Morning arrived quietly within the ancestral grounds, and unlike the restless noise of the city, dawn here came gently.
The forest awakened first. A cool breeze drifted through the towering trees, carrying with it the rich scent of earth dampened by the night's dew.
Leaves rustled softly overhead, whispering to one another as though exchanging stories only the olden woods understood.
Birds sang rhythm one voice, to another, until the entire forest seemed to sing together in a harmonious chorus.
Small woodland creatures emerged from their hiding places beneath bushes and roots.
Squirrels darted across branches in search of breakfast, while rabbits cautiously ventured from their burrows to greet the morning light.
Somewhere deeper within the ancestral grounds, the playful howls of lycan cubs echoed through the trees.
High-pitched, energetic, and far from threatening.
They chased one another beneath the watchful eyes of their elders, tumbling over their own paws and yipping in delight whenever one managed to tackle another onto the grass.
The sounds of laughter drifted faintly through the forest.
A reminder that despite their odd existence, life here remained simple.
The rising sun slowly climbed above the mountains, its golden rays filtering through layers of emerald leaves.
Light and shadow danced across the forest floor. Dew-covered spiderwebs glittered like silver threads while wildflowers opened their petals to welcome the warmth of a new day.
Nestled within one of the more secluded parts of the ancestral grounds stood a simple yet spacious wooden house.
It lacked the grandeur outsiders might expect from the residence of the Lycan Seers.
There were no towering gates adorned with precious stones.
No lavish decorations proclaiming wealth or status.
Instead, the house carried an unassuming elegance born from age and care.
Its wooden walls had weathered countless seasons.
Flowering vines climbed along the outer pillars.
Wind chimes hanging beneath the eaves swayed gently with the breeze, producing soft melodies that blended seamlessly with the forest's morning hymn.
Within one of its quiet chambers lay a young man with snow-white hair.
Gou Feng.
The first thing Gou Feng noticed was the familiar fragrance, gentle enough to soothe the lingering heaviness within his chest.
It was the scent of flowers. His eyelashes trembled before slowly lifting.
For several moments, he stared blankly at the unfamiliar ceiling above him.
Warm morning light filtered into the room, painting the exposed wooden beams in shades of gold.
Dust motes drifted lazily through the air. He blinked several times, lingering drowsiness making his thoughts sluggish.
Only then did he realize he was lying in a bed he had never seen before.
A soft blanket covered the lower half of his body.
He had been changed into a loose white nightshirt several sizes too large for him, the long sleeves nearly swallowing his hands.
"...Where am I?"
His voice emerged as little more than a whisper.
The chamber around him remained quiet. No footsteps, no signs of anyone except for him.
He slowly pushed himself upright, surprised by how light his body felt compared to the exhaustion that had overwhelmed him before.
His eyes drifted around and noticed.
The room itself was simple. A wooden table stood near the window, holding a ceramic teapot and several neatly stacked books.
A small incense burner rested nearby, releasing thin curls of fragrant smoke into the air.
The curtains stirred gently as the morning breeze drifted through the partially opened glass doors leading outside.
The familiar floral scent grew stronger.
It wrapped around him like an invisible embrace, making him feel comforted.
Gou Feng lowered his gaze to his hands resting atop the blanket.
He should have felt alarmed waking in an unfamiliar place.
He should have been searching for answers.
Yet strangely enough. He wasn't afraid.
The unfamiliar chamber did not trigger anxiousness within him.
Instead, it filled him with an inexplicable sense of peace.
As though he had awakened somewhere his heart had always recognized. As though nothing bad could ever reach him here.
He frowned slightly at the thought.
"...That's strange."
Most people would panic upon waking somewhere they didn't remember entering.
So why...
Why did this place feel like home?
His fingers unconsciously tightened around the blanket.
The scent of flowers drifted toward him once more.
For a fleeting moment, fragments of his dream resurfaced.
Countless white blossoms swaying beneath golden sunlight.
A blurred silhouette.
Warm fingertips brushing against his hair.
"A-Hua..."
The name escaped his lips before he realized it.
Gou Feng froze.
"...Who exactly are you?" he murmured softly.
No answer came.
Only the gentle sounds of birds beyond the window and the distant, playful howls of lycan cubs greeting the morning.
Gou Feng slowly turned his head toward the open glass doors a few steps away from the bed.
Beyond them, sunlight spilled into a garden overflowing with white flowers swaying beneath the morning breeze.
Their fragrance drifted through the room, familiar, and inviting.
As though patiently waiting for him to come closer.
