Light Show

After a few minutes I reach the camp again... I sense something from behind and turn around, bit it's empty leaving me to sigh...

-You seems disappointed- Xu Lei's voice reaches me. I find him with crossed arms on the perimeter of the camp, staring at me with a risen eyebrow

-Were you waiting for me?- I face him

-I asked a question first-

-And I ignored it since it was stupid- grabbing on my belt I pass over him

-I was- he says after some silence

-Uh?- I turn slightly with a slight shaking in one hand, I hide it in my other sleeve and leave -Tz stop joking around-

...

-Our hero, Yah!- a yell makes me rise up my eyes, I am kneeled polishing my sword and see a group of men approaching

One missing a leg and walking with a stick, one with an eyepatch, one with an arm tied to the chest and the others all wounded and scratched

-Miss Ying... We own you our lives-

I put aside the blade and cloth standing back up -It was my duity-

-We know that well... But if it wasn't for your abilities your help wouldn't have been so meaningful-

-I... Mhn- I nod -It's a pleasure to see you all here-

-Thanks to the gods we made it out of the Infirmary- laughs one -So you mean Miss Ying again!- hit him another

-Ah?! No I'm not a deity, really- I widen my eyes

-We saw you opening the earth Miss... Your secret is safe- winks a man as they begin to leave

-But I'm really not...! Ah they're gone- sighing at their disappearing figures I notice something weird... Like a thick fog. I take back my sword and follow the gray aura in the wood, just above the ground...

...

Night is falling and the sun peeking through the frozen trees is slowly disappearing... Small feeble lights appear here and there between the bushes and branches, by each minute a new one pop out in the distance.

-What kind of creatures are these...?- I say looking all around me. I approach one, reaching out an hand a bit too harshly and it crawls back hiding in fear... -I'm not going to harm you, trust me... Uhm- my words die on my lips -Am I really not going to?- I sigh still bent over -Nevermind... I can understand your fear- and I straighten up, ready to leave... As I say so, the little light makes its move out of the hiding spot.

I blink a couple of times -Uh? You're not afraid anymore?- once again I reach out my hand and it gets closer to my fingers, rubbing itself cutely -What creature are you? Made of red light or is it... Fire...?- I cup my hands, inviting the creature and it hops on -Good boy- I straighten back up, finally noticing what's happening around me...

The sky is completely black now and all around me red and silver lights are dancing like little fireworks, the whole frozen wood is lighten up by their playful movements... Sparkles of life, enchanted by the reflecting ice.

There seem to be ghost fire too, or something, in the furthest part of the wood... As if wanting to join the light feast, but it's a cold fire compared to this.

-Woah...- I gasp at the unusual sight spinning on myself a couple of times, admiring the show as it reflects on my skin... I might be used to all these weird occurrences, but it's the first time I'm able to enjoy them... Especially since normally these weird things are always something harmful.

A group of lights comes dancing around me, I turn on myself chuckling as those creatures caress my skin -It's tickling... Ehy...!- I push some away, which are dancing over my shoulders and cheekbones -What even are you?- I try to catch a couple but they play hard to get and a tinting sound echoes whenever they move, it feels like a fairy laugh -You think this is fun uh?- I smile playing along -Then let's have fun, it won't harm us for once-

...

After some time playing I let myself to fall to the ground on my back, staring up at the light show with a small smile -Aren't you guys tired? It's already this late...- I pass am arm over my eyes. The little lights stop dancing, revealing the moon behind them, and come to rest by my side... Silver and full, with that bit of sadness and motherly aura -How graceful... I rarely let myself to appreciate these things around me- I sigh -I should be more grateful for what I have...- I whisper with a hint of bitterness, before turning on one side. The small lights grouped all beside me start resting... -So you are tired afterall uh?- chuckling I reach out and hand to cuddle those, but a sparkle of light steal my vision away...

I see someone smirking... As the lips gets thinner in the wicked smile, fangs peeks through "-Uhmph-" they say turning toward me and the vision dissipate. It all become black and a hot sensation circles me, something holds me down on the ground and I feel warm breath by my neck... I force myself to focus again, opening my eyes wide. But there's nothing... No one...

I take back my hand quickly with shocked eyes, the small lights look at me worried due to the sudden movement. -W... What was that...?- standing up with all my senses on alert I look around, but nobody is to be seen... Nothing, no weird sensation or hidden sounds -I...-

One light reaches my ankle trying to comfort me but I shake my head -It's alright, you guys did nothing wrong... I'll go back to... Sleep- my voice gets cold again and I turn to leave.

...

As I walk out of the wood I feel dizzy and tingling all over, I reach for a tree branch to steady myself... That hot sensation still rushing inside me, I could almost swear someone is grabbing on my wrist and pulling me somewhere...

...

I walk toward the dining section of the camp to seat down beside Zhou, gaining a worried stare from him over his bowl of soup -Something happened?-

-Uh...?-

-You look unwell-

-I wouldn't say that something happened... But neither would I say it didn't... It was different than what I'm used to-

A few meters away, Xu Lei stare at us alarmed and quickly disappear with a troubled expression. My eyes falls on him and Zhou follows my gaze -Ah, just let him be Lai'Er...- I shake my head and stand up to follow him.

...

As he walks around the camp with a clouded mind, I catch up and block his path, crossing my arms

-ChangLai...?-

-I'm the one making questions now-

-Mhn- he nods, fixing his posture -Go ahead-

I rise an eyebrow -Just speak, I know very well you're hiding something-

He half smirks, half sigh -Well... You surely do, but if you're asking what happened in that wood or if it was me... Then no-

-Who was it then?- I lower an hand on my hip

-I have no idea... That's what concern me-

-You're not worried for me-

-Excatly, I'm not- he agrees

-Are you going to investigate? I'm coming with you... Two works better and... I wouldn't mind keeping an eye on you in the meantime-

He shakes his head and passes over me -I'm not going to investigate yet-

-Then what...?- his words leave me speechless, making me turn around with a confused expression

-Just... Don't follow me now... It could be dangerous- he says over his shoulder and make one step away, stopping once I speak again -You are difficult to read... I can't understand if you're a menace or a comrade. A dangerous aura is upon you-

-Maybe I'm both- he cleanches his fists and leave