Chapter Text
“excuse me!” a girl’s voice called out, ringing clear in his ears despite the strong winds that evening. without even bothering to glance back and find the source of the voice, he continued his walk back to the inn, polearm in hand, metal jewelry clanging amidst the gales. he was returning after a long day out in the marshes, ridding the area of monsters and whatnot… the usual for a yaksha.
the girl called out again, louder this time. “excuse me, sir!” he felt her voice growing closer behind him, the wind still whistling harshly.
“sir! i’m sorry but- i need-” she was even closer behind him now, panting heavily, out of breath; she sounded desperate. by now, he could have been long gone if he had chosen so. but he continued his slow strides, curiosity getting the best of him (though he did not wish to accept it).
“i need help!”
he halted. how her voice was so loud in his ears despite the roaring winds, he did not know. sighing, he turned his head, golden eyes searching for the source of the cries.
she was far away enough that he could not make out the color of her eyes, though her hair blowing fiercely and the ripples of her dress were as clear as day, a figure tinted orange by the setting sun. he felt something strange in his chest, a tightness, like something was closing in, a gentle suffocation- he chose to ignore it and seek answers about the maiden instead.
“what is it?”
“could you- could you help me find something? please! it’s very important to me… i dropped it somewhere around here, and it kept flying with the wind, but i’m sure it’s still in this area!” as she spoke, the young woman could not help but stare at the man, for he was unlike any other person she’d seen in her life. dark hair, a piercing gaze, solemn features and a spear in his hand, every movement he made whispered to stay far away; i should be scared, she thought. but she wasn’t. maybe because of her desperation in that moment, she did not fear him at all.
“find… what?” his eyes narrowed. a waste of time after all. scoffing and turning his heels, he stepped away to continue his return to the inn.
“wait!” her fingers were suddenly firmly clasped around his wrist. he stopped again, breath hitched, eyes widened- when did she get so close? why is she touching me? who does she think she is, grabbing the wrist of one of the-
“a ring.” her voice was firm. “it's a ring, silver in color. there's a small glaze lily decoration in its center, engravings along the side… you’ll know when you see it!”
scoffing once again, he pulled his wrist from her grasp and looked back at her. “you think it is so simple to find a small ring like that, amidst these tall grasses? forget it. it’s as good as gone.”
“that’s why i’m asking for help.” the girl sounded a little annoyed, he thought. “please- there’s no one else around, i’ve been looking for hours… it's very important to me, you wouldn’t understand…” her voice trailed off. she looked like she was about to cry.
the man felt the tightness in his chest again, but it hurt even more this time. not a painful kind of hurt, but a sad kind, swallowing him whole. he waited a long moment, looking at seemingly nothing, hearing nothing but the winds. finally, he sighed and stepped past her, walking back along the path which he had come, eyes trained on the ground.
“come. it’s getting dark already, we shouldn’t waste time.” though his voice was stern, it seemed to radiate kindness. the young woman felt her heart swell as she nodded eagerly and followed his steps.
an hour or so passed, and the sky shifted from golden to a light purple, the wind dying down and the calls of cicadas overpowering it. the pair was still wandering the marshes, searching for a glint, a shine, anything that could be the lost ring.
the man stopped in his tracks, looking up towards the faint stars. it was getting late, he thought, and perhaps the search should continue tomorrow.
before he could speak, however, he heard a loud thump hit the ground behind him.
turning swiftly, he saw the girl’s unmoving body face down on the earth. for a moment, he swore his heart stopped.
having forgotten all about the ring, he was swiftly by her side, quietly praying that she was not dead. silently hoping that whatever happened to her, was not his fault.
◆ ◆ ◆
snow? it’s june… why is there snow?
“hey, don’t forget me, okay?” a laugh. a hand on her head, ruffling her hair. but a face-
“i can’t see you!” snow on her eyelashes. on her nose. on her clothes. soft, gentle, painful. “where are you? i didn’t forget! i can’t see-”
her name, being called in the distance. no more snow. instead, orange and yellow filled terraces, falling water, the playful screams of children. her name, being whispered, being screamed, being chanted by a familiar voice, all around her.
“it has to be you.”
she gasped, and opened her eyes.
“oh, miss! you’re awake, just in time!” a soft voice. one she didn’t know. “i was just told to bring you your breakfast.” a woman appeared by her side, smiling kindly.
“where… “
“you’re at the wangshu inn, ma’am! you slept through the whole night, and it seems nothing bad happened to you after all.”
“what… how did i… “ finally taking in her surroundings, the young woman noticed she was lying on silk bed sheets atop a soft mattress. she took in the wooden walls, the sound of rain falling outside, and the scent of food beside her. when she fully came to her senses, she yelped and sat up, startling the maid who had brought her breakfast.
“i have to leave i-” she gasped, stepping out of the bed and searching frantically for her shoes. “thank you very much, really, but i don’t have any money left to pay for all this and-”
the maid let out a giggle. “don’t worry about the money, miss! it’s all been covered for you. take some rest and eat well, we don’t want you falling unconscious again!”
the girl stopped in her tracks. “how did-”
“ah, you don’t remember, of course, my apologies! mr. xiao, he brought you here. thought you were dead or something but seems you only passed out from exhaustion or lack of food! you have been traveling awhile, miss? please rest for a few-”
“xiao?” the previous night's events were all returning to her memory. “the man with that scary spear?”
the maid blinked. “uh, yes i… i thought you were well acquainted with him already… forgive me, ma’am! he offered to pay for your stay here as well as your meals, so please don’t worry, and please get rest! i’ll leave you alone then, now!” she smiled kindly once again, and rushed out, closing the wood door behind her.
the young woman stared at the closed door for almost a whole minute, before taking a deep breath and sitting back on the bed. xiao…
her eyes followed the steam rising from the tray of breakfast the maid had set on the bedside table, until she noticed a glint nearby. reaching over the tray, her fingers closed tightly around the shining object. her heart swelled as she opened up her palm.
there, in her hand, was a silver ring, with a glaze lily decoration in its center.