"Yawn~"

Warm air presses against my skin, serene azure sky brings forth feelings of droll and cozy winds, while the bustling streets are filled to the brim with droves of civilians and busy bazaars, stocks and shelves filled with lines upon lines of perishable goods. Whispering winds seep subtle mumbles into my ears like a lullaby.

"Maybe it's not so bad to take a little nap..."

Heavy eyes dropping like a stage curtain.

"Please don't sleep Dong-Ge!"

(Argh Dammit!)

A boy who looks like he hasn't even gone to puberty shakes my arms as he tries to keep my heavy eyes from closing. Pushing him away with a gentle shove, I look at him with an anguished face saying:

"Okay, okay. Sheesh."

He grabs my hand with tears welling up in his eyes, staring at me saying:

"Please take your job seriously Dong-Ge. We've been chosen to guard the almighty Heavens. This is a big duty! We got out of our village for this!"

(We is it?)

This little brother of mine seems encouraging yet not so. With a little force, I make him take a sit on my place while I stand holding his shoulder replying:

"Yea, yea, I know."

With a facetious reply, little brother looks down feeling dejected. Maybe out of guilt or just care, I try cheering him up by aiming fingers at the people of the streets. Little brother looks where I point and I continue saying:

"Say, it's not so different isn't it."

"Huh?"

His reply is only filled with confusion. I release his shoulders while I continue saying:

"Isn't Heaven not so much different than our village?"

His eyes open wide from my words. He turns to look at me shouting:

"W-what are you saying Dong-Ge!? Heaven is so much different than our tiny village! I mean did you even see the mighty metal giants of Central!? Or even the great steel worms!? Not only that, even the place we sleep have something called a... Something about a fan!"

I crouch down beside him, shoulder to shoulder. Looking back at him, my lips curl up as I say:

"Really now? Look at the populace, the vendors, the types of products they sell, where we sleep and all of that good shiz. Are they so different? And here I thought we're gonna guard some dragons or some holy shit."

He looks down saying:

"Um, I don't know most of the words you say Dong-Ge..."

*sigh*

(Wait a minute).

I pet him in the head to cheer him up saying:

"Then, we can always continue our learning session when we get back to our bunker."

His face brightens up as he looks at me saying:

"R-re-really!?"

I ruffled his hair and fold my arms saying:

"Of course! What kind of big brother tricks his little bro to take his place so he can laze around!?"

(Wait, I think that's too specific).

His body shakes in exhilaration as he tries to hold back the excitement behind his smile. He looks at me with all the joy in the world saying:

"T-Thousand thank you Dong-Ge! Yay~! Hehehe~"

(Phew~ miss that by a skin).

My little brother, now distracted by the promise of knowledge lift his hands high in joy before pumping his fists down in excitement and looks back at the streets while waving his feet back and forth. In all likelihood, dreaming of his next mystery-solving times we're gonna have. I leave him alone to sit in my post while I hide behind the table still folding my arms whispering to myself:

"Alright, alright..."

(Sorry little brother, but sometimes we just gotta lie for the good of some things. That should distract him while taking my post, I feel quite bad but... I'm gonna go take a nap...)

"GATHER AROUND!!!"

(Fucking dammit! Can't anyone let me sleep!? I'll beat the crap out of you Yujin!!! Who in the right mind leaves his friend for a girl! In the middle of his job no less!? Then again I said yes and all that- dammit! No taking back what's done).

"Still, the captain's here. But isn't this too early for our daily check-up?"

I quickly stand and simultaneously knee the table from below and make my helmet went up and land perfectly on my head.

(Pure skill~, I almost forgot how fun is it to be young and mischievous).

I smile at my own achievement and check on my little brother. He's scrambling around like a headless rooster probably searching for his helm.

(Did he lose his helmet again?)

Seeing him in panic, I felt my heart grasp by an invisible power. No matter how much I see people suffering, the feeling will never fade away.

*sigh*

(Looks like I'm gonna have to get yelled again.)

I remove mine and wear it on his head saying:

"Just take mine, now let us go."

Lifting the oversized helmet, he looks at me in the eyes saying:

"Thank you, Dong-Ge. I'm sorry-"

"Yea, now go."

