"I know it's sudden," her mother said, waving off her incredulous expression.
"But you need to fight someone of equal strength now. And from what I've heard, Murong Fu is going to trade his family's Star-Shifting Technique for a divine manual."
Madam Virelyn gave her daughter a serious look. "You still have a chance to beat him now. But once he progresses in that manual… things will change."
Selene stared at her mother, lips slightly parted, as if the news hadn't quite settled in her mind.
"Wait—he's giving away the Star-Shifting Technique?" she asked hurriedly, eyes wide. "That's their family's secret treasure. Not even you've seen it."
Madam Virelyn shrugged indifferently. "And yet it's happening. That's how important the manual is, I suppose."
Selene's eyes drifted down to the glass of fruit juice. Her mind was spinning in circles, trying to make sense of it all.
She hadn't seen Murong Fu in a while.
He'd been busy with his "restoration" goals, and she'd been confined to Peony Manor, training under her mother's ever-watchful gaze.
Still, at the mention of Murong Fu… another image flickered into her mind.
Dark eyes. A teasing voice. That frustratingly smug smile.
'… I wonder where that bad person's gone?' she thought absently, eyes drifting to the Jade Library cave where they once shared memories.
The thought startled her.
She immediately frowned. "Tch… why do I even care where he is?" Cheeks warming.
She shook her head hard, pushing away the flowery thoughts from her head.
...
The night deepened. The stars above Peony Manor glittered like silver pinpricks across the indigo sky.
Paper lanterns swayed in the breeze, their warm light flickering over the still surface of the courtyard pond.
From somewhere down the slope, the sound of waves kissing the shore echoed faintly.
Selene sat in her study room in the Jade Library cave, legs curled under her, chin resting in her palm.
She'd tried reading, but her eyes kept sliding off the page.
She picked up a brush, but her strokes were clumsy. Eventually, she tossed it all aside with a soft sigh.
Feeling utterly bored, she left the cave and sat on a stone bench draped in silver moonlight.
"… Am I really going to spar with Cousin?" she muttered to herself.
She twirled a folded paper crane between her fingers, the dim silver moonlight casting its tiny shadow across the table.
"If I lose, that's fine… but if I win, his ego's gonna take a big hit."
She glanced at the crane.
"Little Crane… what should I do?"
Before she could sigh again—
"You should win. Obviously."
Selene yelped, leaping to her feet in shock. "W-Who said that?!"
She looked around wildly. No one.
"Am I hearing things now?" she whispered.
"That's what happens when you spend all day thinking about me."
The voice came again—this time inches behind her ear.
She spun around, and before she could react, someone pulled her close. Selene clumsily lost control and fell into a familiar yet annoying embrace.
Warmth.
She froze in place, wide-eyed and completely surrounded by the scent of someone she instinctively recognized.
"You—!" she gasped.
"Don't move," came the smooth voice near her ear. "I'm taking you somewhere."
Before she could protest, she felt herself being lifted.
"Hey—wait—! Put me down!"
But her voice was lost in the sudden rush of wind.
...…..
"Kyyaaaaaahhh!"
Selene shrieked as the wind howled past her ears.
She clung tightly to the neck of the man holding her, too frightened to care how improper it looked.
Only after a few moments did she crack open an eyelid and peek down, realizing they were flying.
Beneath her, a sea of glowing lanterns. Beyond that, rooftops, streets, and rivers all aglow under the Mid-Autumn moon.
She looked up, dazed.
"… I-Is this… your crane?"
"Golden-crowned immortal crane," Riven replied smugly. "Name's Solwing."
At the mention of its name, Solwing let out a soft screech. As if saying hello to its Master's wife.
Selene huffed, still flushed and clinging to him. "You're awful. You always scare me."
"I heard a little bird told the crane that she missed me~," Riven said, grinning.
"I did not!" she snapped.
Riven, however, only chuckled and pointed down. "Look."
Selene hesitated briefly… then looked.
The city was alive. Streets swarmed with people; lanterns of every color and shape floated in the air.
Children played under trees. Couples strolled along rivers. Laughter and warmth drifted upward in waves.
