The Vourukasha Oasis was quiet at night.
Lin En built a small fire, its light illuminating a patch of flowers around them. The petals swayed gently in the night breeze.
He wrapped the remaining half of the pig in leaves. It should still be good for another meal tomorrow.
Ronava leaned against a rock with her eyes closed, resting. Her silver hair spread among the flowers, and the moonlight falling on her face made it look much softer than it had during the day.
Lin En didn't sleep. Leaning against another rock, he followed the introductory instructions from the cultivation manual in his head and tried to circulate the few strands of Authority of Death within him.
He could feel those strands of authority slowly merging with his body. Unlike Anemo and Geo, they were like a chill seeping out from between his bones.
After practicing for most of the night, he finally drifted off to sleep.
Early the next morning, the two continued on their way.
North of the Vourukasha Oasis, the terrain gradually rose, the bushes grew sparser, and the dirt beneath their feet gave way to great slabs of rock.
After walking for most of the day, they came upon a massive rock face. A natural opening split the wall, dark inside, with a dry wind blowing out of it.
"Once we pass through this cave, we'll be at the border between Sumeru and Fontaine."
Ronava unscrewed her waterskin and took a drink as she reminded him.
"We've been walking for over a day. We're finally here!"
Lin En's legs were almost numb. They hardly felt like his own anymore.
The two entered the cave. It was dark inside, but the path underfoot was fairly level. It looked as though many people had passed through before them.
After about fifteen minutes, a light appeared ahead, growing brighter and more dazzling until, at the end of the cave, an open sky came into view.
The moment Lin En stepped out of the cave, he froze.
Beneath their feet was an extremely high cliff, its face almost vertical. Looking down, he saw clouds and mist churning halfway down the mountainside.
Below the cliff, a wide expanse of sea stretched out before them. Numerous cargo ships sailed slowly across the river, their white sails gleaming in the sunlight. Fontaine lay on the opposite shore.
"This is way too high."
Lin En glanced down, and his legs went a little weak.
The cliff was at least several hundred meters high. There was a winding path down beside them, but it was steep and covered in loose rocks. Getting down it would surely take a lot of effort.
"Let's take that slope over there."
With that, he started toward the path.
Ronava stood at the edge of the cliff, glanced at the height below, then looked at the winding path.
"Too slow."
Before Lin En could react, Ronava had stepped beside him, slipped an arm around his waist, and swept him up in her arms.
"Seriously? Again?"
Before he finished speaking, Ronava jumped.
Wind rushed into his mouth, and the whole world spun rapidly before his eyes.
The rocks of the cliff face flew upward past them, and the boats on the river rapidly grew from tiny dots. Lin En instinctively shut his eyes and clutched Ronava's collar with both hands.
All he could hear was the howling wind and the sound of Ronava's breathing and heartbeat.
The fall was brief, but even though he had experienced it once before, the weightlessness still sent Lin En's heart into his throat.
He felt Ronava's silver hair brush his cheek, carrying a trace of coolness.
A few breaths later, the air beneath his feet gave way to solid ground.
Lin En opened his eyes to find that Ronava had gently set him down on the sandy riverbank. His legs buckled, and he nearly fell to his knees, but Ronava reached out and caught him by the arm.
"Can you still walk?"
He patted his chest. That had been more thrilling than a drop tower ride on Earth.
"Couldn't you warn me first?"
"I did. Taking that slope would've taken half a day. This way is faster."
Lin En caught his breath, looked up at the cliff towering into the clouds behind them, then down at the level riverbank beneath his feet. He had to admit she was right. The path twisted and turned, and walking down it would have taken at least most of a day, while jumping down had taken only a few breaths.
"At least give me a chance to prepare myself next time."
"I will next time."
Judging by Ronava's tone, she didn't sound sorry at all. Lin En could only sigh and brush the bits of grass off his clothes.
There was a dock on the opposite bank, where several cargo ships were moored. Most were merchant vessels carrying goods, and the crewmen were loading crates aboard.
Ronava walked up to a cargo ship that looked to be headed their way, said a few words to the captain, and handed him some Mora.
The captain nodded and beckoned to Lin En, signaling for them to come aboard.
The two boarded the cargo ship and sailed with the current toward the opposite shore. The water flowed gently, and continuous waterfalls and stretches of high mountains lined both banks.
Lin En leaned against the railing as a cool breeze blew across the river.
"Now that I look closely, Fontaine seems prettier than I imagined."
Ronava stood beside him, her silver hair streaming behind her in the river breeze as her golden eyes gazed at the distant harbor.
"Yes. Every nation has its own distinctive features."
Lin En followed her gaze. Inside the harbor stood a tower-like building. He remembered that it had an elevator inside, making the trip up quite convenient.
The cargo ship sailed upstream, and after about two hours, it docked at a harbor on the outskirts of the Court of Fontaine.
The two disembarked and walked ashore along the stone-paved dock.
They had taken only a few steps when a figure in pink approached them.
"Hello, you two! I'm Charlotte, a reporter for The Steambird. I'd like to interview you. Do you have a moment?"
She was a young girl with pink hair, dressed in a simple reporter's outfit and holding up a Kamera.
Lin En's head buzzed. A reporter? An interview? If Ronava ends up in the newspaper and attracts trouble, won't our vacation be ruined?
"This isn't a good time for us."
He hurriedly waved his hands.
"It won't take long! Just a few questions..."
"It really isn't a good time!"
"What did you want to ask about?"
Ronava's voice came from beside him. She seemed somewhat interested in the interview.
Charlotte's eyes lit up, and she answered without hesitation.
"I'd like to ask couples visiting Fontaine about their first impressions of the nation!"
"Couples?"
Lin En nearly choked on his own saliva. He opened his mouth to deny it, but Ronava spoke before he could.
"What would you like to ask?"
Charlotte immediately pulled out a small notebook and began asking questions.
Ronava's answers were brief. Every so often, she turned to glance at Lin En, as though waiting for him to join in.
Forced into the conversation, Lin En stumbled through a few remarks about his impressions of Fontaine-the buildings were beautiful, the boat was steady, and the people were nice.
"So that's what you think. How interesting!"
Charlotte closed her notebook and raised her Kamera.
"Let me take a picture of you two. Move a little closer and strike a pose-three, two, one, cheese!"
Before Lin En could react, the shutter clicked.
He stood frozen, not even knowing where to put his hands. The expression on his face was probably stiffer than a block of wood.
Ronava stood beside him in a natural pose, her silver hair drifting gently in the river breeze and the faintest hint of a smile on her lips.
Charlotte handed the photo to Ronava, said, "Thanks for the interview," and ran off toward her next target.
Ronava looked down at the photo in her hand and suddenly smiled.
Lin En leaned over to take a look.
In the photo, Ronava stood by the riverbank, her silver hair gleaming in the sunlight. She looked calm and composed.
Beside her, Lin En's hands were stiff at his sides, his shoulders were hunched, and the smile on his face looked as if someone had forced it there.
"Your pose is far too stiff. It doesn't look natural at all."
With that, Ronava put the photo in her backpack.
"I was nervous to begin with. Who could look natural when someone suddenly takes their picture?"
Lin En defended himself, but he had to admit Ronava was right. Standing beside her, he looked like a passerby dragged in to make up the numbers.
She turned and headed toward the elevator inside the harbor, then looked back and said,
"What are you standing there for? Let's find somewhere to stay in Fontaine City first."
Lin En came back to his senses and answered,
"Hm? Oh... oh, okay."