-~*~-
Dinning Hall
The whole area is filled with military personnel from the front to the back. There are those who had taken their uniform off and some still wore them. Gossips about the new woman that had arrived early this morning erupted like a fire. Every single table has their own story and thoughts about the whole situation.
Some had question her legitimacy as the "Maiden" and some had make theories about who she really is. But by far, the most loud conversation is about the relationship between her and their General. Women starts to squeal with excitement of seeing love and men starts to playfully joke about the General finally getting someone to fall for him.
This doesn't stop even for the high operator members. Most had never really seen the Lady Xue, "Maiden" of the empire. And for her to suddenly came to Kinsel out of nowhere and now involving herself in the matter regarding Kinsel safety. Though most felt relieve, others had some doubt about her intentions.
"What if she's trying to gain power for the Xues? Wouldn't that make us vulnerable?" Said one of the operator. He is one of the most least experience ones and had some arrogance about his power. The only reason he was recruited to be a high operator was his skills in technology.
"I agree! She had already get General Chen. That practically put us as her pawns too!" Another troop member joins in with the idea. Although it seems unlikely, they had some prowess to that theory. Yanyi's close relation to the Crown is what practically make her invisible to touch. Though not by words.
"You all are exaggerating. Lady Xue must have a good intention to come here. If our General trust her judgement, then what are we to be worried about?" Counter one of the older operator. He was one of the most well-versed tactical strategist in the camp. He had worked for over 30 years and refused to retired even after much persuasion.
"If Lady Xue is trusted by the Crown to hold the title "Maiden", then there is nothing we should be worried about. You youngster need to put some faith into others for once." One woman call them out while sipping her beer jug. She is one out of two other female operator which handle the supply lines of the camp.
"Have you heard of those Xues before?! They are total maniac! They don't even bother giving chances to our own people during judgement!"
"Watch Your Mouth, Young Man!" The shouts from the entrance of the building brought everything to a halt. The one standing by the door is non other than their leader, General Chen Luyao. They hadn't thought that he would partake in tonight's meal as Yanyi is around. I guess someone's about to either be demoted or punished.
Luyao strode over to the young man that had been talking trash about Yanyi and stare him down. No lively shine came through his pupils. Only pure anger and frustration from hearing his own close friend's name being trash talked. "If you wish to talk bad about others than put yourself in their shoes first and foremost. Though we are under the order of House Ryuichi, we undoubtedly serve the Crown! I will not tolerate anymore mention of the Crown from any of you! Such conversation is forbidden! UNDERSTOOD!"
"Sir! Yes, sir!" Everyone stands and salute at once.
Luyao's eyes still prune into the young man's head before making his way to the central stage of the dining hall. "Tonight I will inform all of you about our plan for tomorrow and the day after. Lady Xue and I have converse to great length about this plan of ours. If there's any suggestion feel free to speak. Although, any speech or complaint about Lady Xue will only be regarded as a ticket of demotion."
The hall is silent with no voice or even any utensils. The only thing that ever make a sound is the voice of Luyao and the creaking floorboard beneath him. His people are even scared to move to go to the restroom for number 1 and 2. He finished all the talking and went outside the dining hall where everyone can finally let out a sigh of relief.
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~Yanyi's tent~
The tent door opened and came in the General with a tray of food. Yanyi who is still standing by her whiteboard didn't notice his presence before the man sneak against her neck and blew against them. "Ah!" It makes her yelp for a quick seconds before covering back that area. "You are awfully focus. I have told them everything we need to do for the preparation." Putting the tray on the small table he starts to set them up.
"Geez, at least say something when you're coming in." She put away her work brain and sit across from the man. The dinner that he had prepared is something of the traditional dishes from the people in this town. Yanyi takes a bite from one of the side dishes and smile gleefully. "I have never taste food from the south west territory before. It's delicious!"
