Part 11

Fully completed story on:

patreon.com/FanFictionPremium

***

-Today you and I will discuss a favourite technique of the land conquerors. Most of their soldiers are trained in this skill, so you must be prepared.

The teacher strutted importantly in front of the assembled students. The smooth rows of little Fire warriors froze without moving, completely focused on listening. In a few months of training, the future soldiers had learnt to listen attentively, discarding the habit of asking questions without command.

Standing in the third row, Guan Yu gazed at the clouds, listening to the long speech with the edge of his ear. Teacher Lang liked to take a long time to get to the point, so it was possible to relax for a few minutes and enjoy contemplating the clouds. The main thing was not to miss the beginning of the narration of really important information.

The fellow students of ordinary people surrounding the boy were also immersed in contemplation. Falling asleep with their eyes open, the children habitually kept a straight posture, without giving a reason for punishment.

-Now, an earth mage has arrived from Yu Dao for a demonstration, he will show you what I was talking about.

In a single impulse, the eyes of all the students gathered on the formation lowered to the ground where Lang was pointing. The first seconds of confusion were dispelled by the tumbling soil. Like a mole digging a hole, the pile of earth grew in size until the mage invited by the teacher smoothly appeared. Spinning on his axis, he jumped to the surface in a single movement. With his legs spread wide and his arms at his sides, the skinny man in the red robe froze in a single pose.

-As you can see, travelling underground is commonplace for Kingdom mages. Almost all enemy soldiers can do this, so you must be very careful and always pay attention to suspicious vibrations under your feet. Of course, learning how to detect movement underground is not for everyone, but I believe you can do it. We will do a demonstration for everyone, our dear guest will lift rocks under your feet, and your task is to react in time.

The rest of the lesson was boring and long for each student. The long queue and demonstrations took up the rest of the day, leaving no time for personal matters. Walking back to the barracks with his squad, Guan Yu put his hands behind his head while his teacher couldn't see.

A jolt to his right side caught the attention of the captain's son. Turning around at the invader of personal space, he saw the face of his neighbour Wen Chou. The fellow was making a fearful face and pointing to the beginning of the column with one eye. Trusting his mate, Yu adopted a compliant look with a straight back and his arms pressed to his body at the elbow. When the command to stop was heard from ahead, he mentally thanked Chou for the warning.

-You're a little too relaxed, I think a little jog wouldn't hurt.

The cadets looked around for the culprit, but everyone had the same indignation in their eyes, and Yu's neighbours didn't give away the culprit.

-According to the many requests of your parents, you will all be excused from class today.

Smoothing his grey beard, Principal Jun slapped his voluminous potbelly. Slamming his fist into his chest, he blessed the students with a good rest and demanded that they follow the rules even outside the school walls. Turning on his heels, the funny old man briskly strode off in the only direction he knew.

After giving the headmaster a glance, Guan Yu waited for the first stirrings in the formation before he abruptly broke into a run. Rounding his classmates, he was nimbly approaching the gate when happy voices began to break out behind him. Not fully believing in the freedom they had received, the students slowly realised that it was all true. Forgetting the words of encouragement, the cheering crowd rushed for the exit, shoving and bumping into each other.

Jumping out onto the familiar streets of Liping, Yuu took a quick start, heading deeper into the city. His new home had changed a lot since the beginning of his training. Rubbish and debris had disappeared from the streets, and many buildings had been rebuilt. Lonely silhouettes of ruins were less and less common, and smooth new bridges overhung the countless canals.

The bright rays of the sun made me feel good, and the fresh smell of water invigorated me to run even faster. After jumping over another canal, Yu carefully ignored the constructed bridges where bewildered people were walking over. If they gave the first child a surprised look, they would run away from the crowd following them. All over the city, a similar pattern was happening, causing chaos and disorder. Only a few children from noble families walked slowly and measuredly, matching their position and copying their adult relatives.

Deciding that he had time to sit at home, Yu rushed towards the flooded neighbourhoods. The boy was wildly curious as to how the process of draining and repairing the walls was progressing.

Running through a deserted alleyway, a small stack of crates caught his eye. After looking at them all the way to the top, the captain's son decided to make an experiment. He flew onto the improvised springboard and found himself on the stone roof of one of the houses. Standing on the very edge of the house adjacent to the wide canal, Yu opened his eyes in delight.

The view that opened before his eyes was mesmerising. Most of the buildings were of the same height, so the entire city was visible from his spot. The distant buildings blended with the smooth lines of the water that glistened in the sun. The towering towers of the bridges that had been built to protect the city cast huge shadows. Red banners attached to lone spires fluttered in the wind. Spinning around, trying to capture a better picture, Yu saw the bed of the mighty Pona River, which ran far to the east towards the mountains and forest of Baru.

