Chapter 47: The Flame That Never Died
That night, Mei Xiao dreamed.
Or maybe it wasn't a dream. It felt too vivid. Too hot.
She stood barefoot on a field of scorched earth, ash dancing around her like falling snow. The sky was ablaze, dyed orange and crimson. In front of her, a woman knelt—regal, wounded, burning from within.
Her. But not her.
The woman looked older, impossibly beautiful, with wings of flame stretching behind her back like a phoenix reborn. Her eyes glowed like molten gold. But her chest was pierced by a jagged obsidian blade.
"Don't be afraid," the woman whispered. "You are me. And I… was you."
Mei Xiao trembled. "Who are you?"
"I was the Phoenix Queen. Keeper of the seal. Guardian of flame and rebirth."
The woman touched her heart. "But we were betrayed. The fragments were scattered. Our soul… fractured. You are one piece now reborn."
Suddenly, fire surged beneath Mei's skin. The burning was unbearable—until it wasn't.
Until it felt like home.
The queen leaned forward, whispering in her ear.
"You must choose. Heart or duty. Love or destiny. When the last flame flickers… what will you protect?"
And just like that, Mei Xiao awoke—gasping.
She was back in her room. But sweat clung to her skin, and her heartbeat thundered like a war drum.
She looked at her palms.
They were glowing.
Briefly.
Softly.
Then the light faded.
Before she could fully process what she saw, someone knocked on her door.
It was Zhao Yun, bleary-eyed and holding a bowl of dumplings. "Can't sleep. Also, I think I heard you scream, but I brought food in case you were just hangry."
She stared at him, disoriented. "Zhao… have you ever felt like your whole life was a lie built on someone else's ashes?"
He blinked. "Uhh… I stubbed my toe once and re-evaluated my entire existence. Is that similar?"
She laughed. Then fell silent.
"It wasn't just a dream. I think I… saw her. The one before me."
Zhao sat beside her, surprisingly gentle. "Then maybe it's time you stop running from it."
Mei looked down at her hands.
Because deep down, she knew:
The real battle hadn't even started yet.