The World They Left Behind

"Silence!" Ningning rose slowly, her movements graceful yet commanding. "I don't need excuses. What I see are soldiers incapable of protecting their Ningning! If you're this careless on the battlefield, what will happen to my people? To my kingdom?"

She stepped closer, the sound of her heels echoing. Her hand, holding a fan, slowly pointed towards one of the soldiers.

"Do you know what angers me more? Not only did you almost hurt me, but you also endangered someone important..." Ningning paused, realizing her words, and quickly changed her tone. "...someone who shouldn't have to go out of their way to save my life because of your incompetence!"

Arga froze in his spot. Who was this woman? Her voice was unclear, only audible as shouts that fueled his growing curiosity. He tried to peek through the door crack, but the guard quickly blocked his view.

"Wait here," one of the guards said sharply. Arga sighed, yet he couldn't contain his curiosity.

As if sensing Arga's presence, the woman inside the hall suddenly stopped speaking. Her voice, which had been filled with fiery command, softened, becoming gentle and warm. Like a soothing breeze, she spoke again.

"But I care about you," she said, almost in a whisper, yet strong enough to reach everyone's ears. "We are family. We must protect and look out for one another. Understand?"

The soldiers, who had been kneeling, looked astonished. They exchanged glances, perhaps not expecting such a drastic change in tone. "We understand, Leader," they replied in unison before standing and exiting the hall with reverent steps.

As the guards left, silence enveloped the hall once more. Arga's heartbeat quickened. This woman was clearly no ordinary person. There was an undeniable authority about her, hidden behind her contrasting demeanor—a mix of blazing anger and profound tenderness.

"Who is she really?" Arga wondered, trying to steady himself. Yet the image of the woman, with her commanding yet comforting voice, lingered in his mind.

Shortly after, the soldiers exited the hall with brisk steps, their boots echoing on the cold marble floor. One of them, a burly man with a face etched with experience, stopped in front of Arga. In a short yet authoritative tone, he said, "Lady Ningning is expecting you inside."

Arga was stunned, his feet seemingly rooted to the spot. "Me?" he thought, struggling to believe he was the one being summoned. His confusion lasted only a moment before he gave a slight nod and began to step forward, though his heart pounded erratically, like a drum struck too hard.

Upon entering the hall, the atmosphere shifted dramatically. The peaceful silence replaced the chaos of the outside world. The woman sat again in front of a guqin, its elegant design exuding a timeless charm. Her slender fingers moved gracefully across the strings, creating a melody that was captivating. The notes filled the room, floating like a soft whisper of the spring breeze. The warmth of the melody enveloped the space, as if time itself had stopped and only peace existed.

However, Arga's steps broke the harmony. The woman stopped playing and turned slowly. Her face briefly showed a hint of displeasure, though she eventually managed a thin smile that wasn't entirely genuine. There was a shadow of reluctance in her sharp eyes.

"You're here, Arga," she said in a flat voice, a subtle sarcasm slipping into her words, as if asking, "Do you think you deserve to just walk into this hall?"

Arga was stunned. The woman who led with incredible authority was Ningning. His mind raced, trying to understand the situation. This hall, the soldiers, Ningning? So, she's the District Leader? he thought, panicked.

Realizing who he was facing, Arga immediately bowed deeply. "My respects, and thank you for giving me the chance to meet you, District Leader," he stammered, his voice trembling slightly.

Ningning let out a short sigh, as if tired of the formalities. "Stop with the stiff manners. Sit down," she commanded, pointing to a chair in front of her. Despite her sharp tone, there was a flicker of concern in her eyes that wasn't entirely cold.

Arga sat slowly, his body remaining stiff like a statue. "Your injury, has it healed?" Ningning asked finally, her voice sincere, though still cold. Her gaze studied Arga carefully, as if trying to read his thoughts.

Arga nodded slowly. "Yes, strangely, my wound healed completely overnight. As if... a miracle," he answered, trying to find the right words while awkwardly scratching his neck.

Ningning crossed her arms over her chest, raising an eyebrow slightly. "A miracle? Don't get ahead of yourself. That's the result of my special potion, not a miracle," she said in a sharp tone, though her faint smile hinted at pride.

Arga was taken aback. "A potion? What is it?" he asked, curious to know more.

Ningning turned her face away for a moment, as if trying to hide something. "That potion is the most effective medicine in the world. Why are you so eager to know...? Are you curious about me?" she replied, her tone evasive, while a faint blush appeared on her cheeks.

Arga just gave a small smile, unsure how to respond. Before he could speak, Ningning shifted, moving closer until their bodies were nearly touching. Arga felt awkward, the proximity of her body making her breath audible.

"Ningning, you're too close," Arga stammered, trying to shift his position slightly to create some distance.

Ningning snorted softly, narrowing her eyes with a teasing gaze. "How funny. Yesterday, you jumped and hugged me without hesitation, but now you're awkward just because I'm sitting next to you?" she teased, her voice light but full of mystery.

"It... at that time, I just wanted to protect you," Arga replied hesitantly, his face turning as red as a ripe tomato.

Ningning lifted her chin slightly, her smile returning, this time with a satisfied tone. "Hmph, then I'll remember your kindness. But don't get too cocky just because you impressed me for a moment," she said, her voice softening but still carrying a dominant edge.

She returned to her seat with graceful movement, her face becoming serious again. "I assume you didn't come here just to say thank you, did you? There's something you want to say?" she asked, her tone full of curiosity, though still firm.