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81.81% The Nameless Girl / Chapter 17: The Liquidators

บท 17: The Liquidators

Kibo wasn't at home. But her dojo seemed to be lively that night. So, they went to the dojo and found students were jabbering over something. Itu demanded Kibo's location and an explanation of their nightclub, but they seemed to be as hostile as ever.

A girl named Arclight approached. "Why do you want to track down our master?" She looked as rogue as Kibo—a perfect student of hers.

"Because your master is pulling strings from the shadows. She is sticking her dirty nose into the ministry. Tell us where she is," Red said.

The students glowered. They remembered what Red did last time. "Are you smearing our master's reputation?" said another one.

Arclight stepped towards her. "How dare you!" She was ready to punish Red.

Amidst the crowd, Fei Yu threw himself between two girls. "No! Stop!"

Red's world paused for a moment. She noticed Arclight's gaze at Fei Yu. Passionate… lost… and longing. It didn't stay on her face for long. But all that Red knew was she wanted to punch down that girl.

"Fei Yu, step aside," Arclight said. "She is a real loudmouth."

Yes, please. Just start it chick. That girl spent all day with him. Red didn't get to see him around so often anymore.

"Stop!" Fei Yu turned to Itu. "Kibo had an imperial order. Recently, she was summoned urgently to the frontline to oppose the Liquidators on the outskirt town."

June and Itu exchanged a worried glance. They were late because of the girl. Red was annoyed by June's constant whining about eating fast. At first, she didn't tell her that she was a princess, then pushed her to eat by nose. Red bet if she didn't stop at that point, the war between the Legion and the Dynasty would break out. Seemed like it really broke out—the real one, not the catfight Red meant earlier.

Shit… 

"Some of us are preparing to join Kibo."

"We are going with you." June's tone pitched with authority.

"If it pleases you, then by all means." 

*** 

The troop along with some imperial guards traveled to the attack region that night. June insisted on going with the students in the wagon instead of a carriage, heavily guarded by her bodyguards.

Red's eyes were stuck on the corner where Fei Yu and that girl named Arclight sat side by side. That girl kept talking to him about something mundane in a low voice that muffled without reaching her ears. She heard Arclight was Iron Beak's recent school champion. School champion… Shouldn't Xiang Tzu be joining the troop? Perhaps humiliation sent him to bed.

It was a late night. Some students on the wagon dozed off, and some were giving awkward looks at the trio.

"Red…," June whispered in her ear. "If you want to keep it secret then don't glare at him so often." 

The spell broke and realization spread through her mind. She blinked after so long time that her eyes almost hurt.

"June…" She turned around to face her.

"Yes…?"

"Is it legal to bring kids into a battle zone?" she whispered.

"Kids? According to the laws of the Dynasty, no one can be called a kid above sixteen. They are free to make a choice whether they want to join the military or not. And here… no kid is less than eighteen."

A boy who sat beside Itu, facing Red curiously watched the girls chatting. He looked away when Red gazed at him with the expression she regarded as normal. Itu was brooding and deadpan as usual.

They were heading to a war zone and prepared for anything. Red didn't like the idea not because she feared to fight. Although, they were focused on meeting Kibo only. She had to come along anyway.

"June…," she whispered again.

"Yes, Red?"

"How old are you?" Innocent curiosity licked over her voice.

"I am twenty—" June calculated for a second. "two."

She turned to Itu, who was listening to their conversation with an unwavering gaze fixed on something far away. "Itu…"

Taking a deep slow breath, Itu closed his eyes, then unfurled, letting the air out. "Yes?"

"How old are you?"

"I find myself at the age of twenty-six," he replied politely.

"Oh, you're younger than I thought…" And June was older than she looked.

Itu's face didn't change.

"June, how old I…" She chose her words carefully. "look?"

"You look like someone in her early twenties." 

The girl paused to analyze if it was good or bad. 

"From time to time, your behavior reflects a ten-year-old," Itu said. "A brazen ten-year-old."

