it's a nightmare but it's one exciting ride

"I don't know yet. I suspect you're going to be very bad at being boring."

of-the-night-sky

"How often will I see you?"

"Often, I expect."

of-the-night-sky

"You'll come here? Or will I be summoned elsewhere."

"I'll find you. You can go wherever you wish."

of-the-night-sky

"Except outside."

"You can go outside. You can even go into the forest. You won't get very far. I can't make the trees let someone go, but I can make them not let someone go."

of-the-night-sky

"How do you know the trees will let Xue Meng go? What will you do if they don't?"

"If they don't let him go he'll come storming back in and I'll tell him to try again in an hour. The only person the trees never let go is me."

of-the-night-sky

"Hm.

Do you know why?"

"No. I don't remember much from before it was like this."

of-the-night-sky

“Hm.”

"If you had any insights, I would be happy to hear them. I would much rather be free to come and go myself than keep prisoners."

of-the-night-sky

“None so far. But I’ll keep that in mind.”

For some reason, he feels as though this person might actually have a chance.

"I would be eternally in your debt," he says, taking one of the man's hands and pressing a kiss to the knuckles.

of-the-night-sky

“Nonsense!” Chu Wanning gasps, outraged and flustered. His cheeks burn. “I’m here as your prisoner!”

"Can one not have gratitude towards a prisoner?"

of-the-night-sky

“No!”

"I don't see why not. Well, if I ever get out of here, you won't be a prisoner anymore."

of-the-night-sky

“ - Very well.”

He smiles.

It shouldn't be possible to smile like that, but apparently it is.

of-the-night-sky

It should be terrifying. It should not be cute at all.

“Do you need anything of me right now?”

"No. I shall leave you to rest," he says, and bows, and leaves.

of-the-night-sky

Wanning sets down his knife and takes a look around.