The following day was amicable and warm. In the woods, sunbeams flashed through the trees' leaves and illuminated the surrounding area with a greenish color. A peaceful and harmonious aura reigned over the place as the balmy and gentle wind rustled the leaves. Birds were tweeting and dancing in the sky, swimming in the air and spreading vital energy around.
Only a thing that disturbed God right now was Se.
He was sending cruel taunts to his allies as he tried his hardest not to stare at the couple peeing on the tree. Kita was standing a few feet away from Aife, whistling and cherishing the scene above, birds chirping and playfully fluttering their delicate wings in the crystal clear sky.
"So nobody is gonna talk about it?" Se asked with disbelief evident in his voice as Aife put her or now his cock in his pants.
"Nope."
She adjusted her trousers and checked on her weapons: two buster swords, one Shitouian(local cities in Taiyang) sword or Katana, one Dadao(wide-bladed sword), Naginata(spear-like weapon), Kyoketsu-Shoge(Daggers with chains), three Sais, and few more daggers, including throwing knives - Kunais.
'All good.'
"So no explanation about Aife Jr.?"
"WHAT?"
Aife let out a peal of laughter as she was almost rolling on the ground while Se stood there dumbfounded thinking: 'It can't be me stuck with them.' Soon Kita joined them and giggled at Aife before he picked up his toy.
"It wasn't funny," Se remarked with a hiss as Aife collected her things.
"What?" Asked Kita and exchanged gazes with both of them. Baffled expression plastered on his face.
"Nothing," responded Aife, barely holding in a chuckle.
"Aife?"
"Hm?"
"You look like my brother."
Aife stopped in her tracks and gave the boy attention as she squatted in front of him and beamed at the little one. Aife could decipher gloominess in Kita's watery, gleaming eyes. Kita was a crown prince, meaning he was the only child of the emperor Shanyao. Two years ago was a war between Kita's kingdom Taiyang and the kingdom Yueliang. Perchance his brother perished in that strife.
Aife sighed and patted the boy's head.
"It's okay," she soothed his silent sobs. It broke her heart that the kid was restricted from crying. 'They'll get for his misery!' She was fuming inside, livid at the cruelty of humanity but smiled softly at Kita.
Se was examining Aife with a frown. Warmness was seeping from her expression, but Se was sure he felt vile energy slipping from her as well.
"Witch, I can hear the clinking from a distance."
Aife raised to her feet and shot a penetrating glare at a distance.
She closed her eyes and inhaled the humid breeze which swept the stinky whiff from that direction.
When her long lashes fluttered, Se was bent down and petrifying the kid:
"Kid, you better run for it. Soon bloodshed will take place here."
"Walk five hundred meters in north and climb high on the tree." Added Aife.
"Yes, sir!" Kita raised her hand flat to his head like a soldier welcoming his commander.
Aife nodded before turning to the snake, "It's the druidess of the kingdom."
"Oh? Raven?"
"Yeah."
"That wicked woman has every high-ranked warlock up her ass."
"She is after Kita."
"Good luck protecting him." Se mocked her with the jerks of his head, "By shielding him, you are getting in her way, and you know it will cost you your life."
Aife just smiled sadly at him before taking out her Dadao.
'Hate heroes.' Thought Se as he shook his head.
"I don't care about you. Just make sure you'll live long enough to rescue my lord, and maybe he will pay you with kindness. He never stays in debt. And also, don't mix me up in your animosity with Raven."
Aife gave him a curt nod before unsheathing her sword.
"Is he a wizard?"
"No, you dumbass. Look at his weapon. He is a warrior."
Se and Aife exchanged dismayed gazes at the unknown roars. Se had a void expression on his face, but his body was tensed up while Aife had her eyebrows knotted and lips pressed together. They definitely didn't expect blemmyaes, beheaded, hairy creatures with larger human forms but faces situated on their chests.
"Can I eat him?"
"What?" Aife mouthed to Se with wide eyes and mortified look on her face while Se shushed her.
"Okay, then I want his thighs."
"Ew…" The warrior pronounced, and Se could barely hold in laughter.
Shortly after, the ground shook with a loud thud noise, and Se parted his lips to say something, anything but couldn't form a coherent sentence. Aife spread her legs to sustain balance and resisted the anxiety to take over her due to worrying about Kita.
"He'll be okay. Concentrate about the battle, witch!" Mouthed the wise snake, and Aife nodded her head at him with pursed lips.
The grumbling neared, and Aife clutched the sword before hiding behind the tree and jerking her head at Se.
Four trees were lined to the ground as two giant blemmyaes loomed from the woods.
Se attacked one of the monster's chest in a snap, digging his sharp fangs into its' eye and pulling out an agonized scream from him.
The second one stumbled on his feet, and before he could register what was happening, Aife sliced off his arm with her Dadao. 'Kita will hear the shoutings and will stay cautious.'
