Inside the Cai Army

At my arrival I get a taken I to the Main tend where the Head General Cai is talking with some other Generals...

-Miss Ying... I did hear about you yes- he scratches his chin -Your other General once sent a report I needed and he mentioned you...

Well then, give me that piece of paper- he asks toward my companion

...

-Tz... What a useless man is that Li... Not like I didn't knew anyway- he stands up from his desk

-This- he takes the parchment in hand -Describes you as someone who works alone and does not listen to the rules... And the one who made their General lose his place while working behind the scenes with the other General.

But it also says you never failed and your Armada only ever won thanks to you, while they faced loss the only time they didn't listened to you... It also says your comrades are very found of you and you posses skills out of the ordinary- He takes a candle and bring it close to the paper

-Now that I understand you do not state a menace for us, I shall forget it all...-

And the parchment begin burning and twisting in his hand

-You will start all over again here, no bad nor good word about you shall influence us if not your doings alone-

-Yessir-

-You there, feed these two... Show them a place to sleep and tomorrow give a good horse to this man so he can head back...

Welcome in the Cai Armada, Miss Ying-

...

I get almost thrown into a tend in which I find a few other men who instantly freeze

-Uhm... Hello, I'm Ying ChangLai-

-Really?!- widen his eyes one gaining a few serious stares from his fellows

-I I I heard about you... It's a pleasure-

-Thank you, I suppose I will be your new roommate... Well tend mate, Nice to meet you all-

-Are you... That woman who burned down a whole base?-

-You're mistake Rang, it was an avalanche- corrects him a short guy

-I'm not mistaken Zhou!-

-It was both- I say swinging on my heels, looking around at the awkward atmosphere

-Mhn... Well... Welcome. There's a free bed there, his owner went missing recently- so I head toward it and place down my belongings

As I am putting away a few things I hear the guys whisper and hit eachother, still staring at me from behind

-Are you guys all right...?- I ask turning around

-Oh ehm... I'm Zhang Zhou- says the shorter one with a serious expression and a hint of a blush over his extremely fair cheeks

-The stupid tall one is He Rang- he likes to put quite some evidence on those two adjectives...

-He's Lei Xu- the third guys who hasn't yet spoken but is still smiling brightly

-So... Can anyone show me around?-

-Mhn, come- nods Zhou indicating me to follow him

As we walk I get to notice a few things about the trio of men...

Zhou is not much taller than me and is kinda the leader, his expression is really serious and intimidating

But the smile, peeking through every time one of the other says a joke or ruffle his hairs, betrays his inner child...

Rang is really tall but not really beautiful due to the way-too-close eyes, giving him a dumb expression. He still seems quite a determinate and brave soldier

Xu is difficult to understand on the other hand... He looks calm and composed, somehow shy.

But also fierce and mysterious...

After a small break at the outer side of the camp, he stops behind us to look at something and his expression is quite dark and sad...

I wonder what his path was until now

-Lei Xu...?- I turn to him and approach closer making him shake his head

-Yes?-

-All good? You were left behind-

-Oh sure Jie- he smiles -Let's reach the others-

-Mhn-

...

-This should be it... Not one of the best but we still have a bit less chaos than other Camps-

-Have you ever been to other ones Zhou?-

He nods

-When War started I went to one of the lower ranked ones...

I came to know about the recruitment of citizens and since my father was one of them, our General gave me permission to meet him... He might not be a trained soldier but he's a strong man!

I actually went there with the intention of encouraging him but he was the one helping me at the end- he chuckles -Well one more reason to end this war right?-

-Right- I nod at him while Rang and Xu approach us with two bowls of warm food each

-But let's talk about you first, what's your story uh?-

-Oh I'm quite curious too- smiles Rang -Here you go Miss, while it's hot- he passes me the bowl

-Thanks- I turn it in my hands, warming up my frozen fingertips

-Well for the first 19 years of my life not much interest happened...

I was born in a decently Noble family and got risen with all the possible comforts... 3 meals a day, many lessons of calligraphy, music, seewing, floral composition...

Everything a Lady of manners should learn was taught to me.

Tho...

Since I was a young kid I used to sneak into my father's library and steal old Wars stories or strategy books...

I used to privately train with my older brother when we were young, until the day I was old enough to have my own sword...

That's when I began to train alone and he departed for the military academy-

-How come you trained alone? No master or anything?-

-I was a fast learner, everything I read in a book would become my training the next time...

I initially started in a wood to not be seen, being a Lady I wasn't supposed to hold weapons or such... Then I moved to a mountain and from there I pushed myself further and further,

I trained under any aspect, swimming, running, climbing, fighting, riding and so-

-Have you ever found yourself facing some Beasts?-

-Mhn I did quite a lot, even a tiger once-

-That's so cool!-

-But what I don't get is how... How did you got into the Army if none knew?

My father said they were just picked according to a list signed by the Emperor...- wonders Zhou

-Oh that...

I tried to get recruited the classical way out in the public but got taken away by my brother... So I had to sneak into the camp and sign myself up on that list-

-Impressive-

-Ah wish I knew how to sneak into General Cai's tend too... That men's sense are just too good!- yells Rang

-Why would you go in there...?-

-Hehe... I... Was caught in a fight and Uhm... He took something away momentarily as a punishment-

Zhou face palm on the other side

-Simply put, someone insulted the portrait of his Fiancee and he got mad... And the General took it away to help him calm down- comment Xu Lei

-Oh... Seems reasonable, I would punish my men too... Well I would-

-Your men?- Zhou's eyes peek between his fingers

-Yes... I was a Liutenant in my previous Armada- I say with lower voice for only him to hear

-Oh by the way, you trained at the Capital right? We received a report about the Heir being under trial, do you know anything about it? They didn't tell us much-

-Yeah, I do know about it... Actually I know that very well.

It was me who got him arrested, just don't... Spread the story too much for the moment.

Well it all began after his Wedding...-