Legend of Niyonika

Top Ten Outer Disciples 3 (Ch.16)

~We are only falsehood, duplicity, contradiction; we both conceal and disguise ourselves from ourselves~

-Blaise Pascal

"Ah...so it has never happened before?" Niyonika asked in surprise.

"How could that be? It certainly has happened, the current No 6 was previously No 5 but was defeated by senior brother Daine in a challenge and hence the rankings changed, however the positions of the top three has not changed in like forever despite the countless challenges, most especially that position of No1..." Raila said with a shake of her head.

"To remain unchallenged despite the hundreds of outer disciples, the top 3 must be really powerful then." Niyonika observed, Raila nodded in agreement.

"Big sister is correct. Of the top ten outer disciples, No 1, No 2 and No 3 are simply too outstanding." Raila explained in awe, Niyonika scoffed quietly.

"Ah look, there they come, No 6, No 2 and No 10." Raila spoke up, her excited tone dying out towards the end where she had to mention the No 10 who was Yana.

Niyonika looked towards the gate and her gaze first settled on a thin, plain looking male who followed beside the other two like some sort of puppet, Niyonika immediately concluded that was No 6.

Next, Niyonika caught the sight of a dashingly handsome youth that approached the gates with powerful strides.

His every step oozed confidence and power. His expression however was what halted Niyonika's observation and interest.

"Looks like an arrogant brat." Niyonika commented quietly to Raila, Raila nudged Niyonika quickly, a look of panic on her face.

"Don't say things that could get you in trouble! what if someone hears you? Besides Senior brother Kain is precisely big sister's dearest childhood friend." Raila reminded, Niyonika frowned at this revelation.

"He sure looks to be really chummy with that other female." Niyonika commented, Raila also frowned at this, nodding in agreement.

"That is Yana, big sister's rival. She has been attaching herself to senior brother Kain ever since she arrived and has done everything to push big sister aside, but obviously she has not succeeded! In what way can she compare to big sister's otherworldly beauty? Senior brother Kain is absolutely loyal to big sister and never gives that Yana the time of the day, big sister need not be concerned." Raila assured Niyonika happily.

Niyonika hummed quietly despite her dissatisfaction at Raila's words, there was no point arguing with the excited female.

Niyonika finally permitted her gaze to rest on this Yana who was her supposed rival she had been hearing so much about.

The female was tall and pretty, not the kind of beauty that could topple nations as Niyonika was, but a soft and approachable kind of beauty, her aura oozed warmth and innocence, with a soft and kind gaze and a friendly smile on her lips.

"Are you certain that is the Yana you have been talking about?" Niyonika asked in bafflement, no matter which angle Niyonika regarded the female from, she just looked to be an innocent little girl who probably could not hurt a fly what part of this female could plot to murder someone and actually push someone off a cliff?

"Big sister is also deceived by her facade right? Big sister did always say this Yana's facade was too convincing. Now that big sister has lost her memories, big sister is also deceived. Big sister, this Yana is infact the true definition of a wolf in sheep's clothing, her innocent expression is a complete facade"

"However this facade is only reserved especially for big brother Kain and the sect elders, all the other disciples are well aware of her true nature as they have experienced her tyranny at one point or the other. It is only sad that none dares to speak up against her for fear of her power and influence and the top ten outer disciples do not care enough to bother to do something about it." Raila lamented bitterly, releasing a sigh of resignation at the end of her words.

Niyonika raised a brow, moving her gaze back to Yana and taking another look, this time more critically than before, Niyonika only had to glance at the female with a searching gaze and immediately the female's facade was exposed and everything she hid beneath it became glaringly obvious to Niyonika's sight.

Although the female's expression was indeed innocent and her smile deceptively warm, there were still the smallest signs of one's true nature that could never be completely hidden.

Despite her contrary expression, the female's brows were twisted in a manner that spoke of habitual arrogance, as though every one else was beneath her. More so than this, the female's chin was raised so high, it quite nearly touched the sky.

The female stuck closely to senior brother Kain's side, even going as far as to ensure their every step was in perfect harmony, had Niyonika not been watching so critically, she probably would have brushed off this action as being a coincidence.

