Yin Yue stormed out of the conference room. Rage fueled her heart pumping into her veins, as a light burned in her eyes. Almost making a glow in the dark hall she was now stomping through. Ignoring the voice of her comrades echoing behind her. The voice never reached her ears; however, she had deafened herself to them. Refusing to acknowledge the speaker. She kept on walking, not heading towards any specific direction or heading. She just kept on walking; she just wanted to go somewhere to vent.
She had never felt so infuriated and insulted ever in her life. Her own failures had harmed her reputation and rightly so. Thus, leading to her colleagues losing hope in her, thus jeopardizing her position as the Representative Elite of her homeland. It would be a lie if she hadn't felt threatened by that prospect, but rather the notion and belief of being looked upon as a failure. That hurt more deeply than any blade could have.
Losing the trust and confidence of those around her. Worse being cast aside, becoming worthless. Understandable that she would be punished for her failures, yet it didn't mean that she would accept it. It was only still she was outside of the did she finally stopped, feeling the cool air brush against her exposed skin.
There she stood alone in the outer void of darkness outside of the world of comfort. Staring up into the surreal darkness littered with radiant stars lights that seem dimmer than normal tonight. As if they were too embarrassed to be in her presence.
"Tch!" she scoffed at that notion before resuming her steps. She didn't have a destination in mind, but she just had to keep walking. She needed to go somewhere else than here. So onwards she went on through the now quiet empty walkway of the school grounds.
With only the soft tapping footfalls of her own feet to accompany her. Why was she feeling this way? Was she ever this emotional before? Acting like some disobedient entitled child throwing a tantrum being denied a treat. She was the Representative Elite of her country, the chosen one, out of all her peers! Such childish tantrum was beneath her. Yet at the moment she didn't care. She had to vent but not in the current location so she stormed off.
"Yue'er stop~!" She could hear the faintest cry of someone calling out to her. She knew who it was, but she had zero intention of speaking with them. Or anyone for that matter in fact. Yin Yue just wanted to be left alone, so she continued on her way. She put further distance from her pursuer; she increased her speed. Speeding walking away almost to the point of jogging away from the area and into the darkness shrouded parts of the school grounds.
The figure chasing after her suddenly found herself halted in her steps. Grasped at the shoulder by another hand form behind. Spewing profanity at the sudden intrusion. Stopping at the reveal of the face of the one who stopped her.
"Why are you stopping me Ning Xuemo?"
"Let her go, Jiaying You she won't listen to anything we have to say to her. Let's give her some space." Ning Xuemo spoke softly. Yet her words carried heavily through the air despite the soft tone of her voice.
"She needs some time to process this. Don't worry she will come to it eventually."
"She doesn't see it that way." Jiaying You sighed deeply. Letting out a long breath, frustration evident within her voice.
"There's nothing more we can do for her at this point. She needs to pull herself out of this dilemma that she's keeping herself in."
Ning Xuemo signed yet again, begrudging accepting the current predicament of someone dear to them all that she couldn't rectify.
Keeping their eyes on the figure in the distance. Watching it shrink smaller ever so by the second till it was no longer vison to their naked eyes.
Stomping through the night aimlessly, that was the current situation Yin Yue was in. She was fuming, so much that even the chilly evening breeze barely registered upon her skin. Yin Yue had continued to stomp her way through the night. She didn't pay too much attention to her surroundings. Turning corners, walking through the dark path walks between the buildings of the academy. Occasionally there may be a duo of other souls, who were on patrolling duties. That would encountered the fuming Yin Yue. Yet none so much dared to hinder the lone figure. Simply standing aside as she strode through.
This continued for an unknown amount of time. Till finally She has ceased her steps. Taking a minute to collect herself. Taking in deep controlled rhythm breathes. A technique she has been taught and utilized to calm herself. In times of distress. After another few breaths. The fire building within her, has dimmed slightly. Now looking around her, one peculiar sight immediately caught her attention.
She found herself before the outer dome of the training halls yet again. Yue'er didn't even realize when and how she even came upon the area dome. She lingered in front of the dome, gazing up upon its structure. Gazing upon its immense size, indomitable walls that seem at that very moment. An impossibly tall wall before her than it was actuality.
It stood before her as an otherworldly being now, representing some metaphoric physical wall that stood in her path. Hindering her path, and no matter what path she took or planned. Climbing it to reach the top yet nothing prevailed. Nothing she could do could she overcome this damn wall. The wall was there before her, proud and unrelenting. Unaware of her measly presence before it.
Lingering about it just for a few seconds longer gazing upon it in deep thought. Before finally tearing her eyes off of it. The wall at that moment seemingly shrunk back to its original size. She took a step forward. Then another and another till finally. she committed to the act. Stepping forward into the dome of the training hall.
Within the halls of the dome.
Sealed within its inner worlds. A lone presence stood within the shooting gallery admis the silent whir and turning gears of machinery. Blast of focused energy shot forth from the training pistol. The energy bullet splashed against the surface of the holographic dummy target. Before dissipating into fading light particles, like fireflies in the night sky. As quickly as they appeared they faded away into memory.
