Maiden Of The Splitting Moon

"Come on you all, help me gather up everything! We haven't got all day!"

A man's voice shouted out, stern but not punishing. The sounds of crates moving and grunting filled the air. 

"I would help you all but I can barely walk myself, so get a move on!"

From this noise, Ming Yue's eyes fluttered open as she awakened from her slumber. Sitting up, she held her forehead and groaned, feeling both soreness and a headache, a nasty combination. 

"Ahhh, how long was I out for?" she thought. 

Looking around, she found herself within a room, lacking everything except the stone bed she was sleeping on. 

"Where am I?"

Ming Yue stood up and looked around before seeing Xiao Yin perched by the window. The Star Owl flapped her wings and flew towards her, landing on her shoulder. It got very close, cuddling with her cheeks. 

"Xiao Yin! I'm fine, it's okay."

She laughed at the owl and looked towards the door in front of her. 

"Well if you're here, then so is Hei Yue. Let's go find them."

Xiao Yin cooed with a happy tone, staying on her shoulder. 

Without a moment's notice, she left the room, walking down an empty hallway before exiting what she realized to be the stone building, the Tide King's quarters. She was met with a sight slightly different from when she first arrived. 

All of the tents had been knocked down and that pit was filled up. Everything except for the stone building she came out of was gone. 

Instead, wooden beams and stone bricks laid piled together, waiting to be used. There were craftsmen running around, moving over supplies and whatnot, soldiers were stations all across the area. Encapsulating all of it was a shimmering shield that Yin Bing formed. 

She walked around, passing by everyone who was too busy to notice her. And again, she wondered how much time had passed exactly. 

Then, the young cultivator heard the sounds of children laughing. 

"They're safe?" 

Following the laughter and giggling, she walked through the camp, all the way to the lakeshore. There, dozens of children played with each other, messing around in the water and the sand. With them was none other than Hei Yue. The dark, silver-furred fox ran about, chasing after the children before suddenly stopping and looking up. 

Then the fox looked towards the direction of Ming Yue and happily ran towards her, leaping into her arms. Snuggling into her, Hei Yue yelped out in joy before licking her face a few times. 

"I'm sorry I made you worried or ran off but everything is good now right?" 

As she soothed both pets, the demon children all ran up to her with smiles. Standing in front of them all were Shen Varuna and her brother, both of whom looked at her. 

Ming Yue let go of the fox and knelt down to look at the little girl eye to eye. 

"I didn't break your promise, did I?" she said. 

Shen Varuna teared up before charging forward and hugging her tightly. In a quiet, trembling voice, she spoke, a few tears streaked down her face. 

"Thank you."

She was taken aback by the young girl's actions but she embraced her. They let go after a few moments as Ming Yue stood back up. She looked at her two pets and gestured towards the children. 

"Why don't you play with them for a little while longer? I'll be back."

Xiao Yin and Hei Yue looked at her before going off. The little fox ran back the children, tipping and skipping about. Xiao Yin followed suit, watching over them from above. Ming Yue looked at Shen Varuna and her brother. The two siblings turned to each other and giggled before running off. 

Seeing them off, she turned around and explored more of what used to be the camp. 

"Are they making a stronghold here?" she thought, "There were a few ships at the lakeshore too. Then again, with the demons gone, there is no one else fighting for control."

Walking through this busy place, she noticed a large tent, strung up near the back of the camp. She headed towards it and opened the flap before walking in. Once inside, she saw a war table along with the two commanders, who looked up to see who had just entered. 

Commander Yu Zhen smiled. 

"Ah, Ming Yue, you're awake, you've been asleep for over ten days now."

Her eyes widened when she heard the number.

"Ten days?"

Commander Zi Jing looked at her and smirked. 

"Yeah, ten days and you slept like a log. I am Zi Jing, Commander of Guardian's Keep, thanks for defending it."

He responded quickly, introducing himself as well. 

Ming Yue cupped her fists and bowed. 

"No, it is something that I planned to do from the beginning. There is no need to thank me."

Zi Jing looked at her, gauging her strength at this point. 

"After seeing the Cerulean Serpent for the first time, you are no ordinary person and I'm grateful for your help. So, there's no need to be so humble, credit is given where it is due. The Southern Tower may have been lost but we gained control over the Cerulean Serpent's Lake."

Yu Zhen then took over the conversation. 

"The news of your contribution has spread throughout the Five Armies. I wouldn't be surprised if you get offers to join some sect or powerful organization after this."

Ming Yue nodded, looking somewhat embarrassed by the compliments as the commander continued to talk. 

"In the days, you were asleep, the Cerulean Serpent watched over you and the children until we arrived. After confirming that there was no one else but them, Commander Zi Jing sent for men and supplies to build a base here. There were also reinforcements from the other armies that helped to move and guard this place."

Zi Jing then chimed in. 

"All in all, it has been a very busy time and for the next few months it will be incredibly busy."

He then gestured for her to come forward and to look at the war table, where several pieces were laid strewn across the lake. 

"The Iron Citadel is at the center of the continent and closest to Kong Zhi's territory. However, now that the Tide King is dead and we are here. This base is going to be inside his territory. There is no doubt that we will be attacked while setting up. Furthermore, with both of us injured, defending is going to be much more difficult", he explained. 

"There is no doubt that Kong Zhi will know and he will surely act on this. The Cerulean Serpent's Lake is incredibly valuable to both sides. Without it, they would lose a major source of resources. With that said, we have to ask that you stay here and help us, at least until we are finished building."

Ming Yue took note of the war table, seeing a miniature castle placed on the other side of the lake. It was certainly deep within Kong Zhi's territory, lying southwest of the continent. 

"What do you plan to make here?" she asked.

Zi Jing answered quickly with a rare moment of excitement. 

"Just like that wooden figure looks like, it is going to be a castle of sorts, a combination of the Southern Tower and Guardian's Keep. The scale of it will be double the size of any of the structures here. And it will function as both of them, there will be a refinery and a forge as well as multiple look-out towers. Both of our armies will be residing here. Guardian's Keep will be kept as a secondary base in case this one falls...." 

A constant stream of words came out of his mouth as Ming Yue tried her best to keep up. When he was finished, she asked him one more question. 

"What is this place going to be called?"