Scattered
He had only seen him in passing, glances caught during banquets and glimpses skimped in hallways.
Their age gap was quite large, so they were not familiar with each-other. It was only on rare occasions like this where they truly had the chance to interact. Nonetheless, Siyuan knew of the boy. He was an inner Jin disciple--quite young to join a big mission like this.
A nearby village reported hauntings by what seemed like an evil spirit. The disciples’ investigation had confirmed as much, and they had tracked the spirit to its den in order to trap it. Unfortunately, what was supposed to be a routine mission quickly spiraled out of control. There was not one spirit as expected, but two--and the second sprang from nowhere in a chaotic ambush. Now, the disciples were dispersed and scattered, Siyuan and the Jin boy among them.
They had been trekking for the entire afternoon now, in vain effort to reunite with the main group. Siyuan slowed to a stop and gazed towards the skies. The clouds loomed ominously among rising shadows. Night would fall soon, bringing with it the dark and the cold.
This was not good.
Siyuan turned to his companion. “We’ve been walking for a while with no end in sight.” He glanced around them. “We’ll have to set up camp for the night. It would be dangerous to continue in the dark.” Siyuan suspected the spirit may be disorienting them on purpose, causing them to walk in a loop... no matter. Siyuan, ever a man of few words, glanced at the boy by his side, partly to check how he was holding up. Siyuan had known for a while now, judging by how the boy moved and behaved, that he was of weaker disposition.
Suddenly, it dawned on Siyuan that they had spent the whole afternoon side by side, but he had yet to ask the boy’s name. Siyuan was always too focused on his priorities over emotional communication. It was a common Nie trait, one which made them seem stubborn and uncaring. With that in mind, Siyuan finally asked--“What is your name?”
@xxzian