Songs of Marching Fire. (Part 5)

Walking through the empty streets, feeling the cold wind blew and the stench of something lurking behind those walls. I just can't feel safe, not for my self nor the people around me. What will happen next I wonder...

Walking in a linear formation, Moriz and the scar face man in the frontline, Yuwei and me in the mid and Saya in the back. Now that I think about it where is their weapons?

"How are you doing Sova? You don't look so good?" Yuwei asks me with a worried face.

"Yea I'm fine, it's just that why are we walking? Can't we use that car to drive us there."

Moriz looks back answering, "Ah good question. As we go further, the road will become smaller and smaller so instead of leaving the car in the middle of this area it's better if we just left it with the gate guards... Though if you go further you'll understand eventually. Don't you know all this since your living here?"

"Not really."

When Moriz suddenly pet me saying, "Come now brother, don't feel so down you're finally going back to your house."

"I doubt that my family is there though..."

"You're very pessimistic for someone that look adventurous. Think of the positive side, they're all still alive right Yuwei?" Moriz asked full of enthusiasm.

Yuwei leered away saying, "Probably."

Saya points at her screaming, "Oh come on, not you too. You're suppose to cheer him up here. Get some back bone here you old hag!"

"I know, just give me some time to rearrange my thoughts. So many things happen in just two days and the last message May left me too..."

Looking at Yuwei in the face. I immediately respond, "What did May say!?"

"Ah dammit, Sorry Sova but she told me not to tell you this."

"Why?!" before I realize it the stench of fresh blood and flesh fills the air.

I look infront, only to suddenly bump into Moriz. Seeing him stop in his tracks gazing at what's ahead. Curiously, I look at where his eyes fell. Standing in our path is the mountain of unrecognized corpses, as I look closely it's like a mix of monsters and humans. When I could hear footsteps approaching from behind us.

I look back and see a tall figure of a slim man wearing a fancy jet black long coat and clothing that cover his whole skin except the wide opening in his neck similar to May's and Sis Rubeca's suit. Revealing a dark brown skin with a scars poking out. His whole face covered by a tiger mask that look enraged, with a golden patterns decorating around it. Emanating an aura that is weirdly similar to mine for some reason. One look I realize what to describe it.

"Black Tiger Triad..." Saya whispers in a low voice as her body shivers uncontrollably.

"Oy partner, I found the carcass of the contractor. Guess her body is now in shambles eh? eh? Get the pun?" another man suddenly appear from infront of us, wearing the same clothing as the man standing behind us with a different expression on the mask. With blood red patterns instead of golden ones. Blood stains his gloves, he holds a bag that drips blood to the ground. When he continues to say, "Oh my! Wait, your the Sec Lord of the Purple Phoenix and the heir of the orange tigers and a beastman... Wow look at the party here."

"What are you doing in my sec you damn criminals!" Yuwei screams at them.

"Oy sweetie, I'm pretty sure Central guild already approve of our organization so-" stopping suddenly when he immediately stand straight. As everyone suddenly stutters and freeze.

Looking back, I see the golden pattern man raises his hand before walking closely. Feeling each step he takes grow stronger and shaking the ground, pebbles float and shatter. I see dark purple and golden aura circling him and each step leaving trails of golden and dark purple light that subtly feels to fuse with the glow of the setting sun.

Yuwei tried to move her hands only to fall on all four, "Dammit Move!" she screams as she tried to stand with her hair catching in purple flames.

Pointing his finger at me he says, "Head to the Tribun City," in a voice that overlaps each other.

"What?" I ask in confusion.

"You will learn the truth of your parents there," he answers back.

"Wait what? Explain more!" I responded back.

"I delivered the message," turning his back on us as his long coat flutter.

When the man carrying the bloodied bag says, "Didn't know you actually speak," before disappearing leaving behind trails of black, red and golden light. Soon multiple black pillars appeared from behind the buildings around us and vanish.

Everyone except me falls on their knees and gasp for air. Yuwei's flames died out when she sits down. I kneel down holding Yuwei in the shoulders asking, "What's wrong Yuwei? What happened?"

"That's, that's who we have to fight... No we can't win. We won't survive with that man as our enemy..."

Moriz stands on his feet helping the scar face man stand on his legs before saying, "Right, Yuwei told me you're an owlian so you can't feel magic power. Let's just say the pure pressure of his magic brought us down in our knees, lucky you. Now let's get to your home quickly... You want a piggy back Yuwei?"

"I'm... I'm fine help Sarah instead," Yuwei answered back.

Saya answers back, "I prefer if it's Sova. Please."

"Alright I guess," I walk close to her placing her arm around my neck and lifting her up by holding her thighs. She's very light and small and to be honest quite warm.

"Thank you," Saya says softly, placing her head in my shoulder and her hands becoming limp.

"Um, Senior Saya?" I look back at her, she is now collapsed.

