Chapter 19:

Chapter 19: 

"Alright that it for the day, good work today girls." Jiaying You voice came about the air, while wiping the sweat off her brow. The day was nearing its end. Things have progressed well for them. Looking over the distant horizon seeing the sun lowering itself over the mountains. The chatter between the groups started the instant they began walking back into the dorms.

"Ah~, finally over I wonder what's for dinner tonight."

"I don't know as love as its hot food I don't care."

"I want to get some sleep first before my shift later tonight."

The chatter of the group echoed in the air all around. Along with the chatters of other voices and sounds that vibrated in the air.

"Has anyone seen Yue'er by any chance?" Jiaying You asked out loud not to any particular soul.

"Pretty sure she should be over at that Pandora Springs Academy being part of the third group to go today." One of her fellow students beside her answered.

"Oh, right she is over there right now. Then can someone get in contact for me when she gets back."

Pandora Springs Academy another 'settlement' of humans they had found, and to their surprise, not too far in between Sun Leaf Academy and their own. Thus, they immediately went to contact their kinsmen. To which the other side welcomed the forces of Sun Tzu Military Academy with open arms. This new settlement, however, like the second wasn't another military academy. But was another civilian academy, likewise they were ecstatic to be discovered by members of their own species.

However, that didn't imply that they didn't have any resources that would be of value. For they had the means of producing cloth. Wasn't the brightest news, or world breaking one could hope for but still something to look forward to. At least to former male students of Sun Tzu Military Academy, for now they have the means of better clothing. Sun Leaf Academy have female uniforms for their new bodies, but many were not suited for their size. 

Thus, many of the students of weaving skills were put to the test. It was an agonizing process, having to measure everyone individually, having the uniform be customed tailored to each personally. It would be a long time before it was soon decided that a standard uniform was to be developed. There had been some inputs given, some disagreements. But overall, a comprise had been conceived between the designers and the military students. It wasn't because the military students were keen on fashion but was sticking to their training and standards. The Military Student weren't that undisciplined enough to simply allow those of Pandora Springs Academy to make such overly designed clothes. It just simply wasn't warranted. Why such considerations were even being practiced at such times, was outside of her knowledge. However, she knew why the newcomers were encouraged so, it was a means of distraction. To set their minds at ease.

What should of course had been a meaningless act, once again seemed to at least produce some satisfying results. Hence, Yin Yue has found herself in one of their workshops. Here in this exact moment, she was being measured by a team of female students of Pandora Springs Academy. She had told them just as the others of her original gender, but the news seemed to have fallen on deaf ears. Not that it would have affected her situation, but she felt that as a common courtesy. She had to at the very least inform the new girls of her situation. Just because she was comfortable, wouldn't mean they would be.

Her worries were for not. As they took no notice of what Yin Yue had to say. As they happily set upon their task. If anything, she had hoped they would speed up the process more. She had stood here in the room for nearly three hours. Three~, long hours~, with the girls squeaking and giggly carefree as they worked. Hearing their nonstop pep talk such as:

'Do you think this color would suit her?'

'This design should really show off her curves right.'

So, on as such.

'At the very least they're not crying anymore, but seriously can't they just hurry it up already?' Yin Yue complained about it for the twelfth time, within the confines of her own thoughts. She couldn't voice out her frustration, no matter how much she desired so. All she could muster now was to grit her teeth behind closed lips and endure. While putting on a false smile on her face. All to ease the minds of those around her.

Endure it she did but she was beginning to lose her patience.

It wasn't an issue before but now the chill was starting to affect her. That would make sense considering she was currently wearing nothing but lingerie. Another thing that was forced upon her. Once the girls had found out the fact that she was going commando. That became their immediate priority before the real work had begun. After the first hour of selecting the perfect fit for her current body, in Yin Yue's opinion a less than modest type, at least for her taste. She honestly couldn't care less for the design or color she would have taken the first one given to her. As long as it didn't irritate her like the pervious one, that she had donned. It was only after another long hour, forcefully subjected to a life of a doll of a child's play session, was she finally released. After another day of () hours of agonizing () of selections for her new uniform. Yin Yue was finally free, that was all she cared about.

She had a more entertaining and president appointment to attend. After donning her clothes, the unfit uniform she had acquired back at Sun Leaf Academy, she rushed to the transport truck. Another feat only capable now due to Sun Leaf Academy having an industrial facility. Surprisingly they even had reserved fuel storage. As well as the equipment and materials to build a refinery. Sadly, there is no oil field for the structure to be built upon. However, the fuel storage was estimated to last, used sparingly should be around three to four months.

