Sol looked at the cat that had obviously changed.
If before the cat could pass for a house cat, now that illusion was no longer. Rather than a cat, what stood in front of them was a true lioness. It was still rather small, but the transformation was nonetheless impressive.
“Heh, I thought you were asleep.”
“My conscience had begun to rose either since I have been in contact with him and I became aware of the exterior world when he came back with the scent of my apprentice’s aura all over him.
Though, I only woke up completely because of the surge of energy you showed a few days ago. I guess my mind woke me up because of the potential danger.”
Sekhmet answered disinterestedly while observing the circle around her. Putting a paw on it, she pulled it back immediately when a spark zapped her.
Sneering, as weird as it was to do with the face of a cat, she turned toward Sol.
“Tell me, little master. What is the meaning of you seeking me out?”
“Little master…?”
Sekhmet shrugged, “Answer my question first.”
Hearing this, Sol threw a look at Kiyohime before looking at Tiamat and nodding at her.
“Don’t worry. I already used my dimension as a cover. You can speak without any problem. As for Kiyohime…”
Kiyohime had wondered if she should simply go back. Since it seemed like she was unwanted.
“You should stay. Or rather, you need to stay. After all, this also concerns you.”
Sol stopped the dejected Kiyohime from turning back and going away. He believed in her and knew that her influence would be necessary if they wanted to reach the goal they had set for themselves.
Turning back to Sekhmet, Sol coughed and spoke.
“Should I call you, Sekhmet or Lady Bastet?”
“Hum…Quite sly aren’t you, dear little master.”
Bastet answered with a chuckle. She knew exactly what Sol was doing. If she chose to be called Lady Bastet, then she was putting a distance between the two of them. But if she chose Sekhmet, then it would mean that she still recognized the relation between them.
As for her choice….
“You are quite lucky. The little one in me is found of you. Because you see—I really hate sly little guys like you.”
Her eyes shone with a golden hue but Sol stared at her without any fear in his eyes. The stand off between them lasted for quite a while before she released a sigh.
“Call me Lady Sekhmet. That would do for now. Now then, for how long do you plan to keep me in here? Or do you think I will be able to harm you with the Dragon’s Empress right here?”
Tiamat nodded to herself but shook her head with a little smirk.
“You are very slippery. I didn’t put this circle because I feared you would hurt us. I did it because I do not wish to let you run using a time node.”
“Tsk~! I thought I would be able to avoid something troublesome.”
She plopped down on the ground like a sleepy cat and yawned,
“Let’s get this done with now. I can’t stay awake for too long.”
“Well then, Kiyohime, Lady Sekhmet, let me tell you a little story.”
—--
A few minutes later, Kiyohime sat down with a somber expression.
Who would have thought that her wishes to discuss with her mother would make her a part of such a dangerous topic.
“Is it really the truth?”
Unlike Kiyohime, Sekhmet seemed rather calm. After all, unlike the blue dragon, she had no reasons to believe in Tiamat and Sol.
More than anything else, she couldn’t phantom why she would sacrifice herself for a boy she barely knew.
While she had observed Sol in action and found him interesting, it was far from enough to warrant her dying for him.
In fact, his earlier actions made her good impression of him drop a little. So it was even more unimaginable.
“Do you believe I would waste my time lying to you?”
Sekhmet grunted at Tiamat’s words. Indeed. While she was a demigod herself, this was in the past and even then, Sekhemet knew that she was nothing in front of a renowed being like the Dragon Emperess.
Lying to someone like her would be beneath the consideration of such an exhalted being. Even more so since all they had to do was to force her to obey. There was little she could go against a monster like Tiamat in her current state.
In the end all she could do was nod, “Since you gave me all those information, I guess I have no other choice. I…”
“Wait, there seems to be a misunderstanding. We really don’t plan to force you to paticipate. If you don’t wish to, we will simply seal you down here until everything is resolved. Then you will be free to go and do as you like after swearing a binding oath to never reveal the truth.”
Sol was clear and concise with his words. He made her understand that while they did not wish to force her, they would not give her the slightest chance of spreading any form of rumours before and after the event.
“Heh…I guess I should be thankful to you?”
The sarcastic tone in her voice showed her true feeling but this was the only thing Sol would not compromise on.
The future Sekhmet died for him. But this hasn't happened currently.
In the same way she didn’t trust him, Sol did not trust her yet either. He wouldn’t endanger his loved ones for something he wasn’t absolutely sure of.
Gazing deeply in his eyes and feeling the conviction in them, Sekhmet finally relented.
“Let me see my disciple first. I want to see how she doing. Furthermore, if you really want my help, then I ask you to free her. I may not be essential for your plan, but it never hurts to have one more ally, right?”
Sol and Tiamat traded glance. The two of them had developped a certain tacit understanding and since Sol saw no reluctance in Tiamat’s eyes, he nodded.
“No problem. Your conditions are acceptable.”
“Of course, I hope I don’t need to mention that I will place a seal on the two of you. Even if you try to flee by traversing history, I will make sure to find you and…”
Tiamat did not finish her words, but the silent threat was clear nonetheless.
She wasn't as nice as Sol and she didn't have any intentions to waste her time.
"Kiyohime, come with me, I will put on the seal. We will talk later."
Kiyohime nodded. She really needed to speak about everything she had just heard. If not for her years of experience, she would have been hysterical by now.
"As for you Sol, why don't you visit that Titan? Don’t worry, I have made sure she won't be able to hurt you even if she wanted. Though I doubt she would even try."
No matter how distrustful Tiamat was over the whole matter. She had to admit that Skuld was pretty damn convincing.
Either way, she had put up a failsafe. So she would leave the rest to her little boy.
After Tiamat vanished with Sekhmet and Kiyohime, Sol, now alone, began to walk in the direction where Skuld was detained.
There were things that needed to be discussed a little more with her.
