Fates Parallel Chapter 41 - Trust

The trip back to the academy was uneventful. They had been in a hastily assembled log cabin hidden in a forest outside of the academy walls, and Yan Yue dropped the illusion halfway through the forest, explaining that she didn’t actually care about keeping the location a secret.

By the time they returned, the sun was beginning to rise, and they realized that they had a martial arts class to attend. After everything that had happened yesterday, it felt almost surreal to simply go back to class the next day. Life moved on, whether they were ready to face the next day or not.

Jia and Eui were mentally considering whether they should stop by the house or go straight to the training field when Jia realized a problem.

“Miss Yue, you said you were going to be keeping an eye on us, but how are you actually going to do that? Are you just going to follow us around all the time? Don’t you have your own lessons to go to?”

“I had thought to simply attend the same lessons you did. The structure of the lessons here are rather freeform, after all.”

Lee Jia nodded, that almost made sense except—

“Ienaga’s aren’t—she likes a rigid structure and she hand-picks her advanced classes. Besides that, you’re only awakened in one discipline—you should really be doing the basic classes first.”

Yan Yue gently bit a thumbnail and furrowed her brows irritably.

“Tsk, that’s a good point. I hadn’t really intended to take the other disciplines seriously, as I’d rather focus on reaching my next breakthrough...”

A sly smile gradually formed on Yan Yue’s face as she seemed to figure something out.

“It’s just as well that I’ve befriended two of the top students, who have agreed to help tutor me so that I might catch up in the other disciplines.”

Eui snorted derisively, while Jia simply sighed with exasperation.

“Hah, if you say so. I guess I can try to convince Ienaga, but even if she agrees, I really don’t think sitting in on the martial arts class is going to be fun.”

Eui let out a sinister chuckle.

“Hehehe, I don’t know about that, Jia. I think it’s going to be very entertaining.”

---

“Come on! Don’t stop now, you’ve got tons of Qi, right? Just release some of that into your aura for your body to absorb!”

“I’m...hah...trying! Are...hah...are you sure...hah...this is the right way?”

Jia watched in amusement as Eui chased Yan Yue around the training field, attempting to give her a crash course on ki awakening. Since learning that the three disciplines were connected, Jia and Eui had theorized a way that their mage-exclusive awakening technique could be adapted for spiritual artists, but before now, they hadn’t really had cause to test it.

It wasn’t going especially well, but Jia suspected that was because Eui was more interested in getting a bit of revenge on Yan Yue than actually helping her awaken. Surprisingly, Ienaga had agreed quite readily to allowing Yan Yue to participate alongside Jia and Eui, and was even overseeing her ‘training’.

It seemed more like Eui was torturing Yan Yue to Jia, but she wasn’t going to interfere with it. Apparently, neither was Ienaga, who’s only contributions so far had been confirming that the method was legitimate, and lending Eui her wooden training sword—which Eui had not hesitated to use judiciously.

That left the rest of the group doing free sparring and practicing their forms—in theory, at least. In practice, Jia had taken the opportunity to explain to her friends about how she met Yan Yue—leaving out the sordid details of the kidnapping.

Rika gave Jia an arch look as she took in the story.

“So Yan Zhihao’s older sister used her brother’s death as an excuse to come here to escape some kind of arranged marriage situation? Then she sought you guys out specifically because...?”

Jia nodded—her story was as close to the truth as she could get without betraying the confidence of her former captor, and she wasn’t quite ready to oppose them openly just yet.

“Because Eui and I demonstrated the fastest growth among any of the disciples here, and she needs to get strong enough to be able to decline the offer without causing offense.”

Again, it wasn’t quite the truth, but it wasn’t quite false, either. Of all people, Kasai Hanako was nodding fervently.

“Ugh, that is the worst! I actually ended up coming here for similar reasons, you know. The local regent’s son was constantly harassing me with proposals.”

Rika gave Hana a sidelong look and smirked wryly.

“You left out the part where the invitation was a reward for a martial arts tournament, and that you broke his jaw in the finals. ‘The most brutal rejection in the history of Yamato’ they called it. I don’t think you were especially worried about causing offense.”

Hana blushed and looked away as Jia raised an eyebrow in her direction. You wouldn’t know it from her demure attitude, or her doll-like appearance, but Hanako could be absolutely vicious in spars.

Eunae cupped her cheek with one hand and watched Yan Yue’s training with a worried expression.

“Poor girl...I hope Eui doesn’t traumatize her. The ki awakening is already a rather—intense experience. Eui really doesn’t need to make it any harder.”

Jia giggled a bit as she watched Eui gleefully brandishing the wooden sword while egging Yan Yue on to keep running.

“Well, she has her reasons.”

And speaking of traumatic experiences...

“Actually, Eunae, there was something I wanted to ask about.”

