Always Fighting

Zhōng's face was black and blue and bloody as a gang continued to beat him up. "Stop! Please stop, he can't take it anymore!" pleaded Xing as one held her back.

"Shut up girl, he offers himself for you," said one as he slammed another punch in Zhōng's stomach making him spit out blood.

"And besides he's maybe more fun than you'll ever be." said another, kicking Zhōng in the face.

"You have two swords, why not use them?" taunted a third as he stomped on Zhōng's back.

They continued for another five minutes before stopping. "Enjoy a goodnight rest, we'll be back tomorrow." said the first as they left their alley.

Zhōng struggled to sit up from the beatings he received. He breathed heavily as he must have a few broken ribs. He looked at his sister, she was horrified and scared for him. He smile faintly to assure her it was alright, but his face said differently. "Brother," said Xing quietly.

The next day, the gang returned to the alley. "Well look what we got here, looks like the boy ran and left her behind," said one. Xing woke up and turned around to see the four men from yesterday, hovering over her.

"So much for keeping his promise, let's take her," said another.

Fear came over Xing's face, but it wasn't for what they were about to do. It was Zhōng leaping from one of the buildings with his two swords in his hand. he plunged them deep into two of the four, killing them instantly as he landed in between them. He stood up and his cold yet fiery dark blue eyes hit the other two. They jumped backward and ran out of the alley, the boy they beat up became a terrifying man over a single night. Thus began the era of the Dual Bladed Ninja.

Zhōng groaned, waking up from a dream, he couldn't remember, in a cell five years later. His arms were chained over his head, he felt stiff from them. The only light was a torch outside his cell and the bar window. "Well, it looks like someone is waking up," said a girl outside his cell. She had a school uniform on and a Wyvern sword on her left hip.

"Looks like he can see us, too bad he won't be cursed of the last image to see is us in the bath." said another one, right by the first. She wore the same uniform and had a Longus sword on her right hip.

"Lady Mona and Lady Klee, nice to see you two again." groaned Zhōng. He scanned the room better and saw a crate to his right with his weapons leaning on it out of reach. The cell had a bar wall and door. Behind the ladies looked like a stairwell meaning he was up high. "At least this time you have clothes on." he noted smiling.

"I couldn't believe someone, once high and mighty, would go so low as to crash onto us, girls, bathing." said Lady Mona.

"He perhaps would have assaulted the princess if they were alone." noted Lady Klee.

"How about you come and get these chains off of me and I'll show you what I can do." stated Zhōng.

"And why would we do that?" asked Lady Mona.

"Cause you're flat and you have too much flab." poked Zhōng at Lady Mona and Lady Klee.

"Alright, you asked for it." said Lady Klee. Lady Mona opens the cell and both girls enter, drawing their swords.

"We'll hit you on the blunt but if we cut you, you had it coming." said Lady Mona as they raised their swords. They were falling straight into Zhōng's plan as he smiled.

Just when they were about to strike, a hand grabbed each of their sword arms, preventing them from coming down. "Anyone who harms the majesty's prisoners will suffer tenfold, it doesn't matter how much wealth or how good of a friend you are to her daughter." said Captain Howin behind them. He was in his thirties and carried a spear on his back and a Spriggan sword on his left hip.

"Captain, he embarrassed us," accused Lady Klee.

"We want to make sure he gets what he deserves." explained Lady Mona.

"Then I'll let the empress know you tried to touch him after she said no excuse," said Captain Howin. He unlocked the chains to Zhōng's arms and cuffed them together. He then grabbed Zhōng's weapons by the crate and led them out of the prison quarters.

"You know I could have handled them," stated Zhōng as they passed the courtyard of the school.

"It's not you that I'm worried about, it's the girls that you'll perhaps beat up before escaping since you know they had the key." explained Captain Howin.

"Can I have my weapons on me?" asked Zhōng a little further down.