"Oh. Sad, I can't remember getting taught etiquette by some decent parents." She didn't mean to be sarcastic; she told a fact.

June couldn't help but giggle. "The Legionaries did their job well…"

*** 

They had to walk a little distance to reach the zone. It was dark and dead silent all over. The people of the town had already fled.

It was a vacant area where they found the dynastian soldiers taking positions. Afar, they saw some orange hue glowing against the dark horizon, flickering like fires. The groups of students scattered, and June started asking about Kibo amidst the chaos. 

When June spotted Kibo far on the front line, she desperately moved through the crowd of soldiers towards her. Itu followed her. But Red's foot stopped. She turned back to locate Fei Yu and found him positioned on the reserved line. He glanced back at her and his lips formed a faint smile. Red didn't return any smile. Her head moved back to June, who had gone far. Red forced her foot to move towards that way and caught up.

"Kibo!" June panted.

Kibo was surprised. "June!" Detecting Red behind June, her mouth curved with a slight grin. "The champion is here in person to repel the Liquidators' attack!" she said out loud. "I never thought I'd say so, but I'm glad to see you."

"I'm here as June's bodyguard."

June frowned. "We're here to find out what was between you and the Ambassador, and where you took the Emperor."

"Being afraid of me, the Ambassador tried to make the Dynasty close my project… Oh, one moment—here they come!"

The area was filled with howls of the Legionaries. They were few or perhaps some of them were killed during the invasion.

"June!" Red hissed.

The general screamed, "Hold your ground!" 

"There's no way back! We have to fight!"

"Stay behind me, girls," Itu said calmly. 

No escaping. Again…. Another battle. Against the Legionaries. Perhaps, her countrymen.

She had no choice but to fight. Kill to be alive. She didn't want to die before knowing her identity and family. It would be her biggest regret.

She wondered if these legionaries ever had something to pursue. They fought bravely until their last breath. Why they were willing to give away their life? For invading another country? For glory? For robbery? For wealth? Why were they devaluing their life?

On the other hand, the single motivation of the dynastian was defending their country. 

Her face and armor were smeared crimson. Blood dripped down her hand. It was hard to tell whose blood. The sword she picked from a dead legionary's hand felt very heavy. She dropped it. She couldn't locate the source of aching in her body. Perhaps it was her heart.

Her vision got blurry, and she heard a muffled shriek from June's voice which echoed in her head. "Red!"


ความคิดของผู้สร้าง
TheNamelessOne_RED TheNamelessOne_RED

So, are you enjoying or dozing off?

(。•́‿ •̀。)

บท 18: Big Sister

'Why do you always obey them?' a shrill and eerie voice roamed in her brain. However, it faded away as the images of the war replayed in her dreams—June and Kibo fighting side by side, Itu was visible with his thin katana against heavy swords, the liquidators slicing dynastian soldiers in half, then June's scream. "Red!"

She woke up and got blinded by the dazzling daylight. Taking heavy breaths, she asked herself where she was. Her blurry vision of the surroundings told her she was in an infirmary. She quickly surveyed if she had four of her limbs… and both of her eyes. Yes, she had everything.

"Hey, you're awake." Fei Yu strode towards her.

"Fei Yu." Her voice couldn't make audible sounds.

"Don't! Don't force yourself to get up. Lay still." He gently pressed her to the bed.

"Fei Yu," she murmured.

"Hey, here I am. Can you see clear?"

She could. She could see faint blue bruises and red scratches on his face. "Are you okay?"

"I'm okay."

She raised her hand to touch his face.

"Be careful with your arm. Your left arm is injured. You lost a lot of blood."

"What happened? Where's June?"

Fei Yu averted his gaze.

Her tension itched more. "Where's June?"

"She's fine."

"Where is she?" Anger forced out of her voice. 

"Not here but she's okay. Believe me."

"What about the war?"

