Rui stepped into the corridor, where Kee Kee and Shen had been waiting patiently outside the infirmary.
The tiny demon lounged atop Shen's shoulder, picking at his claws with feigned disinterest.
"Took you long enough," Kee Kee grumbled, although his eyes revealed relief at seeing Rui.
"I was about to gnaw through the general's armor out of boredom."
Shen remained stoic, but the tension in his shoulders eased slightly at Rui's appearance.
"I'm sorry for keeping you waiting," Rui said, smoothing her robes. The dual energy of her chaos and celestial cores hummed in perfect harmony beneath her skin, ready to be channeled.
"I needed to make sure Zou was truly recovering."
"And?" Kee Kee prompted.
"He'll be fine," she replied with a small smile.
"Thank you both for waiting."
They proceeded down the obsidian corridor toward her father's chambers, determination replacing the exhaustion in Rui's steps.
