The afternoon sun pressed down on the street like a heavy golden blanket, its glare bouncing off every surface. And yet, under that weight, a blue house held its ground, standing firm against everything.
Sunlight streamed through the four front windows, though it couldn't penetrate the top right window, shielded by a black curtain.
Behind that curtain, a small, cute Woman sat before her computer, wrapped in the soft glow of the overhead light.
A deep blue phone with a star pattern on the back rested in her hands, her blue eyes fixed on the screen.
Ena: Absolutely not. As Yao Yu, I hereby order Little Qīng to wear the same outfit described in the story.
Reading the message, Qingling smiled warmly and sent a reply.
Qingling: Ugh... unbelievable. Why did I agree to this in the first place...
"Wait!" She stopped, a realization clicking into place.
Qingling: Fine...
Qingling: Then I get to pet you while you cosplay as Yao Yu too!!!
A chuckle slipped out as she pictured a flustered Ena, but the image faded the moment a hazy figure stepped into view.
"Huh?" Looking up, it was Ena, wearing a doctor's outfit. Elegant and Graceful.
She looked down, her green eyes warm and gentle, soo full of tenderness.
Slowly, her hand reached out. Her soft palm drew closer and closer.
'And she patted me on the head, so softly. And then her hand... her hand'
The vision vanished, and Qingling was left frozen, her lips parted just a little.
Warmth surged through her face. A soft gasp left her lips, and she shot her hands up to cover her blazing cheeks.
In an instant, she sprang to her feet and dove onto the bed across the room, burying her face in the pillow.
"WHAT ARE YOU THINKING?!" a muffled cry managed to escape from the pillow.
With her face still mashed into it, she twisted her body, rolling around over and over, each restless twist drawing a groan from the bed.
It took her a while before she stopped, her face still pressed down into the rumpled bedding.
She shook her head against the soft fabric, then looked up and saw the phone lying beside her.
Ena's soft, warm hands cradling her flushed cheeks befor-
"Uhuuu..." A tiny whimper escaped Qingling, and she buried her face again.
A brief moment later, she peeked at the phone again.
"Just stop thinking about it..." she whispered.
Then she drew a long breath and released it slowly, but the warmth on her cheeks refused to leave. She squeezed her eyes shut and tried again.
Still warm.
She cracked one eye open just a little. The phone was still there, waiting.
She pressed her lips into a thin line, steeled her nerves, and seized it.
As she checked the phone, her eyebrows lifted. There were no new messages from Ena.
Qingling: Ena?
A few seconds passed. The message stayed unread.
The warmth drained from her face, replaced by a frown.
Qingling: Ena, did something happen over there?
Seconds passed, and still, no sign of Ena.
Immediately, Qingling pushed herself up and sat on the bed.
Qingling: Ena are you okay?!
'One'
Her blue eyes raced over the screen, searching for any sign.
'two'
She took a shallow breath.
'tree'
Qingling: Ena tell me watt happened!
Seconds passed. Nothing changed.
"Come on..." She ruffled her hair and let out a sharp exhale.
She glanced at the wardrobe, her expression tightening, then looked back at the phone.
Still, no sign.
"Maybe she's busy..." she murmured, letting out a long exhale and shutting her eyes.
Ahead, Ena stood alone in the middle of a deserted road, her phone nowhere in sight. Shadowy figures formed a loose circle around her, their faces nothing but wide, empty smiles.
Then, one by one, their dirty, grimy hands reached for her.
The image made Qingling's grip tighten, and the phone trembled under the pressure.
She snapped her eyes open, locked onto the wardrobe, dropped the phone, leapt off the bed, and sprinted toward it.
She snatched the first shirt she saw, her breaths growing quicker with every second as she struggled to get the shirt on.
Ping!
"Mmph!" She froze with her head jammed inside the white shirt, one arm still pinned in the sleeve.
She turned sharply toward the bed and saw nothing. Only white filled her view.
