Pain…
Ken felt pain. A terrible, terrible pain in her stomach and her throat. How long had it been since she had eaten anything? How long had it been since she had gotten to drink anything? The forest was cold, and the ground dug into her flesh as she collapsed.
She was dying.
Dying of hunger and thirst.
Martial Cultivators were supposed to be able to last weeks without sleep and food, but everything her father said about her was true. She was pathetic, and after only one month, she had reached her limit. She was going to die.
Worse yet, she was going to die lost and alone in another nation.
Her Qi was so low that she couldn't even summon Yujin. She was helpless. She was scared. Ken's fingers dug into the ground, and her stomach growled louder than it ever had before.
"S-Someone." Ken's voice croaked out. "Someone, please help me."
She had no idea how long she was left lying in the dirt, but eventually her prayers were answered. Perhaps Han Yuan, her ancient ancestor, was looking down upon her, because the sound of a branch snapping caused her to raise her head just slightly.
Ken stared up at the face of a beautiful woman who now loomed over her. The woman had her head tilted to the side, and her soft green eyes studied the dying Ken Yuan. Eventually, a smile broke out on the woman's face, and she let out a soft giggle.
"Oh my. Should I save you?"
***
The land of Rossum was truly a beautiful place. Spiraling fields that never ended. Flowers that bloomed bigger than any building. Waterfalls that reached toward the heavens. And most importantly, air that was rich in Qi.
Qi was the foundation of all life. In every plant, animal, and person, it flowed. They say the elves created the human race in the first land, Gallenth, and it was in that land that those humans learned the way of mana from the legendary hero Haru. Not all humans learned from the pale Knight, though.
Before Haru arrived, tales claim that humans had no magic. These powerless beings served the elves, the giants, and the dragons. Treated like tools, they were forced to work until their bones shattered and they prayed for salvation. That salvation would come in the form of the pale Knight, but what of the time before that? Rossum was a land that humans discovered when they ran away from the elves.
Land founded by the legendary Han Yuan, the first slave to break from her chains. Han was not willing to wait for some savior and took matters into her own hands. She freed as many of her own people as she could, and together they escaped Gallenth and traveled through the land of the stars, eventually arriving at a continent that would go on to be known as Rossum.
Because Han Yuan and her people weren't there to greet Haru upon her birth, the people of Rossum were never taught the ways of magic. They never developed cores, nor did they have the ability to cast spells. Even now, hundreds of years later, those who have the blood of Rossum in their veins cannot use magic.
Instead, they were forced to find their own solution. Rossum is sometimes referred to as the land of spirits due to the abundance of energy in the air, which forms into twisting beasts. Creatures created not of the elves but instead of the planet itself. A naturally born species that has its own way of using energy. The people of Rossum studied these spirits, which led them to learn how to create Qi lines. Unlike a Core, Qi lines didn't allow them to cast spells and have a type of magic they could use, but it did allow them to use the naturally formed energy of Qi, which was identical to mana. With this energy that created the first sect, the country became the very first nation of the human race!
Rossum truly was amazing! It was a shame its people were awful though… It was also a shame that it was so pure and untouched that all other land lacked the intense mana that was in the air.
This was something Ken Yuan was starting to really hate.
"Damn it." The red-haired woman groaned slightly as her eyes opened softly. She stared up at the wooden roof that was above her and groaned. Her head was pounding, and everything was way too bright. She was suffering from a bad hangover. Normally, she'd just use a basic Qi gathering method to heal and purify her body. Still, she lacked the ability to do that because the air in Esteria was so polluted and shitty; such a thing was impossible. "Why the fuck did Feng send me here…"
It had been one month since she arrived in the kingdom of Esteria. Her boat had washed up on the land's shores, and she was forced to fend for herself, taking up odd jobs here and there, making money. It was her hope that Feng would approach her and they'd be able to return home or figure something out, but sadly, that wasn't the case. Feng still hadn't come for her, nor had he contacted her.
Ken sat up and winced slightly as her head pounded again. "Hurry up and find me already, old man." She rubbed the sleep out of her eyes and looked around with a frown. She was in bed, but the room wasn't one she recognized. She had no clue how she had gotten here. The only thing she could remember was getting blackout drunk last night.
As she looked around, she was able to notice two things. The first was that the room she was in was small, with only a single queen-sized bed. It had a window that poured in sunlight, a nightstand with a TV on it, and a door that led to a bathroom. The second thing she noticed was that all of her clothes were on the ground, scattered through the room… Along with another set of clothes. And there was a pair of arms wrapped around one of her arms…
"Shit."
Ken looked down, praying to every spirit she knew that the person she was in bed with was at least good-looking. Luckily, they were. In fact, they were downright breathtaking.
It was a woman, a little older than her. She had fair skin, though a few scars did litter her arms and around her chest and back, showing a life that likely involved a lot of fighting. The woman was also rather muscular, the blanket doing little to hide her lean and well-built form. She had long, raven-black hair, and her eyes were squeezed shut.
Ken had no idea who this woman was. Not a single name came to mind, and the face wasn't one she recognized at all. Had she gotten so drunk that she slept with some disgusting Esterian?