The second blemmyae riveted his eyes on his chopped arm, and Aife felt as his scream was restrained behind his tongue.
An ear-piercing roar echoed in the forest before the blemmyae delivered a punch at the warrior. Aife ducked and stepped aside before splitting his calve open and displaying his muscles. Se heard the severe yells and knew Aife was doing just fine as the snake chomped on the beast's hard skin.
The blemmyae yanked Se by his tale outwards and smashed him into the tree, cleaving it open. The upper part of a tree collapsed in the dirt, creating a loud thud noise.
Aife flashed Se her penetrating gaze, and as she took in his condition, she glared at Se's opponent. Aife rolled over and stood in her arms as she kicked the beast with both of her legs, making it lose his balance before she jumped up at a height no traditional martial arts master could, taking Se by surprise as he parted his mouth and stared at her awestruck. Aife wielded her sword and slashed down on her opponent, who was ogling her in the sky dumbfounded.
A loud shriek resonated throughout the forest as Aife landed on the ground, immediately darting towards her other target. The two slaughtered parts of blemmyae's corpse dropped behind her.
"AIFE!" Shouted Se from across the place.
Se struck towards the monster, pouncing at it from the 5 meters and enveloped him in the unyielding grip, choking him while Aife dashed towards him.
"Eh?" Blemmyae panted with gaped mouth and lost expression.
Aife shouted and bounced up before colliding the blade with the blemmyae's shoulders since it had no head. Se slid away to get out of the witch's way. As the Dadao went down and through the beast's pelvic bone, crushing it, Aife's feet touched the ground as she sliced the last part and exhaled the breath she was holding in.
Se and Aife breathed out in unison and took a moment to regulate the heartbeat.
"They were waiting," Se mentioned the royal squad.
So blemmyaes were united with the king's army – thought Aife.
Aife really was a dashing young man. Her red locks stuck on her forehead as the tall, sturdy man in a predator's pose tried to catch a breath. Bread of sweat dripped down her calloused arms and delicate, dainty nose.
Predatory gaze in her eyes was evident.
Se looked disturbed as he shut his mouth and examined his robust and durable comrade. It didn't go unnoticed on the serpent as Aife was clenching her fists so hard blood trailed down her knuckles.
Aife with bright smile, kindest eyes and gentle touches disappeared as the rancorous beast took her place.
Her look wasn't just ruthless but… somber, too?
Se liked the good old-styled fight with his crony, but he could tell Aife despised bloodshed. He was about to ask her about her condition, but clip-clop stopped him.
Aife advanced towards the dark woods, and Se followed her without a single word as he perceived her intentions. Se liked Aife in charge but also disheartened the idea of her being this gloomy all the time.
"Let's finish them," Aife announced unceremoniously with a solemn gaze.
***
Raven, the druidess, smiled down at the kneeling soldier who was hoping only for the priestess to have mercy on him since the emperor wouldn't.
"Please, your majesty! Please forgive me! I couldn't stop her! A week ago, I told you everything I knew."
The druidess just smiled in her black dress she abhorred.
"Don't call 'majesty,' young man. I'm just a priestess."
"She is right! Only I get to be called that way." Ordered the emperor sitting on the throne located at the upheaved area, on top of the stairs while the rest of mortals remained down.
Raven smiled up and bowed her head at him while the soldier apologized furiously, fueling the emperor's ego. Raven's fangs elongated, grazing her red lips and slicing them, so blood drops trailed down them before she licked them. That's why she adored red lipstick that much.
"Raven, free him or do whatever you want with him. Fuck I suppose." The ruler grinned, and goosebumps ran up and down Raven's spine. She loathed him with her whole being and wished to just carry on her experiments on him instead.
Soon the young male appeared in a room illuminated by the red lights. He tried to get up but was frozen in his place, lied down on a wooden table. The man started to panic but stayed petrified as he saw women in black leather clothes emerge from the entrance, locking the door behind. She was wearing a crop top and pants that hugged her curves at all the right places.
Despite the terror, the soldier was going through, he couldn't help but admire her beauty. That was until he noticed a massive saw-and-racker tooth blade she was holding. He started to shout for help and wriggle out of invisible chains, but his attempts were futile, only amusing the tall lady.
"Sh," she strolled towards him and glazed her fingers across his muscled forearm, "It will hurt, baby. But we are gonna create a new version of you."
"I DON'T WANT TO!"
She clicked her tongue before giggling. "They are all the same. As an alternative, after your torture is done, you get your time with me." She mused and then winked at the frightened fellow, "That means you can take out your anger and grudge on me later. It will be delightful!"
As she waved the knife in her hand, the drenched man started pleading, begging, and shrieking for help, but every sound fell on deaf ears.
"I wish little, silly Aife could have a formula for her body. Next time it will be her beneath me," she stated while boring in the voidness before coming to her senses and landing her cheerful gaze on a poor soldier, "Now, let's start, shall we?"