Hidden Lesson

I roll my spear once, twice... Again and again -Tzz...!- I click my tongue annoyed -What's wrong now "Miss"?- I turn to see Zhou and some other men waking toward me.

Rising an eyebrow I stop my training -Why are you all here?-

A guy from the group push himself over -We want to learn from you!-

I look at him with a bored expression -We?- I ask facing again Zhou -I have nothing to do with this! I got forced to bring them here and introduce them to you- he claims with risen hands,

I cross my arms, waiting for him to spill the truth.

-I... Will get extra food...- murmurs him blushing

-Ah, fine- I turn to collect my things -If you can keep up and not be a burden, you are all free to join me-

-Ahh! Sure!- the men eyes lit up and I hide my mischievous expression

...

All the men, paired in couples, spar against one another following my instructions. After some time I stop paying attention and begin training again as I was doing before their arrival... Rolling and rolling the spear annoyed -This technique seems to be bothering you since quite a few days now- approaches me Zhou

-Ah... Yes, I can't seem to understand how to do it-

-What exactly is "It"?-

-Something useful when an Enemy is either escaping or out of reach, I might not always have a bow with me or it could be stuck or anything. To put it simply, is should be able to Uhm... Hit the base of the spear with the foot and make it roll far away, to strike the Enemy- I try to mimick the movement, sighing -But I just can't seem to make it... It gets stuck into the ground midway-

-Try to forget it for some time and get back to it later, actually... Why don't we switch training? The men all seems bored by now-

-Mhn- I nod before turning to the men.

...

-Let... Let us rest... Pl, please- asks a man, panting heavily, as some other fall on their knees by a river, they cup their hands and begin gulping on the water and spill it all over. I come by Zhou's side, who breathlessly tries to drink some water, so I lower an hand on his shoulder -You will choke like this, slow down... Uh?- something behind the trees catches my attention.

-It's fine, I... I just... Need water... Lai'Er?- he asks noticing my lack of attention. But my hand already left him as I am walking toward the trees...

...

A warm sensation encircles me, it's not the first time I expirince it... With a frowned eyebrow I move further in, trying to follow this sort of escaping shadow... It's so warm, so hot... Suffocating.

I feel like in a trance, I haven't actually saw anything or anyone and yet I keep following something. One step after the other, lightly as if walking on thin ice... Yet burning of wild fire inside -What... Is this feeling...?- my expression is strangely relaxed and my will is fading away. My cheeks and shoulders tingles a bit, like after you got a smack by your parents. Reaching and hand to touch my skin, and removing it right after as the texture is not that of normal skin, I stare at my fingers still clouded in my brain... As if it was the finger's fault. But a flashlight gains my attention again, I rise my head and begin speed walking toward it.

"Are those... Hair? Flushing through the trees..." Lowering myself to pass under a fallen branch, I see dark locks flowing in the movement of someone turning around, so I start running... But toward nothing.

Reaching the end of the small wood I fall on my knees, there's nobody... I'm seeing things again, I'm...

-I'm loosing my mind...- I reach my face to the sky, whispering -I'll probably die of madness before seeing the end of this War...- I close my eyes and seat on my heels, letting the pale sun to kiss me and console me.

That warmth is back again... Breathing by my neck and the sound of a mischievous smirk. I open my eyes facing nothing but a black shadow with sharp teeth, the only visible thing. One black hand grabs my wrist and one my neck -Who are you?!- I move to push it away, but soon realize that whatever I'm facing is a lot stronger than me... Completely immobilizing me with no effort at all.

I gulp down

"I can't stand a chance..." I try to calculate more options as my brain gets clouded again and the warmth turns to burning hotness -How...?- I want to ask, how this is possible? but I'm too weak even just to talk... The Shadow is playing mind tricks.

My wrist look so delicate inside that shadowy grip, those claws... Grabbing my skin with pressure, but not hurting me at all... My eyes fall shut, I'm succumbing to it. The shadow comes closer, placing a kiss on my throat... Then a bite...!Making me arch my eyebrows and part my lips, giving them almost an invitation to devour me.

The Shadow's hand leaves my wrists and reach my cheek, stroking the tingling skin "My... Skin... Isn't... I... I cannot... I cannot give in...!" I open my eyes and push myself away, taking out the sword ready to strike -You can be as powerful as the Emperor of Gods, but I won't fall before anyone's power- I growl rising the spear to stand back up, the Shadow moves away so I dash foward but it's much quicker than me. One moment passes and it's in a different place.

-You want to play uh?- I rise an eyebrow as my eyes fall on my spear -Well... It's a nice moment to try it- kicking the lower part of the stick it begin spinning quickly, going toward the Shadow -It's working!- I gasp.

The shadow laughs silently and dissolves into sparkles once the spear hits it -It...! Disappeared?- I whisper reaching foward, trying to grab the black dust... "A tear...?" A warm tear rolls down my cheek leaving me speechless.

...

-Lai'Er? Are you alright?- asks Zhou still bent over the river

-Uh?! Oh...Yes, I just realized something, I think that I know where I was doing wrong now. The training is enough for today, go rest everyone!- I yell at the men, turning around to leave... Automatically my fingers reach for my cheek, the skin is completely normal but the tingling feeling and the overwhelming warmth are still present.