire. I will accompany you to find the villain responsible for our problems."

"Hmm...I like your resolve, Yulli, but I must refuse."

"What? Why?"

"First of, the most realistic question, I don't have any space in my wagon. If you have your own vehicle than it is fine. Then...you do know that this journey is dangerous and risky, so how are you going to keep your son safe?"

"Yes, I know you will ask me about this sooner or later. I have a trusted associate who will take my son with me. I have a vehicle myself, so I can go with you."

My dad smiles to her, knowing that he knows he is picking a trustful ally. Yes, I can also see that Yulli is truthful of her resolve, as I can see that she does not lie. Hal sighs beside me while Art plays with Yulli's little kid.

"And now I thought this party's not getting merrier," said Hal. "Anyway, Yulli...tell me...who gave you that name?"

"My employer told me about that name. Why?"

"It is strange, because...Haelstrom is the name of my dead twin."

I am taken with surprise by this comment. Hal has a twin? Gods, that must be painful to hear when he is mistaken by someone he knows the best. Yulli and Segara are also surprised, but no one's more surprised that Yulli does.

"So that's why your photograph is similar. You are identical twins with..." "Now that's strike as weird to me, because my mother said that Haelstrom has died before I even remember having a twin myself. She said he died when I was 5 years old...though I admit, it still doesn't feel right that I can't remember who my brother is, until recently when I remembered that my mom mentioned the name Haelstrom when she is alone."

"If you know that name, then somehow...Haelstrom is still alive, somewhere, and is a wanted Mythar," said Hal. While I have seen him seriously talking about his family before, I never thought he talks in a lower tone of his usual voice. He is deadly serious about the identity of his brother.

We talk for a while before night comes. My dad proposes that we go during the night, since now Yulli is also a wanted person, alongside all of us. Yulli has her own bike, and to use it without making a problem because of her tails, she disguises herself into a sexy, fully transformed, vixen Anima with only one tail. But unlike the more busty Mythar form, Yulli is more humble in her appearance.

"Is this how you normally ride?"

"It's just one form of many. I prefer being a furry than being a naked human any day. In fact, red suits me."

"Do you usually turn into a nine-tails if it is necessary?"

"My nine-tails form is my impression of what an Anima beauty is. I don't need to look like a prostitute to fight. Liza?"

"Yes, Yulli?"

"I can only give you this comment, which may or may not be true. Your boyfriend...he is hiding a powerful ability that is very terrifying. You may not be able to sense it because he is always honest with you, but as a nine-tails, I know when someone is harboring a strong mystical energy. We all have it, but Hal...he's different from the rest of us."

I don't know about nine-tails being upright suspicious, but I guess between us women, it was a gut feeling.

Just like Yulli's suspicions to Hal, I am also suspicious by my father's intention. I know he's being honest to me, but something...something...is wrong with him, and I intend to spill out the secret.