Yuwei walks ahead saying, "Let her rest, her mind could not handle that much pressure, in fact she's lucky to even still be alive. Let's get to your house quickly where we can rest for a while."

Feeling my worries just risen I took a huge breather. I ask back saying, "Yea, how much longer till we get there?"

"Just a few more minutes if we run but looking at Saya, I guess we need around half an hour."

"I see," I feel like I'm missing a lot.

**********************************************

As we continue on our travel, the road becomes tighter and less wider. Scar face walks first, Yuwei and Moriz walks beside me. He looks at me smiling saying, "Well aren't you a lucky guy to piggy back a girl like that I'm envious."

Yuwei stumbles before saying, "Oh please, you have two girls following you everywhere you go during school and sometimes in your vacation and your jealous? I even seen you have girls sit on your shoulders from time to time."

"Hey, they're my vice and secretary it's their duty to... But I guess you're right, sadly they're more of a security check more than partners. I mean heck they keep preventing me from hitting other ladies."

"You're the worse you know that."

"Heh, I don't think it's that bad. I mean I never cheat."

"You mean you never had a girlfriend."

"Khak! Dammit that hurts. Don't say that!"

"Well with you finally confessing that you are part of the idol fan club infront of the speech, I guess all the girls finally started to be disgusted by you."

"Dammit! don't say anything anymore."

Yuwei smiles saying, "But I'm quite happy."

"Huh?"

"You showed everyone who you really are, you told them the you that no one ever knows and if they can't accept who you truly are, then they never like or love you. Be happy that now you know who truly loves you and accepts both your insides and outside."

"Hey! if you're capable of encouraging me I guess your back in shape, still thanks Yuwei. Though to be honest everyone has their own opinion too I mean if they hate my hobby that's fine... Hmmmm talking about acceptance I'm wondering," he says holding his chin.

"About what?" Yuwei ask as she looks at him.

"I wonder how she is doing now? With her new job. It's been a few months since she graduated earlier than us."

"Who are you talking about... Wait, Aoi?" I cough out in surprise when Yuwei says that name. When Yuwei looks at me asking, "What's wrong Sova, do you know something? Wait since you've been inside Central guild don't tell me you met her! A girl with jet black hair and crystal blue eyes wearing a weird looking armor."

"Yes." I answer softly.

"Whaaaaaaat?!" Moriz screams in surprise.

"Keep your voice down Moriz," Scar face scolds at him.

"Kek, sorry. Still where did you met her? Is she okay? How does she look like right now? What do you think of her?"

"Um," As I try to arrange an answer.

"Moriz your pressuring him, slow down with your questions."

Ah right, I didn't specify or tell her the name or what the hunter were wearing when I was fighting in that prison, "Yuwei remember when I told you that I met three hunters and fought two of them in my escape."

"Yes, that girl that can transform into a demon, the old man who wants revenge and the Hunter that's a Martial Artist what about them? Wait don't tell me that girl you were fighting was... Aoi."

"Yea, remember when I told you Rana suddenly attack her and force me in combat, I was fighting her and she almost died in Rana's hand," well I didn't told her about the sock puppets either. A promise is a promise I guess.

"Daaaamn that's... I don't know what to say there. Still you said that she gave you a card right? mind showing it to me brother." Moriz say as he gesture me.

"I can't," I answer back.

"What why!? Oh right you are carrying her. Let me get it my self you don't mind right?"

"I guess," I answered back.

As he scrambles around in my bag he took the card out saying, "Your bag is pretty empty. Just some salve and this card it's sad to look at. Still a CCC and it got around 100k riaz inside it as expected of Aoi," Stumbling in surprise when Yuwei help my footing.

"Sova be careful," Yuwei warn me.

"Sorry, but 100k riaz? How did you even know? There's that much in that one card, that's unbelievable. (And that's not enough for obtaining info from Rana, I feel like I got ripped off). Wait why have I never seen you use that card before Sis? And a CCC I think there's one more C in there."

"That's because I don't need to. Sova you know that all the food and utilities here only cost around one digit or points right? Most expensive stuff at ground level usually just cost around 2000 riaz max, I mean if you can get a hundred it's already considered a lot. The card is usually called by two names the CC or CCC, Currency Card or the Common Currency card, like the name implies it's a card that holds common money and can be change in all currency. It's very convenient and only mostly used by nobles in central though one of the downside is that you need at least 1000 riaz minimal to fill it up... How's your saving doing lately Sova?"

"Well I never really know what to buy, so I've been saving money from doing odd jobs for years now and I manage to save around 500 riaz, I left half of it with aunt and the other half I never really knew where it went after that imprisonment... Still why didn't any of you teach me all this tech stuff rather than I don't know some old traditions that probably died out."

"Hey touch some wood. Don't slander our ancestors legacy like that. I can assure you they save me and you in numerous occasions. Still, "Yuwei pets my head before saying, "You're doing a great job saving up so many, I'm proud of you. But you have to use them for something at least, your money doesn't follow you in the afterlife. Like fill up your room it's so empty it's just too sad to look at."