I shut him up and shove him in the door. Hastily we go to the weapon depot and saw our comrades rushing to grab their stocks of Qiang (spear). I grab two spears and as I throw one to my brother, frigid air pressed on my skin and made me miss my mark. Little brother, quick with his wits quickly grab it and went ahead...

(Does little brother not feel it? Something so cold must have been felt by somebody at least... Tch, so either a really evil spirit or a very skilled infiltrator who uses one of the forbidden techniques... Either way, I'm not paid enough for this. Better not attract its attention and leave this to the higher-ups).

I ignored it and search for some spare helmets to wear and find out there was no spare helmet left...

"Fine, fine indeed."

I say in a sarcastic tone and hastily catch up with the others, the same tunnels pass my eyes like it's burned into my brain. Before long, I caught up and arrive near the Phoenix Border. I could see the rows of soldiers numbering over a hundred gathering in a block formation below the blazing sun...

(Damn, just moments ago it was calm and breezy spring. Now it's freakin summer here. I could never get used to the changing climate).

Seeing I'm the last man to arrive, I quickly went to the edge of the formation and completing the block.

"Whew, made it in time."

(And it seems I'm the only one without the helmet... This is gonna end ba~d).

The captain with his full brigandine armour that covered the entirety of his head, turns on me and simply ignores me as he continues surveying the others.

(Phew, it seems he's in a good mood).

He is accompanied by a beautiful boy on his teens with long black hair. Garbed in one of those opulent red robes, he holds the wooden slip with one hand and a brush on another.

"Border Guards of the Jaguar Sect, we will be receiving a guest from the Phoenix Sector!"

The captain shouts aloud and causes a stir between our comrades.

(Ah, the Phoenix Sector. One of the neighbours from the south-east and a Major Super Sector. Comparing our jaguar sector to them is like comparing leaf drops to a goliath class beast. I was told that they have declared isolation and won't be making an appearance any time soon.

I wonder what happened? I heard from some gossipping ladies that a deadly plague and blight are rampaging on their lands and somehow manage to spread even here just a year before we were enlisted and assigned. And an even juicier word from escaping merchants is that they are having a civil war. Whatever it is, is it finally resolved I wonder?)

"U-um, sir?"

(Oh, no...)

Fear wells up inside as my little brother who's in the forefront raises his hands as he asks.

"What is it guard!? Speak."

(Is he really the same person? Weird, even with guests he usually doesn't loosen up. Does the noble beside him that important that he needs to change? Oh~ captain, at least my brother is safe. So all's okay I guess?)

I smack my forehead inside my mind from how greedy captain is.

"I heard the Phoenix Sector is in something a-about isu-isel-isolation?"

Captain widened his feet and rest in place shouting:

"Glad you ask guard! Let me explain!"

(Seriously, Did they murder captain and replace him? Because it might as well be a different person already if their voice doesn't sound the same in that damn stuffy helm but then again, if he succeeded, I could buy him a couple of bottles and he'll spill some things easy... Guess I'll just see and hope).

"Yes, it seems they are done with dealing with their internal problems. But that's all you need to know, now get in line to not dissapoint the guest!"

The captain shouts loud and clear to us like always. So we clasp our hands in return shouting:

"Yes, I obey!"

We all shout on top of our lungs and gather up near the huge gate. Captain and the noble awaits on the paved road. Even with all our faces hidden behind the helm (excluding me), I can already tell everyone's nervous.

(I can't blame them, after all, we're merely peasants doing an important mission for the first time).

My eyes wander somewhere else, the noble holds his items with a fist that boils in rage and looks of someone seeking redemption.

*roar*

(What the-)

*don* *do don* *don do don*

A large sound rings through the whole field.

*cling*

*clang* *clang* *clang* *clang*

*dom*

The wide and glorious phoenix gates open wide in blinding light. Everyone covers their eyes by the sudden reveal while I enhance mine to resist such brilliance. Two silhouettes come forth from the dazzling gleam. When the light subsides, a silver knight and a little girl stand before the closing gates.

