Chi made her way along the green plains. Along the way, she passed by patches of flowers which she saw some beautiful flowers. Paused to relish those beautiful flowers, she found she was attracted to carnation. Those were beautiful, and the scent of floral fragrant blew in with the soft cold breeze. Having enough of enjoying herself, she continued her journey. She had lost her track of the time that she never thought she had walked for almost a day.
The Sol hung low at the western sky when she had reached a small village. Her stomach grumbled. She was hungry, and so she searched around for any edible plant or food. Lucky for her, she saw an orchard and hurried toward an apple tree. She ran at the tree trunk as if it was a ramp and plucked an apple and then leapt back to the ground. And she reached for a pool of water to rinse it.
Chi muttered words of gratitude to thank the Universe before she consumed the apple. As she was about to lay her mouth on the apple, she heard distant footsteps.
"Young girl, no need to steal. Just ask, and we are glad to give you."
Chi spun to the sound and saw an old panda with a bamboo staff. The moment she looked at him, she thought he had been punched on both of his eyes. It was odd that the black area around the eyes had furs, and there were furs all over his body. Then, it came to her realisation that the peasant's appearance was as healthy as he looked.
"Sorry," said Chi. "Me don't know it's yours."
"It's alright, young girl. You must be hungry, having travelled so far. Do come in and have lunch with us." The old panda beckoned Chi to his small wooden hut.
"Well, thank you, uncle," said Chi, giving the peasant her genuine smile as she entered the panda's hut.
In the hut, the whole family of pandas: his wife and his son all looked at her. They were sitting by a square table which their bowls of rice and dishes were half to finish. It looked like they had their meal interrupted by an apple theft, but they didn't look irritated at all. They all looked like they were about to say, "Welcome!"
"Young girl," said the woman panda. "Come and sit here." She beckoned Chi to sat at the empty side of the table.
Chi sat on. "Thank you for inviting me."
"What's your name lady?" said the old panda. "Mine is Dragon Chen."
"Chi Myst'wing."
"You have a beautiful name," said Dragon.
"Mine is Kind," said the woman panda.
"Prosper," said the younger panda.
From their voices, Chi could know their ages. Dragon Chen was nearing fifty, Kind was in her forties while Prosper was in his twenties. And from their ragged linen clothes, they spoke with a noble tone that Chi felt they were not just some simple peasants. Chi noticed there were three rattan hats and straw capes were hanging at the wall behind Dragon Chen. And she saw several bamboo staves leaning not far from the capes.
"Though we are poor," said Dragon." That never stops us from serving our guest with what we have."
Chi had a glimpse on their dishes and realised that their meals were simple: rice, beans, fruits and vegetable, which was similar to her diet in Nuwa's Sanctuary. Though their meal was simple, they were really enjoying it. It is not the meal that you shall find enjoyment, but the person who you have the meal with.
Kind took a bowl of rice for Chi, and she thanked her. She prayed before she has her meal, and when she was about to eat, Dragon, Kind and Prosper each took a turn to pick dishes for her. She felt herself like she was a guest of honour.
When Chi had finished her meal, Dragon looked at her and said, "Chi, what are you doing here? It is very dangerous to travel alone. There are robbers everywhere, and even Solluna armies attacking every village."
"Is it dangerous?" said Chi, surprised to see the whole panda family nodded. "But it seems safe to me all the way here." Lucky did she had learnt ways to protect herself before she began her travel. Even shall she bump with the robbers or the Solluna armies, she would not be the one would shake with fear but them; since she had learnt lots of skills from Nuwa.
"Solluna armies had been attacking villages to seek for Vincere," said Dragon. "He is the prince of late Lord Imperiare. It happened after Lord Amo of Solluna sacked Imperiare City. That was months ago. They believe that Vincere has escaped with a piece of an ancient relic. It is known that there are two pieces of the relic. When the two pieces combined, the bearer would weld an unimaginable power. He believes Vincere is hiding and could have survived with resources of either one village. So, he attacks the villages, to force out any possible hints or location of Vincere."
"Vincere," Chi murmured to herself.
"Luckily, our village is surrounded by forest, and we are safe from those Solluna," said Prosper.
"But we mustn't be careless," said Dragon as he looked at his son. "We must stay alert and keep preparing traps and defence."
