Leaving the Bamboo Village

The night passed and Spring-Autumn awakened to the unexpected sight of Rainmist on the violin. She was seated by the window in her white sundress with the violin in her hand. The morning wind of summer blew in further escalating the elegance of Rainmist.

The melody of the violin reverberated throughout the room. It was a slow, yet masterfully played tune. As if she was venting her emotions, her emotions showed through her playing. It was sad and melancholic. At the same time, it was filled with yearning, hope, and love.

Spring-Autumn closed his eyes and cherished this moment. He was able to see a side of Rainmist he has never seen before. The world appeared to have become more colorful in what previously appeared to be monotone in his eyes. He could feel his heart beating faster. He was able to understand what she was feeling.

Rainmist's expression of her motherly love and yearnings towards Blue touched a cord in Spring-Autumn's heart that he has suppressed. He thought about his family and in the end, he could only accept that he would never have the relationship Rainmist had with her beloved daughter.

When he opened his eyes again, Rainmist was… glowing.

The violin stopped and all that remained was Rainmist's holy figure from the window-side.

"You're awake?" Rainmist gave the most beautiful smile Spring-Autumn has ever seen before falling silent. "I seem to have… awakened an ability."

Spring-Autumn quickly broke out of his daze and asked excitedly, "You have? What is it?"

"Watch this."

Rainmist looked into his eyes and the world blurred. Rainmist was now seated by the bed and Spring-Autumn was now standing by the window-side. They have swapped locations.

"Woah, that was crazy." Spring-Autumn was impressed.

"Right?" Rainmist appeared to be proud of herself as well.

Spring-Autumn then came closer to Rainmist and faced his palm towards her for a fist bump. "Welcome to my world." He grinned.

Rainmist felt butterflies in her stomach and smiled back before fist-bumping Spring-Autumn. "I feel like a young person doing this."

"Don't say that, look at me!" Spring-Autumn showed her his wrinkled hand from the side effect of time traveling.

And just like that, their morning was filled with cheerful laughter.

When Spring-Autumn and Rainmist came downstairs, Shen and the Village Chief was already.

"Good morning." They all greeted each other.

Today, Spring-Autumn got out of his double-breasted attire and wore a linen dress shirt with knee-length shorts while keeping his loafers because of the hot weather. Rainmist wore a low-cut blue dress with a thin cream cardigan on top.

Others would not notice this incredible change in Rainmist's attire but Spring-Autumn did. Ever since they had departed Listia together, Rainmist had never worn the color blue in fear of the reminder of her daughter.

After last night, however, her heart was able to fully come to terms with Blue's loss, or possible survival. The human heart was complicated. Even though the possibility of her survival was slim, and possibly nonexistent, it was enough to put her heart at ease. Perhaps it was because she had already mourned for her loss, whatever it was, she had come to terms with her situation.

As such, she was able to return to like her favorite color. One that she named her daughter after.

"I assume that we must leave now?" Spring-Autumn asked.

"I'm afraid so," The Village Chief nodded. Them staying any longer would provoke more hostility from the villagers that were already on edge.

"I understand. We will leave and continue with our travels then." Spring-Autumn nodded.

"Amitabha, thank you for your hospitality, Patron." Shen bowed.

"It's nothing," The Village Chief replied weakly. "I will see you out."

The chief and the monk were silent in the walk to the village entrance. They were able to see exactly what the chief was talking about last night.

The [Users] isolated themselves and kept their distance while those with nothing left were startled at the slightest thing. It appeared as though a brawl could happen at any moment.

Seeing this, Shen sunk deeper into his thoughts.

On the other hand, Spring-Autumn and Rainmist were messing around as usual.

"Damn girl, looking like a snack today."

"Oh? Can you even get it up making comments like that at your age?" Rainmist narrowed her eyes and continued to mock Spring-Autumn's aged appearance.

Before long, they reached the front of the village.

"Stay safe out there and live on." The Village Chief nodded solemnly. As an ability user himself, he could faintly sense the power levels of other users.

"This monk will be at the Temple of Enlightenment if Patron wishes to seek out this monk." Shen said.

"I will visit whenever I can." The Village Chief nodded.

Conversations like this make it seem like they were back to their old lives. Spending mindless days in the village on one occasion and then visiting the temple up the mountain on another. Behind the facade of this carefree conversation now lay unexpected danger.

They both knew how dangerous it would be for the Village Chief to ever step outside the village to hike up Mt. Stupid which has blown up in size during the great change.

After saying their last farewells, the bamboo gates of Bamboo Village closed with a loud crash behind the trio.

"I guess we will say our farewells here too?" Rainmist asked the monk boy.

Shen's gaze flickered before he bowed. "Stay safe, Patrons. If it is fated, we will meet again!"

"Hopefully, you're less serious all the time when we meet again, haha." Spring-Autumn rubbed Shen's bald head casually.

Seeing Spring-Autumn rub the monk's bald head, Rainmist rubbed his bald head as well. "Yes, if it's fated, we will meet again."

And so, the brief encounter came to an end.