Blades and Sacred Pyre. (Prologue)

"Awuu!"

Tears flow onto the hazel cheeks, her laments resounds in her minds like mazes of time, like two little cogs fated to work with each other misaligned between their ragged worlds.

"Sutra, why did you say all that? There's a limit on how much someone could take before they break!"

"Awuu..."

Sutra, wounded and filled with grief can only mend her wounds as she weeps. Ignoring Tannan's plea.

*sigh of resignation*

In a form of pity, Tannan caress Sutra's bruise saying:

"I'm sorry okay? This is just very important to me and I can't let this fail. The entire Sector depends on this chance."

"Wuu..."

"We're lucky Yuwei's Silencer is the total opposite of what the Silencer from Central is like. Come, let's return to them and apologize okay? I'm sure she'll understand if you can explain it further."

Tannan with her loving care hold Sutra by the hand and guide her. But Sutra, with her own beliefs, held her ground saying:

"No, it's not that. She... That Silencer... She's not human!"

"Well, she is related to that bihai. Maybe that's where you feel uncomfortable."

As if Tannan expected that answer, but Sutra shakes her head vigorously and pulls her hand away.

"That's not it! She's a Monster! An enemy of life!"

"Tannan please, there's a limit to your ramblings okay? Last time, you claim your brother was possessed. So we took him away albeit while he's sleeping. Lock him up below the temple and soon find out that you actually just came up with that excuse so you can take revenge after he pranked you."

With a smile of disbelief, Tannan refuted her claims thinking it was another joke. In fact, her reputation as a respectable high priest was tarnish beyond repair and she's now nought but a mascot in the district. Sutra, frustrated by the truth can only vent her anger by giving Tannan a soft punch. As her face burns red by the memories evoked thanks to Tannan's words.

"Have you seen her face? Her hands? Her feet? Her whole body?"

Sutra asks, pulling her hand away as she sits. Hugging her feet as she hides her embarrassments. Tannan looks up as she tries to remembers her first meeting with her back at the border.

"Well, I did see her face. She's really pretty like a master-crafted doll come to life. Her skin looks smoother than silk and as white as a pearl. Her arms are a beauty to marvel with how even though her hands look delicate, she was still forced to wield a blade. And then there's how even though she tied her blonde hair, I can guess the lengths about past her shoulder, not only is it long, it's also smooth and very tempting to touch, hold and comb. Coupled with her sweet voice she would have attracted the attention of every man possible. She looks so precious I wish I could just protect her...

Honestly speaking we lost by a huge margin when it comes to looks. And in all seriousness, when I first saw her, it was only panic and fear in my heart since I thought that thanks to my twin brother, everything was ruined. But now that I think back, I felt pity for her. I can understand why she chose the path of a warrior since she lost everything that makes her a woman.

Not only does she lacks so many assets that it makes me wants to cry. Her confidence must've have been torn to shreds when she's forced to look at Yuwei's humongous and overflowing properties EVERY SINGLE DAY! Since she's under her direct command which I can totally relate to. Worse of all, her only saving grace, her face is scarred and makes me wonder why she didn't just-"

"That's not what I meant! And why did you say it so detailed like that!"

Tannan confused by the sudden interruption looks at Sutra asking:

"Wait, so we're not having a serious girls talk here? I mean I thought it was rare for you to feel jealous. So maybe when I explain-"

"No you numbskull! Why would I feel jealous if I haven't seen her face either! I'm talking about if there's anything suspicious in her body! Like an extra limb or eyes somewhere or some cursed tattoos, earrings or anything!"

All the animosity Sutra has felt was release like a large burst through a steam chimney when she screams.

"Ah~! My bad. Sorry Sutra. I guess I misunderstood."

"Hmph!"

Frustrated by her misunderstanding. Tannan gives Sutra a pat in the head saying:

"Okay, okay, I already said I'm sorry. I guess if something mysterious then it's how she actually seals all her magic and how she has no qi at all while also having some really silent footsteps. But judging how she was able to defeat my twin brother who became a certified master class recently without any injury. I say her prowess must have at least be a true practitioner."

"Mhm, and that's even more abnormal if she's that powerful. It's not normal for someone to not have qi. Even the bihai that accompanies, small as it may be still her have qi. So why does she don't? In fact, I can't even sense life from her nor hear any heartbeat. It's like she's a walking corpse it's creepy."

"Maybe she's hiding her qi? After all, there are those famous Owlian spec ops we fought back in the Aologi Empire. They train to hide even in broad daylight and strike in unexpected angles. And since they're Owlian, we can't sense their magic at all if they're out of sight. And some would even go so far as to temporarily stop their heart... Beat..."

Tannan's voice grows softer with each word before she stands. Her eyes fell into the city square where they should have to arrive by now and doubt her own words and ideas.

"No, no, no, no. That's ridiculous! This is Yuwei we're talking about. My own classmate and precious friend... And Lord Suowa can't be an imposter if she's carrying that medallion. Even if it's fake, a forgery of its kind cannot possibly be this precise."

Tannan takes out a special pocket watch and opens it as to ensure her confidence. Inside the lid is a picture of the entire student council she was a part in. And as she toggles behind a new picture. A picture of both of her and Yuwei smiling with each other, shoulder to shoulder as they smile and give peace to the camera for their last days in school.

Whilst Tannan was forced to take in her breath even if she didn't want to. The memory of her time seeing Yuwei commanding Tannan and the other student council to a legendary victory while also escaping out of the Aologi Civil War makes the shock and realization that all this could happen left her mind in disarray. Like once a great philosopher once said, if something could go wrong, it will go wrong.

"Someone please tell me it's not true."

Her hand curls into a fist as she closes her memento. Hoping this will all just be her paranoia.