Some men runs past me without looking ahead of them, I turn around wanting to yell something at them but eventually remain silent.
I just finished my shift in the kitchen, since that is the only thing I'm allowed to do as of now, and head to my tend... The whole camp is in an uproar, probably trying to celebrate the new year or something. Not that I have any interest in joining them, I should stay as far as possible from any festivity.
Approaching my tend I see Qin Luo in a rush -What's wrong?- I ask, noticing how he grabs some clothes without a logic. I take the closest spear and roll it in my hand -Are we under attack? I'm ready!-
He looks at me, obviously nervous -No... I uhm, a meeting. Kinda- he studders a few time and hurriedly ties the laces of his shoes -My verdict has arrived- it's not a question so he doesn't replies
-I'm not sure, they haven't asked for you- I nod even if it's quite obvious what's going on -I'll go train at the back of the camp, you know where to find me if- -Lai'Er- he stops me and comes to rest his hands on both my shoulders -We'll figure something out, don't think too much about it-
What a stupid thing to say...
I shrug my shoulders and pass over him -See you later-.
...
Instead of focusing on things I cannot change, I take a claymore and practice a few moves... I feel incredibly slow and not just because I'm using this kind of weapon, but I feel weaker...
It has happened quite a few times recently, since I took my powers back from Xu Lei I felt as if I'm slowly becoming weaker each day.
I rise an arm and tries to form a ball of fire, the flames travels from my elbow to my palm and erupts in small firework -Nothing amiss, maybe I'm just tired- I sigh and let my hand fall back down.
Looking back at the camp I see that most of the men are lingering at the center of it, excatly where the tend of the General is... Excatly where I should be too, yet I've been cut off completely.
-Whatever- I come back to my training and rise up the claymore, reviewing my posture.
...
Even from outside the tend the yell of General Cai can be heard -I oppose that!- he smashes the fist on the table as he stands up.
Tian XuWen looks at him worried and calls forth his second in command, asking him to send everyone away, both inside and outside the tend. The situation isn't going so well so they could at least avoid to make such a scene for everyone to see... He re-enter the tend while bringing some liquor and leave it on the table, going to seat in a corner with Qin Luo
-I wasn't expecting... "This"- he mumbles -I can understand to ask for a trial, if I really try to be impartial I can also understand if they ask General Cai to release her from the role... But to ask him to give his troupes away? That is absurd, especially since he has to donate them to General Wu...-
Qin Luo shakes his head with anger -They want to check if he's mentally unstable, if he is still able to lead the men in war, the will revoke his rank as a General and strip him off of everything he own... Starting from his men and all the way to his land. All under the pretext of being deceived by ChangLai. They might use fancy words and try to sound nice all they want, it's clear what their true intentions are- he grips the armrests of his chair -The amount of insults and accusations in that letter is insane-
XuWen looks away -Yet they can do it without any consequence, "they" are part of the Court... Along the Emperor himself- he falls silent to recollect himself and after a brief moment moment he continues -Although, I think ChangLai is just a pretext here-
-What do you mean? They're clearly trying to throw her out, too afraid that she might stick her nose in their business-
-Yeah that's true, but honestly Cai isn't in a better situation himself... He has a lot of power due to his past achievements, even if not officially, and could easily influence the troupes along the other Generals. The Court never liked him for that, but thankfully he had the support of the Emperor up until recently.
He's always been hot blooded and never bent for anyone, living far away in his lands and fighting when asked to... Of course he and ChangLai joined hands, they're quite similar afterall.
But thanks to that, they finally found a way to get rid of him. Aren't they lucky? It's a win win for them, they will ruin her reputation and also take away the glory from him... So they're one step closer to gaining full control of the Armies, nobody will dare rise Amy accusations toward the Court then-
General Tian notices the troubled expression from the younger man -I know what you're thinking... This isn't what you were expecting when you became a General too, nobody prepared you for this and you just happened to be shoved into a situation bigger than you... Do you regret accepting this burden?-
Qin Luo shakes his head -I do not- he's resolute in his reply -It's true that this is not what I thought, from down in the crowd being so high up looks beautiful but it's not... I thought being a general meant that you fought for what was right, that you wanted to protect your people and address any criminality. But instead the war only reaches you further more, all the way to the palace halls and it's whispers. I thought it was much simpler, if one is at fault he gets taken out-
He sighs heavily but his eyes shines bright at the next words -But as long as something allows me to be of help to ChangLai, I'm willing to do it. Doesn't matter how much of a heavy burden it is, for her who shoulders the whole world alone... This is nothing but a small inconvenience compared to if-
Tian XuWen nods at his words -Keep that feeling close to you, never let go of such determination or you will be eaten in this field... I pity you youngsters, to live in such critical times... We're passing to you a horrible world, corrupted to the core and with no compassion. All because we've been too scared to change it, but you guys will change it... I'm sure of it.
You are taking our heritage, hating it while seeing the destruction such egoism brings, you will learn from it and turn your hate into power to achieve a change-
-Sometimes I stop myself and think "At what price?"- says Qin Luo -But does it even matter? People will die anyway, so we might at least make the best out of it- he shakes his head -I hope this isn't too a form of egoism-
-Who knows? Only the future will bring answers, each generation will polish the next one with their mistakes- replies the older man
-I wonder what is going through Lai'Er mind... Does she feel guilty too for taking all these lives? Maybe when you're at her level, these are just trivial matters and the only relevant things is the outcome... The essence of justice-
XuWen places an hand over his own -Don't struggle too much in trying to understand what your mind simply can't, leave the divine to those of heavenly origin or you might stop adoring them- Qin Luo can't help but feel a shiver down his spine at that idea and stop his mind from going into a dangerous path -Let's see if our fellow Generals have calmed down now-