"Right! The shirt!" She stooped low, craning her neck at an odd angle. Through the neck opening, the phone screen glowed on the mattress.
Straightening her posture, she yanked the rest of the shirt down and dashed toward the bed.
The bed was right there, just a few steps away. She narrowed her eyes, set her jaw, bent her knees.
And launched herself onto the bed.
WHUMP
Crashing onto the bed, she immediately grabbed the phone.
Ena: I'm fine. There's a patient here who needs medicine. I'm a bit busy right now, but I'll message you again later. Talk soon!
After reading the message a few times, Qingling let herself collapse backward onto the bed, a long breath escaping her.
"Thank the Aeon" she murmured, her gaze fixed on the phone above her, her hand trembling around it.
She sighed softly and let her hand drop to her side, the device still in her grasp.
Once her nerves had settled, she turned her head, eyes resting on the phone screen. "Busy and a patient..."
Turning fully toward the phone, she brought it closer, its glow softening her features as she gazed at it.
"So she already..." She stopped, the rest of the thought fading.
The room fell still.
Gradually, the light around her began to dim.
The phone's glow faded last, slipping away into the dark.
The world was consumed by darkness, and it would remain that way.
Unless...
The stars cast their presence, allowing their radiance to flood the void with light.
But there was no gentleness in them, no warmth.
Their light was molten fire. A single glance would sear human eyes, casting any who dared to look upon them into the abyss. Forever lost.
The heat was merciless. Anything beneath it would be burned to ash.
How do we, as organic life bound in this fragile flesh, set forth on a Journey among the stars under such crushing radiance?
A solitary figure with yellow hair stood in the center of a park, unmoving. Alone.
Crimson light poured from the heavens, transforming their hair into rose-gold.
"How about we see other stars?" a gentle voice said.
A white-haired woman nearly a head taller stepped into view, a brilliant golden halo floating above her head, its glow veiling her face.
She offered her hand. "Let's go, Qingling"
Qingling stared at the soft hand for a moment, then lifted her gaze. Strangely, the woman's warm green eyes were clear through the golden haze.
She looked back at the outstretched hand. "Can I really... do it?"
The woman smiled. "Will you take the first step of a Trailblazer?"
"Taking the first step..." Qingling murmured, turning her head to look behind her.
Two silhouettes stood motionless in the distance.
Her lips parted, but no sound escaped. Each thought she tried to grasp dissolved before she could hold it, leaving her mind blank.
For a moment, she simply stood motionless, staring at them, unable to offer even a whisper.
With nothing to say, she looked back at the woman's soft hand, still waiting.
'Maybe...' She pressed her lips. 'Just maybe... I could...'
Slowly, she reached for it.
The woman's smile softened as their fingers drew nearer.
Between them, only an inch remained.
Ping!
"Ah..." Qingling's eyes opened.
The phone screen was lit, inches from her face.
Absentmindedly, her hand reached for it.
Ena: Qingling. I'm free now!
"Oh..." Qingling rubbed her eyes before pushing herself into a sitting position.
Qingling: You should have given me a heads-up earlier. I nearly had a heart attack. I really thought something had happened to you...
Ena: Sorry!
Ena: It's my first patient, and I need to stay sharp.
Qingling read the message twice. "Oh, right!"
Qingling: So, did you get accepted at a hospital?
Ena: No. I opened a clinic with permission from General Jing Yuan.
Qingling's eyes went wide. "A clinic with the General's approval..." She nodded to herself. "Of course she did"
Qingling: Congratulations on opening a clinic, Ena!
Ena: Thanks, Little Qing!
"Little Qing..." The corner of Qingling's lips twitched. "I should pay her a visit" She shook her head, though a smile crept onto her face.
Qingling: Can you wait for a minute? I have something to check.
Ena: Take your time!
After nodding to herself, Qingling got up from the bed and headed back to the wardrobe. Inside, a variety of dazzling costumes hung in neat rows, each one vibrant and carefully accessorized, while everyday clothes were tucked away to the side.
