The skies were silent, even with the wind whipping against his ears. The voices, however, came from the houses and alleys below, accompanied by laughter. Noah observed the people for a moment. Whether it was the servants carrying things from one side to the other or finishing cleaning a place, a common, recurring task, or the guards walking the streets and standing at their posts, they all carried a disconcerting lightness. Concern for the future did not seem to trouble them. Madness or ignorance, Noah could not decide.

  Swaying and moving along with his hair, his clothes marked the passing of the cold wind which soon became, once again, one of the only things that could reach him, along with the sounds of some animals hidden in the forest. That returned when the houses were left behind and trees became the only things below his feet. However, from above, he saw something that wiped everything from his mind. The sight of the smooth movements and hypnotic body, even among all that steam, could never be so clear.

  Ting looked through the misty veil, gazing at him from afar — If you keep looking at me like that, I'll end up getting annoyed.

  He descended and entered the cabin through the front door. He walked to the door and stopped. Hesitated. Reconsidered.

  Knock! Knock! Knock!

  — Can I come in? — he asked, feeling his heart set on fire.

  The answer took a while to come, making him pull his hand from near the door — With your eyes closed, — Ting allowed, and then the creak of the door opening echoed, slow and distant.

  But even though she told him not to look, Ting couldn’t keep that rule intact. She played with her hair, leaning on the edge of the tub, when footsteps started getting closer, somewhat slow. At first, she kept her back turned. However, she ended up turning around, letting curiosity prevail.

  She frowned — I thought I said 'eyes closed,' didn't I? — she pointed out when she saw Noah was also looking at her.

  — I don't think you have the right to say anything now. Besides, I'm the one who's more exposed.

  — Yes, because this mist makes such a difference for you, — her gaze moved away from his eyes and traveled down the rest of his body. Ting immediately looked back up, studying Noah’s whole body — Wow... come here.

  Her eyes gleamed, and he only understood why when he glimpsed at his own arm. He shivered at the sight of scales that shimmered from bright blue to black.

  Cultivation brings changes... He understood, clenching his fist.

  Sighing, he sat at the edge of the tub and then slid into the water. It was a bit more embarrassing than he had imagined, especially because Ting didn't seem to realize how fixated her gaze was on him.

  — It's strange, isn't it?

  She shook her head. — Can I touch? — Despite her question, she didn't seem very interested in the answer and just went ahead. She slid her soft fingers over the shining scales.

  — They're cold... even more than your skin normally is, — she observed, — And also... smooth? That's strange, your skin is kind of rough, so why would that change now?

  — Since you're doing this, does that mean I can touch you too?

  Her eyebrows furrowed — Well, it really is a bit strange, — she commented, smiling and ignoring him, — But it's not ugly. The color change is very interesting.

  Turning, Ting gave her back to Noah but didn't move away, even though there was enough space in the tub — Just don't try anything weird or I'll get out.

  His arms wrapped around her waist, pulling her close, and stayed there. However, unlike them, sometimes it was his lips that wandered without any clear limit.

  The warmth of the water made the coldness of Noah's skin irrelevant. His heated breath made Ting shiver when it hit the back of her neck, over and over again after discovering her reactions.

  — You're loving this, aren't you? And you must feel very frustrated to be so close and not go any further. — She smiled, but then felt sharp fangs sink into her shoulder — Ouch! If you still can't control those fangs, don't do that again for now.

  Even if it wasn't his intention to hurt her, Noah had to watch the blood trickle down her shoulder — Sorry... You're right, this is a lot more like torture than a reward, contrary to what I thought.

  Ting was smiling even as she washed the wound, cleaning away the blood that stopped flowing after a few drops. The laughter didn’t come from Noah, but from the comforting feeling that situation gave her. It was because she knew that, even with such strong desire, he still listened to her.

  — There's something I really want too, — she said, placing her hand over her stomach — I want to see the half-dragon.

