As I stepped into the grand hall, the air was buzzing with excited whispers and the soft clinking of glasses. Despite the festive atmosphere, a faint, biting chill clung to the room—the tell-tale sign of Ningxue's newly awakened Ice element.
She stood near a dais, looking radiant in a shimmering gown. She was currently nodding politely as an Elder droned on about "future responsibilities," but the moment her gaze landed on me, her distant expression vanished. She broke into a genuine, bright smile, practically slipping away from the Elder before he could finish his sentence.
"You came!" she said, her voice light and melodic. She hurried over, the slight chill around her feeling more like a refreshing breeze than a frost.
"I wouldn't miss it," I said, offering a friendly grin. "Awakening on your own? That's quite the statement, Ningxue. You've officially outpaced everyone at school."
She giggled, a rare, unguarded sound. "It was mostly luck, I think. Though, I have to admit, it feels amazing. I can finally see the stars in my mind."
I leaned in slightly, keeping my voice low so the surrounding socialites wouldn't overhear. "They're already talking about training schedules, aren't they?"
She rolled her eyes playfully, a stark contrast to the regal image the Mu family was trying to project. "They haven't stopped! It feels like they want to put me on a shelf and polish me like a trophy. Sometimes I think they'd prefer it if I just practiced ice sculptures all day instead of going to school."
"Then don't let them," I said with a wink. "You're a mage now. That gives you plenty of leverage—you can just tell them you need to focus on your studies with your favorite classmates instead."
She laughed again, looking genuinely amused. "I'll have to remember that one. You always seem to know exactly what to say to make this feel less like a stuffy ceremony."
"I just pay attention," I said, offering a reassuring smile. "You've worked hard for this, Ningxue. Enjoy the night. You deserve to celebrate, not just 'perform' for the Elders."
She beamed at me, the frost around her swirling playfully. "I'm really glad you're here, Yuzi. Everyone else is treating me like a statue, but with you, I feel like... well, like I can actually breathe."
The weight of a hundred pairs of eyes—all calculating, measuring, and debating her worth—was clearly starting to drain her. I could see the way she kept glancing toward the large glass doors leading to the manor's private garden.
"You look like you're about to freeze the punch bowl just to escape," I whispered with a grin.
Ningxue giggled softly, a sound that was far more vibrant than the cold, regal facade she was supposed to maintain. "Is it that obvious? Every time I turn around, someone new is offering me a 'brilliant' career plan. I think I've been told 'you're the future' about fifty times tonight."
"Well, the future seems to be in dire need of some fresh air," I countered, gesturing subtly toward the balcony. "How about we make an escape? I know a shortcut to the terrace that the Elders are too stuffy to use."
Her eyes sparkled with mischief. "Lead the way."
We slipped through the crowd, moving behind a cluster of ornate statues and velvet curtains until we reached a narrow, stone-paved passage leading outside. As we stepped out into the night air, the suffocating formality of the hall vanished. The garden was bathed in moonlight, and for the first time all night, Ningxue let out a long, relieved sigh.
She spun around, her dress swirling, and the faint frost around her fingers shimmered like stardust. She wasn't an asset or a prize out here; she was just Ningxue.
"You have no idea how much I needed that," she said, leaning against the cold stone railing, her cheeks slightly flushed from the excitement. "It's nice to just be... me. Even if it's only for ten minutes."
"You're doing great, Ningxue," I said, leaning against the railing beside her. "Don't let them box you in. You've got talent that they can't even begin to quantify yet."
She looked at me, her expression turning earnest and soft. "I know I have the talent, Yuzi, but I'm glad you're the one who sees it. Everyone else just sees a tool. When I'm with you, I feel like I'm actually allowed to be a person."
The silence that followed wasn't heavy or awkward; it was comfortable. Out here, under the moon, the gap between the 'hidden master' I was becoming and the 'student' she was just starting to be felt bridgeable.
We stood in the moonlight for a moment longer, enjoying the silence, until the rhythmic crunch of gravel broke the spell.
"Wait, I think I hear voices," Ningxue whispered, her posture shifting from relaxed to alert.
"Sounds like someone is arguing," I added, cocking my head.
We crept toward the edge of the terrace, peeking around a heavy stone pillar. Near the entrance to the garden, two figures were currently in a heated standoff with a security guard. It was Mo Fan and Zhang Xiaohou, looking distinctly out of place in their regular clothes, clutching a poorly wrapped, lopsided gift box.
"We were invited! Well, sort of!" Mo Fan was saying, waving his arms indignantly. "We're friends of the family! Or, uh, friends of the guest of honor!"
"Yeah!" Xiaohou chimed in, though he looked ready to bolt if the guard took one more step forward. "We just want to give her our present. It's... it's custom-made!"
The guard didn't look impressed. "This is a private event for the elite, not a playground for middle schoolers. Get lost before I have you escorted off the grounds."
Ningxue's eyes widened, and she let out a small, surprised laugh, covering her mouth to keep from being heard. She turned to me, her expression a mix of amusement and genuine warmth. "Is that... Mo Fan and Zhang Xiaohou? How did they even get past the front gate?"
"Knowing Mo Fan? Probably a mix of pure audacity and a very flimsy side entrance," I replied, suppressing a grin.
"They're going to get themselves thrown out," she said, her eyes softening. "Wait here—I want to see if I can save them from making a scene."
She didn't wait for a response, stepping out from behind the pillar with a grace that instantly silenced the security guard. As soon as Mo Fan caught sight of her, his face lit up like he'd just found a gold mine.
"Ningxue! You're here! We were just—well, we brought you something!" He held up the lopsided package, looking proud of himself despite the absurdity of the situation.
I stepped out behind her, crossing my arms and shaking my head. "You two are absolute idiots," I said, though my voice held a laugh. "You realize this is a high-society gala, right? Not the back alley of a hotpot shop."
Mo Fan didn't even look embarrassed. He just grinned at me, then back at Ningxue. "Hey, you're the one who said we should celebrate, right? We didn't want to miss the big moment."
Ningxue walked right up to them, ignoring the guard's confused expression, and took the gift with a genuine, beaming smile that I hadn't seen her give anyone else tonight. "Thank you, Mo Fan. I... I really appreciate it."
To Be Continued...
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