BGM: I See Fire

By Ed Sheeran (the original), Addictive Elements, Kyro Remix, Quba Remix, and Peter Hollers (slowed down 10%)

.


.

[Ebony Devlin is a proud member of the Vale police force. He was still training at the Royal College of Justice when the war broke out. Like other undergraduates, Mr. Devlin devoted himself to helping the city by voluntarily patrolling the streets, tending to the sick and injured, and caring for the orphans and the elders. As recognition to their contribution, the law enforcement established the Junior Constable division and officially recruited those young men and women during the spring of Q.A. 82.

Despite years passing by, and the original members having long graduated from the academy, the division is still active today. Their post-war duties consisted mainly of restoration and repair projects. It was during one such trip that I met him. He was kind enough to invite me along, and share his story.]

Some said the March of Ice was the turning point of the war, that the Atlesian support saved Vale.

I disagree.

I didn't mean their help was useless. On the contrary, I believe the reconstruction of the CCT was the main reason we were able to win the war. The aids reminded us that we were not in this alone, that we still had allies who were willing to work with us for survival.

But that was only fuel. In my humble opinion, what really ignited the flame of hope vary from person to person. For me and many others - if not everyone - the Cobblestone Assault was the spark that ignited the fuel, and set ablaze the never-ending flame in our hearts.

[A Beowolf wandered into view. Mr. Devlin dispatched it swiftly with his rifle and turned back to me, as if nothing had happened.]

I was born and raised at Patch. My parents moved there from the city after they got married. Mom taught art and dad worked for the government. They never expected me to be a fighter, but I suppose that's one of the traits you gain growing up surrounded by dangers.

Before I graduated from Signal Academy, the farthest I'd gone from home was Vale's Industrial District. As a young boy, I always yearned for the chance to go to the big city, to see the crowded streets and the lively markets. But no matter how desperate I was to experience the vibe of the big cities, I loved and love Patch.

Some people joke about how much we love our home island, that we'd boast about what a wonderful place it was despite spending our childhood being chased by the Grimm when we went out to play. They weren't exactly wrong. We islanders are proud of our home. And no matter how much we envied the city folks for all the convenience they took for granted, or the most modern, advanced products all the city kids got to use, Patch was, is, and will always, be our true home.

Most of the Patch kids knew each other growing up, even if they lived miles away from one another. I've known Yang since before we became real classmates at Signal. We used to play together when we were old enough to be outside by ourselves.

The Xiao Long household was deep in the forest, so it's usually Yang who came to our village. I always wondered why they lived so far away from the community, but I never had the chance to ask. It just didn't seem that important.

For kids like us, the distance was nothing. We were raised to go a long distance without breaking a sweat. Hiking for an hour or two to reach our destination was common. The exercise was never a problem, and what the city folks considered wilderness - the forests, the meadows, even the cliffs - they were our playgrounds.

Of course, our parents taught us well about the dangers lurking in the shadow. We knew by heart where the Grimm infested territories were, the fluctuation of said territories, and we knew better than to venture into those lands. It would be foolish to venture into the darkness. That is, until we built our weapons and learned how to fight.

But even as we grew more confident, we knew the differences between testing our abilities and looking for troubles. So we generally avoided the woods. Too many places to get ambushed.

The only people I knew who walked among the trees, like it was the most natural thing to do, were Yang and her little sister Ruby. It probably helped that they grew up in the middle of nowhere, but still, it doesn't matter what people said. They would always be the coolest kids on the island. My heroes.

Everyone respected those two, not just because their father and uncle could kick everyone else's father and uncle, nor was it because of their Huntsmen heritage. Those kinds of things got people's attention, but it was because of how noble and brave and strong they were, that the kids admired them.

[We stopped when I was overcome with exhaustion trying to keep up. Mr. Devlin agreed to my suggestion easily and handed me his water bottle. I took a huge gulp before asking him to describe the sisters in more details.]

