The three focus their attention on Yu. Ason, never one to shy away from action, rose to challenge Yu’s words. Vincent knew Ason had already begun the match and approached from behind to launch a surprise combo attack. Yu extended his baton, noticing their plan of attack. As Ason charged forward, Yu stuck out his foot and tripped him, following it up with a quick push to the side. Vincent was the only one left in Yu’s sights for the next ten seconds. The sound of Yu’s baton cutting through the air signaled an impending overhead strike. Vincent expected the attack and readied his nunchakus, moving in closer to Yu.
(Vincent is getting faster?)
Each of them tried to overpower the other, their sweat mingling as they struggled. A jolt of energy surged through Yu’s body, propelling him to push Vincent away.
(What’s that coming toward me?! I don’t think I’ll have enough time to dodge!)
Yu had enough time to react before a bo-staff came hurtling toward the side of his head. He could feel the rush of wind as the bo-staff missed his head, leaving him trembling with adrenaline. Resuming his current fight, Yu dropped to the floor, dodging Vincent’s attack, and continued their fight with the same intensity as before the bo-staff incident. He swung the baton with precision, striking Vincent’s stomach with the handle side.
Ason’s bo-staff came from Yu’s side, feeling the rush of air as the bo-staff whizzed past his ear. Yu's powerful swing threw Ason off balance after parrying his attacks. Following through, Yu delivered an open shot to the side of the body. With the other two guys down, Yu shifted his focus to his only remaining opponent and turned his body towards Chiaki.
“Hmph, I wouldn’t take our resolve about going after the Red Wing. Don’t talk like you know what we can and can’t do. It’s not just us three of us either. We still have another person helping us out. If Guiren was here, I don’t think you would have a chance at taking all of us at once. Guiren is the most feared person in the area as one of the most dangerous Avatar.”
This is the first time Yu has ever seen Chiaki emotional about something.
(She mentioned Guiren before…)
The bo-staff caught Yu’s attention as it protruded from the fence on the other side of the court. The velocity and power of the bo-staff was akin to the force of a nail gun driving a nail straight through wood.
(How did she throw it that fast and at that much velocity? Her body did not look like it wound up or anything and the distance wasn’t that far... Her staff shot at me like a bullet…)
His eyes flicked from the bo-staff to Chiaki, and Yu’s hands tightened around the baton. He kept his distance from Chiaki and shot her a cold, hard stare. Yu could sense the fire in her eyes as he broke eye contact with her.
(This is nothing like the first time I met Yu.)
Not choking on fear allowed her to look him in the eye. She stood tall and proud, with her back straight and chin up, radiating confidence and motivation. He did not know what to expect from her, so he kept his guard up, waiting for her to make a move.
Out of nowhere, Chiaki’s smartphone rang. She used her phone to break the staring contest by texting. He kept his back turned toward Ason and Vincent, only allowing them to see a glimpse of his profile.
“It’s over. You guys shouldn’t get yourself involved with someone dangerous like this so-called ‘Red Wing.’”
He walked away without looking back or offering a helping hand. Chiaki didn’t waste after finishing her texts; she went to help her two defeated friends. Vincent’s eyes trailed from her cheek to her eyes before shifting to the side. Vincent felt guilty for failing Chiaki. He feared the darkness that took over her eyes that made Vincent uncomfortable. Flames to sprout from his fingertips as Ason tightened his fist. Vincent shielded his eyes by pressing his index finger and thumb against the middle of his closed eyelids.
“I hate to admit it, but I guess we still have a lot to improve on.”
“That bastard Yu, we’re going to beat him. We need to treat him as if he was the Red Wing.”
The gang sat in silence, not a word passing between them. The group bid farewell and dispersed, leaving behind a quiet stillness in the air. Chiaki walked home, her phone lighting up with each text from unread messages from Guiren.
She scrolled to the latest text message and past previous texts from Guiren.
[Guiren, buddy! Any news on the Red Wing?]
Chiaki follows her message with six text stickers.
[Police report some activity in another city that matches the Red Wing. The police have been keeping my family, and myself informed.]
[Thanks Guiren. So this Yu guy I’ve been talking about. He dodged my bo-staff. I threw it straight at him out of anger.]
