novelzi Chapter 1
Chapter 1
Chapter 1: Matters Beyond Dreams
A paper lantern swayed gently from the crimson eaves.
Ttang.
A clear, delicate chime resonated softly.
Tang Sohwa, gazing out the window, lifted her eyes to the edge of the roof. The red tiles, bathed in the golden light of the setting sun, caught her attention. A bittersweet smile touched her lips as she took in the cozy scene, one she hadn’t witnessed in decades. She must be dreaming. To see the moments she yearned for most unfold before her eyes... it seemed she wasn't dead yet.
The warm Sichuan breeze, laden with the fragrance of blossoms from the rear garden, drifted into the room. Could the moments leading to death truly be this sweet? Immersed in the pleasant sensation, Sohwa closed her eyes once more, surrendering to the inevitable.
“Noona!”
Her eyelids fluttered at the familiar voice that pierced through the tranquility.
“Noona!” The voice called again, insistent and close.
This isn’t real. It’s all an illusion.
Sohwa fought down the rising hope within her and slowly opened her eyes. Leaning against the circular window frame was a young boy, his youthful face, barely past the threshold of adolescence, creased in a frown. A chuckle escaped her lips. Though she had clearly laughed, her vision blurred with unshed tears.
Tang Hak had lost his life in the frigid waters of the Yangtze. He had departed this world before he could even comprehend the weight of leadership, the burden of responsibility, yet here he was, wearing an expression of profound seriousness, as if burdened by the world’s woes.
“Why are you laughing?”
“Just... seeing you makes me laugh.”
“Huh?” Tang Hak’s delicate brows furrowed further, his mouth slightly agape. Wearing such a guileless expression on his handsome face was one of his few talents. Sohwa, savoring the bittersweet nostalgia that filled her, reached out and gently pressed her finger against the space between his brows.
“Don’t frown. It makes you look ugly.”
“......”
‘What is this? She seems even more out of it than usual today.’ Tang Hak's expression mirrored his thoughts perfectly. His transparency amused Sohwa, and she chuckled again.
Tang Hak glanced suspiciously at his sister's bed. "Did you have a dream or something?” he asked, dismissing the idea as preposterous. It was too early for night, too late for a midday nap.
Yet, his sister confirmed his suspicion in a barely audible whisper.
“Yes, a long dream.”
... ‘Seriously, what’s wrong with her today?’ Normally, she would have thrown something at him for suggesting such a thing. Instead, she simply gazed up at the ceiling, a wistful expression on her face. Her distant gaze unsettled him, and he unconsciously rubbed his arm.
He recalled the complaints of his cousins, who lamented that his sister had transformed into a different person upon reaching adolescence. They confessed to feeling chills whenever she spoke softly, and he now understood exactly what they meant. He wished she would behave like their sisters, adorning herself with makeup and offering silent smiles. This gentle, almost maternal gaze directed at the heavens was utterly bewildering. A gentle Tang Sohwa?
‘...I think I’m going to be sick.’ He instinctively raised a hand to cover his mouth, then clenched his fist, forcing himself to restrain the urge. His efforts at composure, however, were in vain. Tang Sohwa, her eyes slightly reddened, looked down at him and smiled.
“Hak-ah.”
“Yes, Noona.”
“I’ve missed you so much.”
... ‘Is this some new form of torture?’ At this point, he’d prefer the usual physical reprimands.
Tang Hak surreptitiously scanned the room, assessing the potential projectiles within his sister's reach. Fortunately, his position near the window placed him at a safe distance.
He gathered his courage and spoke again. “Noona.”
“Hmm?”
... ‘Hmm?’ Instead of glaring at him with an impatient “Get to the point,” she looked at him with genuine warmth, her tone encouraging him to continue.
Tang Hak quickly smoothed out his startled expression. “I have a favor to ask.”
“Of course. Tell me anything.”
A brief silence hung in the air. Tang Hak clenched his fists, as if steeling himself, and asked, “Is this some new kind of torment?”
“Go ahead. I’ll follow you.”
“Yes!”
* * *
The hawk had apparently ingested something it shouldn’t have, its insides twisted and knotted. Spiritual creatures were said to be wiser than humans, but this one seemed to be an exception. What possessed it to eat something unknown within the Tang Clan estate?
Tang Sohwa found herself in the bizarre situation of brewing medicinal tea for a hawk, an experience she had never had in her previous life, nor in death. After three days of diligently administering the medicine, the hawk recovered completely.
“As expected of Noona!”
“...While you’re here, take this with you.” The hawk, seemingly unaware that its savior was Tang Hak, stubbornly shadowed Sohwa. With a mixture of annoyance and exasperation, she gestured towards the hawk, now perched comfortably on her bed. Tang Hak chuckled and gently scooped the hawk into his arms.
“I think it’ll just come back to you anyway.”
At his words, Sohwa scowled and glared at the hawk.
“Don’t come back. I’ll break your wings if you do.”
It was strange. For over a week, she hadn't woken from this dream. She had anticipated her imminent demise, content to relive her memories, yet this confounded hawk kept interrupting her peaceful contemplation.
“Woo woo.” The hawk made a strange sound, looking at her hesitantly.
“...I think it wants to come back again.”
“Even in dreams, this is ridiculous...” Sohwa trailed off, waving her hand dismissively.
Tang Hak, beaming, carried the hawk back to his quarters. Seeing his carefree demeanor soothed her irritation, replaced by a strange warmth that spread through her. Sohwa relaxed her tense shoulders and exhaled slowly. She wished this wasn't a dream.
And then, gradually, Tang Sohwa began to realize that this wasn’t a dream at all.
* * *
“N-Noona! A squirrel got into my quarters...”
“That python Father asked about last night... A-actually, Noona, I... I picked it up a few days ago...”
“Sob, Noona, you have to come quickly! A chicken fell from the sky! It can’t fly! Waaaah...”
... ‘This can’t be a dream.’ She had never dreamt of running an animal sanctuary. She had never even entertained the thought. Therefore, her mind couldn't possibly have conjured up such a scenario.
As she bandaged a chicken’s leg, Sohwa slowly opened her lips.
“Hak-ah.”
“Yes, Noona!” Tang Hak looked up, his tear-stained face full of earnest expectation. She sighed involuntarily.
“Chickens... don’t fly.”
“I know chickens can’t fly, Noona. But, they can still fly for, like, a jang! If they launch themselves and flap their wings...”
“Hak-ah.”
“Yes!”
“Don’t argue.”
“...Yes.”
Sohwa massaged her temples, a headache throbbing behind her eyes. What was going on? While the overall course of events aligned with her memories, her relationship with Tang Hak had completely transformed. And now, a hawk seemed determined to attach itself to her.
She noticed the hawk subtly attempting to land on her shoulder and quickly shrugged it off.
“Noona! Maehwa is amazing!”
“...You even gave it a name?”
“Yes. I heard it’s female, so I named her Maehwa.”
“......” The current Tang Clan Head named all his daughters with names ending in “hwa,” the character for flower. This idiot had essentially made a hawk his younger sister.
Sohwa sighed inwardly, looking at Tang Hak cuddling the hawk. This was utterly insane, yet undeniably real.
Tang Sohwa had returned to the age of seventeen, to the height of the Sichuan Tang Clan’s power, to her time as the clan’s treasured jewel.