Mesmerised by the impressive view, he missed the moment when another observer appeared on the rooftop. Carefully creeping up close to Yui, the stranger coughed politely into his fist. Startled by the unexpected sound, the boy tried to turn around, but tripped over a planted foot and began to tumble into the water. The last thing he saw before the river took him into its embrace was the haughty smile of a girl he had once encountered.

Upon surfacing, Guan Yu wrinkled his nose at the unpleasant sensation in his back. Although he had fallen from a small height, falling flat on the water surface was not enjoyable. As he swam to the shore, muttering curses to himself, when he was a few metres from the coveted rocky shore, the young Fire Warrior noticed a stranger attacking him on the shore.

With her arms folded across her chest, she beckoned him with a finger, a look of anticipation on her face. After pondering for a few seconds and glancing at the other shore, Yu decided not to mess with the vindictive aristocrat and swim the other way, but the fireball that flew close to his head was of a different opinion. Splashing a small cloud of spray around, it showered the child's face with warmth. Frowning in surprise, Yuu looked pretentiously at the smirking girl who held another balloon in her hand. Swelling in size, the flame clearly hinted that every second of delay would cost him dearly. Exhaling heavily at the impending trouble, the boy swam forwards.

Stopping near the shore, he supported himself on the water, looking questioningly at his frozen classmate. Putting out the fireball, the girl was also silent, waiting for something. Stomping her foot in impatience, she looked into Yu's eyes, and red spots of anger and irritation appeared on her face. Deciding to take the initiative, the boy bowed his head and muttered an apology.

-What are you muttering about? I can't hear anything.

-I apologise for accidentally pushing you into the water. It was my fault, Madam...

-Gunsun Wenling.

-... Madam Wenling.

After giving the boy a glance, Wenling smiled victoriously. Walking to the edge of the shore, she leaned lower to speak without raising her voice.

-That's the way it is. It's good that you realise your-

Before she could finish, the girl tried to jump back when Yui's strong arm shot out of the water and pulled her into the river. Without wasting a moment, the proud heir of the Guan family climbed out of the water. Bending down to remove his soaked boots, he dodged the fireball flying over his head just in time.

Turning around indignantly, he saw an angry soaked 'cat' that hissed furiously at him as it slowly approached the shore. Swallowing his words, the child ran full speed into the alley. Manoeuvring between the houses, laughing happily, he was already starting to relax when a new volley of fire came from above. Smashing into the nearest wall, a small ball of fire splattered across the stone, forcing Yui to fall to the ground.

-Why are you bothering me?!? That's how you get killed.

Wenling looked down at him from the roof of the neighbouring house with angry and red eyes. Crunching her knuckles, she whispered something to herself. Her soaked hair had not been dried this time, so it hung in black icicles along her face. The wet dress clung to her childish figure, making her look dystrophic, making Wenling look like a witch or an evil spirit.

Swallowing the lump that formed in her throat, Guan Yu somersaulted away from the new portion of flames. As he tore down the alley, he heard a vicious groan of frustration behind him. The goosebumps running down his back suggested repentance and apology, but his frantically pounding heart and mind demanded he speed up to the max.

The chase continued into the evening with mixed success. Covered in soot, Guan Yu stood in front of his pursuer. Reddened from running, covered in dust and dirt, the girl approached him with unclear goals. She had finished throwing balls an hour ago, sending curses and demands for the boy to stop. She had an unusual smile on her face, and her arms were spread out in different directions, suggesting bad thoughts.

Coming up close to Yuu, Wenling tilted her head slightly to catch the fugitive's gaze.

-Well, what will you think of this time?

-Я...

-There's no point in making excuses, -without even giving the boy a chance, the girl pressed forward, resting a slender finger on Yuu's chest, -You threw me into the water twice. Look how I look!

For clarity, she took a couple of steps backwards, spinning on her axis. The dirty tattered dress and hair bunched up in a bird's nest made even a simpleton like Yuu embarrassed. Bowing respectfully, he clasped his hands to his body.

-I apologise. This has all gone too far.

Mistrustfully eyeing her interlocutor, Wenling took a cautious step closer.

-Last time, after you apologised, I ended up in the water.

-It won't happen again,' Yu raised his voice and feeling guilty about the girl's appearance, Yu folded his hands above his head in a pleading gesture, 'I sincerely ask you to forgive me, Miss Wenling.

After a brief silence, Yu gently raised his head to see his classmate's satisfied face.

-All right.

-All right?

-By the way,‖ approaching Yu closely, the girl placed her hand on the straightened boy's chest, -You can just call me Wenling, I'm not that snooty.

-Whatooo.....

Falling downwards from the slight jolt, Yuu heard the girl's hushed voice before another plunge into the abysses of Pona.

-It was fun.