I let out a long, weary sigh while facing Yugo across the table.
—only the faint scratch of brush against paper disturbed the silence.
He sat straight-backed, composed as ever in wooden floor
Elegant.
Unyielding.
His sleeve draped neatly over the wooden desk as his hand moved with quiet precision, each stroke deliberate as he inscribed poetry upon the paper. Ink flowed like calm water beneath his control.
We were seated only a few feet apart.
Close enough for me to see the slight furrow in his brows… the cold focus in his eyes.
Behind him, sheer curtains drifted like pale mist, stirred by the wandering breath of wind, their soft rustle weaving quietly
I leaned lazily on the table, elbow propped, cheek resting against my palm.
My posture was a stark contrast to his—
Yugo elegance is a still lake, mine a ripple of disinterest.
… bored.
My fingers tapped idly against the wood. The sound echoed softly in the chamber.
This troublesome situation was another edict from the headmaster.
The duel in the west courtyard had reached his ears, falsely claiming I had initiated it.
I defended myself against the accusation, of course.
I clicked my tongue softly and tilted my head, my gaze sliding back to Yugo.
Until this man finally admitted he had begun the fight. That's why he, too, bore the weight of his action.
Yet, while his offense was trivial, mine is quite lethal.
That old man commanded that I must copy the Rules of Conduct of the Chen Sect—thirty pages of rigid doctrine.
--And as if that were not enough, I was also to memorize the Foundation of Cultivation.
My gaze drifted to the book lying before me. I picked it up, eyes half-lidded, lazily tracing the gilt-edged cover with my fingers.
"Compose yourself with proper decorum." he muttered, I let the book fall back onto the table with a soft thud.
"Nahh, I'm good," I said lightly.
I tilted my gaze toward the ceiling, placing both hands behind me to support my weight as I leaned back against the wooden floor, posture careless and unrestrained.
I could feel his eyes lift to me.
"You must transcribe the Rules of Conduct of the Chen Sect—"
"I know—" I cut in, flicking my hand dismissively, not even sparing him a proper glance.
"—and I am far too lazy to do so," I murmured as I rise from my seat and I approached him slowly.
The hem of my robe fluttered lightly in the passing wind.
Aware of his gaze following my move, I settled down directly before him, draping an elbow lazily on his table, my head resting on my fist.
He said nothing, only observing me. His —cat-like eye tracing every idle movement I made.
"Just curious… do you never grow tired of your law-bound mandate, Yugo?" I asked, plucking an extra brush from his table and twirling it idly between my fingers.
"You're so refined, that I can't help but imagine you doing something… unthinkable," I added with a sly grin.
"Go back to your seat," he replied, calm.
A sly smile tugging at my lips, a spark of mischief
He returned to his writing as if I were nothing more than air, not minding that my black purple robe sleeve nearly spilled across his table.
My presence hovered over him, daring the rigid calm he so carefully maintained
A heavy quiet settled over us.
"What will you do if I able to recite the Rules of Conduct?" I asked, breaking the silence. Letting the question linger. "Will you let me leave this chamber without informing the old man?"
He paused yet did not glance up. I continued twirling the wooden brush lazily between my fingers, carefree
He did not respond, as expected.
"Purity of Spirit –" I began, letting the breeze from the window stir the edges of our robe.
I just remain lazily leaning over his table, head resting on my fist careless ease.
"The mind must remain clear of greed, envy, and malice. Actions borne of selfish desire are forbidden"
I could feel his gaze upon me, his brush paused just above the wooden ink tray
I continued unfazed.
"Courage in Justice – Do not avoid conflict when the weak or innocent are threatened. Protect the righteous, uphold the sect's honor." Just then I paused, setting aside the brush I had been twirling with.
Then I slowly adjusted my posture, sitting properly before him, letting my eye finally meet him. "Obedience to Punishment—"
A bird flitted past the window, its soft twitting blending with the gentle fall of cherry petals drifting across the courtyard.
