Chapter 6 - The Shadow

The white monks continued to chant through the streets of the capital. They rounded all who kept secrets from someone and made them plead it out. "The empress is coming!" shouted one of them. They led Empress Wēi, Lord Tyron and a couple of her guards to their leader. He was in a black cloak and his cowl hid his entire scarred face.

"I was hoping to speak with Father Shí Huà." declared Empress Wēi when they approached him.

"Father is busy repairing our fortress that the lying prince destroyed, he left me to handle the cleansing." explained the man in the black cloak.

"Then why do you were black if white is to represent cleanse?" asked Lord Tyron.

"I'm showing my deeds, my true colors of all the dirt I've done. It's what we want for people to know, my actions and my deeds." replied the man.

"Then perhaps I should tell you something so that you can leave." offered Empress Wēi.

"We're staying till we have your daughter." stated the man.

"Then I should inform you, she's gone. I had her flee from here, she should be out of your grasp by now." stated Empress Wēi.

"Nothing is out of the Prophets of Truth's grasp, you must have had her fled east. There's not much out there but places to hide, unfortunately, I know where to look." declared the man.

"Who are you?" asked Lord Tyron, something was familiar about the man.

"I'm the Shadow and I'll hunt down all who hides in it." stated Shadow. He turned to the monks and said, "Round up all who refuse and bring them back to Father Shí Huà, have a few more go with them as witnesses. The rest of you will come with me, we have a party to catch."

Princess Zhen flew from tree branch to tree branch just like Zhōng taught her. Her mended dress still went down to her calves in the back but at the front, they went down to just below the middle of her thighs. The fabric was light and the stitching was strong as twigs couldn't rip the material. She finally dropped down almost on top of Zhōng who was expecting her to. His blades flashed like lighting, blocking her attack. They were like vipers, each had both of their blades armed. However, the fight didn't last long as Zhōng quickly overpower her.

"Controlling both blades in a fight is more difficult than one, you can't think just act on instinct." taught Zhōng, helping her up after she lost.

"How long did it take you to master two?" asked Princess Zhen, putting away her blades.

"Perhaps a month, just two weeks before we met in your room that night, I've finally mastered the basics." said Zhōng. He was referring to the night he snuck into the palace to warn of the incoming threat and to rescue his uncle. "I'm not as good as I want to be, practice and actual fights are two different things. One results in a loss and criticism, the other pain and perhaps death."

They continued to travel east, Zhōng planned to reach the forever winter mountains, Iarnă Mountains. They were ranges of mountains stretching from the southwestern border of the Spartan Empire, hovering over the shores of the ocean that revealed the neck of the continent, and between the borders of the Ninja and Viking Empires, stopping halfway. There were passes that merchants travel through and a harbor where the Ninja, Viking, and sometimes Spartan Empires share. Zhōng planned on following the ranges through a pass that led to the Viking Empire.

"If there's one empire that the monks can't get influence in, it's the barbarians of the east." stated Zhōng when he told his plan to Princess Zhen.

"Why not go north to the Spartan, Indian, or even the Medieval Empires?" asked Princess Zhen as they traveled.

"Cause going to the harbor to go to the Spartan Empire will be dangerous. The Indian Empire, while it's natural and no one will find us, the Indians will and they don't like trespassers. And the Medieval Empire I believe is where these monks started from. You hadn't told me who are they but if I had to guess, they're the Prophets of Truth." said Zhōng.

"Your right," confirmed Princess Zhen.

"Also I can take you to my present self, he can keep you safe and deal with these monks." stated Zhōng before crouching down to look at animal tracks.

"What kind are they?" she asked, noticing him touching them for clues.

"Boar, a massive one," stated Zhōng, he looked up and said, " and close." After skinning the kill, they ate the meat that Zhōng cooked over the fire for a quick break.

"That wasn't bad, how did you cook it?" asked Princess Zhen.

"Uncle told me to rely on other sources for spices. Since the boars naturally live here, having the environment be what flavor the meat will be ideal. What do you think?" said Zhōng, studying a map.

"It's a little dry but not bad." commented Princess Zhen, she looked at him. The image of him rescuing her played through her head as she remember the scars he bear. Even in the moonlight that night, his scars were visible and he was dying from the stress of using a mech and the torture he went through. Knowing it was his destiny, made her feel ashamed and sad.

"He must move," declared Zhōng, folding the map and putting it away. "We going to get company."

"Where? How?" asked Princess Zhen startled, she got up quickly and followed him as they walked faster than their normal pace.

"If they are the Prophets of Truth, they're coming for you after your mother told them you are not in the capital. I figure that she would to protect her people, it will be something I would do as well." explained Zhōng. "Down!" he cried as he tackle her to the ground just as an arrow flew by. Soldiers of the Prophets of Truth appeared from their hiding places blocking their path.

