The Heavenly Realm was beautiful in ways the mortal world could never understand.
Its skies never truly darkened.
Its clouds moved slowly beneath golden palaces.
Rivers flowed through the mountains like strands of silver.
And hidden between the countless halls of Heavens
There were gardens.
Gardens older than kingdoms.
Older than wars.
Older than some of the memories Heaven had chosen to keep.
Or forget.
The Flower Garden was unusually quiet that morning.
Soft petals drifted through the air.
White.
Pink.
Gold.
They danced around the figure kneeling beside a bed of flowers.
The Flower Lord carefully touched one of the petals.
It immediately straightened.
A faint smile appeared on her face.
"...There."
She whispered.
"...Much better."
Behind her
A voice spoke.
"You talk to them again."
She didn't turn around.
"You say that as if flowers don't listen."
The Fire Lord walked into the garden.
"...They don't."
"They do."
"No."
"Yes."
The Fire Lord crossed his arms.
The Flower Lord finally looked over her shoulder.
"...You came here just to argue with me?"
"...Possibly."
She smiled faintly.
"...Then the Water Lord is rubbing off on you.
The Fire Lord frowned.
"...Don't start."
That made her laugh.
A real laugh.
Light enough to make several nearby flowers bloom.
The Fire Lord stared at them.
Then immediately looked away.
"...Show-off."
A few moments later
The Water Lord entered the garden.
His robes moved gently behind him.
Unlike the Fire Lord
He looked completely calm.
Almost too calm.
The Fire Lord glanced at him.
"...You took your time."
"I wasn't aware you were waiting for me."
"I wasn't."
The Water Lord smiled.
"Of course not."
The Flower Lord watched the two of them.
Then quietly shook her head.
"...I have lived for thousands of years."
A pause.
"...And somehow, watching you two argue is still one of the strangest things I've experienced."
The Fire Lord looked offended.
"We don't argue."
The Water Lord raised an eyebrow.
"...You threatened to throw me into the Celestial River three days ago."
"You deserved it."
"Because I disagreed with you."
"Exactly."
The Flower Lord laughed again.
For a brief moment
Everything felt normal.
Then the laughter faded.
Because they hadn't come to the garden to talk.
They had come because something was wrong.
The Flower Lord stood slowly.
Her expression becoming serious.
"...What happened?"
The Water Lord looked toward the distant Heavenly Palace.
"...The records."
Her smile disappeared.
"...What about them?"
The Fire Lord answered.
"They were removed."
Silence.
The petals around them stopped moving.
"...Removed?"
"An entire section."
The Flower Lord's expression changed.
Slowly.
"...Which section?"
No one answered immediately.
Then
"The judgment records."
The words landed heavily.
The Flower Lord stared at them.
"...Lin Mo's?"
The Fire Lord's jaw tightened.
"...Among others."
For the first time
The garden became completely silent.
Even the flowers seemed to hold their breath.
The Flower Lord slowly looked down.
"...I remember the day."
The others turned toward her.
Her fingers curled slightly.
"...Everyone remembers the punishment."
She whispered.
"...But no one remembers what happened before it."
The Water Lord's eyes narrowed.
"...What do you mean?"
The Flower Lord looked toward the sky.
Her expression distant.
"...I remember seeing Lin Mo."
A pause.
"...He didn't look guilty."
The Fire Lord frowned.
"...Then what did he look like?"
Her voice became quieter.
"...Terrified."
Silence.
A heavy one.
Because that wasn't the version Heaven had preserved.
Before anyone could speak
A soft voice came from behind them.
"...Lady Flower Lord."
They turned.
A heavenly attendant stood at the entrance of the garden.
Kneeling.
"My Lady."
The Flower Lord looked at him.
"What is it?"
The attendant lowered his head
"...The portal is ready."
For a moment
No one spoke.
Then the Flower Lord nodded.
"...I'll be there shortly."
The attendant bowed before leaving.
The Fire Lord watched her carefully
"...You're leaving Heaven."
She smiled slightly.
"...Only for a little while."
The Water Lord's expression softened.
"...To see her?"
The Flower Lord didn't answer.
But she didn't need to.
The small smile on her face said enough.
The Fire Lord sighed.
"...You're still seeing that mortal?"
The Flower Lord looked at him.
"She's not that mortal."
A pause.
