Early the next morning, Xinhai woke to Swellow's cries.
The sky outside was already bright, and sunlight streamed through gaps in the leaves, scattering fine patches of light across the wooden floor.
When he opened his eyes, Eevee was perched on the windowsill, its large brown eyes watching bird shadows rise and fall among the treetops, its fluffy tail swaying gently behind it.
"Vee." Hearing him stir, Eevee turned around and let out a soft little cry.
"Morning, Eevee." Xinhai stretched lazily in bed, then propped himself up with his right hand and rolled his neck.
Xinhai had slept deeply the night before without a single dream, and much of the fatigue that had built up over the past two weeks had faded away.
After washing up, he completed two sets of morning exercises in the open space of the living room.
The Dewford Twelve Forms flowed smoothly and loosely, every rise, fall, turn, and transition carrying a rounded sense of rhythm; the Closing Form of Tai Chi was steady and expansive, and after Qi circulated around him once, it slowly dispersed.
After breakfast, Xinhai packed all his belongings into his Spatial Backpack and carefully checked the room once more. After confirming that he had not left anything behind, he headed out with Eevee.
Fortree City in the morning was shrouded in a thin veil of mist. Sunlight slanted down through gaps in the canopy, casting warm shafts of light across the streets.
The air was filled with the scent of leaves and damp earth. Every so often, a few Swellow swept overhead, their wingtips stirring faint gusts of wind.
Xinhai rode his bicycle through several streets and arrived at the entrance to Fortree Gym.
Winona was already standing beneath the gym's porch.
She had changed into a light blue