Plain dark hallways led to matching stone stairs which led up to equally plain lit hallways. Yu and her master followed the old man through a what felt like a maze of walls and doors, none of which showed even in inkling of decoration. No plants, no embossed designs, not even sculptures or art on the walls. Nothing but plain bamboo and wood from ceiling to floor.

Every sense she had, from sight to hearing to smell, told Yu that everything was absolutely identical. There was no change in the air, no difference in the textures, not even dents in the floors. It was kind of spooky if she was being honest. Her senses had never been this useless before.

Yu wondered if the entire experience was intentional. From what she had learned about the Long clan, she totally believed it possible they were trying to get her, or any visitor really, lost. Of course, if that was the case, it was utterly pointless. First, she remembered everything she saw and could trace her way back without issue. Additionally, she could step anywhere she had been using a spatial void; however, per her previous thoughts, that seemed unlikely given the area was almost certainly warded against such things.

Either way, she didn’t really care. She was not in the capital for a sightseeing tour of the Long estate. She was apparently there to meet at least one member of her previously unknown family. It was at that thought that the old man finally slowed to a stop.

They stood in a hallway identical to all the others and, for the first time in their traversal of the undecorated building, he reached out and slid aside a door. It was the same as every other door to Yu’s eyes and she had no idea how he told it apart.

Until her senses seemed to wake up. Yu staggered as the smell of flowers, so sudden and overwhelming, she felt almost as if she had been punched in the nose. The chirping of birds, bubbling of flowing water, the soft strumming of a zither, sounded like someone was screaming into her ears that had previously been stifled. Bright sunlight slammed into her eyes, causing stinging pain in her head.

Forced to lean against the wall, Yu winced as she tried not to wobble and fall on her butt. Through sheer force she will, she clenched her fists and closed her eyes, attempting to get a grip on her over sensitized mind.

“Well, don’t just stand there,” a soft kind voice said through the doorway. The words seemed to float on the wind as they passed her ears. As soon as they did, the sounds and smells seemed to… calm and the music of the zither relaxed her. Yu let out a big exhale and she straightened herself and her robes.

“Come,” her master ordered in an annoyed tone as he stepped through the doorway. Yu watched his back for a moment and then followed into what she had finally figured out was a garden many times larger and more beautiful than any she had seen back home.

The first thing she realized was that where she had entered was open. A bright morning sun shown in the azure sky. Breathing in deeply, she looked around herself, taking in the area.

At the center of the garden was a decent sized pond showing numerous white floating lotus blossoms. Surrounding the pond was a flat area of multicolored flowers with a few blooming cherry trees interspersed throughout injecting pink into the serene scene. A path of stone led over the pond and to an open-sided gazebo showing smooth red columns supporting a black conical top with a roaring golden dragon head at the peak.

However, despite its beauty, the person inside the gazebo took Yu’s eyes away from the stunning garden landscape. He had long silver hair that was loose and flowing in a wind that constantly seemed to flow around him, although none of the water he was above rippled. The man, her family she supposed, appeared in his late thirties or early forties in mortal years. His long pale fingers were plucking a beautiful white and black patterned zither that sat on his folded lap.

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The music washed over her, feeling peaceful and welcoming, and it drew her attention to him. Despite the notes being perfect in her ears, she saw that he was not looking down at the instrument. His eyes, like garnets, did not waver as they matched her stare.

For a brief moment, just a flicker of time, they widened; but then they narrowed as a wide smile showed on his face. Perfect white teeth glimmered in the sun as he spoke.

“Welcome, my clansman.”

Yu froze mid-step, not expecting that. After eighteen years of having no direct contact with her mother’s family or clan, to be received so warmly surprised her. Being called a “clansman” was an official open invitation as a member of the clan. Meaning she was formally considered a Long now, thus offering her the privileges and responsibilities that entailed.

Before she could think of what to say, her master voiced his opinion on the matter.

“Enough nonsense. Say your piece so we may leave.”

“Blunt as ever, cousin,” the man sighed with a roll of his eyes that stopped on her master. Without stopping his fingers’ movement along the instrument, he added, “I haven’t even introduced myself to my other cousin there.”

Then his eyes moved back to Yu.

“Apologies.” And the music changed slightly moving deeper. It almost seemed to give off a feeling. Like actual shame.

Then it changed to something just short of humorous with a few short tings.

“Most of our clan is not as uncultured as your master, I assure you.”

Her master huffed.

“My name is Long Haoyu, and I am the lord of this manor and the local representative of our clan to the Gui Empire’s capital.”

Then he stopped talking, and looked at her. The music became an invitation in her mind, softly wavering at the end.

Yu instinctually bowed and introduced herself.

“Fenghuang Yu, Lord Long.”

The music was welcoming, a number of short rising and falling notes. “Please, call me cousin. No honorifics between family.”

“Enough. What did you have to say?” her master spat shortly.

Long Haoyu sighed dramatically, but his fingers did not stop their strumming. Yu wanted to glance at her master, but she found her eyes continuously drawn back to the man, his instrument, and the enchanting tones coming from them.

“This is your first time meeting a member of your mother’s family, is it not?” he asked, the music tinkling into a question. “Well, other than those at the sect.”

Yu nodded.

“That is a shame,” slow sad notes. “But that will change now.” And the music experienced a pleased happy rise.

“It will?” Yu asked, entranced.

“Indeed. I did not understand before.” The notes shifted quickly. “But I do now.” And the music became louder. “Your power flows out of you in waves.” The speed of the notes increased to match the volume. “The strings around you are thick.” Faster. “They waver and sway.” Louder. “The very world reverberates from the impact of your choices.” The music rose to a crescendo of volume and speed.

Then everything froze. All color was gone, and all motion, all life, was… stuck. Yu stumbled again at the sudden loss of stimulation, all her senses utterly lost, save sight, and even that was only in shades of gray.

“Enough!”

The word was soft, but somehow the world shook with its ferocity.

Yu wobbled, falling to her knees, her hands the only thing holding her body from collapsing into a heap on the ground. Her mind felt like it was going to burst from the changes in her senses. It felt like she had gone from nothing to everything to nothing and back and forth again, and her mental walls that kept her senses under control could not handle it and shattered.

Drip…

The lone sound echoed through her mind as Yu watched in an overstimulated daze. A small splatter of red streaked heavily with gold shone in front of her, a striking contrast to the grays of the stone pathway beneath her.

Drip…

Another joined the first. Unconsciously, Yu lifted one hand to beneath her nose, feeling wetness there. Looking at the result, her pale smooth skin showed the same red and gold as the ground, the disparity stark and shocking.

“Wha—?” she asked to nobody in particular, her mind a complete mess of senses and confusion.

And then slowly the stones beneath her grew closer as everything became too fuzzy to see or hear or smell, until it faded to black, and Yu knew no more.