Chapter 8 : The quiet pull of fate

The atmosphere felt dense as Meng Yu walked back home, his heart still pounding from the incident in the woods. The night lay ahead of him, dark and quiet, interrupted only by the gentle rustling of leaves. The moon was positioned high above, its chilly glow casting long silhouettes on the pathway, but Meng Yu hardly noticed. His thoughts were dominated by the memory of the stranger.

The golden eyes. The disconcerting aura. The unusual bond he had felt, even though he barely comprehended it. He could still hear the stranger's voice, soft yet authoritative, resonating in his mind. "It's what you desire the most. "

What did it signify? The phrases seemed like a puzzle, winding through his thoughts and leaving a discomfort that settled deep within him. He couldn't dismiss them, no matter how much effort he exerted. The heaviness of the moment lingered like a mist around him.

Meng Yu's gaze dropped to the ground. He treaded carefully, his feet shuffling slightly, and his eyes fell upon something delicate—a cherry blossom petal descending gently from a nearby tree. It floated through the air with the elegance of something weightless, something delicate. It glimmered faintly in the moonlight before landing softly beside him.

He halted and gazed at it. The world appeared to hold its breath as the petal lay softly on the ground. A peculiar feeling stirred in his chest—something resembling longing. The beauty of the instant caused his heart to ache, yet it was more than just that. There was a tug, deep within him, like a distant memory striving to emerge.

Without a moment's hesitation, he bent down to grasp the petal. His fingers grazed it, and the softness almost made him pull back. It felt like something beyond a mere flower.

He closed his eyes for a brief moment, and in the stillness, the world seemed to disappear. What is it about this night? he murmured, his voice barely discernible, as if the question could uncover its answer in the fluttering leaves.

A sigh flowed from his lips. The thoughts, the discomfort, the stranger—everything felt intertwined in his mind. Yet, despite all of this, there was something undeniably soothing about the petal, about the cherry blossoms surrounding him. Was this a sign? A hint?

But the moment was transient, like a dream he couldn't grasp. He gradually stood up, brushing the petal against his chest before tucking it gently into his sleeve.

"I'll figure it out," he muttered, more to himself than to anyone else.

The wind shifted slightly, and his steps began to lead him home once again.

Far above him, out of the reach of human vision, an alternate scene unfolded in a realm where time appeared to flow differently.

°°°°

A figure stood silhouetted against the night sky, her silver hair sparkling like the stars. Her blue eyes, filled with sadness, observed the world below—observed as Meng Yu walked away, oblivious to the forces that had begun to shape his destiny.

The angel's heart ached as she looked down at the boy. She had safeguarded him for so long, feeling the weight of her responsibility on her shoulders, and yet, tonight, everything felt different.

She couldn't put it into words, but she sensed a change—an undercurrent of destiny awakening. The world seemed to pause, anticipating the next moment, the next step in a path that had already started.

A tear fell down her cheek, unexpectedly, and she wiped it away with a trembling hand. She had no justification to feel pity for him. She had no right to hope she could do more. And yet, she couldn't restrain herself.

"Is this all worth it? " she whispered, her voice barely audible above the wind. Her heart was torn between obligation and empathy, between the realm of deities and the realm of humanity.

As if in reply, a single cherry blossom petal, glowing faintly, drifted down from the tree where she was positioned. It was fragile and soft, floating on the wind like a memory. The petal sparkled as it descended toward the ground below. She watched it fall, unable to pull her gaze away.

The moment seemed to elongate, as if time itself had frozen. The petal floated down, seemingly too slowly, until it touched the feet of a figure standing below, concealed in the shadows of the woods.

He remained still for a moment, golden eyes flickering to the petal resting at his feet. He crouched, his hand extending to gently lift it, his fingers grazing the soft petals as if fearing they might break in his hold. His eyes roamed over the flower, and for a fleeting instant, something deep within him awakened.

Or was it merely the allure of the moment?

