Big Sister

'Why do you always obey them?' a shrill and eerie voice roamed in her brain. However, it faded away as the images of the war replayed in her dreams—June and Kibo fighting side by side, Itu was visible with his thin katana against heavy swords, the liquidators slicing dynastian soldiers in half, then June's scream. "Red!"

She woke up and got blinded by the dazzling daylight. Taking heavy breaths, she asked herself where she was. Her blurry vision of the surroundings told her she was in an infirmary. She quickly surveyed if she had four of her limbs… and both of her eyes. Yes, she had everything.

"Hey, you're awake." Fei Yu strode towards her.

"Fei Yu." Her voice couldn't make audible sounds.

"Don't! Don't force yourself to get up. Lay still." He gently pressed her to the bed.

"Fei Yu," she murmured.

"Hey, here I am. Can you see clear?"

She could. She could see faint blue bruises and red scratches on his face. "Are you okay?"

"I'm okay."

She raised her hand to touch his face.

"Be careful with your arm. Your left arm is injured. You lost a lot of blood."

"What happened? Where's June?"

Fei Yu averted his gaze.

Her tension itched more. "Where's June?"

"She's fine."

"Where is she?" Anger forced out of her voice. 

"Not here but she's okay. Believe me."

"What about the war?"

He took a moment before replying. "It was a trick. The liquidators' attack was a trick…. While we were busy holding them, another legionary troop reached the capital's outskirts."

"No… no…!"

"It's okay. Our soldiers were prepared. They can handle it."

"No… they're gonna burn everything!"

"Relax… Citizens had enough time to evacuate. Everything's going to be fine."

"No, it's not! Where's June? Where is she!"

"Actually, I don't know," Fei Yu admitted.

"But you said she's okay!"

"Yes! Because I saw her. She told me to stay by your side."

"Where would she go? There's a war going on!"

"Perhaps she was following Kibo out of suspicion. But relax. Itu is with her. Wherever she would go, she'll be safe."

"Where did Kibo go?"

Fei Yu felt like being in a hot chair, thinking about how to escape her interrogation. "Give me time. I'll track them."

"You're lying."

Fei Yu flushed.

"You know where Kibo is."

"Red. You need to calm down. I'm directly sending a message to June that you're okay. My sparrow will find her. Meanwhile, eat and rest."

"I'll find her and Kibo by myself." She got up.

"Red. You're badly injured."

"I'm feeling fine."

"You'll start bleeding soon."

She peeped through the window. Judging by the position of the sun, it was probably noon. "Kibo definitely headed to defend the attack on the capital." She tried to stand on her feet.

"Red, stop! Are you planning to roam in the war zone? Wounded? Alone?" Fei Yu rarely talked agitatedly. "Use your head! You don't even know where you are right now."

Red opened her mouth to say something.

"Are you thinking of asking people to show you the path of capital?" he spoke sarcastically. "When the town is already empty and the people you'd see are dynastian guerrillas, ready to hunt you down mistaking you being one of the Legion!"

It was the first time she saw him getting angry word by word. "I want to see June… by my eyes…," she spoke weakly.

Fei Yu sighed. "I repeat myself: My sparrow will track her. Eat. Drink. And prepare," he said coldly. "I will take you to her." 

Why is she too stubborn? Uff.

***

Students and youngsters were charged with helping the citizens and wounded soldiers. Fei Yu didn't mind violating the order and also stealing a horse. He rode the horse slowly because he thought that would cause her less bleeding.

He was a bit irritated by her obsession with June. However, subconsciously he sighed with relief that June was a woman. He didn't know, he was slightly jealous too.

"Fei Yu, what about your family?" The girl sat behind him, wrapping her uninjured arm around his stomach. Their heavy armor blocked the warmth of each other's body.

"They're all fine… I hope. One of my brothers-in-law is taking care of them."

"You have siblings?"

"Yes. Two elder sisters."

"Do you have both of your parents?" She had only seen his mother at home.

"Luckily, yes."

They were roving around the capital outskirts, avoiding the war zone. Fei Yu's messenger bird hadn't arrived with June's location yet. So, they headed for a nearby safe village across the thicket. The smell of the sea had faded, and the surroundings filled with birds chirping. The golden sunlight of the afternoon washed away the green from the tree leaves. 

All of the sudden, the arch of the way revealed a horse rider coming directly at them. Fei Yu pulled the rope for changing the path to avoid a collision. But the rider wasn't in their right mood. They saw that legionary's sword flying at the level of their head.

