She didn't know whether to trust him, but his words had weight, truth hidden in riddles. The idea that light and darkness had once been one people, that the elves had once balanced both sides of the world… it made unsettling sense.
She looked up at the moon again. It hung directly overhead, framed by swaying branches and shimmering leaves.
Her reflection stared back at her in the stream, eyes shadowed, hair pale under moonlight, the faint golden sigil on her hand pulsing softly.
Light and shadow.
Maybe she wasn't so different from those elves after all.
She returned to the camp quietly. Nie Ziyu had rolled halfway off her bedroll, snoring even louder than before, while Ye Qingxue had claimed her blanket entirely.
Ling Yu sighed. "Honestly," she muttered, tugging the edge of her cloak tighter.
Fluffy was still curled in its nest, one paw twitching as it dreamed. She reached down, gently brushing her fingers through its fur.
