Chapter 6: Bonding Under the Moon

The moon hung high in the sky, casting a silver glow over the quiet courtyard. A faint breeze rustled the trees, their shadows dancing across the stone path where Wang Jo stood, his gaze lost in the night. Way'Lee hesitated at first but then stepped closer, drawn by something in his posture—something heavy, something fragile.

"You're always awake this late," she remarked softly.

Wang Jo didn't turn immediately. His fingers traced the hilt of his sword, a habit when deep in thought. "The night is quieter. It doesn't demand anything from me."

Way'Lee studied him, her earlier perceptions of him as a conqueror, a man of cold ambition, beginning to waver. She had assumed he was always in control, always calculating his next move. Yet here, beneath the pale moonlight, he seemed… human.

"You weren't born for the battlefield, were you?" she asked, her voice gentle but certain.

A wry smile flickered across his lips. "No one is born for war. But some of us have no choice." He finally turned to her, his dark eyes reflecting the moon's glow. "When I was a boy, my father was killed in an ambush. My family lost everything. I learned early that power is the only shield against fate."

Way'Lee remained silent, letting his words settle between them like fallen leaves. She had heard of his victories, his ruthless efficiency, but no one spoke of what had shaped him.

"And yet," she said after a moment, "you stand here, looking at the moon as if you're searching for something."

He exhaled softly, his hand finally leaving his sword. "Perhaps I am."

The breeze carried the scent of pine and distant incense. For the first time, Way'Lee felt no fear of him. He was no longer just a commander, an invader—he was a man burdened by loneliness, one who had spent his life chasing something just out of reach.

"I was told the moon is a mirror," she mused. "That it reflects the heart of those who look at it. What do you see?"

Wang Jo was quiet for a long time. Then, he answered, "A boy who thought winning would bring peace."

Way'Lee's heart clenched. Without thinking, she reached out, her fingers grazing the edge of his sleeve. A fleeting touch, yet it held more meaning than words could.

"You're not that boy anymore," she said.

He looked at her then, really looked at her. And for the first time, the silence between them felt like understanding, not distance.

The moon continued to shine, indifferent to the shifting fate of two souls beneath it.