"Get down!" She heard Fei Yu's scream. And the howl of the legionary proved that it was a woman. 

The next moment, Red found her aching body lying on the ground. It felt like she had broken her spine. As she tried to get up, she saw the woman walking towards her with her long sword.

"I'm Gizmo's sister, Greta," she said coldly. "My family will never forgive you for what you have done to him!"

"Wha—"

Greta swung her sword. Red had nothing strong to block the blow. So, all she could do was dodge.

"Hey, I defeated Gizmo in a fair fight!" She dodged another blow. "He was the one who challenged me first!"

Greta wasn't there to negotiate. Red's blabber only made her more angry.

Did I maim Gizmo's face? Did he lose his grin forever? She had no time to ponder. The dynastian kicking style was way better and fancier than the Legion's style. But those dealt not much damage because of Greta's strong armor.

Greta ran to her like a bull and gave her a suplex, thudding her on the ground. Red mentally prepared herself for a painful death as she saw Greta sitting on her body. However, a sharp clashing sound of metal and Greta's groan hit her ears.

Fei Yu's katana wasn't any ordinary one. It was made by Ling and could penetrate metal like Greta's helmet.

Greta rose and threw her lopsided helmet. Her blond hair cascaded on her back. Spots of blood made a horrible appearance on her golden hair. 

"If you want to challenge her in a fair fight, then you might want to come back when she heals." Fei Yu faced Greta.

"Who are you, lad?"

"Your enemy, a dynastian." Their weapon clicked, clashing with each other. "Big. Sister…"

How far a thin katana would go against a long heavy sword? Fei Yu did his best and gave her some minor cuts. But at last, he had to fall back, accepting a punch on his face.

Red threw a dagger at Greta's face as she turned to her. It perforated her palm as she blocked it. There was no trace of pain on her face.

Fei Yu attacked her again. "I'm like your little brother… Let's not fight, sister," He provoked. "I heard about your stupid baby brother…. Is he death? I hope not!"

Red had to do something. That woman wouldn't rest until she killed both of them. Red took her knife. She knew the Legionary gears and its weakness more than any dynasts. For that moment, she didn't mind confronting an enemy by their behind. She entered the shadow form with the remaining shadow energy.

Greta fell to the ground.

"Fei Yu…" She panted. Her eyes glowed with jade blue color. The blood on her knife couldn't stop its jade-blue shimmering.

"Red…" He starved for air.

"Well done…" As the shadow energy she used ran out, her dark silhouette form faded, and the colors came back to her appearance. 

"You too…"

Her pains eased a lot as if using shadow energy healed her. She knelt to check Greta's pulse.

"Be careful; she's a viper," Fei Yu warned.

"She's still alive," she whispered, suppressing the pain in her voice. Blood streamed from the wounds of Greta's body.

"Then you know what you have to do." He glanced at their horse, which hiccupped with every poor beat of its heart, lying flat on the ground in front of them.

Red stared at Greta's unconscious face. She was graceful with the aura of an aristocrat. Gizmo's ugly face hardly resembled her. Were they distant cousins? No, perhaps…. Perhaps she loved her brother. Did Gizmo deserve to be loved like this?

She felt Fei Yu's hand pressed on her shoulder. That put her back to the reality. Then he tousled her auburn hair. She couldn't talk. Her voice felt very heavy. 

Fei Yu stabbed his katana into Greta's throat, making Red gasp in surprise. "She's my country's enemy…" His voice was heavy as well.

Red stood up and gazed at his face. Greta's punch opened a small gash on his cheek, which had swelled up. His eyes were fixed on their horse. A small pond of blood rose beneath it. The quivering of its body proved it was still alive.

Red pressed her palm on his hand that gripped the katana. Fei Yu flinched… then relaxed. His katana was still planted in Greta's dead body. She took the katana, freeing his grip with her lingering touch. She could read his gaze on the horse.

Walking towards the horse, she slashed its windpipe with the sharp katana as if she had played with it a thousand times. They stood still and silent for a while and let the birds cover the void.

"I'll try to tame that one…" Fei Yu spoke, breaking the silence, and pointed at Greta's horse. "Red, fetch the things you can from her…" he tilted his head to the dead body. "We have to move fast. It's gonna be dark soon."

A thought bugged her… Perhaps, that batiste napkin did belong to Gizmo. Maybe he didn't steal it. He was an aristocrat… like Greta… 

A brave warrior like Greta should have died heroically on a battlefield surrounded by her fellow warriors who would witness her… not there, not like that...

I'm sorry Gizmo…