“Miss Aurelie, if you would please show everyone the evidence.” Dansel asked in a quiet voice. Somehow, the lack of volume highlighted the insistence and annoyance in his voice. Nodding, Aurelie unlocked her phone, eliciting a gasp and murmurs of amazement from the armies. She put the volume up as far as it would go, and then played a recorded conversation from the day that she had snuck into the Meir Village Hall.

“That was smart of you, blaming the killings of our soldiers on the Elemental Apprentice.” Though the sound quality was poor, Gradas Meir’s voice came through loud and clear. Both armies were able to hear it too, given the fact that their senses were heightened due to their cultivation.

“Thank you sir. I came up with it on the spot.” Aurelie didn’t know the name of the man who had said this, but the crowd whispered the name ‘Sanos’, so she took a reasonable guess.

“Well, having a scapegoat for the murders is a good thing. Continue to purge our ranks of the dissenters who believe in Lejus. They only cause problems, doubting me.” Gradas’ voice again. In the crowd, a few people gasped, others glanced at Gradas with horror, and still others had no reaction other than a frown.

“How cruel, to kill people who know the truth of what a terrible person you are.” Despite his words, Sanos’s tone held no accusation, only a cruel amusement. Instead of telling Sanos that he was wrong, Gradas just laughed, confirming his words.

The recording ended, and everyone turned to look at Gradas. Aurelie closed her phone and smiled her strange, cold, scary smile, one which sent a shiver up the spine of any who saw it. She looked Gradas in the eye and slowly enunciated, “You. Are. Finished.”

Gradas, who had gone pale the instant the recording started to play, flushed a deep red, which quickly headed into plum-purple. He opened his mouth to reply, but the eldest of his commanders beat him to it.

“Miss Aurelie, please understand that the one to decide that is not you, but the people of Meir Village.” He said, consternation coloring his tone.

Aurelie’s smile grew even scarier, if that was even possible, but she held up her hands as though in surrender.

“Got it.” She said in an easy tone that was a stark contrast to her facial expression. It freaked out quite a few people, and brought the fact that she was an amazing actress back to the forefront of the minds of the leaders from either side.

But they would deal with the new potential threat later, Dansel thought, turning to his former Leader.

Gradas was looking at Aurelie triumphantly, his expression smug, as if to say ‘See, they won’t get rid of me. Everything you did was a waste of your time.’

Aurelie didn’t even blink; she just continued to smile that bloodthirsty smile. Seeing that, Gradas began to feel a bit of doubt in a corner of his mind, and it was at this moment that Dansel stepped up and announced, “Gradas Meir, you are hereby excused from your duties as the Head of Meir Village and banished. If you ever step foot in Meir Village again, you will be killed on sight.”

“What?!? You can’t do that! You fools, I’m the only ninth stage Grandmaster in this village! If you banish me, then Lejus can easily crush you! You need me!” Gradas yelled. A few people looked at each other nervously, recognizing the truth in his words. But Aurelie began to laugh.

“You still haven’t realized?” She asked him. Confusion masked his features.

“Realized what?” He asked.

Ignoring Gradas’s question, Aurelie turned to face the crowd.

“What he said was a lie.” She told them, nodding sagely.

“No it wasn’t! Or are you trying to say that Lejus Village won’t attempt to attack now that Meir is to be weakened, which is quite obviously a lie.” This retort came from one of the men who had charged ahead with Gradas.

“That part wasn’t the lie. The lie was the middle part. You guys really are pretty inattentive.” The latter part of Aurelie’s comment was aimed to the entirety of the Meir Army.

“Huh? I have no idea what you are talking about. Have you gone insane?” This time Gradas re- entered the fray. Ignoring the insult, Aurelie just smiled cheekily.

It reminded Dansel of the first time he met her, after she had recorded the conversation.

He watched a red-haired girl slip out of Gradas Meir’s office. Instantly, he thought of the Elemental Apprentice that Sanos had told them about. If she was truly the one who killed their soldiers…

She started to move; producing no noise as she expertly slipped in and out of shadows and made her way to the door. He followed her, attempting to move as silently as she did to keep her from noticing him. He couldn’t stop her, not if she decided to use her true strength, but he could at least keep track of her.

She didn’t stop in the village, and moved into the forest. He marveled at her speed, agility, and ability to move unnoticed. So this was an Elemental Apprentice! He himself had to use a layer of Spirit Power to cloak his presence.

When she was a good ways into the forest, he abruptly lost sight of her. He sighed. She had most likely always known that he was following her. He turned back to walk home. Then, out of nowhere, her face appeared right in front of his. Suppressing a scream, he scrambled backwards.

“Hi!” She said with a rather harsh accent, smiling cheekily at him. He managed a small wave back through his surprise.

“You aren’t an Elemental Apprentice, are you?” He asked. The realization made her ability to be a shadow practically god-like.

“Nope,” She replied, making the word pop, “I’m just a lowly second stage Master Realm practitioner. I was born with this appearance. Hey, do both of us a favor and sit out on the upcoming battle between Lejus and Meir Village.”

Amused and amazed by her frankness, he couldn’t help but smile as he asked, “Why exactly would I do that?”

“Because you know Gradas Meir’s character perfectly, and are therefore aware of the fact that this ridiculous war was started by him alone.” She stated.

“What makes you think I don’t believe in him?” He asked. At this point, he held nothing but curiosity towards this young girl. He knew she was a threat, she did get rid of those people that Gradas had sent after Farn, but she was just so… interesting. She was a personality, the likes of which he had never encountered before, and it was fun to talk to her, though this was only their first conversation.

“Well, there’s just this look in your eyes every time he speaks. It’s not a good look either. It’s kinda like you just saw something disgusting. And even though your position is as his advisor, he never asks for your advice and just recklessly charges forward. During the meeting today, you looked surprised when certain topics came up. Meaning, you didn’t have any idea of Meir’s actions until then.”

“You’re very observant.” He remarked. “But why would sitting out help me?”

“Because you’re tired of being scared. Gradas has stopped cultivating. He’s also stubborn, full of himself, and pretty evil. Add all that together, and you get the idea that he’s gonna kill anyone who shows signs of breaking into the ninth stage of the Grandmaster Realm and could then challenge his power. This poses a danger to you, because you’re at the ninth stage of the Grandmaster Realm. And if he finds out…you’re dead buddy.”