Chapter11- Invasions.
Xiu Mi set the steaming cup on the table in front of Jia, who sat behind the counter at the book shop. She couldn't possibly lose working days, she thought tiredly. After being at the hospital or three days, Jia got home to receive an angry looking letter, written with bold red letter, stating that she could no longer postpone her tax paying.
It wasn't like she wasn't paying them, but it was getting harder and harder to close the month. The computer took over the need to actually buy the books she was doing her best to sell. She waited desperately for a bestseller to appear and send a reviving wave of customers to resurrect the little book shop. She needed something.
Xiu Mi and Kuan spent most of their time at the shop, it didn't matter whether they were helping customers, arranging the books, cleaning the small tables or just hanging out there, they were always together. She held her long hair with a small shiny ribbon, which she touched a lot when she thought no one was looking, making sure it was still on her head.
Jia was instructed to 'take it easy'. Even though the cramps had been reduced to vague aches, she was still ordered to take medication which made her head a little bit lighter then she'd wanted it to be, and sleepy, very sleepy.
A great yawn cracked her jaws opened as she tried to thank Xiu Mi for the lovely cup of tea, but all that came out was a semi growl. Xiu Mi smiled sweetly at her, her pink blouse making the small blush on her face more evident to her eyes. Jia agreed with Kuan the girl was very sweet.
Jia glanced at the clock, it was about time for Gui to be done with his lessons at XXX university for the day, and like a highly functioning clock, Gui entered the door of the shop right after Jia looked away from the it. After Gui entered a flock of screeching girls. His fan club seemed to tail him everywhere he went, fortunately for her, Gui knew how to take advantage of the situation. At the end of the day every girl usualy left with a book or two more then she intended to end up with. With a small smile here, a good recommendation there, Jia and Gui managed to make the sales increase bit by bit.
It helped a lot that they were both well-known because of 'Second Life', and now with the strange disappearance of Prince from the central continent the other day, the fangirls turned they little love struck heads toward the next bishie available.
In that case, Gui, who had discovered where his fangirls were getting all the inside information about him- a quickly growing chat room\ fansite worshipping the ground he walked in, which was managed by a female student from one of his many classes. It did not bother him as much as it previously did. With a swift smile glued onto his face his fans kept a reasonable breathing space around him.
The girls who currently entered the shop hid behind one of the shelves as they giggled and tried not to gossip too loudly, a thing they were failing miserably at. When the sudden realization dawn upon them with the not-so-hushed whispered of "NOW WAY!", one brave girl was pushed by her friends out to the open. She sent a menacing glare to them as they urged her with their eyes to walk up to Gui and Jia who were sitting together at the counter. She straightened her clothes and her posture, trying to stretch her meager height to impressive looking lengths.
Jia heard Gui take a little exasperated breath as she stood before them. He took his black reading glasses of his face, and placed a soft fangirl-melting smile on his face. "How may I help you?" he asked politely, although Jia noted his long fingers were drumming on the spine of his book, and his eyebrow was twitching slightly. He didn't liked to be pestered in the middle of his tasks.
The fangirl sent a fleeting look at him and cleared her throat.
"Miss?" she asked. Jia looked up, surprised and pointed at herself.
"Me?"
"Are you by any chance the Bloody Phoenix?" she asked. Jia felt her hands clutching her silken brown skirt with nervousness.
"Ahm," she cleared her throat, at Gui surprised look, "Yes, I am. Do I know you?" she asked politely. Up until now Gui was the stalked one since Jia could hide behind her long flowing hair and her small pair of elegant reading glasses.
"Oh my god! My boyfriend adores you!" she said excitedly, and searched her pockets for something. "He showed my all of you fighting clips! You are really amazing, ya know?"
"Really elegant! Like a deadly dancer!" piped one of the girls hiding behind the book shelf. The girl in front of her finally found what she was searching for and fished out her phone. "Do you mind if I take a picture with both of you? My friends at school will die of jealousy!" she said, her voice reaching new hights.
Jia took a sideway look at Gui who laughed quietly at the alarmed look Jia had on her face.
"Sure we'd love to, won't we Jia?" he winked at her.
"S-Sure.." she mumbled nervously.
"Ohhhh too bad Ji Yong couldn't be here for this! He'd be so happy! He really idolizes The 'Odd squad', you know, winning Infinite city single handedly."
