The air crackled, a tear forming in the fabric of reality above the village clearing. Ash, Ri, Jihu, and Fang, mid-conversation about the upcoming harvest, stopped mid-sentence, staring at the swirling vortex of purples and blues. From the portal stumbled Raven, his usually impassive face contorted with a frantic urgency. In his arms, he cradled Shu, her form limp and pale.
The contrast was stark. Shu, usually radiating an ethereal glow, looked fragile, almost lifeless. Ri was the first to react, rushing towards Raven, her voice laced with concern. "Raven! What happened? Why is Shu like this?"
Raven, his gaze tight with worry, carefully laid Shu on the makeshift bed they used for resting. "She… she pulled all the poison out of my mother's body. All of it. She's taken it all in herself. She needs to be healed. Now." His voice was rough, his desperation palpable. "If we don't, it might be too late."
Without a word, Ri and Ash snapped into action. Ri began channelling her life energy, the soft glow of her aura bathing Shu's still form. Ash joined her, his healing prowess a powerful complement to Ri's. Ten hours passed in a haze of concentration. The air thrummed with the effort, the only sound the soft, rhythmic breathing of Ri and Ash. Finally, their energy depleted, they slumped back, exhausted.
"Is.. is she okay?" Raven asked, his voice a low growl, anxiety etched on his face.
Jihu, ever the voice of reason, stepped forward. "The healing is done. She's stable. But look at them," he gestured to the pale and trembling Ri and Ash. "They need rest now."
Fang nodded, his normally jovial face serious. "Jihu's right. And we've got a busy day tomorrow."
Ri and Ash, barely managing to stand, retreated to their sleeping mats. Fang turned to Raven, his expression softening slightly. "Brother, you should rest too. You look like you've been through a battle."
Raven's eyes widened, his initial anxiety replaced with stubborn denial. "No, no. I don't need rest."
Jihu and Fang exchanged a look, about to leave it at that, when Raven's voice, suddenly serious, stopped them. "Shu…" he murmured, his eyes glued to her, "Get well soon. I… I have something I need to talk to you both about. Something I learned from my father."
Jihu, ever practical, waved his hand dismissively. "That can wait. Go rest. You're useless to anyone in that state."
Raven didn't sleep that night. He sat by Shu's side, watching her, a strange feeling of both fear and a strange sense of comfort wrapping around his heart. She looked so small, so vulnerable. It surprised him. Was she really as cold and calculating as he'd once believed? Maybe she wasn't the person he thought she was. He shook his head and focused on her face, she seemed to get better, just by him looking at her. But, it also broke his heart seeing her lying there so still. He wasn't sure when, but eventually, exhaustion pulled him under, and he slumped near her bed, his head resting on his arm.
The morning sun painted the village in gold. Ri, Jihu, Fang, and Ash were already bustling about their chores when a faint gasp broke the morning quiet.
Shu's eyes fluttered open. She felt different, lighter, and the immediate pain that had been consuming her the day before was gone. She noticed Raven slumped next to her, his face relaxed in sleep, looking like a boy stripped of his usual sternness. A small smile touched her lips. It was strange. It felt like a dream. Had he always been like this? She thought back to their first encounter. She would have been furious and had the whole house upside down. Why was she so calm now? And why was he sleeping in her room? Something had changed in her. Or more specifically, he changed something in her.
Her gaze lingered on him, a strange warmth spreading through her. It was… calming. It was like seeing him was helping her heal. She was about to touch his head, a gesture completely foreign to her nature, when Ri's voice sliced through the air.
"Shu? Why are you up?" Ri stood in the doorway, her expression a mixture of surprise and concern.
Shu quickly retracted her hand, startled. She was used to Ri seeing through her masks, but hoped Ri didn't notice her strange thoughts. Ri didn't say anything, her eyes glinting with something Shu couldn't understand.
The others soon joined Ri, their voices adding to the morning cacophony. Raven, jolted awake by the noise, shot up, his concern immediately focused on Shu. "Shu! Are you okay? How do you feel? Do you need anything? Water? Food?"
The others all stared at him, amusement clear on their faces. Raven, flustered, snapped at them. "Why are you looking at us like that?"
Fang chuckled, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Even after watching her all night, you're still worried? Maybe you should take care of her a bit longer."
Ash, ever the tease, nodded. "Yes, Raven. If you want to, you can take care of her more. We won't stop you, thank you."
Raven, his face turning a shade of red, stammered, "No, no! What do I care? I wasn't… I wasn't taking care of her! I just woke up and saw her waking up, so I… I just asked out of politeness." He nervously scratched the back of his head.
