(JINSHI'S POV)
Many praised the young Magistrate of Jinzhou for her extraordinary wisdom. Some called her a prodigy blessed by the Sentinel. Others believed she possessed foresight beyond ordinary human understanding. There seems to be no realm of knowledge beyond her grasp, nor any challenge she cannot surmount.
Jinhsi herself never believed either. Knowledge was not something bestowed by fate.
It was earned.
Countless sleepless nights buried beneath stacks of reports. Endless discussions with ministers and scholars.
Hours spent walking among her people instead of remaining secluded behind the walls of City Hall. That was how she had learned. That was how she had become worthy of standing where she was today.
As Magistrate, every decision she made carried weight. Some determined the deployment of soldiers. Some decided the distribution of food during difficult seasons.
Others were so seemingly insignificant that many officials questioned why she insisted on reviewing them personally.
Tiny matters, they called them.
Yet Jinhsi understood something many rulers overlooked.
Sometimes...
A person's entire life could be changed by what others dismissed as a small inconvenience.
If she ignored those little things...
She had no right to call herself Jinzhou's Magistrate.
That was the standard she demanded of herself.
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Yet despite all the records housed within Jinzhou's archives, every report gathered by the Midnight Rangers. Despite every prediction offered by the Sentinel. There were still mysteries she could not solve and lately. Two individuals had occupied her thoughts more often than she cared to admit.
Her fingers paused over an ancient scroll resting upon her desk. The parchment had yellowed with age, its edges worn from centuries of careful preservation. Painted upon it were two figures standing side by side before countless Tacet Discords.
The Hero and The Heroine.
According to Jinzhou's oldest legends, they possessed a power unlike any Resonator before or since. They could absorb Tacet Discords with nothing but their bare hands.
An impossible feat.
One historians had dismissed as embellishment.
Until now.
"...Another pair has appeared." She whispered the words to herself.
Two individuals who wielded the very miracle history insisted should have vanished long ago.
Coincidence? She did not believe in coincidences anymore. Not after Jué's guidance. Not after everything she had witnessed. If the legends repeated themselves...
Then history itself was beginning to move once more.
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From the moment she learned of their arrival. She had already begun preparing. Not because she wished to control them. Nor because she intended to manipulate them.
Quite the opposite.
Jinhsi wanted them to choose their own path. But choices required safety.
And safety required preparation.
She deliberately arranged clues. Small breadcrumbs leading them forward. Not to manipulate them... But to allow them to discover the truth themselves.
At the same time... She quietly ordered her Personal Bodyguard Sanhua to watch over them from the shadows.
"Protect them."
Jinhsi had said. "But do not interfere unless absolutely necessary."
Sanhua simply bowed. "As you command, Magistrate."
Jinhsi trusted her completely.
If danger came... Sanhua would already be there.
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Three days.
Exactly as promised. Jinhsi stepped onto the terrace overlooking Jinzhou.
The midnight breeze danced through her silver-white hair, carrying with it the fragrance of blooming flowers from the gardens. The moon above bathed the city in warmth.
Citizens bustled through the streets beneath her despite it being late.
Peace.
Everything she had fought to protect.
Then...
She saw them. Standing at the entrance to the terrace.
Jeff.
Rover.
Safe, just as promised. A weight she hadn't realized she was carrying quietly slipped from her shoulders.
She descended the final few steps with graceful composure, her robes flowing elegantly behind her. Stopping before them, she offered a respectful nod.
The smile that curved across her lips was gentle. Far less formal than the one she wore before officials.
It was a genuine one.
"It's been three days."
Her soft voice carried easily through the terrace as the breeze stirred around them. "We've both made it on time."
Her eyes met Rover's first.
Then Jeff's.
For the briefest moment... There was nothing between them. Only three people who had kept a promise.
Jinhsi placed one hand over her heart and bowed with quiet elegance. She finally uttered the words she had rehearsed a thousand times over.
"Allow me to formally introduce myself."
She lifted her head.
"I am Jinhsi."
Her smile brightened ever so slightly.
"It brings me great joy..."
"...to finally meet both of you."
A small pause.
Then, with unmistakable sincerity—
"Welcome to Jinzhou..."
"Rover."
"...Jeff."
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AUTHOR'S NOTE:
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Hello everyone, feel free to leave your collections, powers, reviews, and comments as you see fit. I tried to do her character justice with this fic, hope I did well. That's all; thank you for reading this fanfic, and I hope you have a good day.