Something doesn't add up tho...
How did the enemy knew I was out patrolling to a close enough distance to hear the horn...?
I find the men all laid down and rush to their side, scrolling one's shoulders to check if he's alive
-Uhm... Five more m... M M Miss Ying?!!- He comes awake and so does all the other men
-What are you doing all here? Is nobody keeping guard?-
-We uh... We all fell asleep oh no...-
-Have you guys noticed something?- I ask passing over their negligence
-No I'm sorry we did not found anyt...!-
-Not that, anything else?- I stop the one replying
-What are you referring to?- asks the one in charge, standing up
-I thought it was a trap...- I take a moment of silence before gasping
"Of course they knew I was here..."
-It is a trap! The enemy has been silent all time time to lure a patrol team out... And they knew I would have left with them too. The camp is under attack, let's go back!- I yell jumping on my horse
-What... Miss Ying wait!-
I hold the reins and look back at them -There's no time to waste, our companions might all be death once we reach them-
The men look at me in fear and then at the soldier in charge of their group, He cleanches his fists and nods -Mhn, we'll come with you-
...
As soon as we get closer, light shines in the horizon... Red and ashy
-Fire!-
-She was right...?!- a man turn to his commander
-Of course I am!- I growl before pushing my horse faster, diving into the flames.
I see men running like crazy, holding basket full of melted snow, while the enemies Troupes slaughter them before anyone can even realize what killed them.
-Zhou! Zhou'Ge?!- I take out my sword and begin fighting my way to our tend
-Zhou... Zhang Zhou!-
A man runs toward me while beign on fire -ChangLai!!!-
-He... Rang?! You... Your body!-
His face is terrified as he tries to stop his clothes from being on fire -I... We were sleeping... I don't...-
-If I wasn't away, this wouldn't have happened...- I close my eyes in rage trying to regain control
"There's no time now to panick... The fire needs to be extinguished" I reach out my hand into his chest
-What... No! You will burn to death!- he tries to push me away with his still untouched hands
-So will you if I don't stop the fire...- a cold feeling swirl down my arm exploding in a splash as water embraces Rang's body and devours the flames
-You...!- he widen his eyes
-Mhn, no time to waste... Where is Zhou?-
-I...-
-Where is Zhou?- I ask with lower voice as he looks away -He Rang... I will ask one more time...
Where
Is
Zhou?-
Rang begins blinking repeatedly and I grab his burned shirt yelling into his face -Where is Zhou'Ge?!-
-The tend broke down in fire... Only I made it out... Barely... He couldn't move well and got pressed down... I... Didn't manage to help him...- He begins crying looking at his hands, I let go of him pushing him away and start running to the tend's location
-You! Why are you here?!- yells a soldier from the enemy faction
-Out of my way!!!- I thrust my sword, decapitating him, and push his body away with a kick.
Finally I see the tend and drop on my knees -Zhou'Ge? Are you there?!-
I try to find that connection once again... I need water more than anything now -Zhang Zhou...-
The fire won't go down and my powers are nowhere to be found, the only option is to search with my bare hands...
The fire is indeed burning high but if a minimal hope of him surviving is there I must help him get out -Zhou'Ge...! Zhou'Ge!-
-ChangLai! Stop! Stop it!- rushes to my side He Rang, who have been following me
-No, He could still be there...!- I tear apart some more fabric with my sword
-You will burn alive!-
-He...-
-There's no more "He" Lai'Er!- he drags me away by my shoulders, making me lose balance as I stare toward the tend shocked
-Don't say it-
-It's true... If there was any possibility before, by now it's lost-
-I... I... Should have been here to help you all...-
-What about those men? You made sure they went by unharmed... And you can still save everyone else-
I shake my head -I fell into a trap...- I growl hitting a fist against the ashy ground -My help out there wasn't needed at all... But here...-
-You couldn't have possibly known-
-I could if I planned better- I stand back up swinging a bit as my vision goes blurry and my head spins in rage
-Lai'Er...?-
I take my sword dragging it on the ground as I am losing stability
-Are you ok?- Rang holds my shoulder but I shrug him away
-I'm...- my head begins hurting and I fall on my knees as a vibrating yell echoes inside me
-Lai'Er!- he tries to grab onto me but I throw his arms away -Stay... Away! I don't know what's... Arhhhh!-
That weird sound, deep into me, resonates to its fullest... Making me twist for the pain and all around me a roar echoes
-What's... Happening... Lai'Er is that you?- Rang's weapon falls and after a few steps back, he does too.
Both enemy and not stop for a second, confused by the trembling earth... -Is it an earthquake?-
-Not now of all the times...-
-ChangLai... This is definitely not the best moment to do this... We need your help! Stay focused!-
-I'm... Trying... I will... Make them pay-
One more brain killing echo and the ground breaks into thousands of cracks, from underground water sprouts as blood from a cutten throat...
-This...!-
-Water! It's a sign from the Gods! We can win this!- someone yells.
I fall on one side with the sounds all layered one on top of the other... Rang throw himself foward and shakes me -ChangLai... Don't pass out yet... Please we need you! Hang in there with us-
I shake my head, I feel drained...
"-Get up and fight!-" yells a voice inside me... That man's voice... "So it was him..."
I hiss on my elbow and push myself up on unsteady legs. I reach for my sword but it's still laying on the ground near the, now wet, tend... I look at Rang and he nods before following me.
We rise the heavy fabric together ready for the horrible view...
-It's... Empty!- He falls on his knees shocked -It's, I... There's no corpse...-
I rest an hand on his shoulder -I'll find him once this will be all over-
-Thanks...-
-But... What about Xu Lei?-
He shakes his head -I have no idea, he was on Guard turn at the time of the attack-
-Mhn...- I reach for my sword -Let's settle this for now- he nods standing back up and yells as we run against the closest enemies
...
As the camp is finally stable the Head General passes over where the bodies of our fallen comrades are laid, just outside the camp, and removes his helmet in sign of respect -How many did we lose?-
-We haven't made a complete count yet Sir... But for now the deads we found are 73 and 126 wounded- Replies the other man
-Mhn... Let me know as soon as you are done, I'll go try to understand what exactly happened now...- he turns to leave
-Sure Si... Gh!- the man's words gets taken away as a blade pierce his abdomen from behind, the body gets thrown to the side and a small smoke creature reveals itself behind it, he goes to strike his next victims the moment I see it.
-What's wrong...?- The General turns and his face goes pale.
I dash forward and jump in the air, kicking the General to the ground before attacking right at the heart of the creature with a flaming sword... The small smoke thing yells before dissolving away.
-Miss Ying...?!-
-Sir, we need to talk-
-Mhn, we surely do...- he nods looking at the dead body in front of him with a worried expression.