Fen’s stare remained cast toward the sky, watching with an aimless and faraway gaze, as the stars danced and twinkled above. It was strange how familiar this place could seem at times, when the reality of it all, was this world was as foreign as it was alien. There was no Tianlong Dynasty, spanning for generations on this soil. No palace grounds filled with the same blooms and trees stacked along hidden ruins. No pools of water filled with the same peaceful magic bestowed by the Celestial Dragon.

And yet, the stars appeared the same.

Or rather, similar enough that Fen had not noticed the differences.

Instead, she spied the familiar Orion constellations, and dragged an emerald gaze across the familiar twinkling stars. Yue’s words were an echo of her thoughts as she gave a brief nod, not yet finding the courage to return her gaze toward the Empress. Me too, she softly said.

And perhaps it was for the best that Fen’s gaze sought the swirling darkness that twinkled above, better for everyone that her attention was fixated elsewhere.

An ear turned at Yue’s mention of moving and for a moment, Fen’s spirited seemed to lift—her heart rising in her chest with a few fluttered beats. It was not as though she despised the swamps, they were…delightful in their own special ways, but she could neither not admit that the thought of going elsewhere…was well, more exciting.

Her expression lightened at that as she flashed the Empress a curious glance. Where would she hope to go? What would she hope to see?

They felt like loaded questions, where not one single answer could entirely capture what it was that Fen would like to experience. She would like to see the grandest waterfall in all the land, one so large that it would take her breath away at the sound and sight. She’d like to see the differences in mountains—were they as sharp and pointy as the ones she knew? Or were they soft and molded with quiet intention like the rolling waves of wind along a field of grass? She wanted to see the sky, picturesque in the various colors of a wintertime canvas and outlined by the softness of clouds.

Her thoughts swam with the prospects as she flicked an emerald stare towards the sky, I think… she started softly, her voice barely above a whisper. My soul craves the thrill of adventure, Fen paused for a moment as she listened to the steady beat of her heart. and it thirsts for knowledge, more than I am capable of providing myself.

It felt like a secret she were admitting to, as if such understanding was not so easily written across the young Princess’ countenance at all times.

The easy answer is that I’d like to see it all, she offered with a breath and a tail-end of a hesitant laugh. But the truth is that I wish to see a place that takes my breath away, she explained as her gaze flickered from Yue and back toward the sky, A place that I cannot reliably form into words but a place I know by feeling. One of beauty, of peace and of belonging.

Perhaps, she sounded crazy.

Maybe her words did not make sense.

They sounded silly.

The princess shook her head and smiled with a flash of humor: I’d be delighted to see a very large waterfall embraced by a forest below and mountains above. Yes, that would be her answer, she thought with a quick bob of her head.

What do you hope to see?