Ken shook her head and got untangled from the sleeping beauty. She got dressed, slipping her red kimono on, and was out the door. Outside was a hallway to some motel, but she barely paid attention and focused on making sure the gourd with Yushin in it was at her side. As her hands rubbed it, she felt a familiar warmth and spark, and she could sense her spirit hiding within.
Good.
She had been half afraid that she'd wake up to her spirit missing. Some person coming in and stealing him. Thankfully, that wasn't the case.
Ken finally took a calming breath once she was outside and could see the sunlight. It made her eyes sting a bit, but she ignored it, squashing down the pain and instead forcing herself to focus. The town she was in was small and everything she hated about Esteria.
Cars drove down the streets, and thick smoke billowed out of chimneys. All the buildings were small and stacked on top of each other, made of ugly red bricks, and they had jagged pipes that poked out of them, blowing more smoke into the sky. The air tasted foul and gross on her tongue, and everything was so loud it made her want to scream.
People walked by, all giving her odd looks since her hair was a mess and she had bags under her tired amber eyes. It didn't help that she wasn't dressed like the fools of this land were.
This wasn't a place where Qi could exist. Spirits didn't roam these lands. Ken shook her head in disgust, and she turned and began to walk. She had no clue what direction she was going in, but it didn't matter. She honestly didn't give two shits where she ended up in this hellhole. It was all the same anyway.
She'd just walk until she arrived at some place where she could make a quick bell or steal food, then she'd move on again. That was how she managed for the past month, and she had no plans to change suddenly.
It was with these thoughts that she headed down the road, ready to leave this unimportant town behind. She didn't get far, though, before a voice called out to her.
"And where do you think you're going?"
Ken stopped, and she narrowed her eyes. The voice was directed at her, and it belonged to a woman. It held an edge of power, and also in the air, Ken could feel a soft bubbling of energy. She felt like prey with the eyes of a predator on her, and it irked her. She spun around and growled.
Unshockingly, it was the woman. The one she had woken up in bed with. Unlike her, the raven-haired woman actually looked presentable now. The woman had tied her hair back and taken the time to wash up and do her makeup. Now that her eyes were open, Ken found herself staring into an emerald gaze. The woman wore a black tank top and blue jeans that were a bit torn. She also held a black leather jacket and had a large smirk on her face.
Ken didn't know why, but seeing that smile made her anger flare up. "What do you want?" Ken spat out. "Round two? Sorry, but I don't plan to stick around."
"Nah." The woman shook her head and started to approach casually. "You weren't that good. I'd rather keep it as a one-night stand."
"Like hell I wasn't good!" Ken felt her anger surge, and she did her best to suppress it. Through clenched teeth, she glared at the woman who now reached her. "What do you want then?"
Without missing a beat, the woman reached out with her free hand and poked Ken on the cheek. Ken growled, but the woman just poked her harder. "First of all, don't raise your voice at me, unless you want my boot in your mouth again."
Ken felt her face heat up. "T-That didn't happen."
"Sure it didn't." The woman hummed and turned away. "Well, come on."
Once more, Ken felt her eyes narrow. "What?"
The woman turned back and rolled her eyes. "It means follow me. I know you Rossum people aren't the smartest, but at least use your head."
"Why the hell would I ever follow you?" Ken hissed.
The woman's smile returned even larger. "Because I own you."
"What?" Ken clenched her teeth and showed her fangs. "Wanna say that again?"
The woman let out a heavy sigh. "We drank a lot, but I guess you seriously can't hold your liquor if you don't remember what took place last night." The woman's arms folded, and her smile was gone, replaced with a frown. "You were practically dead. Out in the woods. I brought you back here, and with a bit of magic, we got you fixed up. You hadn't eaten in days and nearly died of thirst. I paid for all your meals and drinks and made sure your pretty little face was kept safe. It was actually somewhat amusing. You kept drunkenly muttering that you were 'woo-ing me'. Regardless, none of that was cheap, nor was it for free. You agreed to work for me. So be a good dog and follow along."
Ken felt as though one of her teeth was nearly shattering from the pressure of how hard she was cleaning her jaw. What the woman said couldn't be true, right? After all, she had been traveling around from place to place and… Well, she said she'd steal food to survive, but she hadn't… Also, now that she thought about it, she hadn't done a single job in over a month since she arrived and had earned no money… Had she really almost died out in the woods of starvation or dehydration?
"No!" Ken grabbed the gourd that was at her side, and she shook it. Fire streamed out, and from it Yujin formed, taking on the appearance of a large fox forged from flames. The golden spirit bowed its head and floated in the air. The raven-haired woman watched in silence and raised her eyebrow slightly. "Yujin!"
"Yes, Lord Ken Yuan?" Yujin asked softly.
"Tell this woman she's lying about what she said!" She might not remember anything, but Yujin was always watching and listening, so if what the woman said was true, which was highly unlikely, then Yujin would know.
Yujin turned to look back at the black-haired woman. "Do you want me to lie to her?" Yujin asked, causing Ken's heart to sink.