After they took a photo with the girl, and signed a piece of paper she took out of her bag for her boyfriend "Who will be at the seventh heaven" for such a small thing. The group huddled when the girl returned triumphantly to their hideout behind the shelf.
"You just wait" Said Gui, "In a second or so they will tweet about this, and the internet will be full of this picture." He laughed and bit a biscuit that rested next to Jia's cup of tea. "In a couple of moments at least five more people will come in here and only take a peek at you, and then they will just leave."
And true to his words, a couple of moments after the girls left, a small group of boys and girls stopped outside the book shop and looked around, as if searching for something. They took a long look at their phone and turned their heads, where their eyes fell upon the Bard and the Phoenix.
Jia wished she'd just disappear after they all came in and asked for her autograph.
"How'd you learn to fight like that?!" asked one boy, "You weren't in 'Second life for almost two weeks! Are you out with Prince in a different continent?", asked another.
"Ughhh…." She managed to repeat weakly.
They all looked at her like their absolute attention was fixed on her, waiting for a real answer, since 'Ughhh' did not satisfy them.
"I learned how to fight from my…ugh...Late…husband, we used to play video games all the time. You know" she looked at them pointedly, "The legend of Zelda and stuff… it sticks to you."
They all nodded their heads with the notion of complete understanding that was taken and stored in their heads. Jia looked sideways at Gui who pretended to be deep in his book, while all he really did was laugh a bit at Jia's expanse. She kicked his shin and to her satisfaction she heard a small curse escaping him.
After a while she excused herself from the eager company and left Gui to fend for himself. She rearranged some of the books that were left abandoned by the customers. She heard the doorbell ring and she really hoped the fans had enough excitement for one day. She stretched her back and unsurprisingly sharp pain flashed through her spine. She cursed silently.
"That's not something I hear from you on regular days" stated an amused voice behind her.
With his hair parted stylishly, a big brown sweater worn over a stark white button up shirt and a pair of well-fitting black dress pants, Tai Ning was the last person Jia wanted to hear her curse.
"I haven't seen you in a while." She stated her hands on her hips. She sort of expected him to come see her at the hospital like some romantic nonsense she had once read, but the universe was not cooperating with her on those terms.
"I heard about what happened" He said, taking a couple of steps toward her, but kept a reasonable distance between them that Jia wanted to close.
"Yet you didn't come." She hoped she sounded nonchalant and not a bit bitter like she felt. Gui was such a telltale. She turned and set the books in their right places. The hairs on the back of her neck stood at attention as a hot breath blew on them. She hoped Tai Ning could not see the heat rising up her cheeks.
"As a matter of fact," she heard him say, his breath tingling her ear, " I did come, but by the time I managed to find your room you didn't need the medical attention."
"Oh" she said dumbly.
"Yea" he laughed.
She turned toward him, a bit stupefied by his closeness. He looked a bit unsure for a moment and peered at her, clearing his throat. He raised his hand, and gave a light jiggle to the plastic bag he was holding.
"I bought a 'Second life' Set." He stated.
For the second time that day the only thing she could think of saying was 'Oh'.
"Can I meet you? In game, I mean."
"I'd like that"
"Really?" he looked hopeful.
"Of course I would, why wouldn't I?"
She wished for the conversation to take a turn toward a different subject, because the few stumbled and mumbled sentences they swapped could not be called a serious conversation between two adults. The moment stretched toward an awkward silence.
"Ahem"
Jia turned toward Gui, her savior who decided to interfere at the right moment.
"I should…go…" Said Jia, pointing toward Gui with her thumbs to make it perfectly she was not leaving just to run away from him. Although it was perfectly obvious she was.
"Yea." Tai Ning answered, He too looked a bit annoyed with his reactions. "I should start moving soon too… I have Some Tests to grade…and…stuff" he finished lamely.
"Yea"
"Well…"
"Bye?"
"Bye Jia" He said and shot her a dazzling smile. A moment later he was out of the door, Gui's laughter echoing throughout the shop was the only sound he could hear after him., and the dull 'thunk' that pointed Jia had thrown a well-aimed magazine at his silly head.
"I have some tests to grade and STUFF?"He groaned. Ning felt like a complete idiot.
