Chapter 39 - Surprise

With the scroll recovered, she now advances towards Shailly, having already received first aid. But an unexpected obstacle stands in her way. An orphan, arms wide open in a gesture of arrest, blocks her path.

_ Son: “ Don't come any closer! ”

_ Moana: “ ... ”

_ Son: " We thank you for saving us. But now you plan to take Shailly and the rest of us back to sacrifice us in the village. That's out of the question! "

_ Maïko: " In any case, we can't afford to go back to the village. Shailly won't last that long! "

Her face impassive, she stares at each of them.

_ Moana: “ What are you talking about? We're heading for Sainté Village. ”

Very surprised by this response, everyone exchanged questioning glances.

_ Moana: “ Between chiefs, it'll be easier to negotiate for help. ”

With a solemn gesture, she lifted Shailly's body and placed her on her shoulders.

_ Moana: “ Now let's go. ”

In a slow procession, we too venture into the dark depths of the forest, leaving their remains behind us forever.

_ Ayden: “ Before we get started, how did you find us? ”

_ Moana: “ Thanks to phosphorus. ”

_ Ayden: “ Phosphorus? ”

_ Moana: “ Yes. I am an Unclassifiable. I control atoms, and my Source is phosphorus. ”

Between us, everyone exchanges a questioning look.

_ Moana: “ To answer your question, every night on my rounds, I put phosphorus under the soles of my shoes for safety. And when I came back, some things had been moved. So I sprinkled phosphorus on the floor and saw that there were other footprints besides mine. ”

The discovery of this breach in our infiltration plan leaves me with a bitter taste. My fingers clench around nothing.

_ Ayden: “ Impossible to guess that she possessed such a Source… ”

_ Moana: " So I followed those footprints that led to the barricades. I understood that you climbed it somehow. "

_ Hazel: “ How do you manage to produce fire with your Source? ”

_ Moana: " I can control the temperature of my Source as I wish. Since I am Type C, I produce and eject phosphorus from my body. It is important to know that phosphorus naturally ignites on contact with air at a certain temperature. "

Eyes widen.

_ Hazel: “ Unbelievable… ”

I stare at her, my mind tormented by questions.

_ Ayden: “ Let's get straight to the point. What's this about sacrifice? ”

Her eyes cannot hide the pain she feels at the thought of answering my question.

_ Moana: “ I have to tell you something first. ”

_ Son: “ Which one? ”

_ Moana: " The war that broke out eight years ago... It was never against the Recluses, but between us. "

_ Hazel: “ Huh? ”

_ Moana: “ Yes, it was a civil war. ”