Emma’s boots clicked softly against the frosted tiles as she followed the others, each step sounding small compared to the vastness around her. She kept glancing sideways, her unique white eyes wide, drinking in every details. She even noticed that the air here carried a sense of clarity.

  Above them, a ball of light hovered soundlessly, drifting in slow arcs. It poured its glow down like liquid, bathing Emma, Jett, Liz, and Dan in a soft blue radiance. The warmth from it pressed gently against Emma’s face, brushing against her skin as though cleansing it. She couldn’t tear her gaze from it, her lips parting slightly in awe.

  Her steps faltered when her eyes caught what lay at the end of the path.

  There, embedded at the heart of the frost-tiled avenue, stood an ice-crystal fountain. It shimmered like it had been carved from a single piece of frozen sky, but within it, water flowed, clear, unblemished, endlessly springing upward before cascading down into the basin below. The sound was delicate, crisp, like liquid glass. Even from a distance, Emma could tell the water was untouched by the snow, as though it existed in defiance of the world around it.

  And beyond the fountain.. She saw people, humans, residents of Xin..

  The residents moved about as if this land of frost was the most ordinary of homes. Some walked in groups, their laughter faint but warm in the cold air, while others carried baskets filled with glimmering frost-fruits. Children darted across the tiles, their coats flaring behind them, their cheeks red and bright with joy. Couples strolled side by side, the glow from the frost-lamps reflecting in their eyes.

  It was like any normal place will be, everyone going on, doing what they want, and most especially.

  Everyone was living in harmony..

  ****

  Few of the residents paused to greet Emma and the others, offering small bows or cheerful nods as they passed.

  Emma’s lips curved into a polite smile as she offered a small bow as well, returning their gestures. Yet a thought pressed against her mind like an itch she couldn’t ignore.

  Wait… how am I even understanding them?

  Her white eyes flickered across the faces of the residents. She could hear every word, every syllable, and yet none of it felt foreign. The language slid into her ears as naturally as breathing. She had never once thought about it until now.

  Ever since I came to this fruit, I’ve been understanding everything. Liz, Dan, Jett and Ron… all their words made sense to me. Does that mean the fruit translates automatically? Or… is there something here that allows travelers to understand no matter where they came from?

  Another couple greeted Emma and the group warmly as she quickly set the thought aside and returned their greeting with a polite nod.

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  Beside her, Liz’s cheeks flushed red under the glowing frost lamps as she smiled back at the people, her emerald eyes gleaming with life. Dan, however, trudged along with his head down, pretending not to notice. His silence grew heavier with each greeting until Liz’s eyes narrowed. She inched closer, her hand darting out to pinch the fabric of his thick coat.

  Dan flinched instantly, his shoulders jerking back as a faint grunt escaped his throat. His deep sea blue eyes shifted quickly to the resident who had just greeted them. “Ah… good evening,” he muttered awkwardly, his tone forced.

  Liz smirked with quiet triumph before releasing her hold on his coat, pretending nothing had happened. Emma couldn’t help but catch the small exchange, her lips twitching faintly.

  Jett led them forward through the bustling heart of Xin Region. The lamps above cast their calm blue light on her long pelted coat, her pale gray eyes fixed on the way ahead.

  The group wove their way through the gathering until, at last, they reached a large structure nestled along the path. The hall stood tall, its frost-blue walls gleaming faintly under the hovering light above. Broad windows glowed warmly from within, spilling illumination across the snow outside. Jett paused at its entrance, her gaze softening as she looked back at them.

  “You’ll stay here for the night,” she said with a warm smile.

  Emma’s eyes followed Jett’s expression, then the hall itself, noticing how it differed from the few homes they had passed along the way. The building seemed designed not for residents, but for travelers, welcoming, spacious, and carefully built.

  Jett stepped back, her boots crunching against the frost tiles. “I’ll head home now. Rest well.”

  Her farewell was brief, but there was a gentleness hidden in it. Then, without waiting for a reply, she turned and slipped back into the crowd, her figure soon swallowed by the flow of people.

  Emma lingered at the doorway for a moment longer, her breath visible as it escaped in faint clouds, before finally stepping inside with Liz and Dan.

  The hall’s interior opened before them, filled with warmth and faint light. Frost crystals decorated the edges of the walls, yet the glow from carefully placed lamps softened the sharpness, creating a balance between cold and warmth. The air smelled faintly of fresh wood, polished and clean.

  A young man in a neat white uniform appeared almost instantly, his back straight and his movements precise. He bowed slightly, his voice carrying the smooth tone of someone practiced in courtesy. “Greetings, esteemed guests. Please follow me. I will show you to your rooms.”

  His words flowed effortlessly, and without question, Emma, Liz, and Dan followed him deeper into the hall. Their boots thudded lightly against the polished wooden floor as they climbed a staircase, the steps echoing softly.

  The attendant paused at the first door along the hallway, turning to Dan. “This will be your room—Room 413.”

  Dan barely nodded. Without a glance at either Emma or Liz, he pushed the door open and disappeared inside, letting it close with a soft thud.

  Liz froze mid-step, That knuckle head!!, Her hands clenching at her sides, ready to roar after him, to knock the door back open and set him straight for his rudeness. But eventually the fire in her chest quickly melted into a long sigh. Her shoulders dropped as she exhaled, shaking her head slightly.

  Emma watched her silently, noticing the anger leave Liz’s emerald eyes before they both continued walking alongside the attendant.

  They stopped again at another door not too far down the hallway. The attendant gestured toward it with the same practiced grace. “This will be yours, young lady—Room 428.”

  Liz pressed her hands together and bowed slightly. “Thank you,” she said warmly. Then she turned to Emma, her lips curling into a soft smile. “Goodnight.”

  Emma nodded, her silver-white hair shifting slightly as she returned the smile. “Goodnight.”

  Liz slipped into her room, the door closing gently behind her.

  The hallway quieted.

  Now, only Emma and the attendant remained, their footsteps soft as they walked further along the corridor.

  Emma’s gaze drifted, looking ahead, her unique white eyes thoughtful. A deep question formed in her mind,

  Are the rooms here free?

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