A Thousand Foxians' Ancient Troubles Revisited

[foresightis2020]

Just like that, the scene shifts to somewhere else...

To a place where Foxians held sacred. Fyxestroll Garden.

The General can be seen standing in front of what appears to be a young individual, and there are strange green-yellow lights that can be witnessed in the general area.

There are other people surrounding the General — a red-haired lady, a brunette, a grey-haired man with golden eyes, and a green-haired young woman.

The individual who appears to be quite on the short side asks, "I've never seen this one before...human, who are you?"

Jing Yuan smiles, eyes half-lidded as he asks in turn, "Heliobus, is it not your deepest wish to hold a rematch with the general of the Luofu? I have come to grant you an audience."

The grey-haired male exclaims, "This is General Teng Xiao's successor!"

The General folds his arms, and the green-haired woman declares, "Cirrus, we have brought you the person you wish to see. This is General Jing Yuan, the one who now sits at the Seat of Divine Foresight."

Cirrus, the one who had inquired about the General's identity seems taken aback, and asks, "...This is the current general of the Luofu?"

Though the little one doesn't stop there, working into a frenzy. "Look at that expression — he's barely half-awake! Where is General Teng Xiao? Why did he choose such a lightweight to take over for him? I suppose it's already too late for the Xianzhou to rid themselves of this clown..."

Cirrus then sighs in defeat, "Very well then, General Jing Yuan — how about we settle our score right here in Fyxestroll Garden? If I win, I must be free to come and go as I please..."

Jing Yuan looks unimpressed as his arms fall back to his sides and he states imperiously, "I agreed to grand you an audience, not meet you in combat."

He doesn't fight just anyone, after all.

"...What? You refuse? You won't fight me?!"

Cirrus seems appalled and surprised. "He comes here after I demand a rematch, and won't even fight...is he conceding that I already won? No, there can be no victory in eschewing combat — human logic negates it..."

Jing Yuan lets out a little 'hmph', folding his arms once more, and stating coldly, "You misunderstand — I came for a rematch. It's just that...you are not a worth opponent."

Cirrus practically explodes in the face of Jing Yuan's biting remark. "WHAT?! UNWORTHY?!"

General Jing Yuan replies, "Teng Xiao, as general of the Luofu, was commander-in-chief of the Cloud Knights. Ignamar commanded the heliobi. The two were as great as the sky and the earth — equally matched like yin and yang. It is only natural that they were worthy opponents.

As it stands, I am the general of the Luofu...but you are no Ignamar. Merely a prisoner. If you wish to engage me in battle, you must follow my rules. Defeat my army — only then will I grant you the fight you seek."

Cirrus asks, "...Your army?"

"That's right. You must defeat my four companions gathered here — then you will have proven yourself a worthy opponent."

The green-haired woman stutters, "Wait...he means us?! W-W-W-We'll be okay, right?"

The grey-haired male asks with a sigh, "Can we practice our masterstrokes first?"

The red-haired woman exclaims, "Why is the general putting his trust in us? I'm too young to die!"

...

Quite a reliable-seeming group he has got here, huh.

Anyway, Cirrus laughs and asks, "...So I only need to beat your pawns here?"

Jing Yuan merely chuckles at the response, saying, "It would serve you well not to underestimate them. They are as skilled in combat as they are tenacious in spirit. I worry they might pose a problem for you.

If you win, you can have your rematch. If you lose, you will answer one question of their choice — no lies, no tricks. Can you accept these terms?"

Cirrus makes a considering hum, before replying, "It's a deal! The game is set — the platform will be our chessboard, and the fighters will be the pieces!"

Bright yellow-green fire suddenly spread across the ground, etching together a multitude of squares. It seems that this was a herald of the conflict to begin.

In a flash, the battle between Cirrus and the party is over just like that. Once that occurs, the creature seems quite indignant once again, shouting, "Hmph, don't get complacent — if I had all of Ignamar's power, I'd never have lost to the likes of you!"

Jing Yuan merely states, "Should you decide to try again, my offer still stands...but you must defeat them."