As the world sizzled into view, and the familiar weight of her rapier back in hand, Jia felt prepared. The fabricated sun shone brightly over Infinite City, and the new rebirth point where she stood was stark white. She spread her wings behind her with relief, it felt good to have them again. Her message box, that lingered at the corner of her vision glowed, indicating she had unread messages. A couple of very confused slightly angry messages from Hawk who demanded to know where she had disappeared to, and a very urgent message from Gui who needed her at the central castle as soon as possible, she spread her golden wings and with a strong push she had plunged herself into the sky. People along the way pointed at her, and some even shouted that silly nickname she was now stuck with. She swooped down the streets of the half built city and soared into the sky, enjoying the feeling of the wind gliding around her. She took a quick glance around her and halted.
Beyond the Great city's walls, far at the distance she could make a strange silhouette. It looked like a great army of big black ants, creeping their way toward the city with a slow pace. She tried looking at it again, and everything fell into place. In about a half a day, Infinite city, now leaderless, as the City's master was at another continent, will be attacked and possibly conquered.
She never flew as fast as she did that moment and until her impressive dive through an open window into the conference room. Yulian, Lolidragon, Uglywolf and a men with a large tattoo on his face went abruptly quite at her blunt intrusion.
"Troops gathering- half a day—thought you had to know" she managed to say between labored gasps.
"it's good to have you here, Jia" nodded Yulian toward her. They had always got along well since Jia took a liking to the young lady the moment she started bossing Prince around.
"Likewise" she nodded to the group who seemed to have been in a middle of a heated conversation.
"The invading forces are Fan's men" said the large man and took a step toward her. "It is an honor to finally meet you in person, Bloody Phoenix, I have heard many praises of you."
She managed to stammer a quick 'Thank you' as he continued to talk.
"The name is Nan Gong Zui Captain of the 'Righteous blades'" he said sternly and shook her hand firmly, and she returned it with just as much strength the he had mustered. A small smirk tugged at the edges of his lips. She was living up to her name.
Suddenly Gui burst into the room.
"This is bad!" he half shouted.
"now what?!" snapped Yulian, who seemed to have a rather bad day.
"Wicked said that Princes return may be delayed!"
Gui was talking to Wicked openly. It seems the situation was direr then Jia had initially thought. The group did not delay over his words. They have already set their minds of flunking the infuriating attempt of invading, with prince or without him.
"How can the soldiers fight without their leader" asked Lolidragon, "Their moral will plummet!". That statement seemed to deflate everyone in the room, because it was the simple truth. Most of the soldiers and players had pledged their loyalties to Prince, and with his absence they may be more reluctant to take a sword in hand and fight over the unfinished city.
"I'll take his place" she said suddenly. They all gave her weird looks. "I might as well use my new nickname and statues and put them to use". The looks did not change much.
She mustered all the "I-am-all-of-your-senior-and-you-will-show-me-the-respect-i-deserve" aura, he hands planted firmly on her hips. "I played war and tactic games before some of you were even born! I know my way around the battlefield!"
"I second that" Said nan Gong Zui, "With your permission" he looked at Jia " I wish to help in these matters".
She grinned at him. All the nervousness she felt a moment ago had melted away. She put her hand on his shoulder and squeezed it. He took her trust and respect with a nod and turned toward the rest of the group.
Jia cleared her throat, all the notions that once indicated she was a simple book shop lady that hid behind the shelves of her shop had melted away, leaving the die-hard gamer.
From that point on she and nan gong Zui moved as a team, giving every player present a task to be executed in the next span of two hours. Ugly-wolf was sent to command the fortification team, Lolidragon was sent to get intelligence reports on the approaching army, Yulian was to command on the ammunition and potion stocks, Gui was sent to spread an emergency call through the guilds and forums of 'Second Life' as well as all of the fan sites that were rapidly popping around the net.
And true to their word, as two hours passed, Jia and Nan Gong Zui, standing on the large balcony, faced a humming crowd of 700 players. The great city's walls sprouted huge pots filled with tar and oil, and an invisible wall of tight spells and element manipulation stood up, maintained by the new mage's Guild that had taken residence inside the city's walls.