That is not a long window, same with the food supply. That too has been rapidly depleting due to the mouths that need to be fed. The most suitable solution, for the moment was currently to hunt for the supplies. This then led to another problem, followed by another etc. Those were all issues that will be solved over time, but not anytime soon. That was beyond Yin Yue's attention though, even more so beyond her abilities to solve. Thus, her concerns lie else were. It wasn't until nearly over an hour till she finally saw the gates of her beloved Sun Tzu Military Academy. In the short timeframe since they've arrived in this foreign world.

This academy had become the most sacred grounds to her and many others in the school. Due to the fact of it being the only factor, of this being the closet resemble of home for them now. Truthfully it was the only home that they have now. The vehicle she and her party rode upon, slowly came to a stop in front of the gate. As it too, slowly methodically rolled to the side of the wall. Revealing the outer courtyard of the academy. There stood a party as well on the opposite side of the gate.

Meng Yi LaoShi was there at the gate. Weapon in hand wearing makeshift protective gear. As all who stood by her were.

"Welcome kids good to see you're all still in one piece. Well in any case roll call just call out when your name is called!"

Thus began her mandatory roll call as did the other passengers who were with Yin Yue. All whom departed the vehicle they rode. Standing in formation near the gate. Though She didn't pass any mind to it letting her mind wander. She had other priorities to attend to after all.

'Yin Yue! Yin Yue~!' Only when someone had bumped into her arm did she finally caught on that her name was called.

"Here!"

Meng Yi LaoShi glanced at her. Holding her gaze on Yin Yue a while longer.

"Next time pay more attention young lady we don't have time to wait on you."

"Yes sir!"

Yin Yue replied to her scolding. There wasn't anything else she could say now.

After a few more breaths the count had finally ended. Everyone began to go their own ways.

"Thanks." Yin Yue quietly thanked the soul who broke her out of her stupor. Looking to her side now facing them.

"No problem. Are you okay though…...you seem out of it?" the girl to Yin Yue's right side spoke, in a gentle hushed tone. She didn't recognize the face just yet but soon the name came to her.

"Yating Zan right?" (Graceful Support) Yin Yue said the name coming to her mind.

"Yeah, that's my name now. Ha-ha, can't say that I'm quite used to it yet." Yating Zan chuckled a hint of embracement evident in her voice.

"None of us are as of yet, you're not alone in that manner." Yin Yue said, nodding slightly to her own words.

"It felt like just yesterday we were home and normal, even after these past few weeks. I believed it more if we were all in a dream right now.'

Yating Zan sighed sorrowfully at that.

"I wish that was the case since the first night."

This time it was Yin Yue's turn to sigh. Hers being more frustrating in tone.

"Well, I better get going, I've got kitchen duties tonight."

Yating Zan said as she began to walk away. Towards the direction of the dining hall.

"Ok, say~, what's for chow tonight anyway?" Yue asked, causing Yating Zan to halt in her steps and she turned her head back towards Yin Yue.

"Oh, just some pasta and some desserts."

"Ok thanks." Yin Yue was about to walk away from the area.

"Oh, Yue a moment if would you."

Yes?"

She halted at Meng Yi LaoShi voice. Frustration building within her core. She had somewhere she wanted to go. Just what did Meng Yi LaoShi even want? She bit back on her feelings turning back on her heel, meeting the eyes of Meng Yi LaoShi.

"Yes sir, Meng Yi LaoShi!"

Yin Yue responded with proper respect to her senior and superior officer.

"At ease this isn't a scolding or a lecture."

So, Yue relaxed as her instructor insisted. Her posture now looser than before, her nerves calm. Yet still locking eyes with Meng Yi LaoShi own pairs of eyes.

"Jiaying You is having a meeting tonight around twenty-three hundred, be sure that you're present."

This caused a lift of an eyebrow from Yin Yue.

"What kind of meeting?"

Meng Yi LaoShi respond to that question with a slight shrug.

"Not sure I'm in the same boat as you, I guess we'll find out when we attend."

"Copy that."

"Yue'r- Meng Yi LaoShi started hesitant evident in her tone before she continued, are you fine?"

Yue almost rolled her eyes at that question. She has been asked that question a lot repeatedly. But she held firm to her poker face, not showing any of her emotions on her face. She responded with a simply nod of acknowledgement. At that Meng Yi LaoShi gaze only grew more inquisitive. This irked Yue looking into Meng Yi LaoShi's eyes was tough before, now it was as if she was peering into the depths of Yin Yue's very soul. Needless to say, the staring contest of which the duo had, she didn't last long. As she turned her sight away.