Cirrus snaps, "Then what are we waiting for?!"

Though, this time, the nervous green-haired woman seems prepared, speaking up swiftly, "Not so fast! Before we fight again, you need to answer one question, like you promised."

Just like that, Cirrus is grumbling right away even if given a response. "Pesky devil of a girl...alright, what's your question?"

The young woman in question replies, "Look... is this something a heliobus could have done?"

Then, the grey-haired male in the group takes out his phone, showing Cirrus what appears to be a post (article) about someone named "Bailu's" unexplainable and immediate disappearance.

At this, Cirrus simply responds, "There are countless heliobi that escaped the Creation Furnace, and every one of them could have done such a thing. It could have been vengeance, curiosity, or simply hunger...so how would I know which one abducted your Dragon Lady?"

Though there seems to be a pause as Cirrus seems to consider something. Then he says, "Of course, I do have my suspicions. For example, Luxie..."

The way that sentence ends up trailing off for a moment prompts a question from the grey-haired young man, who asks, "What kind of heliobus is Luxie?"

Cirrus replies, "Luxie loves mischief. They give no thought to interfering in mortal affairs — their only concerns are entertainment and freedom. Among all the fragments of Ignamar, the one most likely to abduct your precious Dragon Lady...would be Luxie.

We were sealed away for a thousand years — it's been ages since we last tasted the joys and sorrows of the world of humans. I'm sure Luxie was eager to find a new friend and wander the world with them."

At this point, the young green-haired woman says, "I think they're telling the truth...Heliobi do have different personalities, and they can be influenced by the personality of their host. If a heliobus possesses a great warrior, they might gradually take on a braver, fiercer persona...and if their host is a playful child, they might adopt a childlike spirit."

The red-haired young woman gives a considering hum as she replies, "'Wander the world with them,' It sounds like Lady Bailu would've been an ideal target — she's always running off to play in Aurum Alley."

The green-haired woman then says, "Mm...this intel should be a big help."

"Hey! We're not done here! You still owe me a fight!"

The grey-haired male simply replies, "We have to run some errands — be patient!"

Cirrus huffs, "You bunch of meat bags! One minor victory and you think you're something special! Come on, show me what you've got!"

Ignoring Cirrus' comments, Jing Yuan turns to face the grey-haired male and simply says, "The clues are all pointing in the same direction now. It would be wise to strike while the iron is hot."

The brunette says, "Thank you for your help, general. Let's get going!"

Sure enough, the group sans Jing Yuan and Cirrus runs off.

But, the showcase of memories does not end there. No, it seems that the scene changes to a later time, where those in the group return to Jing Yuan and Cirrus talking...sans the brunette.

Apparently their sudden showing up alarms Jing Yuan enough to ask, "Is something the matter? You seem out of breath."

The grey-haired male tells Jing Yuan about encountering a blond by the name of Yanqing who apparently was possessed by a heliobus. As well as conjuring illusions at a place called Dragonprayer Terrace.

Of what kind?

Well, Jing Yuan says, "A heliobus that creates illusion for the sole purpose of instructing someone in swordplay? I wouldn't mind learning a few tricks from them myself. Unfortunately, it sounds like this one is a little too aggressive to be a decent sparring partner. This is not an adversary that someone as young as Yanqing is equipped to deal with."

The green-haired woman says, "General, we need to move fast — if we wait any longer, I'm afraid that Sushang might be —"

Jing Yuan responds, "I understand your sense of urgency. But before I leave, I have a question for Cirrus, who has been listening this whole time — I trust you are familiar with Apyra..."

Cirrus says, "Naturally. Among the heliobi, Apyra manifests the courage and warring spirit of Ignamar — they are the most aggressive of all the fragments...but who is this swordmaster? Who is Yanqing?"

Jing Yuan replies succinctly, "My apprentice."

Cirrus seems amused upon the next reply, giggling. "No wonder I smell a hint of sadness in you...in order to rescue his incompetent apprentice, the master must fight on the battlefield himself? I must say, I'm very envious of Apyra..."