"Lie?"
"Yes, everything she said was true," Yujin confirmed.
"Even the boot part…"
"Yes."
"Damn…"
"I had a feeling you were from Rossum." The woman reached out and poked her hand into Yujin. Despite being made out of fire, the beast didn't actually burn her. "This is a spirit beast, isn't it? Are you a Martial Cultivator? I could tell you were decently strong, but for you to be on that level…"
Ken wanted to laugh. She was far from a Martial Cultivator. She doubted she'd ever actually be on the level of a real one. She had gotten Yujin under exceptional circumstances, and he was far weaker than other spirits as well. Calling her a Martial Cultivator was like calling any dumbass in a suit of armor an Arcane Knight.
"You'll be even better than first thought." The woman laughed and reached out, grabbing Ken's wrist. "Let's go."
"Where are we going? Slow down?" Ken grunted.
The woman let out a hum. "Let me cut to the chase. You owe me, and you're going to pay me back. See, I've been tasked with delivering something. Unfortunately, after a skirmish with the Lord of Threads' soldiers, we lost some of our guards. I put resources and efforts into you, so I think it's only fair if you pay me back."
Ken's eyes narrowed into slits, and she stared at the back of the woman's head as they walked. "Are you stupid or something? You need to protect something, and it's apparently important if the Lord of Threads is after it, so you decide to just bring in a random like me into this? What if I decide to steal whatever it is you're guarding? Have you thought about that?"
The woman hummed once more and lazily shrugged her shoulders. "Nah. You won't do such a thing."
Ken's frown only grew. "Oh yeah? And why's that?"
"Two reasons." The woman turned back, and her smile had returned to her face. "First, I'm pretty good at reading the intent of people. I know that though you may have dark thoughts, your heart would never once act upon them. The proof is the very fact that you haven't stolen any food or water. With how many towns are nearby this part of the woods, it would have been more than easy for you to do such a thing, yet you were at death's door when I found you. Maybe it is pride, or maybe it's some other foolish thing that drives you. Either way, I'm confident that you aren't the type to steal." The woman had two fingers up, but she lowered one down, leaving her final reasoning. "My second reason is that you would rather help me, simply because it hinders the Lord of Threads."
Ken felt her lips purse together into a thin line. Everyone in Rossum knew who the Lord of Threads was.
Esteria hated the Ebony Knight. Rossum knew of that monster's existence but wasn't concerned with him all that much. This was because they had their own monster that they had to deal with—one who was still alive even to this day.
The Lord of Threads was one of the first Cultivators to serve under Han Yuan. At one point in history, he was the founder of the Azura Thread sect, one that was able to rival Han Yuan's Spirit Beast sect. No one remembers his name, nor do they know what drove him to slaughter his entire sect. What is known, though, is that he is a madman who weaves a world that suits him and him alone.
The Lord of Threads is Rossum's greatest shame. The thing they all hate.
"Is that immortal bastard here?" Ken demanded.
The black-haired woman shook her head. "Of course not. No one even knows if the Lord of Threads is even still alive. His army of enchanted warriors are bound to his threads and follow his commands even to this day, but the Lord himself hasn't been seen in over five hundred years. Some of his warriors attacked my group. We drove them off, but they've been attacking more and more. Due to the situation going on in the kingdom, I haven't been able to get any proper help. It's likely because we're right on the border. That's where you're going to come in. A strong girl like you can help little old me out, right?" The woman winked.
Ken felt her cheeks heat up again, but she tore her gaze away. "Whatever. I don't really give a rat's ass."
"You'll be well fed, and it'll get you to a capital city. You could even earn some Bells." The woman clicked her tongue. "Besides, I rather liked spending time with you." Her smile seemed a lot more real now. "You had so many nice stories to tell."
Ken refused to say anything and stared at the ground in silence. She let herself be dragged, and eventually the two of them reached the woman's destination. At the edge of the town was a train. Sleek and silver, it looked fast and extremely expensive. Men were loading cargo onto it, and several of them waved and cheered when they saw the black-haired woman.
"Who are you?" Ken finally asked.
"Oh? You don't even recall my name?" The woman sounded a little hurt.
"Sorry, I don't."
The woman nodded. "Raven. My name is Raven."
***
Ken quietly stared out the window, watching the expanse of trees go by in a blur. She had been alone for the past four hours now.
After Raven took her to the train, Ken found herself being led on board. There were many men and women who all seemed to respect the black-haired woman, though Ken didn't care to get to know any of them. Whatever relationship she might have had with Raven, it was over. Nothing more than a one-night stand.
The only reason she was even on this stupid train was for the free food and the fact that it would get her somewhere the fastest.
The train was powered by pure mana and was a new form of Sini Corp tech. Extremely expensive and valuable. She had seen trains like these in action whenever Rossum and Esteria would get into a battle. What made these trains so noteworthy was that they could go anywhere on land, literally creating the track as needed.
She didn't know all the details, but Feng had once told her that an ancient elven relic had inspired these kinds of trains. The elves had a machine that could go anywhere, even beyond the stars. Feng was old. Not as old as the elves or the races before them, but still old nonetheless, so she was willing to believe him when he spoke of such a machine.
