Returning I

-Captain what is that?- asks a soldier on patrol, pointing toward a strong light coming from behind the mountains...

-Let's go check it out, I have a bad feeling about it- the man turns his horse around -You there, go back to the camp and get reinforcements ready in case we don't make it back in one hour- he orders and then gallops away with some of his men.

They pass over a first tall mountain and see a shorter one behind, completely set on flames... From the base to the peak between the clouds.

A figure seems to be walking in front of it -Get your weapons ready- he warns his men and rushes toward it... The closer they get, the clearer the silhouette. A woman, clearly in the verge of passing out, with a soldier in her arms

-Who are you?!- asks the commender still keeping some distance -What happened here?- she rises her bloodied eyes -I'm Ying ChangLai, I serve as a Tongjun under General Cai... This... I did it, it was the only way to survive... He...- she looks down at the man in her arms -Her couldn't make it, help us please- and just like that she falls flat on the ground.

...

I open my eyes and see a very familiar white roof above me -I ended up coming into the infirmary as a patient afterall...- I stand up seated and a nurse rushes to me immediately -Oh you're awake! We got so anxious, we had no idea how to help you and feared the worst. Your arms were turning black... But it looks like it's all gone now- he smiles -I'll bring you some soup, you must have starved for days-

I nod and look around -Your friend... Uhm... Would you like to bury him? Or we can follow the usual procedure- I grab the blanket tightly -I'll take his corpse back with me to our Camp, if you're so kind to provide me with a map- the man nods without saying a word and then leaves.

After I'm fed and checked up, they give me back my armor and weapons before escorting me to their General's tend -Please, head inside- I pass through the opening and finds myself surrounded by confused ranked officials -Ying Tongjun was it?- asks their General

-Yes Sir- I murmur and go for a kneel -Ah no need, we're practically on equal levels anyway... Can you explain exactly what happened?-

-Depends on how much you know about this war- he ponders my words in silence -I did notice some things out of the ordinary but have no explanation to them... Do you bring such awaited answers to them?-

My knuckles on the sword turn white -I do-

...

After I'm done talking, the murmurs in the tend are loud enough to be heard all around the camp -Silence!- orders their general, Zhao is the surname -We will write to your general and tell him you're safe-

I look at him confused -You cannot go back in that state all alone, Miss Ying- -I would like to object Sir...- he shakes his head -Save your words, you're clearly injured and weak. You even just lost a close friend in such a painful succession of events... Rest here a few days and then go back once you're healed- at his words instinctively pass a hand over my neck where the sensation of those hands choking me is still present.

It's true that I have came back with quite a few injuries here and there or that those men dried me up and it'll take some time for my powers to stabilize again... But I want to head back and give He Rang a proper burial in front of his friends, before he starts to turn... Nevermind.

I don't feel the energy to reply or start complaining so I simply turn around and leave after a quick bow.

...

I spend the rest of the day meditating and practicing into stabilizing my powers. Some men look at me curious as they pass by and others stop behind me to copy my moves in an attempt to learn something new that could save them out there...

-Miss Ying- calls me a voice and I turn around to notice quite crowd mimicking me -General- I greet him, avoiding the gazes of the soldiers -I see you're already taking over my Army-

-It wasn't my intention, I will gladly take my leave then...- I pass by him but he grabs my arm and pulls me back, pressing with the thumb over a sticthed up injury -Ghhk- I press my teeth for the pain -You're not going anywhere in that state, also... I wasn't here to scold you or anything-

-Then what Sir?- my voice is still quite low and monotone after waking up -Train my men untill you're healed enough to ride a horse, then I will let you go back-

I nod and pass my eyes over the soldiers hungry for knowledge -You're much milder than they say Miss Ying- I rise an eyebrow at his words -What do they say?- -That you're hot blooded, arrogant and impossible to handle... A wild horse on the loose-

I fall silent at his words for a second -But you seem very tranquil to me and obedient- I tighten the grip on my sword -It's not a compliment what you're telling me Sir... I think I'm loosing my resolution. Of what good is it to have my powers of a simple no from another person will confine you?- I sigh -Anyway, let's get on with this training now-.

...

My days here proceed slow, I wake up and head for a check up at the infirmary... Eat something quickly and reach the training grounds, I first take care of my own training and weapons then I focus on training the soldiers after lunch untill the sun goes down.

I try to eat some dinner and head to the infirmary again, after that I can finally go somewhere secluded to sleep just to start it all over again the day after... Quite simple and repetitive, but at least it's giving me the rest I so much needed to replenish most of my powers.

I've already been here for three days and my body seems to be doing much better. On the other hand He Rang's boys has started to rot away and I've been forced to put it inside a wooden box, I've built out of scraped parts, just outside the camp.

I hope our permanence here won't be much longer...