"There have been different attacks this night in various cities around the capital"

"It's dark magic, The Cult is moving faster than expected, our units did manage to keep everyone safe, but we don't really know what their goal is"

"The attacks seemed more like a show off of their existence"

Various generals were talking inside the big meeting room of the Head General house. While everyone was exposing all that happened during a single night, the Head General was sit, his eyes were closed, listening in silence to his generals. Most of his black hair were tied and some strands were covering his right golden eye...

"Lord Ming Yuan" One of the generals called him, trying to catch his attention "Something is happening under our eyes, no attack actually was meant to kill, but the only one that was dangerous was the one in the capital."

"Sounds like they wanted to show how far they can go exactly under the eyes of the Head General" Said YanYan, another general with a challenging smile that was hidden after a short time by his coloured feather fan that he moved gently in front of his face, his narrow black eyes locked on Ming Yuan, who smiled calmly and nodded.

"Hm... yes, possible" he replied while standing up, looking at the map. He crossed his arms while everyone was waiting for his words to finally come out off his mouth "The attacks were surely meant to happen at the same time, but for different reasons... Whoever is moving, the pawns aren't only from Yinyué region"

"Ming!" Liam opened the room of the meeting, making everyone looking at him.

Ming looked at his friend and sighed a bit "Knocking will never be your thing, won't it?" he asked and Liam smiled embarassed.

"Deeply sorry for the interruption, but the audience is going to start soon..." Liam kept smiling innocently while he was walking towards Ming, who was still focus on the situation of the Land. His eyes opened up as he noticed Liam pulling him from his arm "I must steal the Head General for a while" his smile turned into a challenging stare towards the general with the feathered fan, like he was teasing him.

"I wouldn't expect anything different from an outsider who doesn't know manners" said YanYan with an innocent smile, while Ming was keeping himself stiff against Liam who was pulling him slowly out the room.

"Okay" Liam, once the two were outside the room, looked at Ming sighing hearing the generals complaining about Liam's behaviour "Here's the list of the slaves signed by Lord Godwin, they're twenty, but I have noticed something.." he explained while they both started walking towards the audience room.

"It's kind of interesting" Ming left an annoyed glance at the list, and then he looked at his friend, waiting for him to continue his phrase "The people who came here, are twenty-two.". Ming's steps stopped for a second, and his stare from being neutral and calm, became serious and deadly. The light of his golden eyes felt like a lighting towards the calm green eyes of Liam, who smirked.

"Sounds like we found the culprit already, and the men of Godwin's gave us without even noticing" he said, making the Head General lost in his thoughts for a second.

Ming looked out of the window, which was facing the big garden of the Yuan's manor.

"Something doesn't look right. Would someone risk their own lives like that even if that was the plan from the start?" Ming's asked and Liam shrugged.

"Maybe they did it to make us look at her like she's innocent... Could be a bluff" Liam replied, but then he stopped "Although... I have done what you asked... nothing weird happened.. kinda.. But I also believe that you never know how far the followers of the Cult can go"

Ming looked at his Officer and sighed.

"Let's end this" 

***

We were standing in front of the sit of the Head General, it was a long triclinium covered in golden silk where the heads of the Clan in charge sat.

That was my sit! It was so comfy sometimes I could fall asleep and Ming would smile and then pinch my cheeks, considering that if we were in that room it was because of a political event or banquet.

"My sit" I cried thinking how the situation turned upside down. Once I was up there, now I am down here, dressed as a slave, with a different name, look and no way my family can recognise me.

"Didn't remember you were such a crybaby" I could feel Hue giving me a strong pat on the head, to make me stop whining.

I was still looking around, trying to find BaoBao, but couldn't see her. Apart from us, the chief, the soldiers of the commerce row (some of them), there were of course, some people as witnesses of the fire and the Yinyué guards who were guarding the doors on the sides that connected with two corridors the audience room, to the actual house of the Yuan's family.

Hue is right.

I got to remain calm in order to discover who is The Cult and moreover who is targeting my family and why.

Maybe getting back with a younger different look was part of the plan since the start.

