Emerging from the cave the light hits me and I need a few seconds to start seeing again... As the images in front of me clear up I see Dong Hu seated down, fidgeting with some knives as he waits boredly under the sun. I rotate my sowed and out it back in its place with an annoyed smile on my lips -For course you had to survive...-
Upon hearing my voice he rises his head along an eyebrow -You hurt me, Chuangzhu. It sounds as if you want me to be dead-
I briefly look at him as I pass over -Said desire of mine has long been clear to you- reaching the small gate I open it with one hand sighing, all the men on the other side quickly stand up and greet me officially -Relax... How's the situation on this side?- I turn to face Xu Lei -Just as we expected. We avoided direct conflict with the sand men up untill the core got destroyed, them we charged and easly took over since they were in a weakened state... The other men just left to join the main army, we should hurry to and help. The sand men keep growing in number by each day so the more battles we face, the more they will be-
-Mhn, let's go. Lead the way- I nod in agreement, walking past him as I begin to fix my armor back up with Dong Hu following behind with a smug expression, he speeds up and comes by my side -So, are you happy not that you feel like you understood something?- I close my eyes stopping for half a second with a smile -"Feel like"? I KNOW I understood now... Or else you wouldn't have played such a low trick and put me in danger- I grab onto his collar and lower him on my same eye level -Hope you looked quite closely to me down in that throne hall, you won't see me defeated again- he laughs with his mouth closed -Oh I did watch you, you were quite enticing- I shove him back away and rush to Xu Lei's side.
Feeling my presence he moves his eyes toward me, Zhou comes toward us too -Chuangzhu, honestly... How was the situation there?- I press my teeth tight -It was full of sand men... He played a trick again- -ChnagLai! I knew I should have came with you- he rises his voice -Ehy, I'm alive aren't I? So it's all fine, I can handle it if I don't let them touch me- They both nods reluctantly, knowing that there's no mean in being worried about me.
...
I drive my men onto the battlefield, riding our horses and ready to clash into the enemies lines sending the soldiers flying. After a few meters of continuous attack I call for an halt and drop off my horse, taking new weapons with me, one polearm in and hand and one sword in the other... Ready for a slaughter.
As I pierce the heart of a man and look him in the eyes, those thoughts resurface again... "Who am I to decide they are wrong? Are we on the good side? We protect our peoples but would kill others if we were the inviting faction... Is my survival instinct what allows me to justify my actions and decisions? Should I actually kill everyone on our side too at the end?"
I shake my head and take back my sword, having the man fall on his back revealing more men waiting for me behind, I lower my head with a darkened expression... "Should I instead kill myself and let these humans to destroy eachother? I would pay for my sins and stop caring about such complex matters" I rise the sword cutting diagonally a bunch of men -No... These whicked thoughts are slipping inside again, I promised not to let Dong Hu affect me anymore-
But somehow those ideas weights down on me painfully as I cut down more and more lives... They could be good ones, they could secretly hate their Monarch, they could have been forced to be here... I realize that I've been circled, looking around me with a twisted smirk then let my head to fall down and look at the ground, holding my ground with the polearm stuck on the ground -Are you traitors?- I ask toward these unmoving soldiers.
They look at me confused, now unsure whether to attack or listen to me -Would you join us if you had the chance?- I lock eyes with a man and he begins to sweat down his forehead -Are they threatening you? Have you personally killed our childrens with your hands? Have you tried to stop this slaughter at least once?- but instead of replying, the man takes a step back in fear -Ah... Of course... I'm the monster in your eyes, a woman capable of calling forth a devastating fire that sees no friend or foe- he twist an eyebrow and his eyes betrays you, rushing to stare at my hand... Trembling on the hilt of my weapon.
He must think that I'm about to unleash a killing blow, but I actually am just trembling like a mad dog -Nevermind, this war must end nonetheless- I rise the polearm and hit it on the ground once again, sending a wave underground that moves further away cracking the surface and making these men fall down. That's when I actually strike with my sword and end them.
...
Black mist comes creeping toward me from behind, I turn around and see one sand man walking in my direction... -So there are still some left uh?- I move away to avoid the smoke and throw my sword against him, he dodges it easly and go to grab the hilt as soon as the blade passes by his face. His helmet turns a bit to the side some fixes it again before assuming an attacking position.
-Am I suppose to have a one on one with you?- I grab my polearm and begin to charge it -Just one sand men won't pose that much of a threat afterall...- and we clash metal against metal. I block his attack and kick him away, he doesn't loose his balance but instead turns around and aim at my neck with the sword wanting to behead me. I lower down and spin on my knee, hitting him from behind with one leg so his next step comes a bit unsteady... I touch the soil and make the ground tremble, so he finally falls down loosing his helmet and sword.
-No need in dragging this any further, you're clearly weak and I want to go back and rest now- I take back my sword while walking toward him, he's already trying to stand back up but I stop him by pointing my polearm on his chest -You've lost, accept it- I rise my eyes and face him before sticking but I suddenly find myself unable to do so... Not because he used some trick nor am I touching his body yet, but because the face that looks at me shouldn't exist.
-It's impossible, I saw your corpse. How...?- That brief hesitation is enough for him to push my weapon aside and roll away, as he stand back up again a blade comes from behind and slices his head off his neck... The flesh turns into sand and dissolves into the dusty ground.
-Lai'Er! Are you alright?- Qin Luo's voice appears distant as he comes to my side, hugging me tight to his chest with the free arm. He closes his eyes and takes a deep breath while resting his chin on my head, the mixed smell of the dried blood dying his skin and his own natural warm perfume... Invading my nose and taking me back, I allow his comforting scent to shooter my mind for a couple of seconds and then he lets me go -What is it? You seems shocked- he asked.
I nod -That man you killed just now was a sand man, wasn't he?- he rises an eyebrow confused by my question -Yes, we both saw that- -Then why was he the same man who got killed in our camp for betraying the other faction?-