Slipping out from the watchful eyes of the Dynasty was a craft that Princess Fen had all but mastered. At least, that was what she told herself as her silhouette snuck past a cluster of trees beneath a darkened sky. The world was too fresh, too new, and far too interesting for Fen to find solace in the familiarity of sleep. And despite what others may think of her, she knew that there would be others out there—in the dawning breath of the evening—who also found their minds alight with questions and their soul yearning for answers.

Where were they? How had they come here? And what would happen to the rest of them next?

Fen couldn’t possibly sleep when those questions riddled her mind like ants on a log. And who better to uncover what no one else could but her?

And so she wandered into the depths of the forest, through the bubbling streams, and out toward a milky horizon kissed by the solidity of clouds, with a determination lingering in her step.

It wasn’t until the scent of another, brought forward by a subtle breeze, that Fen paused. Someone else was out here, she thought to herself, just as she had expected. With a carefully manicured breath, one to calm whatever lingering worries she might have held in the face of someone new, the princess stepped out from the dim shade of the shadows and into the dull, evening light.

你好呀, (“Hello there,) her voice was as soft as silk as she spoke, 你有没有在水面的倒影中发现什么有趣的东西? (“Have you found anything interesting in the water’s reflection?”)

Curiosity shown like a flame behind her eyes as she stepped forward, paired with an inquisitive tilt to her head as she stared. Though she did not recognize the man from the court of her past or any of the denizens she had spied in her world before, the unfamiliarity did not deter her. Instead, it intrigued her. Her father had made it seem that beyond those that they knew, there were more that the Celestial Dragon had guided to them—this man must’ve been one of them.

And so she similarly approached him as she would have had he been a citizen of their empire who had requested an audience with the royal family. Carefully and with poise. Just as her tradition had taught her.

A smile, gentle and soft beneath the clouded evening, parted across her lips as she lowered her head into a minor bow. My apologies if I startled you, She countered as her attention swiftly caught the rising of his guard hairs. Perhaps it had not been the wisest decision to sneak up on others in the dark, but alas, Fen had never been good at keeping her nose where it shouldn’t be.

This was just a prime example of one of those times.

A velveteen laugh parted behind her lips, following in the shadows of his own, as her eyes glimmered with quiet amusement. It had been a long time since someone had not recognized her, and oddly enough, the informality of his question was relieving.

I’m Princess Fen, daughter of the Emperor Shēnléi of the Tianlong Dynasty, She introduced herself with a sense of nonchalance, as her tail swayed quietly behind her. And you? What is your name, stranger?

Sometimes, when she really thought long and hard about it, the titles and propriety of her royal lineage almost felt like she was playing dress-up in a role that she shouldn’t. Alas, she shook the title from her mind easily as her gaze flashed toward the surface of the water behind him.

Have the fish given you any positive news? She inquired. 


A smile pulled at the corner of her lips. No apologies necessary, she chimed with a gentle sway of her muzzle, signaling the man to rise from his lowered bow. My family might expect the formalities, but between you and me, she lowered her voice to a fragile whisper, When the moon is high in the sky and the rest of the empire sleeps, I want nothing more than to be addressed as I am—Fen. Just Fen.

Her tail swayed in the gentle breeze as her emerald gaze considered Yunxu. He was shorter than she was, slender too, but composed of the duality of night and day, light and dark. And his eyes, they appeared to be of the purest shade of blue.

Fen dipped her chin into a subtle nod, The Celestial Dragon has certainly blessed my family. Her eyes glimmered with something different—amusement perhaps, or possibly mischief. And you as well, now that you are among us. It was her time now to address the man with a careful bow, a dip of her head as her gaze rose to his, A formal welcome then, Jiang Yunxu. I am pleased to make your acquaintance.

At the mention of fish, however, that smile of hers only seemed to grow. Her ears straightened, perking forward as her body all but rolled to the tips of her toes as she stood eagerly awaiting more information. Predict the weather? She echoed, as her green gaze twinkled with curiosity. Truly?

What a skill to be able to have, she thought, a necessary one too. And one, now, that she wanted to learn.

Her silhouette drifted towards his own, eyes alight against the murky bark of the tree that lay in the water behind him. What potential uncertainties Yunxu may have been feeling were lost on the Princess as she sauntered toward him. Instead, her attention was fixated on the shadowed depths of the pool. So much so that Fen barely noticed when her side brushed against his own, as a single paw of hers tested the rough bark of the log.

Sturdy, she thought, just barely.

Can you teach me? She asked abruptly, swinging a passing glance over her shoulder and back towards Yunxu.

The sound of her name, and the informality of it, brought a smile to her face as her chin dipped into a welcome nod. Her family members —her father or even her grandmother —might have had some choice words for Fen had they known. However, in the growing darkness of the evening, Fen did not see the harm.

She listened with a curved ear attentively perked in Yunxu’s direction, and alongside his laugh, she grinned. Though she was not sure how the world might work in the absence of the Celestial Dragon, she was aware of the other faiths that existed. Perhaps, they worked in tandem? Or maybe it was their Gods that were false…Although that was a thought she wouldn’t verbally raise.

