Ambushed
December 10, 4999, Holy Era.
At the ever-unwavering Wanhua Noble Academy, the after-school bell rang as usual. Yinhua wore a look of utter despair.
"I don't understand any of this! I feel like I'd rather take a stroll down Ghoul's Street than keep going like this."
"Hey, hey, that's going way overboard. No matter what, you absolutely can't go to a place like that."
Xiya said sternly.
"I know, I know, I was just trying to convey the hopelessness inside me, Xiya. You understand, don't you?"
"I don't."
"..."
Xiya took a notebook out of her bag. "These are today's notes, take—"
Before she could finish, Yinhua happily clasped her soft little hand, saying, "Xiya, you really are my best friend. Thank you."
"Ah, no, it's only natural for friends to help each other with things like this. Don't mention it. Heading back together later?"
"I can't. I have to stay after school for the teacher again today. Why is my fate so grim?"
Yinhua squatted down, dejected.
"Hang in there, then. I'll head back first."
"Take care on your way."
Yinhua waved goodbye to her friend.
"Good luck. I'll be wishing for you in my heart."
"Mhm."
.............................
The sunset that evening was not its usual golden brilliance, but a blood-red, as if it were an omen.
Xiya walked alone on the street, fully aware of the danger—killing intent, thick and unrestrained, lingered by her side.
The enemy was deliberately letting her know: I am here to kill you.
Xiya turned and entered an abandoned building. She dared not look back, for fear that in the split second she turned, her enemy would strike from the front.
Countless scenarios and plans raced through her mind on how to escape, and why this was happening.
'Who sent them? Who would benefit from my death? How do I escape?'
"What a miserable place you've picked to die."
A figure in a black combat dress stepped from the darkness, face entirely wrapped.
With a voice distorted by a modulator, it was impossible to tell their gender.
"Who are you? Who sent you?"
"Do you think I'd tell you the truth?"
The overwhelming disparity in strength stirred a trace of fear in Xiya, but she hadn't given up yet.
"God of thunder..."
"That won't do," the enemy said, instantly appearing behind Xiya before she finished her incantation, knocking her to the ground with no magic—just raw physical force.
"Dead? That weak," the figure said, kicking Xiya a few times with no response.
"Well then, let me finish you off. Don't blame me for not leaving a whole corpse."
Flames appeared in the assailant's hand.
"Flame Rend!"
Suddenly, Xiya turned and unleashed a fourth-level spell at them.
Despite being struck by lightning, she had not lost consciousness—she had been chanting all along, and this was the moment she waited for.
She knew the spell wouldn't kill her foe, but the smoke from the fire would cover her escape.
"Spatial Slice!"
Using the visual confusion of the smoke, Xiya quickly sliced open a space and darted inside.
Just when she thought she was safe...
"I know, you know. The Louguan family has been space mages for generations."
A demonic voice echoed from behind her.
Incredulity flooded Xiya's face. She couldn't understand. How did the enemy know her plan?
And more importantly, how had they entered the space she'd cut?
Unhesitatingly, the figure dragged Xiya out of the space and flung her to the ground.
"Confused? I suppose you don't understand why I know what you're thinking. Well, take that question to the underworld with you."
It was over. The gap in power was too great—this was not someone she could resist. The shadow of death loomed over Xiya's heart.
"Bye-bye, little girl."
The figure jeered, a blazing ball of fire forming in their hand.
Xiya closed her eyes in despair.
But the flames did not fall. Puzzled, Xiya opened her eyes and saw a blade reflecting her face, resting against the enemy's neck.
"Phew, that was close, close! A little later and I'd have missed it."
"Yinhua!"
That familiar voice warmed Xiya's heart. At the crucial moment, her friend had stepped forward.
"... Who are you?"
"Yinhua, Wanhua Yinhua. I think you should have heard this name by now. Stop your magic and let my friend go."
"Why? What can you—"
Before they could finish, Yinhua's blade pressed further, cutting a gash in the black combat dress.
"I'll use your life!"
The cold gleam of the blade reflected on Yinhua's face.
The lazy, casual smile was gone, replaced by icy resolve.
She knew that without a will to kill, the situation was dire; the only reason she hadn't struck instantly was the fear that, if the caster died, their magic would go berserk, dragging both sides down.
The opponent's strength made her uneasy, and cold sweat beaded on Yinhua's palm.
"Terrifying, really—you've got more resolve than I thought. I get it. I'll put my magic away, and you'll sheath that killing weapon too?"
Yinhua nodded her consent, never taking her eyes off the figure.
"OK, deal."
The enemy withdrew their magic, and Yinhua also put away her weapon.
They leapt lightly to the rooftop.
"Ladies, until we meet again. Oh, no—we'll definitely meet again."
And with that, they turned and was gone.
Having just skirted the abyss, Xiya was still in shock.
A moment passed before Xiya, her life snatched from the jaws of death, flung her arms around Yinhua and sobbed, "Yinhua, I—I was so scared. I was afraid I'd never see my parents again, afraid I'd never see you again."
"Don't be afraid. I'm here, right here with you. It's alright, I'm here."
Yinhua embraced her trembling friend.
In truth, she was scared as well—scared for her friend's anxiety, though she never said it.
She knew only ordinary swordsmanship and could not possibly have been a match for that person.
Yet, for some reason, the enemy didn't want to continue fighting. Was it luck? And there was this faint scent...
Night fell, drawing a curtain over these events.
The starlit sky guided the two, as if they were favored by the heavens—both beautiful and shining.
-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=
Who's willing to bet that it was the maid?
【ദ്ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌)】