Chapter 21: The Future of Nations
Dismal clouds were gathering over Chengdu.
News of Guan Yu's death had reached Liu Bei at last, and as if to compound the disaster at Fan Castle, reports of Zhang Fei's assassination by his own disgruntled subordinates had arrived a mere day later. Upon hearing of his sworn brothers' deaths, Liu Bei's grief knew no bounds. He had summoned an emergency gathering of his best commanders, and even then, his demeanour was unrestrained, almost manic. Even silver-eyed warriors felt rattled by his… frenzy.
Yue Ying couldn't blame them.
The King of Shu flung his fist against the wall, a roar of anguish resounding through the palace. "Yunchang was my closest friend, and my sworn brother! We promised to die together! And those damned Awakened Beings have murdered him! What were the troops of Wu thinking?! They should have helped him!" He looked at his trembling hands, his eyes wide in trauma and anguish. "Yunchang… and Yide… they were both my brothers, my soul mates. And now Yide's own men have assassinated him? And they have fled to Wu?!" He looked up, glaring at nothing. "Not even Hanzhong matters now. I couldn't care less about Cao Cao… no. I demand justice! I must have Sun Quan's head!"
"Please keep calm," urged Zhuge Liang, who stood between Flora and Yue Ying. "Do we even know the guilty from the innocent? Do we truly know who murdered General Guan? Let us use this opportunity to investigate the demons' presence instead. They are almost certain to be the culprits. In the meantime, we must maintain the peace with Wu, no matter how strained – "
"How can you say that, Kongming?!" cried Liu Bei, flinging his arms up in exasperation, frustration and grief. "Guan Yu is dead, and Zhang Fei too! This is not the time for dialogue! This is the time for revenge!"
Two of Liu Bei's generals stepped forward. They were Ma Chao the Splendid and the elderly veteran Huang Zhong. "Our survival hinges on an alliance with Wu, my Lord," said Huang Zhong, his husky voice stern. "Alone, we cannot hope to defeat Cao Cao."
"Our survival hinges on this reality," urged Ma Chao. "You know better than most that Wei's Central Army can't be taken on alone. We need as many allies as we can to stand beside us, even if they have wronged us."
"Furthermore, you told us that our foremost task is to liberate the world from the Yoma and Awakened Beings," remonstrated Zhuge Liang. "Or have you forgotten our original intentions for securing Sichuan in the first place? Have you thought of your Kingdom's future at all?"
Flora silently agreed with the Sleeping Dragon. Surely this is a terribly unwise move… one that could eventuate into a horrific mistake.
Liu Bei remained adamant. "In that case, I will destroy Wu and the Awakened Beings in one fell swoop – in one decisive battle!" He pointed at Flora, who almost jumped at the intensity in his eyes. "Lance Marshal! You will lead the anti-Yoma division and mop up the fiends that are fleeing to Wu. Lady Huang! As commander-in-chief, I want you to spearhead my punitive expedition. You will ride alongside me. And I will avenge my brothers' murders at the hands of those cowards!"
Yue Ying stepped forward, her expression troubled. "My Lord, please reconsider. As many of us have already remonstrated, our primary objective should be the Yoma, not Wu."
"No! I demand vengeance!" Liu Bei waved his hand outward and clenched it. "Send an edict out to all my troops! We will ride in a week, once preparations are complete," he ordered, beckoning forth Zhuge Liang. "We shall obliterate Wu. We'll crush them – on their own territory!"
Yue Ying exchanged a sad glance with Zhuge Liang. "I'll prepare the Stone Sentinels then, my husband," she sighed. She lifted a strange case from the floor and bowed out. Flora avoided Yue Ying's eyes as she neared her. They had not spoken since the disastrous battle at Hanzhong, and in fact, the atmosphere between them had grown slightly awkward for several months now. Even Flora's newfound friendship with Zhao Yun could not mask it. Although they still exchanged formalities and pleasantries, Yue Ying had not offered Flora idle conversation, let alone affectionate exchanges of praise and thanks. And while Flora never suspected that her commander harboured any ill will, her heart had ached from the lack of attention that Yue Ying had previously showered on her since her arrival in China.
