Avengelist : Part Four

    Cheng Yi sat up in bed. It was 6 in the evening, and they were resting in their room. He looked over at Kaie, who also looked up from the book he was reading.
    “What’s all that commotion about?” Cheng Yi asked.
    “Well, there’s only one way to find out,” Kaie replied, moving out of his chair and into the hallway.
    Cheng Yi followed suit. What he saw, he never expected in his entire life.
    “Deej!” Kaie said, surprised. But Deej was unconscious on the sofa, with a stranger by her side. Cheng Yi was already crossing the distance between them and immediately started working on a cure spell.
    “Hey, what do you think-“ Ryuu started.
    “He’s curing her,” Kaie said simply. Cheng Yi finished the spell and Deej appeared to relax, though not regaining consciousness.
    “Whoever poisoned her, wanted to kill her,” Cheng Yi said out loud, to nobody in particular.
    “Excuse me, could you please tell me who you are and how you are connected to Deej?” Ryuu asked.
    “My name is Cheng Yi, and this is my friend, Kaie. We met Deej in Troika, but she suddenly left, and we’re looking for her here.” Cheng Yi said. Suddenly, a glint of metal caught his eye. He bent down to pick up the chain, and took out a similar one from his pocket.
    “But I think we go way back,” Cheng Yi continued, showing the men the two identical chains.
    Kaie read them. “Deej Wai Ying, cavalry 23. Immediate Superior, Laren Hakkinen. Lei Cheng Yi, cavalry 23.”
    “You were in the same battalion in the Holocaust!” Ryuu remarked. Cheng Yi nodded.
    The innkeeper spoke up. “The medics have arrived.”
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    Deej was admitted into the emergency ward. As she was rushed there on a gurney, she whispered a barely audible word.

    “Alexis…”
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    Deej glanced at the majestic mountains before her. She turned around, spotting a figure in the grassy fields.
    “Come on! It’s a great day to be alive!” she shouted. He smiled, walking up to her and taking her hand. They strolled upwards, towards the mountains. They hiked a short way up before resting to see the sunset. Deej snuggled closer and rested her head on his shoulder.
    “Elendil?”
    “Hmm?”
    “You really are going, aren’t you?” she asked softly, as if not wanting to hear his answer.
    “You can come with me,” Elendil said, gazing into her eyes. “I need you with me.”
    Deej turned away, tears forming in her eyes.
    “Any place else wouldn’t feel like home.”
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    Deej stood in between the trees in the park, watching the pink flowers bloom, while the older ones were blown away by the wind. A still-fresh flower rested on her hand. Deej gazed at it, conveying her deepest wished through her eyes.
    “Deej!” A girl with shoulder length hair tied back in a ponytail approached her. She wore a simple dress, suitable for the warm weather. She was Mei Hua, Deej’s best friend. Mei Hua was four years older than Deej.
    “Deej! You shouldn’t be alone during the Full Spring Festival,” she said cheerily. Mei Hua touched Deej’s shoulders, turning her around.
    “Oh, Deej! What’s wrong?” Mei Hua asked after seeing tears stream down Deej’s cheeks.
    Deej held the flower gently, but she was unable to stop her tears.
    “He’s really leaving,” was all she could say, before burying her face in the older girl’s shoulder.
    Mei Hua waited until Deej had finished crying, stroking her hair and saying soothing things. Finally, Deej gathered her composure and they both at a bench.
    “Tell me what I should do, Mei Hua,” Deej pleaded. “I can’t live my life with him. It would be meaningless …”
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Nightfall…

    “AAAAH!”
    “Mommy! Mommy! There’s fire everywhere! Mommy! Mommy! It’s so hot!”
    “The Children! Where are the Children?!”
    “Ooh…”

    Striding was on fire. They had been attacked by a huge group of masked soldiers. Everywhere, people are screaming for help, death screams. The place was in total chaos.
    But in certain parts of the town, people are fighting back.
    “Deej!”
    Deej released a daystar, and several soldiers were put out of action. “Mei Hua! Where are you?!” Deej yelled. The smoke nearly blinded her, and she used her magic to put out the flames nearby. “MEI HUA!”
    “Don’t move, or she dies,” a calm voice replied. Deej saw the soldier, grasping Mei Hua by her waist, and pointing a gun at her temple. Mei Hua did not move, and neither did Deej. Her eyes were fixed on the soldier.
    “Come over here slowly, and surrender. Any tricks and the girl dies.”
    “No! Don’t listen to him! Deej, you know it’s a-“
    “SHUT UP!” The soldier said, hitting Mei Hua across the face with the end of his gun. Deej took the opportunity and released a bolt of energy towards the soldier. He did not have a chance to respond before he fell dead. Deej ran to the elder girl.
    “You’re safe,” Deej said. Around them were shrill screams and cries.
    “Let’s go help the others,” Mei Hua commented.
    No sooner than the words were uttered, they were surrounded by a group of soldier. They converged on them in a circle, closing in.

    In another part of Striding…

    “Release the Child!” The Elder commanded. He stood ready for any fight, oblivious to his surroundings, caring only for the Child’s safety.
    “You stand there, old man. I have been given orders to take back all the Children, by hook or by crook. Your life is meaningless. I am allowed to use whatever force to achieve my goals.” The man laughed. He was backed by his men, all with rifles ready to shoot the Child or the Elder lest they try anything.
    The Elder was not giving up. Unnoticed by the soldiers, he was collecting energy.
    “You are wasting my time,” the man said. He fired his rifle.
    The Elder released the energy, and at the same time, tried to raise a shield. The shot wounded several men, but failed to kill the commander. The soldiers all opened fire.
    The bullets pierced through the shield. The Elder was too late. He closed his eyes as he fell to the ground.
    “Forgive me, I have failed…”
    The commander laughed and ordered a pack of wolves to devour the body.
    The Child, was scarred for life.
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Go on to Part Five!

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