Even after being mercilessly tossed out, Xin didn't complain. He trusted his body could handle it. But as the cold seeped into his skin, his fingers numb, his breath freezing midair, worry began to creep in.
He sneezed. Tiny droplets crystallized before hitting the floor, turning into delicate flakes as they fell.
Ugh… This isn't good...
Left with no other choice, Xin leaned back and slammed himself against the door to make some noise.
A moment later, the door creaked open, releasing a wave of warm mist and the faint scent of flowers.
Standing there was Gloria, now wearing a thin nightgown. She looked down at Xin, amusement flickering in her eyes. Then she reached out and poked a finger directly at his frozen-wide eyes.
"Wha—what are you doing!?" Xin yelped.
"Trying to play dead to get my attention?" Gloria huffed.
Xin wanted to retort, but he quickly realized he couldn't move. He could breathe, he could blink, but his body was weighed down by an invisible frost, pinned helplessly to the floor.
"If you'd left me out there just a few minutes longer… I'd be dead for real," Xin said weakly.
Gloria let out a sigh and pulled him inside. She shut the door gently. The warmth from the enchanted heatstones spread instantly throughout the room.
She sat beside him, eyes narrowing in quiet assessment.
Xin remained stiff, only his eyes darting about. He tensed as Gloria began touching him – softly inspecting his arms, legs, neck, and even his face. Flustered, he muttered:
"I didn't expect you to be so forward. That's supposed to be my job."
"Stop fantasizing!" Gloria flicked his red-tipped nose. Her tone shifted serious.
"I'm checking your body. Your muscles are fine, but the outer joints are frozen stiff."
Xin tried to move again but failed. He swallowed dryly.
"Can I recover?"
Another flick.
"Not sure. But you'd better stay still. I'll try something when morning comes."
Xin sighed helplessly, staring up at the dark ceiling.
Eventually, the weariness from their long journey weighed him down. Just as he was about to drift into sleep, Gloria suddenly spoke.
"Hey... what's your name?"
"Xin."
"No last name?"
"No. In Gedion, no one has a family name."
"Gedion? That's where you're from?"
"Yeah. It used to be a beautiful place." He paused. "Used to be…"
"Something happened there?" Gloria asked quietly.
Xin was silent for a few seconds.
"Kind of like me… It got left behind."
Gloria grew thoughtful, then said softly: "Gedion's not on any map. Someone like you – lost, forgotten – if you die… you'd vanish like those snowflakes outside. Falling, melting… without a trace."
Xin chuckled faintly, replying to her teasing.
"You picked me for this journey thinking I'd be easy to erase? I'm not that easy to kill. I… still have to go back. You know, a man's promise… is the hardest thing to swallow."
There was no reply. Gloria might've already fallen asleep.
Xin quietly closed his eyes too, letting the silence cradle him as he slipped into sleep.
---------------------------------------
Morning hadn't fully broken yet, but a rich floral scent stirred Xin's senses. He shifted slightly, noticing the softness beneath his back – nothing like the cold, hard floor from the night before.
When he opened his eyes, he froze – not from cold, but from surprise.
Gloria was sitting cross-legged on the bed, meditating. Her eyes were closed, her forehead beaded with sweat.
In front of her sat an open wooden box. From within, thin vines sprouted and extended toward him. The soft, green tendrils gently wrapped around his lower back, spreading a warm, soothing sensation through his body. The numbness faded completely.
Xin flexed his fingers, then his arms, and finally his whole body. Relief flooded through him – Gloria had healed him.
The vines slowly retreated back into the box. Gloria smiled faintly, closing the lid and stroking its surface as if to calm some small creature inside.
"You should go out now," she murmured, her voice tired.
She collapsed back onto the bed, pulled the covers over her head, and added quietly, but firmly: "I need rest."
Xin didn't say a word. He got up and walked toward the hallway window.
Far in the distance, the first golden rays of morning pierced through the lingering veil of darkness still clinging to the world.
Downstairs, the inn was much quieter than it had been the previous evening. Smoke curled from the kitchen. A few staff members moved about, cleaning the floors and resetting tables.
As Xin entered the main hall, his eyes met those of a man seated near the walkway. He wore a black feathered coat and a wide-brimmed hat to match – elegant, but understated.
Upon seeing Xin, the man gently set down his teacup and gave a nod.
"Good morning, young man. Did you sleep well?"
Xin blinked, caught slightly off guard, but replied politely.
"It was… decent. And you are…?"
The man smiled, sipping his tea before answering: "I'm the owner of this inn. My staff mentioned a rather unusual young couple checked in. I assumed that would be you."
Xin waved his hands in protest.
"Ah, no, no – you're mistaken. We're just… traveling together."
The innkeeper chuckled, his sharp eyes observing Xin closely.
"I figured. Still... it's been a long time since a young woman stayed here. You may have noticed, most of our guests are men."
Xin paused. The man was right. Since arriving, he hadn't seen a single female guest besides Gloria.