"We have trained our villagers here some self-defence skills," said Kind, looking at Chi. "So, the villagers here are well prepared. We also train villagers from neighbouring villages."
"When we heard of their movement," said Prosper. "We set to their location and kick their tails."
All of them squealed in laughter together as Chi chuckled like an innocent child.
"Chi, why do you travel alone?" said Kind.
"Me want to find my mama," said Chi. "Have anyone seen a redragon…"
The whole panda family looked at Chi with silence. The word 'redragon' would always cause fear to anyone who had heard it. But the panda family was not silent with fear but with grief.
"Sorry, Chi." Dragon sighed. "There is no hope for anyone once captured by a redragon. Nothing we can do to save your mama."
"No, my mama is a redragon."
"What? Your mama is a redragon?"
Now, Dragon, Kind and Prosper looked at Chi with total shock and disbelief. Their face looked as though they want an explanation. How was it possible for a vicious redragon to have a human as a child? Or how could a human adopt a redragon as her mama?
Chi knew they had a lot of questions in their head. Thus, she explained all the way from the hunt to her separation with her mama. And she never forgot to tell how she met Sister Nuwa and acquiring her new form.
The pandas did believe her for her story was vivid and descriptive.
"The redragon is Amberfish?" said Prosper. He seemed as if he was going to burst to laughter.
"Prosper," said Dragon. "It is rude to interrupt when someone is speaking."
"Sorry, papa." Prosper then tilted his head down, looking at the table.
"It's Emberfist," said Chi.
"The latest attack from a redragon," said Dragon. "Was months ago, in goatmen village. But Solluna's attacks are more frequent."
"If your mama appeared in any village or town," said Kind. "Everyone would know. What if you mama never comes to this land?"
Chi felt that what Kind had said have a half-chance of being right that she was quiet.
"If you wish to find someone, you will have a better chance in Well-met Town which is about a mile west from here," said Dragon. "Cyaians from many different places come to the town. Who knows, if you could have come across the news of your mama?"
"Yeah," said Chi. "It's seems like a good idea. Perhaps me should try to find mama in the town." And Chi had a loud yawn.
"It must be a tiresome journey, Chi," said Kind. "You need rest before you continue your journey. You can sleep here if you want."
"It's alright," said Chi. "Me had found a place to sleep. Thank you for the pleasant and wonderful meal."
In a haste, Chi made a move and bid them farewell. In fact, Chi was tired and shied to accept more of their hospitality. She found a place to sleep some distant from the panda's home. The night was chill. So, Chi found some dried branches and set bonfire to keep her warm. The heat from the fire reminded her of the warmness in Igniswing as well as her mama's embrace. She took out a sleeping net and hung each end at tree branches. She hurled herself gently onto it, and she muttered some incantation to protect herself while she is asleep.
She wondered if the panda family's suggestion was worth trying. More Cyaians in town meant more chance to come across the news of her mama's whereabout. But the town was a hundred miles away from Igniswing, and never a single redragon have reached there. And why on Cyaia her mama would have travelled so far to find her? But for sure, she knew there would be no harm trying.
The night was dark that Chi felt a sudden cold and loneliness. The only thing that accompanied her was the sounds of insects screeching. The sky was cloudy, covering the Lune except for several stars. The thought of her papa and mama appeared in her mind. She took out her bamboo flute and began to play the soft tune of long yearning and rhythmed to herself repeatedly.
Mama, oh mama, where art thou?
So dearly, so much, me miss thou,
Me worry if mama is safe,
So alone in an unknown place.
When thou are not before my eyes,
Feels like being poked by needles.
Like the stars above without Lune,
It is just like how me feels alone,
She recited and recited until she yawned and slept off.
"Chi-dear"
Chi opened her eyes, arose and turned to the sound. It was her papa. But her papa stood not in Nuwa's Sanctuary but nearby the tree where she was sleeping.
Chi jumped from her sleeping net and hurtled to hug her papa. "Papa, me miss papa."
"Chi-dear, you will meet mama in the summer. But you still need to go to Well-met Town."
Is what papa said is true?
"Yes, Chi-dear. Believe papa." Her papa nodded to her with a warm smile.
