Ding...Dingg
Yanmei's eyes opened as the sound chime rang in her room, it wasn't a sect's bell or a bird chirp but a little signal orb that was made for her specially by her fiancee.
She groaned,her face still buried in her soft silk pillow.
Tianlei ?? It was so early and even if she loved him so much,she was not ready to wake up, a soon-to-be bride should have her beauty sleep at least.
Another sound came through,deeper this time and she could almost hear his voice through it now, teasing: "Come to me, future wife".
She reluctantly sat and rubbed her eyes,the smell of incense was in the air and light was already seeping through the curtains of her room.
As she stood up to get ready ,she remembered the voice she heard in her dreams that said, "The gentle heat you cling to carries the memory of embers," what does that even mean she thought as she brushed it aside.
She shook her head with a laugh,tossing her long black hair ."No one's spoiling today",not even weird dreams.
"You are blushing again,let me guess...
He called you."
Yanmei snorted,"who?"She asked jokingly.
"You know whoo",Xian Yun said as she placed the silver hairpin into it place.
"He's so romantic and l am so happy for you,he basically made a special orb for you."
"Yess,it's cute."
"It's clingy".
Yanmei flicked the maid's forehead.
"That's why you are not married,Xiao Yun".
The girl gasped loudly."I'm too beautiful for one man to claim".
They both burst into laughter,her early confusion about the dream was forgotten with every joke.
"Do you think he'll cry when he sees me in the wedding robes tomorrow ."
"He will probably erupt",Xiao Yun grinned.
Yanmei rolled her eyes but smiled anyways.
She didn't say it out loud but her heart has never felt lighter.
___
A quiet knock was heard on the door,Xiao Yun went to answer while Yanmei adjusted her earrings,the maid returned with a small velvet box.
The sender was unknown,it was just left a servant at the outer gates."
Yanmei opened it carefully,inside was a pendant ,a flame-shaped beautiful one,that was attached to a rusted chain.
It pulsed warm in her palm then in became cold.
She was confused, it was strange.
Xian Yun leaned in to see it clearly."That's not from Xi Tianlei,right?
"No,he already gave me a gift earlier ".
"Throw it away,that things feels cursed".
Yanmei shook her head, trying to laugh. "Probably from a dramatic elder or something,could be a protection charm."
Them, she wrapped it in cloth and tucked it in a drawer. Just in case.
___
Tianlei's room was in the Eastern,when she got there,the door was opened already ,he was waiting.
Slender,calm and composed,his eyes lit up when he saw her.
"There she is",he whispered .
Yanmei's breath unevened,her heart pounded like war drums.
"You called for me", she said trying not to sound breathless she was completely smitten by this man.
He rushed to her and brushed her cheeks with his long fingers that sparked warmth.
"Had to see you before tomorrow,my vows won't wait".
"You could still see me later in the day and have me wake up this early",she said with a fake frown.
"I have to meeting with the some of sect leader regarding something,and l would be back very late,so l had to see you before l left".
Her frown became giggles as he leaned in closer.
"I dreamt of you last night",he whispered.You were fire ,unreachable, but l caught you anyways.
Her cheeks flamed,her whole body did.
He tilted her chin,his lips nearly brushed hers...
Then just for a second,his eyes flickered to something behind her .
His warmth faltered,a shadow passed.
Then he smiled as if nothing happened.
"You will soon be mine before the sect and the stars".
Yanmei's heart soared again.She didn't notice the twitch in his jaw.
The path back to her room wound through a cherry blossom grove.
She paused halfway, feeling… watched.
The wind rustled the leaves.
Behind the branches, a figure stood, cloaked in dark robes, face half-hidden, golden eyes glowing faintly.
Yanmei blinked. "Hello?"
The figure stepped back,then vanished in a flicker of flame.
She stood frozen.
A whisper echoed on the wind.
"You don't belong to him."
She turned, heart racing,nothing was there.
Just shadows and nerves.
She let out a laugh. "Probably Xiao Yun playing tricks again."
As she looked at her palm where the strange cold pendant had been, something felt off and for the first time all morning, her smile didn't reach her eyes.
___
Back in her quarters, Yanmei sat by her dressing table, fingers absentmindedly trailing across the wood carved with phoenixes and flame blossoms. The silence was heavier now, no Xiao Yun, no chimes, no footsteps,she was all by by her self .
She touched the edge of the drawer where the pendant lay hidden.
A flicker of hesitation crossed her face.
Then she stood abruptly and crossed to the balcony. The sun was already sliding west, bathing the valley in amber light. In the distance, the Flame Sect's great ceremonial arena stood– vast, ancient and crowned in smoke.
"Tomorrow," she whispered, "I become part of that,a new life starts".
For a moment, she could almost see her mother's face in the clouds. The softness of it and the longing.
Her chest tightened. "Would you be proud of me?"
Wind rushed by, lifting her sleeves and brushing her cheek like a kiss.
She didn't know if it was an answer or a warning.
Later that evening, the halls quieted, the golden light of day giving way to the flicker of lanterns. A hush fell over the western wing of the sect where Yanmei's quarters rested as if the entire pavilion held its breath.
Xiao Yun returned with a silk-wrapped bundle, cradling it like it was sacred.
"The sect tailor delivered your final veil," she said softly.
Yanmei rose from her seat. Her fingers trembled slightly as she unwrapped it. Crimson silk spilled into her hands ,heavy , delicate, and embroidered with phoenix feathers, golden lotuses, and twin dragons curled into the symbol of eternity.
"It's beautiful," she whispered. "Too beautiful."
She held it up to her face, letting the fabric slide across her cheeks like a second skin. Her reflection in the mirror blurred behind the veil ,a bride half-hidden, half-formed.
"Yun," she murmured, lowering it. "What if I'm not ready?"
Xiao Yun blinked, surprised. Then her voice softened. "No one ever is. But you're flame-born, Mei. You were born to stand in fire.I am sure it's just your nerves".
Yanmei smiled faintly, but her hands closed tighter around the silk.
Outside, the moon was full but somewhere in the distant trees, a flame flickered against it ,defiant and watching.