Light pressed behind her eyelids—sharp at first, then bright enough to throb at the edges of her head. Yao Yao stirred and forced her eyes open. A dome of glass stretched above her, its panels so clear they almost hurt to look at.
Her body felt heavy, but warmth had returned to her limbs. A cool dampness rested on her forehead, easing the leftover heat. When she turned her head, Rui sat beside her, wringing out a towel over a glass pail. He folded it once and laid it across her brow.
He froze when their eyes met. A breath left him—soft, relieved. "You're awake," he said quietly. "Finally. How do you feel?"
The burn in her throat was gone, though her temple still throbbed faintly. "Where… am I?"
Her gaze drifted past him. Flowers lined the walls, their glow soft in the still air. The sight felt familiar—it was the same place she'd fallen into when she first entered the realm.
"This is…" Rui hesitated, glancing around as if searching for the right word. "Somewhere safe."
He scratched his cheek. "You were unconscious in the cave. His—" He gestured toward the door, then stopped. "The man… he brought you back."
Her thoughts slid in and out of reach. The man? Which man? But here—in the dome of glass and flowers, Rui at her side—there was only one she could guess. The black-robed man.
"How are you feeling?" Rui asked.
Yao Yao stayed quiet. Her mouth felt dry, her body heavy and aching. Physically she was there, but inside, it felt hollow—as if a part of her had been left behind. Her eyelids grew heavy again, but she forced them open.
"Water…"
Rui looked around, then blinked. "Ah—right. You've been out for three days. Of course. I should've thought of that sooner."
Her eyes widened faintly. Three days…?
"Wait here," he said, already moving toward the door with a lightness that almost sounded like relief. "I'll bring you something."
He closed the door softly behind him, and the dome fell silent. Only the faint rustle of leaves remained as she lay alone among the plants.
Yao Yao curled a finger, testing her strength, then slowly pushed herself upright. The movement sent a dull ache through her arms. White bandages wrapped her hands, the fabric snug against her skin. Another crossed her temple, pressing over the spot that still throbbed.
It hurt—but she was whole. Still breathing. Still Yao Yao.
Then the memories came all at once, the ritual, the garden, the dark mist. She drew her knees close and held them there. The cave she could still see clearly, but the garden was a blur. Every time she tried to remember, the details slipped away.
Still, something stayed beneath it all—a trace she couldn't name, cold and buried deep in her chest. It felt like a mark that wouldn't fade, a memory her body carried even when her mind had let go.
A tear slid down before she could stop it, then another followed. She wiped them away quickly, but they kept coming. Her lips trembled as she bit down, holding herself together, refusing to make a sound.
Was that a dream?
She sat in silence for a long time, the faint rhythm of her breathing the only thing left. Slowly, she tried to match each breath, in and out, until the shaking eased just a little.
Without warning, the door creaked open.
Yao Yao flinched, breath catching as her head snapped up. Her eyes were still wet. For a moment she couldn't move—half expecting something, someone—she didn't even know what.
Rui stepped in first, a tray balanced in his hands. He stopped when he saw her—eyes red, shoulders tight, staring at him like the sound alone had frightened her. "…Huh? What's wrong?"
Behind him, the Spirit King followed. His gaze landed on her and lingered on the tear still clinging to her chin. "She's afraid," he said. "Obviously."
Rui blinked. "Oh…" The realization hit, and words tumbled out. "You're okay. You're safe here, you don't have to—"
He stepped forward too quickly.
Her breath hitched, body shrinking back.
He froze.
The Spirit King followed a few steps behind. Rui frowned, the thought forming before he even spoke. "I was here before, and she was fine." He turned toward him, almost accusing now. "I think it's because of you."
The Spirit King arched a brow. "Me?" His gaze slid to the girl—trembling, eyes locked on him as if he might strike her down.
His frown deepened. "I saved your life from that wretched place. Why—" his head tilted slightly—"you got a problem with my face?"
Rui stared. "You—" He set the tray down with a clatter and cut across him. "You're scaring her."
The Spirit King looked back, indifferent. "With my face?"
"Not everything's about your face!"
"Then what? She looks at me like I'll devour her."
Before Rui could speak, Yao Yao's voice broke through the silence—small, thin, but clear.
"Are you gonna eat me…?"
The words hung in the air. Rui blinked, turning toward her, unsure if he'd heard right. Eat? The Spirit King went still, as though he needed a moment to decide whether she was being serious.
Yao Yao ducked her head, unable to take the weight of their stares.
A muscle flickered in the Spirit King's brow before he let out a breath—half scoff, half laugh. "Eat you?" His voice carried a note of disbelief. "What kind of nonsense—"
"Enough," Rui said quickly, crouching beside her before his tone could make things worse. "No one's eating anyone." His voice softened, almost pleading. "You're safe here, truly. This place—it protects. We won't hurt you."
But the words barely reached her. The heat behind her eyes gave way, and the tears came fast—uncontrolled, spilling everything she'd tried to hold back. She kept wiping at them, desperate to stop, but her body wouldn't listen. In the end, she just bowed her head and cried into her hands.
Rui glanced over his shoulder, shooting the man behind him a wordless plea. The Spirit King met his eyes for only a moment before turning away, pretending he hadn't seen.
Yao Yao's thoughts were too clouded to settle on anything, and before she could stop herself a stray, unfiltered thought slipped out through her trembling tears.
"…Or do you want my blood?"