Hero Tower’s higher floors make the world below feel small. Liu Yuwei presses her hand to the glass of a window, peering at the cityscape. She is not alone; a few others have gathered in this common area to chat and share goals. The tournament is mere weeks away. Everyone’s on edge, and yet everyone is also prying for info. Only natural.
Liu Yuwei tilts her head downwards, then to the side, craning to see all the ins and outs — businesses, suburbs, run-down districts. The sun melts into the horizon, basking structures in red and gold. Indirectly sharing her interest is a top-ten hero she’s yet to introduce herself to: the Commoner. He’s nearby. This is as good a time as any to gauge his personality, isn’t it?
❛ Everything looks so beautiful from up here, ❜ she comments, giving him a soft once-over. Her attention returns to the sunset. “Don’t you think?” Beautiful, and yet it all comes at a cost. What was his story, again? She’d heard on the news about Moon’s death. She can only imagine what else he’s been through as someone forced to wear a mask not even his own.
𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐮𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐭𝐬. ╱ @scarredroyal.
when one considers the short time he's had in hero tower, a good fraction of it spent confined to a single floor, it’s to be expected that lin ling's chance to explore beyond those walls have been few and far between. now, in this fleeting span, more heroes gather on this very floor, congregating during this momentary truce as each second ticks down to the fateful day that looms ahead.
being the newest addition among his peers, it only made sense to introduce himself in person. well aware that any friendships forged now could turn into rivalries in the battle to come. regardless, he would extend the same respect to all - hero or otherwise. at the end of the day, they had all traversed arduous paths to reach their current ranks. he harboured no shame in standing among the lower echelons of the ten; he never expected a path like this would open for him. dare he say, he felt honoured to stand amongst them at all.
so after exchanging conversation and pleasantries with those in his immediate vicinity, lin ling pursed his lips firmly when his focused but calm brown gaze settles on the hero who overlooked the sprawling cityscape, bathed in golden sunlight.
“ it is, ” he responded, his steps slowing to a halt, joining queen in surveying the place they both called home. “ everything moves so quickly from below. i tend to forget to stop and take it in… ” who would have guessed he would find himself here, mere arms-lengths from the rank 2 hero? a small smile twitches his lips. mentally, he scoffed at himself. despite her self-assured demeanour and graceful poise, he can't fathom what kind of hell she's faced to reach her current standing. he felt fragile, like standing on a glass floor that could shatter at any moment, sending him plummeting back to where he began. part of him wonders if she felt the same? for now, all he could do was strive to make a good impression.
“ it’s nice to finally chat with everyone. it got a little boring hanging out on a huge floor by myself. ” he continued, crossing his arms over his chest. a fleeting memory of soft, flowing golden locks and gentle giggles danced in his mind, causing his brows to furrow for a heartbeat, like a ghost of pain tinging his features before his expression softened once more. “ err… it’s really cool to meet you. i’m lin ling… but, uh, i bet you already knew that. heh. ”