"You'll be enjoying them for a bout 4 more days before missing them anyway." They enjoyed the meal together while telling stories about how Luyao's life as the General. After all, Yanyi herself had never really indulge in the work of a General before due to her rebellious nature. "It's not really hard if I could say something about it. Since Uncle Ryu put me as the leader of most of the authority head in Kinsel, I have to work many jobs at once."
Yanyi — "I have a question. Does anyone from the Police Station came from the Military?"
Luyao — "Yeah, actually. Daniel and Max actually came with me from the military."
Yanyi — "Daniel? But he is barely an adult, isn't he? How come he work in the military when he hadn't finished his studies?"
Luyao — "Daniel is a miracle boy. I actually found him when he was a young thief. He was being beaten by other shady guys which I eliminate. When I tried to help him, he tell me everything about what I should have been doing to help someone. Practically a doctor."
Yanyi — "And he didn't take a test to become one?"
Luyao — "I did tell him to take one, but he insist on following me. Thus, making him an apprentice when I serve the military for two years. After that I was put to the city and he followed me alongside Max. Honestly, if I could enroll him into the Soter Academy, I'm sure he'd be delighted. But it has long pass."
Yanyi — "There's Soter University you know? Places where future doctors and lawyers can go after they graduate from the Academy. In fact, one of my brother will be enrolling there in the next few years."
They continue to ramble on about their life. Sharing it like there is no tomorrow. They may have not notice it but the moment Yanyi starts to ramble about her stories, Luyao would unintentionally stare into those shining silver eyes. On the other hand, Yanyi would stare at Luyao's when he starts telling his. Love is blind, isn't it?
-~*~-
Two Days Later.
The blue sky had just turned up from the horizon, enveloping the darkness from the night before. Yanyi with her cup of tea stand outside of her tent and watch as everyone is readying themselves for the ambush. Some platoons are running laps while others are doing their physical routine. 'This day is the day where we all caught and rescue the children swiftly.' Thoughts playing around her mind before taking a sip of her Earl Grey Tea.
The footsteps from a boot came resounding the area around her. Two footsteps to be exact. Considering her foreign arrival, there are only two people who is brave enough to approach her. "Here, m'lady." Jerad Konse take out the Signia that he had helped polished yesterday and handed it over to the owner.
Luyao — "You're going to use Pearl or Azure?"
Yanyi — "The terrain we are working with is a complicated one. Not big enough for Azure to be in action. Beside, Pearl allows me to move more freely."
Luyao — "Can't wait for a monkey to show up."
Yanyi — "Much to say huh, gorilla?"
Jerad left the two to argue and went to one of the platoons to see what they had been doing. In less than two hours their plan will be moving forward.
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Operation
Yanyi, Luyao and Jerad entered the forest through a secret path that they had discovered while overseeing the preparation. They stayed away around 30 feet away. Taking a peek, many watch guards are standing and strolling around the premises. Some had even taken the leverage to be drinking while on duty.
With her kunai, Yanyi wrapped it around a branch for which the patrol guard is going to walked under. The moment he did, she pull the signia's string and it slice cleanly through the branches making it fall onto the man's body. The loud noise caught the attention of the other watch dogs which pointed their guns and weapon to the direction of the sound.
From behind a tree out came a young figure in his military uniform. His midnight blue hair makes it hard to disclose the look he has under those bangs. His hoarse voice rings through the whole forest. "Playing with children for your age is not appropriate." Taking out his signia, he take a fighting stance. "How about you play with people your own size."
Immediately he threw a punch towards the on coming waves of men and knock him out instantly. He didn't stop there and continuously smash his face to be disfigured. Grabbing the man by the hair he threw him to the side. Smirking with menace he say these words while tilting his head slightly upwards. "Who is my next toy?"
While he was busy kicking and punching the watch dog outside, Yanyi and Jerad made their way inside of the facility to find the children and getting rid of the other bugs. Yanyi had taken the liberty to use her keen smell sense and find out where the possible location for the children would be. She knew that one of the area is the basement and since it is the closest, they made their way over.