"It's a body your soul fragments managed to compose thanks to my power" Hue looked at me and stayed silent "Once you get back your last fragment you will come back to yourself and we can go back to use our real power" explained, making me nodding...

"Then... shouldn't we put this on the last task of the things to do?" I asked and Hue looked at me with flaming eyes.

"You idiot, you think this body can remain like this how much you want?" he asked while his eyebrows were tickling. He was definitely getting irritated.

I smiled innocently "Nono absolutely no.. I..."

The doors opened and my eyes opened up at the sight of Ming Yuan with Liam walking after him.

Ming sat at the side of the "throne" if we can call it like that, and then he looked at the people in the room.

My heart was beating so fast. My husband didn't change at all, always handsome. I could feel Hue's embarassed stare towards my behaviour, but I couldn't help it. 

I am so glad he's safe.

"Welcome to Yinyué" he said, while his chin was getting held up by his hand.

"Thank you Head General Ming Yuan!" the chief said happily "I am so glad you saved Godwin's gift and moreover helped the wounded ones!" 

I almost threw up, the only thing I was doing was literally sending curses towards that man.

"I will kill you so badly" I whispered "... once I get my power back" I sighed to myself.

I felt like someone was watching me, I looked around but then stopped once I noticed that Ming from looking at the chief, stopped his stare once he noticed me. Looked like his focus was locked on me.

Ahwwww did he recognize his wife?

Wait, no that's not good!

That's not good at all!

"My job has been done, I can come back to Arthus Lands, do what you wish to do with their lives, Lord Godwin hopes you will re-open the trade routes with us soon" the chief said like he was about to take his leave.

Nobody was speaking, I couldn't believe. The chief was about to get away from the room with the soldiers.

He needs to pay.

My eyes looked at Liam and then Ming Yuan who was staring at me with a gentle smile, but I could feel that he was getting a sorta of satisfaction from my reaction.

"Even tho..." as soon as Ming Yuan's said the words, the soldiers and the chief froze on spot "In the list, signed with the royal family of Arthus sigil, the list counts only twenty people..." the chief turned towards him who was keeping a gentle smile "Could you explain why do I see more outsiders than the enlisted one"

The chief looked at me and then he raised an eyebrow looking at Hue "I have no idea who that man is" he started talking pointing his finger towards Hue "But the Lady here is a Soulmaster" he started "We saved her from a River in the Arthus Lands, in the Forest of the Forgotten" he pointed himself "I am a loyal servant of my Lord Godwin. I know that all the Soulmasters after the Unforgivable Fire..." I could notice Ming's stare change for a little instant, more stiff maybe?

"...have been called out in the capital to register in the last few years... As she was found almost dead in the river and was wounded..." He looked at me "I thought she was part of the outlaws, running away from Yinyué, so as I did want to please Lord Yuan's for my Lord.. I took her with us"

For real?

Was I getting literally called a criminal from the REAL one?

Liam, who was standing next to Ming coughed for a moment. Everyone could see him getting closer to his ear to whisper, Ming kept looking at me, and it wasn't definitely a gaze that I liked, or a gaze that I was used to from him.

It actually felt... bad.

"That was an act of loyalty that would need to be rewarded" Jing said, smiling at the chief, making me swallow my frustration...

"...If it was the truth." 

People looked at each others, so did the soldiers of the commerce row. The chief kept his stare, trying not to make any emotion to be seen.

"Apparently the two stories do not align as the Lady... Bai Hu didn't tell the same as you did... so I wonder...." he crossed his leg, resting his right foot on the left knee. He kept his chin help up by his hand, looking at him and then switching his gaze towards me "Who's the liar?"

There was a moment of silence.

I had the permission to speak?

Theorically we were both liars.

My hands clench into fists, my eyes met and kept the gaze with the golden sea of his "I..." I couldn't continue that the chief talked over me..

"I SAW HER STARTING THE FIRE!"

Excuse me?

"WHAT?" I exclaimed "IT'S NOT TRUE!"

Ming stayed silence, looking both me and the chief talking, while the guards were coming closer to me.

"How come were you the only one awake?" he asked, making me stop for a moment, feeling even more mad.

