Hold Tightly

Minori ground his teeth, chest rising and falling with pained breaths. His left hand clenched the table's edge, knuckles white, while the middle-aged female elf in front of him prepared to reset the mangled finger that Xuefeng had so neatly broken.

"All right, I'm ready now—wait, hang on!" he pleaded, face twisted with apprehension. But the moment he opened his mouth to speak, the elf made her move.

A crack reverberated in the small wooden chamber, and Minori's cry of agony tore through the air. He slammed his head back, nearly biting through the rag he'd stuffed between his teeth in an attempt to stifle his own screams.

"You said you were ready," the woman snapped, exasperated, patting his newly aligned finger to confirm it was straight. "Stop making such a fuss. If you hadn't done something so stupid, you wouldn't have gotten hurt to begin with."

Minori spit the rag onto the floor, eyes shining with furious tears. "Mom, it wasn't my fault!" he barked, pressing a cloth bandage to his throbbing digit. Forest Elves boasted quick healing, but bones still needed to be set properly.

She rolled her eyes. "Not your fault? You provoked the human Princess Yiren chose—basically insulted them both. Did you think that'd make the princess swoon? You do realize the entire point of bringing that man here is to sire an heir and secure our race's prosperity, right? You can't give her a child, so there's no place for you in that arrangement."

Minori's face reddened. "How can she not see how much I love her?"

His mother snorted, adjusting her apron. "Your love won't solve the world's problems. Now, be sensible: once the princess gets pregnant and that human leaves, you'll have your chance. Sure, you can't give her a child—but you can provide everything else. If she's lonely afterward, who knows? Maybe you'll become the first King of Eligma."

Minori's expression hardened, recalling Xuefeng's effortlessly calm face when he snapped his finger. His jaw clenched at the memory. "Why the hell would I raise another man's bastard? That'd haunt me every time I looked at it."

She smacked him across the head with her palm. "Idiot! Can't you see the bigger picture? Once you become king, you can abolish this stupid tradition—no more importing humans for breeding. You can marry every girl you want. Yiren included. Don't you see? She could be at your mercy."

For a moment, Minori's face flickered with crude imagination, picturing Yiren kneeling before him, calling him "Master." Then the recollection of Xuefeng's cold eyes intruded, fueling his indignation. "I'm going out," he muttered, shoving his mother aside, leaving the house with unfulfilled rage.

She let out a weary sigh, brushing her hair back from her forehead. "Gods, where did I go wrong with that boy?" she murmured, glancing at her reflection in a hanging mirror. "Maybe I should have another kid—one who actually listens…"

Meanwhile, back at the restaurant, Xuefeng and Yiren continued their feast without further disturbance.

"Oh my god, this is amazing!" Xuefeng exclaimed, nearly moaning with delight. He held a leaf-wrapped snack in his chopsticks, the exterior translucent from the piping-hot juices within. As he bit into it, sweet and sour flavors exploded on his tongue, accompanied by a delightfully spicy tingle.

Across from him, Yiren seized a handful of delicacies from the platter as if it were a life-or-death race, devouring them two at a time. She was so swift that Xuefeng had trouble keeping pace.

"Could you please eat more slowly?" he teased, half in awe, half in horror at her speed. "They're not going to run away, you know."

Yiren froze mid-bite, cheeks flushing. She carefully placed the half-eaten snack back down, suddenly self-conscious.

Xuefeng's eyes glimmered with amusement. "I'm not scolding you," he reassured her. "But don't you want to taste this wonderful food? Here," he plucked a new snack from the tray, offering her half while savoring the other portion himself. "Chew it slowly… let the flavors sink in."

She glanced at him shyly, then did as he suggested. The difference was immediate—an astonished smile lit her face. "You're right," she murmured after swallowing, voice hushed with delight. "I can actually feel the layers of taste."