Then
"...She's someone important to me."
The Fire Lord's expression softened slightly.
Almost unnoticeably.
"...Heaven still doesn't know?"
"No."
The Flower Lord turned toward the flowers.
"...And I would prefer to keep it that way."
The Water Lord looked at her for several seconds.
"...Be careful."
She smiled.
"I always am."
The Fire Lord muttered.
"No, you're really not."
The Flower Lord raised an eyebrow.
"And you are?"
"...That's different."
The Water Lord sighed.
"It's not."
The Flower Lord laughed softly.
Then stepped toward the exit.
But before leaving,
She looked back.
"...Find out what happened."
The Fire Lord frowned.
"...We intend to."
Her gaze moved toward the Heavenly Palace.
"...No."
Her voice became serious.
"...Find out what really happened."
Then
She disappeared.
The garden became silent again.
The Fire Lord stared at the place where she had vanished.
"...She remembers more than she's saying."
The Water Lord nodded slowly.
"...So do we."
The Fire Lord looked at him.
"What do you mean?"
The Water Lord's gaze drifted toward the distant palace.
"...I remember Lin Mo."
Silence.
The Fire Lord's expression tightened.
"...So do I."
"Not the punishment."
The Water Lord continued.
"...Before it."
Something in the Fire Lord's expression changed.
A memory.
A fragment.
Gone almost immediately.
"...The gardens."
He whispered.
The Water Lord turned toward him.
"What?"
The Fire Lord frowned.
"...Nothing."
But it wasn't nothing.
Neither of them knew why
But suddenly
The scent of flowers felt familiar.
Far away
Within another part of the Heavenly Realm
The Male Flower Lord stood alone.
He was surrounded by flowers unlike any that existed in the mortal world.
Silver petals.
Blue leaves.
And flowers that glowed softly beneath his touch.
He didn't notice the presence behind him.
Not immediately.
"...You came early."
The Male Flower Lord spoke.
Still focused on the flowers.
The person behind him remained silent.
The Flower Lord paused.
Slowly turning around.
And immediately
He bowed.
"...Your Majesty."
The Heavenly Emperor stood several steps away.
Perfectly composed.
Cold.
Untouchable.
At least
That was how everyone saw him.
The Male Flower Lord smiled politely.
"...Did you need something?"
The Heavenly Emperor stared at him.
Too long.
Long enough for the Flower Lord's smile to slowly fade.
"...Your Majesty?"
The Emperor finally looked away.
"...The northern gardens."
A pause.
"...They've begun to weaken."
The Male Flower Lord nodded.
"I'll take care of them."
The Emperor remained silent.
Then,
"...Thank you."
The Flower Lord smiled again.
A simple smile.
Respectful.
Distant.
"...It's my duty."
Those words
Something about them
Hurt.
The Heavenly Emperor's expression didn't change.
But his hand slowly tightened at his side.
Because once
Long ago
It had never been duty.
The Male Flower Lord stepped closer to a nearby branch.
A small white petal rested on the Emperor's shoulder.
Without thinking
He reached forward.
And removed it.
The Heavenly Emperor froze.
The Flower Lord froze too.
Their eyes met.
For a moment
Neither moved.
The Flower Lord slowly lowered his hand.
"...Sorry."
The Emperor didn't answer.
The Flower Lord stepped back.
"...I didn't mean to"
"It's fine."
His voice came out quieter than usual.
The Flower Lord nodded.
Then turned back toward the flowers.
He didn't see the Emperor's expression.
Didn't see the pain hidden beneath centuries of control.
Didn't know
That he had done the exact same thing before.
Centuries ago.
When their relationship had been something Heaven never knew.
Or perhaps
Something Heaven had simply chosen to erase.
The Emperor turned away.
"...Take care of the northern gardens."
"Of course, Your Majesty."
And then
He left.
The Male Flower Lord remained alone.
He looked at his hand.
The one that had touched the Emperor's shoulder.
For some reason
His heart hurt.
He frowned.
"...Strange."
A single flower beside him suddenly bloomed.
Then another.
And another.
Until the entire garden moved with the wind.
Almost,
Like it remembered something he didn't.
In the mortal world,
Xu Lin stood outside his apartment.
The morning had arrived.
But he hadn't slept.
Not properly.
Every time he closed his eyes
He saw the stranger.
Golden eyes.