Certainly. [He smiled and leaned back against a tree.] Yang is, well, Yang. She's confident for good reasons. Not only because she kicked asses… she's gorgeous, too. I'm pretty sure half of the boys in our school had a crush on her at some point. And maybe even some girls. She just… draws people in.

She wasn't afraid of letting you know what she thought, and if she had to get the point across by beating the shit out of you, she's got no problem with that [chuckles]. Some people hated her guts, but others loved her. The most amazing thing, I guess, was that even the people who got a problem with her still respected her.

Yang is usually pretty chill about things in general. She could take a joke directed at her, her actions, her thoughts, pretty much anything, but you'd be a fool to speak ill of her families. Her parents, and especially her little sister, were off limits. The guy who picked on Ruby when she entered Signal got a limp that lasted for almost a full year. He was the first and the last person who dared to make fun of the little Rose in the open.

As for Ruby, she's a sweet kid. She could be a bit self-aware and awkward from time to time, but believe me when I tell you this, it's in the most adorable way possible.

Ruby wasn't exactly the most noticeable kid in the school, but once you get to know her, she really grows on you. You learned to love her not as "Yang's baby sister", but as an honorable person who's got a big dream and a lovable personality.

All of Yang's friends liked Ruby, thought we didn't exactly hang out. They are really similar in many aspects - both are kind and brave; both are badass fighters - although you'd never guess those two are related by their looks.

I still remember the first time Yang introduced her to us. We all thought she was joking when she proudly announced the odd kid with black hair and streaks of red was her baby sister.

It took a bit of both verbal and physical convincing in Yang's part to persuade us she's being serious. Now that I think about it, maybe that's why Ruby was always a bit shy and awkward around us. [He smiled.] I mean, it wasn't exactly the first impression you'd want to give people, having your big sister screaming in rage and swinging her deadly fists at anyone who said something wrong.

But we were at fault, too. We didn't know how foolish we were acting by laughing at them for their physical differences. We probably didn't give the best first impression either.

[His smile faded and he fell silent. After several long seconds of no response, I asked. "Does that bother you that much?"]

Huh? Oh, sorry about that. [He looked into the distance before quietly responded.] ...yeah, I suppose it does. I mean, it just didn't sit well with me, considering what happened recently. I kept thinking back to what I could have done different. Not much, probably, but I'd rest easier knowing I didn't contribute to Ruby's suffering.

Again, let me emphasize how much we islanders are tied together. We may not always see eye-to-eye with each other, but we are forever bonded by this land.

It didn't matter which family name we carry, who we befriend, or what we become. We are, and will always remain, the Keepers of Forest [*].

[*: This title was originally given to the settlers by the Vale royal, as recognitions to their fearless spirits to explore the uninhabited island.]

Regardless of where our paths lead us, Patch is the only place we return to. Growing up, we all felt the calling to be a fighter in one way or another. Most of the people I grew up with went to Signal, even though only very few of us were capable to becoming Huntsmen. I myself never got admitted to Beacon, but I expected the rejection from the beginning.

[I was feeling okay again. We continued with our patrol, after I asked gingerly, "did it have to be Beacon?" He smiled humorlessly.]

It did occur to me that I can apply to other academies. Haven, Shade, even Atlas. I cannot deny the temptation to at least try. But, maybe I wasn't strong enough to leave the nest, I longed to stay. That's how I ended up in the Royal College of Justice.

It was the same with most of us who didn't make it to Beacon. We didn't want to be too far away. It's rare for someone to even relocate to another city, let alone go to another kingdom.

Most of the city folks never understand when we speak of our connection to our homeland - I don't know who is right, we or them - it probably doesn't matter anyway. I'm just glad that we are the way we are.

If not, I doubt there would be so many of us present during the Cobblestone Assault.