Of course it wouldn't be so easy as to get through. They are faced with several armed man. Around 20 people. With their back towards each other, Jerad give out the following. "M'lady, make a way to go through. I'll take care of them and catch up with you later." Having knowing him and his capabilities, Yanyi slice through a few faces and made her way towards the basement.
Before they could turn to catch her, a strong force had grabbed their arm and in a split second, a punch came straight to their face. "No one can touch the precious daughter of the Marquess family. If you wish to..." His hazel hair proceed to cover one of his eyes and he looks like a real monster. "... You have to go through me."
Seriously, is everyone around Yanyi a monster in disguise!?
Opening the giant worn down oak door, Yanyi saw the half filled room with children from various age. All with tattered clothing and some had even come down to catch a fever due to the poor treatment condition. Her knuckles turns white as her hand form a fist. That is until a small tug came to her pants.
Looking down, she was met with a young boy around the age of 10 years old with light grey hair as well as a pair of pale peach eyes staring at her. "Big sister... are you here to help us?" His hoarse voice indicates how he hardly had any water for the past few days. Yanyi closes the door behind her and lock it before kneeling down to his level.
Yanyi — "I'm here to bring everyone back to their parents. Can you help me and gather everyone here? I need you all to be quick."
Boy — "Alright!"
While he did his work, Yanyi tried to observe the children again and as she had expected there are still a few missing. She interrupted the child helping her and give her a dagger signia of her own. Though he may not know what to do with the signia, normal people can still use it as a normal dagger as long as the owner activate the form.
Yanyi — "I am trusting you to use this weapon to protect yourself and the others. I have to go and find the other children. Quickly make your way outside to the front. There will be a man in a green uniform there for all of you."
Boy — "Alright."
With that Yanyi make her way out of the door and left it slightly close so that the children will have a way to escape. She met eye to eye with Jerad and just give a quick head twist to the basement. He nodded before continue fighting.
Crossing the many rubble from the building, Yanyi make her way to the top floor of the building. She hid behind a stone pillar before taking a peek on who is on patrol and where they are. Turns out there is a functioning door on the top floor of this creepy place. Quickly, she threw out two piece of rubble outside which caught both guard attention.
While they are bending down to see what that noise is, Yanyi's kunai had already struck their neck right through the blood vein. Both body collapse at once. She get near the door and listen as around 5 people is talking about what to do. Apparently the news of her arrival has spread quickly.
She can also hear the muffling from a few children inside. 'They must be the one these people wanted to bring back as the "first batch".' She thought to herself. Before they could move, Yanyi kicked the door open surprising everyone inside. With a senile smirk she twist her hip upward and said "Running away, gentlemen. From death it seem."
The following 5 minutes are nothing but clashes of blade. Some of them had even tried to run away either down the dangerous side of the mountain to the roadside. Unfortunately for them, both area as trapped with military units. The moment they saw the platoons of army, they surrender to their defeat, finding that dying by the three monster far worse than being captured.
Oh how wrong they are.
Jerad and Luyao meet at the front entrance wondering where Yanyi is. All the children had been carefully guided back by Luyao to the roadside safely without the risk of encountering those escapee. *Crash!* Out came from the top floor onto the grass area a man with two macchette. Jerad caught the man before he could run away and knock him out. "Stay and look for the lady! Her safety is our second priority!"
Luyao look over to where the crash happened and saw a female figure by the window looking down menacingly towards the unconcious leader. Her body then fell backward. Luyao ran up to the top floor and saw Yanyi laying on the rubble with a small pool of blood underneath her right arm.
"Yanyi!" He scream before putting her head above his lap and tearing off a piece of his uniform to wrapped around her wound. He checked the pulse and breathe a sigh of relief. 'She is safe.'
He look down at the sleeping face before slowly bringing his forehead near hers. In his heart, he had nothing to say but a mere 'Thank you.'
