Chapter 23 - Mystery (1)

The two girls think for a moment.

_ Shailly: “ Let's go see Kaya. ” she says confidently.

A frown appears, her lips pressed together.

_ Maïko: “ Huh? Why her? ”

_ Shailly: “ I'd feel reassured if she agreed with me. ”

With her hands on her hips, Maïko sighs.

_ Maïko: “ I don't want to see her, but if that's what you want, I'll go with you. ”

A slight smile appears.

_ Shailly: “ Thank you. ”

Their search proves fruitless. The questions they ask the villagers yield no clues. So they decide to knock on her cabin door directly.

_ Kona: “ Are you looking for Kaya? Sorry, I don't know where she is. ”

_ Shailly: “ Damn… ”

In the wake of this, an idea pops into his head.

_ Kona: “ No, wait. I have an idea. ”

Shailly's pupils dilate.

_ Shailly: “ Really? ”

_ Kona: “ If you've looked everywhere and can't find her, check the training ground. ”

Maïko tilts her head slightly.

_ Maïko: “ Normally, we're not allowed to be there without an adult present. ”

_ Kona: “ That's right, but knowing her, I wouldn't be surprised. ”

_ Shailly: “ Thanks for the info, Kona! ”

_ Kona: “ No worries, but is there a problem? ”

With a puzzled look, Shailly makes incomprehensible hand gestures. A reassuring hand gently rests on her shoulder.

_ Maïko: “ We can tell her, we have nothing to hide anyway. ”

Shailly stares at Maïko, her mind relieved.

_ Shailly: “ You're right. ”

Then, she connects her pupils to Kona.

_ Shailly: “ I didn't want to tell you about it so as not to worry you, but… ”

Once the situation is explained, surprise flashes across their faces, frozen by the disconcerting brevity of Kona's response.

_ Shailly: “ So you noticed something about Keren the tutor too!? ”

_ Kona: “ Yes, and I don't think I'm the only one. ”

With a finger to her temple, she begins to think.

_ Kona: “ Regarding Gwen's lie, I'm seriously starting to have doubts about our village. ”

_ Maïko: “ What makes you say that? ”

_ Kona: “ If you think about it, this isn't the first lie they've concocted for us. ”

With the hand removed from the shoulder, the girls hold their breath.

_ Kona: “ The villagers have instilled in us the idea that the Recluses are all evil people and very dangerous. Yet Ay's tribe proves just the opposite. A kindness emanates from each of them, including Ay. ”

Anxiety buzzes in their minds like a swarm of bees, the stings of intrusive thoughts.

_ Kona: “ She would never have healed anyone else otherwise. Besides, if a Reclu is supposed to be evil, why negotiate with him to bring him into our ranks? ”

Although no answers are found to these questions, the mysteries are gradually being cleared up.

_ Maïko: “ You're right. These cases are fishy. ”

_ Kona: “ If the elders are deliberately lying to us, the chief must have given specific instructions to cover up these mysteries. ”

Maïko rolls her eyes, partially hiding her gaze with the palm of her hand.

_ Maïko: “ Damn, she's in on it too, then. ”

_ Kona: “ We'll have to figure out these mysteries on our own. ”

Shailly clutches her chest, overcome with anxiety, her head bowed.

_ Shailly: “We're a close-knit village, united. Everyone here is kind. So why are they lying to us? ”

Watching the scene out of the corner of her eye, Maïko places her hand on Shailly's head, her face expressionless.

_ Maïko: “ Let's not waste any time. Let's go find the other one. She might have some information. ”

Shailly stares at Maïko, her face innocent but with a troubled look.

_ Maïko: “ What? ”

_ Shailly: “ The other one's name is Kaya. ”

Maïko looks away.

_ Maïko: “ Oh, I forgot. ”

_ Shailly & Kona: “ Liar. ”

Kona closes the door to her cabin and the girls hurry toward the training field.