We'll Meet Again II

The next day I get called at the Tian General's tend

-Miss Ying... We prepared your report to the Emperor and... The letter for your new General.

You will be moved today, as you might know it will take some time for the report to reach the Capital so your punishment is yet far to come... Are you ready?-

-I am-

-Well then... A man of ours is waiting for you at the stables, he will take you to your new Armada, in a couple of weeks you should reach them- He seats back down

-I cannot deny that I am worried.

We still need to find a new General and with you gone we also loose an important member of ours... I now wonder if we will make it past the next battle without you- he sighs curved in his shoulders

Looking at him right now he doesn't look like a strong soldier at all, but a weak man late in his age...

I never noticed his dark gray hairs or the wrinkles at the side of his eyes... I thought he was around 40 or 50, but he could be even older once the shine of glory fades away...

Maybe all the things happened lately played a role in it too, he must be tired having to carry such a weight on his shoulders.

-Sir... I'm grateful to have gave you many victories, but this must not be cause for troubles instead I hope you will learn how to fight and win from now on.

About a new General... I have an idea-

-Uh? Let's hear it- he says rising his head curious at my words

...

As I take my horse out of the stable my eyes falls on the camp behind...

The men are all busy putting away their equipment from the closing session of training.

A blooming light dance in the centre where the fire for dinner is beginning to rise. The yell of the Commanders and Generals echoes all over.

I lost track of time since I arrived here...

Has it been 4 months? 5? It should already be new year by now

The only date I remember is when I got recruited into the Army... It was the 6th month of the past year.

And if I'm right I departed for the battlefield between around September.

But since coming here, every day feels the same... No calendar, no feast, nothing to remember the date...

"At the capital they probably had a big Party for New Year recently and I don't even know what day is today" I think chuckling to myself

-Miss Ying? Are you ready?- calls the man, a bit further away, already on his horse

-Yes!- I mount my own and starts riding as the sky gets painted in pink... Like the God I just rescued

...

-So... Miss Ying... Uhm... Are those voices true?-

-Which ones? I recall there are many gossips about me around-

He looks around us trying to not come forward too curious

-Like... You destroyed the first base and the camps... And all those change of plans last minutes from General Tian...?-

-Mhn that's true-

-And what about the other night?! They say you yelled at General Li right in the face threatening him and still had to go rescue him... All alone!- his enthusiasm peeks through finally

-That's true too-

-But how Miss...? It seems impossible for an human to do such things, actually... Uhm nevermind-

-Actually?- I turn my head toward him curious

-I heard some voices... A guy who's cousin was in one of the Sections from the Palace, said you can feel and use the Qi-

-Oh... Well... It is true, but I do not like to talk much about it-

-I'm sorry if it's a sensible topic, I didn't mean-

-Oh no, it's not like it makes me uneasy or anything... I just want to be cautious about who knows about it.

I'm sure you can understand the consequences of such a thing-

-If you put it that way... I won't spill a thing, you have my word,

It's just... Unbelievable-

-Haha I know, I thought the same at first- I laugh -Look- I take out my sword from the side of the horse and rise it high, while it gets set on fire

-I cannot use all the elements or have control over any big phenomenon yet... It normally happens when I'm in danger or after a lot of preparation, this is the only exception...

I can do it whenever I want- I smile rolling the blade in my hand

-This is awesome! I can see why you got sent to a better Armada-

-Actually...- I put away my sword -I didn't got sent there as a promotion...

It's a more rigid Armada where I will be under constant observation.

One wrong step and I'm out-

-Why so? Someone like you is a great help to this war... Only and idiot would allow such a thing-

-Wars are started and lead by idiots.

But that's not the point, I've been acting too much out of the rules and our superiors didn't like that so here I am... To make it short-

-I see-

...

-Let's camp here for the night, I've got a small tend... We can take it easy for such a short travel-

-Sure, I'll go get something to eat... I saw a canal nearby-

-Perfect, I'll get things ready here-

-Sure-

I head to the river, around here there aren't many trees and the only left ones are covered in snow...

I kneel down beside the surface -The water is so deep here...- I murmur without actually thinking about anything.

I keep on staring down as if I was watching something interesting... A lock of hair falls off my shoulder going to dip the tip in the water.

Someone moves quickly and comes out of the water right underneath me, he caresses back my fallen hairs and fix them behind my ear then rest his hands on the dry land facing me.

-Uh? Oh it's you- I look up at his face before going back to look at where the water is still circling his waist.

-Don't you have any questions?-

-Yes but you won't answer-

-My name... And who I am- he speaks out loud what I'm thinking about

I nod and he sighs before coming out of the water to seat beside me -Are you cold?-

-No, I was just trying to catch something-

-By staring at the water?-

-I...-

He chuckles and it feels like a whole melody to my ears, leaving me in awe

-Uhm... That man... Fen Lian, who was he precisely?-

-A minor God of the fallen Lotus-

-So you're a God too-

-I told you it's more complicated than that-

-Yeah... Or else you would be fighting out there, instead of swimming all day like a hungry beautiful siren- I mock him, but apparently he doesn't like it so I get pushed down in the deep water

-What the...?!- I swim back to the surface -Are you for real? I don't have many clothes with me!-

-Tz!- he pushes himself back in the water and comes beside me, bringing warmth around us

-I know you can dry them by the fire tho-

-Sure... And sleep without anything on, because all the rest is packed, until freezing to death-

-Sleep in the water- he hoovers on me, as If he actually was an hungry beautiful siren and I was the pray who will get devoured...

-I... Cannot breath in the water- I look at him with a risen eyebrow

-I'll be breathing for the both of us- he says with cold voice

-What?- his resolution takes me aback for a second -You're weird... First you were all cold and distant, not even talking to me and now you seriously try to flirt and seduce me?-

He presses his lips together looking away -I... Lose control from time to time...-

-You really remind me that friend of mine-

-You said it last time too-

-Mhn... I found out something about him. A man said he made it so for him to disappear, I have no idea what he meant but...-

-Who?!- his eyes gets wider and his hands falls on my shoulder, squeezing me tight

-A merchant, his name is Wang Chia-Hao-

I see... Fear? In his eyes

-Stay away from him- growls

-Why? You know him? I need to know more!-

-I do not really know him, I just know his reputation... Do not ever have any business with that man-

-He only looked like a pathetic selfish man to me-

-He's a good actor then... I...-

He looks troubled and turns around -Did he say anything about following you or so?-

-He said he "paved the way" for me to reach him... I don't know to which extend but I think he's been keeping an eye on me for sure... At least before I departed for the battlefield-

He bites his lip so I reach an hand to caress his jaw, making him turn around

-Are you ok?-

His eyes stare right into mine, wide and shocked...

Something is not right indeed

His hand comes to cup mine before regaining his temper

-We'll meet again- and he swim deep down disappearing

-We'll meet...?- I murmur confused