"Boss!"
Rin voice filled with urgency, chasing down a figure known as Wu Lixian who stormed away, heading nowhere as they paced through the Academy.
Yet Wu Lixian didn't seem to hear her shouts, she continued her frantic pace, eyes trained forward, unflinching.
"Hey! Boss!"
"What the fuck did you want?"
Only when Rin grabs her hand did Wu Lixian stop, and only now did she realize that she has been dragging around Ji Mei everywhere. When she released her hand, Ji Mei instantly cowered a few paces, rubbing the bruises.
"This isn't you…"
Rin stated, yet Wu Lixian eyes still tremble. From shock, anger, and jealousy. It was clearly painted in her face, an overlapping emotion threatened to cause her more harm.
"…Just, go."
Wu Lixian said, casting her gaze downward. Her voice is now low and pathetic, unlike her usual self.
"No"
Yet Rin refutes, her neutral face etched with irritation and concern as her eye's frowns slightly.
"Just go! Leave me alone!"
Her shouts filled the air, causing the strolling students to pass by with curiosity, flicking their sight towards them and occasionally tried to eavesdrop.
Yet for the three of them, it's like the growing crowd didn't exist, stuck on their own problem, only they exist in their world.
"…"
Rin resolute gaze locks her intense eyes to Wu Lixian own quivering one. Before she mumbles a word only, she could hear.
"…why did it always end like this?"
No matter how, things always went out of her control, due to what? Due to herself of course.
"Brash, Impertinent, Rough, Unpolished…."
Rin saw Wu Lixian run away with all her might while mumbling those words. Holding her chest, her concern grows more than her irritation.
"Rin…"
Ji Mei voice rings besides her, trembling in its octave as Ji Mei face contorts into concern as her brows arched upward, her almond eyes almost on the verge of tear.
Despite the pain Wu Lixian just inflicted on her hand, she didn't care about the wound in the slightest and instead urged Rin to chase after Wu Lixian.
"Let's go! Before she gets too far!"
Rin nods, and together, they tried to catch up to Wu Lixian insane speed.
…
Wu Lixian runs and runs… and runs.
Her feet started to feel sore from the constant movement.
"Impulsive, Fretful, Short-tempered, Petulant…"
Those words shower out of Wu Lixian mouth, describing a person she hates,
Herself.
"…Brusque… Testy"
A word that comes from her 'friends' mouth, yet she never once blamed them for hating and detesting her, if Wu Lixian is another person, she will hate Wu Lixian.
"…Envious"
And with that, she stopped. Tilting her head upward, seeing as the sky seems to mock her by showering her with rain. Droplet falls, tickling her face before it falls apathetically into the ground, masking her tear that comes as frantically as the rain.
"…"
And all she could do was to push them away, even someone as innocent as Nanming. All because she acts before she thinks.
And now she runs, she just runs, like clouds being chased away by the wind she shed her tears elsewhere where no one could help.
Looking at the reflection in the puddle, an ugly figure gazes back. Big round eyes, plump lips, pale face, and messy black hair.
Who would love someone like her?
No one, not even herself.
"Useless"
She accused the figure in the puddle.
An ugly duckling is she, and she will never grow into a beautiful white swan.
"Weak!"
She stomped at the puddle, distorting its reflection.
And so, she trained, she fights, she struggles, all with her worthless life, to try and make herself usable, to make her mother proud and yet her mother committed suicide. Though she failed, the lasting impact can still be felt.
To this day, Wu Lixian didn't even dare to approach her manor, where her mother was being treated.
"AHHHHHHH!!"
What was left of her, is to be a Demon King. And even then, that dreams turned hollow…
"…"
Looking at the muddled puddle of rainwater, all she sees is her darkness.
"Boss!"
"-!"
Wu Lixian flinched, looking behind her, she could see Rin and Ji Mei, rain soaked and exhausted. Their exasperated breath muffled by the rustling of water hitting the ground.
"G-Go away!"
Wu Lixian voice trembles, hitching its syllables like it just trips from a wet floor.
But Rin and Ji Mei approach, their walks a constant movement that spook Wu Lixian, she extends her hands out, in a gesture to stop them from coming closer.
"Leave!"
Her voice fully breaks down; she closed her eyes and yet tears mixed from rain droplets pour out, nonetheless.
Suddenly, Rin arms covered all of Wu Lixian, pulling her closer to Rin's embrace. She hugs Wu Lixian tightly, so tightly that Wu Lixian cannot move.
"I'm sorry…"
Rin said in a gentle voice, apologizing for something she never did.
"N-no!"
Wu Lixian tried to push her away, she banged her fist to her back begging to be let go.
"It's my fault! It's all mine! It's always my fault!"
It's her fault her influence decline, it's her fault her friend betrays her, it's her fault she pushed away everyone, it's her fault for being weak, it's her fault for being envious, it's her fault that she is impulsive.
Ugly.
Useless.
Worthless.
"…I'm sorry."
Yet Rin apology did not stop, it comes to the point where even Ji Mei started to hug Wu Lixian, disregarding her own injury.
"I failed to see your suffering, your sadness, as a subordinate and a friend, I am still inadequate."
At her accusation of herself, Wu Lixian frantically swung her head sideways multiple times.
"No! You're the best friend I could ever get! You are the best subordinate I have! Don't say such words to yourself"
"And you should too…"
Rin silenced Wu Lixian, her breath hitched and her eyes blown wide, her beautiful crimson eyes Rin comes to love and care so much for, a person she would gladly trades her life to save.
"Just like how you are angry that I blamed myself, I am angry that you think so lowly of yourself!"
Rin voice pitched up in a way Wu Lixian has never heard of.