Her eyes wandered over the costumes before settling on a familiar ensemble.
Slowly, she traced the fabric with her fingers, brushing over a navy-blue vest with gold buttons and silver embroidery. Beneath it hung a white poet shirt and a high-waisted deep blue skirt with gold trim. A pair of matching blue gloves, a necklace with its little book charm, and a pair of navy boots.
All of it was still there, waiting to be worn once again.
She took a breath. "I should do it. A promise is a promise, after all"
Just as she pictured Ena seeing her in it, she blinked. "Right... I forgot to ask about the clinic"
Briefly, her gaze stayed on the clothes before she pulled her hand away and reached for the phone again.
Qingling: What's the name of your clinic?
Ena: Mùchūn Táng.
Qingling: The last days of spring.
Qingling: That's a wonderful name.
Ena: Yes.
Ena: It really is a wonderful name.
"Mùchūn Táng..." A soft smile crossed Qingling's face. "The Last Days of Spring"
Ahead, Ena stood steady. The afternoon sun formed a brilliant golden halo behind her, its gentle radiance spilling over her tender figure.
Then slowly, she reached out and stopped halfway.
Qingling watched that gentle hand waiting for her, and she reached out to meet it.
"Even as one's spring fades, hope remains" she whispered.
Her fingers wrapped around Ena's soft, tender hand.
A smile bloomed on Qingling's face, and Ena's expression softened in return.
In the park, they sat together on the bench, fingers intertwined, gazing at the peaceful, warm world around them.
Then Qingling blinked, and the park faded away. She was back in her bedroom, the wardrobe and costumes appearing before her once more.
Looking down at the deep blue phone in her hand, she opened the map app and typed in the clinic's name.
Qingling: Hey, the clinic isn't that far from me. So, I'll come over tomorrow.
She looked up, her gaze sweeping across the wardrobe and stopping on a cloud-patterned doctor's outfit.
"Hmm..." She pictured Ena in it. "With a few adjustments it would match her robe nicely" She nodded and checked the phone again.
Qingling: And I'll bring Yao Yu's outfit with me! So be prepared to cosplay as her!
A moment passed, but there was no reply from Ena.
Raising her eyebrows, Qingling walked to the bed and sat at the edge. After waiting for a while, Ena finally replied.
Ena: Sorry. I'm tied up right now. Maybe we can hang out and cosplay later, once I have more time?
Qingling: Busy?
Ena: Remember the General?
"The General..." Qingling frowned. 'He personally gave her permission to open the clinic and she never explained why. That secrecy, plus the General's involvement...'
Qingling: Something you can't talk about?
Ena: That's right.
'A secret mission from the General...' Qingling dropped onto the bed, sinking into the mattress as the scene unspooled in her mind.
Jing Yuan, standing tall, handing Ena a dossier filled with information that the rest of the universe would never know.
Accepting it gracefully, she read through it in silence, then lifted her gaze to meet his. A wordless exchange of respect passed between them.
"'A member of the Nameless is the only one who can accomplish this task and save the Luofu,' he said, admiration clear in his steady voice" Qingling murmured, playing out the scene.
She paused, then nodded at her own imagination.
Qingling: I see. Must be a lot of pressure.
Ena: Yeah... I'm a bit worn out right now because of it...
Reading the message, Qingling glanced at the clock on her phone.
17:25
Qingling: It's already evening. You should get some rest. We wouldn't want you to pass out on a bench somewhere.
Ena: That time was just a nap, you know...
Qingling: Haha, I know. I know.
Ena: Teasing me, huh?
Ena: Heheh. Looks like my Little Qing really wants to be patteeed
Ena: Getting really impatient I see?
Qingling felt warmth creep onto her face. "Urh, why does she have to be so good at this?"
Qingling: Ahem. Anyway, we'll talk again later. Have a good sleep, Ena.
Ena: You too, Qingling.
The warmth in Qingling's cheeks began to dissipate as she read their messages over and over.