Center mass-center mass. One target, second target. Dropping them as quickly as they would appear. On and on the shot landed directly upon the center point of the simulated target in the range.
A perfect source, one that should have been satisfying for any person. Yet there were no such sensations that overcame Yin Yue's being. Only the ever-present void that plagues her core being.
'Why?' Was the continuing lingering question persisting in her head. 'Why? What is it?' yet no answer would come to her. It almost consumed her senses, that she almost didn't hear the sharp hiss of the automatic door opening.
"Why~?" The frustration was building within her, but she didn't understand. She couldn't understand it, nothing has for a long time. Though truthfully days it felt as though it were years. The thought of it was consuming her. Her thoughts wandered, till a voice broke the haze freeing her from her stupor.
"You can do these routine drills all you want but it still wouldn't help you in finding what you are missing."
The voice came from her side. A little too close for comfort. More importantly, Yin Yue hadn't even noticed how close the other person was till now. This was a blunder on her part. How did she allow this to happen. Stepping back a fraction of a step backward. Out of the booth she was in. Turning her head slightly towards the speaker. She saw the familiar figure Zhao Yun Ru LaoShi standing just feet away from her. With the same loose-fitting uniform with something slung over her right shoulder.
"Of course, you would know right from the start that it was me. What gave it away? Something so obvious?"
"I know because I can tell from the aim." Zhao Yun Ru LaoShi replied to Yin Yue's venom, sarcastically walking up beside her at the range taking the stall right next to her. She began unloading whatever it was that she had within her bag.
"Quick burst shots., three to four shot intervals, Rapid successions. Impatient, unfocused. Much like a certain someone I know these days." She casually said as she began unfolding what she had in her bag. The individual Pieces merging together, like a puzzle slowly forming a silhouette of a rifle. Zhao Yun Ru LaoShi then reached into the bag once again. Taking out a box unveiling the contents within as energy packs.
"What are you doing here?" Yin Yue through gritted teeth, questioned annoyed by the new presence.
"Last time I checked the range doesn't belong to you young lady, everyone can come here whenever they want. Well at the appropriate hours back home at least." Zhao Yun Ru LaoShi responded, while still unpacking. The rising surge of annoyance was beginning to build within
Yin Yue.
'She's doing this on purpose.' Was the thought that came to her mind. There were tons of other spots she could have taken. Yet LaoShi still chose the one right next to her. Yin Yue purposefully chose the spot at the far end from the entrance. So that she wouldn't be interrupted when someone else enters the shooting gallery. The second reason being. Out of habit of taking advantageous position should there be any danger. Buying her enough time to react in time.
That clearly didn't happen.
"Sign~." Yin Yue let out an exacerbated breath of air out. Dragging out the motion. In response to the incoming lecture. She replaced the energy pack of her training pistol, then without a second delay. She took aim and squeezed the trigger. Hoping the popping sounds of gun fire would block out the sounds of Zhao Yun Ru LaoShi's words.
Yet surprisingly against her predictions, it didn't come. Only the resounding blast of the rifle that Zhao Yun Ru LaoShi hefted in her arms. Eyes sighted down the frame and downing holo targets just as quickly as they would appear. This continued on for long drawn-out minutes. No words were spoken between the duo, only the blast force and impact noise upon holograms echoed repeatedly without fail in the chamber. Before suddenly after a few shots rang out, did her voice came through as soft as it was. It carried in the air with a strong intent towards its intended recipient.
"You clearly do not seem to listen as of late. Thus, you still do not see." Zhao Yun Ru LaoShi said out of the blue with nothing else to follow. Having packed her bags ready to step out of the booth, heading toward the exit. Her anger boiling over, heat flushed her core. Yin Yue at this point couldn't still herself. Stepping out of her own booth eyes glaring into the departing back of Zhao Yun Ru LaoShi
"Then tell me~!" Yin Yue shouted, halting Zhao Yun Ru LaoShi in her steps. Turning her head slightly to eye at Yin Yue. There at her peripheral vision she stood. Chest heaving, eyes locked onto her LaoShi. Eyes filled an assortment of emotions.
"Stop speaking in riddles around me! Tell me what it is~! What is it that I'm lacking?! If I don't know what it is I can never improve myself!"
Zhao Yun Ru LaoShi held her gaze. Yet within LaoShi's eyes held no contempt nor fury at the irritant before her. But only the calm patience that a teacher or caretaker would have towards their charge.
"I have told you before, this is something you must see yourself. If I have to tell it to you, you will never see it truly for you to understand. This is your trial to overcome whether or not you succeed depends solely on you. You, yourself know this fact to be true."
With that said Zhao Yun Ru LaoShi strode out the range. Paying no further heed to the mewing of the toddler in the room.
"Damn it~!" Yin Yue spat out hatefully. Once she was certain that she was all alone. She didn't understand any of it. What was it that her LaoShi trying to say? With no way to further contain the rage within her. Like an erupting volcano it boiled over and burst out.