The knight, clad in full weirdly shaped exotic armour that looks like a fusion of a plate and lamellar comes forth. He exudes a form of unspeakable authority and something bizarre, like colours that have never been seen. His large purple cape bearing a grand Insignia of a rising bird flutter around to show him carrying a short fantian ji on his waist...

(I wonder if that's the phoenix envoys? And that's their insignia... The more you know.)

The other is a little girl in red.

(A perfect example of a noble).

But instead of the usual red robe, she wears the complete hunter's gear. Redcap, red scarf, red leather armour, and a red dagger-

(Is that a tail?)

A large pink tail sways left and right with a tattered ribbon tied to it.

(Is she one of that mythical beast-kin? A knight in exotic armour and a mythical beast-kin. They must be very important).

My gaze falls at our captain and the noble once again. Surprise to find out that the noble beside captain is giving an even more hostile look at them.

(Is that okay? Maybe little brother's right. The Heavens may be different in habits or something).

Captain and the noble both clasp their hands and bow saying:

"Welcome and salutations Honoured Visitors! We welcome thee to the Jaguar Sector."

Captain greets the guest with the so called common tongue, speaking with both vigour and intensity.

(Common tounge huh? Haven't heard people speak that language since I was born again. Last time the common tongue in this Frontier was the primodial spirit language until those followers of Libera landed on our lands and spread their religion and make their language the norm. And it was that time that Rucina... Ah! I must let go of the past emotions and just keep them as lessons for the future. Now that I think about it, does anyone in our village even know of this common tongue?)

"Welcome to the Jaguar Sector... Honoured Visitors..."

He also speaks in the common tongue. Grinding his teeth as he says that. The knight and the beast-kin in return clasp their hands and bow to show their manners. The knight reply saying:

"Greetings and thank you for the kind recipient. I hope you received the news?"

(They all speak in the common tongue, but the knight's voice... So they're both girls? If so she has some really flat bosom and she ain't got no meat at her rump either... Then again, I can't judge if she's wearing full body armour. But still, I can't shake the off feeling that she doesn't have any magic nor qi at her body at all. Is she one of those people called Owlians? If so, how is she not emitting any qi? I pride myself since a lifetime ago for my sensing abilities that I can even sense a fetus' qi from one island to another! Or is her armour that's sealing it off? This is getting worrisome).

They all stand straight and the noble spare no time responding:

"Yes, yes we did..."

He speaks in a bitter tone while glaring at them.

(Seriously, are you suppose to look at your "Honoured Visitors" like that?)

"Wonderful, I believe you are the one named Tanan?"

Her cute voice is forcefully deep yet still high. It's adorable how a girl tries her best to sound deep to sound serious. The noble glares at her before finally saying:

"You are... Right."

The knight looks at the beast-kin, and when she just raise her shoulder and shake her head as to say:

"Either way, it's fine."

"Alright. Then, here you go."

The knight replied happily and pulled out a black scroll tied with a golden knot and a purple seal with the same insignia on her cape. The noble snatch her scroll away with precision and back away.

(Even if I am born without chopsticks now, I can tell that letter must be very very VERY important).

"Now that you've received the letter, I hope you can keep the end of your bargain, Tanan is it?"

(Wait, are we even supposed to hear this?)

When he breaks the seal and continue to read it. With every glance, his eyes get more bloodshot, with every movement his eyes makes him clench the letter so hard the sides crumpled and edges shred. The noble grit and grind his teeth as he finishes reading. He turns around and walks close to the visitors saying:

"Is this what the Lord of Segmentums' wish?"

(Lord of Segmentums? I gotta admit, that sound pretty sinister... Hold on for a second, what's a Segmentum in the first place?)

"Of course, as her Majesty and the Jaguar Sector Lords wills it. You will comply. And since you're her friend she sends her regards to you."

The noble's is about to burst with nerves bulging in his head. Yet, he calms down and makes you wonder if all that anger he shows was just an illusion.

"Then please follow me."

"Really!?"

The knight says in a surprised tone before nodding her head and looks at the other guest saying:

"See? nothing happened. Yay!"

The knight cheered in delight as if she just accomplished her very first task.

"Hmm, who knows. We're not out of the borders yet."

