[Video; UN: gentlebreeze]

[gentledawn]

[He is going through his daily exercises, holding Shuanghua - his sword - as if the blade is a mere extension of his body. His feet barely seem to touch the ground as he dances through his various sword positions. Snow is kicked up here and there, creating a dust of white against his already white robes.

Needless to say, he seems otherworldly - perhaps more elemental spirit than man.]

Is anyone available for a spar?

[Xingchen lands before his communicator, his sleeves fluttering like wings.]

I do not mind if you are a beginner or exceptionally talented. I can adjust.

[Smiling encouragingly, he tips his head back, chuckling when a snowflake melts on his cheek.]

Comments

[roundandaround]

[Rinku turns it over in her head. She smiles at the marshmallows in her drink.]

I don't wanna judge people if they're so sad that they don't know how to be happy. But you're right, I don't wanna stop being happy, either. You're always nice about these things.

[gentledawn]

It's up to them to accept that they are sad. Taking that out on you isn't fair. [Xingchen hugs a pillow to his chest.] Your happiness is a gift, little friend.

[roundandaround]

[Rinku looks up and tilts her head.]

Are you okay, Xingchen-san? Did something happen to you too?

[gentledawn]

...mm? [He glances towards his portrait of Song Lan.] I am missing someone, that's all. As more time passes, I can't help thinking about him.

[roundandaround]

[She looks up at the portrait and hums.]

I hope you get to see him again soon. All kinds of people come here, after all!

[gentledawn]

They do. I wonder why he has to be...cut off...from me. [As if they won't be torn apart already.]

It feels like our fate.

[roundandaround]

I dunno. Isn't the whole point of fate that you don't know it? And maybe you don't even have to accept it if it is! I bet you'll get to see each other again.

[gentledawn]

I know how I will live and how I will die. [So the mystery is no longer a mystery for him.] If I am given a chance, I will find him.

[roundandaround]

Eh? You mean like... a prophecy or something, from your world?

[gentledawn]

I learned the details from those who were with me at that time.

[roundandaround]

Oh! Like time travel, or how people come here from different times. Huh... but how do you know things are gonna go the same way? Maybe you can do things differently. Like branching paths, like routes in a VN or something! Although I never actually finished one myself, I always got distracted.

[gentledawn]

I don't know that and...it gives me hope. [Some, at least.] What is a VN?

[roundandaround]

Oh! Visual novel. It's a kind of game that's also kind of like a book.

[gentledawn]

...a game and a book all in one? How does that work?

[roundandaround]

'Cause there's not a lot of gameplay, except when some of them have minigames. You just read and then pick the option for what happens next.