Meng Yi LaoShi then sighed. Frustration evident.

"Alright then you're free to go. I will not hold you."

Yue didn't hesitate to take that offer. She saluted her teacher in the proper military honors, before beginning to take off. However, Meng Yi LaoShi grabbed at her arms, this drew ire expression from Yin Yue. Almost near glaring at her but found herself wanting, seeing the look of concerns and worry upon her LaoShi's face.

"Just-" she started, as if choosing her words before continuing. "Just don't overexert yourself ok know your limits."

Yin Yue couldn't muster any response other than a nod of acknowledgement. Though Meng Yi LaoShi didn't release her grip yet. Still lingering on, holding onto her as if she were to vanish into thin air. After releasing another sign, she loosened her grip. Yin Yue walked quickly, almost sprinting towards her destination. Paying no need to the pair of eyes fixated onto her form till she turned the corner. It didn't take long till she reached her goal.

The stadium arena. Steeping into the quiet corridor of the building, hearing nothing else but the tapping footfalls of her own shoes, echoing off the wall around her. Past through the final portal did she see the end-goal. The empty arena itself or rather the one soul whom she had hoped would be there. Of course, as always that wish was granted. Zhao Yun Ru LaoShi was there already waiting for her. She didn't even turn as she walked closer. Just gazing up into the night sky high above, the dome ceiling having been retracted. Opening the arena to the outside world. It was only when Yin Yue had stepped into the ring, only then did Zhao Yun Ru LaoShi turn to acknowledge her presence. The moonlight and stars illuminating the two in the pale light.

"Ah you're here, let's begin then."

Zhao Yun Ru LaoShi spoke turning her head around to face Yin Yue. Yin Yue responded with a slight nod of her head respectfully. Before taking her place. This had become more of a routine for the duo. Ever since that fateful night. From then on out Yin Yue had been training under Zhao Yun Ru LaoShi's tutelage. The clash of steel soon echoed within the arena. As two souls danced together alone. Their movements and motions resembling more like that of a rehearsal for a play, than that of two combatants locked in combat.

Clang-Clang! Steel clashed; blows were exchanged as air was parted, Zhao Yun Ru LaoShi's voice rang out.

"Too slow!"

"Your stance is too rigid, your grips are too tight, loosen your form!"

"Now it's too loose tightening back up!"

Her blade clashed against Yin Yue's own blade. Before Yin Yue could even counter, her next move was already decided for her.

"Your movements are flawed! Clang~! Yin Yue's weapon was knocked out of her grasp. With a heartbeat later Zhao Yun Ru LaoShi's blades were upon her throat. Before retracting it pulling them away, and back a few feet.

"Again!"

Retrieving her article, Yin Yue retook her combat stance and the dance recommenced. This continued on for hours, as the duo was locked in their interlocking motion. All the while still lecturing Yin Yue continuously. 

Her hands ached as another surge of vibrations resonating from the banging of steel. Before it wasn't as prominnite but now. After hours after clashing steel on steel, feeling the vibration course through her flesh. Now was starting from her hands up to her arms. Beginning to numb. This only added more fuel of frustration to Yin Yue. As she forced back down the numbing pain. Forcing her limbs to move and endure. It had always infuriated Yin Yue to no end, she had felt the surging sensations of rage, course through her body. Hot like molten magma, it irritated her greatly how she was being belittled by this instructor. How this ancient old fossil was belittling her efforts, like that of a petulant child.

Frustratingly so that she raged out her emotions. Moving her limbs, rebalancing, and repositioning herself every time she was knocked back. Just narrowly missing the kiss of death, by the skin of her teeth. Long had she wanted to quit this facade and ignore Zhao Yun Ru LaoShi altogether, from the last few times before. When her head cooled down, she recognized something she didn't notice about herself. She was acting irregularly; she wasn't this emotionally unstable before. Understanding or not it was affecting her, it was irritating. Equally as much as her thwart efforts against the old timer. Even she herself doesn't fully understand the reasoning why she keeps returning. Her frustration, her anger towards her was beyond any sensation she had ever felt.

Yet she found herself coming back as much as she could. Like a month to a flame, she was drawn back to the irritating fire that is Zhao Yun Ru LaoShi.

"Ah~!" Once again Yin Yue had been knocked back falling onto her rear. Before she could take any other action. With a blink twin pair of steel pressed against her neck.

"That will be enough for today." Zhao Yun Ru LaoShi rose back to her full posture, sheathing her blades.

"I can still-!" Yin Yue began to protest; however, Zhao Yun Ru LaoShi shushed her with a raised finger.