  — Huh? And the phoenix, don't you? — he kissed the wound.

  — Yes, but... one step at a time. I think seeing just one of them will be hard enough for now. — While caressing his head on her shoulder, Ting turned her face a little so she could look him in the eyes, — So, will you show me?

  — If you want, we can do it tomorrow. But can I ask you something too? This time it won't be so hard.

  Despite her hesitation, she agreed.

  — So, before we do that, can you make our breakfast?

  — No, I don't know—

  — It's going to be fine, I'll help you.

  Ting reconsidered a moment before sighing, — Alright, — she accepted, — but don't blame me if it doesn't taste good.

  — I'll find anything you make delicious, so don’t worry about that.

  You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

  Smiling, Ting settled onto his chest — I hope that's really true, — she murmured while looking at the night sky.

  Noah looked up and the steam swirling around them shifted. The veil opened, creating walls around them, revealing the stars it had concealed. It was beautiful. And in silence, the two just enjoyed the moment. They watched the bright moon, the blue sky, and felt as if time stretched so those moments would last as long as possible.

  Ting was the first to decide to leave and, before she could say anything, Noah already had his eyes closed.

  'To seem polite...' Did he remember what I told him?

  She kissed his cheek before getting up.

  It didn't take long for Noah to do the same, waiting just long enough for her to put on her clothes. He saw no reason to stay behind if she wasn't there. It was better to go inside and help her dry her hair and put medicine on the wound and scars instead.

  — One last thing, — Ting said as she opened the blankets for him to lie down — What happened to the girl? Is she okay?

  Noah hugged her — I think she'll keep training for a while before taking the pill. When I left, she was trying to learn the God of Thunder.

  — Hmm, I hope she'll be fine.

  With both their eyes closed, the day came to an end. From time to time, gentle movements continued under the blanket and Ting felt the calm breathing of Noah close to her chest. At some point, one of her legs wrapped around him, completing the embrace.

  Neither of them was sleeping, and they knew it. For different reasons, but if they did, the result would be the same. After all, if there was something among all his abilities Noah was grateful for, it was the fact that he didn’t need to sleep. Endless nightmares, which he no longer had to witness. When he closed his eyes, his mind wandered, but not to dreams. Having experienced it firsthand, he was now able to enhance his control over flames during alchemy even without trying to make any real pills. Repeating the process again and again in his mind throughout the night, he only stopped when the first ray of sunlight slipped through the gap in the doors and illuminated the floor.

  After He Rui was mentioned, the uncomfortable feeling returned and remained throughout the night, reminding him that if the pill didn’t work when He Rui used it, he’d have to create another one. Maybe more than one, and without Ting’s help. Her reaction to making just a single first-rank pill had been severe enough, and he didn’t want to see that again.

  Noah opened his eyes and, kiss after kiss, crawled up the bed until he could look Ting in the eye; and her eyes didn’t seem too pleased with him.

  — Seriously? It's just dawn and you're already doing this?

  — It's not my fault you're so beautiful.

  — Oh, sure. Sorry, I apologize for that. — She gave him a quick look, noticing the difference — It looks like the scales disappeared overnight. Did you feel anything?

  Noah shook his head.

  Ting stretched, raising her arms up. She gave a slight tap, as she couldn't get up because of his arm around her belly — Shall we? What's for breakfast?

  Noah smiled as he picked her up and carried her to the balcony.

  — Are you really that happy just because of this?

  — You have no idea.

  When she lit the fire, Ting realized what the dark things piled beside the stove were. A strange kind of firewood that barely produced smoke. Her questions were answered, even if not very satisfactorily. After all, how would burning wood turn it into even better firewood?

  Noah explained, it was something about a process called carbonization, but she didn’t really get it. What she did notice was that the stockpile of strange knowledge Noah had was far greater than she’d imagined. However, her biggest challenge came before that, when she was left facing the flour.

  — What should I do? — she asked, rolling up her sleeves like she'd seen Noah do before.