"Who had killed papa?"
"It's not important, Chi-dear. What past shall be passed. Let it go."
��Why, papa?" said Chi. "Ii is not fair."
"Chi-dear, vengeance is a cycle. It will cause more sufferings. Papa hope you could live a life free of grudge and vengeance."
"Yes, papa. Me will…"
Before Chi could finish her words, she awoke from her slumber even before the Sol has risen. She rose up and then packed her sleeping net back into her bag and had the morning exercise, which she learnt from Nuwa.
Once she ended her exercise, the Sol had risen, and she decided to have her breakfast. She opened her bag and found fresh produce packed from Nuwa's Sanctuary; dried fruits, vegetables, grains, and beans – that was her most favourite food. Before her meal, she thanked for her blessings. And she took some into her mouth and munched it with crunching sounds. The food was juicy and crunchy.
She could still recall her dream of her papa. So vivid that she thought her papa could still be alive, and she had interacted with her papa. Had she really met her papa or she had dreamt of her papa cause of deep longing of her parents? Her papa said she would meet her mama in the summer. She looked down for some time, pondering. There would be no harm in trying. Thus, Chi decided it was best to follow the panda and her papa's suggestion, and she headed to Well-met Town.
Her journey took several days, eating the produce Nuwa gave her, and she foraged food as her alternative foods and at night that she slept on her net. Some night, she felt as if she was being watched. The feeling came so sudden that she felt discomfort at her chest. It was like having a paranoia of an ambush could happen anytime. But who would want to attack her? Even Nuwa could be ambushed and lucky for her, she could deflect the arrow away. Could she deflect the arrow just like Nuwa?
At the fourth Sol, she reached Well-met Town. The town had walls like Nuwa's siheyuan but was much plainer without any paintings but way lot higher and broader than Nuwa's siheyuan. Chi walked pass the town entrance looking at every direction. Well-met Town had even more Cyaians, each bustling with activities; with noises from the market and the clanking of metal. This was the first time Chi saw some Cyaians which she had no idea of. There were humans with pointed ears, and there were shorter ones with thick and bushy moustache; creatures like walking bear and cow. And she saw some goatmen, and she was so sure that the goatmen couldn't recognise her in her new form.
Despite many unfamiliar faces in a strange place, the first thing that came to her mind was her mama. Whenever she bumped onto a citizen, she would ask if he had seen her mama, who was a redragon. Mentioning a redragon here was a bad idea. Soon everyone was afraid and ran whenever she saw her coming. It was pointless to ask anymore, as she would never want to attract any more attention.
There would be no way to find her mama unless her mama had been spotted. But her mama had never been spotted since the news of redragon's attack on the goatmen village. Unless her mama had caused wanton destruction in some village, Chi would receive the news. But her mama was a gentle redragon and wouldn't even harm any living creature.
The feeling of discomfort struck her now. She felt that someone was gazing at her. From the degree of the discomfort, she could tell that the one gazing had a deep grudge. She looked around but couldn't spot anyone suspicious. All those Cyaians were busied in their own businesses.
Nevertheless, she pretended as no one was looking and continued to walk. When she reached a lane, she turned and walked into it. She stopped and laid her back on to the wall. The pressure of discomfort disappeared since no one was eyeing her right now. She reached for her bag and rummaged out a round mirror and jerked it low, facing the main street to see if there is anyone suspicious. But there was no one, and she let out a relieved breath.
Chi put the mirror back into her bag and continued to trod in the lane, and when she made out to another street, she reached a fresh market. Lots of stalls selling food and many different items. At the same time, her stomach growled. She passed by several butcher stalls, and the smell of that raw meat were enough to make her green with puke, reminiscing her life in Igniswing of the feast of raw meats which she was glad it was over. The repeating yells of 'burger' and 'ten xillars' from different stalls amused her.
There were more foods than she had ever seen. The only things that captivated her were the souvenirs and beautiful looking candies. She stopped by a stall selling steamed buns. The buns were in the shape of miniature Cyaians and were adorable. She saw some panda-looking buns which reminded her of the friendly panda family. If her mama was with her, her mama would be happy to have some of the pastries. And Nuwa had never made those buns before. If she brought some to Nuwa, she would be delighted. With a carefree mood, she brought one near to her nose. The fragrant smell of steamed buns…
"Miss, please pay first before you eat," said a boarman with an annoyed face.
