As Ren Zian entered the Astral Garden through the eastern gate's broken arch, the smell of ash was still present. Through the broken leaves, the wind carried murmurs that sounded like interrupted prayers or memories that would not die. Although it was quiet, there was no peace in the world.
It was the aftermath.
He discovered her kneeling by the fountain with blood that wasn't hers tainting the water. Mira. The priestess in the past. The person who once attempted to poison him. The one who had, for some reason, decided to keep him safe during the previous conflict.
She had lost her veil. He couldn't tell if it was rain or tears that caused her hair to stick to her cheeks. When he got close, she didn't raise her head.
Ren whispered, "You shouldn't be by yourself."
"I am always by myself," she answered in a flat voice.
He knelt next to her. "Today, you saved me."
"I didn't intend to." Bitterly, she laughed. "I had the beast in my sights. Instead, I struck the god.
He examined her hands, which were red, shaky, and scraped. With purpose, not guilt. "You had every justification for allowing my death."
"But I didn't." At last, she turned to face him. "Are you curious as to why?"
Ren gave a nod.
"Because I recognized myself in you." I also had dreams before everything broke inside of me. My goal was to construct a sacred object. However, after using me and claiming me as holy, they cast me aside like shattered glass.
The final word caused her voice to break. Ren didn't say anything.
Mira's eyes were glassy with unresolved pain as she turned to face him. I witnessed a man decide to break rather than bend when he defied that god and said no. And I came to the realization that I wanted to have faith in someone once more.
Ren's throat constricted. "There is no reason to believe in me."
With a half-lived, half-broken smile, she said, "Too late." "I already do."
A pause.
Then, hesitantly, her fingers reached for his. As though requesting approval. As though this would also break.
Ren did not retreat.
He allowed her hand to rest over his instead. Two people with every reason to despise one another, holding on because no one else ever did, sat in the silence of ruin for a moment.
She spoke softly after that. "You were cursed to be wanted but never really known when the heavens put you up for auction. However, I can now see behind your eyes. You wish to be more than a tool.
He gave a nod.
"I want to be more than what they made me."
Behind them, the fountain rippled, silent, in mourning.
Then, without intending to, Ren reached up and brushed a lock of hair off her cheek. Mira's breath caught. Her walls, which had been so meticulously built over years of treachery, shook.
Their mouths locked.
Not with passion.
However, in mourning.
It was a kiss that tasted like defiance and grief, like two broken blades attempting to mend themselves with heat. As if worried that he would disappear, Mira's hands moved up his arms and settled against his shoulders.
Ren kissed her more deeply, firmly but not urgently, until he felt her melt against him. The intimacy didn't burn. It was the persistent kind.
Mira's voice was a whisper against his chest as they finally parted ways.
"Don't make me second-guess my faith in you."
He didn't respond verbally. He just squeezed her closer, as though he could ease her suffering by doing the same.
The skies swirled far above them.
A red seal flashed open in the clouds, unseen by either of them.
And a god stirred in the Temple of Returning Souls.