The aroma of cherry blossoms hung in the air, their delicate petals drifting gently in the afternoon breeze. Sitting at a graceful stone pavilion, Rong Xi exhaled deeply, his golden eyes half-closed as he absorbed the serenity of the surroundings.
A figure in black robes appeared from the shaded corridor, bowing slightly before addressing, "Your Highness."
Rong Xi lifted his gaze lazily. "Hm?"
"An incident has occurred in the central district," the man reported in a sharp tone. "The carriage of the noble Lady Shang Qing Ye and her two daughters has been overturned."
His fingers tapped the rim of his teacup. "An accident?" he asked, raising his gaze. "And you deemed this worth reporting to me?"
The guard hesitated, then replied, "Not exactly an accident." There was a pause. "It was caused by magic."
He had heard whispers of the Shang family's third daughter, a scarcely seen child tucked away within the estate since birth. Rumors swirled years ago that the girl had supposedly fallen gravely ill, so much so that she was sent away to recover in secrecy.
Could this be the child?
A gravely ill child… with magic?
How interesting.
Magic always leaves traces. However fleeting, even controlled power clung to the air, whispered in the spaces where it had been unleashed.
Softly shutting his eyes, he extended his magic outward, tapping into the invisible strands of energy lingering in the atmosphere. He was close to the city, and soon enough, he discovered it.
A lingering pulse—fragile, faint, not entirely gone.
His lips curled slightly.
Ah. There she is.
His fingers traced delicate patterns in the air with a smooth, fluid motion. Threads of soft, glowing light emerged, weaving and bending at his silent command.
No, he did not open a portal.
That would be too abrupt.
Instead, he simply shifted the path. The alleyways stretched a little longer, the turns curved a little differently, and the girl and her companion, unknowing and unseeing, simply followed.
Su Mi barely noticed. One moment they were running through the maze-like alleys, and the next— they were here.
A garden.
Su Mi, panting beside her with hands on her knees, while Yao Yao blinked in confusion. The scent of cherry blossoms filled her lungs, and the stone pathways were laid out in smooth, deliberate patterns.
No marketplace noise.
No city guards.
Just… tranquil silence.
And at the center of it all—a boy, seated at a tea table.
"You two seem… troubled," his voice smooth and composed.
**
Present moment:
Yao Yao lifted her chin, arms crossed in defiance. "Hmph! Well, it's not like we wanted to be here."
Rong Xi, seated effortlessly, tilted his head slightly as he slowly chimed, "Then why are you?"
Yao Yao scowled. "How should I know?!"
Rong Xi's eyes shifted. The girl before him was brimming with energy, her bright pink eyes shining with defiance, far from what one would expect from a child rumoured to be gravely ill. Then, he leaned back slightly, resting his elbow on the table. "Who are you?"
She remained silent, showing no intention of following his lead. This man possessed a quiet charm and a remarkable skill for guiding the conversation at his own pace, effortlessly pulling others into his flow.
Hold on—a man?
Yao Yao blinked, her thoughts briefly pausing.
He was just a boy, wasn't he? And yet, something about him… felt much older.
Su Mi, sensing the tension, immediately spoke. "We should get going—"
Yao Yao caved in almost right away. "Yeah. Thanks for the, uh… garden. We'll be leaving now."
She pivoted on her heel, with Su Mi trailing closely behind.
Except—
She stopped.
Her pink eyes scanned the area. Something was wrong. She looked left and then right.
Su Mi whispered beside her, "Yao Yao, which way did we come from?"
Yao Yao opened her mouth and paused. She didn't… know. The paths had all looked the same earlier. Right here, there was no alley in sight—nothing but the garden.
A chill crawled up her spine. Suddenly, behind her, the boy's voice rang out, casual and mocking. "What are you looking for?"
Yao Yao gasped, turning sharply to give a glare. "The alley, obviously!"
Rong Xi sipped his tea. "Oh?"
Su Mi's face paled. "It was… just there."
But it wasn't.
It was gone.
Yao Yao's fingers twitched.
Now that she looked back, there had been something off about the alley earlier. Some twists felt a little too long, while some turns felt slightly too curved.
Had they truly stumbled here? Or… had they been led? Her gaze snapped back to the boy, who was watching her patiently. Then, he parted his lips and asked, "What's your name?"
Yao Yao did not answer.
Rong Xi hummed softly.
She lifted her chin defiantly and asked, "And why should I tell you?"
Quiet.
Then—Rong Xi smiled.
Neither cruel nor amused. Merely curious.
"You shouldn't." He said with a laugh, a chuckle escaping from his lips.
Yao Yao blinked.
…Huh?
"Well then," he said smoothly, "I suppose it's time you should find your way out."
With a graceful tilt, he gestured toward the distant corner of the garden. "If you wish to leave," he said lightly, "feel free to do so."
She turned her head and froze.
Because there, standing where it hadn't been before, was the alleyway.