The afternoon sun hung low above the snowy mountains, casting long, dark shadows across the stone walls of the Supreme Citadel. Inside the quiet courtyard, Lin Wan sat beneath the thick branches of an ancient pine tree, her hands wrapped tightly around a warm cup of herbal tea.
Sister Yun sat nearby on a low stool, quietly sorting dried green herbs on a wooden tray while two younger maids swept the stone path a short distance away. For the first time in many days, the peaceful courtyard did not feel like a cold prison.
A sudden, chilly breeze brushed against Lin Wan's face, causing her to close her eyes and take a deep breath.
"The wind smells different today," Lin Wan murmured, her voice soft as she opened her eyes.
Sister Yun looked up from her wooden tray, her hands pausing over the herbs. "What do you mean, Lady Lin?"
"It smells like... fresh snow from somewhere far away," Lin Wan explained, looking up at the gray sky.
