Chapter 12: Echoes and Shadows
The morning light filtered gently through the broken arches of the ruined temple as the three companions—Lee Kung, Mia, and the newly freed Sio Jun—made their way down the worn stone steps. Though the sun had risen, a strange weight lingered in the air, as if the world held its breath. The light touched everything with a hesitant warmth, falling through drifting dust motes that danced like spirits. The air was thick with silence—not peace, but the heavy quiet that follows chaos. Behind them, the temple stood like a forgotten sentinel, bearing witness to ancient trials and recent violence. Every stone seemed to echo with old memories. Each footstep they took down those crumbling steps marked not just a descent into the clearing below but a crossing into new uncertainty
Sio Jun walked silently behind them, still shaken but visibly stronger. Her silver hair glistened in the sun, and the strange markings on her arms pulsed faintly. She didn't speak, but there was determination in her eyes.
As they descended into a clearing just outside the temple, something caught Mia's attention. The bracelet on her wrist—a gift from her late grandmother, long dormant—began to glow with an ethereal blue light.
"Wait," Mia said, pausing.
Lee Kung turned. "What is it?"
"My bracelet… it's never done this before."
The light intensified, and the bracelet emitted a low hum that resonated with the surrounding trees and rocks. Then, without warning, the light extended outward in a beam, pointing toward a nearby cliffside where a narrow crevice opened into a shadowy cave.
Sio Jun frowned. "That wasn't there before."
The three of them exchanged glances. Cautiously, they followed the light, which pulsed like a heartbeat. The cave entrance was tight, but it opened into a wide chamber within. The light from Mia's bracelet brightened further, revealing intricate markings on the cave walls—symbols that glowed faintly, written in an ancient language.
Near the center of the cave, resting atop a stone pedestal, lay a rolled parchment, sealed with an insignia of nine interlocking circles—the mark of the Realms' ancient guardians.
Mia reached for it. The moment her fingers touched the scroll, the bracelet dimmed, and the entire cave seemed to hold still.
She broke the seal, unrolling the parchment. The scroll was written in flowing script, glowing faintly as it revealed its message:
_"Three remain. Guardians lost, now hidden by time. The one who sees beyond sight. The healer of realms. The child of echoes. Find them, or all will fall."
Below the text were faint images—three shadowy figures, their features unclear. Mia read the message aloud. When she finished, the scroll disintegrated into glowing dust, vanishing into the air.
Lee Kung took a deep breath. "Three more. That means we're not alone in this fight."
Sio Jun nodded. "Whoever they are, they must be important. The Realms chose them."
Before they could say more, a low rumble echoed through the cave. Dust fell from the ceiling.
Mia turned sharply. "That sounded like it came from the village."
They ran out of the cave, the ground trembling beneath their feet. When they reached the tree line and looked down into the valley, horror washed over them.
The village they had left in peace the night before was now a massacre.
Bodies were strewn across the streets—men, women, children—all lifeless, as if time had stopped for them mid-step. The once vibrant homes now stood hollow and silent. No signs of a struggle, no blood, just stillness and death.
Sio Jun gasped, her hand flying to her mouth. "What… what happened here?"
Lee Kung's eyes scanned the skies. A low hum filled the air, growing louder. Above them, clouds parted as a massive ship descended—unlike anything they had seen before. Black and silver, carved with jagged markings that shimmered like lightning.
The ship halted mid-air, hovering above the village square.
A circular hatch opened on the underside, and from it, a single figure dropped.
He landed without a sound, his cloak fluttering in the wind. His appearance sent a shock through Lee Kung's chest.
It was Lee Kang—his twin brother.
But this was not the Lee Kang he remembered.
Half of his hair was white as snow; the other half was midnight black. His face bore a scar that split it diagonally, as if torn by shadow and healed by light. One eye glowed pale blue, the other deep crimson. His right arm and half of his chest were enveloped in a swirling, dark armor that pulsed with corrupted energy. The other half of him remained bare, still human.
Mia stepped forward. "Lee Kung… is that—?"
"Yes," he said, voice tight. "That's my brother."
Lee Kang raised his head slowly. There was no warmth in his expression. He looked at the village, then at his brother. "They were weak," he said flatly. "They had nothing to offer. Just like the rest."
Lee Kung's fists clenched. "What did you do?"
"I showed them mercy," Lee Kang replied, walking forward. "The mercy of silence. You still don't understand, brother. The balance is a lie. The Realms must be broken for them to be rebuilt."
Sio Jun growled, her eyes narrowing. "You killed innocents. That's not balance. That's tyranny."
Lee Kang ignored her. "You've seen what's coming. You felt it in that temple. Something ancient stirs. I'm just preparing the Realms for its arrival."
Lee Kung stepped forward, drawing his sword. "Then you've lost your way."
Lee Kang smiled. "No. I've found it."
His body shimmered with dark light, and from his back unfurled spectral wings—half ethereal feathers, half jagged shadow. His corrupted half pulsed, responding to Dehaska's influence.
"I was chosen too," he said, his voice echoing unnaturally. "But unlike you, I didn't resist the power. I embraced it."
The sky darkened as clouds spiraled above. Lightning crackled in the air.
Behind Lee Kang, the ship hummed with growing intensity, as if waiting for his command.
Mia turned to Lee Kung. "What do we do?"
Lee Kung looked at his brother, his own sword beginning to glow red in answer to the threat.
"We stand our ground," he said. "This isn't just about us anymore. It never was."
Sio Jun stepped beside them, her silver markings glowing. "Then let's make sure the next part of this story is written in defiance."
As the winds howled and the earth trembled beneath their feet, the battle for the Realms loomed closer than ever.