Violetgrass

Dreams

Chaoxing woke up to the sound of someone wailing the next day. She looked up from the bed. The sun was barely even up. She headed into the sickroom, and Baizhu and Qiqi stood next to the bed, where Qiqi had a familiar blonde on her back. The wailing was coming from Paimon, who was pestering Baizhu on whether she was alive or not. As patient as Baizhu was, it was very easy to tell that he was doing his utmost not to snap.

"Everyone please leave."

Baizhu never let anyone stay in the room with him during major healings. Chaoxing had questioned him on it once, but all he said was that a doctor couldn't afford distractions. Qiqi dropped Lumine on the bed and walked out. Paimon looked like she wanted to stay. Chaoxing might've wanted to see a lot of things in her life, but an angry Baizhu was not one of them. She grabbed Paimon by the scruff of her collar and pulled her our.

"What happened?" she asked after they stepped outside.

"I don't know." Paimon was crying at this point. "She won't wake up!"

Chaoxing took to trying to calm Paimon down, even going so far as to offer the tea Baizhu usually made for her when she was a nervous wreck, when Baizhu walked in with Changsheng around his shoulders. The two of them were in the middle of a heated debate, and Paimon flew straight into Baizhu's line of sight.

"She's alright." He sounded exasperated. "She'll wake up soon."

"What happened to her?" asked Chaoxing, holding Paimon back.

Baizhu and Changsheng shared a glance. "Trapped in a dream. Unfortunately, I don't really know how or why."

"Must be an outlander thing," said Changsheng.

Baizhu gestured to them, and they walked in together. Paimon threw her arms around the sleeping Lumine, and Chaoxing sat down at the foot of the bed. "Look after her for a bit, would you?"

Chaoxing nodded, and he walked out. Chaoxing chanced a glance at Lumine. She looked peaceful when she was asleep. Paimon fell asleep next to Lumine and Chaoxing wondered what Lumine was dreaming about, when Lumine frowned and her eyebrows twitched. Chaoxing straightened in attention, ready to push her off the bed to wake her up if need be.

"Aether," she muttered. And then she smiled, her breathing steadying.

Chaoxing pulled her legs up on the bed, patiently waiting for Lumine to walk up. When she did wake up—pale and bleary-eyed—she offered her water. Lumine sat up and drank, and then her eyes moved to Paimon, who was sound asleep beside her.

"She was worried about you."

Lumine smiled. "As always."

Chaoxing took the cup from her. "Who's Aether?"

"My sibling. My twin brother," clarified Lumine, her hands in her lap. "I'm searching for him."

"Sweet madame," muttered Paimon. Lumine gave her an exasperated glance, and Chaoxing stifled a laugh.

"I hope you find him soon." Chaoxing wished there was an ending where everyone was happy.

***

Baizhu never took up cases after hours, unless it was an emergency. Gui had told her about some of them, including a young girl with a fever who Baizhu had treated before the pharmacy had even officially opened.

Baizhu, Gui, Qiqi and Chaoxing sat together in her room, munching on fruits. Chaoxing surveyed the cards in front of her. Gui was trying to teach her how to play Genius Invokation TCG, and he was failing miserably at that endeavour. Someone banged on the front door, and both Baizhu and Chaoxing stood up in alarm. Baizhu stalked to the door, pulling it open.