"What... did you just call me?"
Rhys had always thought that the gorgons' inability to keep their thoughts in their mind would surely always lead to trouble. And right now, he was witnessing just that. Just moments ago, Malenia was trying her best to mediate and calm the situation down; even when the Shrine of Medusa was insulted, she kept her calm.
But as soon as she saw Governess Rheadan staring at Rhys from head to toe while licking her lips, her impatience just instantly reached its limit.
"I called you a fat caterpillar, you can barely even move your limb — and I could see through your scales since your skin is stretching. What I can't see, however, is your neck; which one is it from the 6 I am seeing?" Malenia said in the span of 5 seconds while staring Rheadan in the eyes,
"And is that cosmetics on your lips, or is it sauce?"
"You...you dare insult me!? Right in my city!?" Rheadan pointed her chubby finger at Malenia.
"I am only stating facts, and we are not in your city. Your city is still half a mile there and I can see its gates," Malenia shook her head as she pointed at the large stone gate that was in between even taller plateaus, "Maybe if you just let us pass like we wanted, we would have already been gone by now.
Please, Governess, as someone who had served the Shrine of Medusa, I am asking you to let us pass — I am on a very important mission."
"You think you have the right to even look at Hortho after what you said to me!?" Rheadan screamed as she tried to slither her way out of her palanquin, but failed to do so, "Hear this, you and your people are to never set foot in Hortho ever again, I forbid it! I forbid it! What are all of you just looking at them for, kill them!"
And as Rheadan said that, the remaining warrioresses raised their spears again... and a dozen more suddenly emerged from the sand, completely surrounding Malenia and the group. Rhys did not really realize they could do that, and he did not even sense them even with his heightened abnormal senses.
Well, it made sense that he wouldn't detect them at all — the only threat on the other side was Rheadan, and she could barely even move.
"Malenia," Rhys then stood behind Malenia and whispered, "I will kill everyone but the fat one, will that be alright?"
"That..." Malenia glanced at Rhys before looking at the warriors inching toward them. She still seemed completely hesitant, but the only thing she could really do was nod, "...They are trying to kill us, they left us no choice. Shivellans, prepare to—"
"Shivellans!" Malenia could not finish her words before Rhys interrupted her, "Prioritize protecting the High Priestess and the carriage."
"Wh—" And once again, before Malenia could say anything, Rhys just leaped into the air. And as he did so, 7 scalpels fell from his trusty utility belt — but before the scalpels could actually drop down, he caught each and every one of them and threw them one by one; each letting out thunders as he threw them at full force towards the warriors' heads.
All the scalpels hit the warriors right at the very center of their foreheads, just completely stabbing into their heads and through the back like their skulls were just made of tofu.
He did all of this while he was still ascending in the air, and when he was starting to fall; he tugged his hand and pulled all the scalpels back to him, which actually had threads attached to them — these sharp threads completely tore through the warriors' heads, and before the others could react, Rhys swung his arm and sliced through the remaining warriors...
...doing so before his feet even returned to the sand.
"That's not our problem, High Priestess," Rhys let out a small sigh while shaking his head, "I can bring the Governess to the city to create some chaos, and in the meantime, the servants could take you and the carriage past the city."
"No, please...!" The servants then all bowed their heads down again as they slithered closer to Malenia, "No one... no one likes Governess Rheadan! They're all just scared of her, and only the shivellans follow her orders! She... she had to turn the other city guards into stone too!"
"If that's the case..." Rhys placed his hand on his chin, "...Then I suppose that might prove faster than trying to create chaos in the city. But the first time I notice someone even looking at us funny, High Priestess — I am going to carry you and the nymph out of the city."
"E...even me?"
"Of course," Rhys nodded as he looked at the Hearts floating above Malenia's head, "I need you."
"The... The Hero needs me...?" Malenia quickly looked away, "We... we should be quick then, bring her inside the city!"
Fortunately, or perhaps unfortunately, no chaos really happened and Malenia did not have the chance to be carried by Rhys out of the city. Instead, all the citizens welcomed them with open arms; some of them even cheered and cried as soon as they saw the fat governess tied up.
Rhys truly thought that there would be some sort of altercation and he had to kill more people again, but nothing happened — and instead, they truly did save a lot of gorgons. But sadly...
"...Most of them will die if I undo their petrification."
The petrified guards were already in a dilapidated state, most of them either missing limbs or their heads were cracked. Perhaps the only welcoming news was that the previous governess was alive and well.
"You... you have my utmost and eternal gratitude, High Priestess!"
"Please, Governess, we only did what we are supposed to do — I am with the... Where's the Hero?"
But while Malenia was talking and being thanked by the people, Rhys was currently in front of the ruined Shrine of Medusa with Aengela sitting on his shoulder.
"I do not feel my sister here, Hero," Aengela had her eyes closed.
"Was... she killed?"
"No, I would have felt it," Aengela shook her head, "But it would seem the Fates have once again guided your steps, Hero — the lingering presence left of my sister on this ruined shrine...
...it is the same as the one who is howling in pain."
"I see..." Rhys's eyebrows lowered, "I guess we could spare some time...
...and interrogate the fat caterpillar."