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Chapter 31 – Two Faces of a Goddess

  Night had fallen like a black veil over the village of Edo. Only the dim glow of scattered lanterns fought against the oppressive darkness, their flickering light casting dancing shadows across the narrow alleys. The quiet chirping of crickets broke the silence, occasionally interrupted by a lone, suspiciously barking dog, as if it sensed something in the air. Something inevitable.

  Deep within a grove, hidden between gnarled trees and damp moss, a cave opened—unremarkable from the outside, yet heavy with meaning within. A fire burned softly at its center, its glow flickering across the uneven stone walls, casting distorted shadows on the faces of those gathered there, plotting as if the fate of the world depended on them.

  Tessa sat on a rock, arms crossed over her chest, legs loosely outstretched. Her eyes reflected the flames, but her gaze was distant, as if she were seeing something that had not yet come to pass. The glow of the fire gave her features a sharpness, almost a hardness, but the tension ran deeper—hidden behind the fa?ade of a woman who knew that choices loomed.

  The conversation at the steward’s house had ended—at least for the night. It hadn’t been a conclusion, merely an intermission. The daimyō’s men would return, and this time, they would demand answers. Real ones. Perhaps even blood.

  Mike’s voice echoed in her mind, calm and precise—like a cleaner version of her own thoughts.

  “Now we know they won’t strike immediately. They’re gathering intel.”

  Tessa nodded slowly, not needing to look at him.

  “They’re being cautious. Which means they either don’t know what to believe… or they’re waiting on orders.”

  A brief silence followed, broken only by the crackle of the fire. Then Mike again:

  “Exactly. Which means we can shape their perception.”

  Tessa raised an eyebrow, more out of habit than genuine surprise.

  “And how do you propose we do that?” she asked flatly.

  Mike took his time answering. There was thought in his silence, like a chessboard slowly turning in his mind.

  “It depends entirely on how they behave tomorrow.”

  Tessa’s expression twisted slightly—somewhere between amusement and disbelief.

  “So you’re suggesting I wait... to see what they intend?”

  “Yes,” he said, without hesitation. “We’ve got two options. If they stay peaceful, you appear as the radiant, benevolent goddess. They’ll fall to their knees, worship you, believe in you. And a god who is believed in... is hard to question.”

  A crooked, dangerous grin crept onto Tessa’s lips.

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  “Charming thought. And if they turn hostile?”

  Mike’s voice darkened, heavier now. A shadow crept into his tone, like distant thunder.

  “Then you don the armor of the dead... and become the embodiment of death itself.”

  Her gaze drifted toward the dark armor standing in the corner of the cave—still, unmoving, yet radiating a presence that could be felt even in pitch darkness. The steel was black as pitch, scorched by ancient fire and steeped in stories no one dared speak aloud anymore.

  Tessa tilted her head, eyeing the metal monstrosity with a mix of reverence and unease.

  “So I could be either... depending on what they deserve.”

  Mike gave a silent nod. Then quietly:

  “Let them decide which face of the goddess they see.”

  Tessa laughed—short, almost joyful. A sound that didn’t belong in this quiet night.

  “I like this plan.”

  While Tessa and Mike shaped their strategy, the conversation at the steward’s house had drifted toward a vague conclusion. The words spoken there had been polite, cautious—but not meaningless.

  The captain of the daimyō’s men had left with a face that showed neither open hostility nor conviction. There had been tension, yes—but no outright aggression. Not yet.

  Himoto had held his ground well. His responses had been calm, clear—neither confrontational nor submissive. But he knew, too, that he was walking a razor’s edge.

  Miko had spoken less than usual, her words measured and deliberate. But her uncertainty had been plain—not in what she said, but in what she left unsaid.

  Aiko, on the other hand, had all but withdrawn. Yet her eyes... her eyes had spoken volumes. A silent rejection of the strangers who prowled the rooms like hunters on a trail. Her mistrust clung to the air like fog—impossible to dispel.

  “We’ll speak again tomorrow,” the captain had finally said, his gaze sharp as a blade as he turned and stepped into the night with his men.

  Himoto had seen them off, a shadow among shadows. Miko and Aiko remained behind—silent, but alert.

  From the edge of the woods, hidden in the darkness, Tessa had watched the scene unfold. Her eyes tracked every movement, every nod, every gesture.

  “They’re staying the night. That means they’re not convinced yet,” she whispered—more to herself than to Mike.

  But he replied instantly:

  “Perfect. That gives us time to prepare.”

  Tessa stepped slowly toward the dark armor. Each step echoed faintly in the cave, as if even the ground could feel the tension hanging in the air. Beside the armor lay her everyday clothing—plain, unassuming, almost humble in comparison to the monstrosity of steel and death beside it.

  She stopped, gazing at the choice laid before her. Two paths. Two roles. Two truths.

  “Light or darkness, Mike?” Her voice was steady, but beneath it pulsed a flickering current—nervousness, anticipation... or maybe eagerness?

  Mike was silent for a moment. Then he answered with gentle resolve:

  “It’s not up to us. They’ll make that choice.”

  Tessa reached out, brushing her fingertips against the cold metal. A shiver ran through her—not from fear, but from reverence. The goddess she was meant to embody was no myth. She was real. And she was waiting.

  A dark gleam lit Tessa’s eyes as she drew her hand back.

  “Then we wait... and see which side they choose.”

  The night remained still.

  But somewhere, between trees and shadows, a goddess waited—ready to shine... or to destroy.

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