This particular train was a bright silver and had five cars in total. The crew were scattered throughout the train, all going about their business, while she remained alone in a small cabin. The room she was in had two leather chairs connected to the walls and a table in the center. Her fingers tapped away at the table, leaving minor dents within it, and in the air, Yujin soared around, the small fox doing various twirls through the air.
Ken finally let out a heavy sigh, and her shoulders sagged a bit. "Why did that woman invite me to come along?" Ken questioned.
"She said her reasoning, did she not?" Yujin responded.
Ken shook her head. "Yeah, right. Like I'd believe such a thing. She is obviously someone important if she's on a train like this, and whatever she's guarding has to be important as well if the Lord of Threads tried to get it. There's no logical reason why she'd want a stranger like me to come along."
It was true that, like everyone from Rossum, she hated the Lord of Threads, but just because that was a fact, it didn't mean she was best suited to guard some item he wanted. Esteria and Rossum weren't at war, but both nations held a deep dislike for the other one.
If not for Mordehim and its twisted existence, Rossum and Esteria very well could have gone to war first. So, why would a woman working for Esteria want someone from Rossum close by?
Ken, of course, knew the truth. She'd have to be blind to not see it. "You're with the Arcane Knights, right?" She asked flatly.
There was a moment of silence, and then eventually the door to the cabin's room slid open. Raven stood on the other side, still sporting her slight smirk, and she casually flipped her hair and entered the room. "My, aren't you perceptive?"
Ken leaned up and folded her arms. "My nose is quite sensitive, and I've already become familiar with your scent."
"Yes, you were saying how much you loved it last night—"
"Will you shut up with that!" Ken huffed out. "Drunk me and current me are different. I'm right, though, aren't I? You're an Arcane Knight, aren't you?"
Raven hummed, and then eventually she took a seat. She stared at Ken, her eyes full of amusement. "Yes, I'm an Arcane Knight. One on a quest."
"Is everyone else on this train also a Knight?" Ken asked, suddenly a lot more tense.
Raven shook her head. "No. There were others, but they're dead. I told you, the Lord of Threads killed them. Unfortunately, the quest I'm on is under wraps, and the kingdom is a bit busy, so I can't really get anyone else to help me at the moment. The rest of these crewmembers are soldiers and military personnel. Still strong, but none on the level of a full-fledged Knight."
"And you're telling me this because it doesn't matter if I know or not, does it?" Ken sighed. "Is that why you got me drunk last night?" Raven didn't say anything, but the woman's smile did fade a bit. Ken took that as a confession, and she nodded her head. "You found me in the woods, and I'm betting you could tell I was Rossum from the look of my clothes and the feeling of my Qi. Qi lines are different from Cores after all. You were wondering why someone from Rossum would be here, so you got me healed up and did your best to get me in a state where I'd listen to you." Ken's eyes narrowed. "So, do you know who I am?"
Raven remained quiet for a few moments but then nodded. "Ken Yuan Zzhang."
Ken squeezed her eyes shut. "I told you."
"You said a lot of things last night," Raven admitted. "It seemed as if you had a lot to get off your chest. The truth is, I knew you were someone important the instant I saw you. I figured I had some noble from Rossum who was hiding here in the kingdom. Little did I know I had a member of the Yuan clan here. Not just any, but Ken Yuan of the sect Zzhang. They say you're an up-and-coming member of the Martial Cultivators."
"They say a lot of things about me," Ken muttered bitterly. "Most of it isn't true. Hell, I'd say it's all just propaganda." Ken let out another heavy sigh. She had actually gotten drunk and, in her lustful state, confessed so much to this woman, simply because a pretty face gave her the time of day. She was pathetic, and worse than that, it sounded like she was a sub! "So, the reason you 'invited' me to come on this train wasn't because you needed a guard, was it?"
Raven stared back at Ken, and the dark-haired woman seemed to consider her words. "We both drank a lot last night." The woman said slowly. "Do you remember any of what you said?"
"Nope."
Raven snorted. "Damn, girl, do better."
"Fuck you!"
"You said a few things I found interesting." Raven cut in. The woman leaned forward and propped herself up on her elbows as she gazed closer at Ken. "Normally, it's fine if someone from Rossum comes to the kingdom, but when a Martial Cultivator shows up, or someone as closely connected to them as you, my kind can't help but get a little concerned. I imagine it would be the same if a member of the Helios family were to suddenly appear in Rossum. Your land wouldn't really know what to do. So, I decided to keep an eye on you and personally ensure you leave."
Ken felt a sudden twist in her stomach, and she stood up. "No. I came here for a reason. Believe me, I'd love to go back to Rossum; your kingdom blows, but Feng told me to stay here, and I'm not going to disobey my teacher." She knew he wasn't dead. He was alive, and as soon as he could, he'd come to the kingdom and find her. So until then, she wasn't going to leave, no matter how much she hated this place.