"Promise, you won't do anything crazy?" he asked.

"Defined crazy? Me killing them or me negotiating with them?" asked Zhōng. Captain Howin turned around confused as to why he asked.

"The Fallen Prince," stated Captain Howin as he and Zhōng, with his weapons on him, entered.

"I thought I told you to bring his weapons and not let him have them." stated Empress Wēi sitting on one of two couches with a table between them. She was drinking tea and her daughter sat right by her.

"Your majesty, he promised he won't do any harm, if he does the Ninja Sword will leave him." stated Captain Howin.

Empress Wēi stared at Zhōng, he said nothing. His hair was a mess from rubbing his head on the wall last night, though his cowl was down. His face was young yet carried many scars from the past that made him look old. His dark blue eyes would send shivers if you looked at him, for the demons that hid behind them could not be held back if let go. But the detail that terrified them the most was the temporary tattoo that he had to touch up once in a while, it was a symbol meaning 'Fallen Prince', a symbol that anyone who sees it would run. "Very well, remove his cuffs, if he promised that, let's see him do it." order Empress Wēi, and Captain Howin obeyed. "Sit, former prince." she then ordered.

"Giving me my last minutes of freedom." stated Zhōng as he sat down on the couch across from them.

"You shouldn't have any." stated Princess Zhen. Her silver blond hair was combed and neat, two strands were on each side of her face, with her right one dyed red, were the only parts in front while the rest were pulled back and tied with a bow. Her red eyes stare menacingly at him, strong enough to challenge him someday.

"I apologize for what happened I assume was last night, princess." stated Zhōng.

"It doesn't get you out for what I've planned for you." interrupted Empress Wēi before Princess Zhen could speak.

"Then perhaps this would, you still owe me a favor." claimed Zhōng.

"I owe one to the Dual Bladed Ninja."

"But I was him, so therefore you owe me."

Empress Wēi sighed, he had something saved for a long time and she couldn't believe he was using it now. "You think you can use that now after I finally caught you?" she asked.

"You can't let him do that, mother." burst out Princess Zhen, she didn't want Zhōng to weasel out like he always does.

"What's wrong, empress? Going back on a sworn promise? Perhaps I should have let her die." taunted Zhōng, he had saved it for just a time like this.

"What is it that you want?" growled Empress Wēi, knowing she couldn't go back on her word.

"Ha! Ha! Ha!" burst out of Uncle Tyron's mouth later. They were in a different room with Xing and Aunt Jiào when Zhōng told them what happened. Uncle Tyron continued to laugh, he couldn't believe what he heard. "I can't believe it, the great Dual Bladed Ninja, the Fallen Prince, able to escape from guards for five years was caught by a loose piece of board." he laughed. Zhōng looked at him unamused.

"What made you think the boards will hold your weight?" asked Xing. Zhōng wasn't fat but was well built due to his training.

"I chased a cat about half an hour before on the roof." explained Zhōng.

"Wait, you chased a cat up there?" asked Uncle Tyron, laughing even more.

"But I would still have gotten away if it wasn't for that unfasten board." stated Zhōng looking at his aunt.

"I'll look into that." said Aunt Jiào, feeling her nephew's glare.

"I still can't believe you made a clear mistake like that." chuckled Uncle Tyron.

"If you're done, we now have something to talk about now." snapped Zhōng.

"You're right, you're right." said Uncle Tyron catching his breath. "So the empress is allowing you to choose how you'll be punished."

"That's right," confirmed Zhōng.

"Well that eliminates the painless ones, she has to approve as well." said Aunt Jiào.

"Correct."

"Brother, I don't want you to." pleaded Xing looking into her brother's eyes. It was the same worried look five years ago she had on.

"I'm sorry, I've failed you. My other option is to have one of you be released of your punishments but I can't decide who that will be." stated Zhōng.

"It's okay, we'll be fine," began Uncle Tyron.

