The hustle and bustle of noon could be heard from all over the central area of New Hope City as residents pile into their favorite restaurants to seek cool shade and delicious sustenance. The Resting Crane Tree is one such place. The restaurant is situated on the northern shore of Lake Unity towards the west of the city center. It has nine stories, each ornately decorated with fine carvings, tasteful poetry scrolls, and masterpieces of art.
The Resting Crane Tree, as the name suggests, is not just a place for food and drinks. Successful merchants, travelers, and important figures from all across the continent use The Resting Crane Tree as their place of rest and recuperation.
The first floor of the tower houses a grand reception area, employing no less than fifty employees who greet and assist incoming guests at all hours of the day. The second and third floors are dedicated to socialization and relaxation. On these floors, patrons can enjoy a cup of tea inside one of the tea houses, partake in games of strategy and wit with their companions or other patrons, or just simply lounge around as assistants take care of all their needs. Skipping the non-existent fourth floor, the fifth floor is a dining floor that houses multiple restaurants. Each restaurant is managed by one of few renowned chefs of the grand continent. The sixth, seventh, and eighth floors are for resting. Each room has its own attendant who is responsible for making sure that their patron’s stay is as enjoyable as possible.
The ninth floor is far and different from the rest of the floors. It houses everything from the previous floors and more. A grand balcony wraps around the floor, decorated with thousand-year-old bonsais and plum trees. This floor is completely off-limits for regular patrons. As such, it is empty most days of the year.
On this particular day, however, the ninth floor opened its doors for an important figure. Sitting on the lake-side balcony, a young boy in ragged clothes stuffs his face with delicious food that he had never even dreamed of eating.
“Slow it down, boy. Bahaha.” The Grandmaster, sitting across from the boy, guffaws as he watches the child eat. “The food ain’t running away. Take your time.”
Dan obeys the Grandmaster as he places the half-eaten grilled pork chop back onto his plate.
“Now then, let’s talk. I have a lot of questions for you, boy.”
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The trio descend into a humble courtyard, adorned with neatly trimmed bonsais, in the middle of the night. With a light recoil, Sun lands in the middle of the courtyard and slightly bends his knees. Lia leaps off from his back and carefully takes Yuyu out of Sun’s arms. Without a second to waste, he fumbles around through his sleeves and pockets as he rushes towards his room.
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*Clang!*
After struggling for a moment to find the key, Sun snaps the iron lock that was latching the door against the wall. He opens the door as Lia rushes in, setting Yuyu onto the futon. She places her palm on the little girl’s forehead.
“Where’s the washroom?!” Lia asks frantically.
Sun, still somewhat in a confused daze, points towards the left. His hands tense up as he listens to Yuyu’s heavy heaving. Lia lifts her palm from Yuyu’s forehead before rushing past Sun and out the door. She turns around the corner and makes her way to the shared washroom with hasty steps.
The shared washing space was separated into two sections. Out in the open-air section, a bamboo squatting chair and wooden bucket sit neatly tucked in a corner by the back wall. Next to the bucket sits a single row of four larger barrels with wooden covers. Lia flips one of the covers off of the barrel to access the rainwater within. She picks up the wooden bucket next to it, pushing it sideways into the barrel before lifting it back out. With one hand on the handle and another under the bucket, Lia runs back towards Sun’s room.
When she arrives, Sun is still standing in the same spot, unmoving. Lia kneels next to the girl and sets the bucket by the futon.
“Dummy, where are the towels?”
Sun doesn’t hear her. He continues to watch as Yuyu’s tiny body shivers from head to toes.
“SUN!” Lia, realizing that Sun is completely out of it, screams out to him. “Towels!”
Her screaming temporarily snaps him out of his daze. Sun fumbles around the room before remembering that they don’t have towels. He and Yuyu have been using his tops to dry off after washing. Instead, he grabs his only clean top and rips off one of the sleeves. Lia grabs the sleeve from his hand and pushes it into the bucket. She wrings the sleeve dry before folding it up and carefully placing it under Yuyu’s neck.
“The other one too. Quickly!” She yells as she stretches her open palm at Sun.
Sun tears off the other sleeve and places it in her hand. Lia repeats her previous actions, wetting and wringing the sleeve, before placing it on Yuyu’s forehead. Seeing that Sun is once again in a daze, Lia pushes herself off the floor and grabs the hemp rope on his shoulder. She pulls the rope over his head and drops the roll of blankets onto the floor. After unwinding the rope and unrolling the blankets, Lia carefully covers the little girl’s shivering body.
Having done all she can Lia releases a heavy sigh. She wipes the sweat from her brow before standing up again. Lia places her hand on Sun’s shoulders, pushing them upwards with all her might, forcing Sun out of his slouch.
“Hey dummy...” She says softly. “I know you’re scared, but I need you to snap out of it. Yuyu needs you to snap out of it. Yuyu needs her Mister. So please… pull yourself together.”
Lia’s words, though gentle, pierces through his ears and into his racing heart. He closes and takes a deep breath, holding it as he tries to collect himself. After a short moment of silence, his heartbeat falls back into its normal rhythm. He exhales slowly before opening his newly lucid eyes.