"Yes, that's what you said last night as well," Raven stated. "You went on and on about how much you hated this place, but also how much you refused to leave. Maybe if things weren't so tense, the kingdom wouldn't mind a Yuan running around her, but one who has her spirit and is practically a member of the Martial Cultivators is a different story. They wouldn't be so keen on letting you stay. Luckily for you, there is an option."
Ken remained standing, and she stared down at Raven, her eyes burning. "No…"
Raven's smile just grew. "See, the kingdom would be a lot less worried if they knew where you were at all times and if they knew you weren't here to cause any issues. There's a simple way for that to happen."
"No."
"All you have to do—"
"No!"
"Is become an Arcane Knight."
"Why the fuck would I ever do that!"
Raven giggled. "Look, those are your only two options." The woman tapped the center of her head. "Think about it. You either leave or you join the Knights and put that strength of yours to use. It wouldn't be the first time powerful warriors from other lands joined us. It happens more than you'd think. The king accepts all—"
"So long as they're willing to be his dogs." Ken spat the words out and clenched her hand into a tight fist. "I know the stories about Nier Sini! Son of Haru Sini, brother of the one who faded out! He's not a Martial Cultivator, yet he still lives despite not knowing the way of Qi. The age of a Cultivator is naturally extended, but his is… He shouldn't exist! The one who forces chains, the Slave Master, is what my people call him. Don't act like he's a good guy or that he'll even remotely be on my side. He's not even on your side. The nobles, the military, the knights—all of it is the same to an unfeeling robot like him! You're all just lines of code for him to use."
Raven allowed Ken to yell out all her frustrations. The woman remained expressionless and only spoke up when Ken was done, the red-haired girl panting heavily. "If you saw what was out there, you would change your mind."
"What?" Ken scowled.
Raven looked out the window, and the woman's eyes went up to the sky. It was still the middle of the day, the sun high above. "Have you ever wondered what's up there? The king has. The king knows. The king keeps us all safe. Not just Esteria, but everyone. We all live in a world that is safe because of him. So maybe I am a worthless set of code, maybe I'm barely even a person to him, none of that matters to me." Raven stood up and began to walk to the door. "I, you, everyone, owe him."
Ken stood there motionless, processing what the Knight said. She owed the king? He was keeping them all safe? What did that mean?
Raven opened the door and was about to step out. "Look, just stay put for a bit, okay? We'll be nearing the capital in a few days. I'll get you a room and a place to stay when we arrive and make sure you don't starve again. The Knights exam is next month, so if by then you still don't want to do it, we will have to ask you to leave, but please just wait before making your decision. Okay?"
"Why? Why do you care?" Ken demanded.
Raven tapped her chin. "Because I like you."
"What?"
Raven shrugged. "I enjoyed talking to you and the way we spent time." The woman giggled. "Perhaps I'd like to do it again."
Ken forced her cheeks to turn unred. "L-Like hell!"
"Cute."
"I'll beat the ever-loving crap out of you!"
Raven let out a heavy laugh and threw her head back. She was about to say something, probably witty or flirty, but before she could, 'it' happened.
There was a violent jerk, followed by a loud screeching sound, and the entire train came to a sudden stop. Ken struggled to keep her balance, and Yujin dropped down and landed on her shoulder, his fur sticking up. Raven's confident look was entirely gone, and the woman's face paled.
"Shit? Seriously?"
"What is it?" Ken winced.
Raven stepped out, and the halls were filled with yelling. Ken jogged after the woman, and various doors on the train opened as people stepped out. "The route we used was away and secured to hide from anyone who would be looking for this train," Raven explained, and she walked down a ramp, stepping outside. "Despite that, though, one person managed to find us. Well, I say a person. It's more like a concept at this point."
Ken felt her throat go dry, and she stared up into the sky. Yujin was hissing even louder, and his entire body shook. The train had stopped in a random grassy field, and dozens of men and women were scattered about. Most were in tactical gear and carried heavy-looking guns or swords. All of them stared up at the sky.
The sky had split open. A dungeon's entrance was appearing midair. Powerful jolts of energy blasted out, scorching the land, and a hole began to twist and morph. From that hole an object fell and crashed toward the ground. Ken followed it with her eyes and entered her fighting stance, getting her palms ready.
The thing that hit the ground was in the shape of a human and was just as big as a person as well, with two arms, a head, two legs, a waist, and a torso. It lacked flesh, though. Instead, it was made out of solid wood, and there were no features on its body at all. No ears, hair, clothes, or anything. It was smooth and flat as well, lacking breasts or a penis. It looked sort of like the wooden dolls artists would pose and use for sketches, and out of all of its limbs, poked out, leading up to the rift in the sky.
It was a puppet. One that was being controlled. Bullets rammed into the wooden beast as the soldiers opened fire, but the construct didn't look bothered, and despite being made out of wood, its body withstood the attack. It calmly stood up and raised an arm. Its hand unfolded and opened up, and a barrel poked out.
"Get down!" Raven yelled right as a flash of blue exploded out, and the puppet unleashed a beam of energy that split several of the slower soldiers in half.
