The Birth of the War Goddess

-Well then we can stop here for today...- claps the choreographer

-Thank you so much everyone!-

-Thank you all-

After a few goodbyes the crowd separate, going to eat something -Ah I'm so tired... Our General really killed us today haha!-

-Oh don't tell me our made us...- a few guys chat together passing over me as I stretch out on the ground

-It was good-

-Really?- I stand up taking back the sword

-You did better, your moments were smoother-

-I suppose your training is paying off then, Linghe-

-Ready to get even better?- he rise an eyebrow amused.

...

-Almost. Just... Your eyes, be more fierce, as if you were burning with trepidation... Dancing is not just about steps-

-More... Uhm...- I try to concentrate on how to express the feeling better

-Try to think about something you hate- he says holding my hand.

Something I hate... Well, It's not difficult!

Just imagining Dong Hu's content smile is enough to set me on fire... That mocking smile looking me as an inferior being.

"-..Women are just women I suppose...-" how he laughs saying such words...

"-... Come on... Woman...-"

"... Miss Ying...?"

"...Miss Ying...!"

I clench my first at the thought of smashing that face.

-Here it is... That's the gaze we need- Linghe smirk still holding my hand, which is grabbing strongly on his

-Oh sorry, did I hurt u?- I try to retract my hand but his hold is quite strong as he opens my palm... To ease the tensed muscles

-Come here... Let's review the fighting dance while you are in the right mindset-

...

I throw my "sword" foward as he dodge, pirouetting around me to take my waist from behind and hold my still risen arm with a caress.

I then have to turn around, faking a hit on his shoulder "sending" him back of a few steps as we begin sparring elegantly.

For being just a dancer he surely knows how to move in a fight...

Even if we are only faking it, he still predicts my next move dodging in time or holding the "weapon" in the correct way for each position he takes.

I suppose he studied the way of the sword for this performance... Since the choreographer asked for a freestyle combat.

Wanting to test him, I begin using some more strength in my hits...

One could almost think he's a soldier on a first look, the build of his body is impressive for a commoner and his seriousness...

"Ah... Lost in thoughts again... Well, it doesn't matter since it's a fight, I can do it with closed eyes..!"

His "weapon" comes a few centimeters away from my eyes and I find my hands to be empty

-You weren't focused-

-You...! Are you really just a dancer? You are really fast... It seems impossible to think you're just a commoner- It feels like a deja vu.

-Dance made me like this... But aren't you too easily distracted to be a soldier?- he squints his eyes

-I... Sorry, I understimated you and lowered my guard since I was too confident-

-It's not me who you should apologize to, just be more careful... Let's try again-

...

-I really should not understimate dance... That was tiring-

-I know- he seats down on a rock, looking toward the city in the distance as we catch our breaths...

His skin is extremely fair and almost glow under the silver moonlight... His face is so expressionless that it almost looks inhuman.

-Uh? Is something wrong?- he asks, turning only his eyes toward me

-Ah! Nono... I was just curious... Why you always look so sad?-

-Sad?- he asks with a hint of shock in his face before sighing -Peoples always think I'm just serious, or skeptical actually... Nobody called me sad before. But I suppose someone like me could see through it with no problem...

I noticed that light in your eyes, It comes alive only when you hold a weapon in your hands.

You seems to have a particular love for fighting arts... But you feel demotivated-

-You can see the emptiness then...- I say intertwining my fingers -I thought that I could have managed to fill it if I made it into the Army... But apparently this isn't enough to compensate-

-Feeling useless as you watch people suffer... I know that feeling too well-

-Mhn, that's indeed something difficult to overcome... If only there was a way to get rid of it...-

-You just need to find what's causing that feeling and fight it.

I've dedicated my life to it and I'm still working on it... But it's difficult when others are involved- his eyes are now full of hope, even if sadness is still there... -There are many difficulties on my path, but I'm willing to give it all for the distant purpose of success-

-What is that about?-

-Equilibrium- he turns to me with a fierce expression

-That's a big purpose...-

-I might fail... But I still have something out there giving me hope for success-

-That's beautiful...-

-It is- he smiles softly.

...

-Ohy...! Oooohy!- a pair of fingers snaps in front of my face, taking me back to present

-Oh? ah! yes?-

-You were spacing out, watching outside the window for a while now-

-Oh right were where we...? Uhm... Lunch- I grab my chopsticks in hand

-It's breakfast- Shun informs me as Wei giggle beside him

-How come?! So early still...-

-You didn't sleep properly again?-

-Mhn...- I nod moving my food around the plate with the chopsticks

-She's a perfectionist... We all know that by now- shrugs his shoulders Wei, talking with Shun

-She might be but she still need sleep! What if she hurt herself or lose focus on the training? All for a stupid performance, It's not even our competence...-

-Is it really just for a performance?- smirk Hua -I would much more say it is for a performer-

Hao elbow him as a warning -Ahy! What was that for?! it's the truth!-

...

-Your hits are still strong indeed, but you are lacking that bit of extra you normally have...- says Shun pushing back my sword with his own

-Sorry... I'm just too tired-

-Don't push yourself so much- he moves back to grab a towel before passing it all over the face and neck covered in sweat

-I wish I could... I have too many trainings to attend everyday...-

-Can't you skip any?-

I shake my head as a response.

-Well it can't be helped then... Fortunately it's just for a few more days... Shouldn't the wedding be soon?-

-Mhn... It's in 4 days, but the day after tomorrow we don't have dance practice since we'll be stuck here all day for the focused training...

They won't take away our only free evening before the wedding... Especially cuz we have a simulation planned right after.

I need some rest, I'm barely sleeping 4 hours per night- I cover my eyes from the scorching sun...

-Take this, and drink some water... You will faint if you keep going- I take the clean towel he throws at me and water bottle, gulping down over and over even spilling some on my face...

-It's too hot today...- I whisper

-Yes... I can't breathe, are you ok? If you need a break it's fine, I actually wouldn't mind 5 minutes of rest too-

-Yeah, let's stop for a bit...- I seat down, removing the outer layer of my clothes

-I suppose I'm not really a person for hot weather... Or sun in general hahaha- he tries to joke