SCS-03 — reverse1999

Portward Bound


A cool evening spring breeze carries the scent of magnolia and the soft, damp breath of the river.
As night falls, the bustling market street winds down, and a vendor, carrying two baskets of unsold magnolia flowers, slowly walks toward its end.
Paper Heron leans on the windowsill, watching. She doesn't blink until the vendor disappears into the distant shadows.
Pearl Finch	What's on your mind?
Paper Heron	I was thinking every time I come down the mountain, there's so much that feels new.
Paper Heron	Like that play Receiving Longevity! That was my first time seeing a floating stage on the water.
Paper Heron	They were so far away. I could hardly see the person wielding the sword. But it must have been amazing. The cheers swelled like ocean waves.
Paper Heron	And the lanterns on the boats! They lit up the whole river!
Pearl Finch	Hm. We've come just in time for the Dushuo Festival. It's my first time seeing it all too.
Paper Heron	They weave such beautiful lanterns! The bamboo splints they use are shaved so thin and woven together as finely as thread. And when they move, it's like watching carp swimming in a lotus pond.
Pearl Finch	Brother Liǎng bought one once. Do you remember?
Paper Heron	You're right, he did! But I like these lanterns more.
Paper Heron	Though I'm not so sure about all the new food. Tofu with white fuzz, fish with strange flavors. Not to say they're bad, but ...
Paper Heron	And the magnolia seller just now, we also saw one at the city gate this morning.
Pearl Finch	Magnolia flowers ... Yes. You can take some back, if you like.
Paper Heron	Hmm, I would like some. But I'm worried they'll wilt before we make it back up the mountain.
Paper Heron	It's better that someone else buys them. They'll last longer that way.
Waiter	Here you are, your tea.
Tavern, ???
As they're talking, a waiter arrives with their tea and two plates of delicate pastries.
Waiter	These pastries are a delicacy from the Wu region. I hope you enjoy them.
Paper Heron	You have pastries from Wu?
Waiter	Yes, indeed. We are the only establishment in all of Huanzhou that sells them.
Waiter	See that ferry out there? Delectable as they are, these pastries don't keep for long. They're best fresh from the boat. Were they to be sent to the next town, they'd lose their flavor before they ever arrived.
Waiter	Huanzhou is all mountains, which makes travel difficult. But there is a ferry just east of our Chun Town. Thanks to that, we can use horses and boats to deliver these pastries here while they're still fresh.
Waiter	Wu-style pastries are the finest, though they tend to be very sweet. I do hope they're to your liking.
Paper Heron	Thank you. Now I have to try them!
She picks up the nearest one and examines it carefully.
Paper Heron	Master says I'm from Wu too, so what's so spec—
Paper Heron	What in ... Bleh, it's sweet! It's filled with red bean paste!
Waiter	I did warn you. And before you ask, no. There are no refunds.
Pearl Finch shakes her head with a smile and pushes a cup of clear tea toward Paper Heron.
Pearl Finch	Drink this. It will cut the sweetness.
With this spring's tea leaves not yet ready, the establishment still serves last year's tea. Its leaves are aged, but the brew is light and clear.
Paper Heron	This mung bean cake tastes nothing like the ones our brothers bought! By my eye, it seems they've used sticky rice and sesame oil. I wonder how they mix it all together.
Paper Heron	If I were to sell them, I wouldn't use that rock-sugar bean paste. I'd go with something lighter.
Paper Heron	Hmm. But what's better? Maybe salt and pepper?
[visual: the edges of the screen darken in a vignette]
...
......
Paper Heron	Finch? Are you still listening?
The wind picks up, bells chime gently under the buildings' eaves, and a pair of resting birds fly away, startled.
Pearl Finch	Heron, is it truly your desire to go down the mountain and sell cakes?
Paper Heron	Of course. But I can't just leave.
Paper Heron	Just like our brothers. They don't really want to stay on the mountain either, do they?
Paper Heron	Brother Liǎng ... I've watched him practice with his sword. He's amazing! He wields his blade like the heroes in a story—the ones whose swords can cut water.
Pearl Finch	But our techniques focus on regulating Qi, concentration, and visualization. The Longevity Sword cares little for physical sharpness.
Paper Heron	True.
Paper Heron	And Brother Sān lives only for poetry and song. When I first came, he'd have his nose in a book of verses all day. All that knowledge, and he still couldn't remember the grandmaster's full title.
Paper Heron	Convincing him to read Daoist texts for decades would be a real challenge.
Paper Heron	You've all been so kind to me—stayed with me. How could I possibly leave you behind?
Pearl Finch	Ah, you ... I can't even ...
Pearl Finch	Do you have any idea how many dream of joining the White Horse School to learn the Method of Longevity? And yet, the three of you act as though it's nothing.
Paper Heron	But what's the difference between selling cakes and studying the Method?
Pearl Finch	There you go again.
She lets out a long, weary sigh.
Pearl Finch	Of course there's a difference.


Half-melted snow leaves the ground slick with mud.
At times like this, few are willing to brave the streets, save for a couple of tired-looking market stall vendors leaning against the roadside.
Young Vendor	You know, I reckon we should head to the big fair in Zhu County next year. What's the point of staying in Chun Town?
Tired Vendor	sigh I'll think about it.
Young Vendor	What is there to think about? Look around, the town's empty! The only way to make money here is by depending on travelers or getting into some shady business. And the second is not an option for us.
Tired Vendor	I know, I know. But my family has lived in Chun Town for generations. Leaving isn't as easy as all that.
Young Vendor	Not like it's any different for me. But you know what they say, "A transplanted tree dies, but a relocated person thrives." You ...
Suddenly, the sound of hooves cuts through their conversation.
Paper Heron	Excuse me, can you tell me how to get to the East Port?
Young Vendor	East Port?
Tired Vendor	I can tell from your accent that you're not a local. If you're going to the Zhu County fair, then the port is the wrong direction.
Paper Heron	That's quite alright. I'm not heading to Zhu County.
Tired Vendor	Forgive my asking, but why are you going there alone?
Tired Vendor	That place is all but deserted.
Paper Heron	Oh, I'm not traveling alone. I have a friend with me. She forgot the way, see, so I thought I'd come back to ask for directions.
Young Vendor	Excuse my friend here, miss. What you do or where you travel is none of our business.
Young Vendor	See the Paifang ahead? Go past it, head straight east, cross the woods to the river, then follow it downstream.
Paper Heron	Thank you kindly.
She bows and turns to leave but stops short, remembering something.
Paper Heron	One more thing: Does the East Port have a ferry?
Tired Vendor	It did, once upon a time. But it's been empty for a long while.
Paper Heron	I thought as much. I believe I've traveled on one there before.
Tired Vendor	You must be joking.
Tired Vendor	Even in my grandfather's time, the ferries were deserted.
Tired Vendor	When could you have possibly traveled on one?
TO BE CONTINUED ...