Chi Myst'wing

The village was surrounded by fields of paddy with tall golden gra.s.s with sparkling golden paddy. Most villagers were in the field, harvesting their bountiful harvest and trashing bundles of paddy. There was no way Vincere be hiding in the field. They continued walking into the village. But the village was quieter than the surrounding field. The sounds they heard were children chuckling and creatures barking and clucking. Vincere was more likely hiding in this village.

Upon nearing the village"s centre, Chi and her friends heard a burst of distant laughter. They jumped to hide behind a village"s hut and jerked their head out to see. It appeared that the laugh came from several Cyaians with the banner of two crossed swords and an equine"s head. By the flag, Chi knew they were the Warriors of Benevolence though she had never seen them. They were collecting harvest from each villager. Chi could not recall when did Lord Benevence had asked his warriors to collect taxes or harvests.

Chi thought she heard her papa"s voice calling her, that she turned to her left and she saw Vincere, sneaking his way into a hut to avoid crossing path with the warriors. He did look back several times at the warriors, but they did not notice him. It also seemed that Vincere hadn"t notice Chi.

"Look, it"s Vincere," said Chi in her soft voice.

Sunu, Ziwo and Violetia did notice Vincere, and they did see the warriors too.

"Do you reckon we can find Vindicta?" said one of the warriors. "We no need to work for half a month if we could catch him."

"Do you think we are lucky to catch him?" His friend rebuffed him. "Even if we could spot him, doesn"t mean we can catch him that easy. He has fighting skills no one ever has."

The fighting skills that the warriors were conversing made Chi and Sunu pondered. Was it the skill that Chi had taught him? If it was, then maybe Vincere has improved a lot. Chi could detect a satisfied grin at Sunu"s face. Chi, Sunu, Violetia and Amo kept their eyes on the warriors until the warriors disappeared in the vast horizon of the golden field as long as their voice.

In haste, Chi and her friends bolted to the hut and said, "Vincere, they had left."

"Who are you?" said Vincere.

"Vincere, it"s us!" said Chi. "Me, my mama, Uncle Ziwo and Violetia."

"Chi, it"s you." Vincere then came out from the hut, looking relieved. "I"m glad to see you all."

"Are you alright?" Chi was a.s.sured beyond words to see Vincere. Yet, he messy with scratches all over his body. So glad that she had met her best friend after fretted so much of his safety, she felt an urge to hug him. And she gave him a hug of a long-lost friend.

"I"m alright, Chi," said Vincere. "I shouldn"t pa.s.s my half piece to him, Benevence."

Chi pulled herself from Vincere and looked at him. Sunu, Ziwo and Violetia approached Chi from behind and gave Vincere a sympathy look.

"Then he threw me to jail," said Vincere. "He accused me an agent of Ziwo. But I managed to escape using the technique Zhanshi taught."

"But why?" said Chi, looking rather perplexed. "Why would Lord Benevence throw you to jail for giving him the treasure piece? Does he think you stole the half treasure piece?"

"I don"t know," said Vincere. "He didn"t even give me any chance to explain."

Lord Benevence must have misunderstood Vincere for the theft that stole the piece from the other Vincere. It was unjust that Chi felt she would want to ask Lord Benevence, but her papa had spoken to her not to seek Lord Benevence.

Ziwo looked so furious that he hit the ground hard. "This Benevence!"

"What is it, Uncle Ziwo?" Ziwo"s action has aroused curiosity in Chi"s heart.

"Well, Chi," said Ziwo. "Perhaps it"s time for me to tell you something. When my half piece was stolen, I thought it was Imperiare, and so, I attacked his city, but his son had escaped. Since I believed him carrying that treasure, I ordered my men to search for him. Then, it came to me that after Impeariare, it may be either Vera, Benevence or Phopo. Maybe Vincere may have the answer. So, I keep searching for him. I had a thought it was Phopo because he had the most support in the Alliance, and he had false Vincere as his puppet. When I heard Phopo"s plan to attack Igniswing, Phopo was clear since he didn"t own any half of the treasure. The recent incident which befalls me in Solluna, only that I realise Vera was not the theft since she had no motives in it. She is loyal yet crafty. The only suspect left is, Benevence."

