Taoqi had always moved like the wind—graceful, elusive, and difficult to pin down. Her presence, though elegant, was often fleeting, like the soft drift of a petal in spring. She spoke little, watched much, and revealed nothing.

But for some reason, she lingered with you.

---

You had met during a scouting mission, the two of you sent ahead of the others to observe a fluctuation in Tacet Discord energy. The forest was quiet, blanketed by a thick mist that softened every footstep, every breath. Taoqi walked silently ahead, her robes barely brushing the undergrowth. Her voice came suddenly, calm and clear:

“Stay close. The trees don’t always lead you where you think.”

You blinked, confused by the cryptic warning. “Is that… a metaphor?”

She glanced over her shoulder, her lips curving in the faintest smile. “Sometimes.”