The sun cast it's golden light over the little village of lianhua nestled at the foot of the green mountain, a place that seemed untouched by time, where the air was still fresh carrying the scent of fresh flowers.
For Ren Tianyu, this village had been like a different part of the world, something that's there, but out of reach. It was mentioned to him in passing, before he saw it when climbing the tall trees from a distance. Today, that distance would change.
He will finally visit the village, visit the natives of this new world.
His first Glimpse of this world.
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"It's bustling." Ren muttered, looking around curiously as he took his first steps past the familiar valley. The village was spread out before him, like a painting from ancient times, except it was real. The bright fabrics on the stalls fluttering from the wind, the voices overlapping, they all added to that painting.
"Don't stare too hard, people might think you've never seen a village before." Mei teased while walking besides him before giving a slight smirk.
"That's because I haven't...." Ren stated, which made the brown haired feel a pang of guilt.
"Let me get you something." She said before heading to one of the stalls.
"What's that? It smells delicious."
"That is what I like to call, stick of greatness, it's grilled meat skewers, full of various spices." She explained, not trying to be teasing anymore as she still felt guilt.
"Hahaha." Ren chuckled a little at her naming sense, but still took it nonetheless.
"So, what do you think?" She asked after he took the first bite.
"It tastes...just like greatness on a stick."
"Exactly!!"
The duo were in Lianhua village for their Lantern bloom festival, a local tradition of the village marking the changing seasons and the luminous lantern flowers that bloom at the time, not blooming again till next year.
The entire village was covered in them, the bright pink and soft gold petals filled the place, gently moving and flying with the passing wind.
The streets were packed with vendors selling, sweets, games, firecrackers some even selling oddly shaped masks.
Ren pointed at one that looked like ghost face from his previous life, just less details.
"I want that."
"You have....odd taste."
"No no, I have a unique taste. Besides, it's cool and mysterious."
"You're saying that because you like hiding."
"I'm strategic."
Despite their bickering, Mei still went and bought it for him with an exaggerated sigh.
"Here, oh wise strategic ghost, you mask..... happy festival." That last part was barely audible, but didn't go unnoticed by Ren. He didn't comment though, knowing her character. He then wore the mask proudly.
Moving through the streets they played some of the games there, of course, competing who will win.
One of the games, a games where you had to toss rings onto woodedn ducks. Mei won, of course because she "accidentally" nudged Ren's arm mid throw.
He was sure that's cheating, but she just said that it's called strategizing.
As time passes and the lantern came to it's climax, showing it's true charm. Hundreds of candles were placed on the luminous lantern flowers before getting gently placed along the stream, making it similar to a light show while drifting slowly.
Ren stood silently besides the water, watching as people placed their wishes in the flowers before pushing them gently, each carrying a message or wish.
His fingers brushed the paper, not knowing what to write.
"What? Can't write?" Mei asked teasingly, knowing full well he can write because she took the lessons alongside him sometimes.
"I can't decide what to write." Ren shrugged.
"Maybe your brain is so empty that you can't think of something?" Mei said, half teasingly, trying to cheer him up.
Ren looked at her, before turning around to write on his paper. He directly put it his flower, not showing or telling her.
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Later that night, as the festival came to an end, Ren heard a soft tune carried with the wind. It was very faint, which made Ren decide to follow it, trying to find who's playing it.
Reaching the edge of the forest, Ren saw it, a cloaked figure, playing the tune beautifully and softly.
Their face was hidden, nothing he could make out from their figure, only a shadow that he felt wasn't hostile.
Before he could take a steo forward, the figure stopped playing and looked directly at him for a few moments before turning around and leaving directly.
Ren blinked, not knowing what was that. He glanced at where the figure had been, and saw a piece of paper.
He didn't see it getting placed there, he opened it nonetheless.
"With the first flickering flame, seek the phoenix. The stars remember."
He frowned, not understanding a thing.
"What does that even mean...?"
The wind couldn't answer.