Chi gaped. The bun was just within a finger distant from her mouth. "Pay with what?" said Chi, blinking with confusion.
"Pay with money. Three for one xillar."
"Xillar?" What-on-Cyaia-is-that expression was evident on Chi's face.
"Don't act stupid, miss. How dare you eat my buns without even paying?"
"Sorry. Me very sorry. Me don't know must pay for the food here. En. You can have them back." Chi immediately put the buns to where she had taken it.
"What the… You have already stained my buns, and you put it back? Did your parents never taught you manners?" The boarman did feel irritated. "Where are your parents?"
"Me don't know where's my mama," said Chi. There was no more word Chi could use to describe her feeling right now. She hoped she could just close her eyes and walked away like nothing had happened. But this was impossible since there were townsmen who had gathered around to see Chi's awkward moment like a drama performance.
"I will take you to the town guard." The boarman grasped Chi's arm with force.
Chi was startled; an immediate reflex made her raised her arm so fast that the boarman never realised his hand had been grabbed instead.
"Why you?" He pulled his hand quickly and returned Chi a fist, but she reacted by raising her other hand to deflect the fist back to him. And he groaned in pain.
"Oops, sorry. Me didn't mean to do that."
The boarman was now red with anger, almost matching the redness on Chi's face. He grabbed his roller to hit Chi, but he couldn't even touch her a single strain of hair. It was he who was being beaten. Chi was so reflexive and swift with her deflecting skill.
More and more townsmen had gathered around to see like they were watching a fighting tournament. Chi never did enjoy being the centre of the audience. She must find an exit to flee from the crowd. But all the crowd gathered so close that there was no gap for her to escape.
From within the crowd, town guards appeared, trying to put everything under control. Either unlucky for her or the guards, she had, without any intention had pushed the guards away when they tried to subdue her… and the town guards fall with a thud. Now even the guards were furious. There was no way she could escape now.
BOOM!!!
Something had exploded near Chi. White smoke rose, making her feeling giddy. She turned around to look for anyone likely to throw the smoke bomb… but her vision already getting cloudy and blurry. She felt her eyelids, and her body felt so heavy, and soon, everything went black.
Sometime later, Chi gained consciousness. Her blurry and blackish vision became clear dimmed black. She knew she was in underground place when she looked at the torches that hung on the stone wall and by the stench of hot stale air. She felt a little giddy, trying to raise her hand… but her hand movement was restricted with a clink. She looked down and realised she had been manacled to a wall. This was the second time; the first was in Igniswing. This time, she was manacled with cold and blackish metal. She hoped there would not have an execution waiting for her. With a sigh, she scanned around and saw the entire cell that holds her has iron grills on three sides.
A voice spoke to her. "Lady, you seem decent. Why on Cyaia they threw you into jail?"
She spun to her left and saw beyond the left grill. Another Cyaian sat on dried grass, facing her. He was human-like Chi, but he had not been manacled.
"Lady, what crime you had done for being here?"
"Taking buns without paying."
"That's stealing."
"But me have returned the buns to him."
"Ow, that's too bad. But why you're being chained? Isn't it too harsh for stealing?"
"Me had attacked the town guards."
"Oh, I see…"
"Will this lead to execution?" Chi's voice was trembling.
The man was silent for about two seconds. Then, he said, "No."
And Chi let out a breath of relief. "Then what crime you did?"
"Stealing too. But I never attack the guards."
"Me see…"
Both of them were silent for some time. The sounds they heard in the underground prison were the sounds of screeching rat, the jerking and clanking of metal chains of other prisoners and faint hysterical shouts.
The usual sound of the prison was added with a faint scream and metal banging. The sounds came from the above floor. Someone must have been attacked that he screamed and fall on metal. At first, Chi ignored it, but then, she heard the second scream and another thud on hard ground. Someone must have broken in and fight that she began to feel curious. She knew she can't ignore it anymore. More sounds of screaming, falling and fighting were heard. The noise got louder, and it seemed that he must be getting nearer, toward the underground prison where she was kept.
