Chapter Text
Fire. A destructive force of nature that destroys everything in its path. All animals fear fire. It’s in their nature—humans are not an exception.
Beidou stands still in fear as she stares at the waves of red and orange, the black smoke rising like a demon clawing its way up from hell. The chaos around her was ignored: men and women shouting, children crying, along with the sound of metal clashing with fury and passion.
“Beidou!” A man shouted at her, grabbing her arms and pulling her towards him.
Beidou snaps out of her trance and glances at the man behind her. “F-father,” she stutters, greeting the man.
"Hurry, go find your mother. It’s not safe here,” he says, pushing her in the direction of where the women and children were fleeing.
“W-what about you?” Beidou turns to look at him.
“My warriors and I will buy you all some time. Now go!” He shouted, raising the weapon in his hand as he turned towards the ocean of flames.
Beidou grabs onto his sleeve, tugging at it. Her father turns around, looking at her pleading eyes.
“Father, please don’t go. I don’t want you to die.” Beidou sniffles.
Her father gives her a sad smile and says, “It is the leader’s job to protect his people. We might not be able to stop the Imperial Army, but we can buy enough time for everyone else.” He pauses for a moment. Kneeling down onto Beidou’s height. “Listen Beidou. Once we buy enough time, we will retreat. Wait for me to come back, alright? Until I come back, listen to your mother and don't cause trouble like you usually do. When I’m not around, it is your job to protect her and your little sister.” Her father pats her shoulder before getting up again. “Now go.”
Beidou looks at her father, nodding, then running in the direction he pointed. The shouts and cries of the men and women fighting the army resounded in her ears. She glances behind her at her father, her eyes widening as he fell to the ground as multiple arrows shot through his chest. He coughs out blood.
She stops in her tracks, turning around. “Father!” She starts to run towards him before someone grabs her arm and drags her away. Beidou looks at the person who grabbed her. “Uncle Feng, let me go!” She struggled to try to loosen the man’s grip.
“You know I can’t. I promised your father that I would bring you and the rest of your family to safety,” Uncle Feng said, picking her up and putting her on the horse nearby. He hopes on the horse after securing her to it.
“Don’t fight me on this,” he warned her as she continued to struggle. “I will bring you away, conscious or unconscious.”
“But Father is still there,” she points to the field of flames. “He’s hurt. We have to go back and get him!”
“Beidou.” He calls out quietly. “Don’t let your father’s sacrifice go to waste.”
Hearing Uncle Feng’s words, Beidou stops fighting against him. Tears fell from her eyes. “H-he promised he would come back,” she whispered to herself, her voice cracking. “Why did they have to take him, Uncle Feng? Why is this all happening?”
Feng keeps his eyes straight ahead, his heart breaking as the girl in front of him cries. “T-the emperor is a greedy man,” he breathes out. “He wants more than what he already has. The land and the treasures we’ve collected, he wants all of it.”
“Why?” Beidou asked again.
Feng opens his mouth to respond.
An arrow shot out from the trees and landed on the horse’s front leg. Causing the horse to raise both of its front hooves off the ground, it threw Feng and Beidou onto the ground. Several more arrows are shot out, aiming at Feng and Beidou. Feng takes out his saber, deflecting the arrows with his best abilities. However, one strikes his left arm, triggering a cry of pain from him.
“Uncle Feng!” Beidou cries out, getting off the ground and running to him. “Are you alright?” She asks as she examines his wound.
“B-beidou. Run!” He grits his teeth.
Beidou looks towards the woods to find several soldiers of the Imperial Army stepping out of the shadows of the forest. Her eyes widened with fear.
“Hurry, there isn’t enough time left,” Feng said, pushing her away. Standing up, blocking Beidou from the sight of the army. “She is just a child. Leave her out of this.”
The soldier in front scoffs, “So what if she is just a child? She is still a criminal under imperial law. If we let criminals go, what will the law be in place for?”
Feng grits his teeth, glancing back at Beidou and then back at the soldiers. “Beidou,” he whispered to her. “Go, now!”
Beidou blinks away the tears. “Goodbye, Uncle Feng,” she said to him. Then turning and running.
The soldiers charged toward Feng, who blocked their path.
“Goodbye, Beidou.”
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Beidou doesn’t know how long she was running, but after hearing screams behind her, she ran faster.
The screaming slowly died down. Silence enveloped the forest. Beidou slowed down as she reached the wide, coursing river. Feeling lost, she observes her surroundings, not recognizing anything.
“Nowhere to run now, huh?”
Beidou freezes, turning to look behind. Damnit. She cursed in her mind. She was surrounded.
“If you don’t put up a fight, I shall grant you a swift death. How ‘bout it?”
Taking a few steps back, the ground slips, causing her to take a step forward. Beidou looks at the rushing river and then back at the soldiers.
“Go to hell,” she tells them, running and jumping over the river. Underestimating the length, she falls into the river, swept away by the wave.
The wave pushes her under as she tries to resurface. The lack of air caused her movements to slow down before they stopped, and she let out her last breath.
