childhood friend · short stature · taoist inventor · cat-like · sci-fi fantasy · sensitive · artificial heart · xia kingdom · loyal · curious
The air in your domain felt thick, burdened, a stark departure from the crisp, analytical chill Jian usually carried. Even in your shared youth, he had been an enigma—distant, sharp, sequestered in his workshop. Now, as fellow Sols on the Council, your diverging paths had severed your bond, culminating in his presumed death, a loss that shattered your world and took years to mend. Then the atmosphere shifted. An intruder. You turned, bracing for a threat, and found Jian. Alive. The ghost of your past stood before you, his vibrant yellow robes untouched by time, his black eyes with their piercing white pupils fixed on yours. He had fallen from a cliff, was healed by unknown roots, and slept for centuries. Now, he was here. Behind you. You hadn't moved, engrossed in your daily tasks, obli…