"So, it is Benevence?" said Chi. "But why he is doing that?"

"I had almost forgotten that Benevence owned a half piece," said Ziwo. "It has always inherited along with the generations of Benevence and me."

"Isn"t it the treasure of Invicta Draven?" said Chi. "How did it pa.s.s to the generations of Benevence and you?"

"Well, before Invicta Draven"s own demise," said Ziwo with a sigh, looking reluctant to start a story. "He feared warriors from the known world will fight and kill for his powerful weapons. Thus, he hid his weapons in the place unknown and had an ironsmith to create a key to seal his weapons. The key is forged of two half pieces when place together will reveal a riddle or puzzle to the location of his weapons. And he entrusted each half piece to his two skilful and virtuous disciples, my great-great-grandpa, Gratia Amo and Ita Virtus. From that, the descendant of Virtus pa.s.sed to Benevence as though pa.s.sing of a mandate. Benevence always has the half piece, and when he stole the half from me, he has two now. Which means he is closer to obtaining the legendary treasure."

"Is he connected to the death of my papa and Chief Ti?" said Chi, beginning to feel terrified.

"Mama, don"t know," said Sunu.

"I don"t know too," said Ziwo. "But for the case of Chief Ti, maybe."

Chi looked down with a pondering thought. Was her beloved former lord really like what Ziwo had said? But why Benevence founded the Warriors of Benevolence in the first place? Why did he reconcile Zhu Ming"s vengeance with her? Was it all fake?

Chi finally grasped what Sister Nuwa had meant about the outside world. The world was a completely different from Nuwa"s Sanctuary and Igniswing; it was not only complicated but unpredictable and dangerous. Though the redragons were savage, they were predictable and never hold any hidden motive. Benevence was a great example of what Sister Nuwa had said: hidden motives and unpredictable.

Chi looked up to see Sunu and Ziwo nodding to her while Vincere and Violetia had repulsive looks.

"Chi-dear," said Sunu. "Let"s move out from this complicated world and live in Nuwa"s Sanctuary."

"Yes, mama," said Chi. Then, she looked at Vincere. "Come with us, Vincere."

Vincere looked resentful; he hesitated when he said, "but the treasure of my papa is at Benevence. How could I run when my people suffer? How could I live freely when my papa"s death left unrevenged?"

"We could do nothing at it," said Ziwo. "Even though I want to revenge Benevence but I am now a n.o.body. My power is no greater than him. There"s no way we can reach Kinma City. His warriors are all around the Land and don"t forget that Kinma City is well-secured and heavily defended. Even if we can enter Kinma City, there is no way we can lay a finger on him. The b.l.o.o.d.y hypocrite has so many warriors around him."

"Then, let"s us escape to the east," said Chi. "To Nuwa"s Sanctuary. That"s the only way we can be safe. My papa told me that."

At last, Vincere was convinced that he couldn"t do anything to retrieve back his half-piece or to avenge his papa. With troubled heart and hesitant steps, he decided it was best to follow Chi to the east.

As they about to move, a voice shouted from behind. "Vindicta!"

They all turned to the one who had shouted. It was Zhanshi.

"Vindicta," said Zhanshi. "You traitor!"

In a look of desperation, Vincere turned toward Zhanshi. "Zhanshi, please…"

"Chi," said Zhanshi. He had just noticed Chi was there too. "You are here too, with Lord Amo!" He was so outraged to find his best friends are in league with Amo. "So, you all are the traitor! Lord Benevence was right!" Behind Zhanshi, stood several warriors who were ready to attack.

"Zhanshi," said Chi. "Please lis…"

Before Chi could finish her words, Zhanshi drew out his red-glowing sabre.

"Benevence gave you that ignium sabre?" said Chi. "How did he get the sacred ignium from Igniswing?"

