บท 12: Met Again

The Golden Demon was an elite squad of the Dynasty. Galen and June's father once was a member of that squad. Galen mentioned Fei Yu's father was a member too. Red thought why he had to mention Fei Yu often.

For the semi-finals, Red had to fight with a member of that squad. Galen prepared her with all the secret tricks he knew about the squad.

Weird name…. She hoped it wasn't actually related to the demons.

Well, to her relief, she hadn't needed to deal with an actual demon. He was a mere human being with fantastic skills whom she had to defeat.

Galen's school was receiving new students from all over the world and some of the old students came back. So, when she saw Fei Yu approaching the yard, she thought finally Fei Yu changed his mind. But no. He was there to greet her.

Fresh bruises rose on his cheek. "Congratulations, Red," he said.

"Are you here to rejoice or taunt me?"

He scoffed mildly. "I'm here to see how you're doing." They were walking through the garden of the campus. "By the way, who are you?" he asked politely.

She sighed. "I don't know," she said weakly.

"What do you mean you don't know?" Fei Yu wasn't feeling offended. He was guessing she meant it. "What is your real name?"

"I really can't remember."

He frowned, puzzled.

"I'm a person without any memory."

"What? What happened to you?"

"I can't remember how I ended up in Shadow Squad of the Legion. I was like a newborn baby and the Legion fed me. I worked for them in return. It turned out they were too nasty. Don't be too happy," she said scanning the glee in his eyes. "I don't like the Dynasty either."

Galen was busy training students. June and Itu weren't around either. Probably, they went to see the tournament.

"You are the talk of the town. The Legion is willing to pay a heavy price on your head…. So, you had an adventure?"

"Quite a life-threatening one. They were ready to execute me and the Dynastian girl I saved."

Fei Yu's eyebrows arched slightly in confusion.

Before he could ask anything, she said, "The Legion planning on attacking the capital. I know how merciless they are."

"The Dynasty is quite capable of handling that," he replied meekly.

"They start using shadow energy."

"We have the Sphere…."

Red lowered her gaze. He didn't know what grave danger awaited them. "Listen, if something ever goes wrong, please run to the south. Be out of the capital; be safe."

"I'll be busy fighting against them. No time for vacations."

"Oh! Only if you want to lose an arm or a leg, or perhaps the pretty head."

He chuckled shyly. There was something elegant about his laughter. So polite, so pure that made her heart flutter.

"They don't fight with your fancy martial arts, they fight with heavy armor!"

"They are too slow." He rolled his eyes, which he did rarely. "They'll be dead before they move a twig."

"They will gladly take your blade in the belly and slice you in half with their swords."

"Let's not argue anymore." He laughed warmly. "You're such a contrarian."

"Am I?" She tutted herself in her mind for caring too much about a fool.

They walked silently side by side. The atmosphere grew awkward around them. Fei Yu was embarrassed about that night, meanwhile Red was fighting off her lust.

He desired her too, just couldn't decide how to act on it.

She felt an insane urge to throw herself over him and do the same thing they did that night. She avoided looking at him or she might break the fetters. Just a kiss, please? Her heart pled.

"So, what's your plan after winning the tournament?" Fei Yu couldn't bear the unpleasing silence. The weather was getting hotter.

"Find out who I am…. Oh, my primary goal would be doing something about the war…. Hey, I haven't seen Kibo for a while."

"Kibo? Where?" he asked confusedly.

"In the tournament…. Did she drop out?"

"Kibo wasn't participating. Her students are. She has been busy with some imperial business."

Red noticed June lurking around the campus. She was far near some trees; her green outfit almost blended with the greenery. She seemed to be waiting for Red.

"Your Herald friend looks unhappy," Fei Yu said, watching Itu stalking towards them.

"He is always like that." Red also spotted Itu.

"Right."

"Do you know him?"

"Not personally. He is well-known among ministerial figures. He holds a high position in the Dome.

"He is eyeing me like… I'm a… poison." A tension hovered over him. Itu was older, more masculine, a better fighter, and held a higher rank than him. It wouldn't be surprising if he found out they were dating.

Itu was a good match with a girl like Red.

"Red… how about if we…" Fei Yu was nervous as hell. "Meet somewhere…" Itu almost reached them. "I won't mind if you sneak into my room again. I will wait for that…," he whispered.

Itu reached them and said, "Your final opponent is Xiang Tzu."