The little girl smiles and looks around in suspicion and worry. Our noble turns back saying:

"Now then, we're going to hand over the Jade and Golden Phoenix Princesses back to your Sector..."

His brush and wooden slip glow incandescently.

*clang*

(Hoh~)

"After I behead you two and send it back to that Tyrant!"

A single edge sword and round shield with the same insignia appear the tools were. His body, now clad in gleaming fancy red armour that shines beneath the burning sun.

*crack*

His red sword cracks in the knight's hand as she tries to pull the blade away. The knight shakes her head in disappointment saying:

"I'm not going to fall for that kind of attack again. Other than that, please sir, put your weapons down. I do not wish to fell you by my blade."

The knight calmly tries to reason with him but our noble quickly lets go of his weapon and it turns back into a brush. He bows a little before making a vertical round kick to smash her chin but she pulls her head back a little and easily dodges his attack.

(He makes such excessive movements).

"Cease this useless violence at once good sir."

She still tries to warn him but a nerve break on the noble's forehead as he shouts:

"To hell with that! You think I don't know what she will do to her true Majesty! Until the true heir sits on the throne, these lands shall be cleansed with blood!"

(Uh, that's pretty extreme isn't it? Even Rucina who wish to unify this lands with the blade don't speak such way- but then again, my clan was one of the first to fall so maybe he too falls to the corruption of power).

While he continues to furiously strike her with a flurry of fiery strikes with both his hands and feet. I look around to check at the others, everyone is moving back in fear as to not get in their way whilst the captain is already starting to move back slowly.

(That's right, back away everyone. This is dangerous).

I look back at the fight and seeing the knight easily dodging and parrying his attacks with minimum movements like its natural...

(I guess the one who taught her is really tough with love and beat her black and blue. But then again, I taught my disciples the same way lifetimes ago).

"I see, you leave me no choice."

The knight who had enough with our noble's shenanigans finally starts to get serious. Absolute power course through her steel and the sky and ground tremble at her presence.

(It seems there are still powerful practitioners even in the future. I'm glad yet dreadful of what they'll do).

When the knight reaches for her weapon, the noble panicked and gathers his qi to make a swinging kick to end it. But she dodges back and went out of his range. As if he's anticipating her to do that, he prompts himself to move forward and connects his attack with an axe kick shouting:

[Red scorching awakened phoenix technique: velvet sky falling rain!]

"Oh no!!!"

As I shout and ready my spear, his qi and magic condensed at his heel as his entire leg burst in fiery red flare and spheres of flame materialize around his raised leg. His kick descends at her face and the entire scene exploded. Red pyre charges at our way and the soldiers run away in panic and screaming in terror.

(No matter what era, new or old. Why does nobles never seem to care about collateral damage!).

I clad my spear in qi and twirl my spear to gain momentum before swinging my spear up, banishing the flames up above. Flames subsided but the air is thick with blood, some of my brother in arms didn't make it and was scorched alive in the aftermath. Some thank me and some run ahead to check for the bodies, I look around and realize the captain without any life left in his body, perished in the flames and the nobles disappear without a trace.

(Captain... He's just somebody trying his best in a competitive system. Even if he's harsh he always wishes the best for everyone and rewards people who deserve them. If only I acted quicker! Wait, what about my brother!? Damn Tarnations!)

"Di Di! Answer me!"

I shout for my little brother fearing for his life but he doesn't answer back.

"I have to check one by one! Oh, great Spirit King, please don't take my brother away."

Seeing a corpse with a charred back shielding someone, I charge ahead throwing my Qiang aside to check. Separating the body, I found my little brother unconscious but still breathing.

"Oh thank the heavens! Di Di, hang in there!"

With haste, I remove his boiling armour by enhancing my hands and give my brother some air to breathe. His skin has multiple red marks around the part exposed.

"Dammit!"

Focusing my qi in my hands, I press my hands onto his stomach and spread my qi around his body for a quick heal. The burns subsided and my brother finally breathes calmly. I caress his head with relief and drag him and the corpse under the shade.

"It's going to be okay, Di Di."

Looking at the one protecting him. I remove his helmet, to my regret, it's someone I know quite well. Rather than anguish, his face is relieved.