"Even without you, you set a beacon that no one can ignore." finished Aunt Jiào.

"I hope it's a beacon I can be proud of." wished Zhōng.

"There has to be some way for you to get out of this one like you always do." stated Xing, she didn't want to lose her brother either.

"I wish that there is, but I can't think of anything that can change the empress's mind." said Zhōng, he leaned forward and dropped his head, this was perhaps the end.

"Then don't try on her," stated Captain Howin, he was in the room to listen for any information Zhōng might leak.

"What do you mean?" asked Uncle Tyron, as they looked at him confused.

"You don't have a strong history with the empress, but you do with her daughter." he suggested, this made Zhōng smile as it gave him hope.

"A dual?" questioned Empress Wēi.

"Yes, me against your daughter, the winner decides what happens to me." stated Zhōng.

"I gave you a free shot, and yet you missed way off the mark. Why should I accept this?" asked Empress Wēi.

"Because if I win, I'll give the Ninja Sword to you and go into exile never to be heard of again, also you will remove the degrees of punishment set on my family. However, if I lose, you'll still get the Ninja Sword and can sentence me to anything. I'm giving you a free shot now." explained Zhōng.

"Why would you think I'll accept this?" asked Empress Wēi.

"Because I'm not talking to you, your majesty." said Zhōng, he turned his head and looked at the princess. "If there's anyone I made a fool of more is you, princess, perhaps this is a perfect way to get back at me."

"And why do you think I will agree?" asked Princess Zhen.

"Because it'll be a mech fight, something you are great at." said Zhōng.

They said nothing as they pondered, the favor was too good to be true. "You think I'll accept your challenge cause you know she has better skills in a mech?" mocked Empress Wēi.

"I accept," stated Princess Zhen, shocking both the empress and Captain Howin, who did not think it would work even though he suggested it. "Provided that I can kill you immediately when I defeat you." she stated.

"It will be your choice, princess." confirmed Zhōng.

A week went by as a crowd gathered at the arena on the school grounds. Everyone heard and wanted to see the fight against the Prince of the Old versus the Princess of the New. It was a battle that everyone was excited about. Thunderous applause roared above where Zhōng was preparing himself in the entryway to the stage. He was sharpening his blades and the thought of facing an old friend was on his mind.

The thought of them being friends a long time ago made him think about the decisions he made. "She won't feel the same way about you." said Uncle Tyron interrupting Zhōng's daydream.

"I know," he said as he put away the sword he was working on.

"They did offer you mech clothes," noted Uncle Tyron, noticing Zhōng still had his normal attire with his torn and mended cloak. Its pattern was for disguising, from far away it looked like a brown cloak but close enough and patterns of black ran all over it. On the inside it black void, able to hide any kind of weapon and offer its wearer the ability to hide everything that can describe him.

"You told me a real fight isn't fair, so wear something that'll make you comfortable, this is what I feel comfortable in." stated Zhōng.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" asked Uncle Tyron, Zhōng stood up and walked towards the stage.

"No way of backing out now since there are people who wanted to see this. It'll be a pity I can't give my people a show." said Zhōng as he pulled up his cowl and entered the stadium.

The crowd booed as Zhōng entered the stadium, once a people that saw him as their future king now saw him as a thief and wanted him to die. They then started cheering when Princess Zhen entered, she wore the mech suit which was offered to Zhōng except it was designed for females. On her left hip, she had her Roktavor sword, she had her entire hair was tied back. Zhōng took his cloak off revealing his Longus on his left hip and the Ninja Sword on his back. His clothes were the black boots that he ran in, his pants were black designed to be strong and light. His black shirt had light armor stitched around his body and down his arms. His hair was combed back revealing his tattoo clearly as his eyes lit like fire.

"This is the last chance for you to turn back, there's no reason to fight you." warned Zhōng.

"Unlike you, I don't hide from my enemies and you're the one that challenged me." accused Princess Zhen.

