Separate Lives (VII)

He was that man who needs someone,

But everyone was not around,

She was the only one,

Who can make his whole world around?

***

THE YEAR 1904, a century away from the present time.

Qing Long reminisced that time and he was beyond happy that he had finally met the Last Healer. He sighed as Mei looked at the windows and saw something glistening. She had been disturbed by the story as she stood up from her seat quickly and opened up the wide glass fibers that served as her lookout from the outside.

She saw the beautiful, inexplicably, and glowing lanterns in the air as soon as she opened them. Qing Long was still in a daze as he remembered Althea's face, but it quickly vanished when the thought of Li Lei Jie, the Crown Prince, holding her tightly. Qing Long licked his lips as he shook his head and stood up slowly from his seat.

Mei was leaning on the wall frame as her eyes were shimmering with the lanterns in the air. She tilted up the corners of her lips as she beamed and mumbled, "It's so beautiful."

Qing Long was witnessing for the nth time the wishes from the Chinese New Year lanterns. They were flying high once again in the air, with the distant music of the lion dance at the square. He could hear it straight up the notch, he was a cursed dragon. He slowly took steps on the wooden floors of Mei's house until he reached the window frame.

The lanterns on the dark skies lightened up the atmosphere, making it more peaceful and calm, and he was mesmerized by its image. It was like looking at a painting itself, the difference was that the landscape that he was now watching was moving, for real.

Mei sighed happily as she placed her hand on her chin and asked, "How could I ever write a wish on that lanterns?"

Qing Long breathed in annihilation as he looked at Mei and said the same. It was the first time that he had seen those lanterns for several decades. He had stilled his line as a dragon for many years, only turning into a human when the year of the dragon took place.

"I witnessed the lanterns once again. It was so long I watched something beautiful right in front of my eyes," Qing Long whispered with a sad tone in his voice that made Mei removed her hand from her chin and stared up at Her Majesty. She knew what it felt like to be cursed, but she doesn't know what Qing Long could feel.

"It must have been hard for you to cope up with the curse even though you are living for a thousand years now, Your Majesty," Mei said in a formal voice as she swallowed. Qing Long closed his eyes and smelled the fresh air as smirked. The tears might well up in his eyes in no time, but he knew he doesn't want to cry. It was like picturing someone who had been bullied and lose throughout the entire lifetime, and Wang Qing Long was never done that kind of attitude.

"It was not hard, Mei. Besides, I do deserve this for embarrassing that woman who came at the palace... hoping for someone to give her a portion of small bread," Qing Long stated as he nodded and realized it all at once.

"That must have been why I was prohibited to be talked about even in the future. It will never change, Mei. I had been the one who brought this to myself, and I knew I had to cope with it no matter what. Besides, it's a punishment after all," Qing Long cackled at his place, not enjoying the lanterns at the very least.

"Even the Last Healer loathed me for who I am," Qing Long concluded that made Mei stepped forward and grabbed a hold of his hand. She breathed deeply as she exhaled with a loud whoosh and squeezed his hand. Qing Long was not surprised by that touch, he was used to Mei holding his hand always.

"Just remember this, Your Majesty. I am here to be by your side every day, hmm? Don't be alone anymore, and don't make yourself lonelier than usual. You know that I will always be here for you," Mei huffed that as she felt the tears coming out from her eyes. She held onto his face as Qing Long turned to him with that tears.

"We are into it together, and we will make sure that we will be out of this curse before we die. I promise that Your Majesty," Mei concluded as she draped her arms around his shoulders while Qing Long was sensing a comfortable way of hugging her. Qing Long closed his eyes as he felt the tears suddenly dripped down from his lids while eradicating in his mind that he was not alone.

"We can fight the Nian beast once and for all, I will help you no matter what," Mei whispered it on his ears that made Qing Long huffed some air. He was now asking himself if he deserved all of this or not.

The lanterns were still on the skies, the fire was ignited like a thousand fireflies, and he knew that it would be the last year that he will witness it. Mei removed her hands from his shoulders and smiled sadly at him. She grabbed his hands and gripped them tightly as she said, "I need to talk to her, the one you mentioned. But I don't think it would be easy for now since... you said that she was...?"

"Althea Xi's soul embedded the body of Fang Ying Yue, the destined Queen of the Qing Empire and the daughter of the Fang Clan. You know them very well, right?" Qing Long asked as Mei was surprised by that. She swallowed as she asked Qing Long to repeat the family of the clan he said.

"It was Fang Clan, you are one of their ancestors, Mei," Qing Long said that made her took a step back.