The next day I still had a stuffy feeling in my chest and throat. I had screamed in nightmares last night and didn't rest well so even with my child body I had dark circles. As I walked I felt unreal, followed by two people with every step. A maid in her early teens and a guard in his late teens, lots of supervision but appropriate for a crazy five year old. I figured it was fair after I had gone crazy being held by Commander Lee.
My feet led me to the tree, there were no traces left there. No blood remained and if I didn't know better I would think it was beautiful. But I did know, I knew that even if you couldn't see it there was blood beneath the grass. The guard's body was no longer there, I wanted to know where he was, no I needed to know.
I asked aloud where he was and was led to the bridge, we crossed it for the first time but I felt no joy. We walked a bit and came to a cemetery it had a number of graves and some headstones were as tall as I was. The man who defended us was now buried beneath the earth. We walked to a gravestone with freshly dug dirt and grass laid over. This was him, he was a guard so they found his name.
Sen Jaden Holl
That was his name, he must have been mixed between two families. His last name in front but his first name sounding english. I wondered how his family would react to learning of his passing. Would they blame me? They should.
I knelt before his gravestone. He must have prepared for this. I grabbed a nearby rock. His life shouldn't have ended here. I placed it before his gravestone. Protecting a child whose father didn't love it. I bowed and let my head touch the ground. I was thankful, so thankful, even if I knew this was his job.
Walking to the tree I nearly sat down but when I got too close I felt blood beneath my shoes. I backed up a few steps and the feeling went away. I sat down where I stood and looked at the tree and water. It was a painfully cold beauty before me.
I contemplated what I should do. I couldn't live a life doing nothing it seems. I need to make sure Guard Sen was happy with what I did with my life. If I did nothing the blood wouldn't go away would it... I needed to clean my hands from the blood of others. There was only one problem I faced, I had no idea how to do that.
Aren't children supposed to be spoiled and guided up? Here I was stained with blood and suddenly a mission. Before this I was just a normal student! Sure I took a few months of martial arts but did that mean anything? No! Looking at the sky I realized I would never be able to have a calm existence when I was the only child of the Eagle General. Even with so many guards they could not protect me, it seems I will have to put in effort and protect myself.
Looking straight again I brought my hand up to my face, I put it out to the side a bit then... SLAP! My face and hand immediately began hurting and turned red. Tears left my eyes as the maid and guard caught my hand and stopped me. I brought up the other hand and did the same on the other side. I looked up in determination and they each took a step back in shock.
Commander Le was at the military set up in the outer ring. I walked over with heavy steps. Before I could even enter the area which held tents I was stopped. I saw these men coming from a ways away but didn't stall my stride till they were in front of me.
"Miss, this isn't a place you should be." I look up to see a man in I assume his 30s. He wore glasses and had a goatee. He didn't seem mean or nice, he seemed selfish in a way. He had no smile on his face but his blue/green eyes felt mocking as he looked down at me.
"Yes young miss you should return to the inner ring!" a man in his mid 20s said from beside the first soldier. His ears were oddly pointed and though he had a smile it looked empty. He stepped forward in a move to get me to leave.
I looked up at these men with a smile dripping with arrogance. I took a step forward and they remained where they stood with wonder at what I was doing. "Soldiers are brave, they must be to stop someone who seeks audience with their Commander!"
I felt a bit upset having to use this against the soldiers but I needed to see the Commander. I didn't want to move closer or around them as they were still respectable men no matter the situation. They all were here for a reason, to protect something, I hope whatever they were protecting was worth it.
"What does Young Miss Kai need from this servant?" the Commander's voice sounds out and a path appears for him to walk to us. The soldiers salute to him and I finally see this nation's salute. They take their right hand and put it against their chest where their heart was. They bowed forward then stood up straight looking akin to statues. Commander waved his hand and they settled again.
"I would like an audience with Commander if it is suitable." I curtsy with my hand over my heart in an effort to show my respect. They all seemed confused but did not stop me. "Will this be acceptable?"
"Anything you need to say do so now, we leave in the morning Young Miss Kai."
"I would like to follow you to see General Kai."