The red maple leaves swayed in the lazy afternoon breeze, the leaves flickering like tiny flames against the sunlight. A single leaf drifted down from the tree, landing on the pond, sending ripples that danced across the surface.
Afternoon mist that curled lazily across the water.
A handbook lay half covering my face while I lay on the wooden dock, my left hand and foot dangling lazily over the edge, The cool touch of the river lapped gently at my fingers, and a few water lilies floated nearby.
Willows leaned over the water, their branches trailing like delicate whispers, brushing the surface
My black robe, trimmed with a faint purple at the hem, caught the wind and fluttered softly, brushing against the warmth of the sun.
"Hey, Arsinoe..." I didn't stir.
"Stop pretending—I know you're awake." I could feel his frustration in the tone.
I reached for the handbook, slowly peeling it from my face.
Letting the sunlight fill my vision. The sky stretched above me, vast and sunny.
A single orange leaf, lifted by the wind, drifted slowly, landing lightly on the water pond.
For a moment, I let myself breathe it all in—the warmth of the sun, the chill of the water, the gentle sway of the river.
"It's your turn to clean the yard," he said, frowning as he held up a wooden broom. "And don't you dare order anyone else around, Arsi—."
Slowly, I push myself up, brushing my long hair against the wooden deck.
"Chill out a little, Zhen," I said.
"Chill out?" He flared, gripping the wooden broom tightly. "How can I? I wouldn't be in this mess if it weren't for Yugo!"
"That bastard... I'll get back at him. I thought we had convinced him last night—and wouldn't snitch about us sneaking out to the market side," he hissed, spinning the broom with a sharp, almost violent motion.
"I even offered him a bottle of rum, as an ultimatum, Arsi," he added. "I bought it... even though it cost a fortune,"
I rose from my seat on the wooden deck, the boards creaking softly under my weight. The late afternoon breeze teased my robe, lifting it in the air.
My long hair followed, brushing gently against my shoulders, catching the sunlight in strands of gold.
"What did you expect? He follows rules and laws above all else," I said, snatching the broom from his hands and handing him my handbook in return.
"Argh... I just want to punch him once" I chuckled.
"If you do that, your punishment will only grow worse," I warned.
I brushed past him, taking a few steps ahead before glancing back over my shoulder, "—He is quite a dignified man, after all. No doubt a lot of disciples will take his side"
Instead of cleaning the courtyard like Zhen, I lazily sprawled in the shade of the old trunk tree, the rough bark pressing lightly against my back. The branches above swayed gently, letting the cool shadow cradle me.
My eyes closed, and I allowed the gentle warmth of the sun-dappled shade to wash over my face.
But my lazy afternoon was abruptly interrupted once more.
Suddenly--a wooden stick flew toward me, my eyes snapped open. In a single, motion, I leaned aside, landing gracefully on the ground.
Before I could recover, another object hurtled at me. I arched backward just in time, and as the wooden stick passed just meters from my face, my hand shot out instinctively. I grabbed the wood firm in my grip, ready to defend myself.
A bucket came flying toward me next, and I blocked it effortlessly. The impacts split the bucket into a thousand splinters, wood splintering in all directions.
The leaves above rustled in the breeze,
I looked at him, and his dignified posture spoke of a refined scholar. Every line of his body—straight back, calm yet alert—carried authority, effortless and commanding.
I compose my posture, placing the stick on my shoulder. Tilting my head just slightly,
"That is a bad habit of yours, Yugo. Interrupting someone during their nap."
His cat-like eyes locked onto mine, sharp and unyielding. His elegant blue snow robe matched the poise he radiated, flowing softly with every subtle movement.
"You should clean the yard, not take a nap," he said, his voice calm but firm.
"Oh, come on," I murmured, and he simply gave me a silent, unblinking stare.
"What did I do to deserve such a resent?" I muttered, rubbing my cheek.
"No disciple may leave the premises without the explicit permission. Any attempt to slip out, shall be met with strict punishment according to the severity of the transgression." Ehh? What a sudden lecture.
"We only sneak out for the festival" I defended
"Any disciple who violates the rules must accept the punishment prescribed, without excuse. Severity shall match the gravity of the wrongdoing, and mercy may be granted by accepting wrongdoing"
"I... was wrong," I surrender instantly
His eyes narrowed. "And yet... here you are, lazing around instead"
A mischievous grin curled at the corner of my lips. In one fluid motion, I swirled the stick, gathering a small vortex of air around it, and released it.
The courtyard erupted in chaos. Leaves scattered violently in every direction, twirling and tumbling until not even one remained where it had been. The wind's invisible fingers carried them far.
I looked at him.
"Can I at least sleep now?"
He remained silent, his gaze fixed on me—sharp.
I was caught off guard when, without warning, he reached for the silk hanging at the corner. With a swift flick, the fabric snapped through the air, striking a cluster of leaves from the tree. In the next instant, those leaves came flying toward me like blades.
I spun the wooden stick in my hand, deflecting them one by one, the sharp edges slicing past me in rapid succession.
But he didn't stop.
The silk lashed out again, coiling around my stick. It twisted, pulled hard, trying to wrench it from my grasp. I reacted quickly, turning with the force instead of against it, slipping the weapon free from the silk's hold.
my body spinning gracefully as my robe flared around.
Our eyes met.
"What was that for"
"The morning lessons are the foundation of a disciple's cultivation. To skip them is to abandon one's duty. No excuse shall shield the negligent from consequence."
"I—" words catching in my throat.
There was no clever excuse this time; I hadn't attended morning lesson.
I let out a slow, deep breath, letting it mingle with the rustling of leaves above me. Damn... We couldn't be more different—
His devotion to abide every law while I carelessly defied the rule and ignored every line on it.
He raised his arm, the silk dancing upward, catching the blow midair.
The clash sent a ripple through the fabric as Yugo attack
Leaves trembled.
The wind rose.
I pressed forward relentlessly, each strike flowing into the next controlled,
Yugo retreated with measured steps, every movement calm, every defense effortless, the silk bending and twisting to intercept my attacks.
Then—
He shifted.
The silk snapped forward, faster than before, wrapping around my wrist. With a sudden pull, he broke my rhythm, dragging me.
But I reacted just as quickly.
Using the pull, I leapt into the air, twisting above him. Ready to strike from above—
aiming straight to him.
He didn't move much, only a slight shift of his stance. Then, with a single controlled motion, he avoided me.
My wooden stick struck on the surface sending dust spiraling upward.
Then he released a force that sent me flying backward.
I raised the stick to block, but the momentum carried me anyway.
Wind roared in my ears. And before I knew it, I found myself back at the pond once more. I drove the stick into the wooden dock, using it to slow myself just enough to stop plunging into the water.
The surface behind me shimmered—clear.
He stepped forward slowly, his robe fluttering in the breeze, the willow tree swaying gently as if echoing his calm. Each step was unhurried, deliberate.
He stopped at the entrance of the wooden dock while I slowly stood at the very edge.
The sudden duel is a serving reminder of Yugo that the sect's law is unyielding and as a disciple I had sworn to follow and pledged to uphold.
"Arsinoe?" Zhen ask, he slowly rose from his reclining position and settled into a seated posture in the boat, holding the fishing rod carefully in his hands
Confusion clouded his expression, as his gaze shifted—to Yugo, standing silently at the far end of the dock.
"What the hell is going on?" no one answered.
A long moment—of silence remains
Nothing moved.
My grip on the stick loosened slightly
We stood at both ends of the dock, facing each other.