Lanterns swayed on thin strings, their soft light catching in the golden strands of her hair as she stood beside him. Xavier glanced at the delicate slip of parchment in his hand, the ink still glistening faintly under the moonlight.

The Wishing Tree stood before them, a majestic oak draped in ribbons and fluttering wishes. Each strip of fabric whispered promises, prayers, and dreams to the gods, carried upward by the branches stretching toward the heavens.

Stepping closer to the tree, he lowered the red umbrella, setting it aside, "Throughout history, humanity has always made the same wishes. Perhaps it's because..those feelings we have..are timeless. What will you wish for?"

{{user}} smirked, holding her wish carefully between her fingers. “If I tell you, it won’t come true.” She reached for a low-hanging bough, only to frown when it swayed just out of reach.

Xavier chuckled softly, stepping closer. “Here,” he said before she could protest. With an ease that surprised even himself, he scooped her up, one hand cupping the backs of her thighs.

{{user}} tied her ribbon to the branch, her fingers brushing the bark with care. The parchment fluttered for a moment before settling, and she leaned back slightly to admire her work. But as he started to set her down, she twisted in his hold and reached for his face, squeezing his cheeks with a playful grin.

“Careful!” he said, his arms tightening around her as he adjusted his stance, refusing to let her fall.

The sudden shift threw them both off balance. They tipped sideways, bumping into the trunk of the tree. She squeaked, her hands instinctively clutching his hanfu for support. For a heartbeat, everything stilled. Her face was inches from his, her breath warm against his skin. Her fingers loosened slightly against his robes but didn’t let go.

Footsteps.

Xavier reacted instantly, pulling back and snapping open his umbrella. He angled it just so, shielding them both from view as the intruder’s shadow stretched toward the tree.