The forest was eerily quiet as night settled in. The group had set up camp near a river, resting after an exhausting day of travel. Firelight flickered across their faces as they sat together, sharing food and occasional banter.
"So, this is what commoners eat on the road?" Wei Zhan muttered, holding a piece of dry bread with an unimpressed expression.
Xie Lian sighed, arms crossed. "Your Highness, it's just food. You won't die."
Wei Zhan scoffed. "That's easy for you to say. You're used to suffering."
Saanvi gasped dramatically. "Your Highness, that was cruel!" She turned to Xie Lian with a sympathetic look. "Don't worry, we still respect you."
Xie Lian smiled, amused. "Thank you, Lady Saanvi. But I don't need pity."
Vihaan nudged Saanvi, whispering, "You sure sound like a noble lady comforting a poor peasant."
Saanvi kicked him under the fire.
Devran, meanwhile, was watching Tianlan. He had been silent ever since they made camp. His normally calm expression was unreadable, and he hadn't touched his food.
"Tianlan," Devran finally spoke, his voice steady but firm. "Something's wrong with you."
Everyone turned to look at Tianlan, who was staring at his own hands. The shadows from the firelight danced across his face, making his features seem sharper, more intense.
Tianlan lifted his gaze, his dark eyes flickering with something almost unnatural.
"I… feel different."
His voice was barely above a whisper, yet it sent a chill through the group.
Suddenly—
A sharp rustling came from the trees.
Everyone tensed.
Without warning, a dark figure leaped at them from the shadows!
Devran reacted instantly, drawing his sword. But Tianlan moved faster.
In a blink, he was already in front of the attacker, gripping their throat.
The masked assassin gasped, body twitching violently as if something was crushing them from the inside.
Tianlan's fingers tightened. His usually calm face showed no hesitation, no mercy.
Then—his eyes flickered red.
Wei Zhan, who had been about to draw his own sword, froze in place.
That color. That terrifying power.
His breath hitched. This was familiar. Too familiar.
"Tianlan!" Devran's voice snapped through the air.
For a moment, it looked like Tianlan would kill the assassin without a second thought.
But then—
Saanvi grabbed his wrist.
"Tianlan, stop!"
Her voice cut through the heavy atmosphere like a bell.
Tianlan blinked. The red glow in his eyes flickered and vanished. He let go. The masked assassin collapsed, unconscious.
A heavy silence followed.
Tianlan turned away. "I… didn't mean to."
Saanvi, still holding his wrist, squeezed gently. "It's okay."
But from across the fire, Wei Zhan wasn't looking at Tianlan with concern.
He was staring, unblinking, as if a memory had just resurfaced.
Because for a moment, Tianlan had reminded him of someone.
Someone he had loved.
And someone he had lost.
---
Wei Zhan's grip on his sword loosened, but he didn't look away.
Tianlan had turned from the group, standing at the edge of the firelight like a statue carved from sorrow. The breeze ruffled his robes, but he didn't move.
Devran rose quietly and approached him.
"You've been acting strange since yesterday," he said softly, his tone no longer sharp but filled with worry. "During the festival, during the fight… now this."
Tianlan didn't look at him. "I don't know what's happening. My body reacts faster than I think. My strength—my instincts—they don't feel like mine."
Devran stepped closer. "They're dangerous."
A pause.
"Does that mean you're afraid of me?" Tianlan asked, voice low.
Devran shook his head. "No. I'm afraid for you."
Behind them, the rest of the group was quiet. Saanvi was still kneeling beside the unconscious assassin, checking his pulse. Vihaan was lounging lazily on a rock, but his eyes were sharp as blades.
"That red glow," Wei Zhan said slowly, finally breaking the silence. "I've seen it before. A long time ago. In someone… very important to me."
Saanvi looked at him curiously. "Who?"
Wei Zhan stared into the fire. "He was someone I… would have followed into death. But he vanished during the Celestial War. People said he was consumed by darkness. That he lost control of his power."
Devran looked over sharply. "And you think Tianlan is—?"
"No," Wei Zhan cut in. "I hope not. But the resemblance... the energy... It's not just a coincidence."
Vihaan snorted. "Lovely. So now we're traveling with a ticking celestial time bomb."
Saanvi stood up, glaring at him. "Vihaan!"
"I'm not wrong," Vihaan said, raising his hands in mock surrender. "He's strong, sure—but if he snaps again, what's stopping him from turning us all into crushed dumplings?"
"Me," Devran said quietly, standing tall beside Tianlan.
Vihaan arched a brow. "Oh, the power of love? How romantic."
Devran ignored the sarcasm. "I trust him. And until he gives me a reason not to… I'll protect him—even from himself."
Tianlan finally turned to look at him, eyes wide. "Why?"
Devran met his gaze without hesitation. "Because I see you trying to stay in control. Because you didn't want to kill that man. And because…" His voice softened. "I think we're connected. Somehow."
Saanvi smiled faintly. "You're finally saying it out loud."
Vihaan clapped sarcastically. "Aw. Touching. Can we toast marshmallows now or are we still in the 'soul crisis' portion of the evening?"
"Still in the crisis part," Saanvi said, deadpan. "Marshmallows after."
Wei Zhan finally sheathed his sword and stood. "If we're staying with him, we'll need to prepare. That assassin wasn't random. Someone knows where we are."
Saanvi nodded. "We'll set watch shifts. No one goes alone anywhere."
Vihaan stood, flipping his dagger into its sheath. "Guess I'll take the first watch. Try not to stab each other while I'm gone."
Devran turned to Tianlan. "Can you sleep?"
"I don't know," Tianlan admitted. "I'm afraid of what I might see."
Devran gently took his wrist, leading him toward the tents. "Then don't face it alone."
Tianlan hesitated—but followed.
As the fire crackled and the stars blinked through the trees, Saanvi glanced up at the sky.
Something was stirring in the dark.
And deep in her chest, a memory she couldn't place echoed faintly—an oath sworn under moonlight, and a face she hadn't yet remembered… but her heart already mourned.