[We stopped again when we heard growlings from the forest. Mr. Devlin radioed for backups. Few minutes later, the low grumble escalated into furious howls, before the forest became quiet again. A Huntress emerged from the bushes and waved a clear signal at us, before disappearing into the shadows again. Mr. Devlin turned to me, half distracted.]

Where was I?

["The Cobblestone Assault."]

Ah. Yes. The Cobblestone Assault. I can still remember it like it was yesterday.

I've never seen anything burning brighter than Yang that day. I doubt I ever will. She lived up to her namesake, like the combined fury of a dragon and the sun. Anyone there that day would tell you her nickname - Dragon's Fiery - was well earned.

[He checked the clip in the rifle.] I'm getting ahead of myself. Let me start from when we were on the airship.

At first, the army didn't want volunteers. It's a military operation, and they were reasonable to reject the untrained. Allowing people who didn't know what they were doing to stand on the battlefield could be costly. There could be more casualties. We could hinder the mission. And worse, it could jeopardize the whole operation. They only relented after the volunteers threatened to "find a goddamn airship ourselves and avenge our loved ones".

We weren't supposed to do that. I know. It made a bad example. But we didn't really care then. Patch is our home, and we'd be damned if we can't actively contribute to reclaiming it from the Grimm.

The ride was tense, quiet, and extremely awkward. The volunteers and the soldiers kept away from each other, mostly because we didn't know what to say or how to act. There was no joke, no pep talk, no nothing. We sat quietly with our people at the two opposite sides of the cargo bay, waiting for the airship to arrive at the designed location, and for the mission to start.

But then, out of nowhere, Yang rose from the crowd, and marched onto the podium.

She looked different. At first, I couldn't quite put my fingers on what it was. She was still wearing that short leather jacket and the orange scarf that sort of became her trademarks in Signal. I thought maybe it was because they looked weathered and discolored, like she's been through hell. Judging by the amount of stories involving her, I think that's not far from the truth.

I remember nudging the girl next to me when I first noticed Yang.

"Hey, look!" I could barely contain my surprise and excitement. "It's Yang!"

I didn't really know my companion that well. Morana, I think that's her name. She was a few years younger if memory serves. I knew of her existence, and I would recognize her name if it's given in a multiple choice question, but beyond that, we had no connection.

There were hushed whispers all around us. The islanders recognized Yang immediately. Some of the soldiers did, too, but they were more confused than excited. They didn't know what she's capable of, even though I'm sure she's already pretty famous among the army - nah, just famous in general - because of the broadcast of the Vytal Festival tournament.

I think everybody there saw the broadcast, or at least had heard about it from other people.

[He stopped and turned to look at me with slightly narrowed eyes.]

Oh, by the way. We didn't believe Yang really broke that silver-haired dude's leg for no good reason. [Before I could explain I was just as confused about the cause of that incident, he carried on.]

Yang may be hot-headed, but she was a noble warrior. Most of us agreed it's gotta be foul play. I say most of us, because some argued it's possible - possible, not likely - that the guy did something to Ruby, and Yang just lost it in the fight.

I didn't buy that theory. I mean, come on. Unless he somehow destroyed that ridiculously intimidating scythe, nobody could touch Ruby. She might have been two years younger than the rest of her classmates at Beacon, but she was deceptively strong.

When the initial excitement of seeing a friend eventually wore out, I realized something wasn't quite right.

Ruby wasn't there.

Why wasn't she there? Did something really happen to her? I felt worry and panic started building up in my chest.

But they were cut short when Yang cleared her throat, attempting to get people's attention. All eyes fell on her. I forgot about the panic, mesmerised by a new discovery, of the source of discrepancy I felt…

It wasn't the outfit, it was Yang's right hand. Cheap metal replaced flesh. You could hear the gears grinding with each movement she made. Occasionally, the limb jerked at odd directions, a common glitch of the low-grade prosthetics the army supplied to their handicapped soldiers.

