Ning's eyes fluttered closed, and she fell unconscious. Xinan sighed, gently lifting Ning's legs onto the sofa. She began to trim Ning's damp hair, her fingers moving with precision.
Thirty minutes passed, and Ning stirred, her eyes opening to a clear, rain-free sky.
"What happened?" Ning asked, confusion etched on her face.
Xinan smiled. "You got very angry. Those students were disrespecting Miss Mary, and it triggered your...gift."
Ning's gaze fell upon her wet clothes, and she laughed. "I think we should change and head back to class. We've only been gone for about forty-five minutes."
Xinan nodded, and they quickly changed into dry clothes.
As they drove back to school in Sarah's car, Ning noticed the strange looks from their classmates.
"What's going on?" Ning whispered to Xinan.
Xinan's expression turned serious. "My gift...I forgot to use it. You see, those associated with royalty often possess unique abilities. Mine allows me to manipulate memories."
Ning's eyes widened. "Why didn't you make them forget?"
Xinan revealed her left hand, a small cut on her palm. Blood dripped onto the floor as she whispered an incantation:
"Memories fade like morning dew,
Lost in time, forever anew.
Forget the storm, the witch's might,
Remember only the calm of night."
The air seemed to shimmer, and Ning felt a subtle energy spread throughout the campus.
"Will it work?" Ning asked.
Xinan nodded. "It should. But we must be careful. Not everyone will forget."
As they rejoined their classmates, Ning noticed the strange looks had diminished, replaced by curiosity and concern.
Had Xinan's spell truly worked, or was it just the beginning of a new storm?
After class, Ning was swarmed by concerned classmates. "Rep, are you okay? You were really sick, and the rain didn't help."
Ning smiled, amused by the misconception. She hadn't caught a cold; she had summoned the storm.
As she escaped the classroom, she headed to the student council room, where Sarah waited.
"Hey, Ra!" Ning said, attempting to sound casual.
Sarah's gaze was piercing. "Ning, what's going on?"
Ning noticed the change in atmosphere and sat down, intrigued. "What do you mean?"
Sarah leaned in, her voice barely above a whisper. "Don't play dumb, Ning. I know what happened outside. The storm, your eyes changing...what's going on?"
Ning's mind reeled. Why hadn't Sarah forgotten like the others? Xinan's spell was supposed to erase memories.
Realizing she had to explain, Ning leaned in, her voice low. "I'll tell you everything after classes today. We're going home together, right?"
Sarah's expression softened, and she smiled. "I wasn't mad, Ning. I just needed you to open up."
The two friends shared a cute, secret handshake, and Ning felt relieved.
As they delved into their work, checking files and organizing student records, Ning couldn't shake the feeling that her secrets were slowly unraveling.
Would Sarah accept the truth about her royal heritage and mysterious abilities? Only time would tell.
Their afternoon work session flew by, filled with laughter and productivity.
As they packed up to leave, Ning's anticipation grew. Tonight, she would reveal her secrets to Sarah, and their friendship would either deepen or fray.
The outcome hung in the balance, like the stormy weather that had changed everything.
Here's the extended scene:
As Sarah stopped the car at the park, Ning and Xinan exchanged curious glances.
"What's going on?" Xinan asked from the backseat.
Sarah turned off the engine. "We need to talk."
Ning nodded, giving Xinan a knowing look. They left the car and strolled into the serene evening park, settling on the grass.
Sarah's eyes locked onto Ning's. "Come on, don't leave me in the dark. What's going on?"
Ning took a deep breath, trusting Sarah with her secrets. "You've always wondered why I avoid China...I'm from a remote kingdom, Xuanlong. It's not entirely under democratic rule; we maintain a royal system."
Sarah's laughter was laced with confusion. "Kingdoms? Royalty? Ning, what are you talking about?"
Ning's voice dropped to a whisper. "I'm the reincarnation of a cursed princess. I'm here to escape those who'd harm me if they discover my true identity."
Xinan's eyes watched Sarah's reaction, her expression serious. "We're not really sisters, Sarah. I'm Ning's servant, sworn to protect her. If you want to distance yourself, I understand."
Sarah's face reflected her shock, but she spoke calmly. "That doesn't explain the storm...or your eyes changing."
Ning hesitated before revealing more. "I was born with a special gift, tied to my royal lineage. Xinan has a gift too – manipulating memories, which is why many people forgot what happened earlier."
As the truth sank in, Sarah's gaze lingered on Ning, her expression a mix of awe and trepidation.