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In front of the Anderil Embassy building.
The lobby is scrambling out of control. Apparently something bug is about to take place and they have no clue how to deal with it. Eventually words reach the highest member and Count Berlion was eventually called to entertain the guest at the lobby.
Upon reaching the said area, he was met with two rows of military units that had lined up perfectly to their seating area. Seeing the man seated, he was sweating pool when he realize they had red locks and possess a light blue eyes. The Young Marquess Ryuichi is in his premises. That only means one thing.
"Count Berlion. As the Ambassador of Anderil, you are under arrest for the suspicion and alleged collusion with the enemy of the entire Yucoria. As the heir of Ryuichi, a knight of the empire, I will personally escort you to the royal dungeon for the waiting of your trial."
"..."
"Capture them!"
Within second they are brought back to the royal dungeon station in Kinsel under Kazuto's watch. Finally, they had bring everything to a close.
-~*~-
Yanyi open her eyes slowly to an unfamiliar yet recognizable dark green roof. Wanting to rub her eyes, she tried to lift her right arms before feeling a stabbing pain that forces her to put it back down. "You're injured." the voice at least familiar.
Luyao put down a tray of food by her bed before sitting at the side of the bed and placing the back of his hand on her forehead. "At least you didn't catch a fever." He grabs the first aid kit under the bed and pull out a bandage, an antiseptic and a cotton pad. "Turn to the left."
She did so without questioning. Luyao proceed to open the previous wrapping and put some antiseptic on the cotton pad before taking a tweezer an slowly dabbing it on the big wound. "Care to tell me how you get this huge wound?"
Yanyi — "I was fighting him and his machete almost cut off my body in half. I step away but my right arms got caught slightly. I then beat him up and throw him out the window. That's it."
Luyao — "Well your wound and loss of blood had caused us two more days here. Thankfully they are able to settle the problem quickly. We'll be leaving tomorrow morning. They'll hold a small celebratory banquet tonight."
Yanyi — "I'm guessing I won't be able to go?"
Luyao — "Yes. You are required to stay in bed for the night. The most you can do is walk to the restroom, that's it."
He wrapped the bandage and secure it tightly before putting the item back inside the first aid kit. "Also, Jerad had taken the culprit to the city with a few platoons. We'll be having a state trial for them before sending them over to the empire's trial." He clean his hand with a towel and a spray bottle.
"Luyao..." The girl said with the man returning a simple "Hm." "Thank you..." He stop for a moment with his back facing her. "Yeah..." He walked out of the tent before she realized that his ear had turn slightly pink.
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The night outside of the tent is nothing but pure joy. Everyone is celebrating their successful mission on taking down the illegal group. While outside is filled with cheers, Yanyi tent only has silence. She had been ready a novel which she had brought over from her house.
Though, those peaceful time eventually come to an abrupt pause. Yanyi saw a glimpse of light grey locks just outside of her tent which quickly vanished. Thinking that it was a person passing by she continue reading only to see them again.
"An adult would not be that short most of the time. Must be a child." She commented in her heart before closing her book and invite the figure inside. They refuse to move but perhaps after careful consideration, they slowly enter the tent where the young lady is currently resting.
"Ouh! It's you. How are you? Are you hurt anywhere?" Yanyi beckon him to come closer which he abide but slowly. Eventually Yanyi get off of her bed and personally carry the child into her arms before sitting back. The child is now ashamed to face her so closely.
"Why are you covering your face?... Am I scary?"
"NO!" The sudden yell brought his mind to cover his mouth before going back to his hermit position. "...S-Sorry..." He apologize in a whisper.
Yanyi — "May I know why you are here? You should be preparing to return to your parents tomorrow."
Boy — "I-I don't have one..."
Yanyi — "...Ouh..."
Nothing came between them. Eventually the boy look up to those glittering silver eyes and said with full determination. "C-Can I follow you home?!" Yanyi didn't know how to respond to that. She hadn't really thought about having an apprentice this early yet.
