Following behind Lucia, Yurika timidly took a quick glance around the room with her nervous eyes. All the bravery she had before when she was trying to safe Wenona’s life has decided to disappear the moment her adrenaline boost gone. As her eyes roaming to the room, she saw Marc who leaned near the windows, Zeke who sat on the farthest chair on the back of the room with Scry. Yurika could feel fear started to crawl back but Lucia presence calmed her down a bit. Then she moved her eyes towards the seats closer to the door. People who sat there turned their head in interest at their arrival. She saw Amierra who watched her like a hawk next to the golden-haired man. Then her eyes stumbled at the blue eyes who were staring her like she was some kind of rare animal. Jace’s eyes were walking from her line of hair to her feet and backed up again. His gaze made her wished that Lucia was bigger or taller than her just so she could hide behind her back.

She quickly diverted her gaze away from the man. She could still felt his eyes following her but she pretended to not care about it. Lyall who as usual playing with his pocket knife sat tree chairs away from--, she gasped to see her best friend who was waving at her in one of the chairs.

“Why Wen’s here?!” She quipped quietly at Lucia in panic, “Is she supposed to be here?”

“Go take a seat,” ordered Lucia; ignoring her question.

Yurika wanted to protest, but in the end, decided to not. She walked toward the seat next to Wenona.

“Yuu! Are you feeling better? ” Wen quickly hug her best friend with delight, “sorry for being angry at you yesterday. But I was worry, really-really worried. “

Yurika returned her hug and shrugged, “you have every right to scold me. Sorry for making you worry Wen.”

Wenona’s blue eyes went glassy and her face looked apologetic, “Yuu, I-I—“

“Eii, don’t say make that kind of face please,” Yurika pinched her right cheek playfully and her eyes accidentally glanced at Scry, who was watching their interaction with an unreadable face; her eyes dashed off as soon as their eyes met.

“Ouch not my cheek,” Wen slapped Yurika’s hand lightly. The slap made Yurika realized that she had pinched her friend a little bit too long. She let Wen’s cheek go with a silly sheepish smile, her lips whispered sorry.

“By the way, why are you here?” Yurika asked.

Yurika couldn’t imagine the reason why her best friend needed to be in that meeting too. The idea of Wenona might join her journey seemed like a delightful idea for her. But what kind of excuse would Lucia give to the other party? She wouldn’t have planned on opening her secret as a Pononga, would she? It’s true no one exactly knew what’s the nature of a Pononga as detailed as Wen and Lucia. But do they really need a Pononga from the first place?

“I was invited by Lucia, she said she has something to tell me,” Wen grumbled while rubbing her cheek, “who knows that I will be placed in the room full of Crocottas, thankfully you and Lucia came on the right time if you came much later... who knows.”

Yurika giggled hearing that Wen decided to compare the Ursa elites as Crocottas. They are large, dog-like, carnivores that have a distinct almost ghouly voice and hunt in a pack. Their slick earthy hue fur and stealthy movement made them almost the perfect predator at night. The fact that they are hermaphrodites made their population grew dangerously fast. Thankfully they only live inside of Safa’Nest Dungeon in Beastie region.

Lucia cleared her throat, “Can I have your attention now please?”

Yurika whipped her head toward the Zanj. So was everyone in the room, all eyes were focused on Lucia.

“Thank you for coming and sorry for being late,” She started with her authoritative voice, “so I will start the meeting, before that I need to remind you guys that this is not something you can argue about, the decision and the quest are final. I will deliver the Goddess’ message and her words are our commands.”

Lucia stared everyone’s eyes, waiting to hear any protest which no one did. She then took a deep breath before continued.

“I will start by telling you the background story of how did the Great War happened,” she saw Lyall moved his lips trying to say something but she quickly cut him off, “the real reason not the famous rumors.”

That was enough to stop him from making any smart remarks.

“So, it was started 20 years ago just before the Great War happened...”

Lucia told them the whole story about how the Great War started, the same as what she had told Yurika before the meeting. Of course, she deliberately hiding the information about the Fanaura, her past life as Eireen and Wenona’s true legacy as a Pononga.

“Now, as the only Zanj left alive and the only one who has been granted the authority to find and enthrone the hero of the world. The one that was chosen by Fetuu La Rossa to wield its true power and bring back our Goddesses and our world balance, “ Lucia paused and gaze on everyone's eyes in the room, “I hereby announced Yurika as the Heroine of the Realm.”

Yurika couldn’t help to fear what kind of reaction would Wen gave hearing the fact that she was the chosen one. Carefully she glanced at the purple haired girl next to her, she saw that Wen’s face fell faster than an apple drop. In that instant, her mouth hung with lips slightly parted and her eyes were as wide as they could stretch. There’s no real word came out from her parted lips. Yurika didn’t dare to look her in the eyes, there’s fear that started to trickle in her heart, she knew back then how many people looked at her in envy and doubts. Not many would look at her as the hope and in adoration. And the last thing she wished to see on Wen’s eyes were those same doubts and envy. But it was shattered as Wen started to make halted squeals while grabbed Yurika arm and shook her to left and right in unattended excitement.

“Oh dear Goddess, I knew it!! I already knew it from the beginning! You are special!” she said gleefully.

Her excitement was quickly killed by Jace’s annoyed grunt, “do you think being the chosen one is like winning a jackpot in a casino?”

“I am not saying that! I know being the chosen one is a tough job!” Wen quickly retorted fiercely.

“With that said!” Lucia’s stern voice broke the argument, dragging everyone attention back to her, “as everyone had seen the demonstration yesterday, Yurika is still immature and lack of self-discipline. She might own the power of the universe but without proper training and knowledge, her power will backfire to not only herself, us and moreover to our world.”

Yurika’s head dropped in guilt. The guilt sat not only on her chest but also inside her brain. What she had done she could never un-do. The guilt for the lost innocent lives would always be a stain in her life, an ugly scar.

“What kind of training and knowledge she needs to have?” Jace finally spoke out.

Lucia’s silver eyes landed on the golden-haired man and smiled, “she needs to understand the essences of every class ability. That’s for a start, which I believe Z had started it before bringing her to you.”

“Is that true?” Marc asked Zeke. This time everyone attention went to the big guy with red hair. Zeke awkwardly shrugged as the answer.

“That won’t work!” Jace’s fist slammed the oak table. Pulling back everyone attention to him. His face was a mix of anger and guilt.

“Yurika is not Eireen Silver,” said Lucia calmly, “you have seen the power demonstration she did more than once now.”

“I am not saying she is Eireen!” Jace gritted his teeth annoyedly. He didn’t like how the Zanj saw right through his mind.

“Who is Eireen?” Wen’s clear voice broke the tension. Yurika’s body went tensed on the question, she didn’t like how the conversation went toward her past life. Her hands gripped her skirt hard trying to keep her emotions stayed under the radar.

“The first heroine of the realm,” answered Lucia, “the one who died before managed to finish her duty.”