Silent winds wandered through the surroundings.

  Even though he knew he shouldn't, Noah couldn't stop looking at her. His eyes wandered over to Ting, admiring every detail with awe. Whether it was in the way her hair moved, her eyes, or any other small detail, he couldn't spot a single flaw, nor did he want to. She was perfect, or at least, that's what he saw.

  The feeling wasn't bad, just uncomfortable. However, not because he had to look at her, but because he had to do so from a distance. He wanted to touch her, to hug her, and he couldn't. His clenched fists trembled as the idea of holding her hand echoed in his mind at different moments, always being denied.

  Ting didn't say anything, even though a lot of time had passed and the sun was already rising on the horizon. Neither of them had.

  Noah sighed, causing her to shiver slightly and shrink back.

  — ...It doesn't seem like you want to be near me, so why did you stop me from leaving?

  She froze. Clutched her spatial pouch. She had to say something, but didn't know what. To keep him by her side, she would have to offer something—

  — Even though you said otherwise, I don't think you're okay right now. I don't know what happened while I was unconscious, but from all I've seen so far, I can imagine. That woman who was here, she... — he stopped when he saw her flinch. — I understand... I won't lie and say that I liked her, especially since the first time we met, she threatened me with a sword.

  A low, restrained, wet laugh reached him, accompanied by more tears. Somehow, seeing that made him happy and warmed his chest. But it hurt too. Noah couldn't understand exactly what he was feeling.

  — I believe you two were very close... Sorry, I tried, but I really can't do this. — Turning away, Noah scratched his head. — I think you'd rather be alone right now, so...

  The fingers gripping his clothes didn't allow him to stand up.

  — Thank you... — the weak, slightly hoarse voice made Noah freeze. She was more beautiful than he had ever dared to imagine, almost hypnotic. Though not as much as her bright green eyes, like the purest emeralds in the sunlight, which now looked at him. — And I've already agreed to the fact that we'll get married... — Ting revealed in a whisper.

  I need to keep going... she decided. There are many places I have to reach, and for that... I need to stay alive... Even if it's by his side.

  Noah remained silent by her side. He had a lot on his mind and a mix of emotions in his chest that was warm and comforting, but he couldn't think of anything to say at the moment.

  Grief... He couldn't imagine how to help someone going through that and believed that no matter what he said, it would always seem weightless, after all, they didn't know each other well enough for it to be any different.

  Is staying by her side really enough...?

  Looking at her, her distant gaze was hypnotizing. Eyes wet from holding back tears, sometimes failing.

  I... can't do anything else...

  The breeze blew, cold then warm. The sun rose, reaching its peak. And only then did Ting stand up. She headed back toward the house, with Noah following closely.

  — Do you want something to eat? — Fusu asked, getting up from the stairs to make way.

  She nodded after thinking for a moment.

  — Meat?

  She nodded.

  — Alright, so wait a bit and I'll—

  — Can I do it? — Noah asked, startling both with surprise.

  They looked at each other and ended up nodding together.

  — But I don't have the ingredients, so...

  — Oh, of course... — Fusu hurriedly grabbed the small pouch at her waist and handed it to him. — You can use what's inside there.

  Though confused, Noah took the pouch. It wasn't normal, he could feel it. He just couldn't say why.

  — ...What is this?

  — What...?

  — This pouch, it's the same one I tried to buy from you before, right? It was just a hunch before, but it's really special, isn't it?

  He... really doesn't know? The two couldn't believe it.

  Someone so monstrous couldn't possibly be so ignorant. They just couldn't conceive of it.

  — You don't know what a spatial pouch is..? — Ting asked.

  — Huh? So that's its name? Something capable of storing large amounts of goods... Interesting. No, I don't know what it is. — he analyzed the artifact. — How do I use it?

  — Just... inject a bit of Qi into it... — Fusu explained, incredulous.

  — Inject...? Ah, I get it! It's really interesting...

  A different space opened up around you, with various objects, utensils, and ingredients scattered all over. There were also small gold, silver, and copper coins bearing the engraving of a bird on one side of their faces, while the other side had numbers from 1 to 100 on the gold ones. The silver coins followed the same pattern, but there seemed to be two different types, with one featuring a letter after the number that Noah recognized as denoting thousands. However, the copper coins were different. On them, the numbers did not reach 1, with the highest being 0.9.

  Is this a portable pantry...?

  The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

  Noah smiled.

  — Okay, I think I already understand how it works. You can go rest, I'll call you when it's ready. Or... would you prefer to help me?

  Ting hesitated.

  Should I...? She couldn't decide. Yes, it's better...

  — I'll try...

  Tying the spatial pouch to her waist, she followed him back onto the grass.

  I need to try to get closer... That way, maybe he won't discard me when he gets tired of me.

  On the other hand, Fusu stayed back. He believed Noah's offer to cook was nothing more than an excuse to spend more time with Ting, and for the two to grow closer until she became invaluable to him, Fusu knew they needed to spend more moments like this.

  — Don't you think it would be better to do this inside the house? There's already a table there, so it would be easier — Ting suggested.

  — That may be true — Noah walked toward one of the large frozen trees nearby — but it seems you like being out here, so I'd rather do it right here.

  — ...Thank you.

  This is really hard...

  He examined the structure of the trunk.

  But if it was frozen to this degree, anything that could have been harmful must've suffered the same fate, right? Just like the creatures deeper in the forest...

  Feeling around the spatial pouch, he seemed to be looking for something.

  The system isn't responding, so I hope this will do.

  With a silver iron sword in hand, he prepared himself. Feet positioned, breath controlled.