"Xuanlong...cursed princess...gifts?" Sarah whispered, processing the revelations.
Ning nodded, her heart pounding. Would Sarah accept her for who she truly was?
The evening air hung heavy with anticipation, as Sarah's next words would either forge a deeper bond or create an unbridgeable gap.
"What does this mean for us, Ning?" Sarah asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Ning's fate, and their friendship, hung in the balance.
"I don't know. It depends on what you think."
Sarah's eyes narrowed, her mind racing. "I understand, Ning. But why did everyone else forget what happened, while I remember everything?"
Ning and Xinan exchanged puzzled glances.
Xinan spoke up, "I used my gift to manipulate memories, Sarah. It should have affected everyone."
Sarah's brow furrowed. "But it didn't affect me. Why?"
Ning shook her head. "I don't know, Sarah. We don't understand why you're immune to Xinan's gift."
Xinan's expression turned thoughtful. "It's possible that your connection to Ning, your friendship, somehow protected you from the memory manipulation."
Sarah nodded, accepting the theory. "I see. Well, I'm glad I remember. I'd rather know the truth, no matter how extraordinary it is."
Ning's face lit up with relief. "Thank you, Sarah. Your acceptance means everything to me."
Sarah smiled, her eyes sparkling. "We're in this together, Ning. Always."
As the three friends shared a warm moment, the evening sun dipped below the horizon, casting a golden glow over the park.
Their bond had grown stronger, but the mystery surrounding Sarah's immunity lingered, waiting to be unraveled.
"What's next?" Sarah asked, her voice filled with determination.
Ning's gaze turned serious. "We need to be cautious. My presence here, my gifts...they put us all at risk."
Xinan nodded. "We'll protect you, Ning. And ourselves."
Together, they vowed to face the unknown, their friendship forged in the fires of secrets and magic.
As they sat in the park, Sarah's curiosity got the better of her. "What's it like being royalty, Ning?"
Ning's eyes clouded, memories elusive. "I was only ten when I left Xuanlong. Not much to remember, really."
Sarah nodded sympathetically. "Fair enough."
Ning's gaze sparkled mischievously. "Speaking of which, I agreed to your vacation idea – Shanghai, here we come!"
Xinan's expression turned wary. "Ning, are you sure?"
Ning's hands danced with excitement. "Come on, Xinan! You're always there to calm my powers. I'll be okay with you."
Xinan sighed, resigned. "Okay, let's do this."
Ning leapt up, joy radiating from her.
As they left the park, Sarah dropped them off at home. "I'll see you both tomorrow."
After driving home, Sarah pulled out her phone and dialed a mysterious number.
A low voice answered, "How's everything?"
Sarah's tone turned cryptic. "I'm fine. How's...he?"
The voice hesitated. "He's okay, for now. We need to find her, though."
Sarah's smile was enigmatic. "I found her. I'll bring her along soon. Just wait."
The voice sharpened. "What do you mean you found her?"
Sarah's laughter was low and soothing. "Let's just say she found me. Trust me, everything will be okay."
The voice trailed off, uncertainty palpable.
Sarah's eyes gleamed with secrets, her intentions hidden behind a mask of friendship.
The phone call ended, leaving more questions than answers.
As Sarah ended the call, her eyes locked onto a photo on her nightstand. A picture of a young boy with piercing eyes and a charming smile.
She whispered, "Soon, Ning will understand the truth."
Meanwhile, in Ning's room, Xinan watched her drift off to sleep, while she sings and pats the hair of the younger. "Sleep, dear princess. A day will come when the dragon awakens. It's flames bring chaos and destructions but not sadness."
After Xinan realized that Ning was deep into her slumber, she decided to leave the room.
But as Xinan turned to leave, she noticed something peculiar. Ning's window was open, despite being closed earlier. "It was definitely closed earlier. I'm sure I closed it."
A faint whisper seemed to carry on the wind: "The Shadow comes."
Xinan's heart skipped a beat. She rushed to Ning's side, but her princess slept peacefully.
Or did she?
As Xinan gazed into Ning's serene face, her eyes flickered open, revealing an unsettling darkness.
"Ning?" Xinan whispered, her voice trembling.
But Ning's response sent chills down Xinan's spine,
"The Shadow has found me."
Xinan hurried to Ning's side to help her become calm but Ning was still restless like she was having a panic attack.
Confusion was very visible on Xinan's face as she didn't know what to do. She just sat down beside the younger, patting her head so she could become calm.
Ning, on the other hand stayed that way for about five minutes before saying, "Lies of the shadow, beware!"