"There she is!" cried one of them.

"Who's that with her?" asked another.

"Your worst nightmare!" cried Zhōng as he fired a weapon from his Longus. The rounds found most of their marks, the rest warned the others to stay away. "Go to the river we just passed, I'll handle this." ordered Zhōng, drawing both of his blades out before charging at them.

Princess Zhen ran back the way they came, she knew Zhōng wouldn't fall easily even if he never faced them yet. She stopped as a man in a black cloak stood in front of her. "We meet again, princess." said Shadow.

"Do I know you?" asked Princess Zhen.

"Perhaps, I won't tell when we saw each other last time, I will say my name is now Shadow." stated Shadow, drawing a black Longus.

"What was it before?" asked Princess Zhen, drawing both her red and yellow Roktavor and the black and purple Ninja Sword.

"You may have that sword, but you're still no match to me." said Shadow. The two begin their dual, Princess Zhen remembers what Zhōng told her as her blades flew like the wings of a hummingbird. They stroke the moment after the first one hit, overwhelming her opponent. But Shadow deflected her attacks quickly and the tip of his blade move like a fly buzzing around. His blade kept Princess Zhen from getting closer and though she was attacking all sides, he was pushing her back. She suddenly lost her Roktavor as it was struck out of her hand. Shadow's hand grabbed her throat and dragged her to the river. "Tell me what secret are you keeping?" he demanded.

"I already told you guys." gasped Princess Zhen as she tried to pry his grip on her throat.

"Tell me or I will squeeze harder." threatened Shadow.

Princess had tears begin to flow down her face, the pain around her throat, and being afraid as there was nothing she could do to get him to let go. With one hand, he hold her throat and the other hand with his sword, prevented her to swing the Ninja Sword. "I have a crest of loyalty on my belly, I'm sworn to serve Zhōng or his father upon request." confessed Princess Zhen as she cried.

Zhōng was pushed to the edge of a cliff where a waterfall flows behind him and into the river below. Though he took out most of them, more tried to surprise him, forcing him back. His blades were covered in blood and his blue eyes glow hungry for more. The monks didn't want to face him as he prevented them from flanking him. "What's wrong? Scare of me? You should be, bet you didn't think that I'd returned so quickly." he provoked.

"No Dual Bladed Ninja, we weren't expecting you at all but it made it more predictable." stated Shadow higher up with Princess Zhen in his hand.

"Who are you?" called Zhōng.

"I won't tell you, you know too much already. Or hasn't she told you what happen to you?" sneered Shadow lifting Princess Zhen over the cliff.

"Let her go! You need her alive I thought." said Zhōng.

"I did, now I don't," replied Shadow. He let go, letting Princess Zhen to fall, she screamed before hitting the water below. After a few moments, she never came up from the fall. "I would ask her if you like, it will explain us better." stated Shadow.

Zhōng glared at him, he tried to figure out who he was but no one came to his mind. He put away his blades and dive into the water below. He searched in the black water till he saw bubbles where he then swim and found an unconscious princess. He brought them to the surface as they ride the current, he looked up to see they were gone as they left. They ride a little further down till he discovered an old watermill.

Inside was barren and empty, there were no extra rooms and the shaft was busted. Zhōng laid the princess on the floor, he felt her breathing as they rode the current. Seeing wood in the corner, he broke some of the wooden boards to expose the dirt underneath. He built a small fire and prevented it to spread by removing more boards. He turned as he heard the princess groan as she was still out, with the Ninja Sword around her hip and her Roktavor gone, she was still wet from the river. "Forgive me, princess." he whispered. He began to remove her clothes starting with her cloak and belt. As he pulled her skirt off next, something caught his eye. Lifting up her shirt a little, he gasps at the mark below her belly. "No, what is this?" he asked as he read the names she is sworn to.

Princess Zhen woke up hours later, it was nighttime as frogs croaked. A cloak was draped over her but it wasn't hers. She turned to see Zhōng, cloakless, watching the fire as clothes dry over it. She realized it was her clothes and her face turned red and afraid. "Zhōng," she began.

"What else has my father done to you?" interrupted Zhōng, his eyes were in rage as he looked at her. He now knew her mark and it made him angry. "Did he force himself on you? Did he toy with you? Is this the reason why I die?" he demanded.

"You're alive, we're going to see you." replied Princess Zhen, though it was a lie, her hopeless effort didn't convince him.

"I know I'm dead, I can't just hand the sword to you if I'm alive. I have to do something dishonorable, which doesn't sound like me. I decided after I save you, I will hunt down and kill those who won't follow you. I will kill anyone who wants to rip this empire apart. So tell me, how do I die?" growled Zhōng.