Ningyan slowly turned his head to look at Yunyi.
She was breathing hard, tears clinging to her lashes. Somehow, she looked more shaken than he did. As if she were the one who had been struck.
"Listen to me!" she snapped, gripping his cheeks firmly, forcing his attention to her face.
But Ningyan was already looking at her.
"I know you've been through hell, A-Yan," she said, voice trembling. "And I wasn't there. No one was there to protect you. I understand why you want peace, who wouldn't?"
Tears finally spilled, sliding down her cheeks. Ningyan's lips parted, but he didn't interrupt. He let her speak.
"But look at reality." Her grip tightened. "There is no peace. Not for you. Not for me. Not for the beast kings, or the princes, or the... princesses." Her voice broke. "You need to erase that expectation completely. Stop believing there's a quiet ending waiting for you."
Ningyan inhaled sharply.
