Morning light slipped quietly through the window, soft and warm, as if the storm from the night before had never happened.
Lin Xu stirred.
For a moment, she lay still, her mind slow, her body heavy with tiredness. Then she reached out without thinking—
And touched nothing.
Her eyes opened at once.
The bed beside her was empty.
Cold.
Lin Xu sat up sharply, her heart skipping. The space where Xuan Lu had been was clean, untouched, as if no one had slept there at all.
"…Xuan Lu?" she called softly.
No answer.
She looked around the room. His robe was gone. The lantern was still. The window was closed.
Panic rose quickly in her chest.
Had he left?
When?
Had anyone seen him?
She stood up at once, barely caring about her loose hair or simple robe, and hurried toward the door. Her steps were fast, uneven, her thoughts racing as she slid the door open and stepped outside.
And then she stopped.
The front courtyard was alive.
