While me and Qin Luo head back, a man comes to stop us on our path
-The head Generals want to meet her, now-
-She just woke up...! Let her rest a bit before our next battle, she's not in the condition to be walking around- Qin Luo crosses his arms coming in front of me, using his height and rank in attempt to send the soldier away...
I place and hand on his shoulder passing over him -It's fine... I already slept enough for the whole wee- I smile coming to face the soldier -Lead the way-
-Sure- he turns around
-Then I'm coming too-
-Don't worry Qin Luo, I can manage an angry old man... I'll be back shortly, just help Xue ChunDu in the meantime please-
He bites his tongue nodding, before turning around and leaving
...
The soldier stops in front of a big tend from the other Armada and asks me to wait outside...
Soon after he's back opening the tend for me -Thanks-
Inside it is pretty much the same as a real room...
Tables full of opened maps, shelves with parchments, exposed shileds and flags, a bed behind a curtain and some useless things for the General's entertainment.
Two men are standing around the main table, one is slightly bent over moving a little statuette and the other is watching him with his arm behind the back
-Oh she's here...- stand up the one on the map giving me a big smile
-I'm Tian XuWen, the head General of the Tian Armada, pleased to meet you Miss... I heard a lot about you-
At this sentence our General, Li Yao, scrunches his nose with a quiet grunt
-I'm afraid I didn't hear as much, My Lord... But it is indeed an honor to make your acquaintance- I try to bend down, even if it pains me, but the man stops me
-No need for such a thing... We own you our victory I believe-
The gaze of the older one behind is quite heavy, but I don't really mind and proceed in my conversation with the younger General
-It was just a side plan My Lord... Which happened to be successful- I begin talking with my hands rised in front of me for respect
-Even if it might have helped our faction, it doesn't change the fact that I've been acting on my own and not following orders... As I was planning my move I considered every possible ending, and punishment for my actions was one of those.
I am willing to take it all if My Lord sentence me with it-
-You don't have any remorse? You could have died Miss Ying...-
I shake my head with my hands still up together
-The remorse would have been not to try... Even if I happened to fail or die It still was worth it.
Plus I managed to rescue an innocent man too, so I am even more proud of my doing... Knowing how it went, I can bear any punishment now since my mind is at ease-
The man turns serious -Well said...
See Ol'Li? She's a nice one
You not only proved enormous courage but also a lot of intelligence, Miss Ying, we need more men like this...- He turns to the table to take a carved stone, he twists it in his hand with a troubled expression -One our the Liutenant from the Li Armada died... We were just considering who could fit such a role... And here we have our answer.
Congratulations Miss- He comes to appoint the insignia on my clothes
-I think it would only be beneficial to have her opinion in our meetings, isn't that so Ol'Li?-
The other man makes a reluctant sound which I believe means "Yes"...
So weird to see him silent and obedient... Probably this Li man has an higher Noble rank than him
-We still have a few things to settle, ee'll meet again in a few days for our next planning... Enjoy some glory in the meantime, and some rest too-
-Thanks so much for the honor My Lords- I kneel as Tian XuWen chuckles -You earned it-
...
I get back to my tend and entering I'm faced with Qin Luo's back, standing with crossed arms
-Something's wrong...?-
He turns around and sigh with relief -It took less than I thought, are you alright?- he comes to my side, checking me out
-Yeah-
-Wait, is this...?! Oh my Goodness...- he find the little stone on my clothes -This is incredible Lai'Er... The first woman ever- he takes a step back to look at my whole figure -Whoa...-
-What?-
-Nothing it just feels real... As if you could really be a war goddess-
-You know that's impossible- I chuckle
-Never say never-
-Oh about Gods... Where did Xue ChunDu go?-
He looks at me confused
-Eh... I mean... He was surely favoured by the Gods to survive all that time beign locked up there...-
-Oh yeah Indeed-
-Hahah... Yeah- "This is awkward" I fake a laugh looking around
-Well he said he had to meet with someone who contacted him... Don't ask me how, but apparently it's someone who will host him for some time-
-Oh that's good then... Shall we go get some food now?- I turn to leave the tend but he stops me, looking away all flushed
-Uhm... About yesterday... Can you forget it? For my pride please... You know uhm... I really miss my son and the situation was... Kinda, emotional-
I hold back my laughter -Absolutely no...! And of course I wanna meet your son once we are done here!-
I leave the tend chuckling with an embarrassed man following behind me
Later in the evening I leave the camp to take a scroll around the area... I end up leaning onto a tree, watching in the distance.
I take a flower I find between my fingers, rolling it... Liutenant... Who would have thought?
"The first Woman to be a Liutenant... How much I would love to see my parents reaction to such a news" I chuckle to myself
A cold breeze hits me, making me cover my eyes as a little snowflake fall down the sky to lay the flower's petal in my hand...
-Snow... Xue ChunDu?-
A gentle snow begin all around me, it has been ages since we had normal snow... It would either turns into a storm or be a heavy blizzard, destroying everything in the fields...
The scenery slowly cover itself in white making me produce a crack sound at every step
-So it was true- I whisper reaching to hold more melting flakes -I suppose you are safe now...- I smile with closed eyes, with my face directed to the sky... Bathing in the pure snow
-One base like that for each Army...- the words said by the Snow God comes back to me
-This mean I'll have to free them all for this world to get back to normality...- I cleanch my fists as determination builds up inside me