*Silence*
Rain drops..... A slight shower had been dripping all morning but she hadn't woken up yet.
Not until a gentle morning breeze blew across the room did Huoqiang wake up up from her puzzling slumber.
Gently, she opened her eyes bit by bit. She was no longer in a dark abyss but now in a serene unfamiliar room. Noticing the unfamiliarity of the place, she jolted up causing a healing wound to cut open. Careful so as not to make a sound, she enjoyed the torturing pain by biting her lower lip in pain.
'Where was she? How did she end up here?' Such questions danced through Huoqiang's head. She had long forgotten about the pain she had felt few seconds ago.
She was an elemental after all so she'd heal. We'll come to that later, I promise.
Huoqiang's eyes darted across the room. Although the room looked quite simple, it gave off an air of nobility. Beddings of white with neatly embroided cream covers, nicely designed curtains partially closed that ray's of light still found their way in, the golden lamps that hung from the ceiling and the rugs and furniture that could be seen around each bend and corner.
'Whoever lives here must have a full pocket' Huoqiang thought to herself, 'but that doesn't mean I want to be a guest'.
With that concluded, she jumped on her feet but immediately fell down as a result of the nasty injury embedded on her right knee.
"What happened to me?" Huoqiang said out loud.
She tried to remember what had occurred previously or why she was in this pitiable state but the more she tried to think, the more her head ached and buzzed.
Just then the door carefully creaked open that it was not until she heard a voice that she acknowledged a presence in the room.
"You've woken up," a male voice said to her, more of an observation than a question.
Slowly she lifted up her head which she had buried in her hands. With her beautiful misty eyes that held questions that needed to be answered.
Without giving her a chance to speak, the man who seemed to be in his early youth said;
"The Master would like to see you. This way please."
He gestured towards the hallway and started to walk out. Huoqiang quickly stood up and trailed behind with careful steps to avoid more complications. The leqast she wanted to do was behave like a coward in somewhere she didn't know.
The man in front of her wore a simple grey Han-fu garment so he was probably a servant but from the embroided hems and studded neckline of the garment, he was probably a special one perhaps. His hair was neatly tied at the top of his head held in place by a silver band.
"He's in here," he gestured towards a room, bowed respectfully to whoever was in there and left.
Huoqiang made careful steps towards the room. This was a new environment so she had to be careful. She peeped inside the room and was not sure what she was supposed to see not until she saw a floating human in mid air in a meditating pose, his back facing her.
She almost died of fright for a second not expecting that to be the sight of welcome she would receive.
"Come in," a stern voice though having traces of mystery.
Slowly, Huoqiang walked into the room and slowly the man in mid air floated safely down, landing smoothly as ever though his back was still facing her.
"Who are you? Why am I here?" Dear Huoqiang asked.
The man remained silent. Oh! His graceful posture was surely a thrilling sight. His clothing was no doubt far greater than the fellow she'd seen before. The finest embroidery and designs on this man's clothing were like none she'd ever seen. Not to mention the precious stones on the Hem of his sleeves on the gorgeous hands he had placed behind his back. His hair wasn't packed fully so some fell at the back.
Who was this man exactly?
Finally the man did speak,
"We found you on our borders during the night. You were severely injured. I have no idea of your identity. So if I may ask who are you?" His voice as dignified as the man himself, like ripples of water on a fresh morning. His voice had the ability to draw you in.
"Ahhh…" The latter muttered in understanding.
"Well then, I'm Huoqiang Lee from the Fire tribe specifically from the Zu flame tribe(最高等级)." Huoqiang introduced.
"I see," the man merely uttered. His back still facing her.
"What is your name?" Huoqiang bravely asked
"Jun, Li Jun," the man revealed.
"Nice name," Huoqiang complimented but Li Jun gave nothing more than a nod.
"Don't you remember anything? Or how you came to our borders?" Li Jun asked in his noble voice.
"Honestly I don't. Once I make an attempt at remembering, my head hurts…alot." Huoqiang narrated her ordeal of earlier on but let's just say the man was more or less uninterested on hearing a story.
"Then," he said sternly, "you'll stay here till your wound recovers as well as your memories restored then we'll get you back home."
"Ohh well thank you then Li Jun," she said and politely bowed.
"But…if it must interest you to know, other than what I have on, I have no other clothes to change into," Huoqiang stated nervously.
"That would be taken care of. Now you must leave," he said then added, "oh welcome to your new home.."
"Shang," Li Jun called and the same guy from before appeared.
"Yes master," the 'Shang' answered bowing respectfully.
"Take her around the building…oh and get her new clothes." Li Jun commanded lazily.
"Yes sure," Shang said obediently then turned to Huoqiang, "this way miss."
Shang gestured out of the room. Huoqiang appreciated this noble persona and while leaving she happened to briefly capture a quick glance of the man's side profile and what sight did she see!