  They say that's important when using a sword...

  The edge gleamed, reflecting the sun, and the blade moved. Nothing happened.

  ...I really thought that would work.

  Sighing, he turned to Ting, scratching his head, embarrassed by his failed attempt.

  — I think we'll have to get the table—?

  Thud!

  Consecutive crashes echoed behind him, as if several heavy objects were falling to the ground in sequence.

  Ting's pale face told him more than the sounds themselves.

  Noah looked back and was speechless. He hadn't used Qi, and yet much of the forest before him had been felled. Looking at the sword in his hands, he wondered what would have happened if he had used it.

  The next cut was more controlled, but even so, part of the ground was torn.

  Apparently, controlling this is going to be a bit difficult...

  At first glance, even the cut-off part of the trunk seemed too heavy to lift.

  Or maybe not...?

  It was as simple as breathing.

  He rolled the piece to a spot near Ting and turned it over so it could be used as a table. The cut was so clean and straight, and the tree so shiny, that the surface looked like a reflective crystal.

  — You said you wanted to eat meat, but in what way?

  — Sorry...?

  — Boiled, fried or roasted, how do you prefer I cook it?

  Ting hesitated for a moment, wondering whether or not she should be honest for once.

  Her answer diverged from what her mind advised.

  — ...All three... — she averted her gaze.

  That was something she truly wanted to do and enjoy.

  However, the reaction she received was a stifled laugh that she thought was intended to embarrass her. But Noah was just surprised that, apparently, the girl before him seemed to be, in reality, a cuisine lover.

  Or, at the very least, something close to it, I suppose...

  — Alright, sorry... Okay, let's start with the simplest first.

  After pulling a large piece of meat and a knife from the spatial pouch, he sighed.

  To think there would come a time when I'd have to be careful not to cut the table while slicing meat... He shook his head with a laugh. It's absurd as much as it's strange.

  With extreme care, he began slicing. During the first few, the makeshift table suffered slight notches despite Noah's carefulness. That stopped at some point, between the sixth and seventh slice. By then, half the trunk's size was already gone.

  Having finished, Noah turned to the surroundings, thoughtful.

  Now, the fire... He examined the ground. This ice didn't seem like it would melt with just a few flames. I think it was created by Frost Flame, so it must be tough enough to withstand that, but... would it allow a campfire?

  He reflected for a moment.

  No, there's no reason to waste time thinking about something like that. It's better to just remove the unnecessary part and move on, I still need to find firewood.

  He crouched a bit ahead and started pulling up grass by the handful. It was easy, though laborious, but yielded no result. The ground was in the same state.

  Even though she said nothing, Ting watched his every move.

  — ...Did you already know it would end up like this?

  Shrinking, she looked away.

  — I didn't know what you were trying to do, so...

  — I see. — Noah sighed. He thought himself stupid for having wasted even more time when, in his mind, he believed he was doing the opposite. He glanced at the house thoughtfully. — By any chance, does that purple-eyed man know how to control fire? That would be useful now.

  Ting faltered.

  Half the forest around this place is burned because of his powers, so what kind of question is that?

  She frowned a little but swallowed the words she wanted to say, the questions she wanted to ask.

  — I can do that... I'm just not sure I'll be able to control the flames correctly now, given the frosty Qi in the air.

  — You..? Ah, yes, the fire bird bloodline. So it gives you the ability to create and control flames, is that it?

  She nodded, and a heap of reddish flames appeared in her palm.

  — Amazing...! — Noah quickly came closer, startling her. His eyes fixed on the fire. — How do you do that?

  — How? I just... do? Or are you saying you don't know how to access your bloodline power for the first time?

  Ting swallowed dryly when he nodded.

  That's impossible, right...? Someone so powerful can't really be that... clueless.

  She couldn't believe it. The possibility that Noah was lying, for whatever reason, seemed much more convincing.

  — ...You just need to find the flame inside you, usually in your middle dantian, near your heart — she explained.

  — I see.

  Closing his eyes, Noah found himself surrounded by darkness. But it wasn't still, it moved as if burning something.

  Burning... He took a few steps forward, then turned. I thought I had failed, but I guess that's not the case.

  Ahead, two distinct flames rose. A bluish one, burning like ice. The other, dark and oppressive, exuded a dense and wild presence, almost hateful, with an inherent fury.

  And what should I do now, touch them? Is that all it takes?

  He walked up to both and did so, stretching a hand to each. His arms were engulfed in an instant, but there was no pain. The flames surrounded him and then split, dividing his body into two distinct areas.

  Upon opening his eyes, he found no difficulty, needing nothing but willpower for darkness to pour from his palm.

  The red one went out, while the frosty Qi around them receded.

  — Thank you, I managed to do it thanks to you—! — Ting was trembling, paralyzed, her face blank and pale. — Hey, what happened? Are you okay?

  Noah quickly noticed her eyes locked on the flames, as if hypnotized, compelled to look at them.

  They disappeared as he closed his palm, and Ting immediately fell to her knees, trembling.

  — Feeling better now? What happened, did the flame do something to you? Did you have any reaction? Are you hurt somewhere?

  — N-No! — she mumbled, pulling his hands away. — I-I'm fine...

  Her body withdrawn and shaking, she furrowed her brow as much as she could without being noticed. She didn't know whether or not to believe those words. They sounded sincere, but they might be lies.

  Does he really not know, or is he just pretending? Why? Why would he play with me like this? They were different things, but the feeling was the same. Those flames, from what hell did they come to be as frightening as those damned red eyes?!