A hush fell over the darkened canyon as Yiren and Xuefeng glided back to the palace, the only sounds their quiet breaths and the soft rustle of her feather-like wings. Night had settled fully, blanketing the towering Parent Tree in obsidian shadows. They landed on the palace balcony and stepped through a gentle barrier that allowed them entry without alerting the guards.
Yiren led Xuefeng inside with a serene but resolute air. Candles in wall sconces flickered across the polished wooden floors, casting pools of liquid gold upon them. The chamber was the same one Xuefeng had awoken in earlier, perched high in the palace's upper boughs.
"Did you… enjoy our date?" Yiren whispered near his ear, her breath warm against his neck. Her shy, hesitant tone reminded him that the day, for all its danger, had been precious to her.
"Yeah," Xuefeng murmured, managing a small smile as he recalled the stunning sights and surprising closeness they'd shared. "It was fun."