A few moments later, more puppets dropped from the rift, all the same as the first. It took only a second for thirty of the creatures to appear, all pulling off their hands to reveal laser-like swords or guns. One turned its back, and a barrage of rockets was unleashed out of it, blowing the battlefield up. The soldiers cried out but did their best to fight.
Raven let out a curse and stood back up. She was the Knight here. That meant it was her job. The military was strong, but compared to the Knights, they were lacking. This is because being a Knight meant going beyond the level of humans. It was up to her. Her mana surged out, green gas gushing out of her skin, followed by a wave of black. "Vil Shadow Gear." Her shadow lunged up her body and covered her from head to toe. It formed into a heavy-looking suit of plate mail, with a helm that covered her head. Green mist rolled across the suit, and a bright emerald green cape flowed off of her, complete with the symbol of the Umbra Mortis guild. "Row Shadow Chest!" From the ground next to her, the shadow surged again and formed into a square-shaped box, which opened and blasted something into her hand.
Raven swung it out, revealing that she now held a long, black scythe. The blade was curved, and more green mist poured out of notches in it as she gripped it tightly. Then, with a cry, she launched forward and began to slice her way into the horde of dolls.
Ken stood up as well and watched Raven fight. The woman was strong, moving like a blur, and tearing the wooden construct to bits with ease. However, there were so many of them, and the weapons they wielded were extremely advanced. So much so, they began to slowly wear down on the armored woman as more dolls dropped from the sky. The Lord of Threads was said to have an endless army that he could use. The dolls would simply come until the gate closed on its own, and she had no idea how long that might take. That meant it didn't matter how many Raven killed; she'd eventually be overwhelmed.
"Yujin," Ken ordered.
"Of course." Yujin's body glowed, and his form changed as he became a glowing orb of fire. Rossum could not form Cores properly, and it was Han Yuan who discovered the method for gaining the power that the rest of the world had. They just needed someone with a core to inhabit their body. "My power is yours."
Yujin sank into her flesh, phasing through her clothes and her stomach. She felt an intense warmth in her belly, and Ken gritted her teeth. The Qi lines within her body fused and connected with Yujin, and her hair began to change. It grew slightly longer and became the color of golden flames. Her eyes, too, burned with a powerful red fury, and she felt Yujin's energy burst out of her.
It was possible for her to enter this form any time Yujin was out, and just having the gourd near her was enough for her to use his powers, but by absorbing him fully as she did, Yujin and she could enter a perfect state of fusion. When she had Yujin out and tapped into his power, her hair would become golden, and her eyes would turn red. However, when Yujin truly became her Core and settled within her own body, a new transformation would take place.
This was something the spirit beast master, Medora, was most famous for. A way to use their spirits that her father had forbidden, as fully fusing with a spirit beast was a sign of weakness. Ken didn't care about that right now, though. Instead, she just wanted to destroy the puppets; the sight of the Lord of Threads' creations pissed her off.
From the top of her head, fire sprouted out and began to take shape. It formed into a pair of long, furry ears, and from her rear, a tail jutted out, also furry, with fire lining her body. Her teeth grew sharp and jagged, and her claws extended, forming from her nails. The fire dripped down her body, and all the soldiers looked shocked, some horrified, and others amazed. To them, it was as if she had become a mutant.
That wasn't the case, though. This form was similar but different. Spirits weren't monsters after all.
Ken dropped to all fours, and, with a roar, she charged forward, blasting across the battlefield. She neared Raven, and she jumped up, slicing her claws out and unleashing a wave of fire that tore through a chunk of dolls.
"Oh?" Raven sliced into another group with her scythes. "What's with the new look? I like it."
"Just shut up. Row Flame Slicer." Ken felt the fire twirl around her claws, setting them ablaze, and she and the Knight began to fight through the horde together. "We just have to keep killing, and eventually the gate will close!"
"Easier said than done." Raven winced as a strike rammed into her side.
By now, there were over a hundred of the dolls, and even more were spilling out faster and faster. Every time they killed one, ten more would take its place. Ken blinked, and suddenly she was fighting a hundred. She felt her body tear and her blood spill as lasers tore into her and ripped chunks out, but she fought through the pain and spammed her healing spell to recover the damage. All her stats were significantly boosted in this state, and she was only slightly behind Raven in terms of power, who was also throwing out everything she had.
Just when the two of them began to get the hang of the swarm, the hole in the sky grew larger, and a different kind of puppet came out. This one looked like it was a massive elephant. After that was a deer, then a bull, a horse, various birds, monkeys, and gorillas, and so much more. The animal puppets were all massive and had even more firepower.
Bombs rained down and lasers spilled out. The other soldiers were obliterated, and the train was torn to bits, but still, Ken and Raven fought, going back to back, as the swarm just kept getting bigger and bigger.
Ken grabbed Raven, and she swung the woman around, who in turn used her weapon to form a gigantic shadowy blade that split the wooden animals apart, but just like last time, the portal grew in size, and a massive hand came out. This puppet was far bigger than any other, so much so that it didn't fall from the portal and instead stepped out. It was a puppet of a giant, complete with a wooden greatsword that hummed and buzzed with lightning. Unlike the others, this one wore armor and even had a face, showing a rough-looking man sketched into it.
