The sky was clear, and the forest had just started to change colour to prepare for the shorter days ahead. Hino had probably seen this scene many times in her lifetime but the fresh breeze, the faint warmth of the sun on her skin, and the musky scent of dried leaves – she hadn’t experienced autumn like this in a long while. She’d never felt so alive.

So even Wenyu’s sour mood did little to dampen her spirits. He strode ahead of her in pointed silence, his long travelling cloak billowing behind him. Hino trailed behind, maintaining a safe distance. She carried the supplies Granny Qiu had packed and wrapped in a cloth for her on her back. In contrast, Wenyu seemed to have brought nothing.

She’d asked him about it when they’d first set off, since Granny Qiu had provided her with enough food and clothing to last her for a week.

“I have everything I need,” he had told her stiffly.

She had caught a glimpse of a short sword strapped to his waist underneath his cloak, before he’d stormed ahead and she’d had to run to catch up. But he didn’t seem to be carrying anything else. Did that mean their journey would be short but dangerous, then, if a sword was more important than sustenance? Perhaps the supplies she’d been given were for when they entered the capital and parted ways. Hino didn’t realize what she was hoping for, but she knew expecting him to accompany her indefinitely was too much to ask for.

As they travelled in continued silence, she had plenty of time to be consumed by her thoughts. She couldn’t rely on Wenyu forever, but she didn’t think she needed to. She was becoming more aware that her amnesia was mostly limited to her episodic memories. It was also clear the kingdom of Ruan was fundamentally different from whatever civilization she must’ve come from, but she should be able to eventually blend in and function in this society at least. From here on out, the plan was to observe the customs, absorb the culture, and never repeat something like the handshake incident again.

It was both a blessing and a curse that she’d retained her semantic memories – on one hand, it gave her some sort of bearing on the world. She couldn’t imagine being thrust into existence without a single trace of a memory. Wouldn’t that be like being born again, but worse?

But on the other hand, what she did know only hindered her, because what she knew about the world was not equipped for this one. How had she ended up here, and why were her memories wiped in the process? Would there be anyone out there who had answers to any of her questions?

There was so much she wanted to ask Wenyu, but his body language made it clear he didn’t want to speak to her.

Hino turned her attention away from his back to her surroundings again, trying to take her mind off what was futile to even think about anyways. The roads from the jianghu to the capital were long and winding, but wide enough for horse-drawn carriages to pass by in opposite directions with ease. They’d encountered a few when they’d first started on their journey, but it was getting dark and there were no other stragglers in sight.

The path ahead seemed to stretch on endlessly, and it didn’t seem likely that they’d reach the capital by nightfall.

Wenyu stopped abruptly. Hino almost stumbled over the hem of his cloak, but she caught herself.

Without turning around to face her, he said, “It is growing dark. When you are unable to see your feet in front of you as you walk, tell me. I have good night vision, but I do not want you falling behind because you are blind in the dark. Do you understand?”

“Yes,” Hino said automatically, still processing his words. “But I –”

“Save your words for the fireside. Better to conserve your strength than indulge in idle chatter.” He barely finished speaking before he started to walk again, at a much brisker pace.

She watched him go, dazed for a moment.

Wenyu had seemed so carefree when they’d been with Granny Qiu, but Hino could sense a princely aura from him for the first time now. It made her smile a little. His words were brusque, but tinged with warmth – the anger she'd been so worried about had long since dissipated. Perhaps, she thought as she gazed after his retreating back, she’d really be able to learn something about herself from him on this journey together like Granny Qiu had said.

Hino sprinted after him to catch up before he got too far away without her.