— What happened, did you two fight? Or did he finally get annoyed by how much you eat? — Fusu teased, trying to lighten the mood for Ting.

  — Haha, very funny, Uncle... — clasping her knees to her chest, she sighed. Her eyes wandered to Noah at times, then returned to any random point in the landscape. — Uncle, you weren't listening to what we were talking about, were you?

  Fusu shook his head, denying it.

  — Personally, I'm not very interested in hearing you two praising each other all the time. — he said, smiling, but then stood up with a certain hesitation. The jokes weren't bearing fruit. — ...Did something actually happen? Did he—

  — No, he didn't do anything. Noah asked for some time, that's all. I just... — her eyes traversed the path, locking onto the one who remained motionless, seated on the log down below. Tensing her fingers, she squeezed her own arms. — No, it's nothing... It's fine...

  Apprehensive, Fusu stayed by her side. In silence, for he didn't know what to say. Distant, even though he was less than a step away from touching her, able to hear her breathing and feel her suppressed tremors. He could pull her close and hug her; he needed to and knew it... but he couldn't. He couldn't bring himself to do it. Being the one who had put her in such a situation, he didn't feel right comforting her; it didn't feel like the right thing to do. He thought Ting felt the same way.

  Amidst the silence and solitude of the night, the sounds of the wind seemed not to even draw near. Its movements, however, occasionally caused her hair to flutter. It was a tranquil moment, but not quite calm, and too slow for the time that actually passed.

  In the distance, the sun was on the verge of revealing itself. Yellow rays ignited the horizon, though its full immensity was not yet shown.

  Ting turned upon noticing movement nearby, finding Noah, who smiled and waved at her.

  She stood up, despite her hesitation. And before she could do anything, her eyes and Fusu's met. Yet, nothing was said.

  She turned, walking to the edge of the plank roof only to find Noah floating in front of it, extending his hand to her.

  She reached her fingers toward him slowly but hesitated. Finally accepting, she was pulled into his arms.

  With her in his lap, Noah ascended to the skies, ignoring the distortion trailing around him. The sensation he was feeling was incredible, and he wanted to make her feel the same way. Everything seemed more alive around him.

  Stopping beneath the clouds, he glimpsed the vastness of the characters traversing the surroundings of the entire city. It was nauseating, disgusting, and—

  — Is that a city...? — Ting asked, snapping him out of his own reverie.

  — Yes, but... it is a little different, I think.

  Something inside him vibrated with a strange discomfort.

  Even from such a distance, Noah was able to see with exactness. The tears, the ice, and the destruction. Nothing escaped his vision, not even the blood exuding from within a cave to the east of where they were. It was intense and suffocating, evidencing death.

  — If by "different" you mean destroyed... — she gripped his clothes while clenching her teeth tightly. — That is also my fault, right?

  — Your fault...?

  — Just like what happened in this part of the forest and with Aunt Ling... — she froze, looking away. She couldn't bear to see it anymore and wondered why Noah would be showing her such a scene. She thought perhaps he wanted her to feel this way. — This only happened because you helped me, so—

  — So the fault should be mine in that case, not yours. — Ting raised her head upon hearing him, causing their eyes to meet. — I was the one who decided to do that without caring about the consequences, not you.

  Turning, Noah turned his back to the city.

  — Forget that for now. — he said. — It wasn't to show you these things that I brought you up here... Look, it was for this.

  It took a moment for the yellowish sphere to make itself present in the sky beyond the mountains, yet Ting followed every second. And upon seeing it emerge, she smiled thanks to the majestic beauty of the world.

  Noah, in turn, did the same, albeit due to the bright laughter that illuminated his own world and caused the fall of the first drop plummeting from his dark sky. Falling onto the arid, reddish soil and purifying it to form a tiny puddle. Perhaps almost nonexistent, but never irrelevant.

  I see...

  He felt the answer he had been searching for revealing itself in that moment.

  Now that smile seemed even more perfect to him.

  You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

  — Thank you for showing me this... It is very beautiful.

  — Yes... very.

  The two were not referring to the same thing, yet Ting had no way of knowing. She was too focused on appreciating the landscape to notice such a detail. The radiance was incredible and the contrast of colors fantastic, and the heartbeats in sync calmed her with strange naturalness. Being able to feel and hear them, she felt enveloped and guarded. Allowing herself to feel cared for and sheltered before that cozy warmth.

  Noah gave her some more time to enjoy it, while he entertained himself with every change expressed on her face, from a gaze to a smile that almost completed itself. It was a very good moment, for both of them.

  Then, as soon as they returned to the ground, they went straight to the bedroom.

  Ting immediately lay down when she was placed carefully onto the bed. She felt the exaggeration, as if she were something so fragile she might break if a little more force were used. She said nothing, however.

  — Well, now, as I promised, — Noah sat beside her — shall we begin?

  — Begin...? — she jumped up with enthusiasm, sitting upright. Her eyes boiled with excitement. — Seriously, are you really going to teach me alchemy?

