It was a guest room above a tavern.
The room was sparsely furnished with just a table, chairs, and a bed, its condition a bit modest but, at least, clean.
The curtains were not drawn completely, and the morning sunlight slipped through the gaps, casting a long diagonal beam that split the sleeping occupants bed into two distinct sections in the dim light.
Lin Zhuo awoke from her slumber. Her mind still hazy, she soon realized that she was being held in the embrace of a man.
The man, deeply asleep, possessed handsome features, with a head of slightly wavy black hair. He was much taller than her, and when he held her, she felt as though he enveloped her entirely.
She sat up, the tangled bedclothes and her long, dark hair, reminiscent of satin, slid down her shoulders with the motion. The soft strands brushed against her bare back, the slightly curled ends resting gently against her slender waist, swinging lightly next to the marks and bite marks on her skin.
Lin Zhuo lowered her gaze coldly, taking a moment to gather her scattered thoughts, trying to recall exactly what had transpired the previous night that had led her to end up in bed with a stranger.
Fragmented memories slowly pieced together. Finally, at the start of the fragments, she saw herself activating the magic circle in the basement.
She had stood at the center of the magic array then, with sounds of someone banging on the door and commands shouted from the other side for her to surrender. But she had ignored them, pouring dragon's blood onto the intricate and massive magic circle before her.
The dragon's blood, as if infused with life, spread across the array, lighting up rune after rune.
Once all the runes were illuminated, the array activated. The stacked layers of runes and geometric patterns began to spin, each moving in a pre-determined direction and speed, the magic flowing upwards, lifting her off the ground. The blinding light engulfed her, carrying her through the river of time, sending her back to the past.
Her intention had been to use the magic array to travel two years back in time, to save her adoptive mother, who had been murdered during a home invasion.
The drawing of the magic array involved "time," a domain few dared claim mastery over. Even Lin Zhuo, who was hailed as a genius, had dedicated much time and effort to researching it before finally completing the array capable of sending her back.
However, something went awry with the magic array.
The light dissipated, and Lin Zhuos feet touched the ground. She stepped into a puddle of foul-smelling water. When she opened her eyes, she found that she was no longer in the basement but rather in a narrow alley, where the environment and lighting were far from ideal.
Lin Zhuo muttered a brief incantation, and a soft light formed in front of her, revealing two lines of text:
**[Yugatshira]**
**[Empire Year 100, May 23rd, 3:03 PM]**
The text remained for only three seconds before shattering and rearranging itself:
**[Asgard]**
**[God Year 6582, May 23rd, 3:03 PM]**
Lin Zhuo stared at the text, lost in thought.
In the year 6604 of the God Calendar, the Emperor of Yugatshira, Bader, the last Holy Son of Asgard, declared that there were no more gods in this land and adopted a new calendar system.
A quick calculation revealed that the time anchor of the magic array had been set in the wrong position. Instead of returning two years into the past, Lin Zhuo had been sent back 122 years, into the previous era.
Undoubtedly, her plan had failed.
What should she do next?
A sharp pain flared in Lin Zhuos head.
This was a familiar problem: whenever her emotions fluctuated, her head would throb, and if she couldnt calm herself, the pain would spread throughout her body.
The failure of the magic array had clearly affected her mood. After years of meticulous work, seeing it all go to waste was disheartening. Too exhausted to console herself, Lin Zhuo walked out of the alley and entered a nearby tavern, hoping that alcohol might dull the physical pain that would likely follow.
The tavern was bustling with activity. As Lin Zhuo entered, the sounds of laughter and chatter hit her immediately, accompanied by the smells of roasted meat, bread, and cheap alcohol.
It was there that she encountered a revenant.
More than a century ago, society was far less tolerant, and dark races like demons and revenants were often met with discrimination and disdain.
Perhaps to avoid trouble, the revenant concealed the deathly aura surrounding him, but Lin Zhuo saw through his disguise immediately. She was intrigued by both his appearance and his physique.
Lin Zhuo wasnt someone who often indulged in frivolous pleasuresnot due to conservative views but because she was too busy, and her standards were high. She had never encountered anyone who caught her eye.
Now, a century later, she found herself in such a mood, so she decided to approach him, dismissing his aloofness and distance, and struck up a conversation.
Surprisingly, the conversation went smoothly. Both of them shared a fondness for the colder, more scholarly subjects, and their dialogue flowed easily, even developing into a deeper connection.