"Don"t you suspect my lord, Chi." Zhanshi spoke, looking disheartened at his former friends. "I rather prefer justice rather than my treacherous friends."

At the very moment, the warriors behind drew out their weapons too. All their weapons: swords, sabres, axes – all had red-glowing ignium imbued at them.

"Catch them!" said Zhanshi.

At the command, the warriors sprinted, Zhanshi bolted toward Vincere. At the same second, Sunu and Chi stepped in front to protect Vincere, but they were caught in the fight with the warriors. Ziwo and Violetia headed for the warriors instead to fend them off. Clashes broke out between Sunu and Chi and Zhanshi. Zhanshi was powerful than before since he had mastered how to reserve his strength in dragon conquering skill. With the ignium sabre, he had more chances to defeat Sunu and Chi. The sabre was so powerful that with a slash, send a trail of red blast toward his opponent. Sunu, Chi and Vincere found it hard to evade the damaging blast. And Ziwo was fighting the warriors without using his killing stance. The warriors kept swinging trails of the red blast, and that made them extra harder to defeat.

"Zhanshi, please stop!" bellowed Vincere.

"You traitor! How many innocents had died of your action? Vindicta?" said Zhanshi as he swung his sabre; the red blast hit Vincere right at his body. "I"m very upset with you, friend."

Vincere flew several feet before he crashed on one village hut. He could hardly pull himself up.

Zhanshi marched forward in slow steps toward Vincere. "I"ll spare you if you return the..."

But Chi pushed a blast of strong gale to Zhanshi…

"ARGH!" And he flew and slammed at a nearby tree.

Zhanshi could pull himself up so fast, and he leapt toward Chi, swinging with red trail blasting toward her… and she evaded. But the red trail hit Sunu instead. With a loud shriek, Sunu landed on the ground with a thud.

"Mama!!!"

Chi switched from her mama to Zhanshi, and she circled her arms to create golden trails of energy to him. Zhanshi swung his sabre to send endless waves of red blasts... the red blast and golden energies collided with loud bangs. When fighting Zhanshi, Chi felt as if her heart had been p.r.i.c.ked with thousand needles that she warm tears rolling on her cheek. But Zhanshi looked menacing. Perhaps he too felt pain, having been cheated by his friends and former comrades.

"Me don"t want to fight you," said Chi. "Can you stop and listen?"

But Zhanshi turned on deaf ears and gave Chi another blow. Chi managed to vault backwards just in time.

"You all didn"t worth my time," said Zhanshi. "Just return the treasure piece, and I will spare you all!"

"Vincere had already given it to Benevence," said Chi. "But he is accused of being the theft."

"Liar!"

The gra.s.s swished a distance from them, the sound of echoing footsteps appeared behind. Someone was approaching them at high speed. Then, a familiar voice followed.

"The treasure piece is should be mine!"

Chi and Zhanshi turned to see who had appeared.

"It is the only weapon to defeat Ziwo Amo." Zhu Ming appeared from the tall gra.s.s, walking toward Vincere. And Mirai appeared from behind, her eyes were red and swollen.

"You too, Zhu Ming?" said Zhanshi.

Zhu Ming seemed as if he had not heard Zhanshi spoken. Instead, he looked at Chi. "Chi, can you let me have the half piece of treasure?"

While Zhu Ming was speaking to Chi, Zhanshi sprinted all of a sudden toward Vincere. Chi had noticed Zhanshi, swung the wind around her to push him away from Vincere… Zhu Ming launched several bolts to Chi, but she had just swung Zhanshi, and she had not enough time to deflect it, she just gracefully bent her body to evade it. Both her palms reached for the ground to support herself as she swung like a rolling wheel and in seconds, she had vaulted some distant away. Zhanshi rose up from his fall and swung his sabre at Zhu Ming; the red trail missed Zhu Ming since he was much agile. At the same time, Chi launched several golden orbs toward Zhu Ming, and hit Zhu Ming. While Chi was busy fighting Zhu Ming, Zhanshi launched one ma.s.sive wave of the red trail toward her.

