Kazein was on a carriage along with Qin Xia. Qin HaoTian stayed behind and went another route, to their uncle's estate.
"Shiyi, you'll join the academy, right? At least until you regained your memories." Qin Xia asked.
"Of course. When I fought Ang, I was powerless. His brute Force is so terrifying no amount of magic or such was enough to compensate for that difference."
"Then, you should join one of the academy's orders. It's either you like it or not, you must join an order before you can join."
"Then what are those orders?"
"Basically five units. One is the Healing units, as the name suggest they are an elite force specializing in healing magic. There's the second, which is the magic corps, again as the name suggest, an elite force trained in supporting using magic. The strategic general order, they are usually those who are smart and geniuses in arithmetic and plannings, they lead behind the fields. There's also the warrior order, I don't need to explain, that's where Gao Jun graduated from. And lastly, the infiltration order, they are trained to infiltrate mysterious organizations and sometimes, other countries. So, now that I've explained to you, what would you join in?"
"A rough choice, however, I'd join the infiltration order. Since I failed against Ang last time, the infiltration order must have ways for me to learn more about Ang and maybe even his friends." Kazein replied.
Qin Xia clicked her tongue and looked at Kazein with disappoinment. "I thought you'd join the warrior force. You can become a general in the army that way."
"If I become a general and I remember something I must do. Will the army let go of me?"
"I can ask my father."
"Then if he refuse? I might become too valuable to lose."
"Then, I'll let you go."
"Hahaha. Keep up the bold front. Sooner or later you'll regret letting me go."
"A monkey is always full of itself until an eagle captures it's friends." Qin Xia recited an idiom.
"Yes yes."
After a while month of traveling, they arrived at the capital city, Er'Long city.
The buildings were towering high, beautiful as the crafted tiles and the lanterns highlighted the city. The wall was surprisingly high well above 30ft.
By the wall were the watchers, one sounded the horn upon the arrival of the army. The gates opened and they were greeted by the citizens with warm smiles and celebrations. The capital was having a festival in order to celebrate the victory against the principality of Raphan.
"How do you see the city? Is it beautiful?" Qin Xia asked Kazein as he looked outside through the window.
"I guess so. I don't really know since all I remember to compare was when I still had my eyes back in the village."
Qin Xia was shocked from his response. She wanted to ask about what he thinks about the city forgetting the fact that he was blind. "I'm sorry."
"For what?"
"No... It's nothing."
"General Gao Jun!!!"
"General!!! Your son is born! A healthy girl!!!"
"General! You must go home! Your wife is waiting for you!"
"Gao Jun? So he had someone to go home to? I didn't know that."
"I didn't too. Gao Jun is a commoner who rose to his position through his hard work. Although the red wing order is one of the smallest orders, with only 50,000 troops at it's disposal, still, those who don't want to be oppressed joins his order." Qin Xia stated. "It's made up mostly from the commoners. Many noble generals are too discriminative towards common soldiers. Although not all, there are those who are also neutral to them."
"I see, that's why they even followed him even though there were only 3,000 left. But why? Only 3,000 from his order was left?" Kazein asked.
"That is... My brother never liked the red wing order. Brother took nearly half the army and melded it into his. Then he sent the remaining numbers to a battle with the odds of over 4. Only 6,000 survived that time. Only 3,000 was fit for battle when you were there."
"Oh? I see. Then how will he replenish his numbers?"
"Through any means. It's either the emperor, our father, gives him the numbers. The nobles back him and strengthen him, although that'd never happen. Or anyone joins his army, or they draft themselves. All the means except forcing them into it."
"I see. Then, thanks for the update."
"Don't bother. Besides, we're here. The palace." Qin Xia said as she opened the carriage's door. Some servants awaited and took her hand. Then Kazein went out on his own accord.
Gao Jun joined Kazein and Qin Xia as they walked in towards the throne room. It was a large hall, the ceiling was 20ft high, the pillars supporting it were decorated with dragons and painted with colors. "Shiyi, you should mind your manners here. I heard there's been rumors about the Seven Dragons and seven Phoenix's have returned."
"Worry about your self first."
"Just watch it. Don't be too rude."
Qin Xia suddenly stopped. "You two should wait here. I will go talk to my father, the emperor."
"Please do, Qin princess." Gao Jun bowed as Qin Xia entered a room.
"If you're lucky, you'd get an estate." Gao Jun chatted with Kazein.
"I don't want an estate." He replied
"Then what do you want?"
"An army. My own army."
"What will you do with it?" Gao Jun asked as though he was so ignorant.
"Take revenge on Ang. Take revenge on the kings who razed my home. Take revenge on those who took my eyes. Basically revenge on those who stole from me." Kazein replied.
"Basically war?"
"Yes."
"Then you'd better accept the estate. You could gather your numbers there and take your own banner. This way is one of the slowest but steadiest ways of gathering an army." Gao Jun had a point. If Kazein just asks for an army, it might get riddled with holes and parasites might get in and destroy it from within.
"You have a point. Sometimes you do use your head."
"Expect no less from me. I was the no.1 student here back in my time." Gao Jun laughed as he boasted, not knowing a bit about Kazein's insult.
As they were chatting, it was then that the door had opened, and two soldiers with heavy armor guided them in.
By the hall was a red carpet, through the sides were the open stages and a gathering area. It was larger than the hallway a while ago. By the ceiling hung a dragon's carcass and in front of them was the Qin emperor, beside him was Qin Xia who stood with benevolence.
"Bow to the ruler!" One soldier's voice rung through the air.
Gao Jun knelt in accordance to everyone, except only for Kazein.
"Insolent foo-"
"Rise." The emperor interrupted. The soldier stopped and all others stood up. "Shiyi of the lightning blade. I heard of your deeds through my daughter. Is it true that you lost your memories after passing out while she was bathing?" The old emperor asked as his fist supported his cheek.
"Yes. It may be a crime to this country to peek at the princess bathing. But I was being hunted down. I didn't know where I was going. I just so happened to stumble upon her and she saved me." Kazein replied with a calm face.
"Then. You're crime of peeking as my daughter bathe and the favor of her saving you... Is pardon with you repaying it by saving her life against the rogue bandits. So, is it also true that you only remember being shot on the back? After you destroyed something?" He asked.
"It is true. That's all I remember."
"Then, was it you who destroyed the bordering fort that protects us from the Heran country?"
"That I do not know."
The emperor closed his eyes as he looked down, he caressed his beard, then looked at Kazein. "Due to lack of evidence, the accusation of your crime destroying the fortress is put on hold. In accordance to your merit in battle against the bloody Oars mercenaries, you are given citizenship and benefits befitting a hero who boosted the morale and made way for victory against the Oars. In response to my daughter on recommending you to the academy, you shall join the infiltration order and start as a second year transferree due to your age gap. Is there anything else?" He asked.
"Then, if it were to be available. I would like to ask for a way to access some healing magic. Preferably strong ones."
"I see. Then, you shall come here in seven days. You shall regain what is lost."
"The emperor is kind."
"Then, you shall join us for a feast this noon. You won't refuse, will you?" The emperor looked at him with his left brow up.
"Of course, I shall attend."
After Gao Jun made a report and an appeal for more forces as his was depleted due to the circumstances. The emperor agreed to give him double his original numbers as a a way to thank him for saving Kazein's arse.
That noon.