"I AM A SOULMASTER, OF COURSE I'D BE AWAKE, SHOULD I ASK WHY ALL THE PEOPLE OF THE CARRIAGES KEPT SLEEPING EVEN DURING THE FIRE?"

The chief laughed "All the people here saw what that witch has done! It's not Soulmastery, it was pure sorcery! Black magic!"

"Fen" Hue whispered in my mind like a warning, feeling my emotions getting out of control. I could feel my heartbeat going faster.

"Black magic? Why should I be called criminal? I did fight the fire to protect your stupid gift like Yinyué would accept slaves as gifts!" 

"You're insulting Yinyué and my Lord Godwin, that's life sentence, Head General please, reconsider her life, I am sure it was her! I saw her with my eyes!"

"So you're saying.." Ming's calm voice made the whole room go back to be silent "That you have seen with your own eyes the Lady using sorcery of black magic?"

"Yes" the chief replied.

Liam coughed and stepped forward "I am from the Medical and exploration research and Lady Bai Hu has been under observation and medical care, if that was the truth then the energy of the Soulmaster should be corrupted" his narrow eyes looked at me. I was surprised, was he really on my side? No, he was simply telling the truth.

"Soulmasters have pure energy that comes from their soul only. Their energy looks like a string enhanced with their own power. Once their soul gets corrupted with an energy that isn't born inside their own soul, they're corrupted. I am the Head of the Medical unit, I know what a corrupted energy looks like and Lady Bai Hu didn't present any of that, she's a pure Soulmaster"

I smiled. Those were the moments where I was happy of Liam exposing his medical knowledge.

The chief sighed and probably felt like he was digging his own grave. 

"It's also true that the chief is right..." Ming stared at me "Soulmasters who haven't registered in the Yinyué archieve after the event of five years ago are considered criminals."

What the hell?

Hue kneel next to me, facing Ming Yuan "Lady Bai Hu's origin is Arthus Lands, as she wasn't in the Yinyué's region, but in isolation in the forest for years, she has no knowledge of what happened in the last few years" he explained as Ming's was listening to him.

Ming's sighed and slowly passed his hand on his front "Interesting."

Ming stand up and walking down the little and wide steps that were separating the platform were the throne was and the other side of the room were guests were standing.

"By the contract, the people here sent by Godwin are officially under Yinyué custody" he looked at the chief and did nod "For now you're guilty" he pointed his glacial stare along with his finger at me, making the soldiers hold my arms, ready to take me away.

"You can take your leave, I will send a letter to Godwin about the routes, thank you mr. Rodrigo" he said, looking at the chief, who bowed along with the soldiers to then take the leave.

"But keep in mind..." Rodrigo looked at him before leaving the region. Ming's eyes for a moment looked more golden than usual "The Alliance will keep an eye on you"

The chief smiled "I have nothing to hide." with that he took his leave.

Did my husband seriously let him go?

"This is not fair!" I exclaimed. Ming sighed, he then looked at Liam

"For the rest of the people sent here. You're officially under Yinyué's law, you can either start working in the camps or factories or shops to start your life here, or you can work till you have enough to leave... one of the petty officer's will guide you to the refugee building where you will sleep, before you have enough to live here or to leave..." Ming looked like he was thinking about so many things "Please, do not consider yourself slaves of anyone" he smiled gently at the people, trying to reassure them "You have been bought by Lord Godwin's, thinking that to recover what he's done this was enough... It's not, and all I can do is trying to give you a way to buy back your freedom... If you have a family, come back to them, we will help you, if you want to stay, you can stay... Yinyué will always help who needs."

The people who were with me in the cages looked surprised, they all then clapped their hands, exclaiming their gratitude.

He smiled, but then his gaze locked on me and became cold... I could feel I was really suspicious under his eyes...

"Take her to the room"

"Hey what... wait!" I exclaimed, but he ignored and started walking, followed by the guards who were holding me.

"Lord Yuan! You simply can't do this!" I exclaimed and he stopped.

He looked and noticed some people still were going out the audience room, to follow the petty officer, and kept his serious stare at me

"I can, your life is my hands. Do not speak more if you don't want to lose your speech forever."

That made me realise something...

That me and him in that moment were so distant...

It almost felt like... we were...

Strangers.