Chi had sensed the red wave coming and whirled away from it.

When Chi and Zhu Ming were distant away from Vincere, Zhanshi hurried toward Vincere. Vincere was clinging to his baggage and Zhanshi could s.n.a.t.c.h it without any resistant. The greendragon rejoiced but failed to notice Chi had presented several golden orbs for him…

The orbs. .h.i.t Zhanshi with loud booms, and the explosions threw him several feet away. The baggage freed from his grasp, now in mid-air. Chi hurried to receive it… Several whistling bolts had come and pierced the baggage, tearing it and spreading the items inside to mid-air. Each dropped, scattering everywhere on the ground.

Zhanshi and Ming hastened to the spot to search for the treasure piece. Chi just stood there, watching those two continuing their fight while searching for the part of the treasure. They searched everything Vincere had carried – clothes, dried foods and coins. But there was no treasure piece.

At first, Chi thought Zhanshi and Ming would stop fighting, but it seemed they would not stop fighting anytime soon. Zhanshi and Ming seemed unable to realise they have been duped into believing Vincere had stolen the treasure. She sighed and circled her hands to create a ma.s.sive whirlwind for them both – those dim-witted warriors.

Zhanshi and Ming were occupied with each other that once they realised a whirlwind was coming for them, it was too late. Vincere"s belongings included those two fighters were blown away.

Zhanshi and Zhu Ming landed several feet away, groaning and grumbling in pain.

When Yosoku yelled "Zhu Ming" and ran for him, only that Chi and everyone realised she was there all the time. She reached for Zhu Ming where he was almost flinching. Then, he jerked his head and spat out red blood. Was he injured from the blast? Then, he fainted on the spot. While Zhanshi could pull himself up and without blood.

When Yosoku saw Zhu Ming spat blood, her already swollen eyes burst to tears. Everyone was terrified to see Zhu Ming spatting blood.

Zhanshi awoke after some time. "Where am I?" The person closest to him was Vincere as he was startled aback when he saw Vincere.

"In a deserted hut," said Vincere as he looked beyond the window. Now the Sol was setting at the western horizon. The warriors were now in an empty village hut.

"Zhanshi," said Chi. "This is Vincere. The real one." And she spotted Vincere gave her a disapproving look. "Me had met Vincere in a dungeon in Well-met Town months after his tribe was attacked. He had escaped with the treasure handed down by his papa. His papa had been betrayed, and he was hunted for the treasure. Vincere had to keep his ident.i.ty secret since there was no one to trust. But when he had handed the treasure to Benevence, Benevence captured him. He was lucky to escape."

After much explanation, Zhanshi seemed to believe what Chi had spoken, and he looked at Ziwo.

"My papa had changed so much after his defeat," said Violetia. "Please give my papa a chance."

"So, your real name is Vincere?" said Zhanshi as Vincere was being pulled up by Sunu and Chi. Vincere"s legs were trembling even when he was supported.

Vincere nodded. "I"m sorry that I didn"t tell you the truth. Not because I never trust you, but because of my safety. A spy could be anywhere."

But soon, a tear sprang from Vincere"s eyes like a dew hanging on a leaf while looking down on the wooden floor. "I"m so naïve… disappointed my late papa… should have listened to papa… not even Benevence should be trusted…"

"It"s not your fault," said Zhanshi. "You even don"t know that. I almost betray my friends for that."

Chi was still unable to believe her once benevolent and righteous lord was now a discovered hypocrite. She was just as remorseful as Vincere and Zhanshi for putting most of their faith and trust onto him.

"Chi, are you alright?" said Zhanshi.

"Yes, me alright." Chi looked at Zhanshi. He seemed to be unaffected by the truth of Benevence hypocrisy. Or perhaps he did.

"Though Benevence had both halves of the treasure," said Ziwo. "He still needs to figure out the hidden meaning from the treasure. It is not easy to understand the clue." It looked that Ziwo had complete confidence that Benevence could not figure out the cryptic clue.