Slowly, Gou Feng pushed himself upright.
Only then did he fully take in the breathtaking sight before him.
An endless stretch of white blossoms bloomed beneath the soft light of dawn, their petals dancing gently in the wind. The scent that filled the chamber was the same one that had awakened him from sleep.
Drawn by something he couldn't explain, Gou Feng climbed out of bed.
The wooden floor felt cool beneath his bare feet.
Without giving himself time to think too much about it, he quietly stepped outside.
The morning air greeted him immediately; fresh and crisp, carrying traces of dawn's lingering chill.
The garden surrounding the chamber was beautiful.
Rows upon rows of white tulips bloomed beneath the sunlight, their petals gleaming like fresh snow.
For reasons he couldn't understand, Gou Feng felt his chest tighten.
He wandered through the garden like a lost sheep searching for something he couldn't name. His fingertips brushed lightly against the flowers as he took in their scent, until his footsteps gradually slowed.
Among the countless white tulips, a single pink one caught his attention.
Gou Feng stared at it for a long moment before approaching.
He slowly crouched beside it.
Lowering his head, he leaned closer and inhaled its soothing fragrance.
His eyes drifted shut.
A faint smile appeared on his lips, when suddenly a voice spoke.
"It's your favorite flower."
Gou Feng flinched, his eyes snapped open, and immediately turned around.
Standing a few steps behind him was an elderly woman carrying a small straw basket filled with freshly picked white tulips.
Her weathered face held a gentle smile.
Without hesitation, she walked toward him, reached into the basket, selected a white tulip, and extended it in his direction.
Gou Feng stared blankly at first before instinctively accepting it.
"Thank you."
He hesitated before adding,
"But... I don't think this is my favorite flower."
His gaze lowered to the tulip resting in his hands.
"I just like the scent."
The elderly woman, none other than Elder Memu, smiled softly.
"It is your favorite flower. You told me so yourself."
Confusion immediately crossed Gou Feng's face.
"I told you?"
He looked up at her.
"But I've never been here before. We've never even met."
"Are you certain?"
Memu expression softened.
"Does this place truly feel unfamiliar to you?"
She stepped closer.
"Close your eyes."
Gou Feng blinked.
"...What?"
"Close your eyes," Memu repeated patiently.
"And breathe."
Perhaps because her voice carried an inexplicable warmth, Gou Feng obeyed.
He closed his eyes and inhaled deeply.
The floral fragrance then filled his senses.
White tulips, fresh grass, morning dew, and a field of endless blossoms.
Golden sunlight.
Laughter carried by the wind.
A blurred figure reaching toward him.
The familiar scent that always accompanied his dreams.
This place he saw in his dream before, no wonder it felt familiar.
Gou Feng's eyes flew open.
He stared at Memu.
"...Have I really been here before?"
His voice sounded uncertain.
Almost fragile.
Memu stepped forward and gently rested a hand on his shoulder.
"Don't allow A-Bao to lose his way because of others," she said softly.
"Remain his light."
Gou Feng frowned.
"What does that mean?"
The old woman merely smiled.
"By the way," she said, changing the subject so naturally that Gou Feng almost wondered if he had imagined her earlier words.
"Are you hungry? The Third Pack Leader and young master Cheung Qi returned to the city to attend to some matters. They'll come back later to take you home."
She adjusted the basket in her arms.
"For now, you'll be spending the day with this old lady. Oh, and I'm Elder Memu, I almost forgot to introduce myself to you." she added.
"I'm the Head Seer of the Lycan Clans."
A quiet chuckle escaped her.
"Though simply calling me 'Elder' is enough."
Her wrinkled eyes curved kindly.
"After all, I do look old."
Gou Feng stared at her.
Even after hearing her introduction, he still couldn't fully process what was happening.
Memu observed his expression for a few moments before lightly patting his shoulder.
"Don't overthink what I said earlier. Everything arrives at the right time."
Then she gestured toward the chamber.
"Come. The ground is still cold, and you're barefoot. You've only just recovered. It's too early in the morning to wander around without shoes."
Her tone resembled that of a grandmother gently scolding a stubborn child.
For some reason, Gou Feng found himself following her without protest.
The countless questions circling endlessly through his mind gradually settled.
For the first time in what felt like forever, the lingering ache in his chest, the restless thoughts, and the confusion clouding his heart became quiet.
He glanced at Elder Memu's back.
A thought surfaced in his mind. Does being a Seer mean having the ability to calm other people's thoughts too?
If so...
I'm grateful.
At least now, I can think clearly again.