Eunae had been watching the spectacle of Eui chasing Yan Yue around with an unreadable expression, but she turned towards Jia when she was addressed.

“Oh?”

“Yan Yue—uh, demonstrated a technique for us. It was a spiritual art that trapped our minds inside of an illusory dream world under her control. Eui and I had absolutely no way to defend against it, and it seemed like kind of a critical weakness...”

Eunae frowned uncomfortably, likely sensing the direction in which the conversation was moving.

“I can see how that might be distressing, Jia. If you wanted to consult me on the matter of techniques that target the mind, I’m afraid that I don’t really understand my own very well.”

Jia shook her head—she wasn’t really sure how to broach the subject so she decided to just say it directly.

“No, I was—um, I was hoping you could maybe help us train to resist that kind of attack.”

Rika glanced nervously at Eunae as she stared at the ground and bit her lip.

“Jia...you know I don’t like to use my ancestral technique—it’s dangerous. Couldn’t you train with Miss Yan?”

Jia shook her head—even if Yan Yue agreed to help her train...

“I don’t trust her, Eunae—not like I trust you. I think it could benefit you as well! With practice, you might learn how to control your power better.”

Eunae seemed hesitant, fidgeting with her hands restlessly as she considered it.

“Are you sure, Jia?”

“Only if you’re ok with it, Eunae. I don’t want to force you to do anything you aren’t comfortable with.”

Eunae grimaced for a moment, before taking a long breath and schooling her expression.

“I—you’re right, Jia. You probably should learn to defend against mental and spiritual attacks, and I should learn to control my power. It’s more responsible than trying to pretend it doesn’t exist. Thank you, Jia, for trusting me with this. It can’t have been easy after—”

Jia shook her head.

“That was a mistake, right? It was a bad first impression, but—” Jia grinned, recalling her earlier conversation with Yan Yue “—well, I’ve had worse.”

---

After their lessons, Jia and Eui stayed behind for their scheduled sparring session with Rika. Jia watched from the side as Rika narrowly avoided a kick, only to be forced to block as Eui followed it up with a whiplike attack from her tail.

The tail turned out to have been carrying destructive ki within it, and Rika’s arms were viciously gouged where they had blocked Eui’s attack, causing an impressive and disturbing spray of blood. The spar was put on hold, and Rika laughed at Eui’s panicked expression as she hurried to heal Rika’s arms.

“Less than a year ago, I would have assumed someone who lost that much blood was going to die, and she just laughs. What a weird life I have now.”

The exhausted puddle next to Lee Jia refrained from comment, except to groan pathetically. Ostensibly, Lee Jia had taken over Yan Yue’s physical training, but the girl had finally run out of qi before she could get the hang of the technique and collapsed in a miserable heap.

“You really should be meditating right now. The body naturally absorbs ki when it’s exhausted, and getting a feel for it will help you adjust your breathing technique later.”

Yan Yue grimaced at Lee Jia. Her carefully crafted mask of perfection was nowhere to be seen, now. With her makeup smudged by sweat and strands of hair messily falling loose from her buns, Lee Jia thought that Yan Yue looked much more human.

“Why?”

Lee Jia blinked in confusion at Yan Yue’s query—she thought she’d already explained it pretty well.

“You need to be able to control your body and qi simultaneously while meditating so that when—”

“Not that! I understand what you’re trying to teach me—you’re not the only geniuses around, you know. I mean why are you helping me? The tutoring was just a cover story, so there’s no reason for you to put so much effort into it.”

Lee Jia drew her knees up to her chest and rested her chin on them. It was a very Eui-like pose, but she was in a rather Eui-like mood.

“I have my reasons—I’d rather not talk about it. I’m already struggling with the idea of talking to Eui about it, but I owe her that much.”

Yan Yue raised an eyebrow and glanced once at Eui before regarding Lee Jia with a curious gaze.

“What is the story between you two, anyway? You seem to be much closer than just friends, but you don’t strike me as lovers—n-not that I’d be judging or anything.”

Lee Jia sighed sullenly at the uncomfortable reminder of Eui’s confession—another thing that she needed to sort out in her head sooner than she was prepared for.

“Do you ever get tired of that? Constantly trying to figure out everyone’s thoughts and feelings so that you can twist them to your advantage?”

Yan Yue pursed her lips.

“Of course I do—everyone does, but in my world, you either play the game or become one of the pieces. You didn’t answer my question.”

Lee Jia shook her head and frowned. Xin Wei had said something similar.

“We were both pretty lost when we arrived at the academy, but I guess fate or whatever brought us together, and eventually we grew to really depend on each other. I was—I am fine with that, but sharing everything with someone is harder than it sounds.”

Yan Yue gave Lee Jia a questioning glance.

“It doesn’t sound very easy in the first place.”

Lee Jia chuckled mirthlessly and shook her head.

“No, I suppose it doesn’t.”