When they said nothing, they heard the sobbing cries that they turned to Yosoku who was still sobbing at Zhu Ming"s side. He had already awoken, looking emotionless. He seemed as he had lost his own beacon in life. No one seemed to know what had happened to him.

"How"s Zhu Ming, Sister Mirai?" said Chi.

Mirai turned to them. Her eyes were swollen with tears. No one had really known what had happened to Zhu Ming. Yosoku sobbed as she mustered her words. "The day Zhu Ming left Kinma City because I had foreseen his death. He"s infected by a deathly disease. Since that, he wants to avenge his papa before his last day. But he can"t see how he and Lord Benevence could help him destroy Amo. Thus, he left to seek a more powerful weapon to do so. And when he heard Vindicta had stolen the treasure, he tracked him."

Vincere had a look that it seemed he wanted to tell everyone, "I-am-Vincere".

"Now," said Mirai. "Ming-dear has only couples of days left to live."

Those who heard about Zhu Ming could only live for a couple of days was shocked.

"Looks like he"s blinded with a vengeance," said Ziwo with a sigh. "Vengeance really can consume people. It"s all my fault. I"m very sorry. He became like this all because of me."

"Papa, don"t blame yourself," said Violetia. "It"s not entirely all your fault. The one who causes all these is Benevence."

"There"s nothing we can do now," said Zhanshi.

There is no sign of resentment on Vincere"s face. He seemed to accept the harsh truth.

"Benevence is too powerful," said Zhanshi. "Kinma City is full of his men. Finding him is like a suicide mission. After what we did for him. We"re like chess pieces to him."

Violetia and Ziwo too were disillusioned of their situation regarding Solluna. For them, Vera Xin had usurped the power, but in fact, she did it for the sake of the Solluna and the people.

Chi turned to Sunu. "Mama, this world is so much complicated. Let"s live in Nuwa"s Sanctuary."

Sunu nodded. When Chi observed her friends, all seemed dejected. Though some wanted to seek vengeance on Benevence or infiltrate Kinma City, these were impossible. Everyone now wanted to escape from Benevence"s clutches of influences. Free from the hypocritical and benevolence-masked leader.

Someone may be lurking outside that sound of swishing bushes were heard. Not long, an arrow whistled and hit straight at the table at the centre s.p.a.ce. More and more arrows came raining toward them, through the entrance. Before that happened, everyone had found cover behind the wooden furniture. Ziwo, who was the nearest to the table, tossed it down on the floor to act as a shield. Loud whistling sounds soon dwindled as fewer arrows were fired. The hail of arrows at last stopped.

"Must be Benevence," said Zhanshi. "He must have followed me here."

"We have to fight to run," said Sunu.

"How can we fight if we can"t see them?" said Vincere.

"We can now," said Ziwo. Then, he rose and stretched his arms so wide that hut which houses them exploded, throwing dried hays and bamboo walls to every direction and revealed them to the open s.p.a.ce. At immediate sight, they could see their enemies, which were the Warrior of Benevolence.

"Hand over Vindicta!" said Whitefur, whose face was in shock when he saw most of his respected warriors and comrades stood alongside Vincere. "Mistress Myst"wing and Lady Myst"wing? Brother Zhanshi, now you too?"

Zhanshi marched forward. "Brother Whitefur, this is one matter you don"t understand. Please let us free."

Whitefur hesitated for a moment. Then, with a sigh, he said, "alright, you all may go. Take all the equines as you wish."

"Give me the sword, said Vincere. "I need this more than you." Vincere took from Whitefur a sheath of ignium sword.

"Thank you, Brother Whitefur," said Zhanshi.

Whitefur nodded without any sound.

And they took the equines, each one mounted an equine except for Sunu which she could fly. With the equines, they galloped north-eastward, leaving the quiet village where most of the villagers were still working at the field. At first, Vincere thought it was a trick and fear of ambush that he turned his head back several times until they were far from the village. Whitefur did let them escape; it was perhaps a hard decision for Whitefur; believing his guts to against orders.