What does an endless lifespan feel like?
It was a question the Heavenly Maiden could answer without hesitation. As long as the Serene Jade Empire's fortune continued to shine, death would never touch her.
Yue had lived for centuries, watching the seasons pass in an unbroken chain. Life moved on, as it always did. Stories were told, names were remembered, and for a while, the faces of friends stayed vivid. But time has a way of erasing even the brightest of them. Eventually, every voice falls silent. Every smile fades to a shadow.
And when those you love are gone, what proof remains that they were ever here? Only the fragments you carry in your heart.
How do you form bonds when you already know the day will come when they vanish, leaving you alone with nothing but memories?
It was the day of the festival. From the bottom of the mountain to the top steps of Cloudpetal Shrine, bright lanterns hung everywhere. They swayed in the breeze, and the air smelled of incense and flowers. The sound of drums from the city far below reached the shrine.
Seraphine found Theo sweeping the stone path in front of the gates. His white sleeves moved with each stroke of the broom.
"Where did you go last night? I was looking for you," she said, stepping closer with her usual confidence.
"Sera." His voice carried a hint of something unspoken, and his expression was a mixture of warmth and uncertainty.
"What is wrong?"
"I got permission to leave," he said after a pause. "But… I am not sure if it was the right thing to do."
"If you leave, you can always come back, right? This is your home." She slipped her hand around his arm, pressing against him with a bright smile. "Are you nervous? Do not worry. The world is full of excitement and fun. Your worries will wash away in no time."
Some of the tension in his shoulders eased. "You are right. I will join you at the academy. Please take care of me."
"That is more like it." She tilted her head in satisfaction.
"Also…" His lips curved faintly. "I have taken Lady Yue as my mother."
Her eyes widened, and she broke into a delighted laugh. "What? Congratulations. I am so happy for you."
"I am happy too," he admitted. "The reality still has not set in for me."
"Even as an outsider, I can see you have loved each other for a long time. Are you sure you want to leave with me tomorrow? Would you not rather spend more time with her first?"
"I can always come back and see her," he said. "While I am away, I will keep holding on to these feelings and… figure it out. Distance makes the heart grow fonder, right?"
She snorted. "That is not exactly how you use that phrase. But on the bright side, I can finally fix your brain by taking you outside. So it all worked out in the end."
"I do not see what is wrong with me yet, but I will take your word for it."
"Exactly something a person with something wrong with them would say."
They both laughed.
"The festival starts tonight, when the lanterns are lit," he said. "Midday, I will be helping Mother with the ceremony to stabilize the empire's luck. Once I am done, I will join you and help you dress."
She smiled. "Sometimes I actually forget how amazing you are."
"It is a strange feeling to be insulted and praised at the same time."
"Hey, just do not turn any weirder, okay?"
They shared another laugh before parting.
When Theo finished his chores, he made his way to the front of the pavilion. Lady Yue stood there in her full ceremonial attire, flowing white silk embroidered with sacred blossoms in gold thread. Her hair was bound in an intricate style, adorned with ornaments that shimmered in the light. Layers of delicate makeup transformed her already divine beauty into something unearthly, befitting her title as the Heavenly Maiden.
Theo, too, wore ceremonial robes, white with gold-lined sleeves, the fabric carrying the faint scent of incense. Normally, his simple attire lent him a divine charm. But now, dressed in the shrine's formal attire, he looked like he had stepped out of a painting.
Yue's lips curved into a loving smile before she flicked open her folding fan, hiding half her face. Painted on the fan, in bold strokes, were three words: I love you.
"Let us go," she said softly.
He followed her toward the pavilion.
The inner pavilion was sealed behind nine doors, each more sacred than the last. At every threshold, they paused to bow, to recite the rites, and to wash their hands and feet in sacred water before stepping forward. With each door, the air grew heavier and the silence deeper.
The doors opened without touch whenever Yue approached, as if the shrine itself recognized her. Theo kept his posture low, following her footsteps.
At last, they reached the innermost chamber. It was far simpler than one might imagine for the most sacred place of the empire. Only a mat upon polished wooden floors.
Yet the energy here was immense, a living pulse that made the skin prickle. So much so that even a donkey could recognize it's sacredness.
Yue gave Theo a small nod before stepping inside alone. The heavy door slid shut, leaving him standing guard outside.
Beyond the shrine walls, the air shimmered. One by one, the empire's four divine creatures appeared in radiant illusion above the shrine.
The vermilion bird descended first, its feathers trailing flame like ribbons in the wind.
The black tortoise emerged next, vast and steady, carrying the weight of ages.
The white tiger bounded across the sky, swift and fierce.
And last came the azure dragon, coiling in majesty, its scales shining like blue gemstones under the sun.
They circled above the shrine, their movements a silent dance.
The vermilion bird's cry rang like a silver bell across the land.
The black tortoise's deep hum rolled like distant thunder, soothing weary hearts.
The white tiger roared, stirring courage in every soul that heard it.
The azure dragon's long, rolling call carried the pride of the empire itself.
After their dance, the creatures dispersed. The dragon soared over the fields, ensuring bountiful harvests. The vermilion bird blessed the people with fertility. The white tiger granted protection and valor. The black tortoise bestowed longevity and a clear mind.
From the mountain villages to the capital's grand avenues, people knelt with hands clasped in reverence for the Heavenly Maiden. Music and drums filled the air, and dancers twirled beneath the glow of silk lanterns.
By the time darkness fell, the four divine beasts had returned to the shrine, their light fading like embers in the wind.
The ceremony was complete. The empire's fortune was secure for another year.