So her heart understandably skipped a beat when Yue Ying addressed her for the first time since she sat by her bedside that long-gone night. "Come with me," she requested. "Miria and the others are waiting for us." She brushed past her, her soft shoulder rubbing lightly against hers. Flora slowly turned and followed her to the courtyard, her uncomfortable footsteps audible above Yue Ying's heeled shoes.
They gradually made their way out of Chengdu Castle and into the deeper regions of Sichuan's forests. The couple walked in silence for almost an hour through the trees and thickets before the Chinese woman finally spoke. "I'm sorry for having treated you so rudely. The past few weeks have been excruciatingly busy at the expense of my social life. I do hope Zhao Yun has treated you well?"
"Of course," said Flora at once. She lowered her head. "But… I must confess… I did indeed wonder if something uncomfortable had come between us."
"Oh… yes," replied the commander, as they trekked deeper into the woods. She brushed aside a shrub that poked at them. "I meant no harm in avoiding you, although I believe I did say too much that night. I thought I needed some time to clear my head, to dispel my confusion and my slight guilt. I should have been with my husband, not by your bedside."
Flora nodded. Truly, some things were best left unsaid between comrades. "What might that be?" she asked; pointing at the case Yue Ying was carrying.
She perked up. "You will see very shortly." She paused, stopping before a large complex of stone walls. At its head was an old stone arch upon two pillars that seemed rather out of place. It resembled the ancient ruins at Sutafu on the Continent, although the intricate designs on the granite were obviously different.
"We've arrived, my dear sisters."
At Yue Ying's invitation, Miria, Clare, Helen and Deneve emerged from the mist, their uniforms damp from the moisture in the atmosphere. "Well, Moony?" asked Helen. "What is it that you wanted to show us?"
"It is as I feared. His Majesty will not listen to our advice. So I have no choice but to begin preparations. So, the first thing I want to show you is the new weapon I've been developing." Yue Ying knelt down and unpacked her case, revealing a new machine inside, although its shape was slightly different – more angular, sharper, and with a shorter barrel. "Jade Moon was the first prototype of my most recent invention, a bladed bow that stores gunpowder while incorporating detonation machinery. But my newest model here is the first of its kind to exploit a technology called 'gattling' or 'rapid-fire.'" She held up one of the cartridges that clipped neatly into her crossbow. "These incendiary rounds are an expansion on my old Jade Moon research. They allow me to fire a succession of fireballs at the rate of six rounds every second. No Yoma from the Continent can eat these shells and return for more."
Helen whistled in sincere appreciation as Yue Ying attached the new gauntlet to her arm. "This new beauty's name is Sapphire Crescent. Hopefully, I can convince our King to allow mass distribution of the older Jade Moon model for our troops. It will certainly give us a significant edge over the armies of Wu and Wei."
"You're a real geek, you know that, Moony?" chuckled Helen, looking away from the disapproving glances of Deneve and Flora.
"You should see me with my specs," replied the Grand General smoothly, packing Sapphire Crescent back into its case. "My son always tells me that I look like an archivist. It's quite embarrassing.
"On a more serious note, I also wanted to show you the Stone Sentinels, who will be our reserve troops in the event of our vanguard's defeat. They will act as our backups, along with the five of you. They come from an intricate labyrinth structure that my husband constructed in case our forces encounter difficulty against the enemy. The Eight Trigrams Maze has not been opened yet. But in our current situation, the strategy we require is bold offence rather than a steadfast defence."
Stone Sentinels, thought Flora to herself. What new invention has the commander-in-chief thought of this time?
"Not an invention," said Yue Ying, reading her mind, "but an ally." She raised her hand, and began to chant quietly.