I remember wondering who could have done that to one of the strongest fighters I have ever known. Was it the Black Blood, the White Fang, or the Grimm? My heart sank as I pondered the answer. I had heard rumors of powerful individuals in the terrorist organizations, and of new species of Grimm emerging from the shadow. Was it that bad? Were they really that strong that they could cut off one of Yang's arm?

Unaware of my horrors, Yang tapped the floor with her boots and rubbed her hands together. She surveyed the room, nodding to every single person she knew. When it was my turn to make eye contact, all I could remember was the determination in her eyes.

My blood boiled in my ears and I felt heat beating wildly. The adrenaline surged through my veins.

She waved her left hand to get people's attention, her right arm dangling on the side, curling and uncurling her fist. She took a deep breath before she began.

"Eighteen months ago, I took one of the last airships to leave Patch before the Grimm destroyed claimed the island." Her voice cracked a bit when she said that, but she cleared her throat and pretended nothing was wrong.

We islanders bowed our heads mournfully. None of us will ever forget the day when the news reached our ears. I remember being let out of work much earlier that day after I broke down at the station. I sobbed like a lost child for hours. My colleagues took care of me, or tried to. I don't really remember.

I recognized most of the names on the long list of people who didn't make it. Some of them I had known since I was a toddler. They held a special place in my heart, like a scenery you never expected to change or disappear.

Of the five Huntsmen who sacrificed themselves to buy time for the airships to leave, two of them were teachers at Signal. I had gone to their classes, talked to them about my career, and even ate lunch with Professor Tai a couple times. It hit me hard when I learned he was gone.

"My father died that day with many others." Yang continued with trembling voice. She didn't bother to clear her throat and remain calm anymore. "After he passed, I felt hopeless. I didn't know what to do, and I was drowning in my sorrow for weeks."

The soldiers looked at each other uncertainly. A few even wanted to go up and drag Yang from the stage. We stopped them.

There's a reason Yang's telling us this, and it's not to make people panic. Yang's a fighter. The very fact that she's standing on that podium was proof that she didn't give up. We pinned the protestors down, all the while trying our best to keep our eyes one the blonde brawler.

"It's true that this world is falling into darkness." She looked at her right arm. "I was there the night Beacon fell. I saw people in need crying for help, but I couldn't do anything. I thought I could save my friend, but I ended up with this."

She stopped abruptly, thought for a few seconds. We waited for what's about to come in anticipation and dread. She looked at us and then grinned.

"...you know what? Actually it's not as bad as it sounds. I mean, now I have a chance to learn how to shoot a rocket from my hand the right way." She winked. "Eh?"

I couldn't help it. I laughed loud and hard.

It wasn't long before other islanders joined in. The soldiers looked at us in bewilderment, but said nothing. That was Yang for you, the brawler that never pass up an opportunity to crack a joke. Her enthusiasm is like a fire that never ceased to burn.

"Hey, Yang!" Someone called out. "What about a flamethrower?"

"What? Did you already forget what I'm made of?" She grinned even wider and winked even harder, before she stuck a thumb at her chest proudly. "Ya looking at it, pal."

The islanders cheered. The soldiers looked half amazed, half horrified. I don't think they got the reference [he chuckled].

But seriously, it helped. Courage was even more difficult to come by than shelters and food those days. Most of us exhausted whatever stock within ourselves long before that battle. We weren't there because of bravery. We were there because we had to, because it's our destiny to take back what belonged to us, or die trying.

Very few had what it takes to inspire others and lead them. It's just too hard. But let me tell ya, having someone putting a hand on your shoulder and saying, "Hey, it's gonna be alright" meant a whole lot more than people realize.

It sounded too simple to be true, but regular folks can't comprehend what it's like for the ones standing on the battlefield. They claimed they understand, but they don't. You won't be able to fully appreciate it unless you were one of those who had the responsibility to keep hundreds of thousands other people safe.

