Yuzi stood abruptly, the air around her rippling with quiet tension. A flicker of blue light shimmered into existence before her, coalescing into a small spirit, a floating wisp no larger than a sparrow, glowing like a sapphire flame.
"Someone is disturbing the formation," the spirit said in a soft, bell-like voice. "And Little Yellow… she's fighting. A black spirit is trying to merge with the tree."
Yuzi's eyes darkened with concern. She didn't speak. She didn't need to. With a flash of light, she vanished from the spot, leaving behind only a whisper of wind.
In the heart of the forest, beneath the sacred Yellow Tree, an ancient entity of healing and serenity, the scene was chaotic. Black mist curled hungrily around the roots, reaching toward the glowing figure of Little Yellow, the guardian spirit of the tree. Her light flickered under the oppressive force of the dark energy like a candle caught in a storm.
Yuzi reappeared silently, the air around her humming with power. Without a word, she raised her hand. A burst of radiant energy surged from her palm, cutting through the mist and striking the shadowed form. The dark spirit reeled backward, tossed like a broken kite in the wind.
The black spirit hissed, then took form a robed figure with eyes like burnt coal and a voice like cracking ice. "Why do you interfere, woman?"
Yuzi's voice was calm and unwavering. "Who are you… And what do you seek here?"
The spirit straightened, no longer hiding in shadow. "I am seeking the last remnants of my brother's soul. He is... was... bound to this tree. I only wanted to find what was left of him."
His voice faltered with something oddly human grief.
Yuzi's heart stirred. A memory stirred within her, a faint vision of Aiyu, seated beneath this very tree, wounded, but alive. She had channeled half her spirit energy into the tree to save him, weaving it with ancient chants and light. That memory, soft as a petal, weighed heavily on her shoulders now.
"I understand pain," Yuzi said gently. "But evilness will not restore what was lost."
The dark spirit roared. "You speak of pain? You who shine like dawn? You cannot know what it's like to fade!"
Before Yuzi could reply, Little Blue flickered into view beside her, trembling. The black spirit's eyes widened in recognition.
"What… what is that? You have a merged soul?" His voice cracked into something like awe and hunger.
Yuzi's face turned pale, but she did not flinch. There was no fear in her eyes, only stillness. Her silence was more powerful than any words.
She raised her hands again, blood trailing from the corner of her lips, and began to chant. The wind stilled. Light poured from her fingertips, forming ancient symbols in the air, sigils not seen in this realm for centuries. The ground shook as the formation activated, vines of spirit light binding the black entity.
"This formation, this is impossible! This knowledge was lost!" the spirit shrieked, writhing within the glowing lattice.
Yuzi said nothing. Her blood dripped steadily onto the earth, soaking into the roots of the tree. Her power was fading, but her will held firm.
Little Blue noticed something then, a faint yellow glow on the edge of Yuzi's robe. A token, engraved with sacred runes, was pulsing with quiet energy. It was giving her life force... barely enough to sustain her.
"She's weakened," Little Blue whispered. "She never would've worried me before. But now…"
He darted toward Little Yellow, lending his flickering energy to strengthen the tree's barrier. The two tiny spirits circled each other, weaving light and will into a net of resistance.
The battle deepened.
The air twisted.
Yuzi staggered, her hands trembling as she called upon the final technique her master had taught her in secret: the Nine Pagodas of Survival.
Each pagoda was a seal, a beacon, a tomb.
The formation struck.
The black spirit screamed, his shadowed form breaking apart into shards of smoke and memories. With a final, echoing cry, he vanished into the earth, devoured by the seals, his sorrow lost to silence.
Yuzi fell to her knees. Her body was drained. Her vision blurred. The world spun around her like leaves in a storm. She tried to speak, but no words came. Only a soft breath left her lips as her eyes fluttered closed.
She was falling.
And then...warmth.
Not the warmth of sunlight or magic, but something infinitely more human. Arms caught her before she touched the ground, strong and familiar.
"Yuzi," a voice whispered, hoarse with worry.
She opened her eyes for just a moment, just long enough to see his face.
"Aiyu…"
And then, she knew no more.