A Moment of Warmth
"Finally awake, are you?" she said, her voice tinged with mock exasperation. "You humans are so fragile. I thought I might have to carry you through the rest of this forsaken cavern."
Liang blinked, his mind still foggy. He shifted slightly, realizing his head had been resting against her side. A faint flush crept up his neck. "I… wasn't expecting this kind of rescue," he muttered, attempting to push himself upright.
Ziyan huffed, retracting her wings but keeping them partially spread, their faint glow casting shimmering light across the cavern. "Don't let it go to your head," she said. "You were freezing. I simply ensured you didn't collapse into an icicle. You humans are frustratingly delicate."
Despite her words, Liang caught a flicker of concern in her tone, and he couldn't help but smile. "Thank you, Ziyan," he said softly.
The phoenix tilted her head, her piercing eyes narrowing. "Save your gratitude for later," she replied. "We're not out of this cavern yet."
As he sat up fully, Liang took in his surroundings. The cavern walls were smooth and lined with patches of faintly glowing moss, their light reflecting on trickling streams that wound across the floor. The air was cool, carrying the faint scent of minerals and earth. For a moment, there was peace—a stark contrast to the chaos they had left behind in the collapsing forge.
Liang's gaze drifted to the shard, which now rested on a smooth rock beside him. Its surface, once pulsing with fiery light, had dulled to a faint glow. He reached for it, hesitating as his fingers brushed its surface. The vision it had shown him—the shadowy figure cloaked in consuming flames—flashed in his mind, sending a shiver down his spine.
"The shard," he murmured. "It's quiet now. What happens next?"
Ziyan's feathers ruffled as she considered his question. "For now, you rest," she said, her tone brooking no argument. "You've pushed your body and spirit to their limits. The shard's secrets will not reveal themselves to a broken vessel."
Liang let out a small laugh, though it came out more tired than amused. "A broken vessel, huh? You've been calling me fragile and useless for so long, I'm starting to wonder if you've ever met a human you respected."
Ziyan's gaze softened slightly, though her tone remained cool. "Respect is earned, not given freely," she replied. "But you have begun to earn it, Liang Feng. Surviving the forge's collapse was no small feat. Many would have crumbled under the weight of that trial."
The praise, however restrained, struck Liang with unexpected warmth. He lowered his head, his hand brushing over the satchel where he had stored the shard. "It wasn't just me," he said after a moment. "If you hadn't been there…"
"Enough," Ziyan cut him off, her sharp tone returning. "You focus too much on what might have happened. What matters is that you are alive, and the shard is intact. Now is the time to reflect and prepare for what lies ahead."
Liang nodded, taking a deep breath as he leaned back against the cavern wall. For a moment, silence filled the space, broken only by the gentle trickle of water and the soft hum of Ziyan's feathers as they caught the faint light. It was a rare moment of calm, and Liang found himself grateful for it.
"Ziyan," he said, breaking the silence. "Do you ever miss it? The Phoenix Clan, I mean. The way things were before… all of this?"
Ziyan's glow dimmed slightly, and she turned her gaze away. For a long moment, she said nothing, her feathers shifting with a soft rustle.
"Every moment," she said finally, her voice quieter than Liang had ever heard it. "But grief does not serve the living. My duty is to ensure that what remains is not lost entirely. That is why I endure."
Liang lowered his gaze, unsure of how to respond. The weight of her words settled heavily in his chest. He thought of the sect, of the people he had left behind—and the loneliness that had followed him since. Perhaps, in some way, he and Ziyan were not so different.
"We should move soon," Ziyan said abruptly, breaking the silence. "This cavern is safe for now, but I sense that its peace will not last."
Liang pushed himself to his feet, his legs still shaky but steadier than before. He retrieved the shard and slipped it back into his satchel. "Lead the way," he said with a faint smile.
Ziyan let out a low hum, her feathers catching the light as she spread her wings. "Do not fall behind," she said, a hint of amusement in her tone.
As they made their way deeper into the cavern, the soft glow of moss lit their path, and for the first time in what felt like an eternity, Liang felt a sliver of hope. The trials ahead would be many, but for now, the quiet companionship of Ziyan and the faint warmth of the shard were enough to steady him.