Gradually, steadily, the stone arch in the clearing began to rumble. The ground split open, revealing an abyss that yawned into the bowels of the earth. In the middle of the forest, a huge array of walls began to slowly rise from the hallowed ground of Shu. The stone gates began to collapse, and without warning, a massive hand the size of a small house punched out of the soil, uprooting several trees around it. Flora's eyes widened and Clare jumped, her expression one of complete amazement. Helen shrieked and swore as another hand burst from the ground and grasped at the surface world, struggling to free itself from the roots of plants. Deneve raised a hand above her eyes, silently marvelling at the growing stone that erupted from the abyss.
The ground was opening. All around them, the woodlands rumbled, and sprang into sentience.
Miria restrained herself from rubbing her eyes. "What's happening?"
At Yue Ying's command, the ancient site collapsed entirely, and an army of giant stone-men slowly emerged from their underground lair and towered over the forest canopy, awaiting their orders. They were easily twenty-five feet tall, perhaps even thirty… their granite faces moved groggily, as if awakening from a deep, comfortable hibernation. They were built in the image of Shu soldiers, golems that carried within them a magical spark of sentience, infused by the magick of Zhuge Liang. Their jewelled eyes were the size of small ponds, shimmering with self-awareness and cognition. Each carried a giant, curved sword at their side, as long as the tallest tree, and their armour glimmered with precious jewels that decked their colossal, sandstone bodies akin to the stars of the evening sky.
Their new soldiers were gargantuan stone creatures, and they were alive.
"It is time," declared Yue Ying softly, looking up at the stirring, mammoth sculptures. "We need your strength." They gazed down at her with their gemstone eyes, moaning, as if slightly annoyed that they had been roused from their slumber. There were at least thirty of the colossi, and the forest of Yi had suddenly and literally become a concrete jungle. They did not speak. All they needed was a nod, and a silent recognition of friendship from the Chinese woman and her stunned, silver-eyed allies.
They understood their task. And they would carry it through.
"These are our friends, the Stone Sentinels," said the Grand General as the Claymore warriors breathed in awe, "and they will be assisting us in our attack on Wu."
*
Midnight, Xuchang
Rafaela made her way to the convocation hall, her head persistently sore from the events of the previous year. On her galleon to the Middle Kingdom, she had suffered an unexpected and bothersome attack by Luciela's underlings. Shipwrecked on the shores of eastern China, she had crawled ashore and stumbled onto the mainland, searching for someplace remotely familiar where she could attain some measure of rest. She was admittedly glad that after many months, a patrolling Wei scout found her unconscious body slowly being swallowed up by the sand and dust of the Central Plains. It had taken many weeks for even for her parched and weary body to recover. Quickly deducing that the far-reaching means of Cao Cao's empire would serve her well in locating Luciela, she accepted Cao Pi's offer to ally herself with the Kingdom. After all, the Organization was as guilty as Luciela of sins against humanity. As if it hadn't ruined enough lives already, their mistakes seemed to have infected this realm as well. With a new adherence to Wei, Rafaela was no longer bound to follow the crumbling Organization's orders. She was free to walk her path of vengeance.
But for now, her Awakened sister had escaped. No matter. Another day for war would come soon enough.
"So, you've returned. My compliments."
She blinked. Already having arrived at her destination, she approached the throne and kneeled before the waiting Cao Cao. "I lost seven armies at Fancheng, and news of its liberation from Guan Yu is most welcome. Although I will always regret Yunchang's death, Liu Bei's obstinacy left me no choice."
"So… did you find what you needed?" he asked. "The culprits behind this invasion of Yoma… what of the other Abyssal Ones Galatea notified me of?"
"Nothing conclusive." Rafaela raised her head. "I know however, that all three of them are roaming China as we speak."
"How can you be certain?"
"My sister is one of those Abyssal Ones. She is attempting to establish her own foothold in between you and Liu Bei. Prior to our recent battle, I managed to extract some intelligence from her. For old times' sake." She pursed her lips unconsciously. "They are all here, struggling for dominance in the wake of the Organization's failure to control their power. The old men's ability to control the balance of factions has lessened completely. It has remained so for some time, even earlier than the day our kind first set foot in your world. It seems that your country is to be mired in an even greater war than that of three Kingdoms."
