25_ Forlorn.

Hanji gasped for breath as he opened his eyes. His breathing was laboured and painful as each breath hit his lungs like a thousand cuts of a million iron shrapnel.

As he peeked through his eyelids , he saw that he was now alone. Lucian and the girl had gone , leaving him solitary in the darkness of nightfall. Hanji felt his life thread slowly slipping away as his remaining speck of energy were being drained away by the invisible forces of death.

He had failed to avenge himself and now he was dying. Nothing could change that irrevocable fact.

But one thing was for sure.

He was not going to die alone.

Dragging the full length of his body against the floor , he crawled with low speed towards his sword. Reaching out a trembling hand , he took hold of his weapon. Exerting pressure onto his hands , Hanji was able to get himself into a seated position, steadying himself while he anchored himself in the corner. He etched in some symbols and words , scratching them into the thick wall.

When Dai Xiu found him , He would understand...

He would be Avenged.

His now stiffened hand collapsed against his abdomen , blood slowly trickling from his wound as and he felt the coming cold of death sweep him away to another world.

●●●●●●●●●●●●●

Dai Xiu clenched his fist as he saw the inanimate body of his second - in -command crouched against the wall , his eyes open in silent death.

He ran his eyes down his body and saw him clutching his stomach against his. The blood had dried up but it was still clear that it had been stabbed through the guts : One of the many , many terribly painful ways to go. He was a good friend and a remarkable man , but it seemed he had let his pride get to his head. Dai Xiu spotted some carvings in the wall and moved his fingers among them.

It read 'Outskirts ; Gotchu ; Luc..."

Dai Xiu lips curved into a slight smile. Hanji had not failed him , Even in death. Lucian was at the outskirts of the Fuyo Empire and where now heading to the Gotchu Kingdom.

""You fought well Hanji." He said to his friend , closing his eyes with his fingers. "Rest now and know that I will not stop until the man that has slain you shall join you in death."

He left the shabby house and got on his horse. Lucian had insulted him.

And he was going to face the consequences.

■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■

Lucian sighed as he downed his *Jinjix down his throat, the sharp acrid taste burning his throat as it went through his system. Escape, he thought , Would he ever truly escape?

They had come to this place because it would be the last place anyone would think that they would be.

*Jinjix - A drink made of fermented rice and rapeseed blossoms.

And that anyone was ...Li Huang.

He had so many questions but none of the answers. Lucian knew Li Huang was close , he sensed it. Li Huang wanted him back in the Imperial Palace , under his control , where he would be stuck doing his bidding for the rest of his life.

But presently Lucian doubted himself. He had left his past behind , where all the comforts were being provided for him , everyone at his beck and call , being treated importantly. Now he was nobody , just one of those faces lost in the crowds of other nobodies. His mother was dead, Li Huang was after him , there was a price for his head all the while running with a girl that he hardly knew but had an impulse to protect.

But From the moment he had crossed the Palace gates , His heart pounding, Kaya resting in his arms as he gazed beyond the horizon, Lucian had made a choice.

A choice he had to live with.

Hikaru gulped the remaining contents of his drink and looked his friend directly in the eye.

"Are you ready?" He asked.

Lucian nodded and set the cup down on the table with a light thud. He took up his weapon and both men exited the establishment. Both saddled their horses and were ready to depart from the Fuyo Empire once and for all to proceed with their intended journey.

Kaya was not going to come with them. Lucian had saved her and this was as far as he was going to take her. If she followed them , it would be too dangerous for her and risky for them.

It would be better for every one if she was left behind.

"Hyah!!!" Lucian exclaimed , prodding the sides of his horse , making it bright in response and galloped onward, with it's hooves pounding violently into the ground as the men departed into the gloom.