Sure enough, the guard that stood before Chi's cell shouted and fall with a thud – a wooden quiver stood out of his chest with fresh wound dripping blood. A dark silhouette appeared near the underground stairs, his appearance outlined by the nearby torch that he looked like a lupine.
"Remember me, redragon? My name is Zhu Ming, and I'm from skywolf village."
Skywolf village. Chi could recall the whole skywolves. They all were slaughtered. Nuwa and her happened to pass by the village and prayed for their peace. And Nuwa had been ambushed with an arrow. So, he was the survivor that had launched the attack.
Zhu Ming broke the iron grill before her and entered into her cell.
"Zhu Ming, how do you know me?"
"At first, I had never seen you when you were in panda village. You were alone all the time. You no fear robbers or anyone, and that is suspicious. And so, I followed you for a few days. It's your eyes, the same eyes. I can recognise you by your eyes."
"So, you have been following me for a few days? No wonder me felt uneasy recently."
"You, the bloody demonic redragon, the bane to all Cyaians! Do you still remember what you had done to my village and my fellow skywolves?"
"Me don't know what had happened to your village. The time Sister Nuwa and me got there, everyone had died, and we prayed for their peace."
"So, the demoness is Nuwa."
"No, Sister Nuwa not a demon," said Chi. "They all have found peace with the Universe."
"Found peace? You killed them, and you said they found peace?" Zhu Ming was so enraged that he banged the iron grill with his iron knuckles. "You burned the village, kill the whole villagers and even destroyed their lifeless body! How on Cyaia could you alter your form?"
Sister Nuwa had helped in that."
"I bet she helped that you can easily march into the peaceful Cyaian places to find your mama, isn't it?" said Zhu Ming, grinning.
Chi was shocked. Zhu Ming had been following her these few days that he had learnt everything about her. And she was terrified if Zhu Ming had already captured her mama. The moment she had that thought, she was on the verge of tears.
"Zhu Ming, what have you done with my mama?" said Chi, her tone shuddered.
"What are you talking about? I have not even captured your mama."
Ming's answer made her feel relieved. Her mama was still safe.
"That's because a redragon is vicious and extremely hard to capture. But, there's a soft spot in every mama, the love of her child. I believe your mama will do anything for you, even sacrifice herself for you." Ming grinned, almost forcing a wicked laugh.
"You'll never find my mama!"
"You know, redragons have been terrorising us for hundreds of years. The bounty to their head is lucrative. If I can catch two redragons, I would be handsomely rewarded. Besides that, I can help the world to reduce two redragons. It's like an arrow struck two targets."
"You're out of your mind. Redragons is very dangerous. You'll die!"
"Haha, you think I'm a fool?" said Zhu Ming as he raised his brows. "Knowing that you are hard to subdue, I will hit you with a tranquillizer like I hit you this day."
So, it was Zhu Ming who threw the smoke bomb.
"You will serve as a bait to capture your mama," said Zhu Ming. His face displayed a wicked grin as he took out a wooden crossbow and aimed at Chi.
At that moment, Chi felt her mama's fate and hers had been plunged into deep darkness. Would she be able to find escape at this very moment?
When Ming was about to launch an arrow, something struck Zhu Ming's hand that he jerked his hand aside and arrow missed her, instead hit the chain that binds Chi's right hand – breaking it.
Now that Chi's right hand was free, she circled her right hand around and push a current of air toward Zhu Ming, causing him to fly, and his head banged on the metal grill behind.
Ming dropped hard on the ground, cushioned by layers of weeds below and blacked out.
"Are you alright?" said the man from the neighbouring cell.
"So, it was you," said Chi. "Thank you, my friend. Sister Nuwa is right. The Universe will always take care of you."
She then concentrated and a small golden orb appeared on her right palm. With force, she hurled the sphere to the chain which binds her left hand.… and broke the chain. She did the same to the chains binding her legs. She animated a larger sparkling golden orb and hurled it toward the direction of the man's cell. The orb exploded with a loud bang, breaking the bars between Chi and the prisoner's cells. Both of them were free now.
"Thank you, lady," said the man, appearing ragged when he came near Chi.
"Thanks to you too."
"Your power seems strange. What are you anyway?"
"Me a mystic."