"– Any disciple who errs shall accept correction without complaint. Rebellion undermines the sect's order"
A teasing curl lifted my lips.
"Go back… to your seat." I could feel the weight of seriousness in his voice.
A soft laugh escaped me as I slowly raised both hands in surrender and without further resistance, I rose and made my way back to my seat.
I reached for a sheet of paper, fingers brushing its surface before pulling it closer. Ink met the tip of my brush as I began to write—steady, obedient strokes forming line after line.
After all…
…this was something I had to do anyway.
--
Zhen crouched slowly, the hem of his robes brushing against the greenery of the forest surface
As he gathered a handful of weeds—no, herbs, as he would insist—
The forest above us stirred, branches swaying gently in the passing wind.
"This herb is good for colds," he began calmly. "Just boil it in water and add some ginger. It can be used for a sore throat—"
His voice faded into the background.
Perched atop a mossy stone was a ridiculous frog—its skin a bold mix of red and blue, as if it had been painted by an unskilled hand. It stared at me.
And I stared back.
Neither of us blinking.
"What are you doing?"
Through my peripheral vision, I caught the way Zhen looked at me—brows slightly furrowed, the green herb still raised in his hand from when he had been trying to show it to me.
"Hm? Nothing," I murmured, eyes narrowing just a fraction. "I'm just… having an internal battle with this creature."
The frog didn't move.
Didn't retreat.
Didn't even blink.
…Hah?
This damn frog had some nerves.
"That's a poisonous frog—far too toxic to touch."
He flicked the creature away with the stick in his hand, before placing the bundle of green herbs into his basket.
"Really?" I turned to him, a hint of awe in my voice.
"I was planning to cook it… and serve it to Yugo."
"As much as I admire your idea," he said flatly, not even glancing at me, "do you want him to die?"
"Not really," I replied with a small shrug. "Though… it's quite dangerous for such a tiny creature, huh?"
He only shook his head, clearly at a loss.
"Just help me with this." Instead of adding the herbs to his basket, he handed me a bundle of freshly picked greens.
Somehow, I managed to transcribe all thirty pages of the doctrine.
It took half a day—and nearly all my patience—but in the end, I finished it.
Thankfully, Yugo was summoned to the Great Hall by the Oldman himself.
Which meant… I escaped my impending doom.
And that was how I ended up here, deep within the forest, trailing behind Zhen as he gathered medicinal herbs for whatever he had in mind.
Zhen skill in medicine was undeniably exceptional.
Without warning, he rushed ahead, stopping in front of a small cluster of pale blossoms dusted in white, their petals almost glowing beneath the filtered sunlight.
"Look," he called out, crouching beside them. "A snow flower."
He reached toward it with careful precision.
"Poisonous," he added, voice calm. "But if prepared with the right method… it can be turned into medicine."
The forest fell quietly around.
I didn't know much about herbs, so most of what Zhen was saying flew right over my head.
Distracted, I turned my gaze toward the right side of the forest when I heard a faint scratching sound.
My attention lingered there for a long moment, studying the shadows, weighing whether it was threat or trick of the wind.
But the moment I looked back at Zhen… he was gone.
Ehh?
Where in the world that man vanished to?
I scratched my cheek in frustration.
"Oh, come on."
I scanned left and right, hoping to catch a glimpse of his figure. Nothing.
Taking a deep breath, I stepped forward cautiously, moving through the damp undergrowth, unsure if I was even heading in the right direction. The forest was thick with moisture, the scent of earth and leaves heavy in my nose.
I nearly stumbled, my foot catching on a twisted vine root I hadn't noticed.
Then—out of nowhere—a shining object whizzed past, flying behind my head.
I tilt my head instinctively to avoid the unexpected ambush.
Alert, I spun toward the source of the sword.
No one was there.
Yet the forest itself seemed alive—I could sense it all: the whisper of the breeze through the branches, the subtle sway of the trees, the faint flight of insects overhead, even the tiny droplets of moisture clinging to the leaves.
