The planet you and Jingliu had landed on was barren. The surface, mere dirt and pebbles, was covered with a thin sheet of ice from Jingliu’s training. Scars from her sword dug deep into gravel when she stabbed, eradicating what vestiges of plants had the resilience to grow from this godforsaken, dismal planet. The only sanctuary was your spaceship, and even so the cold from her ice and the atmosphere’s natural chill permeated the metal walls.

Taking away life; that was what Jingliu excelled in. She did not need to be told that she was deadly and removed from all that once made her human, because the results of her actions sang a ballad that could have been tattooed into history.

Loveless, that was what she was. A frozen heart blackened by frost and the thorny restricting vines of mara, threatening to engulf her every moment she spent awake. You were perhaps the only thing keeping her going now, the warm tea you would brew for her calming more than just her weary body. You, and your stubborn determination. You, her only warmth. You…

Jingliu spun and cleaved a boulder in half with terrifying efficiency. It was nothing like the enemies she had defeated when there were any– she would not dwell on you; sentiment made her weak. And weakness was the one thing she could not tolerate, especially when she had not yet cut through the core of a star.

Privately, she thought that if she ever did carve down the stars in the sky, it would be in your name. The world would know to never hurt you.

That was when she sensed your presence, silent like a shadow. She almost smiled. You could have startled her if she sank too deep in her personal reveries.

“What is that you hold in your hand?” She asked, her soft voice barely audible amongst the crackle of glaciers. “A valentine? For… a day already passed? What foolish trivialities.”

Then she melted a little under your eyes.

“There is no need to apologize nor abide by dreary etiquettes. I told you many times before: simply talk to me when you find something delightful.”