"But I like it that way. Wide and spacious, having too much stuff may result like May's room filled with piles of books, documents, and more paper and parchments related stuff and Sis Fei with her weapon and armour collections."

"May and little sis? Yes I guess both of them are going too far," Yuwei answered back looking up.

Following her, the skies already darken and the moon begins to appear. The countless stars shines dimly and brilliantly across the sky with the mix of the setting sun. It's beautiful, a view I'll never get bored off. Still...

"Sis it's going to get dark soon, when will we arrive? To be honest I've never been in this streets before."

"We just need to go a bit further."

"I heard you said this place was suppose to be filled with monsters but I don't see anything yet?" I ask.

Yuwei chop me in the head saying, "Touch some wood Sova, Don't say that it's bad luck. Remember that mountain of corpses. Those are probably remnants of them here, at least the Black suits actually do something to benefit me, still we can't be too carefree. Just be grateful we haven't encounter anything. In fact I think I prefer fighting monsters than that guy."

Moriz shrugs his shoulder and starts stretching before saying, "I can double on that, still his right Yuwei. If it's get too dark the monster will become more active we should speed up now."

"We don't need to, cause we're here."

"What!" I say sounding surprised.

Looking at the streets dimly lit by the sky and shadowed by the unlit street lanterns, I see the familiar shops and diners. Blacksmiths and the now but empty road. It's a mess. There's scratch mark everywhere and mark of a battle and slaughter with the dried up blood spilled on the floor. I immediately run ahead, holding Saya tight, I head to aunt's workshop.

"Sova wait!" Yuwei chase after me.

Seeing the similar and familiar shops around me I know I'm getting closer when I finally arrive. A nameless workshop that displays their best work in the display window. The glass is broken and the insides of the display, empty. The door still fully intact and locked up. And infront of the workshop is a way to my dorm room. For some reason I can't bring my self to smile at all.

"Sova don't just run off like that! You could get ambushed." Yuwei scold me.

"Sorry I just can't wait any longer," I answer back while looking at the shop.

Yuwei sighs and hold me by the shoulder saying, "Once we're done with the workshop we can go to your dorm room. Take whatever you need and can, but of course just enough because we can't bring everything out."

"yea thanks sis, so do you have the keys inside this?"

"No."

"What?" I asked in a bewildered manner.

When Moriz suddenly kicked the door opened as it flew down the darkness below.

"Moriz, what was that for!"

"Yea Moriz, what was that for! We could just attract monsters with that." Yuwei followed up after me.

"Going to your house was never the plan right? and I nor Yuwei have the keys. Now lets go inside while the sun is still there, worse case scenario is we march during the night."

"Why didn't we ask those Gate Guards to follow us..." I sulk before saying, "I'll go first then."

Heading down the dark hallways. Using qi to enhance my eyes to see in the dark, the workshop is quiet. Too quiet, looking around the organized anvil and tools, the dirty charred furnaces, and the closed doors.

"I'm home I guess. Yet this place is just desolated..."

The dark, cold yet humid atmosphere fills me as I march through the room with Saya at my back. I went to the door at the end of this place, another door that weirdly enough leads up stairs. When Moriz and Yuwei finally arrives down stairs. Stepping on the broken wooden door, it seems the scar face man stayed above. As Moriz looked around. Yuwei walks closer to me.

I ask her, "Yuwei can you please help me open the door?"

"You know you could just hand her over to Moriz or scar right?"

"I could but I feel like she will give me a hell of a time if I do so for some reason."

She shrugs her shoulders saying, "You just met her, who knows? Though I don't recommend searching for anything at all. Last time I check, the place is completely filled with nothing especially May's room which is already empty leaving nothing but the bed when she left."

As my eyes go blurry, "So she really..." I bite my lips to stop my weak self.

Yuwei looks left and right before holding my shoulders saying, "Sorry Sova I didn't mean to... I'll explain everything when we go home okay?"

"This is my home."

"Uh, I mean- Dammit this is why," as Yuwei scrambles for words.

Moriz pets my head from behind me saying, "Brother, why don't just go. You said you know them since childhood right? You might just know some of the location or pockets they put their secrets stash or items right? Maybe they left a message for you or something."

Shocked by what he says, I wipe my eyes saying, "Y-You're right! I do know where they are."

"You do! Damn, here you say I'm a terrible guy Yuwei."

"Shut up. Still we didn't find any secret places though?"

Moriz's right. Up there is the room of May, Sis and aunt. For some reason each of them sleep in a separate room. Well this house only has three bed rooms and I usually sleep with May in the same room until a few years back. Aunt forcefully move me to the dorm room. I wonder why aunt send me out? I mean they could just let me sleep in Sis Rubeca's room, since she never actually sleep there at all! or maybe even just the storage... Whatever it is let's just search for what's left.