I don't know if that's what made me stood up. I just knew I was ready.

"So, we gonna burn them down, eh?"

She recognized me and beamed.

"Well, I don't know about you guys, but that's my plan alright. Imma burn those fuckers to ashes."

"Then we shall burn with you." Bruno Mosconi - he was one of the people we used to hang out with at Signal - struggled up and took a clip from his belt. I learned much later that he was with the Free Medics [*] when a Creep took a chunk out of his left leg only few weeks ago.

[*: The Free Medics was a group of civilian volunteers composed of certified doctors, nurses, and medical students. They provided free services to everyone who required their helps, no matter their races, occupations, or backgrounds. The army had, at one point, attempted to recruit them, but was refused. Over 70% of the volunteers died during the war. It was rumored that both the terrorists and the government contributed to this number.]

"I might not have a Semblance as cool as yours, but I got some fire Dust." He smiled as he waved the clip in the air.

"That's the spirit, Bruno!" She roared back with a rough laugh.

More people raised to their feet. Seriousness replaced her smile as she looked at each of them. "I don't know if I'll live past today." She admitted. "And I don't know if any of you will."

Now, not just the islanders, the soldiers rose up as well. I recognized that look on their faces.

"But you know what? There's one thing I know for sure."

I don't know if Yang realized she's got the spotlight. She turned around and gazed into the distance, where our homes and memories laid in shamble. "I ain't gonna stop until I get it back. I ain't gonna rest until everyone lost ones are avenged. I swear to Oum and everything under the sun. If I'm to die today, I'll die after setting all my enemies on hell's inferno."

Her eyes turned a scorching red, shining bright with determination.

"You won't be alone." Aridai - another one in our gang - stood up with tears in her eyes.

"Aye!" Yedid - we didn't exactly hang out with him back then, but he's a good lad - got to his feet as well. "Imma quote the old lullaby, 'if we should die tonight, we should all die together'."

One. Five. Ten. Twenty. Fifty. All the islanders.

A hundred. Two-fifty. Four. I lost count. Everybody.

"Brothers." Yang called out. "Sisters!" I felt my eyes welling up. "Are you ready to fight?"

One of the officers barged in and halted with wide eyes. He must have thought we were rebelling or something. His jaw slackened when we all responded with the most powerful "Aye!" I have ever heard in my life.

"Are you ready to face the enemies that took away our homes," she gestured angrily at the general direction of Patch. There was a flash of fury and anguish when she shouted, "and the lives of so many good people?"

"Aye!"

"Are you ready?" She bellowed. "Are you ready to die?"

"Yeah!"

"Are you ready to burn with me?"

There's only one thing to say. A simple 'yes' just wouldn't do the job anymore. So instead, we said, "hell yeah!"

"Then let's do this!" She barked and activated her Semblance. The cargo bay became boiling hot, but the heat didn't bother any of us.

Maybe it was because we were feeling the fever ourselves. We erupted in an uproar.

Just then, the trapdoor opened and we saw it all. Our lost homeland. The darkness awaiting eagerly. But most important of all, we saw the flame enveloping Yang. We witnessed the birth of the Dragon's Fiery.

Too many things happened at the same time. The crowd started singing an ancient folk lore, one about a banished dragon and the heroes who challenged the monster. Yang shot toward the exit.

[His pace slowed as he looked up to something I couldn't see. There was a small smile gracing his hardened features.] I'll never forget that day. Not a single moment of it.

I'll always remember the day the dragon was awoken. How she hurled herself out of the plane with a fierce roar. How we followed her with abandon, all screaming our own battle cries. I'll remember every single enemy I stroke down, all those moments when death was milimeters away, and how we faced it with courage.

[He stopped completely and pointed. My eyes followed where he gestured. It was the monument built after the war ended to remember those who had fallen on the island. I didn't realize we were already back at the airport.]

This is where we landed, where Yang crushed the first enemy when she touched down. The poor creature was incinerated on impact.