"You out of all people should know I don't hide." stated Zhōng. The barrier went up to prevent anyone from getting injured during the fight, everyone began to rumble.

"Is he okay?" asked Principal Jiào when Lord Tyron came up to them.

"He's fine," assured Lord Tyron.

"Do you think he's going to win?" asked Xing.

The crowd watched with anticipation as Princess Zhen and Zhōng prepare to activate their mechs. Princess Zhen reached with her right hand for her sword as if she was going to draw it. Zhōng however, reached for his Longus with his right and the Ninja Sword with his left. The crowd booed with disapproval that he dared to do this. "It depends how badly he wants to," responded Lord Tyron.

Empress Wēi watched the action from her booth with Captain Howin and two other guards by her side. "Well, even here you've shown your true colors, the best mech fighter versus the best swordsman. Do you despise her that much that you want to live so badly, and so you set this up to show what the Ninja Sword's true power?" she asked herself.

"We're ready, your majesty." stated Captain Howin after hearing the words from a guard reporting to him.

After a long pause, Empress Wēi said, "Let the fight begin."

A horn blasted to begin and Princess Zhen wasted no time to activate. But once she did, she noticed that Zhōng didn't and was charging at her with both hands still on both swords. She fired numerous artillery rounds at him as he dodge them all, she couldn't completely kill him not yet but could severely wound him. The shots were missing him, he ran for five years being shot at, and his movements would make a skillful sniper miss. Just when he was very close, Princess Zhen fired at him, smoke came up from it and everyone went silent as the echoes from the blast roared.

Suddenly, a blue and silver mech leaped out of the smoke and began to have close-to-close combat. The crowd booed for the fake-out. "Why did he do that?" asked Cortana. Xing's friends were sitting with her and her aunt and her uncle during the fight.

"Because he knows he'll have the advantage up close." explained Lord Tyron.

"What advantage?" asked Pina.

"There are six different sword types but three different categories." replied Principal Jiào.

"Princess Zhen uses a Roktavor, a stamina type. The ability to move away and keep opponents away is its specialty. The fact these types tend to favor a sleep-out before putting on a show means they can beat any opponent who dares to fight with them due to distance." explained Lord Tyron as Princess Zhen tried to get away but wasn't quick enough as Zhōng threw in a couple more hits, he was trying to drain her shield to force her to surrender. "Zhōng on the other hand is in a Longus, an attack type. The ability to fake out his opponents for a strike to have the actual come the other way makes it one of the heavy hitters in all six."

"But aren't Longuses supposed to be slower than this?" asked Silica. She notices how quickly Zhōng was able to move, too quick for a normal Longus.

"That's because Zhōng's isn't a normal Longus." explained Xing.

"How?" asked Kotori.

"Ever heard of the Samurai Sword?" asked Lord Tyron, the girls nodded their heads. "That sword combined all six, all three categories together. It was considered to be the ultimate weapon ever to face the Ninja Sword."

"Zhōng's Longus at the base is a Longus but there were parts that were changed to be a Valtryek." explained Principal Jiào.

"The only two attack types in one sword," applaud Empress Wēi. "The ultimate attack type, hiding its actual attack while also having the speed and consistency of laying down hits."

"Opponents up close have no chance of fighting nor getting away without it catching you." said Lord Tyron as they watched the two go at it, landing crucial hits, but Zhōng looked like he was winning.

Zhōng sent one that sent Princess Zhen flying backwards, she took a look at her shield level. It was critical, two more hits and she'll lose; however, her stamina was still three-quarters full. Zhōng looked at his readings, his shield readings had a buff but not much, and his stamina was almost out, he wasn't trying to win, he was fighting for his family. Whether he wins or dies, he wants his family to be free. "Is that all you got?" shouted Princess Zhen, snapping his daydream.

"Surely you notice, this fight should have ended a while back now." replied Zhōng. During the fight, with every critical hit he threw, he stopped a partial way from her from receiving the full blow.