“Why is it necessary in the first place? I’m sure there’s some context I am missing, but even between the closest friends can afford each other some privacy.”

Lee Jia groaned a bit, realizing she’d already shared more than she meant to.

“It’s a long story, but I mean it very literally when I say we depend on each other. I’m not going to talk about it any more than that.”

“Does this have something to do with that mental link of yours?”

Lee Jia channeled her best Eui-scowl at Yan Yue, who averted her eyes with faux-innocence.

“You’re too smart for your own good.”

Yan Yue chuckled awkwardly.

“Ahaha, so I’ve been told.”

The atmosphere between the two girls became awkward as the silence stretched on. It was interrupted abruptly by a paper crane laden with a small piece of jade suddenly dropping into Yan Yue’s lap.

The two girls blinked at the sudden intruder in confusion, looking up to find no visible source of the object. The crane unfolded itself into a perfectly uncreased piece of paper with neat handwriting covering the surface—a letter? Lee Jia read over her shoulder as Yan Yue examined the note.

Miss Yan Yue,

I couldn’t help but overhear your friend and countryman pleading your case to my colleague this afternoon. It pleases me greatly to see such fast friendships being made between cultures. I am sure that as the only female student from your homeland, such bonds are priceless treasures.

I have taken it upon myself to arrange for your new accommodations as requested. Your belongings have already been delivered, and your new keystone should be attached to this letter. It might be a little cozy with all three of you sharing a room, but at least you’ll never be lonely, eh?

Best of luck in your studies!

Regards,
Master of Formations, Grand Magus Do Hye

Lee Jia made a sour face as she finished reading the note. Do Hye again? What was that man’s obsession with meddling in people’s affairs? Yan Yue’s expression grew increasingly concerned as she held up the jade keystone—its symbol matched the one on Jia and Eui’s home.

“Miss Lee, is this a key to your home?”

“...yeah.”

“How—how many bedrooms does that house have?”

“...one.”

Yan Yue scowled down at the letter and crushed it angrily.

“Is this some kind of joke? Are there even three beds in that house?”

“I’m sure the Grand Magus thinks so—and no, there are not. The couches are fairly comfortable, though.”

And also too small for Yan Yue to sleep on. Even Lee Jia couldn’t stretch out fully on the pair of two-seat couches in their living area, and she was a head shorter than Yan Yue.

“This is ridiculous! I had meant for you two to move into my dorm! There would have been plenty of room. How are three people supposed to live in such a squalid little apartment!?”

“Hey! It may be small, but we keep the place clean.”

“Ugh, I’m sure you do. This is just—”

“If you don’t like it, you could always just stop babysitting us and let us have our freedom back.”

Yan Yue shot Lee Jia a flat look.

“No, I can’t. Even if I did trust you completely—and I don’t—I have to at least appear to be keeping you on a short leash. There may be no other girls from my country to watch us in the dorms, but Zheng Long has ways of finding out. Don’t underestimate him.”

Lee Jia sighed and shrugged her shoulders.

“Then you’re just going to have to get used to it. We’ll figure out the sleeping arrangements with Eui later, I guess. It’s not like we actually have to sleep that much anyway—Eui and I can just share a bed and sleep at different times.”

Yan Yue scoffed and shook her head.

“You don’t get it. It’s not just about where to sleep, or where to put my belongings. I am Yan Yue, eldest child of the Great Awakening Dragon Sect’s Grandmaster and Patriarch, Yan De. It’s an insult to place me in such a tiny hovel!”

Lee Jia laughed and shook her head.

“Hahaha, I’ll never understand that noble pride. It’s a smaller house, so what? Aren’t they just giving you what you asked for? I doubt they’d change the living arrangements for just anyone. Besides, aren’t you trying to escape from your old life? You’ll have to throw away that status eventually.”

“You don’t understand—”

“No, you don’t understand, Yan Yue!”

Yan Yue was taken aback by Lee Jia’s sudden shout, and even Lee Jia herself was a little surprised at her angry tone, as she gave voice to the thoughts that were bothering her.

“I agreed to help you for my own reasons, but those reasons are extremely important to me. You need to show me that you really meant what you said, because if you betray my trust—if I find out that you lied about it just to manipulate me, I don’t care if you’re as powerful as the ancestors-damned God-Emperor himself, I will make you wish I had left you at An Eui’s mercy!”

Yan Yue stared wide-eyed at Lee Jia, looking more than a little frazzled as a nervous bead of perspiration formed on her forehead. She gulped audibly and held up her hands defensively.

“I-I understand, Miss Lee. You—you’re right, of course. I was being overly willful, and I apologize.”

Lee Jia took a deep, steadying breath, and then realized she’d made a bit of a scene. Even Rika and Eui had paused their practice when they noticed Lee Jia shouting. She blushed and buried her face in her knees.

Where had that come from?