Jihu cut in, his voice laced with amusement. "Why are you wasting time? Do you want to spend more time with her? Okay, then let's go." He ushered Ash and Fang out the door. "Come on, everyone. Let's leave them be so they're not disturbed."
Shu, who was usually so quick to retort, said nothing, her silence a curious thing indeed. But in that silence, she felt a strange calmness, as if something in her had finally shifted. Perhaps, just perhaps, she wasn't who she thought she was either.
The air in the room vibrated with laughter, all of it directed at Shu. Raven, usually aloof and intimidating, was the subject of their good-natured teasing, and for once, Shu was the target of the jokes, linked to him by some imaginary, blossoming romance. While everyone around her erupted in giggles and playful jabs, Shu remained eerily silent. Her eyes, usually bright and expressive, were downcast, hidden behind a curtain of lashes. The others assumed she was mortified, perhaps even angry, but the truth was far more complex. A strange warmth bloomed within her, a confusing feeling she couldn't quite name, a feeling that resonated with a peculiar joy. She didn't know if it was love, or something like it, but its presence silenced her.
Ash, ever the opportunist, seized the moment. Grabbing Fang's hand, she declared, "You guys can do whatever you want between yourselves! I'm leaving, and don't call Fang either!" She practically dragged a bewildered Fang out the door, leaving behind a trail of bewildered stares.
"Well," Jihu said, a knowing grin spreading across his face, "When everyone is leaving and giving them time… come on, Ri, let's give them time too. Let's talk in the backward to each other" leave them.
Ri, ever the more cautious one, murmured, "Now it's okay," though her voice was low and filled with understanding.
Shu remained silent, her eyes fixed on the floor. She didn't protest, didn't deny. Raven, however, stepped forward, a crease appearing between his brows. "What did you guys start?" he asked, his tone sharper than usual. "Isn't she sick? Why are you doing this to her?"
Jihu, seeing his friend's genuine concern, threw his hands up in surrender. "Okay, okay, we won't do anything else. You guys talk. We're leaving." He and Ri retreated, leaving Shu and Raven in the suddenly quiet room.
An uncomfortable silence lingered. Raven, his features softening, moved closer, his movements surprisingly gentle. "Shu… are you okay? Can you tell me what's wrong?"
Shu's gaze lifted, finally meeting his. "Why were you with me, Raven?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper. "I insulted you so badly… that you even wanted to stay with me at night. Why am I yours?" The question hung heavily in the air, laden with a vulnerability she rarely showed.
Raven was silent for a moment, his gaze searching. "I don't know," he finally said, his voice calm. "I thought I should have stayed, so I stayed. If I ever remember why, I think I'll find out the reason, then I'll definitely tell you." He paused, a hint of a smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "Tell me, why didn't you say anything when everyone was laughing and joking about us? You insulted me so badly, why didn't you say anything today?"
Shu's cheeks flushed. She felt a pang of shame, the weight of her past actions heavy on her heart. She had been cruel to him, and yet here he was, patient and understanding. The silence that followed was thick with unspoken emotions.
Meanwhile, Ash and Fang had reached the garden. Fang, still somewhat flustered, turned to Ash. "What happened when you brought me here?"
Ash looked away, pretending to examine a flower. "Why can't I bring you here?" she mumbled, a slight edge to her voice.
"Okay, then go," Ash retorted, a hint of playfulness returning to her voice.
"No, no, not like that," Fang said, her gaze dropping to the ground.
Fang watched her for a moment, a soft expression on her face. Then, without thinking, she gently took Ash's hand. It was a fleeting touch, tentative and light, yet it sent a jolt through both of them. When she realized what she had done, Fang blushed, pulling her hand back slightly. "No… I just thought… I held it." She stammered. "Why shouldn't I hold it?"
Ash, her heart still pounding, simply said, "No, okay."
Back inside, Ri and Jihu had found a quiet corner. "Don't be afraid," Jihu said, his tone serious. "We've come on such a big and dangerous mission. You can still leave if you want."
Ri hesitated for a moment, considering his question. "If I wanted to leave, I wouldn't have joined. I would have left a long time ago. Why don't you feel good that I came on this mission with you? If you don't like it, tell me, and I will leave."
Jihu blinked. "Did I say that?"
Ri burst out laughing. "Even when I'm joking with you, don't think about it seriously. You're really crazy."
And so, the conversations continued, weaving a tapestry of complex feelings, unspoken desires, and budding friendships. In the quiet garden, in the awkward silences, and in the shared laughter, the threads of their lives were being intertwined, each encounter leaving a subtle, but undeniable, mark.