ㅤ 〈 following just slightly behind, brows furrowed . . how strange. surely, it couldn’t have happened again .ᐣ.ᐣ he doesn’t even know where he is this time. 〉 ⠀ ⠀. . where are we, again .ᐣ ⠀

‍ ‍ ‍ 𓍯 ‍ WATERS' ‎ ‎𖦆 ‎ ‎WITCH ‍ ‎ ‍@sanctentumSep 22

let's take a look, then. ( he guides the both of them south, searching for any sort of settlement…though, there isn't anything at all. )

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ — 尚清华 .ᐟ · Sep 22, 2026 · 4:57 AM UTC

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ — 尚清华 .ᐟ@storywornSep 22

ㅤ 〈 a subtle nod given in return, gaze lingering in the distance. now that he thinks about it . . how * did * he wind up here .ᐣ.ᐣ.ᐣ all he can recall recently was walking in that direction. 〉 ⠀ ⠀yeah .ᐟ sounds good. ⠀

‍ ‍ ‍ 𓍯 ‍ WATERS' ‎ ‎𖦆 ‎ ‎WITCH ‍ ‎ ‍@sanctentumSep 22

( there doesn't seem to be anything close enough south to see as they are now. glancing down, he considers his options. olruggio is with the girls; they'll be fine with him. ) perhaps we should go a little further, then?

132

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ — 尚清华 .ᐟ · Sep 22, 2026 · 3:59 AM UTC

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ — 尚清华 .ᐟ@storywornSep 22

ㅤ ⠀ ⠀a bit of magic .ᐣ 〈 huh. that’s certainly an interesting answer . . magic .ᐣ.ᐣ but, he doesn’t comment on it. perhaps the other was just being vague. smiling back .ᐟ then, pointing south of where they were. 〉 that’s where i came from. ⠀

‍ ‍ ‍ 𓍯 ‍ WATERS' ‎ ‎𖦆 ‎ ‎WITCH ‍ ‎ ‍@sanctentumSep 22

( he smiles, single eye going over the sword's appearance. not a single casting seal in sight…either it's all located elsewhere, or this is something else entirety. ) just a bit of magic, my friend.

101

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ — 尚清华 .ᐟ · Sep 22, 2026 · 3:54 AM UTC

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ — 尚清华 .ᐟ@storywornSep 22

ㅤ 〈 watching as the other rises, perking up .ᐟ.ᐟ in turn, rising with his sword. 〉 ⠀ ⠀and i didn’t know you could rise like that without one .ᐟ how do you do it .ᐣ if you don’t mind me asking, of course. ⠀

‍ ‍ ‍ 𓍯 ‍ WATERS' ‎ ‎𖦆 ‎ ‎WITCH ‍ ‎ ‍@sanctentumSep 22

( is the sword some sort of magical device, wherever this person is from? what a concept…though, he won't say any of this. instead, he just presses his sylph shoes together, rising as the seal activates. ) i didn't realise swords could be used like that.

128

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ — 尚清华 .ᐟ · Sep 22, 2026 · 3:49 AM UTC

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ — 尚清华 .ᐟ@storywornSep 22

ㅤ ⠀ ⠀. . getting a birds eye view .ᐣ like you said. what were you going to do .ᐣ 〈 curious tilt of his head. blink - blink. 〉 ⠀

‍ ‍ ‍ 𓍯 ‍ WATERS' ‎ ‎𖦆 ‎ ‎WITCH ‍ ‎ ‍@sanctentumSep 22

( his fingers twitch toward the raincleaver, but when shang qinghua stands on it, he finds himself more intrigued than worried. ) what are you doing??

