RIN

An Ruo's voice was high against the calm breeze. "You see? I can be merciful, Sun. It's a simple request, really. One person to spare the lives of thousands."

An Sun's body stiffened. He clenched his fists tightly until his nails dug into the palm of his hand, but he barely noticed. The only thing he was aware of, was the sound of his heart throbbing against the cage of his chest. With hands clasped tightly to his reins, he finally restrained his erupting emotions.

"Why? Why do you want him? This is between you and me. Not anyone else." An Sun's voice was thick, his dark eyes shining in his hardened face.

"Would a battle between our armies be of greater satisfaction to you? I did not take you to be such a prideful man." An Ruo's mouth tilted upwards into a mocking smirk.

An Sun grimaced, his tone assertive. "You speak of pride as if you do not know it yourself."

The look on An Rou's face was still, and he did not retort. But now, his face was dark, back straightened. An Sun stared at his brother—the man he had been raised beside all his life as family. And yet, he hardly knew who this man was anymore.

Competitive fights as children…to a war against one another.

For a long time now, he had given up the hope of rekindling a brotherly bond. But still…

"There's no need for a battle. We can both turn around and leave. Take what you have and leave everything and everyone else alone." An Sun said, his tone hoarse. He labored for a moment with something in his throat, and afterward added, "Another thousand men do not need to die."

An Ruo stared at him incredulously, then gave a bark of laughter. "You're right, they don't have to die. But they will. That is unless you agree to give me your strategist and I will turn around and leave as you wanted."

An Sun's lips pursed together, forming a thin line as his expression turned colder and colder. The hands on his reins slowly tensed into fists.

Not once did An Ruo try hiding his smile. "Now, considering it's such a difficult choice, I—"

"You're going to die, Ruo. And it's going to be under my hands." An Sun spat out just one sentence that was cold as frost, his gaze not having moved an inch.

When An Ruo raised his gaze, a pair of eyes filled with cold, murderous intent were staring back at him. He did not expect the alarming shiver that crawled up his spine. At that moment, a trace of coldness flashed across An Ruo's black eyes, and the smile on his face melted.

An Ruo shifted his hands on the reigns, turning his horse to depart from the figures. Watching from afar, An Sun's eyes never left him. The same way the boiling, dreary sensation resided in his heart.

…

Standing on the balcony above, Rin's eyes scoured ahead. Waiting for the familiar figure to appear before the horizon. When she heard the door opening behind her, she turned.

"Any sign of him?" Manchu said upon arriving at her side.

"No," Rin answered quietly, eyes still ahead.

"It's only been two hours." He said.

"Four hours." She corrected.

"Keeping track, huh?" Manchu chuckled.

Rin turned her glare on him, who held his hands up in surrender. After a few seconds, she retreated her stare to see a brilliant flash that flickered and died within the clouds.

The sky above her was the color of corpse flesh, dull, white and heavy. The sun was hidden behind a mass of unbroken clouds that scattered across the horizon. Another flash burned into her dilated pupils, followed hotly by its cracking boom.

It was beginning to rain.

"Am I strong?" She asked quietly.

The question surprised Manchu. He turned to her with widened eyes.

"What?"

"Do you think I'm strong, Sir Manchu?" Rin asked again. This time, she was staring directly into his blue eyes.

"Well, of course. Out of all the women I've seen, you—"

"No." Rin's voice pressed thin. "Not as a woman, but as a person. Am I strong?"

Manchu hesitated another moment, his blue eyes searching her. Then, slowly, he nodded.

"Yes, you are. Very strong."

Despite the praise in his words, her expression hadn't improved. Rather, it grew more stern.

"Then why…" She said, hesitating a little before each word. "Why doesn't Sun trust my abilities? Why can't I be of use to him?"

Her eyes dug into his, sifting them for answers. Manchu could hear the calm in her voice, but that didn't hide the unconcealed doubt and vulnerability in her eyes. Her pale face looked very small and so troubled that he couldn't help but feel pity.

As of now, he could only sigh at a certain man's density.

"Don't misunderstand, little strategist. Sun finds you to be a very strong companion of his. You should know yourself that long before we knew who you were, we both regarded you very seriously. Still do."

Rin couldn't help but nod her head. "Yes. I acknowledge that. But how come now he…"

"It's complicated." Manchu sighed. "Let's just say when feelings change, so does what we prioritize. Sun values your strength…but he values your safety even more."

Rin opened her mouth. No words came out. A flush crept up her neck. She turned away. The last light of the sun had begun to fade, a chill breeze passing through. However, her heart was brindled with warmth.

The words Manchu spoke, she understood very clearly. Rin knew the strength and capabilities of everyone around her. In any fight, they'd win. She was confident in that.

Yet more than anything, she wanted to suppress their power and hide them, far away from any threat.

Bai Han. General Guo. The troops. Her comrades. And An Sun…all of them she wanted nothing more than to stay alive. Regardless of how powerful they were, their lives were more important.

"Thank you, Sir Manchu," Rin said, at last, breaking the awkward silence.

Manchu blinked his blue eyes. He shrugged his shoulders casually, "There's no need for thanks. I just did what any wingman would have done."

Staring at him in disbelief, Rin sighed heavily. Looking back out at the horizon, her eyes locked on the distant, black shadows up ahead. Noticing her intense gaze, Manchu shifted his eyes as well. The figures closed in until finally, they were clear to discern.

"Well look at that. See? You had nothing to worry about—" By the time Manchu turned his gaze, Rin had already left his side and was out the door.