The world cracked before Long Fei, two figures plunging into the abyss below. His heart clenched. He must choose between Ling Yue or Shui Yi.
But there was only one logical choice he could make.
His body moved with resolve. The princess' survival chances were close to nil compared to his confidante's. He had given his word to the King. He would protect her.
His throat burned as he shouted. "Ling Yue! I trust you! I will find you!" It was a promise. A command. A declaration that he had faith in her. Yet, even as the words left his lips, he tasted bitterness. He wasn't choosing her. He wasn't saving her. And she would understand eventually. But she would never forget; she would not forgive him for a while.
He dove after the princess.
The wind howled past him, deafening in its fury, as he used his qi to quicken his descent. Every muscle screamed in protest, but there was no time to falter. His eyes locked on the helpless plummeting princess. Her silver hair whipped around her like the tail of a comet, her eyes squeezed shut as tears streaked upward from her face. As he reached for her, he felt the dampness of her tears against his skin, igniting a sharp pang of urgency through him.
The crumbling rocky crag surrounding them gave way, sending jagged debris to tumble toward them. A large, sharp rock broke free ahead and hurtled straight toward her head. His injured arm shot out, knocking the rock aside just in time. It tore his wound, the pain flaring instantly, sending a jolt through him. The dangerous projectile veered off course, narrowly missing the mermaid. The moment stretched on as he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her into the safety of his embrace. He twisted mid-fall, shielding her with his own body as best as he could.
The wind roared in his ears as they plummeted, his stomach twisting with every agonizing second of free fall. Below, he spotted a river ahead, its currents raging. Swiftly, he wrapped his arm around her head, bracing for impact.
Splash!
The icy water brutally crashed into them, the cold shock seizing his lungs. His heart thundered, and pain lanced through his injured arm, tearing open the wound. He choked on some water as the raging current tossed them around. His arm convulsed violently, but he pushed through the agony to keep Shui Yi's head above the swirling water, as the wrathful current threatened to tear them apart. Every stroke felt like his arm ripped from its socket. His bleeding arm throbbed, the warmth of his blood dissolving into the icy water, but he refused to let go.
Even as he held the princess close, the weight of his choice lingered. His guardian; he trusted her strength. He had to. He wouldn't let himself believe she wouldn't make it. But even as the currents pulled them further down, a knot of worry tightened in his chest.
His grip tightened around the mermaid as he fought against the pull of the currents. His bleeding arm screamed in protest; he gritted his teeth. With every ounce of strength left he swam toward the shore, the cold water dragging them both. His breaths were ragged, and the pain in his arm intensified with each stroke, but he did not stop. The thought of losing her was far worse. He held her tighter, unfazed by the raging currents. Finally, with one last surge of energy, he pulled them out of the water, collapsing onto the rocky shore. His arm was throbbing, blood staining his sleeve, but they were safe at least for the moment.
The princess clung to him, instinctively seeking warmth. She coughed, gasping, her wide eyes searching his, a flicker of disbelief. "You... chose me?"
"I had to." His voice was steady, betraying little emotion. He continued. "You wouldn't have survived that fall alone."
A pang flickered in his chest, but he suppressed it.
"Ling Yue will survive. She always does." The confidence in his voice was unwavering, but a shadow of doubt lingered in his eyes. She had to survive. His heart clenched as his mind raced. He could not shake the gnawing guilt as he left her to fall alone. Was it the right choice? They always had each other in the face of danger.
As the adrenaline faded, something in Shui Yi snapped. Her breath hitched, and her body stiffened. Without warning, she collapsed against him. Her hands found his robes, clenching desperately. A choked sob escaped her, her body trembling against his.
"It's my fault... I should've..." Her words broke into sobs.
He could feel the weight of her guilt, raw and unguarded, as she clung to him. "Crying won't change what's done." His voice was firm, offering a thread of hope. "We'll find Ling Yue."
His words were meant to reassure the princess, but could he truly convince himself that his guardian would be okay? He could only hope that her resilience would see her through.
***
Shui Yi's world was spinning. The fall had left her aching, and the icy water had burned through her lungs. But beneath the chill, guilt gnawed at her.
Long Fei had chosen her.
The realization washed over her like an overwhelming wave. He had sacrificed his beloved companion to save her. How much strength had he spent, risking everything for someone as useless as her? The guilt surged once again, tightly squeezing her heart. Her fingers clenched into his robes. This time, they were not desperate but were thankful.
She nodded against his chest, trying to steady herself. But her sobs would not stop. They kept rushing out as the guilt coiled around her. She pulled away from him, wiping her tear-streaked face with trembling hands.
It was then that she noticed the blood staining his sleeve.
Her eyes widened. "You're hurt."
"It's nothing," he dismissed, but he couldn't hold back his grimace as she accidentally pressed his wound.
"Let me..."
Her hands trembled as she fumbled to tear a strip from her garment to bandage his arm. Frustration and guilt clouded her thoughts, and her fingers faltered. She couldn't even bandage a wound properly. How could she ever repay Long Fei for all his sacrifice? Her heart clenched with self-reproach, the weight of his choice gnawing at her. She wasn't strong enough to help him the way he had helped her. Her gaze dropped to his gushing wound, and the guilt surged again, painfully tightening in her chest.
Finally, when her attempt to tie the fabric failed, she did the only thing she could think of: she leaned down, her breath soft against his wound, hoping that it might ease his pain.
Then, an unexpected warmth radiated from her lips. Her sincere wish, the quiet desperation to ease her savior's suffering, awakened a gift she never knew she had. The faintest glimmer began to flicker where her breath touched his wound. At first, it was almost imperceptible, specks of stardust, but with each beat of her heart, it pulsed softly. As the will to heal strengthened within her, it swirled as a soft glow.
The warmth in her breath intensified, and the glow grew stronger, expanding from the point of contact, flickering like the light of a distant star. Her heart raced, confusion flooding her chest. She didn't understand what was happening.
"What... is this?" she whispered, her eyes wide as she stared at the glowing light.
Long Fei remained silent. He glanced at the glow, then looked at her. Their eyes locked. She slowly leaned in. He shifted his eyes back to the strange light, his face reddening, the intensity of his gaze unwavering as the glow flickered.
Neither of them moved, the pulsing light illuminating their faces. They had no idea what it meant, but they both knew it would change everything.