"How dare you play around with me?" enraged Princess Zhen as she stood up for the next round. She had distance and he lost the ability to come at her fast and small.

"You should remember what promise I made, I never forgot it." replied Zhōng.

"How dare you!" cried Princess Zhen, sending volleys of her artillery at Zhōng. She called it, 'Storm Wave'. Every time she used it, she always won. She didn't want to use it but the Fallen Prince had pissed her off badly.

Hail of fire crashed upon Zhōng as he received the blows. He charged at her, it was on now, the fire versus the ice. Her shots found their marks as his shield started to drain, he was going to land a hit when she jumped back and continued. Zhōng levels were critical, he could barely stand in his mech. Suddenly the storm stopped, he looked up and saw the princess in front of him as she landed a punch. His shield gave away as her punch landed on his chest, he coughed up blood and was sent backwards into a wall. He collapsed but still was in his mech as he pushed himself around to lay on his back. The crowd roared as Zhōng's family and Xing's friends looked in horror. Princess Zhen lunged for the final attack on him, with quick thinking, Zhōng removed his right arm from his suit to grab his Longus Sword. He blocked the incoming strike, but the impact was too much and the sword shattered as the opposing mech's blade just missed left to his head. His mech was deactivated, it was over as the crowd cheered.

"Well played, Fallen Prince. You could have easily been executed peacefully, but you chose a stage where everyone can watch, booing at you." smiled Empress Wēi.

"It can't be over," said Xing, shocked that her brother lost.

"As he said, this should have ended a while back. He was playing around with her, he wanted her to forfeit on her account." explained Lord Tyron.

"A battle ends when there's blood or a mech deactivates, sadly there's both." stated Principal Jiào seeing a splat of blood in the dirt where Zhōng lay with no mech activated.

Zhōng huffed and puffed, his broken Longus still in his right hand as he laid on his back. A red and gold mech hovers over him, this time it will find its mark. "Any last words?" asked Princess Zhen, readying herself for the blow.

"Protect this empire," said Zhōng as he closed his dark blue eyes, perhaps finally he can get some sleep.

Princess Zhen was about to do it when a barrier guard fell and the barrier collapsed. An explosion was heard and everyone got quiet. There was a hum then suddenly thirty black mechs flew into the arena and opened fire. The crowd screamed as they ran from the ambush out of the stadium.

"Let's go!" shouted Lord Tyron as he led them out.

"We need to go, your majesty." stated Captain Howin.

"Not without my daughter." replied Empress Wēi.

"We can't do anything without reinforcements." stated Captain Howin as he and the guards urged her out. Empress Wēi watched in horror as she saw her daughter trying to fight them off.

One by one they swooped in to attack her, she fended them off but one got her than another. Suddenly, she was picked up and fell backward. Five men grabbed her when she fell back down, they pinned her arms so she couldn't deactivate to run away. "Sir, we have control of the arena." said a soldier to its commander.

"Smoke the arena, I don't want them to see us." ordered the commander and the soldiers quickly obey. Princess Zhen recognized the voice. Her eyes widened even after he turned around. "It's been a while princess, I hope you told your mother about your secret." said Commander Gomun. A person she saw with Emperor Huo who gave the most terrible torture to her. Her face went pale as the memory flooded back into mind. "Well looks like you'll remember, perhaps I should take you with me as well as our emperor," he stated. "You two go get him."

"Sir," the two men said before disappearing into the fog.

"Do you think he's as terrifying as they say?" asked one as they walked in the fog.

"I don't know, his brother is for sure." acknowledges the second.

"Agree, it must be a gene." noted the first. They came to the spot where Zhōng lay but they could only find his shattered Longus. "That's weird, where did he go?" he asked as he bent down to analyze the broken weapon.

"There's no way he could stand up after a punch like that." stated the second one.

