Noah raised his head from the letter and noticed the absence of the bird. Looking outside the window, he saw the dark blur flickering towards the Royal Palace. Raising his hands, he set the scroll on fire and let its ashes drift away around the city with the flow of the wind.
"Let's get ready for the feast; we have a whole governing body waiting for us." Noah stood up from the table and extended his arms towards the two won to his side with a smile. "The eting has been finalized. We're summoned to the Sky Jade Pavilion in the palace. Sunset. No delays. The emperor, the three sect leaders, and the abbot will all be present."
The two of them stood up slowly; Xin Yan looked indifferent about the eting, but Elysia shook her head with a sad look on her face.
"You two go ahead without ." Her refusal surprised the two of them.
"You are not coming?"
The sadness veiled in his tone made Elysia's heart ache, but she forced a smile and cupped his face. She leaned in and planted a warm kiss on Noah's lips before moving away and pressing her forehead against his.
"I wish I was there with you every second, my every breath, tracing every inch you cover and breathing your presence, basking in your breath…" Her voice grew restless; she paused with each break and kissed him on the lips. With each word and each touch, her feelings grew more fervent and obsessive.
Xin Yan watched the scene, her expression mirroring Elysia's. She could sympathize with her feelings, as Xin Yan also felt the sa way.
"But I have to leave once more, as I had left the task you gave in the middle." Noah seed like he would lt into her touch, but her words jolted him awake.
He frantically reached out for her arms and raised her sleeves to see the intricate web of red, vein-like structure that had once been restricted to her forearm had now almost reached her shoulders, spreading towards her chest and neck.
"What have you done…" He asked with a croaked voice that ached with pain.
"I could not stay away from you for too long, so I cut my trip short and ca back." Elysia freed one of her hands from his grasp and reached out to cup his cheeks once more. "If I had to do it all over again, there is not a single thing I would change."
"Elysia…" Noah whispered helplessly, but his voice was filled with care and love as he replicated her actions. "Now even if you succeed in doing the task, it will be too long to cure you through normal ans."
Elysia smiled and nuzzled into his touch. Not only was there no regret in her eyes, but there was also a deep obsession that told him that there was nothing he could say that would change her mind. She chuckled warmly and spoke the coldest words with the warst tone. "That also ans I will stay with you for a longer ti. Besides…"
She paused and took a deep breath before declaring with pride. "I believe that no matter how tough things are, you will always be there to hold my hand and help cross all bridges safely."
Elysia smiled as if she carried no burden, even as the red markings across her skin pulsed with a silent danger.
She leaned in, cradling Noah's face one last ti. Her breath was sweet, tinged with the faint scent of wet dirt that you found yourself feeling oddly in love with.
"I'll return soon," she whispered, though even she didn't know if it was a promise or a prayer.
Then, without waiting for another word, she closed the distance between them.
Her lips pressed against his—soft, trembling at first, then it grew fervent and passionate.
Her kiss was desperate, clinging, overflowing with neediness and everything she couldn't say aloud. Her fingers rustled into his golden hair, as if she was trying to rge his face into her own.
Noah held her tighter, unwilling to let go…
But eventually he had to loosen his grip.
Elysia's body shimred.
Her skin began to glow, erald light softly rising from her form like mist under moonlight. She parted from the kiss and smiled again, her forehead pressed to his. "I will be back before you know it."
Noah closed his eyes, basking in her lingering voice. Elysia's body suddenly exploded into countless green motes of light that seeped through the floor as if it was not even there and continued to drop.
They lingered above the ground for a mont before rging with the soil, disappearing from sight.
Xin Yan, who had been watching everything happen from the side with undisguised jealousy, stepped forward and reached out to hold his palm, tracing her thumb on the back.
…
The sun had nearly touched the horizon when Noah and Xin Yan descended the inn's stairs.
They were no longer dressed in the sa casual robes.
Xin Yan now wore a deep violet robe with silver clouds woven into the fabric; among the clouds was a golden phoenix, flying and nuzzling with its mate. She had tied her long hair with silver pins, leaving only a single curled, snowy strand trailing over her collar.
Noah walked beside her in an imposing silence.
He was wearing black robes, accented with silver stars and a faint gold edge, matching Xin Yan's outfit. The design of the robes was simple, but it was impossible to ignore.
Even the plainest robes looked like a treasure outfit on him, and this was no normal set of clothes. Woven with high-ranking silk of a spirit beast and engraved with his personal seals, Noah's robes were nothing short of a national treasure.
When they arrived at the gates of the palace, the imperial guards, dressed in scale-mail armor and holding their spears tipped with jade steel, straightened. They seed to have recognized Noah and saluted respectfully.
The gates opened on their own without any questions.
"Welco, honored guests. The Emperor awaits your arrival," one said, his voice steady but reverent, not towards Noah but the ruler he served.
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