He took a moment before replying. "It was a trick. The liquidators' attack was a trick…. While we were busy holding them, another legionary troop reached the capital's outskirts."

"No… no…!"

"It's okay. Our soldiers were prepared. They can handle it."

"No… they're gonna burn everything!"

"Relax… Citizens had enough time to evacuate. Everything's going to be fine."

"No, it's not! Where's June? Where is she!"

"Actually, I don't know," Fei Yu admitted.

"But you said she's okay!"

"Yes! Because I saw her. She told me to stay by your side."

"Where would she go? There's a war going on!"

"Perhaps she was following Kibo out of suspicion. But relax. Itu is with her. Wherever she would go, she'll be safe."

"Where did Kibo go?"

Fei Yu felt like being in a hot chair, thinking about how to escape her interrogation. "Give me time. I'll track them."

"You're lying."

Fei Yu flushed.

"You know where Kibo is."

"Red. You need to calm down. I'm directly sending a message to June that you're okay. My sparrow will find her. Meanwhile, eat and rest."

"I'll find her and Kibo by myself." She got up.

"Red. You're badly injured."

"I'm feeling fine."

"You'll start bleeding soon."

She peeped through the window. Judging by the position of the sun, it was probably noon. "Kibo definitely headed to defend the attack on the capital." She tried to stand on her feet.

"Red, stop! Are you planning to roam in the war zone? Wounded? Alone?" Fei Yu rarely talked agitatedly. "Use your head! You don't even know where you are right now."

Red opened her mouth to say something.

"Are you thinking of asking people to show you the path of capital?" he spoke sarcastically. "When the town is already empty and the people you'd see are dynastian guerrillas, ready to hunt you down mistaking you being one of the Legion!"

It was the first time she saw him getting angry word by word. "I want to see June… by my eyes…," she spoke weakly.

Fei Yu sighed. "I repeat myself: My sparrow will track her. Eat. Drink. And prepare," he said coldly. "I will take you to her." 

Why is she too stubborn? Uff.

***

Students and youngsters were charged with helping the citizens and wounded soldiers. Fei Yu didn't mind violating the order and also stealing a horse. He rode the horse slowly because he thought that would cause her less bleeding.

He was a bit irritated by her obsession with June. However, subconsciously he sighed with relief that June was a woman. He didn't know, he was slightly jealous too.

"Fei Yu, what about your family?" The girl sat behind him, wrapping her uninjured arm around his stomach. Their heavy armor blocked the warmth of each other's body.

"They're all fine… I hope. One of my brothers-in-law is taking care of them."

"You have siblings?"

"Yes. Two elder sisters."

"Do you have both of your parents?" She had only seen his mother at home.

"Luckily, yes."

They were roving around the capital outskirts, avoiding the war zone. Fei Yu's messenger bird hadn't arrived with June's location yet. So, they headed for a nearby safe village across the thicket. The smell of the sea had faded, and the surroundings filled with birds chirping. The golden sunlight of the afternoon washed away the green from the tree leaves. 

All of the sudden, the arch of the way revealed a horse rider coming directly at them. Fei Yu pulled the rope for changing the path to avoid a collision. But the rider wasn't in their right mood. They saw that legionary's sword flying at the level of their head.

"Get down!" She heard Fei Yu's scream. And the howl of the legionary proved that it was a woman. 

The next moment, Red found her aching body lying on the ground. It felt like she had broken her spine. As she tried to get up, she saw the woman walking towards her with her long sword.

"I'm Gizmo's sister, Greta," she said coldly. "My family will never forgive you for what you have done to him!"

"Wha—"

Greta swung her sword. Red had nothing strong to block the blow. So, all she could do was dodge.

"Hey, I defeated Gizmo in a fair fight!" She dodged another blow. "He was the one who challenged me first!"

Greta wasn't there to negotiate. Red's blabber only made her more angry.

Did I maim Gizmo's face? Did he lose his grin forever? She had no time to ponder. The dynastian kicking style was way better and fancier than the Legion's style. But those dealt not much damage because of Greta's strong armor.