"We're running out of time, remember that we have a meeting to attend to, best we not be late to it. By letting the others wait on us."

Her voice was calm but with a commanding presence that didn't allow any opposition to her will.

"Yes sir." Yin Yue was dejected but she relented.

"Come, let's go cleanses ourselves, we have a meeting to attend to." Zhao Yun Ru LaoShi said, helping Yin Yue to her feet, before leading the way to the shower room. After leaving the arena together

The duo was now in the massive open shower room. Devoid of all life but the two, the sound of running water echoed in the confined space. Splashing upon their skin, running down their bodies like flowing river. Before pitter paltering down upon the floor before exiting through the drain.

Yue Yin was washing her form washing away the dirt and sweat she had. Looking over her body carefully, inspecting any spots she had missed. Before it had be weird to look upon this body. despite it being HER body, it still bothered her, however. Now long has those feelings faded away. Turning her sights away from her body, her sight fell upon the slim, yet muscular toned body of Zhao Yun Ru LaoShi. Her body was the envy of any who gazed upon it. Most of the now feminine military students were, but each having their own unique charm. Zhao Yun Ru LaoShi was no different. She was almost jealous of her LaoShi. Having such a physice Looking over her Yue then noticed it.

She didn't notice it before, being too focused on her LaoShi blades, as well as the fact every session so far, she had stormed out before her thoughts filled with nothing more than rage. Now being packed so tightly together in this space it was hard to not notice them. Scars, a multitude of lines of history, of battle decorated her body. Overlaying the layers of toned muscles, each one telling of a story. It would be a lie if Yin Yue said she wasn't interested. However, something else caught her gaze observing Zhao Yun Ru LaoShi body. Faintly there also exist others marks clearly not from battle, but of a different origin. Looking closely Yue could see those marks are more precise, deliberate. It was not a singular mark, but a part of a whole intratic pattern that latticed most surfaces of her naked body. More so than even the battle scars, that overlap them.

"Is something the matter?" Zhao Yun Ru LaoShi asked, her voice cut through Yin Yue's fascination. Causing Yue's to flounder, almost embarrassed, refocusing her attention on herself. She didn't even turn to regard Yin Yue yet knew what she was doing. Still leisurely washing her body without any care. She must have stared so hard that Zhao Yun Ru LaoShi must have felt her gaze.

"I will admit my defeat today, however in due time my blades will reach you." Yin Yue said quickly trying to redirect the attention and topic of what she was doing.

Zhao Yun Ru LaoShi responded to the challenge with a sigh.

"I don't doubt that." she said calmly as if uninterested before continuing. "But you won't not anytime soon with the state that you're in still."

Yin Yue felt the surge of rage flush over her once again.

"I am fully ready for any challenges that is come, why in your eyes that I'm not ready? This is what I've trained for, I became a Representative Elite of our country because of my skills."

Yin Yue moved closer to Zhao Yun Ru LaoShi, eyes still locked together.

They were so close now. So much so that their breast pressed against one another. This action would have been meet with disciplinary action. Squaring up to one's superior.

"What is it?! What is it that I lack to you?!"

"You treat everything like a game, I do not." Zhao Yun Ru LaoShi said with the same calmness. Still looking at Yin Yue. Locking eyes, not breaking contact as her words went on. Strangely Yin Yue couldn't muster any words as she listened as if compiled to by some mystical force.

"You've lost sight of what is truly before you, thus you cannot adapt, you've lost your way. Because you do not see. You cannot see. You deny it."

These words resonated hard within Yin Yue. Though she didn't understand what Zhao Yun Ru LaoShi's words.

"You need to find your center, your truth. Only then will you be able to see."

"Wha-what?" Yin Yue fumbled on her words. Not remotely capable of forming words.

'Come let us be off we've wasted enough time."

Zhao Yun Ru LaoShi said turning off the shower water turning to the exit. Yue did the same before hurryly chasing after her back.

Now the duo was walking together through the now dark corridors halls. No words were spoken, no other soul was present. The loud chatter and gossip of the school was silent. For the occupants had all turned in for the night. Leaving the two in near darkness. Nothing accomplished them than the tapping of their boots.

Yin Yue wasn't even aware of the fact when they reached their destination. Her thoughts clouded, her mind in disarray. Her mind still processing what was spoken to her. The words of her teacher played repeatedly in her mind. Only when the doorknob jiggling reached her ears, did it bring her back to reality. Through the portal, she could see the figures and faces of the other attendees. Most importantly, the first figure she saw was Jiaying You. Seating in her desk facing the door.

"Ah you're here, take a seat." Pausing briefly surveying the room before her before continuing "Well then let's begin."