The next morning, the first rays of sunlight filtered through the tent fabric.
Suki woke up first, rubbing her eyes sleepily. As she sat up, she froze for a second — she saw Feng and Lina sleeping together, completely naked under the shared blanket, their bodies tangled in quiet closeness. Lina's head rested on Feng's chest, one of his arms wrapped protectively around her.
Suki's cheeks turned pink. She quickly looked away, pretending she hadn't seen anything. Without making a sound, she crawled out of the tent, walked a short distance to the nearby stream, washed her face with cold water, and cleaned herself up as best she could. She sat on a rock, hugging her knees and waiting patiently.
A little while later, Feng and Lina stirred awake. They looked at each other for a quiet moment, then dressed in silence. Lina's face was slightly flushed, but she smiled softly at Feng. They stepped out of the tent together.
Lina immediately started preparing a simple breakfast — dried meat, some wild fruits they had gathered the day before, and warm water boiled over the rekindled fire. The three of them sat down on the grass and ate together.
Suki acted completely normal, chatting about the birds she had seen and asking how far they still had to go. Feng answered her gently, his usual calm smile returning. Lina joined in the conversation, occasionally glancing at Feng with quiet affection.
After breakfast, they packed up the camp, mounted their horses, and continued their journey toward the Holy Kingdom of Elysium.
Days turned into weeks.
They traveled steadily — riding during the day under the sun, camping at night under the stars. Every evening they would set up a small fire, eat simple meals, and talk softly. Suki gradually became more cheerful, often riding between Feng and Lina, asking questions about the new kingdom they were heading to. Lina took care of the cooking and looking after Suki, while Feng remained watchful, always scanning the road ahead and keeping them safe.
At night, after Suki fell asleep, Lina would sometimes come close to Feng again. They shared quiet, intimate moments under the blanket — gentle and comforting — helping each other ease the pain of everything they had lost. They never spoke much about it afterward, but the closeness helped both of them feel a little less alone.
Week after week, the landscape slowly changed. The forests grew denser, the air fresher, and distant white temple spires could occasionally be seen on the horizon — signs that they were getting closer to the Holy Kingdom of Elysium, the land blessed by the God of Healing and Cure.
Feng rode in front, calm and steady as always. Lina and Suki followed, the three of them slowly forming a small, makeshift family on the long road.
The pain of the past was still there, but with every passing day, it felt just a little lighter.