The sweet and earthy aroma of dumplings and oven-baked flatbread was a blatant reminder that breakfast was near. For the first time, Lian was dreading it.

Though it was a surprise to her, when she wandered into the dining room, that Bi-Han was not among her immediate family. He must have chosen to eat alone. Lian took comfort in this revelation, however, her parents and their gauging stares did not make the dread stirring inside her disappear.

She sat on the opposite side of the table in front of her mother who was dressed too formally in her opinion, then before long, the servants brought out a small spread of breakfast foods; congee, eggs, dumplings, and a variety of flatbreads. Lian awkwardly filled her plate and began to eat, grimacing as a stab of pain from her busted lip suddenly overtook her.

The minor injuries that she sustained from the previous day's spar look much worse today. A bruise was slowly developing across her cheek and chest, and the split in her lip looked raw; an eyesore that Lan quickly pointed out.

"You do not look well, daughter," she mentioned.

"It looks worse than it feels," Lian assured her.

It was the high price of making her clan look good, nothing more.

Eating in silence, Lian witnessed a strange look that Lan gave her father. She raised a brow.

"Is there something wrong?"

Guan hummed. He took a moment to drink his tea before he answered, clearing his throat.

"Due to unpredicted circumstances, I can not show Bi-Han to the training court today. It was his wish to watch our fighters train."

That was unfortunate, she reckoned. Lian sighed. So he was sold on the merger after all.

"It will do you some good to bond with your husband-to-be," Lan stated, cutting in. "Show him the compound."

Was she serious? Lian gave Guan a curious look, but he merely nodded, agreeing with his wife. As much as Lian wanted to decline, she knew that it was unwise.

"I will take him."

Lan grinned proudly.

"I am pleased to hear that. Bi-Han took an interest in you."

Did he? Lian glanced at her father in question.

"What did he say?"

"He was irked that I did not tell him prior about your capability with magic, but overall, he was curious about you."

Even so, she was not sure what to make of this. What it meant in the grander scheme of things was that Lian was not as insignificant as he had thought. Still, her future with Bi-Han was hazy. What would he expect of her now? She was not sure she wanted to know.

"Where is he?" Lian asked with a sigh.

"The servants prepared him a room in the eastern wing of the house. He should be there, having breakfast," Lan answered.

Then there was no need to rush him. Lian took her time to eat, and then when she was done, she sighed in apprehension.

Might as well get this over with.

Excusing herself from the table, she waited for permission, then she stood and walked toward the front door. The Eastern wing was easier to get to via the inner courtyard, so she left the main house and walked to the entrance.

Normally, the Eastern wing was where the fighters resided; the Western wing housed the servants and their families. So it was no surprise to Lian when she approached the far end of the wing that several Lin Kuei assassins were on guard. She wandered past them with no problem, but she could feel their eyes burning holes into her.

Approaching the door to Bi-Han's room, she knocked softly. A moment later, he permitted her to enter, and she did so hesitantly.

The said Grandmaster was seated at a low table in the center of the room. His breakfast had been eaten, leaving nothing but a steaming kettle of tea in front of him. However, the thing that drew Lian's attention was that Bi-Han was without his mask. His angular face and sharp features, despite his obvious scowl, were attractive qualities.

"Is there something you want?"

His tone made her frown. Lian averted her eyes.

"My father was meant to escort you to the training court, but unforeseen preparations have delayed him. He asked that I do it instead."

Bi-Han hummed. He drank from his cup and then stood, brushing off his loose-fitting robe.

"Let us go."

Without a word, Lian left the room and led him from the Eastern wing to the inner courtyard on the Southwestern side of the compound. The court was on the far end of the wing in a square-shaped field.

Standing off to the side near the inner wall, she waited in silence next to Bi-Han as he spectated. The fighters were in sync, practicing kicks and punches as a teacher ordered them. Bai, her master, was off to the side, watching in satisfaction as her style was passed on.

Lian could not fathom her pride, though she often dreamed of having students of her own. That was not a guaranteed possibility anymore, she feared.

Not after she was to marry Bi-Han.

Lian turned her brown eyes to him and took in his curious expression as he watched. When he caught her unexpectedly, his brows knitted. Lian sighed.

"It is nearly time for them to spar."

This interaction was awkward. She did not know how she was meant to bond with a man so high-handed and reserved. What were they even meant to talk about? Fighting? Her interests? Lian scoffed. Of course not.

"It is no concern of mine your inner protests," Bi-Han stated. "However, they are irksome."

Lian tightened her jaw. This man was exhausting.

"It was not my intention to involve you in them."

"Speak your mind," he ordered.

For someone not concerned, he was rather curious. She could not help her irritation.

"I'm sure there are far better clans to merge with."

"But none so willing," Bi-Han stated without a moment of hesitation.

He was right about that. Lian could not be mad about something true. Though, she did not have to agree with it.