"See? Sometimes it pays to slow down." Xuefeng winked, taking another bite from his own half. They shared each morsel, feeding one another, snickering over the little lumps of spiced fish or sweetened vegetables that erupted into new, unexpected flavors.

When they finished the entire platter—around fifty individual snacks—the two of them slumped in contentment. Xuefeng found himself feeling both incredibly sated and oddly intimate with Yiren. The closeness, the laughter, the playful touches—it was disorienting, yet pleasant.

Auntie approached, delivering two cups of a chilled, greenish liquid to cleanse their palates. Xuefeng thanked her profusely, praising the meal as the best he'd ever had. She waved off his compliments with a gracious laugh, clearly pleased with herself.

"All right," Yiren announced, pushing back from the table. "We've got plenty more to see." She bounced up, dusting crumbs off her thin dress, then turned to leave.

"Wait, young man," Auntie interjected, lightly touching Xuefeng's arm. "Yiren, mind waiting outside? I need to share a word with him."

Yiren blinked, curiosity flickering in her eyes, but nodded. "I'll be out front." She slipped through the door, leaving Xuefeng and Auntie briefly alone.

The older elf's expression softened. "You seem genuine," she said in a low voice, meeting his eyes squarely. "I hope you'll keep that up. Yiren's enamored with you already. If you ever hurt her feelings, I'll personally make you regret it." There was a motherly note in her tone—a mixture of concern and gentle threat.

Xuefeng swallowed, bowing respectfully. "I promise, I'll do right by her."

Auntie smiled, then leaned in further, voice dropping. "Also—be gentle with her tonight." She winked, though her cheeks carried a faint flush. "It's her first time, after all… no need to rush."

Shock rippled through Xuefeng. This is moving too fast… But he nodded politely, lacking any other response.

When he stepped back outside, the late afternoon sun warmed his face. Yiren glanced at him curiously. "What was that about?"

"She just… asked me to look after you," Xuefeng answered softly, ruffling her hair with one hand.

A fond blush painted her cheeks. She looped her arm through his, hugging close. "That's sweet. Don't you dare break your promise."

And what exactly does that entail? he wondered. I can't keep up with these elves' expectations…

"So where to next?" he asked, hoping to redirect the conversation.

Yiren brightened. "You wanted to see where we collect Fate Stones, remember? Let's head toward the canyon. Then I'll show you my favorite place in the city."

They strolled through the labyrinth of elevated bridges, Yiren pointing out different shops, homes, and open plazas where lively markets thrived. She explained the city's careful balance: births strictly limited to two children per family, ensuring their resources never became strained to the point of ruin.

Eventually, Xuefeng broached the question of how one might leave Eligma. Yiren's face flickered with hesitation but she told him the truth: only the royal family could open a portal out. No one else had that authority.

Xuefeng's heart sank, suspecting the Queen's demand loomed over him like a sword. If he refused, he might remain trapped here indefinitely—assuming the realm itself wouldn't kill him.

A final winding walkway brought them to a wide platform, its edges open to the vast sky. Countless elves soared overhead, some flapping elegant, semi transparent wings of Air Qi, others rising and dipping among the swirling breezes. Xuefeng marveled at their freedom, longing for the ability to fly himself.

Yiren grinned, turning to him with anticipation gleaming in her greenish-blue eyes. "Ready for a ride?"

He frowned. "A ride? I can't fly, you know."

"Maybe you can't," she teased, flexing her arms. Wisps of white light shimmered at her back, solidifying into large, feathery wings. They looked more complete than many he'd seen—clearly the sign of her strong Air affinity.

"Wait—what are you—?" He stumbled backward as she seized his wrists and draped them around her neck, hooking her own arms behind his back. Then she kicked off the platform, wings beating in a surge of wind. They shot into the open air, the ground disappearing beneath them.

Xuefeng's breath seized in his throat, and out of reflex, he buried his face against Yiren's shoulder, clinging to her as the wind whipped their clothes. Within moments, the initial terror receded, and he dared open his eyes.