He ran through the hall sword in hand. And then arrived at an open area.
"Ho? Why are you here again?" The woman spoke first.
"Yeah. I felt your presence and thought of breaking a sweat before going to sleep."
"Very well. It seems that you like to be beaten to sleep." In an instant, she took form, went on guard and charged for an attack.
Kazein reacted by dodging the double edged sword and then made a quick draw. The woman however, stepped on his foot and then back stepped away from the quick draw.
"At least you're a little faster."
"Well thanks. I was a tad too tired this evening."
They exchanged blows once more and locked their swords.
"Then. I'll beat you with me being tired as well." She released the lock with her redrawing her sword and immediately dodging the impact of the sword.
"Though, it just so happens I'm still too tired!" Kazein took up his sword and swung backwards.
"Ho? Why?"
"Nothing much. Just because."
"Then that's no excuse if you lose."
After a while, it was clear who was winning. It was Fei Xian'er, she was already pushing Kazein to the edge. And with a light stroke, she disarmed Kazein then pointed her sword at his neck.
"You lost. Again."
"Tsk. Next time."
"Don't come to me next time. You'll just lose once again. End it with two defeats."
"Don't be so cold. I'll definitely defeat you next time."
But Fei Xian'er just disappeared.
"Weird. Where'd she go?"
The next day, Gao Jun took Kazein to the market.
"This place has almost everything. From cheap to a whole clan's worth. You should take a look at some stuff. You might use them in the academy." Gao Jun got a bottled centipede "Like this bad boy. They will be useful if you want to covertly eavesdrop on someone."
By the sight of the bottled centipede, Kazein had scenes flash on his mind in a quick basis which made him sick.
"What's wrong? Not good with slithering insects?"
"No. It's just. Nothing. I just happened to not be well. We should go on. Like you said, I might need something useful."
"You sure? Shouldn't you rest if you're not well?"
"It's fine. Really. Just tired from last night."
"Come to think of it. There were someone fighting late at night while I was on patrol. I didn't check though since it seems the two were sparring."
"What a careless guard."
"Yeah. Since the security has never been breached before."
"Oh? I see."
After a while, they went to back to the palace.
For the rest of the week they were going around and looking at places so as to familiarize Kazein with the city. It was then that the emperor called for him.
"Shiyi, I suppose you remember? Seven days ago I told you to wait so we can heal your eyes?"
"Of course. I would never forget."
His field sensed a figure he has not felt before. A pure white figure, but also in her chest area was a pure black spot.
"This here is lady Wei Fei Tong. A priestess of the heavens, granted with supreme healing power and the ability to foresee the future." The emperor introduced the bright figure.
"It is as the emperor has explained. I am a servant of god and I apologise for making you wait for seven days." Her pure and innocent voice was enough to touch Kazein's heart. And deep within him, he felt something similar.
"No. It's all fine. I'm-"
"Shiyi of the lightning blade? That's not your true name. Is it?"
"Of course not. I can't even remember my name nor where I came from."
"Then, if Fate allows me to. I shall tell you what you need to know."
"Thank you."
"Well then, should lady Wei Fei Tong proceed with the healing? I believe Shiyi here needs to see for himself what he needs to see." Qin Xia cut off their conversation.
"Ah. Of course. This way please, Shiyi." She leads him to a pedestal where he kneels and then she began to pray.
"Lord who governs us all. Give your mercy upon this one who has lost his sight and has been left in the dark. Heal and purify this one and let him feel your grace. Heavenly healing, now, cure him of whatever if hindering him."
In a moment, light appeared out of nowhere and then condensed into the pedestal. Wei Fei Tong proceeded to take the light and bestowed it to the kneeling Kazein.
[Somehow, I feel something weird. Like it's stirring up within me.]
As the light touched him. He burst into pain.
"Hey! What have you done?!" Qin Xia blurted out.
"I don't know. It seems to have reacted to him. For now, please hold him down. If hits his head."
By those words, Gao Jun was the first to pin down Kazein. Then, others from the red wing order helped.
Light of consciousness
"Where am I? Am I dead? No. This is similar to when I saw the dark stream. So does this mean. My consciousness?" He was right. He wandered the darkness with only the light of consciousness lighting the path. It was there he saw someone chained up, his face wasn't distinguishable though his hair was reaching upto his waist and he had scars all over his body. He had a dark halo floating up his head. When he was about to approach it, he woke up.
He saw not a figure, but a plump man and men wearing armor.
"Shiyi brother. Can you see me? You can, right?"
"That voice. Gao Jun? Is that you?"
"Damn straight! It worked! Lady Wei! It worked!"
"I never expected you to be this plump."
"How rude."
Then, a woman with long white hair and white eyes approached him. She was a beauty through and throughout. How nice to see a beauty right after you regain your sight.
"Mother..." His eyes ran watery. Gao Jun and the soldiers were surprised.
And the woman herself was flustered and was blushing after hearing him call her mother.
"I idiot. I'm not your mother. It's me. Wei Fei Tong. You're an idiot." She was embarrassed.
"Oh my. Don't get all blushy blushy when he just called you mother." A woman with long wisteria colored hair reaching to her waist with sparkling green eyes, she was as much a beauty as Wei Fei Tong.
"This voice. Qin Xia? So that's what you looked like. I never expected this, the day I get my sight back to me."
Qin Xia herself was stunned and her faced turned red.
"Ahemm!" The emperor cleared his throat. "That's enough flirting around. Shiyi, you should rest. Your eyes might get too tired."
"Wh- Father! We are not flirting around here!" The usually calm Qin Xia blurted out.
"Lord emperor. I agree to princess Xia. We are not flirting around by the presence of your grace." Wei Fei Tong followed after Qin Xia.
"Hahaha! Then, you should be going now. Shiyi and I has a lot to talk about. Right? Shiyi."
"Of course." Kazein replied.
"If it's as father says." Qin Xia picked herself up and left the hall.
Wei Fei Tong bowed and also exited the hall. The other soldiers and also Gao Jun bowed and left the two to speak alone.