Eirian wasn’t the soft woman people insisted n wanted, but Mingzhe’s eyes stayed on her as she made and poured a sweet blossom tea.
She waved him to a chair, sparking her magic to start a fire in the fireplace. Despite it being the sumr months, the Calia and the borderlands could still drop close to freezing at night. Eirian couldn’t stand the cold, so she still had a fire most nights.
It was also, she was proud to note, an incredibly romantic setting and about the only one she was good at creating. Dancing firelight made everyone attractive and it was doing amazing things for Mingzhe as he sat next to her.
Hopefully, it was making Eirian just as attractive.
Mingzhe zipped his tea. “How old were you when your magic appeared?”
Eirian thought back. “Five or six I think? I don’t really rember a ti with out it.” She paused, thinking back to her childhood even though it was mostly a haze now. A few more powerful mories stood out, but she moved passed them quickly, not interested in the emotional upheaval. “It’s always there, sitting just under my skin.” She flexed her hand, watching the veins and skin shift. “Sotis it feels like its trying to escape. It pushes and pushes at like it’s going to rip apart at the seams and burst free.”
Horrified, Mingzhe’s hands started to shake.
“It’s endless, like an ocean with no horizon.” She paused, unable to resist teasing him a bit. “Sotis it storms. Sotis its still. Sotis I don’t even think it likes , but I don’t think I’d exist without it.” She noticed the look on his face. “Isn’t that how yours feels?”
Mingzhe frantically shook his head. “No! Not at all. It- its barely there. I have to look for it usually.” He paused. “Though it is easier at tis.”
Curious, Eirian leaned closer. “What tis?”
Mingzhe shrugged, sipped his tea. “In battle, I think. At least, that’s when I’ve noticed it.”
Eirian nodded enthusiastically. “Magic is violent by nature. It loves to fight.”
Mingzhe didn’t look nearly as enthusiastic as she did. “It’s horrifying.” He said quietly.
Eirian dimd a bit. “You don’t like your magic?”
Mingzhe shook his head. “It nearly killed the first ti it ca out and its never…it’s never been a comfort.”
Eirian slumped in her chair, a little disappointed that he wasn’t as excited about magic as she was.
“Has your’s ever been…?” Mingzhe asked hopefully.
Eirian frowned thoughtfully. “I suppose I’ve never thought about whether it is or not. I find its presence comforting, even when it’s threatening.”
Mingzhe sipped his tea, trying to gather his thoughts.
“I am comforted by what it allows to do.” Eirian offered. “I can protect myself. Protect everything I care about.”
Mingzhe frowned, unvconvinced.
“Maybe once I’ve trained you a bit, it’ll be easier? Once your more in tune with it? And you can use it.” Eirian studied him. “People always fear the unknown.”
Mingzhe’s expression brigthened a bit. “Is that possible?”
Eirian shrugged. “Anything is. If you work hard enough.”
Mingzhe smiled, bright and true. It took Eirian by surprise in it’s beauty, lightening his entire countenance the way lifting the miasma from Chenzhou had done for him.
Apparently the Calia made very attractive n. Maybe she could have avoided the heartbreak of Philip if she’d co out here earlier. “You’re quite stunning when you smile.” She told him and watched the blush crawl across his face.
“Thank you.” His smile turned bashful. “You’re beautiful. Always.”
He looked away and cleared his throat as Eirian purred. “Thank you.” She scooted her chair closer. “You should train as much as you can. Can you co here after dinner? At least a few nights a week?”
Mingzhe nodded. “I should be able to do that. Though things will likely co up. Especially as the fighting starts.”
“Of couse, of course.” Impulsively, Eirian reached out and put her hand on his. “I know you have a great deal of responsibility.”
Mingzhe looked at her. “So do you. I don’t want to take up too much of your ti. You’re doing such a favor.”
“I’m happy to.” Eirian insisted, squeezing his hand and giving him an inviting smile. “The idea of teaching soone is interesting. I’m quite excited.”
Mingzhe smiled and they lapsed into a comfortable silence. Eirian bit her lip, debating whether or not to push a bit hard. Flirt a bit more. He seed receptive, had even called her beautiful, but he hadn’t made any move himself. n in the capital were more forward than she’d seen from Chenzhou and Yuze, who were her best points of reference in the Calia. Maybe Mingzhe was just shy, like Chenzhou? They were practically the sa generation and had grown up in similar circumstances.
Was there sothing in the schooling at the Calia? Or was growing up in families so focused on military service the reason?
Or was it Eirian? Had everything with Philip damaged her so much that she wasn’t noticing any man that shared his confidence or charisma anymore?
…
Then again, maybe that was a good thing.
Maybe soone compeltely different was exactly what she needed.
And she didn’t want to be alone forever, so she might as well try now.
She set her empty cup on a side table and leaned it, but before she could say anything, Mingzhe drank the last of his tea and stood.
“Thank you so much for tonight.” He picked up her cup, returned both of them to the bar table, then turned back to her.
A frission of excitent ran through her. Did he want their hands free for sothing?
Was Eirian’s night suddenly going to get a lot better?
He returned to the chairs and Eirian’s heartbeat sky rocketed when he took her hands in his.
His earlier shyness was gone. He seed sure of himself now and it was an incredibly attractive thing on him.
He pressed his lips to her knuckles, both sets, and she couldn’t help but notice how smooth and warm his skin was as he did. “It has been a great pleasure. I will send word when I can return.”
And then he bowed, left and left Eirian staring after him, befuddled.
The door closed behind him with a click and it jolted Eirian out of her shock.
“What the hell just happened?” She muttered.
~ tbc
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