Tears streamed through the night like a rushing river.

  Paralyzed, Ting knelt in the doorway, unable to do anything but tremble and weep.

  Noah tried to guide her back to the room, but she wouldn't allow it. For as she gazed at the distant trees, her tears seemed to hold something beyond fear and pain... Hope. Deep down, she still thought Fusu might change his mind and return. That he wouldn't leave her all alone in this place. He couldn't... Yet, the passing time proved her wrong.

  Denial transformed into anger, which, when she least expected it, etched a smile onto her rigid face. Heavy and painful. Forced acceptance was what her mind thrust upon her. There was nothing left for her anymore. Nothing, except for the one by her side who tended to her without saying a word. With hesitant touches that seemed to harbor an agonizing doubt regarding the situation, as if afraid. After all, was his approach correct? Was there any point in touching her as one touches glass on the verge of shattering? No... Noah knew there wasn't. And yet, that was the only way he could find.

  Smiling, Ting let herself slump against him. Those desperate caresses were as revealing as they were cruel. It was she who was suffering and, time after time, losing everything. So why was he the one trembling? What was the reason for his fear and pain? Why would he be suffering? It couldn't be due to the wind swirling around them, as if laden with torment.

  Is it for me...?

  Her silent laughter pricked at her like one denying their own assumption. It was better not to harbor such high hopes in vain.

  Soon, he will also leave... She already foresaw her plight.

  The moments that followed proved long, filled with hidden, deep tears. Should she stand up and persist? He was comforting her with gentle touches, but how long would that continue? Would those cold hands remain within her reach even if she kept crying? No, she feared such a decadent image might drive him away.

  So, Ting swallowed her tears and tried; however, she was unable to quell the tremors. They were the marks of her pain. She rose, only to stumble. Her hand against the wall should have supported her, but it was Noah who came to catch her.

  There were no words, only a knot in both their throats that allowed nothing to be said. Breathing was already a difficult enough task to maintain.

  As if the tremors weren't enough, Noah could see the tears accumulated and held back in her eyes. Even if he told himself he should act, he didn't know how. Books wouldn't give him the answer to this type of situation, regardless of how many he read.

  While for Ting, that gaze which appeared to be loaded with genuine concern and zeal was like a trap. Maybe she should do it, trust such an appeal. However, what would keep her standing if she failed when she also came to lose him? It was too big a risk; she was afraid, very much so. She couldn't. Even if she wanted to, she couldn't do it.

  The walk to the bedroom was silent and suffocating. Once the door was closed, Noah sat outside, where his inability to act drowned him as sobs spilled out from beyond the wooden walls. Tears fell heavy and cold, while the drops from the dark sky hung paralyzed.

  Entering through the window along with the moonlight and stars, the cold wind was of little help to her, who didn't even notice it.

  Tear after tear, time passed. Giving way to the sunrise and the silence that brought with it the uncertainty regarding what to do or how to proceed.

  It took some time for the first action to occur, as the sun displayed its majesty in the morning sky.

  Knock! Knock! Knock!

  The knocks did not denote great confidence. However, the intent behind them was certain, especially given the situation in which they were made.

  Ting rose somewhat hesitantly, sitting up. She turned toward the door, sniffling and wiping away her remaining tears.

  — ...You can come in. — her voice sounded hoarse and quiet.

  When the door opened, she froze. What she saw was strangely predictable: Noah with a full tray. It was the only way he saw to approach, to use as an excuse to enter the room and breach her barrier, and Ting knew this better than anyone. However, knowing it wasn't what mattered; rather, it was the fact that he was actually willing to do it just so they wouldn't end up drifting apart.

  This thing he is doing... How should I interpret this...?

  Noah sat on the edge of the bed and, after placing the tray on his legs, removed the lid covering the pot.

  Steam escaped, exploding upwards like whitish smoke. The smell of meat and vegetables flooded the place.

  Using a wooden spoon, Noah took a bit of broth and blew on it to cool it down.

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  What is happening...?

  There were no exchanged words at first, let alone glances.

  Why isn't he looking at me?

  Ting accepted the food being fed to her, yet her eyes kept observing the one feeding her. He who, unlike her, seemed incapable of looking at her with confidence.

  It's like he is feeling guilty... But why? She couldn't understand.

  Their eyes only met when the soup was finished.

  Noah put the spoon inside the pot and stopped. His eyes wandered, fleeing the spot where Ting was, and his fingers stiffened.

  Apprehensive, Ting swallowed hard.

  He is also going...

  — Did something happen...?

  ...away...?