Niyonika glanced between the female Yana and senior brother Kain and could only shake her head.

'In what planet is this called 'being loyal'? You do not give her the time of the day but let her stick to you like glue? For what? To make yourself look better and sought after? How hateful!' Niyonika thought to herself, already absolutely detesting this childhood friend of hers.

Perhaps her distaste was encouraged by the distaste the previous Niyonika bore towards this childhood friend, for whatever reason, both their assertions of him were the same.

"If I have ever seen a more perfect match." Niyonika commented quietly, Raila threw Niyonika a glare but refrained from speaking.

Niyonika watched as the three walked towards them, the color of their sect insignias were perfectly alike, a lively red colour that boasted of their fire attribute.

No 2, No 6 and No 10 were all fire elementals.

Kain and his companions finally arrived at the gathered disciples, moving through the created space to the very front, coming to a halt beside Niyonika and the rest of the top ten outer disciples.

Kain and his companions exchanged pleasantries with their fellow top ten before Kain's gaze finally rested on Niyonika and headed towards her.

Niyonika could feel the heated glare from Yana's side as Kain moved towards her, Yana's expression had long been conformed to a dirty look ever since she first sighted Niyonika, although her expression had momentarily displayed shock and disbelief upon sighting Niyonika.

This went to prove to Niyonika that this female had indeed pushed her off a cliff, it was the only reason she would react so shocked to see Niyonika, it was because she had infact believed Niyonika to be dead.

"Little Niyo, big brother has been too busy and has not had the time to accompany you, You have been well I trust?" Kain inquired in a tone that was filled with so much concern, it came off as forced and fake to Niyonika.

"Ah...big brother K, it has been a while indeed." Niyonika replied, surprised when the endearing abbreviation rolled off her tongue naturally.

Yana's death glare heated up and Niyonika could practically feel it burning holes through her head, Niyonika presumed if looks could kill, she most probably would be many, many feet underground.

However Yana's glare could not compare to how much Niyonika berated herself in her heart for the endearing term that slipped out.

'Does this previous Niyonika still have some hold over this body? why else would such an endearing term I don't know anything of slip out my lips so naturally?' Niyonika thought to herself in wonder and dissatisfaction.

"Little Niyo should return to my quarters with me after the ranking contest, perhaps we can catch up on some things?" Kain offered with an enticing smirk, Niyonika frowned at his implications.

From what she had heard of the ranking contest, disciples are meant to immediately head into intense closed door cultivation after the elemental defining stage in preparation for the true beginning of the ranking contest.

It was a process every disciple took seriously as the better one performed at the ranking contest, the more possibility there was for one to be chosen by a sage master and immediately progress to the ranks of the middle disciples who were true disciples of the sect.

"What does big brother mean? After the element defining stage, it is natural for all disciples to go into closed door cultivation in preparation for the next stage of the ranking contest. As disciples of the Heavenly Sage Pavilion, where do we have the free time to catch up during such an important period?" Niyonika asked in bafflement.

Niyonika watched Kain's brows furrow into a frown at her words before they straightened out and he once again smiled.

"I understand little Niyo is worried for me but little sister need not worry too much, closed door training or not, there is hardly anyone amongst the outer sect disciples that dare challenge me." Kain replied easily, Niyonika was stumped for words.

By her previous statement, one could obviously see she was referring to herself or at the very least the both of them but these male Kain had completely ignored her words and restated it however he desired it to be.

He had completely brushed over the possibility of Niyonika speaking of her own self going into closed door cultivation as though the mere thought of such was an inconceivable impossibility.

Niyonika was not necessarily surprised, she had felt this youth's arrogance right from the very second she had laid eyes on him.

"Big brother Kain might not need the closed door cultivation but I certainly do need it. I must turn down your offer." Niyonika replied calmly, swallowing down her distaste as she dismissed Kain's offer in the most polite way possible.

Kain looked momentarily surprised by Niyonika's confident rejection as though he never expected that Niyonika was capable of saying 'no' to him for whatever reason...