Greta ran to her like a bull and gave her a suplex, thudding her on the ground. Red mentally prepared herself for a painful death as she saw Greta sitting on her body. However, a sharp clashing sound of metal and Greta's groan hit her ears.

Fei Yu's katana wasn't any ordinary one. It was made by Ling and could penetrate metal like Greta's helmet.

Greta rose and threw her lopsided helmet. Her blond hair cascaded on her back. Spots of blood made a horrible appearance on her golden hair. 

"If you want to challenge her in a fair fight, then you might want to come back when she heals." Fei Yu faced Greta.

"Who are you, lad?"

"Your enemy, a dynastian." Their weapon clicked, clashing with each other. "Big. Sister…"

How far a thin katana would go against a long heavy sword? Fei Yu did his best and gave her some minor cuts. But at last, he had to fall back, accepting a punch on his face.

Red threw a dagger at Greta's face as she turned to her. It perforated her palm as she blocked it. There was no trace of pain on her face.

Fei Yu attacked her again. "I'm like your little brother… Let's not fight, sister," He provoked. "I heard about your stupid baby brother…. Is he death? I hope not!"

Red had to do something. That woman wouldn't rest until she killed both of them. Red took her knife. She knew the Legionary gears and its weakness more than any dynasts. For that moment, she didn't mind confronting an enemy by their behind. She entered the shadow form with the remaining shadow energy.

Greta fell to the ground.

"Fei Yu…" She panted. Her eyes glowed with jade blue color. The blood on her knife couldn't stop its jade-blue shimmering.

"Red…" He starved for air.

"Well done…" As the shadow energy she used ran out, her dark silhouette form faded, and the colors came back to her appearance. 

"You too…"

Her pains eased a lot as if using shadow energy healed her. She knelt to check Greta's pulse.

"Be careful; she's a viper," Fei Yu warned.

"She's still alive," she whispered, suppressing the pain in her voice. Blood streamed from the wounds of Greta's body.

"Then you know what you have to do." He glanced at their horse, which hiccupped with every poor beat of its heart, lying flat on the ground in front of them.

Red stared at Greta's unconscious face. She was graceful with the aura of an aristocrat. Gizmo's ugly face hardly resembled her. Were they distant cousins? No, perhaps…. Perhaps she loved her brother. Did Gizmo deserve to be loved like this?

She felt Fei Yu's hand pressed on her shoulder. That put her back to the reality. Then he tousled her auburn hair. She couldn't talk. Her voice felt very heavy. 

Fei Yu stabbed his katana into Greta's throat, making Red gasp in surprise. "She's my country's enemy…" His voice was heavy as well.

Red stood up and gazed at his face. Greta's punch opened a small gash on his cheek, which had swelled up. His eyes were fixed on their horse. A small pond of blood rose beneath it. The quivering of its body proved it was still alive.

Red pressed her palm on his hand that gripped the katana. Fei Yu flinched… then relaxed. His katana was still planted in Greta's dead body. She took the katana, freeing his grip with her lingering touch. She could read his gaze on the horse.

Walking towards the horse, she slashed its windpipe with the sharp katana as if she had played with it a thousand times. They stood still and silent for a while and let the birds cover the void.

"I'll try to tame that one…" Fei Yu spoke, breaking the silence, and pointed at Greta's horse. "Red, fetch the things you can from her…" he tilted his head to the dead body. "We have to move fast. It's gonna be dark soon."

A thought bugged her… Perhaps, that batiste napkin did belong to Gizmo. Maybe he didn't steal it. He was an aristocrat… like Greta… 

A brave warrior like Greta should have died heroically on a battlefield surrounded by her fellow warriors who would witness her… not there, not like that...

I'm sorry Gizmo… 


ความคิดของผู้สร้าง
TheNamelessOne_RED TheNamelessOne_RED

Author's thought: My mind is blank...

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