[He dodged it...?]
She inserts a few shocking text stickers, one after the other.
[I suppose, but that doesn’t have to do anything with his fighting skills. He’s undefeated so far, ya? He even could take down Vincent in a single move. I have trouble with Vincent all the time, and he’s the one with a shot at becoming a Master in two years.]
[Funny you mention that! Yu said even Vincent has no chance to be a Master at his current level. Yu himself says he’s on par with a seventh or eight ranked Master.]
[There’s a ranking system…?]
Chiaki explained to Guiren, going over the same information that Yu had shared with the group earlier.
[I see…]
The sound of the ice clinking against the small glass on her nightstand echoed in the silent room as Chiaki lay in bed, staring at the ceiling. As she thought about Yu’s words, she saw some truth in them.
(If we can’t defeat him, then what chance did we have against a mass-murderer? But… Dad, what should I do?)
Chiaki’s eyes misted over with tears. She struggled to gather her thoughts. The knock on the door was so light that she almost didn’t hear it. The sound of two more knocks on the door reached her ears a second later, but this time, they were softer. As she wiped the tears from her face, she left a faint trail of eyeliner and mascara on her forearm. She cleared her throat before answering the insistent knocks at the door.
“Yu?”
“Sor—“
“I’m starving right now. Could you get dinner started as soon as possible?”
“Huh? Uh… I mean, yes, of course. I’ll come get you when dinner is ready.”
Yu, on the other side of the door, turned around and pressed his back against her door. He closed his eyes and took a deep inhale before walking away.
“Yu doesn’t know what the Red Wing is...?”
A ring along with a vibration echoed through the room on top of Chiaki’s nightstand; one text notification.
[I’m coming to see you guys tomorrow. Meet at the usual café.]
The next morning, a sea of students met Yu as he walked through the school gates. The scene was chaotic, with a few media vans parked among the students. All the attention surrounding the school made Yu feel uneasy. He looked over at Chiaki, whose face remained impassive despite the situation. Yu’s inexperience was clear as he trailed behind Chiaki, offering apologies as she went.
“Chiaki!”
Yu said, trying to catch his breath at the same time.
“Oh, Yu. Why are you so tired?”
“You mean you didn’t notice all the news media and people outside?”
“Eh. Just move past right through them.”
She trailed behind the larger group of people, all of whom seemed to be headed to the open university yard. Following her, he couldn’t help but wonder why this time differed from the norm. The FSMA Club duo crossed paths with the pair along the way. Yu questioned Chiaki to clear his confusion and get some answers.
“So... What’s special about today that we need to head to the yard for?”
“Weren’t you paying attention in class yesterday? After you made that fuss about the Six Blades, the teacher said the reason he started the Asuran War and East Rebellion lecture early was because the Queen of Asura will visit our school to do a special lecture and Q&A. And we’re graded on this crap!”
Vincent and Ason gravitated toward the pair. Vincent decided to inquiry on an unfamiliar topic.
“Six Blades? What are they? I remember you and Yu mentioned them yesterday.”
“Eh... In class, Yu said that the Six Blades were the deciding factor of the Asuran War and that everything the Red Wing did was the actions of the Six Blades.”
“Sounds interesting. That would make a lot more sense. There is no way one individual could kill almost thousands of people. You need to remember, the Red Wing... or Six Blades, attacked at various places around the world. There was no way it could have been one individual person.”
“You know that’s not true Vincent, then who the hell did we get our asses kicked by?!”
She did not bother to question him for fear of losing a verbal battle. Also, Chiaki hated losing her temper. Students gathered to bleachers while some sat on the grass. Local police and government officials kept the media press outside the school premises in fear that they would hinder the student’s ‘everyday learning experiences.’
Chiaki’s gaze swept across the room, searching for individuals who caught her attention among the homogenous crowd. There were no individuals from the secret service present. Chiaki couldn’t quite grasp it. Despite being the leader of the country, there was no visible security detail around the public area.
“...Something wrong Chiaki?”
Yu’s voice was unmistakable, even in a crowded room. When Chiaki shifted her eyes to him, she could see the unfamiliar cap on his head, which had not been there just a few moments earlier. The sudden appearance of the hat drew her focus away from his question. Yu was quick to answer her, as he could see the confusion written on her face before she could even speak.
