"Son‑in‑law...?"
Fenric sobered instantly. Not drunk before—now hyper sober.
"What did you just say, Strategist Lau? Who exactly are you marrying off to me?"
Strategist Lau blinked. "Sir Fenric truly doesn’t know? Commander Lin... seems to have taken an interest in you."
"Uh..."
Lin Mei?
He thought back. The concerned glances. The way she’d flushed when he’d scolded her for risking herself. The way she’d watched him fight. Yeah... that tracked.
Being openly admired by a beauty of Lin Mei’s caliber? Even Fenric’s ego gave a satisfied hum.
Strategist Lau pressed on. "Commander Lin was raised by the General. Grew up in the army. Not one of your delicate manor ladies, but her character is square—loyal, courageous."
He paused, gauging Fenric’s face. "If Sir Fenric has similar feelings, I daresay even the General would grant the match."
Fenric coughed. "Let me... ask Commander Lin what she
"That’s proper." Strategist Lau smiled. Only then he stopped.
Banquet over, officers spilled off toward their quarters. Fenric cut ahead and waited in shadow beneath a torchlit parapet.
"Who’s there? Show yourself!" Lin Mei barked, hand already on her weapon.
"It’s me," Fenric said, stepping out.
"S-Sir Fenric?" She actually stammered. "Why—why are you hiding here?"
"Couldn’t sleep." He studied her by torchlight. "Would Commander Lin care to walk the wall with me?"
Her heartbeat practically thudded in the night air. She hesitated—then nodded twice. "Good. Good!"
They strolled side by side along the Great Wall’s crenellations. Torches guttered in the wind; shadows danced across stone. Under the shifting light, the sharp‑lined female general carried both steel and softness, and for a moment Fenric simply looked.
"Commander Lin..."
She glanced up—met his eyes—immediately looked down again, ears pink.
Fenric sighed. He didn’t want to string along an honest person. "There’s something I didn’t tell you earlier about... who I am."
She looked up again, wary now.
"I’m not from this world."
Lin Mei’s breath caught.
"I came from another realm," Fenric continued. "I was... sent—to destroy the Taotie."
He opened his hand. Shusui flashed into it from thin air. He coated his fist in Armament; black metal sheen crawled over skin. He flicked his fingers and a handful of flying blades lifted, hovered, spun in the torchlight—suspended by invisible force.
One demonstration after another.
Lin Mei watched, stunned, awe chasing confusion, confusion shading to something like loss. If he belonged elsewhere... he would leave.
"I didn’t lie to mock you," Fenric said. "If I’d told the truth at first, would you have taken me for a demon?"
She shook her head quickly. "No—well—perhaps I’d have mishandled it. I understand why you hid it."
Generous girl. For the one she liked, she bent instead of breaking.
"Sir Fenric... Did you come to say good‑bye? Are you leaving?"
"Eh?" He almost laughed. "Not exactly. I do need to return to my world—there are things I have to handle—but I can come back here. Anytime."
Her eyes lit. "Truly?"
"Truly. And if there’s ever a chance..." He smiled. "I’ll take you to see my world. High towers everywhere. Food in plenty. Machines that fly through the sky. People talking across continents. It’s noisy—and complicated—but worth seeing."
Lin Mei listened, rapt, eyes shining in the torchlight. "Then I’ll wait. I want to see it."
They walked and talked until the night deepened and the watch changed. At her barracks gate, Fenric stopped.
"The women’s quarters are ahead. I’ll see you this far." He grinned. "Commander Lin, after I talk to the General, I’ll return."
"So soon?" she asked, disappointed.
"My home’s in danger too," he said—half truth, half cover. "Strong enemies. My people need me there."
Worry returned to her face. "Then Sir Fenric—be careful."
"I will. And I’ll visit often."
She glanced down, then back up, shy smile peeking through her officer’s composure. "Then... good night?"
Fenric chuckled. "You remembered. In my world, that means: sleep well, dream well."
"Good night, Sir Fenric."
Early Morning
Fenric tells General Shaw and others, repeating (in polite, edited form) the story he’d told Lin Mei. The command staff listened wide‑eyed; half of them asked if his homeland was a celestial realm.
Commander Wu—no subtlety at all—asked to come along.
Fenric hand‑waved all requests. "The distance is too great. Not feasible—for now."
When word spread he would "return to his world," officers assembled atop the wall to see him off.
"No need to send me halfway to the horizon," Fenric joked. "I might be back tomorrow."
"Haha! Sir Fenric is welcome at any hour," General Shaw said.
Fenric nodded, glanced reflexively toward Lin Mei—and found her already watching him. Sparks practically bounced between them. Several single officers nearby winced as if struck; critical damage to lonely hearts across the battlements.
"Everyone—farewell."
He triggered his recall.
Pop— Fenric vanished before their eyes.
"Truly a man of the heavens," General Shaw murmured.
No one disagreed.