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Beidou grasps for air, her upper body shooting up into a sitting position. She breathes quickly as she glances around. Seeing the familiar look of her tent, she calms down. She runs her hands through her hair, eyes closed, as she remembers the nightmare she had. The events of the nightmare took place eleven years ago. She grits her teeth at the memory of that day—her father’s and Uncle Feng's deaths. Perhaps if she had listened to her father, they would still be alive. No. The imperial army is not merciful enough to let any of us go. Except me... I’m supposed to be dead, though. She thinks as she gets up. Letting out a sigh, if it were not for the fact her master just so happened to be passing by that day, she would’ve been dead. It was a pure coincidence that they both share a hatred for the current monarch, the royal family, and the dynasty.
Shaking her head, she goes to wash her face in the water basin. She splashed cold water on her face, both her hands holding onto the side of the basin, leaning over and staring at her reflection. She brings her hand to her left eye. It has been over three years since she lost her left eye in a battle against the barbarians from the north. She lost her eye that day, but she gained the respect of every soldier in the camp. After the old general retired, she was promoted to the position.
“Commander General!” A voice called out to her from outside her tent. “This soldier has a report.”
Beidou straightens up, glancing down at her inner garment. She still needs to change. “What’s the report?” Beidou asked as she grabbed her uniform and started to change. The uniform is all black, including the outer armor she has yet to put on. Tying the silk belt to secure her uniform, she dons the armor, pairing it with the cape, black on the outside with garnet on the inside. She ties her hair in a tall bun, tying it with a silk ribbon to keep it in place.
Pushing through the flaps of her tent, the morning sun shines and greets her as she squints her eyes at the brightness, blinking a few times to adjust to the change of lighting. She looks at the soldier kneeling on one knee in front of her, the same hairstyle present in him. It is a regulation for all soldiers to wear their hair as such.
“What’s the report?” Beidou asked, crossing her arms.
The soldier cups his fists, saluting to her, “General Beidou, we received reports from the soldiers posted in the nearby town about the spotting of the imperial carriage.” He pauses, then makes eye contact with Beidou. “We presume that it is the imperial decree.”
Beidou eyes-widen. After a few breaths, she holds her chin with her right hand, thinking.
“I see. Then they should be arriving soon. Have the soldiers gather at the main training ground. It will be easier to gather everyone when the imperial decree does arrive.” Beidou says. “Also have the Vice-Commander come see me by the main tent.”
"Yes, general,” the soldier salutes once more before leaving to fulfill his order.
Beidou watches as he leaves. Once he was out of sight, the corner of her lips curled slightly upward. Finally. She thought. The time has finally arrived. Father, mother, Uncle Feng, sister, and everyone else, I will avenge you all.
Screech.
The call of a sparrow hawk snaps Beidou out of her thoughts. She looks up to see the small bird of prey circling her. She raises her right arm in response, and the sparrow hawk swoops down, landing on her arm. Beidou was glad that she wore her leather arm guards today, as the tiny hawk’s talons are gripping tightly to her arm. She lowers her arm, bringing her other hand up to scratch the bird’s neck, which it welcomes.
“What did you bring to me this time, little one?” Beidou asked it softly. Bringing it inside her tent, she sits down in front of her desk. The sparrow hawk hops down onto the table, tilting its head slightly to the left. Beidou chuckles lightly at its silly expression. She takes out a bowl and pours some water into it. The hawk gladly drank mouthfuls of water. Beidou watches the hawk, noticing the note tied to its left leg. She scoops up the hawk gently, flipping it over so its belly is up. She unties the note on its leg and puts the bird back down. Taking a deep breath, she opens the note. It reads, “Be careful when you are in the capital. There are many enemies present, but you will find some hidden allies. Princess Binghu may be a good ally, though she has her own goals.” Seeing her master’s familiar handwriting, she lets out a sigh of relief. He is still monitoring everything in the capital.
Beidou lights the candle on the table and lifts the silk paper over the fire. Burning it and all of its contents. She lets her hand fall onto the table, drumming the table with her index finger, deep in thought. She shuffles through her memories, scavenging for any information on the Princess of Binghu. After a few minutes, she lets out a frustrated sigh. There isn’t much she knows of the princess aside from the fact that she is the current emperor’s sworn sister.
She picks up her brush and pulls out a piece of silk paper, writing a reply to her master’s message. She ties it to the sparrow hawks. Holding the hawk with both hands, she walks out of her tent, glancing around and checking her surroundings. Once she made sure no one was around, she threw the hawk into the air, watching it fly into the distance before leaving for the main training base.
Arriving at the main training base, she sees the majority of the soldiers doing basic training. She turns her attention to the white-haired man with a red streak in his hair waiting for her outside the big tent.
The white-haired man spots Beidou walking over to him. He cups his fists in salute to her. “Commander General Beidou,” he greets her.
“Vice Commander,” she says, nodding her head in response, walking into the tent with him in tow.
