Free Yin and Yang: A Fool's Beginning by Odette C. Bell Page B

know nothing
about.
    As I stare at the buildings, I notice that Yang
stands several meters away talking to an old man with a grey beard
and jet-black armor.
    Then I notice the man saluting. He places a hand
close to his stomach, then secures his other hand on top, and bends
forward in a bow. At first I have no idea who he's directing it
towards, then I realize it's Castor.
    In fact, all of the assembled soldiers repeat the
move, and bow one by one.
    I like to think I know everything there is to know
about my guardian. After all, I've lived with him my whole life,
and it's by his side that I will complete my task as the Savior.
Still, whilst I know that once upon a time he had served in the
army, I'm starting to realize he might have left some very
important details out. From the things Yang mentioned and the way
these soldiers are treating him, it appears Castor had a far more
illustrious career than he's told me about.
    Still, now isn't exactly the time to bring that
up.
    Now is the time to run.
    Once that old man in black armor stops saluting
Castor, Yang mutters something to him, and he looks directly at
me.
    That look . . . is terrifying. The old man's
eyebrows descend low, and his thin lips spread over his teeth in a
crooked smile.
    I actually take a step back, and inadvertently knock
the cart door, sending it swinging back on its hinges.
    “Watch yourself,” one
of the soldiers snaps.
    Castor has asked me to trust him, but how exactly am
I to do that when I'm surrounded by snide soldiers that stare at me
like I'm little more than meat with unruly hair?
    Still, it's only my loyalty to him that keeps me
standing there. That, and the realization that even if I try to
take on these soldiers, there's no way I can win. There's too many
of them, and the walls of this army base are far too high. Plus,
what would happen if I escaped? Where would I go? I know nothing
about this city. If Castor is unwilling to flee with me, then for
the first time in my life, I will be on my own.
    That prospect terrifies me just as much as the old
man's stare.
    As Yang and the old
man talk, Castor takes a step back, getting as close to me as he
can . “I need you to trust me,” he
repeats.
    I don't say anything.
    “We will be
separated, you will be fine. Trust me,” he says once
more.
    Separated?
    I snap my head
around, my hair flattening against my cheeks and
forehead . “I'm not going to let them,” I
begin.
    He raises a hand
quickly. Staring into my eyes, he shakes his head . “Trust me,” he mouths.
    Then he walks away. Without looking back, he marches
up to the old man and bows.
    They have a conversation, but it's too quiet for me
to overhear, then Castor walks away with him.
    I'm left there standing with those soldiers, and I
have no idea what's going on.
    My whole life I've been taught to be strong; my whole
life I've been taught that I'm the only person who can save this
age.
    But I've never been lonely, because Castor has always
been there.
    Now, however, he walks away from me. There’s
something final about it. As I stare at him, I feel as though he's
leaving me for good.
    Perhaps he's finally growing tired of my lack of
discipline, and he's realized I'm untrainable. Maybe I've insulted
him, or maybe he realizes there's no chance I can win, and it's
better to give up now.
    But all I really know is that my sworn guardian has
turned his back on me, and it's left me feeling more alone than I
ever have in my life.
     

Chapter 9
     
    Captain Yang
    It's been a long trip, and all I want to do is bathe,
eat a proper meal, and return to my quarters.
    But I can't. Instead I find myself leaning against a
wall, sighing deeply, and nursing a growing headache.
    The growing headache has two causes: a long day and
one Yin.
    Once Castor left with General Garl, that left me
alone with Yin and my orders. After I told the General about her
powers, he ordered she immediately be housed in one of the barrack
quarters until training could