  Coming up behind her, he began instructing her step by step. He put his hands around her waist and demonstrated how to grind the flour by hand. Ting understood and immediately repeated it, but he didn’t move away. In fact, he moved even closer.

  — Why do I feel like you're just using this as an excuse to hold me as much as possible? — she commented sarcastically while preparing the dough.

  His answer was direct — I am, — and it made her freeze for a moment.

  Ting looked into his eyes. The sound of the clay lid dancing on the pot nearby seemed to be the only thing echoing at that moment. Her heart was beating. Sunlight came up to the balcony, shining on them, glimmering most on Noah, who, even without scales, seemed to glow brighter than normal. She smiled, but didn't go back to kneading the dough before smearing some of the sticky mix on Noah's face.

  — Shameless.

  There was no retaliation, just a kiss and even more closeness.

  With the dough ready, she grabbed the meat boiling on the fire to use as filling. Soon, shaped into small balls with flat ends, the dumplings were steaming in a clay pot with a small amount of water in the center, the dumplings surrounding the liquid without touching it.

  With a tight heart and shining eyes, Ting kept asking every few minutes, — Is it ready yet? — anxious to see the result.

  She waited by the pot, hoping for success. When the lid was removed, Ting jumped with joy onto Noah. She did it. They took the dumplings out, lining them up on a platter.

  Ting was ready to eat the first one, bringing it to her mouth without hesitation. But she stopped.

  Why was he so happy about this...? She couldn’t understand. Was it really just an excuse to hug me?

  Extending her hand, she gave up on the first and put it in Noah's mouth. — Is it good..?

  The smile she saw form on his face was different from the previous ones. Somehow, she felt it was the first, even though she had seen many already.

  He swallowed — It's perfect.

  Turning to the stairs, that’s where they continued to eat. Giving and receiving. Ting had no time to take any dumpling to her own mouth, because Noah was faster, so she just kept feeding him as she enjoyed something delicious that she herself had made. With help, yes, but her hands had done most of the work.

  She savored the juiciness of the meat, the flavor of the broth, and the dough's softness. Would it be arrogant to say it was one of the best things she had ever eaten? If so, she was arrogantly proud. Noah's cooking was still the best, except for the half-dragon’s meat.

  After eating, she sighed, put away the dish, and stood up. Her eyes sparkled despite the trembling in her hands, — Now it's my turn, shall we?

  Noah nodded. He got up and held her tightly by the waist. He was ready to go, but not before Ting picked up every golden crystal scattered around, putting them back in her inventory. Precaution, she said. Then they set off beyond the walls, to a secluded place where the wind, the trees, and the nearby creatures would be the only witnesses.

  It wasn’t Noah who decided the moment, but she who hesitated in front of the screen and nodded in the end. It was such a small movement, but it unleashed a colossal being before her eyes.

  With no strength in her legs, Ting found herself on her knees. Trembling, before the presence of something that seemed to make the earth shake. That being made her doubt her own purpose and worth. So weak, living in a world with such monstrous creatures, how could she keep surviving? Why? It was a question she couldn’t even begin to answer.

  — Are you alright, Ting? — Noah knelt beside her, offering his hand — Do you want me to take him back?

  The hand of someone who had always tried to appear confident when it came to danger was now trembling too. In front of such a creature, fear comes naturally. Knowing this, Ting accepted the help to stand, but not to give up. She wanted to get closer, to touch; something that had already been where she dreamed of reaching. But alone, she couldn’t do it.

  She clung to Noah’s back with her eyes closed. Each step made her body pulse in rhythm, freeze, miss a beat. When the shadow enveloped her, her heart stopped for a moment. Still, she carried on. Step by step, she reached the red-marked black scales.

  Her hand, surrounded by a cold touch that now seemed warm, touched the icy, scaly body. A trembling smile broke across her face.

  She fell, but not just from fear. With satisfaction, for not having given up before such an overwhelming challenge.