Yebuka scoffed. “Murdered him? That would be a great upset to the gods. Possibly, I know that your husband was once part of a military expedition in the desert. Unfortunately to them, they had died from a plague inflicted by none other than the enemies of the west. Yes, the news were scarce. We haven’t been able to get much out of it, and we declared the case closed.”

“Lies... lies... everything you are saying is full of lies.”

“As it will stand, I hereby warrant the arrest of this woman. For the High Order, all of you will decide her fate—and do not hesitate, since this should end quick. Let us choose quickly, so that we can go to bed.”

“Lies, lies, lies, lies, lies, lies.” Aijin scratched her head against the statue, repeating the word again and again until she lost her breath. Her pupils dimmed in color, and she croaked.

Along with the Lama, the abbots and clergymen deliberated, their voices were muddy and unclear. Neha extended her arms and broke off from Tulisen’s cradle. She headed to the officials, and bowed down. For the sake of politeness, she then kissed the feet of the Lama. Tears erupted from her, and she wailed for their attention. Yebuka turned his back towards her, looking at the girl with sympathetic eyes.

“What is it my fair lady?” Yebuka asked, he crouched to her. “Something the matter?”

“Please... don’t kill my mommy, please...” Neha’s voice broke, and as humiliating as her position was, she felt that this could be the only option left. To beg before the Lama himself, it seemed absurd for him to submit to her wishes, but at the very least, Neha could continue trying.

Yebuka stopped the deliberation for a moment. He winced at the girl. From his wrinkled face, Neha stiffened herself in fright.

“Then you must do something. Are you going to put your head on the ground and expect something good to come out of nowhere?”

“N-no...”

“Then speak, young one. Speak on your mother’s behalf, of why she should not succumb to harsh punishment.”

From seeing the sly smile on his face, Neha at first lacked confidence in managing how to convince the most powerful person in the village to have second thoughts about her mother’s fate. A test she believed, she wanted the dove to come to her. But soon Neha remembered that the Lama complimented the young girl for having a lot of potential and grace in her soul, and she took this into heart with little doubts. Although his compliments might have seemed hasty, it stirred Neha into a surge. At this point, she had to do something.

She stood up. Folding her hands, she gazed at her mother. She then shifted to the Lama, and her voice shuttled into a calm.

“My Lord. I am just a little child, but I feel grateful that you want to hear me out. Right now, I am kind of confused about the fate of my father. However, I hope that he can come back soon, even if he is dead. I want him and my mom together again… I beg you with the utmost kindness of my heart. My mom is suffering from her condition. She has lost her job as a seamstress due to her getting crazy one day, which forced Tulisen to give her some allowance. But she tries to make the best out of her life. Sure, I had to deal with her mess everyday, and it is exhausting me. But in the end, I still love her as my mom, simply because she’s the one who is taking care of me. Taking her away would make me sad... I have promised to watch over her from now on, with great caution and regards to her health. By the grace and beauty of the dove above us, I’d rather see my mother get some relief than having to see her die.” Neha placed her hands upon her chest, and prayed to the dove of salvation in such calmness that she at once saw within her eyes, streaks of flames and feathers. They vanished just as she returned to her original composure. After her appeal, she expelled all her breath; if she had talked longer, then she would have collapsed.

Yebuka, he showed nothing but a smile. He then restarted the deliberation. Amidst the complains from his associates, they talked amongst themselves again. They grumbled and flicked their robes, and some of them glared at Aijin. Nothing from their faces could tell Neha what they had in mind exactly, but the looming frustration from them set something in stone.

The Lama twiddled his fingers, and whipped his sleeves in the air.

“Again, we have reached a decision. This is the last one, I am certain of that. Well Neha, I am surprised by your appeal. In addition to you walking out of your house to look for your parent, you have shown great courage and perseverance. Such traits are rare in people your age. But now, it’s the time to cut to the chase. Neha, your mother will serve two months working in the quarry. And then, she will serve three years in prison, as the High Order have dictated.”

“Oh… so she’ll be working, then she’ll be in prison. I don’t-” Neha sweated, her thoughts scattered into countless bubbles.

“That may be the right choice,” said Tulisen. “After all, Neha is the only child, so I can’t help but feel a load of consolation.”

Yebuka’s lips curled. “I agree too. So that’s that. Soldiers from the back door, please escort this poor woman to the outpost near the north, and get her a cot. She will work starting next week.”

The grunts complied to his orders. Aijin plummeted to the floor, she shuddered and her face sulked from a lack of energy. The soldiers took her away to the door that led to the domain. Yebuka gave his thanks to Tulisen for taking him out on a night stroll, and he left the stage. Before he could depart for good, Neha tugged his robes, and she sketched a grimace.

“What is it my fair lady?”

Neha looked down, letting her hand go. “Will I see my mother during the two months?”

“Of course you will, only one day a week. She will be very busy, mining and extracting the resources for the economy of our village. Don’t worry; if she is hurt, then her insurance will provide her some coverage.”

“Oh, okay. And also, do you know where Kuraizang is? Can you retrieve my father from the desert? I want to see him again.”

Yebuka walked to the aisle, and at first did not respond. But soon with Neha tailing him, the Lama turned back. “I don’t know about your father for now. As for Kuraizang, he is ascending to liberation among the help of the gods. Right now, he is bearing the weight for our souls. Don’t ask much of it.” He beckoned for Tulisen. “Do me a favor, and take care of Neha from now on will you? It’d be a disaster if she lives alone, so you’ll be a guardian to her.”

“Yes sir, I understand.”

“Good.” Yebuka then arrived at the front door. While he gazed at the stars, he grinned and let the darkness invade his face. “Yes, it’s all according to plan. Thank you a lot, young woman who holds the rightful vengeance, for accomplishing the job. I knew that you can do it. Now that we have her out of the picture, it is time that I will take measures to make sure that she is secured for the mission.” The Lama whisked himself away, heading to wherever he needed to go.

Tulisen went by Neha’s side, and held her again by his arms. “I will be living at your house, providing you with necessities. I will register myself as a guardian, okay? Please don’t hurt yourself Neha.”

“All right.”

Neha could barely comprehend the replacement of her mother with Tulisen. Let alone her shyness towards him, he seemed to be too mellow for her tastes. It came to be that she had to manage this, but deep inside, the pain kept hurting her; with both her parents gone, nothing could surpass her experience of having her world fracture itself. Once it broke, it could never recover. Something stung her chest, and never before did she feel such a sensation, and in all worries and anxiety, Neha’s heart died a little. Whether she could live like this from now on, only the gods knew—but for now, she had to live under the same roof with Tulisen.