After finishing their rigorous training, they walked together through the mountain paths. The soft crunch of snow beneath their feet the only sound.
The scenery was breathtaking—a vast expanse of white, the snow-covered peaks glistening like diamonds in the late afternoon light. The sun's rays hit the ice at just the right angle, casting a milky, silvery glow over the entire landscape.
Anchhi paused for a moment, taking in the sight before her. Something about the scene stirred a memory deep within her—a dream she'd had, vivid and strange. It wasn't the first time the dream had haunted her, and now, with the snow reflecting that same ethereal light, she couldn't help but think of it again. That giant lotus.
She glanced over at Shuo Jin. "First Prince," she began softly, her breath visible in the cold air.
He turned to her, raising an eyebrow but saying nothing, waiting for her to continue.
"Have you ever... known or heard about a giant lotus?" she asked, her voice tentative, as if unsure whether her words would sound ridiculous. "One that glistens in a silvery, milky glow?"
His brow furrowed slightly, clearly not expecting such a question. "A giant lotus?" he repeated, his voice flat, as though trying to determine if she was being serious.
Anchhi nodded, her gaze drifting back to the snow-covered mountains. "Yes. I've seen it... twice. Once when I was in the prison cell, and again... after my father's execution." Her voice faltered for a moment, the weight of those memories pressing down on her. But she forced herself to continue. "It always appears when I'm... alone. Utterly alone and helpless."
Shuo Jin's expression softened just slightly, though he said nothing. He wasn't the type to offer comfort easily, but there was something in his eyes, that made her feel like he was listening—really listening.
"The first time I saw it," Anchhi went on, "it was completely closed, like a bud. But the second time..." She hesitated, her fingers absentmindedly tracing the edges of her coat. "The second time, one of its petals opened. Just one. And I... I felt like... there was someone inside. Waiting for me." She shook her head, her frustration evident. "But before I could touch it, I woke up. Every time, I wake up before I can figure out what it is."
For a moment, she was met with a silence. The only sound was the wind whistling through the mountains. Anchhi glanced at Shuo Jin, hoping he might have some insight, some explanation for the visions that had haunted her for so long.
"A lotus that glows in the dark and opens its petals when you're alone?" He tilted his head, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "Sounds like a fanciful story from a children's book."
Anchhi frowned, disappointed but not surprised by his response. "It's not just a story, First Prince. It feels real. Like... like it's something important, something I need to understand."
He stopped walking, turning to face her fully, his arms crossed over his chest. "Dreams are just that—dreams. You were in prison, probably half-starved and exhausted. Your mind played tricks on you. And after your father's execution..." He hesitated for a moment, "You were grieving. It's no wonder you saw strange things."
Her heart sank a little. She had hoped for something more than just a logical explanation. "But why does it always appear when I'm at my lowest? Why do I feel like there's something—or someone—inside it, waiting for me?"
Shuo Jin shrugged, his tone matter of fact. "Your mind seeks comfort in desperate times. It conjures up what you need to survive. That's all it is." He paused, studying her closely. "You're not one to fall into superstitions."
Anchhi let out a sigh, her breath forming a cloud in the cold air. She had known he wouldn't fully understand, but she had hoped he might at least entertain the possibility of something more. "Maybe," she conceded, though her heart wasn't in it.
They continued walking in silence for a few moments, the snow crunching softly beneath their feet. Her mind was still turning over the images from her dream—the glow of the lotus, the way it seemed to call to her. She couldn't shake the feeling that it meant something, that it wasn't just a figment of her imagination.
"Do you really think that's all it is?" she asked quietly after a while, her voice barely audible. "Just my mind playing tricks on me?"
Shuo Jin glanced at her, "I think," he said slowly, "Our mind has a way of protecting itself. Maybe the lotus is your way of coping. Maybe it's something else entirely." His gaze held hers for a moment longer, as if he were weighing his words carefully. "But whatever it is, it hasn't let you down yet."
Anchhi blinked in surprise. It wasn't the answer she had expected. There was a tenderness in his voice, a rare softness that caught her off guard. She didn't know how to respond, so she simply nodded, the tension in her chest easing ever so slightly.
They continued their walk. The snow-covered peaks stretched endlessly before them, gleaming in the fading light. For a moment, Anchhi allowed herself to simply exist in the moment. Her worries about the lotus and its meaning fading into the background.
Perhaps Shuo Jin was right. Perhaps the lotus was nothing more than a creation of her mind. But there was still a part of her—a small, stubborn part—that believed there was more to it than that. And someday, she hoped, she would find out what it was.
For now, she was content to walk beside him, her steps falling in sync with his as they ventured deeper into the mountains.
~~~~~~~~~~
The sun began to set behind the towering peaks. They made their way back to the manor after their walk through the mountains. The peaceful serenity of the snowy landscape had soothed her earlier turmoil, but all of that vanished the moment they stepped through the gates.
Waiting for them in the courtyard was an all-too-familiar figure. The Crown Prince, Hui Jing.