“I asked one girl if I could wear hers for now.”
Chiaki responded with silence along with a downward slant of her brows.
Behind the scenes, people took notice of the woman with long wavy platinum hair and pastel purple eyes, and soon a group had gathered around her. Her skin was as fair as snow, with a natural glow that made her look like a porcelain doll in a maroon business suit come to life. Asura was under the control of this woman, Lycoris Ashurabanipal, the current monarch.
Another woman walked alongside the Queen of Asura. Unlike Lycoris’ striking beauty, this one was different. Her hair was a wild mess, and her eyes carried enough baggage to travel for months. With her oversized robes and bird feather fan, she looked like a mysterious sage straight out of a Chinese fiction. The autocrat and the messy woman were in high demand, with faculty members and privileged students clamoring to speak with them.
“Hello, Chief of Staff Cassiopeia. How do you like our school?”
“… It’s okay.”
“I read on your colorful accomplishments from all around the world. You’re a role model for military strategist all over the world!”
“… Uh ok.”
Cassiopeia refused to make or maintain eye contact.
“Who do you see as an inspiration? Or look up to?”
“Sun-Tzu and Zhung Liang...”
“So are you working to improve U.W.F. and Asuran relations with the Queen? ”
“No. Not something I do.”
“Ah, I see… but you’re human.”
She gave a weak smile and nodded along with the conversation, but kept her responses short and simple. After showering her with more compliments, they left her alone to continue on their way back to Lycoris.
As the crowd dispersed, a few die-hard Cassiopeia fans approached the woman, hoping to meet her in person. She tried to hide her discomfort with a grotesque face when she felt the hand on her shoulder and heard the barrage of questions that followed.
“Cassiopeia, a word, please! How does it feel to have a key role in the East Rebellion?”
One student yelled. Another yelled from another direction.
“Cassiopeia, you were once a U.W.F. military tactician, were you not? Why assist the queen’s cause?”
“Cassiopeia, is that your real name?”
The questions multiplied like a wildfire spreading through dry brush. Cassiopeia, with her eyes fixed on the Asuran autocrat, reached out her hand towards her.
“Lycoris... Help, please...”
Lycoris’ circle was buzzing with excitement, and the queen handled the barrage of questions and compliments with poise and sophistication.
“I’m shocked at how young the autocrat is.”
“You’re exquisite. Why don’t you find a husband and have kids?”
“Thank you. But there are no plans for any of that for the future.”
Spotting Cassiopeia from across the room, Lycoris motioned for her to come closer. Cassiopeia rushed over to Lycoris and grabbed onto her arm, feeling like a helpless child. The queen’s eyes scanned the crowd before she raised her hand and gave a slight bow.
“My apologies. Cassiopeia does not fare well with a big crowd. Please allow me to answer all your questions on Cassiopeia’s behalf.”
Meanwhile, the principal of the school was delivering a speech to the school.
“We have the privilege of welcoming an exceptional guest who graces our campus today. A woman who has been in the news and admired for her humility and commitment to excellence is gracing our campus today. She played a pivotal role in ending the Asuran War and remains committed to building a future of peace. I present to you the 113th autocrat of Asura, Her Highness, Lycoris Ashurabanipal!”
Excited murmurs filled the air as members of the crowd pulled out their smartphones and began recording the rare event. It was the face of a woman everyone had seen in the news. When Lycoris stepped onto the stage, the crowd erupted in enthusiastic applause, with only a few scattered boos.
With her chin up and her back straight, she walked with the poise of a high-class woman, her footsteps silent against the floor. She wore a dark maroon suit, an off-white button-up shirt, and dark brown leather cap-toed ballerina flats.
From her seat behind the stage, Cassiopeia kept a watchful eye on her partner’s performance. Cassiopeia never touched the floor with both feet, sitting with odd mannerisms. She sat on the chair, hugging her knees as if the floor would scorch her feet. She always sat in unconventional ways, never like a “reasonable” person.
Lycoris smiled at Cassiopeia, then returned to face the fans in the crowd of students.
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