"Huh?" he said, looking baffled. "I don't understand what the skywolf had talked about. But I know you are a lady and too gentle to be a redragon."
"Me was really a redragon."
"Even you were, you don't seem like one. Even from your face, I can tell that you are kind-hearted," said the man with a broad smile, and Chi returned an instinctual smile.
"Let's move," said Chi.
Together, they ran along the stairs and up to the guard's office. All the guards were lying along the way with the whole place in disorder. Zhu Ming must have attacked them when he came. Thank him that Chi found out it less obstacle when she was breaking out from the prison. Or was it the arrangement from the Universe?
"Wait," said Chi. "Me need to retrieve my belongings."
"Never mind your belongings. Just run!" the man shouted with a sense of impatience in his voice.
"It's important to me. It's a gift from Sister Nuwa. You just run. Me will follow after you."
He sighed. "Alright, let's find it together. Either we run or being get caught together."
"It's jade green," said Chi as they began rummaging every corner of the guards' office.
"Found it!" Chi was glad that she said so loud that almost made her new friend jumped.
Once they were out from the prison, the sky was already dark. It was good for them; this meant no one would ever get panic that two fugitives had broken out from prison. "This way!" he guided Chi to follow. Both of them ran along the main road, heading to the town's south gate.
From there, Chi could see there were two figures near the gate by their outlines which were drawn by nearby torches. They were the gate sentry, drawing their sword from sheaths and faced them. Chi raised and whirled her hand and pushed as if there was an object before her – the air moved with a swoosh, and the guards flew few feet away as if something substantial had knocked them out.
"You're almost formidable!"
"Thanks to Sister Nuwa," said Chi.
Both of them passed the fainted guards and exited through the south gate. They continued to run until they reached a distant tree and stopped. Chi sat on the grassy ground, breathing with slow and deep rhythm while her newly met friend laid on the ground with ragged breath.
"Well-met Town," said Chi. "All those people me met in this town weren't that friendly and well-met."
"How about me?" said the man as Chi turned to her. "Who are you? I'm Vincere Imperiare."
Chi widened her eyes. "Are you the Vincere, the one that Lord Amo and his armies are searching for?" Now, she could see Vincere's face with clarity at this distant. His eyes were sharp with a righteous look, glittered with the distant light from the town. He had the face of a noble despite his ragged prisoner's outfit.
Vincere nodded and turned his face away.
"My name is Chi Myst'wing."
Vincere returned his gaze to Chi. "What had actually happened between you and that skywolf?"
"It was months ago when Sister Nuwa and me found many bodies in skywolves village. We prayed for them to find peace and they did find it. Then, we were ambushed by him. He thinks that we were responsible for the death of his villagers. That was when me in a redragon form. Wonder how he could still recognise me. He said it is my eyes."
Vincere gazed at Chi's eyes to see how her eyes had betrayed her as Zhu Ming had claimed. But, Vincere's face blushed that he looked away. "Were you really a redragon?"
"Really. Me was almost be executed for disgracing the Igniswing tribe. Luckily my mama saved me but was captured instead during the escape. Me met Sister Nuwa, and with her, we went to Igniswing, but the chief said my mama had gone to find me. Sister Nuwa took me to her sanctuary and let me transformed into this form. Sister Nuwa had also taught me many skills."
Then, a piece of paper from unknown whereabout flew by. Vincere was attracted by a heading on it, and he grabbed the paper. He smoothed it out and gazed at it for a moment. Chi glance at the paper, with gratitude to Nuwa for teaching her language, so that she could read the heading too.
Lord Benevence Organised the Alliance Assembly
Vincere had skimmed almost half of the news. "It is just on the day after tomorrow," said Vincere.
"Who is Lord Benevence?" said Chi.
"A second-in-command in the alliance," said Vincere as he continued to read on the news. "He was, after my papa. Now he is the first-in-command.
After a while, he lowered the paper and looked at Chi.
"The reason I am here is because of Lord Amo. Months ago, he had attacked Imperiare City to retrieve another half piece of a relic. Although the city was heavily fortified, Lord Amo forces were too strong and could pass each defence without any difficulty. So, my papa asked me to escape with the treasure."
"Where's your papa now?"
"I heard my papa had been killed."
