Stepping on the slightly rough stone steps I had already walked on once during the day, I ascended step by step.
The shadow of the cliff wall descended, almost completely blocking out the starlight.
Only the stubborn point of orange-red light from the Ember in my hand illuminated the limited area at my feet.
The stone steps were slippery with a bit of green moss.
I walked exceptionally carefully, my Dragon Tail swaying gently behind me, helping me maintain a subtle balance.
Finally stepping onto the familiar platform midway up the cliff, the night wind immediately brushed against my face.
I stopped and carefully sensed it.
The temperature was indeed a bit lower than by the river, carrying the special chill of the mountains at night, but…
it didn’t seem particularly cold.
The cold resistance of this body, or rather, this seemingly thin robe, seemed to have a good thermal insulation effect.
The night wind blew through my creamy white long hair and the mane on my Dragon Tail, bringing the scent of grass, trees, and rocks.
Looking back at the river valley below, which was already completely swallowed by darkness, only the river faintly reflected a thin line of weak light under the moonlight, like the pulse of the earth.
Turning around, I walked into the cave.
The entrance was not large, and the moonlight slanted in, casting a small patch of light that barely outlined the uneven contours of the cave walls and the general undulations of the ground.
It was darker and quieter than outside, with only the extremely faint “hissing” sound of the ember burning and my own footsteps echoing softly in the limited space.
By the light of the moon and the ember in my hand, I walked to the relatively flat and drier rocky ground where I had woken up during the day.
That was indeed the spot I had cleared and was most familiar with.
I carefully placed the firewood I held in my left arm in a dry corner, then crouched down and gently set the ember branch from my right hand into a slightly concave little stone hollow in the center of the ground.
This would prevent it from rolling and also provided better ventilation, allowing the charcoal fire to last longer.
After doing all this, I straightened up and glanced around this temporary shelter.
The moonlight lingered at the cave entrance, unable to penetrate deep inside.
Most of the cave was hidden in darkness, with only a small, warm, flickering halo of light where the ember was, dispelling the nearby darkness and the damp chill of the night.
A wave of exhaustion finally washed over me, arriving late.
I had been through too much today: the drastic change in my identity, the unfamiliar environment, testing my new abilities, surviving alone, and that uncontrollable homesickness…
I walked over to the “bedding” rock and touched its surface with my hand; it was still relatively dry.
With no other choice, I carefully lay down on my side, trying to find a comfortable position.
I curled my jade-white dragon tail naturally by my side, and my pale yellow mane spread across the rock, making it feel less hard.
My long hair cascaded behind me and over my shoulders, feeling cool to the touch.
The cave was very quiet, with only the faint crackle of the smoldering ember and the distant, almost imperceptible sound of wind from outside.
I kept my eyes open, gazing at the square of ink-blue night sky illuminated by moonlight at the cave entrance, and a few exceptionally bright stars even further away.
My thoughts drifted, but the intense fatigue came crashing over me in waves, gradually drowning out the chaotic stream of ideas.
My eyelids grew heavier and heavier.
The serene power inherent to “Shu” in the depths of my body seemed to flow slowly in this state of relaxation and exhaustion, bringing a strange sense of comfort.
Taking one last look at the faint glow of the ember, which shone quietly in the darkness like a guardian’s eye, I slowly closed my ice-blue eyes.
My breathing gradually became long and steady.
On this first night in the cave of this otherworldly realm, amidst the intertwining of fatigue, loneliness, and a sliver of newborn hope, I sank deeply into a slumber.
The moonlight moved silently, gently stroking the cave entrance, yet it did not disturb the serene sleeping figure with dragon horns and a long tail, curled up deep within the cavern.
Good night, new world.