The hidden spring lay concealed in a remote glen, a quiet sanctuary untouched by the chaos of civilization.
Its crystal waters, fed by a natural spring, shone in the soft light of the high sun, sending rippling sheets of light across the smooth, moss-covered stones that lined its banks.
The air was motionless, only interrupted by the soft gurgle of water and the sound of leaves stirred by a languid wind.
After their arduous journey in the forest and the experience with the ferocious Crimson Fanged Ape, the imperial guests and Su Vaen came to this serene oasis.
As they walked towards the spring, the prince abruptly decided that he would not take a bath in the spring, but wash himself upon his return to the camp.
The prince and Su Vaen would remain on the other side of the riverbank, lying against a powerful, ancient tree that was also a silent observer of nature's enduring beauty.
Lying against the tree, keen and introspective Prince Xian had his gaze fixed on the opposite side of the spring.
His attitude was one of repose but alertness; his thoughts, ever attuned to the cadence of war and the weight of leadership, now luxuriated in the quiet majesty of the glen.
The regal bearing of the prince, marked by the unmistakable bearing of the Celestial Zephyr Bloodline, gave him an aura of authority even while at leisure. His dark blue war cloak, damp from the last exertions, lay folded neatly at his side.
He did not need to wash away the marks of war—the day's wounds were as much his legacy as the noble blood that ran through his veins.
Across from him, beyond the spring, was the gentle lapping of water and the delicate dance of light. There, among the waves' gentle ripples, Princess Xinyue Mei had stepped quietly into the water.
Her arrival was one of understated beauty, a mix of refined beauty and unspoken authority.
Attired in a simple but flowing robe, she moved with the easy suppleness of a dancer. Every step was deliberate, every step imbued with the gentle power of the Xinyue Clan's Origin Beast Bloodline.
Her delicate features, bolstered by long, raven-black locks that shone as she moved, radiated in the soft illumination. Her almond-shaped eyes, even though hidden behind a curtain of water, seemed to shine with an inner radiance that belied her young poise.
There was silence for a good long time.
The prince and Su Vaen lay side by side, their eyes on the opposite side. Neither of them said anything, allowing the tranquility of the glen to enter their hearts.
Su Vaen's Dimensional Perception was full of vivid impressions in his inner world.
While He was trying the Dimensional Perception. He was literally blind to the light, but his inner vision—a vivid canvas of energy, emotion, and soft light—saw the princess as an elegant form, her actions as gentle strokes upon a living canvas.
He not only gazed in wonder at her beauty but at the serenity of purpose that hummed about her, an echo of the worthy tradition that she carried in every courteous stride.
Prince Xian, ever the reserve, stood lost in reverie as he leaned against the rough bark of the venerable tree.
His mind was torn between duty and introspection.
The battle they'd just fought crossed his mind—a battle of raw power and chivalrous artistry—but now, in the serene quiet of the glen, he thought about the weightier responsibility of his role.
He was the young master of the Xinyue Clan, heir to a legacy tempered in the flames of ancient wars and hardened through cycles of discipline. But even the vigor of his line was not vigorous enough to conceal from the world altogether the human need of a few minutes' quiet quietude. Su Vaen stood guard, in complete silence meanwhile.
Out of the quietude, he managed to reflect on his own past, the professional life of Tenebris Energy which had revolutionized his life and led him to his mastery to view the world anew, in unfamiliar terms to most other minds.
But even as his inner sight discerned the tangled web of energies within the forest, his intellect was frequently taken away from its object by the soft radiance of Princess Mei—a gleam of gentle power that had penetrated further into his heart than he would be willing to admit. He reasoned it's not every day you catch a glimpse of a good-looking' girl. This love sickness will subside when she disappears.
It was no silence; it was filled with the gentle sound of nature's music—a soft lullaby of whispering leaves, mumbling brooks, and distant bird calls.
Every note, every vibration blended with the original rhythm of the forest, and Su Vaen's inner eye translated them to her as the language of loveliness and eternal wisdom. He still felt excitement because he knew that the princess was nearby, a peaceful reminder of all that might be accomplished if hearts could speak without sound.
After what had appeared to be an endless stretch of tranquil contemplation, the faint ruffling of the water's surface announced the shattering of the singular moment.
Princess, satisfied that she had bathed, ascended from the spring. Covering herself with an embroidered cover cloth, she glided toward the waters' shores, into the gentle chatter of the trees continuing the melodic rhythm where it faded.
Su Vaen remained close to his tree, his heart gently vibrating with the recollection of her beautiful form.
He knew his role to be that of a guardian—a defender, a guide, and perhaps one day, a companion to those whose destinies were tied to his own. But in that quiet moment, he allowed himself some reflection.
The princess's beauty, not just frozen in physical poise but also in the faint aura of spirit, left a deep impression upon him.
A beauty that existed beyond the material, a calm power that sang with the timeless energies of the earth.
Prince Xian and Princess Xinyue Mei exchanged a few tentative words about the journey ahead, their voices soft and respectful. The prince spoke of the secret sanctuary awaiting them.
As the sun climbed higher and began to decline casting dappled shadows and a warm light across the glen, the three prepared to depart. The princess, invigorated by her rest, emerged from the spring with quiet determination, while the prince, the fearless leader that he was, gathered his wits and prepared to press on their journey.
Su Vaen, leaning quietly against the ancient tree, took one final deep breath, burning the scene into his mind.