They say this is also where the Huntsmen died when Patch fell. I don't know if that's entirely true. After all, the scorch mark left by Professor Tai stretched over 50 kilometers square [*].

[*: This number was estimated by scientists with witness accounts and measurements. However, the exact number was still hotly debated to this date.]

Anyway, we stormed the airport, or what's left of it. The forward teams pressed on like mad dogs. The rearguards - I was one of them - could barely keep up.

Did you know the commanders specifically arranged the formation so that all the Patch Huntsmen and trainees were assigned to the forward team? Did you know that other Patch-born were put in the rears with regular soldiers? They made damn sure we got the front row seats for the show. Somebody who studied wars and strategies probably figured letting the most enthusiastic bunch leading the attack would boost our morale or something.

Well. guess what? It actually worked better than they expected. The operation was overwhelmingly successful. Victory came came more easily than anyone could have imagined. We all thought we were in for a long haul… the commanders, the strategy departments, and all the soldiers.

But instead of a standstill, we seized control of the PIA in under half an hour, and cleared all the villages in ten hours. Before we realized, we had completed the circle around the island, and arrived back here.

It's impossible to describe the feeling when the reality of our accomplishment finally sank in. Somebody started sobbing, and the dam broke for the rest of us.

Tears poured down our faces as we hugged each other like there's no tomorrow. The city folks smiled and congratulated us. We responded with broken 'thank you's and overjoyed sobs.

We did it. We took back our homes.

[He took off his beret and pressed it against his chest, facing the monument. "Ignis nos defendit", I heard him whisper. He noticed me staring, but didn't offer an explanation. He put his hat back on and continued ahead.]

Ever since that day, I have this theory about the Grimm.

You know how they say the monsters are attracted to negativity? I think that theory is incomplete. Not wrong, just unfinished. I think the Grimm aren't just attracted by our negativities. I feel like… like they grow stronger by feasting on our fears and despair.

Now, I'm by no mean any sort of Grimm expert or scientists. But don't you think it makes sense? And if what I just said is correct… then I think I know why we were so successful. But then again, that's just a guess.

Well, let me tell you something real and sure. Of the forty-five thousand troops deployed that day, we had about seventeen thousand light casualty, five thousand severely injured, and zero death. [He grinned.]

We were exhausted, battered, but alive. Everyone got to go home. That's unprecedented.

Once news of our victory spread, the whole kingdom - no, the whole world - was thrilled. If nothing else, the Cobblestone Assault proved to the world that we can win, that miracle is possible.

Volunteers showed up everywhere. More people enlisted, to the point where the army actually had to refuse some of them. The economy began recovering. Schools reopened. And…

[He halted and looked at me with a dark expression.]

You ever heard of the Wetzel brothers?

[I nodded. They were the most notorious warlords amongst the rebel force. Mr. Devlin cleared his throat awkwardly.]

…they were one of the rebels who tried to turn themselves in.

["I beg your pardon?"]

[He pushed open the door to the airport waiting room. Several ground crews looked up as we entered. He nodded to them, smiling, and led me to the employee lounge before he spoke again.]

I don't know if the feds actually planned to kill them, or if it's just a bloody mistake. I'm not saying they didn't deserve it after all the people they robbed and killed, but it's also true that the feds left them during the Great Retreat.

Anyway…

Tucker died in the crossfire when they had the supposed negotiation. Big brother Deandre got mad, killed all five of the feds before the Whisperers got him in the shoulder and had to run away. The rest is history.

…I'm getting off track. Anyway, the rebels backed off. Well, the majority of them.

Thanks to the new recruits, I got a week off from active duty. I used it to visit Patch, see how the reconstruction was going and whatnot.

I bumped into Yang on the airship.

[He hesitated. I asked if he wanted to add something else.]

