Return
It was a cold night, the sound of rain pattered on the tiles and wood boards beyond, gradually escalating into rapid downpour as if the heavens escalated in its mourning. The place had a depressing air to it as if it did not receive even a single ray of the sun’s radiance in who knows how long.
It has been nearly a year since Lingqi last set foot in Yueliang’s residence. She set out on a mission which she kept from her mistress, hoping that Yueliang would not get caught in her personal fray. In hindsight, it was a foolish mission. Reckless and vain. Lingqi was griped with bitterness and embarrassment at her failures to herself and Yueliang. Upon arriving at the gates, Lingqi was barred entry from the attending servants. They were wary of her and she understood. She did not carry the proud air that she was reputed to have, rather, she stood as a downcast, lonesome spectre of one who was not expected to return; if she was not finally permitted entrance from within then she would have had to live in her own futility without hope of resolve.
Lingqi kept her gaze drooped when she was, at last, with Yueliang. The warrior’s hair covered her ears and reached down past half of her nape. If she did not push her fringe aside then it would have practically covered her amber eyes with only slits and small gaps between silver strands to allow sight; Lingqi’s hair had grown longer than she was accustomed to. If she was thankful for one thing, it was that her curtain of silver hair covered the shame in her eyes, but that did not protect her from the weight of Yueliang’s presence.
@perfumednightingale