"Damn it, damn it all~!"
She roared, releasing the tension within her. For that was all she could do right then and there.
At another location.
In a vast open space. The land was covered with thick green vegetation, yet several areas were blacked with craters and fleeting embers. Carried in the air by the swift breeze. Flowing through the open plains, the flora swaying by the wind. The wind continued its flow like water. Till finally crashing over a wall. An unnatural structure of mix stone and earth elements. Stood tall admis the field of green. Its foundation stood tall and strong against the crashing breeze that splashed harmlessly against its tough hide.
Yet the wind didn't simply disperse away like candle fire. The wave sweeps over the stone over the top and into the open pathways within. Outlining a bastion behind the walls. An intricate inlaying structure hidden behind the walls. Overlapping stone building and connecting pathways. Within them, multiple souls shielded behind the walls shifted. Many moving about the fortress, each one with a sense of purpose.
Yet not one carried a sense of weight in the air. Unlike those high above them all. Within the central tower structure high within the highest peak. A circular room with a large round table with just a handful, sitting in opposition to one another. Equal sitting except for one position near center of the gathering.
"That is all my lord, Charles Von Luis." An older figure admi the gathered souls spoke. Bowing his head towards the lone singular figure position in the middle. Whom nodded his head in response. Before sitting down upon the seat beneath him. his armor clicks and chimed in the air from the motion. Ending to that note with a loud echoing clang upon sitting down on the chair.
"A disturbance signature that came from within the Forbidden Zone, believed to be the source of the unnatural Catastrophe shift roughly a year ago." The young man clearly at the head of the gathering enunciated, summarizing what was told to him. Shifting in his seat, while fixing his uniform. No one else in the chamber made a move. No one even attempted to speak, just purely focused on the young man.
The young man continued.
"Now~. Just recently another disturbance was discovered coming from the Forbidden Zone. A signal of unknown origin pulsing from the deepest parts of the Forbidden Zone. Far deeper than the known areas that we have explored through."
The young said with a rising hint of sarcasm slowly etching into his voice. He continued on without pause and still no one interrupted him.
"And the court wishes for us to send an exploration team to uncover the source?" After that he didn't say anything else. Gesturing with his limbs fanning them out in an open manner. Signaling to the others for their input, looking around for even one soul to add on.
"My prince this is clearly nothing more than a ploy to send you beyond the wall under the guise of an expedition to have you killed. Why must we even entertain this?"
The eldest member of the party spoke up then. His voice laced with frustration and fury. Instead of the prince addressing the elder man. Another spoke up instead.
"I concur my prince. Surely there is no need to heed this madness? We risk our lives here every day here at the border. Contesting with the unspeakable horrors that come from beyond. Why must they insist that we send our people to search for some unknown… I honestly do even have a word for it. Surly the court has more than adequate personal capable of this undertaking instead of us?"
"Anyone with a brain can tell. Still back to the problem at hand. What is so interesting about this signal that has the court so interested? Nothing that has come from the Forbidden Zone has ever caught their attention till now."
A middle age looking man sitting the opposite side to the eldest member at the table. Looking towards the open window, showing the opposite view from the other side of the fort. This view revealed, instead of the vast majestic plains. This sight was more ominous in contrast. A deep canyon surrounded by large mountains ranges. Beyond the narrow gaps beyond was a sea of dark green. Trees so tall that they are visible from the window. The crown being so large clearly blocking sun light over the horizon. Shrouding everything in darkness. The only path through the mountain funneled down to one singular point. Leading to the gate of the fortress.
"It was a very noticeable signal; one would have to have been blind to have miss that. My prince what would you have us do?"
The armored guard behind Charles Von Luis spoke. His posture unmoving, standing proud and upright. Hands clasp behind him inattention. His voice, though soft, carried through the air. All eyes focus on him.
"We cannot blindly follow this decree it's obvious who really issued it. Nor can we ignore it though. They will use it as a reason to trail us for treason." To this concern form his most faithful, Charles Von Luis turned his head to face his guard. A smile of glee plastered on his face
"Why so conflicted Valdor my friend? Theres no need to think too hard on this matter. We will go. We shall entertain them." At the prince's words everyone present was baffled at his suggestion. Immediately the rest voiced their opposition. Outcries of concern and disbelief. Trying to discourage their young master from undertaking this folly. Many rose from their seats in shock.
"My prince-"
"My lord surly-"
Yet before anyone could say anything more, they were silenced.
"Now-now I said what I said Markus select among the beast among your companies ready them in three days I have spoken."
"But my prince-" one of the souls present tried to retort yet again but was silenced with a gestured.
"Besides I'm also curious as to what this commotion is all about, if the court is so interested. It would only be right for us being first to get eyes on it no? The court need not know for certainty if we were to find something out there."
This caused the others to pause. The realization of the prince's words slowly being processed in their minds. This caused their features to brighten. Their original uncertainty replaced with fiery purpose, even eagerness. They stood as one and bang their fist against chest in unison. Saluting their lord and master
"We hear and obey, your words, our deeds."