I don't know if it's my place to tell this bits. It's not really my story. [I was about to say it's okay if he felt uncomfortable when he started again.] But it's been bugging me since that day, so I might as well get it off my chest.

Remember I mentioned before that there were people missing during the big day? Remember how I was wondering where Ruby was? I'm ashamed to say this, but I forgot all about it after Patch was secured. I almost asked Yang why her little sister didn't come with her when I saw her.

["Did you ask her about it?"]

No. If Yang wanted it to be public knowledge, it would have become public knowledge by then. It's the same with that question that we all wondered but never asked, about their differences in appearances and their mother.

I only remembered to keep my mouth shut when I saw the black ribbon tied to her left arm. It reminded me of that night after the assault.

I saw Yang leaving the camp in the dead of the night, when everyone was either utterly exhausted or utterly drunk. The only reason I was up was because one of my pals gave my face a solid kick [he rubbed his chin as if he was sore]. I thought I was punched by an Ursa.

I was about to fall back to the pile of sweaty, dirty, unconscious bodies that were my friends, when I spotted Yang stalking away from the campsite.

I followed her more out of curiosity than worry. I mean… she's a Huntress, and I'm a police. If she encountered a Grimm she couldn't handle, well shit, we were both dead. [He laughed lightly.] Anyway, I wasn't worried at all. She's more than capable of taking care of herself, and I was too drunk and drowsy to think logically.

We walked for an hour or so, I think. Her pace was… urgent. Heavy. Resigned. You'd be surprised how much you can learn from someone's footsteps. I'm pretty good at it, at least when I'm not drunk.

She stopped when we reached a cliffside. I hid in the bush at the edge of the forest, too focused on rubbing the sleep away from my eyes and suppressing my yawns to see what exactly she was doing.

Then, suddenly, I heard the familiar sound of a shovel digging into the earth. I straightened up and stared. That's when the huge boulder she carried all the way from the camp with her registered in my minds, and that's the moment I recognized the dome-shaped shadow next to where she stood. It was a headstone.

I didn't know who it was for, but I did realize I was intruding on a very private moment. I stood up, thought about calling out to my friend, when a hand appeared from the shadow and covered my mouth.

"Please be quiet." It was a woman's voice. Soft, calm, and sad. I nodded and she let me go.

I took a step back and spinned around. She remained where she was, seemingly unbothered by my sudden movements. I wondered which would be faster, me screaming out a warning, or her unsheathing her weapon to slit my throat.

She didn't seem like she was going to hurt me, or Yang. She just stood there watching her with some emotion too complicated to be described by words.

"Who are you?" I challenged her in hushed whispers.

"A friend." She responded quietly.

I thought she was going to say more, but she remained as still and as quiet as a rock. So I spoke up again. "Why are you here?"

Her eyes never left Yang.

"... to watch over her."

For a split second, she looked lost. I continued staring at her, challenging her to continue. She must have felt it, for she spared a quick glance at me and smiled.

"I mean her no harm. You needn't worry - I was her partner."

I don't know if she intended to say that, but I caught the implication. "Was?" I asked, a little confused, and a little suspicious.

Something flashed across her face. Maybe it was pain, or regret. You saw them so often you began recognizing it. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, before looking back to Yang, who had already finished digging and putting the boulder in the empty hole, and was now beating the shit out of that rock.

After a long silence, she whispered to me, or maybe to herself, in a wistful tone.

"I'd like to think I still am."

Something twinkled in her golden eyes, reflected by the soft glow of the twilight rising from the horizon.

"But that's not my choice to make. Not anymore."

.


.

A/N: I deleted the chapter of the 4th Great Retreat, which featured Deandre Wetzel, a businessman who became a warlord after he lost everything in the war, was abandoned the government, and turned into a ruthless dictator. In my original plan, Yang was the one who arrested him and his followers. The interview was conducted the day before he was executed.

But oh well. this series has gone on too long.

I'll post a reply to the review later, when I'm not drunk.