"I don't share my parent's sentiments."

Bi-Han turned his eyes to her and then averted them. Whatever he had on his mind, he did not share with Lian. After a moment, he crossed his arms and hummed.

"It is a shame to waste potential like your masters. She would benefit the Lin Kuei."

Lian hummed, feeling less annoyed. Looking across the field at Bai, she frowned.

"Time has a way of weakening us all. Passing our teachings onto others is what keeps our principles alive. She is at peace knowing that her martial arts will live on."

"You learned from her, did you not?"

Lian nodded.

"How to fight, yes. When I was a child. She saw potential in me that I did not…and she was right."

"Your clan does not seem to know magic, yet you wield it. Did her teachings help you to utilize your chi?"

She recalled Bai telling her about this. Humans could learn magic, but it took concentration and special training; the likes that she was not capable of.

Was it really that impressive to Bi-Han? Lian felt almost elated by this.

Reaching down to her side, she grabbed the amulet and allowed him to take a closer look at it.

"My magic comes from this. There is a tale that derived from my clan about a sorceress from Outworld, it is the reason we know of it. The tale goes that she put her magic essence into the amulet and came here to aid a warrior, one she foresaw would rise to be a great champion."

"And you are this prophesied one?" Bi-Han asked with a skeptical look.

Lian snorted. No, she did not think she was.

"I'm no great champion, but I was able to utilize its magic better than anyone before me, so until someone comes along who better uses it, I will remain the owner of the Amulet of Damashi."

"I have not heard of this Damashi," Bi-Han stated with a raised brow. "How does it work?"

She honestly had no idea, and even if she did, there were some secrets better left unsaid. Opting to remind her soon-to-be husband about this, the sound of someone addressing her by name halted her.

Guan offered her a pleased look.

"I thought you were delayed, Father."

He hummed.

"I have done all I can for today, so I am here to relieve you."

It was not as bad as Lian had expected, though it could have been better. She smiled.

"Then I will join the others."

"Before you do, there is an important matter your mother needs to speak with you about. She is in the dining room," Guan told her.

What was the important matter? Lian was curious. Turning her eyes to Bi-Han she offered him a polite smile, despite how she felt.

"Please excuse me. We will continue this conversation later."

Bi-Han agreed with a brief nod.

Hastily, Lian sauntered back across the courtyard to the main house, forcing the awkward events of the day to the back of her mind. There were much more important matters at hand.

As said, Lan awaited her company.

"Sit for a moment," she ordered while motioning in front of her.

As Lian eagerly did so, Lan sat a scroll out on the table and unfolded it. Lian raised a curious brow.

"This is your marital contract," she disclosed. "It was written and signed by your father and the former Grandmaster of the Lin Kuei many years ago."

Lian was not aware that there was a contract made. It made sense though. Written, it was certified, not merely a verbal agreement.

"What does it entail?" She asked curiously.

"That our two families are to become one. A list of stipulations was written, but that does not concern you," Lan answered. "What does, is the upcoming ceremony, which will take place tomorrow afternoon."

Tomorrow. Was she serious? That was too sudden.

"That…doesn't follow tradition," Lian pointed out.

Lan frowned.

"Not entirely no, but times have changed. And at least some of the etiquettes have been fulfilled. We received the Betrothal Letter many years ago. The former Grandmaster came to us with the proposal and yesterday your father set the date with Bi-Han over tea."

So he knew. He agreed for the ceremony to be so soon. Lian honestly felt a bit overwhelmed. It was like the walls were closing in on her bit by bit.

"I am not ready for this," she admitted.

What happened to a fair warning?

"Leave the preparations to me. While it is last minute, I have it under control," Lan stated.

She almost sounded eager, but preparations were not what concerned Lian.

"I…I need a moment to think."

Lan sighed.

"This ceremony is taking place nonetheless, so have your moment, but as of tomorrow, you will need to put aside your issue for the sake of the clan."

Lian tightened her jaw. This sake of the clan nonsense was getting on her last nerve. All it boiled down to was the comfort of her parents as they signed over their future and hers.

Standing, Lian stormed out of the room and to the balcony overlooking the garden. As soon as she was alone, her control crumbled.

"Perhaps you should marry him if you are so damn desperate. Does what I feel not matter? Do I not matter?"

Angry tears stung her eyes, turning the world into a saturated blur.

Lian growled in frustration. Despite wanting to take her frustrations out on something, she forced herself to calm down, sitting on her knees in the doorway.

I can't do this to myself, not now. I have to be strong.

With an uneasy sigh, she wiped the tears from her face.

"It's fine. I'm fine," she told herself.

It was a lie.

The truth was Lian was tired and angry of being made to feel unimportant despite trying her best to take control of her life.

Tomorrow she might feel better - she doubted it - but as of tonight, she just needed to be alone.