Devils Roll The Dice, Angels Roll Their Eyes

Chapter 6 - Sparks Fly

"Would you just slow down for a second?"

The pace was a hurried one, the terrain unforgiving. Yanfei hadn't seen the interior of the Chasm in ages. She wasn't ready to trot over the slopes like a mountain goat. She couldn't tell whether the heat on her face was from anger or overheating. The possibility of being flustered also crossed her mind. She promptly told her mind to be quiet, with... little effect.

Yelan, meanwhile, was already dashing down a rickety wooden staircase like it was second nature. As she half-stepped and half-landed onto solid ground once more, she let out a laugh.

"What's the matter? Don't tell me you're tired already." Her voice was goading, taunting. The frustration from Yanfei was audible. Yelan simply wished to get more out of it. A break in composure, a little bit of rage. Anything she could use to play the pyro wielder into her hands was actively sought after.

Yanfei, meanwhile, was reaching her limit. She looked down at the small drop-off ahead of her. Her companion had sped downwards artfully; she would need a bit more time. "Sorry, we don't all have legs that long and athletic, alright?"

"Oh, you're staring? I'm flattered." Yelan cut in before Yanfei could even start her next thought.

Whether the lawyer would make her regret it was to be seen. "I wasn't- y'know what, no. No more games." Yanfei had to admit to herself, she'd played along willingly. She'd even added her own twists and turns.

Even so, she couldn't keep playing along in good conscience. She started slowly climbing down the bridge like a ladder, taking her sweet time to make a point as she spoke. "Like I said before, you've racked up enough charges to fill a small book. That's just what you've done in front of me."

She paused a moment, having to force the next bit out. "I might get a reprimand for meeting you here, that's true. You, on the other hand, risk losing everything. If the Millelith can't catch you, they can at least have your teahouse confiscated. And I hardly imagine there are no other ways to penalize you, Hua."

Her feet touched down, perhaps even more solid at this depth than the lady who'd been standing there a while now. Yanfei had an exasperated frown crossing her sweaty face as she pointed a finger. "I suggest you start cooperating with me, not just leading me on. Otherwise, this will not end well for you."

The night was quiet, almost terribly so. The Chasm had long been nearly a dead zone. Some people claimed the recent monster movements surrounding the area had caused this effect. Others pointed to the long-term issues stemming from excessive mining efforts. For a few of the elders, the story passed down was that ancient blood and grudges had long left the place a wasteland.

Whatever the case, as they progressed deeper in, there was an evident lack of life. The mighty trees gave way to jagged rock outcrops, and not even the chirp of a lone cricket could be heard. This wasn't an illusion Yelan had created anymore.

Instead, the reality of the situation was all that was left to face the gambler. Yanfei's words hung in the air for what may have been a few moments or an eternity. Neither was able to tell. Either way, Yelan put on her best poker face for the occasion. With a lack of detectable emotion, she eventually managed a response.

"I warn you. What I tell you, it has to stay between us. Another soul hears about it, I will find you."

"I can't promise that," Yanfei replied. "If you're involved in criminal activity, I'll likely have to pass that along to the Ministry of Civil Affairs. My apologies, Hua, but I'm not your accomplice."

Yelan just slightly let out a sigh of relief. "That's all? You think I'm worried about the Ministry? This'll be easier than I thought."

She slipped a hand into a fold of her dress. Yanfei hadn't even realized the pocket was there, which was likely the point. It was almost undetectable to the naked eye. When Yelan revealed what was inside, Yanfei nearly gasped.

A badge and identification papers were shoved in the lawyer's face. "Yelan," Yanfei mumbled, then repeated slightly louder. It was like the word left a tingle on her tongue, a new sensation she had to test to be sure of. "You work for the Ministry? Why didn't you just tell me- wait- how can I know you're telling the truth?"

Yelan had lifted her hands up, her chin resting on balled fists as she responded. "Oh, you don't trust me? I'm hurt. I promise you, after we're done with this, I will have Lady Ningguang herself vouch for me."

"Otherwise," she continued, with the slightest hint of a mischievous grin. Two bands of water formed around her wrists, eventually connecting themselves by a singular strand. "I'll let you throw the book at me yourself. Sound good?"

Yanfei bowed and tilted her head away slightly. "I'll throw my book at you now if you keep this up." Her own set of codices felt heavier than usual at her side. The book was her method of channeling the elements. Some speculated this was an excuse to keep her favorite read at arm's length, though she'd never admit to it.

The legal expert sighed in exasperation before finally giving in. "Fine. I'll give the benefit of the doubt. Just answer me one more thing. Have you been involved in a murder?"

The makeshift handcuffs Yelan had been toying with fell to the ground with a splash. Her next words were far more forced. "What do you mean, involved? I'm not about to get caught up in legal jargon."

"Killed anyone, Yelan. I want to know if you've killed anyone." There was a quivering in Yanfei's voice. The more it was dodged, the more she knew the answer.

"My work for the Ministry is confidential. If you're asking me about any rumors going around..." Yelan followed up. "...I want to get to the bottom of that more than you do." There was a cold, somber feeling that laced her voice. The resigned finality was that of someone with regrets on their deathbed. A failure that could never be erased.

Yanfei's gaze turned towards the heavens, as if somehow an answer would appear. She could dream of a simple answer occurring to her, but this was clearly just becoming more complicated. If she walked away, could she live with herself? Could she claim to be living a good life?

She didn't yet know, and so she nodded in confirmation. "Okay. Don't make me regret this."

Yelan beamed, in a way that Yanfei couldn't remember seeing until now. It was as if she was a second moon, bright with hope but oh so far away. "So, we can get going then?" the brunette asked.

"Yeah," Yanfei replied. "I meant what I said earlier, though. Slow the pace down, alright?" She'd just barely managed to catch her breath. Losing it again within a short while didn't sit well.

Yelan didn't waste any time. Almost mechanically, she shot out her left arm, hand grabbing a hold of Yanfei's right. "Alright. Just hold me back if it's too much."

Yanfei's cheeks got noticeably redder. It had to be pyro energy. She'd been on edge, and now she was keeping up her defenses to potential threats. That's what she told herself. "Okay" was the only word she managed to breath out, as she took Yelan's hand.

The remainder of their journey was nearly silent. Considerations of breaking that silence were shot down rather quickly. It was as if a perfectly unstable balance had been struck. One wrong move would be all it took to send the two into chaos.

As it stood, the tandem began to form. Red and blue pulses from the amulets at their waists were all that served as a trace of their movements.

For Yanfei, even as she knew the risks, the rush was undeniable. She didn't know where they were going. Frankly, she was afraid of what they'd find on arrival. In the moment, all she was focusing on was the crinkle of the grass under her feet and the little tug ahead encouraging her to push forward. Deep dips and steep inclines in the landscape faded, until it was just their motion.

Yelan knew that feeling all too well. Her modus operandi was to act in the shadows. The feeling of a fast pace through brush and across gullies was now mundane. It had been a long time, though, since she'd shared that feeling with someone else. She'd long since sworn off letting anyone into her world in that way. Yet with a glance toward Yanfei, seeing her overcome in the rhythm of it all, she found herself questioning that promise.

The pulses of their Visions started to shine brighter. Heartbeats came quicker, each thump echoing on the night. The sounds and flashes began to synchronize. Two moved as one in a moment that could be explained by zero.