"A secret mission... I hope she makes it" She placed the phone on her chest and stared up at the ceiling.
A beat later, she couldn't help but let out a light, girlish laugh. "Ena. So incredible!"
Above, the overhead light wrapped around her like a soft, warm blanket.
Meanwhile, in Mùchūn Táng, Ena sat in the office. The curtains were drawn, leaving the room in darkness, with only the phone screen casting its pale glow across her face.
'Qingling...' She read through their conversation again and again.
'The reason we can't meet is vague. Good. I kept the whole chat light. Good' She frowned. 'Did she suspect anything?'
She read the entire conversation once more. 'Not obvious in the chat...'
Then slowly, her gaze drifted upward.
The phone's light spilled past her face, faintly illuminating Blade's hand lying on the desk before her. No trace of blood remained.
Her hands dropped into her lap. A complicated look flickered in her eyes as she stared at what had now become just material.
"Something I can't talk about..." she whispered. Each syllable drained what little energy she had left.
"Hahh..." Her eyes fell to her lap, settling on the phone still in her grasp.
Beneath her unfocused gaze, the screen slowly dimmed.
The faint light resisted, pushing weakly against the darkness, but the phone shut off, and the entire space sank into an endless void.
TBC
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A reminder that this is the place for End of Chapter Notes or Author Notes. If you don't want your immersion broken, you can confidently skip this, because these notes will never contain spoilers or story. Just me rambling.
...
Hey Hey Reader. Nilvan here.
Today I made another discovery!
That is... a word construction! (I might be using very precise terminology here! Or scientifically proven one! ...Well okay... I use "construction" because it sounds cool!)
Anyway, today, when I edited this line.
Warmth surged through her face. A soft gasp left her lips, and she shot her hands up to cover her blazing cheeks.
I found a curious little observation. I became aware of active construction and passive ones. I'm using 'passive' very loosely here. Actual grammar scholars, please don't throw dictionaries at me!
Ahem. Now, why are we focusing on that line I'm editing?
What and why?
Honestly, I don't know the official terms, but I know the feeling! Here, I'll show you!
Warmth surged through her face. She gasped softly, and her hands shot up to cover her blazing cheeks.
Nilvan... what did you change?
"She gasped softly, and her hands shot up" - This. Now, she gasped! And her hand shot up!
Okay... so, Nilvan. What exactly is that doing?
This is what changed, according to me. Nilvan!
With this change, the gasp feels like something she chose to do, not what happened to her, while on the other side, the hand covering her cheeks feels like an instinct!
Let me put it side by side.
She gasped softly, and her hands shot up -- A soft gasp left her lips, and she shot her hands up
Can you see it?
She gasped softly -- A soft gasp left her lips
The first option made the gasp feel like something she did, while the other made it feel like something that happened to her. The first option gave agency to Qingling! The second gave it to the gasp!
her hands shot up -- she shot her hands up
The first option makes the shooting hand feel instinctual, while the other makes it feel intentional. The first option gave the agency to the hands! While the other gave it to Qingling!
So, the whole point is that Changing the subject changes where the action feels like it is coming from!
Active construction gives the subject agency. Passive construction makes the action feel like it happens to the subject. In other words, who or what is doing the thing changes how the reader feels it!
I don't have a grammar scholar to carry me here, so I'm using my own words... So hopefully, all of this is enough for you to understand my ramblings!
Let's vote about that, shall we!
Nilvan, you femboy. You're a terrible teacher!
Nilvan, I understand now. My brain has grown 5mm!
Those who vote "I'm terrible" have a smoll brain! While those who vote "I understand" have a big brain!
Vote for your brain, not about my skill. Smoll vs Big! See the difference?
Ahem.
Moving on, what do you think about this chapter? Drop it here.
Have feedback? Drop it here.
Want to leave a random meme? My pleasure to see it here!
That's all for now. Good afternoon!
(❀❛ ֊ ❛„)♡
Wrapped up after two drafts and two editing sessions, ending at 14:57. Finalized and published today.