The puppet swung its sword down, easily splitting the land in two, and Ken watched in horror as the attack came toward her. But Raven jumped in front of her and held her weapon out. "Vil Shadow Barrier!" The shadows lifted and became a twisting wall that barely deflected the blow. "Hit it as hard as you can!"
"Right." Ken jumped out from behind the woman, and she inhaled, puffing her stomach and chest out as much as she could. She brought her hands together and formed a sign with them and used that to gather her Qi and Yujin's core. This was a move her master had taught her, and it was the reason he had given Yujin to her so early. This was simply an imitation, but it was undoubtedly her most potent attack. "Vil Flame Dragon!" Ken stomped on the ground, opened her mouth, and blew out as hard as she could.
An intense inferno blasted out from her lips, and it was as if hell itself opened up. The flames took shape into a twisting dragon, its wings expanding, and its claws slashing out! The creature rammed into the wooden giant and erupted in fire, scorching its body, but it wasn't enough. The puppet still stood, and with a slice of its weapon, it tore the flame construct in two.
"Shit!"
"My turn!" Raven ran forward, and she used her scythe to launch herself up. She spun through the air and avoided the strike of the giant as it swung its sword at her. She landed on its outstretched blade and ran along it, bringing her scythe back. "Get ready!" She called out to Ken. "Vil Shadow Blade!" The shadows grew on her weapon and doubled its size, and she jumped off the sword and swung her weapon at a section of the burnt puppet's chest. Thanks to the damage Ken dealt, the blade was able to cut through, leaving a large gash that revealed its insides.
That was the last attack she was able to land on it, though, because a second later the puppet rammed its fist directly into her body.
Raven cried out, and she was launched from the sky into the ground, hitting it hard enough to leave a crater. Her armor became torn and dented, a small river of blood pouring out, but despite the pain, she laughed.
The puppet got ready to bring its sword down onto her, but before it could, Ken appeared in front of it. Her claws dug into its chest as she got on top of the hole Raven created. Once more, she puffed her cheeks out. "Vil Flame Dragon!" She unleashed the attack directly into the puppet, melting its insides and burning away whatever made it live. Its burn turned a deeper black, and ash peeled away as it twitched and then collapsed backward, dead.
Ken also collapsed, rolling off of the destroyed construct, and she breathed heavily. Her muscles ached, as did her bones, and her vision blurred. She was tired. Exhausted even. Yujin's flame was also running low.
With some effort, Ken managed to stand up, and she groaned weakly. The hole in the sky was still open, but the puppets no longer came spilling out, and the giant one had thankfully killed all the small ones. Unfortunately, all the soldiers were also dead.
"Yo, bitch, are you still alive?" Ken weakly coughed out, and she stumbled over to where Raven was.
Raven chuckled and sat up slowly. "Yeah. Shit. Talk about bad luck. The Lord of Threads attacked my cargo twice now."
"What the hell are you carrying?" Ken asked.
"No clue." Raven shook her head. "It's somewhere on the train." She stood up, went over to Ken's side, and caught the girl when Ken's legs gave out. "You okay?"
"I'm fine." Ken nodded and closed her eyes. "I have a natural healing factor in this state. Just give me a moment. Casting two Flame Dragons left me exhausted. When I gather up my Qi, I'll heal myself and then you."
Raven nodded and helped Ken get back to her feet. "You were kind of awesome out there."
"Of course I was." Ken looked out at the destroyed puppets, and her tail wagged back and forth in an excited manner. "I guess you were okay also." Her new ears flattened when Raven reached out and petted her head. "Stop it!"
"You're kind of cute like this." Raven giggled. The woman's smile then faded as she looked at all the dead soldiers. "Shit. I hope some are still alive. I'll check on them all and—"
"I can't believe my face puppet was actually destroyed."
Both Ken and Raven froze. Their entire bodies went perfectly still, and their hearts began to beat rapidly. Sweat poured down their backs, and their stomachs did a flip.
There was an intense shift in the air. A new sensation. Like a new predator had suddenly appeared. Their fight-or-flight instincts were screaming at them to run, but they couldn't even muster up the courage to take a step forward. Both girls stood there in pure horror.
"This isn't good. The other puppets don't matter, but a face puppet, especially one of a giant, is hard to come by." A man stood next to the remains of the massive puppet. No. Not a man. A monster. A monster who looked like a human. "What to do?"
Ken felt her hair stand up, and her body kept shaking even harder. One moment, she saw an old man in loose white robes, with long grey hair and a grey beard, and the next moment, she saw flashes of his proper form. Tentacles, teeth, twisting limbs, and hundreds of hands. Then it would snap back to the shape of the man. She nearly wet herself but managed to keep at least a little of her courage.
That all changed, though, when the man's eyes settled on her. He had a smile that was far too big and a pair of eyes that were colder than any human should have been able to have. They were grey and dull and looked like ice.
This was him.