Beidou has her back facing the Vice Commander as she stares at the battle map posted on a board.
“You wished to see me, General?” The vice commander asked.
“You can drop the formalities, Kazuha. We’re alone,” Beidou turns around to face her friend.
Kazuha gives Beidou a helpless smile. “The walls have ears,” he warned.
Beidou frowns at his response. “It is no secret to anyone that we are friends.”
“I suppose you’re right.” He shrugs. “Do enlighten me, Beidou. What is the reason you called for me?”
Beidou lets out a sigh and turns back to the battle map. “The imperial decree will be arriving soon. Most likely, we will have to withdraw from the border and head back to the capital."
After a few moments of silence, Kazuha responded, “I see. So this is why you had all the soldiers gather here. Is the border secure enough for us to leave?”
Beidou turns to face Kazuha; she opens her mouth to respond but is cut off by a soldier outside calling out. “Commander General! Vice Commander! The imperial carriage is here!”
Beidou and Kazuha look at each other before walking out of the tent together. Beidou sees the eunuch getting off the carriage. She glances around to see that all the soldiers have gathered and are kneeling on both knees, awaiting the decree. Beidou walks to the front of all the soldiers and kneels, doing the same as the other soldiers. Kazuha walks next to Beidou and does the same.
The eunuch walks onto the platform in front of all the bowing soldiers. Opening the scroll in his hand, he clears his throat and begins to read. “By the will of heaven, Commander-General Xie Beidou has defended the northern borders well against the northern barbarians. The towns and cities in the north have seen little to no casualties or harm. Due to the commander-general’s hard work, his imperial majesty, the Emperor, has decreed for him and the vice commander to return to the capital to join the celebration of the new year in the Imperial Palace. His majesty sees that the commander-general has no elders left in his family and is also at a marriageable age. His Majesty declared he would be responsible for the commander general's marriage. The commander-general also has no residence in the capital; his majesty has granted the general the Xihai Residence, and the construction of the residence shall commence after the new year. That is all,” The eunuch finished reading the edict, rolling the scroll back up. He gazes at Beidou, who is still shocked at the decree. “Commander General, do you accept this decree?” He asked her.
Beidou snaps out of her trance. She bows to the eunuch. “This subject accepts the decree. Many thanks to his majesty for his kindness,” she says, the darkness in her eyes concealed.
She gets up and receives the scroll from the eunuch. “Many thanks to Gongong (what the Eunuch is called) for delivering the decree so far north. Why don’t you come to the main tent to drink a cup of tea to warm yourself?” Beidou offered, gesturing to the main tent with her free hand.
The eunuch waved Beidou off. “This old one still has errands to run. You have worked hard, General. Good things will come in the future,” he smiles at Beidou, then gets on the carriage.
Beidou watches the carriage leave.
Kazuha pats Beidou on the soldier with a smile on his face. “Congratulations on your engagement, general,” he snickers.
Beidou turns to him and playfully pushes him away. “Bah, what engagement! Who has time for marriage when the borders are not safe?” She questioned him.
“His majesty has decreed it, General. You can not go against the decree.”
Beidou rubs her forehead and lets out a sigh. “I have to get everything sorted out before we can leave,” she says, turning to leave. She signals for a nearby soldier to come to her. “Have the captain and the five colonels gather at the main tent.”
"Yes, General,” he cups his fists and leaves.
Beidou walks to the tent and enters it. She sets down the scroll on the large table in the center and sits down in the general's seat. She crosses her arms in deep thought, not noticing Kazuha entering the tent along with the captain and five colonels.
“Commander General,” Kazuha called out to her. Beidou glances at him and the other six people in the room. “The captain and the five colonels are here,” he cups his fists, saluting to her.
Beidou gestures for them all to take a seat. “As you all have heard, the Vice Commander and I will be heading to the Imperial Palace. While both of us are gone, any major affairs should be handled by the captain. As for the five colonels, they will be in charge of their own battalions. The army should be as organized as I left it. If anyone steps out of line, they will be punished by flogging. Also, send the scouts back out again. The barbarians are never this quiet this time of year. If there are any movements, inform me immediately. Am I understood?”
"Yes, general,” the six stood up, saluting her.
Beidou nods in approval. “Dismissed.” Beidou stands up, takes the scroll with her, and leaves the tent.
“Beidou!” Kazuha called out to her.
She pauses in her footsteps and turns to look at him.
“Will you be alright?” He asked her.
“Huh? What do you mean?”
“I mean in the palace. There are a lot of rules to be followed. A lot of etiquettes is in place,” Kazuha explained.
“I will be fine. I’m from Duke Osial’s estate. He has drilled those into my mind ever since I was a child,” Beidou smiles at Kazuha.
“Perhaps it's because you’re from Duke Osial’s estate and his majesty wants you to attend,” Kazuha explained.
“Don’t worry too much about it. Go back and pack for the journey. It will take us at least five days to arrive at the capital with our fastest horses,” Beidou complained as she walked back to her tent."