The Birth of the War Goddess

-Today's the day men!... And woman- says Shun dropping off of his bed

-The what?- ask Kasuo

-The day we have just one training and have the evening free!-

-And why does it make you feel so happy?- replies the other throwing him a pillow from his wooden bunk bed

-Mhh hello...? Free Evening!- he grins happily -We can do good and spend the whoooole night in the bathtub, then fill our stomach without much fatigue-

-Who said we are not going to fatigue?!- jumpd on Wei -If it's a focused training day... It means they will break our bones all day with one single boring exercise!-

-What if it is strategy study tho? We can stay seated and only use our brains-

-I would prefer to climb a cliff with my bare hands then- growls Kasuo turning around under the sheets

-Ohhh wake up you! We are gonna be late- says Wei grabbing his blanket, jumping on his toes to reach him

-Can you all shut up and let beauties have their extra 5 minutes?!- yells Hua who had enough of the noise, before throwing random objects to the others

I stand up seated to watch them have a pillow fight smiling, ending up laughing when Hua ends up at Shun's ankles pulling down his pants

-I'll shame you in front of everyone! I Will!-

-Hahaha- I laugh at the hilarious scene and everyone comes to an halt

-Wait... She can laugh?!- ask Wei with a pillow swinging in his hands

-It is actually nice to see her like this- points out Kasuo scraping his head with a bit of blush

-Well then... Now that even the Lady of our room had a good start, we can surely believe it will be a good day- says Hao putting on his slippers

-It surely will!- claps Shun taking his clothes and we all begin getting ready.

-Xiao are you coming?- calls him Shun

-Uh? Yeah yeah, you guys go ahead- he send us off before finally getting up.

...

-So we have breakfast first thing in the morning for today?- ask Kasuo drooling over his plate of Almond tofu

-I take it back... Today is a great day!-

-Woah... This is something I really missed! Are they spoiling us or what?!-

All around the hall it's obvious how the soldiers are feeling extremely happy for the fine dish presented to us and keep all talking lightly with a smile on their faces

-So what do you guys think it will be?- -Probably something where we generally lack-

-Mmh... Well, there are many possibilities then...-

-Oh no... It's really gonna be Studying

I'm going to climb a cliff goodbye!- moves away Kasuo but Shun pulls him back seated

-Ah stop it you!-

-Talk for yourself! I'm very good at strategy!- cross his arms Wei

Xiao approach our table and hit his plate while seating down, a bit of silence fall on our table and he look at us annoyed

-What? Am I so burdensome to the point of making you all stop talking?- he grabs his spoon and begin eating.

...

As we move to our next destination I see a group of Monks crossing our path, bowing to anyone they meet

-Why so many of them here? Something happened?-

-They are here to purify the evil spirit inside you!- jokes Kasuo holding Wei head from behind

-Ahhh let me go! You idiot!-

I look at them chuckling from a few steps behind

-It's for a rite-

-Uh?- I turn my head to find Dong Hu slowing down to reach our group -Which kind of rite?- asks Shun

-I heard the general talking... Apparently there's a period of drought approaching... It hasn't been raining in a while and even the water level in the sea is lower-

-This is no good news at all... Our soldiers in the battlefield need food and medicines...- I say to myself, without realizing to have spoke out loud

Everyone give me a concerned look and proceed to walk, meanwhile Dong Hu comes beside me

-It's not good yeah... Apparently even the water and rain gods gave up on us-

-What do you mean by that?-

-You haven't noticed? Look at how it's all so instable:

Nobody cares about who they steal from anymore, peoples are easily irritated, animals are going crazy pushing onto new territories, the war is endless and no faction seems to be winning over the other... Now water is giving problems too.

Seems like the Gods don't favour humanity anymore... The only thing still working is the thirst for blood-

-Working? Why would you say that? It's an unusual way to address violence-

-Well... It gives humans a purpose.

Blood is in our veins and keep us alive, it's only natural that peoples want to protect it to live and want to spill it when they want others not to...

The main purpose in war is to spill blood and save your own... Same when you eat, do business, steal or anything else...

Maybe that one God is still favouring us, giving us something to hang on while all the others have left us-

-Now the war God is a benefactor for giving us survival instinct? This make no sense-

-It doesn't? Are you sure?-

-I... Mmh...- I look down

-Well then... See you around my rival- he wave going back to his place

-Lai'Er?-

-Oh? Sorry I was lost in thoughts- I smile to Shun who placed an hand on my shoulder

-Don't think too much about it, Gods are something too far away from us anyway... Let's just focus on what we can actually deal with-

-Mmh sure-

...

-So our training today is weapons...?- ask Wei

-Well that's good then- Kasuo take out a spear trying the weight of the staff between his hands

-Why tho? I think pretty much everyone is good with weapons...- beside us a guy make fall down a bunch of bows, while trying to grab one for himself

-... But I mean, using them and finding the right one or things like that...-

That guy fix his quiver on the hips, holding the bow under his arm making it fall on the ground

He then bend down to take grab it, making all the arrows on his quiver to fall down scraping his hand

I stare at him feeling that embarrassing scene on my skin -Yeah I get it, I'll shut up so let's train weapons-

We get paired with Xiao's room, actually Hua's room, for a full day of training with the polearm...

We first learn the components of the weapon and it's history before proceeding to trying out a few moves, following the instructor, and after that we are left to practice with eachother... No real strength is allowed of course

For today I got paired with Kasuo who is using a battle-axe

-I'm bored-

-I know what you mean... But take this as practice, to refine our technique-

-I already know how to use it tho-

-It's not about if you can or not, but how you use it...-

-Yeah yeah I know! But still...-

-Then have a real fight- the instructor pops up between us

-Uh? Can I for real?-

-Yes come... Face this guy, you seems to be both on the same level both in technique and weight-

Kasuo eyes begin shining -It will be fun Haha!-

...

-Ah man! Next time will be better, you were great- says a guy from the other room to Kasuo... -It was a good match... Really good- comments the instructor

-Can I make a request?- asks the challenger

-Sure go ahead-

-I would like to challenge the woman-

The instructor turns to me -Do you accept?- -Sure... But will it be fair since I just saw his fighting style? I think I deserve a starting penality-

-It will be fine, he has more strength to his side than you... Plus I would love to see how you make use of that match, if you really spotted his weakness-

-Very well then...- I roll my spear in one hand getting ready -Here I come- I say before dashing foward

-Hahaha let's see what a woman can... Uh!-

-You shouldn't lose time talking...- I whisper in his ear passing beside him, before pointing my spear into the ground using it as a stable point to turn around kicking the man in his back

-So fast...- comments a man

-It's... Challenging- smirks my rival getting back on straight, he charges foward ready to hit with his weapon

I again point it on the ground while running toward him, jumping over his head to avoid the attack

He tries to attack a few more times but always fail to hit being too big to turn around quickly enough to catch me.

I toy him a little bit

-Isn't it time to start getting serious, Miss Ying?- ask the instructor

-If you insist...- I turn the spear diagonally ad he runs and make him fall, I go hoover on him before pulling one arm behind his back pointing the spear on his ribs without actually hurting with my free hand

-That's enough... Let him go now- I release and bend down closing the match

-That was truly splendid Miss Ying! I will never doubt a woman again in my life! I hope to learn a lot from you- says my rival bending

-It was an honour to be defeated by you!-