It was no cinch to those new to the harsh weather of Arctika, but long after sunset, the group reached the temple, mostly unharmed. Lian was given no time to take in the icy scenery before she was patched up and then escorted to a warm but spacious room of her own with nothing in it but a bed, a vanity, and a closet. With most of her things lost to the snow - Bi-Han had allowed her to carry what she was able to - she had nothing much to fill the room with; a pair of warm clothes and some minor necessities were all she had to her name.
This inevitable issue, however, would have to wait till tomorrow. She was too exhausted. A night robe was fetched for her, then once she was dressed, she crawled into bed and closed her eyes.
Lian did not even remember falling asleep until the sound of knocking abruptly woke her.
Was it already dawn? She could not tell.
Reluctantly, she crawled out of bed, groaning as her muscles hurt from the excursion of the previous day. The burn reminded her of the morning after a training session with her master. Lian trudged over to the door and opened it, greeted by a woman with short pewter hair. Her eyes, a shade of arctic blue, gauged her.
"Apologies for waking you, Madam," she stated. "But Master Bi-Han insisted that I do so."
Lian raised a curious brow.
"Am I needed for something?"
"No, but he did mention that your things were lost. I can be of service," she answered.
Lian understood. That was…kind of him, she supposed.
"Give me a moment to redress - and possibly wake up - then we can talk."
She nodded and waited outside as Lian dressed in one of the two outfits she hauled up the mountain, a caramel-colored winter dress. Once her unkempt hair was combed, she opened the door and allowed the woman inside.
"You did lose nearly everything," she pointed out, taking a look around.
"There were luckily no irreplaceable things aboard," Lian stated.
She hummed.
"Perhaps some of my clothes will fit you. If not then one of the others might have some. Trips to the nearby town are seldom."
"Are there many women in the Lin Kuei?" Lian asked, raising a brow.
The pewter-haired woman nodded.
"Aside from myself, I'm Frost, by the way. There is Cyrax and a handful of grunts." She paused for a moment, turning toward Lian with a grin. "And now you, the Grandmaster's wife."
The latter frowned.
"My name is Lian."
"I've heard about you…and your magic. Some of the grunts were talking about it," Frost mentioned.
Lian had no doubt. The majority of them witnessed it firsthand, some even saw it twice. She crossed her arms, feeling a bit uneasy in the spotlight. It was as expected though, she was new here, in addition to being married to Bi-Han.
"Are you also able to do magic?"
Frost grinned and raised her hand. From her mid-arm and up freezes over. Lian widened her eyes.
"You can do ice magic? Like Bi-Han."
"Impressed? Master and I are descendants of the Cryomancers, a race from Edenia," Frost stated with pride.
Lian had never heard of Edenia before. Were there more realms out there besides Earthrealm and Outworld? And what of Kuai Liang or Tomas? Their powers were not ice-based.
There is still much I do not know.
Lian hummed.
"Do the Lin Kuei keep scrolls? I would like to learn what I can about them."
"That is a service I can not help you with," Frost admitted. "You would have to ask Master Bi-Han."
She understood. Every clan had its secrets. Locked away, however, Lian did not know if she would ever see Bi-Han to ask him. This room was a clear sign he meant to distance himself from her. But Lian did not want to be locked away like some damsel from a fantasy novel.
"Can you show me around?" She asked with hope. She wanted to at least familiarize herself with her new home.
Frost grinned.
"That I can do."
Lian was grateful.
For the next half hour, Frost showed her the temple. Aside from the storehouse, which contained the various types of weapons used by the Lin Kuei, and the training hall, Lian was most impressed by the shared bathhouse, built around a natural hot spring.
She was not expecting her new home to be so likable.
Despite having to share a room, each of the fighters had a comfortable place to rest; Frost took Lian to her chamber and gave her essentials that she could spare or no longer needed. The kitchen and spacious dining area were the final rooms she showed her before taking her back to the bedchamber.
"If you need me, I am usually in the training hall or my room," she mentioned.
Lian nodded, thanking her again.
"I'll see you around, Madam," Frost teased with a wave.
I don't think I will ever get used to that.
Putting away her new things, Lian decided to venture into the temple on her own. One thing Frost made clear was that the Lin Kuei took care of themselves. With makeup on, she then sauntered to the kitchen for a light snack and a cup of tea.
It took her a few minutes to navigate the many cupboards but upon finding the electric kettle, she put some water on the stove to boil. As she was waiting, deciding on what to make, Lian heard the sound of footsteps approaching.
A conversation paused mid-sentence as one or both of the brothers noticed her. Kuai Liang immediately bowed, followed by Tomas, much to her dismay.
"Please, that isn't necessary. We are in-laws now," Lian mentioned.
"If you insist, Madam," Tomas agreed.
Kuai Liang nodded, then sauntered over to the cupboard, rummaging through it.
"Would you both like some tea?" Lian asked.
"If you are offering," Kuai Liang answered. "I will fetch the bean cakes then."
She softly smiled.
The brothers sat at a low table in the seating area as the water boiled. Lian, in the meantime, placed tea leaves in 3 cups, bringing them and the kettle over to the table.
"I'll get that for you," Tomas offered.
Lian denied him the chance.
"Please, allow me." She poured the water into the cups. "If the wedding had been traditional, I would have had to serve tea to my in-laws. It feels like the least I can do."
"Your gratitude is appreciated," Kuai Liang stated.
Lian was glad he thought so. Sitting at the table with them she ate a bean cake as her tea steeped.
