Yin, and Yang.

The tea ready, I gathered two cups, a bowl of sugar and some milk and spoons on a plate, all together with the tea itself. Scanning the Darkness in the entire Castle, I found her in the ballroom. Going near a wall, I melted in the Shades woth the things with me and came back to the light at the ballroom's entrance.

Seeing her dancing, I went to silently put the things on a table and waited for her to finish, in silence. Her movements were amazing, an ability rarely seen these days. The more I looked at her, the more I remembered...

Feeling eyes on me, I tripped and landed face first.

"Ow..."

Rubbing my face, I realized that I had broken my mask. Panic flared through me, and I quickly put my hand over the broken pieces to make them meld together.

I went next to her to make sure she was no hurt.

"Are you alright? You are not hurt, I hope?"

I swiftly saw cracks in her mask just before she put her hand on it. Why was she hiding her face like that?

"A-ah, I'm fine!"

Panicking, I looked around before rushing to the tea area. Using some magic, I melded my mask together, before looking back at my host.

"See?"

I lifted an eyebrow. I clearly saw cracks in her mask, seconds ago. It seemd my client had some tricks up her sleeve.

I went next to her and said:

"I wish not to be rude, but I see you used some Magic there, non? I saw your Mask being broken seconds ago..."

"I'm afraid you give me abilities beyond my caliber, aha!"

Laughing it off, I was worried that he'd hold to what he saw.

I nodded. Obviously, she did not want to talk about it. I got her a chair to sit and poured some tea in her cup.

"Would you like some sugar? Or some milk, maybe?"

"A little milk, and two spoons, please."

Smiling quietly I sat in the chair he had offered.

How the hell am I going to pass off drinking...

I poured a little milk in the tea and mixed two spoons of sugar in it before giving it to her. I took mine with a single drop of milk and said:

"If you are not feeling at ease, I can look away while you drink. All to make you comfortable."

I lifted my cup and said:

"Santé!"

Clearing my throat, I lifted my cup too.

Here we go..

I carefully removed my mask, before letting the liquid seep through my cloths, and into my ethereal mouth. Surprised at the taste, I smiled.

As she partly removed her mask, I was tempted to have a look under it, but I restrained myself and shook that thought away. Her mouth had something that felt out of the ordnary, like if it was not part of this world, yet was in it either way.

I chose not to ask question about it, afraid to hurt her feelings. I drank my cup and asked:

"Is the tea à votre goût?"

"Your language is... Quite shocking. It rolls through your mouth so smoothly... But, yes. The tea is quite good. Which herbs did you use, if I may ask?"

Knowing he was sparing me from any questions, I attempted to make pleasantries with him.

Ah... Forgive me...

I smiled and gladly answered:

"I have my own greenhouse where I grow plants to serve as meals and decorations. I grow a special kind of tes plant, the only one of its type."

Then, I had a little laugh when I realized what she said about my language.

"Oh, I beg your pardon. My language has gotten into the habit of mixing some others I know all together. And I particularly like this long lost language that you heard. I am sorry, I will try my best to stay comprehensible."

"Well, it's quite good. And no no, if you're attached to it, please remain with it!"

Tilting my head, I let him look into my eyes. Attempting to see into his, I got irked.

He.. has no true soul?

As I looked in her eyes, I saw that she was finding out about me. I looked away, ashamed of what she could have seen.

"By what your eyes look like right now, I can tell you found out, right?"

"What... Happened?"

Tilting my head, I gently put my hand over his.

"Who?"

I sighed.

"It is a long story... It lead to misundertandings and incidents... Even I do not really know the truth anymore. It has been so long ago."

"Ah... Love, then."

Calmly, I finished my tea before pulling my sketchbook out of my Qipao. Beginning to draw what I saw in his eyes, I held up the finished picture of the woman looking out to the sea, a small smile on her face.

"This one, then?"

I barely saw the picture and knew she drew right. Feeling a mix of sadness, guilt and anger, I looked away, a tear falling down my eyes.

"Oui... It is her..."

Closing my book, I handed him a tissue from my Qipao.

"ah... Loves Labors lost..."

I took the tissue and muttered a thank you while wiping the tears.

"It was a long time ago... she decided to sacrifice herself for me, to let me continue to live. I still regret to have accepted. She should have been the one living and me, the one who died..."

"The thing about love.. Is that you must sacrifice yourself to make the other one live. She must have sensed your importance to the world, and herself, for her to have given up her life for you. Do not let her sacrifice go to waste, and let her live on through you."

Clearing my throat, I realized what I had said, and put my naive front on again.

"Oh listen to me, going on with stories!"

I shook my head.

"Non, you are right. She sacrificed herself for me to live, when I was weakened, she chose to give me what I needed to continue living. I never used what she gave me, I keep it within me, using the rest instead..."

"Only in time of great need then, non?"

I sighed.

"Even then, I do not know it I would have the necessary strength to use it..."