She looked at the crowd and took a breath. All of those players were about to throw themselves into a war that was not theirs to fight, and the city's lord was absent. She had to fill his shoes, even if he was not worth her time in her opinion. They all trusted her.
She took another deep breath and opened eyes she was not aware of closing.
"What kind of words does it take to inspire young men and women to suit up for their City, their home and risk their lives in war?" Said Jia aloud, and the crows silenced.
"We all gather, in this time of need, to fight, to protect and to be the courageous few who will fight for their home! We want to see, at the break of tomorrow's dawn the shining walls of our beloved city standing still, with pride!"
The crowed stirred.
"Rise up, warriors, take your stand at one another's sides, our feet set wide and rooted like oaks in the ground." She said and pointed beyond the gates, "They have been led here by mewling infants instead of leaders, basking in their petty jealousy, now they will pay the price! I do not intend this to be a fair fight, not at all. As we are going to fall upon them without warning! " She said with vigor.
"We will strike at their weakest points! This won't be a battle – But a victory that will forever be the source of awe and inspiration! Let them storm the walls! Let them try and breach our gates!" She shouted, as the crowed started to come alive beneath her.
"Shall we show them the true spirit of Infinite City?! Will we bow our head in defeat and lay down as our enemies destroy our labor?! Even as the city's lord is away, Will we surrender?"
"NEVER!" Came the deafening roar of the crowd
"Show me! Show me your SPIRIT! Show me your HEART! SHOW ME YOU'RE LOYAL, and WE SHALL EMERGE AS VICTORS!"
They roared, and slammed their weapons at their shields, the noise was overwhelming, but Jia felt alive.
"Then rise! Rise my warriors! Rise to see the enemy run with their tails between their legs! Defend our City! For Our home! For our Lord!"
"DO WE BOW OUR HEADS?" She asked for the last time, and the crowd, already humming as one unit, as one living creature shouted their responses.
"WE BOW OUR HEADS TO NO MAN!" Jia threw her hand in the air, her rapier shining brightly in the sun, her breathing coming out in short rugged gasps, Adrenaline buzzing in her ears. She stood there for a couple of minutes, feelin the sounds rise and fall like a great ocean, setting the air on fire.
She stepped back into the room, her wings sending last flashes of crimson and gold to the soldiers. She set down on a nearby chair, as she heard Nan Gong Zui order them all into their battalions and into their places.
A golden helmet and a couple pieces of golden armor clinked as Yulian put them on the table next to Jia. Yulian just smiled at jia's questioning gaze.
"Prince is not here to lead the troops" she said simply.
Jia nodded and donned the new pieces of garment and armor.
"True to your name," said Yulian as Jia turned toward her, "You look like a phoenix".
Sharp splinters shot through the air like knife-sharp bullets as the gate finally caved and the magical barriers fell. Jia pushed the pain to the back of her mind, none of this was real. How could the barriers fall?! They were supposed to be fully maintained by the magicians' guild!
The protecting forces started to drain toward the central tower as the invading forces pushed them into the streets. She flapped her wings desperately. The tower could not fall!
She landed in a dull thud near Nan Gong Zui, and pain shot through her legs. Her HP meter looked rather empty, and she was starting to feel fatigue creeping up on her.
A tall blond man stood before the forces, a cocky grin plastered on his smug face.
"Fan…" She heard Zui hiss with disgust.
So this was their general, thought Jia. She wanted to punch the arrogant asshole and break that pretty little nose of his.
"Surrender quietly," Fan smiled, "And I might consider giving you a minor post". She felt Zui tense next to her. He took a threatening step toward the man, and spat at his feet.
"DREAM ON!" he bellowed, his voice echoing down the streets and alleys of Infinite city.
At the corner of her eye something shot toward them, and her instincts acted before she had completely grasped what had happened. "WATCH OUT!" she heard Lolidragon shout and her arms shot up to protect Zui from the incoming attack.
The Long metal stick Crashed into her forearms with great force and she grit her teeth. As the enemy faltered at her quick thinking her hands shot out and grasped the metal rod, wrenching it out of the attacker's hands with a strong tug. She quickly turned the sharp curved point of the rod, that was originally intended to stab Zui through his heart, toward the attacker, and with a quick move she planted her boot in the middle of the attacker's chest.