"We did not have the chance to see, but did the ceremony fare well?" Tomas asked.
"It was…nice," Lian admitted. And sudden.
She honestly did not remember much about that day. Other than the apprehension.
"Steel yourself."
Her face heated up. It was Bi-Han's words that eased her that day. It was ironic.
"I wish I had seen our brother in his wedding attire," Tomas mentioned with a grin. "I imagine he scowled the entire ceremony."
"Tomas," Kuai Liang chided.
Lian could tell that he did not mean it. There was a smile on his face.
"Does he express no other emotion?"
Tomas laughed.
"As Grandmaster, brother has much on his mind," Kuai Liang pointed out.
She imagined so.
"A wife certainly does not add comfort."
"You are more than a wife," Kuai Liang mentioned. "He expressed this himself."
Her face heated up. It was because of her magic, nothing more. Lifting the cup to her lips, Lian took a sip. If he considered her more, then why did he distance himself from her?
"Where is Bi-Han this morning?"
"With the recruits," Tomas answered.
She hummed. So, he would be busy for most of the day. He might even miss lunch or dinner. It was her job as a wife to attend to him, was it not?
"What sort of food should I make for dinner?"
"Rice is always a good choice and seasonal vegetables," Tomas pointed out.
Kuai Liang scolded him again, then covered his grin with the teacup. "And poultry for muscle building."
Lian laughed. It seemed as though they were both eager.
A sudden icy chill made her shiver, despite the warmth from her teacup. Kuai Liang seemed to notice something she did not. Following his gaze, Lian frowned as she noticed Bi-Han standing in the doorway.
Was the sudden chill coming from him?
"Brother," Kuai Liang uttered, greeting him.
"Your attention should be on the recruits," Bi-Han pointed out.
Without a word, the two brothers stood; Tomas thanked Lian for the tea, and then the two of them left. She sighed, rather liking their company. To avoid an awkward moment, she stood and walked over to the cabinet for another cup.
"Would you like some tea? The water in the kettle should still be hot."
Bi-Han hummed and took a seat at the table. Lian served him and then continued to enjoy her tea.
An awkward silence soon settled in, and Lian considered returning to her room without so much as a word, but a part of her did not want to leave things this way. The marriage was going to be unpleasant should she decide to ignore him at every turn.
Why can't he be the one to start a conversation though? Is he afraid of me?
She could not control the smile that pulled at her lips.
"Do you frequently think of plunging people into your portals?" Bi-Han asked.
Lian snorted, sitting down her cup.
"Only those who irritate me."
Bi-Han raised a brow and looked at her.
"Is that said in jest?"
"Perhaps," she stated. "If it gives you solace, I don't think you are irritating…just aloof."
She could tell by the way his brows knitted that he wanted her to elaborate, but she did not wish to.
"Your brothers claimed that you were busy with the recruits. How are they fairing?"
"This conversation is not over," Bi-Han stated with a sigh. He took a drink and then set down his cup. "They show purpose. But to learn our ways, it will require time; time we have too much of these days."
That was a fair assessment, though Lian wondered what he meant by his last statement. He seemed almost irritated. She hummed, considering if she should ask him now about the history of the Lin Kuei. In the end, she decided against it.
Another time.
Sliding his cup out, Lian took this action as a sign that Bi-Han wanted more tea. She took his cup to the kitchen counter to prepare it, then she returned to the table and filled it with hot water. As she attempted to return to her seat, Bi-Han reached out and grabbed her arm, halting her.
"Your grip is harsh," she pointed out.
"Sit," he ordered, loosening his hold on her a bit.
Lian did so, raising a curious brow.
Bi-Han lifted his other hand and ran his thumb across her bottom lip, then examined the smear of lipstick across his skin. Her heart raced. It felt nice.
"There is no reason to wear this for me."
An embarrassed heat spread across her face. While it was true that she started dolling up for him, hearing him point this out made her feel uncomfortable.
"And if I chose to wear it because it makes me feel nice?"
Bi-Han knitted his brows.
"Does it?"
The dress she wore was charming. The caramel color brought out the golden pigments in her eyes. Makeup was a waste, in his opinion. But if it made her feel better about herself, then he was in no position to judge.
Lian frowned, choosing not to answer.
"There is no reason for you to wear that red jewelry bag either. We are not in the company–"
"Be quiet," Bi-Han ordered. She did so, taken off guard. "I bootlick no one. My decision to wear it is my own."
But why? Lian did not know what to say to this. A strange sentiment overcame her; fondness. Surely, he did not think more of this marriage than he let on.
"Forgive me. I had assumed that given our standing, you were wearing it for a public image."
Bi-Han released her arm.
"I do not seek a public image; I seek combatants. This union is no more than a formality…but I admit you are more than I bargained for."
Kuai Liang spoke the truth. He thought of her as more of a warrior than a wife.
"I have given it much thought, and as of tomorrow, you will train as Lin Kuei."
Was he serious? Given her ability, Lian did not blame him for wanting to utilize it. So, why did she feel a bit disappointed? Was this not what she wanted? To be seen as more than a title.
She sighed.
"I understand."
Lian supposed this alternative was better than being closed off in a room for the rest of her life. Was marriage even necessary now?
Resting her fingers on her bottom lip, she tightened her jaw. The intimacy of his touch lingered. Why did Bi-Han do that? Touch her in such a way. It irritated Lian, and not because he smeared her lipstick. Because for a moment she longed for more.
No…just no.