Instinct took over, I violently slammed my feet on the surface ground, a few leaves scattered into the air.
Seizing the moment, I swung my arm toward the leaves that had scattered into the midair and directed them toward the bush... The leaves became a sharpened blade, slicing through the air with a hiss.
The figure behind the bush moved—just enough to reveal himself
Without hesitation, I attacked.
I grabbed the sword that had ambushed me earlier, still lodged in the tree trunk, and pulled it free with force.
Tightening my grip, I stepped forward and swung in a wide arc. He leapt back easily, dagger flashing to block, sparks flying as metal clashed.
He moved like a shadow, weaving between the trees, striking fast and precise. I followed, dodging a swipe aimed at my shoulder and slicing my sword in a horizontal arc that just grazed his black fabric, sharply contrasted by vibrant red accents along the collar, waist, and cuffs robes.
The dagger twirled in his hand, a blur of silver, striking at my chest, ribs, and arms. I managed to block each attack just in time.
Leaves and twigs scattered into the air with every strike, raining around us
He landed a sharp kick that sent me flying several yards away.
I flipped in midair, spinning gracefully, and landed on the forest ground.
My ornament robe fluttered around me as I steadied myself.
His attire bore no mark of the Chen Clan, yet the elegance of his stance and the precision in his movements were exceptional.
Bruises streaked his frame. Tall, broad-shouldered, his torso seemed carved for combat
Blood seeped from the right side of his waist, yet even with the injury, he intercepted my attack with timing.
"Who are you?" I demanded.
He said nothing, only fixed me with a sharp, alert gaze—
This man reminds of Yugo in one way.
"You're on the run, aren't you?" I guessed. He stayed perfectly still, analyzing me with unblinking eyes.
His fingers wrapped tightly around the hilt of the dagger.
I traced a finger just beneath my chin, pretending to think. "Judging by that wound… you're badly hurt, yet you still manage to evade my strike. Impressive."
"Your martial skill… it's far beyond anything we practice in the Chen Sect," I murmured, awe
With deliberate motion, I drove the sword into the ground, the tip piercing the forest floor with a soft, resonant thud.
It seemed my movement dropped his stance slightly giving me the perfect opportunity and—my sudden motion catching him completely off guard.
A flick of my wrist, and a binding seal shot forth, His hands were forced to spread into the air, glowing black threads spiraled from his wrists, connecting to glyphs.
He collapsed to his knees under the suffocating pressure of the arcane glyphs that hovered above and below, sealing him in place.
"A binding seal," he muttered, his voice low and calm.
"Hmm," I nodded
"I laid the trap while we fought, and it seems you…" I extended my index finger, pointing directly at him, "…didn't notice it at all."
A faint smile curved on my lips as I watched him.
Slowly, I stepped forward, lowering myself into a crouch before him. He met my gaze without hesitation.
The wind stirred, whisper of leaves and distant rustle of branches the only sound between us.
"Tell me… who… are you?" I ask curiously eyes fixed on him,
But before he could answer, a familiar voice rang out. My eyes widened—I could clearly see my own surprise reflected in his expression.
"Argh!" I muttered, springing to my feet, turning toward the source of the voice.
Quickly, I flicked a finger, casting a spell veil over him, shrouding him from sight—just in time.
Zhen stepped out from behind a thick trunk, eyes darting left and right as if searching for something—. When he finally saw me, a look of relief washed over his face.
"The heck, Arsinoe? I've been looking for you. Where have you been?" he asked, a mixture of worry and irritation in his tone.
I forced a nervous smile. "I… kinda got lost," I replied, gesturing toward the endless expanse of the forest. "I was… looking for you as well."
His brow furrowed, suspicion flickering in his sharp gaze.
I slid both hands behind my back, tracing a subtle gesture to strengthen the veil seal I had cast. Even though Zhen could not see the man
I could feel his gaze lingering behind me, sharp as blade.