Ohre village became really quiet. After all the commotion and that rousing noises, all of them had a good rest for the night. A truly peaceful night came to the village.

Yana lay on his bed. The air gave this cold and fresh sensation on his skin. His warm blanket and soft bed offered a good solution for his fatigue.

"it's not about race huh.....the problem with human is...their natural instincts...their greedy...."

He tried to sleep by closing his eyes. Yet, he had this habit to think whenever he closed his eyes.

The cicadas sound, the frog, the breeze, all of it made him even more focus and became harder to sleep.

-knock knock-

A sound broke his focus. It's coming from the door. It's already midnight, who will come this late?. Yana decided to open the door.

"Shanti? what's wrong?"

She didn't say any word and kept silent. Yana got the gesture and let Shanti into the room.

"please sit"

Shanti sat on the chair. Yana also took a seat beside her. Yana gave time for Shanti to say what her reason came into his room in this late.

A few minutes, still no response from her. Meanwhile, Yana tried to guess what it was possibly her want.

".... Chanotte? no....any other problem with their tribe? maybe...or plan to leave this village?.." he kept thinking

Shanti looked anxious. Her ears and tail were moving randomly. After taking breath for few times, she finally found a courage to say what's in her mind.

"....sir Yana.."

"hm? what's wrong Shanti?"

"about...your next plan..to go into enemy's territory"

"something is wrong with that?"

"....would only you two go tomorrow?

"I need Barry to command the village's defense. So yes, most likely it's only two of us. Why?"

"..."

"I can't take you with me Shanti. You're the only shaman in this village. You do realize that right?"

"about that matter..."

"...are you serious? it's permanent? not temporary?"

Her eyes were opened wide. She always suprised about her savior insight. How he always got a conclusion just from a very little of information?.

"there are....reasons for that"

"I'll listen. Go ahead"

"a shaman supposed to dedicate themself as God's vessel. Thus, their must have a pure mind and body"

"....you have problem with that condition?"

".... I'm still not sure sir Yana....but most likely, yes"

"you? it's not impossible, but I find it very hard for you to break those conditions"

"...I don't understand either.."

"pure mind and body.....I don't think you go as far as physical matter...so it's your mind? it's about the war? hate? resentful?"

"no, not that..more towards...."

Shanti's face was blushed. Her hands on her lap and squeezed her clothes. She kept looking down and couldn't see Yana's face.

"more towards....?"

"lu..."

"? I can't hear you"

Yana moved his face closer to get a good hearing.

"...lust"

Yana was silent for a while. He clearly heard that so he wouldn't do such a silly thing like asking it again.

"...I see"

Shanti only could nod and wait for Yana's reaction.

"you said lust instead of love. So this is caused by your instinct as a Half-beast?" Yana calmly responded to it

She suddenly remembered about Phyna's word about mating season. Such an excellent timing for it.

"no! I mean....our....mating season...still three months away.."

"it doesn't need to wait for the mating season right? basically all of you has lust and it's getting stronger in the mating season. Is that right?"

"yes, you're right sir Yana"

"...I have several answers in my mind. So I'll ask this to you"

Shanti looked at him and waited for the question.

"you still don't break those two conditions, and you are intended to do it? only for coming with me to the enemy territory?"

"...."

"I'm telling you, it's not your duty to accompany me wherever I'll go. Your duty is to protect this village and deliver God's words"

"yes, I'm understand.."

"so you shouldn't go as far as quit being a shaman"

"of course, if you're decided to quit for this....lust... for living with the man you've loved, then it will make it more unnecessary for you to come with me"

"..."

"-sigh- Shanti, someone can replace you to do this duty. You don't have to become reluctant because of it"

"it's....not.."

"hm?"

Shanti stood up and faced Yana. She blinked several times before she could finally speak.

"I want to come with you sir Yana.... it's not about duty or something else. And I know I'm already not capable as a shaman, I'm feeling that way"

"you still a capable shaman for me..."

"....and for a shaman to leave this village, she must break all the conditions. So our beast god ROGNIR would place his trust to another suitable person"

"....your reason for leaving this village....and breaking the condition.....have the same thing in common"

"as expected....from our savior.."

"lust...mind and body...this situation..the timing... all of it only lead to one conclusion"

Yana stared at Shanti. He leaned back and let out a sigh.

"it is me..."

Shanti fixed her hair and looked at her savior.

"yes....sir Yana...."

-----( Chapter 35 "Guest at the midnight" )-----