"Can you be my sister?" This caught her even more off guard. She never imagine that she'd be getting such request from a child that she had only met just a few days ago. Heck, she was knocked out for two days so she barely met the kid.
Yanyi — "I'm... not really fitted to adopt you yet? I'm not from here either..."
Boy — "...Ouh... Okay..."
Yanyi — "*sigh* Alright... I'll abide to your wish because you have helped us saved the others. However, I'm not able to give you my family name as I have no authority over it... yet."
Boy — "That's okay! I have no name either! I don't mind if I didn't get yours. I'm just happy to call you my sister!"
"You don't have a name?" The boy shake his head with a no as his respond. Yanyi look down into his peach colored eyes before saying anything. Just how much did this child endure just up to this age. Yanyi gives a sweet smile to him before taking her comb at start to comb away his tangled locks.
Yanyi — "From now on, your name shall be Zhang Eker. You are now my soon to be adopted brother. You are my brave younger brother who had saved many lives. And starting today, I will be your guardian until the moment we went back home for you to officially be registered in the family history."
Eker — "Eker... That's awesome... Can I know your name?"
Yanyi — "My name is Xue Licia Yanyi. You can call me Yiyi jiejie or jiejie."
Eker — "Ji-jie...jie-jiejie?"
Yanyi — "Yup! That is how you call sister in my ancestor mother tongue."
For the rest of the night, Yanyi and Eker spend the time together to know each other. At some point the boy became so tired that he eventually fell asleep on Yanyi's lap. She slowly pat his head before tucking him in on her bed. The vision of her brothers come to view. It has been what? three months or so since she last saw them.
She remember how every time she get back from training, they would ran to her from the front door and tackle her feet. Jumping so high so that she can carry them. The view of her mama laughing so elegantly to their mischievous nature. A figure slowly stand by her mama's side, placing his arms around her. She didn't have the thought of even envisioning the said man, closing her eyes and shaking her head.
"You've taken another child under your wing I see." The man stands by the tent door. He had brought with him just a bottle of white wine for her. It's kind of a pity not being able to celebrate something they had achieved together. Thus, he brought over something that she is more accustomed to. Not to strong in their taste he hope.
Yanyi — "He didn't have any family and begged me to take him in."
Luyao — "You remember your brothers, right?"
Yanyi — "..."
Luyao — "I have no clear idea of why you ran away. But whatever it is, I hope that you'd be able to get it away and return back home. It's not a good thing to punished everyone when only a few people had done the wrong deed."
Yanyi — "You wouldn't understand... You have a caring family caring for you..."
Luyao — "I'm sure you knew that I'm not their biological child. Beside, it's not like I came from a good place anyway."
"What do you mean?" The girl swift her head to him. The man realized that he had said more than necessary. To quenched her curiosity he ought to tell her his story anyway. "I was found in the military base after during the Maritime War 20 years ago. I have no recollection of what my parents look likes. All I knew from deduction, they died from the war and by the looks of it I seem to originate from Anderil."
"...Anderil? You're not from here?" He shook his head. He tell how it was a speculation and nothing is confirmed yet. Apparently, Uncle Ryuichi had tried to search for his name in all the available archive in the empire and there is no record of him anywhere.
Nothing was spoken between them for a while. Eventually he clears the atmosphere and asked Yanyi about the novel she had read and how the story is. She describe to him everything she could remember. All the plot point, plot twist, how the character is written and much more.
Eventually their conversation come to an end the moment the bottle is empty. He bid her goodnight and close the tent door more securely to prevent any unwanted distraction during her rest. He went away to his own tent which is not far from her.
'Found in the military base... from Anderil... no record in the archive across the empire... could you be-!'
"*yawn*" A big yawn came from the occupant beside her which carve a smile on her lips. She pull away some of his locks on the forehead and gives out a quick goodnight kiss before tucking herself in.
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-~*~-