"Me very sorry…"
"Now Lord Amo has only a half-piece, he just needs to find the other half. Both halves, when place together, can reveal the location of two powerful weapons."
"Me heard a different version from Chen family," said Chi. "Both halves will grant the bearer unimaginable power."
"It is also true," said Vincere. "With two powerful weapons, you can have unimaginable power. The weapons are the sword and the sabre." Vincere then took out his amulet from inside his garment, which revealed as a half-piece of a relic and showed it to Chi. The piece was made of black-iron; a half from a complete circle with the size of a clenched knuckle. The half-piece had a shape like a waterdrop and on it carved a phoenix.
"How is the other-half looked like?" said Chi, still looking at the half-piece with awe.
"Same shape as this one," said Vincere. "But it is white and has a carving of a dragon."
"Seems familiar," said Chi. "It is like the circle of yin and yang that Sister Nuwa had shown me."
"My papa felt odd that Lord Amo could easily pass through Imperiare's defences and suspected if someone inside could have given away the information to Lord Amo. My papa asked me not to trust everyone in the alliance. Now that everyone in the alliance and Lord Amo is searching for me. Since Lord Benevence was my papa's most trusted one, we shall go to the assembly. Besides that, there are much more people in Kinma City, and there is much more chance to find your mama."
"Vincere," said Chi. "Your papa said that there's no one in the alliance could be trusted. Lord Benevence is also in the alliance, and that includes him."
"Lord Benevence is the most benevolent and the righteous lord here. His virtue spread across the land, and everyone knows that. Don't worry, Chi. I know what to do."
Chi nodded. Perhaps Vincere, or Prince Vincere knew more of Lord Benevence since he had grown up with all the lords in the Eastern Land. In contrast, Chi had just lived with naivety in Igniswing and Nuwa's Sanctuary all the time.
"Chi," said Vincere. "Perhaps you shall teach me some of your skill so that I can defend myself."
"Sure. No problem," said Chi, "here…"
And Vincere followed Chi to a much larger area away from the tree.
"The essence of my move is suppleness. It reflects the strength back to the enemy. Vincere, try to hit me."
"What?" said Vincere. "Are you sure?"
"Don't worry, you can't hurt me."
Vincere gave Chi his punch, and Chi had readied for his blow, her palm accepted, pressing Vincere's knuckle, swirling his hand and threw it mid-air. She didn't return the punch back to Vincere in case she hurt him.
"See?�� said Chi. "You can deflect back to your opponent if you wish too. Now let me try on you. Worry not, me will go slow."
And Chi began to give Vincere her slow punch which he could push and deflect Chi's punch with ease. Soon, Chi made her move faster until which Vincere started to miss most of her attacks. Lucky for Vincere, Chi had held her attacks just an inch from Vincere. After some time, he had familiar with Chi's moves and managed to deflect most of her attacks.
"It's already late Chi," said Vincere. "It's time to take rest and tomorrow we will begin our way to Kinma City." Vincere sneezed out so sudden, shaking with cold.
"The night is cold," said Chi. "Let's find some dried wood to set fire to keep us warm and protect us from insects." Chi could see how cold Vincere was that she was glad that she wore a thick crimson coat.
Once they had found a pile of wood branches, Chi set fire. The bonfire could give Vincere the warm he wished for and now, he was no longer shaken from the cold. Then, Chi muttered some words of incantation for them to have a safe sleep.
Chi took out a sleeping net from her bag. When she saw Vincere walked a distance away and laid himself there, she frowned. "Vincere, why do you sleep over there? Me is no redragon and will not hurt you." She hung her sleeping net at each side on the tree and hurled herself onto it.
Vincere looked with hesitation for a moment. "Alright, I will sleep nearer." He rose and settled himself at the tree where Chi had hung her sleeping net. Closing his eyes, he turned away from Chi.
"Good night, Vincere," said Chi, looking at Vincere's back. Why was Vincere reluctant to sleep near her? Was he afraid that she was a redragon? But Chi sensed no fear in him when they were talking to each other. She was so sure that not the reason at all. Vincere may have used to sleep alone while Chi had used to sleep next to her mama and Nuwa. And Chi could still recall the moment when Vincere glanced at her eyes, she sensed his discomfort. This was one thing Chi could not be sure.