"Yeah, he's got to be somewhere." said the first, he stood up and realized he was alone. "Hey, where did you go?" he asked but no response. "Sir I got a problem," he stated in his communicator.

"What do you mean?" asked Commander Gomun. However, there was no response back, only static. "Hey! Get back here you two." he shouted in the direction they left.

"Sir, there's some-" stated another soldier before it went out.

"There's no way the New Empire is ready for a counterattack." stated Commander Gomun. "Attention all units go to the public channel, do we have a visual on someone else?" he ordered.

"Sir, I think I see something bla-" stated another soldier before it went static.

"It's very, very fas-" stated a third before it too went static.

"What is that thing?!" shouted the fourth blasting at it before suddenly he stopped.

"I see it!" shouted a fifth and opened fire to have the same results. As soon as he stopped, Commander Gomun fired, following the direction he was going. The rocket he launched was fast and hit something as an explosion lit from the slowly disappearing fog.

"Did you get him?" asked a soldier as they trembled.

"I missed," stated Commander Gomun.

"Where did he go then?" asked another. They formed a circle around the Princess as they pointed their weapons into the fog.

An urge suddenly was felt as Commander Gomun's eyes widened. "Scatter!" he cried as a black mech landed in the middle of them all and opened fire.

If Princess Zhen's face wasn't white as snow, it was now as the black and dark silver mech poured rounds after rounds of bullets over her. It then switched for two swords and attacked and killed any soldier he saw. The dark blue eyes of the person driving the mech burned anyone whom it saw. A bombing party dived to attack it only to have their missiles blocked by a shield, the cold and hot eyes tracked them down before he fire a storm of rockets at them, incinerating all of them. "It can't be? This is the power of the Ninja Sword." awe Princess Zhen. She wasn't sure if she was terrified of it or the man piloting it.

"Your majesty," stated Commander Gomun as Zhōng lined up to fire a rocket at him. "I am Commander Gomun, I was sent by your brother to take you back. I see your fatal injury isn't bothering you, my emperor." Zhōng tilted his head to the side before putting the rocket down.

"My brother sent you?" he asked.

"Yes, your majesty, our orders were to get you and perhaps kill this so-called princess if she dares to kill you." replied Commander Gomun. Princess Zhen was terrified as the boy in the mech looked at her.

Zhōng turned back to Commander Gomun and walked up to him. He put one arm on his shoulder then the other, he then stared deeply into the commander's eyes. The commander smiled before seeing his eyes were still hungry for blood. Suddenly, Zhōng ripped both Commander Gomun's mech's arms off in one tug. He side kicked the commander backwards as he fell to the ground, before he could plead, Zhōng grabbed him, pulled him up, and prepared for a punch. "You let my brother know to stand down, the time hasn't come nor will it ever. Tell him if he tries to hurt the princess again, I will come after him and destroy him." ordered the Fallen Prince. "Now fly away before I kill you."

Commander Gomun obeyed what was commanded, then the New Empire came which had forty soldiers compared to the fifteen left. They ran terrified as the counterattack came. Zhōng watched as the old ran as the new chased. He turned to see the princess was finally able to deactivate her mech, she looked at him, her red eyes widened and teary. Zhōng grinned before turning his back to her, his endurance suddenly gave away and the Ninja Mech deactivated, he fell forward and breathed heavily as the world around him darken.

Princess Zhen sat up and looked at the unconscious former prince, the power he used was going to be hers, but when she saw it scared her. She stood up and limped towards him to see he was still breathing. "Zhen! You're okay!" cried Empress Wēi, she deactivated her Spriggan and ran towards and hugged her. She was relieved her daughter was alright, but Princess Zhen continued to stare at the Fallen Prince. Seeing who she was looking at, reminded the empress who was perhaps the cause of this. "Guards, execute him." she ordered.

"Wait!" ordered Princess Zhen, her mother looked at her confused. "We agree I get to decide his fate. Before any of that happens I want to know something." she said, her teary eyes became determined, she wanted to know why he did it.