But Lin Zhuo had no intention of continuing an academic discussion. She simply wanted to break the cold demeanor he wore, make him lose control, and make him flustered
With the help of alcohol, her daring intentions grew stronger, and she lured him upstairs to the taverns guest room, claiming she wanted to have a more private conversation.
What followed was a direct proposition to the revenant, who, after a moment of stunned silence, rejected her.
Why? Is it because Im not good enough? Lin Zhuo feigned vulnerability, but secretly, she had placed several magical restraints on the room, intending to trap him.
Unlike Lin Zhuo, whose morals were compromised, the revenant seemed to have a heart of gold, akin to the angels. He thought he had wounded Lin Zhuos pride, and with visible hesitation in his eyes, he decided that it was better for her to despise him than for her to suffer because of his refusal.
Its not about you, its me he started.
What? Lin Zhuo asked.
The revenant slowly removed the glove from his left hand, revealing a skeletal hand beneath.
In Asgard, no dark creature could fully conceal their true nature. They were always forced to leave behind some sign of their race.
His skin wasnt the cold, grey, hard texture typical of revenants. He had a heartbeat, breath like a regular human, except for his left hand, which was devoid of flesh and covered in chilling white bone.
Im a revenant, he said, preparing himself for Lin Zhuos expected fear and rejection.
But the anticipated scream of terror didnt come. Instead, Lin Zhuo, a half-elf, calmly took his skeletal hand.
I know, she said. She felt the restraints she had placed being triggered as the revenant tried to flee, but he failed.
She had trapped himthis revenant, one who fit her aesthetic.
The satisfaction of her success made Lin Zhuo drop her act. She ripped away her fragile mask and smiled brightly, So, is that all?
The revenant stared at her, his indigo eyes reflecting her cheek against his bony hand.
Is there more to it? Lin Zhuos lips brushed his palm, her breath warm enough to melt his bones.
The revenant fell silent.
Lin Zhuo, sensing his hesitation, asked, Do you have a lover?
He shook his head slowly.
Do you dislike me?
He shook his head again.
Well then, Lin Zhuo leaned in closer and whispered, Hug me, dont make me ask twice.
The memory ended, and Lin Zhuo felt no regret for her indulgence the previous night. She didnt plan to invest any more time or energy into it.
She threw off the covers, got out of bed, took a shower, and changed into fresh, neat clothes. After getting herself presentable, she left the guest room.
Lin Zhuo left without a second glance, as though she hadnt been the one to coax the revenant into her bed the night before.
But she still had a shred of conscience. After descending the stairs, she paid for the room.
The young girl who took the payment was the tavern owner's daughter. Lin Zhuo, her face partially hidden by a hood, leaned against the counter, cleaning her glasses while waiting for the girl to finish counting the change.
After more than a century, not only had the calendar changed, but so had the currency. However, the essencegold, silver, and copperremained the same. The tavern kept a scale and instruments to verify the authenticity of coins from different nations, as cross-border exchange wasnt uncommon.
The tavern's scale, perhaps an heirloom passed down through generations, wasnt very precise. It took the girl a while to give Lin Zhuo her change.
Lin Zhuo swept the old coin into her coin pouch and casually asked, Is there a mercenary guild around here?
Of course, the girl answered, pointing in the direction.
Thank you. Lin Zhuo tossed a copper coin as a tip.
The spinning copper coin followed an arc, landing in the girls hand.
At the same moment, the revenant upstairs awoke.
Unlike Lin Zhuo, who had drunk herself into a stupor, he remembered everything clearlyhe had embraced that half-elf whom he had just met the night before.
She was just as inexperienced as he was, but without any hesitation. Bold and direct, she took what she wanted, like a raging fire, full of aggression and vitality.
She was too domineering, initially pretending to be more polite, knowing when to reward him with sweetness, but later, when the passion took hold, she only cared for herself. Several times, he had tried to take control, but each time she pinned him down, pressing his neck into the pillow, only giving him a chance to lead when she was exhausted.
The grip on his neck had been tight. As he got out of bed to wash, he wiped the mist off the bathroom mirror and noticed a bruise on his neck from where she had gripped him.
Remembering the sensation of suffocation, he thought that if he hadnt been a revenant, he might have been strangled to death.
Yet, oddly enough, he didnt feel fear towards Lin Zhuo. Instead, a strange satisfaction filled him.
He was the one suited for herfar more than any other race that might have been strangled to death.
Anyone can catch your attention if they just show you a bit of kindness, huh?
A mocking voice echoed in his head, the words only he could hear.
In