Unimpressed, the General states, "You know the flavor of sadness, but not its meaning. An apprentice obsessed with victory and defeat has lost his mind to a heliobus, and is now trying to shortcut his way to mastery of the sword. This is my failure to him as a master, and the source of the grief you see in me now."

Cirrus replies, "Then you should hurry — Apyra has an insatiable blood lust. Once they've enslaved your mind, they can make you turn against your friends, your kin...even your own master.

Go. I don't wish to delay your deathmatch with your apprentice."

The scene, still part of the same memory, merely seems to shift to a view of that brunette from earlier looking down at a blond-haired boy with golden eyes. There are a multitude of blue swords spinning around them; the area is somewhere outside where it is far brighter, as well as surrounded by water except for the platform they happen to be standing upon.

A voice speaks from seemingly the sword formation itself, saying, "Young one, you're hesitating again. You're always hesitation.

Your opponent is no match for you, yet they have managed to fend you off for this long. As a swordsman, have you not any pride? Do you want to repeat the disaster you suffered at Dragonprayer Terrace?

It's time to finish it. Only blood can cleanse the shame of the sword."

It seems that this conversation has been overheard. As, just in time, Jing Yuan arrives properly, once in the distance with his other three companions, and now properly walking upon the terrace. He says, "He won't do it."

The blond startles, muttering, "General..."

The distorted, distance voice suddenly speaks once more, "Young one, your old teacher has arrived.

Under his tutelage, you never experienced true failure. But after suffering your first major setback, your confidence in your swordsmanship has been faltering.

You worry that the General is disappointed in you. You worry that you don't have what it takes to be the person the General wants you to be. Now...show him what I have taught you. He'll be very proud of your progress. Tell him that with your sword, you will bring victory to the Xianzhou!"

The blond hair boy replies distantly, "With...With my sword..."

General Jing Yuan declares confidently, "Yanqing would never draw his sword on me to prove himself. I have confidence in him.

This confidence is not a belief that he will win every contest...it is a belief that he will one day break free from the paradigm of victory and defeat and realize his true reason for wielding the sword.

The pleasure of swordsmanship, the saving of life, and the dispatchment of enemies...

The truth must be discovered by himself — no one can teach it to him."

That's right. Jing Yuan firmly believes most of all that one can lead a horse to water, but one certainly can't make it drink. So he says, with finality, "Now is the time for him to take that step."

"General...I..."

That shadowy, manipulative voice asks, "Break free from victory and defeat? Those are just empty words to comfort the dead and the defeated! Think of your crushing defeat at Dragonprayer Terrace! Think of how you felt then — teetering on the brink of death."

Yanqing takes pause and his expression seems conflicted as the voice speaks once more. "If the sword of that Stellaron Hunter had pierced your flesh, you wouldn't be standing here, pondering the meaning of victory and defeat. Now is the time to break all your chains. Draw your sword on your master — to the general who is trying to imprison you...draw your sword!"

Then, Yanqing...says in an unsteady voice, "General...allow me...to demonstrate my swordsmanship. I hereby challenge you..."

To that? It seems that despite everything, despite Jing Yuan's words, he can only...

...smile.

Then Yanqing's expression looks surprised at the look he is given in turn. As if it shakes him to his core. Then, he turns on the heel of his foot, away from General Jing Yuan and his allies. Instead, still, towards the blue swords floating above them, shouting in a tone far more certain, far more confident, "Apyra! I challenge! I challenge these swords, to battle!"

The voice bitterly states, "...Young fool, how disappointing. Your accomplishments would have been limitless...but you were led astray by empty idealism."

Then a circular-like creature colored in crimson red, and wreathed in crimson fire appears before them all. Evidently Apyra since it was addressed before, and matched the voice that has been speaking to Yanqing. The creature says, "None of that matters anymore. While teaching you, I studied your every move inside out...and now you wish to throw down the gauntlet. Very well. In your own image and with your own techniques, I will teach you one final lesson!"

With that, the memory comes to an abrupt end.