The command came at dusk.
Lanterns still hung over the canals, their reflections rippling like blood-stained stars. Servants hurried through the courtyards carrying sealed urns and jade censers. The scent of oil and iron followed them.
Kang Ya Zhen stood before the chief envoy, face hidden behind her fan. "The preparations are complete," she said.
He smiled. "Excellent. Then let the court witness heaven's mercy… and its wrath."
We were led to the outer terrace overlooking the river. Targets lined the far bank: stone effigies carved in the likeness of soldiers and beasts. The air shimmered with talismans; every movement hummed with restrained power.
"Demonstrate the resonance," the chief envoy ordered. "Strike."
I hesitated. "With what, Your Excellency?"
He gestured to the bond mark faintly glowing on my wrist. "With yourselves, of course."
Ji Ming's voice was low. "He wants us to destroy the statues?"
"They want proof," I whispered. "Proof that we can."
Our gazes met, silver to flame. The hum of our bond deepened, pulling at the edges of restraint. I felt his heartbeat inside mine, too close, too loud.
He raised his hand. I mirrored him.
Light bloomed. Silver and crimson threads coiled through the air like serpents of lightning. The first pulse shattered half the effigies, the second split the terrace stones.
Cries rose behind us. The chief envoy stepped forward, eyes gleaming. "Magnificent!"
But I could feel it… beneath the beauty was something wrong, the resonance was now hungrier than before, feeding on fear, and on pain.
"Enough," Ya Zhen said sharply.
The chief envoy ignored her. "Again!"
Ji Ming's hand trembled. "If we keep going, someone will die."
"That," His Excellency said, "is the point."
Ya Zhen moved first. Her fan snapped open, releasing a burst of vermilion light that sliced through the air between us and thecchief envoy. The resonance faltered.
"Forgive me, Your Excelleny," she said coolly. "but the Emperor values precision, not waste."
Her defiance was silk wrapped around steel. The chief envoy's smile thinned, but he inclined his head. "Very well. You may rest your miracles… for now."
Later, in the quiet of Ya Zhen's chambers, she poured water over the shattered talismans in her hand. "They saw enough to know your power," she said softly. "Now they will plan to own it."
Ji Ming's knuckles were white around his saber. "Then we leave tonight."
She shook her head. "Run now, you'll only prove their fear right. Survive, and you'll turn that fear into leverage."
Her gaze lifted to the window where moonlight traced the floor. "The court only understands one language… control. If you want freedom, you'll have to seek it first."
When she left, Ji Ming looked at me. "She's right, isn't she?"
"Maybe?" I said. "Every word here costs a life, but I'm not sure whose she's willing to spend."
Outside, the moon hung over the crimson river, pale and perfect. For the first time, I wondered whether the bond that saved us might also be the thing that burns the world down.