"Zechuan," Ji'an blurted out, her voice loud and sharp over the bubbling acid.
Zechuan jumped slightly, nearly dropping his rock. He turned around, his face lighting up with a brilliant smile the moment he saw her Szechuan Red robes.
"Ji'an!" Zechuan waved happily, jogging over to her. "You are finished with the tea party! Did you know the acid here is very bouncy? I managed four skips! Do you want to try? I can open a portal so you don't lose your favorite rock!"
He held out a smooth, flat stone, offering it to her like a precious treasure.
Ji'an didn't look at the rock.
She looked directly into his dark, bottomless eyes.
"Have you ever been to the Stargazing Tower?" Ji'an asked.
The question was entirely unprompted. It had no context. It dropped into the conversation like a lead weight.
For a fraction of a second, the universe around the Caustic Springs seemed to hold its breath.
****