Silver hair.
"To take you home."
The words wouldn't leave him.
Xu Lin sighed.
"...I don't even know where home is anymore."
"Neither do I."
Xu Lin froze.
He didn't need to turn around.
He knew that voice.
"...You again."
Mo Xuan stood several steps behind him.
His expression unreadable.
For several seconds
Neither moved.
The last thing between them still lingered.
The argument.
The anger.
The distance.
Xu Lin finally turned.
"...I thought you said you'd stop."
Mo Xuan's expression didn't change.
"I did."
Xu Lin frowned.
"...Then why are you here?"
A pause.
"...Because someone else came."
The answer immediately changed the atmosphere.
Xu Lin's expression became serious.
"...The man from last night."
Mo Xuan nodded.
"...He's not the only one."
Silence.
Xu Lin felt his stomach tighten.
"...What does that mean?"
Mo Xuan looked around.
Watching the street.
The people.
The buildings.
As if he didn't trust any of them.
"...It means you're no longer hidden."
Xu Lin's heartbeat slowed.
Not from relief.
From fear.
"...Hidden from who?"
Mo Xuan finally looked at him.
And this time
There was no hesitation.
"...Everyone."
Xu Lin stared at him.
"...That's not an answer."
"It's the only one I can give you."
"Again."
Xu Lin's voice sharpened.
"Again with the secrets."
Mo Xuan remained silent.
That only made Xu Lin angrier.
"...You said you'd stop deciding things for me."
"I said I'd stop forcing you."
"...What's the difference?"
Mo Xuan stepped closer.
"...You still have a choice."
Xu Lin laughed without humor.
"A choice?"
"...Yes."
"Do I?"
Mo Xuan's eyes darkened.
"...This time, you do."
Something about that sentence felt strange.
Heavy.
Like it meant more than Xu Lin understood.
Before he could ask,
A sharp pain struck his head.
Xu Lin gasped.
The world disappeared.
White light.
Endless clouds.
The sound of voices.
A garden.
Flowers moving in the wind.
And someone standing before him.
"...You shouldn't be here."
A younger voice.
Familiar.
Xu Lin tried to see the person's face.
But everything remained blurred.
Then
Another voice.
Laughing.
"...You worry too much."
The first voice replied.
"...And you trust too easily."
A hand reached toward Xu Lin.
Then
Everything shattered.
Xu Lin stumbled backward.
Mo Xuan caught him.
Immediately.
His arms around him.
For one brief moment
Xu Lin didn't pull away.
His breathing was uneven.
His head pressed against Mo Xuan's chest.
And for some reason
That felt familiar too.
Dangerously familiar.
"...What did you see?"
Mo Xuan asked quietly.
Xu Lin slowly stepped back.
The warmth disappeared.
And suddenly
He felt embarrassed.
"...A garden."
Mo Xuan's expression changed.
Only slightly.
But Xu Lin noticed.
"...You know what it means."
"I don't."
"You do."
Mo Xuan looked away.
That was answer enough.
Xu Lin clenched his jaw.
"...I hate this."
Mo Xuan's voice softened.
"...I know."
"...No."
Xu Lin shook his head.
"...You don't."
Silence.
Then
"...You're right."
Xu Lin blinked.
Mo Xuan continued.
"...I don't know what it's like to wake up without remembering who you are."
His voice became quieter.
"...But I know what it's like to remember someone who doesn't remember you."
Everything stopped.
Xu Lin stared at him.
Mo Xuan didn't look away.
And for the first time
There was no mystery in his expression.
Only exhaustion.
Only pain.
Xu Lin didn't know what to say.
So he said nothing.
Far above the mortal world.
Someone watched.
A figure stood within the shadows of an ancient ruin.
The same strange presence.
The same faction that had been erased.
"...He's beginning to remember."
One voice said.
Another answered.
"...Not enough."
The woman stepped forward.
Her ancient eyes remained fixed on the mortal world.
"...Then give him a reason."
Silence.
"...My Lady?"
She smiled.
Slowly.
Dangerously.
"...Bring him the person Heaven made him forget."
The shadows moved.
A sudden cold wind passed through the ruin.
And somewhere
Far away,
A forgotten soul began to awaken.
The garden remembered.
The flowers remembered.
The people who had loved him remembered.
Soon...
Xu Lin would begin to remember too.