In the last occupied seclusion room, two small bodies are deeply engrossed in their meditation.
Wei Ying has found Lan Zhan's presence to be calming, soothing his agitation away into something more manageable, more intense. He notices the way his breathing is even, almost calculated as the cool air goes into his lungs and warmer air is expelled, no pause between the two states. A fluidity in breathing, an action that usually isn't thought about, but here, in this instance, it becomes the root of his focus.
He brings his awareness higher, travelling from his dantian up, up, up, focusing on the point between his brows, and there is a little dizzying pain. Wei Ying doesn't force himself to push past that, retreating and then trying again. It takes him a while to become comfortable in this state, learning to relax his mind and body so that nothing is forced. Once he succeeds in this, he channels his energy and his focus higher up into the crown of his head. That's when he discovers that it is a simultaneous action, and similar to falling down an unexpected hole.
The bliss, a pleasure centre suddenly slams into his consciousness, and there he waits, experiencing wave after wave of joy.
For Lan Zhan, his progress is almost the same, except it's entirely linear. Step one, step two, and step three.
As someone used to meditating for whole sichens at a time, this is easy. His mind and body have accepted that he's here and going to stay for a long time, and this mental preparation is enough to guide him deeper.
He's waiting for Wei Ying's mind to catch up, when he senses that Wei Ying is already there, possibly just before him, and that thought brings a surge of happy pride in his soul mate. He knows how difficult meditation is for Wei Ying, particularly the sitting down and concentrating kind, so his achievement is doubly praiseworthy.
When Lan Zhan opens his eyes, Wei Ying is standing next to him, and they aren't children anymore, not on this plane of their consciousness. They are adults, the same age as they were when Lan Zhan activated the time travel array back in the Demon-subduing cave in the Burial Mounds.
Except both of them are clean, their white robes spotless, plain, and free from any Clan emblems, nothing to determine where they belong.
Lan Zhan thinks Wei Ying looks stunning, his heart-shaped face retaining a healthy glow, his beautiful silver eyes shining bright with curiosity as he looks around. His hair is tied up with a red silk ribbon, and the sight of it unblemished and vividly vibrant brings a lump to his throat. He hasn't seen Wei Ying look this healthy since before he disappeared for three months after the fall of Lotus Pier. And he's wearing white.
If anyone had told Lan Zhan how a simple change in colour of robes would affect him, he would have pushed them away, claiming they were lying because how could such a small thing have such a great impact? And yet his heart bursts with a possessive, protective streak, wanting to pull Wei Ying into his arms and shield him.
Wei Ying is looking all around them, wondering why it appears as if they're suspended on clouds, the fluffy white softness obscuring their feet, and whatever might lie below the barrier. It's ever so bright here, the sky painted in shades of apricot and peach with pink streaks aglow all around them. Is this heaven?
"Lan Zhan...where do you think we are?" He says this without moving his mouth, and it's the most bizarre feeling.
Lan Zhan...looks like a celestial being, all dressed in blazing, brilliant white, proud, and tall. His sharp golden eyes are monitoring their surroundings while simultaneously keeping an eye on Wei Ying, making sure he doesn't disappear. His profile is that of a God, his mouth straight and his elegant nose, wide forehead and defined jawline all making Wei Ying's knees go weak, and he forces himself to think clearly once more.