"Yujin..."

(A jerk and a fucking lazy ass).

I close his eyes fully and pray for his soul to rest.

"You said you never wanna act like a hero but... Fucking dammit!"

I smash my fist deep to the ground. Leaving an imprint of my strike and cracks form around... I pull his scorching tag whispering:

"Thank you, from the deepest of my heart. May you have a better life next time."

"Dong Ge-"

(That voice... Oh no...)

Weijin another brother in arms and blood-brother of Yujin calls for me and stops midway as he saw his brother laying in peace.

"Dong Ge... is GeGe-"

"Yes, yes he is. I'm sorry."

Weijin's voice was weak when he asks, he rushes closer gritting his teeth shouting:

"Why didn't you act quicker!"

His fist sinks deep into my cheek and my body hurls back from the force of his punch. My mouth filled with cuts, yet it doesn't hurt at all. He rushes at me but is stopped by the others.

"Weijin stop it!"

"Enough! It's not Dongxi's fault!"

"Don't cause any more bloodshed!"

"Let me go!"

Weijin's voice is full of hatred. His eyes are filled with tears. He looks confused, angered, and suffering. His resistance weakens and he drops on his knees as he cries his feelings out while the scorching skies magnify the heat.

"Are you okay?"

Another brother in arms, Inka holds my shoulder in worry.

"Yea, I'm fine. Get a sitrep."

I reply to calm him down. He nods with understanding and gives me a hand to help me get back up before shouting:

"Give me a sitrep!"

A group gathers and another brother in arms comes forth saying:

"We lost a quarter of our company. Including our Captain. The area is okay not counting the charred ground. What do we do?"

I wipe the blood dripping from my lips and walk ahead grabbing my qiang shouting:

"With the captain dead, I will be in charge of this unit! Spread around and gather the bodies, bring the wounded to me first for a quick aid before sending them back to a healer. We'll deal with the guests when we see them."

"Yes, I obey!" They all clasp their hands and spread out.

It's chaos out here, good people died because of a higher-ups quarrel. A place where people with power rule with no care for the ones under them... Oh, Rucina, if only you can see your dream now. Is this the result of your grand ambition? Is this the result you wanted when you slayed those who gave everything to you? Why must my already dwindling clan die for this future?

*crack*

"Hmm?"

Distracted by sudden turns of events, everyone looks at where the sound came from. In the centre where everything happens, the air cracks with a bright red light and before long shatters in a grand white explosion.

*smash*

Appearing before us is the knight strangling the noble as she smashes the man hard to the ground. The ground beneath us cracks and the black dust scatters all over with a powerful gust. The knight stands up slowly as her aura dissipates, her hands reddened by dripping blood. The unconscious noble with his robe tore asunder, his neck blue with the mark of her hand and his bloodied nose caved in and teeths gone, probably from a ruthless strike. For once I thought:

(He deserve that).

*smack*

The beast-kin appear from nowhere and punch the unconscious noble on his face making his condition even worse while shouting:

"That's for endangering our lives you reprobate!"

The knight takes lets out a sigh saying:

"Don't you think that's enough? He's unconscious so just leave him be."

The beastkin hold her forehead with a strained face saying:

"Sova, you have to understand. This guy here is trying to murder you, a quote on quote "Silencer" of a Major Super Sector that's on a mission to improve relations. And if I didn't use the scroll of realms in that split second all these soldiers will be dead in the aftermath too and it will cause more than an international incident either! It will be a war... Oh Yuwei, did you plan for this?"

(War!? What are the people here thinking off!?)

"W-what! It was that bad? What have I gotten my self into? I thought I was just here to stroll and learn spirit stuff."

(Wait, did she say scroll of realms! That's a legendary relic from my time. Seems times have change where you can use relics like that on a go).

As they both argue, I look at everyone who is either shaking in fear or afraid to even move from the bloodied knight- Weijin, with an ornamental dagger in his hand, sends it down at the noble's neck. Shocked by the sudden predicament, I run ahead to stop him but he's too far. The beast-kin tries to also stop him with her short hand, she still can't reach him.

"Sova, stop him!"

"Wejin, don't do it!"

*smash*