The Dark Side of Miracles

A golden shimmer highlighted Long Fei's wound, the gushing blood retreated, the torn flesh slowly mending, closing as if time were rewinding.

A flicker of relief washed over him, a fleeting sensation that didn't quite settle before being overshadowed by Shui Yi's sudden lurch. Her eyes, once bright and focused, glazed over, the light in them dimming as her body swayed. Before she could topple, he caught her effortlessly.

The warmth of her small frame pressed against him. His arms were steady as he gently leaned her head onto his shoulder. The soft scent of saltwater lingered in her silver hair as it cascaded over his arm. He brushed it aside, hooking it behind her ear, his gaze softening. She was light as a feather in his embrace, her breathing shallow but steady. He pressed two fingers to her carotid artery; her pulse was stable.

He glanced down at his arm, where the wound had once been. The skin, once torn and bloody, now appeared smooth and untouched as though the injury had never existed. The sight was both surprising and comforting; it felt almost surreal. A part of him wanted to reach out and test the strength of the arm again, just to make sure this wasn't a dream. The healing was nothing short of a miracle. A small smile tugged at his lips. This mermaid princess is quite a character. Who would have thought she had a hidden healing power without the Sacred Pearl.

A thought persisted in the back of his mind. Could this power be something more than meets the eye? Could the King of Merfolks have passed this gift onto her when he transferred his essence? The idea was unsettling. He didn't know enough about merfolk magic, but the thought of a hidden power—one that Shui Yi, the caster was not aware of—may take a further toll on her already weakened condition.

With a quiet exhale, he channeled his qi to her, drying her damp clothes and wrapping her in warmth. The energy she had spent healing him had drained her completely. She needed rest. So did he. This mortal body gets exhausted.

His eyelids grew heavy, lulled by the trickling sound of the water stream, and he succumbed to the pull of slumber.

***

Shui Yi stirred, her eyes fluttering open to meet Long Fei's gaze. His expression softened as their eyes locked, and for a moment, she thought she saw a hint of warmth in his usually stoic demeanor. Her heart skipped a beat. His face reddened slightly, and before she could think too much of it, he quickly averted his eyes and cleared his throat. She was unsure if she had imagined the moment.

Panic gripped her as she pushed against him abruptly, only to remember his injury. She froze, her heart pounding as she scrambled to check his arm. The wound was gone.

Her fingers brushed his unmarked skin, and he didn't grimace like before. Her thoughts raced, trying to make sense of the sight. How? She stared at him in disbelief.

"You did that," he murmured.

"Me?" her voice barely audible.

He nodded, a smile tugging at his lips. The sight of that smile made butterflies flutter in her stomach. She shook her head out of the trance. What's important now is this new revelation.

"I have powers..." Her fingers brushed over the smooth skin of his arm, testing the reality of the situation. He tensed, then withdrew his arm. Was it possible? She grabbed his arm again, rubbing her eyes, and took a closer look. It was like perfect jade. He looked away, clearing his throat. She finally let go, hearing him sigh. Slowly, she rose, her body still light with lingering fatigue, but excitement began to take over.

She couldn't believe it. Powers... finally, she could be of use. A renewed confidence surged through her esteem.

She squared her shoulders, her determination reigniting. She had to test this—whatever this was. She remembered Ling Yue's powerful pose and her confidence. She mimicked the stance she had seen so many times. With her hands on her hips, she drew a deep breath and let out a mighty roar, ready to summon a sonic wave. The sound afterwards wasn't a mighty roar, but an unexpected, resounding burp.

Her face burned with embarrassment as he stifled his laughter, his shoulders shaking. Though he tried to hide it, she noticed the amusement in his eyes. 

She scowled, determined to find her power. She recalled Long Fei as he used his Qi Gong in battle, focusing on the slow rise and fall of his breath. The calm way he centered his energy... she mimicked his movements, trying to channel her qi. But nothing happened. Her hands fell to her sides in defeat. Frustration bubbled inside her. Why couldn't she do any of their moves?

"You're not quite ready for that yet," Long Fei's voice broke through her thoughts, steady and reassuring.

She looked at him, surprised. He wasn't mocking her; he was patient, understanding her struggle.

She glanced down at her hands; there was no soft glow, just beaded sweat. Maybe this was all a dream? She rushed back to recheck his wound. She pinched herself on the cheek and winced. It hurts too much to be a dream. He gently removed her hand, his thumb brushed her wounded cheek, which startled her. She could feel the heat of his touch.

"There's no need for that. You're not dreaming," he said. He cleared his throat and leaned back.

She noticed a graze on her palm and blew on it, hoping to see her power manifest again. But nothing happened. Why didn't it work this time?

Turning to the master for guidance, she found he had already closed his eyes. With something like this, she wished she could run to her father for guidance. For the first time in a long while, doubt crept in. What if her father had kept this secret from her all along? She stood up and paced back and forth. The weight of her father's silence settled on her chest like a stone. Was there something about her he had hidden, something about her powers... about her purpose? The fantasy of being more than a weak, tail-less mermaid was beginning to feel like a reality. A spark of hope stirred inside her. A glimmer of possibility. Maybe she wasn't the powerless, forgotten daughter of the sea. Maybe there was more to her than she had been told.

"I'm not useless after all..." she murmured, a faint smile tugging at her lips.

Before she could think further, an eerie sound cut through the air.

A haunting howl.

The tunnel walls shuddered with a deep, resonating cry, and her back stiffened, a chill running down her spine. She darted back to Long Fei. Her hand hooked with his arm, her fingers trembling, hiding behind him, as the shadows seemed to writhe and stretch unnaturally. His muscles tensed beneath her touch. His eyes snapped open.

The howls continued, resounding through the cavern with increasing intensity. Shui Yi's hand tightened around his arm, her pulse quickening. But he remained impassive, eyes calmly scanning the darkness.

A gust of wind swept through the tunnel, and she shivered against him, softly whimpering, but he didn't acknowledge it. His gaze remained fixed ahead, his attention unwavering, focused solely on the entrance.

The shadows continued to stretch, their claws reaching toward them. The air grew heavier, making the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end. She could sense an intimidating aura approaching. The scraping and screeching echoed through the tunnel. Even the gentle sound of water trickling faded away as they both waited with bated breath for what was coming next.

And then—

The darkness stirred.