Time's Flow

We stop by a well to fetch water for the horses and I quietly leave the group to have a few minutes alone, cultivating.

A crack sound betrays the steps of the Liutenant... He gasps as I turn around having caught him following me.

-Oh...! Eh... I... Wanted to check on you-

-That's not the truth-

he sighs before nodding -Actually... What was that? The fire I mean-

-The fire is just fire- I reply wiping off a few stones over a big rock, before seating on it

-But how?-

-If you are asking if I can control it, then no... Not yet.

It just happens from time to time and it can hurt others, I've started a fire only a couple of times but... Earthquakes and somare a different topic-

He nods

-My General back at the sect said I have such an ability and I need to cultivate it... But sadly there's a bad side to it.

Too much Yin energy is accumulated inside me for some reason, I've been trying to cleanse myself for weeks but with no results...

I still cannot control it fully... I can somehow start but once set free anything could happen, while at times it start on his own.

The first time it happened we were doing a simulation and a big tree fell, fortunately nobody was seriously hurt but still it could have killed someone-

-I see... But still, this is something really shocking, I only ever read about such capabilities... This is a gift from heaven-

-A gift? Maybe if said heaven explained me how to use this "gift"... Like this, it's absolutely useless-

-Mhn... Well anyway, we'll be depart in 30 minutes, I'll head back now-

-Sure Sir-

As I empty my mind those sounds comes back again...

-Where is he...?-

-I don't know... It's been days since they disappeared-

-But they were with us on the battlefield, and we didn't find their corpses either-

-This is sad indeed but we have no time to worry about it... In 3 days we will be going back to battlef0, we must train now... And hope the enemy won't attack us during this break...- sighs one of the men

I head back to take my horse, tied by a tree with a bucket of water closeby... There's something else too.

"A grilled fish? I wonder who cooked it so well..." I think, approaching to take it and have a quick meal.

The seasonings are really good, which is weird since we've been only eating plain soups for days now. Spicy at the right point and salty...

After a few gulps of water I clean my hands and stand back up to take the horse reins, heading back to the Armada main group.

-Oh Lai'Er I was just about to come and get you... Thought you lost track of time- says Qin Luo as I pass over him

-Thanks for caring... Oh and for the food too- I yell as I am already mounting my horse and going back on track

-Yeah no problem!- he yells back, standing up from his little campfire -Wait... What food?-

While we ride over the plains we meet a few houses here and there which managed to survive the riots...

Some peoples would come out to wave at us... Mostly elders, being that the younger people all moved south.

A man in particul catches my eye... He's standing near 3 tombstone.

It's not hard to guess who they belong to, wife... Son and daughter-in-law...

As he's waving he yells something toward us -You are our hope!-

These people know more than anyone what's the suffering of a war.

And see in us a spark of hope...

Us, simple humans... A mix of spoiled Nobles, soldiers and meat shields... Hope.

Soon after the sky turns dark and we come to a halt...

Like always I search for the nearest water source... Wether a river, a lake or a well.

And today it happens to be just a small canal in which the flow of the water Is quite strong. The water is even colder now, being that it comes directly from the mountains...

But it doesn't bother me... Somehow whever I fully enter, it seems to match my body temperature perfectly.

A quick scrub here and there and I'm back at the camp for a warm dinner. On one of our breaks I managed to find some herbs that I can use as seasonings...

I seat down near a fire to keep myself warm and dry my hair,

With he bowl in one hand I take out a small sachet and sprinkle a tiny bit on the food, trying to pass unnoticed...

-This should be it-

After the meal I search for Qin Luo, who's taking out some of the blankets tied on his horse

-Let me help you-

-Oh Lai'Er... Thanks-

This time the improvised tend is a lot smaller, since we need those blankets to keep us warm, and the fire is a lot closer...

Even the horses will be tied beside us so to share the heat as best as we can.

-It's getting pretty chilly, uh?- he smiles, throwing some more wood on the fire

-Mhn... I really hope we will reach the battlefield soon... We cannot sleep like this anymore. The horses are feeling it too- I pet the fur of the horse seated beside me

-Yeah... These poor things... Our stall might not me like those in the Capital, but at least should keep them warm during winter-

-Mhn- I take my knees near my body while staring deeply at the fire

-Is everything alright?- he ask laying beside me

-I'm fine, don't worry... I was just thinking-

-About what?-

-Ah... Many things- I rise my eyes to the sky where the moon is shining bright -War, hope, the fture... Things like that-

-Are you scared? It's not a problem you know... Everyone here is scared- his eyes wander around the camp where the men silently get ready for bed.

The more the days pass by, the more war becomes a reality for them...

Especially after seeing all the villages and tombs on our track.

-I'm not scared I just... I really want us to be the hope those peoples cling to-

-Mhn... Just don't be too reckless because of that wish... Now let's have some rest-

-Yes Sir-