Timeless

Why is the river cold?

It remembers once being loved by the snow.

- Shuntaro Tanikawa

It is he, windswept and wild, yet at the same time it is not. She knows from the pulsing soft silver hue that surrounds him and his eyes are full of silver flames. In his arms he carries an unconscious Seol, blood blossoming along her pristine clothes. He steps inside and the door slams shut, Seo's glow fills her chamber.

It hurts her eyes to stare at him when he walks past her, depositing Seol gently on the queen's bedding. Pausing, he runs an absentminded hand through Seol's hair, continuing to trail his fingers along the line of her jaw. There is a predatory look in those silver eyes and the queen shudders, suddenly cold.

"No!" She says sharply.