The White Phoenix

Chapter 25 - Back to the Sky

Annchi was exhausted, but she refused to show it. Holding a blade in each hand, facing off against another Valkyrie in training. This Valkyrie, was dueling her for her position as head Valkyrie. Annchi has been head Valkyrie since she first challenged the last head Valkyrie for the position, which was twenty thousand years ago. Now she was being challenged.

Annchi's mother and leader of the Valkyries, Jilpa (person who gives life to another; teacher of life), was watching the fight. She was impressed with how far her daughter has come, but it always surprises her when another Valkyrie wants to take her daughter's place. She is hard on her daughter because she wants to see Annchi succeed. She wants Annchi to take her place one day. Annchi was a special type of Valkyrie, as she can manipulate the elements. She liked to use ice as a weapon when she fights. Ice and water. Adding frost to her blades created a sharper edge, and it was more effective. She was fighting against someone who was skilled in speed and strength. Though their fighting skills lacked quite a bit compared to Annchi.

Yīnuò was hiding off in the distance. Annchi was training her to be a warrior, but Annchi's mother thought the two were wasting time. Jilpa thought Yīnuò was lacking and was not cut out for being a warrior, let alone, a valkyrie. She thought Yīnuò was better off learning medical training, and learning her, princess duties, as she was Wei Changze's little sister. Yīnuò was a sweet girl, but she lacked the drive to kill if it came down to it. She lacked the desire of the fight. Which was why Yīnuò was having a harder time learning. Annchi still trained her, as she has a love for Yīnuò. Jilpa knew that, and she also felt it was a distraction.

Jilpa caught sight of Yīnuò hiding, watching the challenge take place. Jilpa stepped aside and went over to Yīnuò, "Princess, I think it is best if you leave. You are being a distraction."

"I'm sorry Jilpa, I am just wanting to watch my friend. She works so hard," Yīnuò explained.

"Leave, before I speak to Tian Jun about your distracting others at Valkyrie training," Jilpa warned.

"Mother!" Annchi yelled, getting distracted and took a sword to the shoulder, piercing right through her. Annchi growled and force pushed her opponent away, pulling the sword out of her shoulder and threw it to the attacker. It pierced the stomach of her opponent, taking her down in one hit. Annchi won, but took an injury from getting distracted by her mother's carelessness. Annchi went over to Yīnuò, "Hey, I apologize on behalf of my mother."

"Annchi, she caused you to get hurt just now," Jilpa argued.

"You caused me to get hurt!" Annchi argued back, "I love Yīnuò, and I do not ever want you to try and push her away from me again, or you can find a new head Valkyrie, and a replacement for me. I do not want to be apart of your training if you treat others this way...in fact, I bet I can create a new group of Valkyries that are much better than yours."

"Fine, You have one year to create a new team, if they impress me and the council, we will make a new section of Valkyries. It will let me know if you are actually worthy of my position one day. If you do not succeed, you and Yīnuò are not to meet during training ever again. I am being kind as you have feelings for her, be thankful," Jilpa said, "I will also degrade you from Head Valkyrie. You will drop to the bottom and you will have to work your way back to the top."

Jilpa glared once more at the two girls before storming away. Yīnuò then helped take Annchi to get her wound tended to, "I am sorry for the mess you are now in."

"Yīnuò, I will not allow my mother to treat you like that," Annchi said as she sat down on a medical bed, "and as for recruiting, you are my first recruit for entering my team. I need at least eight more. That would making a team of ten. Me as a leader, you as the head."

"I don't know if I can fight like you want me too," Yīnuò told her, "I am more of a healer then a fighter. You know that."

"I know, but can you at least help me through this? I will do whatever it takes, and I will make it up to you somehow," Annchi said.

Yīnuò sighed but then looked into Annchi's eyes, "is it true...do you love me? And is it as a friend or something else?"

"I have had this feeling that there is something more than just being friends, Yīnuò. I have always found you to be so special, kind, beautiful, caring, honest, and most importantly, loyal to me. No matter what happened to me or how terrible my mother is, you've always been there for me," Annchi told her.

"Ever since I first saw you fight, train, I thought, 'who is this amazing and beautiful warrior?' I never thought you'd ever feel the same way..." Yīnuò explained.

Annchi took Yīnuò's hand, "No matter what happens, whether I can impress the court and my mother, or not, I will never let you go. I will even go as far as asking Tian Jun, for your hand."

"You...would marry me?" Yīnuò asked.

"I would. We have known each other for a very long time. I think marrying you, in order to make sure I never have to worry about losing you or having you taken away from me, would be the best decision. I love you, Yīnuò."

Yīnuò smiled at her as they snuggled close together on the bed. Annchi placed a kiss on Yīnuò's forehead as they relaxed. Staring into each other's eyes, it was like their lips turned into magnets. The pull was strong, and soon, they were kissing. The spark ignited between the two, and a liquid heat kept them close. Annchi and Yīnuò were able to be together, and they didn't want their moment to end.

///////////////

So I would like to ask, do you like getting to know Annchi and Yīnuò like this? Or do you prefer more of Wangxian?

I am hoping to balance it all out somehow. I hope you are liking the story so far.