She heard a feminine yelp as the sharp tip of the weapon was pushed mercilessly to her throat. Jia took a look at Zui. The weapon could have already piercde his heart by his expression, as he mumbled "Ice Phoenix?!".
"You know her?" asked Jia, a bit dumfounded. The girl on the ground, her cute blue and yellow dress now stained with dirt, tried to get up and Jia sent her a fierce glare.
A girl with dark hair and a power crystal strapped to her forehead with a thin chain took a couple of steps toward them and stopped. She looked at Ice-Phoenix disbelievingly.
"Was this all for Fan?!" She shouted, scandalized.
The girl tried to matter something akin to an apology , When Gui pushed his way through the crowd.
"Were you the one who sabotaged the city gates?" He asked, fixing her with an Icy glare that sent shivers down the crowd's spines. "Everyone worked so hard to defend the city, and yet you dare to betray us?"
For a moment Jia went blind with anger, but a single statement penetrated her rage.
"Nan Gong Zui, in the end you are still a failure!"
Zui, who fell to the floor when Ice-Phoenix tried to attack him, looked up to Fan's eyes.
Zui took a single intake of breath, and something seemed to change within his eyes.
"I don't care how you take your revenge, as long as you spare-"
He was cut off when Jia blocked him from fan's view. She stood so close to him she felt his breath. She might have been slightly shorter than the blond man, but with the heated glare she fixed him and the long measuring gaze she swept over him, he felt like a five years old boy who was caught with his hand in the cookie jar
When she opened her mouth and spoke the whole crowd could feel the heat radiating off her.
"We bow our heads to no man. No matter how important he may think he is, or how pompous he may be."
Fan's eyes widened with disbelief, and his hand twitched toward his sword when-
"WHOAA! LOOK DOWN BELOW!"
With a great gust of air, and a pained shriek, landed Prince unceremoniously on the broken back of Fan.
"Ouch," he mumbled, and said with a loader voice, "Lucky the ground was soft".
"GET OFF OF ME YOU BASTARD!" Came the muffled shout from Fan, whose face was planted firmly in the dirt. As prince got up, Fan shot up from beneath him, and screamed with shame.
"PRINCE!"
"You again?! Why do you keep hunting me like a ghost?!"
"Who's hunting who?! Why you…"
"If you aren't a ghost then how'd you get under my butt?! Weirdo!"
"He's here to invade the city!" Shouted Lolidragon with exasperation.
And then the air got thicker as the seconds ticked by.
"Invasion?"
And as his happily dumb expression melted away, the face of the city's lord came to the front.
"ALL THE MORE REASON TO BEAT YOU UP!" and without a seconds hesitation he delivered a punch so hard Fan was knocked off his feet and Jia's wings were ruffled by the gust of air the punch produced. The punch was followed by a swift kick to Fan's ribs and a hard step on his wrists.
"You coward! Fight me one on one if you've got the guts!" spat Fan.
"One on one?" Said Prince and a devilish glint sparked in his eyes. " Sure, but not until I take care of these friends of yours."
The 'Blood Elf' persona soon bubbled to the surface, and to her immense surprise Prince turned and punched Zui hard.
"Get over it, put aside what your sister did!" not waiting for a reaction from the stunned warrior he shouted toward the sky, " You guys done with your tea party yet?! Get down here!".
While the flying carpet landed and his new friends from the eastern continent set foot on the ground, Jia put her hand on Prince's shoulder and briefed him on their situation.
He turned and looked at her with new respect, and pat her shoulder.
'Thank you." He dismissed her.
"Now!" he shouted to the waiting armies, "Let's get this party started!"
The protecting force, rejuvenated by the return of their Lord, roared with agreement, all of them setting themselves with high level techniques and upgrades. The air hummed with anticipation.
"Go Kenshin!" Jia heard Prince.
With a nod, a short red headed warrior jumped into the enemy's ranks, and all hell broke loose.
A\N- another chapter! Oh god, I am so close to going insane! I want to write that one godamn scene since forever! But every time I think I can approach it, the manhuwa laughs in my face! GRRRRRRRRRRR!
Please tell me what you think about this chapter, I am still not so sure myself. (please review- ahem ahem.)
Prince pisses me off. Gui may seem OOC but these are the changes currently going through him. There is a limit to everyone's patience, no?
-Trogmorten.