Rin eyes shaking, her face usually still shows genuine concern for her.
"I love you Lixian…"
Whether or not that confession is romantical or platonic doesn't really matter, Wu Lixian has never even heard those words being directed at her.
"Do you love me too?"
Wu Lixian mouth went shut; no words came out of her mouth. Like a dam finally broke under the pressure of water.
Wu Lixian eyes expel all the tears it has down like cascading waterfall. Even the rain couldn't conceal the pours.
Her wailing shrieked and screams overpowered by the sound of the downpour yet to both Ji Mei and Rin, it's the loudest voice in that area.
Ji Mei cries from the atmosphere, rubbing her bruised hand on top of Wu Lixian's jet black hair to calm her down, and to convey a silent word.
'I am here with you.'
Even Rin couldn't help but to sniff slightly, finally seeing someone as unshakeable as Wu Lixian breaking down, her honest emotion on full bare.
"I really love you Lixian…"
"WAHHH, I love you soo much Lixian!"
Both Rin and Ji Mei said those words again and again, Wu Lixian can't help but to feel flutters in her heart, just a second, just one second longer, she wished that this scene, this voice, the person who said those words will never leave her memory.
Imprinting every second into the very fiber of her mind, this will be an eternal memoir until she expires.
.
.
.
On the Forest of Darkness, this month Joint Training was postponed due to a weather forecast, the Lord of Poison Liu Haite has said that a Heavy Storm approaches from the Southeast.
And it seems that the prelude of the storm arrives early.
"Hmm, what a heavy rain…"
Wu Yuen muttered, sheltering under a tree as she absents mindedly observed the droplet falls and the swinging of leaf.
She had been anxiously awaiting the day of the Joint Training, even sleeping in the Forest of Darkness to not be late in the procession.
But now that it was postponed to tomorrow, or so she thought.
"Postponed? Hah, all I see is an added challenge!"
A woman voice can be heard amidst the rain, its faint but Wu Yuen can make it out somewhat.
"…The children safety is a priority."
A rough voice responded to the woman.
"And if they don't leave their cradle they will die… Much better a broken bone yesterday then to die tomorrow!"
The woman voice pitched up considerably.
"You speak bullshit."
Yet the rough voice refutes in stable volume.
Wu Yuen noticed the pattern of speech of the two figures; this bickering is unique enough that she intuitively knows who's the one currently arguing.
"No, you speak bullshit. You proclaimed yourself an educator and yet you remain ignorant!"
The Lord of Poison Haite Liu and…
"Your brutish remark is painful to hear, and yet you're the one who call me a barbarian."
The Lord of Sword Musashi Gen.
They must've argued whether the Joint Training should go according to the schedule or not, part of hers wanted it to happen.
"Look around you Lord of Poison, don't you see? This is no ordinary storm; this is the dreaded Nyuwek."
The Lord of Sword said, but the words are foreign in Wu Yuen's tongue, and it seems that it's not Hazhui ancient script.
"…"
No voice argues back, which means that the Lord of Poison is stunned by his warning. The fact that she goes silent proves just how devastating this 'Nyuwek' thing is.
Wu Yuen curiosity is peaked by those words, and before she knew it, she finds herself in the Academy Library.
It is still crowded even during this violent Nyuwek, but the building in question does provide the necessary safety and comfortability to wait for this Nyuwek thing to pass.
As Wu Yuen approached its vicinity, many boys stopped in their tracks to admire her beauty.
Her lustrous black hair shines in golden sheen when reflected by the lantern light, her similarly colored golden iris enchant anyone who dares look at her, and her skin so smooth it's like silk.
Yet they dare not approach her, Wu Yuen infamy is as prominent as her beauty. Her penalty points have already reached 55, just 45 more and she will be expelled. And all of that is because she constantly attacks anyone who dares to bring harm or to even insult her siblings.
So, as she approaches, the boys scurry away, as if they didn't see anyone.
Inside, the building is warm and well-lit. The wall is decorated with ornate ventilation to prevent mold from growing, and its grand pillar that stood in the center withstand the 5-floor building.
Wu Yuen approaches a staff that is currently talking to each other, she didn't bother trying to look at their appearance.
"Where is the book about weather?"
Wu Yuen asked, her voice silken sweet and yet the male staff seems like he didn't care. It's rare to see a male resist her allure.
"Section 5-A, third floor"
He said in tired voice, now that she looks at him, he looks disheveled. Hair unkempt and sunken eyes half-lidded, he yawns and stretches while continuing to converse with his colleague with barely disguised indifference.
"Pulao, did you hear? The sixth seat of Camelot is sighted near Beiyan."
The colleague which is a male said.
"Hoamm, Beiyan is 4 months travel from here… why should I care?"
The man named Pulao responded with apathy, yet the colleague persists in his energetic voice.
"It's the fricking Seat of Camelot! You know, the folks who destroyed Franka once!"
Camelot, Franka. She learnt so many unfamiliar words today, but Wu Yuen decided to head back to her original objective and walk towards the stairs leading to the second floor, then the third one.
It's a lot emptier here than on the first floor.
She continued walking until she saw a metal plaque with the words '5-A' carved into it, as she rounded the corner, she saw a white figure.
As in he is completely white, with white hair, white face, and white robe. Only his eyes are not white, they are purple.
It's her mysterious brother, Wu Nanming.
Back in the trial, Wu Yuen wanted to fight him, but she is preoccupied with protecting Chen from the filthy vermin squirming for a chance to kill him.
Maybe this time, she could properly interact with him.
As she walks closer, she can see Nanming reading a book called 'Understanding Human Psychology'.
"Hello"
She calls out.