  — If it was because I made you stay outside the room yesterday, then—

  — I'm sorry...

  Noah's words made her freeze. It took some time for her mind to return to the present.

  — Pardon...? — clenching her fists, she gripped her clothes discreetly and bit the inside of her lip. — What do you mean?

  So he is really going...

  She didn't expect much anymore; she just wanted it to be as brief as possible. Of course, she didn't have the courage to say this aloud.

  — I...

  Am going away. Ting predicted the rest of the sentence in her mind.

  — I am sorry for not being able to help you as I should in this type of situation... — he said, stopping her once again, leaving her open-mouthed.

  Ting was ready to say "It's okay," and thus they would put an end to their brief but important relationship. However, Noah's words made her lose the thread of her own thoughts.

  What is he talking about...?

  — I know I should do more than just feed you, but... I don't know how or even where to start.

  — Are you serious...?

  — What...? — Noah turned to her, confused.

  — You are saying you are not going away and that you aren't angry about what I did last night; instead, you are asking me to forgive you...? Isn't that a lie?

  — Go away...? — a contained smile arched his lips. — I won't get angry over something like that, Ting. I don't even know if I could, actually... You can do whatever you want: refuse my touches, not hug me, or, if you want, not talk to me. I'm not saying I would like it if you did those things, but... I also wouldn't say I'd get angry over it.

  — Seriously...?

  Bringing his hand to her face, Noah wiped away a tear that had escaped.

  — You are not a prisoner, and I am not the jailer responsible for keeping you contained. You are free to do whatever you want while you are with me. You can go wherever you want and eat whatever you prefer, as long as you are happy with that.

  Her mouth opened, then stopped. Noah seemed to be sincere, which made Ting ask herself if she could do the same.

  — So... — the cold touch on her face was strange, scaly, but gentle. — When you said you wanted me as a wife, you really meant that... that you would marry me?

  — Huh? And what else would it be, if not that?

  — N-Nothing! It's nothing, I just... I can't believe it...

  — You can't...?

  She nodded, looking away.

  — All this seems too good to be true, right? It would be easier to believe if you simply...

  — Well, despite having said you could refuse, first I forced this marriage to happen, so... I guess it isn't as good as you say.

  — True... — Ting smiled, and a tear ran down, only to be stopped by the cold fingers. — But I don't think that is the biggest problem, being honest...

  It was close, and it was so difficult. The words wouldn't come out.

  — You... — she held the hand on her face, feeling it stop. — You are not from this place, are you, Noah...? There wasn't a cure for my problem in this world; my... father and Uncle Fusu searched the whole of it. So..., can you answer me this?

  She felt his palm tremble.

  — ...I am not trying to force you into anything, so—

  — That isn't a secret, I just... I can't... I can't talk about it yet. But... — he revealed, and Ting felt how heavy every word was while his fingers caressed her. — if you really want to know, I can tell you. Just know it wasn't a grand place, if that's what you are thinking. Cultivation didn't even exist in the world I lived in.

  It didn't exist...?! Her eyebrows raised. So he didn't come from a higher world, right? There is no way a higher world doesn't have cultivators. But... then how did he know the solution for the Frigid Flame?

  — I discovered how to remove the Frigid Flame from your body because the thing that brought me here told me. — he revealed.

  "The thing"...? Not "he" or "she", but "the thing"?

  With every new sentence from Noah, the more confused she became. He was answering her doubts with apparent sincerity, and yet this wasn't helping her at all to understand him. However, it was enough not to fear him anymore.

  — I don't know if I can say anything beyond that, so I will stop here. But it isn't a secret; I really am not sure if I could or couldn't say anything more... I don't know if doing that could end up hurting you in some way.

  Something capable of making beings cross to different worlds...

  Ting nodded. Regardless of what "the thing" Noah referred to was, she knew it wasn't something they should take lightly.

  — Do you have any more questions?

  Shaking her head, she denied.

  — ...So do you trust me a little more now?

  It was a strange question, yet Ting felt the hesitation it carried.

  She nodded. If what Noah said was indeed true, yes, he had secrets; however, he wasn't dangerous. Not him, but "the thing"... She was somewhat apprehensive about that.

  But if in the world he lived in the practice of cultivation didn't exist, how did he become so strong...? From what I saw, he hasn't been here for a long time, so...

  The distinct touch on her face told her something. It was unique and shudder-inducing. However, due to those eyes holding a natural horror looking at her with affection and care, this perception kept being soothed little by little.

  The Forest of Demonic Beasts, yes... He must have had some very grand fortuitous encounter in that place.