Chapter 10: A Lantern Between Us
That evening, the air carried the scent of jasmine and woodsmoke.
In the quiet of the outer garden, Mei Lin sat on the edge of a carved stone bench, watching as Fu Gui lit a single lantern and placed it on the still surface of the pond.
The flame flickered in the water like a trembling star.
"What's it for?" she asked softly.
Fu Gui sat beside her, his eyes on the glowing orb. "My mother used to say… when you light a lantern in silence, your heart speaks clearer."
Mei Lin tilted her head. "And what is your heart saying tonight?"
A breeze moved between them. His gaze stayed fixed on the lantern.
"That I'm afraid," he said finally. "Not of the enemy. Of what I might lose… again."
She studied him, his strong posture, the sorrow buried in his voice. "You've lost someone before."
He nodded. "Two, actually. My mother… and the version of myself I was before she died."
Mei Lin placed her hand gently over his. "I don't know who I was. But I know who I am when I'm with you. And I'm not afraid of that."
He looked at her then—really looked. The flicker of the lantern danced in her eyes, making them look like they held galaxies.
"I don't want to carry this alone anymore," he whispered.
"You don't have to."
They sat in silence, hands still touching, the lantern drifting slowly across the pond.
And in the hush of night, no spells were cast, no weapons raised—but a bond was forged.
One no darkness could easily break.