A Losing Battle

The light faded as the gates behind her closed. 

Finding herself in a dimly lit hall, Ming Yue breathed in deeply before letting it out. The air was cool and it was quiet.

"I'm back."

Those two words gave rise to a mix of emotions, relief and anxiousness. 

Suddenly, she heard a grinding noise as a stone lift descended, a single figure standing there. 

"Must be the Grand Elder", she thought. 

The cultivator walked towards the lift, expecting to see Grand Elder Huang but only to find someone else. 

"That's... Elder Kan?" 

As the lift stopped, Ming Yue saw a woman dressed in plated armor. Metal feathers were adorned all over her as if she was a celestial being. It didn't look heavy, a bit on the thin side, and quite easy to move around. She carried her helmet in one arm while her weapon, a mace hung from the back of her waist.