Liu Xing stared at the sneaky looking man from across the table. His eyes danced across the papers of the books, never once looking up to meet hers. Every once and a while, he would pick his pen up and write something down in his record book before putting the book aside and moving on. Growing self-conscious, the young girl swung her legs in her chair, waiting to be acknowledged by the tutor.

"Perhaps you could stop being an annoying gnat and make yourself disappear. I haven't got the time or the energy to deal with the likes of you right now," he voiced with the power of venom. When she did not cower away like he had expected, his eyes finally rose from the pages like a cat to a cornered mouse.

"Are you deaf or simply imprudent? I said-"

"I know what you said," Xing stopped him mid-sentence. The innocence quickly abandoned her eyes as she stood; looking down at the book he had before him. "What is that and who is it by?"

Sima Yi frowned, more annoyed. "I am not entertaining your shenanigans."

"Li Si? Really?" she ignored and lifted the pamphlet. "I'm surprised you're being allowed to touch this. I'm sure it'd be a shame if something were to happen to it." She hinted and held it above a candle. His eye immediately twitched as he tried to snatch it out of her hands.

"Hand it over. Now." He growled.

Xing lightly laughed, her tawny eyes dancing. "Don't cause a scene. It wouldn't be becoming of you." Her eyes narrowed at him. "It has been a month since you've arrived. So far, I've learned absolutely nothing from you."

"What benefit is there from tutoring you? You're a woman, which means all anyone expects you to do in your life is bear sons and look pretty. Intellect would be a waste on you," he spat.

"Fine," she retorted and threw the now warm booklet at him. "However, regardless of how much of a waste you think I am, Cao Cao still pays you to do so. You're stuck with me whether you like it or not, so get used to it."

Her words, rather than shock him, made him laugh. "Spare me your foolishness. Tell me, do you believe that you threatening to burn my documents is becoming?" He scoffs. "Master Xun Shao said that you were dense, but I didn't think it'd be this bad."

Xing quirked an eyebrow almost tentatively. "There were many things he failed to mention, I suppose."

Sighing, he stood and motioned for her to follow him down three shelves of books. His long pale finger removed one book after another, stacking them high in her arms. "I demand these all be read and fairly memorized by the end of the month. Failure to comply will result in my rejection of your patronage. Now get out of my library."

XXX

A light tap jarred him from his sleep. The Sima groggily opened his eyes as a ray of sunshine beamed at them through the window. The chatter of peasants and the hush of the nobility's kimonos and robes dragging along the stone floor filled the room. This had become the norm in the last three years; however, something was not right this time.

"Master Sima Yi," a smoky voice called from the other side of the door. No longer the timorous adolescent girl she had been upon arrival, Liu Xing had somehow transformed into a defiant, self-entitled, irresponsible – yet highly educated – teenager. Thanks to Xun Shao, she had also managed to master the art of swordplay and hone her craft with the flute.

The door opened and without a moment's hesitation she stormed into the room, not bothering to offer a greeting. Yi frowned, rolling his eyes before closing the door. "Must you abandon your training every time I see you?"

The juvenile whipped around with fire burning brightly in her amber eyes. Her pale cheeks held a pout as she placed her hands on her hips, glaring up at him. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"What now?"

Swaggering over to the window, she threw open the curtains, revealing six foreign men entering the castle. "They are emissaries from Shu Han and Sun Wu. Apparently, peace talks will begin today," Xing explained as she looked down her nose at the men. Three of the six were clad in red and gold armor. The one leading had cool black hair and carried himself with an air of superiority. The leader of the men in green poised himself the same way as he looked around as if already scheming.

"The one from Wu is Zhu Ran and the one from Shu is Fa Zheng. Both are known for their intellect across the country," Sima Yi explained as he dressed in his purple robes. Undoubtedly a messenger would come soon to retrieve him and Master Xun Shao.

"Surely Lord Cao knows that such talks would never amount to anything more than border disputes. War cannot be absolved through mere talking."

"There is more to it than meets the eye, I'm sure."

Crossing her arms, she drew away from the window, her blue robe sliding across the floor as she took a seat in a chair and looked up at her mentor through her long lashes. "The new recruits come in today," she began. Yi shrugged, getting his papers in order as he headed to the door.

"Will you not stop me? Won't you say my actions aren't becoming of me?" She asked almost shaken. It bothered her that he was no longer so easily peaked into anger or exasperation with her. It was almost as if she had lost her touch.

"I haven't the time for you and your foolishness right now. Take it somewhere else," he dismissed and opened the door for her to leave. Begrudgingly she obeyed, sauntering down the hall back to her own room. She found her way to her balcony with her flute in hand, although she had little intention of playing it. Rather, her eyes scanned the yard full of trainees. Most were there simply to fulfill their two years of compulsory enlistment and had never used a sword in their lives. She almost found it humorous. Very few realized their slim chance of actually finishing two years without being slaughtered on the battlefield.

Throughout the entire day, only a select few had made any progress in their training. In a spar with the captain, one managed to pique her interest. The young man has long brown hair tied back in a ponytail. Slender, yet muscled, he had clearly received prior training before enlisting. This gained him the slight appreciation of his superiors.

Xing stood and looked down stoically as they finished for the day. For a brief moment his eyes locked onto hers and he immediately looked away as if her gaze would turn him to stone. She felt her heart stop and begin to burn with the fire of a thousand suns.

She needed to know more about this man.