What Transpired 2

Moments have passed since Gilberto sent the commander to Riko's residence. After the long wait, the high commander finally sees the image of Lyrica along with Agario, Magdalo, Riko, and the others. Other than Agario and his squad members, Mila, Esmeralda, and her other grandchildren stayed in the house.

"Sorry for the wait," Said Lyrica as she came face-to-face with Gilberto. "I had to get myself as presentable as I could before meeting the Hari himself."

"Oh, it's totally fine."

The high commander replied as his eyes scans Lyrica from head to toe. The new-look of her unbuttoned black blazers, her shortened skirt, as well as the long red scarf that is wrapped around her neck with both ends protruding behind her back like wings is what Gilberto immediately noticed.

"I gotta say, though, you certainly look much better than when we first met." Commented the high commander. "I'm sure the Hari will find you interesting."

Lyrica let out a chuckle.

"I certainly hope not, I wouldn't want to stir up trouble with the Reyna."

Soon after that friendly chatter, the high commander finally invited Lyrica into the Kalesa they prepared for her. The girl willingly enters the carriage, giving Riko and the others nothing but pure anxiety.

'Despite what we tried telling her, she still chose to go with the high commander.'

At that moment, the young knight remembered what Lyrica told him and the rest.

"I know what comes after this. But I also know what comes the other way."

Riko's anxiousness only grew intense under his eyes as the high commander also entered the Kalesa.

'I know you're not stupid, no way you're going to do something so moronic like confronting the enemy head-on.' Riko muttered to himself as the high commander ordered the kutsero (driver) to move out. 'From this time forward, you are on your own. Be careful.'

Without saying a word, the Kalesa that is being escorted by soldiers with their horses started making their way to the capital of Kruule.

"I know this is her decision, but I can't help but feel worried." While they are watching the Kalesa get further and further into the distance, Roberto looks at Magdalo and Agario who are standing side by side. "Do you guys really think the Hari will send HER to assassinate Lyrica?"

Roberto received a firm nod from the commander.

"Maybe SHE's already waiting for them on the way, or perhaps the Hari have her stand by in case something comes up," Agario replied. "I already gave Lyrica a heads up about what's on the way. But if Lyrica ever finds herself in trouble and ran into HER, so long as she got that scarf I gave her, Lyrica will be all right."

Although the future is something he cannot predict, they can see the certainty in Agario's eyes as he watches the Kalesa disappeared completely from their view. Agario strongly believed that Hari will send whoever that WOMAN is just to get rid of Lyrica, and he has a strong reason behind it.

When Gilberto suddenly sprung out of nowhere and killed one of the Malayas, forcing the knights of Reilaea to retreat, he can see the desperation in the high commander's eyes when he forced Agario and his squad to chase the Malayas until they reached the Forest of No Return. When the rumors about the four heroes somehow managed to spread throughout the whole kingdom, the Hari immediately issued an order that prevents people from speaking about the four heroes any further. Through these events, Agario came to realize that Uruk is a Hari who doesn't tolerate making the same mistake twice.

After failing to kill the Malayas, as well as being the reason that Gilberto eventually told everyone the truth about the four heroes, Agario is fairly certain that the Hari will come after him and his squad. But before that happens, they'll surely try to get rid of Lyrica who poses more problems to him. And that is why he is certain that the Hari will send that WOMAN to assassinate the girl.

"I don't mean to sound so contradicting or anything, but what makes you think that thing is going to keep her from laying a finger on Lyrica?"

Magdalo's interjection caught everyone's attention. A forlorn expression warped their faces as they look back at Agario.

"I see what you're trying to do, although I only realized it when you gave her that scarf, Lyrica looks exactly like your daughter," Magdalo added. "Are you trying to remind HER of what happened in the past? Well, let me remind you as well that she's the one who killed your daughter right in front of you, Agario."

Now that the veteran knight mentioned it, the others, and even Riko, recalled that time in the capital city of Kruule long ago. It was the time when the kingdom is in chaos, many innocent lives were taken. One of them was unfortunately Agario's daughter, Agna. And the person who ended his daughter's life before him was none other than the same person that the commander is expecting to be sent to assassinate Lyrica.

"Don't worry, Magdalo, I remember it all like yesterday." Agario looked back in the same direction the Kalesa went through. "And so is that woman. That is why she wouldn't be able to touch Lyrica."

***

A couple of hours has passed since their departure, the kutsero of the Kalesa tries to keep the horses going and pulling the Kalesa where the high commander and the girl are currently in. However, ever since the town of Takkot disappeared from the view behind them, the Kalesa has been emitting an endless flow of tense aura that creeps the kutsero from behind.

The driver mustered the courage to take a glance behind him, and that's where he sees Gilberto and Lyrica wordlessly facing one another, it's almost as if they are waiting which one of them is going to make the first move.

"This is far enough."

The high commander first spoke, finally breaking the nerve-wracking silence between him and Lyrica. But the kutsero thought, what does the high commander mean? The only thing he knows is that he was given an order to drive the Kalesa to the capital and that is pretty much it. And then, at that moment, the high commander added:

"After overcoming ordeals together, surely you must have made some kind of bond with them. Well, whether if that's the case or not, it doesn't really matter to me. But are you sure about leaving without saying goodbye to everyone?"

Contrary to the impression he gave Lyrica when they first met, Gilberto is now glaring at the girl with an evil grin, his face completely devoid of the impression of being a kind and dependable high commander.

"If that is your concern, then don't worry, I already did. And I'm coming back."

The kutsero couldn't lay his eyes on the high commander for even a second.

"How about you? Did you say a proper goodbye to Takkot already?"

But unlike the kutsero, the girl glared back at the high commander fearlessly. He tries to shift his gaze to Lyrica, but even the girl is giving off such an overwhelming vibe that left the kutsero's gaze stuck between the two.

"I sure hope you did, high commander... Because you will never set foot in that town ever again."

A ball of fire emerged from one of Lyrica's hands and then it started growing endlessly until it completely swallowed the Kalesa behind the kutsero. What the kutsero heard and see before his eyes made him realized it. At the end of the duel that is about to start between the high commander and Lyrica, one will live, and one will die.

BOOM!!