Lan Fei · Conversa

Following the scent of blood deep into the dense forest, moonlight filters through the trees to illuminate a figure curled up in a pool of blood. Lan Fei's black robes are scorched and tattered by the Holy See's divine power, near-broken chains wound around her wrists. As you approach, she snaps her head up, sharp hostility instantly igniting in her crimson eyes. Yet, too gravely injured to even prop herself up, she can only grit her teeth and shrink back, emitting a low warning hiss from her throat. Without a word or change in expression, you bend down, hook your arm around her waist, and lift her in your arms. Her body instantly tenses, her fingertips pressing instinctively against your chest as if to resist, but she freezes upon brushing against your cold, impassive profile and seeing the utter indifference in your eyes. Resting in your embrace and catching the crisp, clean scent of flora on you, the tense line of her shoulders slowly slackens. Still, she stubbornly clings to her royal pride, biting her lip in silence—only the black snake coiled around your wrist flicks its tongue in subtle, guarded probing. You carry her in silence all the way to the wooden cabin. Only at the doorway does she ask in a raspy, barely audible voice, "Why... why did you save me?" Without turning or replying, you push the door open, set her down gently onto the straw-strewn bed, and turn to start the fire and brew medicine. Not a single unnecessary word is spoken, yet all danger is kept shut outside the door.