I’ve heard that Gods work in mysterious ways, she offered up instead. But I like to believe that everything is as it should be, she tacked on through a gentle murmur, what is meant to be shall be. Her gaze drifted to the serene surface of the water, catching a brief, gentle ripple in her peripheral vision. Even when times are tough, there is always a lesson or a reason for such things.

Like showing up here, she thought quietly to herself.

Perhaps you were meant to join us all along.

Her tail shifted into an idle sway behind her as their conversation moved from the mystical to the physical. Fen had never learned that a fish’s behavior would change with the weather, and such enlightenment brought a curious glint to her eye. Your grandfather must’ve been blessed, she added as her attention flickered between the water and Yunxu.

Fen’s ears reeled back for a moment, drawing closer to her crown, as she allowed a moment of silence to fill the air. It must’ve been hard, she thought, to be alone in a foreign world. How did Yunxu manage?

She flashed him a glance.

Perhaps we can teach ourselves. Maybe some would think of it as a wild notion, but Fen thought otherwise. Together, they could collect the data, observe differences in both the fish and the weather, and begin learning on their own. And by the time your grandfather makes his journey to Mythris, too, you’ll be an expert just like him. She added hopefully.

The princess wouldn’t know whether such a fate was possible or whether the Celestial Dragon would bring another of Yunxu’s kin to this world, but she figured it wouldn’t hurt to hope.

At least for now.

But with such somber topics now out of the way, she redirected her attention to the surface of the water.

When she had moved, brushing her side against Yunxu’s, Fen hadn’t quite noticed the delicate touch. But if she had, she didn’t think she would’ve minded. Instead, her attention was fixated on something moving just beneath the surface. Why of course, silly, she said with a light-hearted giggle as her body bowed to draw closer toward the rippling water.

Never, the princess admitted, is it hard?

Fen could feel the ache in her heart reverberate against her chest cavity at the mention of Yunxu’s grandfather. However, it had not been for the loss of what had been; instead, it was the shared understanding that what had been would never come again. Fen hoped, for Yunxu’s sake, that his grandfather would be blessed by the Celestial Dragon as his grandchild was and be brought here just as they were.

That would be ideal.

However, not even she could change the will of the Gods, and for whatever reason, Yunxu was brought here. Alone. And perhaps that was what fate had planned for him, and there would be nothing that she or they could do to change it.

A sobering thought, and one that left Fen silent for a few passing beats.

I will keep an eye out, She murmured in the wake of his words. Even if she did not know what Yunxu’s grandfather looked like, she was sure it would not be hard to spot him. She just needed to follow the scent of the sea and look for a grumpier-looking Yunxu.

However, even as she thought of it, Fen’s mind trailed elsewhere. Briefly, and no longer than a passing beat of her heart, but she wondered what Yunxu remembered. Had he been like her? Carried here through the sandy waves of sleep? Or had his awakening been…more abrupt than her own? What had that been like?

Some thoughts, she knew, were better to be thought than voiced. And so the princess remained quiet, keeping those questions under lock and key, as her smile returned to her features.

Then it is a deal, Jiang Yunxu, she exclaimed through an air of formality, but lathered in the tone of someone who was having fun, We will learn how to read the fish together. It was said as though Fen had just signed the pair of them to some large and drawn-out adventure; even if Yunxu was unwilling, he was undoubtedly a part of it now.

When the topic of hunting fish had flourished past their teeth, Fen smiled in the shadow of his words as she stared at the rippling surface of the water. Though she had never tried before, she grew curious about the way the fish swam beneath the surface—swiftly within the current and agile within the stream—Yunxu’s words made sense.

She would never be able to swim as fast as a fish.

But ah—he spoke of patience, and for a moment, she flashed him a quick, disheartened look. Fen’s patience was as short as a struck match, in the sheer fact that she rarely had one. Patience, She echoed beneath her breath, as her attention returned to the water. Patience is bitter, but its fruit can be sweet, She whispered beneath her breath, as if those words could be her steady reminder.

Patience was far from one of her aforementioned skills or specialities; however, if she could find restraint within her secret sparring lessons, surely, she could find the time and will to sit and watch the fish.

Right?

She twisted her gaze back toward the fish, toward the rotting tree beneath her feet, and the water that now swayed in the distance. Her ears turned toward the sound of Yunxu’s voice, and where she could, Fen absorbed what knowledge she could consume.

Fish could be found in branches. Scared of predators. Shallows are good, and rapids are good. Bait them with food, fish like food, and things that look like bugs.

She could remember all of that.

Fen threw a glance in his direction, a smile written like wine across her lips as she all but squealed with unfettered excitement. She didn’t. But she wanted to.

Oh, yes, please. She agreed, as her head dipped in quick succession. She moved like the water this time as she squeezed around him, this time careful not to graze her side along his own, as she situated herself by the shallows.

She didn’t mind when the water touched her toes; instead, she welcomed it as she stood, green gaze thrown toward Yunxu. Good luck, She offered with a smile.