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ — 尚清华 .ᐟ · Sep 22, 2026 · 3:43 AM UTC

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ — 尚清华 .ᐟ@storywornSep 22

ㅤ ⠀ ⠀ah. right, yes .ᐟ great idea. 〈 nodding once again, and unsheathing his sword .ᐟ standing on it. 〉 ⠀

‍ ‍ ‍ 𓍯 ‍ WATERS' ‎ ‎𖦆 ‎ ‎WITCH ‍ ‎ ‍@sanctentumSep 22

hmm… ( an hour? by foot? to this location? he can't really think of any places it could be… ) perhaps we should get a bird eye view of this area.

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ — 尚清华 .ᐟ · Sep 22, 2026 · 3:38 AM UTC

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ — 尚清华 .ᐟ@storywornSep 22

ㅤ 〈 now, taking a second to think . . a sigh. 〉 ⠀ ⠀. . i dunno, actually .ᐟ i’m pretty bad at keeping track of time. maybe an hour .ᐣ ⠀

‍ ‍ ‍ 𓍯 ‍ WATERS' ‎ ‎𖦆 ‎ ‎WITCH ‍ ‎ ‍@sanctentumSep 22

south… ( tapping his chin. he's never been great with directions. ) how long did it take to get here?

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ — 尚清华 .ᐟ · Sep 22, 2026 · 3:35 AM UTC

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ — 尚清华 .ᐟ@storywornSep 22

ㅤ 〈 quick nods .ᐟ.ᐟ with a firm shake of his hand, only then does he withdraw. 〉 ⠀ ⠀just south from here, i believe .ᐟ ⠀

‍ ‍ ‍ 𓍯 ‍ WATERS' ‎ ‎𖦆 ‎ ‎WITCH ‍ ‎ ‍@sanctentumSep 22

( taking his hand, noting the callouses of a writer; a worker. interesting. ) oh, dear. do you know which direction you came from?

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ — 尚清华 .ᐟ · Sep 22, 2026 · 3:30 AM UTC

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ — 尚清华 .ᐟ@storywornSep 22

ㅤ ⠀ ⠀right about that, aha . . well, it’s nice to meet you, qifrey .ᐟ 〈 grinning, nodding. then, offering a hand out .ᐟ 〉 i guess you could say that .ᐟ i’m . . actually not too sure where i am .ᐣ ⠀

‍ ‍ ‍ 𓍯 ‍ WATERS' ‎ ‎𖦆 ‎ ‎WITCH ‍ ‎ ‍@sanctentumSep 22

not to worry. outside camping inevitably brings about unexpected meetings. ( this person doesn't seem terribly dangerous—he supposes it won't hurt to be friendly. ) my name is qifrey. i haven't heard one like yours before; are you far from home?

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ — 尚清华 .ᐟ · Sep 22, 2026 · 3:22 AM UTC

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ — 尚清华 .ᐟ@storywornSep 22

ㅤ ⠀ ⠀oh .ᐟ right, rightright— shang qinghua .ᐟ 〈 a quick, apologetic bow of his head. 〉 ⠀ ⠀sorry about that, haha .ᐟ didn’t mean to intrude or anything. was just a bit curious where the nice smell was coming from . . ⠀

‍ ‍ ‍ 𓍯 ‍ WATERS' ‎ ‎𖦆 ‎ ‎WITCH ‍ ‎ ‍@sanctentumSep 22

ah, by the way… ( now that the matter of the soup is settled, he puts his full attention on this newcomer. his countenance remains warm, for now. ) i don't believe i caught your name?

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ — 尚清华 .ᐟ · Sep 22, 2026 · 3:15 AM UTC

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ — 尚清华 .ᐟ@storywornSep 22

ㅤ ⠀ ⠀but .ᐟ but, you don’t wanna stay here a bit longer .ᐣ at all .ᐣ 〈 curious tilt of his head once again. looking up at him with those big beady eyes of his . . 〉 ⠀

࣪ ִֶָ☾ 漠北君 ⋆⁺₊❅.@borealrulerSep 22

… the sight was seen… *nothing else really to do. just be glad he didn’t leave the other stranded on the highest point of the roof*