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"Who made this?"
Nilou never saw that expression before: a gloomy expression, the anger in his gaze. Come to think of it, she had never seen the General Mahamatra as angry as he is now.
It was her fault, she should learn how to control her tears.
"Cyno, everything is okay." she whispered, trying to smile. "I just need... a little moment."
The dancer's expression was really bad, her eyes were puffy and her cheeks were red. Who knows how long she had been crying for... Nilou shuddered when she felt Cyno's hand cup her cheek, causing them both to look at each other again.
"If everything was really fine you wouldn't be crying like that" he answered.
Nilou tried to look the other way; sometimes it scared her to see that side of the man she loved. The anger in his body. As a matra, it was his duty to persecute those criminals who harmed people and didn't mind using others for their own benefit, that included those scholars who harm others. And lately, the number of students harassing the red-haired girl had increased.
This is not the first time that she appeared crying; many scholars from the Akademiya went to the theater to laugh at her or insult her. It wasn't the first time that Cyno had to go there and drive them away. The Akademiya doesn't perceive art very well... But that behavior is no excuse to insult and discredit those who persecute dance and art. Though he himself didn't understand the purpose of art, the thought that others might laugh at her made him angry.
But truth is, that's not what made him angry. What bothered him the most was that Nilou didn't defend herself, she just stayed there, listening and holding back her tears. Frozen.
Just like now. Why she wasn't answering him? He wanted to know, the name of the scholars who had dared to harm her... The silence was making him more anxious. After a few minutes Cyno get up and exhaled.
"I will go find them in this instant, and they will receive their just punishment."
He was furious. He didn't care if the Akademiya punished him, he would do anything to defend her honor.
However, Nilou grabbed his arm before he left.
"What are you going to do, go after those persons and hit them? Take them to jail by force? No, you have an important position, you are the General Mahamatra. I'm not going to let you spoil everything for my whims."
Cyno could see the tears coming out of her eyes, again. "Your whims? This is not about your whims Nilou, this is about you. You have to defend yourself! " he said, with, anger in his voice "You are strong, if they insult you you must respond! Don't you know how much it hurts me to see you suffer like this?"
Nilou pulled him and make him sit down next to her. He didn't realize that her own hands were shaking. Nilou smiled sadly, and Cyno opened his eyes surprised after seeing her. Every time he saw her cry his heart hurt, so much.
"I'm sorry." she whispered, again. "You're right, I should learn to stand up for myself."
Nilou closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She always saw the good in all living things, even those who dared to harm her. Perhaps that was why, even if those scholars genuinely hurt her, she found herself unable to reply.
"But sometimes I just don't know what to say." Nilou lowered her head, she was trying very hard not to cry, but her voice was breaking. "Their words ... They are so mean."
This time it was Cyno who pulled her and hugged her. She hugged him back immediately and rested her head on his chest. Nilou felt safe in his arms.
"Everything will be alright now, if you want to cry, do it." he whispered. "If you cannot defend yourself, I will be by your side, I will give you the strength you need to confront them. I'll be here everytime you need."
The dancer stopped crying and smile. Cyno kiss her head before continuing talking. "Even if you don't want it, the behavior of these people is still inexcusable. I'll go punish them later."
He could hear a genuine laught coming from Nilou, as she raised her head to look at him. "Can you try not to hit them this time? Last time you hit them so hard you knock them off."
Now it was Cyno who was laughing. "I won't promise anything ... But I guess scaring them will be enough."
They both couldn't help but laugh about that. A group of scholars, scared by the general... Now that was a funny scene...
[...]
Later that day, somewhere near the Akademiya...
"Did you see the look in her face? It was so pathetic!" a scholar said, as he looked at his two companions.
"Definitely! Hey! Should we throw tomatoes at her next time?" said another, soon the third began to laugh out loud.
"Yeah, that's how she'll learn, that bi-..."
"Looks like you three are having a great time."
A fourth, deep voice came out of hiding, surprising to the scholars, who turned their bodies to see who was speaking. This was going to be something they would regret.
"G-General Mahamatra! What a surprise! Is there anything-..."
Before he could reply, Cyno lunged forward and had him down with a single punch. The man groaned in pain, while the matra put his foot on his chest to prevent him from getting up. The other simple boys fled in fear, leaving behind their partner. Little cowards.
"I'm been told that some scholars were harassing a dancer from the theater and her companions." the young man talk. "You won't have anything to do with it, right?"
"N-no! It's not us, really! I'll tell you who they are but please don't hurt me!"
The scholar obviously lied, and Cyno knew it, he know it was them. However, instead of answering and letting it be known, Cyno laughed sarcastically. It was disgusting that the Akademiya allowed this kind of behavior, even more so that they didn't punish them properly. However, there was something that the Akademiya doesn't know..
"No need. I just have a message for them... If I ever see her crying again..." Cyno start talking again, pointing his spear at the scholar neck. "You will receive a punishment worse than death."
There was one thing that the Akademiya doesn't know: anyone who dared to harm Nilou would suffer General Mahamatra's wrath.