"…So beautiful," she whispered.
She'd lived in the Great Lake her whole life, and she'd never seen the surrounding cities from this high, from this angle.
It looked like something straight out of a dream.
She leaned forward slightly, her arms still wrapped around Riven's shoulders.
"…Is the world really this pretty?" she murmured.
Riven smiled, his voice low, warm, and husky. "The view's nice. But the girl I'm holding…"
He tilted his head.
"Even prettier."
Selene looked up at him just as the moon moved directly above them.
Its light fell between them like a divine spotlight, bathing their features in silver.
She blinked.
"…W-Why are you looking at me like that?"
Riven just smiled.
Their eyes met for one long second… then Selene panicked and looked away, face completely red.
"Tsk. Y-You're such a bad person…"
Solwing glided gently through the sky, sometimes under and sometimes over the clouds.
Its massive wings stirred only the quietest winds as they descended.
The glowing lights of cities twinkled below like stars scattered on earth. Peony Manor was far behind them now, hidden beneath the branches of memory and moonlight.
Selene was still tucked in Riven's arms, her cheeks warm and her head spinning—not just from the height, but also because of him.
She took in her surroundings and realized where they'd ended up.
An elegant pavilion surrounded by a small natural garden stood below them, nestled in a crescent valley lined with willows and a stream.
Its tiled roof glistened like silver, the lanterns outside swaying softly. The entire place looked… like paradise.
"Where… is this?" she asked softly.
"My place," Riven said, his tone casual. "Just a quiet spot. For people who can't sleep."
Before she could respond, Solwing let out a soft cry and dipped toward the earth.
In one smooth motion, Riven leapt off the crane with her still in his arms.
Selene squeaked and instinctively clung tighter, her heart jumping into her throat.
Then—thump.
His boots landed on the wooden floor of the pavilion with a light tap. No stumble, no shaking, but with perfect balance.
"We've arrived," he murmured.
Selene blinked. The world stopped spinning.
Her eyes adjusted to the soft glow of lantern light and flickering candles around them.
The interior of the open pavilion was warm and clean, lined with books, a scroll table, and a low tea platform.
The small ceiling has been adorned with an energy array linework that glows in soft yellowish light.
She suddenly realized she was still wrapped around his neck.
"Ah—put me down!" she said quickly, cheeks flaring. "Y-You've been holding me forever!"
Riven didn't move right away.
He just looked at her with a slow grin.
"Can you blame me?" he said, voice smooth like silk. "With a girl like you in my arms? I might never let go."
Selene's heart skipped.
She shoved him lightly, her voice stammering, "Y-You're shameless! Just… just put me down!"
He chuckled and gently set her down.
But the moment her feet hit the floor, she kicked him.
"Hey!"
Selene quickly backed away, fists raised in a mock stance. "Don't come near me. I'm serious!"
She tried to look fierce, but the way her eyes still shimmered from the breeze, the way her ribbon had come half loose in the wind… she looked more like a flustered rabbit than a martial artist.
Riven raised his hands in mock surrender, a smile spreading across his face. "Alright, alright. I surrender~."
Selene lowered her fists slightly. "You're always teasing me…"
He tilted his head, watching her carefully. "Do you always cry when you get flustered?"
"I am not crying!"
"You have tears in your lashes."
"I do not!"
"You look like a heartbroken fairy."
"Ugh!"
She spun away from him, face red and lips pursed. "This is why I didn't want to come here!"
But her words had no strength behind them.
He watched her for a moment.
Then, with a softer tone, he said, "You know… if you keep crying like that, I'll have no choice but to make you stay here."
She turned just enough to glance over her shoulder. "What?"
He leaned slightly against the pillar. "You cry again, you'll have to marry me. I can't return a crying girl to her mother. That'd be disgraceful."
Her eyes widened. "You—! Y-You…!"
She stumbled over her own words.
Then she did something neither of them expected—she teared up again.
Riven blinked.
"Wait—what?"
Selene sniffled once, her back still to him. "… You always bully me…"
"Selene…"
"…What if no one else wants me because of you?"
"Selene—"