After returning from the barren land of Squora, people called her a cannibal. They threw things at her in self defense. They would rather attack first than to wait for her to attack them.
Nonetheless, they were afraid. On the first day she entered the training field, the soldiers banded together to pick on her. Because they were afraid.
When she faced the three soldiers, she could feel the urgency and killing intent in their gazes. They wanted to take her down fast, before she could use her full abilities. Because they were afraid.
She instilled fear wherever she went, to the point she had forgotten what fear meant.
Now, she stood before someone who wasn't the least bit afraid of her. Someone who found her amusing rather than dangerous. Now she wasn't the one instilling fear, she was at the other side. Now she remembered what it felt like.
Aeloria bent her knees inwards, her crimson eyes and black slit pupils fixed on Migard.
Facing a stronger opponent does not mean she's prey, it only meant her opponent was a stronger predator.
Aeloria inhaled a deep breath through her mouth in an attempt to calm her nerves.
'I may be disliked, but I earned my keep. I... if I lose this position, what would the commander think of me? Will he kick me out of the house he gave me? Even if he didn't, what would become of me?'
She inhaled again, this time, with a furrow of her brows, showing her determination. 'I can't lose here.'
With her knees bent inwards, she pounced forward, her left dagger slashing right, her right dagger slashing left. She aimed for his neck in a deadly strike.
Since Migard had only one dagger, it would be difficult for him to block both strikes at the same time. Thus, his only option would be to retreat backwards.
Aeloria withdrew the attack mid-slash, planting her left leg and aiming for a kick.
The twin dagger slash had been a feint only to throw him off balance. With his guard wide open when he stepped back, the kick to the jaw should be enough to turn the tables.
That was the plan.
"What?" Aeloria whispered mid-kick, her eyes were wide with surprise.
Migard had not moved an inch. He took two quick steps to the side, allowing her leg to whip past his face by a hair's breadth.
'A feint and a kick? She fights like a child. Did she think I would fall for this? Commander, is this the person you handed the position of Head Captain to?' Migard thought, evading another attack of the cannibal in an attempt to land a hit.
Migard's orange eyes shifted to the commander with a disappointed look as he slid the dagger he was holding into its sheath.
"What is he doing? Why is he turning his back to the cannibal?" A soldier was cheering for Migard to humble the cannibal spoke up.
"What if she takes this chance to attack? Why did you put your dagger back, Migard." Another yelled, throwing his helmet to the ground in anger. 'The cannibal would be on cloud nine if she wins the fight. No one would be able to challenge her for the position again.' The soldier thought, shifting uncomfortably.
However, Aeloria did not attack. 'Why did he put the dagger back? Is he giving up?' Aeloria thought, her face was a mask of confusion and disappointment.
"Looks like things haven't changed since I left. I only use a weapon if there's a threat to my life. Now I see I overestimated you by taking out the dagger." He said to the Cannibal and then turned to look at the commander.
Orin stared back at him with an expressionless face.
"If this is what your Head Captain is capable of, then I'm worried about what the rest of the army is like," his supercilious gaze shifted from Orin, sweeping over the soldiers gathered around, dismissing them all as nothing more than target practice.
Ramius frowned at his words, his right hand shifting unconsciously to his sword before deciding against his intentions. 'This is the potato's turf, it would be disrespectful to act when he is still.' Ramius thought, glancing at his friend who stood as motionless as he did from the begining of the fight.
Yoru had a sour expression on her face, somehow, disrespecting Aeloria in front of everyone made her bitter. Not only her, but even the rest of the army felt a vicarious sting of shame; Migard wasn't just insulting Aeloria, he was spitting on the very ranks they stood in.
Migard sighed. His back was still turned to Aeloria. It was as though he considered her insignificant.
'When the queen made me feel helpless, I understood, after all, she was Lady Nyxelene. When the commander made me feel helpless the first day, I understood, after all, he was the Tyrant. Who do you think you are to look down on me?' Aeloria's canine elongated unconsciously as though she was on the verge of losing control.
"When I heard there was a Cannibal in the kingdom, I thought she would be as ferocious and wild as a demon fox. I had no way of knowing she would just be a domesticated dog with a dislocated jaw, Migard spat, now turning his head slightly to look at Aeloria.
Aeloria stood frozen under his contumely, her face burning as he compared the elite Head Captain to a lowly dog.
"My disappointment exceeds the third sky. I've lost the drive to pursue the position, you can go ahead and play Head Captain, Cannibal." With that, he turned to leave.
'Hey Cannibal, what are you doing, there's a reason why we feared you. Show this overly confident fool why none of us had yet tried to challenge you for your position.' One soldier clenched his fists at his sides, grinding his teeth against each other in frustration.
They didn't like the Cannibal, they feared her, however, they couldn't name a single reason why. It had always been in human nature to fear what they did not understand. Deep in their subconscious, they didn't hate her either.
The Cannibal had been with them for two years now, and she had yet to eat even a single one of them. Anytime they went to war, she threw herself at the enemy to make sure many of them came back home alive. Because she was the Cannibal. Because she was their Head Captain.
"A Cannibal was supposed to be a Cannibal, you have no reason holding those daggers. Throw them away and do what you do best. Make him eat his words, or at least eat him with them." A soldier gripped his helmet tightly as he whispered. He glanced around and realized that he wasn't alone.
They all had expectant look in their eyes as they stared at Aeloria.
"The agreement was that, until one of us is dead or admits defeat, the fight is not over. Since you're not dead yet, should I interpret you turning your back to me as admitting defeat?" Aeloria provoked, her canines shrinking back as she struggled to maintain control.
If she let him walk away now, her title would mean nothing—she would be left with only the ignominy of a Head Captain who couldn't even draw her opponent's blood.
"What was that?" Migard now turned to face the Cannibal with a bit of irritation in his voice.