LYONIC

"Did you see that? They came empty-handed."

"Do they not know the rules? Or do they not respect the God of War at all?"

"I don't think I've seen them before. Who are they? Did they sneak in?"

.

The whispers grew louder, their eyes upon me, and I wished the ground would just open up and swallow me whole. It wasn't just about humiliation in front of familiar faces; this felt like being exposed in front of strangers who knew nothing about me but judged every move I made.

I stood there, trying to keep my cool, but the weight of everyone's gaze felt heavier than what I had imagined.

In a little while, the whole room was in disarray.

All eyes were on the group that entered, their uniforms sharp and intimidating; the leader was no other than a true King of War, towering in height and power. The star on his shoulder was easily seen, and he was commanding.

I could feel Lyon, beside me, stiffen. I did not need to look at him to know that he, too, felt the impact of this man's presence.

"A brief introduction. I served in the Eastern War Zone, code-named Azure Dragon. I am the right-hand man of the God of War!" The man's voice roared within the silence as he watched the crowd, his eyes locking on us, narrowing.

His words sucked the warmth out of the room; even Lyon, ever the composed one, tensed up a little.

"Whoa, this God of War is freaking scary! His second in command is a King of War!"

"Yeah? I heard the God of War is Erudia's most decorated military officer, five-starred!"

The mutters didn't soothe my anxiety; if anything, they made my unease worse. I didn't know what to do. My mind raced, but I couldn't formulate a plan quick enough. How could we be so out of place here?

"Lyon, should we. should we just leave?" I whispered, but Lyon's steady gaze kept me rooted to the spot.

"Wait," Lyon said softly, "Just stay calm."

I nodded, though my heart was anything but serene. The room started filling with the rustling murmur of people pushing their way to the stage, each carrying something in wild offerings. My eyes darted to Lyon, impassive. We had brought nothing with us.

"What are we even supposed to do?" I whispered.

But before Lyon could utter a word, Azure Dragon continued the presentation, yet the tone sounded razor-sharp.

"Stop searching for him. The God of War is already among us. He keeps to himself, prefers the shadows. but rest assured, he is watching every one of you."

That statement sent a ripple through the crowd. It was clear now that this wasn't just some social event; it was a test, and we had to pass it, somehow.

"Please," I whispered to Lyon, "What do we do?"

Suddenly, the room blew up with all sorts of gifts.

"North Hampton Winston Gonzales gifts the God of War a pair of Legendary Pearls!"

"North Hampton Evergreen Chamber of Commerce gives a two-hundred-year-old rare wild ginseng!"

"North Hampton Apocalypse Club presents a McLaren P1!"

.

I look around, totally out of place. One after another, they took to giving gifts. Each person gave increasingly extravagant things, their wealth and power growing like a wall I could never scale.

And then. the silence fell. Azure Dragon looked at the towering pile of gifts, his expression hardening.

"Do you understand what you're doing?" he asked, his voice cutting through the room like a blade.

Everyone froze. Even Lyon stiffened, sensing the gravity in his tone. I felt a knot form in my stomach.

"Are you insulting the God of War?" Azure Dragon's voice cracked like a whip.

"No! Absolutely not!" The crowd quickly responded, their faces pale.

Azure Dragon's glare shifted, piercing the room with an unspoken authority. "This is what the God of War despises most. He doesn't care for your extravagant displays. He's not impressed by your wealth."

I could feel Lyon tense beside me, and the air seemed to grow thicker with every passing second.

Azure Dragon's voice softened somewhat, but there was no forgiveness in his gaze. "The God of War isn't interested in gifts. He's interested in respect, real respect. This will be your last warning."

I let out a shaky breath, but I couldn't shake the feeling of being caught in a trap I didn't understand.

"Azure Dragon, if I may ask, when will the God of War appear?" someone asked to break the tension.

Azure Dragon smiled tightly. "He's here. He doesn't like attention, so don't look around. He's closer than you think."

I looked around, but my eyes settled on Lyon's so fast. He was calm, really, but something was just different about him. He held himself-the quiet, reserved confidence, the barely noticeable tension strung in his shoulders, it was as if waiting for something.

My brain scattered at the next voice of Azure Dragon.

"Is anyone here without a gift?" he asked, his voice suddenly stern again.

I froze, my palms suddenly clammy.

Lyon didn't hesitate. He raised his hand, and all eyes were on him.

"Yes, I'm without a gift," Lyon said, his voice steady and full of conviction. The entire room seemed to hold its breath.

Azure Dragon's gaze snapped to him, his eyes sharp and assessing. "And why is that?"

Lyon's gaze never wavered from his. "I bring nothing because, in this case, it is not what one possesses that matters. It is your word, your honor, your actions. That is the gift you deserve, God of War."

There was a pause; a hushed moment burdened with words unspoken. I could feel the weight of Lyon's words, and I knew the room did too.

Azure Dragon glared at Lyon for several long moments, and then, to my astonishment, his face softened. "You have done well to show respect, Lyon Obi." His voice boomed through the room, and I felt a subtle change in the energy within our circle.

The crowd shifted back, almost in a show of reverence.

Azure Dragon nodded. "I will remember you. The God of War respects those who show respect, without the need for lavish displays."

I stood there in shock as Azure Dragon turned away, his presence leaving the room thick with implication.

The applause of the crowd was light, almost hesitant, but I could tell everyone was second-guessing their approach.

"Did. did you hear that?" I asked Lyon, my voice shaking a little.

"Yeah," he said, smiling knowingly at me. "It would appear our approach was the right one after all."

I could hardly believe what had just happened. It was as if the very air had shifted. Lyon had done something I couldn't quite grasp yet-something that had changed everything.

It is years now after I had realized how drastically this course of the night had flipped. What seemed like mere defiance had turned into respect, all invited over, an invitation courtesy of one man: Lyon.

When I walked away from that event, the gut feeling was that something far greater was at play: Lyon wasn't just another man. He had something in him, something strong and powerful, which made him commanding and influential-just by his belief in self and respect for the right things.

And maybe. just maybe, that was what all needed to happen.