The night sky stretched wide, scattered with sparkling stars, but what stole the spotlight was the full moon, shining brightly and bathing the world in its soft silver light. The air outside the orphanage house was cool, laced with the scent of earth and grass touched by fresh dew. From inside the house, the sound of flowing water and the gentle clinking of dishes came from the kitchen—Aunt Yuni was finishing her evening chores.
Meanwhile, on the front porch, two women sat side by side on an old wooden bench facing the open grassland. Shina Mariposa, still in her casual clothes with a beret hat lying next to her, stared blankly at the moon. Beside her, Lucy Mariposa leaned back with her arms crossed, occasionally glancing at her younger sister, who seemed calmer than usual.
"Have you read today's newspaper?" Lucy asked, breaking the silence with her gentle voice.
Shina shook her head slowly. "No. I stopped reading the paper a long time ago," she replied, her tone flat but honest.
Lucy gave a small smile, though not a relieved one. "You know, everyone in the capital is talking about you right now. 'Young Officer Shina Mariposa defeats a high-ranking Bloodminer'—that's the headline."
Shina turned her head briefly, then looked back at the moon. "That's just one of many. I'll wipe them all out. Down to the roots."
Lucy took a deep breath, exhaling slowly. "You need to be more careful, Shina. I know you're strong, but they're not ordinary enemies. They're cunning. And they know who you are."
Shina gave a short nod but didn't respond directly. A few seconds of silence passed before she turned to her sister with a firm gaze. "You don't need to worry about me, Sis. I know what I'm doing."
Lucy wanted to offer another piece of advice, but she knew that saying too much would only make Shina more stubborn. So she tried a different approach.
"Maybe… you could talk to Canis. Ask for his advice. He—"
"No," Shina cut her off quickly, her tone sharper than she intended. "I don't need advice from that man."
Lucy turned to her, puzzled. "Did something happen between you two? You sound… angry."
Shina was quiet for a moment, then sighed. She didn't want to hide anything from her sister—not about this.
"I met him. By chance. We talked for a bit." She looked at Lucy. "And I realized… my view of him might never be the same as yours."
Lucy fell silent. Her once gentle smile slowly faded, replaced by an unreadable expression. Not disappointment. Not anger. More like… resignation.
"I see," she murmured.
They fell silent again, letting the sounds of crickets and the night wind keep them company. The night felt long—and calm—but something between them had changed. Not hostility, nor distance. Just… a new understanding, quietly blooming beneath the moonlight.
{Chapter 20}