He gazed at the petal, his stare lingering. Then, gradually, his eyes rose to the heavens above. His gaze fixated on the moon, cold and removed, casting its pale illumination across the earth.

"I'll always be waiting for you," he whispered, his tone soft and steady, nearly drowned by the wind. "No matter how distant you are, I'll always be here. "

His words were gentle, almost a promise. A vow to something—or someone—that only he could comprehend. The cherry blossoms around him quivered lightly, as if acknowledging his unspoken commitment.

The angel observed from above, her heart burdened by the anticipation of what lay ahead. She had witnessed this previously. The cycle, the anticipation, the desire.

It would not cease, not until the equilibrium of light and darkness was reinstated.And yet, at that moment, she found it impossible not to feel a flicker of compassion for the figure below. For the one who had never experienced the tranquility of forgetting. For the one who had endured losses that few could comprehend.

She turned away, her heart heavy as she looked at the moon, at the time and love lost that had been scattered long ago.

The petal in Lu Shen's hand shimmered gently, a fragile gleam in the night, while he remained motionless, his eyes locked onto the moon, anticipating something—anything—that would bring an end to his loneliness.

---

Meng Yu arrived home just as the cool breeze began to rise, tousling the strands of his hair around his face. His mind was still a chaotic mess, but one thought stood out distinctly: the stranger's words. It's what you desire the most. What could they signify?

He entered the small, dimly lit house he shared with Lin Mei, the subtle aroma of herbs and tea filling the space. The familiar environment provided little solace this evening. He set down his bag by the door, the sound of it hitting the floor dull and conclusive. He sensed an unspoken weight in the atmosphere, a burden that seemed to trail him from the forest.

"Lin Mei? " he called softly, his voice low, almost hesitant. He didn't want to impose his thoughts on his friend just yet. But the emotions were too intense, too all-consuming.

Lin Mei emerged from the small kitchen, wiping her hands on her apron. Her face brightened with a warm, gentle smile upon seeing him. "You're home late tonight," she noted, her tone light, although she observed his subdued demeanor. "How was your walk? "

Meng Yu paused for a moment before responding, his gaze drifting to the cherry blossom petal still nestled in his sleeve. He pulled it out and held it between his fingers, examining it as if it could provide some sort of explanation.

"It was. . . unusual," he eventually said, his voice just above a whisper. "I encountered someone in the forest. I can't explain it, but it seemed like. . . . "

Lin Mei's smile softened, and she stepped closer, her eyes filled with concern. "Who was he? "

Meng Yu shook his head, looking down at the petal once more. "I don't know. . . I-I," he said, tears streaming down his face.

Lin Mei reached out, gently grasping his hand. "I'm certain it was nothing. But you're not alone in this, alright? Whatever occurs, I'm here for you. "

Meng Yu offered a faint smile, thankful for her words. He felt reassured by her presence, yet the ache in his heart persisted, the yearning, the draw toward something he couldn't entirely understand.

He couldn't reveal to her what transpired in the forest; he was already a burden.

As he settled into the small chair, Lin Mei set a cup of warm tea before him. He gazed at it vacantly, the steam lifting from it like tendrils of something elusive, similar to the thoughts whirling in his mind.

Lin Mei positioned herself next to him, her face soft yet understanding. "Meng Yu, at times we cannot grasp why we feel as we do. But occasionally, the explanations will appear when we least anticipate them. Just remain patient. "

He acknowledged her words with a nod, but his mind wandered back to the stranger in the woods, to the cherry blossoms that seemed to signify something he couldn't yet comprehend. What am I meant to do with this sensation?

The evening continued, but for Meng Yu, the solutions still felt distant. He could only cling to the hope that, eventually, the enigma would unveil itself—if he possessed the courage to confront it.

---

Above, the angel kept her vigil, her eyes never straying from the ground beneath. She had witnessed the strands of destiny weave together, and she understood that soon, very soon, those strands would tighten. The moment of judgment was nearing.

And with it, the unavoidable Dance of light and shadow.