The Trap Unfolds

After the attack we spend a few days to clean up the camp and give a proper burial to all the dead soldiers... The first thing we did was to build a new infirmary and sort out all the injured men according to the seriousness of their wounds, it takes about 2 whole days to mend to this matter and the help of everyone is needed. Many are the men who died in agony due to the lack of care and medicine, while other are currently getting ready to return to their houses having lost a leg or an arm in the attack.

The next thing we did was to hunt and creste some small fields to grow more food, having lost a part of our provisions. Then, once all the most urgent matter have been taken care of, the funerals and ceremonies were held... But what comes next is what actually concerns me.

A meeting, one to determine what happened, what has to be done and will come after...

...

-... So approximately, we lost the following amount of soldiers for each General: Luo and Tian, 35 percent. Cai, almost half. Wu, one quarter- Concludes the report the man

-Almost half...- murmurs General Cai -If this keep going south, we might need to go back and ask for more men-

-If there are any available to begin with, and I also suppose the Emperor might not give us any as for now- I comment while the General, still wrapped up in bandages, nods at my words -That's very much likely seeing as we have recently changed our Ruler... We should discuss regarding the matter of how to proceed with the remaining amount of men, there's a lot of reorganizing to do and more commanders to elect. We also need a plan on how to minimize the deaths so we can hold on as long as possible with just half Armada. Ying TongJun, what are your picks among our men? I need you to train them into perfection-

As I am about to speak, General Wu intervenes -I don't think this is the place for Miss Ying to talk- -Excuse me?- I cross my arms while looking at him from across the long table -I'm General Cai's second in command, it is my place to speak- General Wu stares me dead in the eyes, menacingly -Not only were you promoted unofficially and aren't trusted by the men... But might I ask where were you during the attack?- he smirks.

My eyebrows shots high -AH? Fighting in the camp of course, you all saw me- -This is not what I'm asking Miss Ying. When the attack occurred you were nowhere to be found, actually you have been seen leaving the Camp many hours before that... And you were quite obvious in declaring your arrival later on, which means you didn't fight alongside us but in fact, you arrived just at the end. You neglected your duties as a ranked official... Has anyone in this room actually seen Miss Ying before the lightnings storm began?- he asks but everyone shake their heads.

He then turns to Qin Luo -You are always with her, General Luo... Surely you can testify for her. You must have been with her till then- Qin Luo looks at me worried before replying to the older man -I wasn't with her, but I trust Miss Ying and...!- -As I thought- interrupts his the other -Not even you can testify for her, when was the last time you saw her?- Qin Luo clenches his jaw -At the Feast, we were dancing together... Then she left midway- he curses himself and ask for forgiveness toward me with his eyes

-What are you implying General Wu? Miss Ying did eventually come and even saved us all- says Tian -Indeed she did, but why not rescue us earlier if she was so capable? If I didn't know better, I would almost say that she plotted this attack herself and came to save us in such a obvious way just to earn more merits, being her situation so unstable...- He smiles disgustingly -... But that is obviously not the case, right Miss Ying? So tell us what you were up to and why you couldn't come sooner-

I sigh, bitter in the soul "So even tho his plan to frame me failed and all these men died... He still tries to pursue his goal. Well I do own him one, his ability to adabt to any occasion is impeccable" -I have been drugged and fainted in the woods-

-Why were you in the woods and not the infirmary then? And who would drug you anyway? And exactly with what? Since we barely have food, let's not talk about drugs...- Somehow a war meeting turned into an interrogation which sees me as the suspect -I went in the woods because I was trying to get as far as possible since...- -AH! You see everyone? Se was trying to avoid the attack- mocks me a man from his Armada but I ignore him and proceed -... I was afraid of loosing control of my powers being under the effects of drugs and alcohol, so I wanted to avoid hurting anyone-

-Are you saying that you're a potential threaten to all of us?- -You're twisting her words now, General Wu!- scolds him General Cai and the other man nods in apology -Still, it's quite clear what she meant with these words... Anyway, you said drugs and alcohol. Might it be that you were simply drunk and thought it was drugs? For a Liutenant General to be drunk and missing during duty... That is one serious crime, especially since you being away caused all these deaths-

-How is the enemy's attack my fault now?- I ask -Because you could have ended it sooner and avoided all the unnecessary deaths with your powers, but you were out and drunk- a smile approaches him ever so faintly -This is ridiculous, General Wu. You're moving groundless accusations toward her. If she had none of these powers, her being late wouldn't have made much difference- tries to help me Tian -Maybe the accusations might be groundless, but she still neglected her job afterall. Powerful or not... And I still can't shake off the feeling that the time she went missing and then came back were just too perfect-

-I have no way to prove you that I've been drugged and wasn't drunk, but since you want to believe me a traitor anyway... What do you suggest to do?- I ask him -I think we should let the Emperor and the Ministers know and have them be the judges of this situation- General Cai hits his hand on the table -The Emperor even?! You want to involve all these peoples for a doubt of yours? We all trust Miss Ying here, she proved to be loyal more than once- -You trust her but based one what? Everything hints to her mistakes for now... Maybe those voices of her playing with all your minds were true. I'm just saying all this so we can solve the problem and manage the men as best as possible, nothing personal- he decides that the conversation is done and proceed to leave the tend -I'll write the report myself, don't worry too much about it and mind your health my fellow Generals- he says leaving, pleased in the fact that he won this round.

-Lai'Er...- beings Qin Luo -It's fine, I don't want you to lie or falsely testimony for me. Don't apologize Qin Luo- he looks at his feet and falls silent in a corner -Why didn't you even try to prove the drug thing?- asks Tian -There was no need to prove it, he knew I was saying the truth... Afterall, it was General Wu himself who drugged me and planned all this-

-You seem awfully calm, do you already have a counter plan?- cuts short Cai -No- -The Emperor will surely demote you and punish you then...- he sighs -It's fine- -What if they remove your from your position completely? Maybe expell you from the Army or call you back for an investigation-

-It's not like I never thought about the possibility of such things happening... It means I'll just have to disert then-