The Lord of Threads. A Cultivator of the days of old. One who was said to have thrown himself into the world of monsters. He was here. He was standing before her.
"Oh. A Yuan." Then suddenly he was gone. Ken nearly screamed as she felt the hands wrap around her head. "I have enough of your people. Die."
There was a twist, a crunch, and a snap, and Ken realized with horror that her neck had been snapped.
***
Ken gasped and sat up, breathing in heavily. Her eyes were wide, and her chest rose and dropped as she drew in air. Her hand shot up toward her neck, and she felt her head was still attached. It ached, but the pain was going away.
She shuddered, though, when she remembered the way her head had fully twisted around… The Lord of Threads had killed her in an instant. Or at least, he would have. Thankfully, she was in her fused spirit beast form, and so her healing factor had mended her snapped and broken neck. Yujin had also surged up when he felt her death approaching and had used his own healing spells on her. The brain could survive for a bit, even if it were cut off from the body, and so she hadn't actually 'died' yet, which was how she was able to heal. If her head had been torn off or the Lord of Threads had bothered to rip her body up, then she would have been doomed, but thankfully, he moved on from her as soon as he took her down.
Ken shook her head as her body came back into a working state. Her mouth felt dry, and she looked around in a panic. "Raven?" She didn't see the Lord of Threads anywhere, but the train was toppled over and torn to bits, and the hole in the sky was gone, so if she was lucky, he had left. "Raven—"
Ken's nose twitched, and she smelled the familiar scent. It was dozens of feet away. Raven must have tried to run or was pushed back. She took off in the direction, and in only a few moments, she spotted the girl.
Ken stopped dead in her tracks, and her face paled. Her knees shook, and her fists unclenched.
"Raven?"
The woman was missing both her legs and her arms. There was a hole in her stomach that went all the way through her body, and her eyes were also missing, having been torn out. Cuts were sliced all around her body, and she lay in a crimson pool of her own blood. Her armor was gone as well, as was her scythe. Raven was…
"I—Is that you?"
Ken nearly threw up when she heard the woman speak. Raven was still alive. She collapsed next to the woman and held her hand out. "V-Vil Flame Feel!" Her fire seeped out, but it was pointless. There was no recovering from this.
"I—it is you, isn't it?" Raven croaked out.
"Yeah. It's me." Ken slid her arm underneath the dying woman and did her best to get her comfortable. "Just let me think for a second." She grunted. "I'll figure something out and—"
"You really are so stupid." Raven laughed.
"Shut up!" Ken shook her head and squeezed her eyes shut. "If I can get more Qi, maybe I can force a Ril-level technique out."
"I really would have liked to see it again." Raven let out a weak sigh.
"S-See what?"
"Your face." Raven's voice grew weaker. "I really did like you. You were interesting and had so many stories. I was kind of sad when you didn't recall any of the things we shared."
"Y-You can tell me about them later! And… you can remind me."
"You told me you wanted to stay in Esteria." Raven's voice got even quieter. "That you had to stay. That you hated your land."
Ken felt her lip quiver. "Yeah… I love Rossum, but the people there… I've never been good with people at all. I hate them. I hate people in general. Humans, I mean. I can never stand them."
"That's okay." Raven gave a weak grin. "I told you earlier, I'm good at reading people's hearts. You might have these dark thoughts or bouts of hatred, but I know that it's just your mind. Not your heart. You're not the type to do something evil."
"You don't know anything about me…"
"I guess you're right. Shit, that sucks." Raven winced. "I was looking forward to learning more about you. I was even going to beg Crow to let you on his team."
"Crow?"
"My brother." Raven coughed badly, and her body shook. "Damn. He's going to be so pissed. Do you think you could pass on a message to him?"
"...Sure. He'd be happier if you told him yourself, though."
"We both know that can't happen."
"Yeah… What's your message… Raven whispered the words, unable to even properly speak. Ken nodded once she heard them. "Okay. I'll tell him. I'll pass that onto him."
"Ha… Ha… I… I tricked you." Raven began to grow cold. "T-The only way you'd be able to talk to him is t-to t-try out for the Arcane Knights. L-Looks like you got no c-choice now."
"Yeah." Ken chuckled. "Looks like my hands are tied."
"I knew it." Raven let out one final breath. "You're a kind person." And then that was that. Raven didn't move. Didn't speak. Didn't live.
Raven was dead.
Ken felt her lip quiver slightly, but she was the mighty Ken Yuan. She didn't feel things. She wasn't some nice person either. Raven was wrong. She didn't take the time to find a communication device and call as many numbers as she could to report what happened, and she also didn't make sure all the bodies were covered and protected for those who would soon arrive. She also certainly didn't cry, and she didn't leave the area feeling like the world's biggest failure.
Lastly, she didn't go to the capital to take the Arcane Knight's entrance exam, because why would she ever do that? Why would she fulfill the wishes of someone she had just met? Someone she barely knew.
She would never.
Because she was Ken Yuan. She had other reasons to do what she did. Reasons for why she took the time to call, to put the bodies away, and reasons to head to the capital.
That was just who she was.
The story that was being told.