  He nodded, feeling the drops plummet thanks to that contagious smile.

  — So, first, let's talk about the theory, alright?

  Her head moved vigorously, agreeing.

  Noah had to restrain himself from smiling or losing focus and ending up caressing her. She was too cute. Too beautiful. And too attractive.

  He looked away for an instant, seeking to calm himself. He took a deep breath.

  — According to the properties that stand out most in each of them, herbs are divided into two groups: flavors and natures. — he explained, as Ting listened with extreme attention. — The flavors being: sweet, spicy, bitter, sour, and salty. While the natures are: hot, warm, neutral, cool, and cold.

  Nodding, she signaled that she was managing to follow his words.

  — I believe you already know the natures, don't you?

  She nodded.

  — Yang warms and Yin cools; neutral would be the equivalence between the two.

  — Yes, so, speaking of flavors... Being the one that is the mildest and serves to strengthen deficiencies, tonifying Qi and blood and being used to harmonize the formula, which nature do you think is the equivalent to the "sweet" flavor?

  Ting opened her mouth, then rethought. She wanted to be sure.

  — ...Neutral? — she offered her guess with a restrained voice. Even though her own mind was making her feel uncertain about it, she knew that was the only possible answer.

  She swallowed hard during the short time the confirmation didn't come. She didn't want to make Noah think teaching her was a waste of time.

  — Yes. — he smiled, causing her to do the same in relief. — But you don't need to be so careful when answering, okay? It's no problem to be wrong.

  He knew...?

  She nodded, somewhat grateful. She was being seen with more care than necessary, and she liked it. She thought it would be great if it continued like this, even if she now doubted even more the possibility of this being possible.

  Between animated laughter and drops, the lesson proceeded with tranquility. Ting didn't notice when she eventually lay down, nor did she care that she did so on Noah's lap. Neither did she pay attention to the gentle touches that, at times, brushed away the hair scattered across her face so he could see her in fullness.

  — Now let's talk about the compatibility between the two. Although... — Noah brushed aside the loose strands — I think you already understood that too, right?

  — Well, yes, but... I want to continue.

  Those shining eyes... he couldn't refuse her. He didn't want to. And so fell another drop before a laugh of joy.

  Seriously... How is it possible for someone to be so beautiful...?

  The caresses didn't cease, nor did the time that went away with the wind. It was dawn when they entered the room, but at no moment did the two notice the approach of the afternoon. The movement of the sun brought with it the usual reddish glow. And at the end, the knocks that echoed through the room, restrained and cold.

  Ting turned to the door.

  — Uncle Fusu...? You can come in.

  The creaking of the door echoed, and upon raising his head, Fusu froze. That scene was different... and better than he had imagined. Would it be strange to say he felt relieved witnessing it? That serenity and affection in which Noah remained immersed while touching her, even in front of him, couldn't be false. For her to keep maintaining that dry face was what Fusu desired most.

  He looked away.

  — I... can I speak with you for a moment? — Ting stood up immediately, despite being confused by the way he was acting. — No, not you, Ting'er. I am referring to him. — he clarified.

  Noah and Ting looked at each other, and he stood up with a sigh. She contained herself while watching them walk away. She tried, she made an effort, but she couldn't continue. The two were outside and she knew it; she could hear them with exactness. She shouldn't do it, but she felt Fusu was acting too strangely for this to be just a normal conversation between them.

  — In this bag are all her things. All the clothes and books as well. — he said, handing the spatial bag to Noah. And then he took something from the one at his waist. — With this, you now have two of the bags you were interested in before, so I believe this is the only thing missing. It is a Body Refinement technique. It is good, but I don't think it will help you in any way.

  Somewhat confused, Noah took the black book. He stared at those downcast eyes that couldn't look in his direction, fixed instead on the house further ahead.

  — ...Are you leaving?

  Fusu froze as he moved his lips. It was difficult to admit with his own voice, even though he had thought so much about it.

  — I... — he nodded. — I have something important to do... I don't want her to keep living this way, so — he swallowed hard. The words were painful to speak, like blades stuck in his throat that slid with every attempt. — I ask that you take good care of her from now on.

  In place of words, Noah only nodded. He wasn't the only one, for both could hear the sobs, the tremors, and were capable of feeling the tears dripping onto the cold planks.

  Fusu felt his throat close, his blood run cold, and his heart stop. However, he needed to continue.

  — Don't cry, Ting'er... After I make the attacks stop, I will come back. And then you will be able to live without worrying... Haha... I wouldn't miss your wedding, you know that, don't you?

  Turning, he began to walk before his remaining strength ran out. His body was heavier, more tremulous, and almost without any balance. If he stopped, he would fall. If he looked back and saw her weeping in the doorway, he would give up on leaving.

  — I promise you will be able to live however you wish, Ting'er. So, until that day comes... please, wait just a little longer...