Cao Cao nodded. "The Dwellers stand against us. It is a daunting prospect indeed. Not to mention the machinations of the Organization you and Lady Galatea once belonged to. I believe those desperate men attempted to use us for their own purposes after they realized the Awakened Beings could not be controlled." His eyes glinted. "How unlucky for them that you warriors seem far more free-thinking than they bargained for. All in all, good progress has been made. We are beginning to see past the fog that has hidden our true enemies from us." He waved his hand, and she rose from her genuflecting stance. "You are dismissed. Good work. Rest now." Rafaela nodded, and turned her back on him, her metal greaves clicking quietly along the royal carpet.
Cao Cao exhaled, satisfied, and stood, preparing to retire to his chambers, where Galatea awaited.
*
Wearing nothing but a transparent, wispy, gossamer nightgown, she stood outside Cao Cao's residence, her hands on the lavish wooden balcony, watching the moon shining on the sleeping capital of the Wei Kingdom. It had been so very long since she even set foot in her quarters. She hated sleeping there. The single, diminutive room felt lonely, and there was little point in spending the nights on her own when her Lord sought her company.
He had returned from his audience with Rafaela. The wooden varnish of his bedroom glimmered smoothly by the lamps. Galatea continued to watch the thin clouds enfolding the moon as he dressed into his nightclothes. "You don't look tired, beloved," came his deep voice.
"I thought we would be focusing on our investigation rather than interfering with Shu and Wu's struggle," she proposed, leaning onto the balcony, her forearms pressing comfortably on the lacquered lumber. "Or have you become seduced by the prospect of their ruin at each other's hands?"
He blew out the candle by his bedside as the hanging ornaments by the windows tinkled pleasantly. "Troop movements have already been reported. It shall be momentous, this struggle between those two brats," he said quietly, sitting on their bed and beckoning her inside. "Liu Bei and Sun Quan… little horrors to the last."
"You know of Isley's presence in the Middle Kingdom, but you're still worried about the petty rivalry between those two?" She walked over past the curtains, standing before him. She took his hand, guiding it unhurriedly along her leg. "Weren't you the one who told us to let them tear each other apart?"
"Of course," he said, his fingers stopping conveniently between her thighs. "But remember this. I am creating a new world with you in mind. For that reason, I would have this civil war end, so that it will not devour your friends in its senseless fury. After all, it was not in their power to decide the scales of power in this nation. The sooner China is united, the likelier your silver-eyed comrades will see the end of our wars."
She blinked down at him. "Come, now," he said mock-indignantly, noticing her mild disbelief. "Why are you surprised that I am trying to please you? I'm insulted."
"To think that you harboured no concern for the masses," she sighed in wonder. "Then am I right to understand that you will destroy the chaos in this realm… partly out of concern for my juniors?"
"Indeed. And I am capable of more," he affirmed. He suddenly took hold of his lover and pulled her to him, guiding her onto his lap. They kissed as she brought her arms around him, and once again, she felt her worries dissolve into the abyss of his ebony eyes. He tenderly laid her on their bed, embracing her with the compassion of a fallen deity. "Your comrades are noble soldiers. Why should they return to their inconsequential Organization? I would have them stay here so they may serve the people and the people may serve them. It shall be my last duty in guiding this land to absolute unity."
"You will go on a journey," she said pensively, as they gazed at each other. "You will leave everything behind."
"Not everything." He smiled with an almost boyish anticipation. "I will take you with me. Once I have created the future China requires, we will be free to travel the cosmos, living wherever we fancy. We shall live the life of peace together. A breathtaking future awaits the two of us, my tigress. Think of it! You will not even need to call me 'Lord' again."
How ironic. "But you are the only man who I'll ever acknowledge and welcome… as my Lord," she confessed, snuggling closer into his arms. "Whatever future you wish to create, please do not deny me that fulfilment."
His face reflected the dark comfort of the sky, and she drifted into the night's slumber only when she was completely enveloped by the wing of his shadow.