"Are you sure about this? This could be a mistake." said Empress Wēi.

"It's a risk I'm willing to take, he's my responsibility." declared Princess Zhen, she looked down at the unconscious body of the Fallen Prince.

Zhōng walked through a burning city, it wasn't the first he saw buildings burn, but it was still horrifying to him. Bodies laid freshly killed as blood flowed through the streets, the sky was cloudy and red from fires lit inside buildings that burned. Death and destruction were all he could see as he continued to walk. He saw someone that looked familiar and crouched next to him. The person suddenly grabbed Zhōng, surprising him. "Where did you go? We needed you the most, we needed the sword." the person said as he took his final breath to life. He let go of him and closed his eyes for the final time. Zhōng traced through his memory but couldn't remember who he was. Then he saw something terrifying, there were bodies of his family, friends, the empress, and the princess, all laid in front of a black mech. It saw him and Zhōng quickly drew his Longus to find it was broken, he drew the Ninja Sword to find out it didn't work. His eyes widened as the black mech readied himself to fire at him.

Zhōng woke up from his nightmare and sat up quickly, regretting doing that due to his injuries as he clung to his chest. He breathed and sweated heavily from the nightmare, but his injuries snapped him back to reality. "You should lay down," advised a familiar voice. He turned his head to see the princess, back in her school attire and her hair back the way it was before the fight. She looked terrified and shocked that he woke up. He looked down at himself to see he was shirtless and had bandages around his chest where the princess punched him.

"If you can do me a favor and write for me before we continue, that'll be great." asked Zhōng. Princess Zhen was unsure, but seeing Zhōng lay down and breathe calmly, she picked up a quill and paper and waited for him to speak for her to write down. "To my family," he began, "I'm sorry I've done everything I could. This outcome I don't want you to have it burned for hatred in your hearts. My Aunt Jiào, although we hardly spend any time together, I fought for your freedom from treason. You out of all of us weren't part of anything, it's unfair that I and my uncle signed you up and should be punished for things you knew nothing about.

"Uncle, you were right. I guess I had too much pride in myself. To think I'll try my luck to end up dying. You and I planned and schemed, we know what we do for our family would label us criminals, not that we weren't anyway. There are things I should tell you, but perhaps some secrets I hold should be buried with me as well.

"My sister, oh my sister. I've been with you for your entire life. From the moment you were born till now. I promised father I'll protect you, and I feel like I failed. Promise me something that I promise to our mother. Whatever happens, find peace within yourself when I'm gone. Protect this empire from everything that'll harm it. Fight strong and bravely, never let fear sink in as it did to me and our ancestors.

"I ran and I fought, everything I did, I did it for you. I fought for you, I've died protecting you. Now become the next to defend this empire no matter what happens. The Old mustn't wake up." finished Zhōng. Princess Zhen looked up to him after she finished the letter. She was surprised by what he told her to write. He breathed heavily again, he knew his time had come. "Do you need me to say the questions for the vows or are you going to kill me now?" he asked.

Princess Zhen looked down at the letter she wrote for him. Their battle wasn't about his life, it was about his family's. She remembered his request if he won, he didn't care if he was spare or not, he cared for his family. Someone who would do anything to protect his family and her. "It's my decision for what's going to happen to you," she began. Zhōng sighed heavily as prepared for his sentence. "Although my mother doesn't approve, I've decided to spare your life and drop all of your family's sentences. However, you will train with us here in School Town. You will help us with anything, help your uncle and you will decide whether you want the front lines or a high and loyal lord or lady to be the bodyguard of."

"As you wish," said Zhōng as he sighed, he gave a weak smile, but it shocked her. Princess Zhen stood up and left the room so Zhōng could get some rest. "princess." he whispered as she left with the letter in her hand. She was now confused as to why she hated him and only him.