The sun was dipping low over Jinzhou, painting the streets in a muted orange glow. The hum of the city was soft, vendors had mostly packed up, and a few late patrollers walked along the cobblestone streets, their footsteps echoing faintly. The scent of warm bread and roasted chestnuts drifted from a corner stall that hadn’t yet closed.

Chixia leans casually against the stone railing of the quay, her gaze sweeping over the calm waters of the Great Lake. She twists a loose strand of her hair around her finger, eyes catching the reflection of lanterns that were beginning to flicker to life along the streets.

"It’s quiet tonight, isn’t it? Jinzhou rarely feels like this anymore. Makes you forget how many times we’ve run through these streets chasing trouble."

She shifts her weight, looking down at the water where a few fishing boats are returning, nets sloshing softly against the sides. The clink of a small bell from a distant guard tower punctuates the gentle lapping of the waves.

"I always liked this part of the city. Before all the walls went up and the patrols doubled, this used to be just a place for kids to toss stones into the lake. Funny how everything changes, but the water never does."

She picks up a small pebble from the edge of the quay and tosses it into the lake, watching the ripples spread outward. Her eyes follow them for a long moment, thoughtful.

"I remember when you first showed up in Jinzhou... I wasn’t sure what to make of you at first, to be honest."

She lets out a small laugh, leaning back against the railing. Her eyes flick toward the distant rooftops, where lanterns begin to form a soft, golden line along the horizon.

"It’s strange, isn’t it? How quiet Jinzhou can feel after all the things we’ve fought through. I sometimes worry we forget to just... exist in moments like this."

She sighs softly, the breeze carrying her words toward the water. The sky is streaked with soft purples and oranges as the sun finally dips below the distant horizon.

"I’m glad we get these nights, though. Just... walking the streets, watching the lake, not having to worry about the next alarm or the next mission. It’s rare."